Beyond the Wounds of the Innocent Inner Child

Break Free of Survival Consciousness

LISA A. ROMANO

Tuition

$345 per person—plus room/meals & tax

FEATURED GUEST PRESENTER

Beyond the Wounds of the Innocent Inner Child

…amidst the stunning, natural backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Find new levels of calm and energy for life.

LISA A. ROMANO

Overcome survival thinking and step into a more conscious, empowered life.

May 16–18, 2025

A STructured
2-Night/3-Day Retreat

Family & Relationships
Meditation & Mindfulness
Must Be 18+
Self-Discovery
Calm & Clear Mind
Personal Development
Self-Care

Break Free From Survival Mode

Discover a path of deep healing and self-discovery with Lisa A. Romano, renowned author, speaker, and life coach specializing in codependency and recovery from narcissistic abuse. In this immersive retreat, you’ll uncover how childhood experiences shape your behaviors, emotional responses, and relationships. Guided by Lisa’s expertise in trauma-informed therapy and personal empowerment, you’ll learn to break free from subconscious survival thinking, heal your inner child, and reclaim your authentic self. Step into a supportive, healing space where you can release generational patterns, gain practical tools, and elevate your life with newfound clarity and fulfillment.

Recommended listening and reading: Lisa’s podcast, Breakdown to Breakthrough, and Lisa’s book, The Road Back to Me. 

Reserve Your Spot Now

SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.

 

Retreat Benefits

Break Trauma Cycles​

Understand how survival thinking affects your choices and learn to live beyond fear-based behaviors.

emotional_healing

Emotional Freedom

Finally confront the pain of your inner child and experience profound healing.

Enhanced Self-Awareness

Explore how past experiences have shaped your behaviors and thought patterns, unlocking a profound understanding of yourself.

Empowered Self-Mastery

Learn to embrace emotions, decode physical signals, and confidently make choices that align with your authentic self.

Newfound Friends

Connect with others on similar healing journeys, sharing stories and insights that foster a sense of belonging and enhance the overall experience.

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Practical Tools

Walk away with actionable strategies that support continued healing long after the retreat.

SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.

 

Are you ready to reclaim your authentic self and live beyond survival mode?

WHAT TO EXPECT

Embrace Inner Freedom

Be gently guided through a series of profound, heart-opening practices designed to release deep-seated trauma and reconnect you to your authentic self. Surrounded by a like-minded community, you will experience breakthroughs in self-awareness, learning to identify the survival mechanisms that no longer serve you. Through hands-on exercises, practical tools, and compassionate guidance, expect to feel lighter, more empowered, and truly seen—perhaps for the first time. Leave with a renewed sense of clarity, inner peace, and the confidence to make conscious choices aligned with your true desires.

1. The 123 Process

Learn a step-by-step approach to processing emotions and making conscious, aligned choices.

2. Emotional Reverse Engineering

Discover how to trace your current feelings back to their roots, uncovering hidden trauma.

3. Healing Movement & Meditation

Engage in gentle physical practices to reconnect with your body, release stored tension, and experience a soothing guided visualization that nurtures and comforts your inner child.

4. Tools for Transformation

Learn actionable and effective strategies, including mindfulness practices and cognitive techniques, for everyday healing.

5. Live Q&A

Ask your personal questions in a supportive space and receive direct insights from Lisa, creating a deeply healing experience that fosters meaningful connection and growth.

Reserve Your Spot Now

SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.

 

Transforming Lives

quotes
—Abby
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I did not realize how badly I needed this information. Lisa has such a profound understanding of childhood trauma and its lasting effects. Her caring insight is evident right from the beginning. I now have a firm grasp of why I am me. And I am calmer and more at peace with myself.
—Program Participant
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If you are struggling with codependency, Lisa is the person to help you figure it out. My life has changed and been enriched so much by all of her teachings. I consider her my soul sister and I am forever grateful.
—Program Participant
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After years of therapy that never identified the core beliefs keeping me stuck in cycles of people-pleasing and perfectionism, I finally learned how to change deep-rooted patterns. Lisa’s heartfelt approach and support made all the difference.
—Rachel
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Lisa's program provides a rich, supportive environment conducive to profound and lasting learning. It will help you internalize new knowledge and ideas, and give you tools to help take your life back, and begin changing your subconscious beliefs and patterns.
—Matt
Read More
This program guided me to uncover the root of my inner child wounds, subconscious programming, and codependency, revealing the true source of my struggles. It equipped me with the tools to fix myself and my faulty programming in order to live a more authentic and fulfilling life. This program has truly transformed me.
—Program Particpant
Read More
Lisa's program is an amazing life-changing experience. She is an incredible and thoughtful coach who guides you every step of the way. I can't say enough positive things about the program and the impact it has to those willing to put in the work.
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Presenter

Lisa A. Romano

Lisa A. Romano is a distinguished author, speaker, and life coach with expertise in codependency and recovery from narcissistic abuse. Recognized as the #1 Most Influential Person of 2020, Lisa’s transformative work deeply resonates with individuals seeking meaningful change. Her bestselling book, Codependent Now What?, featured by USA Today as an essential read for self-improvement, offers valuable insights for overcoming codependency and reconnecting with one’s authentic self. Additionally, her book The Road Back to Me has reached #1 bestseller status on Amazon, solidifying her reputation as a leading voice in personal empowerment and healing.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Beyond the Wounds of the Innocent Inner Child

This experiential retreat offers a well-balanced schedule that combines structured educational sessions with flexible time blocks – ensuring you have ample opportunity to engage in learning while also allowing personal time to explore the retreat center, participate in activities, and enjoy moments of reflection and relaxation.
(Program schedule subject to change.)

Check-in Begins
4:00 pm

Dinner
6:00–7:00 pm

Property Orientation
7:00–7:20 pm

Session 1
7:30–9:00 pm

Breakfast
7:30–9:30 am

Session 2
9:30 am–12:30 pm

Lunch
12:30–1:30 pm

Session 3
2:00–4:00 pm

Free Time
4:00–6:00 pm

Dinner
6:00–7:00 pm

day3

Breakfast
7:30–9:30 am

Session 4
9:30–11:30 am

Room Checkout
11:00 am
Luggage may be held at Reception.

Lunch
12:00–1:30 pm

Day 1

Session 1
The Secret of the Breath
7:30–9:30 pm

Day 2
Session 2
Morning Yoga
7:30–8:30 am

Session 3
The Rhythms of Life
10:00 am–1:00 pm

Session 4
Deepening Our Experience
5:15–6:30 pm

Day 3
Session 5
Morning Yoga
7:30–8:30 am
Session 6
New Start: Home Practice
10:00 am–1:00 pm

Breakfast  7:30–9:30 am • Lunch: 12:00–1:30 pm • Dinner: 6:00–7:30 pm

Optional activities include
Yoga • Meditation • Kirtan • Bonfire • Labyrinth • Nature Trails

SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.

 

UPGRADE OPTIONS

Extend your Stay and Don't Miss a Thing

Add a day to enjoy R&R activities!

Free activities include
Interactive Nature Hikes
Cooking Demos
Meditation & Movement Classes
Wellness Workshops

Paid activities include
Pottery Classes
Ayurvedic Wellness & Healing Arts Treatments

Nourish Your Body

Take your rejuvenation to another level with a soothing Ayurvedic treatment. 

Call to check availability during Shankara business hours:

Wednesday 11:00 am–8:00 pm
Thursday–Saturday 9:00 am–6:00 pm
Sunday 8:00 am–2:00 pm

SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.

 

THE ART OF LIVING RETREAT CENTER

Scenic. Serene. Inspiring.

The perfect place to begin your journey to holistic wellness.

Since 2012, the Art of Living Retreat Center has offered wellness retreats featuring meditation, yoga, and Ayurveda. The Center is high in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Boone, North Carolina, surrounded by 380 acres of pristine forest. Beauty, nature, and time-honored architecture create the perfect setting that is authentic, not extravagant.

“You drive up this mountain and it’s instant, total bliss. It’s beautiful. Everything about it is magical.”

—Chelsea H.

1000+ enthusiastic Google reviews

PRICING & ROOMS

All-Inclusive Accommodations

Prices 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
$885 to $955

Shared Hotel Room (for 2)
$745 to $845

Private Retreat Room
$745 to $846

Shared Retreat Room (for 2)
$665 to $765

Shared Retreat Room (for 3)
$595 to $695

1-Bedroom Apartment
$1,095 to $1,195

1-Bedroom Apartment (w loft)
$1,235 to $1,335

Save $100 by registering 14 days in advance
Private Hotel Room

$1,310

Shared Hotel Room (for 2)

$1,170

Private Retreat Room

$1,170

Shared Retreat Room (for 2)

$1,090

Shared Retreat Room (for 3)

$1,020

TRAVEL INFO

We are remote—yet easy to get to.

The Art of Living Retreat Center offers the right balance between serenity and easy access.
  • Fly into Charlotte, NC—Two hours away by drive.
  • Check-in at 4:00 pm first day—eat dinner shortly after that.
  • Leave after lunch the last day—schedule your flight anytime
    after 5:00 pm.

Transportation Options Between Charlotte and the Center

Hickory Hop Shuttle Service
Book online

hickoryhop.com

High Country Black Car
828.387.1977

High Country Black Car

Oscar’s Car Service
704.965.5800

Edwardo’s Car Service
704.949.6775

Blue Bird Transportation
828.989.7286

Blue Bird of Boone

Uber or Lyft
Book in app on arrival

Service

Phone

Website

Hickory Hop Shuttle Service

Book online

High Country Limo

Oscar’s Car Service

Edwardo’s Car Service

Blue Bird Transportation

Uber or Lyft

Book in app on arrival

Are you ready for a transformational experience?

SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.

 

Great experience, great people, great food, great place to unplug from the hustle & bustle of everyday life and relax.

SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.

HAVE QUESTIONS?

We are here to help.

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.

Location

639 Whispering Hills Road
Boone, NC 28607
800.392.6870

Discover deep rest and rejuvenation on our tranquil mountaintop campus set amidst 380 acres of pristine forest in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Boone, North Carolina.  

Photo Gallery

SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.

 

Private Hotel Room

$390 per person/per night + tax

per person + tax

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)​

$283 per person/per night + tax

per person + tax

  • 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​

$295 per person/per night + tax

per person + tax

  • 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)

$241 per person/per night + tax

per person + tax

  • 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)

$210 per person/per night + tax

per person + tax

  • 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

Premium 1-Bedroom Apartment​

per person + tax

  • Fully Furnished 665 sq. ft. apartment
  • (Max: 2 persons)
  • 1 Queen Bed
  • Kitchenette
  • Balcony
  • Washer & Dryer
  • Hair Dryer
  • Iron & Ironing Board
  • A Desk, chairs, and nightstand
  • Flat-screen TV with Cable
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Refrigerator | Stove Range | Microwave

Note furniture may vary; each apartment is different.

Premium 1-Bedroom Apartment w/ Loft

per person + tax

  • Fully Furnished 995 sq. ft. apartment
  • (Max: 4 persons)
  • 1 king bed and 2 twin beds or 1 Full Bed
  • Kitchenette
  • Balcony
  • Washer & Dryer
  • Hair Dryer
  • Iron & Ironing Board
  • A Desk, chairs, and nightstand
  • Flat-screen TV with Cable
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Refrigerator | Stove Range | Microwave

Note furniture may vary; each apartment is different.

Weekend of Creativity Wellness Escape

(Sample Schedule)

MORNING

  • Plan your special day over a delicious whole-foods breakfast.
  • Walk our beautiful labyrinth or hike one of our scenic nature trails and reconnect with your inner self.
  • Express your creativity and have some fun playing with and shaping clay in your pottery class.

AFTERNOON

  • Mingle with like-minded visitors over lunch in the Dining Hall.
  • Cook up something new together in our Ayurveda cooking class or get clever on the canvas in a painting class.
  • Unwind with a relaxing spa treatment. Choose from a warm oil massage, energizing facial, or rejuvenating Netra Tarpana treatment and let our professional therapists pamper you. (Additional spa treatments available here.)
  • Recharge in the steam room.

EVENING

  • Browse our shop for crystals, jewelry, scarves, and more.
  • Nourish your body with a healthy dinner.
  • Take in the spectacular sunset or join the fireside concert.

Discover Ayurveda Solo Escape

(Sample Schedule)

MORNING

  • Energize your mind, body, and spirit with morning yoga or meditation class.
  • Savor a delicious and nutritious breakfast.
  • Self-reflect as you leisurely walk our beautiful labyrinth.
  • Rest, replenish and rejuvenate with Abhyanga therapy—a detoxifying warm oil Ayurveda massage that incorporates warm, aromatic oils, rhythmically massaged into your body, cleansing, relaxing, and re-energizing the body and mind.

AFTERNOON

  • Grab some delicious chai and relax in our cafe or take in the majestic views on our deck.
  • Plan your afternoon over a nourishing lunch.
  • Connect with nature while hiking or walking one of our many breathtaking mountain trails.
  • Return to the spa for a Basti session to rejuvenate your joints! Stiff joints are bathed in warm medicated oil and massaged to deepen the therapeutic effects that increase lubrication and promote smooth flexibility and mobility.

EVENING

  • Get creative and have fun in our painting studio or kitchen.
  • Refuel your body with a tasty and healthy dinner.

Rejuvenating Bliss Solo Escape

(Sample Schedule)

MORNING

  • Gaze at the sunrise while filling your lungs with fresh mountain air and feel the warmth of the sun on your skin.
  • Sow a new level of calm and balance into your life with a Yoga or meditation class.
  • Enjoy a delicious whole-foods breakfast.
  • Cleanse your soul with a leisurely walk on one of our beautiful nature trails.

AFTERNOON

  • Nourish your body with a healthy and nutritious lunch.
  • Make a new memory with a cooking, painting, or pottery* class (*additional cost).
  • Choose from the widest selection of Ayurvedic therapies in the US for whole-body nourishment and renewal and let our professional therapists do all the work while you relax and rejuvenate.
  • Unwind in the steam room.

EVENING

  • Stop by our bookstore and explore our collection of new and classic self-care and spiritual resources.
  • Grab a fresh, calming herbal tea and curl up with a good book in your cozy room.

Mother-Daughter Wellness Escape

(Sample Schedule)

MORNING

  • Plan your special day over a delicious whole-foods breakfast.
  • Retreat into relaxation with a mother-daughter spa treatment. Choose from a warm oil massage, energizing facial, or rejuvenating Netra Tarpana treatment and let our professional therapists pamper you. (Additional spa treatments available here.)
  • Recharge in the steam room.

AFTERNOON

  • Enjoy a decadent Mexican hot chocolate and reminisce in our cozy cafe.
  • Browse our shop for crystals, jewelry, scarves, and more.
  • Mingle with like-minded visitors over lunch in the Dining Hall.
  • Explore our captivating campus or head out on one of our guided mountain trail hikes.
  • Cook up something new together in our Ayurveda cooking class.
  • Self-reflect as you leisurely walk our beautiful labyrinth.

EVENING

  • Feed your body with a healthy dinner.
  • Take in the spectacular sunset or join the fireside concert.

Girlfriends Wellness Escape

(Sample Schedule)

MORNING
  • Energize your mind, body, and spirit together with morning yoga or meditation class.
  • Catch up over a delicious and nutritious breakfast.
  • Connect with nature and reminisce while hiking one of our many mountain trails.
AFTERNOON
  • Plan your afternoon over a nourishing lunch.
  • De-stress with a girlfriends spa treatment, like our relaxing signature massage, hydrating facial, or energizing Marma session, and let our therapists work their magic. (Additional spa treatments available here.)
  • Get creative and have fun in our painting studio or Ayurveda food kitchen.
  • Grab some delicious chai and relax in our cafe or take in the majestic views on our deck.
EVENING
  • Plenty of time for bonding during a dinner.
  • Visit our shop and grab some souvenirs, rejuvenating herbal supplements, and restorative health products from Shankara’s all-natural beauty line.
  • Dance and sing at Kirtan.

Couples Wellness Escape

(Sample Schedule)

MORNING

  • Gaze at the sunrise while filling your lungs with fresh mountain air and reminisce on the moments that connected you.
  • Bring a new level of calm and balance to your relationship with a Yoga or Meditation class.
  • Enjoy a delicious whole-foods breakfast together.
  • Walk or hike one of our beautiful nature trails and reconnect with each other, nature, and oneself.

AFTERNOON

  • Share a healthy and nutritious lunch.
  • Make a new memory by taking a workshop or educational class, or create a new experience together with a pottery*, watercolor painting, or cooking class (*additional cost).
  • Reduce tension and stress with a couple’s or individual Ayurveda spa treatment. Choose from the widest selection of Ayurvedic therapies in the US for whole-body nourishment and renewal.
  • Unwind in the steam room together.

EVENING

  • Stop by our bookstore and explore our collection of self-care and spiritual resources or spend time reading in the cafe.