Breathe, Move and Savour – a Mindful Eating and Moving Retreat
With Juliana Griese, Nicky Woodward and Laksmi Crick
25th-29th May
In this retreat we are going to undertake some explorations to become more aware of our body before, during and after eating. We will find ways to deepen our connection with our bodies, practicing to distinguish the different hungers that are part of our human nature and need to be respected (physical, social, pleasure and emotional or the 9 hungers as Jan Chozen Bays teaches). We will explore the gut-brain connection through bringing attention to the way we move, and learn to create neurological balance and ease within our being. By doing these activities together, we can learn to eat without guilt or shame and operate from a place of care and love for ourselves and the world. Collectively, these activities will enable us to eat without guilt or shame and operate from a place of care and love for the whole aspects of ourselves and the world.
“Some people have to go to India. Some people believe they need gurus or esoteric practices. But you have food—and it is your greatest teacher. If you are willing to engage with yourself rather than run from yourself, and if you are willing to be steadfast and not get seduced by the newest greatest diet, you already have what people go to India to get.” ~ Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything, by Geneen Roth.
So, let the food be your Guru!
Jan Chozen Bays, the doctor and zen buddhist teacher, author of “Mindful Eating, a guide to rediscovering a healthy and joyful relationship with food”, says that it is our birthright to eat healthy using our inner wisdom, the one that is with us since the beginning. Life circumstances can upset this capacity and we can find ourselves confused around our food choices ending up with a loud inner critique that is self destructive. Through Mindful Eating we can rediscover this innate wisdom and bring back the joy of eating in a way that connects us to a healthy and good life.
Food and eating are so much a part of our everyday lives. What if we were to pay more attention to the how and the why and begin to appreciate what we are hunger for? When we are present and aware of our food and eating habits we can ask ourselves questions such as: What am I really hungry for? Am I listening to my body and soul when I eat? Am I comfortable with food, with eating and with my body? With these questions in mind, we can start to appreciate and differentiate where our desire stems from (Is it from the body? Is it from the mind? Is it from the soul?). Developing this awareness allows the possibility for something new to arise. When we can begin to understand our relationship with food and eating, we can begin to nurture and fulfill our deepest needs for love, care and meaning in a more authentic way.
We invite you to join us on this massive journey of awakening, self-knowledge, and care! We call it a massive journey because it sometimes feels impossible to go in another direction. It is so hard to overcome challenges such as compulsive eating, battling with weight and body image, lifelong conditionings that play out in the mind and body, and eating habits that are contributing to chronic diseases…But if you can come with the willingness to learn and adapt, you will discover your own tools, and find that they are available to you – all the time: awareness, connection with the body and self love.
Everybody is welcome!
Costs
Cost includes food, cook fee, accommodation and resource fee.
Wangapeka Member: $424 (hut/unit); $352 (camp)
Non Member: $464 (hut/unit) $364 (camp)
Dana/Koha: Our role as workshop guides and facilitators is not included in this price. To let the energy flow and contribute you can choose to give what is in your heart combining with what is possible for you at this moment. A Dana/Koha box will be available at the Centre.
Facilitators
Juliana Griese: I’ve been exploring and sharing progressively since 2007, meditation (mindfulness). I was trained as a Mindfulness Instructor in Brazil. In 2016, I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue and an autoimmune disease and realized that my relationship with food, eating and my body was full of struggling and masking something deeper that I needed to address. Mindfulness, a lot of inquiries and studies helped me a lot. It became my path for awakening and I believe that through exploring this with a community is part of my growth and healing.
Nicky Woodward: I have a professional background in health and have been involved with mindful movement through education, rehabilitation, Yoga and personal practice for over 30 years. I am a NZ registered nurse, certified Awareness Through Movement© (ATM) teacher, and NZ Guild certified Feldenkrais practitioner (2010). I have been influenced by a number of teachers over this time, and as part of this have studied with both Tarchin Hearn and Leander Kane at Wangapeka.
I completed an Advanced Yoga Teacher Training programme with Donna Farhi (2000), Ruthy Alon’s Bones for Life programme (2009), and I attend regular somatic movement seminars and Advanced Feldenkrais teacher training programmes. More information about my practice, current work and interests can be found from my Movement Rewired website – movementrewired.co.nz
Laksmi Crick: has practiced meditation for 25 years; which has underpinned/anchored the twists and turns of life. She has worked as a gardener, cook, outdoor instructor, support worker and massage therapist; loves the connections between many heart-centered, holistic traditions and sharing the human experience. A privilege to cook, be with the group and to support this amazing work!
Information and Registration
If you would like further information, please feel welcome to contact the Course Manager: Nicky Woodward nickywoodwardnz@gmail.com
To register please fill out our online registration form
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