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The Art of Living Retreat Center Hosts ‘An Enlightening Holiday with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’ in Boone

Nov. 20, 2013. International spiritual leader and the founder of the world-renowned Art of Living Foundation, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, will host an unprecedented U.S. holiday celebration and week-long retreat in Western North Carolina. The event, “An Enlightening Holiday with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar,” will take place Dec. 22 to 29 at the Art of Living Retreat Center (otherwise known as the Art of Living’s International Center for Meditation & Well-Being), and will mark the first time Sri Sri has celebrated the Christmas holiday in the United States. The retreat is expected to be at maximum capacity with upwards of 1,000 attendees coming to Boone from all over the world.

imgresFor the past 30+ years, Sri Sri has regularly visited more than 150 countries, teaching meditation and spiritual wisdom to millions. He launched the Art of Living Foundation in 1989 as a worldwide humanitarian organization. In 2011, the Foundation acquired a 381-acre property located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, then restored and developed it into its first and only retreat center in the United States.

Today, with its wide range of housing facilities, holistic spa, wholesome vegetarian cuisine, panoramic mountain views, serene meditation halls and powerful retreat offerings, the Art of Living Retreat Center is a haven of self-renewal for its many visitors from around world. Art of Living’s vision is for this retreat center to become the North American spiritual epicenter for inner peace, personal transformation and service to humanity.

This December, Sri Sri’s rare holiday visit to the United States will bring attendees together in joy and inner peace. It offers a way for people to enliven the holiday spirit in a completely new way and to celebrate themselves from the inside out.

“One of our aims at the Art of Living Retreat Center is to provide first class experiences along with the feeling of coming home,” said Neil Srivastava, managing director of the Art of Living Retreat Center. “So this December’s programs couldn’t be more perfect in that individuals and families can “come home” for the holidays in the spirit of celebration and return with renewed vision and clarity for the upcoming year. We are grateful that Sri Sri has chosen the United States of all the countries in the world this holiday season, to help us reconnect with ourselves and unwrap our enlightened sides together.”

During “An Enlightening Holiday with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar,” Sri Sri will lead attendees in the “Weeklong Silent Retreat,” which includes the acclaimed “Art of Living Course” and the signature “Art of Silence Course” for a thorough spiritual immersion. During the retreat week, participants will go through the renowned Sudarshan Kriya breathing technique and self-reflective processes. As the week progresses, they will move into more advanced guided meditations and deep personal silence. Several additional courses for both children and adults will be held throughout the week, and more information can be found at http://www.enlighteningholiday.org.

In addition to the courses, there will be a Christmas celebration on the evening of Dec. 25. For more information, visit www.enlighteningholiday.org, the Art of Living Retreat Center’s Facebook page or call 1-800-392-6870.

About the Art of Living Retreat Center

The Art of Living Retreat Center is a wellness and meditation venue located in the majestic mountains of North Carolina. The center, which features several lodging options, a dining hall, meditation facilities, a holistic spa specializing in the principles of Ayurveda, hiking trails and more, focuses on practices and techniques that reduce stress and provide an increased sense of wellbeing and inner peace. The Art of Living Retreat Center’s vision is to become the North American spiritual epicenter for inner peace, personal transformation and service to humanity. The center also regularly hosts large groups for conferences, retreats, training, meetings and more. Learn more athttp://www.meditationcenterusa.org