COURT
MORGAN
THE HEART OF FREEDOM & EASE
Sept 21 - 27, 2024
FEATHERED PIPE RANCH, MONTANA
About
Retreat offers the opportunity to relax deeply held tensions and patterns in the body, heart and mind. The patterns of bracing, rejecting, denying and distracting can be appreciated for their short term efficacy, but in order to learn new ways of being in relationship - especially with ourselves - we must learn to connect to our own embodied experience in an compassionate and trusting way. Through this process we begin to live our lives from a place of greater balance, integrity, confidence, and connection in the midst of whatever external circumstances we find ourselves.
Under the blanket of the vast Montana sky and in the embrace of the forest, yogis are guided to explore their own practice in an interdisciplinary format with periods of movement, stillness, silence, practice with intentional speaking, and interaction. This semi-silent retreat, open to both beginners and experienced yogis, will offer a daily schedule of guided movement practices, meditations and instructions, time for questions and discussion with the teachers and plenty of open time to explore your practice in the ways that are nourishing and interesting to you - including hiking, canoeing and exploring historic downtown Helena.
About Noble Silence
Practice in the support of community outside of our habitual ways of relating to one another through speech and storytelling allows for a rich exploration into how we perceive ourselves, the people, environment and world around us. While the thought of holding silence is often intimidating for those who are new to the format, most people find having space from talking to be deeply restful and illuminating.
Throughout the week, the retreat schedule includes the gift of silence from the full group for the first days, after which we will practice awareness while speaking in small groups and open periods to practice joyfully connecting with fellow yogis around the Feathered Pipe grounds as well as on nature walks or visits to nearby Helena. For those who wish to remain silent the majority of retreat, there will be space and support for continued practice in that format as well. Yogis will be scheduled for small group check ins and will also have the opportunity to connect one-to-one with the teacher.
Within our capacity, we aim to provide a highly supportive and relaxed environment that gives a lot of space and guidance to be exactly where and how you are throughout the week.
Venue
Located outside of Helena, Montana, the Feathered Pipe Ranch is nestled in the pristine northern Rocky Mountains at an elevation of 5,000 feet and surrounded by the Helena National Forest – almost a million acres of mountain wilderness. The Feathered Pipe Ranch provides a spacious but still intimate setting for wandering, bird watching, aspen-tree gazing, swimming and canoeing on the tranquil spring-fed lake, and seeing all manner of wildlife. Visit the virtual tour.
Deer freely roam the ranch, with beaver, muskrat, mallard ducks and trout populating the lake. Moose and bear occasionally visit, though largely keeping their distance and wishing to be simply let alone. Large herds of elk roam the high alpine grasslands with rare sightings of wolves and mountain lions in the surrounding wilderness areas. At night, owls and Whip-poor-wills softly usher yogis to sleep. And in the morning, a chorus of birds make the forest a cathedral urging the sun to rise welcoming in the new day.
Comfortable, simple rooms, delicious food, and the sauna and hot tub are included in your stay. Bodywork, which is not included in the tuition/lodging price, is available to book during the retreat (yay!).
Schedule
Saturday (arrival)
3:00pm - 5:00pm Arrival & Check in
6:30pm - 7:30pm Dinner & Relaxation
7:30pm - 8:00pm Welcome & Orientation
8:00pm - 8:45pm Retreat Opening, silence begins
8:45pm - Open schedule
Sunday through Thursday - This is a sample schedule and will likely change a bit throughout the retreat.
6:45am - 7:15am Meditation
7:15am - 8:15am Breakfast
8:30am - 10:30am Yoga & Meditation
10:30am - 12:00pm Open Schedule
12:00pm - 1:00pm Lunch* & Relaxation
*a sack lunch is available with notice if you're going on a long hike
1:00pm - 3:30pm Open Schedule
3:30pm - 5pm Qi Gong or Gentle Yoga & Meditation
5:30pm - 7:00pm Dinner & Relaxation
7:00pm - 8:00pm Dharma Talk & Meditation
8:00pm - Open Schedule
Friday (departure)
6:45am - 7:15am Meditation
7:15am - 9:00am Breakfast & Packing
9:00 - 10:30am Retreat Closing
Included
Tuition
All daily classes/sessions, meals and use of all amenities - bathhouse, sauna, hot tub, as well as all the Feathered Pipe Ranch facilities and grounds with access to miles of hiking trails.
- 7 days, 6-nights accommodation
- All yoga, meditation, qi gong classes & talks
- Small group & individual teacher practice check ins
- Shuttle service from/to Helena Regional Airport on arrival/departure day
- All daily meals eaten at the center (if you choose to go into Helena and eat that's on you)
- Full access to the extensive Feathered Pipe grounds including backdoor access to acres of hiking trails, canoes on the lake, and wooded seclusion, the hot tub and sauna
$1800 - $2950 + teacher dana.
The $1800 price is offered as an early tuition discount if you book before 1/1/2024.
This retreat is offered on a tiered scale with options starting significantly lower than most retreats held at Feathered Pipe Ranch in an attempt to make it accessible for people with a range of incomes. One of the ways that we have chosen to do this is with the practice of offering teacher dana at the end of retreat. The base rate of $1800 will reserve you your own bed in a comfortable and warm shared room/bathroom in the main lodge. There are a variety of different room/bathroom configurations offered if you would like more private space - the additional cost is what Feathered Pipe Ranch charges us for these rooms. Please note that because this retreat is late in September, teepees and wall-tents will not be available as nights in the Rocky Mountains will be uncomfortably chilly.
About Teacher Dana
The practice of dana, or generosity, is at the heart of the practice. These teachings are considered priceless and it is a great honor to be both asked to teach them and to be able to share them with others to enrich their lives as they have for us. Teachers who share the dharma traditionally do so freely, relying on the generosity of the community to offer what they can so teachers can continue to share with others. The practice of generosity in this context is a deeply personal exploration and asks yogis to bring their practice into this often complicated arena of daily life.
At the end of retreat, the participants privately offer what they are comfortable with and this combines into a pool for the teachers. For us, teaching without the expectation of payment further clarifies our intention and supports our ability to offer both what we have been so generously taught and our own experience from the heart.
Nuts & Bolts
$500 Deposit to reserve your spot
paid via Feathered Pipe or Venmo @Court-Morgan
Deposit goes towards your tuition.
Tuition must be paid in full by July 21, 2024
Please note that because this retreat takes place in late in September, teepees and wall tents will not be available as they will be too chilly at night.
Cancellation policy
Deposits are refundable, minus a $50 processing fee, up to March 30, 2024.
Cancellations between April 1 and June 30, 2024 are given a full refund minus $250 deposit.
Cancellations after July 1, 2024 will not be refunded, however you can certainly gift your deposit or retreat space to someone.