Mount Madonna, California

Accommodations at Mount Madonna Center in the Heart of California

Omega is pleased to offer the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Professional Training at the Mount Madonna Center, a conference and retreat center in Watsonville, located on 355 acres of mountain-top redwood forest and grassland overlooking Monterey Bay, between Santa Cruz and Monterey, in Northern California.

Accommodation options range from single, double (with private or shared bath), dorm, and economy rooms. All beds are twin size. Rooms do not have phones or televisions. Meals are included in housing rates. Rates do not include course tuition. Commuter Fee is required only for those not staying in Mount Madonna accommodations. For more information, please call Omega Registration: 877.944.2002 (845.266.4444 outside the United States).

Single Room With Private Bath  
Simple private room in hotel-style building (no phones or televisions in rooms) with private bath.

Double Room With Private Bath 
Simple Double Occupancy room in hotel-style building (no phones or televisions in rooms) with private bath. Register with a companion, or a same gender roommate will be assigned to you.

Double Room With Shared Hall Bath
Simple Double Occupancy room in a hotel-style building (no phones or televisions in rooms) with a gender specific shared (private while in use) hall bath with multiple shower stalls, toilets, sinks & mirrors. Register with a companion, or a same gender roommate will be assigned to you.

Triple Room With Shared Hall Bath
Simple Triple Occupancy room in a hotel-style building (no phones or televisions in rooms) with a gender specific shared (private while in use) hall bath with multiple shower stalls, toilets, sinks & mirrors. Register with a companion, or a same gender roommate will be assigned to you.

Tent/Van
Developed campsites, for your own tent, with good drainage and access to showers and privies, are available year round. Please be aware that we can receive significant amounts of rain from November through May.
Various spots are available for your own van, camper or other vehicle. Some have access to electricity, but no other hookups. Showers and restrooms are available in campgrounds and Center buildings.

Commuter/Facility Fee
Commuters stay offsite and drive in daily. Please be aware that this program has long hours, running from 6 a.m.-9:30/10 p.m. most days. The commuter fee includes all meals, and facility use.

Amenities

Amenities include hiking trails, volleyball, tennis, and basketball courts, a pond for swimming, a hot tub, a gymnasium for volleyball and basketball, and bodywork at the Kaya Kalpa Wellness Center.

Travel to Mount Madonna

Arrival

The MBSR program with Florence Meleo-Meyer and Lone Overby Fjorback begins on Friday evening. Check-in begins at 2:00 p.m. You will receive your housing assignment when you check in.

Travel to Mount Madonna

The Mount Madonna Center is located in Northern California, approximately 2 hours driving time south of San Francisco.

By Car
Please note: Mount Madonna advises you to follow the directions provided below rather than using Google, Yahoo, MapQuest, or GPS.

From Highway 1 on the Coast:
Take Highway 1 to Watsonville, Airport Blvd exit. Go approximately 3 miles on Airport Blvd, then turn left onto Highway 152 East. At the top of the mountain, turn left into Mount Madonna County Park (Pole Line Road). (*continue below)

From Highway 101 Inland:
Take Highway 152 West at Gilroy. Go approximately 10 miles through Gilroy (there are several turns; follow signs for 152 West) and go up the mountain. At the top of the mountain take a very sharp right into Mount Madonna County Park (Pole Line Road).(*continue below)

*Continue on the main road until you come to a stop sign near a very large tree. Go straight at the stop sign; at this point Pole Line Road turns into Summit Road, and you have left the park. Begin looking for signs for the Mount Madonna Center on your left. The center is 1 1/2 miles after the park on the left (445 Summit Road). There is a gate that requires a security code. The code will be emailed to you before the workshop.

By Air
From the San José Airport (recommended airport):
The Mount Madonna Center is 1 1/2 hours from the San José airport. There are several options for
getting to Mount Madonna from the San José airport:
• Contact Omega Reservations at 877.944.2002 to register for Omega’s shuttle service.
• Greyhound bus service to either Watsonville or Gilroy. Taxi from here to Mount Madonna. Watsonville and Gilroy are 12 miles (25 minutes) from Mount Madonna.
• Atlas Express, 888.467.0000, or Silicon Valley Airporter, 650.869.4476, provides door-to-door transportation.
• Mount Madonna Center drivers may also be available at a lower cost than a taxi. If you would like information, call the Mount Madonna Center at 408.847.0406, ext. 202, or email [email protected].

From the San Francisco Airport
The Mount Madonna Center is 2 hours from the San Francisco airport. To get from the airport to the Center:
• Greyhound bus service to either Watsonville or Gilroy. Taxi from here to Mount Madonna. Watsonville and Gilroy are 12 miles (25 minutes) from Mount Madonna.
• The San Francisco airport also offers shuttles to the San José airport, from which there are several options for getting to Mount Madonna.

What to Bring

It is important that you bring the following:

• Warm comfortable clothing (for cool nights and mornings)
• Towels (Mount Madonna does not provide towels)
• Flashlight
• Alarm clock
• Shoes (for a rural setting)
• Slippers for indoors (shoes are left in lobbies)
• Wet weather gear
• Bathing suit (for hot tub)
• Meditation cushion (please bring your own if you are able to)

Mount Madonna supplies shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion in all showers.

More About Mount Madonna

Meals

All meals are vegetarian. Vegan and gluten free options are readily available. No meat, fish, poultry, eggs, or alcohol are permitted on Mount Madonna property. No food may be brought to the center. To be assured of a complete fresh hot meal, guests must arrive within the first half hour of mealtime. Please check onsite for meal schedule.

Weather

The weather can be quite variable during this time of the year, so bring a variety of clothing including items for wet weather. Nights can be cool; it can drop to 40 degrees and days can be in the high 70s.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi Internet connection is available in the conference center and community building.

Massage

Mount Madonna’s Kaya Kalpa Wellness Center offers bodywork services by appointment. For more information, please call 408.847.3276 and leave a message.

Mount Madonna Rules

1. Quiet hours are observed from 9:00 p.m.–breakfast. Activities may continue during quiet hours as long as they proceed quietly.
2. Food may not be brought to Mount Madonna. In particular, meat, fish, poultry, or eggs are not permitted on the property.
3. Nudity is not permitted where visible to the public. Bathing suits are required in hot tub.
4. Pets, illegal drugs, and alcohol are not allowed on the property. Smoking is allowed only in the courtyard of the Conference Center.
5. No adjustments will be made for missed meals or missed days.
6. No scented body products.
7. No candles, incense, or open flames.

Check Out

Workshops end at 11:30 a.m. on Friday; room check-out time is subject to change.

Payment
Payment for programs at Mount Madonna is due in full upon registration to Omega Institute.

Contact Information

If you have any questions about payments, reservations, cancellations, CEs, or accommodations, please call Omega Registration at 877.944.2002. Please do not contact Mount Madonna, as they will not be able to assist you.

Omega Registration
Phone: Call toll free 877.944.2002 (US) or 845.266.4444 (International)
Fax: 845.266.3769
Email: [email protected]