New Year
Silent Meditation
& Yoga Retreat
Reignite. Realign. Remember.
January 8 -12, 2026. | Byron Hinterland, NSW.
“Anxiety, the illness of our time, comes primarily from our inability to dwell in the present moment.”
- Thich Nhat Hanh
A three-day silent retreat for deep transformation and profound rest.
Through guided meditation, gentle yoga, authentic spiritual teachings, and self-inquiry, you’ll reconnect with what matters most.
Why a Silent Retreat?
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Find Freedom from Anxiety and Mental Noise.
Step beyond worry and constant mental chatter. Open a doorway into clarity, ease, and true freedom.
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Rest and Reset at the Deepest Level.
Reset your nervous system with stillness and gentle practice.
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Reconnect with Your Heart.
Return to love, peace, and joy already within you.
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Learn Practical Tools for Daily Life.
Practices drawn from timeless traditions to calm the mind, meet emotions skillfully, and stay centred no matter what life brings.
Daily Rhythm.
Each day of the retreat includes:
Guided and Semi-Guided Meditation Sessions.
Meditative Yoga Classes (flow, yin/restorative, and nidra — the yoga of rest).
Gentle Breathwork Practices.
Contemplative Talks on subjects like Love, Self-Inquiry, and Finding Contentment.
Three Delicious Ayurvedic Vegetarian Meals, Organic Herbal Teas, and Daily Treats.
Unlimited Access to Hot/Cold Therapy including an Infrared Sauna, Magnesium Pool and Odon Ice Bath.
Time for Rest, Reflection, and Nature Immersion.
Not Just Another Retreat.
This retreat is not about chasing highs, indulgence, or escaping life.
It is about something quieter, and far more profound:
Silence as the ground for real transformation.
Teachings from timeless traditions, shared simply and without dogma.
Deep rest for the body and nervous system.
Self-inquiry and meditation that lead you to the heart.
A return to presence, love, and clarity that endures.
Many retreats offer a temporary high.
This one offers a lasting shift in how you meet yourself and your life.
The Venue.
Located on 170 acres in the Byron Hinterland, Wybalena is a purpose-built retreat centre surrounded by serene countryside and untouched bushland.
This beautiful farm is the ideal place to step away from daily life and immerse fully into stillness.
We will have exclusive access to the retreat space — no other groups onsite, just our discreet caretakers — allowing the community to drop deeply into silence without distraction.
Every detail of the venue has been created with rest, retreat, and transformation in mind.
The Food.
Meals at the retreat are plant-based, seasonal, and freshly prepared each day to support practice and digestion.
Our chef, Emily, is a qualified Ayurvedic health advisor, yoga teacher, and passionate cook with nearly a decade of experience. Her approach makes Ayurvedic wisdom practical, grounding the retreat in food that restores balance and vitality.
Ayurvedic cooking is about supporting agni (digestive fire) with meals that are sattvic — fresh, pure, and close to nature. All meals are vegetarian, naturally gluten free, mostly organic, and made from scratch. We avoid processed foods, leftovers, caffeine, onion, garlic, and chilli, which can be heavy for the body.
Menus are tri-doshic, balanced across the six tastes, and adapt to the seasons. Lunch is the main meal, with breakfast and dinner kept lighter to aid digestion. Everything is cooked with love, intention, and non-toxic ingredients, making food a true part of the practice.
Who this is for.
This retreat may be for you if:
Your nervous system is in need of deep rest.
You’re interested in meditation but haven’t yet “got it”.
You need a total reset.
You’re on a healing journey seeking authenticity beyond fads.
You’re ready for deep transformation, not a quick fix.
You want practical tools to quieten your mind and reduce anxiety.
You feel your heart is closed and need support to open again.
You’re curious and seeking a fresh, soulful approach to life.
The Approach.
Our approach is based on the methodology of Hridaya Yoga, integrating wisdom from Yoga, Zen Buddhism, Sufism, Non-Duality (Advaita Vedanta), and Jungian psychology.
The primary method is Self-Inquiry, guided in a way that fosters an intimate connection with your inner world — helping you fall in love with yourself and your own life.
The Facilitators.
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ALISTAIR JOHNSTON
Alistair started his spiritual journey in 2014 at a Buddhist monastery in the North of Thailand. In the years since he has practised meditation with various teachers, learned several styles of yoga, and sat many retreats. In 2018 he went to Mexico for a yoga course, and met Rose as he arrived at the front gate.
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ROSE COUSENS
Rose spent four of the last eight years at Hridaya Yoga in Mexico, immersing herself in intensive yoga training, community living, and over 250 days of silent retreat. Returning to Australia during COVID, she began offering meditation retreats and yoga classes in Far North Queensland and now in the Blue Mountains, blending classical Yoga and Buddhist Psychology. She has continued her studies under her brilliant teachers in Mexico, India, Thailand and Bali.
Schedule.
CHECK-IN DAY
4.00pm – 6.00pm: Arrivals/Check-in
6.00pm – 7.15pm: Welcome/Orientation
7.15pm: Dinner
Free time/rest.
SILENT DAYS
SESSION 1:
6.30 am – 8.00 am: Meditation* (initially bite-sized meditations, with plenty of breaks)
8.15 am – 9.30 am: Meditative Dynamic Yoga
9:30 am – 11.15 am: Breakfast & Break
SESSION 2:
11.15 am – 12.15 pm: Contemplative Talk
12.30 pm – 1.00 pm: Pranayama (Breathwork) & Meditation
1.00 pm – 4.30 pm: Lunch & Rest
SESSION 3:
4.00 pm – 5.30 pm: Meditation
5.45 pm – 6.45 pm - Yin Yoga
6.45 pm – 7.45 pm: Dinner
SESSION 4:
7.45 pm – 8.00 pm - Q&A
8.00 pm – 8:45 pm – Meditation and/or Yoga Nidra
CHECK-OUT DAY
7.00am -8.30am: Meditation + Closing Cacao Circle
8.30am – 10.00am: Breakfast & Pack Up
10.00am: Check Out.
Feedback.
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"Attending this Silent Retreat was one of the most unexpectedly life-changing experiences I’ve ever had. I left feeling genuinely lighter, more spacious, seen, and grounded. The facilitators were nothing short of phenomenal; a rare combination of authenticity, presence, warmth and leadership. Every detail felt thoughtfully curated without being rigid. They were the captains of a deeply human, transformative adventure."
Melanie Mapleson, Retreat Participant June 2025.
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"I had been busy at work for years and with life. I felt drained and it was starting to impact my thinking. My sister proposed this 3-day silent retreat to me and I am so thankful. The experience was so supportive, with amazing facilitators and a beautiful group of humans all coming together to focus on ourselves and go a little deeper. I will forever be grateful for this experience and will carry it in my heart and through my actions going forward."
Bridie O’Sullivan, Retreat Participant June 2025.
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"I was a little daunted by the guidelines before the retreat but being in silence with strangers turned out to be the comfort and support that I needed. Rose and Alistair were simply amazing teachers and facilitators. They have a gift of holding space for others that is quite rare. I finally was able to find my groove with their techniques and guidance that I have been able to hold onto back in day-to-day life."
Sarah Taylor, Retreat Participant July 2024, May 2025, August 2025.
Investment.
Your retreat package includes 4 nights’ accommodation, all meals, and unlimited tea and fresh fruit.
The retreat program itself — the preparation, teachings, support and guidance, and facilitation — is offered on a conscious donation basis. We do this to make the retreat as accessible as possible. After the retreat, you’ll be invited to contribute an amount that feels right for you, balancing both your financial capacity and the value you place on the experience.
Choose the space that feels right for you.
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RETREAT MAIN HOUSE.
Large architecturally designed house with modern farm style aesthetic and cosy ambience.
Features cosy loungeroom with an open fireplace and bean bag area to relax.Four bedrooms down the hallway include two rooms with king beds and ensuites (one with a luxurious bath & WIC) and two rooms with double beds and shared bathroom.
Large glass windows showcase beautiful country views and wrap around verandas that flow onto the magnesium pool, infrared sauna, Odon ice bath and outdoor firepit.
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THE GARDEN ROOMS.
Located in a separate building just a short walk from The Main House, The Garden Rooms are the perfect oasis for guests wanting a self contained and private space.
Four identical bedrooms surrounded by lush gardens each with own entrance, double bed, farmhouse style ensuite, plus reverse cycle air conditioning and ceiling fan for comfort. Including the shared deck to enjoy the sunshine and fresh country air.
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THE GUMNUT CABINS.
Three cabins with identical layout with two bedrooms (one queen bed & one double bed) with built in wardrobes, a shared modern bathroom, living room, kitchen, dining table and deck to enjoy the country views. With reverse cycle air conditioning in the main living spaces and pedestal fans in the bedrooms.
The perfect accommodation for those wanting share with a friend, utilise the kitchen for any dietary requirements or enjoy more privacy. *Cabin 3 is custom built for disabled access.
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THE BANKSIA ROOMS.
The Banksia Rooms are within their own building, only a few steps away from The Main House. Three twin-share bedrooms share two modern farmhouse bathrooms at either end of the hallway. With reverse cycle air-conditioning and ceiling fans in each room, as well as divider screens available to place between the beds.
Three bedrooms off the main hallway offer:
Rooms A&B: twin-share with two double beds
Room C: twin-share with two single beds
Pricing.
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Retreat Main House - Double Bed
Private room with Double Bed.
Shared Bathroom (with one other person).
Ceiling Fan.PRICE: $1,050 + Program Donation.
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Retreat Main House - King-Sized Bed
Private room with King-Sized Bed.
Private Ensuite Bathroom (one with bathtub).
Ceiling Fan & Air Conditioning.PRICE: $1,300 + Program Donation (with bathtub).
PRICE: $1,200 + Program Donation (no bathtub). -
The Garden Rooms
Private Room with Double Bed.
Private Ensuite Bathroom.
Ceiling Fan & Air Conditioning.PRICE: $1,150 +Program Donation.
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The Gumnut Cabins
Private room with Queen-sized or Double- Bed.
Shared Bathroom (with one other person).
Pedestal fan.PRICE: $1,050 + Program Donation (Queen Bed)
PRICE: $1,000 + Program Donation (Double Bed). -
The Banksia Rooms
Shared room with Single bed or Double bed.
Shared Bathroom (with two other people).
Ceiling Fan & Air-Conditioning.
PRICE: $700 + Program Donation (Double Bed).
PRICE: $600 + Program Donation (Single Bed).
FAQs
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In order to maintain a silent, sacred container together and support each other on the journey, we follow strict guidelines. Please review these carefully before signing up to the retreat.
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As these retreats operate on a donation basis, we do not have a financial buffer to absorb cancellations if we are unable to fill your place.
We kindly ask that you carefully consider your decision to register and take note of the following refund timelines:Deposit: The $100 deposit is non-refundable but transferable to another person or a future retreat.
Full Payment: Full payment is due six weeks prior to the retreat. If payment is not made by this time and no alternative arrangement has been agreed upon, your place may be offered to someone else.
Cancellations 30+ Days Before Retreat: A 50% refund will be provided (based on the full retreat fee).
Cancellations Within 30 Days of Retreat: No refund will be provided.
We strongly recommend taking out travel insurance to cover your retreat fees in case of emergencies, illness, or unforeseen circumstances.
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These retreats are offered by “conscious donation.” This means only the cost of food and accommodation is fixed - the price of which is based on the venue hire and the cost of the meals.
The programmatic component - the program itself, including training, preparation, administrative, marketing, and teaching aspects during the retreat - is up to you. This requires some personal reflection and a level of integrity, weighing up what feels harmonious for you to afford at this moment in time, as well as the perceived value of the retreat (excluding food and accommodation).
To support with budgeting, in general, the minimum donation for a 3-day retreat by full-time students and low-income participants is $150. However, we encourage you to reflect on what feels right for you, and you won’t need to decide until after the retreat.
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No experience in meditation or yoga is necessary for this retreat. No experience in anything in particular is necessary for this retreat. Come as you are.
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All meals are vegetarian, sattvic, and Ayurvedic-inspired, prepared fresh each day to be light, nourishing, and supportive for your practice. Most dishes are naturally gluten and dairy free, and we can cater for allergies intolerances and strict veganism if advised in advance.
Meals are tri-doshic (balancing for all constitutions), seasonal, and designed to support healthy digestion. Lunch is served as the main meal of the day, with breakfast and dinner kept lighter to align with Ayurvedic principles.
Our chef, Emily, is a qualified Ayurvedic health advisor, yoga teacher, and passionate cook. She creates food that’s not only wholesome and balancing, but also full of flavour and prepared with care and intention.
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Yes. Meditation might feel more subtle than breathwork or plant medicine, but its power lies in that very subtlety. Over time, it reshapes the way you relate to your mind, your body, and your life.
Scientific research has shown that meditation can:
Reduce stress and anxiety by calming the amygdala (the brain’s fear centre)
Improve focus and memory by strengthening the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus
Support emotional regulation by rewiring patterns of reactivity
Promote overall wellbeing by lowering blood pressure, improving sleep, and enhancing immune function
Breathwork and plant medicine can open profound doorways but they can also be risky. Meditation helps you integrate those openings, live with more clarity and stability, and return to a deeper presence day after day. Many people are surprised at just how impactful it becomes when practiced in the right environment, with the right support.
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No. There will be shares available for you to sit on and we will guide you with different sitting options depending on your needs, with plenty of props to support you.
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While meditation can be profoundly helpful for mental health challenges, this retreat is addressed to those in a stable emotional and psychological state. If you have any mental health conditions, please read our retrMental Health Disclaimer to help determine if this retreat is right for you, and please write to Rose at hello@rosecousens.com if you have an questions or concerns.
Are you ready?
“You talk to yourself too much. You’re not unique in that; every one of us does. We maintain our world with our inner dialogue. A man or woman of knowledge is aware that the world will change completely as soon as they stop talking to themselves.”
– Carlos Castaneda
This retreat is your chance to pause, to rest, and to remember what truly matters.
📅 January 8–12, 2026
📍 Byron Hinterland, NSW