NeiGong Retreat

What is NeiGong?

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

Many people know QiGong as slow, flowing movement, but few have access to the genuine techniques that cultivate Qi itself.

During this retreat you will learn the essential postures, exercises, and mental qualities needed to consolidate and activate the DanTian 丹田 ("Elixir Field"), the body's primary energetic center where Qi is gathered, generated & refined.

The benefits of cultivating Qi:

- Recharge and rejuvenate your vital energy
- Support healing and deep wellbeing
- Cultivate fuel for advanced inner work (NeiGong)
- The methods taught draw from the Lotus NeiGong tradition.

Over the 5 days you will learn
- How to open and prepare the body for NeiGong
- Wuji (無極) the posture to align & knit the body together
- How to build the DanTian
- DanTian QiGong sets
- Theory on QiGong, NeiGong, Chinese Medicine, Buddhism, Daoism and more..

Venue: Te Moata Retreat Centre
'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.

Who is this retreat for?
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.

Retreat schedule
Arrival from Thursday 22 January midday onwards, settle into your room, explore the land, 5pm dinner, 6pm lecture and practice

Thursday - Saturday
- Seated practice
- Breakfast
- Morning practice session
- Lunch
- Free time
- Afternoon practice session
- Dinner
- Evening lecture / sit

Sunday 25th: seated practice, brekky, the last session, lunch, departure

The Teachers
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.

Cost
$650 NZD

The price includes

5 days of practice
4 nights of accommodation
3 meals per day
Daily training tuition

Accomodation
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