Join us for a weekend retreat in Autumn from 28-30th April 2023. An opportunity to explore the abundance that autumn can bring, to soften, to let go, to take time to appreciate and nourish yourself, to gather inspiration and create space and a vision for new beginnings.
Autumn is the season for letting go, creating space for new beginnings. Nature naturally and beautifully lets go of that which no longer serves. Leaves fall to the ground in a graceful expression of release. At one point these leaves served a valuable purpose for the tree however there comes a time to let go of them and for them to become soil for the new growth.
On our Autumn retreat we will guide you in seeking to follow the lessons of nature and the seasons and our interconnectedness with the natural world around you. As humans, we’re intrinsically part of the natural world (even if sometimes we forget, or lose our sense of connection to it) and we experience our fullest expression of self when we learn to embody the energy of nature.
Why Retreat with us?
Autumn is the season of discernment: to harvest what is valuable and let go of the rest. It relates to the Metal Element and the organs are the Lungs and Large Intestine. The virtues of autumn are righteousness, courage, purity, openness and the ability to embrace change and have healthy boundaries.
On our retreat we will look at ways with movement, stillness, tonics, teas, oils and seasonal nutrition of for cultivating these virtues of Autumn as well as ways to prepare for winter, especially building up the lungs.
The quietude of being on retreat is a space in which to tune into some deeper self-awareness. Often repressed emotions and unresolved issues can surface and once we have greater awareness of these, they can assist in the letting go process. When we develop awareness of where our emotions go and how they present in our body we can work with this information to help to regain strength and clarity and more fully experience our authentic self. Often there can be fearfulness of the process of letting go, even when it’s healthy and right. We can seek to hold onto things, not trusting that change can be an opportunity for growth. Holding on causes stress, stagnant emotional energy and physical tensions, old thought patterning - thinking that holding onto things allows us to some how have more when really it just prevents us from creating the space to invite what we truly want in our life. Much of the time we don’t even realise what we are holding onto or we think that we have let go when in actual fact we haven’t. We usually don’t take time to ask ourselves what emotions or thought patterns do I want to let go of? Whether we want to release something internal or something outside of ourselves, we still have to first look within to transform our attachments.
On the other side of letting go exists a space of freedom and opportunity, more than we can possibly imagine. Once you’ve realised the energies and thoughts that no longer serve you, life opens up and you feel a deep sense of expansion and spaciousness. Space to create, to dream, to love, where we can truly fill ourselves up with who we truly are and what we want to become. By listening and hearing what our truest self yearns for, we can invite the emotions, thoughts and outward expressions that reflect our essence. We can manifest a new reality in our lives.
Wherever you are at in your life right now you are most welcome at our retreat, no need to wait for a right moment or think you should be a certain way before attending. For us there is no “right way” to be before attending our retreat, just embrace your courageous heart and show up for yourself. We will acknowledge any vulnerability or uncertainty you may be feeling and provide a caring compassionate haven in which you can be as you need to be.
You will be nourished by fresh lovingly-prepared wholesome food. We will provide you with recipe ideas that you can easily cook at home to provide continued nourishment and support after the retreat.
We encourage and support you to engage in opening up to new ways of being and thinking. Try something new, be it food, yoga, mediation, Qi Gong, aromatherapy or drinking herbal tea.
We acknowledge that there can often be resistance to trying something new, however we will gently and respectfully guide you to allow yourself to move through any resistance and create a new beautiful space in which change can take place.
Wonderful things can naturally occur when you take time away from your everyday living, to make space to truly listen to your body, mind, heart and soul, to connect with your inner landscape. Along with the experiences, information and insights you received when on retreat can come a fresh sense of clarity all of which sets the scene for cultivating the changes you intend to make in your life.
Our seasonal wellness retreat offerings are based on the simple principle of living a life in harmony and flow with nature which in turn creates harmony and flow within yourself. Embody wellbeing as a way of life.
What can I expect? What is The Longhouse?
Sometimes you just need a break in a beautiful place … enter The Longhouse. Nothing soothes the soul like a walk on the beach, getting on your “Blue Mind”, sleeping restfully at night under a star studded sky, detaching from the busyness. Our casa is your casa when you arrive. Keep your shoes at the door as this is a Barefoot Lux Accommodation. A perfect seaside coastal atmosphere with an epic mix of new and vintage, with authenticity and history at it's heart.
This extensive historic property has been sensitively renovated throughout ensuring modern comforts are luxurious and biophilic by design. Fresh white interiors ensure the space is light-filled and modern joinery & glazing provides for jaw dropping views whilst maintaining period features throughout such as battened high ceilings, heart rimu flooring and tongue & groove panelling.
Just 30 minutes north of Dunedin -- We are a home away from home where you can explore, connect & reset. For more information
Our Event Programme
Investment
Bring your bestie or come solo and treat yourself to a luxurious reset for the Mind, Body & Spirit.
Cost on a shared basis: $1150 per person
Own room/ single occupancy basis $1299 per person
20% payment due on confirmation. Balance of payment due 10 days prior to retreat.
Optional Extras
Infra Red Sauna: $40 for up to 2 people for 1 hour
Aromatherapy Massage: $90 for a 1 hour session
Please book these prior to retreat for scheduling purposes.
Food
You will be nourished by fresh lovingly-prepared whole organic plant-based food. We will provide you with recipe ideas that you can easily cook at home to provide continued nourishment and support after the retreat. Pricing includes all meals - breakfast, lunch & dinner. Afternoon tea & snacks included. Seasonal fruit platter available all day.
Retreat Hosts
Sharyn Crawford is a qualified Aromatherapist and has been offering Aromatherapy services for the past 25 years. She has studied many aspects of Aromatherapy as well as wide variety of other complimentary teachings including Ayurveda, TCM, Alchemy of Menopause, Qi Gong.
She considers herself very fortunate to have received these teachings from such amazing teachers worldwide. Her greatest teachings of all has been her own life experiences and her greatest learning was to take care of herself and make her own wellness top priority.
She has had the privilege to have been alongside thousands of people on their life journeys offering support, guidance, encouragement, a friendly listening ear and alongside aromatherapy treatments and consultations.
Ilse Erasmus has qualifications in finance and accounting and a post grad in viticulture & oenology. It was during her years working in the wine industry that she developed a real interest and passion for organic food production and started asking questions about conventional chemical agriculture and human health. More recently her own health journey instigated a rotation into more holistic integrative health & lifestyle practices which have prompted further study as a qualified integrative nutrition health coach and certified yoga teacher.
Our own life experiences are certainly our greatest teachers - without our health we have nothing. My own journey taught me that to fully heal we need to be the proactive protagonist in our healing. Vibrant wellness addresses all aspects of our lives; nurtures the mind, body & soul so that we can embody wellness as a way of life.
She is grateful every day for the opportunity to share, love , learn and journey beside her fellow humans. As the owner of The Longhouse she is passionate about creating a retreat that allows you to reconnect with nature (te Taio); reconnect with your inner consciousness and reconnect and celebrate each other.
Stephen Parker (PHD)
Your guide Stephen Parker (PhD), a herbalist, wild-crafter and outdoor educator will teach you traditional uses of introduced and native plants. You will learn how to ethically and sustainably harvest wild medicinal plants, and learn techniques of walking meditation and nature therapy.
Stephen runs Gathered Plant Medicine and promotes living aligned and connected to nature, teaching how seasonal foraged plant medicines can be key to optimising our health and vitality.
Darran Ingram
Darran is a transformational Life and Leadership Coach, Mindful Somatic Trauma Therapist and an Internationally certified breathwork facilitator. This combination of coaching and therapy, will support and guide you on a personal journey inwards, to discover, learn and experience how you can access your conscious and subconscious mind which will provide you with greater awareness in your life, leading to greater feelings of joy, peace and fulfilment. You will learn a range of simple techniques and strategies that have a powerful effect for your body, creating a greater sense of peace and calmness in your life.