Volunteer Work in Exchange for Free Accommodation and Food in the USA: Ashrams & Retreat Centres

Work-exchange and seva programmes, conditions apply. Last checked 2026-10-23.

How volunteering for room and board works

Karma yoga, seva, work-study, work practice and residential volunteering are different names for the same deal. You do scheduled work, often in the kitchen, housekeeping or grounds, and take part in the daily practice schedule. In return the centre houses and feeds you. Every place on this page asks you to apply. Most interview you, and several start with a trial period. Many have prerequisites, such as an earlier retreat or course with them.

Free room and food in exchange for work: comparison

Programmes offering free room and food in exchange for work

Shoshoni Yoga Retreat (Colorado)

Shoshoni's Work Study Program has a three-month minimum, is full-time five days a week, and "there is no charge for this program". Volunteers "typically work a full 40 hour work week with two days off" and still attend 6:00 am meditation on days off. You apply online; then come two professional reference checks and a 30-minute phone interview. Shoshoni volunteer page.

Ananda Ashram (Monroe, New York)

Full-time work-study is a one-month commitment at 30 hours a week, "in exchange, participants receive room and board in shared accommodations". Live-in staff serve about 30–35 hours a week and get room, board and a modest stipend; many roles prefer three months. Ananda Ashram Work & Study.

Mount Madonna Center (Watsonville, California)

A three-month commitment at a 28-hour weekly service schedule, with a single room (shared bath) and communal vegetarian meals. Sessions start December 8, 2026, March 9, 2027 and June 15, 2027. Applicants must be legally authorised to work in the US; Mount Madonna cannot sponsor visas. No pets. Mount Madonna volunteer page.

Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville (Virginia)

The Residential Volunteer Program runs from one week to three months with complimentary shared dorms and three vegetarian meals; the Ashram Yogi Program needs three months, with no tuition for full-time service (33 hours, or 28.5 if over 60). Both need prior experience, such as Yogaville's 28-day Living Yoga Training or its teacher training. Residential Volunteer · Ashram Yogi.

MA Center San Ramon (California)

Amma's centre runs an Amrita Karma Yoga Program: about 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, with dorm housing and vegetarian meals, starting with a two-week trial. Expect strict conditions: celibacy, no alcohol or drugs, and no outside job or study. A fee isn't published, so ask. MA Center karma yoga page.

Isha Institute of Inner-sciences (McMinnville, Tennessee)

Full-time volunteers for Isha programs get lodging and meals "complimentary". You must be 18+ and have done Inner Engineering with Shambhavi Mahamudra. You sign up program by program. Isha Institute volunteering.

Insight Meditation Society (Barre, Massachusetts)

Month-long volunteers work about 30 hours a week in maintenance and housekeeping "in exchange for meals, housing". You need at least two week-long IMS retreats in the past ten years and must pass a criminal background check. IMS also runs service retreats (about 5 hours a day, no daily fee, $50 processing fee, after one 7-day IMS retreat). Month-long volunteer · Service retreats.

Dhamma Sukha Vipassana Center (New Ulm, Texas)

Old students can sit and serve courses, or stay as onsite long-term servers for at least six months, with housing and vegetarian meals given as dāna. Dhamma rules say service is not payment for room and board. There's no stipend. Dhamma Sukha long-term service.

Odiyan Retreat Center (Sonoma County, California)

A Tibetan Buddhist community that prefers at least six months (eight or more is ideal; two months is sometimes possible). The workday runs 8 am–6 pm, Monday–Friday, with a 12–2 break, plus about two hours on Saturday mornings. Volunteers get room, board and $200 a month ($300 after a year), and must cover their own medical, travel and personal costs. The pages we checked list no start dates. Odiyan volunteer page.

Madre Grande Monastery (Dulzura, California)

Work exchange of at least 20 hours a week for room and board, described as "expense-free". You start with a 2–5-day Weekender before a 28-Day Sojourn or a longer stay. Madre Grande work exchange.

Ati Ling (Cazadero, California)

A work-study personal retreat: up to 25 hours of service a week, a private room and three meals, minimum three weeks. It's for sincere Buddhist practitioners in good health who can lift 20 lb. Email [email protected] with the subject "Work-study retreat". Ati Ling work-study.

Neem Karoli Baba Ashram & Hanuman Temple (Taos, New Mexico)

Summer sevaks (May–October) work 30 hours a week and camp in their own tents (no RVs or tents over 10 ft), with vegetarian meals and showers, for up to six weeks. Up to two winter sevaks (November–March) commit for 6–8 weeks and get indoor housing and meals. No drugs, alcohol or pets. Apply through the link on the seva page; an interview follows. NKB Ashram seva.

Tassajara Zen Mountain Center (California)

Summer practice students work about six and a half hours a day, live in rustic shared cabins, and "all meals and housing are provided". There's a one-time $75 application fee. Stays run from two weeks to five months. A 3–5-month Work Practice Apprenticeship earns practice-period credit and $25 a month. Guidelines: no drugs or alcohol, and no new sexual relationships. Tassajara summer practice.

Part-paid options (not free)

• Ananda Ashram part-time work-study: 15 hours a week for 1–3 weeks, with 50% off room and board. Source
• Shoshoni Yoga Lifestyle Immersion: one month of part-time seva, $1,200 for a shared room or $2,000 for a private one. Source
• Ananda's Expanding Light Karma Yoga Ashram Program (Nevada City, California): 23–25 hours a week, 2 weeks to 3 months, $325 for 2 weeks or $500 a month, plus a $200 deposit once you're accepted. Medical insurance is required. Source
• Himalayan Institute Seva Program (Honesdale, Pennsylvania): service 8:30 am–12:15 pm, Monday–Friday, $1,299, at least one month. The Residential Program is $800 a month with a one-year minimum, and financial assistance is available. Seva · Residential
• Sivananda Yoga Ranch (New York) and Sivananda Yoga Farm (California): work-study and karma yoga at reduced monthly rates. The Ranch's free long-term option is only for people who have already done Sivananda karma yoga or teacher training. Ranch · Farm

Paid work rather than exchange: Esalen

Esalen's Work Scholar Program in Big Sur is a three-month residency at about 36 hours a week, paid $16.90 an hour, with a $200 residential fee per pay period taken from wages for housing and meals. Applicants must be 21 or older and eligible to work in the US. Esalen Work Scholar

A West Coast route linking several centres

Going south to north, you could link: Madre Grande (a Weekender first), then Mount Madonna (three-month sessions with fixed start dates) or MA Center San Ramon (two-week trial), then Ati Ling (three weeks) or Odiyan (six months preferred), both near Cazadero, then Tassajara in summer. Each stop needs its own application and acceptance. Minimum stays and fixed start dates mean a route like this takes months, not weeks. You pay for travel between centres, and you'll need to confirm dates with each one. Inland and East Coast options: Shoshoni (Colorado), Neem Karoli Baba Ashram (New Mexico), Yogaville (Virginia), Ananda Ashram (New York), IMS (Massachusetts).

Workaway, Worldpackers and other platforms

Workaway and Worldpackers are membership platforms that list work-exchange hosts. Their fees and listings change, so check their own sites. For the programmes above, apply directly to the centre.

Is it really free? The honest costs

• Travel to and between centres is at your own cost.
• Personal, medical and insurance costs: Odiyan says volunteers must manage these themselves, and the Expanding Light requires medical insurance.
• Gear: Neem Karoli Baba Ashram summer sevaks bring their own tent.
• Time: minimum stays run from three weeks to six months.
• Small fees: Tassajara charges a $75 application fee and IMS service retreats a $50 processing fee.

Related guides

• Ashrams in the USA
• What to bring to an ashram stay in the US
• Free ashram stays in India
• Volunteer / seva ashrams

Sources

Official pages linked in each section, all fetched 2026-10-23. Last checked 2026-10-23.