Live Longer, Live Better
Recent advances in nutritional science show how diets can slow aging and push the envelope of human longevity.
This interactive seminar with Dr. Joel Fuhrman explores this new research in detail and gives you both information and actionable techniques for using food to improve your own health or the health of your clients.
Food is truly the most effective medicine. – Dr. Joel Fuhrman
Through lectures, Q&A and discussion, you’ll learn
- How the application of new nutritional science can prevent disease
- How to resolve food addiction and emotional eating in order to maintain a healthy weight, and a healthy relationship with food, forever
- The workings of the therapeutic aspects of lifestyle medicine and their role in reversing disease
- How to implement a nutritarian eating style, which is designed to optimize healthy life expectancy.
You will go home with the information and motivation needed to enjoy eating healthy food—and the knowledge you need to make that food taste fantastic.
Open to all.
CE Credits may be available for fitness professionals and health professionals such as nurses and physicians
A Retreat in the Mountains
During your stay, you have time for personal R & R also. Whether you want to explore forest trails and bask in the fresh mountain air, enjoy a pottery or watercolor painting class, release stress with a therapeutic spa 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 retreat is an Abhyanga massage (“Abby” for short), followed by a relaxing steam to further release stress. Pre-requisite: 18 years of age or older
Features
Discover cutting-edge nutritional science that prevents heart disease, strokes, cancer, dementia and even slows the aging process.
In Tibetan Buddhism, effortless mindfulness is sometimes called non-meditation because we discover the spontaneous flow of wisdom and action. Effortless mindfulness is compatible with an active, engaged life since it can be practiced with eyes open, anywhere. Essentially, every body part is revitalized and nurtured providing you with more energy and mental clarity.
Identify and remove physical symptoms that drive overeating behavior and cause weight fluctuation.
Discover "awareness yoga" and how to live from a natural flow state.
Gain clarity on the type of life you want and receive the help and guidance necessary for getting it.
Your Program Session Times (subject to change)
Friday 7:30-9:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am–12:30 pm and 2:00–4:00 pm
Sunday 9:30–11:30 pm (Room check-out is 11:00 am; luggage can be held at reception)
Arrival Day
3:00 pm Check-in begins; Rooms are ready by 3:00 pm, but if you arrive early, we can hold your luggage at Reception.
6:00–7:00 pm Dinner
7:00–7:20 pm Guest Orientation Session (Venue: Dining Hall)
Learn which foods promote recovery from diabetes, autoimmune diseases, hypertension, migraines, fibromyalgia, and more.
Access your true nature and ways of liberating difficult mental and emotional states. Loch will share his unique integration of wisdom practices, neuroscience, and psychological research that supports awakening as the next natural stage of human development.
Access key information and practical food preparation knowledge that makes healthy food taste fantastic.
This program may be particularly of interest to yoga teachers and healthcare workers.
Learn how to comfortably stick to a healthful and effective diet... and enjoy making it work!
Best Spiritual Books of 2019: Spirituality & Practice
Gold Medal Winner: Living Now Book Awards
Learn how to enter an optimal flow state, access peace of mind, and live from open-hearted awareness—in the midst of your busy life. Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and ancient wisdom traditions, award-winning author Loch Kelly's newest book, The Way of Effortless Mindfulness, offers a practical guide to experiencing the next stage in the ongoing mindfulness revolution: effortless mindfulness.
Presenter

Joel Fuhrman, MD, is a board-certified family physician, nutritional researcher, and author. His work in nutritional science is well respected in scientific communities and the wider population, and his books have reached the New York Times bestseller list six times. His most recent books are Eat to Live Quick and Easy Cookbook and Fast Food Genocide. He serves as the president of the Nutritional Research Foundation and is on the faculty of Northern Arizona University.
Reviews
Rooms & Pricing
All options include daily vegetarian meals from dinner on the night of check-in through lunch on the day of check-out. (Rates below are Per Person)
Shared Hotel Room (2 People)
- King bed or two full beds
- Flat Screen TV
- Refrigerator
- Private Bath
- Complimentary WIFI
- Daily Delicious Vegetarian Meals
- Complimentary Tea/Coffee & Fresh Fruit
- Daily Yoga & Meditation Classes
- Access to Gym & Steam Rooms
One other person of the same gender will share the room with you**
Schedule
Subject to change.
Thursday 7:30–9:00 pm
Friday 9:30 am–12:30 pm and 2:00–4:00 pm
Saturday 9:30 am–12:30 pm and 2:00–4:00 pm
Sunday 9:30–11:30 am Room checkout is 11:00 am; luggage may be held at Reception.
General Information
All times are Eastern Standard Times (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)
Mealtimes
7:30–9:30 am Breakfast
12:00–2:00 pm Lunch (included on your departure day)
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.)
7:30–8:30 am
Hatha Yoga Class | Gita Hall; during program dates only.
9:45–10:45 am and 4:15–5:15 pm
Hatha Yoga Class | Sattva Studio
11:00 am–12:00 pm
Mind and Meditation Session | Sattva Studio
1:30–2:00 pm
Yoga Nidra | Sattva Studio; Saturdays and Sundays only.
2:00–3:15 pm
Property Tour | Starts at Reception; Saturdays only.
1:30–2:30 pm and 3:00–4:00 pm
Guided Nature Walk | Starts at Reception; Saturdays only.
5:30–6:00 pm
Guided Meditation Session | Sattva Studio
7:30–8:15 pm
Meditative Chant/Kirtan | Gita Hall
8:30–10:00 pm
Bonfire | Below Veda 2 Weather permitting; Saturdays only.
Optional Activities with Additional Fees
To ensure a space, please register for these activities by calling 800-392-6870 prior to your arrival.
Mindful Painting (1 hour) $25 Sunday Only
Express your creativity through art therapy as you connect your emotions to the art of watercolor painting.
Ayurveda Cooking Class $25 (1 hour) Thursday and Saturday Only
Learn how to best nourish your specific body type and thrive in every season.
Pottery Class $30 (1 hour) Thursday to Sunday
Explore your creativity. Get hands-on experience in throwing on the wheel, hand-building and decorating handmade pots.
Ayurveda Spa Appointments (Additional Cost)
Hours: 9:00 am–6:30 pm daily
We invite you to also make reservations at our award-winning Shankara Ayurveda Spa 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.
FAQs
For room reservations & spa retreats, we have a 24 hour cancellation policy.
For all other retreats, please be sure to check the registration page specific to that retreat.
Happiness Retreat Cancellation Policy:
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. That being said 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.
Testimonials

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.