Belonging
a 7-day Open Floor and Meditation Retreat
with
Jaime Howell & Juliana Griese
Wangapeka Study & Retreat Centre
Inclusive, Responsive, Resilient
What makes this retreat special for us:
- Deepen our mindfulness practice through dance, it is active, fun and fully embodied
- Weave the intimacy with nature
- Express joy and connection through chanting and meditation
- Participate in rituals that deepen awareness and make potent the capacity for wholesome change
- Find our real teacher (who is closer than we might think)
Why is belonging our theme?
We are observing that for many fragmentation, chronic busyness and disconnection are common experiences in modern life. Something has to change both for ourselves and the world.
Do you hunger for community, connectedness and confidence?
Belonging is living in a state of inclusive love. It is to be patient, attentive, willing to question and able to participate well with life in all its offerings and changes. This is our (at times) forgotten natural state. A sense of belonging is the hallmark of a maturing human being functioning well in community.
We invite you to give yourself the time to find this wholeness and full aliveness so that we can communicate and relate from a place of clarity.
How the week will unfold?
Daily Open floor practices will nourish your understanding and capacity to be mindful because it lands you firmly in your body, using music to activate and settle feelings and emotions.
We are going to explore and deepen anapanasati, developing our awareness through breathing.
We will practice together connecting with our ancestors, living ecology and sources of inspiration.
We will have moments of solitude and community sharing.
Jaime Howell is a movement and international meditation teacher. He is a graduate from the three year School of Living Dharma, followed by three years as residential practioner at Wangapeka Retreat Centre. Jaime has a Master in Education and is a Director of Rites of Passage. He is New Zealands only male Open Floor teacher.
Juliana Griese is a meditation teacher and mindfulness instructor trained by Mti. She has a Master in Biology and has been working for 15 years in the field of nature conservation and research.
The Wangapeka Retreat Experience
Whenua Land
The retreat takes place on the beautiful Wangapeka whenua nestled in stunning native forests with expansive views down the Wangapeka valley. The land itself provides a healing sanctuary surrounded by mature trees and offering the perfect environment for reflection and reconnection with nature.
Kainga Accommodation
Accommodation is included in the price of the retreat, with all rooms being comfortable and well-appointed with single beds and electric heating. Shared bathroom facilities are conveniently located close to all rooms.
Kai Food
All meals are included in this retreat to support the your well-being and focus. Our kitchen team prepares nourishing vegetarian food to sustain and delight you throughout your stay. Specific dietary requirements can be accommodated and self-catering is also possible if you prefer to bring and prepare your own food.
Whare Wānanga Teaching Space
This teaching room is beautifully crafted and has been used for a wide variety of teaching for over 20 years. It has a wooden parquet floor and a pot belly stove to keep away winter chills. Set amongst beautiful mature trees, it offers a charming view looking down the Wangapeka valley, creating an inspiring environment for movement and meditation practices.
Whare kai Main Hall
The original building at Wangapeka, the Main Hall serves as the heart of community life with its combined living and dining room, library, and welcoming wood burner. Tea, coffee, and snacks are freely available here throughout your stay. Whether you choose to relax in the cosy interior or step out onto the porch to enjoy the expansive views, this space invites connection and contemplation. The hall also houses the kitchen, bathroom facilities, and laundry for your convenience.
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