TRAVEL TO SACRED GROVE

Once you are confirmed to attend a retreat, please make your travel plans to arrive at the Sacred Grove campus in Graham, TX, by 2:30 PM CST on Day 1. If you arrive at DFW airport, driving to Graham takes approximately 2.5 hours.  Please plan your travel time accordingly.  

Participants will be invited to join WhatApp groups to coordinate travel plans, carpool, and hotel room sharing with other retreat registrants.

DIRECTIONS TO SACRED GROVE

To navigate to Sacred Grove, please search “The Blossom Foundation” on Google Maps - Google Maps Link

CHECK-IN AND RETREAT SCHEDULE FOR KRIYA YOGA RETREAT

It is mandatory for all attendees to complete the check-in process prior to joining the retreat. A detailed schedule will be emailed two weeks prior. The schedule is subject to change, and updates will be communicated via email from programs@blossomfoundation.com.

Tentative retreat schedule for the 3-day Kriya retreat:

Day 1:

  • 2:30 PM CST: Check-in begins

  • Time to settle in, enjoy refreshments, and familiarize yourself with the campus

  • Sri M conducts an introductory session in the late afternoon

Day 2 & 3:

  • Sri M will lead two 1-hour sessions (one in the morning and one in the afternoon).

  • Breaks between sessions, with a longer break after lunch.

  • Optional morning yoga session or group meditation to start the day.

Day 3 Evening:

  • Paying respects (Pranaams) to Sri M.

  • 7:00 PM: Dinner served.  Packed meals will be provided for those leaving immediately after the retreat (please bring reusable to-go containers).

CHECK-IN AND RETREAT SCHEDULE FOR THE BHAGAVAD GITA RETREAT

​​It is mandatory for all attendees to complete the check-in process prior to joining the retreat. A detailed schedule will be emailed two weeks prior. The schedule is subject to change, and updates will be communicated via email from programs@blossomfoundation.com.

Tentative retreat schedule for the 10 day Bhagavad Gita retreat:

May 2, 2025:

  • 2:30 PM CST: Program registration

  • Campus tour and orientation

  • Introduction to the Bhagavad Gita by Sri M

May 3-4, 2025:

  • Two 1-hour sessions in the morning after breakfast

  • Two 1-hour sessions in the afternoon, starting at 3:30 PM CST

  • Short breaks between sessions, with an extended break after lunch

May 5, 2025:

  • Morning: Assimilation time (quiet contemplation, group discussions, reading, chanting)

  • Afternoon: Q&A session with Sri M

May 6-7, 2025:

  • Similar schedule to May 3-4

  • Two 1-hour morning sessions and two 1-hour afternoon sessions starting at 3:30 PM CST

  • Short breaks between sessions, with an extended break after lunch

May 8, 2025:

  • Morning: Assimilation time (quiet contemplation, group discussions, reading, chanting)

  • Afternoon: Q&A session with Sri M

May 9-10, 2025: 

  • Two 1-hour sessions with Sri M in the morning, after breakfast.

  • Two 1-hour sessions in the afternoon, starting at 3:30 PM CST.

  • Short breaks between sessions, followed by a more extended afternoon break after lunch.

May 11, 2025:

  • Morning: Time for quiet contemplation, group discussions, reading, and chanting to assimilate teachings.

  • Afternoon: Q&A session with Sri M to clarify any doubts.

  • Evening: Paying respects (Pranams) to Sri M as the retreat concludes.


Other Retreat Activities:

  •  Group meditation sessions and a cultural program, potentially in the presence of Sri M.

  •  Daily yoga asana classes in the morning and guided yoga nidra in the afternoon.

  •  Opportunities to participate in chanting sessions.

  • Attendees can volunteer 2-4 hours daily to offer selfless service at Sacred Grove.

DEPARTURE FROM GRAHAM 

We recommend leaving Graham the morning after the retreat to allow ample time for the 2.5-hour drive to Dallas Airport, handling travel logistics, and catching your flight on time. The retreat ends around 8 PM CST on the last day, so trying to fly out the same evening would be too rushed.

MEALS

Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner will be served daily.  Simple and healthful vegetarian meals will be prepared and served by our volunteers at the Sacred Grove dining hall. Fruit, tea, coffee, and water will be available throughout the day. We will also have vegan and gluten-free options at each meal. Should you have any additional food restrictions, please plan for them accordingly as we are unable to customize the menus beyond our vegetarian/vegan/gluten-free options.

Our kitchen cooks with tree nuts, soy, milk, and wheat. While we take steps to minimize the risk of cross-contamination, we cannot guarantee that any of our meals are totally free of peanuts, tree nuts, soy, milk, egg, or wheat. We also cannot accommodate requests for any outside food to be cooked or prepared in our kitchen, given that we need to ensure compliance with health codes mandated by the State and local county food inspectors. 

EMAIL CONFIRMATION

Once you register for the retreat, Blossom Foundation will send you a confirmation email to the email address provided during billing, not to the participants' email addresses.

KRIYA YOGA INITIATION AT RETREAT

If your primary focus is Kriya Yoga initiation, please register specifically for the Kriya Yoga retreats. Other retreats, like The Bhagavad Gita or Upanishad retreats, focus on deeper discussions of those texts and do not include Kriya Yoga initiation.

FLOW OF THE KRIYA YOGA INITIATION RETREAT

The 3-day Kriya Yoga initiation retreat is an essential step in understanding the essence and practice of Kriya Yoga from a living yogi and spiritual Master, Sri M. Attendees will learn the fundamentals of Kriya Yoga, the Yogic anatomy, and the key steps of Kriya Yoga. After two days of conceptual learning, attendees will be initiated and practice Kriya Yoga with Sri M on Day 3. There will also be plenty of Q&A with Sri M to guide you in starting your practice.

BOOK DURING THE BHAGAVAD GITA RETREAT

Sri M will cover relevant parts of the Gita during the retreat, reading from different books as needed. Attendees should come with an open mind and trust Sri M to decide which aspects of the Gita to focus on.

RETREAT CHANGE POLICY

Registrations are non-transferable, and attendees cannot switch to a different retreat.

NAME TRANSFER POLICY

Once registered, attendees cannot change the name on their reservation as registrations are non-transferable.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Cancellations received up to and including 30 days prior to the retreat’s start will be eligible for a 100% refund.  Cancellations received after these dates/times will receive NO refund. Please email programs@blossomfoundation.com for cancellations. Refunds can take up to 5 business days. For your reference, please note the cancellation cutoff dates below - cancellations received at or before 11:59 PM CST on these dates are eligible for a full refund.

NO WAITLIST POLICY

We do not maintain a waitlist. When cancellations occur, available slots will be reopened for registration. Please watch for an email from programs@blossomfoundation.com notifying you when cancellations are available. Please add programs@blossomfoundation.com to your safe senders list.  Make sure to subscribe to our email list at www.blossomfoundation.com.

ACCOMMODATION

All registered participants are highly encouraged to book accommodation at any of the hotels in Graham, listed below, as soon as they are confirmed to attend.Please note that the Graham area has a limited number of hotels, which tend to get 100% booked quickly.

Hotel Accommodation Info: We have negotiated discounted rates for accommodations at the following hotels in Graham, TX, for the retreats. Please make the reservations directly with the hotel using the links below. We recommend that you do not use third-party websites to book the hotel rooms, as it becomes easier for the hotels to track the guests of our retreats and serve them properly.  

Please note that we will also start a retreat-specific WhatsApp group to help facilitate conversations with other volunteers to arrange for roommates, share rental cars, and organize a ride.  

Hotels info

  • Hotel Middleton: $90/night plus applicable taxes. 
    Link:  www.hotelmiddleton.com promo code:  blossom25
    This is a new boutique hotel (opened in 2023).  The rooms are small, converted container spaces, but the finishes are nice.  They have rooms with 1 queen bed, ideal for a single occupancy or a family of 2.

  • Salt Creek Lodge:  Daily Rates $60, Weekly Rates $350 plus applicable taxes.
    Please call the hotel to book directly at +1 (940) 549-8320, and mention “Blossom Foundation Rate”  to avail of this rate 

Other accommodation options include Airbnb/VRBO and camping in the nearby area.

The two closest cities to Graham with hotel accommodations are Mineral Wells (approximately 45 minutes from Graham) and Wichita Falls (approximately 1 hour from Graham). 

Attendees have previously shared rooms based on preferences. After your retreat application is confirmed, you’ll receive a link to join a WhatsApp group where you can coordinate room sharing with others. Please note, there is no accommodation at Sacred Grove, so securing your hotel stay upon registration is essential.

CAMPING AND RV FACILITIES

Sacred Grove does not offer camping or RV facilities. However, options are available in and around Graham, TX, which you can find online.

VISITOR POLICY

To ensure the safety of attendees and volunteers, only registered participants and volunteers are allowed on Sacred Grove grounds during retreats. Unregistered family members cannot join you on the Sacred Grove campus. Please make childcare arrangements if needed.  

If you are traveling with family members who are not registered, please inform us at programs@blossomfoundation.com. We can provide lunch and dinner for them in to-go containers, so please bring your own reusable containers.  

MINIMUM AGE FOR PARTICIPATION

Minimum age for participation is 12 years. Children 12 and older, registered as participants, may attend the retreats.

1-1 TIME WITH SRI M

All participants will have the opportunity to individually offer their respects to Sri M and receive his blessings at the end of each retreat. Due to the volume of participants and time constraints, we will not be able to accommodate one-on-one sessions.

LOCATION & HOW TO GET THERE

Please click here for the address and information on how to reach the Sacred Grove Campus. You will find links to the campus from either side of the highway on this page. Please click on these links for a more detailed illustration of landmarks and turnoff points.

https://www.blossomfoundation.com/directions-sacred-grove

NEAREST AIRPORT AND CAR RENTAL

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Dallas/Love Field (DAL) are the nearest airports. They are both about 2.5 hours away by road from Graham. Attendees are expected to book their own car rentals to travel from the airport to Graham or carpool with other attendees.

TRANSPORTATION TO/FROM GRAHAM AND SACRED GROVE

Attendees are expected to make their travel arrangements to Graham. The town of Graham, where the accommodations are located, is about a 20-minute drive from the Sacred Grove campus. There are no public transport options, and participants will have to arrange a car to commute from the airport and between the Sacred Grove campus and their accommodation.

We will set up a WhatsApp group so you can connect with other attendees from your retreat to carpool, share a room, etc. 

SEATING DURING THE RETREATS

Meditation cushions, floor chairs (e.g., back-jacks), and standard chairs will be available for use; however you are welcome to bring your own seat. 

SEATING IN THE MEDITATION HALL

Seating in the meditation hall is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please do not reserve a spot for yourself or others.

YOGA MAT FOR THE YOGA CLASS

Mats will be provided for the yoga classes, but you are welcome to bring your own if you prefer.

VOLUNTEERING

Our programs are run by volunteers, and we welcome your help. Please apply to volunteer for a retreat that you are not attending.  Details about volunteer registrations are at www.blossomfoundation.com/volunteering 

TAX DEDUCTION

Retreat payments are not tax-deductible as you will attend the retreat for your payment and avail of the services at Sacred Grove. Any cancellations ineligible for a refund can obtain a tax receipt for the total payment made towards the retreat.  Anyone unable to attend the retreat at the last minute can also receive a tax receipt for the total payment made towards the retreat.  Please email programs@blossomfoundation.com requesting the tax receipt if this applies to you.  

CONTACT

For other queries, please send an email to programs@blossomfoundation.com. 

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