Creative Expression
Mindfulness
Self-Discovery
Boost Energy
Calm & Clear Mind
Get Happy
Relieve StressUnleash Your Writing Power
Best-selling authors Cheryl Strayed and Roda Ahmed bring a brand new experiential workshop that reveals the truest things they know about writing and living a creative life.
Through lectures about their craft, conversations about their lives, and generative writing exercises aimed at inspiring wild awakenings on the page, you’ll explore the stories you long to tell and while learning how to do so with clarity, courage, consciousness, and depth.
In this workshop, you’ll discover
- Your truest self through writing
- Unique ways to break through the barriers that block your creativity
- How to cultivate personal fulfillment and transformation through creative expression
- The importance of mindset, magic, and imagination
- How to to create an uninhibited, purposeful and bold life.
This is a workshop for writers of all levels—from the novice to the experienced—and for those interested in using writing as a tool for self-discovery, creative expression, and social impact.
Features
A Retreat in the Mountains
During your visit, you’ll have time for personal R & R, whether you want to explore forest trails and bask in the fresh mountain air, enjoy a pottery or watercolor painting class, or release stress with a therapeutic Ayurveda treatment, the choice is yours. (Additional fees may apply.)
Make Your Retreat Extra Special
Combine your retreat with authentic Ayurveda for rejuvenation on all levels, body, mind and spirit. The recommended Ayurveda treatment for this program is an Abhyanga massage (“Abby” for short), followed by a relaxing steam to further release stress. Pre-requisite: 18 years of age or older.
PRESENTERS
Cheryl Strayed
Cheryl Strayed is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling memoir Wild. She is also the author of The New York Times bestseller Tiny Beautiful Things, a collection of her widely popular Dear Sugar columns for TheRumpus.net, and the critically acclaimed novel Torch, a finalist for the Great Lakes Book Award. Her writing has appeared in The Best American Essays, The New York Times Magazine, The Washington Post Magazine, Vogue, Allure, The Missouri Review, Creative Nonfiction, The Sun and elsewhere. Her books have been translated into 26 languages around the world. …
Roda Ahmed
Roda Ahmed is a Norwegian author born in Hargeisa, Somalia. Roda is the bestselling author of Forberedelsen (The Preparations) and in 2018 she published her first bestselling children’s book, Mae Among the Stars, with HarperCollins about the first African-American woman in space. …
Testimonials
Rooms & Pricing
PLEASE NOTE On-site housing is full for this program, but we have an abundance of commuter spots available. Our commuter rate includes meals and full access to our facilities—you will need to arrange your own housing off-campus. Find a list of Boone-area lodging options here.
*If you’d like to be added to a waitlist for on-site housing in case of any cancellations, fill out this form. We’ll contact you if accommodations become available on campus.
Commuter Pass
$67.50 per day.
Our commuter pass includes
- Daily Delicious Vegetarian Meals
- Complimentary Tea/Coffee & Fresh Fruit
- Daily Yoga & Meditation Classes
- Access to Gym & Steam Rooms
Accommodations are excluded.
All options include daily vegetarian meals from dinner on the night of check-in through lunch on the day of checkout. (Rates below are per person.)
Private Hotel Room
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- King bed or two full beds
- Flat Screen TV
- Refrigerator
- Private Bath
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Delicious Vegetarian Meals
- Complimentary Tea/Coffee & Fresh Fruit
- Daily Yoga & Meditation Classes
- Access to Grounds and Facilities, including Gym & Steam Rooms
Private Retreat Room
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- Two Twin Beds
- Private Bath
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Delicious Vegetarian Meals
- Complimentary Tea/Coffee & Fresh Fruit
- Daily Yoga & Meditation Classes
- Access to Grounds and Facilities, including Gym & Steam Rooms
Schedule
Wild Awakenings
A Writing Workshop with Cheryl Strayed
October 1–3, 2021
Subject to change.
Friday 7:30–9:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am–12:30 pm and 2:00–4:30 pm
Sunday 9:30–11:00 am Room checkout is 11:00 am; luggage may be held at Reception.
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.
FAQ
On-Campus Program FAQs
For room reservations, Ayurveda Wellness Retreats, and Art of Living Retreat Center (AOLRC) signature retreats, we have the following cancellation policy:
- Refunds are available (less a $50 processing fee) up to eight days before your program or stay.
- Nonrefundable credit toward a future AOLRC program or stay (less a $50 processing fee) is available if you give notice between seven and one day(s) before your program or stay. Credit may be applied to any AOLRC program or stay for one year following date of issue.
- No credit or refund is available if you cancel on the arrival day, if you do not show up, or if you leave an event early for any reason. No refund will be available if you attend a program and are dissatisfied with its presentation or content. AOLRC reserves the right to cancel a program at any time. If AOLRC cancels a program, you will receive a full refund. Some programs may have special cancellation policies; see individual workshop descriptions. For all other retreats, please be sure to check the registration page specific to that retreat.
To encourage a healthy environment we ask that guest to not consume alcohol or meat in our public spaces, however, guests may enjoy these items in their rooms.
Our property is always smoke-free.
Yes, we ask that guests with food allergies simply inform us so we can communicate those needs to our chef. Typically, we label potential allergens such as gluten, dairy, and nuts.
Location
Discover deep rest and rejuvenation in a pristine natural setting in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Boone, North Carolina. Set amidst 380 acres of pristine forest high up in the Blue Ridge Mountains is a tranquil sanctuary.
