Programs
We offer retreats and workshops focused on reaching a better understanding of our physical, mental, and spiritual potential. Various applications of the science of yoga and all modalities that further human potential are explored in a practical, enjoyable, and scholarly manner. Do you need a full service retreat facility for your organization? Spiritual groups and teachers with their students and yoga studios have all held successful events at Song of the Morning. We can also custom design a retreat or workshop for your group. Individuals are also welcome to visit for a private retreat or reflection. Even if it's a busy weekend, never hesitate to call us!
Program Calendar for May - August 2010
*Scroll down for detailed class descriptions*
August
Aug. 20-22 Yoga 4 Peace
Aug. 21 Focused Love and the Effortless Way
Aug. 27-29 Eastern Healing Retreat
Aug. 28 Spirituality4Success with Nick Kumar
September
Sep. 3-6 Yogacharya Birthday Weekend
Sep. 6, 1:00pm Labor Day Picnic
Sep. 10-12 Yoga, Hiking & Tai Chi
Sep. 10-12 Health & Wellness Series: The Loving Heart: From Conflict to Peace
Sep. 10-12 The Art of Living a Higher Life: Developing Strong Willpower
Sep. 11, 1:00pm Three Hour Meditation
Sep. 15-19 Fall Mindfulness Retreat
Sep. 24-26 Dances of Universal Peace
Sep. 24-26 Sacred Sounds of India, Africa and Tibet
Sep. 30-Oct. 3 Raja Yoga
October
Oct. 1-3 Health & Wellness Series: Letting Go! Moving Forward
Oct. 2, 11:00am Spirituality4Success with Nick Kumar
Oct. 8-10 The Art of Living a Higher Life: Making Habits Work for You
Oct. 15-17 The Radiant Woman
Oct. 15-17 Yoga, Hiking & Fall Colors
Oct. 22-24 Chakra Activation and Balance through Nada Yoga
Oct. 22-24 Cracking the Yoga Code: A Course in Happiness
Oct. 22-24 Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement (ATM) Retreat
Oct. 23 Three-Hour Meditation
Oct. 29-31 Silent Retreat
Oct. 29-31 Snowga: Therapeutic Yoga for Winter
Class Descriptions
August
Jump for Joy
August 20-22 (Friday - Sunday)
Fee: $50
A magically fun introduction to spirituality for children 5-12. Activities will include hatha yoga, mandala making, guided meditation, songs, stories, a shrine hike with picnic, and more. Led by Stephanie Shepard, RYT, and childcare professional Amy Pfluecke.
Yoga 4 Peace
August 20-22 (Friday - Sunday)
Fee: $120 suggested donation to Yoga 4 Peace
A retreat to restore peace of mind. Through asana, meditation, chanting, and other practices, you will restore and rejuvenate your mind and body to connect with the internal peace of your true nature. Jim Pero, ERYT 200, facilitates teacher training programs, workshops, and other yoga classes in Southgate. With almost 20 years of experience, he combines yogic techniques to take students to new levels of self-discovery.
Focused Love and the Effortless Way
August 21, 11:00am (Saturday)
Fee: $50 suggested Ranch donation
Learn to focus the energy gained in meditation so you may consciously commune with nature, be a blessing to those around you and create your life in alignment with the Divine Plan. Gain a new realization of how to use “energy follows thought” to bring about changes in consciousness. This four-hour workshop will be devoted to what you can do in your own life and your community.
Taught by Karen A. Bowen, a Kriya Yogi who left a Fortune 100 company after healing her own heart disease and began to study alternative methods of healing. She is an Esoteric Healing practitioner, Psych-K facilitator, Radical Forgiveness Coach and a nationally recognized life coach with over 25 years of experience. Learn more about Karen's work on her website.
Eastern Healing Retreat
August 27-29 (Friday - Sunday)
Fee: $225
Join Dr. Rajiv Kumar (MD of Acupressure and Registered Ayurvedic Practitioner, India) for a powerful weekend of Eastern healing modalities. The retreat includes three group Reiki healing sessions, three individual Acupressure sessions, a private Ayurvedic consultation and Dr. Raj’s Ayurvedic cooking class to enhance your knowledge of healthy Eastern Indian cooking techniques intended to balance the three Doshas.
This is a wonderful opportunity to learn from a third-generation Ayurvedic practitioner and Usui Reiki Grand Master. Before moving to the U.S. from India, Rajiv co-managed his family’s health clinic. Learn more about what Rajiv offers at www.indiahealthtoday.com.
Spirituality4Success with Nick Kumar
August 28, 11:00am (Saturday)
Fee: Donation
Narendra “Nick” Kumar is a deeply devoted student of Yogananda and is highly intuitive. He helps people move their spiritual lives forward through fast, simple, and effective approaches to spiritual and material success. The program features two Saturday workshops:
11am – 1pm Success: Personal, Professional, Financial & Spiritual
This workshop will teach you realistic methods and tools to ensure your future success.
2-4pm Individual Measurements of Spiritual Consciousness
Learn ways to speed up your spiritual transformation. There will be live measurements
performed on volunteers: Consciousness Measurement (indicator of spiritual growth) and
Love-Matching (your partner need not be present).
Friends & Members Week
August 30-September 3 (Monday-Friday)
Fee: None
Help us prepare for the Birthday Weekend while enjoying reduced rates, daily yoga classes, meditation, kirtan, karma yoga projects such as gardening, landscaping, etc. and superb vegetarian meals. Strengthen old friendships and forge new ones.
Fee: Donation (lodging rates reduced to $30/night Mon.-Thurs.)
Yogacharya Birthday Weekend
September 3-6 (Friday-Monday)
Fee: None
Join us for a special celebration of the perennial flow of Master’s blessings at the Ranch. Members, new and old, will share their stories and celebrate the life of the founder of Golden Lotus, Inc. and Song of the Morning. This annual reunion includes talks, walks, meditations and music, and ends with the Labor Day Picnic.
Labor Day Picnic
September 6, 1:00pm (Monday)
Picnic: $10
Join us for a barbecue and outdoor games!
Yoga, Hiking & Tai Chi
September 10-12 (Friday-Sunday)
Fee: $60
A jam-packed weekend featuring the best of the indoors and outdoors. Refresh and invigorate with several yoga classes, a hike through the beautiful Pigeon River State Forest, tai chi classes and gentle shrine walks.
Health & Wellness Series:
The Loving Heart: From Conflict to Peace
September 10-12 (Friday-Sunday)
Fee: $135
Using stories from her own life’s journey to demonstrate how powerfully capable and loving we can become, Dr. Laurie Pappas guides participants to consciously examine their own journeys in the presence of the safe and sacred spaces that Song of the Morning provides. This retreat will awaken you to the joys and challenges of being alive during turbulent times. Dr. Pappas holds an M.A. in counseling and a Ph.D. in metaphysics and currently serves as executive director of the Detroit Center for Attitudinal Healing.
The Art of Living a Higher Life:
Developing Strong Willpower
September 10-12 (Friday-Sunday)
Fee: $150 suggested donation.
Every moment of every day holds the possibility of increased awareness of joy, calmness and self-assuredness. This retreat series is designed to offer an environment to kindle these possibilities and serve as an ongoing, regular opportunity to enhance your spiritual practice through yoga classes, meditation, and an informative presentation. Although there is a central theme to each retreat in the series, seekers will find that all topics will serve them in some way. Sponsored by the Golden Lotus Yoga Teachers Association (GLYTA).
Three-Hour Meditation
September 11, 1:00pm (Saturday)
Fee: None
Please join us for a three-hour meditation from 1:00-4:00pm. You are welcome to stay for all three hours or come and go on the hour.
Fall Mindfulness Retreat
September 15-19 (Wednesday-Sunday)
Fee: None
Enjoy up to five days of mindfulness practice in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh or join us just for the weekend. Come when you can and stay as long as you like for sitting and walking meditation, some silent meals, dharma discussions, recitation and study of the Five and the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings, the Heart Sutra, early morning walks to greet the sunrise and other activities. Let us learn from each other. Sponsored by The Bluewater Community of Mindful Living, http://www.bluewaterbuddhist.org.
Dances of Universal Peace
September 24-26 (Friday-Sunday)
Fee: $50
A weekend of art for peace, celebrating diversity and honoring unity. We sing sacred phrases, songs and chants combining devotion and science to fuse our inner and outer selves. This revolutionary art form is a visible peace demonstration. All are welcome: newcomers and experienced friends. Led by Betty Demers, Jane Sky, Jessica Noe and Catherine Sugas.
Sacred Sounds of India, Africa and Tibet
September 24-26 (Friday-Sunday)
Fee: $98
Where else can you find a Tibetan bowl concert, a drum circle and a sitar and tablas concert in the same weekend? Mark Handler will teach Tibetan singing bowl techniques, including mantra and Tibetan-style chanting, capped off with a meditative concert demonstrating the healing vibrations of ancient bowls. Greg Vadnais will lead a drum circle and offer instruction on African djembe and dundun rhythms (drums can be provided for up to 12 people). On top of that, you’ll be treated to a sitar performance with Chris Bontos, who will join the other musicians for an unforgettable Raga concert featuring the music of northern India. Great for beginners as well as those with experience in these sounds.
Raja Yoga
October2- 3 Fee: $75
Join us for a transforming and awakening workshop that offers an in-depth experience of the ancient science of yoga, Presented by the Golden Lotus Yoga Teachers Association, this Raja (Royal) Yoga retreat will offer participants methods to enhance physical, mental and spiritual well-being. This experiential program will move the participant into a deeper practice of yoga. Proceeds directly benefit Song of the Morning.
Health & Wellness Series:
Letting Go! Moving Forward
October 1-3 (Friday-Sunday)
Fee: $135
Being unforgiving can be toxic. It can adversely affect your physical, emotional and spiritual life. When we forgive ourselves and others we become healthier, more humane and loving. This retreat, offered by Akua Budu-Watkins, author, leadership retreat facilitator and highly experienced multi-cultural community leadership specialist, will show you how to take charge, let go and allow yourself to grow as an individual, in your family, in your workplace and in your community.
Spirituality4Success with Nick Kumar
October 2, 11:00am (Saturday)
Fee: Donation
Narendra “Nick” Kumar is a deeply devoted student of Yogananda and is highly intuitive. He helps people move their spiritual lives forward through fast, simple, and effective approaches to spiritual and material success. This program features two Saturday workshops, including Success: Personal, Professional, Financial & Spiritual, which teaches realistic methods to ensure success, and Individual Measurements of Spiritual Consciousness, which demonstrates ways to speed up spiritual transformation through live measurements on volunteers.
The Art of Living a Higher Life:
Making Habits Work for You
October 8-10 (Friday-Sunday)
Fee: $150 suggested donation
Every moment of every day holds the possibility of increased awareness of joy, calmness and self-assuredness. This retreat series is designed to offer an environment to kindle these possibilities and serve as an ongoing, regular opportunity to enhance your spiritual practice through yoga classes, meditation, and an informative presentation. Although there is a central theme to each retreat in the series, seekers will find that all topics will serve them in some way. Sponsored by the Golden Lotus Yoga Teachers Association (GLYTA).
The Radiant Woman
October 15-17 (Friday-Sunday)
Fee: $150
This Ayurvedic approach to women’s health and well-being is open to women of all ages. Discover methods of healing yourself, from the inside out. Looking within, through healing with inner medicine, you can help alleviate symptoms associated with PMS, hot flashes, insomnia and mood swings, just to name a few, by accessing the body’s innate intelligence and utilizing the consciousness of foods, herbs, spices, daily routines, and pranayama and meditation. Yoga for your dosha included. Presented by Denise Ellis, an Ayurvedic Practitioner, member of NAMA and longtime Registered Yoga Teacher. Private consultations available for an additional fee.
Yoga, Hiking & Fall Colors
October 15-17 (Friday-Sunday)
Fee: $50
Our popular Yoga, Hiking weekend with an added splash of fall colors. If you haven’t experienced an autumn up north, you’ve been missing what we look forward to all year.
Chakra Activation and Balance through Nada Yoga
October 22-24 (Friday-Sunday)
Fee: $88
A variety of approaches, including antique Tibetan Singing bowls, throat singing, mantra, Amrit yoga and Peruvian whistling vessels will be used to activate and balance prana (life force) through our nadis and chakras. This seminar will transform the chakras from an abstract, intellectual concept to an intense experience. Exploration of Shaktiput (energy transmission while in meditation) will also be explored. This workshop may redefine your perspective and experience of reality. For beginners and experienced participants. Led by Mark Handler.
Cracking the Yoga Code: A Course in Happiness
October 22-24 (Friday-Sunday)
Fee: $100, scholarships available based on need
Yoga postures, though well known for their health benefits, represent only a small portion of Yoga Science. This course will reveal basic concepts of Yoga Science (Raja Yoga) that will help you transcend mental chatter and bring more enthusiasm and happiness into your life. Additionally, you will learn techniques to strengthen brain function; breathing techniques for unlimited energy; creative problem solving; breakthrough thinking; and Ayurvedic food tips for the purpose of creating a personalized action plan for achieving your life’s purpose.
Ramesh Narula, B.S.M.E., M.B.A., has taught transformational workshops in twelve different countries and provides a balanced approach between spiritual and practical aspects of life.
Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement (ATM) Retreat
October 22-24 (Friday-Sunday)
Fee: $100
Make the impossible possible, the possible easy, and the easy elegant.
An intensive ATM workshop led by Judith Dila, Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner and energetic body worker. Expand your capacity for thinking, moving, feeling, and bringing your intention into action. Improve your posture, flexibility, coordination, and movement efficiency. ATM lessons consist of comfortable, easy movements that gradually evolve into movements of greater range and complexity. Lessons are gentle, non-judgmental, non-competitive and self-directed, so that each student progresses at his or her own pace.
Three-Hour Meditation
October 23, 1:00pm (Saturday)
Fee: None
Please join us for a three-hour meditation from 1:00-4:00pm. You are welcome to stay for all three hours or come and go on the hour.
Silent Retreat
October 29-31 (Friday-Sunday)
Fee: Love offering
“Every person needs a retreat, a ‘dynamo of silence’, where he may go for the exclusive purpose of being newly recharged by the Infinite.” —Paramahansa Yogananda
Keeping silence will help you connect to your inner self, find peace within and experience the eternal present. This retreat will include readings from Yogananda’s writings, guided and silent meditation, nature walk, chanting, and as much time for inward reflection as you need. Silence will be held by attendees from Friday at 11:00 a.m. through the Sunday Service, except for three sharing periods. You are invited to come at any time during the week for personal reflection.
Mary Ann Johnston has given classes on spiritual living, breath work, and healing throughout Michigan and the Southwest. Sandi Jones has taught hatha yoga and meditation in the Golden Lotus style for over 20 years. Mary Ann and Sandi will be available for individual healing energy sessions.
Snowga: Therapeutic Yoga for Winter
October 29-31 (Friday-Sunday)
Fee: $100
Get ready for winter with yoga therapy aimed at overcoming cold weather. Learn yoga practices that will boost your immune system and how to generate warmth with cold-weather breathing techniques. The weekend includes a special yoga class for those suffering from arthritis, joint pain and similar winter aches. These common sense, easy-to-do practices are designed for all levels. Yoga Alliance Registered Teachers can earn continuing education hours. Led by Ema Stefanova, owner of Ann Arbor Yoga and Meditation.
Phone or email for more information
989-983-4107
office@goldenlotus.org