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North Carolina

Yoga for Wellness and Daily Living: The 8 Limbs of Yoga

Program No. 22381RJ

Connect mind, body and spirit at this wellness retreat as expert instructors introduce yoga postures and principles during lectures and classes, and develop practices to use at home.

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Itinerary

While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.

Duration

6 days

5 nights

What's Included

14 meals ( 5B, 4L, 5D )

6 expert-led lectures

3 expert-led field trips

7 hands-on experiences

2 performances

An experienced Group Leader

5 nights of accommodations

Taxes and customary gratuity

Road Scholar Assurance Plan

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Day

Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation

Location: Montreat, NC

Meals: D

Stay: Assembly Inn

Activity Note

Inn check-in available from 3:00 p.m., program registration from 4 - 5:30 (be sure to bring your nametag). : This week includes a visit to the Biltmore Estate for dinner and a Candlelight Evening experience, as well as a visit to the Winter Lights at the NC Arboretum. Come treat yourself to something special!

Afternoon:

Upon arrival, feel free to pull up to the porch at the Assembly Inn to unload, then park your vehicle in any marked spot along the Lake or Assembly Drive. Program Registration. After you have your room assignment, come over to the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing your name-tag, up-to-date schedule that reflects any last-minute changes, other important information, and to learn when and where the Orientation session will take place. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in.

Dinner:

In the Assembly Inn dining room, we’ll enjoy Montreat’s delicious buffet featuring a choice of entrée, vegetables, salad, bread and dessert, plus sweet and unsweetened tea, coffee, milk, and cold or hot water for tea or hot chocolate.

Evening:

Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Each day will include a minimum of one yoga session to learn new techniques and put them into practice. Each session will involve gentle stretching, breathing and posture focus. Free time is reserved for your personal independent exploration. Periods in the schedule labeled “Free Time and “At Leisure” offer opportunities to make the program more meaningful and memorable while going out to explore on your own, engaging in available activities independently, or simply relaxing and making new friends among fellow participants. The Group Leader will always be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow participants over some refreshments in the lobby, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day tomorrow.

Day

Yoga Intro, Yama – Morality, Niyama – Observances,

Location: Montreat, NC

Meals: B,L,D

Stay: Assembly Inn

Activity Note

Early morning coffee is available around 6:30 a.m. Join us from 7:30 - 7:45 in the main lobby for early morning stretches with Martha. Students are expected to be able to participate in poses that require getting up and down from the floor. Poses or postures include standing, sitting on the floor, reclining on back and on stomach on the mat, as well as doing poses in a chair. Students can modify poses as needed.

Breakfast:

In the dining room at the Inn, the breakfast buffet offers daily rotating choices including dishes such as biscuits and gravy, breakfast meats and potatoes, eggs, grits, pancakes, hot and cold cereal, yogurt, granola, fresh fruit, baked goods, juice, coffee, tea, milk and water.

Morning:

What is “yoga”? We will learn about yoga styles, Hatha yoga, and what it means to practice yoga. We will begin with an overview of the 8 limbs of Hatha Yoga with a focus on Limb 1 in depth before moving on to practice beginning poses. We'll have some refreshments mid-morning to keep us going.

Lunch:

(Buffet) In the dining room at the Inn.

Afternoon:

We will regroup and continue our lesson with an in-depth focus on Limb 2 followed by gentle afternoon practice. The remainder of the afternoon will be free.

Dinner:

Inn buffet.

Evening:

Our evening program will feature a local musician/band or storyteller. Games/cards and tv available in the lobby of the Inn for fellowship.

Day

Asanas – Postures, Breathing Techniques, Hike

Location: Montreat, NC

Meals: B,L,D

Stay: Assembly Inn

Activity Note

Coffee is available around 6:30 a.m. 7:30 - 7:45 in the main lobby for early am stretches with Martha. Students are expected to be able to participate in poses that require getting up and down from the floor. Poses or postures include standing, sitting on the floor, reclining on back and on stomach on the mat, as well as doing poses in a chair. Students can modify poses as needed. Lots of walking this afternoon and evening at the Biltmore Estate. Many stairs to navigate. Go at your own pace!

Breakfast:

Inn buffet.

Morning:

Today, our focus will be on Limb 3 – asanas – or postures of yoga, and Limb 4 – pranayama – or yogic breathing practices. After our lesson, we’ll move on to incorporate these 2 new Limbs into our practice. We'll enjoy a snack and fellowship mid-morning.

Lunch:

Inn buffet.

Afternoon:

We will continue to focus on Limb 4, yogic breathing techniques, and incorporate it into our gentle practice. After class, we'll board the vans and head into Asheville for a visit to the beautiful Biltmore Estate. Our first stop will be Antler Village, where you can explore exhibits, do some shopping or walk up for a tour of the winery and a wine tasting

Dinner:

A candlelight dinner at the Biltmore Estate. We'll be at the Stable Cafe Loft for our Candlelight Dinner. We'll post a menu closer to the event. The Stable Cafe is located right next to the Biltmore House, so after dinner we'll walk over for our Candlelight Evening at Biltmore experience.

Evening:

Following dinner, we'll enter the Biltmore House for our Candlelight tour. Biltmore House is beautiful in all seasons of the year, but the Candlelight experience is nothing short of magical. You'll see the house as the first guests of the Vanderbilts did when they first opened the home. Musicians and entertainers are on all different levels of the house. You'll go through at your own pace, and there are docents available for questions. we will board the vans by 9:45 p.m. (at the latest) for departure back to Montreat.

Day

Pratyahara – Limb 5, Free Time

Location: Montreat, NC

Meals: B,L,D

Stay: Assembly Inn

Activity Note

Coffee is available around 6:30 a.m. 7:30 - 7:45 in the main lobby for early morning stretches with Martha. Students are expected to be able to participate in poses that require getting up and down from the floor. Poses or postures include standing, sitting on the floor, reclining on back and on stomach on the mat, as well as doing poses in a chair. Students can modify poses as needed. Lots of walking this evening at the Arboretum, plenty of places to sit if needed. Go at your own pace!

Breakfast:

Inn buffet.

Morning:

The term for Limb 5, pratyahara, refers to a drawing inward of the senses to induce calm. Practicing this technique can lower your blood pressure and reduce stress. We’ll begin with a lesson to gain some understanding of the term and its implications before settling in to practice this internal focus in depth. Some goodies for a morning snack will be in our meeting space.

Lunch:

Inn buffet.

Afternoon:

Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. You may wish to explore the area nearby or just enjoy some relaxation time.

Dinner:

Our farm to table meal served in the Assembly Inn dining room.

Evening:

After dinner, we'll board the vans again for a visit to the NC Arboretum Winter Lights. Designed with an artistic aesthetic, Winter Light features beautifully lit displays and glowing landscapes nestled along the Arboretum's woodland edge.

Day

Dharana – Concentration, Dhyana – Meditation

Location: Montreat, NC

Meals: B,L,D

Stay: Assembly Inn

Activity Note

Breakfast:

Inn buffet.

Morning:

We’ll take today to build on the deeper practices of yoga as we explore the limbs of concentration and meditation. Learning to let go of the business of the outer world and connect internally can be challenging and healing. We will begin with an explanation and focus on Limb 6 – dharana – or concentration, before practicing some techniques. A snack mid-morning will keep us going.

Lunch:

Inn buffet.

Afternoon:

Next, we will approach Limb 7 – dhyana – or meditation, with a lesson followed by gentle practice. Afterwards, the remainder of the afternoon will be free.

Dinner:

In the dining room at the Inn, we’ll enjoy our farewell buffet dinner together in the company of our fellow participants. Share your favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends.

Evening:

Join us for a wonderful Christmas story time.

Day

"Samadhi” and Departures

Location: Montreat, NC

Meals: B

Breakfast:

Breakfast Buffet, 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room.

Morning:

We will culminate our week together with the study of the 8th limb of yoga, samadhi, which can be described as a balanced state of mind or unity consciousness. A final movement practice completes our class. We will end our program by 10:15, and you must check out of your room by 11 am. Thanks for being with us!

Afternoon:

We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!

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Please Note: This program has itinerary variations on certain dates.

Nov 29 - Dec 4, 2026 Itinerary Differences: This week includes a visit to the Biltmore Estate for dinner and a Candlelight Evening experience, as well as a visit to the Winter Lights at the NC Arboretum. Come treat yourself to something special!

Yoga for Wellness and Daily Living: The 8 Limbs of Yoga

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