For many of us, the life we’re living was shaped by who we needed to become to survive. Approval, achievement, control, perfection — these identities once protected us, but over time they became the very source of our suffering. In this deeply experiential retreat with Dr. Brad Reedy and Emma Reedy June, you will gently uncover the authentic self that existed before shame, before performance, before you learned to seek love by abandoning yourself. Through attachment-based insight and mythic storytelling, you’ll move from confusion to clarity, from self-judgment to compassion, and from survival patterns to a grounded, lived experience of self-acceptance.
Starting at $525 + $1232 (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.
Pattern Recognition
Whole Self Acceptance
Integrate the shadow aspects of your story, softening criticism into greater compassion for yourself and others.
Relational Awareness
Understand projection and unconscious dynamics in marriage, parenting, and partnership so you can respond with clarity instead of reactivity.
Radical Responsibility
Shift from blame to ownership, recognizing how protective patterns became obstacles to your growth and freedom.
Nervous System Safety
Experience how compassion and connection rewire the nervous system, revealing safety itself as the medicine.
Heroic Perspective
See your life through the lens of the Hero’s Journey, finding meaning, purpose, and direction within your struggle.
Reclaim the Self You Sacrificed
This week is not about acquiring new techniques. It is about encountering yourself differently. As the layers begin to unfold, you’ll recognize how early attachment experiences shaped your relationships, your defenses, and the dilemmas you face today. In a safe and compassionate space, your nervous system has the opportunity to reorganize around belonging rather than fear. As awareness deepens, what once felt like pathology becomes understandable. What once felt like failure becomes a doorway to integration. You leave not fixed, but reconnected — with greater tenderness toward yourself and clearer awareness of how to show up in love, parenting, partnership, and purpose.
Explore how early bonding experiences shaped your coping strategies and relational patterns.
Enact and process core emotional themes in a supported, experiential setting.
Discover your life story through Joseph Campbell’s mythic lens of transformation.
Cultivate awareness and self-observation through meditation and structured journaling.
Engage in intimate dialogue and dyad work that fosters safety, vulnerability, and integration.
Use drawing, art, and storytelling to access insight beyond intellectual analysis.
SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.
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.)
4:00 pm Check-in Begins
6:00–7:30 pm Dinner
7:00–7:20 pm Guest Orientation
Breakfast 7:30–9:30 am
Session 1 9:30 am–12:30 pm
Lunch 12:30–1:30 pm
Free Time 1:30–2:30 pm
Session 2 2:30–5:00 pm
Dinner 6:00–7:30 pm
Breakfast 7:30–9:30 am
Session 3 9:30 am–12:30 pm
Lunch 12:30–1:30 pm
Free Time 1:30–2:30 pm
Session 4 2:30–5:00 pm
Dinner 6:00–7:30 pm
Breakfast 7:30–9:30 am
Session 5 9:30 am–11:30 am
Lunch 12:30–1:30 pm
Free Time 1:30–6:00 pm
Dinner 6:00–7:30 pm
Breakfast 7:30–9:30 am
Session 6 9:30 am–12:30 pm
Lunch 12:30–1:30 pm
Free Time 1:30–2:30 pm
Session 7 2:30–5:00 pm
Dinner 6:00–7:30 pm
Breakfast 7:30–9:30 am
Session 8 9:30 am–12:30 pm
Room Checkout 11:00 am; luggage may be held at Reception.
Lunch 12:00–1:30 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
Dr. Brad Reedy brings more than 25 years of clinical leadership and therapeutic innovation to this work. As co-owner and Clinical Director of Evoke Therapy Programs and cofounder of Evoke Therapy Intensives near Park City, Utah, he helped build one of the most respected experiential treatment programs in the country. Earlier in his career, he played a pivotal role in shaping Second Nature into a nationally recognized leader in therapeutic intervention.
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.)
Ideal for individuals, couples, or friends seeking hotel-style comfort and amenities.
Ideal for friends seeking hotel-style comfort and amenities.
Ideal for individuals, couples, or friends seeking simple surroundings for peace and clarity.
Note Room may contain extra single beds.
Fully furnished 665 sq.-ft. apartment (max: 2 persons)
Note Furniture may vary; each apartment is different.
Fully furnished 995 sq.-ft. apartment (max: 4 persons)
Note Furniture may vary; each apartment is different.
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!
Transportation Options Between Charlotte and the Center
Hickory Hop Shuttle Service Book online hickoryhop.com The Hickory Hop shuttle goes from Charlotte airport to Boone five times daily. Reservations are required, so book ahead online and be sure to confirm shuttle times coordinate with your travel plans.
High Country Limo 828.898.9595 highcountrylimo.com
Oscar’s Car Service 704.965.5800
Edwardo’s Car Service 704.949.6775
Blue Bird Transportation 828.989.7286 Blue Bird of Boone
Abby Cab 828.475.2988 abbycab.com
Uber or Lyft Book in app on arrival.
Other airports within driving distance from the Art of Living Retreat Center include
Tri-Cities Regional Airport (TRI) in Johnson City, TN (80 miles)
Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) in Greensboro, NC (110 miles)
Visit our directions page for more information.
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.
