Seven Springs Holistic Retreats
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Facilitator Hosting Packet for Seven Springs!

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Vision
Seven Springs Holistic Retreats is a place of natural abundance and cultural diversity where people learn how to create holistic sustenance for themselves and their communities.
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Mission
To provide an innovative and transformative space for local and global communities to experience high quality holistic education and experiences. 

The Space of Seven Springs

Seven Springs is a retreat center featuring seven natural springs on 126 acres of private land in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. Near Maryville, Tennessee, Seven Springs is located within 500 miles of 75% of the U.S. population. The land is also some of the most ecologically diverse in the country. The high elevations of the Smoky Mountains are a temperate rain forest with over 17,000 species of plants and animals. The incredible biodiversity of the region adds to the abundant richness of Seven Springs. 

This land has been in the family for three generations. Driving onto the property, you’ll pass a rare and historic cantilever barn. As you make your way to the yurt village, you’ll see the Long Family house on the hill. This traditional post and beam was built by Herman Long, as was his mother’s house that once stood in the main field. Turning the corner towards the yurt village, you’ll see a lone standing chimney. This is the chimney of our first cabin, which we now honor as our Fire Circle. Throughout the years, this land has raised cattle, chickens, and many vegetable gardens. Mary and Herman began a greenhouse business and this land raised thousands of plants for our
community to enjoy. Now as years have
passed, the land sits here, waiting for what next it is to raise. We now hope this land raises consciousness, awareness, and connection. This land is here to be a part of our lives, and we are delighted to share it with our community as a space to host and participate in retreats and events.
 

Meet the Family

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Jessi was born and raised on Seven Spring’s land. Her German grandmother, Oma, who first found the land, taught her courage to jump across the stream. It wasn’t long before she jumped abroad and founded Global Just Designs, a fair- trade clothing business dedicated to improving the lives of Maya women in Guatemala. Meanwhile, Zach had been living in Guatemala for years working at the University and founding an NGO based on creativity. The two finally crossed paths in 2014. They soon co-founded the international yoga school Kula Collective in 2015 and continue to dream up ways to express their passions for holistic learning in Seven Springs.

​Herman's mother, Oma, brought him from Germany to Maryville to live with his stepfather at the tender age of 9. His story of adaptation to East Tennessee culture is an example of building community. His mother bought the land where Seven Springs now resides in 1977. Soon after, Herman met Mary, and together they studied agriculture, plant sciences, animal husbandry, and forestry at University of Tennessee, melding select principles with those from the "back to the land movement" on their new land. Over the years, Herman and Mary have worked together in pipefitting, welding, and owned a landscape and greenhouse business for twenty years. Most recently, Mary worked for the US Forest Service in forestry and ecology. They are both happily retired now sharing their gifts and experience with Seven Springs.

What's on the Land

Six Residential Yurts
Each yurt is decorated with traditional textiles and artwork from the countries that our family frequents. The yurts are fully furnished including electricity and outlets. We use 100% organic cotton sheets and towels. Each yurt has fans for the heat and extra blankets for the cool nights. Scroll down to "Accommodations" to see the number of beds in each yurt.

Yoga shala 
Standing 16 feet tall and 28 foot diameter, our yoga shala is held by mighty cedar tree poles from our forest. Enjoy glimpses of the first light of sunrise in this open air pavilion with a breathtaking view of the Chilhowee mountains. 

Fully Equipped Kitchen 
Magic is made in this kitchen to nourish your body, mind, and spirit!

Fire circle 
For nightly gathering or special ceremonies, this is a space to bring people together around the fire for music, celebration and camaraderie. 

Indoor classroom 
Our classroom is a 24’ yurt with a beautiful original labyrinth design on the floor, created to support experiential learning. The space is outfitted with whiteboards, electric outlets and lights. Flexible space for 10-15 yoga mats makes this an ideal place to learn, practice and design. 

Bathrooms 
Our bathrooms have water-saving flush toilets, sinks, and on-demand hot showers. 

Camping & Glamping 
We have several ideal camping spots along our creek. These are near the community kitchen and bathrooms. Our Glamping option includes a mattress, linens, and a lantern inside a spacious 13’ round tent.
 

Labyrinth 
A traditional 7 course labyrinth lies nestled within a natural bowl, shaded by old growth Elm trees. This recreation of ancient sacred sites is a powerful setting for walking (or running!) meditation and prayer. 

Natural Springs 
Walk along the creek that emerges from the head of Sweet Hollow. Drink pristine waters from a natural tap. At the head of the watershed, these forested slopes make for perfect aquifers. 

Oma’s Tea Garden 
In loving memory of the matriarch of Sweet Hollow, Ruth Hauth Long, Jessi’s grandmother. In “Oma’s house” tea was always to be enjoyed around 4pm with sweet rolls. This garden includes herbs and plants perfect for afternoon tea.

Traditional Cherokee Sweat Lodge 
This traditional lodge of woven from supple young Maple saplings was built by Frank Genovese, Yona FrenchHawk, Carolyn Little and their retreat members. The sweat ceremony as led by Yona reflects his full- blooded roots. As an elder of his communities, the stories and songs of his ancestors are woven into prayer in a compassionate cleansing experience.
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Ample Onsite Parking 
Whether you’re staying for a night or a month, your car will be safe a 5 minute walk from your Yurt or campsite.

What to Bring:

  • All natural personal products (natural toothpaste, shampoo, etc.)
  • Natural bug spray and sun screen
  • Headlamp or flashlight
  • Water bottle
  • Light hiking shoes and sandals
  • Comfortable clothes, including light long sleeves and long pants
  • ​Sun hat
  • Yoga mat (if you prefer your own)
  • Tent and bedding (only if camping)
  • Musical instruments 

Life at Seven Springs

Weather: East Tennessee is hot and humid in the summertime and can be snowy in the winter. We enjoy beautiful springtime flowers and incredible Fall colors.

Leave No Trace: We live close to the land at Seven Springs, so please act accordingly. Be sure to dispose of waste in the appropriate recycling or compost bin. In general, please be aware of what you are consuming to limit the waste it produces!

Disconnect to Reconnect! There is no wifi access on Seven Springs. Take time to connect with the surrounding plants and trees and most of all with yourself.

Respect for Wildlife and Plants: As we are sharing this home with the wildlife, we ask that you tread softly on the earth. There are bears in our area along with other animals so please give them their space! Thank you for NOT leaving any kind of food in your sleeping quarters. All food MUST be properly stored in the kitchen area. This is for bears, raccoons, skunks, and any other little critter who might smell it. We also have quite a bit of sister ivy on the property. Sister ivy, better known as poison ivy, is identified by three leaves.

So remember, leaves of three, let it be! We suggest that when you shower, scrub all exposed areas well. You have up to two hours to remove the oils before they cause the itchy reaction on your skin. If you’re particularly allergic, consider using a Jewel Weed salve. We have some for emergencies in our first aid kit. Jewel Weed oil is a natural counter to sister ivy. In nature they grow next to each other representing a beautiful symbiotic relationship. 


How to Use the Kitchen: For most events the kitchen will be run by our team who will prepare the meals for everyone.  You can bring your own snacks or food but be aware: storage space in our critter-proof storage areas is limited and there is no food allowed in tents or yurts. Please mark all food with your name and date. Any food without a label will be used or composted after a few days.

Dishes: At meal time, please clean your own bowl and eating items at our washing station. There are five steps in this system: First scrape off the food particles in the compost bin, Second scrub with natural soap, Third dip in water to rinse, Fourth soak for a few seconds in vinegar to sterilize. Finally, place your items on the drying rack.

Laundry: We provide towels and linens for the Yurts and Glamping. Towels are not provided for BYO Camping. For longer stays, personal loads of laundry may be requested for a $10 fee.

Karma: We like to practice small offerings of karma (selfless service) during your experience at Seven Springs. Please treat the space as if it were your own. This is a family-style retreat center, and we hope that each person that comes leaves their positive energy and a clean space! 

Getting Here: 

Driving:
Only Use Google Maps or Waze (very important!) 
Route to 125 Sweet Hollow Way Maryville, TN 37803

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We recommend coming in via Montvale Road, State Route 336. From Maryville, travel 6.5 miles south on Montvale Road, turn left on Old Piney Road (there is a ProSign shop on your right). Travel 1.1 mile and take your second left onto Galyon Rd. Travel 4/10 of a mile and you will see a
large blue mailbox with 120 Sweet Hollow Way sign on top (this is next to 1344 Galyon Rd address and mailbox). Turn left immediately after the blue mailbox onto our gravel driveway and follow the signs to the YURTS. You may drive to your yurt or camping space to unload, and you will then return to park your vehicle in our parking area.

If you get lost, please call (865) 221-3841 OR (865) 268-3913. Verizon Wireless has the best, and pretty much only service in this area.

Flying:
The nearest airport is the Knoxville International Airport, TYS. The airport is actually located in Alcoa and only about 25 minutes from Seven Springs. You may also look into flying into the Atlanta International Airport and taking the bus or renting a car to drive to Seven Springs. The Atlanta airport is about a four hour drive. Nashville offers additional airlines and the airport is about a three hour drive (and in central time zone).

Nearby Attractions:

We encourage you to explore this fascinating region before or after the course. Many of these outdoor attractions are only a short drive away. Here are a few we recommend:

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Located less than 25 miles from Seven Springs is the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited National Park in the U.S.! On your way you will drive through Townsend with a wonderful Visitors Center and Heritage Center we recommend visiting. Cades Cove is also a beautiful 11 mile loops to drive any day or bike on Wednesday and Saturday mornings when it is closed to cars. Bicycle rental is available in the Park. Abrams Falls is a nice 5 mile hike from Cades Cove. Find more information on the Park here: www.nps.gov/grsm

Look Rock Fire Tower
Located on the Foothills Parkway, Look Rock Fire Tower is a short and windy drive up the mountain from Seven Springs. This National park Service fire lookout is at the top of an easy half-mile hike up to a breathtaking 360 view of the surrounding mountains. You can see the Fire Tower from Seven Springs and even see Seven Springs from the Fire Tower! Find more information here: http://www.smokies.ws/lookrock/ 

Tremont
A nearby nature education center located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this area is fun to visit for information and connect to some good trailheads! Find more information here: www.gsmit.org/ and information on our favorite moderate waterfall hike, Spruce Flats Falls: www.thegreatsmokies.net/spruce-flats-falls/. Enjoy the gift shop for books of all ages, and hike for miles along the end of Tremont Road beside the Little River enjoying beautiful cascading waterfalls.

Mount Leconte
If you’re looking for a more challenging and longer hike, we recommend this one. Plan for a full day and bring lots of water. There are a few trails to choose from and a Lodge at the top if you’d like to spend the night (reservations required). We like the Alum Cave Bluff trail; it is steeper, shorter and more difficult, but the Bluffs are a must see on your way up. Alum Cave trail: www.hikinginthesmokys.com/lecontealum.htm or try the Rainbow Falls trail: www.hikinginthesmokys.com/leconterainbow.htm 


Cherokee National Forest
About a 45 minute drive, there a many places to hike, fish, camp, kayak and white water raft on the Ocoee River, site of the 1996 Olympic whitewater kayaking events! Find more information here: www.fs.usda.gov/cherokee


Abrams Creek Trail
This is the closest National Park trailhead to Seven Springs. It provides many beautiful trails filled with lush vegetation and classic hiking along streams through Hemlock forests. More information here: www.smokiesadventure.com/smokymountains/hiking/abramscreek.htm

Chilhowee Lake
About 20 minutes away is a beautiful lake nestled between the Great Smoky Mountains national Park and Cherokee National Forest. Chilhowee Lake offers excellent boating, fishing and kayaking. The backwaters offer beautiful calm water kayaking.

Highway 129: The Dragon
Just down the road is state highway 129. Known as “The Dragon”, it includes 11 miles boasting 318 curves spanning from Foothills Parkway in Tennessee to Deal’s Gap in North Carolina. Needless to say, this is a motorcycle and sports car mecca.

Tubing
One of the best ways to enjoy the river in the mountains on a hot day is to go to tubing! There are many tubing companies in Townsend that will rent you tubes and drop you off and pick you up on the river. We recommend just stoping at any of them, they offer deals of $8 up.
 


Questions?
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions you might still have. We’re so happy you’ll be able to experience this sacred land, and joining our extended Seven Springs family! info@SevenSpringsRetreats.com 

Accommodations:

Yurt Name (& Decor)
Beds (can be adjusted according to needs)
Mexico Zapoteca
One queen = up to 2 people
Peru Shapibo
4 singles. 2 can be joined into king = up to 4 people​
Guatemalan Mayan
One queen = up to 2 people
Balinese
2 singles = up to 2 people
Chilhowee Cherokee
1 queen = up to 2 people
Crystal Palace
3 singles = up to 3 people
​13' Private Glamping Tents - 3 total
One queen bed in each = 3 people as privates or up to 6 people as couples

We offer onsite for your use:


  • One very large white board, one small white board + markers
  • 15 yoga mats
  • 15 straps
  • 26 blocks
  • 20 meditation cushions
  • 10 bolsters
  • 10 rattles and 3 djembe drums

Pricing:

The prices below include all meals and full use of facilities. Meals are lovingly prepared according to your specific dietary needs by a professional chef. We use as many organic and local products as possible. Please follow this guideline for nightly group rates:  
Housing Option
Nightly rates per person including meals
BYO Camping:
65
Shared Yurt:
85
Private Glamping:
95
Private Yurt:
125
**Shared Glamping is only an option if all shared yurt spaces are filled.

We require a 3 night minimum for all retreats for 2020. These prices include three meals a day. Lunch on the day of check out is not included. Additional meals are $15 per person. Children under 8 are free.
Check-in time: 3pm
Check-out time: 11am


We require a $500 non-refundable deposit to hold your reservation. This deposit is credited towards your total due.

Retreat Minimum: 8 participants paying full R&B.  Please note, you may still hold your retreat if you have less than 8 participants, but you will be charged for 8 people. This can include the facilitator.


If you need to change the date of your retreat, you may transfer your deposit, less the following fees:
• Up to 4 months in advance: $100
• 1-4 months in advance: $250
• Less than one month: $500

Special exceptions will be handled on a case by case basis.

Payment Schedule: 30 days before the event, 100% payment of all registered attendees is due. All outstanding balances must be paid in full by the first day of the event.

We offer facilitators half priced R&B depending on the number of full price students/retreat participants:

• 8 : 1 facilitator will receive 1/2 price R&B (at the best room available, may be glamping)
• 12 : 2 facilitators will receive 1/2 price R&B (at the best room available, may be glamping)
• 16 : 3 facilitators will receive 1/2 price R&B (at the best room available, may be glamping)

*Student cancellation policy: If your student cancels, we offer a 75% refund on R&B if cancelling more than 30 days before, a 50% refund on R&B if cancelling between 30 days and 7 days before. There is no refund for cancelling less than 7 days before event. As facilitator of your retreat, it is your choice to offer your cancellation policy to your student. Please note Seven Springs will ask this policy regarding our R&B payments only.
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Contact us if a student would like to arrive early or stay late.
​Facilitators may arrive one night early free of cost, all other extra nights will be charged following the same pricing. 

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Optional Services during your Retreat: 

Optional Service
Cost
Camp Fire - including all wood & preparation 
$30 per fire
Guided 2 hour Seven Springs Nature and Plant Walk with master naturalist / ecologist 
$10 per person ($50 minimum) 
Guided 2 hour hike in the Smoky Mountain National Park (4 hours including travel) 
$15 per person ($75 minimum) 
Guided 45 min roundtrip drive/hike to the Look Rock Fire Tower (1.5 hours) 
$10 per person ($50 minimum) 
1.5 hour Yoga class 
$60 per class
Cacao Ceremony including ceremonial grade cacao and personalized ceremony. 
$15 per person ($75 minimum) 
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Fire Offering Ceremony with requested theme (examples: Welcome, Letting Go, Grounding, Four Directions) 
$70 per ceremony 
Personal Laundry Service 
$10 per load
Additional Meals 
$13 per person per meal 
Extra nights for students or facilitators, no meals included 
camping = $25 
shared yurts = $45
privates = $80 

Shuttle Service 
Airport - 1 way: $25
Bus Station - 1 way: $35 

Full body Massage
$95/hour
Sound & Gong Ceremony
$70/hour
Reiki Treatment
$75/treatment
Please note that any trips offered (to the Smoky Mountains or Fire Tower) do not include transportation. We recommend that either facilitators and/or students carpool and drive. We will lead the way as a caravan. Facilitators receiving free R&B do not need to pay the per person amounts listed above. All others will be included.

*** We recommend that you receive all R&B payments and then pay Seven Springs according to the timeline listed above. You may receive checks, money order or by credit card. To receive payment by credit card, we recommend using EventZilla to create the payment page and Stripe to accept credit cards and deposit the money into your account. Each cost $1 per transaction. Please note your credit card company usually charges around 3% per transaction.
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If you prefer that Seven Springs intake and handle all incoming payments, we are happy to offer this service at a very low rate of 5% per credit card transaction. (3% of this is just for the credit card company!). We ask 3% per check received.
 

Marketing Options: 

We want to help you reach as many people as possible to fill your retreat. Below we have several options to assist you:

​Included and Free of Charge:

• Listing on the Seven Springs Retreats Upcoming Events page
• 2 unique Facebook posts promoting your event on the Seven Springs FB page.
• Inclusion in our monthly newsletter
• We will spread your retreat postcards or flyers at any event that Seven Springs is attending
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Optional Marketing Assistance:
  • A unique flyer or postcard for your retreat is very helpful. We will create a digital flyer or postcard that can be shared on social media or printed for you. $100
  • 4 Unique Facebook posts promoting your event on the Seven Springs FB page. $100
  • Boosted Facebook posts about your retreat to target audiences. $25 per post.
Marketing Tips:
  • Create a FB Event and add Seven Springs as co-host (this will show on our FB page then also)
  • Publish your event on bookyogaretreats.com - we find a good return on this. Please note they charge 14%
    per sign up through their page
  • Post your event to community FB groups: Knoxville Yoga Teachers Association, Atlanta Yoga Teachers, Asheville Yoga Happenings

    Thank you for your interest in sharing this beautiful land with us. As guardians we trust you’ll join us in protecting and honoring this beautiful space.

    Blessings,

    Jessi & Zachary Townesmith 

Location

seven springs retreat center, tennessee

Contact Us

  • Home
  • About
    • Our Story
    • Gallery
    • Testimonials
    • COVID Policies
    • Equity & Inclusion
    • FAQ
  • Stay
    • Private Retreat
    • Group Experiences
    • Lodging
    • Cuisine
    • Explore the Area
  • Upcoming
  • Contact
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