Reviews of Spirit Rock in Woodacre, USA

Last Updated: October 11, 2022

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Credit: Spirit Rock

Spirit rock residential retreat center was opened about 24 years ago in 1998 with a mission to help people manifest wisdom and compassion throughout all aspects of their lives. They have been offering programs ranging from days to months.They offer classes and workshops that are 2 hours long, a day long and even two to three day retreats.

They offer the practice of Vipassana also known as silent meditation which will allow for an insightful retreat. The Spirit Rock center spans across 411 acres of lands that includes hills and greenery. If you have been practicing meditation and yoga for a long time, you may even opt for their year long advanced program.

No. of Reviews: Google (113), Yelp (79), Tripadvisor (8), Total: 200

Ratings: 4.8, 4.5, 4 out of 5 stars, Avg: 4.4

Served years: 24 years

Specialty: Silent Meditation and learning about Buddhism

What are people saying about  Spirit Rock, Woodacre ?

There have been great reviews in support of the Spirit rock center in Woodacre including positive sentiments such as, spirit rock center is my spiritual home, this place was like a gift sent to me, the staff are very knowledgeable and dedicated at this place and the food served here is one of the best vegetarian cuisines.

Spirit Rock has been acclaimed by its visitors as a peaceful place in the USA bay area where you get to experience peace and serenity just as visiting a temple in southeast Asia. Away from the bustling noise of the city, the retreat provides a surreal spiritual awakening in visitors and an opportunity to experience stillness. 

Accommodation

At the woodacre center, there are separate buildings assigned for sleeping, meditating and dining located a short distance apart. In total they can offer their service to about 96 residents at a time. There are single and double rooms with basic amenities such as storage, chair, beddings, towels. However, the bathroom and toilet are shared on each floor of the buildings.

Food

The visitors have appreciated the vegetarian meals served in the dining halls of Spirit rock, woodacre. The meals are divided into three large meals every day i.e. breakfast, lunch and light dinner. If you want to snack apart from these meals, the halls are open the remainder of the time for tea.

Meditation learning

At the spirit rock center, they offer the meditation practice of buddha and the teachings of buddha. You can indulge yourself in Buddhist psychology and get trained on deepening your dharma practices.

Yoga Classes

If you also want to engage in Yoga activities while you are in the retreat center, there are some programs such as Dharma Yoga and meditation center which go on from a few months to as long as a year. With their yoga program you can practice various asana, pranayam, body anatomy along with other learnings of buddhism. These programs will also provide you a certification which you can use to become a yoga teacher.

Other Activities

If you are lesser known to the world of meditation, you can first get involved in their day programs where you will be guided into meditational practices. You can also get involved in the “Dharma Talk” program where you will hear from the professionals about buddhism and its teaching. Some of the variations of meditation programs offered here are eating, walking and sitting meditation.

Cost

The cost for a non-residential day program at Spirit rock starts at a minimum of $105 per person. Some programs will cost you up to $4000 for a nine day program but you can also opt for other rooms which will be of lower costs. If the minimum fee is too high for you, you can also opt in for their volunteer program and qualify to participate or else you can also apply for scholarships.

Internet/communication

You are advised to leave your phone during the retreat at the Spirit rock center and not use any form of communication or technology. If someone wants to communicate with you, they have a landline number that can be reached to.

Features

1. Open to all self-identified LGBTQIA+
2. Family programs for teens and young adults
3. Yoga
4. Credit courses programs
5. Vegetarian Meal
6. Scholarships and volunteer programs
7. Non smoking rooms

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What kind of retreat programs are offered at the Spirit rock center?

They offer meditation, yoga and dharma talk programs that are a few hours long up to a few years long. These are offered based upon your eligibility and experience as a meditator.

How much does a meditation retreat cost?

The retreat fee ranges from about a $105 for a day program to about $17000 at a maximum for a 6 day course. You can choose the cost range depending on your ability to pay.

What do you do at a retreat center?

At the Spirit rock woodacre center you can come to release all your stress and enjoy the benefit of being in a peaceful environment with professionals that can guide you to work on your inner self.

How long will the retreat last?

Depending on the program that you have undertaken, the retreat could last any number of days or months. You can also extend your retreat with consultation.

What should I bring to the spiritual retreat?

You are recommended not to pack technology except your phone. Pack the clothing you will require for your retreat as laundry service is only available for retreats longer than two weeks.

Best things about  Spirit Rock, Woodacre

Many people might assume that you need to get out of the country and visit a South Asian temple of monastery where they can finally find peace and serenity. But if you visit Woodacre center in the bay area, you might not have to travel too far. You don’t need to enroll yourself for the week or month long program in the beginning.

The fee structure is also a sliding scale which allows the visitors to pay according to their comfort and affordability for the programs. People who might not be able to pay are also allowed volunteering or scholarship opportunities. You can also take a beginner course for a day or two. The area is neatly kept and maintained by the enthusiastic staff.

What can be improved?

The retreat center spans across an area of 400 acres in land. However, the accommodation is only available for about 90 people everyday. This results in the need for reservation a long time prior than the actual stay. It might cause people to cancel before their stay if they book a long time prior and something else comes up.