September 16-19, 2021
Are you ready to immerse yourself into the magic healing powers of movement as medicine?
It’s 2021 and we are all starting to emerge from our lockdown and intense times at home alone. We are more excited than ever to create some magic with you and are grateful we have this amazing retreat to look forward to in September.
The Art of Living is close to home – yet a world away. After these 4 days away, focused on YOU , we hope you’ll return home from the Blue Ridge Mountains feeling different. Stress free. Breathing deeply. Noticing that you are well rested, aware, and ready to receive the gifts of your life at home.
We are creating this experience to dive deeper into the Movement Medicine that Yoga and Nia can offer us. In addition, we will honor the importance of connection, belonging, nature and time.
Join us to spend 4 days nourishing your body with lovingly prepared, delicious, nutrient-dense foods. Join our session to experience an intentionally crafted series of experiences designed to deepen your connection to your whole self—mind, body, and soul.
About The Retreat
This retreat is carefully crafted to offer you a relaxing, healing, and transformative experience. As children, we naturally move, condition, and heal our bodies. As we mature, we may lose our connection with the wisdom within ourselves.
Marybeth and Niki will guide and support you as you go on a journey of movement as medicine for your body, mind and spirit. Return home with a deeper understanding of how to incorporate physical practices into your life; understanding that the purpose of your practice is not to look a certain way, but to enjoy a healthy and joyful state of living.
Open to everyone; all levels of yoga experience.
This program is also appropriate for caregivers and individuals living with chronic stress, injury, or illness.
No dance experience necessary.
We’ll share tools and techniques to nourish and heal the body, mind and spirit:
- Meditation & Breathwork (Pranayama)
- Yin Yoga
- Restorative Yoga
- Alignment Based Hatha Yoga
- Tantric Yoga Philosophy
- Nia & Nia Five Stages
- Form and Freedom
- Expressive Movement
- The chemistry of Martial Arts, Dance Arts, and Healing Arts
Any or all of these tools can be used to help create a lifestyle of healing and self-love. In the safe space of the Kula (community of the heart) we will also experience the healing magic of connecting to ourselves and each other.
You will find:
- Self Healing
- A sense of clarity and ease in your body
- Increased awareness of choice
- Greater understanding and compassion for self and others
- Increased flexibility, agility, mobility, strength and stability
Schedule
Your Program Session Times (subject to change)
Thursday, September 16
4:00 pm Check-in
6:00–7:00 pm Dinner
7:00–7:20 pm MANDATORY Art of Living Welcome Orientation
7:30–9:00 pm Program Session – Opening Circle
Friday, September 17
7:30–8:30 am Program Session
7:30–9:30 am Breakfast
10:00 am–12:00 pm Program Session
12:00–2:00 pm Lunch
4:00–5:30 pm Program Session
6:00–7:30 pm Dinner
7:30–8:15 pm Optional Meditative Chant/Kirtan
Saturday, September 18
7:30–8:30 am Program Session
7:30–9:30 am Breakfast
10:00 am–12:00 pm Program Session
12:00–2:00 pm Lunch
1:30–2:30 pm Guided Nature Walk or Yoga Nidra
4:00–6:00 pm Program Session
6:00–7:30 pm Dinner
7:30–8:15 pm Program Session
8:30–10:30pm Bonfire (weather permitting)
Sunday, September 19
7:30–8:30 am Morning Yoga
7:30–9:30 am Breakfast
9:30 am–12:00 pm Program Session
11:00 am Check-out (luggage may be stored at Reception.)
12:00 pm Lunch is included in your stay this day.
Location
639 Whispering Hills Rd, Boone, North Carolina 28607
Discover deep rest and rejuvenation in our tranquil sanctuary set amidst 380 pristine acres high up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Boone, North Carolina—the perfect place to begin your journey to wellness.
NOTE Avoid using GPS—it will take you up a private road to a locked gate. Please use the directions provided on this site.
Distance from Nearest Airport: Two hours by car without traffic
General Information
All times are Eastern Standard Time (EST) unless otherwise noted.
Arrival Day
4:00 pm Check-in begins; Rooms are ready by 4:00 pm, but if you arrive early we will hold your luggage at Reception.
6:00–7:00 pm Dinner
7:00–7:20 pm Guest Orientation Session (Venue: Dining Hall)
Dining Hours Purna Dining Hall
7:30–9:30 am Breakfast
12:00–1:30 pm Lunch
6:00–7:30 pm Dinner
Optional Activities
Apart from the activities in your program schedule, we offer the following optional complementary activities. (Please join only if your program schedule permits.)
9:45–10:45 am Yoga | Sattva Studio | Thu–Sun
11:00 am–12:00 pm Mind & Meditation | Sattva Studio | Thu–Sun
1:30–2:15 pm Guided Hike | Assemble at Shankara Reception | Sat
2:30–3:45 pm Ayurveda Cooking Class* | Tulsi Kitchen | Thu: Sweet Treats • Sat: Chef’s Seasonal Recipe
4:15–5:15 pm Yoga | Sattva Studio | Wed–Sat
5:30–6:00 pm Guided Meditation | Sattva Studio | Wed–Sat
7:30–8:15 pm Meditative Chants/Kirtan | Sattva Studio | Wed–Sat (Saturday kirtan is outdoor by the bonfire; weather permitting.)
*Included with Wellness Escapes and R&R; Other participants: $35.00/per person
Clay Studio
10:00 am–6:00 pm Saturday
Clay Handbuilding $30.00 (1 hour)
Throwing Wheel $45.00 (2 hours)
Shankara Ayurveda Wellness Appointments (Additional Cost)
Hours: 9:00 am–6:30 pm daily
We invite you to also make reservations for consultations, therapies, and treatments at our award-winning Shankara Ayurveda Wellness prior to arrival in order to ensure availability. Please call 828-264-8382 for details.
Actual schedules and venues may vary; please confirm with Front Desk upon check-in.
Past Guests Say
“I could not have imagined how much this retreat would shift my perspective, challenge me physically, spiritually, and emotionally. It was a perfect balance of human connection, exercise (that exercised your body and mind simultaneously), and quiet reflection. The group was phenomenal and embracing and I could not recommend this retreat more!”
“There was such a great balance between activities and opportunities for rest and relaxation. How did you do that? I felt such support for each choice I made in terms of creating what was the perfect mix tailored for my own needs. Thank you!”
“This retreat was an amazing experience. Marybeth and Niki were so thoughtful and detail oriented about every aspect of the retreat. I felt cared for and comfortable. I also felt free to choose to participate as much as I wanted with the group, or to spend time doing my own thing.”
