Camp Hokey Pokey 2025: A Soulful Midwest Wellness Retreat Near Chicago
✨ August 29–September 1, 2025 | RONORA Lodge & Retreat Center | 9325 Dwight Boyer Rd. Watervliet, Michigan
Looking for a Midwest yoga and wellness retreat near Chicago where you can truly unplug, recharge, and reconnect? Just two hours from the city, Camp Hokey Pokey invites you to step away from the noise and into 2.5 days of Kundalini Yoga, healing arts, nature immersion, and heart-centered community.
Set on 350 private acres of Michigan forest at the peaceful RONORA Lodge & Retreat Center, the land offers a natural sanctuary—complete with a spring-fed lake, resident horses, and herb-lined trails that wind through meadows and woods. This isn’t just a getaway—it’s a soulful reset.
Through the lifestyle teachings of Kundalini Yoga, we remember what it means to thrive: not in isolation, but in Sangat—sacred community—held by nature and guided by the spirit of upliftment. When we gather with intention, movement, breath, and shared presence, the quality of our human experience expands. We look forward to falling asleep under the stars and breaking bread with you all.
Put your whole self in!
Why You’ll Love Camp Hokey Pokey
Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or stepping into your first retreat, this experience is designed to meet you where you are—with a blend of practice, play, rest, and renewal:
🧘♀️ Daily Kundalini Yoga sessions for all levels
🎵 Sound healing journeys and transformational wellness workshops
🔥 Campfire songs, stargazing, and authentic connection
🚣♀️ Lake paddling, forest hikes, hammocks, and horse visits
🌿 Healing circles, Reiki Socials, Kirtan, and more
🌕 Time to reconnect with nature and your inner peace
🌌 This Year’s Signature Series —
The Inner Cosmos: Ten Doors to the Divine
Woven throughout your weekend at Camp Hokey Pokey, you’ll experience a transformational journey of self-reflection, insight, self-awareness, and bliss through a unique Kundalini Yoga series led by our resident teachers. Surrounded by nature, community, and the quiet magic of camp life, this immersive offering invites you to go inward while deeply connecting to the world around you.
In Kundalini Yoga, the human experience is understood as far more than just the physical body. We are made up of 10 distinct bodies—energetic, mental, emotional, and spiritual layers that shape how we perceive, act, love, and grow. Each body holds specific qualities and potentials that, when awakened and balanced, guide us toward greater wholeness.
From the Soul Body—the essence of your deepest truth—to the Radiant Body, which expresses fearless presence and spiritual mastery, these ten bodies form a complete map of the self. Along the way, we explore the more subtle energies as well—like the Aura, your electromagnetic shield of protection and projection, and the Arcline, your intuitive “halo” of insight and clarity.
Through a blend of breathwork, movement, mantra, meditation, and deep rest, each session will activate different dimensions of your being. This series is designed to harmonize your inner world, energize your outer presence, and guide you toward living from your highest self.
Whether you're rising with the sun on the lakefront or sitting in stillness under the stars, let this weekend at camp be your sacred space for realignment, empowerment, and radiant self-discovery.
📍 New Location, Same Soulful Spirit
This year, we’re thrilled to host Camp Hokey Pokey at RONORA Lodge. A 350-acre private nature preserve featuring:
🌊 Spring-fed lake access for swimming and use of paddle boards and boats
🌲 Herb-lined trails and forest paths perfect for hiking and quiet reflection
🐎 Friendly resident horses to visit or simply be with
🌌 Open skies for stargazing and fireside magic
🛏️ Rustic-chic cabins and cozy lodging for a true nature-meets-comfort experience
Healing Arts Sanctuary
Are you a healing arts practitioner?
We're accepting applications for bodywork, energy healing, intuitive readings, and more.
To Apply: karampal@satnamyogachicago.com
Accommodations
Choose from cozy communal lodge rooms or tent camping under the stars.
🛁 All indoor spaces include modern showers & facilities.
🛁 Tent camping and Van Life includes communal showers and facilities.
Cost
🏕 Tent Camping or Van Life (no hookups)
$350 – Early Bird (by August 31)
$375 – Regular (after September 1)
🛏 Shared Lodging Options
$450 – Single Bunk in a Shared Room
$520 – Single Bed in Shared Room
$545 – Queen Bed in Shared Room
🚪 Private Lodging
$600 – Private Room with Single Bed
*Options above include a CHP tank or t-shirt
🗓 1 Day Pass
Experience a full day of healing & connection — perfect for those who can’t stay the full weekend.
$225 – Friday or Saturday Only (No Overnight)
Includes all programming from 9 AM–11 PM
$250 – Friday or Saturday + Tent or Van Camping
Includes full Saturday experience + overnight camping
*Option to purchase CHP tank or t-shirt $25 while supplies last
CAMP SCHEDULE
Friday, September 12
9:00am Arrival and check in
10:00-12:00pm Tent city set up
12:00pm-1:30pm ✨Kundalini Yoga — Sacred Self: Navigating the Inner Voice With Dyal Gobinde
2:00-2:30pm Tune in ORIENTATION
2:30pm-4:00pm Late Lunch- Communal Kitchen Open B.Y.O.
FREE TIME: Take a dip, fly a kite, take a hike!
4:00pm-5:30pm ✨ Kundalini Yoga — Grace in Motion: Living from the Neutral Mind with Jyoti Dyal
5:30pm-7:00pm Communal Kitchen Open B.Y.O.
7:30pm-8:30pm Qi Gong with Venus
8:30pm-9:30pm Sound Journey in Chadwick Hall
10:00pm-12:00am Commune with the Gods Campfire Kirtan and Family Jam * Bring instruments, poetry and readings welcome.
Saturday, September 13
6:00am-7:30am Early Morning Sadhana
7:30am-8:30am Light breakfast at Cherrywood House
9:00am-10:45am TBD
11:00am-12:30 pm ✨ Kundalini Yoga — The Power of Presence: From Crown to Ground with Meenakshi
1:00pm-1:30pm Communal Kitchen Open B.Y.O.
1:45pm We are doing the Hokey Pokey and turning ourselves around and GROUP PHOTO
2:00pm-3:00pm Free time to explore, swim, canoe, paddle boat - don’t forget your floaties and noodles! Fly a kite, take a hike, visit the horses or just chill.
3:00pm-4:00pm Relay Races
4:30pm-6:00pm ✨ Kundalini Yoga — Magnetic You: Activate the Subtle Power Within and Lead with Your Light with Karampal
6:30pm-8:00pm Let’s Break Bread! POTLUCK FAMILY FEAST Communal Kitchen Open - Please bring a dish to share.
7:45pm-9:00pm Restful Reiki Energy Share and Cacao with Cat Fritz at Grace in the Woods
9:00pm-10:00pm Sound Journey at Chadwick Hall
11:00-12:30am Kirtan Campfire- Instruments readings and poetry welcome!
Sunday, September 14
8:00am-9:00am Light breakfast at Cherrywood House
9:30-10:45am TBD
12:00pm Group Meditation, Closing Circle and Tune Out
2:00pm Leave No Trace & Clean up - Please clean 20ft radius around your camp site. Take home your own trash please.
Out by 3pm.
Camping Tips
✅ Plan to be settled and have your tent pitched before sunset.
✅ A Tarp under your tent will keep you dry.
✅ A Rain fly above your tent will also keep you dry.
✅ Check out the Happy Camper Supply list (scroll down)
✅ Join the Carpool to ask for a ride or offer a seat in your car (scroll down)
✅ Wagons and carts will help you transport your gear.
Activities
“The Inner Cosmos- Ten Doors to the Divine” — A Transformational Kundalini Yoga Series
Early Morning Aquarian Sadhana 🌅
Sunset Drum Circles
Nightly Kirtan Camp Fire Jams- your contributions, songs, readings, and poems welcome. Bring your instruments!
Sound Journey
Herbal Tinctures and Fermenting Workshop
Art Play
Qi Gong
Reiki Energy Share and Cacao Nightcap
Team Relay Races- Share in the joy and put your wholeself in!
Forest bathing - Take a hike in the woods
Star gazing
Kite flying
Swimming in the Lake Paddle boats available for use (Don’t forget to bring your paddle boards, tubes, floaties and noodles)
Pet and visit Ronora’s resident rescue horses.
Individual 1:1 horse therapy is also available and additional costs apply. Arrangements prior to camp can be made with Ronora Lodge.
Upon Arrival
CHP begins on September 12 at 9:00am and ends on Sunday September 14 at 3:00pm.
Check in at the entrance and pick up your CHP schedule and CHP T-Shirt in front for Chadwick Hall.
*One T-shirt is included for full camp Friday-Sunday participants. They are also available for purchase $25 while supplies last.
Glamp Contest
Bring your glamp game! Prizes will be awarded to the most blinged out campsites.
First Place: $100 SNY Credit
2 Runner Ups: $50 SNY Credit
We’ve seen altars, prayer flags, electric candles, solar fireflies, torches and more. Adorn your sacred space!
Community Kitchen
& Our Family Feast
Light breakfast included on Saturday and Sunday. When you hear the chow bell make your way to the Communal Kitchen Area.
Communal Kitchen B.Y.O.
Open Fri & Sat for Lunch 11:30-12:30pm and Dinner 6:30-8:30pm.
Saturday Night Family Feast
Please bring a communal dish to share.
We will have these things on hand
Open fire grills, indoor stoves, grill tools, shared pots and pans, Please wash and replace when finished.
BYO- plates and forks. CHP is equipped with cooking tools.
CHP is an alcohol free event. No open consumption.
Limited to 108
Happy Campers
You must be 21+ years old to attend alone.
CHP is family friendly. Kids and minors must be accompanied by a guardian at all times.
Your Camp Leaders
Karampal and Jay will be directing the flow of weekend and keeping us on schedule. You’ll receive a printed copy of the schedule when you arrive to camp. Keep it handy and note our practice times. Everything is optional.
Our Support Strategy
Karampal- logistics, classes and schedule.
Jay- tent set up, loading, fire maintenance and general outdoorsy survival necessities.
Steph and Will- Check ins, reservations and support.
Our Seva Team Members wear light blue bandanas. They are in charge of the kitchen, breakfast and can help get you settled.
lET’S GET ORGANIZED
RIDE SHARES
Offer up a seat or ask for a ride. Ride shares are organized by the community.
Log into the app to participate.
PACKING LIST
With a little prep you’ll be a happy camper. Check out our recommendations on what to bring to camp.
FAQs
Is van life or car camping allowed?
Vans and campers are allowed. There are no water or electrical hookups.
Are dogs allowed?
we love your furry friends but sorry CHP is dog free this year.
What are unloading and loading procedures?
When you arrive to camp park in the designated parking area. You’ll unpack your car and haul your gear to your chosen site. A few wheel barrels and pull carts will be available for use, first come. If you have one, you might want to bring your own.
Is there a carpool?
Yes and we encourage it! You can ask for a ride or offer a seat. Join our carpool. Make sure you factor in your gear!
Enjoy wide open spaces to get into your own, write, and be still with the sounds of the wild. The land we are blessed to share will embrace you as you are and provide you with what you need. Respite, renewal and a compassionate community.
You can count on pop-up healing sessions, tarot stations or something equally magical.