The Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa

02/11/2025

The White Stork Displays Its Wings - A Beginner’s Introduction To Yang Style Tai Chi
Teacher: Paul Dorrian
Cost: 2-4 days accommodation + R350 surcharge
Dates: Monday 17 November 2025 - Friday 21 November 2025

Tai Chi, or to give it its full name, Tai Chi Chuan, has often been regarded as a dynamic form of Qigong, or ‘the cultivation of energy’ to help regulate one’s system and prevent disease, thereby leading to the development and maintenance of good health and well-being. Most people associate Tai Chi with flowing, graceful movements. Yet there is much more to the practice of this ancient Chinese art. The great Yang Tai Chi Master T.T. Liang (1900-2002), stated that there are four categories into which the principles of Tai Chi fall, namely health, self-defence, mental accomplishment and the road to immortality. In this retreat, Paul will demystify Tai Chi using the Yang style, which can be traced back to Ch’en Wang Ting (1597-1664). In this 2 or 4-day retreat, Paul’s intention is to inspire retreatants to further investigate Tai Chi and to find a teacher near their home.

Paul Dorrian is a former international management consultant, author and speaker. His interest in improving employee wellness in the work place led him to teach Chi Gung and Tai Chi Chuan. Paul has studied these disciplines under various teachers in the UK and Spain, and with the late Master Dr Nico Snyman, his current teacher Master Marleen Bilas and with his Grandmaster Dr Lin Feng-Chao. He now teaches Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang style and Chi Gung in the Pa Tuan Chin, Healing Sounds and Zhan Zhuang styles at his school, the Lin Li School of Tai Chi Chuan, and with private students, in Pietermaritzburg.

Total cost of the retreat depends on the type of accommodation selected. Please email bookings@brcixopo.co.za for more information and to make a reservation.

31/10/2025

Enjoy 10% Discount

Open The Heart And Still The Mind: Infusing Mindfulness With Metta And Compassionate Wisdom
Teacher: Sue Cooper
Cost: 5 days accommodation + R450 surcharge
Dates: Friday 07 November 2025 - Wednesday 12 November 2025

This 5 night Open the Heart And Still the Mind retreat is an immersion into nourishing and ennobling silence and is an opportunity to cultivate and deepen your meditation practice with a heart-based focus. Sue offers an integration of the psychological and spiritual dimensions of this path of compassionate awareness, combining more than 40 years of meditation practice with her extensive experience as a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist.

We will draw on the support of nature and the teachings that are revealed by practising in the exquisite environment of the Buddhist Retreat Centre, where the truths of impermanence and our inter-connectedness with each other and with nature express themselves daily, through the beauty and wisdom of the ever-changing conditions.

We will cultivate a safe and nourishing home within, inspired by the wisdom and practices of the Brahma Viharas (the Four Immeasurables), which deepen our capacity for loving- kindness (metta), spacious inner freedom, appreciative joy and compassionate wisdom and action.

In addition to the silent and guided meditations in all postures, there will be daily qigong, gentle, mindful movement and additional, optional massages offered to enhance our embodied experience. Sue will include short, individual sessions throughout the retreat, as well as time for reflection, journaling, walks in nature and deeply replenishing rest.

Please note: This retreat carries a teacher's fee for all retreatants, offered on a sliding scale. Please contact Sue directly on sue.stillmind@gmail.com for further details, including reductions if needed and to arrange a recommended pre-retreat session. Her website link is
https://stillmindretreats.com/event/retreat-infusing-mindfulness-with-metta/

Please email bookings@brcixopo.co.za for more information or to make a reservation.

30/10/2025

Buddhism: The Basics
Teacher: Stephen Coan
Cost: 2 days accommodation + R400 surcharge
Dates: Friday 14 November 2025 - Sunday 16 November 2025

Looking for an entry point into Buddhism? Then this is the retreat for you! Who was the Buddha? What is Buddhism? Is it a religion or a philosophy? What are its teachings and practices? These questions and others will be addressed in this retreat which will examine the life of the Buddha, the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path while at the same time foregrounding the simple meditation practices - sitting and walking - from which the experience-based teachings emerged. A schedule of talks, discussion, and practice held within the supportive frame of Noble Silence will also include time to enjoy the beautiful grounds of the centre.

Stephen Coan, variously author, journalist, film and theatre director, has been teaching and retreating at the Buddhist Retreat Centre for nearly four decades. Inspired and informed by the Theravada and Zen Buddhist traditions, his retreats place emphasis on the centrality of practice in living a skillful and enlightened life while also exploring the interface between poetry and silence and the profound benefits of doing nothing, seriously.

Total cost of the retreat depends on the type of accommodation selected. Please email bookings@brcixopo.co.za for more information and to make a reservation.

28/10/2025

Rest, Reflect, and Restore: 10% discount mid-week in November

Join us for a personal retreat mid week. Meditation and qigong are on offer. Alternatively, you may choose to simply enjoy the tranquillity of the space and embrace the art of doing nothing – seriously. This time out offers a slower rhythm, allowing you to step back from the busyness of life and find peace within.

Please email bookings@brcixopo.co.za for more information and to make a reservation.

26/10/2025

This 5 night Open the Heart And Still the Mind retreat is an immersion into nourishing and ennobling silence and is an opportunity to cultivate and deepen your meditation practice with a heart-based focus. Sue offers an integration of the psychological and spiritual dimensions of this path of compassionate awareness, combining more than 40 years of meditation practice with her extensive experience as a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist.

24/10/2025

Open The Heart And Still The Mind : Infusing Mindfulness With Metta And Compassionate Wisdom
Teacher: Sue Cooper
Cost: 5 days accommodation + R450 surcharge
Dates: Friday 07 November 2025 - Wednesday 12 November 2025

This 5 night retreat is an immersion into nourishing and ennobling silence and is an opportunity to cultivate and deepen your meditation practice with a heart-based focus. Sue offers an integration of the psychological and spiritual dimensions of this path of compassionate awareness, combining more than 40 years of meditation practice with her extensive experience as a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist.

We will draw on the support of nature and the teachings that are revealed by practising in the exquisite environment of the Buddhist Retreat Centre, where the truths of impermanence and our inter-connectedness with each other and with nature express themselves daily, through the beauty and wisdom of the ever-changing conditions.

We will cultivate a safe and nourishing home within, inspired by the wisdom and practices of the Brahma Viharas (the Four Immeasurables), which deepen our capacity for loving- kindness (metta), spacious inner freedom, appreciative joy and compassionate wisdom and action.

In addition to the silent and guided meditations in all postures, there will be daily qigong, gentle, mindful movement and additional, optional massages offered to enhance our embodied experience. Sue will include short, individual sessions throughout the retreat, as well as time for reflection, journaling, walks in nature and deeply replenishing rest.

Please note: This retreat carries a teacher's fee for all retreatants, offered on a sliding scale. Please contact Sue directly on sue.stillmind@gmail.com for further details, including reductions if needed and to arrange a recommended pre-retreat session. Her website link is
https://stillmindretreats.com/event/retreat-infusing-mindfulness-with-metta/

Total cost of the retreat depends on the type of accommodation selected. Please email bookings@brcixopo.co.za for more information, and to make a reservation.

22/10/2025

Holding space for deep, personal moments like this is central to our mission, and we are so glad we could offer you that peace and support here at the BRC.

20/10/2025

Upcoming November Retreats

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Browse our upcoming retreats here: https://www.brcixopo.co.za/summary-list-of-retreats.html

19/10/2025

The BRC is privileged to host senior Tibetan monks during their visit to South Africa. They will be constructing magnificent sand mandalas in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban at the NSA Gallery, all open to the public. During their stay in Ixopo, the monks will also lead prayers, meditation, and chanting sessions. We invite you to join us for this unique and transformative experience that promises to uplift and deepen your spiritual journey.

Please email bookings@brcixopo.co.za for more information.

17/10/2025

https://www.brcixopo.co.za/newsletters/view/1/277-brc-newsletter-october-november-2025.html?tmpl=component

The truth of impermanence can be so very painful at times, as we lose those we love and cherish. The sudden death of our dearest Ngakheni Mbanjwa is a reminder to savour the precious moments of our lives and interactions with each other.

16/10/2025

Wellness In Yoga
Teacher: Nilam Narsee
Cost: 2 days accommodation + R350 surcharge
Dates: Friday 31 October 2025 - Sunday 02 November 2025

Join Nilam, a wellness expert, for a transformative weekend retreat where the harmony of mind, body, and spirit awaits you. Immerse yourself in a holistic journey that blends traditional hatha yoga, meditation, and Ayurveda. This retreat includes rejuvenating yoga sessions designed for all levels, guided meditations and talks that will open your heart and elevate your consciousness. Set against a backdrop of natural beauty, the retreat offers you the perfect opportunity to disconnect from the chaos of everyday life and reconnect with your true self. You will leave feeling revitalised, inspired, and equipped with tools for lasting wellness.

Nilam Narsee was born in India and has made South Africa her home for the past 28 years. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry in India before pursuing her passion for yoga, qualifying as a traditional hatha yoga teacher at Yogam Yoga under the guidance of Duncan Rice. In addition to her yoga teaching, Nilam is a dedicated health and wellness coach affiliated with a health club in India. Her mission is to promote a medicine-free lifestyle rooted in Ayurvedic principles to help individuals achieve well-being and mindful living.

Total cost of the retreat depends on the type of accommodation selected. Please email bookings@brcixopo.co.za for more information and to make a reservation.