One Day Secular Meditation Retreat in Wellington
Description
We know from ancient wisdom and modern psychology that meditation brings many benefits for our mental and physical wellbeing. It can reduce worry and pain, and improve calmness, focus, sleep, relationships and life satisfaction. The more time we spend meditating, and the more skilled we become, the greater the benefits.
So take a restorative break from your daily life, meet other meditators, and strengthen your practice at this small-group Sunday retreat. Everyone is welcome, whatever their level of meditation experience or preferred style. The retreat is beginner-friendly, and our approach is secular (meaning non-religious) which makes room for diverse beliefs.
The programme
We will begin with introductions, followed by a guided meditation that covers the core skills of both sitting and walking meditation. For the rest of the day, the meditation will be unguided apart from occasional bells to announce breaks, and to remind you to alternate between sitting and walking (if that's what you choose to do).
To help quieten the mind, many participants prefer not to talk again until the discussion circle at the end of the retreat. However some people like to chat with others during the breaks, and there is space allocated for this. The retreat leaders are always available for quiet conversations if you need support with your practice.
The venue
The Innermost Gardens hall is nestled between the central city suburb of Mount Victoria and the green town belt. This provides a peaceful nature-rich setting for the retreat, surrounded by community gardens to enjoy during the breaks or walking meditation.
There will be hot drinks and snacks available throughout the day. For lunch the participants bring a plate of vegetarian food to share. The venue has a full kitchen including cutlery, plates, bowls, fridge, stove, and a microwave.
The leaders
Bryan Royds is an adult educator and registered counsellor with a passion for wellbeing science and leadership development. He has been meditating and teaching meditation skills in groups for many years, including the well-researched methods of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR).
Sarah Jane Barnett is a writer and creative writing teacher at Massey University. She has been a Buddhist for ten years, practicing mostly Vipassana meditation. She also co-facilitates a meditation group for people who practice Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (an evidence-based modern psychotherapy and wellbeing method).
The registration fee is only $40 for waged and $20 for unwaged, fully refundable until one day prior.
FAQs
- Can I come to the retreat if I’m a beginner?
Yes, the retreat is suitable for everyone. We start the retreat with two guided meditations (one sitting, one walking) that teach you some key approaches to meditation. These approaches will also be on posters on the wall for you to refer back to during the day. The retreat leaders are available to support you at any time during the day if you have any questions or concerns.
- What sort of meditation do you do?
We do secular (which means non-religious) Buddhist meditation based on a well-researched approach called Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. The retreat alternates between sitting and walking meditation. The walking meditation can be done inside the hall, but most people like to walk outside in the gardens.
- I can’t sit cross-legged on the ground, will that matter?
It doesn’t matter! While some people sit on the ground, most meditate sitting on chairs or even lying down. We provide chairs for people to sit on and there are also couches if you want a softer seat.
- What should I bring / wear?
Bring everything you will need to be comfortable for the day. If you want to sit on the ground, bring your own cushion and blankets. If you want to lie down to meditate then bring a yoga mat or something similar. We recommend dressing in layers that you can take off or put on, because while we try to keep the hall at a pleasant temperature, it’s hard to suit everyone.
Consider bringing these items: a water bottle, a cushion or blanket, a journal, sunscreen and sun hat, or an umbrella and warm jacket (depending on the forecast). We also recommend that you wear shoes suitable for walking outside in all weathers, and other shoes or slippers to wear indoors so the hall floor stays clean.
- What is the schedule for the day?
The day begins at 9am with introductions. This is followed by a 20 minute guided sit and a 20 minute guided walking meditation, before the group moves into silence. The rest of the day is unguided, and alternates between walking and sitting meditations of 20 or 30 minutes. The switch between walking and sitting is signalled by a bell. The schedule will be on posters on the wall.
We have a 20 minute break for morning and afternoon tea , which are also signalled by a bell. Both are in silence. There is a 45 minute break for lunch, where the silence can be broken if you feel like talking to other meditators, with designated space for talking. The meditation ends at 3:30pm when the group comes back together to share their experience before packing up to leave around 4pm. - Can I do my own type of meditation practice if I want to?
Of course! We encourage experienced meditators to come along and use the day for their own practice. You can even listen to guided meditations throughout the day if you can do so without disrupting others. The retreat format is flexible. While most people follow the sitting/walking schedule, you can make it your own as long as it doesn’t disrupt others.
- What are the arrangements for lunch and snacks?
There will be hot drinks and snacks available throughout the day. Everyone who comes to the retreat is asked to bring a vegetarian or vegan plate to share for lunch. We ask that this food doesn’t need much preparation at the retreat because there’s only 45 minutes for lunch. We ask everyone to label their food (for people with allergies) and an “allergy label” and pen is provided to do this.
The venue has a full kitchen including cutlery, plates, cups, bowls, fridge, stove, and a microwave.
- Is the retreat suitable for people who are neurodivergent?
We hope so - we try to make a space that feels safe and accessible to everyone. The day is mostly quiet, lighting is kept low and if you don’t want to take part in the final sharing circle, you don’t have to.
Many people wonder if they will be able to stay focussed enough to meditate 'all day'. However the methods taught, and the alternating between walking/moving and stationery (sitting or lying) meditation, mean that 'constant focus' is not actually needed.
- Can children join the retreat?
Mature teenagers are welcome to attend, but the retreat isn’t suitable for younger children.
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