12 Days of Christmas 2025-2026

December 25 to January 5

Find the Peace of the Holidays at Song of the Morning Yoga Retreat

Song of the Morning is a place of exquisite peace and beauty during the holiday season, and the perfect place for those feeling pulled inward into spiritual reflection.  Experience the peace and joy of the season embraced by a warm and welcoming community celebrating and honoring the spiritual energy within the 12 days from Jesus Christ’s to Paramahansa Yogananda’s birthday. We warmly invite you to join us for whichever of the 12 days you wish! Simply select which dates you wish to attend during registration.

Homemade vegetarian meals will be offered to guests daily during this stretch of celebratory days which includes Brunch and Dinner. As a special treat, we will be serving our signature homemade granola recipe during the 12 Days (it will also be availble for sale in the Giftshop if you wish to take some home!) A variety of items are provided in the buildings, including organic oatmeal packets, fresh fruit, coffee, tea, and snack bars. (Please plan on bringing your own food to supplement if you need more than what our two daily mealtimes offer.)

Guests will also be invited to join in daily meditation practice and other offerings such as a hatha yoga class, guided journaling program or group walks. There are many opportunities to come and be in stillness and quiet, and of course, our Shrine Trails are always available for a wintry hike or ski.

The weekend before New Year’s will be the 11th installment in our Fellowship with Yogacharya series, which is titled “Truth Is So Simple.” It was taken from material recorded at The Detroit Institute of the Arts on December 27, 1970 – almost exactly 55 years before our presentation! Among the usual wide-ranging topics discussed at the fellowships, Yogacharya discusses a variety of subjects, including Yoga Gets You To The Point, Discovering New Worlds, Stages of Spiritual Growth, and Paths to Spiritual Development.

12 Days of Christmas Daily Schedule – (Happening every day beginning December 26!)

• 10 a.m. – Brunch, except Sundays (Featuring homemade Ranch Granola!)
• 5 p.m. – Dinner (Sunday Dinner takes place at 1 p.m.) at the Mainhouse
• 7:40 p.m. – Energization Exercises in the Lodge
• 8 to 9:15 p.m. – Evening Meditation with a Warm Hearth Fire in the Lodge (Except for Sundays)
• Plus Puzzle in the Mainhouse Dining Room 7:30 am – 10 pm

Special Highlights: 

• Christmas Eve festivities
• Christmas Day Service and Progressive Dinner in our community – all are welcome!
• Extended meditations for deepening into the holy season
• A Day of Silence
• Hatha yoga classes
• Fellowship with Yogacharya presentation
• New Year’s Eve workshop & festivities
• Celebration of Yoganandaji’s birthday

Schedule of Special Activities 

Please see printed schedule at check-in for most up-to-date version

December 24 – Wednesday, Christmas Eve 

7:40 Luminaries outside of the Lodge & Singing of O Holy Night

8 pm Meditation 

After meditation – Go out in silence 

December 25 – Thursday, Christmas Day

11 am Christmas Service

1 pm Progressive Dinner

Appetizers/Salad- Jan’s House – neighbors to help with food (CJ, LG + 2 more)

Dinner and Gift bag – Carol and Richard’s House

Dessert and Caroling – Will and Wendy’s House

Inspirational Movie – Ian and Karen’s House – Mother Teresa of Calcutta (the documentary)

December 26 – Friday

3:30 pm Gentle Hatha Yoga 

6:15 pm Drum Circle led by Michelle

December 27  – Saturday 

8:30 am Yoga Class in the Domes

11 pm  Vision Boards with Amy Levert

2 pm Fellowship with Yogacharya 

7 pm Prayer Circle for World Peace

December 28  – Sunday

8:30 am Yoga Class 

11 am Service

1 pm Dinner

4:00 pm Film – Gandhi Part I in the Domes

December 29 – Monday – Day of Silence

11:30 am  Silent Nature Walk to Christ Shrine

Enjoy the Silence, Suggestions include: Watch SRF Christmas talk, journal, write a letter to Yogananda or Yogancharya about your spiritual progress, read from the Second Coming of Christ, watch the birds, review SRF Lessons

8 pm  Meditation – Enter & Leave in Silence

December 30 – Tuesday 

9 – 12 pm 3 Hour Meditation in the Lodge

2 pm Yoga Class in Domes 

3:30 pm Film – Gandhi II in the Domes

December 31 – Wednesday – New Year’s Eve

1:00 pm Spiritual New Year’s Workshop 

After Evening Meditation, Refreshments Served 

9:30 pm Sharing Our Talents and Inspiration

11 pm – 12:00 am  Meditation

12 am Aum in the New Year 

January 1 – Thursday – New Year’s Day

1 – 4 pm – 3 Hour Meditation in Lodge

4 pm Rose Bowl at Jeff & Agnes’ House 

January 2 – Friday

3:30 pm Yoga Class

January 3 – Saturday

2 pm Yoga Class

6:15 pm Film 

January 4 – Sunday 

11 am Sunday Service

1 pm Dinner

5 pm Inspirational Film

January 5 – Monday  

2 pm Walk to Yogananda Shrine                                      

7:45 pm Kirtan                 

8:00 pm Meditation & Flower Ceremony                                             

9:30 pm Birthday Party with Cake & Herbal Tea 

(See “Daily Schedule” for events taking place each day in addition to these events)