The Serenity Retreat

A mountain yoga retreat in Asheville, NC

September 19 - September 22, 2024


Immerse yourself in the serene beauty of nature this fall & join us on a journey to slow down, unwind and embrace autumn’s serenity.

We will be gathering at a boutique, Eco Retreat Center nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge mountains, just outside of Asheville, North Carolina for a long weekend of gentle yoga, nourishing meals, awe-inspiring natural beauty, hiking, laughter and deep connection.

The Retreat Home

A North Carolina Mountain retreat center nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains , surrounded by breath taking views of 6 of the top 10 highest peaks on the East Coast that focuses on bringing humans and nature together. 
You will sleep in the heart of Mother Nature, in a private cabin style, fully renovated, cozy suite with a deck overlooking the mountains. 
Enjoy quiet mornings drinking coffee or tea on your deck or on the grounds followed by a morning yoga class with views of the mountains. The retreat center is in a dark sky community meaning star gazing is Fantastic!

The Land:

We will be gathering in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Burnsville, North Carolina, the ancestral home of the Tsologuwetyl. Our retreat center is designed to encourage a deeper connection with nature as we will be fully immersed in the mountains. Our retreat is located near Mount Mitchell, the tallest peak east of the Mississippi River, and you will be invited to join us at the top for sunrise! Our retreat center has been featured in Good Housekeeping Magazine and National Geographic.

This powerful and sacred land is the perfect setting to disconnect, deeply rest and welcome deep nourishment.

What’s Included?

  •  3 Nights of private accommodations in an award-winning boutique eco resort
  •  Twice daily nourishing yoga and rest practices
  • 3 healthy, organic, seasonal meals prepared daily by a private chef
  • Daily Hikes
  • Herbal elixirs and Ceremonial Cacao blended with adaptogenic herbs 
  • Bond-Fires
  •  Space to rest in nature, journal, reflect, or explore the quaint town 
  • An Ayurvedic Workshop for fall Seasonal Self-Care
  • Guided Ayurvedic Self-Care ritual
  • Organic Coffee and Herbal Teas

What’s Not Included?

  • Transportation to the retreat center 
  • Transportation Cost

Sample Schedule

  • 7:30-9:30 am: Morning Practice

  • 10:00 am: Breakfast

  • 11:00-12:30 pm: Hike, Relax or Facial

  • 1:00 pm: Lunch

  • 2:00-4:00 pm: Hike, Explore the property, Explore town or Facial

  • 4:30-6:30 pm: Evening Practice or Workshop

  • 7:00 pm: Dinner

  • 8:00 pm: Bond-Fire, Stargazing or Cacao Ceremony

Retreat Yoga Classes:

At the retreat, you can expect slow, breath-based classes designed to ground your body and settle your mind.

No level of experience is needed to participate in classes. 

Each practice will be thoughtfully designed to support you in releasing what is no longer serving you, connecting more deeply inward, and nourishing the parts of yourself you’ve had to ignore in the busyness of life. 

We can’t wait to share these transformative practices with you!

Both Heather and Maya are Certified Yoga Therapists who study, teach, and practice yoga in the Krishnamacharya Tradition. We’ve received these teachings through Amy Wheeler, who studied with T.K.V. Desikachar at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in chennai, India. Heather and Maya humbly honor and respect these teachings and their source culture and intentionally work to share these teachings in a way that honors their sacred roots. 

Meet your host!

Heather Fontenot, C-IAYT

is a certified Yoga Therapist who passionately believes in a holistic approach to health and wellness. Heather has been teaching yoga and working with 1:1 clients for over 10 years. In her private practice, she supports individuals with anxiety and depression to regulate their nervous system, and discover more joy in life. In addition to her private practice, Heather works as a Yoga Therapist for co-occurring substance abuse and mental health in-patient and intensive outpatient treatment centers where she collaborates with a clinical team to provide quality, whole person care to clients.

Maya Semans, C-IAYT

is a certified Yoga Therapist and Ayurvedic Health Counselor with over 2,000 hours of experience teaching group classes and facilitating yoga therapy groups. Through her private practice, she offers compassionate, whole-person care to people seeking natural and holistic ways of managing difficult periods and ADHD. In addition to her private practice, Maya works as a Yoga Therapist at a virtual Intensive Outpatient Program for adolescents and young adults going through a mental health crisis. Her goal is to help people regulate their nervous systems and balance their hormones through yoga and Ayurveda.

Meet your chef!

Kearsley is a private + postpartum chef, educator, and author who serves the greater Asheville community with seasonal nourishment and foundational classes. Her approach to food is influenced by many years of study in the culinary arts, womens herbalism, Ayurveda, wildcrafting, hormonal health, & traditional diets. At the heart of her work is a value for small-scale sourcing, bioregional relationships, and the belief that eating delicious home cooked meals made with ingredients that our great grandmothers would recognize can provide the deep meaning, healing, and pleasure that is needed at this time. Kearsley describes her way of life as a "slow simmer"- a delicate balance between pursuing her career and savoring the simplicity of a life steeped in beauty, slowness, and lots of time outdoors.

Private Suites

Each private suite is newly renovated and includes a private bathroom, king or queen bed, brand new sustainable eco friendly shower and body products. Right outside your door is a deck and rocking chair with unobstructed views of the mountains. This is the perfect place to disconnect and fully embrace rest and renewal.

Retreat Costs

*Early Bird Pricing Ends June 1, 2024*

Early-bird $1.475.00

Full Price: $1,775.00

Note: Payment plans are available

Email us at theserenityretreat2024@gmail.com if you are interested in sharing a suite with a friend. We have a limited number of two room suites.

FAQs

  • Our retreat home is a one-hour drive from Asheville Regional Airport and a 2-hour drive from Charlotte International Airport. We will be connecting retreat guests in advance to coordinate shared rides.

  • You do not need any yoga experience to join us. Your teachers are both experienced yoga therapists who are skilled at modifying practices for all bodies and levels of experience.

  • Hikes will range from 1-3 miles long and are considered easy. There are more strenuous hikes nearby for those interested.

  • Absolutely! We’ve created this experience in order to encourage connection and build community. Traveling solo on retreats is a great way to make new friends and also spend time connecting with yourself.

  • No, this is an alcohol-free retreat. We want to center connection, rest and nourishment. We will have herbal elixirs and other herbal drinks for you to enjoy!

  • Yes! We will set up a default payment plan of deposit + 3 payments. If you want to set it up a specific way just let us know & we can adjust it to suit. Note, that all payments must be in by 45 days prior to start date.