Title: Mindfulness, Meditation and Snorkeling

Dates: November 12 – 19, 2022

Programme: Daily early morning gentle yoga practice. Daily mindfulness and meditation practice. Four snorkeling excursions.

Suitability: you should be able to swim 100 metres in the open sea unaided.

Excursions and extras: Excursion to the Naseruseru healing pools and village meke dance; tapa making demonstration – and snorkel trips as above.

Food: Mixed menu.

Itinerary:   Arrive Savusavu Saturday. Retreat starts Sunday morning, ends Friday evening. Depart Savusavu Saturday morning after breakfast.

Price:

Rear bure standard room:

Shared  room: AUD $1700
Single room: AUD $2050

Non-participating partner price (if sharing your bure): AUD$1075

Mindfulness and Meditation and the science behind it.

There is now a huge amount of research showing the benefits of Mindfulness and Meditation.  It has been shown to reduce stress, improve our concentration, our memory, thinking creatively and flexibly, and even build more brain cells.  It increases our positive emotions, builds empathy and emotional intelligence, makes us less anxious, and more accepting of ourselves and others, and leads to better relationships.  But have you ever wondered how?  If so, this course is for you.

You will learn what Mindfulness and Meditation are, and understand what is actually happening in your brain when you meditate, and why it is so effective that even companies are implementing it in the workplace.

A combination of workshops and practices will teach you the different types of meditation and by practicing each you will discover which are the most effective for you personally.

The guided sessions will include:

• mindfulness body scan, awareness of mood and emotions
• mantra
• mental image
• breath
• an open-eye, soft-focus practice
• meditation for compassion / kindness / self-compassion
• combinations of the above

The workshops and discussions will include:

• what is meditation / mindfulness
• physiology of what is happening in your body when you meditate
• living in the present moment
• what is happiness / the four happy chemicals in our brain
• how meditation and mindfulness work to make us happy
• how to become more optimistic
• gratitude / kindness

Snorkeling

Fiji is renowned for the abundant marine life of its reefs: colorful fish, hard and soft corals, mysterious invertebrates – all in the clear warm waters of the South Pacific.  Suspended in the waters above this wonder world is entrancing, mesmeric…..it’s a floating meditation, an opportunity to immerse yourself in another aspect of our planet. It is deeply and wonderfully complementary to the rest of the week.

Here’s materials you’ll need to bring.

• Rash vest for sun protection (you might like to bring a full body lycra suit for even better protection)
• Reef shoes
• Snorkels, masks and fins are provided although if you have your own you might prefer to bring them
• All equipment for meditation / yoga is supplied (mats, bolsters etc)