Spiritbalance Sadhana Ashram “Quelle der Kraft” is a seminar house in the village of Sasbachwalden on the western edge of the Black Forest, above Achern (Ortenaukreis district). The house stands on a hill at over 800 m above sea level, so it is cooler here even in summer; the water comes from its own spring. According to the website, there are eight specially adapted rooms for dark retreats, each with a bed and various places to sit, and the house also has a large seminar hall and a temple room. The house is strictly vegan, with an emphasis on raw food, and non-smoking. Dark retreats used to be offered here by psychologist Martin Glanert under the name Dunkeltherapie Schwarzwald; today they are run by Spiritbalance.
The retreats are led by Bharati Corinna Glanert, who works with meditation, Vedic teachings and energy work and has been accompanying dark retreats for over 14 years. The approach is spiritual and focused on self-discovery (meditation, lucid dreaming, “activating the pineal gland”), but the website also stresses rest and clarity for life decisions. The price includes an introductory and a closing conversation, a one-hour conversation once a week on request, and round-the-clock support via a call bell. They recommend fasting on water and tea; smoothies and other meals can be ordered extra. It suits those who want flexibility in the length of their stay (from one night to several weeks) and like to add a sound or light session to the darkness.
Prices and conditions at Spiritbalance Sasbachwalden
Country
Germany
Week with meals (7 nights, 1 person)
≈ 30,127 CZK 7 × (€139 + €25.50 smoothies) + €85 cleaning; when fasting on water and tea 7 × (€139 + €12.50) + €85 = €1,145.50 meals are paid separately, we added them
Dark retreat up to 30 nights: €139/night (without meals)
Dark retreat from 31 nights: €125.50/night
Double room for 2 people: €255/night
Final cleaning: €85 one-off
Water and tea (fasting), daily flat rate: €12.50/day
Smoothies, daily flat rate: €25.50/day
Single smoothie: €9.50
Homemade soup: €9.90
Small salad: €9.90, large salad: €18.90
Smoothie bowl: €12.50
Tropical fruit: €25.90
Extra request (bread, rice, etc.): €9.90
Night in the light before or after the retreat: €65.50
Tempur mattress: €7.50/day
Extra conversation in the dark (60 min): €190
Gong (30/60 min): €65 / €130
Sound lounger (30/60 min): €70 / €130
PandoraStar light therapy (30/60 min): €60 / €120
Massage (60 min): €139
Laundry: €17
Rebooking: €39
Price includes
dark retreat room with a bed
introductory and closing conversation
on request, a conversation of about an hour once every 7 days
round-the-clock support (call bell or written message)
bedding and towels (changed on request), yoga mat, meditation cushion, warm blankets
Mindfold eye mask as a gift (for airing through the window)
filtered spring water in the room
room cleaning on request
parking at the house
Meals
at extra cost: water and tea fasting €12.50/day or smoothies €25.50/day; vegan, raw
They recommend fasting for the entire retreat (water and tea); on request smoothies, soups, salads, fruit, bread or rice at individual prices.
The house is strictly vegan with raw food.
Spring water in the room is free of charge.
The website does not say how many meals a day there are – it depends on what you order.
Length of stay
from 1 night (according to the booking system), max. 90 nights
You choose the length yourself; they will recommend one in the introductory conversation.
Lower price per night from 31 nights.
The website does not give a specific recommended length; guest experiences range from 2.5 days to 21 days.
Deposit and payment
50% within 5 days of booking
Submitting the booking form makes the registration binding; the date is reserved once the deposit has been received.
The balance is due before the start of the retreat at the latest, or you can pay everything at once.
For dates far in advance, individual payment or instalments can be arranged.
Before booking they offer a free get-to-know-you conversation; Corinna personally reviews every enquiry, and online payment is not required.
Cancellation
Up to 180 days before the start: 25% of the price
Up to 60 days before the start: 50% of the price
Up to 30 days before the start: 75% of the price
Later or in case of no-show: 100% of the price
Moving arrival/departure by one day is free (subject to availability); rebooking to another date up to 30 days before the start costs €39.
They recommend cancellation insurance.
Leaving early: no refund for unused days.
Health restrictions
Acute suicidal thoughts – participation excluded.
The retreat is not suitable in case of acute mental illness, psychosis, severe depression or addiction.
The retreat is not therapy and does not replace medical or psychotherapeutic care; physical and mental health conditions must be reported in advance.
Other pre-existing conditions are assessed individually, if necessary after consultation with the treating therapist or psychiatrist.
Caution with fasting: diabetes, pregnancy and breastfeeding, eating disorders, certain medications, heart disease, significant underweight.
Other conditions
Free get-to-know-you conversation before booking (phone or Skype).
No alcohol, drugs or mind-altering substances; do not stop prescribed medication without consulting a doctor.
You can open the windows yourself, wearing the eye mask.
Recording other people (the guide, staff, guests) only with their consent; your own notes and recordings are allowed.
Voice recorder only with displays and indicator lights taped over.
Bring comfortable clothing and, if you like, your own pillow, a journal and meditation objects.
At the end of the retreat you come out into the light in the morning, followed by an integration conversation.
Couples: a double room for two people can be booked (€255/night).
The seminar house price list mentions a local spa tax of €1.90–2.20/person/day; check whether it also applies to dark retreats.
Guide
Bharati Corinna Glanert – owner of Spiritbalance, yogini and mystic, lived in India for nine years and studied Vedic teachings, Reiki teacher; has been accompanying dark retreats for over 14 years and states that she has accompanied over 2,000 people.
The website does not mention any psychological training (the former operator Martin Glanert was a psychologist, MSc).
Introductory and closing conversation, on request a one-hour conversation once every 7 days; additional conversations in the dark at €190/hour.
Support is available around the clock via the emergency bell or a written message.
Communication in German and English (the website is bilingual).
Information taken from the operator's website dunkelretreat.de, last checked 9. 10. 2026. Prices and conditions may change; please confirm them with the operator before booking.. Texts are translated from Czech.
Getting to Spiritbalance Sasbachwalden:
Location: seminar house (ashram) on a hill above the village in the Black Forest, over 800 m above sea level Parking: 0 km Train: 7,5 km Bus: 2,2 km
Spiritbalance Sasbachwalden on the map:
Do you own this centre and would like more photos or a different description here? Contact us at info@pobytvetme.com.
Spiritbalance SasbachwaldenDELocation: seminar house (ashram) on a hill above the village in the Black Forest, over 800 m above sea levelParking: 0 kmTrain: 7,5 kmBus: 2,2 kmPrice: ≈ 3,728 CZK/night€255/night for the room for 2 people, i.e. €127.50/person + smoothies €25.50/day; one-off cleaning fee €85
Spiritbalance SasbachwaldenDELocation: seminar house (ashram) on a hill above the village in the Black Forest, over 800 m above sea levelParking: 0 kmTrain: 7,5 kmBus: 2,2 kmPrice: ≈ 4,008 CZK/night€139/night (from 31 nights €125.50) + smoothies €25.50/day; when fasting on water and tea €139 + €12.50; one-off cleaning fee €85
How to book Spiritbalance Sasbachwalden
Book directly with the operator: website dunkelretreat.de, tel. +49 7841 8392410, e-mail info@spiritbalance.de.
If they are fully booked, you can use these free dates at Léčba tmou near Kutná Hora. These are not dates of Spiritbalance Sasbachwalden, but of the centre in Lomec near Kutná Hora (Czechia):
Svatyně klidu is available from 17.10.2026 Book 3 nights
Svatyně zdraví is available from 17.10.2026 Book 3 nights
