Find refuge in the redwoods at Pema Osel Ling, a Tibetan Buddhist retreat center nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Away from distractions and demands, you will be guided to connect with yourself more deeply and to remember who you really are. With practices designed to tap you into the wisdom of your body and heart, you will chart your path inward and make your way home to yourself. 

Choose from an abundance of guided practices including Yoga Nidra, Conscious Connected Breathwork, walking meditation, and, of course, your yoga practice. You will also have the opportunity to take time for yourself to walk, journal, meditate, gather in community, or visit the statue of the Buddha Padmasambhava.

Over the course of this weekend, surrounded by nature and sacred spaces, with the support of a like minded community, you will drop into what matters most. Guided by your deepest wishes, you will begin 2024 with a quiet mind and clear intention.

We are very excited to take you to Pema Osel Ling, a Tibetan Buddhist retreat center nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Accommodations are spread among 104 acres and include cozy cabins, a spacious hillside house with vaulted ceilings and wraparound deck, and the centrally located Sangha House, which faces the pond and has ADA accessible lodging.

The story of Pema Osel Ling (Lotus Land of Clear Light) begins in 1984 when Lama Tharchin Rinpoche, an accomplished Tibetan Buddhist Lama (teacher) of the Nyingma tradition, came to America. In 1988 he founded the non-profit Vajrayana Foundation to preserve the spiritual, cultural, and artistic traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.

By 1990, the Foundation had outgrown its small center and began searching for another home. Lama Tharchin quickly recognized the special beauty of the land that has both redwood groves and panoramic views. With generous support, the Foundation was able to purchase the property and Pema Osel Ling was born.

The pristine redwood setting, with views of the Monterey Bay, offers a place of refuge and renewal for guests throughout the year. A wide variety of people, from all faiths and backgrounds, choose to visit and stay at Pema Osel Ling, in support of our mission to cultivate the Buddhist ideals of peace and compassion.

Pema Osel Ling is also home to a shrine with a 20-foot statue of the Buddha Padmasambhava, three reliquary stupas, and other traditional Tibetan art work created on the land. During the retreat, you are invited to stroll down the redwood and madrone forest trail to our Stupa World Peace Park, where you will see a truly unique spiritual monument. 

Please note:

Pema Osel Ling requests that their guests follow rules of conduct in accordance with their spiritual practice. These include: no smoking on the land; no abuse of drugs; no use or threat of physical violence; no propagation of misguided racial or sexual attitudes, abuse, or harassment.  

Gillian Hull (E-RYT 500, C-IAYT) credits the deep, internal practice of yoga with supporting her during a long illness and recovery, teaching her patience, determination, and compassion. She finds joy in offering multidimensional classes that give students many ways to explore self and connection, weaving yoga philosophy, breath, mudra, and mantra into the structure provided by the physical practice. Ultimately, she hopes students will use the time on the mat to honor their own experiences and learn more about themselves.

Supporting students as they learn to connect with themselves is the foundation of Gillian’s teaching. She loves to teach beginners in class and in workshops, to watch walls come down for students of all experiences at retreats, and to support new teachers as they learn their craft and connect with themselves more deeply. She joined the faculty at Square One’s 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2023 and looks forward to many more hours of discovery and empowerment.

Gillian trained in Raja Yoga at Niroga Institute for both her 200-hour and Yoga Therapy certifications, where she learned trauma-informed practices and an emphasis on mindfulness, breath, and awareness. She has had the privilege to teach in a variety of settings, including serving elementary and middle-school children in the classroom and after school, cancer survivors at Herrick Cancer Center in Berkeley, and those in recovery from addiction.

Katy Cryer, MS, ERYT500, has been practicing yoga since 2002 and teaching since 2008. She incorporates elements from a wide range of styles, from classical hatha yoga to  modern vinyasa to create classes that are accessible, yet challenging and enjoyable for a broad range of students. A lifelong student of yoga, Katy brings her knowledge of philosophy, anatomy, and breath to every class. She is the author of Yoga for Addiction: Using Yoga and the Twelve Steps to Find Peace in the Present Moment and the founder of Square One Yoga, a small chain of community yoga centers in the Bay Area. Her primary teaching goal is to guide students to develop an embodiment practice that brings them joy and leads to healing, awareness, and a feeling of wholeness.