Take time to settle into the stillness and allow yourself to uncover the natural ease and wisdom of your own inherent Heart. In this 7-day retreat, we follow a guided rhythm of breath work, qi gong, nature connection and mindfulness practice as a means to down-regulate the nervous system and prepare for meditation in its true sense, which is to settle back into the Truth of who we really are, the Source, the Knower, Beingness itself. We follow a full and structured programme for the first 3 full days, followed by a more spacious 3 days, during which you can find your own rhythm of practice, reflection, writing and rest, between scheduled sessions. There will be emphasis on understanding your own nervous system, the impact of trauma, and cultivating familiarity with the parasympathetic state.
The retreat will be mostly in silence for participants, but there will be plenty of guidance, tuition and input, and a session each day dedicated to sharing insights and questions and practising mindfulness in relation to others. The first afternoon and evening and the last morning after we break the silence will offer the opportunity to interact and connect with each other in the traditional way of words!
There is a 4 day option for the retreat, leaving on Friday after lunch. For costs, please scroll down.
benefits
Drop your responsibilities and story for a week to let go, relax and deepen into the ground of your own Being
Fully oxygenate your body on a daily basis
Understand the patterns you may be holding in your nervous system, and how to release them
Increase vital energy (qi) in your body
Gain awareness of the habit patterns of mind that interfere with and undermine your inherent happiness
Access a toolbox of practices you can use to prepare for meditation in everyday life
Enjoy better sleep and reduce anxiety
Access an easier, more focused mind and greater mental, physical and spiritual well being.
you will be offered:
Meditation guidance
Guidance for present-moment awareness, in stillness and movement
Breathing practices for fully vitalizing the body and down-regulating the nervous system
Daily qi gong warm ups and stretches
Daily programme of scheduled meditations, interspersed with qi gong
Guided enquiry meditations
Instruction in a lovely flowing qi gong form you can take home and practice daily for improved health and ease.
Evening Feldenkrais ‘awareness through movement’ lessons
Time for rest, writing, walking, being in nature, reflection…
Optional 1:1 session with Rachel
This retreat is a wonderful way of calming your body, replenishing your energy, and cultivating joy and well-being. If you have the tendency to lose yourself in over-thinking, or would simply relish time for balance and restoration, join me in this beautiful and supportive setting, and in a warm, cosy retreat centre, for a blend of meditation, nature conneciton, breath and qi gong practices.
Qi gong is an ancient Taoist system designed to improve the flow of energy in the body, create vitality and concentrate the mind. The qi gong practices we will learn include qi gong warm ups, qi gong self-massage, a compassion practice, and a moving form. These will be practices you can take away and use at home to relax and revitalise your body and mind.
You are welcome to join as much or as little of the scheduled programme as you wish; this is a retreat in which none of the usual social expectations are placed on you. It offers you a very rare chance for you to come home to the OK-ness of yourself, just as you are. We will begin each morning with stretches and meditation before breakfast, and finish each evening with a Feldenkrais lesson to relax the nervous system and fine tune awareness of the body. There will be time out for reflection and walking, and vegetarian meals are all provided. Much of the retreat will be in silence for participants, as a way to allow you the rare opportunity of really coming home to yourself, though there will be times for questions and sharing reflections/insights.
