If the body and mind are the house of the soul, when was the last time you tidied up your soul? How do you spend your energy in the daily hustle and bustle of life? How much energy is spent on people and things that drain you? And how much energy is invested in nourishing yourself? Amidst the busyness of daily life, how many choices truly lead you towards your ideal life?

KFBG has invited mindfulness yoga teacher Janet Lau to conduct a four-day-three-night Residential Retreat titled ‘Returning to the Self ‧ Refreshing the Soul’. So why not set aside four days to return to the embrace of nature and create a space for rest and reflection. Learn to listen to the needs of your body and mind, organise your thoughts and feelings, and redirect your focus towards your ideal vision, making life more meaningful and fulfilling.

During this retreat, we will engage in various introspective practices such as walking meditation, sitting meditation, yoga, mindful eating and self-reflection exercises. By harmonising your body and mind, you will gain greater spiritual space to face all aspects of life with ease.

This retreat is suitable for anyone to participate, though prior yoga experience is preferred.

Facilitator

Janet Lau Janet has been passionate about seeking the truth of life since childhood. She began exploring the existence of God at a young age and started practising yoga at the age of 22. Later, she embarked on the path of Zen practices and different modalities of inner work when she encountered marital difficulties. After more than two decades of walking on this path, she finally came to terms with her 19 years of depression and realised that most of our mental and physical conditions stem from the projection of the mind. Slowly but surely, she could feel a higher form of Presence – God. She also discovered that whether it's yoga, Buddhism, Christianity or spiritual studies, all paths lead to the same destination. Now, Janet is dedicated to using a variety of approaches to assist friends from different faiths or non-religious backgrounds based on the life lessons she has experienced during her years of practice. Through yoga postures, sitting meditation, the practical application of Buddhist teachings, self-reflection, and spiritual exercises, she helps individuals understand themselves, overcome fears, accept themselves, and live their lives authentically, following their hearts and unleashing their highest potential. A brief personal introduction: Published author of many books, including Living with Yoga and Mindfulness, The Darkness and Light of Life and The Spirituality of Relationships – the Relationship with the Self. Columnist  for The Buddhist Compassion magazine in Hong Kong. Teaching yoga teacher training courses, workshops, and retreats in Asia since 2012. Guest lecturer for the Master of Buddhist Counselling programme at the University of Hong Kong and Dharma Drum Mountain Foundation.

Date
14 - 17 November 2024 (Thursday to Sunday)

Time
Starts at 2pm on first day and ends at 3pm on the last day
Participants are expected to be in residence and participate in the entire programme.

Venue 
Workshops: Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden and Kadoorie Centre, Tai Po 
Accommodation: Kadoorie Centre, Tai Po

 Language
Cantonese

Target Audience
Aged 18 years or above, preferably with prior yoga experience.

Total Residential Workshop Fee:
Course Fee¹ (starting from HK$5,800²) + Accommodation Fee³ for three nights (starting from HK$900)

¹The course fee includes guided and facilitated sessions and activities, vegetarian meals, shuttle bus service between Kadoorie Centre and KFBG during the workshop and transportation to Kam Sheung Road or Tai Po Market or Kowloon Tong MTR station after the workshop.

²The Early Bird price of HK$5,800 is available for applications made on or before 30 September 2024. The regular price of HK$6,800 will apply after that date.

³The accommodation fee varies based on the room type. Please refer to the registration form for detailed information.

Notes

• To ensure the quality of the workshop for all participants, KFBG reserves the right to select participants for this workshop, if we feel necessary. For unsuccessful applications a full refund will be arranged by bank transfer or cheque within one month.  
• Payment is not refundable after acceptance, unless the retreat is cancelled by KFBG due to inclement weather, under-enrolment, or any other reason.

Application
Early-bird discount: Click HERE to apply on or before 30 September 2024.
Regular price: Click HERE to apply on or before 31 October 2024.

Feedback from previous participants

• ‘Learning to slow down, relax and find the power of wisdom and self-improvement in nature.’

• ‘Attending a meditation retreat for the first time, I felt an overall sense of well-being and deepened my understanding of the combined practice of yoga and meditation.’

• ‘The experience was wonderful; the environment was tranquil, and Janet used everyday life examples to explain meditation, making it easy for participants to understand.’

• ‘I felt like I gave myself a precious gift, and through Janet's inspiring guidance, I hope to embrace the highest ideals of truth, goodness, beauty, and harmony.’

• ‘The entire experience was unforgettable, comfortable and fulfilling, and I feel grateful. The arrangements for the environment, accommodation, meals and itinerary were all well-planned, allowing me to relax, learn meditation and get closer to nature. It was a perfect fit for the theme of this meditation retreat.’

Enquiry
Email Ms Holly Ho at holly.ho@kfbg.org.

Related Links

• ​​Kadoorie Earth Programme (KEP) is an initiative co-created by KFBG and its network of collaborators and volunteers. By integrating the various strands of KFBG’s nature conservation, sustainable living and holistic education programmes, it provides life-transforming learning experiences that reconnect people with themselves, each other and the rest of nature and enable them to cultivate resilience in the face of global challenges.

• Nature Art Programmes: Immerse yourself in silent contemplation of nature. Deepen your awareness of beauty and connect with nature through art. KFBG organises a variety of art workshops including Zentangle drawing, sketching and wood art, and exhibitions to guide participants, with or without artistic background, to create nature art.
• Nature Education Programmes: Become animal detectives and explore the mysteries of wild animals. Use different senses to discover the beauty of plants. Learn about the significance of forest, trees and even soils through field visits, experiments and woodwork, to reconnect with nature.
• Group Guided Tours: Led by trained environmental interpreters, the content includes experiential and hands-on activities. We encourage a passion for nature, conservation and ecology by nurturing an appreciation of the natural world.