Distinctly Montana Magazine

W W W. D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA NA . C O M 49 Legendary Earthkeeper, shamanic practitioner and author Brooke Medicine Eagle began leading retreats at the Blacktail Ranch in the early 1990s, and for years, filled the entire summer schedule with work- shops on shamanism, native ceremony and ritual, and sacred ecology. "Brooke Medicine Eagle led six Eagle Song Camps and vision quests every summer, and through word of mouth, we became known as a lo- cation for yoga retreats and deep spiritual workshops," says Renner. "Pat Kennedy, a Cree elder, also held several encampments here to teach the ceremonial songs and dances to the next generation. We just honored the 20th anniversary of these encampments last summer." Guests wake to rooster crows and a stampede of hooves as the wranglers herd the horses from the pasture to the barn. ey walk the uphill path to the yoga room, known as the Hogan—a traditional Na- vajo hut—and following several hours of yoga instruction and a hearty lunch, Burggraff leads guests on horseback to the cave, where they ex- plore petroglyphs and meditate in the cool, damp earth. "We don't own the land; the land owns us," Renner says. "We just take care of it until the next person comes along who loves it enough to do the same." BLACKTAIL RANCH • 4440 South Fork Trail Wolf Creek, MT 59648 • 406-235-4330 • blacktailranch.com BIG SKY YOGA: YEEHAW AND NAMASTÉ Margaret Burns Vap, founder of Big Sky Yoga Re- treats, stands in the center of the round corral across from Java Bean, a bay Tennessee Walking Horse, who patiently awaits her cues. She turns her body toward his hindquarters and raises her right hand as he begins trotting to the left. "Stay focused on the horse," Burns Vap instructs. "Horses move away from pressure; tune in to him and use subtle energetic cues and gestures to direct him." In 2007, Burns Vap sold her yoga studio in D.C. and moved to Montana, founding BSYR after recognizing the overlap between yoga and natural horsemanship. "I was taking riding lessons when I first moved out here, and the teachings reminded me so much of being a new yoga student," Burns Vap says. "e importance of breath, of authenticity, of balance and mental clarity—I had this living breathing animal instead of a yoga mat, and I had to learn to speak his language through my own energy and intentions." At B-Bar Ranch in Emigrant, a picturesque property adjacent to Yellowstone National Park, guests practice yoga twice a day, learn to groom, ride and communicate with horses, and enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded women. Nicole Ross signed up for her first Cowgirl Yoga retreat in 2012, and has since attended and taught horsemanship at more than 12 retreats. "During one of my first retreats, Charlie, the horse I'd bonded with since the begin- ning, was snoozing in the sun," Ross remembers. "To my surprise, he allowed me to come right up to him, lie down in the grass and stroke his face; it was such a magical moment. is retreat was the catalyst for my later move to Bozeman and the purchase of my first horse, Remington." (V-there's a pix of this moment) Together with a team of yoga instructors, healers, wranglers and chefs, BSYR creates a dedicated space for women to connect and rediscover themselves. In addition to Cowgirl Yoga, Burns Vap pairs yoga with hiking, photography, creative arts and fly fishing for summer retreats around Montana. "We take strength from each other, from the nature, the food," says Burns Vap. "We go home to our families and our jobs, and we're more in tune to what we need to live happy and fulfilled lives." BIG SKY YOGA RETREATS • 406-219-7685 • bigskyyogaretreats.com 3 JENNIFER DALY Hogan Yoga Room

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