Monastery weekend for women - strengthening self-care

Being there for everyone is a matter of course for most women! Caring for the children, helping a colleague or working a few extra hours for the boss. As self-employed people, we make it convenient for everyone to be satisfied, say yes where we sometimes want to shout no and do everything for our clients. And we like doing it! But where are we? When was the last time we said "yes" to ourselves wholeheartedly? Self-care is a topic that is neglected by many women. It is much more socially acceptable to look after others than to look after yourself. But self-care has nothing to do with selfishness! We have to make sure that we are doing well for ourselves before we can be there for others. That's not so easy! With this monastery weekend exclusively for women, I would like to provide inspiration on how to be a good mother to yourself.
In the relaxed atmosphere of St. Nicholas Monastery, far removed from everyday life, it is easy to completely let go of the daily grind. This weekend is all about you and the topic of self-care. Qigong helps you to relax and optimize your energy flow with its centred, meditative movements and targeted breathing. Mindful walking through nature and the monastery garden promotes mindfulness and focuses your attention on the essentials. The time-out weekend is rounded off with silent and guided meditations, which can have a special effect in a group. In between, there will be enough time to process the impressions and deepen them in conversation with the other participants. With numerous exercises, we repeatedly focus on the moment and pure perception, so that the practice of mindfulness is deepened. The trainer, Kerstin Wessel, is a certified Qigong teacher recognized by the German Taiji-Qigong Association, a communication trainer and a qualified TCM therapist.
The weekend includes a Qigong health course (€150), which is subsidized by the statutory health insurance companies.

The rooms are simply and comfortably furnished. Each room has its own washbasin. The very clean and modern toilets and showers are located in the corridor on the 1st floor. Including full board, the total cost of accommodation is EUR 210. Rooms are reserved directly when booking and payment is made on site.

Coffee, tea and snacks are included in the price. Cold drinks can be purchased on site at moderate prices.

Meals will be as follows:
- Breakfast buffet with rolls, bread, cold cuts, fresh fruit and vegetables, yogurt and muesli
- Lunch consisting of soup, main course, dessert and salad
- Dinner bread and cold cuts, various salads and something warm

If vegetarian or vegan food is required, the monastery kitchen crew will be happy to cater for this. The food is tasty and plentiful.

Procedure

Thursday from 4 pm:

Individual arrival, check into room and welcome
from 17:00 hrs: get to know each other
18:00 Dinner
19:00 Mindful walking in the monastery garden
19:45 Qi Gong together
Concluding together with a meditation

Friday/Saturday from 7:30 a.m:

7:30 a.m. Silent meditation
8:00 a.m. Breakfast
9:00 a.m. Impulse lecture on mindfulness and self-care
10:30 a.m. Qi Gong (theory and practice)
12:00 Lunch
13:30 Self-care impulses/card drawing
15:00 Qi Gong together
16:30 Guided meditation
17:30 Qi Gong together
18:00 Dinner
19:00 Meditation and Qi Gong
20:00 Meditation for mindfulness

Sunday from 7:30 a.m.

7:30 a.m. Silent meditation
8:00 a.m. Breakfast
9:30 a.m. Opportunity for individual discussions in the park or a monastery room, depending on the weather
11:00 a.m. Silent Qi Gong (breathing meditation)
11:30 a.m. QI Gong together
12:00 Lunch together
13:00 Guided meditation
13:30 Qi Gong
14:00 Closing round
15:00 individual departure

Arrival

You are responsible for your own transportation. The easiest way to reach the Nikolauskloster is to leave the highway 46 at the Grevenbroich-Kapellen junction. Then follow the L 361 on the right for about 2 km until you see signs for Nikolauskloster. Turn left onto the L32 and after about 1 km you will find the monastery on the left. There are parking spaces directly on the road.