YAR 2019
Time to Pause
with
Jaime Howell & Elli Yates
Wangapeka Study & Retreat Centre
PLEASE NOTE: This retreat is now FULL. Registrations received from now, will go on a WAITING LIST.
Calming the nervous system to remember a deeper stream of wisdom
A retreat for young adults aged 18-35
To truly pause is rare and difficult in this fast-paced life. Many young people are exhausted from overwork, pressured to succeed in a world where priorities are shifting rapidly, confused about pathways and angry about their planetary inheritance. The Young Adult’s Retreat (YAR) offers a chance for the much-needed pause as a doorway to connect with what is really moving in us.
The end of the year is a perfect time to treat yourself to a week of nourishing calm. The Wangapeka Centre provides a naturally beautiful environment in which to do this. We invite you to pause for a week and connect with the earth and sky and the living world between, supported by a community who value the sense of belonging that meditation practice can offer.
YAR is a place where the younger generation is formally invited to step out of the rush and tap into wisdom from both ancient and contemporary contemplative traditions. The retreat has developed over the last six years in response to the needs of young people in our community.
The focus for YAR 2019 is making time to deepen into the practice and understanding of meditation and mindful living. We will explore this through creative exercises including body-work to release tension in the nervous system, periods of solitude to develop an independent body of practice, nature connection inquiries and a range of Open Floor dance explorations.
Course cost:
For the previous six years YAR has offered a three hour work period in exchange for reduced accommodation costs. It has been good to make the retreat affordable for a range of young people from many walks of life. The downside has been a tighter time frame, meaning people have not always found a place of deep rest. This arrangement has become unsustainable for the Centre, and as a result the cost of YAR 2019 is slightly higher. The upside is this provides more time to pause and deepen our practice together rather than spending three hours per day working on the land. This YAR will offer a deeper dive into meditation and more nourishing experience for young people prior to the busyness of Christmas.
Unit: $524 members* / $594 non-members
Camping: $433 members / $454 non-members
This fee includes six days of food and accommodation, and a small materials fee. This does not include dana / kōhā for the facilitators.
Inclusivity remains a core value of YAR and we encourage you to apply for support if the cost is a barrier. Funds have been donated to Wangapeka to offer support for people who cannot afford the retreat but want to attend; this is called ‘Sangha Support’ and operates like a scholarship. To apply you need to contact the Wangapeka caretaker directly.
Why Dana / Kōhā for the teacher?
Dana operates like a sliding scale; it translates as ‘generosity’ and is at the core of everything at the Wangapeka. Jaime and Elli invite dana – a gift from the heart given by each according to their means. Bring cash for this offering.
Jaime is the founder and Director of Opening Minds. He has been developing and delivering programmes of mindfulness in schools since 2002. He has a Masters in Education and over fifteen years of mindfulness training. Jaime spent three and a half years as a resident practitioner at the Wangapeka Study and Retreat Centre. He is a founding facilitator of the Young Adult Retreat and a Director of The Immeasurable School of Wisdom and Compassion. A graduate of a three-year school of Living Dharma, he weaves ritual, meditation and dance with a vision to create awakened communities and has worked for over a decade as a facilitator and Director for rites of passage in Aotearoa.
Elli grew up in the Wangapeka community, attending retreats at the Centre throughout her upbringing. She has since been a participant and facilitator at YARs, rediscovering and sharing a passion for the Dharma with her peers and mentors. Now a secondary school teacher in Wellington, she is involved with the Mindfulness for Change community, which pursues systemic change through mindful action. Elli has facilitated Open Space sessions at hui throughout Aotearoa, values yoga in her personal practice, and has held a regular Women’s Group space for the last seven years dedicated to mindful collective healing.
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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