Mindfulness Meditation Retreats
Mindfulness Auckland offers residential mindfulness meditation retreats
and practice days for graduates of mindfulness course
Upcomming retreats:
COMPASSIONATE CONNECTION
– with Self and Others
An urban (non-residential ) interpersonal meditation retreat
11-12 October 2025
This two day urban retreat is offered for professionals who use mindfulness in their work , MBSR/MBCT graduates , or others with some experience of mindfulness practice who wish to deepen or refresh their practice.
Some prior experience of meditation practice is recommended.
The first day will be a day of silent practice. The practices will be guided by Sue and Nadav, and will focus on the cultivation of presence, compassion, enjoyment and equanimity in the nature-rich environment of Marry McKillop Retreat Centre, overlooking Rangitoto and the Hauraki Gulf.
The second day will expand the practices to include interpersonal meditation. This can sharpen our capacity to notice and name our internal experience with another, in a safe, structured way. These dialogues can provide profound insights, only achievable in the interpersonal space.
Why should I attend ?
- To deepen your listening skills and reduce reactivity in relationships and challenging situations.
- To further develop the potential of mindfulness meditation practices to keep you healthy and counter burnout
- This is a unique opportunity to practice with two highly experienced and caring Mindfulness Teachers
- Life is demanding: Take these two days to take the pressure off yourself and build your resources
Location:
in the nature-rich environment of Marry McKillop Retreat Centre
Mission bay, Auckland 1701
Time:
Saturday 9.00am-4.30 pm
Sunday 9.00am-4.00 pm
Cost:
$520 (GST included)
About the Facilitators:
Sue Dykes, former Director of Mindfulness Auckland, and Nadav Avny, current Director, long term meditators, mindfulness teachers and experienced Clinical Psychologists. Sue and Nadav established a joint regular interpersonal meditation practice (Insight Dialogue) more than two years ago and are familiar with its benefits.
Sue Dykes (MSC, PGDIPCLINPSY)
Sue has a wealth of clinical experience working in public and private sectors. She is currently in private practice. She was trained as a Dialectical Behavioural Therapist (DBT) practitioner. In 2001 and worked at a DBT based programme for seven years. She trained and taught Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) programmes over many years. She has also trained as a Mindful Self Compassion teacher. She has attended several week long retreats with Gregory Kramer (Founder of Insight Dialogue) . She practices meditation in the Insight Tradition and has been an active member of the Auckland Insight Meditation community since it began. She attends one or two residential retreats a year.
Nadav Avny (MA Clinical Psychology, Advanced Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy),
Nadav is the Co-Director of Mindfulness Training Institute: Australia & New Zealand (MTI), which trains mindfulness teachers in our part of the world. Nadav is the current Director of Mindfulness Auckland, where he teaches MBSR and MBCT programmes. Nadav practices in the Insight Tradition and facilitates weeklong Insight Meditation residential retreats. Nadav’s public health work focused on acute mental health inpatient units. Nadav works in private practice now.
To enquire:
Please contact Sue Dykes suzed42@hotmail.com
or Nadav Avny nadav@safetherapyspace.co.nz
To register:
Please contact Nadav Avny nadav@safetherapyspace.co.nz
Previous Retreats and Testimonials:
Interpersonal Meditation, September 2024, Auckland
7 Days Insight Meditation Retreat, July 2023, Auckland
All Day Mindfulness Retreat, November 2022, Auckland
7 Days Insight Meditation Retreat, July 2022, Auckland
Homecoming: Presence & Compassion May 21, Auckland
All Day Mindfulness Meditation Retreat September 21, Auckland
Testimonials:
This was my first weekend retreat, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The facilitator really helped us and directed us throughout the retreat. I wish more of my family & loved one’s do this, and everyone who struggles to be Kind & Loving do such a retreat as it might help them understand the world better.
With Love & Kindness. Consultant Psychiatrist
What a truly wonderful retreat, just what I needed. I’ve learnt so much to take into my everyday life. The simple things that are often forgotten. You are a truly gifted teacher, and I feel blessed to have met you.
S.T.
I had the pleasure of attending the Urban Interpersonal Meditation Retreat on 21-22 September 2024, facilitated by Nadav and Sue. This was two full days, and then home in the evenings.
The location for this retreat was the Mary McKillop Centre above Mission Bay – a spectacular location with an amazing view over the harbour and straight over to Rangitoto Island.
This retreat was well-organised and well-paced, with good breaks. There were periods of ordered Mindfulness practises and then periods of time to undertake the Insight Dialogue practice. This was well explained and then we were supported to undertake this in pairs.
There was great communication prior to the retreat – so you were aware of what to bring and what the expectations of the weekend were.
This was a very restorative weekend which I could highly recommend.
I will defiantly be booking myself in for the next one
Anonymous
A wonderful opportunity to deepen your practice and take time out to reflect and recalibrate. I would highly recommend this experience. Nadav is an excellent facilitator.
Registered Psychologist
This was my first experience of a silent retreat. Nadav created a safe space to deepen my practice and calmly guided us through a variety of practices. What came up for me was very unexpected and, overall, was a very profound experience.
A.M. Design Manager @ Xero
Nadav and Sue’s retreat was excellently run in all ways, they are gifted teachers and generous with their wisdom and kind attention to the group. They don’t put themselves on a pedestal, but are very real, including lighthearted moments to make everyone feel at ease. There was a sense that everyone was supported through the retreat to meet each person’s needs. The Insight Dialogue created a sense of profound personal connection to myself and others, and was illuminative. The weekend was restorative, and left me feeling lighter and more resilient. I highly recommend attending any event run by Nadav and Sue.Anonymous
I found this urban retreat so accessible, easy to fit into my full time work life. The setting was incredibly inviting, we were surrounded by nature and warmly welcomed by Sue and Nadav.The programme was well structured; leading our lovely group in mindful activities to settle and prepare us for new ways of approaching our practice.We were so fortunate to have Sue and Nadav lead us with their caring, steady guidance as we explored interpersonal meditation. This was new for me and at first I felt quite wary, but I did experience some very special learning which I can take into my life and my work.What an opportunity, what an investment in self, totally recommended.
“Meditation is a microcosm, a model, a mirror. The skills we practice when we sit are transferable to the rest of our lives”.
– Sharon Salzberg