Big Sky Retreat

Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

SM
Starr Mill Yoga
  • Facebook verified
5 reviews
Aug 20 - 27, 2022
Group size: 19 - 122
Big Sky Retreat
Whitefish, MT 59937, USA

Starr Mill Yoga
  • Facebook verified
5 reviews

Aug 20 - 27, 2022
Group size: 19 - 122

About this trip

Whether you consider yourself an experienced yoga student, are passionate about yoga but have not experienced a retreat, or are newer to yoga and interested in deepening your practice in a safe space... this trip may be the ideal experience. We are excited to be traveling stateside this year, no passport or long international flight needed!


Retreat is an opportunity to focus all of your attention on your practice. It’s like seated meditation, where we practice sitting in stillness for thirty minutes or so each day, and this gives us the ability to remain in meditative awareness all day long.  When you remove all of the distractions you normally encounter in daily living and dedicate an entire week to yoga, your practice will grow and deepen exponentially, and you will return home inspired, recharged, and forever changed.  Dancing Spirit Ranch provides an exceptional environment for this deep dive: open space, sacred land, healthy food and rustic luxury.  This environment practically begs you to slow down, simplify, sense your place in the world, and feel gratitude for this precious human existence. 


Your guide Sybil is an experienced retreat leader with twenty five years of yoga practice and more than ten years dedicated to teaching classes, workshops, and private students.  She provides a truly immersive yoga class, including meditation, breath work, and yoga philosophy and terminology.  Her students often remark that class feels like a moving meditation, not an exercise class.  Expect to move in ways you haven’t before, this isn’t your standard vinyasa class! You might get into a pose you never thought possible, or you might fall madly in love with slowing down and attuning to sensation. 


Daily practice surrounded by like-minded people immersed in nature opens the doors to self-awareness and contentment.  Add opportunities for yoga nidra (guided deep relaxation), sound healing, a visit to Glacier National Park or nearby Whitefish, or craft your adventure to make this retreat ideal for you!

Packing List

Think Summer!


Bring your yoga clothes for practice, hiking shoes, day pack and water bottle for Glacier, bathing suit for paddle boarding , sweatshirt for chilly nights, raincoat for summer showers, a book for reading in a hammock, a journal for writing by the pond. 


Leave your formal clothes at home!


 All yoga props for class are provided.

Cancellation Policy & Trip Insurance

POLICIES

All payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. Retreat can be paid for in 3 installments with balances due April 1 and July 1. Cancellations on or after 90 days prior to retreat dates are non-refundable and non-transferable. This cancellation policy is strict and firm. If you need to leave the retreat early there are no refunds or pro-rating of days. We understand there are things in life beyond our control, such as...


COVID

Which is why we STRONGLY recommend...


TRIP INSURANCE

We STRONGLY STRONGLY recommend you purchase "cancel for any reason" trip insurance. Most policies will refund up to 75% of your travel costs, some will refund 100%. Do your homework and find a policy that works best for your situation. Make sure Covid cancellations are covered. For 2022 Forbes recommends AIG Travel, C&F Travel Insured and TravelSafe among others. Most policies require the policy be purchase within 15-20 days of your initial trip deposit.


Terms and Conditions

What’s included

  • Lodging
    8 days, 7 nights at the beautiful Dancing Spirit Ranch in Whitefish, MT.
  • All Meals and Snacks
    A private chef will curate healthy nutritious meals, three times a day, with snacks available throughout. Nonalcoholic beverages are also included.
  • Daily Service
    Daily maid service to keep your space clean.
  • Daily Yoga
    1 to 2 yoga classes per day led by instructor Sybil Merriman.
  • Airport Transportation
    Transportation to and from Glacier International Airport in Kalispell, MT.
  • Glacier National Park
    Choose between a private guided day hike or Blackfeet-hosted driving tour through beautiful Glacier National Park.
  • Opening Ceremony
    Mark the shift from the habitual daily grind into deep self-care and inquiry with an opening circle including brief introductions and seated meditation.
  • Sound Bath Ceremony
    Local sound worker, Mary McGrath, will take you on a journey, bringing her crystal singing bowls and native flutes for an hour long sound bath - an experience you won't want to miss!
  • Plein Air Art Lesson
    Join a local artist under the big sky for a lesson in acrylic painting and go home with your own masterpiece. All materials included. All levels of artists welcome!
  • Closing Ceremony
    This ceremony invites us to transition from retreat mode to “normal” life without letting go of the sacred in each moment.
  • All Ranch Amenities
    Yoga props, paddle boards, fishing poles, canoes, kayaks, horseshoes, ping pong, corn hole, library, hammocks, beach towels, outdoor blankets, organic bath products.
  • Gratuities
    Gratuities for the Ranch staff are included in the cost.

What’s not included

  • Alcoholic Beverages
    Dancing Spirit Ranch cannot serve you alcohol, but you can BYO and serve yourself!
  • Massage Gratuity
    Should you add a massage to your package, we ask that you please tip your therapist directly.
  • Trip Insurance
    We STRONGLY encourage you to purchase trip insurance!
  • Airfare
    Please plan to fly to Glacier Park International Airport. Transportation to and from the Ranch is included in your room cost.

Available Packages

Raffle Ticket!

This raffle ticket is for the chance to win a retreat for up to two people. It includes 7 nights of lodging in a Queen Room with a shared bath in the Bunk House, 3 meals per day plus snacks and nonalcoholic drinks, daily yoga, all ranch amenities, art class, Glacier National Park tour, round-trip airport transportation, all taxes, fees and gratuity. Please note, airfare not included. 


The Bunk House - a unique, stable-like building located just steps from the dining area and all major facilities. It has seven bedrooms, four bathrooms and three lounge areas surrounding the central hall with its clerestory ceiling. Each bedroom has a large window-wall faced with weathered barnwood and hand-plastered walls elsewhere.  Organic cotton sheets and thick Pendleton blankets ensure a great night's sleep. The shared bathrooms with organic products offer showers or a relaxing tub to soak away the day’s exertions. The sitting lounges provide a choice of places for conversation or reading in easy chairs, loveseats and couches. The bunkhouse is just steps away from the dining and recreation facilities. 


The lucky winning ticket will be chosen on June 1, 2022


$100
The Bunk House-Twin Room Shared Bath

Share your room with a fellow traveler inThe Bunk House - a unique, stable-like building located just steps from the dining area and all major facilities. It has seven bedrooms, four bathrooms and three lounge areas surrounding the central hall with its clerestory ceiling. Each bedroom has a large window-wall faced with weathered barnwood and hand-plastered walls elsewhere.  This option is for 1 twin bed (in a room with 2 twins.) Organic cotton sheets and thick Pendleton blankets ensure a great night's sleep. The shared bathrooms with organic products offer showers or a relaxing tub to soak away the day’s exertions. The sitting lounges provide a choice of places for conversation or reading in easy chairs, loveseats and couches. The bunkhouse is just steps away from the dining and recreation facilities.  The cost includes 7 nights of lodging, 3 meals per day plus snacks and nonalcoholic drinks, all taxes, fees and gratuity. 

$3,100
Deposit: $1,000
The Bunk House - Queen Room Shared Bath

Share your room with a fellow traveler in The Bunk House - a unique, stable-like building located just steps from the dining area and all major facilities. It has seven bedrooms, four bathrooms and three lounge areas surrounding the central hall with its clerestory ceiling. Each bedroom has a large window-wall faced with weathered barnwood and hand-plastered walls elsewhere.  This option is for one person sharing a queen bed.  Organic cotton sheets and thick Pendleton blankets ensure a great night's sleep. The shared bathrooms with organic products offer showers or a relaxing tub to soak away the day’s exertions. The sitting lounges provide a choice of places for conversation or reading in easy chairs, loveseats and couches. The bunkhouse is just steps away from the dining and recreation facilities. 


The cost includes 7 nights of lodging, 3 meals per day plus snacks and nonalcoholic drinks, daily yoga, all ranch amenities, art class, Glacier National Park tour, round-trip airport transportation, all taxes, fees and gratuity. 


NOTE: To purchase as a couple, please put two packages in your cart. If you would like the room all to your self, put two packages in your cart. And use discount code BUNKSOLO for $1200 total price decrease at checkout (enter code one time only.)

$3,100
Deposit: $1,000
The Bunk House- Private Room Shared Bath

Book your private room with a Queen bed in The Bunk House - a unique, stable-like building located just steps from the dining area and all major facilities. It has seven bedrooms, four bathrooms and three lounge areas surrounding the central hall with its clerestory ceiling. Each bedroom has a large window-wall faced with weathered barnwood and hand-plastered walls elsewhere. Organic cotton sheets and thick Pendleton blankets ensure a great night's sleep. The shared bathrooms with organic products offer showers or a relaxing tub to soak away the day’s exertions. The sitting lounges provide a choice of places for conversation or reading in easy chairs, loveseats and couches. The bunkhouse is just steps away from the dining and recreation facilities. 


The cost includes 7 nights of lodging, 3 meals per day plus snacks and nonalcoholic drinks, daily yoga, all ranch amenities, art class, Glacier National Park tour, round-trip airport transportation, all taxes, fees and gratuity. 


$3,900
Deposit: $1,000
The Cedar House - Twin Room Shared Bath

Share your room with a fellow traveler in The Cedar House - a four bedroom, three and a half bath cabin built on the far shore of the large 14-acre pond. It has natural cedar siding and a long porch facing the water. It also has a private lawn on the water’s edge. This option is for 1 twin bed (in a room with 2 twins.) Organic cotton sheets and thick Pendleton blankets ensure a great night's sleep. The shared bathroom with organic products offers showers or a relaxing tub to soak away the day’s exertions.  There is a full kitchen and dining area. The living room is surrounded by windows on three sides, providing excellent views at any point of your day, and has a brick fireplace to keep things cozy. The Cedar House is near the ranch gate and is a few minutes walk from the main ranch compound. The Cedar House is a perfect oasis for a group of friends wanting a relaxing getaway with a taste of nature. 


The cost includes 7 nights of lodging, 3 meals per day plus snacks and nonalcoholic drinks, daily yoga, all ranch amenities, art class, Glacier National Park tour, round-trip airport transportation, all taxes, fees and gratuity. 

$3,300
Deposit: $1,000
The Cedar House -Queen Room Private Bath

The Cedar House is a four bedroom, three and a half bath cabin built on the far shore of the large 14-acre pond. It has natural cedar siding and a long porch facing the water. It also has a private lawn on the water’s edge. This option is for 1 person in a queen bed. Organic cotton sheets and thick Pendleton blankets ensure a great night's sleep. The private bathroom with organic products offers showers or a relaxing tub to soak away the day’s exertions.  There is a full kitchen and dining area. The living room is surrounded by windows on three sides, providing excellent views at any point of your day, and has a brick fireplace to keep things cozy. The Cedar House is near the ranch gate and is a few minutes walk from the main ranch compound. The Cedar House is a perfect oasis for a group of friends wanting a relaxing getaway with a taste of nature.


The cost includes 7 nights of lodging, 3 meals per day plus snacks and nonalcoholic drinks, daily yoga, all ranch amenities, art class, Glacier National Park tour, round-trip airport transportation, all taxes, fees and gratuity. 


NOTE: To purchase as a couple, please put two packages in your cart. 

$4,100
Deposit: $1,000
The Cedar House - Twin Room Private Bath

The Cedar House is a four bedroom, three and a half bath cabin built on the far shore of the large 14-acre pond. It has natural cedar siding and a long porch facing the water. It also has a private lawn on the water’s edge. This option is for 1 person sharing a room with 2 twin beds and a private bath.  Organic cotton sheets and thick Pendleton blankets ensure a great night's sleep. The private bathroom with organic products offers showers or a relaxing tub to soak away the day’s exertions.  There is a full kitchen and dining area. The living room is surrounded by windows on three sides, providing excellent views at any point of your day, and has a brick fireplace to keep things cozy. The Cedar House is near the ranch gate and is a few minutes walk from the main ranch compound. The Cedar House is a perfect oasis for a group of friends wanting a relaxing getaway with a taste of nature.


The price includes 7 nights of lodging, 3 meals per day plus snacks and nonalcoholic drinks, daily yoga, all ranch amenities, art class, Glacier National Park tour, round-trip airport transportation, all taxes, fees and gratuity. Airfare is not included. 


If you would like this room all to yourself, put 2 packages and enter code PRIVATECEDARSOLO for $1600 off the total price.  To purchase as a couple, please put two packages in the cart.


$3,500
Deposit: $1,000

Available options



Itinerary

Saturday Day 1
Welcoming Ceremony

We begin with an opening ceremony followed by a casual yoga practice, ensuring a graceful transition from life to retreat. Float to dinner and afterwards, gather for sunset and a bonfire under the Montana sky full of stars.

Your Organizer


SM
Starr Mill Yoga
5 reviews
Originally drawn to the physical practice of Yoga for the flexibility and strength it gave her, Sybil soon discovered the power and depth of meditation, yoga philosophy and self-inquiry. She’s been teaching since 2010. Sybil’s classes are focused on precise alignment, breath awareness, mindfulness, and enjoying the journey. She draws her inspiration from twenty years of personal practice. The mission of Starr Mill Yoga is to spread the innumerable joys and benefits of yoga to as many people as possible.

Reviews

It was an amazing retreat! The location in Maine was beautiful and the food was plentiful and delicious! The yoga classes were wonderful and the daily activities were interesting and fun! I’m really looking forward to the next retreat with this great group of people!
By Joy S for Starr Mill Yoga Camp - A Retreat from Adulting on Aug 08, 2023
We had a great time! The ranch was wonderful as was Glacier and our shopping trip! Wonderful food but would have liked more non vegetarian choices.
By Mary M for Big Sky Retreat on Sep 06, 2022
The yoga classes were a treat twice a day, the food was out of this world delicious and the location was dreamy. Spending a week in Big Sky Montana with a group of really good humans made for a healing experience that no doctor could ever prescribe. This trip just gave me more reasons to make the move out west when I retire. Thank you Sybil and Starr Mill Yoga and Nicole the Queen for planning it.
By Melissa T for Big Sky Retreat on Aug 30, 2022
What a wonderful retreat! The location was beautiful, the owners and workers at the ranch were all so friendly and accommodating. We had enough to do and also enough time to just relax in a hammock or otherwise chill. The trip to Glacier Park was terrific. I’m back to reality but still feeling the peace and fellowship from the trip.
By Beverley B for Big Sky Retreat on Aug 29, 2022
I enjoyed every single moment! Was a beautiful and fulfilling experience that exceed any expectations that I may have had. Only complaint was that I had to go home! Felt so connected to the nature and spirit of the land. Felt my practice and wellbeing improved significantly over the course of the trip. Would do this again in a heartbeat. Thanks so much to everyone who organized, planned, and made this trip possible. Thanks especially to Sybil for your amazing practices and teaching! Heartfelt regards to all who attended and made this possible!
By Nicholas L for Sian Ka'an: Where the Sky is Born - A Bespoke Retreat with Sybil on Mar 17, 2020