Waihōanga Ōtaki
Flow Into Freedom Retreat
Te Awa Journey Collaboration
9th -11th May 2025
Step into a sacred space of deep healing, connection, and renewal.
This all-inclusive retreat at Waihōanga Retreat Centre offers a powerful blend of ancient and modern wellness practices, all set in the lush, tranquil landscape of Ōtaki.
"ko au te awa, ko te awa ki au"
I am the river and the river is me
Nau Mai Haere Mai – A Journey of Transformation
Our recent retreat at the peaceful Waihōanga Retreat Centre offered a powerful space to reconnect with self and the natural world. Through the sacred sweat lodge, heart-opening cacao, breathwork, movement, and sound healing, participants experienced deep healing, renewal, and transformation.
The Sacred Sweat Lodge – A Gateway to Rebirth
At the heart of the retreat was the ancient sweat lodge ceremony—an intense and purifying ritual of heat, breath, and intention.
Nestled by the Ōtaki River, the lodge offered a sacred space for release and renewal, with the invigorating cold plunge providing clarity, resilience, and a deep connection to wairua.
Participants experienced:
• Physical detox through deep sweating
• Release of emotional and energetic blockages
• Mental clarity and spiritual insight
• Strengthened resilience through contrast therapy
What Was Included?
Held in the lush, tranquil surroundings of Waihōanga Retreat Centre in Ōtaki, this all-inclusive retreat offered a sacred space for deep healing, connection, and renewal through a blend of ancient and modern wellness practices.
Participants experienced:
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Two daily yoga sessions – Including Pū ĀIO, Vinyasa, and Yin through a Te Ao Māori lens
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Soma breathwork & cacao ceremony – A guided, heart-opening practice with traditional Māori instruments
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Sacred sweat lodge – A powerful purification ritual followed by cold river immersion
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Pranayama & meditation – Daily practices for calm, vitality, and presence
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Cold river therapy – Nervous system regulation and sensory awakening
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Sound healing – Immersive sessions with harmonic frequencies and singing bowls
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Plant-based, gluten-free kai – Nourishing meals to support the journey
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Shared accommodation – Respectfully arranged for comfort and connection
Wood-Fired Sauna
While our traditional sweat lodge is weather-dependent, this magical sauna project ensures you can still access the profound benefits of heat, no matter the conditions. Heat therapy supports circulation, muscle relaxation, stress relief, and deep cleansing, making it the perfect complement to our retreat’s breathwork, sound healing, and river swims.
Experience the deep healing of heat therapy with our wood-fired sauna, a new addition to our wellness retreat in Ōtaki.
