Studio Retreats FAQ

Lifeflow retreat practice gives you time to rest, to restore your energies and the opportunity to let go of deadlines and busyness. You can learn to nurture yourself, restore a sense of balance and well-being, and open up to nature.

Retreats allow you to go deeper with the Lifeflow meditations and to explore a topic of meditation in more detail. Many students have experienced profound realisations or touched deep experiences of calm and joy while in retreat.

In all retreats we practice techniques that are useful in the retreat situation and can also be applied to everyday life. We aim to teach in a way that lets you link the experiences and understanding of meditation throughout your life.

Our retreats are open to everyone – no prior meditation or retreat experience is required. Everyone can gain some benefit from attending the retreat: complete beginners will learn to meditate in an ideal environment, whilst those with previous meditation experience can use the time to deepen their practice. We ask that everyone who attends a retreat be prepared to stay for its duration.

We provide a structured program throughout the course. The theory classes will follow the theme of the retreat, and there will also be guided meditation and gentle yoga classes.

There is time to reflect on the ideas presented, as well as opportunities for asking questions so you can learn how to apply the practices in your own life.

In a Lifeflow retreat your privacy is respected and you will not be expected to share your experiences with other people on the retreat.

A typical day begins with a guided meditation session. This is followed by a theory class, on the retreat theme, where you can learn more about meditation and discuss your experience. After this class there is morning tea, followed by a meditation session, a short break and then a gentle yoga class.

Lunch is followed by a deep relaxation session and the day will finish with a review of the day’s classes and guided meditation. After each day of retreat it would be ideal if you can allow time to go for an evening walk and undertake some of the activities learnt during your day.

To ensure you gain the maximum benefit from your retreat experience, we have found it best to keep conversation to a minimum once the retreat is well underway. This gives everyone space and time to explore their own retreat experience.

There are plenty of opportunities to discuss any questions you may have in the classes, and of course you can also talk to any of the teachers during the retreat.

To get the most out of your retreat, we also suggest that you giving yourself a ‘smart-phone-free’ day – either turning it off or putting it to flight mode for each day of the retreat.

If you like, you can give the mobile phone number found in your retreat reminder email to family or friends as an emergency contact while your phone is off. Our teachers will monitor this number during the retreat and will contact you immediately if needed.

If you do need to keep your phone on, we ask that you put it to silent mode and refrain from using it in or near the studio or anywhere that will disturb others.

It’s best to wear loose comfortable clothing. Our studio is air-conditioned, so you may like to bring an additional layer to put on if the air temperature is too cool for you.

Please bring a notepad or journal and a pen if you want to take notes.

We have found it best, both for yourself and the comfort of your fellow retreatants, if you do not use your phone or tablet.

To get the most out of your retreat, we also suggest that you give yourself ‘smart-phone-free’ days – either turning it off or putting it to flight mode for the duration of the retreat.

When you have booked into the retreat we will give you the direct phone number for the studio. If you like, you can give this number to family or friends as an emergency contact while your phone is off. Our teachers constantly check this number during the retreat and will contact you immediately if needed.

If you do need to keep your phone on, we ask that you put it to silent mode and refrain from using it in or near the accommodation buildings or anywhere that will disturb others.

At Lifeflow retreats we aim to create a clear and open space where everyone’s meditation work can safely unfold. Other people may not wish to disclose why they are attending the retreat or what is happening for them during the retreat – please be mindful of this and respect their privacy.

Please note that reasonably good health is required to gain the full benefit of your retreat. If you do have any health problems please let us know. If you need to take medication for any reason please advise us as, in certain rare cases, medication can interfere with your meditation experience.

Please call us prior to booking into a retreat if you have concerns about any of the points above. We have adopted these guidelines as we have found they help everyone to gain the maximum benefit from the time spent in retreat.