FAQs

  • Not at all! Our retreat is designed for all levels, including beginners.

  • Prices shown during registration include:

    • 2 vegetarian meals/day

    • Tea, coffee, fruit throughout the day

    • Group meditation sessions

    • Classes and program activities

    • Lodging according to your selection

  • Please see here.

  • Arriving by Plane:

    If you are flying to Song of the Morning, choosing an airport to fly into depends on your preferences. 

    Major airports in Michigan include Detroit (DTW), Grand Rapids (GRR), and Flint (FNT). From there, you will need to secure a car rental for the duration of your visit. These airports range from 3 to 4 hours from Song of the Morning. We do not provide a shuttle service from these airports. 

    The closest airport to Song of the Morning is Traverse City (TVC). It is approximately a 2-hour drive from Song of the Morning. It is a small, welcoming and quiet airport providing peaceful entry into northern Michigan. There are car rental agencies at and near the airport in Traverse City.  Alternatively, Song of the Morning offers transportation from Traverse City for a fee of $100 from Traverse City and $100 for return.  A community member or someone from our staff would be providing your ride either direction. We ask for at least 3 weeks advance notice prior travel time for planning purposes. We can arrange pick-ups between 9 am and 6 pm. Reach out to our office for more details and to arrange a ride: office@songofthemorning.org.

  • We can accommodate some special dietary needs with non-dairy, non-wheat, and egg-free choices. If you have other dietary needs, it may be that we will not be able to accommodate them in our kitchen and we thus advise that you bring some supplementary food for yourself.

  • We recommend bringing the following:

    • Flashlight – important!

    • Water bottle

    • Your own yoga mat, if you have one (we also have yoga mats, pillows and meditation benches for you to use)

    • Journal and pen

    • Uplifting reading material (we also have a small lending library that is open to all guests)

    • Sturdy shoes and sandals (best to bring shoes, boots and sandals that are easily removable since there are no shoes worn in the buildings and temples)

    • Comfortable, casual, modest clothing — dress in layers, as evenings are usually cool even in summertime

    • Food if you are staying in a cabin with a kitchen and prefer to prepare your own meals

    • Snacks for between meals if you need them

    • Optional: Sun hat, sun glasses, sunscreen, rain gear when applicable

  • Most of our retreats are typically intended to support a quiet, inward-focused experience, and for this reason children do not usually take part in meals or programs. In some cases, an older child may be welcomed by prior arrangement. We invite you to reach out to us ahead of time so we can explore together what might best support everyone involved. There are some weekends that are suitable for families, and accommodations that provide more privacy so as not to disturb other guests.

  • Sorry, though we are animal lovers, we are unable to accommodate pets on our facilities. Please leave your beloved pets at home with a family member or sitter and enjoy the peace and quiet.

  • Cell phone service is limited between Vanderbilt and the Retreat. At the Retreat itself, Verizon and AT&T generally have some spotty coverage. Highspeed guest Wi-Fi is available which can allow Wi-Fi enabled call or text for phones with that capacity. Our landline is available for making emergency or urgent calls as approved.

  • No, Song of the Morning is not a venue for hire. We welcome you to work with our team to find a retreat you could attend with your group, or how you can share Song of the Morning as a resource for your yoga community for those seeking retreat.