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.
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. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
15 meals (
5B, 5L, 5D
)
6 expert-led lectures
2 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
Day
1
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)
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
2
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. After our class time, we’ll explore Montreat (weather permitting). 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
3
Asanas – Postures, Breathing Techniques, Hike
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:
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. Next, we’ll set out on a hike or nature walk in the nearby mountains (weather permitting). The remainder of the afternoon will be free for you to do what you like.
Dinner:
Inn buffet.
Evening:
We’ll gather for another fun evening program such as a concert, storyteller, or a dance followed by games, cards, or TV in the lobby
Day
4
Pratyahara – Limb 5, Free Time
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:
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:
At leisure. You may be interested in observing one of the other classes in session.
Day
5
Dharana – Concentration, Dhyana – Meditation
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:
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:
At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departures in the morning. Be sure you've requested a box lunch if you have to leave before lunch on Friday.
Day
6
"Samadhi”, Lunch and Departures
Location:
Montreat, NC
Meals:
B,L
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. To many, it can also be described as the final stage of yogic practice during which some are said to have achieved unification with hyper-conscious divinity. We will delve into a lesson to gain a better understanding of samadhi before participating in gentle practice. A morning drink and snack will give us another opportunity to informally visit with each other.
Lunch:
Inn buffet. Boxed lunches will be available for those who requested and who cannot stay through lunch. This concludes our program.
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.
Oct 26, 2025 - Oct 31, 2025
May 25, 2025 - May 30, 2025
Sep 07, 2025 - Sep 12, 2025
Sep 28, 2025 - Oct 03, 2025
Oct 26, 2025 - Oct 31, 2025
Nov 30, 2025 - Dec 05, 2025
Feb 22, 2026 - Feb 27, 2026
Mar 29, 2026 - Apr 03, 2026
May 10, 2026 - May 15, 2026
May 17, 2026 - May 22, 2026
Aug 09, 2026 - Aug 14, 2026
Aug 16, 2026 - Aug 21, 2026
Sep 13, 2026 - Sep 18, 2026
Sep 20, 2026 - Sep 25, 2026
Oct 04, 2026 - Oct 09, 2026
Nov 29, 2026 - Dec 04, 2026
