Relax and Rejuvenate
Yogic Living in the Catskill Mountains
Greetings from The Ranch
Welcome to our Catskill Mountain retreat, just two hours from New York City, where we provide an ideal environment for meditation, contemplation, rest and relaxation. The Yoga Ranch is a wonderful, sacred space where guests and students alike can come and discover Yoga’s powerful tools for personal growth.
Come by yourself, bring a friend, or bring your whole family. Come up for a program or even stay for a few! Our volunteer staff is always happy to welcome and assist you in your stay. We look forward to seeing you.
The Daily Schedule
8:00am Hatha Yoga Class
10:00am Vegetarian Brunch
10:45am Karma Yoga
12:00pm Optional Activity
2:00pm Lecture or Free Time
4:00pm Hatha Yoga Class
6:00pm Vegetarian Dinner
8:00pm Satsang
10:30pm Lights out
* Satsang consists of: silent meditation, kirtan/chanting, spiritual lecture
Hatha Yoga Classes
Sivananda Yoga is a traditional, slow paced, meditative class that helps encourage flexibility, strength and vitality in the body while calming the mind. Both the morning and the afternoon Hatha Yoga classes are two hours and suited for all experience levels.
Each class includes pranayama (breathing exercises), warm-ups including Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar), 12 basic asanas (postures) and deep relaxation. The focus is on mastering the basic asanas from which variations are then added to further deepen the practice.
You are welcome to bring your own yoga mat if you wish, although we do have community yoga mats that you are welcome to borrow should you need one. Please avoid wearing low cut or see-through clothing. If you have any injuries or health conditions, please be sure to communicate to our yoga teachers prior to the beginning of class to ensure your safety and to educate you about which variations are nicely suited for you.
A Common Question
“What is ashram appropriate attire?”
Great question. Here’s the quick and easy answer. As the ashram is a spiritual community and place of practice, we simply ask that clothing be respectable and modest. Guests are invited to dress in casual, comfortable clothes suitable for warm days and cool evenings – much like you might at home among friends.
Around the ashram, typical seasonal attire, including shorts, skirts, and summer tops, is completely appropriate (though halter tops, low necklines, and the the less modest alternatives are not). As a general rule of thumb, clothing that covers your shoulders and knees is best, and especially during Satsang.
In Satsang and the temples, knees and shoulders should be covered. We recommend bringing a shawl or wrap. Of course when relaxing in the Russian Sauna, bathing suits are worn. And that’s it. Pretty easy, right? Here’s the local weather forecast to assist you in your planning.
Sauna Information
Our traditional Russian Banya, or wood-burning sauna, is a favorite among guests seeking detoxification, wanting to soothe sore muscles, or simply looking for a warm place for reflection. The panoramic view of the pond and forest as you step inside is ideal for contemplation and deepening the sense of relaxation. There is a rinse-only shower located inside and outside the sauna building. This is a co-ed sauna, so please wear a bathing suit.
Sauna Hours
Saturday & Sunday, 11am – 7pm
Guidelines for your Russian Banya Experience
- Wear a bathing suit.
- Please keep talking to a minimum.
- Drink plenty of fluids before and after your sauna experience.
- Be aware that water and pipes in the sauna are extremely hot. Please use caution when using the showers.
- Once the shower runs for a few moments, the water will become colder.
- If you notice that the sauna heat is low, please notify the staff. Only Yoga Ranch staff is allowed to stock the sauna with wood.
- Take all belongings with you. If you forget something in the sauna, please go to reception and check if it has been brought to our Lost and Found.
- Close the doors and turn off lights when leaving.
The Ashram Boutique
Our onsite boutique offers a vast collection of classical Yoga books from the leading authorities on Yoga – including Swami Sivananda and several of his disciples – as well a wide selection of Yoga music, meditation tools, and other Yoga products to help you deepen your spiritual practice. Enjoy a diverse selection of health food goodies and yoga accessories, including yoga mats and bags, incense, malas (prayer beads), and decorative items for your home altar. We’re easy to find – we’re just to the left of the front desk. If the doors are open, come on in! We love having visitors.
What to Bring
Useful items for your stay include:
- Yoga mat, meditation cushion
- Meditation seat, shawl
- Japa mala (prayer) beads
- Slip-on sandals or slippers (indoor-only)
- Swimsuit
- Rain gear
- Travel mug or tumbler (for hot tea)
- Hiking/walking shoes
- Personal toiletries
- Ear plugs (the ashram is a shared environment)
- Alarm clock
- Flashlight
- Insect repellent
- Water bottle
- For tent space only: bring your own tent, bedding, and towels
Directions
Allow Google Maps to navigate your trip.
Directions Here
Taking the Bus Here
How the Process Works
Traveling to the Ranch by the Shortline bus takes roughly 2.5 hours. The trip requires two bus tickets: one ticket from New York City to Monticello and another ticket from Monticello to Woodbourne (Rt 52 & Riverside Dr). The cost is roughly $34 total for the two tickets ($68 round-trip).
For our guests’ convenience, we happily offer both pickup and drop-off shuttle service from the Firestation bus stop in Woodbourne.
Your initial bus trip purchase from NYC onto Woodbourne can be made at the Port Authority in NYC. Your return bus trip can be purchased there as well, or here – at a 10% discount to what it costs in the City.
Bus schedule from NYC
Bus schedule to NYC
Address & Contact
Sivananda Yoga Ranch
500 Budd Road
Woodbourne, NY 12788
TAP TO CALL US
Ticket & Travel Information
Already made it to the Port Authority? Great. Please visit Coach USA ticket windows 11-15 located on the Main Ticket Plaza (1st floor of the South Wing), and let the bus services ticket agent know you’d like to purchase a bus trip through Monticello onto Woodbourne (two tickets: ~$34).
Once you complete the first leg of the trip and arrive in Monticello, please give us a call to let us know. The next bus ride from Monticello to Woodbourne is a local route, making stops at places like Walmart, the gas station, and the grocery store. Please let the bus driver know that you want to get dropped off at the Citgo gas station in Woodburne; and welcome to life in a small town!
We will be waiting for you at the bus stop. If for any reason you arrive and our shuttle service isn’t there waiting to greet you, please give us a quick call and we will be right there to pick you up.
Flying into New York
Which Airport?
Although there are several airports in the greater New York City area, and they all have shuttle/transit service to New York’s Port Authority, the one we recommend is LaGuardia Airport for its being the easiest in getting to the Port Authority and then taking the bus to the Sivananda Yoga Ranch. Please see above for additional taking the bus details.
Helpful Reminders
The Yoga Ranch is an ashram with a very special spiritual atmosphere. To be here is to share in the practice together, honoring both our highest selves and that of others. In order to truly tap into all the rejuvenating effects of a yoga vacation, we encourage everyone to attend both Satsangs and yoga classes daily. We also ask that silence is observed from 10:30 pm to 6:00 am so that all can have a restful sleep and a peaceful mind before morning Satsang.
The more you can tune in and really soak in the natural peace of our environment and community, the better your body and mind will feel overall. You can begin by detaching from your cell phone, especially during Satsang. If using it as a recording device during the spiritual lecture (as it is a nice way to deepen your learning), just ensure that you have put it into silent/airplane mode and turned off all alarms and noise making apps before leaving your room. Inner peace is an amazing gift to share. Remember the practice.
Please review our Complete Ashram Guidelines, Rules & Policies.
Ashram Etiquette
These guidelines are presented as a tool for maintaining the spiritual atmosphere of the Yoga Ranch. By honoring the spiritual nature, all who come here are able to enjoy introspection, connection, and rejuvenation on all levels of the psyche. We appreciate your willingness to honor these sacred guidelines for the benefit of all.
Ashram Guidelines
We are a Yoga retreat with organized, pre-scheduled activities. Attendance at Satsang (meditation sessions) and asana classes (yogic exercises) is required in order to maintain the proper rhythm and atmosphere of the ashram. If you have special needs that affect your participation, please let us know. Guests with specific physical conditions are also encouraged to inform your yoga teacher so that we may help you modify your practice to what works best for your particular situation.
Please respect the meditation room etiquette: Do not lie down or point your feet towards the altar or teachers, and do not place your feet on the chant books.
Karma Yoga (selfless service) is observed from 11:00 a.m. to noon.
The Yoga Ranch is strictly vegetarian. Meat, fowl, fish, and eggs are not allowed on the grounds. Garlic and onions are also not allowed in the Yogic diet.
No alcohol, drugs, weapons, or tobacco are allowed on the Yoga Ranch grounds.
Given our peaceful environment, loud cell phone conversations and loud music are not allowed. Please be aware of your volume levels.
If you arrive after the start of Satsang (during silent meditation), please remain outside and sit in practice until the singing has begun so as not to disturb the other practitioners. Once the singing begins, please quietly and discreetly find a seat inside with everyone.
We observe silence (mauna) between 10:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Lights out at 10:30 p.m.
Candles and incense may not be burned anywhere on the Yoga Ranch property, except during public ceremonies. Please help us to look out for fire hazards and inform the staff if a fire or hazard is observed. In case of fire, please meet by the Peace Pole. DO NOT leave the property.
In case of medical emergency, please contact a staff member or receptionist. Health insurance is each guest’s responsibility.
Enjoy nature’s beauty, but please respect the privacy of our neighbors. Please ask for a map of the grounds, forest trails, and shrines.
Please drive very slowly and courteously for safety sake. Our ashram is family friendly and young children are present.
Parking is available in the main guest parking lot only. You can drive up to the guest rooms and camp grounds to unload your car only.
No dogs, cats, or other pets are allowed on the ashram property.
All animal wildlife should be left alone, even if it is injured. If you do come across an injured animal, let the staff know. We will take appropriate measure.
Please do not hesitate to contact us at yogaranchregistration@sivananda.org should you have any questions at all.
Hear from our guests
What Others Share
- MaheshwariDevi
A sanctuary of healing and spiritual growth!! The perfect place to get away breathe in the fresh Catskill mountain air and recharge in a peaceful, clean, natural environment. I... read more 
1/18/2020amosr606 So happy to have found an authentic Yoga place- with Swami Paramananda as a lead - and a great welcoming attentive team on board that enabled the framework to... read more
1/14/2020 - josefinah898 I went by myself to visit this place for the first time. I thought that taking public transportation would be difficult. It was easy from New York city to... read more
1/07/2020508colleenm It was my first time ever at a place like this. Living in NYC and being new to they city, I found it hard to adapt or feel settled.
12/09/2019 - Michael M Life at the ashram is full of life and positivity. A place where people from all over the world come to better themselves through living a yogic lifestyle. The food... read more
11/05/2019Shankara_Yogi108 Life at the ashram is full of life and positivity. A place where people from all over the world come to better themselves through living a yogic lifestyle. The food... read more
11/05/2019 - amuseinmanhattannyc
4.8 Rating. Love this place. Blogged about it. Went during the summer for a Hike and Yoga Week; returned in the fall for a Positive Thinking workshop.... read more
10/20/2019Theresa Q 4.8 Rating. Love this place. Blogged about it. Went during the summer for a Hike and Yoga Week; returned in the fall for a Positive Thinking workshop.... read more
10/20/2019 - Esther F It’s been actually a few Octobers ago that I stayed at the Sivananda Yoga Ranch as a volunteer for a month. It was an enriching experience in a place where... read more
9/18/2019Zara T I spent over a month at the Ashram for Yoga Teacher training. It is the most wonderful place, and the epitome of peaceful. It is in a beautiful location,... read more
9/13/2019