Luminous Tranquility: Retreat to Asheville

Welcome to the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains in western North Carolina, where you’ll enjoy a four night yoga and pilates retreat with Lumos Instructor Sara Houser. 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 the NC Arboretum, checking out some breweries, dinners at James Beard award nominated restaurants, and daily vinyasa and mat pilates classes.

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 December 30th, 2026 will be issued a refund for payments made, minus the deposit. Cancellations after December 30th, 2026 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, and we will pick up everyone who flies in direct, from the airport as well as bring everyone to the Asheville airport for their return flights back.

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-May. While this is not the most peak season for Asheville (Fall is peak season), May is a busy time of year because of the short window of time in which spring florals bloom. This is reflected in the rates for stays and activities. The weather is typically in the 70’s and there is often a chance of rain. In our experience, it may rain or get cloudy for a short period of each day, but in general we expect temperate weather. In the event we are unable to do one of the day's scheduled outdoor activities, an alternate indoor activity will be planned - there is plenty to see and do in Asheville!

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? 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!

We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone back to Bent Creek Lodge! We’ll start the retreat with a Yoga session on the deck, followed by dinner at an Asheville favorite, All Souls Pizza.

Start your morning off with an energizing Mat Pilates class on the deck, followed by breakfast. We’ll hop onto the Blue Ridge Parkway to drive up to 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. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch, before returning back for some relaxing down time at the Lodge. We’ll enjoy an afternoon yoga session before departing for dinner at Curate, a James Beard Award-winning restaurant.

We’ll start the day off with Mat Pilates, followed by breakfast. We’ll head out to the NC Arboretum - enjoy walking around their curated gardens and trails, before we head to Hi-Wire Brewery for cubanos at resident food truck Guajiro. We’ll return back to the Inn for some afternoon down time, including a yoga session. Later, we’ll go to a local brewery (Sierra Nevada, Highland, or Wicked Weed) for dinner.

We’ll start again with Mat Pilates, followed by breakfast, before departing for Grandfather Mountain for Rhododendron Rambles. Grandfather Mountain is famous for its spectacular rhododendron and azalea blooms. The mountain hosts the annual Rhododendron Rambles in late May for just a short two-week window. For our final night, we’ll head to Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse, a funky combination of Japanese Soul Food and American BBQ Techniques.

We’ll offer a final Yoga session before breakfast, and depart from the lodge. 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!