A Spiritual Home In The Woods

March 15, 2015

Song of the Morning Emerges Quietly

Ten miles north of Vanderbilt, nestled deep in the Pigeon River Forest, sits a modest collection of buildings that comprise Song of the Morning Yoga Retreat Center, a place, according to Song of the Morning, for "spiritual refreshment to all truth thirsty souls." Travelers from around the country, and across the world, come to practice physical, mental and emotional exercise, experience growth and enjoy education.

Song of the Morning was established in 1970 by J. Oliver Black, a disciple of Indian yogi Paramahansa Yogananda. Black founded the ranch on the principles of his teacher, a Hindu devoted to sharing yoga and combining the "efficient America" with the "spiritual India." Song of the Morning is a realized vision of Yogananda’s to enhance understanding of universal truths through Self-Realization Fellowship centers, where people of all disciplines can learn practical yoga applications, explore philosophy, encourage study of comparative religion, and reach a better understanding of man’s environment.

Using the Body to Affect the Mind

According to Song of the Morning yoga instructor Bobby Napolitano, whether consulting modern science or ancient texts on how yoga and meditation affect the body, the purpose of a mindful asana practice remains the same: activating inner engineering, using the physical body to affect the mind. A native of Brooklyn, Napolitano instructs both esoteric and exercise-focused yoga. Both types of classes, are offered to workers, residents and the public.

Attendee Ami Blue sees the ranch as an opportunity to converse with diverse peoples, and offers a place where her thoughts can "bubble and emerge" without the background noise of everyday life.

"With yoga, self-searching, whatever you want to call it, we’re realigning the body to change our life and behavior. We always think of the brain instructing the body, but in yoga its reversed, we use the body to instruct the brain," explained Blue.

This body-mind approach extends to meal preparation. Staying at the ranch for three months of concentrated Ashtanga Yoga practice, East German native Holger Miska will direct the kitchen, where vegan meals excluding meats, milk, dairy and eggs comprise an impromptu menu. Daily suggestions and adjustments to meals respond to the needs of the Retreat’s yoga practitioners and projected schedule.

"At first I thought, I cannot cook without these things," Miska said. "But I found it was not so hard. Garlic and onion really activate your stomach and all of your digestion. So, for meditation practice, this is not great."

Using the Mind to Affect the Spirit

Linda Gabby is board president of Golden Lotus, the nonprofit parent company of Song of the Morning. She calls the 800-acre ranch a physical – as well as spiritual – home. Linda and her husband Sam have been involved with the ranch since its beginning and live in a collection of permanent residences on the property known as the Clear Light Community.

"Many members [regular attendees] live in the surrounding areas of the state and call this place their spiritual home. We focus spiritually, physically, on all levels, to experience the highest expressions of self," said Gabby.

Song of the Morning invites yogis, teachers and gurus to educate and speak at the ranch for weekends, weeks or months. In January, Song of the Morning welcomed Swami Nityananda Giri, also called simply Swami, a Himalayan monk of the Krya-yoga tradition with a doctorate in Cytogenetics. In his five month stay at the retreat, Swami will have taught yoga, led Satsang (spiritual discourse) and meditations. Swami’s teachings echo a core belief at the Retreat of preparing for the fundamentals of yoga practice, "if we do not rid ourselves of negativity–jealousy, greed, anger–then no amount of breathing will help us find equanimity."

The Year Ahead

In addition to activities held daily and weekly, Song of the Morning hosts an array of meditations, yoga classes, hiking, yoga teacher trainings and private group retreats. Some events, such as the annual six-hour Easter meditation, are free. Others, such as the upcoming Hiking, Yoga and Winter Recreations weekend March 20-22, range in cost from $45 to $200. Some events, like the Karma Yoga Weekend April 24-26, can be paid with chorebased service.

The most anticipated Song of the Morning event, however, is their YogaFest from July 30 to Aug. 2. Much like a contemporary music festival, YogaFest seeks to gather people for art, music, community and meditation, but unlike many of these festivals, YogaFest is an intoxicant-free, family-friendly event. Last year, 400 attendees gathered for live music and celebration, and all presenters participated by volunteering their time and energy.

Song of the Morning Ranch hosts an open-tothe-public potluck, Satsang and meditation every Wednesday at 5pm. Tuesday through Saturday, open meditation is held from 8 to 9pm, as well, with a Sunday fellowship service at 1am. Every second and fourth Sunday of the month, outside guests are welcome to attend commentary on the sacred Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita, following a dinner at 1pm.