Big Sky Yoga Retreats Bozeman, Montana About Schedule Contact



COWGIRL YOGA™RANCH CAMP
Yoga & Horseback Riding Retreats for Women
For all levels of yoginis and equestrians

2010 Cowgirl Yoga Ranch Camp long weekends
Wilsall, Montana
June 24-27, 2010 (thurs-sun)
July 22-25, 2010 (thurs-sun) - SOLD OUT
August 12-15, 2010 (thurs-sun)
one spot left!
reserve your spot now!
check out the cowgirl yoga ranch

Cowgirl Yoga Ranch Camp 3-night retreats:

We will place you with roommates if you do not have travel companions. Single accommodations for Cowgirl Yoga Ranch Camp are very limited but available first-come first-served at an additional cost, please inquire. A non-refundable deposit of $500 is due to hold your reservation. To better plan your travel, we begin the retreat at 5 pm on the arrival Thursday and end at noon on Sunday. We will be offering an add-on trail ride in the Bridger mountains on Sunday afternoon (at additional cost) for Cowgirl Yoginis who don't want to leave yet; please inquire for availability.

Imagine a long weekend of yoga and horses on a real live ranch - a cowgirl yogini's dream come true. Explore how both can put you in touch with your potential and teach you a lot about yourself. We'll practice yoga, spend time with horses, and kick up our heels at the Cowgirl Yoga Camp ranch. Cowgirl Yoga Camp is like it sounds - think CAMP for grown-ups! Your ranch experience will be authentic (no need for dressy clothing), your accommodations will be comfortable but simple and rustic, and many meals will be cooked out over the campfire.

Come join fellow wanna-be cowgirls for yoga and fun in and out of the saddle under Montana's legendary Big Sky. We'll explore the link between yoga and riding to improve not only your saddle skills, but also your overall well-being. Through yoga poses and breathing techniques we will learn how to improve balance and body alignment. Best of all, experience how the horse-human connection deepens as you practice yoga. We'll take all that out on the trail and ride with new friends both human and equine on scenic mountain trails, immersing ourselves in nature and the cowgirl yoga spirit.

The Cowgirl Yoga Camp program includes:

Please note that this retreat is based in Wilsall, Montana and lodging will be at the historic Fort Wilsall. Wilsall is nestled at the foot of the Crazy Mountains in the Shields Valley, about 34 miles north of Livingston on U.S. Highway 89. The fertile Shields Valley was first settled in the 1870s. Soon, a number of small farming towns sprang up and were eventually linked by a spur of the Northern Pacific Railroad. In time, all of the little towns disappeared except Wilsall and its neighbor to the south, Clyde Park. Cattle and grain are the mainstays of the valley. Wilsall received its name from one of those early settlers, W.J. Jordan. Jordan combined the first syllables of his son’s name, William, and his wife’s name, Sally, to form Wil-Sal, or, as it is spelled, Wilsall.

The Shields River Valley is nestled between the Crazy Mountains to the east, the Bridger Mountains to the west and the Absaroka Mountains to the south. The Anzick site is located directly in the Shields Valley River Basin, and is the oldest archeological dig in North America, dating back 11,500 years. In 1968, it was discovered that the late Ice Age peoples left over 100 red ocher covered stones and the bone artifacts of a two year old child at the most prominent land feature in the center of the Shields River Valley Floor located near Wilsall.

PACK YOUR JEANS & YOUR COWGIRL BOOTS (or come early to shop for some) AND GET READY FOR A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE WITH US!

Yeehaw and Namaste.

You will need to rent a car for this retreat; Wilsall is about an hour's scenic drive from Bozeman, through the Bridger mountains. We can also put you in touch with your roommate/other retreaters to possibly rent together. We highly recommend adding on a day or two in either Bozeman or Livingston, and are happy to make suggestions based on your interests and travel plans. Both places make great starting points for visiting Yellowstone National Park, a frequest add-on for our retreaters. You may also add-on nights in Wilsall, please inquire for availability and rates.

Bozeman is sophisticated Western chic meets college town. Great shopping, dining, and some of the best hiking trails in SW Montana.

Livingston is caught between very cowboy and very hip. Tons o' cute shops and restaurants, and celebrity sightings are common. They call its location "Paradise Valley" for a reason. A visit to nearby Chico Hot Springs is a must.

TESTIMONIALS

It has taken awhile to find the words to describe this experience. Cowgirl Yoga Camp is like summer camp for the soul! I can’t imagine a more beautiful setting, and the joyful and expansive spirits of the teachers and hosts are contagious. Their love for what they do is reflected in every minute detail. Margaret is a skilled, warm and endearing yoga teacher with a special talent for guiding students into the depth of a pose. Very yummy! Janice is a patient and intuitive riding teacher (with an infectious laugh) and I felt that my comfort, safety and enjoyment were paramount in her mind. Ron is the ultimate gentleman cowboy and Jessica makes a mean guacamole dip. And who could forget Mike, our constant canine companion and protector (as his name implies, he’s really just one of us!). The horses have wonderful energy and intuition and an amazing ability to connect with their riders. Next time, I’m going to canter! I experienced many shifts in this supportive and caring environment that led to some surprising discoveries about me. My expectations were exceeded on every level. I highly recommend Cowgirl Yoga and plan to experience other offerings from Big Sky Yoga. The words Yeehaw and Namaste have taken on whole new meanings!
-Diana Graves, Kansas City, Mo

My first trip to Montana was September 2008 for a yoga/hiking weekend. Everything about Margaret makes you want to come back for more. They always say you are supposed to find your yoga teacher in life....I have found mine. Knowing that no trip to Montana would be complete without horseback riding, I found some nice locals who helped me out. Forward to this summer, I was looking on Big Sky Yoga Retreat's website when Margaret sent me a message and said she had a retreat right up my ally. Wow, does she know me!! I was able to come a day early and had the amazing opportunity to help Ron and Janice load up trucks and trailors and head north to Wilsall to the CY Ranch! Janice is an awesome horsewoman and perfect teacher for any ability. She is patient and helpful and knows when to push you outside your limits or allow you to stay more comfortable within. Ron is the classic gentleman cowboy who always has a great story and makes the best homemade biscuits in Montana!!
 
My days at the Ranch were filled with a lot of self-reflection. As we all go through different things in life, sometimes it's nice to come together with a group of strangers that quickly become friends and share your dreams, fears and thoughts. We were able to watch each other interact with the horses, nature and yoga and see the different transformations by the end of a very short weekend. Sometimes the best lessons or inspirations come from others' lives, not necessarily our own.  Being in the middle of Big Sky Country, you can let down your inhibitions, let go of your fears and try new things that might otherwise scare you to death!
 
On my trip, I was very blessed to learn of the link between yoga and horses. I learned how to use my body and mind to get results from myself and also from this incredible, huge, living, breathing creature. Sometimes scary, sometimes exciting but always free and totally completely intoxicated by the Montana I have grown to love and crave!!
 
Thank you Margaret for creating and sharing your dream! For anyone who is looking for a little inspiration, kick in the pants, or just a Big Sky hug....Big Sky Yoga Retreats will meet all of those and more!!
-Wendy, Indianapolis

Thank you for such a wonderful - and unique - experience. I've hardly stopped thinking, or talking, about it since I've been back! I was afraid I'd quickly loose the feeling of being out at the ranch once I arrived home, but I'm still amazed at how lasting and portable it is. Once you've been out there, the experience will be with you wherever you are, anywhere you go…the stunning mountain views, the clean, fresh air you breathe in while riding or doing yoga, the spectacular thunderstorms, the sounds of roaring hooves as the horses go out to pasture…now, if stress starts creeping up, I just remember the ranch and feel calm again.
-Jennifer, San Francisco

My Cowgirl Yoga Ranch experience was one of the best vacations that I’ve had. As a 50th birthday present to myself I didn’t expect all of the freeing emotional release that would come from the experience, adding richly to the journey of life. It was a wonderful balance of reflection, strength and release. Margaret and Janice are a perfect compliment to each other.  
- Teresa, Wisconsin

I had no idea what to expect when I signed up for Cowgirl Yoga. I was in search of a big sky, looser limbs, and a break from the big city, and the description seemed intriguing. Little did I know what a lucky break I had to discover Cowgirl Yoga: ladies, this makes spa retreats pale massively in comparison if you are active and in search of a little adventure! New to horses and a fairly mediocre yoga student, this was a great challenge for me and was the highlight of my summer.
- Kassia, New York

 

Below: Janice & Ron, our CY ranch hosts

Photos this page by Sherrie White