with
Chani Grieve
Wangapeka Study & Retreat Centre
Four days of movement, meditation and creative enquiry with Chani Grieve, August 4th – 9th 2021.
Built by millions of years of evolution, our very own bodies offer us direct access to an inner “compass” that can reliably guide us to the fundamental intelligence, dignity and beauty of the human person. They show us directly the inherent freedom that is our natural inheritance, and lead us to a life of alignment, truth and purpose. In a world where the messages we receive from our distressed culture become more confused and confusing every day, it is a profound relief to discover true refuge and sanity, right here at home. By observing and listening to our human body we learn to attune to the rhythm and intelligence of Life on planet Earth, and open a door to our deepest nature – a song of wisdom, a song of love.
Our culture excels at distracting us from our only real opportunity for discovering genuine freedom – a journey that starts right here in this body, on this earth. Now more than ever we need people who are fully present in their bodies, open in their hearts, and steady in their minds. We need to remember ourselves as intelligent, clear and wise human beings. These skills and capacities are imminently available, and can be developed by anyone who wishes to learn. The teachings of Buddhadharma offer a profound and complete view of the potentiality of a human being. And our bodies themselves show us directly the path to realising this for ourselves. Through the body, we each have unmediated access to a reservoir of wisdom and love, and we can learn to access powerful resources of support, inspiration, creativity, joy and trust.
This retreat offers time and space to develop these skills through movement, meditation and creative enquiry. We will learn to recognise and be inspired by the heart seed of awakening (bodhicitta), the deepest desire we have to be truly free. We will bring our bodies and hearts in line with the natural laws of the universe that reduce and eventually eliminate suffering of all kinds. Practicing in this way allows us to develop the kind of genuine confidence that can only come from our own direct experience.
By learning to inhabit our bodies again, we tap into the intelligence of the earth and can align ourselves with an indomitable force for good. We reclaim not only our personal healing and freedom, but we will also be clear and loving agents for the healing of our world.
“There is more wisdom in your body than in your deepest philosophy” – Friedrich Nietzsche
In this retreat you will be supported by:
This retreat is suitable for adults of all ages. It may be of particular interest to those in healing/education/environmental/creative professions, people with health challenges needing a gentle and attuned approach to self-care, and anyone curious about how the body guides our natural unfoldment into wisdom and compassion.
Chani Grieve was born into a dharma community in Tasmania, and has been a dedicated practitioner of meditation and body-centred modalities for over 16 years, sharing her experience since 2012. She graduated from the 4-year Feldenkrais Professional Training Program in Melbourne in 2013, and began to weave movement and meditation to utilise the power of working with the body to awaken our innate freedom. She works as a Feldenkrais Practitioner, and as part of The dharmasphere Collective based in Nelson, is deeply engaged in the cultivation of “Awakening in Community”. Chani brings the heart of practice alive through her creativity, connection and care for each individual’s unique experience. She teaches classes, workshops and retreats in Australia and New Zealand.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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