To touch peace is to come back to the place in us where we feel clear and calm, whole and connected. The distractions and pressures of modern life make it more important than ever that we prioritize pauses and practices that bring us to our inner still point where we can gather what we need to stay close to what matters and to be fully present to the grief and the joy of life.
Contemplative and devotional practice, meditative and mindful movement practice, time spent in nature and time spent in silence are all human rituals as old as time meant to guide us to an inner luminosity where healing and clear-seeing can happen.
In this 5-day retreat, we will stop, rest, listen, reflect, be present, and nourish our inmost self. We return to the wider world feeling motivated and committed to continue pauses & practices in our everyday lives.
Retreat sessions include self-compassion practice, gentle yoga and meditation, qigong and walking meditation in nature, guided relaxation, sound-bathing, and forest-bathing. The retreat also offers generous free time for personal reflection, connecting with other retreatants, nature walks, canoeing or kayaking on Kanuga Lake, and simply resting and renewing yourself in a peaceful and restorative setting.
Retreatants will find that there is something for everyone, regardless of physical limitation. No prior experience with yoga, meditation, or qigong is necessary. All are welcome.
Established in 1928 as an Episcopalian Retreat Center, Kanuga is a non-profit conference center nestled on 1,400 beautiful acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Hendersonville, North Carolina. Kanuga features a 30-acre lake with canoes and kayaks available to retreatants, 20 miles of hiking trails, and full-service lodging and gathering facilities. Kanuga’s stunning natural beauty is an ideal setting for rest, reflection, and renewal.
Retreat sessions and catered meals take place in the Lakeview Guest House with spacious decks overlooking Kanuga Lake and a beautiful group gathering space with floor to ceiling windows.
Arlene Riley & Jenne Sluder
Retreat Facilitators
Arlene Riley is the founder and owner of Spiritus Studio Yoga in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Arlene began her yoga teaching career in 2005, earning her initial teaching certification from Cindy Dollar of One Center Yoga, a master Iyengar instructor who emphasizes mindfulness-based yoga practice. Arlene has gone on to study extensively with Judith Lasater, Rod Stryker of ParaYoga, and Kamini Desai of Amrit Yoga Institute. She holds certifications from Duke Integrative Medicine (Integrative Yoga for Seniors), Amrit Yoga Institute (I Am Yoga Nidra), and the Academy of Sound Healing (Foundations of Integral Sound Healing).
Her interests are in yoga anatomy research and methodologies as well as the processes of perception, observation, and acceptance that the principles of yoga point us to. Arlene focuses her teaching through the lens of fostering positive mental health and resiliency in the practice of yoga and meditation.
Jenne Sluder MA C-IAYTÂ is a native of Asheville, North Carolina and a certified yoga therapist and mind-body specialist. Jenne holds a Masters in Transpersonal Psychology from Naropa University with specialized training in mind-body approaches to improving mental health and physical well-being.
Jenne is certified through the International Association of Yoga Therapists as a trauma-sensitive and body-positive therapeutic yoga instructor. As a long-time meditation practitioner, Jenne has trained under several skilled meditation masters including WonGong So, Shinzen Young, Lama Rod Owens, and Repa Dorje Odzer. Jenne works one-on-one with individuals and with groups using somatic, mindfulness-based, and compassion-focused mind-body practices, including gentle yoga, meditation, qigong, tai chi, sound therapy, and deep rest.
Cost & Registration
Cost of the retreat is $600 plus room and board. Room and board pricing varies according to which lodging accommodations the registrant chooses.
A deposit is due upon registering for the retreat: $450 Early Bird Deposit (Early Bird ends on May 1st). The remainder of your registration fee is due by no later than June 1st.
Because lodging options are available on a first come, first served basis (and include early bird discounts), participants are encouraged to register as soon as possible to secure a space that best suits their needs and their budget.
Food and Lodging
All meals are included and will be catered by a talented local chef who emphasizes delicious and nutritious whole food cuisine. All dietary preferences and food allergies or sensitivities will be accommodated.
Participants may choose from a variety of lodging options. Lodging options are available first-come, first-served in order of participant registration. Retreatants can choose to reserve a private room or a shared room in either the Lakeview Guest House or the Grace-Ocala Guest House.
Lakeview Guest House
The Lakeview Guest House is the home of our group gathering space and dining room, so those who choose to lodge at Lakeview will enjoy the convenience of not having to walk or drive to group meals and activities. Lakeview offers modern accommodations and includes access to a full kitchen, a large sitting room with a fireplace, and an enormous deck overlooking Kanuga Lake.
Lakeview Shared Bedroom. The Lakeview Shared Bedroom is on its own quiet floor of the Lakeview Guest House. The bedroom is quite large and has three beds, so it provides enough space for three retreatants to share the room. Down the hall from the shared bedroom is a large shared bathroom that includes a big soaking tub with jacuzzi jets and shower. Cost of retreat ($600) + Meals & 4 nights lodging in Lakeview Shared Bedroom =
Total Cost: $1100 (Early Bird) / $1150 after Early Bird pricing ends May 1st
Lakeview Private Bedroom A. Luxurious Private Master Bedroom at the end of its own quiet hallway. King bed, closet, spacious private bathroom including a bathtub/shower combo. Cost of retreat ($600) + Meals &Â 4 nights lodging in Lakeview Private Bedroom A =
Total Cost: $1350 (Early Bird) / $1400 after Early Bird pricing ends May 1st
Lakeview Private Bedroom B. Spacious Private Bedroom with queen bed, reading chair, closet, and private bathroom with tub/shower combo. Cost of retreat ($600) + Meals & 4 nights lodging in Lakeview Private Bedroom B =
Total Cost: $1300 (Early Bird) / $1350 after Early Bird pricing ends May 1st
Lakeview Private Bedroom C. Private Bedroom with queen bed, writing desk, and closet. Shared bathroom includes a large jacuzzi soaking tub/shower combo. Cost of retreat ($600) + Meals & 4 nights lodging in Lakeview Private Bedroom C =
Total Cost: $1250 (Early Bird) / $1300 after Early Bird pricing ends May 1st
Grace-Ocala Guest House
The Grace-Ocala Guest House is a spacious three-story house tucked away in the quiet Kanuga woods, just a short walk (or drive) from Lakeview Guest House (where group meals and sessions will take place). Grace-Ocala has a long upstairs balcony and two screened-in downstairs porches with cozy places to sit and read or listen to the sounds of the forest. Grace-Ocala Guest House features a large kitchenette and spacious living room with picture windows overlooking the forest, plenty of couches and reading chairs, and a cozy fireplace.
Grace-Ocala Shared Bedroom A. Large shared bedroom with plenty of room for two retreatants: two queen beds, closet, and private bathroom with tub/shower combo. Cost of retreat ($600) + Meals & 4 nights lodging in Grace-Ocala Shared Bedroom A =
Total Cost: $950 (Early Bird) / $1000 after Early Bird pricing ends May 1st
Grace-Ocala Shared Bedroom B. Large shared bedroom with plenty of room for two retreatants: two queen beds, closet, and private bathroom with tub/shower combo. Cost of retreat ($600) + Meals & 4 nights lodging in Grace-Ocala Shared Bedroom B =
Total Cost: $950 (Early Bird) / $1000 after Early Bird pricing ends May 1st
Grace-Ocala Private Bedroom A. Large Private Bedroom includes queen bed, dresser, balcony access, and private bathroom with spacious tiled standing shower. Cost of retreat ($600) + Meals & 4 nights lodging in Grace-Ocala Private Bedroom A =
Total Cost: $1200 (Early Bird) / $1250 after Early Bird pricing ends May 1st
Grace-Ocala Private Bedroom B. Large Private Bedroom includes queen bed, dresser, balcony access, and private bathroom with spacious tiled standing shower.Cost of retreat ($600) + Meals &Â 4 nights lodging in Grace-Ocala Private Bedroom B =
Total Cost: $1200 (Early Bird) / $1250 after Early Bird pricing ends May 1st
🔆 For couples who are interested in sharing a room on retreat 🔆 You may choose to either reserve a shared room (double or triple occupancy) for just the two of you or a private room (single occupancy). If you reserve a single-occupancy room today, you will be prompted to pay for only one registrant’s deposit ($450). A retreat facilitator will follow up with you by email to collect the second deposit for your partner. If you choose to share a private room (single occupancy), your total cost for the retreat will include the price of the room plus a flat registration fee for your partner ($950). Couples who want to share a room can choose from the following options:
Lakeview Private Room A: $1350 + $950 = Total Cost $2300 for one couple
Lakeview Private Room B: $1300Â + $950 = Total cost $2250 for one couple
Lakeview Shared Room (with large Private Bath/Jacuzzi): $1600 each = Total cost $3200 for one couple to reserve the entire Lakeview Shared Room
For the health and safety of fellow retreatants and facilitators, registrants will:
Be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations and booster shots and be willing to present their vaccination card or a photo of it upon request
Provide proof of negative results of a PCR or rapid-antigen Covid-19 test administered within 72 hours before the start of the retreat
Self-screen for any Covid-19 symptoms leading up to or during the course of the retreat
Cancellation Policy:
Because of the brief two-month registration window for this retreat in addition to it’s limited group size and reserved lodgings, deposits and registration fees are non-refundable. Registrants are encouraged to purchase low-cost travel insurance in advance to recoup the full cost of the retreat should an emergency prevent you from attending. Participants who find they are unable to attend the retreat for whatever reason may also choose to transfer their reservation to another person. Roamright.com and travelexinsurance.com both offer dependable coverage at a reasonable rate.
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