North Carolina
Nature And Inner Calm In North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains
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Spanning over 380 acres at an elevation of 3,700 feet, The Art of Living Retreat Center is nestled at the base of the serene Blue Ridge Mountains in Boone, North Carolina. Travelers come here for rest, rejuvenation and self-discovery.
Established in 2011, the origins of the center are deeply intertwined with the vision of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a globally revered humanitarian and spiritual leader.
Signature Programs
The property has a plethora of retreats and programs focusing on many different aspects including mental clarity, emotional healing, and spiritual awakening. Whether you’re seeking personal development, stress relief, or simply a break from the chaos of modern life, the center provides a variety of pathways for renewal. Among the most popular are the Happiness Retreat, Rest & Relaxation Retreat, and guest presenter workshops, all rooted in the center’s mission of holistic well-being.
The Happiness Retreat
The cornerstone of the Art of Living’s programming is the Happiness Retreat, a 3-day immersive experience that blends ancient yogic wisdom with modern self-development practices. At the heart of the program is the Sudarshan Kriya, a powerful rhythmic breathing technique developed by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. This practice is shown to reduce stress hormones, calm the nervous system, and elevate mood. Beyond breathwork, the retreat includes guided meditations, light yoga, and group discussions. This retreat is ideal for beginners or anyone feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck in old patterns.
Rest & Relaxation Retreat
For those looking to unplug and decompress at their own pace, the Rest & Relaxation Retreat is a self-guided experience. While it doesn’t follow a strict schedule like the Happiness Retreat, it still provides access to many of the center’s amenities and optional activities, including:
- Daily yoga and meditation classes
- Access to hiking trails with scenic mountain views
- Participation in evening kirtans (musical chanting)
- Nutritious vegetarian meals served buffet-style
- The chance to book Ayurvedic consultations or spa treatments
What makes this retreat especially appealing is its flexibility. The emphasis is on listening to your own rhythm—something often neglected in our fast-paced lives. The Rest & Relaxation Retreat is a favorite among solo travelers, couples, and wellness seekers who want the freedom to choose their own schedule while still being enveloped in a nurturing, intentional environment.
Guest Presenter Programs
In addition to its core offerings, the Art of Living Retreat Center frequently invites guest presenters—renowned authors, wellness professionals, and spiritual teachers—to host specialized workshops and retreats. These programs vary in length (from a weekend to a full week) and cover a wide range of themes, such as:
- Mindfulness and meditation
- Trauma-informed healing
- Yoga for specific conditions
- Women’s empowerment
- Creativity and conscious writing
- Nutrition and holistic health
- Relationship dynamics and communication
Notable past presenters have included Nedra Glover Tawwab, Deepak Chopra, Judith Hanson Lasater, Byron Katie, and Cheryl Strayed. These guest retreats typically include interactive lectures, experiential exercises, and plenty of time for personal reflection. They often draw attendees from all over the world and are known for being both deeply informative and personally transformative.
One standout feature of the guest presenter programs is the intimate, retreat-style setting. Unlike conferences or hotel-based workshops, these experiences are immersed in nature and enhanced by the serene atmosphere of the center,
The Shankara Ayurveda Wellness
The Shankara Ayurveda Wellness spa has an in-depth treatment menu as well as personalized consultations with an Ayurvedic expert who helps identify a person’s unique dosha (mind-body constitution) and recommends treatments or lifestyle changes accordingly.
Popular treatments include:
- Abhyanga (herbal oil massage)
- Shirodhara (steady stream of oil on the forehead for deep calm)
- Marma therapy (vital energy point massage)
Staying at the retreat
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The Art of Living retreat has many different accommodations, including:
- Private Hotel Rooms: Equipped with king or full-sized beds, flat-screen TVs, refrigerators, private baths, and complimentary Wi-Fi, these rooms cater to individuals or couples seeking modern amenities.
- Retreat Rooms: Simpler in design, these rooms feature twin beds, private baths, and essential furnishings, ideal for those desiring a minimalist environment conducive to introspection.
- Premium Apartments: For those seeking extended stays or additional space, fully furnished one-bedroom apartments with kitchenettes, balconies, and washers/dryers are available.
Dining and Activities
Dining at the center is a holistic experience, emphasizing vegetarian cuisine crafted to nourish both body and spirit. Meals are served buffet-style in a spacious dining hall that offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. Both indoor and outdoor seating is available.
There are many activities offered at the retreat including:
- Yoga and Meditation: Daily sessions cater to all levels, integrating Hatha yoga techniques and guided meditation practices to harmonize mind, body, and spirit.
- Nature Walks: With trails meandering through lush forests, guests can immerse themselves in the therapeutic embrace of nature, fostering a deeper connection with the environment.
- Evening Kirtan and Fire Circles: Communal gatherings featuring soulful chanting and fire circles under the starlit sky provide opportunities for collective reflection and joy.
GREENVILLE, N.C. — A Greenville man is being held without bond after authorities say he failed to report a change of address as required under North Carolina’s sex offender registry laws.
According to Pitt County court records, 66-year-old Charles Eugene Gardner was arrested June 4 and charged with felony failure to register as a sex offender.
Arrest warrants allege Gardner did not notify the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office within the required three business days after leaving his registered address on Ford Street in Greenville.
The charge stems from an alleged violation on May 26 and was filed June 2 following an investigation by the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office.
Gardner remains in the Pitt County Detention Center without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Friday, June 5.
North Carolina
Mom driving 111 mph crashes car with 3 kids inside, 2 killed, one in critically injured, NCSHP says
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) — A child is fighting for his life after a deadly crash late Wednesday in Fayetteville that killed his two brothers, authorities said.
ABC11 has learned the children’s mother was driving 111 mph when the crash occurred, according to state troopers now leading the investigation.
The crash happened just before 11 pm on Cedar Creek Road after Fayetteville police attempted to make a traffic stop.
A North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) trooper said the mother sped off before losing control and crashing into a tree. None of the three children, all under 10 years old, was in a car seat, troopers said.
One neighbor, Sara Wallace, said she heard the crash unfold.
“To hear that there were children involved, it’s made it much more, as a mom, scary,” Wallace said.
Wallace, who lives less than a mile from the crash site, described the sounds she heard late Wednesday.
“Within seconds, it was the speed, the thud, and then silence,” she said.
“There was no squealing, there was no braking, there was no crying, there was no sound. And then. Shortly thereafter, all the sirens,” Wallace recalled.
When officers arrived, they found a white Kia had slammed into a tree. The third child, who was ejected from the vehicle, was rushed to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center with life-threatening injuries and later airlifted to UNC Hospital early Thursday morning.
At the scene, debris littered the roadside. “This is the aftermath. The bark stripped from the tree, a taillight, and debris everywhere,” one neighbor described.
Wallace noted the road’s curve can be dangerous at high speeds.
“It is a fairly gentle curve, but once you increase those speeds over that 55 miles an hour, it can be very easy to lose control,” she said.
The mother, who was also injured in the crash, is currently sedated at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and is expected to recover, officials said.
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The investigation remains ongoing.
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North Carolina
J.R. Smith Graduates From North Carolina A&T, Fulfilling A Promise Years In The Making | Essence
J.R. Smith has accomplished nearly everything a basketball player could hope to achieve. He spent 16 seasons in the NBA, won two championships, played alongside some of the biggest names in the sport, and built a reputation as one of the league’s most fearless scorers. Yet one of the achievements he seems proudest of arrived far from the court.
On May 9, Smith graduated from North Carolina A&T State University, earning a degree in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Applied Cultural Thought. For the 40-year-old former NBA star, the moment represented the ability to overcome a challenge he once believed might be beyond his reach.
Smith’s path to graduation was anything but conventional, because after entering the NBA directly out of high school in 2004, college wasn’t a part of the plan. Years later, following retirement from basketball, he enrolled at the Greensboro-based HBCU and joined the school’s golf team, becoming one of the most recognizable student-athletes in the country. His decision began with a conversation during a vacation in the Dominican Republic.
“Probably the golf trip with Ray Allen,” Smith told ESSENCE. “I was in the DR doing this trip and I saw Ray running back-and-forth to his computer and I asked him what he was doing, and that kind of tipped the whole thing.”
Returning to the classroom required Smith to confront challenges that had followed him since childhood. Diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia at a young age, academics was a tall order. While he made a career out of hitting difficult shots in packed arenas, college often demanded something different. “To me being a student again,” Smith said when asked what was harder than playing professional basketball. “Being in the NBA and playing in the NBA was something I was born to do and for me academics was something that didn’t come easy to me.”
Over the course of five years, Smith committed himself fully to the experience of college. He worked with tutors multiple times each week, spent long nights completing assignments, and gradually became more comfortable in an environment he once resisted. “For me, it just gives me the opportunity to continuously get better,” he said. “As I got older, I actually wanted to do it more opposed to fighting against it when I was younger.”
Despite the championships, accolades, and financial success, Smith explains that there was one major factor that motivated him to graduate. “My main thing was keeping my promise to my mother,” he said. As news of his graduation spread, congratulations poured in from former teammates including LeBron James, Dwight Howard, and Richard Jefferson. Many celebrated the accomplishment as a reminder that growth does not end when a professional career does. Smith hopes others see something similar in his journey.
“To me just to inspire,” he said. “Inspire [people] to do something outside the box that they wouldn’t normally think of or normally do or something that they’re not good at and take your personal development as seriously as they could.”Smith’s story also serves as a powerful example of what HBCUs continue to provide: opportunity, community, and a place where people can reinvent themselves at any stage of life. “It’s never too late,” he said. “I don’t think it’s ever too late to go.”
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