Relationship Clarity
Identify your own trauma-driven patterns that have drawn you to unavailable and inappropriate people.
If you’ve ever found yourself pouring your heart into someone who couldn’t–or wouldn’t–love you back, you know how draining and isolating it feels. Known as “limerence,” this cycle of attaching to (and even obsessing on) unavailable people can leave you stuck, sad, and chasing scraps of affection while the life and love you deserve remain out of reach. This retreat is your turning point. Over three powerful days, author and Crappy Childhood Fairy creator Anna Runkle–whose work has reached millions worldwide–will guide you in gently uncovering the roots of these painful patterns, releasing addictive attachments, and building your vision for a committed, passionate relationship with a person who is right for you. You’ll leave with the tools, confidence, and a structured plan for dating so you can stop repeating old mistakes and find love that lasts.
This retreat is open to women seeking to change trauma-driven dating patterns and build a fulfilling, committed relationship. It is not appropriate for those in mental health crisis.
Starting at $535 (Tuition) + $616 (Lodging + Meals) plus tax
SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.
Relationship Clarity
Identify your own trauma-driven patterns that have drawn you to unavailable and inappropriate people.
Higher Standards
Claim what your heart truly needs, in your life and in a partner–and what you will no longer accept.
Sustained Confidence
Create personal dating guidelines that help you choose differently and stay true to your vision of love.
Healthy Boundaries
Learn to protect your energy, speak your truth, and pause before attaching—so red flags don’t go unnoticed.
Emotional Stability
Master emotional regulation techniques that free you to form attachment without past drama.
Authentic Love
Prepare for a loving, mutually committed relationship that aligns with who you truly are.
Imagine moving through life with renewed calm and confidence, free from the habits that trap you in cycles of stress and exhaustion. Rachel offers gentle yet profound practices to help you cultivate self-compassion, strengthen your sense of self-worth, establish healthy boundaries, and rediscover your sense of purpose. By the retreat’s end, you’ll carry home personalized tools that empower you to nurture yourself daily and embrace life with greater peace, presence, and fulfillment.
Commit to what you really want in life and in love, and release what no longer fits.
Uncover how childhood trauma primed you to attach to unavailable people, and how your mind “adjusts” reality to tolerate the emptiness.
Learn how limerence functions as emotional escape from hard emotions, leading to magical thinking and devastating disappointment.
Root out trauma-driven beliefs, decisions, and behaviors that have made you emotionally unavailable and blocked you from real love.
Craft your plan for who to date, when to date, and how to delay attachment while you gradually get to know the other person.
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.)
Anna Runkle, The Crappy Childhood Fairy, spearheads a global movement dedicated to helping individuals recognize and heal from trauma symptoms, regardless of their access to professional support.
Free activities include
Interactive Nature Hikes
Cooking Demos
Meditation & Movement Classes
Wellness Workshops
Paid activities include
Pottery Classes
Ayurvedic Wellness & Healing Arts Treatments
Take your rejuvenation to another level. Our spa offers treatments and therapies that integrate ancient Ayurveda with contemporary wellness.
Call to check availability during Shankara Ayurveda Spa business hours; seven days a week, 9:00 am–6:00 pm.
For room reservations, Ayurveda Wellness Retreats, and Art of Living Retreat Center (AOLRC) signature retreats, we have the following cancellation policy:
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. You may email us at info@artoflivingretreatcenter.org.
Thanks to the cool climate of the Blue Ridge Mountains, air conditioning is rarely needed. For the occasional warm day, there is a fan in each room to help keep you comfortable.
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.
You can help!
Step into a world where mindfulness meets beauty. Our gallery captures the essence of the Art of Living—from serene moments of reflection to vibrant celebrations of life, wellness, and connection.
SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.