Workshops & Global Retreats
'These retreats are intentional containers for deep transformation, remembering and soulful communion'
with Chardin & Iris
Kenkō Studios, Auckland 19th December 2026
Solstice Retreats are multilayered community gatherings aligned with the solstice — an astronomical moment when the sun reaches its greatest or lowest point in the sky, marking a turning point in the cycle of the year. During the summer solstice, when the sun shines at its fullest, the retreat carries themes of vitality, warmth, expansion, and inner illumination. In contrast, the winter solstice invites a different movement: a return inward, bringing themes of stillness, reflection, restoration, and the quiet rekindling of light within the darkness.
Together, these gatherings honour the natural rhythm of expansion and contraction, inviting participants to pause, reflect, and realign with both the cycles of nature and the deeper cycles of their own lives.
with Chardin
Green School New Zealand, Taranaki Sat 31st October 2026
Set amongst the lush natural surrounds and beautiful architecture of Green School New Zealand, Taranaki Wellness Escape is a boutique one-day gathering bringing together some of Aotearoa’s leading facilitators for a thoughtfully curated day designed to help you slow down, reconnect and recharge.
Beginning with a karakia welcome, guests will then move through a curated programme of wellness sessions and experiences designed to nourish both body and mind in a calm and inspiring setting. Guests personalise their day by choosing from a range of wellness sessions and experiences, creating a schedule that suits their own pace while making the most of the festival’s additional onsite offerings throughout the day. Additional Experiences: Massage, Live Music, Nourishing Food & Drink, Wellness Activations, Green School Tours.
Chardin will be offering a number of Himalayan Raja Yoga (Vishoka Meditation) sessions, guiding participants through traditional practices inspired by Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, cultivating stillness, clarity, and self-awareness for both beginners and experienced practitioners.
with Chardin
Napier Conference & Event Centre, Hawke's Bay 29th-30th August 2026
Chardin will once again be returning the Hawke's Bay Yoga Festival in Napier this coming August. Following two incredible sold-out years, the Hawke's Bay Festival returns for 2026. Join Chardin for a workshop where he will be presenting Himalayan Raja Yoga Meditation with Discourse on Samadhi.
Himalayan Raja Yoga Meditation, also known as Vishoka Meditation, is a powerful ancient practice from the Sri Vidya Tantra lineage of the Himalayas. This deeply transformative 45-minute meditation has been practised by Acharyas and Sadhakas for thousands of years as a means of cultivating inner stillness, clarity, and higher states of consciousness. Through the integrated practices of Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi, participants will be guided on an inward journey toward profound peace and self-awareness. Woven throughout the meditation is a discourse on Samadhi, drawing on the wisdom and insights of the Samadhi Pada of the Yoga Sutras of Sage Patanjali, offering both practical guidance and philosophical understanding of the meditative path. This session is suitable for both experienced practitioners and sincere beginners who wish to explore the deeper dimensions of yoga and meditation.
with Chardin & Iris
Kenkō Studios, Auckland 20th June 2026
Solstice Retreats are multilayered community gatherings aligned with the solstice — an astronomical moment when the sun reaches its greatest or lowest point in the sky, marking a turning point in the cycle of the year. During the summer solstice, when the sun shines at its fullest, the retreat carries themes of vitality, warmth, expansion, and inner illumination. In contrast, the winter solstice invites a different movement: a return inward, bringing themes of stillness, reflection, restoration, and the quiet rekindling of light within the darkness.
Together, these gatherings honour the natural rhythm of expansion and contraction, inviting participants to pause, reflect, and realign with both the cycles of nature and the deeper cycles of their own lives.
SPLORE Festival
Tāpapakanga Regional Park 20th -22nd Feb 2026
Splore Festival returns to Aotearoa next February, bringing together a vibrant community of seekers, artists, and visionaries for a weekend of deep practice, learning, and celebration. This year, Chardin will be offering transformative workshops on Himalayan Raja Yoga and Buddhist meditation, guiding participants through traditional methods for cultivating clarity, resilience, and inner stillness. He will also deliver a special discourse on Samadhi—what it truly is, the distinct stages of its unfolding, and practical pathways to experience it. A sanctuary of wisdom, music, movement, and connection, Spore Festival is set to be an inspiring start to the year.
For more information and tickets follow the link here: SPLORE FESTIVAL
Mantra Band Live at Soul Room
Soul Room, Oakura 4pm 6th Jan 2026
New Zealand’s premier kirtan collective, Mantra Band, is coming to Soul Room for an unforgettable live experience overlooking the ocean and open sky. Join us for an evening of heartfelt, devotional music as ancient mantras are woven into rich melodies and rhythm. This is a shared journey of sound, connection, and upliftment as we welcome the new year together.
Set against the natural beauty of the sea, Soul Room provides the perfect sanctuary for this immersive kirtan gathering. Mantra Band is known for creating deeply moving, accessible experiences where voices rise together and hearts soften. The evening invites you to simply arrive as you are and be carried by the music.
The night will be beautifully complemented by catering from Taranaki’s top plant-based café, Wild Pear Cafe, offering nourishing, soul-aligned food to complete the experience. Tickets are $15 per person, with limited spaces available. Don’t miss this epic opportunity to witness live kirtan in one of Taranaki’s most inspiring coastal spaces.
Solstice Retreat
with Chardin & Iris
Kenko Studios, Auckland 27th Dec 2025
Join Iris and Chardin for a multi-layered community gathering aligned with the summer solstice. An astrological moment when the sun shines at its fullest, inviting themes of vitality, warmth and inner illumination. You’ll enjoy a relaxed evening to close out the year with space to connect, learn and dive deep into the yoga practices and healing modalities. This urban retreat hosted by Chardin and Iris of Thehealingroom.nz blends tantric and Buddhist tradition with Japanese and modern healing through meditation, ritual and sound.
Chardin is a meditation guide rooted in the Sri Vidya Tantric tradition dedicated to sharing practices that lead toward clarity, devotion and self-realisation. With over 15 years of training across Buddhist, Tantric and Yogic lineages, his work centers on deep stillness, energetic awareness and the inner journey. With Solstice Retreat, Shardin will be guiding a 60-minute Vishoka meditation as well as discourse on the levels of Samadhi and their significance.
Iris is a Reiki master and yoga guide with a deeply intuitive and intentional ethos. Each experience is richly immersive, creatively driven and engages all the senses to support clarity, relaxation and balance. Iris believes in a woven tapestry of ancient practices, honored and made accessible for the modern world. At Solstice Retreat, she will be serving Blue Lotus Cacao, guiding an intention-setting and a Reiki-infused ocean-sound journey.
Find more information and tickets go to the Kenko Studios website here Kenko Studios
