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How to Register for Retreats

There are four different ways to register for a summer retreat.
All four ways are simple and easy:

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?

Contact our Registrar:
Email: retreats@healingdao.com

(Along with your questions, email your phone number & best times to reach you in case a return call is needed)

Telephone before retreats begin: 828-450-8521
Within USA only (toll-free): 888-750-1773

Registrar hours BEFORE retreats begin:
Monday — Thursday evening : 5 pm - 8 pm EST
Sunday all day : 10 am — 6 pm EST

Registrar hours DURING summer retreats:
Monday — Friday afternoon: 2- 6 pm EST

Note: It’s safe to leave credit card information on our answering machine.

2.Email your registration and $100. deposit for each retreat (or to buy products): retreats@healingdao.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 CHANGE YOUR CHOICE OF RETREAT at any time to this summer or the next summer WITHOUT PENALTY. (please notify us 30 days in advance, but later changes are permitted.)

Online registration will only charge you a $100. 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:
Healing Tao USA
4 Bostic Place
Asheville, NC 28803

Don’t worry about filling out the registration form wrong using any of the above 4 methods. When you register in person at Heavenly Mountain, 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 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). If you attend one retreat and then sign up for a second retreat, you'll

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Early Registration: Money Saving Tips

Register Early! The most important thing is that you reserve your space by sending in a $100. DEPOSIT for EACH course you want to take. The balance should be paid as soon as possible, and no later than 30 days before the retreat starts.

Space is limited! Secure your spot with 50% payment. You need to make at least 50% payment of total room & tuition 30 days in advance to reserve your space. Late payment could cause someone else to get your space on a popular retreat.

Pay in Full 60 Days early - it pays you back! You get an additional $20. REBATE off EACH full room & tuition payment made 60 days before the start of that course. This saving is beyond any other multiple discount or foreign/senior discounts. If you’re taking several courses, that adds up to a lot of savings.

Get FREE BONUS Video/DVD
for Early Bird Registration

April 15 at midnight is the cutoff date!

Call/mail/wire ONE retreat deposit POSTMARKED by April 15.
GET FREE $45. DVD: Michael Winn's Sexual Vitality Chi Kung.

Call or mail deposits for TWO retreats by April 15.
Get a 2nd FREE DVD by Michael Winn
(choose from 8 videos available). That's an $90. total value!

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Tuition & Discounts

Tuition is $495. for most 6-day (5-night) retreats, only $82. per day.

These are perhaps the least expensive, yet highest quality Tao retreats you can find in America today.

Tuition is $295. for most 2.5 -day (2-night) weekend retreat. This is Friday evening dinner & class, all day Sat., and all day Sunday, usually finishes at 6:30 pm.

There are a few exceptions to these standard prices, noted on the list on the home page "register online for retreats".

If you take multiple retreats, the price goes even lower. Given the extraordinarily high quality of the faculty, it is truly a bargain.

Please note that to obtain the multiple tuition discount, you must register for 2,3, or 4 retreats before your first retreat begins in order to get the multiple discount for the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th retreat.

If you sign up for one retreat, you may love it so much you enroll for additional retreats (this is very common!). You will receive the multiple discount on the later retreats only. There are no "retroactive discounts" for retreats previously taken.

Multiple Attendence Discounts on Tuition in 2008

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: These are STANDARD tuition prices. A few retreats have different pricing, see brochure or website homepage.

No prepaid, special, or multiple discounts for retreats 1A, 2C, 4C or 7A 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.

Room & Board must be added to above tuition (see Housing & Meals) unless extended payment is arranged.

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

$75 discount per week long retreat if you are:

 - a needy senior 63 & over.

 - a needy junior under 25.

 - a foreign citizen living abroad who must travel to the USA.

     (temporary residents living in USA do not qualify)

 - a certified Healing Tao Instructor with dues paid current.

$100 discount off tuition to review any retreat previously taken at Heavenly Mountain within the previous two summers (3 years).

$145 is the maximum total discount allowed off the base tuition per retreat, even when combining multiple and special category discounts. The only way to get an extra $20. discount is by pre-paying 60 days in advance.

No discounts of any kind on weekend courses.

Generous Extended Payment plans are available, please contact the office. There are also work study positions available (see Staff & workstudy program). Don’t let money stop you from following your path!

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Housing & Meals

Rooms

Heavenly Mountain is wonderfully cozy, an intimate place in which you quickly feel at home. It has spacious rooms, originally designed to be full-time live-in apartment units for TM meditators. Each room is of modern construction, using the most organic or "green" materials available. It is painted in special soft restful color tones. The intriguing Vedic architecture is designed to enhance spiritual centered-ness. All rooms face beautiful mountain or forest views.

The rooms are already of a lovely hotel quality, but are being upgraded to "spa" quality sometime in 2008. The resort is being opened as a spa featuring the use of healing "oxygen water" therapy. Since Tao is often described as the "water course Way", the watery synergy between the spa and Healing Tao retreats should be very supportive in creating a healing chi field. Healing Tao University is the only "retreat" occupant at this new spa. We are grateful to the owner David Kaplan for allowing us to use his luxurious spa facility for our retreats at special "non-profit educational" rates.

The maintenance staff ensures all rooms remain free of mold or mildew. All rooms have a private bath. Flat-screen TVs and high speed internet hookup are planned for each room. (We request that if you must distract yourself with outside media, you play them at respectful VERY LOW volume so others can meditate).

These accommodations are far superior to the large "summer camp" retreat centers found across the US. All bedding (sheets, blankets, pillows) and towels are supplied. At Heavenly Mountain, there are small kitchenettes available for those who need to bring special foods. Laundry machines are available ONLY for those staying over between two retreats (others must bring enough clothes for the entire week).

Housing includes FREE use of outdoor pool, and a fabulous secluded swimming hole with gentle waterfalls you can slide on. It also includes access to the immediately surrounding 1500 acres of fabulous Blue Ridge Mountains and miles of trails and back roads for hiking. All hikers must have a buddy with them.

Meals

Meals are part of the housing package - three delicious meals daily, served banquet style. The cuisine is international, with offerings that vary between Italian, French, Cubo-hispanic, Asian, Mexican, California salad bar and other exotic dishes that may strike the chef’s fantasy.

You choose what suits your body and diet, with daily home-cooked fresh local vegetables, soups, grain & legumes, egg, fish and poultry dishes. Breakfasts include your choice of hot porridge & cold cereals, fruit juices, fresh local cantaloupes and melons. Occasionally there are blueberry pancakes or French toast.

The chef, Doah Chabot, will take a tally of vegetarians and vegans at the beginning of each week to ensure they are well fed. Doah is talented yoga teacher, singer, and heart-centered chef who fills her food with love. Her food is eclectic, nutritious, and delicious!

For those on very special diets there is a small private kitchen available where you can prepare your own food to match your health needs — but please let the registrar know in advance.

Room & Board Packages

For 6 day retreat (5 nights):

Double room: $510. includes 3 delicious meals (only $102. average per day room & board for deluxe accommodations).
Note: If you request a double but no roommate is available, Heavenly Mtn. asks a surcharge of $20. per day. Healing Tao will do its best to find a roommate, but forced singles can happen.

Single room: $795 ($57. per nite extra).
Must prepay to hold a single. Includes all meals.

For 2.5 day Weekend (2 nights):

Double room is $250. for both nights and meals.
Note:If you request a double but no roommate is available, Heavenly Mtn. asks a surcharge of $20. per day.

Single room is $360. (must prepay to reserve)

For stay over nights between retreats (no meals):

$55. per person in double room
Note: If you request a double, but no roommate is available, Heavenly Mtn. asks a surcharge of $20. per day.

$95. per single room

Note:
Meals are NOT SERVED between retreats. Use of a side kitchen/refrige will be available.

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Schedules & General Information

The information below is given everyone registering at Heavenly Mountain.
We call it the “Rules of Harmony at Heavenly Mountain”.

Please radiate Inner Smile at all times!

Typical Daily Schedule

Mantak Chia leads class in a tai chi posture.

Morning practice: check with instructor Breakfast 8:30 am - 9:30 am Class 9:30 am - 1:00 pm Lunch & Break 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm Class 3:30 pm - 6:30 pm Dinner 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Evening: free time or class, check with instructor

Tao Bookstore

Hours: 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm (approximately!)

It may open after breakfast or during morning break, by announcement.

There are substantial bookstore discounts up to 25% off on many audio and videos for registered students (cheaper than web prices, no shipping).

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 dining room/lobby areas so as not to disturb others. Tea, coffee, and light snacks are available at all times.
• This is a place to retreat. If you must listen to music, 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. We will investigate the possibility of setting up a separate video room for educational and entertainment purposes.
• 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 kitchen area during retreats except staff. The retreat food supply and refrigerators are off limits, not meant to satisfy your late night cravings. Bring your own munchies.
• FIRE SAFETY & SMOKING. No candles in rooms. Incense is OK. No hotplates/cooking in rooms (there are kitchenettes available in residential hall).
  
  ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKING in your room or in any buildings or on the grounds. Please sit in a private car if you need to smoke, with windows rolled up most of the way. These are the rules of Heavenly Mountain Resort, and are strictly enforced by campus security. Repeat: you cannot walk down their private roads smoking a cigarette. It is a fire hazard - we are surrounded by forests. Best solution: do lots of deep qigong breathing to help cure that smoking habit! It’s a tough habit to kick – but this is a great place to be supported!
• DRUGS. No illegal/recreational drug use or alcohol permitted while on retreat. 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 private parties or at meals by application to office.
  
  Some inspired Taoist poets like Li Po did use libations….If you find a mushroom of immortality growing in the nearby forest and consume it (at your own risk), and it works, that is permitted. Please send us a telepathic account from whatever Heaven you’ve attained.
• SECURITY. We cannot take responsibility for lost or stolen items. The rooms do have keys, if you request one. But just as no one ever had anything stolen at our Catskills locations in the previous ten years, we don’t expect any theft at Heavenly Mountain. Especially since we are in a gated community that prevents access by outsiders. You need a special pin number to unlock the gate. Thieves are too lazy to hike up the mountain. And it seems the Tao inspires honesty in fellow retreatants.

  TELEPHONE/INTERNET

• Office Telephone: A new land line phone number at Heavenly Mountain will be listed in the "CONTACT" section once it is available.
• Personal Telephone in Room: information currently not available. To be updated as the spa renovation is completed.
• INTERNET. Broadband connection will be available to all retreat attendees. Laptops should have wireless connection. Ethernet cable hookups may be available in each room after spa renovation is complete (date unknown).
• CELLPHONE: Not all cell phones will work in these mountains. Verizon is the company that works best, Sprint definitely does not. Our office phone is NOT available to receive personal calls on, except for emergencies.
• PAYPHONE: There is one in the dining hall. Bring a credit card or 800 number, it does not operate with coins.

  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. Healing Tao USA is taking over the job of supplying and washing linens, so we appreciate your conserving and protecting the linens.
• 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.
• We have in-house washers and dryers. If you are attending only one retreat, bring enough clothes for your entire retreat. The washers are reserved ONLY for those taking multiple week retreats. You must supply your own laundry soap.
• CHECK OUT on last day of retreat: Please BRING DIRTY TOWELS, PILLOW CASES, and SHEETS to the laundry room on your floor during breakfast of the final day of retreat (usually Wed.). The room cleaning crews will begin after breakfast the last day, so you must vacate rooms (unless you are staying over). You can leave bags in your car, the lobby, or designated area.
• LATE CHECKOUT: Everyone is welcome to stay on campus and swim, meditate with the giant amethyst and quartz crystals (largest in the world!) etc. even after checking out of your room.
• MEALS BETWEEN RETREATS: If you want to cook meals, you will have to carpool with some else staying over to get to the Earthfare organic grocery in nearby Boone, N.C. We had a similar situation in the Catskills and nobody ever starved. There are plenty of restaurants nearby.
• We DO have adequate refrigeration and cooking facilities to support those staying over. The stay over is usually Wed. dinner, Thursday 3 meals, and Friday breakfast/lunch. We resume serving meals at Friday dinner. We don’t know what kind of deliveries are available from nearby towns/restaurants.
• CAR RENTAL. Consider renting a car between retreats, possibly with others, and drive around to visit the fantastic mountain views and spectacular waterfalls. This is one reason to consider renting car from Charlotte airport at the weekly rate.
  
  There are plenty of top notch restaurants in Blowing Rock, and lower cost eateries in Boone, which is a college town with 15,000 students in season. Blowing Rock is perched on the side of the Blue Ridge escarpment, and literally rocks in the summer. It’s a mecca for tourists, an “antique town” with great little shops and 4 star restaurants. It also has a waterfall and lovely gardens.
• HIKING: Heavenly Mountain has 12 miles of back country roads, some leading to peaks with spectacular views. Part of the original 5000 acre development now have private homes on it, whose privacy must be respected. There are also off-road trails, but these should not be hiked without a buddy for safety (a Verizon cell phone adds extra protection against getting lost). It’s a 20 minute hike from the East Campus where we are located to the “Blue Hole”, an emerald green swim hole.
  
  The West Campus has Hindu style temples that may make an interesting hike. That was the center for the male “Purusha” TM meditators for World Peace that previously occupied the campus. The Healing Tao is located on the east campus, which held “Divine Mothers” – the women – who were also meditating for World Peace.

Questions?

Contact our Registrar:
Email: retreats@healingdao.com

(Along with your questions, email your phone number & best times to reach you in case a return call is needed)

Telephone before retreats begin: 828-450-8521
Within USA only (toll-free): 888-750-1773

Registrar hours BEFORE retreats begin:
Monday — Thursday evening : 5 pm - 8 pm EST
Sunday all day : 10 am — 6 pm EST

Registrar hours DURING summer retreats:
Monday — Friday afternoon: 2- 6 pm EST

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Cancellation Policy

If you cancel for ANY reason, without re-scheduling a different retreat, the fee is $100. per retreat.

There is no penalty to change courses/dates before start of retreat. We strongly request that you make any changes 30 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.

EARLY CANCELLATION: If you cancel 30 or more days in advance, the rest of your deposit (whatever amount you’ve paid) is refundable (less $100.). 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 30th 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.).

How to Keep the Early Cancellation date clear:

For all retreats with start dates in July, Early Cancellation must be on the same date in June. Example: July 5 start date, early cancel is by midnite June 5.

For all retreats with start dates in June or August, Early Cancellation must be maximum of one day later in May or July. Example: June 15 or August 15 start date, early cancel is by May 16 or July 16 midnite (due to 31 days in preceeding month).

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 30 days before retreat starts:

Option A: DEPOSIT APPLIED TO FUTURE RETREAT. 100% of your paid deposit (less $100. 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 30 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 Heavenly Mountain facility for a hefty fee under certain performance expectations that do not allow us to underwrite last minute life changes to your plans.

Questions?

Contact our Registrar:
Email: retreats@healingdao.com

(Along with your questions, email your phone number & best times to reach you in case a return call is needed)

Telephone before retreats begin: 828-450-8521
Within USA only (toll-free): 888-750-1773

Registrar hours BEFORE retreats begin:
Monday — Thursday evening : 5 pm - 8 pm EST
Sunday all day : 10 am — 6 pm EST

Registrar hours DURING summer retreats:
Monday — Friday afternoon: 2- 6 pm EST
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Heavenly Mountain Staff & Workstudy Program

Healing Tao Staff

Michael Winn, Healing Tao USA Founder

The founder and Director of Healing Tao University and the summer retreat program is Michael Winn. He coordinates the faculty and the programs and lives at Heavenly Mountain all summer to oversee its smooth operation. He teaches part of the core curriculum of qigong (chi kung) and inner alchemy. To read more about Michael Winn, click here.

Tynne Clifford, Retreat Registrar

The Registrar and Retreat Manager is Tynne (pronounced like "Tina") Clifford. Tynne Clifford has been with the Healing Tao since 2001. 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!

Tynne Clifford, Tynne is a big animal and nature lover...and is dedicated to helping everyone find their own true nature.

How did she come to be a Tao lover? She was studying Jin shin do acupressure, and saw Mantak Chia's posters for the Six Healing Sounds and Eight Extraordianry Vessels. She was so drawn to the images, and intuitively felt qigong to be one of the most blissful ways to be in your body. She immediately started classes that week, and has kept exploring this vast chi field ever since. Tynne has been a regular at Healing Tao retreats for years. Last summer, after spending a "life-changing!" two weeks at Heavenly Mountain, Tynne Knew she needed to come back for the entire summer. With guidance from the Universe, she got her wish! She is already a Certified Qi Gong Teacher, but plans soon to be certified as a Healing Tao Instructor.

Steven Sy, Bookstore Manager

The new bookstore manager this summer is Steven Sy, a math graduate student from Michigan. He describes himself as "a Tai Chi teacher and martial artist who realized that deep inside, I wanted a more spiritual path. I first stumbled upon Mantak Chia's "Awaken Healing Light", and began to see the light. Then I stumbled upon Michael Winn's site, and then I began to get the Chi after attending his retreats at Heavenly Mtn. last year"

Staff can be contacted by email at: retreats@healingdao.com or by telephone (see Contact)

Healing Tao Work-Study program

The work-study program is designed to help subsidize costs for those who cannot otherwise afford to attend. Basically, the work-study team collectively share two jobs:

The team wash dishes and clean up the dining room after meals three times a day. There is an automatic dishwashing machine that needs to be loaded. That takes up a lot of your free time in between classes, but you get some free time in the evenings.

The team washes linen/towels during free time and at the end of the retreat (plan on staying over the Wednesday night after retreat ends, to allow enough time to complete on Thursday morning). The extra night room is free of charge.

Both jobs are relatively easy. You trade off a lot of your free time in order to save $350. off your weekly cost of the $510. double room and board fee. Essentially, you are getting your room for free. It usually averages out to about $12./hour barter labor, depending how big that week's retreat is. The bigger weeks we "hire" extra work-study members.

You may ask to work more than one week, although we like to spread the work-study opportunity to many students. We'll ask you to sign a workstudy agreement guaranteeing us a certain amount of time in case the Retreat Manager (registrar) needs to re-allocate your smiling cheerful labor.

You still pay full tuition (less whatever discounts you are normally entitled to) and you will have time to attend the full course training for that week. The work study reduces your room & board costs down to $150., essentially you are paying for meals and getting room free. You may still apply for extended payment on the balance of your tuition and board.

Apply for this work-study program as early as possible, as different weeks get taken. Email the registrar at retreats@healingdao.com.

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TRAVEL to Heavenly Mountain

How Do I Get to Tao Retreats at Heavenly Mountain?

Heavenly Mountain is a private 5000 acre spiritual resort in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Our retreat center is located between the charming historic town of Blowing Rock, N.C. (pop: 1500) and Boone, N.C. (Appalachian State Univ. has 15,000. students).

By Car – Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway. Heavenly Mountain is 5 minutes off the Blue Ridge Parkway, widely considered to be the most beautiful drive in America. Seven of ten of the highest mountain peaks on the East coast of the USA are within an hour’s drive. These 400 million year old mountains are filled with high grade crystal, making them a fabulous place to meditate & do qigong. There are incredible scenic overlooks, dozens of waterfalls, rivers (with whitewater rafting), magnificent caverns, and hiking trails.

Whether you choose to drive your own car or rent one – driving in the Blue Ridge Mountains is its own reward. Allow time before or after the retreat for exploring. There are also 3-hour lunch breaks during retreats in which you could do quick side trips. Driving instructions and maps are given below from Charlotte (2 hrs to the East), Greenboro (2 hrs to the North), and Asheville (1.75 hrs to the South).

If you are thinking of renting a car, consider flying into Asheville, N.C., one of the hippest and “most happening” towns in the southeast. Asheville is famous for its Biltmore Estate, a chateau with 275 rooms and a private winery. People flock there for its music, restaurants, healers and spiritual culture – a nice energetic gateway to Heavenly Mountain. From Asheville you can drive the entire way to Heavenly Mountain on the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway.

By Train and Bus via Greensboro, N.C. Amtrak train stops in Greensboro, N.C. Trains are a great way to travel if you have extra time. From New York City the 1-way fare is as low as $81., from Wash D.C. $51, add 15% discount for students/seniors 62 & up. Greensboro is on both the New York – New Orleans line and the Wash. D.C. – Atlanta line. (schedule info below).

Greyhound bus also has service to Greensboro. The Greensboro train station and Bus Depot are next door to each other for easy transfer by 2 minute walk. If you fly into Greensboro (PTI airport) there is a free 10 minute shuttle from the airport to the bus station.

BUS to Boone:From the Greensboro Depot a “Mountaineer” bus goes to Boone, N.C. twice a day, 7x a week (daily). THIS IS THE ONLY BUS TO HEAVENLY MOUNTAIN – there is no bus service from Charlotte or other N.C. cities.

The 3-hour Mountaineer bus only costs $10. (state subsidy for students in Boone). From Boone you can take a short taxi to Heavenly Mountain for about $10. So total travel cost from Greensboro to Heavenly Mtn. Is only $20. if you have a good travel connection to the 3 pm bus. Details & schedules below.

By Air: Charlotte International (CLT), Greensboro Regional Airport (PTI), and Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) are all both about 2 hours from Heavenly Mountain.

Major U.S. airlines fly into all three airports, but US Airways has the most flights. Only Charlotte has flights from Europe.

It might pay to compare airline price quotes. If you fly into Asheville or Greensboro, you may well transit through Charlotte airport, only a 20 minute flight. Even with the extra flight, regional airport air tickets often cost less than flights to Charlotte. The ticket price depends on airline mileage count, and sometimes airlines charge more to Charlotte because they know business travelers will pay for it. So it pays to compare airline prices.

Greensboro Airport is best if you want the cheap bus (see Bus Info below).

Asheville Airport is best if you want to also explore Asheville and are planning on renting a car – it’s a simpler, more beautiful drive than from Charlotte airport. You cam drive the whole way on the Blue Ridge Parkway (2.5 hrs+) or I-40 East and part on the parkway (1.5 hrs+). Directions below.

Charlotte International Airport is best for having the most direct flights, and if you want to share the group shuttle we’ve arranged. Charlotte is a classy airport, with indoor trees, rocking chairs, a piano bar and nice restaurants (California Pizza in B is a favorite).

SHUTTLE INFO

You must BOOK THE SHUTTLE IN ADVANCE. A van or large car will drive down 2 hours (90 miles) from Blowing Rock to pick you up at Charlotte airport baggage claim. There is NO shuttle service at the airport. Shuttle telephone in Blowing Rock: 828-268-4470 (Tony @ All Weather Taxi ).

The limo/taxi services in Charlotte generally charge much higher prices to Blowing Rock - $200.+ for a private car.

Shuttle Cost. Shuttle cost will be shared equally by the riders. Each van costs ( $ 150 for 1-4 people) or ($175 for 5-8 people). (1-way to Heavenly Mtn). So two people is about $75. each, three people $50. each, four people $38 each,(plus optional tip for driver). Some vehicles may only hold four people and luggage.

Shuttle cost can vary, as we cannot predict the number of riders. To concentrate riders, we are suggesting a group departure time from Charlotte airport of 4 pm the day the retreat starts (usually Friday). That allows you to get to Heavenly Mtn. In time for dinner at 6:30 pm and first class at 7:30 pm.

Flight Arrival. Try to book your flight to arrive by 3pm or earlier into Charlotte airport if you want to catch this group shuttle. This gives you time to get your baggage. Try to carry your bags onto the plane if arrival is later. If your plane arrives late call the shuttle as soon as you get off the plane and pray they have waited for you.

Shuttle pick-up location. If you arrive early, you can wait for the shuttle at the cafe in the Charlotte baggage claim. Cafe has tables, chairs, snacks & drinks. Please call the shuttle driver from baggage claim to let them know you've arrived. Shuttle driver may arrive early and wait in a different location at the airport. At 4 pm (or whatever time is mutually best for all riders) van will pull up to baggage claim to pick the group up.

Notify Healing Tao of your travel plans. Email or call the Healing Tao registrar with the date and time of the shuttle you've booked OR if you've rented a car and want to share it with other riders. Email address: (summersupport@earthlink.net). We'll know when to expect you and possibly coordinate with the shuttle company. We may be able to put you in touch with "orphan" riders arriving at odd times to share a rented car with someone.

Return Shuttle After Retreat: there will be a posted sign-up sheet in our office for shuttles from Heavenly Mountain to airport. So it will be easier to plan group travel. Most retreats end Wed. at noon. After lunch, we’ll plan on the first group airport shuttle departing at 1 pm. Figure a 3 pm arrival at Charlotte Airport. Try to plan your return flight from Charlotte as departing after 4 pm. Later flight time is safer; security lines may delay boarding. There are four security lines (Gates A, B, C, & D) and it pays to check which one is shortest).

BUS SCHEDULE

General Info on Mountaineer Bus from Greensboro:

You need exact $10. change in cash to board the Mountaineer bus.

Greensboro Bus Depot: 336-335-6499

Mountaineer Bus Info: 800-588-7787

Shuttle to Bus Depot from Greensboro Airport: baggage area has free phone to call for the shuttle. Pickup “Mass Transit” phone and follow prompts to “PART” (Piedmont Authority Regional Transport) or call for shuttle on your cell: 336-883-7278. It takes shuttle bus 10-15 minutes to get to the airport, plus 10 minutes travel to bus depot.

Get Mountaineer Bus In Winston-Salem. The Mountaineer Bus from Greensboro can also be picked up in Winston-Salem, N.C. - 40 minutes later than its departure time from Greensboro. If your plane arrives a little late into Greensboro, you might be able to take a fast taxi and catch the bus in Winston Salem as the PTI airport is midway between Greensboro and Winston Salem.

Train from Charlotte to Greensboro. This option probably makes sense only if you have a late night flight into Charlotte and don’t want to pay $125. for a private shuttle to Heavenly Mtn. Take a $20. taxi from airport to Charlotte train station and catch the Amtrak Crescent at 2 am. It costs $15., arrives in Greensboro at 4 am, with a good connection to the 5:30 am Mountaineer bus. You’d be at Heavenly Mtn. in time for breakfast….at total cost of $45., saving you $80.

(note: there are two other daily trains CLT-Greensboro: 7:40 am-9:17 am and 5:30 pm – 7:05 pm, neither are very good connections to Mountaineer bus but could save money).

Bus schedule Greensboro-Boone is posted below. To see all Mountaineer bus stops visit www.partnc.org/US421express.htm.

Call a Boone Taxi in advance to meet you at Mountaineer bus stop at River Street in Boone (don’t get off at Raley/ASU stop, it’s farther). Taxi fare from Boone to Heavenly Mtn. is about $10. and may be shared with others:

All Weather Taxi (828) 268-4470 Markus. 

Boone Taxi (828) 266-3860  

Appalachian Cab (828) 963-2422

Ace Cab Co (828) 265-3373 no service after 5 pm.

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Mountaineer Bus Schedule Going TO Retreat.

• Bus Leaves Greensboro: 5:30am – arrive Boone 8:30 am.

3 pm - arrive Boone 6:15 pm

The 3 pm bus arrives in Boone in time to taxi over and get the 6:30 pm dinner and 7:30 pm evening class that begins all retreats. If you arrive in Greensboro too late to catch the 3 pm bus, you can overnight at one of the numerous hotels nearby and catch a bus the next day. Most hotels have free shuttle to both airport and bus depot. Visit www.Hotels.com for room prices starting at $49.

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Mountaineer Bus Schedule AFTER Retreat.

• Bus Leaves Boone: 8:55 am – arrive Greensboro 11:35 am

6:40 pm – arrive Greensboro 9:30 pm

If the late arriving bus (9:40 pm) to Greensboro doesn’t connect directly to a late night bus/train/plane, it is probably cheaper and nicer to stay an extra night (usually Wed. night) at Heavenly Mountain and catch the Mountaineer bus next (Thurs) morning. Please reserve extra night stay over with Healing Tao registrar.

TRAIN SCHEDULE

Info on Amtrak Train to Greensboro: 800-298-7246

North Carolina train schedules: www.bytrain.org/passenger/

Amtrak Tickets may be purchased:

1. Online at Amtrak.com (credit card only)

2. By telephone at 1-800-872-7245 (credit card only)

3. At a staffed Amtrak Station with Ticket Office

4. At a Travel Agency (extra fee applies)

5. On-board train from Conductor (extra fee may apply.)

6. Greensboro Train Station is OPEN 24 HOURS: 336-272-6755

7. Full service station, staffed by Amtrak agent. Ticket sales and checked baggage service available. Passengers age 18 or older must have valid, unexpired, photo identification to purchase tickets and check baggage. Train security is now similar to airport security.

8. Note: train schedules are subject to change. Please confirm latest times.

9. Purchase your fare longer in advance to get cheapest fare. Ask for AAA, Senior, student, or other possible discounts off the main fare (15% additional discount). If you buy tickets 10 days in advance Amtrak mails the ticket to you, saving time at the station.

Amtrak Train Schedule to/from New York City ($81.-$159.):

“The Carolinian” train:

• Leaves NYC daily at 7:15 am and arrives in Greensboro at 6:30 pm.

• Leaves Greensboro daily at 9:20 am and arrives in NYC at 9 pm.

This schedule requires overnight in Greensboro to connect to Mountaineer bus. See www.Hotels.com to compare hotels from $49.

“The Crescent” train:

• Leaves NYC daily at 2:15 pm and arrives in Greensboro at 12:15 am.

• Leaves Greensboro daily at 3:58 am and arrives in NYC at 2 pm.

This train has a lousy connection to the mountaineer bus to and from Boone. Either sleep for 6 hours in the station or get a hotel for half-night. Might be good for someone having to leave later on Friday, miss the first evening class.

Amtrak Train Schedule to/from Washington D.C. ($51.-$99.):

“The Carolinian” train:

• Leaves D.C. daily at 10:55 am and arrives in Greensboro at 6:30 pm.

• Leaves Greensboro daily at 9:20 am and arrives in D.C. at 5:08 pm.

This schedule requires overnight in Greensboro to connect to Mountaineer bus. See www.Hotels.com to compare hotels from $49.

“The Crescent” train:

• Leaves D.C. daily at 6:30 pm and arrives in Greensboro at 12:15 am.

• Leaves Greensboro daily at 3:58 am and arrives in D.C. at 10:10 am.

Might be good for someone having to leave late on Friday, miss the first evening class.

Amtrak Train Schedule to/from Atlanta. ($57.+):

“The Crescent” train:

• Leaves Atlanta daily at 8:21 pm and arrives in Greensboro at 3:51 am.

Good connection to the 5:30 am Mountaineer bus to Boone.

• Leaves Greensboro daily at 12:22 am and arrives in Atlanta at 8:13 am.

Decent connection on Mountaineer bus arriving in Greensboro at 9:40 pm.

See the Amtrak site for fare and schedules from destinations further north (from Connecticut and Boston) and farther south: Charlotte – Charleston – Savannah – Jacksonville- Orlando –Kissimmee –Winter Haven –Tampa –St. Petersburg–Ft. Myers- West Palm Beach –Ft. Lauderdale–Miami.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO HEAVENLY MOUNTAIN

From Your Home: go to mapquest.com or to Google Maps and type in your address and “Blowing Rock, North Carolina” and see what you get — sometimes their directions make things way too complicated. At least print out their map to whatever scale of detail you want. Then follow the instructions below for exiting the Blue Ridge Parkway and entering Heavenly Mountain Resort.

Note: all drivers will need a special PIN security code to enter the main gate of Heavenly Mountain. That PIN will be issued to you only after you have registered for your retreat and have notified us you are driving. The PIN is changed periodically, so please do not assume it is permanent beyond the term of your retreat. IF YOU DON'T HAVE OR FORGET A PIN NUMBER, ASK THE GUARD AT THE GATE FOR ASSISTANCE TO CONFIRM YOU ARE WITH HEALING TAO.

NOTE THERE MAY BE A BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY DETOUR due to long term construction if you are driving north (coming from Asheville or Charlotte airport via Blowing Rock). If you are driving south on the Blue Ridge Parkway you can still exit at Bamboo Gap (as per directions below).

DETOUR DIRECTIONS: Driving north on Blue Ridge Parkway you will see detour signs pointing you to turn left onto Rt. 321 to Boone. Ignore the signs, continue north on parkway for about 4 miles until it ends. The first road on the right (after "Parkway Ends 500 feet" signs) is called Sampson Rd. Go right on Sampson Rd. for about 200 feet, and then bear left at the Y fork onto George Hayes Rd.

Go 3.1 miles on very curvy George Hayes Road. You will pass underneath a highway structure. just before a T intersection . Go RIGHT at the T, onto the gravel road which is Bamboo Rd. for .7 mile until you see the entrance sign to the parkway. Take right onto paved Little Laurel Rd. (signpost may be on LEFT side of road, so easy to miss). Drive straight past the Bamboo Gap parkway entrance (on right) and go underneath the stone arch of the parkway. Follow instructions from there, continuing on Little Laurel Rd. until you reach Heavenly Mtn. Road and gate.

From Asheville Airport:

1. Take a left out of the airport onto New Airport Rd.

2. Go .5 mile and take a left onto I-26 (sign to “Asheville”).

3. Follow I-26 for ten minutes, then merge right onto I-40 East.

4. Slower but beautiful option 1, from airport takes 2.75 to 3.5 hours to Heavenly Mtn., depending on how many scenic overlooks you stop at to take photos:

   Exit 53A “Blue Ridge Parkway”. Take right at bottom of ramp. Go half mile and take right onto Blue Ridge Parkway Entrance. Spiral around ramp and go Left (north) on the parkway. Follow all the way to Bamboo Gap exit. See directions below for directions to Heavenly Mtn (5 min. further).

5. Faster option 2, still a lovely drive, with short stretch on Blue Ridge Parkway, about 2.25 hours from airport:
   Continue on I-40 east (signs to Black Mtn and Hickory).
   Exit at Marion onto Hiway 221. Go left off the ramp, under the hiway, and follow 221 all the way up the mountain. Hiway 221 is a scenic mini-parkway in itself.
   Follow 221until it intersects with hiway 321 in Blowing Rock. Take a left, go a few miles, and take a right onto Blue Ridge Parkway North. In a few minutes exit at Bamboo Gap to Heavenly Mtn. (see directions below)

From Charlotte Airport:

1. Leaving the airport, follow signs to 1-85 South. Take the Billy Graham Parkway north towards 1-85. Be sure to stay left (do NOT exit toward 1-85 north) and get in right lane as you cross over the freeway. Take the 1-85 South ramp on the right.

2. At Gastonia, exit North on Hiway 321. This will take you all the way to Blowing Rock.

3. Stay on the 321 bypass around Blowing Rock and get on the Blue Ridge Parkway North. Exit aftirections below.

From Blue Ridge Parkway to Heavenly Mountain (Bamboo Gap Exit):

2. After about a mile, Little Laurel Rd. curves sharply left, uphill. Stay on the main road that curves left. If you go straight, you will end up on Old Hampton Rd. Shortly, you will go past Little Laurel Road ext on the right. Again, do NOT turn right on Little Laurel ext…continue, straight, on Little Laural Rd.
   
   Continue another mile or so, and as you head down a long hill you turn RIGHT at "Heavenly Mountain Drive". Go 200 feet and you will immediately see a stone guard house. If the guard is present, please stop and identify yourself. ASK the guard for the map to get to the retreat center from the gate. If no guard is there, enter the PIN code the Registrar has given you to open the gate. It will automatically close behind you.

3. Continue for 2.0 curvy miles on Heavenly Mountain Rd..
   
   Note: there are many side roads on the 2.5 mile drive between the gate and the retreat center. The secret is to follow the curvy yellow or white line on the main road, called Heavenly Mountain Rd. The side roads do not have a colored line. Follow the occasional signs to the "EAST CAMPUS".
   
   You'll pass, after nearly two miles, a swimming pool/community center on the right side. A half mile past the pool, you will see three white mail boxes on the left side of the road — the ONLY three white mailboxes on Heavenly Mtn. road. The mailboxes are your marker to take a right turn onto Summit Rise Dr.. Summit Rise Dr. will soon become Heavenly Mountain Rd., again.

4. Continue on this road, past several intersections, about a half mile. You will GO PAST a 2nd Summit Rise road that goes steeply up to the right. Continue straight/slightly left, downhill, for a few hundred yards until you pass through a gate. Another hundred yards and you will arrive on the East Campus. Immediately on your left will be the Jade Goddess Dining Pavilion, the central building on the east campus. Our registration office will either be in the downstairs of the dining building, or in the center entrance/lobby of the long building on your immediate right. WELCOME!!! You've arrived at Heavenly Mountain!!!

From downtown Boone, N.C.:

1. River Street is the main road in front of the ASU (Appalachian State University) campus. It becomes NC 421, the road going north and down to Greensboro. As you leave town you will see an Exxon gas station at the corner of Bamboo Rd. (before you pass over the New River South Fork).

2. Turn right onto Bamboo Rd. and follow it for about 4 miles to Little Laural Rd. It is easy to miss the left turn at a T-intersection onto Little Laurel, because the signpost is on the opposite (right) side of the road, where there is no road.

3. Turn left onto Little Laurel Rd., and follow directions above (from Blue Ridge Parkway). You will be driving on Little Laurel going under the Blue Ridge Parkway stone arch. If you miss this left turn onto Little Laurel, you will soon know it. Bamboo Rd turns to gravel after 100 feet. Just turn your car around, and go back and make a right onto Little Laural Rd.

From Greensboro, N.C.:

1. Exit airport. It is about 2 hours to Heavenly Mtn. Follow signs to 1-40 West. Take 1-40 to Winston-Salem.

2. Exit at Winston-Salem to Route 421 North towards Wilkesboro. Continue on 421 until you reach Boone. Then turn onto Bambbo Rd. (see directions from Boone above). Or you can get onto the Blue Ridge Parkway before Boone and exit at Bamboo Gap.

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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.

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Retreat Brochure (Downloadable)

You may download our old 12 page brochure in 3 sections. (Requires Adobe Reader). Please note that this brochure is the 2007 brochure and has outdated information, but useful photos and course descriptions of some courses that are offered every year.

We decided that mailing 45,000. of these 12 page brochures was environmentally just too wasteful of precious paper and decided to mail a giant color postcard instead. You can download that postcard here. And download the list of this year's retreats here. Note this list does not include the weekend offerings.

You may also contact us to mail you, or a friend, the giant color postcard and a schedule printout. Email the address to us at: retreats@healingdao.com

1. What is Qigong and Tao (Dao)

2. Catalog of summer courses

3. DVD-Homestudy Catalog, Books

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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.

1. Michael Winn’s Tao Home Study courses

2. Mantak Chia products

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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 Heavenly Mountain.

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

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For RETREAT Information & Registration By PHONE:

Contact our Registrar:
Email: retreats@healingdao.com

(Along with your questions, email your phone number & best times to reach you in case a return call is needed)

Telephone before retreats begin: 828-450-8521
Within USA only (toll-free): 888-750-1773

Registrar hours BEFORE retreats begin:
Monday — Thursday evening : 5 pm - 8 pm EST
Sunday all day : 10 am — 6 pm EST

Registrar hours DURING summer retreats:
Monday — Friday afternoon: 2- 6 pm EST

POSTAL MAIL Check payments for retreats may be mailed to:
Healing Tao USA, 4 Bostic Place, Asheville, NC 28803.