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Detailed List of Retreats

"Doing Your Own Thing" Self Retreats are available throughout the year between the Conducted Retreats (and occasionally on weekends).

This symbol indicates that the retreat is held in Noble Silence throughout, except for periods of instruction, discussion or interviews.

Retreat
21 March 2024
  • From Fear To Fundamental Well-Being: Healing Relaxation, Yoga And Meditation

    Teacher: Albert Osel (Buhr) and Lulu Erasmus
    Cost: 3 days accommodation + R400 surcharge
    Dates: Thursday 21 March 2024 - Sunday 24 March 2024

    albert st mammes osellulu erasmusAlbert and Lulu will offer a relaxation retreat with methods to soothe and balance the nervous system, and heal the mind from excessive negative thought patterns. Counteracting the contractions of chronic stress will help participants access states of bliss, clarity, peace and kindness.

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    Albert Osel has travelled the world to learn the best methods for subduing the stress response, after he recovered from debilitating anxiety himself. A former novice monk, he now runs workshops for people struggling with severe anxiety, and facilitates mindfulness programs in the corporate environment. As a member of Harvard's Langer Mindfulness Institute he has taken his workshops to an international audience. His book, Angel of Fear, was published in 2016.

    Lulu Erasmus is a certified hatha yoga teacher, reiki healer, EFT tapping practitioner, Theta healer, Thai massage therapist, past-life regression therapist and Ecstatic Awakening dance teacher, with years of experience in movement therapy and other embodiment practices.

28 March 2024
  • Open the Heart And Still the Mind: The Joy Of Heartfelt Presence

    Teacher: Sue Cooper
    Cost: 4 or 7 days accommodation + R400 surcharge
    Dates: Thursday 28 March 2024 - Thursday 04 April 2024

    sue cooper 202128 March 2024 - 1 April 2024 or 28 March -  04 April 2024

    This Easter long-weekend Open the Heart and Still the Mind Compassion Retreat with clinical psychologist Sue Cooper, is held in Noble Silence and is offered either as a 4 night Easter Weekend retreat or as an extended 7 night retreat. Inspired by the wisdom teachings of the Dharma and of Buddhist and western psychology, we will cultivate mindfulness and compassion practices which calm the nervous system and help integrate body, heart and mind. As we learn to listen and connect more compassionately with ourselves, drawing silent support from the sangha (like-minded practitioners finding solace in the shared silence), we will discover that the containment of ennobling silence allows us to find the courage to honour and embody our authentic, heartfelt presence with greater confidence, clarity and joy.

    As we embrace the joys and the sorrows of life with a greater understanding of impermanence, we move beyond fear, shame and crippling self-doubt. This frees us from our habitual reactivity and from the curse of perfectionism. After establishing some stillness and calm in the mind and the heart, we will explore the Brahma viharas (the four divine abodes/ immeasurables) to cultivate greater kindness and compassion for ourselves and others. These compassion practices bring more appreciative joy, equanimity and wisdom into our lives, strengthening our capacity for more open-heartedness and healthier boundaries in our relationships. This silent retreat includes teachings, guided meditations, daily qigong, time to walk, rest and replenish, as well as short, individual sessions with Sue to deepen our insight and sense of well-being. There will be relaxing massages and mindful movement offered as optional extras (the cost of which to be confirmed), to support our embodied experience.

    Please note: There is a teacher's fee for this retreat, which is offered on a sliding scale, with reductions and payment plans on request.

    A pre-retreat individual session via Zoom/Whatsapp is required for newcomers or if you have not attended one of Sue’s residential retreats before. The fee for this will be the 50-55 minute medical aid rate and will be reduced if necessary. Please contact Sue on to arrange a time and for the course fee.

    CPD accreditation for health and mental-health professionals will be confirmed, at an additional admin fee of R375.

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    Sue Cooper is a Cape Town-based Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist, working in private practice since the early 1990's. She has a long-standing interest in the interface between psychological and spiritual approaches to self-discovery and inner healing, and has attended Buddhist meditation retreats, mainly in the Theravada tradition, for over 30 years, both in South Africa and at Gaia House in the UK. She has been inspired by the teachings of Ajahn Chah of the Thai Forest tradition, and is deeply grateful to her primary teachers: the late Godwin Samararatne, Kittisaro and Thanissara, Ajahn Sucitto and Stephen and Martine Batchelor. She has a particular interest in exploring how our practice enables us to embrace our humanness, integrating love and loss in our lives, so that we can live and die with compassionate awareness. She offers weekend and longer retreats throughout South Africa at Temenos, Mont Fleur, Blue Butterfly and Somerset Gift in the Western Cape; Dharmagiri Insight Meditation Centre and the Buddhist Retreat Centre in KwaZulu Natal; and Emoyeni Retreat Centre in the North West Province, as well as 6-8 week "Open the Heart and Still the Mind" courses, on-going weekly groups and monthly half-day/day retreats in Cape Town See: https://stillmindretreats.com and please contact .

05 April 2024
  • Active Hope - Practices For Difficult Times

    Teacher: Tsunma Tsondru
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R600 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 05 April 2024 - Sunday 07 April 2024

    tsunma tsondruHope does not sit on the threadbare couch clutching a lotto ticket, passively waiting for good luck. Hope wields an axe, actively breaking down the door in a crisis. We can’t escape that Earth is in crisis. It’s also ever-more evident that we feel this crisis within ourselves as personal crisis. There is creeping hopelessness, fatalism, anxiety, denial, and numbness - a disengagement from the natural world which sustains us. The inner crisis even has a name now: eco-anxiety. To hear the daily news is to hear the myriad ways in which humanity is sensing and expressing the eco-anxiety.

    How to respond to these crises? Can we better understand the eco-anxiety of these times? How should we live in these times? Within a framing of Active Hope, the weekend will be spent in group and solo practices from The Work That Reconnects, moving through the spiral of gratefulness, grief, and transformation that will unlock your unexpected resilience and creative power. Hope is waking up to the beauty of life, on whose behalf we can act. As Joanna Macy always says: I am so grateful to be alive at this time of great upheaval, because we are made precisely for these times! Mostly we will practise in silence. As much as possible we will practise outdoors, in contact with nature. The retreat will be held in an atmosphere of silence and introspection.

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    Tsunma Tsondru is a nun ordained by Tai Situ Rinpoche in the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. She met Buddhism through Louis van Loon at the BRC in the 90's. After working as a lawyer and environmental scientist, she left for Spain for a traditional Kagyu three-and-a-half-year retreat, followed by a second retreat of four years. Returning to Cape Town, she  served on the Board of the Southern African Faith Communities Environmental Institute - a multi-faith NGO - for 6 years and as its Executive Director. She later spent a 10-day intensive retreat with Joanna Macy, engaging with Macy’s “Work That Re-Connects”, which she teaches at the BRC and other places, Her particular interest is deep ecology, eco-philosophy and wilderness work, and the role that spirituality, ethics and connection/interdependence can play in transforming us and our economic and social systems in protection of the Earth.

08 April 2024
  • Beginner's Mind, Quiet Mind: Meditation Instruction And Practice For Meaningful Daily Living

    Teacher: Tsunma Tsondru
    Cost: 4 days accommodation + R400 surcharge
    Dates: Monday 08 April 2024 - Friday 12 April 2024

    tsunma tsondruIt is important for us to take time out from the incessant demands and fast pace of daily life. The BRC gives us a space to step off the wheel and the time to come home to the quiet, strong refuge which lies at our centre. Cultivating the natural state of peace and ease that lies there reveals our true nature - which enables us to not only help ourselves, but to help the world of which we are part. Then daily living becomes meaningful. This mid-week retreat will bring out our Beginner’s Mind through the practice of meditation. The time will be silent, quiet, and slow. There will be meditation instruction and guidance, formal sitting, and time for walking, writing, or staring into the distance. The retreat is suitable for those with or without meditation experience and will be held in an atmosphere of introspection.

    View teacher details
    Tsunma Tsondru is a nun ordained by Tai Situ Rinpoche in the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. She met Buddhism through Louis van Loon at the BRC in the 90's. After working as a lawyer and environmental scientist, she left for Spain for a traditional Kagyu three-and-a-half-year retreat, followed by a second retreat of four years. Returning to Cape Town, she  served on the Board of the Southern African Faith Communities Environmental Institute - a multi-faith NGO - for 6 years and as  its Executive Director. She later spent a 10-day intensive retreat with Joanna Macy, engaging with Macy’s “Work That Re-Connects”, which she teaches at the BRC and other places, Her particular interest is deep ecology, eco-philosophy and wilderness work, and the role that spirituality, ethics and connection/interdependence can play in transforming us and our economic and social systems in protection of the Earth.

12 April 2024
  • Finding My Voice - A Mindfulness Retreat

    Teacher: Annika Nicol
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R400 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 12 April 2024 - Sunday 14 April 2024

    annika nicolDo you struggle to speak your truth? Feel scared to say or sing what is in your heart? Many of us hold back and listen to the critical voices in our heads. Over time, we may start to feel blocked in our throats, scared to speak what we feel, to make sounds, or to sing. We make ourselves small and hide our voices - fearing rejection or judgment. Can you listen to yourself and appreciate the unique sound of your voice? Can you bring consciousness to the way you express yourself?
    On this Mindfulness retreat we will deepen awareness of our voices and bodies. We will work with movement and the sensations in our bodies to help us open our throats and give voice to our experience – in the here and now.
    You are invited to come and explore your unique expression - to connect with your voice, to speak and sound from your heart, to sing regardless if it is in tune or not... No previous singing or sounding experience needed to benefit from this retreat. This non-judgmental process, held in the safe container of a group, will support you to find your own authentic voice.
    There will be periods of silent and sound meditations, singing, sharing and enquiries. In between sessions the retreat will be held in silence.

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    Annika Nicol has been practising as a Clinical Psychologist since 1997. She is a trained singer. Her original degree was in Music and Psychology and her Master’s dissertation in Music Therapy. She worked as a Psychologist in the NHS while living in the UK for 10 years. Her work included Music and Movement groups for Mental Health patients. She has been involved in meditation and Mindfulness practices since 1999. She trained in Mindfulness Psychotherapy at the Karuna Institute in Devon(UK) from 2000 to 2009. Annika feels passionate about supporting others to be more present and connected to their bodies and voices - to be alive in the here and now. She currently lives and works in Cape Town and runs a private practice as well as leading Mindfulness retreats.

19 April 2024
  • A Weekend Of Ishta Yoga And African Sound

    Teacher: Buhle Mabanga
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R300 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 19 April 2024 - Sunday 21 April 2024

    buhle mabanga2023zawaditinashe oicJoin Buhle for a weekend of Ishta Yoga which is a blend of different styles of yoga practices. Ishta is an acronym for Integrated Science of Hatha, Tantra and Ayurveda, but also has deeper meaning in its Sanskrit roots that translates as “that which resonates with the individual”. As students, we each have our own path, and it is this very personal journey that Ishta Yoga seeks to encourage. In this full-rounded practice, you will also experience tapping, pranayama (breathwork) and inner child healing meditation. This retreat will also incorporate African indigenous music with Zawadi and Tinashe.

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    Buhle Mabanga is an accredited yoga and mindfulness teacher and founder of Nomvula Well-Being Movement. She began practising mindfulness, yoga and meditation four years ago with teachers Nandiva from Ishta Yoga and Mark Joseph from Mindful Revolution. In addition to her mindfulness and yoga work, Buhle is an artist, a children’s book author, a spoken word writer and a fashion designer.

    Zawadi Yamungu is a South African indigenous musician born in Kwa-Zulu Natal. She started her career with a local church group and was later exposed to acting, dance and composing music which enhanced her career as a professional artist. Umakhweyana, Ugubhu string bow and penny whistle are some of the instruments she plays. Working with Mbuso Khoza's African Heritage Ensemble, she has also collaborated with Gcina Mhlophe, Madala Kunene, Themba Mkhize, Nduduza Makhathini and other legends. 

    Tinashe is an indigenous instrument artist, hailing from Harare, Zimbabwe. His music - influenced by his late teacher - sparked the heart of his talent from a tender age. He plays the instruments mbira, flute, djembe drum and marimba. He has been with the Nomvula Well-Being as a sound healer and is uniquely talented.

03 May 2024
  • Yoga For Well-Being

    Teacher: Georgie Carter
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R300 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 03 May 2024 - Sunday 05 May 2024

    georgie carter2023Scientists maintain that the leading cause of disease is not hypertension, diabetes or cancer, but stress. Stress is the underlying cause of disease. We can endure short periods of enormous stress, but not extended amounts of prolonged stress. In this retreat we use the tools of yoga, pranayama, qigong, meditation and yoga nidra or guided meditation to calm the nervous system, to soften and open up the body and allow it to re-calibrate after the stress of daily life. Most often we find we are not able to sustain regular practice of yoga or meditation due to the “flood” of stress in our daily lives. Sometimes we simply haven’t been shown the tools to learn to cope with these pressures. However, the body has an amazing ability to re-balance and, in doing so, to heal itself. Just two nights away can give your mind a rest, calm the sympathetic nervous system, regulate blood pressure and re-balance your body to restore health and well-being. The retreat is suitable for everyone and lays the foundation for deeper practice, cleansing and energizing.

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    Georgie Carter has been practising Yoga for many years. She completed her 200-hour teacher training with The Jivananda Centre for Well-Being in 2010 followed by an intensive Iyengar yoga course in Rishikesh, India with Usha Devi in 2015. Her passion is to apply yoga to everyday life in order to find a balanced and better way to manage daily challenges, to enable us to live a more loving, compassionate and purposeful life. She has travelled to India many times to deepen her practice. She currently lives in the Natal midlands, where she teaches yoga.

06 May 2024
  • Picture your Soul with SoulCollage®️

    Teacher: Keryn Rowley
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R500 surcharge
    Dates: Monday 06 May 2024 - Wednesday 08 May 2024

    keryn rowleySoulCollage® is a creative, intuitive process that grants you the gift of insight into yourself. Using images, imagination and intuition, you will create individual collage cards that represent pieces of your soul. By using these cards, you will connect with the many aspects of yourself and learn to access the wisdom that is held within you. Be ready to unleash your inner creativity and to delve into the labyrinth of your being.

    The SoulCollage® workshop opened a new path for self-discovery and reflection for me. It was an enlightening experience, with Keryn as a knowledgeable and compassionate guide – K.S. Workshop participant

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    Keryn Rowley is an experienced teacher, photographer, committed wife, mother and grandmother, and passionate SoulCollage® facilitator. She lives in KZN, between a town house in Underberg and a farm house in Swartberg, with her patient husband and two small dogs. She is very eager to share her discoveries regarding SoulCollage® and how it enhances everyday life. When she is relaxing you will find her either with her camera, reading a book, making SoulCollage® cards or working on one of the children’s books she is hoping to publish.

10 May 2024
  • THE SHIFT EXPERIENCE: The Art of Being - Part 1

    Teacher: John Homewood and Michelle McClunan
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R600 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 10 May 2024 - Sunday 12 May 2024

    john homewood nov2019michelle mcclunanAre you ready for a life shift? John Homewood and Michelle McClunan bring their combined forty years of facilitating experience to this two-part retreat, providing you with a gentle, yet powerful process that will shift, awaken and nourish your whole being. You will leave this retreat greatly refreshed with a new and awakened perspective in life, taking with you practical tools to apply in shifting all areas of your life.

    The retreat will integrate transformational, yet practical spiritual teachings of Presence, Awakening and Creative Art Processes. This integration will help you clear blockages that may have prevented you from living a healthy, peaceful and abundant life. All creative experiences are process-driven, as opposed to being outcome-based, so no artistic experience or skill is required. You will leave with a deeper sense of peace; a more focused sense of life purpose and rekindled joy and with greater emotional and spiritual intelligence to navigate life’s challenges.
    Should you only be able to attend the weekend, Part 1, you will still gain much. However, investing in the whole 4 days will provide you the space to integrate and apply this Shift even deeper and more fully into your awareness.

    For more info on their work see www.journesyofawakening.com

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    John Homewood is an inspirational speaker, teacher and Life Coach, with a passion for sharing the wisdom he has learnt through years of self-reflection, study and life-lessons. He has a gift in conveying complex subjects in a way that is easily understood, integrated and assimilated. His greatest joy is to help others to see their own lives from a higher and broader perspective, and to feel the joy of the present moment. His insightful wisdom teachings will help to clear your mind of its emotional and mental ‘stuckness’ to move into flow. For more than twenty years, John has inspired many with his radio and TV talks, as well as interactive seminars, workshops and retreats in the private and corporate sector.

    Michelle McClunan is an astrologer, Life Coach and Process Art Facilitator and uses a multi-faceted approach to help people to understand themselves, and to navigate their lives and rediscover their true purpose and potential. Using her own non-outcome based creatively experiential methods, she will guide you into a receptive state, where you are able to receive signals and messages from the intuitive intelligence that resides within you. As you engage in this work, you start to shift old patterns of thought or behaviour that may be blocking you from living the rich and fulfilling life you deserve. Michelle counsels and coaches one-on-one and has facilitated workshops and retreats for eighteen years.

12 May 2024
  • THE SHIFT EXPERIENCE: Living In Joy - Part 2

    Teacher: John Homewood and Michelle McClunan
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R600 surcharge
    Dates: Sunday 12 May 2024 - Tuesday 14 May 2024

    john homewood nov2019michelle mcclunanAre you ready for a life shift? John Homewood and Michelle McClunan bring their combined forty years of facilitating experience to this two-part retreat, providing you with a gentle, yet powerful process that will shift, awaken and nourish your whole being. You will leave this retreat greatly refreshed with a new and awakened perspective in life, taking with you practical tools to apply in shifting all areas of your life.
    The retreat will integrate transformational, yet practical spiritual teachings of Presence, Awakening and Creative Art Processes. This integration will help you clear blockages that may have prevented you from living a healthy, peaceful and abundant life. All creative experiences are process-driven, as opposed to being outcome-based, so no artistic experience or skill is required.

    Part 2  will provide you the space to integrate and apply this Shift more deeply and more fully into your awareness. You will leave with a deeper sense of peace; a more focused sense of life purpose and rekindled joy and with greater emotional and spiritual intelligence to navigate life’s challenges.

    For more info on their work see www.journesyofawakening.com

    View teacher details
    John Homewood is an inspirational speaker, teacher and Life Coach, with a passion for sharing the wisdom he has learnt through years of self-reflection, study and life-lessons. He has a gift in conveying complex subjects in a way that is easily understood, integrated and assimilated. His greatest joy is to help others to see their own lives from a higher and broader perspective, and to feel the joy of the present moment. His insightful wisdom teachings will help to clear your mind of its emotional and mental ‘stuckness’ to move into flow. For more than twenty years, John has inspired many with his radio and TV talks, as well as interactive seminars, workshops and retreats in the private and corporate sector.

    Michelle McClunan is an astrologer, Life Coach and Process Art Facilitator and uses a multi-faceted approach to help people to understand themselves, and to navigate their lives and rediscover their true purpose and potential. Using her own non-outcome based creatively experiential methods, she will guide you into a receptive state, where you are able to receive signals and messages from the intuitive intelligence that resides within you. As you engage in this work, you start to shift old patterns of thought or behaviour that may be blocking you from living the rich and fulfilling life you deserve. Michelle counsels and coaches one-on-one and has facilitated workshops and retreats for eighteen years.

17 May 2024
  • From Seeking To Seeing - Mindfulness Meditation

    Teacher: David Gardner
    Cost: 2 days accommodation +R400 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 17 May 2024 - Sunday 19 May 2024

    Heavy is the root of light,
    Stillness is the master of movement.
    Who can by stillness, little by little
    make what is troubled grow clear?
    Who can by movement, little by little
    make what is still grow quick?
    To follow the Way
    is not to need fulfilment.
    Unfulfilled, one may live on
    needing no renewal - Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching (interpretation by Ursula K. Le Guin)

    dave gardner 2022In this retreat, participants can expect to be guided gently through the process of becoming mindful through meditation and movement. Dave will lead sitting meditation in the Zendo, as well as walking and moving meditation in the inspiring and nourishing sanctuary of space that the BRC offers. He will also facilitate intentional open discussions around the fire to stoke the wholesome sparks of enquiry and deep listening. Whether you are a beginner or committed practitioner, this process will empower you to cultivate presence, clarity, adaptability, creativity and patience. The retreat will be held in an atmosphere of noble silence and introspection.

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    David Gardner has been teaching for eleven years and studied meditation, yoga, martial arts, movement, acrobatics and dance with some remarkable teachers across the world. He formed 'Original Condition' - a meditation, mindful and creative movement practice that helps people to get started with theirs. He facilitates a learning environment where people can clearly see what obstacles are in their way, and provides transformative tools in the form of meditation and movement that empower people to turn perceived problems into solutions.

24 May 2024
  • Just Sitting Zen Retreat

    Teacher: Roux Malan
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R400 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 24 May 2024 - Sunday 26 May 2024

    roux malanDuring this silent retreat you will be introduced to a style of Zen that combines Just Sitting (zazen), High-Energy Chanting (okyo), Vocalized Movements (Mu-I-Tai) to cultivate strong Ki’ai (energy) and quiet awareness (Mindfulness) that will enable you to face your fears until they disappear. The retreat will commence and close with a short tea ceremony. The sessions will alternate between zazen, walking meditation, chanting and movement.

    On the Saturday night in union with Buddhists around the world, we will hold a traditional Wesak ceremony - a lantern-lit circumambulation around the Buddha Rupa. Wesak is the most important day on the Buddhist calendar, commemorating the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha nearly 2500 years ago and is traditionally held on the full moon of May.

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    Roux Malan lives in Somerset West where he leads a small community of Zen practitioners. He is an ordained Unitarian minister on the overseas role of ministers
    of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches in the UK and currently serves the Cape Town Unitarians as a Community minister. He developed a deep and enduring interest in Zen Buddhism after attending the Parliament of World Religions in 1999. After moving to Rondebosch, he attended a weekly lay-led Zen group facilitated by Ron Schiff and participated in a Zazenkai retreat at the Dharma Centre in Robertson with Heila and Rodney Downey. In 2023 Roux started practising with a USA-based Zen community and completed Jiki (Just Sitting facilitator) Training. He also participated in a 49-day Training Session and two Zazenkai’s. He has a deep interest in eco-spirituality and interfaith work.

31 May 2024
  • Nikki Brighton is Wild About Weeds: A Weekend on Edible Weeds with Walks And Talks On Rewilding

    Teacher: Nikki Brighton
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R300 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 31 May 2024 - Sunday 02 June 2024

    nikki brightonNikki's immersive experience will focus on finding and tasting weeds found in gardens and public spaces. During her retreat you will learn to identify various tasty edibles and surprise your palate while you forage for free food. She will inspire you to give free food a try. Nikki hosts regular walks in Howick, KZN Midlands, and is often invited to far flung places to share her enthusiasm for wild eating. SABC 2 recently screened a programme on her and her foraging expeditions. She was also featured in publications Grow to Eat, Getaway and the Daily Maverick. She has compiled two books: Mnandi - a taste of Mpophomeni - a recipe book that celebrates the cooks and gardeners of Mpophomeni township in KZN Midlands and includes a section on commonly eaten weeds and Wild About Weeds – an introduction to uncultivated food; guide to the most common edible weeds and uncultivated foods found in South Africa (probably the planet). Her retreat - is intended to stimulate curiosity and encourage foodies to explore and make the most of the delicious abundance of your area and to lighten your load on our planet.

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    Nikki Brighton is a writer and activist, well known in the Midlands for her passion for the environment and community. She is an enthusiastic locavore who has been instrumental in the establishment and support of Mpophomeni Conservation Group, the Slow Food Community of KZN Midlands, the REKO farmers markets and the Midlands Barter Markets. She loves nothing better than running bean seeds through her fingers, foraging for wild greens on walks along the river with her dog and delighting friends with entirely local meals, using unusual ingredients. She is a prolific blogger and uses every opportunity to raise awareness about the causes she cares about - local food, simple, creative living, animal rights, conservation and community. Nikki is listed as an influential woman in the Mail & Guardian 2021 Power of Women

02 June 2024
  • Qigong - Gently Nurturing Life

    Teacher: Dianne Franklin
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R300 surcharge
    Dates: Sunday 02 June 2024 - Tuesday 04 June 2024

    di franklinThe gentle movements that you will learn to do on this relaxed 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.

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    Dianne 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, Geshe Pende and Ken Holmes.

     
04 June 2024
  • Qigong - The Mindful Way To Serenity

    Teacher: Dianne Franklin
    Cost: 3 days accommodation + R300 surcharge
    Dates: Tuesday 04 June 2024 - Friday 07 June 2024

    di franklinThis course will flow from the first qigong course should you wish to stay and enjoy the full 5 days at the BRC. Although qigong predates Traditional Chinese Medicine, the movements we do in qigong today are also related to the energy 'qi' systems of meridians and acupuncture points, and work with the Five Elements and the related body organs. While mindfully practising these movements, you can strengthen your inner reserves and find serenity. Reward yourself by taking some time out to enjoy the BRC during the free time available during this retreat.

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    Dianne 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, Geshe Pende and Ken Holmes.

     

07 June 2024
  • Cultivating Mind-Heart Resonance Through Emotional Intelligence And Mindfulness

    Teacher: Shanil Harricharan
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R400 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 07 June 2024 - Sunday 09 June 2024

    shanil haricharan2021"What we have become is frequently the chief obstacle to our journey - an assemblage of defense mechanisms and anxiety management systems" -James Hollis, Jungian psychologist and author

    "Knowing thyself" is the first step towards enlightenment, according to traditional wisdom. This interactive weekend retreat will take you on an exciting journey of self-discovery, supporting you in peeling back the layers of conditioning that have constructed your current identity. Explore the timeless teachings of Rumi, Buddha, Krishnamurti, Jung, and others to learn more about the limitless potential of your unconditioned spirit. During this retreat, we will look into the present state of our mind, heart, body, and spirit, as well as learn about emotional intelligence and mindfulness to help you navigate this ever-changing and complex world in balance and harmony.

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    Dr Shanil Haricharan is an academic, activist, adviser, author, and coach. He has a varied professional and academic background in the public and non-profit sectors, having spent 13 years as a senior advisor on leadership and organisational development at the National Treasury. At the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance at UCT, he teaches and researches on emotional intelligence, public leadership, governance, organisational culture, and well-being. His doctoral study focused on the relationship between emotional intelligence and public leadership performance. At the Gestalt International Study Centre, he also completed the Gestalt International Organisation and Human Systems Development Programme.

14 June 2024
  • Reclaim Your Power: A journey to inner balance

    Teacher: Heike Sym
    Cost: 3 days accommodation + R300 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 14 June 2024 - Monday 17 June 2024

    heike sym2020We all have inner guidance and knowledge, but we don't always know how to access it and use it as the incredible gift it is. We are constantly trying to keep up with the ever-increasing pace and demands of our lives which leaves us with high stress levels and exhausted. On this retreat we will fortify our spirit, embrace our personal power, and allow our light to shine brightly again, the way the universe intended. Through talks, meditation, group work, transformational exercises, relaxation and conversation, we will journey back to our centre - to our most natural and balanced state of being. Deepening our connection with our inner self allows us to stand strong in our own personal power in the here and now. We will learn to listen less to the limiting, fear-based voices of our mind, and start aligning with our intuition, to our core that already knows that we are born as an unstoppable and magnificent force.

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    Heike Sym was born in Bavaria, Germany, and fell in love with South Africa when she arrived in 1993 to volunteer as a Child Care Worker. She specialised in behaviour and learning difficulties and as a Montessori therapist, trainer and counsellor. She taught at St Philomena's Children's home in Durban for over 16 years and was involved in social outreach projects associated with it. She has also taught and counselled at primary schools and has continued to develop her spiritual interests over the years. She is now embracing her calling as a medium, energy healer, numerologist, metaphysical profiler and teacher. She gives regular talks, courses and interviews on radio, and offers individual sessions.

21 June 2024
  • Going With The Flow: Integrating Meditation And Mindfulness Into Our Daily Life

    Teacher: Bruce van Dongen
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R300 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 21 June 2024 - Sunday 23 June 2024

    bruce van dongenThe aim of this workshop is to develop the tools that enable us to arrive gently and lucidly in the present moment, being aware of the ebb and flow of our moods and emotions and learning to be mindful instead of reactive in our interactions with others. Using the techniques presented, we will learn to train our minds to be centered on the present so that we can flow with the river of life instead of fighting against the current of our conditioning. There is great joy in being present, no matter what is happening. We will explore Kundalini yoga, which is a combination of stationary and dynamic poses and qigong (chi kung) techniques. These practices increase our energy level and give us the capacity to be fully present and integrated in our bodies and minds. This is a meditation-centered practice - not a physical yoga practice. The workshop will be varied to allow retreatants of all ages and levels of experience to derive great benefit from this very old tradition. Bring comfortable clothing and a sun hat.

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    Bruce van Dongen is a mechanical engineer. He has been practising yoga for many years and is a qualified teacher in the Hatha and Kundalini disciplines. He is a Director of The Waterfall Retreat and Environmental Centre and uses both nature and yoga as his soothing systems to balance the pressures of the corporate world.

24 June 2024
  • Rejuvenating The BRC: A Family Retreat With Children In Mind

    Teacher: Anisha Maharaj
    Cost: 3 days accommodation + R400 surcharge
    Children's rate at 50% of the cost
    Dates: Monday 24 June 2024 - Thursday 27 June 2024

    anisha maharajParents and children are invited to join a three-day retreat in the rolling hills of the BRC. Anisha will instill an appreciation of simple pleasures, joy and gratitude. The days will be filled with drumming, making art, mandalas and wind-chimes, nature walks, ubuntu story-telling and toasting marshmellows under the stars. Children of school-going age (8 years and up) must be accompanied by an adult.

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    Anisha Maharaj worked for several years in corporate and global business roles tapping creativity and inspiring entrepreneurship. It is her playful, sociable nature and an unwavering belief in ethics, morality and kindness that have shaped her Hygge (contented) lifestyle. She is artistic, a yoga lover, a tree-hugger, a dance enthusiast, and widely travelled - with a knack for unleashing the inner child and finding beauty in simple pleasures.

     

28 June 2024
  • Iyengar Yoga: Nudging The Body Into Shape And Health

    Teacher: Judy Farah
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R400 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 28 June 2024 - Sunday 30 June 2024

    judy farah2019Get moving again. The upsurge of interest in the ancient practice of yoga attests to its proven physiological and psychological benefits. Our sedentary, western lifestyle has stiffened our limbs and spine to such an extent that many people find the yoga asanas (poses) difficult to perform. Iyengar yoga evolved to deal with this problem - safely, without forcing the body into harmful contortions. Iyengar yoga uses simple, but carefully calibrated props and other supports to achieve postures that would otherwise be unattainable except after years of practice. This retreat is suitable for beginners and for those who may have practised other forms of yoga. It is an introduction to the Iyengar method. For those who wish to consolidate their practice to a deeper level, the additional 5-day retreat is strongly recommended (30 June to 5 July)).

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    Judy Farah began her yoga practice at the age of 18 and has been teaching Iyengar yoga for the past 20 years. She has travelled to Pune many times to study and practise under the guidance of Gurus, BKS, Geetaji and Prashantji. She has attended many seminars of visiting Senior Iyengar teachers and travelled extensively to study under various other Iyengar teachers. This included doing a 6-year Medical/Remedial Course with Stephanie Quirk. It is her ongoing devotion to yoga practice that is her driving force in life.

30 June 2024
  • Iyengar Yoga: Deepening Your Practice

    Teacher: Judy Farah
    Cost: 5 days accommodation + R400 surcharge
    Dates: Sunday 30 June 2024 - Friday 05 July 2024

    judy farah2019For those who wish to consolidate and deepen their yoga practice, this 5-day intensive retreat is highly recommended. Apart from increased levels of fitness and vitality, you will reap the benefits of being in the tranquil, natural environment of Ixopo. You will leave feeling stretched, relaxed and fit for life.

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    Judy Farah began her yoga practice at the age of 18 and has been teaching Iyengar yoga for the past 18 years. She has travelled to Pune many times to study and practise under the guidance of Gurus, BKS, Geetaji and Prashantji. She has attended many seminars of visiting Senior Iyengar teachers and travelled extensively to study under various other Iyengar teachers. This included doing a 6-year Medical/Remedial Course with Stephanie Quirk. It is her ongoing devotion to yoga practice that is her driving force in life.

     
     
05 July 2024
  • Self-care And Centredness - Finding And Keeping Your Centre

    Teacher: Tessa Pretorius
    Cost: 2 day's accommodation + R350 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 05 July 2024 - Sunday 07 July 2024

    tessa pretoriusWhy is it so difficult for us to be kind or gentle or good to ourselves? Perhaps it is because we have grown up within the paradigm that ‘good people put the needs of others first’. In other words, we believe that we need to sacrifice ourselves in order to show we care. Or, it could just be that finding time for self-care just means one more thing on the already unobtainable to-do-list. But what if caring for ourselves wasn’t that difficult? What if, by a few simple adjustments or re-tuning of your emotions, thoughts or attitude patterns, we could find that calm place on the merry-go-round where we were at our best and could deal with and handle what life throws at us with style. The Buddha’s teachings emphasise the importance of taking care of ourselves in order to be of service to others. The wisdom of this teaching tells us that when we are kind and good to ourselves, we are automatically much more so to others.

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    Tessa Pretorius is an ex-trauma counsellor, activist, philosopher and writer, and has been facilitating workshops on self-care and mindfulness for over sixteen years. She was trained by Patricia Cane (founder and creator of Capacitar International) whose work she has incorporated into training programmes for NGO's, hospitals, members of the justice system, the SAPS, the corporate sector and at various retreat centres. She believes self-care is essential for personal well-being and, as in Buddhist practice, essential to be of service to others. Tessa and her dog, Maggie, live at Emoyeni Retreat in the Magaliesberg.

12 July 2024
  • The Healing Power Of Music, Movement And Nature

    Teacher: Christel Andersen, Anja Gerbers and Harold Epstein
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R600 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 12 July 2024 - Sunday 14 July 2024

    cristelleanja haroldWe invite you to a weekend of tuning your instrument (your body heart and soul) through Sacred and Celebratory Music, Meditation and Contemplation, Morning attunement through breath, voice and prayer accompanied by the beautiful harmonic sound of the monochord. Incorporated will be:
    Gentle body movement - Chi Kung and Hatha Yoga (an elementary experience)
    Dances of Universal peace and Song Circles
    Goethean Nature Observation
    GIM - Guided Imagery and Music Journey with art process
    Guided meditations and toning (tree of life - Kabbalah)

    During the weekend we will spend time singing and dancing to sacred and celebratory songs and chants from various spiritual and universal traditions. No experience in dancing or singing is required. The essence of the Dances of Universal peace, are that they are heart-focussed and acknowledge the presence of the divine in each person. There will be ample time to enjoy the peace and beauty in the extensive gardens of the Buddhist Retreat Centre,and, of course, the delicious meals. It is in the participation of the shared experience of sound which brings great peace and healing into our hearts and to the world.

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    Christel Andersen is an experienced Souljourney group facilitator, nature and tourist guide,musician and GIM-music therapist. She has facilitated countless song circles, sound meditations and creative processes in a variety of settings. Her most poignant experiences of flow, Divinity and unity have been in these shared creative experiences.

    Anja Gerbers and Harold Epstein reside in Cape Town. They have been leading sacred song circles and the Dances of Universal Peace for numerous years. They are also founders of the Sacred Music and Dance Festival held in McGregor, Western Cape. Anja is a compassionate counsellor dedicated to healing trauma. She is passionate about supporting deep soul inquiry for holistic personal growth. She is an elder in the systemic constellations work in South Africa and holds a postgraduate certificate in Reflective Social Practice.

19 July 2024
  • Traditional Hatha And Raja Yoga

    Teacher: Duncan Rice
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R300 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 19 July 2024 - Sunday 21 July 2024

    duncanrice fullJoin Duncan for a weekend of reflection, rejuvenation, relaxation and restoration. The retreat is based on the ancient practices of hatha and raja yoga and is open to all levels of ability, including beginners, who wish to understand the fundamentals of yoga and develop, or deepen, their own practice. In the tranquil environment of the Buddhist Retreat Centre, we will discover how shatkarmas (cleansing techniques), asanas (postures), pranayama (control of the breath), mudra (gestures to manipulate and stimulate the energies in the body), bandhas (energy locks with the body) bring us into equilibrium. These traditional practices will help us to develop awareness of body, mind and breath. As the body gently opens like a lotus flower, and we start to release our past impressions, so the mind becomes relaxed preparing us for meditation. We will follow traditional guided meditation techniques in the meditation hall and in the labyrinth to quieten the mind, calm anxieties, recover balance in life and enhance creativity, insight and self-reflection.

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    Duncan Rice offers community-based yoga at "Yogam Yoga" in Durban. He has studied and lived in India for many years and has  followed the teachings of Patanjali (Ashtanga Yoga), Ayurveda and Hatha Yoga which are laid down in some of the oldest texts of yoga. His yoga is rooted in ancient tradition passed down by the teachers over thousands of years teaching that we are a multi-layered being from our physical body to your subtle body. Yoga is about creating health and equilibrium in our body, calming the mind and allowing us to be in touch and at peace with our true self.

     
26 July 2024
  • The Roots Of Sacred Drumming: Exploring Natural Rhythms

    Teacher: Richard Ellis and Marc Kress
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R500 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 26 July 2024 - Sunday 28 July 2024

    richard ellismarc kressDrumming and music-making are ancient ways of transcending our routine lifestyle, opening ourselves to spiritual realms of healing and creativity, which is experienced as liberating and rejuvenating. This is because the universe is a flux of pulsating rhythms and drumming connects us to these rhythms, thus facilitating a change in consciousness and a sense of belonging and well-being, which, in turn, promotes deep relaxation and healing. In this retreat, we will learn basic drumming techniques and explore rhythmic creativity  including a segment on Shamanic, Celtic, and Nordic Viking drum patterns which will be combined with meditation practice and contemplation. A Sound Journey meditation using exotic instruments will also be included. The objective of this retreat is to find a balance between the hands-on experience of drumming and its more profound spiritual effects on the human psyche.

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    Richard Ellis has been a drummer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist for the past forty years. He was a founding member of The Usuals with Kenny Henson. He formed the first all-percussion group Interitmo with Mike Mazzoni in 1997, and in 1999 started the first Drum Circle in Durban at the Bat Centre. Over the past twenty years he has conducted corporate team building, sound relaxation therapy and healing workshops with Marc Kress. He facilitates sound journey meditation/rhythm workshops on drums and percussion for all ages and levels of expertise. His mission is to connect people with their inner rhythm and sound, thereby helping to create a stress-free community.

    Marc Kress has been playing drums and percussion for more than 20 years and has been extensively involved in corporate team building and drum circle events. Marc has played in various bands such as the Interitmo Drummers and Mlilo. He has also collaborated with Richard Ellis in various percussion projects, sound-journey workshops and The Durban Drumbeat Festival. Marc believes that much like in the practice of yoga, drumming can lead to higher states of awareness, stilling the mind and transforming consciousness.

02 August 2024
  • Yoga, Mind, Body and Breath: A Journey to Self Discovery

    Teacher: Marc Kress
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R400 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 02 August 2024 - Sunday 04 August 2024

    marc kressThe practice of yoga brings the mind and body together, grounding us in the present, connecting us with where we are and what our body tells us about ourselves. Yoga is a process of re-connecting to our body and breath, coming back into the present moment. The ancient yogis realized that in order to be able to meditate effectively requires a healthy, strong body, so they developed yoga postures (asanas), cleansing techniques and breathing exercises (pranayama). Through regular practise of asanas, pranayama and meditation, yoga unlocks the deeper levels of our being. It is a way of moving into stillness in order to experience the truth of who we are. This retreat is open to beginners and experienced students. Please bring a yoga mat.

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    Marc Kress is a yoga teacher and percussionist living in Cape Town. He was attracted to the yoga path while travelling through India in 2003: “I discovered a path of self-practice and discipline that fulfils my desire to grow on a spiritual level by working with the body and mind”. Marc has been practising and studying in India and South Africa with various teachers in different styles of yoga, including Hatha, Vinyāsa, Iyengar, Sivananda, Tantra and Astanga. He has a Hatha yoga teaching qualification from the Yoga Alliance and is a certified Iyengar yoga teacher.

08 August 2024
  • Working With Polarities - The Mandala Practice

    Teacher: Clémence Kitching-Barres
    Cost: 3 days accommodation + R400 surcharge
    Dates: Thursday 08 August 2024 - Sunday 11 August 2024

    clémence kitching barresThis 3-day retreat will focus on the practice of drawing freehand mandalas, and was developed over years of teaching practice. The archetypal form of the mandala helps on a number of levels in education, starting with the innate sense of geometry and harmony we can develop in the young child and in higher grades the practice itself which calls forth concentration. It is a wonderful tool to either centre a child who is lost in the periphery, or widening the horizon of a child who is clinging to their centre. The results are always beautiful and meaningful.

    As a practice for adults, the mandala reveals a "snapshot" of our inner cosmos and allows us to create order and centeredness in place of chaos. Clémence will present her study of the mandala through human experience (religion, psychology, astronomy) and we will then explore the polarities of centre and periphery, curved and straight lines, order and chaos, through movement and drawing. We will follow several methods of structuring a mandala to experience the different results they produce in our inner space. No previous drawing experience is needed. Basic equipment, some colour mediums and papers will be provided. It is advised, however, to bring your favourite art medium and suitable paper (watercolour, acrylics, pencils, ink, charcoal) should you be already practised in artwork. Venessa will lead the morning and evening meditation sessions, To end the workshop, we will contemplate our gallery of artworks and reflect on the practice of creating meaning and beauty in our daily lives.

    Venessa will lead morning and evening meditation session. With its gifts of focus, stillness and serenity, mindfulness can be seen as the spiritual equivalent of a physical mandala where we become attuned to the "content" of the landscpe around us.

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    Clémence Kitching-Barres is a multidisciplinary Waldorf teacher with an atypical journey. Born in Paris, she pursued her studies in London where she encountered Buddhist philosophy. She worked in theatre and film, engineering and architecture. She then settled in South Africa to start a family and developed her interest in education while teaching at her children’s school. Bringing art and crafts in the maths and science classroom, with meaningful results, is her daily joy.

16 August 2024
  • Nature Nurture Nourish - Mindful Movement And Yoga

    Teacher: Carey Would
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R300 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 16 August 2024 - Sunday 18 August 2024

    carey would"Nature dwells in both directions, not just outside us. Our inner world is also nature. Our minds and bodies are manifestations of the evolution of the living earth.”  Rewilding - Micah Mortallis,

    Through mindful movement and yoga - at times challenging and at times playful - we will ground ourselves into the body. Through mindfulness based meditation, with careful, considered attention and compassion, we will explore the mind. With joy, we will immerse ourselves in nature -  making simple crafts and playing games, teasing our inner child out - and  perhaps find a hidden gem.

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    Carey Would has been teaching yoga for over ten years, and is an accredited Mindfulness Facilitator. As her own practice has evolved, so too has her teaching. She teaches inclusively for all levels and at a pace best described as slow, and mindful. Recently, she has also deepened her appreciation of nature by becoming a Nature Facilitator within the Kinship Programme, whose overarching mission is to cultivate a critically conscious community who practise and advocate for sustainable living. Alongside her yoga and mindfulness practice, she is focused on child-led, immersive, inquiry-based learning in nature. Her classes which fuse nature, mindfulness and yogic principles together have been described as ‘a balm for the nervous system’.

23 August 2024
  • Three Treasures For Mindful Living - A Pathway To Balance

    Teacher: Bridget Hawkins
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R350 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 23 August 2024 - Sunday 25 August 2024
    bridget hawkinsIn this retreat we will explore three fundamental areas of our human experience - The Three Treasures - a healthy body, a happy heart, and a clear and present mind to create an awareness of and implement techniques for harmony and balance in everyday life. This will be a relaxed retreat, incorporating blended sessions of yoga and qigong, meditation and breath work. There will be time to explore our creativity with an introduction to Neurographic drawing - a mindful automatic style of drawing developed by Russian psychologist Pavel Piskarev. The premise is that we are able to rewire our neural pathways when practising this style of meditative drawing. It is a simple, therapeutic technique which does not require artistic experience. We will also examine and practise breathing techniques and spend quiet time in reflection and meditation in nature which will include forest bathing. Our collective energy will enhance both our individual and group experience and the program is one that you are able to implement in your life beyond the retreat.
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    Bridget Hawkins has immersed herself in hatha yoga for twenty years, teaching both adults and children’s yoga for the past eight years. Her desire to expand her knowledge led her to teach a blended form of yoga and qigong where she found that both disciplines had a synchronistic, energetic flow which was therapeutic. Two years of further research into various mindful practices, including Neurographic drawing, led to the formation of a beta program where participants spent a month implementing mindful practices, improved eating habits and exercise, as well as creative endeavours. This beta program then became the foundation of The Three Treasures Mindful Living Program. Currently, Bridget teaches her blended yoga and qigong sessions in Westville where she also runs collaborative workshops.
30 August 2024
  • Relaxation: Opening And Relaxing The Heart And Mind

    Teacher: Pippa Cope
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R400 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 30 August 2024 - Sunday 01 September 2024

    pippa copeEverybody experiences tranquility from time to time, because this open quality of mind is natural to us all. Yet, often our bodies and minds tighten and freeze to life’s challenges and stresses, even though creative solutions and expansive ideas are most likely to arise from a relaxed state. Healing Relaxation - designed by the late Akong Tulku Rinpoche, a wise Tibetan Buddhist healer - is a simple, highly practical, yet profound programme which helps people repair the strains and tensions resulting from the conditions of modern life, and prevents them from developing in the first place. Relaxation and awareness practices can enhance our ability to access calm, expansive states of mind intentionally throughout our day. In this workshop, we will explore the benefits of developing calmer states of mind, and learn effective relaxation, breathing and visualisation techniques.

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    Pippa Cope has been involved with the Tara Rokpa Therapy Process, Healing Relaxation, a creative fusion of Tibetan and western Wisdom, since 1997, and was authorised to practise as a senior helper in South Africa. Having worked in the caring, therapeutic and development fields in the UK, Zimbabwe and Sri lanka, she is currently a resident at Tara Rokpa Centre, Groot Marico.

01 September 2024
  • Enquiring Into The Tibetan Schemata Of The Five Elements Of Earth, Water, Fire And Space Externally And Within Ourselves

    Teacher: Pippa Cope
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R400 surcharge
    Dates: Sunday 01 September 2024 - Tuesday 03 September 2024

    pippa copeThe five elements provide a dynamic system of understanding life. They make up the world around us and are in all living organisms - only the proportions differ. When the elements are in balance there is ease and harmony, when out of balance there is dis-ease and disharmony. The balance is constantly changing within and around us.
    To help us learn how to work with this ever-changing balance of the elements in a positive way, we first have to get to know them. In this retreat we will become familiar with the characteristics and qualities of each, and observe their interaction. At the same time, we learn to observe our mind-body states in relation to the elements. There will be guided relaxation and creative work around each element, including observation and creative activities. Optional gentle mindful movement before breakfast will be offered. Please bring loose, comfortable clothing suitable for outdoor activities.

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    Pippa Cope has been involved with the Tara Rokpa Therapy Process, Healing Relaxation, a creative fusion of Tibetan and western Wisdom, since 1997, and was authorised to practise as a senior helper in South Africa. Having worked in the caring, therapeutic and development fields in the UK, Zimbabwe and Sri lanka, she is currently a resident at Tara Rokpa Centre, Groot Marico.

03 September 2024
  • The Strengthening Power Of Imagery: Regaining Hope And Wisdom In Difficult Times

    Teacher: Prof Leonina Kaestele
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R300 surcharge
    Dates: Tuesday 03 September 2024 - Thursday 05 September 2024

    leonina kaesteleImagination is more important than knowledge - Albert Einstein

    As children,we possessed a vivid imagination as we lived in magical worlds of imagery. In our imagination, trees could become beings, and nature spirits could suddenly emerge from behind a tree. Even as adults, we can develop imagery that connects us with our inner strength, enhances our creative potential and supports us, developing skills to deal with uncertainties and a changing world. In this workshop you will learn how to use selected images to heal your heart and to develop meaningful tools, which will enhance your resilience and enrich your life. Guided walks in nature will help to fill you with positive energy and to meditate on your own future and the future of the world. This workshop is for everybody interested in diving into your imagination, and discovering inner pearls to cope with difficult life situations. Professionals - psychotherapists, social workers, educators - and anyone interested in health and well-being are welcome. By focusing on both the theoretical and practical aspects of imagery, this workshop aims to empower individuals and professionals to utilize imagery techniques for both - your clients and your personal life. The retreat will be followed by two zoom meetings supporting you to come home to yourself.

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    Prof Leonina Kaestele lectures at Hochschule Niederrhein, in Mönchengladbach department of Social Work. She owns her own institute in Munich (www.institut-imago.de) where she teaches Imagery, Guided Imagery and Music (BMGIM) and other modalities.

06 September 2024
  • Practical Consciousness - A Simple Guide To Raising Your Consciousness Part i

    Teacher: Dash Singh
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R300 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 06 September 2024 - Sunday 08 September 2024

    dash singhIn the hustle and bustle of everyday life, finding harmony can feel like an elusive dream. But what if we told you that balance is not only achievable but also transformative? Join on a journey to unlock the secrets of mindful living and conscious growth. From navigating work-life balance to nurturing relationships and personal well-being, discover practical tools to cultivate clarity, calmness, and insight. Through affirmations, meditation,journaling, visualizations, and more, immerse yourself in a soul-nourishing experience filledwith enriching discussions and deep rest. Together, let's tap into the power of our minds and forge meaningful connections. Let’s also connect with a growing community dedicated to awakening consciousness and embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery, empowerment, and conscious living and discover the limitless potential that resides within you.

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    Dash Singh is an entrepreneur, Consciousness Advocate, Inspirational Speaker and businessman who is dedicated to aligning his passions with the universal ethos of consciousness. With a rich background spanning over eighteen years, Dash has embarked on a profound journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. Inspired by renowned thought leaders such as Dr Wayne Dyer, John Kehoe, Tony Robbins, Robin Sharma, Deepak Chopra, and Dr Shefali, he has immersed himself in the study of consciousness and personal development. With a BSc and NHD in Engineering, along with a postgraduate qualification in business management, he brings a unique blend of academic rigor and entrepreneurial spirit to his endeavours. Having spent significant time in the corporate world, he has transitioned to follow his entrepreneurial and consciousness passions, carving out a path that resonates with his innermost values. He sees himself as a perpetual student of consciousness, constantly seeking to elevate his vibration and make a positive impact on the lives of others. His mission is simple yet profound: To raise the consciousness of as many people as possible and hence leave the planet a better place than he found it.

08 September 2024
  • Delving Deeper Into Practical Consciousness Part 2

    Teacher: Dash Singh
    Cost: 2 days accommodaion + R300 surcharge
    Dates: Sunday 08 September 2024 - Tuesday 10 September 2024

    dash singhReady to dive deeper into the mysteries of the subconscious mind and unlock your full potential? In Part 2 of our transformative retreat we will explore the profound wisdom of Universal Consciousness. From delving into Quantum Mechanics to unravelling the secrets of Quantum Time, discover life-changing techniques that will empower you to live your “best life”. Join the small number of people who have embraced these ancient teachings and are experiencing newfound freedom and fulfilment. Enjoy this opportunity to embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment and create your path to conscious living and boundless possibilities!

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    Dash Singh is an entrepreneur, Consciousness Advocate, Inspirational Speaker and businessman who is dedicated to aligning his passions with the universal ethos of consciousness. With a rich background spanning over eighteen years, Dash has embarked on a profound journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. Inspired by renowned thought leaders such as Dr Wayne Dyer, John Kehoe, Tony Robbins, Robin Sharma, Deepak Chopra, and Dr Shefali, he has immersed himself in the study of consciousness and personal development. With a BSc and NHD in Engineering, along with a postgraduate qualification in business management, he brings a unique blend of academic rigor and entrepreneurial spirit to his endeavours. Having spent significant time in the corporate world, he has transitioned to follow his entrepreneurial and consciousness passions, carving out a path that resonates with his innermost values. He sees himself as a perpetual student of consciousness, constantly seeking to elevate his vibration and make a positive impact on the lives of others. His mission is simple yet profound: To raise the consciousness of as many people as possible and hence leave the planet a better place than he found it.

13 September 2024
  • Thoughts, Words, Breath And Blood - A Story Writing Retreat

    Teacher: Dorian Haarhoff
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R400 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 13 September 2024 - Sunday 15 September 2024

    dorian haarhof 2019head thoughts tumble down

    down into the ribbed well of breath.
    pure water rises drawn
    in the bucket of the heart (Dorian)

    How do thoughts and words affect our body? How does the body in a meditative state help us choose the thoughts and words that will nourish us and give us life? How does this dance affect the constant self-talk that happens inside our heads and inside our mouths? Come and explore how a consciousness of story can help us to choose a path of grace.

     

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    Dorian Haarhoff - writer, story-teller, mentor. For 25 plus years the BRC has enriched his life and practice. Passionate about developing innate creativity and imagination, he believes in the power of stories to spread loving kindness. To bring healing. To guide us into the here and now. To build our belonging. Dorian is a former Professor of English (Namibia) basing his retreats on his workbook The Writer’s Voice. His poetry appears in Quiet Food and he when grows up he would like to be Poet Dorieate of his spiritual home - the BRC.

15 September 2024
  • Write Away At The BRC

    Teacher: Dorian Haarhoff
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R300 surcharge
    Dates: Sunday 15 September 2024 - Tuesday 17 September 2024

    dorian haarhof 2019A word is dead when it is said, some say. I say it just begins to live that day - Emily Dickinson

    Are words and ideas stuck in your head? Want to shake them loose? Need inspiration and writing company? Create a word space? Befriend words/let words befriend you? Then this retreat is for you. Create a piece or craft one in process. So come away to the BRC to write away. In this retreat you’ll find encouragement and safe support. Breathe in the hills, dam, trees and walking paths. This retreat offers you:

    prompts galore (lit matches)
    solo and group time plus one-on-one support
    fireside stories

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    Dorian Haarhoff - writer, story-teller, mentor. For 25 plus years the BRC has enriched his life and practice. Passionate about developing innate creativity and imagination, he believes in the power of stories to spread loving kindness. To bring healing. To guide us into the here and now. To build our belonging. Dorian is a former Professor of English (Namibia) basing his retreats on his workbook The Writer’s Voice. His poetry appears in Quiet Food and he when grows up he would like to be Poet Dorieate of his spiritual home - the BRC.

20 September 2024
  • Somatic Movement - Ease of Being

    Teacher: Lisa Firer
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R400 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 20 September 2024 - Sunday 22 September 2024

    lisa firer 2024Join Lisa for a deeply relaxing and nourishing weekend of mindfulness-based Clinical Somatic Movement. Exploring the communication between the brain, nervous system and muscular-fascial systems, we will learn about pandiculation, nature's way of releasing built-up tension from the body. Slow down and learn gentle practices to help release chronic muscle tension that underlie pain and stress in body and mind. Develop your inner awareness and bring comfort and ease to your body. Basic Mindfulness practices and meditations will be woven throughout the retreat. This weekend is suitable for everyone and will meet you where you are. All bodies welcome!

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    Lisa Firer is an artist and facilitator. Focused on embodied learning, her approach is strongly rooted in mindfulness and movement. She trained to teach the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction programme in 2005 at the University of Massachusetts, USA, Centre for Mindfulness and has a certification in teaching Mindfulness-based Interventions from Stellenbosch University. Lisa is also an internationally accredited Biodanza facilitator, a system of human development using music and movement. She is Level 3 facilitator of somatic movement exercises through the Somatic Movement Centre and has a certification in Pain Reprocessing Therapy.

24 September 2024
  • Chi Kung - Standing like a Tree To Power Up Your Chi

    Teacher: Paul Dorrian
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R300 surcharge
    Dates: Tuesday 24 September 2024 - Thursday 26 September 2024

    paul dorrianZhan Zhuang (‘Standing like a Tree’) Chi Gung is unlike most other Chi Gung styles, in that with the exception of changing from one static posture to the next, the practitioner remains absolutely still, whilst developing a mind like still water. Regarded by many contemporary Masters as the most powerful of all Chi Gung practices, it opens all of the nine energy portals in the body, and encourages one’s chi (life force) to flow powerfully throughout one’s entire being. In this retreat Paul will teach the Five Posture Zhan Zhuang Set, which assists in developing a strong physical structure as well as creating a greater supply of healing chi to promote health, vitality and an increase in physical energy. The benefits of Zhan Zhuang also include the cultivation of a better posture as well as reducing tension in one’s muscles, thereby assisting the practitioner to live their life in a more relaxed manner.

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    Paul Dorrian is a former international management consultant, author and speaker. His interest in improving employee wellness in the work place led him to teach Chi Gung and Tai Chi Chuan. Paul has studied these disciplines under various teachers in the UK and Spain, and with the late Master Dr Nico Snyman, his current teacher Master Marleen Bilas and with his Grandmaster Dr Lin Feng-Chao. He now teaches Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang style and Chi Gung in the Pa Tuan Chin, Healing Sounds and Zhan Zhuang styles at his school, the Lin Li School of Tai Chi Chuan, and with private students, in Pietermaritzburg.

27 September 2024
  • Stillness-Dancing

    Teacher: Lisa Firer
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R400 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 27 September 2024 - Sunday 29 September 2024

    lisa firer 2024Stillness is what creates love. Movement is what creates life.

    To be still, yet still moving—that is everything! - Do Hyun Choe Japanese Master

    Biodanza, mindfulness and somatic movement are blended together in this weekend of dance, meditation and nourishing mindful movement.

    Biodanza: an integrative system that combines movement and music in a group setting to support human flourishing.

    Mindfulness: the awareness that is revealed when we pay attention in the present moment with openness, curiosity and non-judgement.

    Somatic movement: Gentle conscious moving from the inside out to sense and feel the body-mind.

    In movement and stillness, we will explore embodiment, self-expression and self-compassion. If you need to move, feel more connected and at ease in your body, cultivate vitality, connection and joy, this is the weekend for you. No experience is needed; all bodies are welcome!

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    Lisa Firer is an artist and facilitator. Focused on embodied learning, her approach is strongly rooted in mindfulness and movement. She trained to teach the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction programme in 2005 at the University of Massachusetts, USA, Centre for Mindfulness and has a certification in teaching Mindfulness-based Interventions from Stellenbosch University. Lisa is also an internationally accredited Biodanza facilitator, a system of human development using music and movement. She is Level 3 facilitator of somatic movement exercises through the Somatic Movement Centre and has a certification in Pain Reprocessing Therapy.

04 October 2024
  • The Moon In The Water

    Teacher: Stephen Coan
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R400 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 04 October 2024 - Sunday 06 October 2024

    stephen coan2024Many religions and philosophies come across as men-only affairs, Buddhism is no exception: male voices dominate, reflecting gender and cultural biases both past and present. During this retreat we will hear the voices of the many women in the Zen Buddhist tradition, from the first millennium to the modern day, including the first female Zen Master Chiyono from the thirteenth century (she dropped a water bucket and found her life) to more recent Zen teachers such as Maurine Stuart. Their thoughts and their luminous poetry will shine a light on our daily lives and support us in our practice throughout this gentle Zen-style silent retreat, which will include sitting and walking meditation, a discussion period, and time to enjoy the beautiful grounds of the Buddhist Retreat Centre.

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    Stephen Coan has been teaching and retreating at the Buddhist Retreat Centre for over three decades. Inspired and informed by the Theravada and Zen Buddhist traditions, his retreats place emphasis on the centrality of practice in living a skilful and enlightened life while also exploring the interface between poetry and silence and the profound benefits of doing nothing, seriously.

10 October 2024
  • Cultivating Peace Through Patience And Perseverance: Yoga, Breathwork And Mindfulnes

    Teacher: Marrion Clarke and Carey Would
    Cost: 3 days accommodation + R400 surcharge
    Dates: Thursday 10 October 2024 - Sunday 13 October 2024

    marrion clarkecarey wouldPatience is a virtue, Virtue is a grace and Grace is a little girl who never washed her face....

    Nature's classroom will help us land, grounded in the loving arms of Mother Earth where the wise old trees sway gently in the breeze, whispering secrets of patience, perseverance and presence. Through gentle yoga, breathwork, mindfulness practices and communing with nature, we will explore with curiosity how to cultivate peace.  We will collectively cultivate the virtues of patience and perseverance, and look towards nature to show us the art of being fully immersed in each moment's beauty. When we water our soul's garden with these virtues, we create fertile ground for divine grace to flourish within us.

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    Marrion Clarke found yoga at a crossroads in her life. Needing to make urgent lifesttyle changes to heal,she completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2014, followed by her 300-hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training 8 years later under the guidance of Cheryl Lancellas of Devahiti Yoga. Yoga engenders an intense responsibility to live in alignment with nature, and its transformative power keeps us grounded, focused and accountable on and off the mat. Marrion is passionate about sharing the asanas and philosophy of yoga and embracing our shared humanity.

    Carey Would has been teaching yoga for over ten years, and is an accredited Mindfulness Facilitator. As her own practice has evolved, so too has her teaching. She teaches inclusively for all levels and at a pace best described as slow, and mindful. Recently, she has also deepened her appreciation of nature by becoming a Nature Facilitator within the Kinship Programme, whose overarching mission is to cultivate a critically conscious community who practise and advocate for sustainable living. Alongside her yoga and mindfulness practice, she is focused on child-led, immersive, inquiry-based learning in nature. Her classes which fuse nature, mindfulness and yogic principles together have been described as ‘a balm for the nervous system’.

18 October 2024
  • Finding Meaning And Purpose - Buddhist Insights Into The Nature Of Mind

    Teacher: Ven Khenpo Jamyang Gompo
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R400 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 18 October 2024 - Sunday 20 October 2024

    ven khenpo jamyang gompoWe all wish to have happiness and avoid the uncomfortable feelings that seem to dominate our daily life; feelings of dissatisfaction, unease, anxiety that keep us awake at night, our agitation with loved ones and anger towards others. It is times like these that create uncertainty and a feeling of helplessness; we want to be happy, contented and have a sense of peace in our hearts. Khenpo Jamyang Gompo will gently guide participants to a deeper understanding of how these emotions arise and how we can find a sense of meaning and purpose in whatever circumstances we find ourselves.

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    Ven Khenpo Jamyang Gompo was born in 1971 in South India and enrolled at early age as a novice monk at Sakya Monastery in South India and studied under many eminent masters of his tradition receiving many teachings including both oral and explanatory transmissions and empowerments. He received recognition for his learning from his teachers and was thus conferred Khenpo Title/ Degree in 2015, which is equivalent to a Geshe degree. After completing his monastic education, Ven Jamyang worked as Abbot of the Sakya Monastery, Mundgod, South India. Later, he was appointed as Director of the same monastery for five years. Being fluent in English and well versed in Buddhist philosophies and meditation practices, he is knowledgeable in other fields of learning including Tibetan literature and linguistics and has a good grounding in and understanding of modern Sciences.

25 October 2024
  • On Being “No-thing-ness”: An Existential Buddhist Exploration Of The Self As The Struggle To Exist

    Teacher: Jason Ross
    Cost: 3 days accommodation + R350 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 25 October 2024 - Monday 28 October 2024

    jason ross oct2019Many people arrive at a retreat setting with an underlying struggle that they may hope to address. Western Psychology has many diagnostic terms, explanations, and treatment strategies for these struggles. Psycholog has also increasingly incorporated Buddhist methods, primarily “mindfulness”, into its treatment strategies. This, however, introduces a contradiction in how the “self” is understood. Western Psychology conceives of the self as a “thing” that can be treated. Whereas Buddhism views attachment to the idea of this self as a cause of our suffering. In a move away from traditional psychology and through a critical comparison of Existential philosophy and Buddhist practices, this retreat wil explore the sense of self as the “struggle”. We will explore the therapeutic value of sitting, walking and talking, with an attitude of “being with what is”, as a means of addressing this struggle. The retreat is intended as a therapeutic experience and will involve philosophical discussion, sitting and walking practices, basic yoga (no experience required), written reflection, and therapeutic group discussion.

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    Jason Ross is a decidedly non-clinical psychologist practising in KwaZulu Natal. He has worked extensively in the fields of sexuality, relationships, addiction, and trauma. He first began studying Buddhism under the guidance of Rob Nairn in 1997, over the years he has been increasingly influenced by figures such as Stephen Batchelor and has developed a particularly secular practice of Buddhism. He is currently completing a PhD in Philosophy and Psychoanalysis through the Global Centre for Advanced Studies where he is exploring the potential relationship between Buddhist practices and Existential Practice in carving out a new therapeutic method. He explores how Existential Buddhist notions of “emptiness” and “non-self” challenge the conventions of Western Psychology. This has led to the development of a “Contemplative Existential Analysis” that is post-Buddhist and post-psychological in theory and method. Jason, therefore, offers a more radical approach to both therapy and Buddhism. He and his partner, Fiona Brittion, have set up The Centre for Purposeful Living, a suburban retreat centre on the North Coast of KZN that offers retreat-style live-in therapy stays as analternative to conventional therapy and the clinic setting.

01 November 2024
  • Discovering And Appreciating Italian Vegetarian Cooking

    Teacher: Rosetta and Mario Giuricich
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R500 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 01 November 2024 - Sunday 03 November 2024

    rosetta and mario giuricichAt the heart of Italian culture is food. Food represents life: from the bounty that nature provides into the hands of the skillful cook to create a masterpiece, a skill that is passed down from generation to generation. The respect for and the appreciation for the natura lsource of ingredients in Italian cooking allows for the simplicity in the preparation and the unique taste of each dish prepared. Mother and son duo, Rosetta and Mario, have been passionate about Italian cooking their entire lives; a passion instilled in them from spending valuable time with Nonna Maria in her kitchen from young. In this retreat, we will showcase the simplicity and unique taste of some of Nonna Maria’s vegetarian Italian cooking: from slow-cooked Sugo di Pomodoro (Tomato sauce), fresh egg-pasta and the rich flavours of the Melanzane Parmigiana (Eggplant parmesan) of South Italy, to the more cream and butter-based sweets of North Italy, such as Tiramisù and Biscotti di Limone e Mandorle (almond and lemon biscotti).

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     Rosetta and Mario Giuricich, mother and son duo, have both been deeply passionate about Italian cooking from a young age. Under the watchful eye of the maternal grandmother Nonna Maria, Mario was taught the skills underpinning Italian cooking. He further developed these skills by undertaking various part-time classes at the Silwood School of Cookery in Cape Town. Mario is an actuary with a PhD in Financial Mathematics. Rosetta is a medical doctor, practising in Cape Town.

08 November 2024
  • Open The Heart And Still The Mind : Infusing Mindfulness With Metta And Compassionate Wisdom

    Teacher: Sue Cooper
    Cost: 5 days accommodation + R400 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 08 November 2024 - Wednesday 13 November 2024

    sue cooper 2021This 5 night Open the Heart And Still the Mind retreat is an immersion into nourishing and ennobling silence and is an opportunity to cultivate and deepen your meditation practice with a heart-based focus. Sue offers an integration of the psychological and spiritual dimensions of this path of compassionate awareness, combining her 40 years of meditation practice with her extensive experience as a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist.

    We will draw on the support of nature and the teachings that are revealed by practising in the exquisite environment of the Buddhist Retreat Centre, where the truths of impermanence and our inter-connectedness with each other and with nature express themselves daily, through the beauty and wisdom of the ever-changing conditions.
    We will cultivate a safe and nourishing home within, inspired by the wisdom and practices of the Brahma Viharas (the Four Immeasurables), which deepen our capacity for loving- kindness (metta), spacious inner freedom, appreciative joy and compassionate wisdom and action.
    In addition to the silent and guided meditations in all postures, there will be daily qigong, gentle, mindful movement and additional, optional massages offered to enhance our embodied experience. Sue will incude short, individual sessions throughout the retreat, as well as time for reflection, journaling, walks in nature and deeply replenishing rest.

    This retreat offers a 15% discount on all accommodation, as well as a free Stillmind Journal to members of IMISA (Mindfulness Institute of SA), and carries a teacher's fee for all retreatants, offered on a sliding scale. Please contact Sue directly on for further details and to arrange a recommended pre-retreat session. Her website link is https://stillmindretreats.com/event/retreat-infusing-mindfulness-with-metta-compassionate-wisdom/.

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    Sue Cooper is a Cape Town-based Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist, working in private practice since the early 1990's. She has a long-standing interest in the interface between psychological and spiritual approaches to self-discovery and inner healing, and has attended Buddhist meditation retreats, mainly in the Theravada tradition, for 40 years, both in South Africa and at Gaia House in the UK. She has been inspired by the teachings of Ajahn Chah of the Thai Forest tradition, and is deeply grateful to her primary teachers: the late Godwin Samararatne, Kittisaro and Thanissara, Ajahn Sucitto and Stephen and Martine Batchelor. She has a particular interest in exploring how our practice enables us to embrace our humanness, integrating love and loss in our lives, so that we can live and die with compassionate awareness. She offers weekend and longer retreats throughout South Africa at Temenos, Mont Fleur and Somerset Gift in the Western Cape; Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat Centre and the Buddhist Retreat Centre in KwaZulu Natal; and Emoyeni Retreat Centre in the North West Province, as well as "Open the Heart and Still the Mind" courses, on-going weekly groups and monthly half-day/day retreats in Cape Town See: https://stillmindretreats.com and please contact .

13 November 2024
  • Qigong - Gently Nurturing Life

    Teacher: Di Franklin
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R300 surcharge
    Dates: Wednesday 13 November 2024 - Friday 15 November 2024

    di franklin2023The 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.

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    Dianne 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, Geshe Pende and Ken Holmes.

     
15 November 2024
  • Meditation For Beginners And Qigong For Relaxation

    Teacher: Elizabeth Gaywood and Di Franklin
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R350 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 15 November 2024 - Sunday 17 November 2024

    elizabeth gaywooddi franklin2023At the best of times our minds run riot leaving us exhausted, stressed and often difficult to live with! The simple act of closing our eyes and focusing on our breath can do wonders for our body and mind, but at the root of our tension and dissatisfaction is something that we should investigate more fully for meditation to be beneficial. This is what we will be experimenting with during the weekend and together with the calming energy and gentle movements of qigong, you will begin to feel more at peace and at ease.

     

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    Elizabeth Gaywood has been involved in Buddhism since the 1970’s, and co-founded the Tibet Society of South Africa in 1995. She is the current chairperson and co-ordinator of the TSSA and, over the years, has been involved in the visits of his Holiness the Dalai Lama, and other Tibetan teachers to SA. She has travelled to India many times, mainly to receive Teachings and visit monasteries, and to attend Tibet Support Group meetings. She has conducted courses on Meditation for Beginners in Durban for the past 12 years and has completed training in Transformative Mindfulness Methods, which has accreditation from the University of Toronto, Canada.

    Dianne 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, Geshe Pende and Ken Holmes.
22 November 2024
  • The White Stork Displays Its Wing - A Beginner’s Introduction To Yang Style Tai Chi

    Teacher: Paul Dorrian
    Cost: 2 days accommodation + R300 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 22 November 2024 - Sunday 24 November 2024

    paul dorrianThe White Stork Displays Its Wing -  A Beginner’s Introduction to Yang Style Tai Chi, or to give it its full name, Tai Chi Chuan, has often been regarded as a dynamic form of Qigong, or ‘the cultivation of energy’ to help regulate one’s system and prevent disease, thereby leading to the development and maintenance of good health and well-being. Most people associate Tai Chi with flowing, graceful movements. Yet there is much more to the practice of this ancient Chinese art. The great Yang Tai Chi Master T.T. Liang (1900-2002), stated that there are four categories into which the principles of Tai Chi fall, namely health, self-defence, mental accomplishment and the road to immortality. In this retreat, Paul will demystify Tai Chi using the Yang style, which can be traced back to Ch’en Wang Ting (1597-1664). Paul’s intention is to inspire retreatants to further investigate Tai Chi and to find a teacher near their home.

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    Paul Dorrian is a former international management consultant, author and speaker. His interest in improving employee wellness in the work place led him to teach Chi Gung and Tai Chi Chuan. Paul has studied these disciplines under various teachers in the UK and Spain, and with the late Master Dr Nico Snyman, his current teacher Master Marleen Bilas and with his Grandmaster Dr Lin Feng-Chao. He now teaches Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang style and Chi Gung in the Pa Tuan Chin, Healing Sounds and Zhan Zhuang styles at his school, the Lin Li School of Tai Chi Chuan, and with private students, in Pietermaritzburg.

29 November 2024
  • Natural Grace, Effortless Joy

    Teacher: Charisse Louw
    Cost: 2 days accommodation +R400 surcharge
    Dates: Friday 29 November 2024 - Sunday 01 December 2024

    charisse louw“The most common form of despair is not being who you are.” - Kierkegaard

    As humans we live here amongst the “family of things,” yet somehow separate. This illusion of separation the Tibetan Buddhists term Maha Bekandze – the Great Suffering. Join Charisse at the BRC to dissolve into the bliss that is your true nature. Together we will practise various forms of meditation. All of life is a meditation in that it calls us to pay attention. In curious mindfulness we will find our playful connection to Life itself.

    Through guided conscious dance, process art making, free writing, immersion in nature, sitting in silence, walking, eating, talking, singing, listening deeply, practising yoga and qigong, you will gently be led back to your oneness, your emptiness, which is true love. You will surrender into your natural grace and choose joy.

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    Charisse Louw has been facilitating retreats since 2017. In her twenties, yoga changed everything for the better and she went on to study in Indian ashrams. She deepened her meditation practice in Japanese Buddhist temples and has  sat Vipassana and ZaZen regularly She studied qigong in the Chinese Dragon’s Teeth Mountains and most recently trekked Nepal solo. All of these adventures brought her home to her heart in humble gratitude again and again. She currently lives in Noordhoek where she loves raising her teenage children, lecturing at the University of Stellenbosch in Visual Studies, while hosting regular qigong circles, workshops and retreats.




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Wishlist

If anyone would like to get involved by donating goods to the Centre, please see the much-needed list of items below, or email :  

  • Single and double bed linen (Beige or White)
  • Bath mats (Beige or White)
  • Bath and hand towels (Beige)
  • Indigenous trees
  • Vegetable seedlings
  • Bonemeal
  • Large gardening tools
  • Garden tables and chairs
  • Brush cutters

Contact Us

Office hours:
Weekdays: 08:00 to 1200 and 14:00 to 16:00:
Saturdays: 08:00 to 09:00 and 13:00 to 14:00
Sundays: 08:00 to 14:00

Email: (preferred communication)

BRC Mobile numbers:
066 395 4682
082 579 3037

BRC Emergency number:
082 741 7901

Durban mobile number:
082 466 8306 (Chrisi)

Physical address:  D64, Nirodha Farm, Ixopo, 3276
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GPS coordinates: 30°06'15.4"S 30°02'46.6"E

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