Silent retreat 27.-31.07.2024

Five days in the silence of Matsalu National Park (Estonia)

Silent retreat with QiGong and meditation 27.-31.07.2024

COME TO BEAUTIFUL MATSALU NATIONAL PARK (ESTONIA)

for a peaceful natural environment to relax deeply and look inward;
to rest both the mind and body through movement and meditation practices;
to get to know oneself by becoming more familiar with one’s own mind and body and by learning how to notice more.

The movement sessions offer traditional forms of Qi Gong that allow us to slow down, tune into the body, to relax, to release tensions, and to re-energise. We will learn various movements that strengthen our muscles and energy. The practice aims to deepen our awareness of body and mind.

Qi Gong enhances physical, mental, and spiritual well-being through gentle movements, breath control, and meditation, fostering harmony and vitality within the body and mind.

In the meditation sessions we will explore: training our attention, becoming more aware, cultivating kindness. We will also discuss why meditation is important and what it is really about. We will experience through practice how meditation practice can help us in everyday life.

Meditation cultivates inner peace, clarity of mind, and emotional resilience, fostering a deeper connection with oneself and the world around us.

During the retreat, silence will be the default mode. These few days are an environment to really learn to notice more. This is best done while being in silence.

Following silence throughout the retreat provides the essential space for introspection, clarity of thought, and deep personal reflection.

TEACHERS

Hsuan-Hsiu Hung studied with a great Qi Gong master in Taiwan for over 15 years. She is inspired to work with people to develop sustainable wellbeing through movements. For her, Qi Gong is a practice which relaxes, nourishes and strengthens the body and mind, it is a method that cultivates embodied awareness of oneself. Hsuan-Hsiu is a dance and movement artist, currently living in Estonia. She has taught Qi Gong and contemplative movement practices in Estonia, Austria, France, U.K., U.S.A., India and Singapore. Now she offers regular Qi Gong lessons and somatic bodywork sessions in Tallinn. www.dancinginart.com

Mikk Tamme has spent a decade in Buddhist centres and monasteries in Asia and in Europe. He now lives in Estonia, works full time as an Engineering Manager and focuses on putting the amazing wisdom and methods from the Buddhist teachings of meditation into everyday practice. How to not lose his mind? How to be a kinder person every day? How to have compassion for himself and others also in busyness?

OUR SCHEDULE

July 27th – Saturday
11.00 – 13.00 Arrival and settling in, light lunch
13.30 – 13.50 Welcome and introduction to the place and retreat
14.00 – 15.45 Movement session with Hsuan
16.30 – 18.00 Meditation session with Mikk
18.00 – 20.00 Dinner
20.00 – 21.00 Evening meditation

July 28-30 Sunday to Tuesday
06.00 – Wake-up
06.30 – 07.00 Wake-up movement
07.00 – 08.00 Morning meditation
08.00 – 10.00 Breakfast
10.00 – 11.30 Movement
11.30 – 12.00 Meditation
12.00 – 14.00 Lunch
14.00 – 16.00 Movement
16.30 – 18.00 Meditation
18.00 – 20.00 Dinner
20.00 – 21.00 Evening meditation

July 31 – Wednesday
06.00 – Wake-up
06.30 – 07.00 Wake-up movement
07.00 – 08.00 Morning meditation
08.00 – 10.00 Breakfast
10.00 – 12.00 Movement Session
12.00 – 14.00 Lunch / packing-up

THE RETREAT PLACE

The retreat will take place in Matsalu Creative Space (Salumäe Loovkoda) – an art and retreat centre on the Southern border of the Matsalu National Park. The area is embedded in nature to support focusing on your learning path. In your free time you can deepen your practice in the nearby Salumäe hiking trail or just relax in a hammock.

PRACTICALITIES

Transport to Matsalu Creative Space: Matsalu Creative Space is situated on the Southern shore of the Matsalu National Park, about 135 km from Tallinn, 80 km from Haapsalu and 70 km from Pärnu. It is easiest to come to Matsalu by car but if you arrive in Lihula by bus we can organise to pick you up.

Accommodation: We provide housing in simple yet comfortable cabin houses in the middle of nature. The cabins are shared by 2-4 people.

NB! The showers and bathrooms follow eco-principles. These are situated outside and shared (some showers are also in the sauna-house and not outside).
Food: A tasty vegetarian food will be offered throughout the retreat (includes eggs and dairy).

Price of the retreat:
4 nights and 5 days
Early birds €390 (register before April 30th ) and €440 otherwise

The fee includes your whole time at the retreat: teaching programme, accommodation for 4 nights, 13 tasty and healthy vegetarian meals, snacks, coffee, tea. A registration fee of €70 secures the spot, the rest can be paid before the retreat.

Please register by writing johanna@kodade.ee or write us on the form below!