Summary

AS A BEGINNER OR ADVANCED PRACTICIONER OF ZEN
you can relax and refresh yourself with Zen practices during this one week retreat. Under the guidance of Japanese Zen monk Seigaku, you will experience and apply Zen teachings in your daily life. Zen practice focuses on experiencing the essence of consciousness. Sitting meditation is the main practice of Zen and aims to calm the mind and focus on breathing. We will go to bed early, get up early and clean. We cook and eat together simple vegan Japanese Temple Cuisine Shojin Ryori, recite sutras at every meal and practise calligraphy.

OUR ISLAND EXCURSIONS
take us to beautiful natural landscapes with unique ecosystems. The volcanic island of La Palma, declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, is part of the Canary Islands, which belong to Spain, and is located off the northwest coast of Africa. In the capital and port town of Santa Cruz de La Palma, you will find narrow cobbled streets and houses with wooden balconies. The island is mountainous and densely forested, with laurel and pine forests, waterfalls, black lava and white salt fields. On relaxed walks and hikes, we reach places by the sea and in the mountains and experience the wonderful nature of La Palma in a mindful way.

SEIGAKU
was born in 1981 to Japanese teachers and spent his school years in Yonago City, Tottori Prefecture, Japan. While studying at Keio University, he became interested in Zen training and was ordained as a Buddhist monk at Eiheiji Temple in Fukui, the main temple of Soto Zen Buddhism in Japan. Since then, he has visited many foreign dojos in China, including the United States, France, Switzerland, Poland and Germany. He teaches Zazen and spreads the Zen way of life throughout the world. Seigaku is the author of ‘Learning from a Monk: The Art of Eating for a Heart-Centred Mind’ and ‘Body and Mind Become Beautiful: The Art of Zen’.

The retreat at a glance

The most important facts in a nutshell:

Categories: Detox Retreats, Japanese weekend, Zen Retreat, Nature Vacation, Qigong, Meditation, Forest bathing, Self-discovery, Consciousness, soul, senses & spirit, Nutritional advice, Clean Eating, Mindfulness, Breathing, Relaxation, Drawing, Cooking, Hiking, Wellness, Creative Retreats, Active Retreats
Date: 2025-09-20 - 2025-09-27
Language(s): English, German
Level: Expert, Beginner, Advanced
Place: Santa Cruz La Palma, Spain
Accommodation: Overnight stay included
Catering: Full board
Types of food: Vegetarian, Dairy-free, Vegan, Organic
Services: 7 days full vegan board

7 x nights in a double room with single beds

7 days SLOW ZEN RETREAT

4 x Zazen for Tag

1 x Qi Gong pro Tag

Cooking together

Mindful eating

3 x island excursions with easy hikes

1 x Calligraphy

optional: swimming in the sea, beach 5 minutes on foot

Accommodation

THE SEMINAR HOUSE
is a charming Canarian house in the historic district of Santa Cruz de La Palma, where you will immediately feel at home. With its cosy seminar room, an inner patio with dining area, a beautiful terrace and kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms. Around the house you will find many places with friendly little cafés, restaurants and shops. And if you're looking for a refreshing dip in the Atlantic Ocean with its black lava sand, it's only a 5-minute walk from Casa Las Enanas. Once again this year, the city beach has been awarded the ‘Bandera Azul’ nature conservation label, which stands for a well-maintained beach and high-quality bathing water.

Catering

Simple Japanese Zen temple cuisine Shojin Ryori.

sequence

RETRET PROGRAMME:

Saturday, 20th of September
7.30pm – Zazen
8.00pm – Time for tea and candles
9.30m – Light walk

Sunday, 21st - Friday 26th of September
06.00am – Wake up, ZaZen, Qi Gong
08.30am – Tea, breakfast, cleaning and rest
10.00am – ZaZen
10.40am - Freetime, walks or swimming in the sea
12.30pm – Cooking, lunch cleaning and rest
2.30pm – 3 x Island excursions
6.30pm - ZaZen
8.00pm – Time for tea and candles
9.30pm – Light walk

Saturday, 27th of September
06.00am – Wake up, ZaZen, Qi Gong
08.30am – Tea, breakfast, cleaning and rest
10.00am – ZaZen

Arrival

NOT INCLUDED:
Transfere from the airport of La Palma (SPC) to “Casa Las Enanas” :
but it can easily reached by bus 500 or only 12 minutes by taxi.
The flight must be booked separately and is not included.

Calle Sierra 2, 38700 Santa Cruz La Palma, Canarias, Spain

Cancellation policy

If you cancel up to 60 days before arrival, you will receive a 50% refund of the booking price.
If you cancel up to 14 days before arrival, you will receive a 20% refund of the booking price.
After this, the booking is non-refundable.

In the event of cancellation by the organiser:
The organiser may withdraw up to two weeks before the start of the course if the minimum number of participants has not been reached or due to unforeseeable circumstances such as illness etc.. In this case, the seminar costs already paid will be refunded. There is no entitlement to compensation.

In the event of cancellation by the participant:
If the participant cancels up to 8 weeks before the start of the course, the cancellation costs are 50% of the seminar fee and up to two weeks before the start of the course 20%. In the event of cancellation less than two weeks before the start of the course, no cancellation costs can be claimed.
Take out seminar cancellation insurance: Something unforeseen can always happen, which is why we recommend taking out appropriate insurance.