A Nurturing Weekend Retreat
at Staveley Camp, Sawmill Rd, mid-Canterbury
with Melissa Gardiner
Friday, March 5th 2027, 4.30pm –
Sunday March 7th 2027, 2pm
Join us for a treasured weekend that is all about YOU.
Not your partner, your children, your work, your endless to-do-lists, your responsibilities. Let it all go and join me in this beautiful, tranquil and healing environment at Staveley.
I love providing these opportunities for people to step away from their “normal” busy lives, to slow down and come home to Self.
I will support you in a nurturing and safe learning space to thoroughly rest, to connect deeply with your True Nature and the wisdom that lies within, and to nourish yourself on all levels – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
People are welcome to arrive from 4.30pm and settle in.
Dinner will be at 6pm, with a relaxing Restorative Yoga class and an iRest® Yoga Nidra meditation to support us in moving into Retreat mode from 7.15pm.
Our time together over the weekend will involve a mix of Yoga; both active and restorative, iRest Yoga Nidra, energy clearing practices, an Angelic Reiki group healing, gentle somatic movements, a cacao ceremony, chanting and breathing practices.
Leave feeling refreshed, alive and with renewed vigour to embrace your life once again.
Arrive – Soften – Receive – Sense – Awaken
Venue
Our venue is the Staveley Camp on Sawmill Rd which is in a beautiful native environment, with bush walks, access to a small river and stunning mountain views.
Meals
Wholesome vegan food will be provided by Jess from the Staveley Cafe and delivered to site. Breakfast food items will be provided by Melissa and you can prepare your own in the morning.
Energy Exchange
Bunkroom Accommodation, shared bathroom, 3 meals and teachings: $633
Bring a caravan or camper with you, 3 meals and teachings: $593
The Bunkroom accommodation includes 4 rooms with 12 bunks and 4 rooms with 10 bunks. The maximum in each bunkroom will be 2 – 3 people.
There are shared bathrooms and toilets, which includes 2 lots of 5 toilets and 5 showers.
Further Information
To support the Retreat environment, there are to be no cell phones present in the learning space, or to be used during meal times. You can keep your phone safely in your room, and if it feels right, I encourage you to only check it once a day or not at all over the weekend!
We will move into silence from 10pm until the first class at 9.30am the next morning. Being in silence encourages us in to Retreat mode, creates a quiet space for all, and the opportunity to connect more deeply with ourselves.
With restorative yoga, the body is completely supported with blankets and bolsters, in comfortable positions, and the poses are held for 10 – 15 minutes. These poses are wonderful for restoring the body to it’s natural and calm state of being, and for building energy. A deeply nourishing practice all about you.
RETREAT TESTIMONIALS
Happy Clients
“Melissa’s Befriend Yourself Retreat proved a perfect way to learn more about and practice being a kind friend to myself. Melissa created an intimate and nurturing space for us all. Her loving teaching, the mix of active Yoga, Restorative Yoga, meditation and reflection, combined with delicious food and the beautiful location, left me truly grateful for what she offered.
I came away with a new purpose, feeling profoundly rested, and with a lingering sense of wellbeing.”
Nicola Surtees
“If you are looking for the opportunity to separate yourself from the rush and responsibility of life, take that time out at a Retreat run by Melissa. She creates a beautiful inclusive and calm environment to experience this through Yoga.”
Dayle Parris
“Attending Melissa’s Yoga classes and Retreat has taught me so much about myself that I was unaware of before I started. I have grown in confidence, learnt to listen to the wisdom of my body and breathe more effectively. Melissa has helped me change the way I view and interact in life. Thank you!”
Bridget Preece
“Melissa’s teaching was a wonderful way to blend the physical, energetic, mental, emotional and spiritual sheaths of the body together in a weekend of pure “embodied mindfulness practice” for me and I highly recommend her.”
Ruth Surtees
“This has been my first Yoga Retreat and I went into it with an open mind and heart. It was everything I had expected and more. A truly amazing experience to reflect and befriend myself. You are amazing Melissa. Thank you so much for your effort and time.”
Donna Murray
“In this demanding world of ‘self-improvement’, Yoga Nidra and Melissa’s teaching of it offers a beautiful strengthening set of tools and values that has filled up my kete!”
Shelley Sweet
“The Retreat was incredible! A real chance to slow down and breathe. A chance to check in with myself and connect with other like-minded people.”
Kate Shaw