This year we are running another exciting ‘home grown’ programme facilitated by local members of the Wangapeka sangha. It is an opportunity for people in the community to come together, have fun, learn from each other and relax in the peaceful environment of the Wangapeka Retreat Centre.
Costs: The cost for a weekend will be $50 per adult (for food, power and admin). Please bring some dana / koha for accommodation. (It costs us $2,000 a week to run the centre)
All facilitators are generously donating their time. There will be a dana bowl available for those who would like to contribute. All weekend workshops will begin with supper at 6pm and end after lunch on Sunday. Please register at the centre : wangapekacentre@gmail.org, visit our website www.wangapeka.org
The Programme
August
31 July – 1/2 August
Awakening Breath facilitated by Jonathan Chambers
An exploration of the role of the breath on the path of awakening. Drawing from complementary traditions of yoga and buddha-dharma we will investigate the interrelationship of breath, body and mind. Through yoga asana, pranayama, gentle bodywork and meditation we will seek to awaken the breath and discover how this unfolds to establish calm and serve as a foundation for meditative insight.
Suitable for absolute beginners as well as those with a well established yoga and / or meditation practice.
For information on related classes in Nelson by Jonathan, refer www.openbreath.org
7/8/9 August
‘Earth body, human body. Unfolding the deep past to better
understand our continually transforming home’ facilitated by Duncan Mackay
This course will be experiential, with discussions on the formation of the
planet and it’s many stages of evolution together with specific guided meditation and
drawing/painting exercises. We will look around us at the valley and explore how this fits into our current NZ landscape. The weekend will enhance our interconnectedness with the natural environment and deepen our understanding through creativity.
Duncan’s background is in geology with a special interest in the early evolution of
the planet and the origins of life. In addition he has experience in the arts – watercolor and acrylic painting, drawing, stained glass work and pottery making. He is currently
a jewellery maker selling work in galleries around NZ.
14/15/16/17/18 August
Chenreizig practice retreat led by Mark Schrader
We will explore together in various creative ways, the beautiful sadhana of Chenreizig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Mark Schrader will lead this weekend of practice
Maximum 16 adults (children are welcome to come on the retreat so long as there is someone to look after them during practice periods)
21 /22/ 23 August
Speaking Skills
Develop your public speaking skills during a weekend at Wangapeka. Using Toastmaster techniques we will supportively encourage everyone’s efforts in impromptu talks, debates and special occasion speeches. Learn techniques such as body language, vocal variety, pitch and pause. We will use these to help you overcome nerves and deliver clear and confident messages. This will be fun and social weekend and you will leave ready to deliver a great wedding speech or heckle your favourite politician at the next opportunity. Young and old, all welcome.
The programme will be led by David Pooch who is a past president of a Toastmasters Club and long term member of Wangapeka.
September
4/5/6 September
‘Don’t Just Do Something, Sit There!’ Facilitated by Jane Hobday.
A weekend of Breathing Meditation Practice.
It’s sometimes hard to keep up the discipline of regular meditation practice with the responsibilities and demands life seems to present. This predominantly silent weekend will be an opportunity for the support of the group to help strengthen and enliven our individual practice of breathing meditation (however embryonic). There will be structured sits during the day, opportunities for sharing and questions and time to enjoy just ‘being’ at the centre.
25/26/27 September
Entering the dance: exploring the four foundations of mindfulness through music, movement and meditation. This will be a safe and supportive place to show up and explore how music and mindfulness offers a doorway toward emotional well being.
In this workshop we will enter this movement in a state of curious and friendly inquiry. While open to all, there is a welcome and encouragement for the closet male movers and lovers of music to come and explore in mindfulness.
Jaime has attended the Open Floor dance/movement teacher training. He has been training and developing experiential programmes of mindfulness for children and adults for over a decade. He is a trained MBSR(Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) teacher.
“I am not a dancer, I am a mover nourished by the invitation of a smooth line. If anything can be said about life it is that everything is in movement” Jaime.
October
30/31/1/2/3 October
The Joy of Embodiment
This 4-day body-immersion will offer movement explorations based on the Feldenkrais Method™ and restorative practices to refresh and balance our energies. Learning to stay present to our direct experience by moving and feeling the body, we can touch on a deep wellspring of openness, connection and creativity. Exploring gentle, playful and mindful movement brings a natural simplicity and ease to our lives, discovering the joy of being embodied.
Chani Grieve is a qualified Feldenkrais Practitioner, Remedial Massage Therapist, and meditator.