Bloom Within

A Journey of Reawakening and Remembering

As the season turns toward spring and light returns in balance, we’re invited into a space of gentle awakening. A time to reconnect with what enlivens us, to tend to the seeds of new beginnings, and to honour the cycles of growth within and around us.

Nestled in nature, we’ll gather together - moving, breathing, sharing and remembering through the transformative practices of Yoga, Dance, Breathwork, Contrast Therapy, and Ceremony. These powerful experiences help us shed lingering layers of the past, clearing space for vitality, clarity, and deeper connection to our most authentic selves.

Between sessions, we’ll wander the vibrant spring landscapes of Waiheke, grounding ourselves in the heartbeat of this land and awakening our spirits in her fresh waters. As we journey inward, we also honour the ancestral wisdom that flows through us, guiding our way forward with grace and presence.

If you're feeling the pull to realign, to reawaken your creative spark, or simply to breathe more deeply, this retreat offers a sacred pause – a chance to connect with this land, others and most importantly yourself, and step into the season renewed.

Let’s come together to breathe, blossom, and begin again.

Opening: 5pm Friday 19th September
Closing: 12.30pm Sunday 21st September 2025
Friday
5pm ~ Arrival and Settling In
5.15pm ~ Opening Circle with Cacao
Arrive in your body, land on the whenua, and set your intention for the weekend, and year, ahead.
6.30pm ~ Dinner
8pm ~ Fire Ceremony: Letting Go and Calling In
Gather around the fire to honour what you’re ready to release, and what you’re ready to grow into.
9pm ~ Free time
Optional sauna, spa, journaling or rest.
Saturday
8am ~ Morning Movement Practice and Ice Bath, with optional Sauna
A grounding practice to awaken the body and build inner resilience.
9.30am ~ Breakfast
10.30 ~ Breakthrough Breathwork Journey
A deep somatic experience to move stagnant energy, connect with your emotional body, and access clarity.
1.30pm ~ Lunch
2.30pm ~ Qoya dance and somatic movement
Move what's been stirred through – joyful, free, and embodied.
4.30pm ~ Free Time
Rest, nature walk, swim, journaling, spa, sauna or silent reflection.
6.30pm ~ Dinner
7.30pm ~ Crystal Bowl Sound Healing
A soft landing after a big day , to receive, recalibrate, and integrate.
9.00pm ~ Free time
Optional sauna, spa, journaling or rest.
Sunday
8am ~ Breathwork (nervous system reset) and guided Ice bath session
Attune to what’s present now - open, clear and grounded.
9.30am ~ Breakfast
10.30am ~ Despacho and Closing Circle
A simple yet powerful ritual to offer our gratitude to the earth.
12.30pm ~ It’s time to say goodbye :( - until next time!
Please note that this itinerary is indicative only, and we will move with the group’s rhythm. We do our best to stick to the timetable but particularly with sharing circles it is hard to know exactly how long they will take, which can potentially push out the schedule a bit. We have allowed some free time partially for this reason, and also to give you some time to integrate. If there is a particular ferry that you need to catch we will ensure that we finish in time for this.
Breathwork, Qoya, Yoga, Mindful Walks, Ocean Swims, Sauna, Cold Plunge and Hot Tub. Wholefoods healthy melas will be provided.
Bring comfortable loose clothing to practice in, layers are advisable as the weather can be quite changeable at this time of year. You’ll also need a journal, swimwear and water bottle. All yoga mats and props, plus towels for the water activities and sauna, will be provided.
All food is provided, but feel free to bring your favourite snacks along as well, especially if you know you tend to get hangry! We also have a coffee machine here too, so rest assured you can get your caffeine fix too.
Accommodation is also provided both onsite and nearby. Pricing for the full weekend begins at $1,444, where you will be sharing a double or queen sized bed and $1,888 for your own room.
The price for Waiheke residents or those that have their own accommodation is $1,110.

Facilitated by Donna O’Connor

Donna is a master breathwork instructor, has completed over 500 hours of yoga teacher training, and is a certified Qoya teacher. She has trained under teachers such as Johannes Egbert, Nikki Ralston, Rod Stryker, Rochelle Scheick, Power Living and Ashram Yoga, weaving together movement, breath and embodied wisdom into her own teaching. After more than 25 years in high‑pressure finance and funds management roles, she turned to these practices to navigate stress and overwhelm, discovering tools that supported her to come home to herself in unexpected and life‑changing ways.

For years Donna has been devoted to sharing these practices, teaching from a place of presence, insight and compassion. She draws on her own experiences of life’s challenges to hold a grounded and open‑hearted space, inviting others to meet themselves gently and honestly. Donna offers an environment where you can soften into your body’s wisdom, trust your inner knowing, and uncover deeper clarity, connection and a renewed sense of self.

Sound Healing by Osher River Oriyah

Osher is a sound healer, expressive arts therapist and ceremonial artist who has been working with individuals and groups for over 25 years. With a background in bodywork, movement and spiritual healing, her work is rooted in the power of sound, story and creative expression to awaken the soul’s wisdom and support deep transformation.

She holds a Master’s degree in Expressive Arts Therapies and Spiritual Healing and has trained in the healing arts across Israel, the US and Aotearoa. Her voice is a channel for healing – a bridge between worlds – weaving frequencies from elemental and angelic realms into a deeply felt soundscape.

Osher is devoted to creating spaces of beauty, connection and inner renewal. Her sessions open a space where the unseen becomes tangible, and the body becomes an instrument of remembrance. She brings a rich and intuitive presence, inviting you to listen more deeply, remember who you are, and open to the gifts that live within your heart.

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