The Yogi’s Guide to Yoga in Asheville: Studios, Crystal Shops, Trails, and More

Table of Contents

• Is Asheville a good place for yoga?
• The 5 best yoga studios in Asheville (and the vibe of each)
• Where to practice yoga in Asheville outside
• Where to buy crystals in Asheville
• Herbal shops and apothecaries in Asheville
• Where to buy natural skin and body care
• The other magical, mystical stops
• Asheville farmers markets, by day of the week
• Where to buy yoga clothes in Asheville
• Where to buy outdoor gear in Asheville
• What are the best hikes near Asheville?
• The not-so-yogi part: breweries and where to eat
• Events worth planning your trip around
• If you only have 48 hours
• Frequently asked questions

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Every year I bring a group of women to the Blue Ridge Mountains, and every year the same email lands in my inbox about a month out: I’m thinking about coming in a day or two early. What should I actually do?

So here it is. This is my working list for yoga in Asheville — the studios I’d send you to and what each one feels like, the crystal shops worth the drive, where to buy clothes you can actually breathe in, the gear stores, the trails, and the things that have nothing to do with yoga at all. Because you are allowed to take a hike in the morning and drink a beer on a loading dock at four.

I’ve been sneaking away to these mountains for years. This list comes from actually being here — not from a search result.

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Is Asheville a good place for yoga?

Yes. Yoga in Asheville is some of the most accessible in the country for a city this size — dozens of studios across every style, donation-based and sliding-scale options, outdoor and mountaintop classes, and a four-day yoga festival every summer. Yoga Journal has named it a yoga destination, and the local scene leans collaborative rather than competitive — teachers swap spaces, co-host workshops, and send students to each other. That alone says a lot about the community.

What that means practically: you can drop into a class here without a membership, without knowing anybody, and without the front-desk energy that makes some studios feel like a club you didn’t get into. Most places take walk-ins. Several will meet you where your budget is.

The other thing worth knowing: Asheville is still rebuilding from Hurricane Helene in September 2024. A lot has reopened. Some things moved. Some things didn’t come back. I’ve noted what I know below, but call ahead.

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The 5 best yoga studios in Asheville (and the vibe of each)

1. Asheville Yoga Center — the one to pick if you only take one class

211 S. Liberty St, downtown · youryoga.com

The biggest and most established studio in town, with 100+ classes a week on a solar-powered campus. Flow, hot, gentle, restorative, yin, meditation — the schedule is wide enough that you can find something that fits whatever your body is craving that day. New to yoga? They run an Intro to Yoga class specifically for people who are jus getting started.

The vibe: Busy, warm, unpretentious. Reviewers consistently mention the front desk being kind and the teachers actually paying attention. Classes are held with the doors open in warm weather, so you’ll hear birds during savasana. It’s the closest thing Asheville has to a hub.

Best for: First-timers. Visitors. Anyone who wants a real class without a whole personality decision attached to it.

Practical: Set up a Mindbody account before you go and register online — it makes the walk-in smoother. Mats and props are there if you didn’t bring yours.

2. Asheville Community Yoga — donation-based, no catch

8 Brookdale Rd, Woodfin · ashevillecommunityyoga.org

A nonprofit with close to 100 weekly classes, all offered on a donation basis. Gentle, warm and hot, yin, prenatal, meditation, qigong, chair. There’s a community café and a thrift store attached, which tells you most of what you need to know about the place.

The vibe: The least performative room in Asheville. Wide range of ages and bodies. Nobody is checking your leggings. They also host community kirtan nights with local band Mantra Mandala — call-and-response chanting, harmonium, cello, no experience required.

Best for: The woman who hasn’t practiced in years and is nervous about walking in. Also anyone who wants to sing in a room full of strangers on a Friday night, which is a genuinely good thing to do at least once.

3. West Asheville Yoga — the neighborhood one

602 Haywood Rd, West Asheville · westashevilleyoga.com

Small space, sliding-scale drop-ins, and a teacher roster that people in this town are loyal to. Beyond the regular vinyasa and restorative schedule, they run workshops and series in meditation, philosophy, pre- and postnatal, kirtan, sound baths, and yoga nidra.

The vibe: Intimate and a little cozy-crowded. Regulars recognize each other. Classes tend to fill up, so arrive early. It’s on Haywood Road, so you can walk out of class into coffee, secondhand shops, and lunch without moving your car.

Best for: Pairing with a West Asheville afternoon. Also the best bet if you want a sound bath or yoga nidra while you’re in town.

4. Hot Yoga Asheville — if you want to sweat it out

802 Fairview Rd · hotyogaasheville.com

Asheville’s longest-running heated studio, open since 2008, and voted best in Western North Carolina for 17 years running. They describe themselves as a full-spectrum heated community rather than a single-style studio, so the schedule ranges from a classic Hot 26 sequence to heated flow to strength-leaning classes.

The vibe: Committed. This is a room full of people who came to work. Friendly, but not chatty-friendly. They offer a traveler’s pass, which is unusual and useful.

Best for: The woman who runs hot on stress and needs to physically move it out. Hydrate the day before, not the hour before.

5. Wellspring Wellness Center — for the body that has some history

960 Tunnel Rd · wellspringasheville.com

A wellness hub rather than a straight studio, with an alignment-based and therapeutic yoga lineup: Kaiut yin, chair yoga, private yoga therapy, plus bodywork and healing services under the same roof. Longtime local master teachers practice here, including Lillah Schwartz, who has been teaching alignment and back care in this town forever.

The vibe: Quiet, clinical in the best sense, unhurried. Smaller classes. Teachers who will actually ask about your shoulder.

Best for: Perimenopausal shoulders and hips. Old injuries. Hypermobile bodies that need strength more than depth. Anyone who has been told to “just modify” one too many times without being shown how.

Also worth knowing: Iyengar Yoga Asheville (rope wall, deep alignment, props for days), Purna Yoga 828 (philosophy and pranayama alongside asana), Black Mountain Yoga and Weaverville Yoga if you’re staying outside the city.

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Where to practice yoga in Asheville outside

Yes, you can practice outdoors. Two options I’d actually recommend:

Yoga in the Park runs Saturday mornings at Gassaway Field in West Asheville Park — all-levels, on the grass, under oak trees, sliding scale. Bring a mat or borrow one. (It used to be at Carrier Park; it moved after Helene.)

Namaste in Nature and Asheville Wellness Tours both run yoga hikes — a two-ish mile climb to a mountaintop, then an hour of practice at the summit. Asheville Wellness Tours also does sunset versions, SUP yoga on the water, and baby goat yoga at a dairy farm, which is exactly as ridiculous and restorative as it sounds.

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Where to buy crystals in Asheville

The two best crystal shops in Asheville are Asheville Raven & Crone and Points of Light Crystal & Mineral Gallery, both on Merrimon Avenue in North Asheville. They serve very different purposes, so read before you drive.

Asheville Raven & Crone · 640 Merrimon Ave, Ste 207

Witch-owned, and the most complete metaphysical shop in town: tarot, candles, crystals, books, altar supplies, a lot of it made locally. They run workshops and classes, and they book tarot and energy readings — those fill fast, so reserve ahead if you want one. Free parking in the shopping center lot, which is not nothing in this city.

Points of Light Crystal & Mineral Gallery · 391 Merrimon Ave

A different animal entirely. This is a gallery, not a shop — hand-picked, one-of-a-kind specimens, the kind of place interior designers and serious collectors buy from. Go if you want one beautiful piece rather than a handful of tumbled stones. Open Monday through Saturday, daytime hours only.

Both are on Merrimon, about two miles apart, so you can do them in one loop.

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Herbal shops and apothecaries in Asheville

Asheville is one of the most established herbal medicine towns in the country, with a working apothecary attached to a herb school, a downtown herb store sourcing from 25+ local growers, and the largest herb festival in North America every April. Southern Appalachia has one of the richest medicinal plant populations on the continent, and the wise-woman herbal tradition here goes back generations. This is not a trend in Asheville. It’s the lineage.

Herbiary · 29 N Market St, downtown The city’s dedicated herb store. Organic and wildcrafted bulk herbs, teas, tinctures, essential oils, flower essences, and natural body care — everything organic, wildcrafted, or grown without chemicals. They stock products from more than 25 local growers and producers, which is the real reason to shop here rather than order online. Park in the Hilton garage and they’ll validate with a purchase.

Appalachia School of Holistic Herbalism apothecary · 2 Westwood Place This is the deep end, and it’s open to the public. The school keeps an apothecary of over 250 bulk dried herbs and extracts downstairs. You can buy in bulk, pick up ready-made tinctures and formulas, or custom-blend your own tea. The staff will help you build a starter medicine chest without making you feel like you should already know. Check hours before you go — it’s a small operation and there’s often one person working.

Villagers · West Asheville An urban homestead supply store: tools, supplies, and classes for organic gardening, food preservation, home cooking, and medicinal herbalism. Come here for the jar, the strainer, the beeswax, and the workshop that teaches you what to do with all of it.

Red Moon Herbs · made in Asheville Not a storefront to browse, but worth knowing the label. They handcraft small batches of fresh-plant extracts, oils, vinegars, syrups, and salves from locally wildcrafted and naturally grown plants, in the Wise Woman tradition. You’ll find their products at local shops and markets around town.

Asheville Spring Herb Festival · WNC Agricultural Center, Fletcher · late April Three days, 70+ vendors, and free admission, free parking, and free workshops. It’s the largest herb event in the United States and Canada, and it runs the last weekend of April most years (April 24–26 in 2026). Growers, herbalists, botanical skincare makers, tea blenders, native plants, and more than 20 classes on herbal medicine and natural living. If your trip lands anywhere near it, go.

Also worth knowing: herbalist and educator Lupo Passero runs Twin Star South out of Asheville, offering community classes and certificate programs in herbalism, flower essences, and ritual plant medicine. Check the schedule before you travel — the offerings rotate.

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Where to buy natural skin and body care

Appalachian Natural Soaps · 21 Wall Street, downtown Family-owned and making soap in Asheville since 1993. Handmade natural soaps, moisturizers, balms, and skincare, made from traditional recipes without the chemistry set. Wall Street is one of the prettiest blocks downtown, so this is a nice one to pair with lunch.

Herbiary (above) carries a full natural body care line alongside the herbs — facial oils, salves, soaps, essential oils.

The tailgate markets are honestly the best place to buy body care here. Vendors at the West Asheville and North Asheville markets sell handmade salves, soaps, herbal remedies, and botanical skincare made by the people standing behind the table. You can ask what’s in it and get a real answer. This is how I stock up.

Asheville Bee Charmer · downtown Raw honey from North Carolina and around the world, plus honey-based body care. Tasting bar. Deeply unnecessary and completely worth it.

Shoji Spa & Retreat · Fairview, about 15 minutes east of downtown Private outdoor Japanese-style salt hydrotherapy tubs on wooden decks overlooking the national forest, plus a wet cedar sauna and open-air cold showers. Robe, sandals, and towels provided. Order the tub-side tea service — it’s their own blend, made with Dobra Tea, served with honey and tea crackers. This is the single best thing to do the afternoon before a retreat starts, and I say that with feeling. Book ahead; it fills.

The Salt Spa of Asheville & Himalayan Salt Cave Sanctuary · downtown Dry salt therapy in an actual salt cave. Forty-five minutes lying in a zero-gravity chair in a pink-lit room. Pair it with a massage if you’re already spending the money.

Sauna House · South Slope Nordic-style bathhouse: hot sauna, cold plunge, rest, repeat. Social but calm. Good for the woman who wants the nervous-system reset without the incense.

Dobra Tea · downtown and West Asheville Take your shoes off, sit on a cushion, order a pot, and stay for two hours. It’s the antidote to a day of driving.

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Asheville farmers markets, by day of the week

Asheville has a farmers market almost every day of the week, and the two biggest Saturday markets are Asheville City Market downtown and North Asheville Tailgate Market on the UNCA campus. Both are producer-focused, both run year-round, and both are worth building a morning around.

Market	When	Where
Asheville City Market	Saturdays, year-round · 9am–12pm (Apr–Dec), 10am–1pm (Jan–Mar)	North Market St, downtown
North Asheville Tailgate Market	Saturdays · 8am–12pm (Apr–Nov)	UNC Asheville campus, commuter lot C
West Asheville Tailgate Market	Tuesdays · 3:30–6:30pm (Apr–Nov)	718 Haywood Rd, Grace Baptist lot
River Arts District Farmers Market	Wednesdays, year-round · afternoons	New Belgium Brewing, 21 Craven St
WNC Farmers Market	Daily, year-round · 8am–5pm	570 Brevard Rd

Asheville City Market is run by ASAP, the regional nonprofit that supports Appalachian farmers, and it’s the easiest one to walk to if you’re staying downtown. Produce, bread, pasta, flowers, prepared food, free parking nearby.

North Asheville Tailgate Market has been going since 1980 and is North Carolina’s longest-standing producer-only market — meaning everything is grown or made by the person selling it. Forty-plus vendors, food trucks, coffee. This is the one I’d pick if I could only do one.

West Asheville Tailgate Market is the best weekday market in the region and the most social: 45+ vendors, live music every week, natural body care and herbal remedies alongside the produce, and enough prepared food to make it dinner.

WNC Farmers Market on Brevard Road is the big state-run one — open every day, two large covered halls, produce, meats, honey, jams, boiled peanuts, plants, and the biggest Christmas tree market on the East Coast come December. Less charming, more useful. Go for apples in the fall.

Most of these markets accept EBT/SNAP and several run Double SNAP for fruits and vegetables.

Where to buy yoga clothes in Asheville

For the lululemon-type stuff, go to Biltmore Park Town Square. It’s about 15 minutes south of downtown, and it puts everything in one walkable block:

• lululemon — 8 Town Square Blvd, Ste 170
• Athleta — 19 Town Square Blvd, Ste 150
• REI — anchors the same center (see gear, below)

You can do all three and a coffee in an hour.

For natural fibers, stay downtown.

• Adlib — a locally owned women’s boutique that’s been downtown for more than 36 years, carrying brands built on natural and eco-conscious fibers from the U.S. and abroad. Creative, unusual pieces. The staff will actually help you put an outfit together, which is rare now.
• Rite of Passage — a slow-fashion label designing and sewing in Asheville from natural fibers, jacquard textiles, and repurposed fabric. Enduring pieces rather than trend pieces. Worth it if you’re looking for one thing you’ll wear for ten years.
• Mast General Store — downtown, and the most fun of the bunch: sturdy outdoor clothing, wool socks, candy in barrels. Not precious.

If you forgot something and don’t want to spend: Zen & Now carries secondhand yoga clothes, and Second Gear (below) consigns high-end outdoor apparel.

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Where to buy outdoor gear in Asheville

Second Gear · Westgate Shopping Center, next to Earth Fare Asheville’s outdoor consignment shop, and my first stop. New and gently used Patagonia, prAna, Arc’teryx, Mountain Hardwear, Kuhl, Kelty. Inventory turns constantly, so it’s luck-of-the-day — but the day it works, it really works. Rain jacket for a third of retail is a normal outcome here.

REI · Biltmore Park Town Square Full selection, knowledgeable staff, and a bike shop. Members can also shop the Re/Supply used gear section in store.

Diamond Brand Outdoors · Arden The local outfitter people send you to when you ask a local. Deep in hiking, camping, and climbing.

Black Dome Mountain Sports and French Broad Outfitters round it out — Black Dome for climbing and technical gear, French Broad for anything on the water.

Mast General Store downtown covers the basics — boots, socks, layers — with less of a gear-nerd atmosphere if that’s not your thing.

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What are the best hikes near Asheville?

The best hikes near Asheville are Catawba Falls, Lookout Mountain, Craggy Pinnacle, Mount Pisgah, and Graveyard Fields — all moderate, all under 4 miles, all within about an hour of downtown. There are many more, but for a quick morning hike to get your body moving, these hikes are just right. Here’s the honest breakdown:

Hike	Distance	What it is	Drive from Asheville
Catawba Falls	~3.9 mi loop, moderate	Waterfall with a staircase to the upper falls	30 min
Lookout Mountain	1 mi out-and-back or 3.4 mi loop	Short and steep, big views, one hard section	~27 min
Craggy Pinnacle	1.5 mi round trip	Rhododendron tunnels to a 360° summit at 5,892 ft	~45 min
Mount Pisgah	2.3 mi out-and-back, moderate	Steady uphill, 360° views	~43 min
Graveyard Fields	3.2 mi, moderate	Two waterfalls, best fall color hike on the Parkway	~1 hr

A real caveat on the Blue Ridge Parkway: the roughly 65-mile stretch near Asheville between Mount Mitchell and NC 276 is open, which covers Craggy Gardens, Craggy Pinnacle, Mount Pisgah, and Graveyard Fields. But Helene repair work is still underway. Expect a reduced 35 mph speed limit, dump truck traffic, and one-lane controls between Asheville and Mount Mitchell. The Craggy Gardens Picnic Area and some Mountains-to-Sea Trail sections remain closed. Repairs between Mount Mitchell and Little Switzerland were projected to finish in late 2026.

Check nps.gov/blri for real-time closures the morning you go. On open trails, still expect the occasional washout or downed tree.

If you’re only doing one: Craggy Pinnacle in June for the rhododendron bloom, or Graveyard Fields in early October for the color. If you’re here in late September, Catawba Falls is the reliable one and it’s 24 minutes from where my retreat group stays.

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Come practice in these mountains with us

Every fall I bring a small group of women to Indigo Nature Retreat in Old Fort — an hour from Asheville, on a creek, surrounded by the forest above. Two practices a day, waterfall hikes, real food, a fire at night, and four days where nothing is being asked of you.

Most women come alone. Most have never done a retreat before. You don’t need to be good at yoga.

See the Rooted & Wild North Carolina retreat →

Not ready to book? Join our email list to be the first to hear about upcoming retreats.

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The not-so-yogi part: breweries and where to eat

You can do yoga in Asheville at eight in the morning and have a beer on a loading dock by four. Both things are true here, and I’d argue you should do both.

Highland Brewing · East Asheville Asheville’s first craft brewery, going since 1994. The production brewery in East Asheville has a huge outdoor space called The Meadow, plus a short trail, disc golf, and rotating food trucks. I love it for the live music on the lawn. There’s also a Highland bar downtown inside the S&W Market food hall if you don’t want to drive. This spot is also very kid friendly.

Wedge Brewing at Wedge Studios · River Arts District Tucked into the dock level of a hundred-year-old triangular building that houses working artist studios. This is the most Asheville place in Asheville. It flooded during Helene and came back. Go for the beer, stay to wander the studios.

Hi-Wire Brewing · River Arts District and South Slope Their RAD beer garden took about fifteen feet of water in Helene and reopened in May 2025 after eight months of rebuilding. The South Slope location, Big Top, has 30 taps and is the easier walk from downtown.

Zillicoah Beer Company · on the French Broad Riverside taproom, pouring again. Open-air, gravel, dogs, sunset over the water.

Where to eat: Plant for elevated vegan, Green Sage Cafe for organic breakfast and lunch, Pulp & Sprout for juice and a grab-and-go cooler, Nine Mile for Caribbean at dinner, Tupelo Honey if you want Southern and you’re downtown.

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Events worth planning your trip around

Love Shine Play (formerly the Asheville Yoga Festival) · late July, downtown Four days, 40+ presenters, 90+ offerings across yoga, Ayurveda, sound healing, kirtan, dance, live music, and outdoor excursions — spread across downtown venues within walking distance of each other. The 2026 edition ran July 23–26. The Mountain Air Market in Pack Square Park is free and open to the public with vendors, music, and demos, so you can taste the festival without a pass. Dates for the next edition go up at loveshineplay.com.

Asheville Movement Collective · Sunday mornings, Evergreen Charter School Freeform ecstatic dance in a school gym, and locals call it dance church without irony. Over a hundred people, substance-free, nonverbal during the dance, opening and closing circles. Sliding scale, roughly $15–30, no one turned away for lack of funds. Two waves on Sunday morning; the second one offers childcare. Doors close at the opening circle — if you’re late, you’re not getting in, so build in a buffer. ashevillemovementcollective.org

Community kirtan · Asheville Community Yoga Call-and-response chanting with local band Mantra Mandala — harmonium, percussion, cello. Donation-based, no musical experience needed. Check their events calendar for the next one.

Sound baths · all over town Asheville Wellness Tours runs monthly public sound bath meditations in rotating locations. West Asheville Yoga runs them as workshops. And you’ll find one-off sound and fire ceremonies most weeks — the Be Well Asheville events calendar is the best single place to look.

Asheville Spring Herb Festival · WNC Ag Center, Fletcher · late April Free admission, free parking, free workshops, 70+ vendors, and the largest herb event in North America. Covered in more detail above, but it belongs on this list too — if you’re planning a spring trip, this is the weekend.

Downtown After 5 · third Fridays, April through September, Pack Square Park Free outdoor concert series. Regional and touring acts, food vendors, a dance floor in the middle of downtown.

Mountain Dance and Folk Festival · late July/early August The country’s longest-running folk festival — ballad singers, banjo, flatfoot dancing. Not remotely yoga. Completely worth it.

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If you only have 48 hours

Here’s how I’d stack yoga in Asheville with everything else if the clock is tight.

Day one: Morning class at Asheville Yoga Center downtown. Coffee and a wander through Adlib and Mast General. Drive to Craggy Pinnacle for the afternoon. Wedge Brewing in the River Arts District at golden hour. Dinner at Nine Mile.

Day two: Yoga in the Park in West Asheville if it’s Saturday, otherwise West Asheville Yoga. If it is Saturday, hit the North Asheville Tailgate Market first — it’s done by noon. Lunch on Haywood Road. Merrimon Avenue for Raven & Crone and Points of Light, with a stop at Herbiary downtown on the way. Shoji Spa for a private tub and cedar sauna in the late afternoon. Dobra Tea after, if you can still form sentences.

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Frequently asked questions

Is yoga in Asheville good for beginners? Yes. Asheville is one of the more beginner-friendly yoga cities in the country. Asheville Yoga Center runs a dedicated Intro to Yoga class, and Asheville Community Yoga offers gentle and beginner classes on a donation basis with no membership required. Most studios take drop-ins, and mats and props are usually provided.

What is the best yoga studio in Asheville? For most visitors, Asheville Yoga Center at 211 S. Liberty Street is the best single choice — it has the largest schedule, over 100 classes a week across every style, and it’s set up for drop-ins. If cost is a factor, Asheville Community Yoga in Woodfin offers nearly 100 weekly classes on a donation basis.

Can I drop into a yoga class in Asheville as a visitor? Yes. Nearly every studio in Asheville accepts drop-ins without a membership. Register online in advance where you can, since popular classes fill. Hot Yoga Asheville offers a traveler’s pass specifically for visitors.

How much does a yoga class cost in Asheville? Most drop-in classes run roughly $18–25. Asheville Community Yoga is donation-based, West Asheville Yoga uses a sliding scale with supported-rate codes, and Yoga in the Park is sliding scale at around $15–25. There is a price point here for every budget.

Where can I buy crystals in Asheville? Asheville Raven & Crone at 640 Merrimon Avenue is the most complete metaphysical shop in town, with crystals, tarot, candles, altar supplies, workshops, and bookable readings. Points of Light Crystal & Mineral Gallery at 391 Merrimon Avenue specializes in hand-picked, gallery-quality mineral specimens.

When is the Asheville yoga festival? The Asheville yoga festival is now called Love Shine Play, and it takes place in downtown Asheville each summer, typically in late July. The 2026 festival ran July 23–26 with more than 40 presenters and 90+ offerings. The Mountain Air Market portion in Pack Square Park is free and open to the public without a festival pass.

Is Asheville recovered from Hurricane Helene? Largely, but not entirely. Downtown, Biltmore, and most studios, shops, and restaurants are open. The River Arts District has reopened in stages — Wedge Brewing and Hi-Wire’s beer garden are both back. Some Blue Ridge Parkway sections and trails remain closed or under construction, with repairs between Mount Mitchell and Little Switzerland projected to finish in late 2026. Check current conditions before you drive the Parkway.

What are the best hikes near Asheville for a yoga retreat weekend? Catawba Falls (~3.9 miles, waterfall, 30 minutes away), Lookout Mountain in Old Fort (1–3.4 miles, short and steep), Craggy Pinnacle (1.5 miles to a 360-degree summit), Mount Pisgah (2.3 miles, steady climb), and Graveyard Fields (3.2 miles, two waterfalls). All are moderate and passenger-car accessible.

Is there a women’s yoga retreat near Asheville? Yes. Ambuja Yoga runs the Rooted & Wild women’s yoga retreat at Indigo Nature Retreat in Old Fort, North Carolina, about an hour east of Asheville. It combines two daily yoga practices with waterfall and ridgeline hikes in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and it is open to all levels, including women who have never been on a retreat before.

Where can I buy herbs and herbal medicine in Asheville? Herbiary at 29 N Market Street downtown is the city’s dedicated herb store, stocking organic and wildcrafted herbs, tinctures, teas, essential oils, and flower essences from more than 25 local growers. For bulk herbs, the Appalachia School of Holistic Herbalism at 2 Westwood Place keeps a public apothecary of over 250 dried herbs and extracts where you can custom-blend your own formulas. Villagers in West Asheville carries herbalism supplies and classes.

When is the Asheville Herb Festival? The Asheville Spring Herb Festival is held at the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher in late April each year — April 24 to 26 in 2026. It is the largest herb event in the United States and Canada, with more than 70 vendors and over 20 free workshops. Admission, parking, and workshops are all free.

Where can I buy natural skincare and body care in Asheville? Appalachian Natural Soaps at 21 Wall Street has been making handmade natural soaps and skincare in Asheville since 1993. Herbiary carries a full natural body care line. The best selection, though, is at the tailgate markets — West Asheville and North Asheville both have vendors selling handmade salves, soaps, and botanical skincare directly.

What day is the farmers market in Asheville? Asheville has markets most days of the week. Asheville City Market runs Saturday mornings downtown year-round, North Asheville Tailgate Market runs Saturday mornings on the UNC Asheville campus, West Asheville Tailgate Market runs Tuesday afternoons on Haywood Road, and the River Arts District Farmers Market runs Wednesday afternoons at New Belgium Brewing. The WNC Farmers Market on Brevard Road is open daily, year-round, from 8am to 5pm.

What should I pack for a yoga trip to Asheville? Layers. Mountain weather shifts fast, and elevation matters — Craggy Gardens can run 10–20 degrees cooler than downtown. Bring trail shoes, a rain shell, a warm layer for evenings, and clothes you can practice in. Studios generally provide mats and props, so you can leave yours at home unless you’re attached to it.

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About the author

Autumn Adams is the founder of Ambuja Yoga and an E-RYT 500, YACEP yoga teacher based in Bend, Oregon. She has been leading women’s yoga retreats since 2014 — 13 years, 40+ retreats, and more than 700 women across the U.S., Chile, Spain, Greece, Thailand, and beyond. She hosts The Aligned Yogi Podcast and wrote The Little Book of Mudra Meditations. Her retreats have been featured in Insider, Shape, Zappos, and Asia Spa.

She leads the Rooted & Wild women’s yoga retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains outside Asheville each fall, alongside co-teacher Toni Larson (E-RYT 500, YACEP).

More about Autumn and Ambuja Yoga →