Strathean Retreat Centre,
212 Old Hautere Road,
Otaki, Kapiti Coast, near Wellington

Mindfulness, the art of accessing the power of the ‘now’, 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 mindfulness meditation 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 and snacks 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.

We begin with a light meal at 6pm on Friday and finish after lunch on the Tuesday You may arrive any time from 4pm on Tuesday

There is no religion, dogma or belief systems proposed in this retreat.  Emphasis is given not to theory, but to your own experience.  The retreat is suitable for beginners, and for those with experience in mindfulness meditation and qi gong.

$699 includes 4 nights' accommodation, meals and tuition
There are a limited number of single rooms available, for a surcharge of $15 per night. The two ensuites carry a surcharge of $25 per night.

Booking via Humanitix with a credit card incurs a booking fee. If you would prefer to avoid this, email Rachel to pay by bank transfer.

If you prefer to pay a $200 deposit to secure your place, please contact Rachel via email to arrange this via bank transfer. The balance is due 14 May. Please note that people who have paid in full receive priority for single room requests.

Benefits of a residential mindfulness retreat:

• More vital energy (qi) flowing in your body

• Greater awareness of the ways you block your inherent happiness

• Opportunity to let go, relax and unwind

• Better sleep and improved wellbeing

• Improved mental/emotional balance

During this retreat, you will learn and practise:

• The art of being present, in stillness and movement

• Qi gong warm ups and stretches

• Sitting and walking meditation

• Self-compassion meditation ("the inner smile")

• A beautiful flowing moving form (Shibashi tai chi qigong or the 8 Silk Brocades) that you can take home and use as practical tools for well being and stress reductions

This is a hugely valuable opportunity to create more intimacy with yourself. There will be time for you to reflect, to write, to consider.... to eat healthy vegetarian food... to be still.... and to benefit from the input of an experienced mindfulness and qi gong guide.

people say, about residential retreats with Rachel:

‘This was my first retreat experience… Having struggled for so long to be able to meditate, with Rachel’s support and guidance i was able to do so which was - well - wonderful! I’ve come away with a sense of settledness and hopefulness that i can weave this into my daily life.’
- E. W, social worker, Wellington, 2021 Strathean retreat

I've learnt some great techniques on how to slow down in a world that is going a million miles an hour."
- Sharyn Pask, Auckland (3-day Aio Wira retreat)

‘Rachel is a fabulous teacher with a very warm and easy manner who has wonderful insight whilst still being a ‘real’ human. Im sure the qi gong, breathing and meditation techniques will be really useful in my everyday life.’
- Jo, Wellington, Government worker and ultra-marathoner, 2021 Strathean retreat

‘The retreat has been such a positive break away from the rushing and stretch of my busy life. It is such a … format … adapterd around what the group and individuals brought. I feel so ready and excited to take what i have learnt back into my home, familly and worklife, keeping myself at the centre.’
- Megan Savage, coach, holistic nutritionish, massage therapist, Wellington, 2021 Strathean retreat

"The combination of meditation and movement/body work with (mostly) silence was perfect for this 50-year old man. I left the retreat feeling lighter, moving slower and with an unfamiliar quietness in my head."
- Rob Cherry, Wellington, Strathean Retreat

"I enjoyed the balance of qi gong dynamic meditation, the sitting-still meditation, the mindfulness walking and the artistic offerings of poems, music and dance… The meditation sessions held a 'sit with me' invitation and the number of sessions during the retreat helped deepen my meditation practice. And I learnt the importance of returning my mind from wandering and that this was a natural occurrence.
"I liked the rhythm of life on the retreat with bells calling us to meditation and meals. I found the practice of being together in silence together both novel and refreshing. I feel I have experienced mindfulness practice that I can take from the retreat to my everyday life. A heartfelt thank you for sharing your wisdom, life experiences and spiritual practice, Rachel."
- Gloria Henderson, Wellington, Strathean retreat

The retreat has the perfect combination of silence, meditation and movement. Movement that can work for all abilites!!’
- Tiffany S., academic learning advisor, Wellington. 2021 Strathean retreat

‘i loved the gentle wisdom of Rachel’s teaching, and i have felt totally able to be myself and to be unconditionally accepted. it has been incredibly valuable.’
- D, G, Paekakariki, 2021 Strathean retreat

‘Rachel offers a lovely, warm, lively space in which you can become acquainted with your own mind and body."
- C. Maidment, Hutt Valley.

the art of mindfulness retreats cancellation policy:

• Full refunds, minus a $50 administration fee and the Eventbrite booking fee, if applicable, are provided up to 2 weeks before any course or retreat starts.

• 50% refunds are provided (minus the Eventbrite booking fee, if applicable), if you cancel within 2 weeks and up to two days of a course or retreat starting

• No refunds or transfers are available within 48 hours of a retreat starting

• You may transfer your booking to a later retreat, and there will be a 10% admin fee (10% of the cost of the cancelled course) incurred

• If a deposit has been paid to secure a place, $50 of that deposit is forfeited per person in the case of any cancellation prior to 2 weeks before the retreat