1-Day Qigong Retreat: Saturday 16 May 2026

by Jocelyn Watkin | Apr 4, 2026 | Information | 0 comments

1-Day Retreat: Grounding the Gallop: Elemental qigong to harness the energy of the Fire Horse

• When: Saturday 16 May 2026, 9am – 3.30pm. (Please arrive between 8.40 – 8.55am)
• Where: Auckland Botanic Gardens (in the Friends Building), 102 Hill Road, The Gardens, Manurewa, Auckland 2105
• Participants: Adults aged 18+. Ideal for beginners and also for tai chi and qigong enthusiasts who want to get more out of their practice.
• Limited to 10 participants

The Year of the Fire Horse is traditionally associated with forward-moving energy, speed, strength, and decisive action. It’s a year that encourages momentum and determination.

In 2026, the energy of the horse is intensified by the fire element — creating a powerful, high-voltage gallop that can be exhilarating, but also exhausting if left unchecked.

The pace of a Fire Horse year can feel relentless. Without balance, that build-up of energy may lead to fatigue, overwhelm, or burnout long before the year has run its course.

What if there was a way to steady the ride — to soothe your nervous system while still making the most of the Fire Horse’s vitality and drive?

And, what if you could harness this dynamic energy without getting burnt?

Through calming yet powerful elemental qigong (pronounced chee-gong), this retreat offers exactly that: a way to cool the fire, ground the gallop, and ride through the year with both ease and purpose.

According to ancient Chinese philosophy, everything in the universe — including horses and humans — is composed of five elements: Earth, Metal, Water, Wood, and Fire.

When these elements are in harmony, we feel balanced and resilient. When they are out of balance — as can easily happen in a Fire Horse year — we may feel overstimulated, depleted, or emotionally unsettled.

You’ll learn tailored qigong movements that balance an over-heated fire element with the cooling, stabilising elements of water and earth.

At this transformative 1-day retreat, you will learn how to:

• Manage and harness fire energy so it supports you, rather than becoming a wild, galloping ride.
• Cool excess fire with flowing, restorative water-element qigong.
• Calm and soothe your soul with grounding earth-element qigong.
• Use mindful breathing and deep relaxation as a balm for body, mind, and spirit.
• Overcome the overwhelm: Tips and strategies that really work for greater wellbeing.
• Brew the perfect cup of Indian masala chai (tea) — a sensory ritual that beautifully blends fire, earth, and water.
• Select the best Indian spices to support self-healing and everyday general health.

There will also be time at the end of the retreat for a self-guided stroll through the gardens — an opportunity to quietly absorb what you have learned while immersing yourself in nature.

Pricing: $225 per person.

• A 50% refund is available if you withdraw between 1 April and 30 April 2026
• We are unable to provide refunds if you withdraw after 30 April 2026.

Limited to 10 participants.

Please contact me (Jocelyn) if you have questions or to reserve a place in this unique retreat by phoning or texting me on 027 493 9851, or using the Contact Form on the Kia Ora Tai Chi website. I will advise options for payment.

Read the reviews and feedback from Jocelyn’s 1-Day qigong retreat in May 2025:

• “One of the best retreats I have ever attended.”
• “It was a nurturing and valuable day to spend time healing myself.”
• “Loved the philosophy and history behind qigong.”
• “I loved the welcoming and accepting atmosphere of the whole day.”

What is elemental qigong and why is it so good for you?

For thousands of years the Chinese have had a secret. A secret that helps to increase longevity and assists the body to heal from injury, illness and trauma.

That secret is qigong – a deep, meditative breathing and movement exercise that connects the mind to the body.

All qigong has health benefits, as based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). However, the ancient practice of elemental qigong is a gentle yet especially powerful sequence of breathing and movement that helps to harmonise and balance health and wellbeing through the five elements: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood.

At this retreat, you’ll also learn how to brew the perfect cup of Indian masala chai

Masala chai is a fragrant, spiced tea from India, made by simmering black tea with milk, sweetener, and a mixture of aromatic spices like ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper.

Masala chai is a sensory ritual that beautifully blends fire, earth and water.

It is rich source of antioxidants that can help boost your immune system. The spices used are said to have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Taking time to relax and sip on a cup of masala chia can help reduce stress and anxiety, soothe your soul and promote a sense of well-being.

This very special session is led by Anju Desai. Please advise if you are dairy-intolerant and an alternative will be provided.

You’ll be guided with care and clarity by experienced instructors:

Jocelyn Watkin will lead this fulfilling, in-depth day of practice designed to ground the gallop in the Year of the Fire Horse.

As a qualified and experienced tai chi and qigong instructor, she has been enjoying the health benefits of these ancient Chinese arts for over 20 years.

She has visited China three times, which included training at the sacred Wudangshan (Wudang Mountain), which is the tūrangawaewae of tai chi and qigong. (Tūrangawaewae is a Te Reo Māori word meaning spiritual home or a place to stand where you feel especially connected).

Find out more about Jocelyn: https://www.kiaorataichi.nz/about-us/

Anju Desai grew up in India with a love of chai (tea) and the self-healing power of spices. She moved to New Zealand in the early 2000s and describes herself now as “an artist living in Wonderland”.

Her homemade, nutritious, and delicious spice blends are crafted with love and care right here in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

As well as her holistic spice blend and wellness business, she teaches mindful cooking, meditative art and Bollywood dancing.

Find out more about Anju: https://anjudesai.co.nz/anjus-story/

At this retreat, you’ll also have time to explore the tranquil Auckland Botanic Gardens on your own self-guided tour

You may like to:

• Wander in the Camellia Garden and be transported to temple woodlands of China or the cool, forested, lower Himalayas in India. Camellias originated in Asia and this tranquil, meditative garden has been designed with their heritages in mind.
• Admire the many fascinating and intriguing sculptures throughout the gardens.
• Embark on your own ‘sniffari’ and delight in the aromas of the edible and herb gardens.
• Get dreamy with the palms or in the rose garden.
• Immerse yourself in ‘forest bathing’ (known as Shinrin-yoku in Japan) in the dappled seclusion of the native bush area.
• Or simply wend your way along the many walkways to refresh your eyes and senses on nature at its best.

Whether you’re new to qigong or looking to deepen an existing practice, this retreat is an opportunity to make the most of the Year of the Fire Horse with steadiness, wisdom, and grounded vitality.

Testimonials about Jocelyn from her November 2025 retreat: 

• “Fabulous – and I am being honest. Your values and respect shine through Jocelyn.”
• “You are positive and affirming and when you help it felt as if you really were focusing on us as individuals.”
• “Pace and variety perfectly pitched without losing depth of understanding.”

Grounding the Gallop: Elemental qigong to harness the energy of the Fire Horse

At this 1-Day retreat, you’ll learn tailored qigong movements that balance an over-heated fire element with the cooling, stabilising elements of water and earth.

Pricing: $225 per person.

• A 50% refund is available if you withdraw between 1 April and 30 April 2026
• We are unable to provide refunds if you withdraw after 30 April 2026.

Limited to 10 participants.

Please contact me (Jocelyn) if you have questions or to reserve a place in this unique retreat by phoning or texting me on 027 493 9851, or using the Contact Form on the Kia Ora Tai Chi website. I will advise options for payment.

Here are all the details of this 1-Day Retreat: Grounding the Gallop: Elemental qigong to harness the energy of the Fire Horse

When: Saturday 16 May 2026, 9am – 3.30pm (please arrive between 8.40 – 8.55am) 9am – 3.30pm.

Where: Auckland Botanic Gardens (in the Friends Building), 102 Hill Road, The Gardens, Auckland 2105

Parking: Plenty of free parking is available in the main (No.1) car park at the Auckland Botanic Gardens. The Friends Building is an indoor venue, which is located on the Western side of the main carpark.

What to wear:  Comfortable, loose clothing that is easy to move in and flat-soled shoes. Please bring a jersey or hoodie to keep warm, as we will be sitting still for some of the time (chairs will be provided for this). If you want to explore the gardens after the retreat, please also bring an outdoor jacket.

Please bring: Your lunch, pen and paper to take notes, filled water bottle and a snack.

Who should attend?
This retreat is open to anyone aged 18+ who wishes to learn calming yet powerful elemental qigong and a way to ride through the Year of the Fire Horse with both ease and purpose. Ideal for beginners and also for tai chi and qigong enthusiasts who want to get more out of their practice.

Please contact Jocelyn to reserve a place in this unique retreat by phoning or texting her on 027 493 9851, or using the Contact Form on the Kia Ora Tai Chi website. She will advise options for payment.

Cancellation policy

This retreat must be paid for in full to reserve your place.

Pricing: $225 per person.

• A 50% refund is available if you withdraw between 1 April and 30 April 2026
• We are unable to provide refunds if you withdraw after 30 April 2026.

If you are unwell on the day of the retreat (16 May 2026)

Please do not attend if you are sick or have a cold, Covid or ‘flu-like symptoms. In these circumstances, you will be issued with a credit to attend another tai chi or qigong workshop or retreat by Kia Ora Tai Chi.

All participants will need to respect the need for social distancing during the retreat. Anyone is welcome to wear a face mask if they wish.

The room will be well-ventilated and hand sanitiser will be provided.

We will abide by the NZ Government’s health advice and regulations as they apply at the time of this retreat.

If you’d like to be among the first to know when other exiting Kia Ora Tai Chi, Qigong or SpinPoi retreats and events happen, please RSVP to receive our free monthly e-newsletter as follows:

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