Danielle Cameron remembers her favorite outdoor yoga experience, but it wasn’t just any class amid Mother Nature. The one she loved best was held more than 100 feet above the ground, looking out into a forest canopy.
“It was amazing, so beautiful and serene up there,” the Boyne City resident says. She’s referring to the Yoga in the Sky program, which runs on SkyBridge Michigan at Boyne Mountain Resort in Boyne Falls, with views of the surrounding Boyne Valley.
That unusual program — and two other unique offerings at Boyne properties — inspires visitors to slow down, breathe deep, and reconnect with the natural world around them. A mountaintop sound bath at The Highlands in Harbor Springs, and lakefront sound healing at the Inn at Bay Harbor, join the sky yoga offerings.
“They’re each distinctive wellness experiences that are rooted in the landscapes that make northern Michigan breathtaking,” says resort publicist Erin Ernst.
The North Peak Hike & Sound Bath invites guests to meet at the Main Lodge and then ride a chairlift and hike to the summit of Boyne Mountain’s North Peak. With open views of the surrounding northern Michigan landscape as a backdrop, a guide leads a one-hour sound bath before the group descends back to the base together. Water and light refreshments are provided.
What, exactly, is sound healing? It’s a process that uses specific tonal frequencies, vibrations, and rhythmic sounds to promote physical and mental relaxation, reduce stress, and balance the body’s energy
As for the yoga sessions held 118 feet above the valley floor, they’re most definitely equal parts adventure and mindfulness, Cameron says.
Each class, which runs about two hours, begins with a 30-minute guided 1-mile hike along a paved path up Boyne Mountain, rewarding participants with panoramic valley views at the summit. From there, they settle in for a 45-minute guided yoga class on SkyBridge Michigan, the world’s longest timber-towered suspension bridge, with the landscape stretching out in every direction.
Every session includes full-day access to SkyBridge Michigan and the scenic chairlift, giving participants the opportunity to keep exploring long after their final downward-facing dog.
Cameron says it’s completely different from indoor yoga or on-ground yoga. “It’s like you’re in a sphere of nature and it’s very peaceful and quiet,” she says. Each of the participants enters onto the bridge single-file and they perform yoga in single-file, as well. You lay your yoga mat down on the bridge, Cameron says, and the instructor walks along the bridge, helping class attendees with poses.
“There’s plenty of room,” Cameron adds. “At first I was a little intimidated, but once you’re up there for a while and once you zone into what your body is doing and the practice, your fears go away.”
Cameron says to bring a light sweatshirt, as it can be chilly up on the bridge. She also suggests having water and sunglasses for the walk up. A yoga mat is provided.
“A friend told me she saw a bevy of doves take off from under the bridge and it was just beautiful to see as she was doing yoga,” Cameron shares.
And lest you think you need to be proficient at yoga or sound healing to enjoy these programs, that is not the case! Says Ernst: “Each wellness offering is open to all levels, with no prior experience necessary.”
Bring on the ahhhhhs.
Plan It!
The sessions, which are open to guests and non-guests, run from about $40-$60, and are for participants ages 13 and older. Check out the Boyne schedules and reserve a spot (advanced reservations are required) at boynemountain.com, highlandsharborsprings.com, or innatbayharbor.com.
