North Carolina Yoga & Hiking Retreat
Marshall, North Carolina
September 18 - 21, 2024
Join Firefly at the Bend of Ivy Lodge, about 30 minutes north of Asheville, North Carolina for a three-night yoga and hiking retreat to celebrate the Autumnal Equinox. The lodge is located on 63 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains with great hiking in the area.
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Each day you'll wake up in a beautiful oasis surrounded by adventure and nature. Start the day with a vinyasa yoga class to energize your mind and body, then join in a group hike or take full advantage of the amenities located within Bend of Ivy Lodge. Enjoy nourishing meals prepared onsite to fuel you for the day. If relaxation is what you have in mind, lounge around by the pond, or take a stroll on one of the many meandering trails. Wind down in the evening with yin yoga, before enjoying a delicious dinner.
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As with all of Firefly's retreats, you'll have the opportunity to connect to yourself, others and nature. Step away from your day-to-day responsibilities to tap into your passion and purpose. Ignite your inner light, so you can shine!
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What to Expect
During this three night / four day retreat in the mountains of North Carolina, you can expect:
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Daily yoga classes appropriate for all levels including vinyasa-style practice to energize and yin practice to recuperate and restore
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Three delicious meals per day beginning with dinner on Wednesday evening and ending with breakfast on Saturday
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Three nights of lodging at Bend of Ivy
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Optional group hike and other activities in the area
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​A full schedule of meals, yoga classes, and group activities will be provided closer to the retreat dates.
The Details
Retreat rate includes:
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3 nights accommodations at Bend of Ivy Lodge
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Three delicious meals per day (dinner only on arrival day and breakfast only on departure day); packed lunch will be provided for the hike
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Daily yoga sessions
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Optional group hike
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Retreat rate does not include:
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Airfare to/from North Carolina
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Transportation to/from the lodge
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Spa treatments or additional excursions
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Alcoholic drinks
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Credit card processing fees
Our Host Location:
Bend of Ivy Lodge
Our host location is nestled in the lush Blue Ridge Mountains on 63 acres immersed in natural beauty, only 30 minutes from Asheville.
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Bend of Ivy offers amazing views of the surrounding area. The tallest peak east of the Mississippi, Mount Mitchell, can easily be seen from the property. In addition to the mountain views, there are also several charming spots to sit and relax, such as the river bank.
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The lodge is at the heart of the property with easy access to the pond area, viewpoints, and the river. The beautifully-remodeled tobacco barn is the perfect place to make you feel a million miles away from everything.
This property, nestled in the trees, has all the amenities you need to feel comfy and cozy. ​The lodge has everything you need, including high-speed WiFi, a gas fireplace, sound system, and television Check out the history of the lodge here!
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The lodge has a total of nine bedrooms. There are four bedrooms and a lounge on the lower level, and five bedrooms on the upper level. There are four bathrooms to be shared by retreat participants, plus a kitchen, dining room, and large living room, perfect for gathering or relaxing.
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Accommodation Options
Amounts shown represent the total investment for the retreat.
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Shared Room (Double Occupancy) - $1,200/person
These rooms are for two people and can be set up with two twin beds, or one king bed for a couple. Lodge bathrooms are shared by all guests.
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Private Room (Single Occupancy) - $1,500
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These rooms are for one person and have one single bed. Lodge bathrooms are shared by all guests.
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If you are interested in attending and bringing a tent, let us know!
Payment Details and Cancelation Policy
To secure your space on the retreat a non-refundable US $250 deposit is required. A payment schedule will be provided upon registration, however, you may pay in full at any time prior to July 19, 2024.
Anyone registering after July 19, 2024 will be expected to pay in full upon registration.
Should you need to cancel your reservation at least 60 days prior to the start of the retreat, you will receive a refund for payment made less the $250 deposit. Should you need to cancel less than 60 days prior to the retreat, for whatever reason, we will not be able to provide a refund or credit. No refund or credit will be given for arriving late or departing early. Payments must be made in accordance with the payment schedule in order to hold your space. In the unlikely event Firefly needs to cancel the retreat, a full refund will be given.
We strongly advise the purchase of travel insurance at the time of booking your retreat in case of any unexpected events or changes to your plans before or during your trip.
Meet Your Guide: Carrie Lehtonen
Carrie Lehtonen's second chance at life came at 31 years old when a blood clot in her coronary artery resulted in a heart attack. As a healthy triathlete in the prime of her life, Carrie was the last person anyone would suspect of having heart disease.
After 20 years of experience in Human Resources, Carrie chose to change careers so she could help people find their path to better health and live inspired lives. Carrie is committed to reducing the impact of heart disease, and loves seeing people light up when they learn something new, challenge themselves beyond what they think they are capable of, and tap into their passion.
Carrie created Firefly because she believes that what the world needs most is for each person to uncover their passion and live an inspired life. We each have a unique gift, and it's Carrie's mission to help you ignite your inner light so that you can shine!
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Carrie lives in Evergreen, CO with her husband and four fur-babies (two cats and two dogs). Carrie is a life-long learner, and loves to travel to experience different cultures and see diverse natural environments. Carrie has been teaching yoga for 10 years and leading retreats around the world for eight years.
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Carrie is a Registered Yoga Teacher and Educator (E-RYT500) with training from CorePower Yoga and Vessilify in Colorado, Nosara Yoga Institute in Costa Rica, and Prajna Yoga in New Mexico. She has training in vinyasa yoga, yin yoga, anatomy, Self Awakening Yoga (SAY), Yoga Therapeutics and Stand Up Paddleboard yoga. Carrie is a Holistic Health Practitioner, and attended the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, where she was trained in more than one hundred dietary theories and studied a variety of practical lifestyle coaching methods.