YOGA & WELLNESS RETREATS
“I aim to create a safe, supportive, nurturing and non-judgemental space amongst the healing energy of Nature, where people can come together to connect inwards and explore themselves, creating positive healing shifts. “
I have been hosting and co-facilitating Yoga & Wellness retreats for the last 10 years or so. I run half-day Silent Retreats from The Sanctuary, in Constantia as well as longer weekend and week-long retreats in the Western Cape & Zanzibar Island. My retreats include various practises that I am passionate about sharing:- Hatha yoga, Restorative & Yin Yoga, drumming, guided meditations, sound journeys, nature walks, insightful themed processes, silence and more. The food on retreats plays an essential role in nurturing and nourishing participants. All meals are plant-based, and made with love, using fresh, local ingredients.
Each retreat is uniquely designed, with an intentional theme and purpose in mind.
I also often collaborate with dear friends in the Wellness industry, where we combine our healing modalities as unique offerings.
Silent retreats
“Silence isn’t empty, it is full of answers”
I experienced my first Silent Retreat in Eastern Thailand, back in 2007. It was an intensive 10 day Vippasana meditation Retreat, based on the teachings of S.N. Goenka. It was a pretty hardcore experience for me- sleeping on a bamboo mat, eating our last meal at midday, no eye contact with anyone there, and waking up at 4am every day to meditate for around 16 hours a day. The silence, however, was BLISS. I realized how little we really do have to say sometimes, so we can just be. I learned to slow down, and become mindful of each step, savour enjoy each bite of food, be present in each breath. I didn’t want to even speak afterwards! It was an extremely powerful experience that stuck with me, and gave me the inspiration to start bringing this profound practice of Noble Silence into my retreats.
For many people, it is quite a challenge and very overwhelming to be silent and alone with ones’ thoughts. However, once we are able to break through the discomfort, we find ourselves in a beautiful quiet spaciousness, where everything slows down, and becomes clear. We become more aware of the sounds of nature, and allow time and space for pausing, processing, healing and deep realizations and transformation.
See next event: Upcoming Events
Click here for more information on my next Silent Retreat Weekend in Stellenbosch in July 2024.
Reviews
“I was privileged to experience a weekend retreat of silence in this most magical setting in Tulbagh last year. What a wonderful way to reconnect to yourself through yoga, drumming, dancing, mindful walks & mindful meals all in silence held perfectly by Janet Farquharson. Her years of experience, knowledge & authenticity flows freely. At a time when there’s so much noise in our world this is a healing escape.”- Jacqui Dallimore
“Janet creates peace and beauty without judgement… kindness and caring in a safe space. Her sound journeys help you transcend to another plane where you flow and soar. it’s healing in the best possible way.”- Christine Moore
