Welcome to the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains in western North Carolina, where you’ll enjoy a four night yoga retreat with Lumos Instructors Eunmi Chang and Sam Leonetti. Part of the Appalachian range, the Blue Ridge Mountains are among the oldest in the world, and are known for their distinctive “blue” color, emanating from it’s mountain forests. Our days include hikes in the mountains, a visit to Biltmore, dinners at James Beard award nominated restaurants, daily vinyasa and restorative yoga classes, and a soundbath led by Eunmi.
Come away with us and experience the magic!
Bent Creek Lodge is a B&B located in Arden, NC - just a short drive into downtown Asheville, and is conveniently located a few miles from the regional airport - the ideal location for hosting our retreat, away from the bustle of the downtown area.
The Lodge features 10 guest rooms on 3 different levels. All rooms have private baths and individual heating and air conditioning.
Bent Creek Inn has been fully reserved by Lumos for this retreat!
Deposits and Payments: Deposits are non-refundable. Cancellations before July 15, 2024 will be issued a refund for payments made, minus the deposit. Cancellations after July 15, 2023 will be given a credit in the amount paid for use towards a future retreat, and deposit may carry over to a future retreat. Payment Processing for retreat booking is not included in the retreat pricing and is 3.9% for most cards, 4.9% for Amex, but no fee for Bank ACH.
Arrival and departure: Flights to/from Asheville, NC are not included in retreat pricing. There are non-stop flights from Philadelphia to Asheville operated through American Airlines, as well as one-stop flights, many through Charlotte, NC. Typically there are two non-stop flights each day - coming in from PHL there is an early morning and late afternoon flight, and departing AVL there is a mid-morning and evening flight. We recommend flying in early on Wednesday, and/or departing in the evening on Sunday to have more time in Asheville - we will be able to store your bags in a secure location. The Asheville Regional Airport is just six miles from Bent Creek Inn, cabs can be requested from Asheville Airport, as well as Ubers. We recommend downloading an app called AVL Ride or using Uber.
Meals & Dietary Needs: For all dietary restrictions (gluten, vegetarian, other allergies), please note your restrictions with your signup.
Private Classes: To schedule a private session with an instructor, please email info@lumosfitness.com. Private or semi-private classes are not included in the cost of the trip, but can be arranged.
Are all activities required?: Everything on the retreat - including classes - is completely optional. This retreat is about taking care of yourself, and doing what feels best for you.
What about weather? Our trip is planned for mid-September, which is peak season for Asheville and the surrounding areas (which is reflected in the rates for stays and activities). September and October are the busiest months of the year in Asheville due to the fall foliage and leaves changing colors along the Blue Ridge Highway. The weather is typically in the 70’s and there are not many rainy days. In our experience, it may rain or get cloudy for a short period of each day, but in general we expect temperate weather, perfect for all of the outdoor activities!
What do I need to bring?: Fitness/workout clothes, sneakers/hiking shoes, swimsuit, sunscreen, any coverings, casual attire including layers, bug spray. Yoga Mats will be provided.
Any tips for how to plan the free time/meals? Yes! We have loads of recommendations and tips for things to do, depending on what you’re interested in doing/seeing. We’ve also tried a lot of restaurants and have some recommendations for any cuisine. After booking your deposit, feel free to reach out to us at info@lumosfitness.com for suggestions!
A note on pricing: September and October are peak season in Asheville - early fall is some of the nicest weather, and the trees may start to change for fall. As such, everything in Asheville is more expensive to do/see/visit this time of year, especially with a group. We take great care and put a lot of time and energy in finding distinctive locations to stay at, planning and booking activities, and researching restaurants to include in the retreat.
Accommodations for four nights at Bent Creek Lodge in Asheville, NC - arrival on Wednesday, September 11th and depart mid-day on Sunday, September 15th
Daily morning yoga classes and evening restorative classes, and a Sound Bath led by Eunmi to end our time away.
Home cooked breakfast each morning at the Lodge. Breakfast includes a selection of coffee and teas, homemade granola and yogurt, seasonal fruit, and a main entree such as a frittata or waffles.
Day trip to the Biltmore Estate & Grounds (ticket pass included in retreat), includes passes to the Chihuly at Biltmore special exhibit
Drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway for a hike through Craggy Pinnacle with picnic lunch provided
Hike through Pisgah National Forest with to-go lunch provided
Group dinner at James Beard semi-finalist restaurant The Market Place
Group dinner at All Souls Wood-Fired Pizza restaurant,
A final dinner at James Beard award-winning restaurant Curate in their private dining room
Flights to/from Asheville
Transportation to and from AVL airport to the retreat center
Any activities/excursions done outside of the scheduled options and transportation around Asheville to/from those activities/excursions
Dinner on the free night, the cost of lunch at Biltmore Estate. All other meals are included.
Any drinks at Market Place and All Souls or otherwise
Credit Card Processing Fees for Retreat Payment (2.9%, 3.9% for Amex) - Bank ACH has no fees.
We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone to the Lodge in the late afternoon! We'll kick off the retreat with a Restorative Yoga session on the deck led by Sam, followed by a farm-to-table dinner at The Market Place, a 2024 James Beard Semi-Finalist.
We’ll start this morning off with offering two yoga sessions - an early session before breakfast is served, or sleep in and eat breakfast and join for yoga after! Take the rest of the morning to explore Asheville, or just relax on the property. We’ll head over to The Biltmore Estate at lunchtime - you’ll be able to eat on site, tour the house, explore the grounds, and check out the special Chihuly exhibit that is visiting the estate in 2024. Late that afternoon, we’ll drive the group to All Soul’s outdoor patio for seasonal wood-fired pizzas. After dinner, we’ll end with a Restorative Yoga session led by Sam at the Lodge.
We’ll start the morning with a yoga session led by Sam, and a group breakfast at the Lodge. Following breakfast, we’ll head out to onto the Blue Ridge Parkway for a hike at Craggy Pinnacle, one of the most well-known hikes in the Asheville area. Twisted, jagged, rocky “crags” give Craggy Gardens its name, but these high elevation summits are home to stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This is an uphill climb on stone steps, but it is doable for all shapes, sizes, and hiking levels! We’ll then head to the nearby Craggy Gardens picnic site to enjoy to-go lunches from a local bakery before heading back to the Lodge. The rest of the afternoon and evening is yours! Visit a spa (we love the outdoor tubs at Shoji Spa), visit artist studios in the River Arts District, shop downtown and tour the French Broad Chocolate Factory, check out the Asheville Botanical Gardens - there is so much to do and see. We’ve got loads of suggestions and tips for things to do and places to eat at! End the night with a Restorative Yoga session led by Eunmi.
Sam will lead our morning Yoga session, followed by a group breakfast at the Inn. We’ll drive down to Pisgah National Forest, and hike through several trails - don’t worry, we’ll be bringing to-go lunches! When we arrive back at the lodge in the afternoon, Eunmi will offer a restorative and concluding soundbath session. For our final night, we’ll head to the private dining room at Curate, a James Beard Award-winning restaurant, for a group dinner.
For our final morning, Eunmi will lead a yoga session, and we’ll have our last breakfast at the Lodge before packing up and departing. For those catching an evening flight out, we will store your bags offsite at a secure location about 20 minutes from the airport. Feel free to spend this day exploring more of Asheville!
