Imprinting Intentions - annual New Year Retreat at TRC

Perhaps there's no need for personal growth, to make a mark or to get ahead? Instead of goals, resolutions and To Do lists, how would it feel to be present without resistance and to watch life unfold?

If this sounds like the gentle invitation you need for 2023, then please join me, Lucy Draper-Clarke. I have been holding intentions retreats at the Tara Rokpa Centre since 2009. The beautiful retreat centre, in the Marico, is just 250km from Johannesburg. Give yourself the space to focus on how you would like to be, and to imprint gentle intentions as a daily life practice.

During this retreat, we’ll explore how to meet each moment of our lives with clarity and care, not just at the beginning of the year, but every day. We will take the opportunity to become receptive and open, to attune and align, and to resource ourselves for whatever lies ahead. I will guide you through practices of mindfulness meditation, gentle yoga and expressive movement to awaken the senses and the imagination. These work to resource and rebalance the body, heart and mind. From this place, we can touch into the qualities and aspirations we wish to cultivate for the year ahead.

How many of us make New Year resolutions, and then become disillusioned? During our time together, we will explore how to recommit to our intentions each morning, through simple rituals and practices. By planting the seed of intention in community, we can generate the momentum needed to keep our intentions alive in the midst of daily life.

Programme:

After the first evening of introductions and grounding practices, we will wake up to gentle moving and sitting meditation sessions in the Octagon, followed by a healthy breakfast in the open dining area. There will then be an extended 'Imprinting Intentions' workshop before tucking into a filling vegetarian lunch. Participants can either rest in the afternoon or visit the nearby waterfall in Tara’s Valley, or die Oog – the Eye. This is the 14m deep source of the Marico river, and popular with swimmers and divers. Our Saturday evening practice will be Expressive Movement, which takes us through a full movement wave; from presence to expressing, releasing blocks and old patterns, then moving to dreaming and integrating, where our future might emerge in the moment. Later, we can sit together at the open fire and watch the magnificent night sky. On Sunday morning, we will practice together once again, allowing our intentions to be imprinted onto paper, and into words, stabilising our commitment for the year ahead.

About the Facilitator:

Lucy Draper-Clarke has a doctorate in mindfulness and teacher education and loves to run retreats as well as support yoga teacher training schools. She has practised yoga for 20 years and taught yoga and mindfulness in Southern Africa since 2006, while also offering embodied practices at Wits. While doing so, she has been lucky enough to study with inspiring Buddhist mindfulness, Vinyasa yoga teachers, and Expressive Movement dance therapists. Her light-hearted and compassionate approach to teaching allows participants to explore their inner worlds through a joyful, yet transformative practice.

Cost:

Includes accommodation, all meals, tea and snacks and facilitated moving and sitting meditation sessions. Cost is dependent on your choice of accommodation. The food is ovo-lacto vegetarian, with vegan/gluten free options available on request.

2-night retreat:

Single-use of ensuite room (if space available): R3,100

Single room with shared bathroom (only 3 available): R 2,900

Twin/double room with en suite bathroom (per person): R 2,700

Twin/double room with shared bathroom (per person): R 2,500

Dormitory (per person): R 1,900

Camping (own tent & bedding): R 1,700

Bookings via this link.

A 50% deposit secures your place. This is non-refundable, but is transferable to another TRC retreat. Do not let your inability to pay prevent you from attending. Contact the Tara Rokpa Centre for scholarships, payment options and volunteer trade opportunities. For general retreat information about what to bring, please click here.

Photo credit: National Trust, UK