A hidden GEM in Morgan Hill: peaceful, CLEAN, and filled with an array of friendly people…read more I travelled from Los Angeles to San Jose, specifically to visit the Dhammakaya Meditation Center. What a great experience indeed! I've been to many Dhammakaya meditation centers throughout the US and I've got to say this location is one of the most tranquil location with the friendliest and welcoming people. This place is so peaceful and simply the PERFECT place to practice meditation. I wish I lived closer!!! :) *WORLD PEACE through INNER PEACE* Can't wait to go back and attend the *Middle Way Meditation* sessions on SATURDAYS! The Guided meditation sessions are open to ALL ages, all ethnic background s, all religions + conducted in English, and most importantly FREE of charge! Yayyyy! (",)

I've been coming to this temple for many years. This meditation center is on the corner of Llagas…read moreRoad and Hale Ave. I feel much more calm and have better focus since I have used their meditation technique. The technique is easy to do. I am so glad that they now open for public daily. They have meditation classes everyday from 9:30 am to 8:30 pm. The teaching monks are very friendly. I'm not only learn how to meditate, but also always get some takeaway to use in my daily life. I can see that my life is happier and more positive since I practice meditation with them. Their classes are not in the main chapel, the first building you see. Go inside to the building behind and you will see their staff or the monk who is ready to welcome you. If you don't see anyone, please be patient. Their will be someone to assist you. If you live in Morgan Hill or nearby, I highly recommended you to stop by and give it a try.

My company invited Sylvia to teach gentle yoga/meditation class during staff development health…read morefair. We thought it would be difficult to accommodate people of different levels of experience, shape and lifestyle. Well, Sylvia did a perfect job. She provided both regular and gentle chair yoga options in one setting. She also personalized the session to address the professional needs of preschool teaches, giving them some ideas to bring to the classrooms as well. Everyone was relaxed, happy and refreshed after the class, badly needed and well deserved feeling. Sylvia came prepared and focused. We highly recommend her.

I met Sylvia at her organized meet up sessions for guided meditation, walking meditation, stress…read morerelief thinking and few basic yoga sessions. All in all, she has a very good heart, she's an old soul person who leave everyone touched at her sessions.

From their website... "Center for Spiritual Enlightenment is a meditation center in the spiritual…read moretradition of Kriya Yoga, welcoming people from all backgrounds who are seeking Self- and God-realization--a path to spiritually conscious, fulfilled living." Absolutely love it! I spent some time in the garden, spoke to one of the folks who volunteers here, got a nice tour, and was truly impressed. Can't wait to go back for either a meditation session or a talk. The world would be a much better place if everyone could go to a center like this.

I attended this center for almost 20 years, usually attending weekly Sunday services and the…read moreoccasional retreat. I really appreciated the teachings and guided meditations, as well as the fellowship....but...I can't help but be concerned about a close family member that got more heavily involved and attended seminary there. She started to detach from family to devote herself to the center, moved out of state to start an ashram for CSE, named it beneficiary of a family trust. I want to say she wasn't encouraged or led to do this, but over the years, the devotion to the center and increased detachment from family has me wondering if there's cult-like grooming going on behind the scenes. It's all been very concerning and bewildering for the family. No spiritual teacher there was been able to adequately reassure me that they are not engaging in practices that command total devotion, tithing, and disengagement with family, and sadly, as a result I stopped all contact with this center. This may just be my family member independently practicing an unhealthy excess of devotion to an organization, not something that they outwardly support, but I still have a lingering suspicion about the influence they yield over her. It feels exploitive. Her increased involvement in the center has really negatively impacted family relationships. I've also heard many folks have left this center in the last 10 years because of "toxic political rifts" between employees, volunteers and devotees. Some are choosing to hold independent Kriya study groups now. I'm grateful for the teachings while there but distance from this organization has been necessary for my mental health and continued spiritual development. I feel my family member has been stolen from me. Or driven to shun and neglect those that love her most. And CSE knows it and yet they not intervened.

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...

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)

I recently enrolled myself into one of the programs run at this center and I must say it was an eye…read moreopener. I never felt so relaxed in ages. After a long quest, I finally have tools to control and direct my own life and thoughts. I also made great friends and I am sure the relation I built here will be ever lasting. Highly recommended for all working professionals, students or any one with slightest signs of being stressed depressed or worked out.

Such a peaceful and calming place this is. I have personally done the sky program years back and…read moreattend the weekly follow-ups here without fail. It brings such serenity in my day to day life. I have also attended other completely free knowledge sessions here, and I can feel that my thought process and behaviour with others is getting so much better thanks to these sessions. The monthly satsangs are great too and the people who come in bring such light-heartedness and joy. It is a very open and secular place and the emphasis is on the breathing technique that is so simple yet tremendously transformational! A must-do, I just wish I had done this sooner!

This is a beautiful (needed) new yoga Center in Scotts Valley…read more They offer a nice selection of classes, and teachers. I have taken several classes with Doug Andrews, and his many years of teaching is evident in his classes. Also, they offer YTT, Meditation, Live Music and Workshops. There is even a small bookshop, and sitting area. Very warm and friendly place.

Doug Andrews, the owner and founder of Ananda in Santa Cruz county is one of the most advance and…read morewell-rounded yoga teachers I have ever studied with. He brings years of experience and advanced knowledge in areas such as anatomy, human nature - both good and bad - and spirituality. His dedication to yoga is far beyond the detox sweating or stretching aspect of most yoga classes and this shows with his beautiful affirmations, friendliness and profound knowledge of all 8 limbs of royal yoga! And the Sunday services each week brings peace of heart, mind and soul with meditation, deep and ancient teachings, music, community connection and a local feel. Thanks Doug and Ananda for all that you do and bring to the area and the planet!

It is finally time for me to write a review on this place…read more A bit of background is that I've been dealing with an asthma flareup that has made it difficult for me to walk even a block without getting out of breathe. Before my flare up, I was at the gym regularly with pretty good cardio. A friend of mine suggested I go and try a session with her. I was admittedly pretty wary since I didn't see how sitting in a room of salt would make a difference. I went and after the session, I noticed I could walk and jog without issue. I was even able to get a good gym session in the next day! I've asked my pulmonologist about it and he said that it is indeed a thing and also offered me a corresponding medical treatment. With that and this, my breathing is slowly but sure improving overall rather than just spurts here and there. Avery, the owner, if friendly and knowledgeable about how each of her services work. You can call to book or schedule online. Either way works and it is super easy to do. The chairs are comfortable and you can lounge in them. There are also some yoga mats if you want to use those. You do need to bring clean socks (or you can buy a pair for $2!) to bring to each session. I have also used the individual booth sauna which has a setting to allow you to get salt inhalation too. You can use it as a sauna or, I can't handle heat so, you can have a low heat place to yourself. There is also a community room where you book a spot and you may share the room with others so be respectful! There are other services here too but since I've never used them, I won't give any opinion. Parking is plentiful here too. I definitely recommend this to people with health issues and those that just want to relax. There is a reason why back in the day doctors recommended going to the beach :P They might not have known the science behind the benefits but they knew! I really do recommend this and I do have about it to friends. :)

I had a great visit to the Sea Salt Therapy place. We tried the salt booth. It was very relaxing…read morebut I needed the cooler temperature. The salt booth works like a sauna with the added benefits of sea salt therapy and light therapy all combined. They have Salt therapy rooms used by groups and wellness rooms that offer massages. This is a good place to take your partner and relax together.

I'm in the area for an extended holiday visit with family and was looking for some fitness classes…read moreI could take. I found Almaden Yoga through the Mind Body app - it's within 5 miles of the house - so decided to give it a try. The class that worked with my schedule was Wall Yoga, which was described as a class where you'd use the wall to help work on alignment in your poses. I worried that it would be a pretty mellow class but signed up anyway. My concern was completely unwarranted, at least based upon the way Anuja taught it. Using the wall meant not having to worry about balance - an issue for me given an arthritic left big toe and a chronically sprained right ankle - meaning that we could focus upon fuller expression of the poses thereby requiring greater strength. I was literally dripping sweat by halfway through the class. It's a beautiful studio, conveniently located near my childhood home. I'll be sure to come back the next time I am out for a visit.

Condescending treatment from the owner - I had my phone face down next to my mat; I was maybe 2…read moremonths postpartum so I had anxiety about not having my phone with me. I didn't know there was a no phone policy in the studio. Owner came over and unnecessarily lectured me in a condescending tone, and I felt quite embarrassed. All they had to say was please put your phone in your cubby in a polite way. I was a repeat customer but immediately stopped attending afterward. It's too bad this seems to be the only yoga option in the area.

This was the most intensive retreat I have attended, compared to my previous experiences in…read moreThailand and India. There were moments when I wanted to leave early, but I am deeply grateful that I stayed and completed it. I sincerely thank the teacher (Sayagyi Daw Vimalanani), Ms. Ha Truong (coordinator), and all the volunteers. Their guidance and quiet support helped me understand my mind on a much deeper level. Letting go of my phone was not easy at first, but after 15 days, I felt less attached to it and more present with myself. Instead of being drawn into social media and news, I learned to spend my time more meaningfully, turning inward with awareness. The program is intensive, with eight one-hour sitting meditation sessions each day. The first two days were very challenging--I almost gave up due to the physical pain. However, after speaking with the teacher, her compassion and wisdom shifted me from fear to courage. I realized that pain is always present; in daily life, we are simply too distracted to notice it. Through her guidance on "noting," I gained valuable insight into my own patterns. The food was delicious. We ate two meals a day and stopped eating after noon. At first, I felt hungry, but my body gradually adjusted--and I found my sleep became easier and deeper. I also observed my mind moving from worry about not having enough, to noticing moments of greed, and eventually to a deep sense of gratitude. The accommodation was simple and comfortable, a clean private room, with thoughtful touches like extra blankets and an alarm clock. The shared bathrooms were always clean, and I never had to wait. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend giving this gift to yourself.

Unfortunately after COVID the whole vibe of this great center has changed. It was great when Ha and…read moreShaun were retreat coordinators , their level of practice is evident from the way they engage with other people, ever mindful and full of brahma vihara. They have stopped weekend retreats for good. Can't imagine the level of Bad kamma generated by the people that might have initiated this new regime. By preventing interested short term practitioners to practice and use the retreat center resources "as weekend retreats" and preventing wholesome dana possibilities for dana sponsors on weekend retreats. All retreats are charged $$$ per day, and the attendee rules have got stricter ( check new print meditators handbook ) I have not seen any Panditharama center charge for its sessions anywhere else. May be they have financial troubles, may be they became too business minded , may be there is new leadership that don't have any sense of what real true Buddhist practice is. Very sad. But i am grateful for all the weekend retreats TMC conducted in the past, they have helped me and many others develop the path. I transfer all those merits to the people who made it possible. Having said this I think TMC is still providing good service for our local Vietnamese and Burmese community. So i left 2 stars.

I have been meditating with Campbell Meditation online since the pandemic started. The online…read moreclasses are very helpful. It's helping me cope with the current situation. Schedule is flexible and I get to meditate both in group setting as well as 1:1. Knowledgable staff, good service and good community.

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