Non-Residential Programs

Spirit Rock hosts a year round schedule of day & commuter retreats, benefits, evening events and drop in classes. Most programs are suitable for both experienced practitioners and those new to the practice, unless otherwise noted in the program description. Below is a list of frequently asked questions. If you have a question not answered here, call our Front Office at (415) 488-0164, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

FAQs

What should I bring?

• Please bring a lunch for yourself that does not need to be refrigerated.
• Hot water, tea and filtered water are available.
• Bring a water bottle, as well as a mug for tea and whatever utensils you need for lunch. Bringing these items from home helps reduce our trash output and our impact on the land.
• You will be asked to remove your shoes prior to entering the meditation hall. We recommend you wear or bring socks.
• Wear layered clothing as the hall temperature can vary.
• Bring a notepad and pen. Notebooks are also available in our bookstore.

What should I not bring?

• We encourage you to lock your car and keep valuables with you. As our hall space is limited, you might also consider simply not bringing anything you won’t need for the day.
• Please leave your pets at home. If you have a trained service dog who assists you with physical tasks, please let our event staff know you plan to bring your dog so we can accommodate you. Call (415) 488-0164.
• In consideration of all participants, do not wear scented personal care products to Spirit Rock (including "natural" products).

Where do I go when I arrive?
Here is a map of our campus including the Community Meditation Center where most non-residential programs occur. Most days of the year residential retreats are in session in the upper retreat area. Please do not pass the wooden gate, unless staff let you know that there is not a retreat that day.

What seating options are available?
We have both chairs and zafus/zabutons (meditation cushions) available. For programs with larger attendance, seating is mostly or all chairs to accommodate everyone who signs up for the program. If you have your own meditation cushion or bench that you prefer to use, bring it with you. For larger programs we may not be able to accommodate personal seating preferences.  Contact event staff at (415) 488-0164 in advance if you need a special seat due to a medical condition.

Is your facility wheelchair accessible?
Yes.  Please let our Event Staff know if you will arrive in a wheelchair so we can save an easily accessible space for you in the hall. Contact event staff at (415) 488-0164.

Registering for a Program

How do I know what programs you offer?
Our website is the most up-to-date source of program information. In addition, we publish a print newsletter three times a year that lists all of our programs, and we send out weekly email newsletters with information about upcoming events. View an electronic version of the print newsletter here. To be added or taken off our print or electronic mailing lists, contact our Front Office at (415) 488-0164 or email us: SRMC@spiritrock.org.

When should I register for a program?
Programs typically open for registration three months in advance.  Movement programs typically sell out, as do benefit programs and some day retreats. If you would be disappointed not to attend, sign up early. You can register for many programs at the door the day of the event for an additional $5 fee.

How can I register?
Online registration is encouraged. You can register online and pay with a Visa or Mastercard.  We do not accept American Express. Registration can also be made by mail. Send a check made payable to "SRMC" to Spirit Rock, PO Box 169, Woodacre, CA, 94973. Please include the program code on your check and on the outside of your envelope along with your daytime telephone number and email address. Upon receipt of payment, we will send you a confirmation email. You can also call our registrar at (415) 488-0164 and register by phone Monday – Thursday until 3:00pm. Pre-registration for weekend programs closes at noon on Friday.

What can you tell me about non-residential program fees?
Spirit Rock’s intention is to make the teachings we offer accessible to everyone, thus program fees are kept as low as possible. Program fees constitute a portion of Spirit Rock’s operating budget. We rely on the generous donations of our sangha members to support our day-to-day operations. Sliding-scale prices for retreats and day retreats allow Spirit Rock to keep programs affordable for those with limited financial means, while also giving participants the opportunity to make a tax-deductible donation to Spirit Rock at the point of registration (the tax donation is the amount paid above the base rate for most day retreats). For day retreat or commuter (non-residential, multi-day) retreat registrations, your confirmation email is your receipt, please keep it for your records as Spirit Rock will not mail you a separate letter. (Note: residential retreat participants who make sliding-scale donations will receive an acknowledgement letter from Spirit Rock citing the amount of their contribution.) 

• Unlimited scholarships available for most non-residential, day programs. For most programs, scholarships (full or partial) are available. To learn more about scholarship options (or volunteer work trade) for day programs, contact our Volunteer Office.
  
• Volunteer program. Volunteers support every program at Spirit Rock, typically helping 1 hour before and after the event, and attend most programs for free (half contribution for multi-day programs, benefits and special events). To learn more about scholarship options or to offer your time as a volunteer, contact our  Volunteer Office.

Can you explain the sliding scale fee structure?
Spirit Rock offers programs on a sliding scale fee structure so that offerings are affordable for attendees. The sliding scale fee structure allows you to choose a level of support that works for your financial situation so that you can pay what is financially comfortable for your budget. Those who are able to offer more allows others who are unable to pay the full amount to attend programs/day retreats through our scholarship program. Note: Any fee amount paid above the base fee of the sliding scale may be claimed as a tax-deductible donation to a nonprofit organization to the extent allowed by law. Your confirmation email is your receipt, please keep it for your records, Spirit Rock will not mail a separate letter. The tax id is at the bottom of your confirmation email.

The lowest end of the sliding scale does not work for me. What other options exist?
We have a volunteer program that allows qualified individuals to volunteer at the event they wish to attend or volunteer in another department at Spirit Rock and accrue hours towards attending events. Hundreds of people volunteer their time and talents to Spirit Rock each year. We could not operate as we currently do without this support. To find out more contact our Volunteer Coordinator at (415) 488-0164 x 224 or Volunteering@spiritrock.org. 

Volunteering sounds nice, but I don’t have the time. Is there another way to attend?
Yes, we offer scholarships (full or partial) that are a "volunteer work trade" on the day of the program. It is available for most types of non-residential programs, except benefits and special events, and only available for day programs on the land. Contact the Volunteer Coordinator at (415) 488-0164 x 224 or Volunteering@spiritrock.org to apply for a space (they may be limited). 

I can’t come to the event I signed up for, what should I do?
Spirit Rock does not offer refunds for non-residential programs. If you are unable to attend an event, please contacts us by 4:00 pm at least two business days preceding this event to receive a credit. If you don’t contact us prior to this deadline, no credit will be issued. All credits must be used within one year of their date of issue or they are forfeited.  Read more here >

How do I use my open credit?
Credits are not accessible online and will expire after one year from their original issue date. To register for an event using your open credit, please email Registration@spiritrock.org or call (415) 488-0164, at least two business days prior to the event. Please know that you cannot register at the door with an open credit, so plan ahead!

Getting to Spirit Rock

How do I get to Spirit Rock?
Directions and our physical address are listed here.

How far are you from a town?
We are approximately 12 minutes from the town of Fairfax, in the town of Woodacre, CA.

Can I get to Spirit Rock via public transportation?
Yes, but the bus schedule here is limited. Visit Marin Transit for more information. As an alternative, we recommend ridesharing. Visit our ridesharing bulletin board to offer or ask for a ride.

What can you tell me about your parking?
We have limited parking and encourage ridesharing as a way of reducing traffic in the San Geronimo Valley area. For larger events ridesharing is required. If ridesharing is required, this information will be included on your confirmation email and/or you will receive a separate email from event staff. We aim to let people know at the time of registration, but sometimes more people register closer to the date of the program and we need to request that people rideshare with at least 2-3 people per car (depending on the size of the event). 

It is a good idea to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the event to give yourself time to park, register and choose a seat. For benefits and other popular events, please allow extra time.

Day Visiting

I am in town for the day, what do you recommend?
At this time, the Spirit Rock campus will remain closed except for participants registered in a programs. Fortunately, we do offer a number of daylong programs in our Community Meditation Center (CMC) throughout the year, where our bookstore resides. Please view our non-residential calendar for programs labeled “On-Land,” which are held in the CMC.

Miscellaneous Questions

Can I spend the night at Spirit Rock?
Only as part of a residential retreat.

Can you recommend a place to stay in the area?
Although Spirit Rock staff have not personally viewed or vetted them, as a courtesy to our out-of-town guests, we suggest you check out these nearby accommodations.

Where can I smoke?
Smoking at Spirit Rock is discouraged but not banned. Please be respectful of others who may be practicing walking meditation on the trails or paved area. You may smoke in your car or in the gravel parking lot. While on retreat there is a smoking hut, but it is in the residential retreat area and only accessible to yogis on retreat.