MEDITATION AND YOGA RETREATS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What level meditation experience do I need to have to attend a meditation retreat?

The meditation content is suitable for all levels from beginners to advanced practitioners, including people who have been practising for many years on and off. The reason for this is that it is the same skills we are developing at all stages of the practice. The skills of bringing quietness and stability to the mind and the skill of reducing reactivity and increasing equanimity ie. balance of mind. – these are skills that we can always progress in and become more subtle in our understanding of. For this reason at the retreat there are always all levels in terms of the participant’s experience. The teacher Suze is experienced in guiding students in an appropriate way according to their level of experience. This enables all students to keep progressing.

What will I be learning in regards to the meditation practice?

There is substantial information on this on our page Meditation Approach. This explains the intention, syllabus and content. If you have a specific question about the content, please contact us here.

What is mindfulness? Will we be doing that?

Mindfulness is a contemporary form of meditation where the practitioner attempts to not get lost in thought but rather to observe the moment to moment experience of the mind in a non-judgmental and present way. We will be doing some of this style of practice as well as a lot more. In addition we will delve into insight practices which help us to understand how the mind works. On our website we have a dedicated page explaining the type of meditations taught and their usefulness. Click here to read.

What is the average age of people on retreat and how many people in total?

There is always an age range for participants. From around 30 years – 60 years would be the average range, a mixture of men and women. Depending on the retreat venue there will be about 12-20 people in the group, so plenty of opportunity for those interested to to ask questions and get personal guidance in their practice.

What type of people come on the retreat?

The people that come on retreat are people like you! Normal kiwis who are curious about what meditation has to offer – people that may have come across meditation before or people that have a friend who they see meditation has benefitted, Mums and Dads who have got some time away from their family responsibilities to do something for themselves, professionals who realise the necessity of looking after their stress levels, young and old people who perhaps are interested in the spiritual journey meditation is a part of. 

Will I have to share my experiences in group sharing circles?

At the end of the each meditation practice there is a Q&A session where you will have the option to ask questions about your practice. This is an important part of the learning as it is when you can get personal advice about your practice so that you can progress more efficiently. Some people like to ask lots of questions and others prefer to ask less or none and instead wait until someone else asks their question, which almost always happens as practitioners often come up against similar obstacles and habits. There is no formal ‘go around the circle’ sharing as some other facilitators may do.

I’ve heard sometimes retreats are silent where you’re not allowed to talk, is this retreat like that?

No this is not a silent retreat. Meditation and what we will be learning is about benefitting your life. Integrating the principles and practices of meditation into your daily life is essential and really what it’s all about. For this reason if we keep the learning environment close to your usual environment then we are working with your normal state of mind. On the other hand, silent retreats can create an artificial environment of sensory deprivation and social deprivation that can sometimes make it difficult for students to work out how to use the meditation principles when they go back to a busy life. 

I am not able to sit cross-legged on the ground, will this matter?

Each person is provided with cushions and blankets to sit on the ground as well as a chair. It is highly recommended that all participants vary their sitting position during the retreat so the body is comfortable and does not disturb the meditation. You are welcome to sit in a chair for the whole retreat if that is more comfortable.

Is meditation part of a religion or related to religion?

The meditations we will be learning are from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, however, they are taught in a secular fashion with no religious insinuations; they are practical and relevant to the contemporary man living in a western society such as New Zealand. 

I will need to miss some of the retreat, is it still possible for me to attend?

Generally not as the meditation process is built from day one and each session contains new material. In some situations if someone arrives late on the first day then recordings can be provided to get the person up to speed. If you would like to discuss a specific personal situation please contact us.

Why do some retreats have a non-refundable payment?

We need to give a down-payment to secure the venue hire so some level of commitment is required from participants to make this happen.

What happens if I need to cancel the retreat at the last moment because I’m ill or a family or work issue comes up?

The cancellations terms and conditions for each retreat are detailed in several places and are slightly different for each retreat because the different venues have different booking conditions. For most retreats if you cancel at the last minute there is no refund but you can transfer your retreat to someone of your finding or someone on the waiting list if there is someone. 

To find the Terms and Conditions for a specific retreat check these places:

• Ts and Cs are at the bottom of each retreat page on our website.  Click on Upcoming Retreats, then click on the retreat you’re interested in and then scroll to the bottom on that page, or
• If you have enquired via email for a retreat then in the email correspondence with our team the Ts and Cs would have been provided in the email, or
• Upon registering you will be sent a confirmation email that contains the T’s and C’s

On the timetable it says that the yoga is optional?

The meditation sessions build on themselves so it is not possible to miss a meditation session. The yoga is provided as a lovely compliment to the meditation practices and is optional for those that would enjoy it.

What level are the yoga classes?

The yoga sessions are slow, mindful movement to ease the body after sitting as well as to bring into movement some of the  meditation principles. Unless you have a considerable physical issue the yoga sessions will be accessible for you.

What is the mix between meditation and yoga practices?

Each of our retreats has a different schedule. Check the website menu for the schedule related to the retreat you are interested in. Most meditation retreats have daily yoga practices to ease the body and to support the learnt principles.