FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Art of Living Retreat Center Announces 2026 Guest Expert Lineup
~ Transformative Experiences In Wellness, Creativity, Healing,
And Mindful Living Return To Boone, NC~
Boone, NC, January 13, 2026 — Set against the Blue Ridge Mountains, Art of Living Retreat Center announces the highly anticipated calendar of guest-presenter programming designed to meet the growing demand for meaningful rest, self-inquiry, and mind-body restoration. Throughout the year, the Retreat Center will host immersive experiences led by internationally respected authors, clinicians, movement specialists, and spiritual teachers each offering a distinct pathway toward balance, resilience, and personal clarity.
The 2026 lineup reflects the Retreat Center’s continued commitment to integrative well-being, blending evidence-based approaches with time-honored wisdom traditions. Through small-group retreats, participants are invited to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and explore practical tools for navigating modern life with greater ease and intention. The lineup of guest experts includes:
● Marianne Williamson & Katherine Woodward Thomas, The Wise Women’s Retreat — Finding Your Voice and Using Its Power (March 13–15, 2026) In this deeply reflective experience, internationally respected author and spiritual teacher Marianne Williamson and licensed psychotherapist and transformational leader Katherine Woodward Thomas guide participants through practices and inquiry designed to awaken inner clarity, embodied confidence, and purposeful leadership. Surrounded by a community of like-hearted women, guests explore questions of identity, self-worth, and personal evolution. Starting at $1,011 inclusive of programming, accommodations and meals.
● Shelby Kirillin & Neiasha Russell, INELDA End-of-Life Doula Training(April 8–12, 2026) Led by experienced neurotrauma nurse and certified end-of-life doula Shelby Kirillin and certified grief counselor and doula Neiasha Russell, this immersive training offers foundational education and experiential learning in the INELDA Doula Approach. Participants gain emotional, spiritual, and practical tools to support individuals and families through life’s final transitions with compassion, presence, and confidence. Starting at $2,017 inclusive of programming, accommodations and meals.
● Tom Myers, Breath: The River of Life (April 10–12, 2026) Tom Myers will lead Breath: The River of Life, a weekend retreat focused on exploring the breath’s role in full-body function and experiential anatomy. Participants learn how breath influences joints, organs, posture, and emotion through guided movement, body awareness, and hands-on learning. This program supports resilient physiology, enhanced regulation, and renewed connection with self. Starting at $1,081 inclusive of programming, accommodations and meals.
● Anna Runkle, Healing LIMERENCE(April 10–12, 2026) This three-day retreat, led by Anna Runkle (aka The Crappy Childhood Fairy), focuses on understanding and breaking the cycle of “limerence”, the pull toward unreturned or unhealthy attachments. Through guided inquiry and practice, participants uncover trauma-driven relational patterns, cultivate healthier boundaries, and build confidence and clarity for future relationships. Starting at $1,151 inclusive of programming, accommodations and meals.
● MC Yogi, Divine Relaxation Retreat(April 24–26, 2026) MC Yogi leads a weekend retreat designed to help participants slow down, deepen their breath, and reconnect with a sense of inner calm through a blend of mellow yoga, guided meditation, sacred chanting, joyful music, and moments of restorative stillness. Whether guests are longtime practitioners or new to yoga, the experience emphasizes ease, presence, and soulful connection. Starting at $966 inclusive of programming, accommodations and meals.
● Dr. Robyn Tiger & Dr. Jonathan Fisher, ASPIRE: A Weekend for Balance and Renewal (June 12–14, 2026) This physician-led program is specifically designed for healthcare professionals to restore clarity, vitality, and sense of purpose. Co-facilitated by Dr. Robyn Tiger, a Lifestyle Medicine specialist and mind-body expert, and Dr. Jonathan Fisher, a Harvard-trained cardiologist and mindfulness teacher, ASPIRE blends evidence-based mind-body practices with reflective inquiry and supportive community to help participants reduce stress, renew energy, and reconnect with their professional and personal intentions. Starting at $1,816 inclusive of programming, accommodations and meals.
● Martha Huggins & Molly Hollibaugh, The Zentangle Method: Tangling in Wonderland (September 24–27, 2026) This four-day creative retreat invites participants into the playful, meditative world of the Zentangle Method, guided by Martha Huggins and Molly Hollibaugh, daughters of the founders of the Zentangle Method. Through intuitive mark-making and open-ended tangling sessions, guests explore creativity, foster mindful presence, and rediscover the joy of spontaneous expression. The experience emphasizes imaginative exploration over perfection, leaving participants with renewed wonder, artistic confidence, and relaxed clarity. Starting at $1,399 inclusive of programming, accommodations and meals.
● Dr. Arielle Schwartz, Beyond Trauma: A Guided Path to Healing (September 25–27, 2026) Dr. Arielle Schwartz, a licensed clinical psychologist, somatic trauma therapist, EMDR consultant, and yoga therapist, leads this deeply transformative 4-day retreat designed to help participants heal the lasting impacts of trauma. Through a combination of therapeutic yoga, polyvagal-informed practices, breathwork, meditation, and guided self-exploration, guests learn evidence-based tools to regulate the nervous system, cultivate resilience, and reclaim a sense of safety and empowerment. Starting at $1,249 inclusive of programming, accommodations and meals.
“Each of our guest presenters brings a unique lens to healing and self-understanding, yet all share a common thread of supporting the person as a whole,” said Dr. Medha Garud, Director of Ayurveda Programs at the Art of Living Retreat Center. “In 2026 our programming is intentionally designed to help guests restore balance at every level, including physical, emotional, and spiritual, while offering experiences that are both deeply personal and profoundly grounding.”
A complete 2026 calendar of guest-presenter retreats, including dates, program details, and registration information, is available on the Art of Living Retreat Center website. Space for each retreat is limited.
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About the Art of Living Retreat Center
For those on a journey toward greater self-awareness and happiness, the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina, offers nourishing support and thoughtful space for guests to discover peace, transformation, and a deeper connection with themselves and others. Recently ranked one of the best destination spas in the country by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler, the relaxing 380-acre mountaintop property in the Blue Ridge Mountains is just two hours from Charlotte and offers day and overnight programs for wellness adventurers hoping to cultivate rejuvenation and inner growth. The Retreat Center features the award-winning Shankara Ayurveda Wellness Spa, with service-oriented, educated therapists. Guests can choose hotel or retreat accommodations and enjoy vegetarian, alcohol-free dining as well as wellness and fitness activities. Other highlights include a meditation hall for up to 3700 people, spaces for events and gatherings, a labyrinth, a pottery studio, natural hiking trails, and gardens.
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