Yoga and Mindfulness Ocean Retreat: Rest, Restore and Re-connect to Purpose

Thursday 28th November –
Sunday 1st December 2024
Wongarra (near Apollo Bay), Victoria

“What kind of ancestor do you want to be?”

— Anishinaabe elder Michael Dahl

This four-day Restorative Yoga & Mindfulness Retreat offers a unique opportunity to deeply rest and re-connect with nature and your own unique life’s purpose - “What kind of ancestor do you want to be?” Enjoy your own scenic tour along the Great Ocean Road before check-in & Devonshire tea at 3pm, followed by our first restorative session. After dinner and our Welcome session, we will commence a ‘warm silence’ that will continue until our celebration brunch on Sunday (Maggie will continue to provide guidance and support throughout).

The retreat will include: slow flow & restorative yoga & other guided movement, mindfulness meditation, ocean and waterfall walks, guided deep rest nidras, circle enquiry, guided journaling, delicious meals, and free-time just for relaxing and taking in the soothing ocean view. You can also add in a massage session with an on-site local masseur. The retreat offers embodied ways to settle and nourish the nervous system, reflect on and process the year that was, and re-align with your chosen values and purpose for 2024 and beyond. Ideally participants will have completed a foundational mindfulness training such as the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction or Mindful Self Compassion course or a previous retreat, but if you are a keen beginning practitioner, please still be in touch to discuss.

Seacroft Estate is a former Monastery set on 15 acres on the Great Ocean Road, with beach access and stunning 180-degree ocean views. The yoga and meditation sessions will be held in the Chapel, with meals shared in the lovely old guest lounge and dining area – both of these buildings have ocean views, good heating/cooling, and have been restored in original 1920’s style. You will have your own bedroom, basic but clean and comfortable, with shared toilet and shower facilities in two adjoining buildings.

The spectacular retreat location (Photo: Seacroft Estate)

Details:

Thursday 28th November commencing 3pm at Seacroft Retreat Venue – Sunday 1st December, concluding no later than 2pm.

Seacroft Estate, 4990 Great Ocean Road, Sugarloaf (15kms from Apollo Bay) http://www.seacroft.com/

Cost

Includes 4 days/3 nights accommodation, all practice sessions, exclusive use of the Chapel, Guesthouse & Parlour, plus all meals, quality coffee and teas. All participants will have their own room with a range of options available as per below, & mostly shared bathrooms.

Early bird (paid in full by 3rd November), all prices inclusive of GST. Please indicate room preference when booking.
Single bed $1190 /Concession Card $1150. Double, Queen or King Bed $1290 /CCH $1250. Double, Queen or King with Sea view $1390/CCH $1350. 2 Bedroom Cottage for 2 (or 3 friends) with Ensuite & Seaview $1390per person/CCH $1350. Treehouse $1290/CCH $1250. Glamping Lotus Belle King Bed & Seaview $1390/CCH $1350.

Regular (After 3rd November)
Add $100 to above prices

Please indicate your room preference & any other special needs or preferences when booking & we will do our best to accommodate.

Schedule for Day Two & Three (guide only)

7 - 10:30am Morning Session (Yoga/mindful movement, meditation, journaling)
10:30 – 12noon: Big Brunch
12noon – 2:30pm: Guided walk, then free time for beach or relaxing.
2:30 - 3pm: Hearty afternoon tea
3:30 - 5:30pm: Afternoon Session (Restorative Yoga, deep rest, journaling, meditation, enquiry)
6:30 – 8pm: Dinner
8 – 9pm: Evening Session

Book Now

To secure your place please fill in the booking form below, together with full payment or deposit of $390 / $350 (Conc). Reference your payment with your initials followed by Ocean24.

Direct deposit details:
Account name: Margaret O'Shea
BSB: 633000
Account number: 145643953

Ocean Retreat Booking Form

Name

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Phone

(###)

###

####

Gender/Pronoun

Postal Address

Do you have any special dietary requirements?

Please describe in detail, including if this is a preference or a requirement & if you eat meat/fish or prefer vegetarian

Are you wishing to carpool to this Retreat?

If so, please indicate if you are able to offer a ride and where from or if you would like to get a ride if available

How did you find out about this Retreat?

Please describe any previous experience of mindfulness meditation & yoga?

Please describe any regular meditation or yoga practice at home?

What are you hoping for in attending this Retreat?

Do you have any physical issues or injuries that may impact your participation in the yoga and/or walking sessions?

Please describe

Do you have any mental, emotional or trauma issues that may impact your participation and sense of wellbeing on retreat?

Please describe

Are you attending this retreat with anyone else that you know?

Do you have any special needs or requests about your accommodation?

For e.g. need to be closer to the shared bathrooms or (if available) prefer to twin share (at reduced cost) or upgrade to an apartment with ensuite (at increased cost)?

Have you been fully vaccinated for Covid (or will be by the time you attend this retreat)?

Is there anything else that would be helpful for Maggie to know?

Refund & COVID Policy for this retreat
In the event of withdrawal, a full refund is available up to two months prior to commencement of retreat, minus an admin fee of $90. After 01/11/24, no refunds can be provided for withdrawals or cancellations unless your place is able to be filled with another suitable participant or unless reason for withdrawal is Covid or serious illness, in which case a refund may be provided (minus some contribution to costs). If the retreat needs to be postponed, a full refund will be made or, if preferred, transfer to another retreat offered. To minimise risk of Covid transmission, it is highly recommended that all participants are fully vaccinated.

About Restorative & Yin Yoga:
Restorative Yoga is about “coming home” - re-connecting with an already-here state of “being” & awareness. Props are used to allow the body to fully let go & rest, supporting our physical, mental, emotional & spiritual health & well-being. According to ancient Chinese wisdom, everything includes both Yin & Yang, but with the negatively biased “doing” mode of mind & the busyness and connectivity of modern life, the often hyper-aroused nervous system needs more Yin practice for balance, ease and the capacity to just “be.” Yin and Yang yoga together help settle the mind, providing a more resourceful state to meditate skilfully and cultivate more wisdom & compassion for living fully and well.

Restorative Yoga and MIndfulness Ocean Retreat - Apollo Bay