Moving Into Mindfulness With Rachel Tobin

A 3 Day Mindfulness & Qi Gong Retreat Facilitated by Rachel Tobin.

About the Retreat:
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 wellbeing. 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 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 beautiful flowing moving form (from the Shibashi part i form).
These will be practices you can take away and use at home to relax and revitalise your body and your 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 relaxing awareness through movement sessions. There will be time for reflection, writing, walking or resting. The retreat will be mostly in silence for participants, though full instruction will be offered.

Venue
The venue for the retreat is the beautiful Tushita Hermitage in Peria Valley, Doubtless Bay, Northland. Set amongst the sub-tropical Northland vegetation, the Tushita Hermitage provides a unique and safe sanctuary with plenty of space, shared communal areas and also places where you can spend time alone, for contemplation and relaxation.

Accommodation and Meals
On-site accommodation and meals are provided for you. Accommodation is in shared rooms. Some single/twin rooms are available for an extra $20/night. There are modern and clean showers and toilets.

Who is it suitable for?
This retreat is suitable for:
- Absolute beginners with no mindfulness or qi gong experience
- Experienced mindfulness practitioners and meditators
- Anyone wanting to to revitalise and replenish their wellbeing

Price
This retreat is $320(or $380/single room) plus dana/koha for Rachel. The $320(or $380) covers all your meals and accommodation. Rachel’s fee is not set and consists entirely of your Dana offering. Dana (meaning generosity) invites each person to offer according to their means and what the retreat has been worth to them. Dana payment is given at the end of the retreat. This can be in cash, cheque or by internet banking – an account number will be provided. (Please note: there is no Eftpos at Tushita Hermitage)

Retreat Facilitator – Rachel Tobin
Rachel Tobin has been practising meditation for over 25 years and is a qualified teacher in a variety of fields including the moving mindfulness practices of qi gong and feldenkrais. She is the director of the art of mindfulness, working individually with adults and children, teaching mindfulness in organisations and to the general public, and regularly running one-day and residential mindfulness retreats. She also offers mindfulness programmes for children.

Rachel lives in Paekakariki, on the lovely Kapiti Coast, and comes often to Tushita Hermitage as a student of spiritual Master Sri Yanchiji.

“A fabulous, balanced, insightful, nurturing weekend taught in a supportive, relaxed way… Rachel’s teaching style is very allowing and i enjoyed the way the weekend flowed with just the right amount of downtime.” – J. Natusch, Auckland

“My wife thought it was a miracle that I would book myself into this retreat. It was a deeply fulfilling experience and one I hope to keep with me, if not return.” – Luc Hansen