Seva Retreats
Come Not Only to Experience Life Here—But to Help Sustain It
For centuries, life in traditional Ashrams has been carried forward through Seva—service, offered with care, to whatever the day requires.
Across 140 acres, twenty buildings, miles of forest trail, and the firewood a Maine winter requires, caring for this place is a rewarding part of the Ashram’s daily practice.
In Yoga, Sevā is the practice of offering one’s effort in service of something beyond oneself. Seva Retreats invite you into that practice through tending the land, sustaining an off-grid life, and sharing in the quiet joy of useful work done together.
Seva
Service offered with care, attention, and a willingness to contribute where one is needed. In the Ashram tradition, it has always sat alongside meditation and study as a practice in its own right.
A Different Kind of Retreat
Participation at the center
Meaningful work, shared responsibility, and direct participation in the life of the land shape a Seva Retreat. Each period of work sits inside a wider rhythm — practice, silence, walking meditation, and simple meals.
Residents guide the work, but much of what's learned comes from the work itself: how to stay steady, attentive, and fully in the task at hand.
Strength placed in service of what is needed. Bhavani carries boards for the new deck.
Many hands and many skills sustain this place. Volunteers come from across the country to share in its care.
Ordinary care becomes an offering. Weeding the garden around one of the many shrines at the heart of the Ashram.
The Rhythm
Work, practice, and silence held together
Morning and evening practice frame the day. The hours between are given to whatever the Ashram most needs.
View a Sample Retreat Schedule →
What Seva May Include
Work shaped by the needs of the Ashram
Seva changes with the season. It may mean tending gardens, clearing trails, stacking firewood, preparing shared spaces, painting, organizing supplies, or building. It could be many small tasks part of the Ashram’s daily function or joining larger projects underway.
Some of it is quiet and detailed. Some of it is physical and outdoors. Tasks are matched to what's needed and to each guest's own capacity and experience.
The Practice
A simple rhythm that supports the work
Each day is framed by practice — a guided thirty-minute session or time for personal practice to begin, guided walking meditation through the day, and a guided evening meditation or quiet personal practice to close it. Together, these periods steady attention, regulate effort, and bring greater care to body and mind within the work itself.
Choose Your Retreat
Two ways to enter the weekend
Both retreats include two nights of simple accommodation, nourishing meals, daily practice, and guided walking meditation. What differs is how much of the weekend is given to Seva.
Full Seva Retreat
$54 – Friday evening to Sunday aft. or eve.
A more work-centered stay, for those who want to give a larger share of the weekend to what the Ashram needs. Includes everything in the Seva Retreat, with roughly ten hours of Seva across the weekend.
Best suited to guests comfortable with sustained physical work, able to stay engaged and productive without continual supervision. Tasks are guided by residents, not closely supervised. Placement is confirmed through the application process.
Seva Retreat
$108 – Friday evening to Sunday afternoon
A balanced weekend of service, practice, and time within the quiet rhythm of the Ashram. Guests take part in roughly six hours of Seva across the weekend, with time left for reflection, personal practice, and the land.
Two nights of accommodation
Friday dinner
Juice or smoothie and two meals Saturday
Juice or smoothie and lunch Sunday
Daily guided or independent practice
Guided walking meditation
Guided evening meditation or personal practice
Approx. six hours of Seva
Departure by 4:00 p.m. Sunday
Unsure which option is appropriate? Choose the one that seems closest; we’ll help confirm the best fit through the application process.
Individual Arrangements
Extended Seva may be arranged
Those wishing to stay longer than a weekend, or whose schedule does not align with an upcoming Seva Retreat, may apply for an extended retreat. Rhythm, contribution, and length are arranged individually — generally best suited to returning guests, or those whose skills and capacity we already know. Contact Jaya at (207) 578-8227.
Who This Is For
A willingness to participate fully
Seva Retreats suit those comfortable with physical work, able to stay engaged without constant direction, and willing to follow the rhythm and needs of the Ashram as they arise. No particular skill is required for every kind of Seva.
There is no separate version of the Ashram made for Seva guests. You enter the same rhythm of meals, silence, practice, land, and daily care that shapes life here. For a few days, you help carry it.
Plan Your Stay
The Essentials
Duration: Friday – Sunday
Friday evening through Sunday afternoon. Longer stays may be arranged; exceptions considered for those unable to come on weekends.
Our Process
Three steps, and you are welcomed in
II. Apply
Tell us about you
Share who you are, what kind of work you're comfortable doing, and why you'd like to join.
III. Interview
A resident follows up
To discuss the work, confirm which retreat fits, set your dates, and answer questions.