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Getting To Know The Birds At The BRC: 160 Birds Of A Feather
Teacher: Steve DavisCost: 2 days accommodation + R350 surchargeDates:
Join Steve for an enjoyable weekend of identifying some of the BRC’s 160 species of birds - including the summer residents, the rare Blue Swallow, Knysna Turaco and Emerald Cuckoo. Wake up to birdsong and walk the verdant hills and meadows close to where the Blue Swallows nest. The BRC has been awarded “Private Nature Reserve” status by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife for its conservation of the Blue Swallow and its pristine mistbelt grasslands. Included will be talks, slide shows, meditation and some quiet time communing with nature. Bring your binoculars and a sunhat.View teacher detailsSteve Davis has been watching birds since moving to South Africa in 1975, and has travelled in most parts of southern Africa and many countries around the world. He has presented numerous talks and courses on birds, is presently Honorary President of BirdLife eThekwini KZN and a previous member of the KwaZulu-Natal Rare Birds Committee. He has written two books with his late friend, Roy Cowgill - one on the birds of Durban reserves and one on shorebirds identification. He is a passionate wildlife enthusiast, having expanded his interests to butterflies, dragonflies, trees, flowers and geology, and is a keen wildlife photographer. He is a Chemical Engineer by profession, and is Head of Sugar Technology at the Sugar Milling Research Institute in Durban. -
Qigong - Gently Nurturing Life
Teacher: Dianne FranklinCost: 4 days accommodation + R350 surchargeDates:
The gentle movements that you will learn to do on this relaxed mid-week course will help to build your immune system and improve your general well-being. The mindful way in which you move will work on your internal organs as you generate energy 'qi'. You will also have time to roam the beautiful grounds of the BRC as you take time out to relax and recharge.View teacher detailsDianne Franklin is an Advocate in private practice. She has been studying Buddhism and qigong for more than twenty years. She is a student of Max Weier, the Qigong Master from Switzerland. Her teachers include Rob Nairn and Ken Holmes. -
A Personal Retreat : Rest, Reflect, and Restore – 15% discount mid-week
Teacher: Krishia Schilz and Shogan ParkerCost: Number of days' accommodation
15% discount offered on June/July mid-week bookingsDates:
As autumn approaches, we invite you to take a break and join us for an unstructured personal retreat. During your stay, you can enjoy gentle yoga, qigong, massage therapy, and meditation - to promote relaxation. Alternatively, you may choose to simply enjoy the tranquillity of the space, embracing the art of doing nothing. Imagine cozying up by a warm fire, savouring delicious vegetarian meals, and immersing yourself in silence. This time out offers a slower rhythm, allowing you to step back from the busyness of life and find peace within.View teacher detailsKrishia Schilz is a qualified Bereavement Counsellor specialising in Grief and Loss, as well as Trauma Containment. Her spiritual path led her to Yoga in which she is certified in various styles. Krishia completed her training in the beautiful Bali, before locating to Thailand in order to teach. Her practice includes: yoga , pranayama (breath work), meditation, Yoga Philosophy and healing massage treatments.William (Shogan) has been practising meditation for nearly 20 years, cultivating stillness and inquiry. He took precepts with Dae Chong, Osho at Poplar Grove and now leads morning and evening zazen at the BRC, weaving verses from the Dhammapada into meditation for reflection and insight. With a keen interest in how the Dharma might evolve in an AI-driven, multiplanetary future, William embraces both tradition and possibility. He also guides qigong in the mornings and offers tai chi in the afternoons, integrating movement into mindfulness. His practice is an invitation - to sit, to move, and to explore the ever-expanding nature of awareness.