Braided Way Peace Collective | Kalispell, MT

Weaving the Arts of Peace into the Fabric of Community.

A Community Resource for the Study of Peace through Education, Training, and Contemplative and Embodied Practices.

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Welcome To

Braided Way Peace Collective

A Community Resource for the Study of Peace through Education, Training, and Contemplative and Embodied Practices.

Braided Way Peace Collective, a 501(c)3, is a community and space where we cultivate a personal practice of internal peace, stability, and goodwill. We offer a variety of programs of study and practice divers traditions and paths from around the globe.

Two Rivers Aikido

Two Rivers Aikido

Devoted to cooperation rather than competition, Aikido is an internal and relational art and movement meditation. Often translated as The Art of Peace, Aikido is an embodied wisdom practice that leads us through our inner resistances toward a peaceful stance in the world.

Qi Gong

Qi Gong

This practice provides a deep inquiry and access to integrating body alignment, movement, and breathing with traditional Chinese medical theory and universal principles of balance, breath, and body awareness.

Love Serve Remember

Love Serve Remember

Join us for a monthly gathering of the Love Serve Remember community in Montana featuring cacao, kirtan, conversation, silent reflection, chanting, and joy-filled depth dialogue.

Japanese Calligraphy

Japanese Calligraphy & More

Slow down, breathe deeply, and connect with the stillness of each brushstroke. Explore traditional calligraphy, Japanese culture, creative practices, and personalized offerings.

Integral Chant

Integral Chant

Music, spirituality, breath, sacred sound, and somatic disciplines come together through personalized practices for individuals, groups, gatherings, and meaningful life transitions.

Open Sky Sangha

Open Sky Sangha

Open Sky Sangha is a community of mindful living in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, offering meditation, Dharma sharing, and support for developing a meaningful daily practice.

Braided Way Peace Collective - Kalispell, MT

Events & Announcements

“If in our daily life we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it. This is the most basic kind of peace work.”
— Thich Nhat Hanh, Being Peace

Nina Rao
Featured Teacher

About Nina Rao

Nina Rao first learned sacred chants as a young girl from her grandfather in southern India, and the chants stayed quietly with her until she rediscovered this powerful practice with Krishna Das in New York in 1996. Since then, she has been KD’s business manager and accompanies him musically.

In 1998 she met her guru, Sri Siddhi Ma, in the foothills of the Himalayas and spent time with her regularly for 19 years while Ma was in the body.

Nina has been chanting regularly as her main practice, has recorded albums that are widely streamed and played around the world, leads chant events, studies and shares Veda chanting and spiritual texts, is a hospice volunteer, a podcast host for Be Here Now Network, goes on yatra and pilgrimage, and is a wildlife conservationist as chairperson for Saving Wild Tigers.

Her albums include Antarayaami, Anubhav, 21 Taras Collective Mantra Mala Vol. 1, and her third solo album, scheduled for release in summer 2026.

Visit NinaRaoChant.com
Retreat Weekend

Chant as Medicine

A healing balm of rhyme, rhythm, and community.

Dates
May 21–23, 2027
Location
Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp
Lakeside, Montana
Presented By
Ram Dass Montana, a program of Braided Way Peace Collective 501(c)(3)

Please Join Us

Bring your open hearts, your voices, community spirit, and camping enthusiasm to this retreat weekend filled with chanting, study, silent sitting, breath-centered contemplative movement practices, quiet time, and discussion.

Whether you are new to chant or have a dedicated practice, this weekend we will deepen into our native sound, be enlivened through Nina’s soul-filled offerings, and leave feeling inspired and connected to a growing community.

This all-inclusive retreat includes: sleeping accommodations in bunk-style cabins and all meals beginning with dinner Friday evening and ending with brunch on Sunday.

Registration Cost

Early Bird
$425
Register by December 31, 2026
Standard Registration
$475
Register by April 30, 2027

Overall Retreat Schedule

Includes dinner

  • 3:00–5:00 PM registration and getting settled
  • Opening program and orientation
  • Satsang and kirtan

Includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner

7:00 AM start
10:00 PM close

  • Satsang and kirtan
  • Mantra and japa
  • Silent sitting
  • Contemplative movement practices
  • Discussion
  • Solo walking or hiking
  • Quiet time

Includes brunch

  • 7:00 AM start
  • Satsang and kirtan
  • Q & R
  • 11:00 AM brunch and closing program
  • Noon–1:00 PM checkout

Daily detailed schedule to be announced.

What to Bring

  • Sleeping bag and linens
  • Towel and washcloth
  • Sturdy walking shoes
  • Layers for changing Montana spring weather
  • Headlamp or small flashlight
  • Medications and supplements

Optional Items

  • Swimsuit
  • Journal

The lake and sauna will be available.