Dear Divine friends,

We are very happy to welcome you to the annual New Year’s retreat. Here you will find all important information about the retreat and you can register yourself if you wish to attend.

This year our New Year’s Retreat will take place from the 29th of December 2024 to the 4th of January 2025, in a mystic former monastery near Regensburg, in Southern Germany.

WHEN

Start: Monday, 29th of December 2025

End: Sunday, 4th of January 2026

WHERE, HOW TO GET THERE…

Surrounded by tranquil riverside banks, lush gardens, and nearby hiking opportunities, the venue creates a peaceful setting well‑suited for a transformational Y.O.G.A. retreat rooted in Yogananda’s teachings (in full loyalty to SRF). The World‑Heritage city of Regensburg is just 15 km away, offering cultural excursions during breaks.

The address is:

Herder-Kulturzentrum

Klosterstraße 10

93188 Pielenhofen, Germany

​https://www.herder-kulturzentrum.de/

How to get there: The retreat house can be reached from Regensburg by bus line 12. The bus stop is Pielenhofen West. You can find a direct bus information here:
From there, it’s a 2-minute walk to the retreat house.

PROGRAM

Welcome to our Family-Friendly Retreat! We warmly welcome parents and children of all ages 🙂 .

We will experience a retreat together with many other young and young-at-heart souls from all over the world and experience a fulfilling week-long program together as a spiritual family of seekers according to the teachings of the yoga Master Paramahansa Yogananda. Daily meditations, kirtans, inspiring workshops and excursions,  a very special New Year’s Eve ceremony, as well as inspiring conversations with like-minded people will uplift our consciousness. We will nourish not only our souls, but also our bodies and minds — with delicious, sattvic (pure and wholesome) food, light physical activity, and space for spiritual renewal.

This retreat is truly a co-creation — by us and for us. That’s why we welcome anyone who would like to help out and earn a few extra karma points 🙂
You can let us know how you’d like to help when filling out the registration form.


PLEASE  NOTE
Like every other YOGA Retreat, twice daily meditations are the cornerstone of this retreat as well. And so, we expect everyone to try their best to join these morning and evening meditations.
That being said, there will be plenty of time for workshops, excursions and conversations. We will definitely have opportunities for silent moments and long meditations. However, please note, this is NOT a silent, contemplative retreat. For such opportunities, please check out our other YOGA events.

This will give you a sense of how the typical day will be structured. Please note, the actual program will vary slightly. This is a special surprise and will be revealed at the start of retreat 🙂

PLEASE NOTE

  • We encourage you to attend the whole retreat if its possible. This can help to increase the feeling of spiritual community. However it’s also possible to stay for a minimum of  3 nights . Please choose the required option while registering.
  • If you need to cancel your booking close to arrival we have to charge you. The reason is that we have to pay for the accommodation and the food in advance, which means that we will have expenses even if you can’t make it in the end. More details to follow.
  • If you would like to help with the set up for the retreat, you are very welcome to arrive on the 28th of December.
  • The retreat house is a beautiful, historic former monastery and at times, it can feel a little cooler (possibly around 17–20°C). To make sure you’re comfortable throughout your stay, we recommend bringing a few warm clothes — think sweaters, socks, an extra blanket or two etc. With that, you’ll be perfectly at ease and able to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the house 🙂 . A recommended packing list will be shared a few days before the retreat begins.

PRICE

The cost for a 6-night stay in a double room, including delicious vegetarian (lacto-ovo) and vegan meals, with gluten-free options available, is approximately EUR 300 per adult.

Pricing for children:

  • Children aged 6–17 years: Half price

  • Children under 5 years: Free

We understand that financial circumstances can vary, and we want to ensure that everyone can join. If you require a price reduction, please don’t hesitate to contact us at treasurer[at]youthofgoldenage.de.

REGISTRATION

Registration is now open! Please note:

  • Every participant must register themselves. Otherwise, your place is not reserved
  • You are NOT a member of Self Realization Fellowship (SRF/YSS)? Don’t worry, we might still have a place for you :). Please email new-years-retreat@youthofgoldenage.de about your interest before you register.
  • You need to complete your payment before you submit your registration. The registration link below will show you how to pay. In case you would like to discuss your situation, please reach out to new-years-retreat@youthofgoldenage.de. It is our privilege to serve you. 🙂
  • Details about different prices, possibilities of staying in external housing, payment methods, price reductions etc. can be found on the registration form.
  • Registration closes on November 30th, 2025 or when all places are taken.
  • The last date to cancel your registration with a full refund is December 1st, 2025. After this date, your entire registration fee will be forfeited. We thank you for your understanding.

What are you waiting for? It’s time to register! 🙂 . Registration is now closed. See you at the next New Year’s Retreat in Flüeli-Ranft, Switzerland  (Dec 29th, ’26 – Jan 3rd ’27)! Please sign up to our newsletter for more information on our retreats in the new year.

FAQ

What is the New Year’s retreat?

The New Year’s retreat is the main Youth of Golden Age get-together of the year. Since more than 20 years we are celebrating the turn of the year with a week of collective spiritual activities.

During the retreat we do activities together, meditate and practice Yoga techniques according to the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda. Our goal is to combine things of the world with spirituality, to take care of friends, to inspire one another and to celebrate the New year in a very special way.

Can I participate at the New Year’s retreat if I’m older than 40 or 50 years?

Yes! Everyone is invited to YOGA’s events.  The only pre-requisite is a youthfulness of spirit, and an interest in meditation.

How much do I need to pay if I stay for less than 5 nights? Or arrive already on the 28th?

The prices will be reduced by the accomodation and food costs. The prices will be listed in the registration form for the retreat.

If you arrive on the 28th in order to help out with the installations, you will have to pay for the accommodation, but you will get the food for free on that day. Please choose the additional night as well as the normal booking fee while paying if you want this option.

Do I need to nourish myself if I have a food intolerance?

No, we will take your needs into consideration while preparing the meals. Please enter your meal preferences while registering for the retreat. If necessary you may have to explain things about your dietary preferences to the cooking team during the retreat.

AND…

If you have another question, that hasn’t been answered yet, you can send an email to the planning team at new-years-retreat@youthofgoldenage.de

In divine friendship,
Your Planning Team  – Master’s Boys (Sebastian, Hannes, Misha, Roberto)