Connect with Nature: A Weekend of Qigong & Art
Where: The Baton House
1565 Baton Valley Road, Woodstock, Tasman
When: Friday 10th October – Arrive anytime after 3pm for a 5pm welcome and orientation
to Monday 13th October – After lunch (around 2pm)
Cost: $560 (includes all meals, shared accommodation and workshops)
Connect with Nature: A Weekend of Qigong & Art
A creative and nourishing retreat at The Baton House, Baton Valley
Take a deep breath, slow down, and join us for a special weekend retreat in the peaceful and stunning Baton Valley, just 90 minutes from Nelson and 60 minutes from Motueka. Hosted at The Baton House — an inviting, spacious homestead at the edge of Kahurangi National Park—this retreat brings together gentle movement, creativity, and connection with nature.
You’ll experience the calming flow of Yuan Qigong alongside inspiring hands-on art practices including anthotype and cyanotype printing. Whether you’re looking to reset, explore something new, or simply enjoy a weekend of creativity and calm, you’ll be warmly welcomed here.
What We’ll Explore
Yuan Qigong – Moving with Peace
Yuan Qigong is a beautiful form of moving and still meditation that helps us connect deeply with ourselves and the world around us. Rooted in the Ren Xue system, it uses body, breath, and intention to bring balance, clarity, and inner strength. This internal practice fosters a deep connection, allowing us to know ourselves as part of nature.
Sunprints – A Journey Through Sun and Shadow
Discover the magic of making art with sunlight in calming, hands-on sessions. Sun printing—one of the earliest and simplest forms of photography—invites you to create beautiful images by placing objects directly onto light-sensitive materials and exposing them to the sun. We’ll explore two poetic techniques: anthotype printing, where you paint with plant pigments to create delicate, fading images, and cyanotype printing, which uses natural or personal objects to produce magical blue-toned prints. Depending on the weather and light conditions, we may focus primarily on cyanotypes, which are more adaptable to varying sun strength. Either way, this gentle creative practice offers a peaceful way to connect with nature.
More Than a Workshop – A Whole Experience
This retreat is all about connecting with your creativity, your body, others, and the natural world. You’ll have space to reflect, move, make, rest, and simply be. We’ll also have time for shared meals, gentle conversations, and personal exploration.
You’ll come away with:
- A deeper connection to yourself and an understanding of how qigong can cultivate this.
- Your own anthotype and cyanotype artworks.
- A sense of peace, creativity, and shared experience.
No previous experience is needed—just bring your curiosity and an open heart.
About The Baton House & The Baton Valley
The Baton House is a warm, comfortable homestead with a big open room perfect for group activities. It’s located at the top of the beautiful Baton Valley and run by the Baton Valley Trust, whose mission is all about sustainability, conservation, and community wellbeing.
The valley itself is a hidden gem—remote and peaceful, with farmland, forest, rivers and tracks leading into the Kahurangi National Park. It’s a perfect spot to swim, walk, bike, explore, or simply sit in stillness and soak it all in.
Being at The Baton House means you are immersed in Nature and you will have plenty of time to explore and enjoy the stunning surroundings, or just relax.
The Trust’s philosophy is simple: Ka ora te whenua, ka ora te tāngata – when the land is well, the people will be well. Every retreat here honours that connection.
Accommodation
There are a variety of sleeping options including shared rooms and a tipi – we’ll choose beds on arrival. Your own tent is an option as well.
Food
Nourishing, vegetarian, wholefood meals are provided, along with snacks, herbal teas and coffee.
Giving Back During Your Stay
At the end of your stay, we ask that all guests clean their rooms and bathrooms and contribute to tidying shared spaces—this may include tasks like steam mopping the main hall floor or topping up the firewood supply. We also invite you to set aside 60 to 90 minutes to help out with seasonal work around the property, such as harvesting and processing produce from the garden, pulling a few weeds, assisting in the native plant nursery, or supporting general maintenance. Your contribution will help care for this place and sustain it for future visitors.
Meet Your Hosts
Ali Kay
Ali has been practising and teaching Yuan Qigong and Ren Xue for over 10 years. Based in Motueka, she has a background in teaching, design, and organic gardening. Her life has been transformed by this life cultivation system, and she loves sharing it with others in an open, supportive way.
Ana Solo
Ana is a self-taught artist and illustrator from Spain who’s been living on the South Island since 2010. With a background in music and design, she’s passionate about using natural materials and plant-based printing to create art that honours the earth. She brings warmth, creativity, and joy to her workshops.
Retreat fee
Limited to 8 participants, this is a relaxed, intimate retreat with a fee of $560 which includes all meals, shared accommodation (including bedding and towels).
To book this retreat please click on the button below. We look forward to welcoming you.