Residential Retreats
Residential Retreat with John and Christiane Prendergast
March 23 – 27
“The Heart and Ground of Being”
Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, Stockbridge, Mass.
Residential Retreat with John and Christiane Prendergast
April 14 – 18
Schlüßhoff, Lychen, Germany
June 2 - 6, 2025
Mount Madonna Retreat Center, Ca.
"The Heart and Ground of Being"
Tuition: $400 (paid via PayPal)
Food and housing costs are separate (see details below).
You will be sent a link to housing reservation instructions with your email confirmation.
Details of 2025 Mount Madonna Retreat
Check in: 3:00–5:00 pm Monday, June 2nd
Check out: Noon Friday, or after lunch, June 6th
Daily Meeting Schedule: 9:30 a.m. – noon, 2:45 – 5:15, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Meals: Vegetarian only, with dairy and gluten-free options.
Participation Requirements
Once registered, you must arrange for housing with Mount Madonna Center.
Please arrive on time for retreat (3:00-5:00 p.m. on the first day) and stay at the retreat site through the end of retreat (noon on the last day, or 1:30 pm if you choose to stay for lunch).
By registering for this retreat, you agree to:
Pay the $400. tuition fee.
Pay for housing. See housing information below.
You will be sent housing reservation instructions with your email confirmation.
You must accept whatever housing is available (your top choices are not guaranteed).
Stay at the retreat site for the duration of the retreat; there is NO commuter option
Arrive on time (3:00-5:00 pm on the first day) and stay until the end of retreat (lunch on the last day).
Be willing to participate in complete silence outside of scheduled meetings.
You are 18 years old or older
COVID-19 Precautions
To ensure the health and safety of all guests and staff, we ask that you perform an at-home COVID-19 antigen test, to be taken 24-48 hours prior to arriving at the retreat site. If your result is positive, please do not attend.
Tuition Fee: $400.
You must first pay the tuition and be registered for the retreat in order to reserve housing. We will send you reservation instructions once your registration has been confirmed.
Tuition-only Scholarships Available:
A limited number of tuition scholarships for $400. are available. Contact: Johnprendergast@comcast.net
If you register, you will not be eligible to receive a tuition scholarship.
Housing Fee: payable directly to Mount Madonna Center
Housing options include single and multi-bed rooms, cabins, cottages, yurts, personal vehicle camping and tent camping. While some options include an ensuite bathroom, most have shared bathrooms. Please do not contact Mount Madonna Center until your retreat registration has been confirmed by us.
Total Cost for 4 Nights:
Single: $916 - $1,276 (There are a limited number of single rooms available on a first come, first serve basis. We recommend that you register for these immediately. )
Doubles: $796 - $956
Triples: $636
Quadruples: $595
Van or Tent Camping: $396.
Click here for a detailed rate sheet with additional housing information
Prices above are per person and include four nights of lodging and vegetarian meals. There is no “commuter” option for this retreat—please stay on site for the entire retreat. We cannot guarantee the cost and availability of your housing preference. For the best choice of housing options, make your reservation with us early.
What to bring and leave behind
Do bring:
Layered clothing for all types of weather along with good hiking shoes to explore the beautiful forests and meadows.
Loose-fitting, comfortable clothing for two daily sessions of gentle body movement and sensing.
Earplugs (if sharing a room).
Don’t bring:
Drugs or alcohol
Scented products
Address & Website
Mount Madonna Center
445 Summit Road
Watsonville, CA 95076
https://mountmadonna.org/
Transportation to Mount Madonna Center
Air Transportation
The local airport nearest Mount Madonna is the San Jose International Airport (SJC) which is one hour away. Visit http://www.flysanjose.com for more information.
The San Francisco Airport (SFO) is also an option, although it is farther away (2 to 3 hours, depending on traffic). www.flysfo.com
When making flight arrangements for retreat, keep in mind that you must arrive on time (during registration on the first day) and stay through the end of retreat. In order to accomplish this, we recommend flying in no later than 1:30 pm (Pacific Time) on the first day of retreat and departing no earlier than 4:00 pm on the last day. If necessary, consider arriving a day early and/or leaving the day after retreat ends.
Driving Directions, Transportation, and Shuttle Services
WE DO NOT RECOMMEND RELYING ON GPS to locate Mount Madonna Center. Some online maps may route you on roads that are undeveloped and sometimes impassable. Detailed driving directions and answers to most of your transportation questions can be found on Mount Madonna’s Directions and Transportation page, along with a list of potential shuttle services.
IMPORTANT: Uber/Lyft are not consistent or reliable options, due to the remote location of Mount Madonna Center.
Staying Extra Nights
If you need to stay extra nights at the center before or after the retreat, please call Mount Madonna Center directly for availability: 408-846-4090.
Cancellation Policies
Tuition Fee – John and Christiane Prendergast
Cancel on or before May 25, 2025: Full Refund, less $50.00 cancellation fee
Cancel on or after May 26 2025: No Refund
Housing Fee - Mount Madonna Center
Cancel on or before May 4th, 2025: Fully refundable
Cancel between May 5th and May 25th, 2025: 50% refund
Cancel on or after May 26th, 2025: No Refund
Mount Madonna Center’s full Cancellation Policy can be found here.
To cancel your registration, contact johnprendergast@comcast.net
To cancel your housing, you must contact Mount Madonna Center directly.
In the highly unlikely event that this event cannot take place due to an Act of God or other unforeseeable reason, we are committed to refunding your tuition fee in full. Please familiarize yourself with the cancellation or refund policy.