Majestic Montana
Yoga.Art.Soul Retreat
July 2024
Even the word retreat makes me feel the safe enclosure of sanctity and peace. Teaming up with Angelique Flynn of Whole Image Wellness for our 2nd Annual Retreat was much anticipated. I already knew it would fill our hearts and souls with positivity! After our Create Your Zen Retreat in Colorado Springs, with such a great vibe, we couldn’t help but plan another amazing opportunity.
Our first goal was to find just the right location. We discussed and determined Montana would be a great spot. Known for its rugged appeal of nature and protected parks, it’s one of those places requiring a bit more planning to happen well. Montana is an extravagant trip, on many bucket lists, and remote enough that the pieces require connecting. And this is our specialty!
Retreats are meant to seize the moment and create a mood, taking account of all of the details to ensure the atmosphere is just right. We couldn’t go wrong with Big Sky Montana. We started searching unique places that would comfortably hold more than 10, provide sweeping views of nature for yoga and art classes, and provide enough indoor space to accommodate these in the event of inclement weather. (Little did we know it wouldn’t be the weather that limited our outdoor activities.) It was important to us that the beds/ bathrooms would accommodate a large group, and we combed through details seeking the perfect place. We found our place at: The Big Horn Lodge, in Noxon Montana.
Surrounded by the Cabinet Mountains, this huge lodge borders the Bull River, and while the big wrap around porch was definitely eye catching, the big bedrooms also each had a private bathroom. An industrial kitchen was ooh- la- la inviting, and the vision was coming together!
*We had reached out to a few locations prior to the Big Horn Lodge. We found the owner of the lodge extremely responsive and very helpful with our several questions. It was clear quickly this spot would be a great fit for us.
Once we had the location, we needed two important details ironed out: how to get our guests from the airport to the lodge (It’s a 3-hour journey from Kalispell or Spokane) and what to do about food.
Food: With some brainstorming we found the perfect chef and sous chef for the week! Providing guests with fresh high-quality food made on site was important because of our remote location with no nearby restaurants or deliveries. Our cooks helped create healthy diverse menus which came to life. I should mention our chef was none other than Angelique’s mom, who has been known to make truly amazing meals for large groups. Our Sous Chef was also a close personal friend who during holidays helped momma Flynn in the kitchen on many occasions and knows how to slice and dice like a pro!
Reality: It was important that once our guests arrived in Montana, their time would be a high-quality experience of renewing for their beings. Many of our guests after all are in the health care and education fields, two careers that have seen a rise in stress levels in these past few years. Part of our objective was creating a space for mentally escape and recharging.
Transportation: Securing a 16-passenger van for transporting guests was our next order. A bit of a challenge too as we needed lots of space and a plan for organizing arrivals to and from the airports which were not close! Did I mention room for luggage? Once we connected with Avis with our vehicle reserved, we were officially in business! Angelique and I talked about how long van rides can feel like a waste of time and decided some van trivia and photo/ leg stretching stops would help break up the drive.
$$$: We figured out our expenses, created a budget for all the things, coming up with the best price we could offer while creating an amazing experience. The purpose of our retreat: Allow participants to get a break from life in a beautiful location, with intentional opportunities to build some new experiences to carry them forward differently. This would be done strategically with Angelique’s yoga, my art, and some good soul connecting! Majestic Montana: Yoga. Art. Soul was born!
Business: Here’s the business part, the marketing, payments, collecting of funds and responses about every question. We opened the retreat first to previous guests, then to our personal socials, then to all the world! We collected a group of people who were perfect for this exact moment in time. Many were return retreat guests with about ¼ of the participants as new. Of those, only two were really unknown to either of us. And they fit right in!
As we neared that day starred on the calendar, we got more excited, finalized plans, confirmed reservations, asked a million questions (maybe more) and packed!
Ready, Set Go! Months of planning, organizing and communicating and the day before we are planning to leave the airlines lost their minds! Flights were crazy! Cancellations all over impacting multiple locations and we had a sudden need for problem solving and flexibility! ✈✈✈
Enter, Go Farther Travel!
Another awesome thing happened as we planned this retreat. Angelique's twin sister Rochelle was getting her travel agency launched and we were excited to be able to use her services to create an extension opportunity. This was an additional travel added after we had almost completely booked out. Rochelle found us a ski lodge outside of Glacier National Park in Whitefish Montana and created an amazing itinerary for an excellent price. Almost everyone jumped on this offer.
In the meantime, Angelique, experienced a last-minute flight cancellation the night before we were meeting in Spokane Washington. We had proactively planned to arrive a day earlier than guests to get all of the preparations covered. Meeting our chef and sous chef a day earlier than everyone flew in, we planned a big shop for the week, and knocking some of the logistics out of the way prior to our guests arriving. Ang's flight cancellation was mitigated by Rochelle who was able to find a new flight the day the rest of our guests came in. The outcome was a win as we were to have Avis switch the van rental, work out some logistics, and still get all of our major food shopping out of the way. This was a very busy day!
The chefs and I arrived in Spokane within an hour of each other. We managed all our business despite missing our Yogi. I picked up the Majestic Montana Mobile and we headed out toward Costco in Coeur d'Alene Idaho. We grabbed a ton of food, then ventured on to a local grocery store for more items needed to make our yummy menus come alive!
We ended up driving in the dark of night from Idaho into Noxon, (about 90 minutes) missing a BEAUTIFUL scenic drive. We could tell the road was one we needed daylight to appreciate and it was all I could do to manage the unknown route and stay vigilant. No sooner were we pulling into our Airbnb and unloading all the food than we were packing it back into the van and headed to the Big Horn Lodge. Morning came so quickly. It seemed like we had just gotten there! (We slept REALLY well that night) We got an early start and were up and running without hesitation. My main job for the day was picking everyone up from Spokane Airport, a three-hour drive, making a Walmart run in between two airport pickups, and getting everyone safely back to the Big Horn Lodge.
People arrived! We all met and introduced ourselves. Many of us were meeting for the first time. Such a wonderful group of people came together for this event which connected all of our roads.
Our Itinerary for the Week:
Yoga
Angelique is my favorite yoga teacher and as a Reiki Practitioner she adds a little extra to every class. On this trip, she also added her new sound bowls as another way to dive deeper into inner peace. In the evenings, our Restorative Yoga and Mediation was a place for longer poses, deeper stretches, and drifting off into a new space to unlock potential. Why I love her style is all of the ways she makes a class personal. The uplifting affirmations during her class along with explanations of how to get into each pose and strengthen the stretch really help. Her awareness of each person not comparing their practice to anyone else sets a great tone. If only I could bottle these classes for later, I'd be so much more limber! We'd planned yoga out in the beauty of the property, but bugs and bees were not allowing this to happen.
You can see what Angelique is doing by clicking HERE.
Art
I do love to paint and couldn't ask for a more scenic back drop. At the beginning of our art classes, we begin with a visualization and some painting basics. I enjoy a moment to deal with any subconscious blockage of our creativity, and we did a "make your monster" activity for warming up. During our activity one of our participants was stung by a bee! I had planned to burn our monsters in an evening fire, however Montana was under a no burn notice and I decided to take them hope (or have the artists take them) and burn them later. We shared our burning in video chats and said goodbye to some of those subconscious voices that no longer serve us.
For our painting time we are able to spread out and find the shot that we each want to capture. I am able to walk around to the artists and go to help them in any parts they would like help, sometimes it's shading or lines, or what to paint next. This is my favorite part of life, is holding the paintbrush. I can be very impressionistic in my own approach, but I love to help the artist find their own style and colors.
Retreat classes are very personal and because it's the same group of people for a few days, its a good way for the vibe to flow smoothly and people to gain comfort and convenience. Having instructors you are comfortable with helps each person feel more in tuned and able to reach farther than they could on their own. No one is ever "required" to do any or everything offered. However, having quality instructors is a great way to make a retreat a lasting event that stays with you after the traveling ends and everyone returns home. Connections remain.
A Few Extras!
It's all about the extras!! The biggest joy for me is sharing ideas with you for your own travel. I don't know that there will be a perfectly planned Yoga Art and Soul retreat to Noxon for you to join, but should you find yourself in these areas I am sharing some real suggestions for anyone!
While we were in the Noxon area we were able to take advantage of some local hot spots:
There’s some amazing hiking, which really is quiet and undisturbed. This means bear spray is highly recommended! We did not see any bears on trails or elsewhere the last weeks of July, however they definitely frequent the areas shared. We were ready with 2 - 3 cans of spray on each walk we took, and glad to have never needed it. Many of these Extras were recommended by the property manager who runs the Big Horn Lodge. She was very helpful. It's great to have a local that is knowledgeable of the nearby terrain for sure.
These Stops/ Activities are all located within Kootenai National Forest, in the Cabinet Mountains, and off Route 56 in Montana. Each day we chose one to spend a few hours:
12858 US Highway 2 Troy, MT 59935
Starts as National Park Trail 405 for the loop, we continued on to National Park Trail 142 turning around 2 hours into the hike.
Free/ Free parking
Go play in the trees, walk the trail to the creek and enjoy the forest. We hiked to the creek then turned around and went back. Highly recommend!!
A long windy narrow road (apx. 4 miles) curves into a small parking lot where this adventure begins. Some trees in the grove are more than 400 years old, taking on personality that is very curious. Many of the ancient western red cedars stand wider than 8 feet in diameter and climb 175 feet above. The self-guided .9-mile loop nature trail through the grove takes about an hour to 1-1/2 hours. Or you can keep walking, about 2 miles in is Ross Creek. You can continue to hike the creek or just play in the water, taking in the Red Cedar Grove and sharing in the beauty of nature before heading back the way you came. Lovely place, we spotted deer, a snake, and many birds.
The meandering path leads past informative signs about the history and ecology of plant and animal species native to the grove. How fun it was just to feel surrounded by nature and one with the forest.
There are a few other places close enough to make Noxon an adventure.
National Park Trail 1083
We started at Stevens Ridge TH 1083 Botton (as opposed to top) located route 56, which is about 7 to 8 miles north of route 200. The top is part of Stevens Peak Trail Circle. It seems to be difficult to locate on the trail, however we entered directly across the street from the Big Horn Lodge. There was a marked trail head there and began the lovely uphill hike, that hugs the curve of the mountain providing excellent views. We walked up for 90 minutes, making about 2 miles of progress along the 7 -8-mile hike. This is an out and back hike with no loop. Lots of wildflowers and elevation, but plenty of fresh blue berries we ate along the way!
While we were not camping in the area, this is still a worthy stop. This would be considered the “beach” complete with a roped off area for swimmers, boat/ water vessel launching, and fishing for the immediate community. This is a very small campground but a beautiful hidden gem. If you do want to float in Bull Lake and take in the reflecting mountains in the water around you, this is a great stop! It’s free, parking is free, and the time just stands still here in God’s Country. Is the water cold? Ummm yes! You might find it rather refreshing!
Itinerary Continued – Leaving the Noxon Area and Headed to Glacier!
Driving from Noxon to Glacier is scenic, curvy and leisurely. This is not a highly trafficked area and while it took us a few hours to reach Kalispell, we were in no real hurry enjoying the scenic ride! I must add here that leaving one lodge and headed to the other lodge required everyone's cooperation. We took as many left overs as we could and loaded anything we had space for into the Majestic Montana Mobile, and set the GPS for the journey.
This free stop along the side of the road looked like a great place to get out and stretch our legs. We pulled off with no expectations (other than a clean bathroom) and found a souvenir shops with handmade jewelry and gifts as well as coffee and food items. The experience of this awesome 0.8-mile out-and-back trail near Troy, Montana ended up being a fast highlight of our trip. Considered an “easy” route, although I’d recommend sneakers and not flip flops, it takes an average of 20 min to complete. This is a popular trail for hiking and walking, and we passed many people along our way. The viewpoint to the falls was awesome, then we saw we were .2 from the swinging bridge and couldn’t resist. This walk continues over a train track and includes a stairwell. Next thing you know, you’re turning the corner and there’s a swinging bridge crossing over the Kootenai River! This looks pretty scary! Of course, it was great to challenge our fears and make the walk to the other side, snap a few photos and then cross back over. Challenge accepted, fears overcome, and we headed back to the less than impressive bathrooms to keep going on to Kalispell.
On to Kalispell:
Having stayed a little longer than planned at the Kootenai Falls pit stop, (Did I mention they had a food truck with coffee and some food?) we knew we had no more time for additional stops. On this day, we had some business to handle with our amazing sous chef headed back home, and another participant (who had missed the original flight in) arriving. This made for a little configuring, but we had a plan. Not to mention my three sons were flying into Kalispell as well, and other guests needed new hiking boots as the previous few days added too much wear and tear requiring a stop get additional hiking gear. With a busy day, we were able to manage the people stress of everyone getting what they needed and also finding food in Kalispell to kill some downtime before checking in to our new lodge. Kalispell is interesting in that many places close between lunch and dinner. The Airport there however is small and friendly, with some construction in process while we were there.
Staying in White Fish –
We planned this extension to our retreat with Go Farther Travel, due to having a large number of participants and needing to get it right! Rochelle, the founder and company president was really great to work with. She spent time with me on the phone allowing me time to talk through plans and ask a ton of questions (I always have questions it’s the planner in me). When we plan our family travels, I don’t feel the pressure of making sure we get it right to the same degree as organizing for a large number of paying guests. I knew the help of a travel agent would come in handy - and it did! Rochelle was speedy in responding when we needed her!
Rochelle booked us at a large ski lodge condo, in a beautiful cul-de-sac that aesthetically blended with the mountains. With big roomy living spaces and a great covered porch on the second story, it checked all the boxes. It was the perfect place for us adding a hint of luxury without losing the ruggedness of being in the mountains. It was three stories, providing excellent views from every window. There were four bedrooms, each with private bath, as well as two other rest rooms unattached. The kitchen had two coffee makers, and everything we could possibly need, including spices and paper towels. The washer and dryer were a must – and it ran a couple times a day to keep up with all of us and our hiking/ living needs. The hot tub was also a hit! Each night there were happy people unwinding in the hot tub!
Location sets the tone, and this fabulous home was a great base for us driving in and out of Glacier daily. It was so good to have Wi-Fi and a garage, and all of the amenities. Did I mention there’s a shuttle that runs into town several times a day? With Go Farther Travel, we were provided access to an app with all of the itinerary info for our stay, with tons of helpful ideas and things we needed to know, (like the code to access the hot tub)!
The town of White Fish – This resort town in the Rocky Mountains is a few blocks long/ wide. We learned our way around quickly and ventured in for dinner two different nights. Around the dinner hour it was definitely packed, and parking was pushed out to the edges of town, we still have no problem securing a space and enjoying the walk through the village. The quaint local shops screamed welcome, and it really was a village that looks like a Hallmark movie.
We recommend eating at:
Last Chair Kitchen & Bar 1705 E. Lakeshore Dr., Whitefish, MT 59937
This was at the end of our road down from the ski lodge, and on the outskirts of downtown Whitefish. We ate well here with great menu options, and they had the ability to seat us as a large group and keep up with our needs Food was tasty, atmosphere was fun!
Abruzzo Italian Kitchen 115 Central Ave., Whitefish, MT 59937
Really great Italian food made fresh and served with love. Really great steaks as well, cooked to perfection. This downtown hotspot was easy to get to via the shuttle, and very accommodating.
Glacier National Park:
Our Retreat Extension!
If you want to enjoy wilderness with few social constructs, this is the park for you. Over one million acres of wild meadows in wooded forest, towering peaks and ginormous sweeping views with sparkling waters, and cascading waterfalls that you really have to see to believe. The colors of the waters are breathtaking to behold, and especially breath taking to feel (brrrrr).
Expect some traffic to park, catch the shuttle, and on the busier trails; however, you can also be in very remote locations not far from the main attractions very quickly. I should mention the park reservation system adds another layer of planning. Although July is a busy season, we found some quiet trails right off the main trailheads and felt like we had the place to ourselves on more than one occasion. Because we arrived so early, we were ahead of the lines until about 11:30 when we needed to catch the shuttle on to Logan from Avalanche Creek.
We were fortunate to share this experience as part of our retreat extension. Traveling as a group ensured there was always someone going our speed who wanted to see the same things or not see the same things. We were able to have the comfort of a group while individualizing. For example not everyone wanted a cold plunge in to Avalanche Creek. Some of us only wanted to take pictures/ video the moment. Others wanted to take their time walking back from our amazing Avalanche Lake viewpoint. All was perfectly acceptable :-)
Going to the Sun Road – 52 miles of scenic roadway through a portion of Glacier National Park that showcases the colors and beauty of the park. Drive along the mountain, on this narrow, curvy path getting up close and personal with many of the unique features of the park. OR park and catch a shuttle that will stop at many of the main stops around the park, allowing hop on hop off access at several locations.
Going to the Sun Road MUST be at least one day of your park itinerary. Our goal was to drive the length of the road from the West side to the East, and back. We determined it best to park our rental van at Logan’s Pass and catch the shuttle. However a few factors had us reconsider this plan. We made it as far as mile marker 40: Sunrift Gorge and Waterfalls, which was the best outcome given the timing and situation. There are three waterfalls accessible from this point: Baring Falls, Virginia Falls, and Saint Mary Falls via short hike from Sunrift Gorge.
Our Adventure: At some point you have to decide it's time to try to eat all the leftovers! The night before we packed up some of everything and gathered our hiking gear preparing for a day of seeing as much as we could. We left the ledge at 4:45 am. We each had essentials for the day. Some had hiking poles, or bathing suits, others had great snacks. Together we had it all (even microfiber towels and hats).
We did plan Lake McDonnald for sunrise and being inside of the park prior to 6 am (opening time) as we were not in possession of those much-needed reservations. Whitefish is about an hour drive from Glacier, but we were all up, caffinated, and ready on time! We also planned Avalanche Creek. I had not planned to hike all the way to the Lake, but being there was very hard to resist the urge to stay and see more. We left the van at We made it to Logan Pass where we were able to catch a shuttle on and venture to the Virginia Falls on the other side of the park! This park is huge with TONS of options. I had scanned the list provided by Go Farther Travel, researched some blogs and other reviews, and picked some I really wanted to do. Turned out, everyone else liked my ideas and we stuck together for the most part.
Three Waterfalls from one shuttle stop!
St. Mary's spoiler alert: If you are hot from your hike, this is a three-tiered waterfall that plunges 35 feet into a churning pool of glacier water below. Many people chose to jump in at this spot, experiencing the refreshing water adding a little adventure in their day. A bridge crosses right in front of the falls. The stunning view of all three level falls can take a few minutes to fully appreciate, so find a rock to sit and absorb the view. If this is as far as you are walking, take in the mist then return the way you came.
Continuing along the trail will lead to Virginia Falls. It’s 1.7 miles beyond St. Mary’s Falls, however in our information it was listed at 1.7 round trip. Please note this is an out and back trail, so you will walk 1.7 miles back through St. Mary’s as well. The path starts to climb and narrow as you enter a dense, lush forest. There are several small of waterfalls along this route, however Virginia Falls is the 50-foot climax at the end of this trail. All the smaller falls are photogenic and give great views of Little Chief Mountain behind them. Definitely worth the extra effort to get there and remoteness of the woods!
Arriving at Virgina Falls you’ll cross a narrow wooden plank to the viewing area where you’ll see the cascading water, slate rock slabs, and the clearing of waterfall clearing. The mist shooting off the rocks here is so refreshingly powerful. We didn’t stay long as our timing was way off and we were running out of snacks, so getting hungry. We admired, then pivoted walking the 3.2 miles back to the Sunrift Gorge stop to wait for the next shuttle. This was sadly an hour long wait, we were wondering if a shuttle would come at all. Shuttles were scheduled to stop running at 7 pm, and I’d specifically said I didn’t want to be on the last shuttle out. I was.
In the hour we waited for the shuttle we scanned the landscapes for bears or other wildlife. We played I spy. We looked at different wildflowers. We even explored the ridge across the shuttle stop briefly seeing what that view might look like. A few shuttles came going the opposite direction, and they called in our number and location. It just took forever. So, we sat and waited.
Finally we caught a shuttle back to Logan, then another on to our van at Avalanche. While taking the shuttle to Avalanche our half group was split into two smaller groups, but we both saw a bear crossing the road in the same spot!
Day 2 of our Glacier Adventure
Go Farther Travel arranged a boat tour from the Many Glacier side of the East side. Because we had reservations for the boats, we were able to enter at that entrance. Our 1:00 time slot was about 2 hours away and we made some plans to arrive earlier for some kayaking. On this day it was super windy and kayaks were not allowed. We started a short hike then determined it was better to hang out by the boat launch and be ready for the next activity together.
Flexibility:*As a group we split up today. Not everyone opted for the drive over to Many Glacier as some wanted to explore more of whitefish. It was nice that everyone was able to get their needs met and make some choices for their best experience. Also, some of our plans didn't quite work out as hoped. We had to make a decision to let go of things we can't control and focus on the gorgeous opportunities we had.
It was a chilly windy morning and we had decided to take refuge in the Camp Store/ Gift Shop. Inside they had a deli counter which made hot breakfast sandwiches and I was able to get a hot bowl of potato soup. I also bought a huckleberry yogurt (I’d never tried this and thought it sounded delicious) and come to think of it I have no idea what ever happened to it! It disappeared into our car cooler and I never ate it. This gift shop was by far our favorite of all the ones we stopped in. With better pricing and a great variety choice, we stocked up on some art, stickers, post cards, tee-shirts, even some jackets. We were worried about being out on the water on the chilly day and definitely bundled up!
Many Glacier/ Boat Ride: Once we boarded the hundred-year-old wooden boat, and our guide Olivia was very informative. The boat ride was smooth and wonderful. The chill and wind we were worried about was for nothing as the boat is windowed and you get none of the elements! Once you get going you can go stand outside on the hull in small groups for scenery or photos. Olivia, our guide and was very knowledgeable and shared about the Black Foot tribe and history of the lake, including how it got it’s name. Any seats not reserved they give away 10 minutes before leaving.
Embarking on the guided hike to Twin Falls was a highlight. Olivia explained how bear spray works and having this demonstration was helpful. We’d been carrying two cans with us the entire trip (one in the front and another at the back of the line) and she ended the talk saying they haven’t seen a bear on this trail in years. We were about to change that!
This hike is fairly easy compared to others in Glacier. This narrated leisurely hike is 1.8 miles round trip, through beautiful trails of wildflowers and crossing planks that bridge the brooks below. We learned about some of the native plant life, as well as how to spot fresh huckleberries, so we had quite a few to eat along the way.
Returning, we were told to get in line a bit early for the 3:15 shuttle, as the last 5:15 shuttle is two hours away. We were on our way back to the boat when a friend and I were a bit behind taking photos of some of the beautiful flowers and she spotted a baby black bear in the brush. We heard it before we saw it, however my initial view was limited. She gasped “a bear” which stopped us both in our tracks. We realized in that moment how far we were from bear spray and our crew. We started to move quickly and I saw him lumber off away from us. We were happy we didn’t see mom! From up behind us our tour guide walked excited to have also seen the bear, and having bear spray if needed.
A blessing in disguise:
We were in line for the 3:15 boat, and there were more people waiting than seats. Olivia confirmed they’d send a boat back for us, which would be about 30 minutes. For the next 30 minutes we had the Two Medicine Lake to ourselves, the serene beauty and peace just like medicine to our souls.
My advice: Stay longer than you need to.
Miss the boat!
Goat Lick: On the way back to Whitefish we popped off onto Goat Lick overlook. Which is a pull off along 2, which is better found driving West. There's a parking lot with bathrooms and some beautiful views of the river, the bridge, and some goats which hang around licking the underside of the bridge. They were building a new look out while we were here, and some people leaving as we were coming told us where they found the goats. This was helpful as we were wanting to get back in time for dinner - we were getting hungry!
Glacier Considerations:
1: The shuttle service suffered from not enough staff, and therefore not enough shuttles for the high volume of a Sunday in July.
2: We planned to make it to Logan’s Pass by 8 am, with two prior stops at Lake McDonnald for sunrise and then Avalanche Creek Trail. While on the trail, we found the additional hike up to Avalanche Lake, (adding 4 additional miles out and back) the which was worth every minute of beauty and discovery, however we didn’t get back down to the van until 11:00 am. We reassessed after talking to a ranger about the possibility of Logan’s lot being filled and not finding a parking spot right away.
3: The reality is with a 16-passenger van, and a great spot at Avalanche to stay in, the Going to the Sun Road can be a very tight squeeze through people driving, sightseeing, hiking, and all of the geological landscape, including a tunnel – and the after thought is I’m glad I didn’t drive! This meant one shuttle to Logan, and another shuttle onwards to the next stops. The shuttle was slow and full this day so it also meant breaking our large party into two groups. However, it worked out better than expected even with these alterations to our plan.
Why do they say "all good things must come to an end?" It's a silly phrase we overuse. All good things continue to live in our hearts and memories!
On this rainy July Tuesday morning my task was returning the Majestic Montana Mobile (as our rental van lovingly was referred to) and picking up a vehicle to take my family on to Yellowstone National Park. The participants of our Amazing Majestic Montana Retreat and Extension were all safely returned to the airport, (on time despite pop up roadwork in Whitefish) and I made our route to the next exciting stop on our journey: Bozeman Montana. The journey continues for my boys and I and I've already shared that blog here.
I shared that blog first, and as I am getting ready to publish this blog, that one has over 1200 views! Check it out to discover more about Glacier and Yellowstone National Park Adventures!
I'm so grateful for the amazing travels I've been able to participate in and lead. Cohosting a retreat is a lot of work but also very rewarding! I enjoyed meeting new people, having quality time with some I had retreated with or known prior, and taking some time in nature to explore!
Happy Retreating
The hosts sets the stage for self-development during a retreat experience. They plan and account for all of the details. Success really boils down to the preplanning and foresight of the host or hosts. Creating the atmosphere can mean different things to different people. An experienced retreat host will be planning for challenges with organizing group fun and knowing some good strategies to keep the flow going positively. The purpose of a retreat after all is quality time to focus on a particular thing: this is could be writing, self-awareness, or learning a new practice. When feeling pressed to handle all of the details, guests may not be really doing the work they came to. We know one of the challenges of reaching our full potential in everyday life is managing our mental bandwidth, all the things we have to think about first, then using the creative energy. A retreat flips that. Come in, we will handle all of the things, so your entire being is available and free for your own use.
Group travel does mean that different personalities show up. A good leader can also help these various people with different needs feel supported along the way. It’s especially helpful if some of the group have traveled previously together. Or if the retreat objectives are very clear to the participant. For example, if I am in the middle of some physical therapy or recovering from an injury, a yoga retreat may not be the best option. What does happen is likeminded people encourage one another and friendships and connections are made.
You may be reading this thinking that sounds so easy, but the reality is in the moment there are a lot of decisions to be made and all eyes on you to navigate. If your host or hosts are efficient in how they set up the agenda and plan for anything that arises, lots of stress of travel can be mitigated.
On this retreat, both myself Angelique were prepared for different types of things that might pop up. We had lists and charts with everyone’s schedules. Itineraries printed. Plans made well in advance. Conversations while working and driving to keep all the things straight. We did everything ahead of time, and there were still some in the moment challenges out of our control. We took the divide and conquer approach. Meaning, we were often both working on different things simultaneously trusting each other to handle those duties/ tasks as they arose. While she was teaching yoga, I was helping find a flight with a guest who was unable to make the original flight planned. As I am driving, she is emailing, and capturing photos which is the most important job! Rule number one is always: don’t panic! That doesn’t mean we always follow it, but it’s a good rule. One thing I will say: I’ve learned my experience working in a classroom of 20 children asking me the same questions over and over, clarifying what they should be doing, and worrying about making you happy, prepared me well for this! Most people on a retreat just want to join and be prepared for whatever is happening.
Angelique and I are a good match for each other as we both have different strengths and challenges. The things I find stressful, she does not and vice versa. We made a lot of references to having T-Shirts made on our future retreats that would read, “direct all of your questions to her” or “check the app” and other key phrases we found ourselves repeating. It’s so important to keep a good attitude and communicate well. Balance is important and it’s a good idea to travel with someone who plans for the things you do not and brings a new light/ perspective!
Angelique has a ton of events she is currently planning and I encourage you to check out her sight for future travels and wellness needs.
We ventured from the Glen Eyrie Castle to the Garden of the Gods next door, enjoying the amazing red rocks and wildlife.
Thank you for visiting my site and please feel free to comment your tips and favorites as well.
Mz. Savvy
A note from the editor:
The information in this article was accurate when published but may change without notice. Confirm details when planning your trip. I hope this makes it easier for your planning process.
Thank you for stopping by today! Please share your thoughts and experiences, we are all on this journey to live and love together. I welcome your travel tips & tricks :-)
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