NEIGONG SUMMER RETREAT

Immerse yourself in a week-long NeiGong retreat with an emphasis on building the DanTian.

The (Lower) DanTian 丹田, “Elixir Field” is the main energetic center in the body where Qi is gathered, generated & refined.

Contrary to popular contemporary QiGong belief, the DanTian is not inherently strong within us. We must spend time - with the right methods - in order to "wake up" and re-form the Yin Field of the DanTian.

Once the Dan Tian is strong and active, it begins to radiate through the body. This supports everything that follows in the Nei Gong process. It allows the Qi to sink and circulate, supports the opening of the channels, and eventually becomes the base from which spirit (Shen) is cultivated. Without a functional Dan Tian, deeper alchemical work is not possible.

Spending time on cultivating the DanTian is also great for mental and physical wellbeing, restoring and recharging the body with Qi !

內功 NeiGong, often translated as the Internal Cultivation, is the practice of building and refining Qi (氣) and using that Qi as a bridge to journey deeper within.

NeiGong initiates a profound energetic process that supports both physical vitality and mental clarity, while also opening pathways into the deeper dimensions of the self.

To put it simply:

• NeiGong is the journey inward
• QiGong provides the tools and practices for that journey
• Qi is the fuel that powers the tools

'Te Moata' means 'First Light' in Māori.

Nestled amongst 344 hectares of native forest, in the mountains north of Tairua, Coromandel, you will find the Te Moata Retreat Centre.

Wooden walls enclose meditation rooms, dining hall and accommodation. Amongst the land there are sacred sights waiting to be explored - the Labirynth, Rimu circle, secret garden and more.

Tracks are all throughout the forest, leading to streams, rivers, waterfalls, swimming holes and far away retreat cabins ontop of the mountain ridge.

This retreat is open to everyone, whether you are completely new to QiGong and the Internal Arts, or whether you have been practicing for a lifetime.

Please contact us first if you are pregnant, under 16 years old, or have a diagnosed mental health condition.

The training involves some mild physical discomfort as it takes effort to open and change the body. If you have injuries or specific health concerns, exercises can be modified to suit your needs.

The teachers of this workshop are Kate and Henri Lebedev, both dedicated students of Qigong, Neigong, Taiji, Chinese Medicine & martial arts and have trained with many teachers around the world, from China to Africa!

For the last 3 years, Henri & Kate have spent 6 months per year studying in Indonesia with Damo Mitchell, the head of Lotus NeiGong International. Kate is a registered nurse with a specialisation in mental health. Henri was an Estonian national boxing champion & is an avid gardener.

Both Henri and Kate are NZ registered Acupuncturists and Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners and are the only Lotus NeiGong approved instructors for New Zealand and Australia.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be lovingly cooked for you by the Te Moata chef and service team.

All meals will be vegetarian, with much of the veges coming from the permaculture garden on site. Meals are chosen to support your practice throughout the retreat.

Hot water and herbal teas will be available throughout the day.

Please contact us if you have any dietary requirements.

There are a number accommodation options:

• The main accommodation is monastery style cubicle spaces in 2 separate bunkroom wings, within the centre.
• 3 single rooms within the main centre
• 3 x simple 1 room cabins by the forest edge
• 2 self-contained cottages, that have a kitchen, bathroom and 2 bedrooms

Some amazing places to explore close to Te Moata include

• Sailors Grave Beach, just 5kms south of Te Moata.
• From Sailors, a 20 minute walk over a lil mountain through the forest will take you to Te Karo Bay which you will often have to yourself
• Mt Paku Summit walk - walk up a quaint volcano in Tairua
• Hot Water Beach - at low tide you can dig your own hot pool!
• Hahei Beach - a glorious beach to walk along (our personal fave)
• Cathedral Cove - iconic to the area, a 1.5 hour walk from Hahei

If you are coming from overseas, please feel free contact us for suggestions and support for:

• Things to do in New Zealand
• Transportation to and from the event venue
• Anything else we can help with