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2012 Retreats - Register Online Here
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How to Register for RetreatsThere are four different ways to register for a summer retreat.
1.Phone. If you have questions or need advice, our registrar can assist you in choosing the correct retreat(s) for you. Best to have a printout of the retreats list handy when you call. Questions? Call 888-750-1773 Note: It’s safe to leave credit card information on our answering machine. 2.Email your registration and $150. deposit for each retreat (or to buy products): info@healingtaoretreats.com 3.Internet. Register online on this site. Just go to the “retreats descriptions” button and click on the code number in the left column (example: DM-0402). A special “retreat shopping cart” form will appear for registration. Add as many retreats to the shopping cart as you like. You can only take one retreat per week (no jumping around between retreats). You can CHANGE YOUR CHOICE OF RETREAT at any time prior to this summer WITHOUT PENALTY. (please notify us 30 days in advance, but later changes are permitted, if there is space available. The instructor must agree to accept someone if retreat has already begun.) Online registration will only charge you a $150. deposit per retreat. The balance must be paid by credit card, mailed check, bank wire or cash. Please read our Cancellation Policy and the conditions under which your deposit could be forfeited. Please DO NOT DOUBLE-CLICK the final SUBMIT button, you may get charged twice. Be patient and wait for confirmation. If you don’t get it, call or email us and let us know what happened. 4. Postal Mail. Mail your deposit, payable to "Healing Tao USA", to this office adddress: Don’t worry about filling out the registration form wrong using any of the above 4 methods. When you register in person at the retreat, we will double check to make sure you have taken all discounts possible and that you get the lowest price possible. Last minute registrations on retreats are accepted. We usually find space for late signups, but please call as early as possible. It is also very common for people to decide at the last minute to stay on for extra retreats. Many people decide to stay once they "wake up" and start to feel the amazing chi flow in their body. You save money by registering for more than one retreat in advance (See Multiple Tuition discounts in Tuition section).
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Early Registration: Money Saving Tips
Get FREE BONUS Video/DVD |
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| Retreats Taken | Tuition Each | Multiple Discount Price | 60 Days Prepaid Price (Biggest Discount) |
| 1 X | 495 | 495 | 475 |
| 2 X | 480 | 960 | 920 |
| 3 X | 465 | 1395 | 1335 |
| 4 X | 450 | 1800 | 1720 |
Note:Multiple discounts apply ONLY to retreats charging standard $495. tuition price. A few retreats have different pricing, see website homepage....
- No prepaid, special, or multiple discounts for retreats 2d or 3e or weekends...
- PRE-PAID DISCOUNT. To get the $20 pre-paid discount, full payment must be received by us 60 days in advance of the start date of the retreat. Room/board must also be prepaid.
- If you attend one retreat and then sign up AFTERWARDS for a second retreat, you will receive the multiple discount tuition on the second retreat, but get NO RETROACTIVE DISCOUNT on your first retreat. Example: you pay $495. for retreat #1, then decide to stay on. Retreat #2 costs only $480. If you sign up for two additional retreats, Retreat #2 and #3 each cost only $465.
- Room & Board must be added to above tuition (see Housing & Meals) unless extended payment is arranged.
- Commuters must pay $100. facility fee per week.
- EARLY BIRD BONUS. Tuition costs may be further offset by "Early Bird" bonuses if you register by April 15. You can receive up to $90. worth of free Qigong DVDŐs.
- GET A BREAK ON YOUR TAXES! The other way to reduce your retreat cost is to claim a tax deduction for any retreats taken from our non-profit 501c3 (40% deduction is general rule when "value" is received for contribution).
- DONATE TO THE TAO. The tuition cost is kept low by support for Healing Tao University from its parent non-profit organization (501c3), the Dao Alchemy Research Institute. Your cash donations are greatly appreciated and 100% tax deductible. We are grateful to accept donations of services, property, or other items for which you may receive a tax deduction.
Special Category Discounts
Housing & Meals
Rooms
Healing Tao Retreats are using the mostly vacant summer facilities at Mars Hill College campus, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. It's a beautiful campus, with an Ivy League feeling. We have booked the most modern residential facilities they have, which include room-controlled heat and air conditioning (not needed much at 2500 ft. elevation, but nice to have).
The rooms feel more like small apartments, and the triplets have kitchens. The residence halls are wonderfully cozy, an intimate place in which you quickly feel at home. The number of single rooms are limited, so please book and pre-pay for those early. Our rooms face beautiful mountain or forest views. Last minute signups may get different (i.e. older) housing without a/c, but still very comfortable.
Laundry pay machines are available. The maintenance staff ensures all rooms (heated in winter) remain free of mold or mildew, so those with allergic or environmental sensitivities need not worry. All rooms/suites have a private bath.
INTERNET. High speed internet hookup is available for free in each room -YOU MUST BRING YOUR OWN ETHERNET CABLE. If your laptop doesn't have an ethernet port, there are a number of locations on campus that have free wireless.
Meals
Meals are part of the housing package - three delicious meals daily, prepared by an outside private catering service. They try to accommodate a wide range of dietary needs, and have a good reputation on campus. We encourage folks to eat together. It builds community. There is a huge exchange of life experience and stories shared around the table that is priceless. It's fun. It is learning that goes beyond the classroom.
Meal Times at Mars Hill Dining Hall:
(note: class times may shorten the time available to eat)
Breakfast 7:00 am - 8:30 am
Lunch 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Dinner 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
MEAL CANCELLATION OPTION. If you do NOT want to eat on campus under our combined housing & meal plan, you can notify the Healing Tao Registrar THREE WEEKS BEFORE your retreat start date. Cancellation simply means you will NOT be given a meal ticket when you register. All meals will be your responsibility (there are 4 or 5 restaurants in town). There is no hot plate cooking in the room allowed, unless configured with a kitchen.
Meal cancellations AFTER the 3-week date will NOT give you a refund.
If you cancel the meal portion three weeks in advance, the college will reduce your housing package cost by $95. per 6-day, 5-night retreat ($19/day average). Your cost will be $400. for a double instead of $495.; $700. for a single. This "cancel all meals option" will NOT appear on the website registration. To cancel meals, just underpay by $95. when you register online and then you MUST confirm by email to the registrar at: summersupport@earthlink.net
If you sign up at the last minute for a retreat, the campus caterers will likely have overbought enough food to still accommodate you. So it's fine to sign up at the last minute for the full $495. housing & meal package. Or if you prefer, you can eat in town, and we'll only charge you $400./700. for the week.
COMMUTER MEAL CUSTOM PLANS: Commuters are allowed to customize a meal plan IF they fully prepay for it 3 weeks in advance. They can order packages of 5 breakfasts for $6. each ($30.), 5 lunches for $7. each ($35.), and 5 dinners for $8. each ($40.). Or any combination of the three. This can be ordered in your retreats shopping cart. Or you can email this to our Registrar in advance of the retreat, preferably not at the last minute. You will be given meal tickets for the meal packages when you register.
Housing & Meal Packages
Standard 6 day (5 nights + meals) Retreat Package:
- Double room: $495. for 5 nights and 15 delicious meals (only $99. average per day for room & board).
- Note: Some doubles may be assigned to triples (3 small 9x 12 bedrooms + 2 bathrooms). Some doubles have two beds in one 10 x 13 bedroom + one shared bathroom. Room assignment will be up to the registrar, and room configuration cannot be guaranteed to students at time of registration. Couples/friends should email the registrar after you register online, to confirm the name of your roommate/partner. Email: summersupport@earthlink.net
- Forced Singles: If you request a double but no same sex roommate is available, there is a small surcharge of $20. per night ($100. for 5 nights). Healing Tao will do its best to find a roommate, but forced singles may happen. It's another reason to sign up early. If you actually hope to get a forced (i.e. cheap) single, let the registrar know your preference even though you sign up early, and we'll put you on the waiting list in case a forced single becomes available.
- Single room: $795. for 5 nights and 15 delicious meals ($60. per nite extra). Must prepay FULL housing and tuition to hold a single. There are a limited number of singles. Some singles will have two single bedrooms and two private bathrooms within one suite, i.e. two singles sharing one entry. Last minute signups for singles may cause you to be assigned to an older building on a different part of the campus, that may not have a/c.
- Above prices do NOT include cost of arriving one night early or staying one or more nights afterwards.
Standard 2.5 day "Weekend Package" (2 nights + meals):
(May NOT actually be on a Fri-Sun due to skewed retreat dates).- Double room is $250. for two nights and 6 meals (first night dinner thru third day lunch). Minimum deposit is still $150. Note: Forced single surcharge of $20. per night also applies on weekend bookings (add $40. to total).
- Single room is $360. for two nights and 6 meals (first night dinner thru third day lunch). Must prepay to reserve.
For stay-over night between retreats (no meals):
- There is only one night between retreats, if you are staying over. Meals are NOT SERVED between retreats - you'll have to eat at a cafe in town (one dinner, breakfast, and lunch).
- You need to indicate the dates of your extra nights on the online registration form. The cost of Add-on Room Only to the standard 5 night package, whether arriving early or staying over, is specially discounted:
- $50. per person per EXTRA night in double room. $495 + 50 = $545. package total. ($20. more per night if forced single, add $120., or $665. total)
- $90. per EXTRA night per single room. $795. + 90 = $885. package total.
- Note: If you leave your belongings in a room, but go away for a night's "vacation" between retreats, you still have to pay either $50. (dbl) or $90. (sgl) for the room.
Local restaurants in Mars Hill (a tiny, two street town, pop. 1200 without studens):
- Main Street Cafe & Deli (downtown)
- El Dorado Grill (downtown)
- Osaka's Japanese Restaurant (1/4 mile towards highway entrance)
- Wagon Wheel Diner (1/4 mile towards highway entrance)
- Subway Sandwich/Hardees (next to highway entrance).
Mars Hill College campus feels like a combination of mini-Ivy League and Blue Ridge Appalachian Mountains
Schedules & General Information
The information below is given everyone registering at Tao Summer Retreats Mars Hill.
We call it the “Tao of Harmony on Mars”.
Please radiate Inner Smile at all times!
Typical Daily Schedule
Mantak Chia leads class in a tai chi posture.
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Morning practice: check with instructor
Evening: free time or class, check with instructor |
Tao Bookstore
Healing Tao Bookstore (location: Tao Registration office, in Brown Residence Hall)
Operated by Steven Sy. Hours of operation (approximate!):
12 noon- 2:30 pm
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
It may open at other times, by announcement, depending on instructor's teaching schedule.
- There are substantial bookstore discounts up to 25% off on many audio and videos for registered students (cheaper than web prices, no shipping).
- Healing Tao Bookstore has one of the largest collection of hard to find Tao books, music, posters, training equipment, very cool Taoist t-shirts, feng shui items, Taoists statues, everything found on the website and much more! Bring extra money, the goodies in this store are irresistible.
Room Rules
- Quiet Hour: after 10 pm. For late night activity, please use bookstore/dining room/lobby so as not to disturb others.
- This is a place to retreat. To listen to music, please use very low volume or bring headphones so as not to disturb others. The rooms do NOT have TVs. There will be a TV/DVD player in the bookstore for watching sample videos.
- CONSERVE ELECTRICITY: PLEASE TURN OFF ALL ROOM LIGHTS and A/C when not in room. The climate is very comfortable. Most will be happy with an open window or using ceiling fans.
- No one allowed in Dining Hall's kitchen. Bring your own munchies, or head into town.
- FIRE SAFETY. No hotplates/cooking in rooms unless your room has a kitchen. Coffee/tea heating allowed.
- ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKING in your room or in any buildings on the grounds.
- DRUGS. No illegal/recreational drug use or alcohol permitted while on retreat. No carrying open bottles about the campus. We are all about cultivating a natural high from the most pure original chi. Exceptions on drinking made for limited consumption of beer/wine for quiet private parties.
- SECURITY. We cannot take responsibility for lost or stolen items. The rooms do have keys, for $25. KEY DEPOSIT.
TELEPHONE/INTERNET
- Office Telephone: 828-575-3825 answered by Tynne Clifford, Registrar.
- INTERNET. Broadband connection will be available for free in every room. Laptops should have ethernet port. BRING YOUR OWN ETHERNET cable. Witeless hot spots are available elsewhere on campus.
- CELLPHONE: Not all cell phones will work in these mountains. Verizon is the company that works best. Our office phone is NOT available to receive personal calls on, except for emergencies.
- PAYPHONE: There are some on campus or in town.
HOUSEKEEPING/MISC.
- LAUNDRY: During retreats there is no maid service. You may exchange towels one time (mid-week) in the laundry area in the residential dorm. Sheets are changed at end of each retreat.
- IF YOU ARE STAYING OVER, your linen will not get washed unless you strip the beds. For housekeeping problems see our office or the "Conference Host" assigned to each residential hall.
- If you are staying for next retreat, and feel your laundry is clean enough, just leave it intact on your bed and use it the next week. This preserves the great meditation vibes you put in it and conserves soap and precious water.
- CHECK OUT on last day of retreat by 9 am, so staff can begin cleaning for next group coming in.
- HIKING: Blue Ridge Mountains have miles of back country roads and hiking trails, some leading to peaks with spectacular views. Please do NOT hike without a buddy for safety (a Verizon cell phone adds extra protection against getting lost).
Questions? [an error occurred while processing this directive]
Cancellation Policy
- There is no penalty to change courses/dates before start of retreat. We strongly request that you make any changes 32 days in advance of retreat start, so we can plan meeting space size, etc. After retreat begins, you need permission from any instructor to transfer into their retreat. This generally must occur on the first day of the retreat, and only if someone realizes the course is truly not suitable for them. Please talk to me or Tynne about your need to change courses.
- EARLY CANCELLATION: If you cancel 32 or more days in advance, the rest of your deposit (whatever amount you’ve paid) is refundable (less $150.00 per retreat). You may cancel by letter, stamp-dated fax, email, or phone message and must clearly identify your name and retreat. We must RECEIVE your cancellation by midnite of the 32th day – its NOT WHEN YOU POSTMARK your letter. We do NOT accept responsibility for technical difficulties in delivering your message unless they are caused by us (i.e. our answering machine is not working properly, etc.).
- No refunds given after retreat starts. This applies to both housing and tuition. Occasionally credits for future retreats are granted for exceptional emergencies, such death-in-family or medical emergencies, at the discretion of Healing Tao USA. We will do everything reasonably possible to help you continue/finish the course at a future date.
- LATE CANCELLATION: If you cancel less than 32 days before retreat starts:
- Option A: DEPOSIT APPLIED TO FUTURE RETREAT. 100% of your paid deposit (less $150. cancel fee) is automatically credited to future retreats taken within 24 months (within next two cycles of summer retreats).
- Option B: 50% CASH REFUND. If you don’t intend to take a future retreat within the next two summers (your best deal financially), you may request instead a 50% cash refund of the total cost of room/board + tuition due for that retreat. Payment will be made promptly to you.
- If you have not paid 100% of that retreat at the time of cancellation in the last 32 days before retreat start, you still legally owe 50% of the total cost of that retreat. Even if you’ve signed an extended payment agreement or failed to pay that 50% in advance for some reason.
- People who cancel late are naturally unhappy about this, but we assure you that 50% cancel fee is just to cover our overhead. Running a large retreat program is economically marginal at best, and becomes a losing proposition without long term planning stability to enable us to control costs of food, housing, marketing, staff and faculty. We rent the Healing Tao Summer Retreats facility for a hefty fee under certain performance expectations that do not allow us to underwrite last minute changes to your life plans.
Questions? [an error occurred while processing this directive]
Healing Tao Summer Retreats Staff
Healing Tao Staff
Michael Winn,
Healing Tao USA Founder |
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Tynne Clifford,
Retreat Registrar |
Tynne is an acupressurist, sound healer, rock hound, jewellery maker, raw foodist, singer, actress, dancer, and co-creative gardener. She encourages all retreatants to bring a musical instrument so we can play and sing together in the evenings! |
Steven Sy,
Bookstore Manager |
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Staff can be contacted by email at: info@healingtaoretreats.com or by telephone (see Contact)
TRAVEL to Healing Tao Retreats at Mars Hill, N.C.
BY AIR:
Mars Hill is 35 minutes (32 miles) from the Asheville, North Carolina airport (code AVL). It is 2.25 hours from Charlotte NC airport (CLT); 1.25 hours from Greenville-Spartanburg SC airport (GSP), and 2 hours from Knoxville, TN airport. US Airways connects via Charlotte, Delta via Atlanta, Continental via Newark, American via Dallas into AVL airport.
There is no need to rent a car if you fly to Asheville. The only reason to rent a car is if you wish to drive around the beautiful Asheville area before or after the retreat. Asheville airport has major car rentals.
There are numerous car services that will take you from the Asheville airport for $60. flat rate, which can be shared. (metered Taxis are $75.+) Go ahead and book your car service from the list below. Then notify our registrar (summersupport@earthlink.net) of your booking, she'll see if anyone else is arriving at about the same time to share a ride.
At the end of the retreats it is usually easy to find shared rides to the airport. Sometimes staff offer airport service at similar price.
When you register, you will be sent a map and directions to where on campus our registration office will be located (most likely in Brown Residence Hall).
CAR SERVICE from Asheville airport:
(828 209-3660 Airport desk will book for you as well).
- Asheville Shuttle: 828 231 1053. Graham@silverliningservices.net. $60. Lincoln holds 4 persons.
- City Transport: 828 280 1869. Keith. $58. SUV holds 6.
- Blue Ridge Shuttle: 828 684 6964. Vic. $60. Van holds 6.
- Grandy Car Service. 828 273 3214. $60. Van holds 6.
BY CAR:
Driving from Asheville Airport to Mars HIll:
- As you exit the Asheville airport, turn left onto Airport Rd., drive 1/4 mile to second traffic light.
- Entry ramp to Asheville is on your left. Take I-26 W/ I-74 West for 13 miles/15 minutes. As you cross a high bridge over the French Broad River, get in left lane.
- Take exit 4a to the LEFT "Weaverville/UNC Asheville" onto I-26 W / US 19-23N / 70. Go 16.5 miles.
- Take Exit 11 "Mars Hill/Marshall". Turn left off the ramp onto NC 213, go 1/2 mile, you will be in Mars Hill College, which occupies most of the town.
Driving to Mars Hill from other airports:
Check google maps. Generally, take 1-40 or 1-26 to Asheville, then follow directions above. If coming from Knoxville, there is a shorter back way on 70.
Raleigh-Durham to Mars Hill: 4 hours +
Atlanta to Mars Hill: 4 hours +
PLACES TO SEE AROUND ASHEVILLE & MARS HILL:
- Biltmore Estate (275 room chateau, America's largest residence). $60/day.
- Blue Ridge Parkway - beautiful curvy drive with scenic overlooks, with access to hiking the Appalachian Trail. 7 of 10 highest peaks on East Coast are within 2 hours of Asheville along the Parkway.
- River Rafting on French Broad and Nantahala rivers near Asheville.
- Hot Springs, N.C. Thermal baths (private tubs, open air). 23 miles from Mars Hill, take 213 W to 25/70 W.
- Laurel Branch, gorgeous and serene river side hike, 5 miles before Hot Springs.
- Asheville downtown has dozens of galleries, upscale restaurants, a River Arts District, lots of music and dance events, and 20 microbreweries (voted #1 micro brewery town in USA).
PLACES TO STAY IN ASHEVILLE:
NOTE: The hotels below are for seminars in Asheville ONLY. They are 30 minutes away from the longer retreats in Mars Hill. There are NO hotels in Mars Hill, should you opt to commute.
- Downtown Inn (former Days Inn) 120 Patton Ave: close to restaurants. $65. If you fly in, but don't rent a car, Downtown Inn is best choice. Airport taxis: $25 - 35.
- Asheville Graceland Art Hostel at http://aahostel.com/. Inexpensive, clean, and walking distance to Asheville workshops. Reserve in advance: no walk-ins. email: avlbooking@gmail.com 828-225-3278. Single rooms are $35-40., add $10.+ per roommate.
- Best Western on I-40 has a sauna/pool atrium, 15 minute drive, exit 44 off I-40 (828-667-4501). $69.
- Howard Johnson Inn near Biltmore Estate: older, spacious rooms. 828-274-2300. $69.
- Closest airport hotel: Hampton Inn (828 687-0806). $99-129.
- Enka Budget Motel (828-665-2100) $46-65. 15 minutes.
- Super 8 Motel (828-505-4648) $49-69. in low season, on Tunnel Rd.
- For apartment with kitchen, Extended Stay America on Tunnel Road (828 253-3483.
- For lovely (pricey) bed & breakfast, Richmond Hill Inn has 5-star restaurant.
- Ramada Inn also pricey, but good downtown location.
- For wilderness retreat experience, rooms with one wall open to a fairy forest, try Mountain Light Sanctuary. Barnardsville, 45 minutes.
Healing Tao University Faculty
Note: Each year there are some changes in the faculty. The list of faculty is updated around February prior to the summer retreat session. Until then, the previous year’s faculty will be posted.
Healing Tao Audio-Video-Book Products
Not everyone can make it to a retreat. Many people want to start studying in advance of attending the summer retreats – they can’t wait to start their chi cultivation practice.
The perfect solution are the Tao Home Study courses listed below. Plus you get a nearly 50% rebate for many audio-video courses if you take that instructor’s retreat within one year of your online purchase.
CONTACT HEALING TAO USA
Please note that Tynne Clifford, our Registrar for the summer retreats, will be operating from her Connecticut address until about June 10, when she moves to Mars Hill.
Healing Tao USA product fulfillment is handled by our Asheville, North Carolina office. They do not handle retreats, just as Tynne as summer registrar does not handle products. For products call 888-999-0555 or 828-505-1444
For RETREAT Information & Registration By PHONE: [an error occurred while processing this directive]
POSTAL MAIL Check payments for retreats may be mailed to:
Healing Tao USA, 4 Bostic Place, Asheville, NC 28803.


