Wholehearted Living: Mindfulness-based Workshop and Retreat, Byron Bay 2026

Seven days/Six nights, Friday 24th - Thursday 30th July 2026

Integrating Brené Brown’s ‘The Gifts of Imperfection: Guideposts for Wholehearted Living’ curriculum together with slow flow yoga and other embodied movement practices, mindfulness meditation, guided deep rest Nidra sessions, journalling, and more. Each day includes a three-and-a-half hour workshop, in addition to the other practice-based sessions, plus time for relaxing or walking in nature in the beautiful Arakwal National Park and adjoining beaches.

Sangsurya Retreat Centre is in the peaceful hinterland of Bryon Bay, within walking distance to the ocean, and with stunning forest and coastal views.

Renew body, mind, heart, spirit and soul with Wholehearted Living, a unique and restorative seven-day mindfulness and other practices-based retreat, this year offered at the beautiful Sangsurya Retreat Centre, with views of the Arakwal National Park and the Byron Bay coastline.

Each morning begins with an embodied-movement session, to consolidate the learning so far and introduce the day’s new theme. A spacious breakfast period then allows time for a swim or relax before joining the in-depth workshop to explore and practice the ten guideposts that Brené Brown’s Daring Way research identified as essential if we are to live our fullest, most meaningful lives. We explore how each guidepost requires not just cultivation in its own right, but also practices to help with letting go of shame and the other sticky obstacles and old ‘protector parts’ that get in the way. Afternoons and evenings may include guided rest-Nidras, optional guided group or solo walks, or time for a massage or relaxing around the pool. The retreat offers time for group connection and fun, as well as periods of silence, including later in the week, a twenty-four hour mostly silent ‘retreat within the retreat’ to enable a deeper restorative experience.

Fifteen years ago I was blown away by Brenés first TED talk The Power of Vulnerability. I was inspired that – just like our understanding in the mindfulness world – all of her work insists that wholehearted living requires not just the ground-breaking theory that her research generated, but an ongoing process and practice. But how – what does this actually look like? I found there was often a gap when it came to how we might truly live wholeheartedly. As a long-term mindfulness practitioner, yogi and relationship therapist, I’ve loved the creative challenge of trying to close this gap, by integrating ‘the best of’ what is most grounding, sustainable and inspiring in her work, within a deeper mindfulness, compassion and neuro-science-based 'container’ of practice.

At its essence, this intensive retreat is about daring to show up for the real lives we’re actually having - including challenges, imperfections, loss and transitions - as well as laying the groundwork for how we wish to live from here. Most fundamentally, this intensive retreat is about cultivating compassion, awareness, connection, meaning and joy.

 Sangsurya Retreat Centre and surrounds

What the retreat fee includes:

• Seven days program / Six nights accommodation in a twin-share bedroom or single room.
  Most rooms have own ensuite, some have private balcony and views

• Six three-and-a-half-hour workshop sessions, plus daily sunrise slow flow yoga sessions and/or afternoon Nidra relaxation practice (30 hrs total session time)

• All delicious meals, including breakfasts, morning teas, lunch and dinner each day

• Guided walks to beach and coastline

• Workshop materials, including course book

• Celebration cocktail or bubbles on first and last evenings

  
  
  

  Not included: Airfares, travel insurance, shuttle or bus transfers from Ballina or GoldCoast airports. Massages will also be available on-site or nearby at your own expense.

The Ten Guideposts from The Gifts of Imperfection

• Cultivating Authenticity: Letting Go of what people think

• Cultivating Self-Compassion: Letting Go of Perfectionism

• Cultivating a Resilient Spirit: Letting Go of Numbing & Powerlessness

• Cultivating Gratitude & Joy: Letting Go of Scarcity & Fear of the Dark

• Cultivating Intuition & Trusting Faith: Letting Go of the need for Certainty

• Cultivating Creativity: Letting Go of Comparison

• 7 Cultivating Play & Rest: letting Go of Exhaustion as a status symbol and productivity as Self-worth

• Cultivating Calm & Stillness: Letting Go of anxiety as a Lifestyle

• Cultivating Meaningful Work: Letting Go of Self-doubt & ‘Supposed to’

• Cultivating Laughter, Song & Dance: Letting Go of being cool and ‘always in control’

Typical daily format:

6:45 – 7:45am – Sunrise slow flow yoga or embodied movement practice 
8 – 9:30am – Breakfast
9:30 – 1pm– Workshop Session (including morning tea)
1 - 4pm Lunch, optional guided walk, or time for rest, swim, massage or your own exploring 
4:30 – 5:30pm – Guided deep rest or creative practice
6:30pm – Dinner

Fee

Room Options

This retreat centre has a large variety of rooms. Some very spacious, others quite cosy. There are options for single rooms, twin share, and triple share. Please indicate when you are booking which type of room you would like. These will be allocated according to availability and special needs.

Early Bird (pay deposit before 1st February)

Triple share with ensuite (King Bed, Queen Bed and King Single with private ensuite and deck) $2,490 per person GST inclusive ($2,690 after 1st February)

Twin share (Double or King Single bed with ensuite) $2,690 per person GST inclusive ($2,890 after 1st February)

Smaller single room (King Single bed with ensuite) $2,990 GST inclusive ($3,190 after1st February)

Single room (Queen bed sharing a bathroom and toilet with one other person. These two rooms share a deck with views) $3,090 GST inclusive ($3,290 after 1st February)

Single room (Queen bed with ensuite) $3,290 GST inclusive ($3,490 after 1st February)

Secure your place by booking and paying first instalment deposit of $690 (earlybird) by 1st February OR $890 (after 1st February).

Payment, Refund Conditions, Travel insurance & other important information - please read before booking

Fee can be paid in full or in instalments. First instalment is the Deposit fee of $690 Earlybird (or $890 after 1st February). If paying in instalments, second instalment $1000 is due 1st March, followed by final instalment balance due 1st June. You will be able to fly to either Ballina or Gold Coast airports and get the transfer bus to Byron Bay from there. Our first session will start 4pm on our first day Friday 24th July: we recommend arriving in Byron Bay or nearby the day before or otherwise arranging an early morning flight on the day. Your return flight should be no sooner than the late afternoon or night of 30th July. If possible, it is ideal to book some extra time nearby for some quiet post retreat integration time . For competitive prices, it is recommended to purchase your flights several months before the retreat.

A full refund, minus your deposit, is available up to three months prior to commencement of retreat. After 24/4/26, no refunds can be provided for withdrawals or cancellations unless a suitable replacement is found, so please purchase travel insurance that covers any conditions that might impact your ability to attend this retreat. If the retreat needs to be postponed or cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, a full refund will be made or, if preferred, transfer to anotherMindfulPresence retreat.

To secure your place, please submit the Registration form (above) and deposit.

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