Stepping Into Silence

In the Presence of Gurudev

Disconnect. Reflect. Refocus.

Escape daily chaos with a transformative silent retreat at the Art of Living Retreat Center. Embrace silence in the Blue Ridge Mountains, finding inner peace and relief from anxiety. Return renewed, with clarity and a deeper self-connection.
Welcome to the Stepping Into Silence Retreat

A Structured 4-night, 5-day Retreat

Deep Mental & Emotional Healing

Enhanced Focus & Clarity

A Very Special Silent Retreat in Boone, NC

Experience a truly special edition of our Signature Stepping Into Silence retreat, enhanced by an in-person master session with Art of Living founder and spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Thoughtfully curated to feel peaceful, supportive, and welcoming, this contemplative retreat is designed to help you gently settle inward—whether this is your first silent retreat or a familiar practice. Through silence, meditation, and timeless wisdom, you are invited to release layers of stress and mental noise, creating space for greater clarity, renewal, and a deeper connection within.

Earn up to 40 CME credits*

*Healthcare professionals attending the live SIS course may be eligible to earn up to 40 Continuing Education (CE) credits, depending on their discipline and accreditation requirements.

Ahe Art of Living Retreat Center

Scenic. Serene. Inspiring.

The perfect place to begin your journey to holistic wellness.

Since 2012, the Art of Living Retreat Center has offered wellness retreats featuring meditation, yoga, and Ayurveda. The Center is high in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Boone, North Carolina, surrounded by 380 acres of pristine forest. Beauty, nature, and time-honored architecture create the perfect setting that is authentic, not extravagant.

“You drive up this mountain and it’s instant, total bliss. It’s beautiful. Everything about it is magical.”

Live More Mindfully

When you learn to turn off mental chatter and quiet the mind, you uncover a calmness and clarity that permeates every aspect of your life.
Sleep Better • Recharge and Rejuvenate • Turn off Mental Chatter • Relieve Anxiety and Depression • Connect Deeper

Program Schedule

A tranquil place to center yourself

Gain new perspectives to refocus on your purpose and meaning while reconnecting with the spiritual self.

Welcome

 

4:00 pm Check-in Begins

6:00–7:00 Dinner

7:00–7:20 Orientation (Dining Hall)

7:30–9:30 The Secret of the Breath

Prepare for Silence

7:30–8:30 am Morning Yoga

8:30–9:30 am Breakfast

10 AM–12:30 pm The Rhythms of Life

12:30–1:30 pm Lunch

3-5 pm Deepening Our Experience

6–7:30 pm Dinner

7:30–8:30 pm Practices to Calm the Chatter in the Mind

Step into Silence

7:30–8:30 am Daily Dive Group Practice

8:30–9:30 Breakfast

10:00 am–12:30 pm Step Into the Silent Zone

12:30–1:30 Lunch

3:00–6:00 Soaking in the Silence

6:00–7:30 Dinner

7:30–8:30 Wisdom to Deepen Your Silence and Q&A

Reflect in Silence

7:30–8:30 am Daily Dive Group Practice

8:30–9:30 Breakfast

10:00 am–12:30 pm Guided Meditations

12:30–1:30  Lunch

3:00–5:00 Experiencing the Deeper Self

6:00–7:30 Dinner

7:30–8:30 Understanding the Tendencies of the Mind and Q&A

Emerge from Silence

7:30–8:30 am Session

8:30–9:30 Breakfast

10:00 am–1:00 pm Gradually move out of Silence

1:00  Lunch (included on the day of your departure)

Depart for home (book departure flights for after 5:oo pm)

Breakfast 7:30–9:30 am • Lunch 12:00–1:30 pm • Dinner 6:00–7:30 pm

Retreat activities include Meditative Chants • Bonfires • Labyrinth • Time in Nature

Transforming lives

The Impact of the Silent Retreat

Learn Sudarshan Kriya™—a powerful rhythmic breathing technique that harmonizes the body-mind complex. Participants notice reduced stress and anxiety, better sleep, a stronger immune system, and increased energy levels.

More than 100 independent studies have shown the science-backed benefits of Sudarshan Kriya.

Discover Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s ancient secret to modern well-being.

+33% Immune Cell Count

Increase in lymphocytes in 6 weeks & remained in the normal range

21% Life Satisfaction

Increase within 1 week

-57% Stress Hormones

Decrease in serum cortisol in 2 weeks

What to Expect

Feel a Deep Sense of Calm

Enjoy a tranquil setting, a proven program, and structured guidance to find and embrace your inner balance.

1. Stretch

Begin each day with gentle yoga to center, energize, and connect with the breath and body.

2. Breathe

Spend the first full day of the program learning Sudarshan Kriya Breathing and other tools and techniques to manage and calm the mind. Enter into silence after dinner on day two.

3. Reflect

Experience mindful guided meditations and wisdom sessions, with ample time for deep contemplation in solitude and nature.

4. Nourish

Enjoy three healthy, buffet-style vegetarian meals per day—all while looking over the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.

5. Maintain

After your program, keep learning with monthly Zoom sessions to reconnect with teachers and students, and access the Art of Living Journey App* to support daily practice.

* Try the Journey App for free. Love what you see? Subscribe for a monthly fee.

Upgrade Options

Nourish Your Body

Take your rejuvenation to another level with a soothing Ayurvedic treatment.

Call to check availability during Shankara business hours—9:00 am–6:00 pm, seven days a week.

Book at least 14 days prior to program start and save $100!

Is it time for a deeper sense of peace in your life?

Travel Info

We are remote—yet easy to get to.

The Center offers the right balance between serenity and easy access.

  • Fly into Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT)—Two hours away by car.
  • First day—Check-in at 4:00 pm; eat dinner shortly after that.
  • Last day—Leave after lunch; schedule your flight anytime after 5:00 pm.

We are here to help.

For room reservations, Ayurveda Wellness Retreats, and Art of Living Retreat Center (AOLRC) signature retreats, we have the following cancellation policy:

  • Refunds are available (less a $50/per person processing fee) up to 15 days before your program or stay.
  • Nonrefundable credit toward a future AOLRC program or stay (less a $50/per person processing fee) is available if you give notice between 14 and one day(s) before your program or stay. Credit may be applied to any AOLRC program or stay for one year following date of issue.
  • No credit or refund is available if you cancel on the arrival day, if you do not show up, or if you leave an event early for any reason. No refund will be available if you attend a program and are dissatisfied with its presentation or content.

AOLRC reserves the right to cancel a program at any time. If AOLRC cancels a program, you will receive a full refund. Some programs may have special cancellation policies; see individual workshop descriptions. For all other retreats, please be sure to check the registration page specific to that retreat.

Unless otherwise indicated, our programs are open to participants 18 years of age and older.

To encourage a healthy environment we ask that guests not consume alcohol or meat in our public spaces, however, guests may enjoy these items in their rooms.

Our property is always smoke-free.

Yes, we ask that guests with food allergies simply inform us so we can communicate those needs to our chef. Typically, we label potential allergens such as gluten, dairy, and nuts.

We do have lodging and event venues that are ADA-compliant. Due to the topography of our mountain campus, some are easier to access than others, so please speak to Guest Services (800.392.6870) prior to registering to ensure we can best accommodate your needs. We also have shuttles that run frequently throughout the campus.

We are committed to the safety of our guests and staff. Our mountaintop location and the surrounding areas are spacious, remote, safe, and secure.

  • It is safe to leave your windows open—and necessary for proper airflow!
  • Nature surrounds our campus, and it’s common to see rabbits, deer, gophers, wild turkeys, and other small animals. Please give them space, and they’ll do the same for you. We’ve never had a safety incident with animals on campus.

You can help!

  • If you come across an animal on campus or a trail, give it space, and please do not attempt to pet or feed it.
  • There’s no need to bring valuables to the retreat center; leaving them at home is best.

Too many people struggle with the distractions of daily life. We offer the Silent Retreat in a beautiful, natural setting so you can embrace silence and learn to live a more thoughtful life.

Photo Gallery

Location

Discover deep rest and rejuvenation on our tranquil mountaintop campus set amidst 380 acres of pristine forest in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Boone, North Carolina.

639 Whispering Hills Road
Boone, NC 28607
800.392.6870

Book at least 14 days prior to program start and save $100!

Have questions? Call us at 800.392.6870