China Wellness & Wisdom Retreat

Fly overnight to Chongqing, China's ‘cyberpunk’ city. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.

Begin the day with a master who will begin to teach you 'Ba Duan Jin', a form of traditional qigong therapeutic exercise, that features a series of eight gentle movements, followed by a guided meditation session. Next, will be a presentation with Peter and Mandy to introduce reiki practice. Peter's own reiki journey began by chance in the early 1990s in Hawaii, where a meeting with a visiting Reiki Master set him on a decades-long path of practice alongside his wife, Mandy, culminating in Peter becoming a Reiki Master himself. Once you've heard his story, you'll be grouped ready for the next stage of the process. Group A will spend the morning in a traditional Chinese medicine centre, experiencing pulse diagnosis, ear seeding and traditional Chinese acupoint massage, while group B will have their individual attunement with Peter, to open the body's pathways to allow it to channel healing energy. After lunch, the groups will swap. Tonight, bathe in one of Chongqing's plentiful hot springs to soak up the benefits of the mineral-rich waters.

Start the day with a meditation session led by a certified instructor, then partake in a second session of Ba Duan Jin. Then, discover the benefits of reflexology, having the pressure points on your feet worked on by a practitioner to promote relaxation and wellbeing. Head out to explore Chongqing; stop at the Panda House at Chongqing Zoo to watch the adorable antics of the resident giant pandas and visit Liziba to watch the light rail train pass through a residential building. Later, join Peter for a group self-healing practice; he will guide you through using your hands to channel the ‘universal life force energy’ to promote deep relaxation, reduce stress and support the body’s natural healing abilities.

Focus your mind with a meditation session, then enjoy a session of Wu Qin Xi. Another system of ancient qigong exercise, the master will teach you the five forms, based on the movements of five animals – tiger, deer, bear, monkey and bird. Then, wander the atmospheric streets of Ciqikou Ancient Town, stopping at a traditional teahouse for a tasting and to watch a fascinating ‘face-changing’ show. After lunch, experience an immersive multimedia show of Chongqing's iconic landscapes. Later, Peter will lead a ‘healing others’ group session, demonstrating how to use the techniques you’ve learned to help channel others’ energy. After dinner, board a river cruise to enjoy the bright lights of the city, by night.

After your morning meditation and Wu Qin Xi sessions, board a high-speed bullet train to Jiuli City, a cultural park that showcases the rich heritage and culture of the Miao ethnic minority people. Sit down to a long-table banquet, experiencing the “mountains and flowing streams” drinking ceremony and tasty Pengshui delicacies. In the afternoon, explore the area, visiting scenic spots and cultural points of interest before spending time at the Miao Medicine Clinic where you’ll discover more about the traditional healing techniques of the Miao. Then, join Peter for an advanced ‘healing others’ group session before dinner.

Find calm in your morning meditation session before a master arrives to take you through some invigorating tai chi postures. Return to Chongqing by train. Later this afternoon, Peter and Mandy will host a Q&A and a closing session, to ground, cleanse and seal the energy healing treatments you’ve been experiencing throughout the week. After dinner, enjoy the Glamorous Chongqing Drone Show. Thousands of synchronised drones fly in an intricate aerial display over the city in an unmissable, immersive audiovisual spectacular.

Transfer to the airport for your return flight home, arriving the same or the following day.