Midlife Women's Wellness Escape in the Smoky Mountains

The retreat takes place at THOR, a wellness center hidden on a 50-acre estate in the Smoky Mountains. You're about 6 minutes up a dirt road from Tellico Plains, a small mountain town with a bakery and a few local restaurants. The setting is genuinely remote — you can see the Nantahala National Forest and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from the property — but you're close enough to town for a coffee run if you want one.

The schedule is structured but flexible. Every day includes two gentle yoga classes (morning and evening), plus a strength or movement session. The team also runs three specialized workshops focused on midlife topics like hormone health, nutrition, and stress management. Guided hikes happen several times during the week, with trails that lead to waterfalls and viewpoints around the property.

What sets this retreat apart is the teaching team. Terry Tateossian, a Harvard Medical School-trained lifestyle medicine coach and certified strength and nutrition coach, is on-site all five days. She's joined by Laura Golden, a Jivamukti yoga teacher (RYT-800) who specializes in vinyasa for midlife nervous systems, and Kara Krysinski, the retreats coordinator and a licensed massage therapist. It's the same people you meet on day one, still there on day five.

The food is another highlight. All meals are macro-based and mostly sourced from local farms — think free-range eggs, grass-fed beef, and seasonal vegetables. The retreat includes a session on how to build meals around your own macro targets, which is useful if you've never counted macros before.

What's included

- 5 days and 4 nights accommodation at the mountaintop retreat - 3 daily macro-based meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) plus snacks - 2 daily gentle yoga classes - 3 specialized midlife women's workshops - 3 group excursions/activities - 3 nature hikes with a trusted guide - Daily meditation and pranayama classes - Water, tea, and coffee served throughout the day - 30-day personalized macro nutrition plan (post-retreat) - 30-day personalized strength program (post-retreat) - 30 days of pre- and post-retreat personal coaching - Access to nutrition app and lifestyle coaching platform for 30 days - Free wifi, parking, and luggage storage

What's not included

- Flights to McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) - Airport transfers (available at an extra cost) - Additional spa treatments or massage - Travel insurance - Personal expenses and souvenirs