Art of Living Silent Retreat – Silence in the Black Forest with Meditation, Breathing Techniques, and Yoga

4.9 (80 Reviews) · Oppenau, Germany
View all pictures

Summary

Embark on a journey of self-discovery, far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Immerse yourself in an oasis of peace and serenity within.

The Art of Living Silence Retreat creates the perfect conditions for you to reconnect with yourself and recover from the stresses and challenges of daily life. The days are carefully planned so that you can simply sit back, relax, and turn your attention inward.

When we turn our senses inward, our thoughts come to rest, we recharge our energy, and find true relaxation. The external silence supports the journey toward mental and emotional calm, and we reach the space of inner silence from which all transformation occurs.

Your overactive mind slows down, and you discover a new dimension within yourself. In this space of purity, limiting beliefs, regrets, and worries dissolve effortlessly. You find a new approach to life’s challenges.

Time spent in silence allows you to return to your life feeling grounded and centered. You discover a joy that remains untouched by external circumstances. You feel revitalized and refreshed, ready to tackle your tasks with greater focus and joy.

At the Silence Retreat, you will experience yoga in its most authentic form:
- Raja Yoga – Deep meditations
- Sudarshan Kriya™ Yoga – Powerful breathing techniques
- Hatha Yoga – Asanas & Mudras
- Gyana Yoga – Vedic knowledge
- Karma Yoga – Seva
(You can find more details about the content below in the course outline.)

The retreat is led by experienced instructors. Britta, Elke, Eva, Petra, or Tatiana will lovingly guide you through the week. Even during periods of silence, you’ll have the opportunity to write down your questions—whether personal, knowledge-related, or organizational—and they will be answered.

From the retreat, you’ll take home a powerful and comprehensive practice of Hatha Yoga, breathing techniques, and meditation that can be easily integrated into your daily life. The instructors will be there for you even after the retreat if you have any questions. Additionally, we offer regular practice sessions in small groups online as well as in-person in many cities across Germany.

The retreat at a glance

The most important facts in a nutshell:

Categories
Monastery Retreats, Silent Retreats, Silence Retreats, Meditation, Breathwork, Detox Retreats, Digital Detox
Language(s)
English, German
Level
Expert, Advanced, Beginner
Place
Oppenau, Germany
Accommodation
Overnight stay included
Catering
Full board
Types of food
Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Organic, Vegan, Vegetarian
Services
  • Daily practice of pranayamas and Sudarshan Kriya™

  • Daily Q&A sessions

  • Interactive exercises to prepare for silence

  • Personalized guidance from experienced instructors

  • Handout with instructions for home use

  • Support in continuing the exercises after the retreat

  • Access to weekly online practice sessions following the retreat

  • Wi-Fi in the lounge area (limited cellular coverage)

  • A 2–3-day guided retreat with 2–4 meditation sessions per day (depending on the length of the course)

  • Shuttle service to and from the Oppenau train station

  • Parking for visitors arriving by car

  • Treatments can be booked at the affiliated Ayurvedic wellness center, subject to availability

  • The colorful garden with its pond and the surrounding nature are perfect for a stroll

  • The fireplace in the lounge creates a cozy, warm atmosphere on colder days

  • Two 15- to 30-minute yoga sessions a day

  • Vedic Knowledge Sessions featuring videos by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Accommodation

Das Art of Living Zentrum Bad Antogast liegt in einem Hochtal in Oppenau, umgeben von Wanderwegen und der üppigen Vegetation des Schwarzwaldes. Die tiefe Ruhe wird nur von den sanften Klängen der Bäche und dem Vogelgezwitscher unterbrochen.

Das Zentrum besticht durch seinen einzigartigen architektonischen Charme, der von seiner Vergangenheit als berühmtem Heilbad flüstert. Die heute noch nutzbare Heilwasserquelle zog einst Zar Alexander II., Fürsten und Prinzessinnen an.

Seit 30 Jahren ist Bad Antogast das europäische Zentrum der Art of Living und somit ein Ort der Entspannung und Erholung, der sofort ein Gefühl von Zuhause vermittelt. Es wird von einer engagierten Gemeinschaft bewirtschaftet, die sich um die Retreat-Gäste aus aller Welt und das ayurvedische Kurzentrum kümmert.

Environmentally friendly
Free parking
Free Wi-Fi
Multilingual staff
Parking lot
Smoke-free property
Wireless internet
Dining area
Fireplace
Kitchen
Lobby
Garden
Meditation garden
Picnic area
Terrace

Rooms

  • Einzelzimmer mit Bad
  • Einzelzimmer mit Bad
  • Einzelzimmer mit Bad
  • Einzelzimmer mit Bad
  • Einzelzimmer mit Bad

Einzelzimmer mit Bad

from $920 / person

Die hellen, gemütlichen Zimmer bieten einen schönen Blick in die Natur. Ausgestattet sind sie mit Bett, Kleiderschran...

Book
  • Einzelzimmer mit Gemeinschaftsbad
  • Einzelzimmer mit Gemeinschaftsbad
  • Einzelzimmer mit Gemeinschaftsbad

Einzelzimmer mit Gemeinschaftsbad

from $802 / person

Die hellen, gemütlichen Zimmer bieten einen schönen Blick in die Natur. Ausgestattet sind sie mit Bett, Kleiderschran...

Book

Catering

Meals are prepared fresh on-site using vegetarian ingredients in accordance with Ayurvedic principles. A light breakfast featuring fruit, granola, porridge, homemade bread, various spreads, and tea gives you the perfect start to the day. The meals, made primarily from organic ingredients, are lovingly prepared.

Tea, drinking water, and fruit are available at all times.

Special dietary needs can be accommodated upon request.

sequence

Course Sessions:

Day 1:
Evening Session: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM (Introduction to Sudarshan Kriya™ Yoga)

Day 2:
Morning Session: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Afternoon session: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Starting on Day 3:
Morning session: 7:00 AM – 8:15 AM
Morning session: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Silence begins on Day 3)
Afternoon session: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Evening session: 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Starting on the 4th day:
Additional 30-minute Karma Yoga session

Last day:
Morning session: 7:00 AM – 8:15 AM (End of silence)
Morning session: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
The retreat ends with lunch

Please note that there may be minor changes to the schedule

Meals:
Breakfast 8:15 AM
Lunch 1:00 PM
Dinner 6:00 PM

At the Silence Retreat, you will experience yoga in its most authentic form:

Raja Yoga – Meditations
With the meditations specially developed by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for the Silence Course, you can release deep-seated emotions and past impressions and experience inner peace.

Sudarshan Kriya™ Yoga – Breathing Techniques
Sudarshan Kriya™ is a powerful breathing technique that uses specific breathing rhythms to purify the body at the cellular level of accumulated stress and tension, enabling greater mental clarity and serenity.

Hatha Yoga
- Asanas: You will learn gentle yoga exercises (asanas) suitable for all levels—whether beginner or advanced. You will take home three effective yoga sequences: the Art of Living Hatha Basic Yoga Series, the Padma Sadhana sequence, and the classic Sun Salutation.

- Mudras: You will learn various mudras. Mudras are subtle techniques that direct prana (life energy) to specific areas of the body, supplying them with fresh life energy.

Gyana Yoga - Vedic Knowledge
Practical Vedic knowledge for navigating the storms of daily life: We explore the connection between chakras and emotions and learn how to manage difficult emotions and break negative emotional cycles.

Karma Yoga - Seva
Seva is an active, selfless contribution to the community. It calms restlessness in body and mind and facilitates deeper meditation. The short Seva sessions bring calm to everyday activities, making it easier to integrate stillness into daily life after the retreat.

Bhakti Yoga - Resting in the Self
Unconditional love resides within all of us and is our true nature. Carefully designed processes and time spent in silence allow you to perceive this deep love within yourself.

Arrival

By car:
Take the A5 highway from Frankfurt to Karlsruhe to Basel and exit at Appenweier. Follow the B28 road toward Oberkirch and Freudenstadt until you reach Oppenau. In Oppenau, take the third exit at the roundabout and continue straight ahead through the historic archway of the city gate. Then turn right and drive over the bridge. After 500 meters, turn right again toward Maisach - Bad Antogast.

If you’re using a GPS, enter Bad Antogast 1, 77728 Oppenau.

By train:
Select Oppenau Bahnhof or Oppenau Post as your destination station. From Oppenau, you can book our shuttle service.

By plane:
The nearest airports are Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden (FKB), Frankfurt (FRA), Strasbourg (SXB), and Stuttgart (STR). From there, you can either rent a car or take public transportation to Oppenau. It’s about a two-hour drive from Frankfurt and Stuttgart airports, about 1.5 hours from Strasbourg Airport, and about 1 hour from Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport. From Oppenau, you can book our shuttle service.

Bad Antogast 1, 77728 Oppenau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

4.9

80 Reviews

Rating snapshot

5 stars
75
4 stars
5
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0

I spontaneously booked the Art of Living Silence Retreat – Silence in the Black Forest with meditation, breathing techniques, and yoga in Oppenau – and it truly exceeded my expectations. The course leader and her colleague guided us through the week in a very pleasant, calm, and humorous manner. From the very beginning, one felt welcomed and well-supported. Despite the silence, it was never boring – the program with meditation, breathing techniques, and yoga was very varied and enriching. The week went by incredibly quickly, and I was able to deeply relax, switch off, and recharge my energy. Thank you for this wonderful time in the Black Forest. I can really recommend this retreat to anyone who wants to find peace and do something good for themselves.

Nikita Müller

Verified review

I can only recommend such a deceleration from everyday life to everyone. The silence was a luxury. Every day was a luxury, even if it was mentally demanding at first. Great cuisine, super friendly staff, cozy house, and beautiful, clean, simple rooms.

Charlotte Streithoff

Verified review

The retreat was an indescribably wonderful experience. It opened many doors for me, I processed a lot, it showed me how beautiful and intense feeling can be, and I met people who understood me. This experience was unforgettable, heartfelt thanks to the whole team.

Ina Fuchs

Verified review

A wonderful experience that I will definitely repeat. From arrival to departure, it exceeded my expectations in every area. The friendliness, the respectful and warm interaction among the staff is directly transferred to the guests. The yoga and meditation exercises were very impressive. The accommodation in the single room was brilliant, and the food was a dream! I can give 11 out of 10 points without hesitation!!! Thank you to the entire team.

Tanja Sönmez

Verified review

An intensive, versatile and very valuable retreat. If you get involved, you can experience a wonderful transformation.

Martin Schumacher

Verified review

I took part in the silent retreat because I wanted to overcome a life crisis. The days at Art of Living were a journey to myself and I was helped to deal better with stress.

Annelie Köhler

Verified review

Cancellation policy

Full refund up to 1 days before arrival.
After this, the booking is non-refundable.

Dates

Similar Retreats

View more Monastery Retreats

🛡️ Price guarantee ✅ Verified provider 💬 Quick response

$802 / 5 Days

4.9 (80 Reviews)
Send Booking Request