The Invitation
Join us in this epic setting on the shores of Lake Hawea, Wanaka. The dramatic mountain lake background is the spacious backdrop for this immersive meditation and yoga learning experience.
This Wanaka meditation and yoga retreat is a 4.5 day non-residential retreat where participants have the flexibility to find their own accommodation, coming together each day in this one of a kind setting, for learning and practice. Accommodation is available on-site for those that would like it.
Suitable for beginners and advanced practitioners.
Rather than learning off an app or a book, come and receive personal instruction at this South Island retreat facilitated by one of NZ’s most experienced teachers, Susan Allen.
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At this meditation and yoga retreat you will:
– Learn a structured meditation practice that you will be confident and inspired to continue on your own at home.
– Understand what meditation is and how it can be used in your life to decrease stress, to cultivate ease of mind, and as a tool for flourishing in your life.
– Gain an understanding of the common obstacles to meditation and how to overcome them.
– Ask questions and receive personalised advice on how to progress in your practice.
– Have 4.5 days immersion in meditation and yoga, recharge and get clear on a path moving forward.
– Learn from one of NZ’s most experienced and competent meditation teachers Susan Allen.
– Take home a collection of meditation audio recordings that you can continue to use to progress your practice.
4.5 days of inspiring practice and learning, setting a new direction for yourself
Location and Venue
- The Camp, Lake Hawea -
Our setting is the wild spaciousness of Lake Hawea, 15mins from Wanaka. The retreat location is Cross Hill at The Camp, a large geodesic dome right on the lakeshore with the spectacular mountain background that only NZ can offer.
The price of the meditation retreat includes the tuition and refreshments. Participants will need to organise their own accommodation and meals. For on-site accommodation The Camp has a huge range of options – accommodation for all budgets, from very basic to very flash. There are also meals available from local cafes on site and close by or a kitchen where you can prepare your own meals.
On site there are hot tubs that can be hired, big roaring outdoor fires to enjoy, the Secret Sauna, many stunning walking tracks as well as massages that can be arranged. Lake Hawea is a magical place to swim and there are are many many hidden quiet spots under the trees to read and hang out. Plenty of space and open sky for you to rest and retreat.
Pricing
$950 – 4.5 days retreat (non-residential)
What’s included
* All practices as well as refreshments in the breaks
* Audio recordings of all practices to take home
If you would like to stay on site you can purchase your accommodation separately through The Camp’s website here.
Schedule
All retreat participants are required to attend all of the meditation sessions as we will build on the information each day. This Wanaka meditation retreat also includes optional daily yoga classes.
5 – 8 pm Welcome, Opening circle,
and Introduction to Retreat Content
8 – 8.45 am Yoga practice (optional)
9 – 10.30 am Meditation practice and discussion
10.30 – 11am Break
11 – 12.30pm Meditation practice and discussion
12.30 – 2.30pm Lunch break
2.30 – 4pm Meditation practice and discussion
4 – 4.30pm Break
4.30 – 6pm Meditation practice and discussion
Meditation approach
The meditation practices and discussion will have a particular emphasis on cultivating quietness and steadiness in the mind as well as cultivating insights that bring freedom and peace of mind into our everyday life. Tibetan Buddhist meditations value an intelligent and structured approach to investigating ‘What is the mind?’ and consequently frame meditation in a practical and methodical way. The meditation practices will be taken from the Mahamudra and Dzogchen Tibetan Buddhist tradition. These will be presented in a secular, practical fashion.
The primary offerings on this Wanaka retreat are:
1. Attention training practices specifically to quieten the busy mind; this cultivates tranquility and stability of mind.
2. Insight practices that liberate the mind from its conditioned patterns. This causes our habitual reactive emotional states to decline, we feel more connected to others and we begin to operate more from a spacious, ease-ful awareness rather than from the obsession with thought.
3. Quiet time to nourish and gain inspiration on a path forward.
Read more
Meditation will change your life, it is a tool for developing a calmness of mind, a poise of character. Through the practice we gain insight into how our mind works; we find a path that facilitates the flourishing of all positive mental traits.
Testimonials
What they say about us
About Susan Allen
Susan Allen is the founder of Retreats NZ and the leading facilitator on this meditation and yoga retreat.
Susan’s mission is to play a part in the awakening of human consciousness where all people experience ease, feel connected, and can flourish to their fullest potential. She is inspired to demystify meditation and yoga by sharing accessible, transformative practices that cultivate ease, expand the heart and restore our sense of connection and belonging.
Susan has been teaching yoga and meditation for over 22 years. Having practised meditation as a teenager, meditation has been a lifelong passion of Susans. She has been lucky enough to study under some of the great living meditation masters in India and across the world, and knows firsthand how meditation can transform one’s mental and emotional state at a foundational level of being.
As well as an in-depth knowledge of these age-old practices, Susan also has a distinct talent of delivery, communicating complex sophisticated ideas in a way that is easily digestible and clear.
Susan also runs a yoga teacher mentorship service The Yoga Transition and the online yoga platform Entering The Stream.
