Ayurveda
Fitness
Health & Wellness
Must Be 18+
Outdoor
Get Healthy
Personal Development
Self-CareNourish & Strengthen Your Core
Everyone wants their spines to last a lifetime.
Feel-good backs allow us to move more freely in our lives. They are a conduit to many activities—whether for sports and fitness, professional or yard work, or caring for the others in our lives.
The anatomy of the spinal column allows our whole bodies to flex, extend, twist, bend over—and even walk!—with ease. However, that same anatomy allows pain and injury to form over time when we aren’t moving our bodies well.
Our spines need movements compatible with our anatomy and our starting point. Therefore, we need a “spinal care” toolkit full of exercises that work for our bodies.
This course teaches you to
- Use reliable anatomical markers to adjust the natural curves in the spine
- Twist your spine better—whether you’re golfing, stretching, or driving!
- Apply better spinal alignment to everyday fitness and yoga moves such as downward dog, core exercises, and pushups
- Change the way you stand and walk for more spinal support
- Care for your spine (and strengthen your core) with simple movements each day.
This workshop is the exercise user’s manual for your back you were never given. It’s never too late! Come learn to move in a way that will nourish your spine as you move through your life.
Recommended Reading Rethink Your Position and Move Your DNA by Katy Bowman.
Presenter
Katy Bowman
Bestselling author, speaker, and a leader in the Movement movement, biomechanist Katy Bowman is changing the way we move and think about our need for movement. Her nine books, including the groundbreaking Move Your DNA and Movement Matters, have been translated into more than a dozen languages worldwide. …
Rooms & Pricing
Private Hotel Room
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.)
- King bed or two full beds
- Flat screen TV
- Refrigerator
- Private bath
- Hair dryer
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Daily delicious vegetarian meals
- Complimentary tea/coffee & fresh fruit
- Daily yoga & meditation classes
- Access to fitness & steam rooms
Shared Hotel Room (2 People)
- Twin beds
- Flat screen TV
- Refrigerator
- Private bath
- Hair dryer
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Daily delicious vegetarian meals
- Complimentary tea/coffee & fresh fruit
- Daily yoga & meditation classes
- Access to fitness & steam rooms
Private Retreat Room
- Twin beds
- Private bath
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Daily delicious vegetarian meals
- Complimentary tea/coffee & fresh fruit
- Daily yoga & meditation classes
- Access to fitness & steam rooms
Shared Retreat Room (2 People)
- Twin beds
- Private bath
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Daily delicious vegetarian meals
- Complimentary tea/coffee & fresh fruit
- Daily yoga & meditation classes
- Access to fitness & steam rooms
Shared Retreat Room (3 People)
- Twin beds
- Private bath
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Daily delicious vegetarian meals
- Complimentary tea/coffee & fresh fruit
- Daily yoga & meditation classes
- Access to fitness & steam rooms
Schedule
A Better Back
Moves to Help Your Spine Last a Lifetime
October 13–15, 2023
Subject to change.
Friday 7:30–9:00 pm
Saturday 9:30 am–12:30 pm | 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 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)
Actual schedules and venues may vary; please confirm with Front Desk upon check-in.
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 | Thu–Sun
- 11:00 am–12:00 pm Mind & Meditation | 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 | Wed–Sat
- 5:30–6:00 pm Guided Meditation | Wed–Sat
- 7:30–8:15 pm Meditative Chants/Kirtan | 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
Thursday
Wheel-Throwing Classes
11:00 am, 1:15 pm, 3:00 pm
75 minutes; $65
Friday & Saturday
Hand-Building Classes
11:00 am, 12:30 pm, 2:15 pm, 3:30 pm, 4:45 pm, 6:00 pm
60 minutes; $55
*Class schedules are subject to change; glazing and shipping are included.
Hours
Wednesday 11:00–8:00 pm
Thursday–Saturday 9:00 am–6:00 pm
Sunday 8:00 am–2:00 pm
We encourage you to make reservations for consultations, therapies, and treatments at our award-winning Shankara Ayurveda Wellness at least four weeks before your arrival date to ensure availability. Please call 828.264.8382 for details. Additional cost.
FAQs
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 per person processing fee) up to 15 days before your program or stay.
- Nonrefundable credit toward a future AOLRC program or stay (less a $50 per person processing fee) is available if you give notice between 14 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.
Unless otherwise indicated, our programs are open to participants 18 years of age and older.
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.
We do have lodging and event venues that are ADA-compliant. Due to the topography of our mountain campus, some are easier to access than others, so please speak to Guest Services (800.392.6870) prior to registering to ensure we can best accommodate your needs. We also have shuttles that run frequently throughout the campus.
We are committed to the safety of our guests and staff. Our mountaintop location and the surrounding areas are spacious, remote, safe, and secure.
- It is safe to leave your windows open—and necessary for proper airflow!
- Nature surrounds our campus, and it’s common to see rabbits, deer, gophers, wild turkeys, and other small animals. Please give them space, and they’ll do the same for you. We’ve never had a safety incident with animals on campus.
You can help!
- If you come across an animal on campus or a trail, give it space, and please do not attempt to pet or feed it.
- There’s no need to bring valuables to the retreat center; leaving them at home is best.
