PLEASE NOTE: This retreat is now FULL. Registrations received from now, will go on a WAITING LIST.

                Calming the nervous system to remember a deeper stream of wisdom

                                               A retreat for young adults aged 18-35

To truly pause is rare and difficult in this fast-paced life. Many young people are exhausted from overwork, pressured to succeed in a world where priorities are shifting rapidly, confused about pathways and angry about their planetary inheritance. The Young Adult’s Retreat (YAR) offers a chance for the much-needed pause as a doorway to connect with what is really moving in us. 

The end of the year is a perfect time to treat yourself to a week of nourishing calm. The Wangapeka Centre provides a naturally beautiful environment in which to do this. We invite you to pause for a week and connect with the earth and sky and the living world between, supported by a community who value the sense of belonging that meditation practice can offer.

YAR is a place where the younger generation is formally invited to step out of the rush and tap into wisdom from both ancient and contemporary contemplative traditions. The retreat has developed over the last six years in response to the needs of young people in our community.

The focus for YAR 2019 is making time to deepen into the practice and understanding of meditation and mindful living. We will explore this through creative exercises including body-work to release tension in the nervous system, periods of solitude to develop an independent body of practice, nature connection inquiries and a range of Open Floor dance explorations. 

Course cost:

For the previous six years YAR has offered a three hour work period in exchange for reduced accommodation costs. It has been good to make the retreat affordable for a range of young people from many walks of life. The downside has been a tighter time frame, meaning people have not always found a place of deep rest. This arrangement has become unsustainable for the Centre, and as a result the cost of YAR 2019 is slightly higher. The upside is this provides more time to pause and deepen our practice together rather than spending three hours per day working on the land. This YAR will offer a deeper dive into meditation and more nourishing experience for young people prior to the busyness of Christmas. 

Unit: $524 members* / $594 non-members

Camping: $433 members / $454 non-members

This fee includes six days of food and accommodation, and a small materials fee. This does not include dana / kōhā for the facilitators.

Inclusivity remains a core value of YAR and we encourage you to apply for support if the cost is a barrier. Funds have been donated to Wangapeka to offer support for people who cannot afford the retreat but want to attend; this is called ‘Sangha Support’ and operates like a scholarship. To apply for this you need to contact the Wangapeka caretaker directly with your inquiry. 

Why Dana / Kōhā for the teacher?

Dana operates like a sliding scale; it translates as ‘generosity’ and is at the core of everything that happens at the Wangapeka. Generosity strengthens the giver and receiver. In keeping with the kaupapa of the Wangapeka, Jaime and Elli will not charge a set fee for their teaching. Instead, they invite dana – a gift  from the heart given by each according to their means. You will need to bring cash to make this offering. This is Jaime’s main source of income.

If you have questions about the retreat please contact the course coordinator, Ronnie Englard. YAR typically fills up fast so if you know you want to attend, we suggest you pay the $100 deposit and register now. 

About our facilitators

Jaime Howell

Jaime is the founder and Director of Opening Minds. He has been developing and delivering programmes of mindfulness in schools since 2002. He has a Masters in Education and over fifteen years of mindfulness training. Jaime spent three and a half years as a resident practitioner at the Wangapeka Study and Retreat Centre. He is a founding facilitator of the Young Adult Retreat and a Director of The Immeasurable School of Wisdom and Compassion. A graduate of a three-year school of Living Dharma he weaves ritual, meditation and dance with a vision to create awakened communities. Jaime has worked for over a decade as a facilitator and Director for the remembering and development of Rites of Passage in Aotearoa.

Elli Yates

Elli grew up in the Wangapeka community, attending retreats at the Centre throughout her upbringing. Since then she has been a participant and facilitator at YARs, re-discovering and sharing a passion for the Dharma with her peers and mentors. She is now a secondary school teacher in Wellington. Elli involved with the Mindfulness for Change community, which aims to pursue systemic change through mindful action. Elli has facilitated Open Space sessions at hui throughout Aotearoa. Yoga is an important aspect of her personal practice. She has held a regular Women’s Group space for the last seven years, and is dedicated to developing mindful processes for collective healing.

To register please fill out our online registration form

Register now

If using Paypal please add 5% of the total cost and include with your payment to cover Paypal’s fees – many thanks.

*Please consider becoming a Wangapeka member – click here for details.