Restore Passion and Hope
Are you ready to deepen the connection you experience within your intimate relationship? Do you feel that there is more to love—and you want to reach the next level?
Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt are bestselling authors who have developed a transformative method for supporting couples, called Imago Relationship Therapy. They will guide you and your partner towards a truly fulfilling partnership—restoring passion and hope so that you can feel connected.
We are born in relationship, we are wounded in relationship, and we can be healed in relationship.
– Harville Hendrix
Through a range of techniques included within the Imago method, including witness demonstrations; lectures, and one-on-one practice:
In this workshop, you will
- Develop effective and loving communication skills
- Uncover the source of frustrations within your relationship
- Learn a step-by-step process for transforming conflict into connection
- Experience true safety with your partner, and feel genuinely appreciated
- Discover the potential of your relationship as a vessel for passion, healing, and spiritual growth.
You will both take home the skills to nurture and improve your relationship on a daily basis — so that your love can be liberating and free from conflict.
This workshop is for couples to attend together.
Features
Instead of treating our partner as we would like to be treated, we need to treat them as they want to be treated.
This is harder than it seems, for at least three reasons. One, we are all pretty self-centered, far more in touch with our own desires than with those of our partner. Two, most of us think other people’s desires are similar, if not identical, to ours (and if they are not, they should be!). Three, we operate out of the erroneous belief that our partner should know exactly what it is that you want.
Discover the potential of your relationship as a vessel for passion, healing, and spiritual growth.
Just because you or your partner asked for a behavior does not mean you have to do it. Some might require a little stretching (good) but other requests might be too challenging (do not do.) But consider all requests and revisit them every so often. You might find what you cannot give now, you can give later as your relationship begins to reap the rewards of unconditional giving and receiving.
When you and your partner have a shared vision it synthesizes separate dreams, desires, values, and needs.
Working together intentionally on a relationship vision turns your energy away from past and present disappointments toward a more hopeful future, the future you want to create This joint creation becomes your conscious dream and your new reality. You may not be able to have the relationship of your private dreams, but you can co-create a new ideal relationship.
Experience a level of emotional safety with each other and open your hearts to a deeper experience of love.
Touch your partners heart and give in ways to help them feel good. Identify behaviors that you currently receive from your partner (current behaviors), behaviors you received in your earlier romantic days together (past behaviors), and behaviors that your partner does not do but, if they did, would make you feel loved or cared about (future behaviors.)
Learn how to talk with your partner so that your conversations will be safe rather than negative.
Imago Dialog uses three basic techniques – mirroring, validating, and empathizing – to fortify the connection between partners. Check to make sure you understand what your partner is saying (mirroring), indicate that what your partner says makes sense, even if you don’t agree (validating) and recognize the partner’s feelings when s/he tells a story or expresses an opinion (empathizing).
Replace all your monologues with dialogue and practice having “safe conversations” until you are perfect. Dialogue will not only improve the way you communicate with your partner, it will improve the relations with your children, and with everyone you come in contact with. Practice dialogue until it becomes a habit and a way of life, until you become dialogical.
Offer gifts with no strings attached. The unconscious receives only unconditional gifts.
Give and receive unconditionally. A tit-for-tat mentality does not sit well with the old brain. Gifts are unconditional. It interprets such behaviors as, “Look out! Price tag attached. There is no reason to feel good about this gift, because I’ll have to pay for it later.” We need to give unconditionally.
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
Presenter

Harville Hendrix Ph.D. and Helen LaKelly Hunt Ph.D. are internationally-respected couple’s therapists, educators, speakers, and New York Times bestselling authors. Together, they have written over 10 books with more than 4 million copies sold, including the timeless classic, Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples. In addition, Harville has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey television program 17 times!
However, marriage—even for marriage experts—is never easy. Just like any other couple, Harville and Helen experienced a power struggle where they attempted to change, coerce, and threaten each other to be “more like me.” A critical comment would degenerate into loud arguments. Blaming each other was a common focus of conversation.
Harville and Helen co-created Imago Relationship Therapy to promote the transformation of couples and families by a creating relational culture that support universal equality. In addition, they’ve developed resources that help couples, families, and educators strengthen their relationship knowledge and skills. They are the co-founders of Imago Relationships International, a non-profit organization that has trained over 2,000 therapists and educators in 51 countries around the world.
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
GETTING THE LOVE YOU WANT
Becoming the Most Connected Couple You Know
March 26–28, 2021 & September 10–12, 2021
Subject to change.
Friday 7:30–9:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am–12:00 pm and 2:00–5:00 pm; 7:30–9:00 pm
Sunday 9:00–12:00 pm 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 and wellness retreats, we have a 24-hour cancellation policy. For all other retreats, please be sure to check the registration page specific to that retreat.
Retreat Cancellation Policy
To encourage a healthy environment, we ask that guests 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.
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.