Mindfulness Weekend Retreat - Hepburn Springs

Three Day Silent Mindfulness Retreat | 19 - 21 August 2022 | Hepburn Springs, Vic
With Maggie O'Shea

Hold still and listen
The faint and distant rhythm that is your own

and follow and follow and follow

Until you recognise yourself in your step

Settle into your own relieved body

and follow and follow and follow

Until you know yourself once more and remember

Until you vow to yourself to never get lost again

That with each adventure out into the world

you will come home to yourself

and rest

excerpt from the poem Follow Yourself Home by Jane O'Shea

This annual 3-day/2-night mindfulness & compassion retreat has a focus on deep rest as the starting point for restoring the body, mind and heart, so that we can re-connect to our own unique life’s purpose. It includes meditation, gentle yoga & guided relaxation, some non-structured time for relaxing in front of the fire, and long walks in the beautiful bush surrounds. You may wish to enjoy lunch at a local cafe in Daylesford or Hepburn before checking in around 2:30pm after which - depending on what the Covid guidelines are at that point - we may do a group excursion down the hill to the Bath-house, or stay on-site for a massage or the unique Turkish Steam Hammam experience. A gentle restorative ‘letting go’ yoga session will also be offered before our Arrival Dinner at 6:30pm.

The retreat will take place in the beautifully refurbished 1920s Continental Guesthouse, perched high in the bushland of Hepburn Springs, and just across the road from the Goldfields Walking Trail. The retreat will mostly be silent, but with times for connecting & sharing with other participants, including for most of the Friday. Guidance will be provided by Maggie as we practice mindfulness in movement, yoga and stillness.

All delicious & nutritious vegetarian meals are included - including yummy desserts, cake and good quality coffee! We will finish by 3pm on the Sunday.

Rest and restore

The space, time and good food and company will enable you to dissolve stress and holding and restore your energy for life.

Deepen your mindfulness practice

Sustained, restful practice over the three days will deepen your sense of presence and focus.

Take in the good

Let go of an orientation of 'doing' and 'managing' and embrace moments of ease, support, delight and stillness.

Register Here

Details

daisy flower spring - pricing for mindfulness retreat

Prices

Single Room with ensuite (superior)
Price - $890 - One room available
Single Room with ensuite (standard)
Price - $840 **FULLY BOOKED**
Twin share with ensuite (verandah)
Price - $690 per person **FULLY BOOKED**
Twin share with ensuite (standard)
Price - $640 per person **FULLY BOOKED**

Date and Time

Friday from 3pm, August 19th to Sunday 3pm, August 21st, 2022
The retreat will commence officially with our arrival dinner at 6pm on Friday, however you are warmly invited to check in from around 2:30pm and join a group for a Turkish steam experience onsite or an excursion to the Hepburn bathhouse. The retreat will conclude around 3pm Sunday.

Venue and Catering

Continental Guesthouse, Hepburn Springs
9 Lone Pine Ave, Hepburn Springs, Victoria 3461

The retreat will take place in the beautifully refurbished 1920s Continental Guesthouse, perched high in the bushland of Hepburn Springs. All food – delicious & nutritious vegetarian meals – will be prepared by a local caterer specialising in slow food.

A typical schedule might include:

7:30-8:30am Yoga
8:30-9:30am Breakfast
9:30-11am Guided Meditation
11:30-1pm Guided Bushwalk
1 – 2:30pm Lunch
2:30-3:30 Guided Relaxation, Compassion or Yoga Nidra practice
3:30 – 5pm Meditation &/or Optional Enquiry Circle
5-6:30pm Free Time
6:30-7:30 Dinner
7:30 – 9pm Talk followed by Meditation

Cancellation policy

Cancellations received up to or before 1 month before the event – the fee will be refunded less $110.
Cancellations received up to 10 working days before the event – 50% of the fee will be refunded.
Cancellations received 10 working days or less before the event – no refund will be made.
However, if a substitute person can be found so that Openground is not impacted financially there will be a full refund less 10% admin fee.

What is a secular retreat?

Secular means "of our age".

We offer retreats that are open to people of any and no faith. Our retreats are informed by both ancient knowledge and contemporary understandings about human flourishing, including scientific findings about health and well-being.

While mindfulness is a natural human capacity, we draw explicitly on the very practical teachings of the Buddha, which describe experiences that are shared by all humans. We bring understandings from Buddhist psychology to inquire into the nature of suffering and how to incline the mind towards freedom. We bring an interest in the the fields of neuroscience and psychology which continue to expand our understandings of how to live a fulfilling life with less struggle, and to make links to practical teachings that have existed for thousands of years.

Our retreats makes the practical learning from Buddhism, as well as modern science, available in an ordinary, secular and accessible way that is applicable in your everyday life.