If there were such a thing as a Disneyland for Buddhism in an American setting, the closest thing…read moreto that would probably be the Land of Medicine Buddha (LMB) sanctuary, nestled in the picturesque Santa Cruz Mountains near the quiet town of Soquel. I mean no disrespect by this (the organization calls itself a "Dharma Wonderland"), as the narrative below will make clear. Our visit had a dream-like quality to it. It was a weekday, with no scheduled events. As we wandered about, we encountered few people. The handful we did encounter were all very pleasant, exchanging greetings and information with us, as if we were all kindred spirits. It wasn't clear to us initially where the physical boundaries of LMB were. Just as we thought we had reached the end, we discovered yet another temple or other point of interest ahead. Each temple was different, in terms of style, purpose and size, as well as architecturally. The most impressive for me was the 100,000 Stupa, the Mahabodhi Temple replica, which looked like something out of an Indiana Jones adventure movie. That's the 39-foot-tall replica of the 1,500-year-old Mahabodhi Temple in India, where the Buddha is said to have achieved enlightenment. But the most profound personal experience for me was provided by the Wish-Fulfilling Temple farther up the road. The gleaming golden Buddha standing off to the side emanated such a special aura of kindness and omniscience that I was inspired on the spot to do something I had never done outdoors before: I prayed. I prayed for several minutes, in fact (though I'm not even Buddhist). Prior to that, at other temple spots, we spun various prayer wheels, large and small. I pushed a large wooden column, suspended like a swing, into a heavy ornate bell several times. It emitted a "bong" that filled the surrounding wooded enclave with its strong yet soothing sound. Across from the bell was a gong, with two different instruments designed for striking it, hanging on either side. One had a solid soft plastic end to it, the other a fuzzy soft material obviously designed to produce a more muffled sound. Placards with background information and instructions for chants were posted in all appropriate places. I especially appreciated the fact that simplified versions of chants were provided, for those of us for whom the full chant phrases were too difficult to remember. Rustic benches made from split logs were available in various spots from which we could admire the views of the forested mountains nearby and in the distance. Most visitors will probably find the trail challenging -- if you hike to all the temples during your visit -- unless you're both young and in top shape. Here are a few other tips: * The road into LMB is one-lane only. If you meet a vehicle coming toward you from the opposite direction, one of you will have to pull off to the side to accommodate the other. This must be done very carefully, as the shoulders -- where they do exist -- are narrow and the drop from the side can be steep. * There is a food "truck" within the compound but it will not necessarily be open (it wasn't when we visited), so either bring your own food or plan to eat before or after you drive in. A vegetarian restaurant called "Pretty Good Advice" (covered in a separate review) is about 2.8 miles away from the entrance to LMB. * Read the information on the LMB website before going, to be able to fully appreciate your visit. We found no maps available at the compound, so I highly recommend that you print one out from the website. * At the very least, check the information on the LMB website before you drive there, to make sure it will be open. If an event is scheduled, keep in mind that parking is limited and make sure you feel up to the challenge. * You may not be approached by anyone to make the suggested $20 per vehicle donation but this can be done at the bookstore/gift shop near the compound's entrance (if you can't afford $20, then offer whatever you can). I have it on good authority that those who do so will be rewarded with good karma!

This really is a hidden gem. Land of Medicine Buddha Retreat had much more to explore and…read moreexperience than I expected. The hiking path was so beautiful, as I thought, but it also had things to see and read... and usually a place to sit while you ponder the Buddhist quote about life's philosophy. You pass not only tall Redwoods, but also a koi pond and tucked away buddhas from different Asian countries -- China, Tibet, India. There are also other areas to explore on the property, such as a meditation area, store and cafe, prayer area, drums and chimes, statues, and waterfall. There were also docents here and there whom you could talk to. (Note that the meditation area where the waterfall and statutes are located are fenced in and are only open at certain times.) There is a $20 entrance fee per car, but I think it is worth it for the upkeep of the property.

Hi everyone, when I first came to Santa Cruz I sat and meditated with many different buddhist…read morecenters and when I walked into Ocean gate Zen center I knew I found a Zen community. They were welcoming and compassionate. In my opinion it is the finest American Zen center in the US. The zen teachers are highly educated and credentialed. The sangha/community is also a very compassionate group and I have acquired many compassionate and caring friends. I would encourage you to attend one of the outstanding buddhist lectures you will not be disappointed.

ocean gate zen is a gem in Santa Cruz with 2 wonderful teachers and a welcoming ,vibrant and…read moreintimate sangha community. it is a safe place,a place of refuge

The floats are so relaxing - you feel like you're in another world for an hour…read more Yana is a truly healing massage therapist and very professional. Highly recommend. The place is extremely clean and the staff are all welcoming and knowledgeable.

I can't say enough good things about this establishment. I've gone for floats/massage and have…read morealways left feeling slightly disoriented in the best way possible way from full relaxation and good energy. If I could go everyday - I would! Don't miss out!!!!!!

There's spiritual wisdom, uplifting music and good community at every Center for Spiritual Living…read more There are three in Oakland. East Bay Church-A Center for Spiritual Living (ebcrs.org) was voted Best Place to Worship several times via the EastBay Express weekly newspaper's best in Bay Area annual survey.

This is an absolutely wonderful place to gather among like-minded people, learn and love . It is a…read moreprime example of practice what you preach. This place is filled with peaceful social activists and incredibly inclusive loving people who are truly trying to make the world a better place. I've honestly never been to a better church in my life. It is devoid of hypocrisy. It is the real deal. They offer classes as well. It's an amazing community . We also have lunch after service. It has truly given me the sense of community and the connection to source that I needed. Thank you!

Kaysi Contreras was very reassuring, as I was apprehensive and skeptical of this upcoming…read moreexperience. She explained things prior to receiving this energy session. Offered to cancel with money back if I did not want to move forward since I was not clear about this situation. I enjoyed the relaxation and feedback but mostly I enjoyed the horses that had participated and were allowed to come close, I felt safe, the horses were beautiful.

From the owner: What makes our business unique is our deep commitment to both the well-being of horses and the…read morecommunities we serve. We are an equine education and sanctuary organization focused on promoting a deeper understanding and advocacy for horses through interactive, consent-based practices. Our programs, such as Journaling with Horses, grief support groups, and equine-guided meditation, are designed to foster reflection, healing, and a respectful connection between people and horses. What sets us apart is our holistic approach—encouraging emotional growth and personal development while emphasizing the ethical treatment and care of horses. Since starting operations in January 2024, we’ve directly impacted over 80 participants, giving each of them the opportunity to engage with horses in a meaningful, hands-on way that promotes both healing and education.

I had no idea what to expect when I signed up for Nicole's classes. After this first month I have…read morehad such a relief of the anxiety and physical pain that I have been feeling. She is changing my outlook and healing my spirits. It has been an incredible transformation. I am so thankful forl the comfort she gives me with every session.

Nicoletta is tuned into the most core methods of healing and restoration which encompass body, mind…read moreand spirit. Her breathwork and fascia release sessions have been instrumental for me to breakthrough some serious hip and leg pain I have suffered from for years. Today I am pain free and am continuing to do the "homework" she has assigned to me for my self-care. In addition, I am continuing sessions with her and am learning so much due to her comprehensive approach to self-awareness, healing and well-being. I highly recommend her for next level healing because she is deeply intuitive and has many certifications that qualify her to treat people using important and diverse modalities. Check her out on her website chameleonbreathwork.com Cheers!

Covid Edition: I had my first reiki session with JEN back in November. She is amazing and has…read morehelped me work through blockages in my heart chakra, as well as working through self doubt/worth. At the time I was able to schedule a session with Jen directly, she took all precautions to make sure I was comfortable during our 1 on 1 session. It lasts for about an hour and figure a session is about $100 they do take card and have really cute stones, jewelry, books to help with moving forward in your spiritual journey. I'm ready to make my next appointment (covid allowing)

My life Balance and Business have soared since I've tapped into what the Zen room has to offer. I…read morehave been visiting the Zen room for over two years now. My experience every time has been different and fantastic. I love that they offer group meditation and individual meditation as needed. Also I enjoy the fact that I can walk in to their retail store and purchase anything from Stone's, Crystals, Jewelry, clothing, Tea and much, much more. I highly recommend if you're in the area you should visit the Zen room and experience the wonderful atmosphere for yourself! If you have time make an appointment with Dawn and experience all of the wonderful benefits she provides...

Took a Tarot reading from Bella. I was very much impressed by her ability to pinpoint my life…read morejourney, my life path, the cause of a lingering back issue (she was able to evaluate the condition and the incident in a previous lifetime that was carried over into this life). She was also very easy and comfortable to talk to, someone you can trust; very pleasant, flexible, and warm. I asked for some guidance about my spiritual practices and she promptly recommended me some great places to study. I would highly recommend her and I am looking forward to another session with her soon. 5 Stars.

I was thoroughly impressed immediately after my past life reading with Bella! I waited a week to…read morewrite a review to make sure it stuck, and I'm stunned. Not only did Bella bring so much energy and information instantly to the reading (with very little information from me), all the lives she tapped into made so much sense for me in many ways. I was edge-of-my-seat fascinated the whole time. I love how she taps into the past lives herself, taking the pressure off you, allowing you to retain a sense of control and ability to ask questions and take notes throughout. Even after all that, the most worthwhile takeaway for me was the energy clearing she provided at the end for my energy centers affected by all the past lives. It was super quick at the end and affected me in big positive ways that I (and my husband) noticed almost immediately. And I'm still receiving imagery from my dreams reflecting these lasting changes in my subconscious. Truly amazed. Highly recommend!

I have suffered from Panic and anxiety disorders for the past 15 years. I could not fly, drive over…read morebridges, ride a bus or elevator, or leave my city without having major panic attacks. It got to a point where I did not want to go on vacation with my family for fear of all of those things. I have seen many therapists and have been on numerous medications but I felt I was never truly cured as I was dependent on the medications to stop the panic attacks. I saw Dr Dufford's ad for his Anxiety Treatment Center and I decided that I had nothing to loose by going to Dr Dufford. He asked me on my first visit if I believed that I could be cured and I told him NO! But after a year and a half I now can say YES! Dr Dufford uses many techniques to help overcome panic EMDR, relaxation, breathing, listening to relaxation tapes, imagery, also a repetitive technique. He listened to what my fears where and tailored a plan to help me out. Overcoming panic and anxiety takes time and effort but with Dr Dufford's expertise I have come a very long way and I am looking forward to my next vacation with my family.

From the owner: We specialize in the treatment of Anxiety Disorders: Panic, Phobias, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder…read more(OCD), Social Anxiety, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), and related issues: Insomnia, Depression, Anger, Addiction, Relationships, Grief, work stress and self-esteem. Anxiety Treatment Sevices provides Individual Therapy, Group Support and in-home behavioral therapy. Treatment Modalities include Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Hypnotherapy, Psychotherapy, EMDR, Counseling , Mindfulness/Meditation, Nutrition and Energy Psychology. We create anxiety relief through effective step-by-step tools and techniques, however we care about each individual and tailor treatment to each persons unique needs and personality.

I've gone to the yoga studio several times now using Class Pass. I've enjoyed all of the classes so…read morefar including the yoga on the beach classes and sound baths. I've found the teachers to be too notch, caring, and supportive. All of the classes are well attended and checking in is very easy. I've never felt uncomfortable there even though I don't have a "yoga body." I look forward to yoga on beach when the weather is nice. This is my favorite yoga studio in Santa Cruz.

This studio is such a gem!! Just did my first session there. It was the Sunday morning strong flow…read moreclass. Everyone was so welcoming. The session was awesome. The instructor had us meet folks practicing next to us. I love that! I feel a lot more connected knowing the folks I am practicing with. The space is really unique as well. They had real candles lit alongside the window and front of the room. Nice touch!! I'll be back when I am in the area! Thank you pleasure point yoga!!!