Silence, the Black Forest way: Bad Antogast

Bad Antogast: the place behind the silence

Not every venue that hosts a retreat is built for retreating. Bad Antogast is different. The Art of Living centre in the Southern Black Forest has been running silent retreats for over three decades, long enough for the rhythm of the place to be shaped by the practice rather than the other way around. The buildings, the grounds, the kitchen and the daily schedule all serve a single purpose: creating the conditions for genuine inner work.

The centre sits in a landscape of forested hillsides and open sky. There is enough walking space to move between sessions without crossing car parks or busy roads. The meals are prepared on site — ayurvedic vegetarian food, consistent and nourishing, served at set times so you never have to make decisions about eating. Room and full board are included in the price from 790 euros. What you arrive with is yourself and whatever you have been carrying. What the centre provides is structure, safety and space.

How the retreat unfolds day by day

The sequence of a silent retreat at Bad Antogast is intentional. It does not drop you into silence on day one. The first day begins with arrival in the evening and an introduction to Sudarshan Kriya breathwork. You meet the teachers and other participants, settle into the space and do your first guided practice session.

The second day is a day of spoken preparation. Teachers explain what silence involves, address common concerns and lead you through foundational practices. This day exists because people who understand why they are doing something tend to do it with far less internal resistance.

From day three, silence begins. It continues through the final morning. During the silent phase:

• Daily Sudarshan Kriya (SKY) breathwork sessions are held with certified teachers present
• Guided meditation sessions anchor the morning and evening
• Meals are taken in silence in the shared dining space
• Time between sessions is unstructured — for rest, walking or private practice
• Phones and devices are set aside for the duration

The retreat closes with a shared lunch on the final day. The return to ordinary conversation is gradual, supported by the group and the teachers. Many participants describe this transition as as significant as the silence itself.

Sudarshan Kriya at the centre of the practice

The technique that anchors each day at Bad Antogast is Sudarshan Kriya, known internationally as SKY Breath Meditation. It is a rhythmic breathing practice developed within the Art of Living tradition, taught exclusively by certified teachers in a live setting — not through recordings or apps. Research into the technique is ongoing; studies have explored its relationship to the autonomic nervous system, cortisol levels and measures of wellbeing, and the findings are promising, though no single study is treated as definitive.

What participants consistently report is that practising SKY daily over the course of a retreat, in a silent environment, produces a quality of rest that is different from ordinary sleep or relaxation. The body has more time to process what the technique initiates. The silence removes the noise that would otherwise interrupt that processing.

For those who have previously attended a Part 1 course, the retreat is an opportunity to go further with a practice they already know. For those who are new, the Part 1 course is the natural entry point before attending a silent retreat.

International guests and the English-friendly environment

Bad Antogast has been welcoming international guests throughout its history. Germany's Black Forest is easily reachable from Switzerland and Austria, and participants regularly travel from across Europe and further afield. English-speaking participants are not an exception — they are a regular part of the retreat community.

If language support matters to you, raise it when you make your enquiry. The team will advise you which upcoming dates have the strongest English-language coverage and will answer any practical questions about travel, accommodation and what to bring. Dates are released by email; the centre does not maintain a live public calendar, so the enquiry form is the most direct route to current availability.