Susan Allen, the visionary behind Retreats NZ, is not only the founder of Yoga Ground, esteemed studios located in Auckland and Wanaka, New Zealand, but also the driving force behind Entering the Stream, a distinguished online yoga and meditation platform, and The Yoga Transition, a premier yoga teacher mentorship endeavor. Discover more about Susan's inspiring journey here.
Recently, Susan Allen from Retreats NZ concluded yet another transformative meditation and yoga retreat here at The Camp, Lake Hawea, New Zealand. With her extensive experience, Susan orchestrates retreats across New Zealand, extending her offerings to the local community in Wanaka while warmly welcoming guests from distant corners of the globe to join us.
This what Susan had to say about her recent retreat in April 2024:
“The retreat was a 5 day meditation and yoga retreat where participants were learning meditation practice from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Each day offered a full day of learning, yoga classes in the morning followed by morning and afternoon sessions where the meditation practices were taught. There were also plenty of breaks during the day for participants to soak up the surroundings, go for walks or swims in the lake, or just rest and have a picnic somewhere under the trees.
The Camp is such a good venue for retreats like these. The large geodesic dome that is called The Beehive is a great venue with plenty of light, warmth and views out to the lake and mountains. The dramatic mountain lake background is the spacious backdrop for this immersive meditation learning experience.
The Buddhist practices learned have a particular emphasis on cultivating quietness and steadiness in the mind as well as cultivating insights that bring freedom and peace of mind into our everyday life. Tibetan Buddhist meditations value an intelligent and structured approach to investigating ‘What is the mind?’ and consequently frame meditation in a practical and methodical way. The meditation practices are taken from the Mahamudra and Dzogchen Tibetan Buddhist tradition and are presented in a secular, practical fashion. While most of the meditation practices were done inside the beehive, some where also done walking in the beautiful surroundings on the lake shore. This taking the practices ‘off the cushion’ is a key and integral part of these Buddhist practices as they are only really useful if we can use them in our everyday lives”
For updates on the upcoming meditation retreats hosted at The Camp, Lake Hawea, New Zealand, feel free to explore Retreats NZ's website or reach out to Susan Allen directly using the provided contact details: https://retreats.nz, +64-21-222-6550, susan@theyogatransition.com.
If you are interested in joining Susan at her next retreat why not stay on site and really enjoy what the surrounding lake and mountains have to offer. At The Camp and Cross Hill Lodge & Domes, a variety of accommodation options await you, catering to different preferences and budgets. From camping to glamping, cabins, tiny houses, and cottages, to luxurious 5-star Geodesic Domes, there's something for everyone. For inquiries, please visit www.thecamp.co.nz and www.crosshill.co.nz.
