Harmony Dawn Workshops
Andy James is a renowned master teacher of Vipassana Mindfulness meditation, Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong and more. He has taught classes and lead retreats in Ontario since 1984 when he founded the Toronto-based Tai Chi and Meditation Centre. He is the author of three books and several videos which are available through our online store. His work has been repeatedly featured in Canadian national and local media. Andy has been prepared for this mind-body work by eminent teachers like Thai Meditation Master Dhiravamsa, Miss Rose Li and others. Prior to full time teaching in 1984, he worked as a Chartered Accountant in the UK and Canada, gathering broad-based knowledge of the business world and working environment. Andy and Nicola built and offered the off-grid, sustainable energy Harmony Dawn retreat to the public starting in 2003 as a practical, example of Yin-Yang philosophy, not only in building design and placement, but all important food and nutrition, which is regarded in China as part of Herbal Medicine.
Nicola Lawrence James co-founder of Harmony Dawn, is the Chef and Manager of Harmony Dawn retreat. Nicola brings to her cooking an intuitive sense of Yin-Yang balance as well as formal training as a Medical Qigong Practitioner (MQP) and Fengshui consultant. Her Harmony Dawn cooking workshops (to resume in the Spring of 2023) as well as her cookbooks are always in demand.
Please check our Guest Workshops page for a full listing of all offerings and workshops being held at Harmony Dawn.
Please call or e-mail us for available booking dates.
Andy's Retreats & Workshops 2024
Spring 2024 - April 5 -14th - This retreat is scheduled for 10 days (Click here to purchase)
Cost: 1950.00 plus HST Early bird by February 1, 2024
2250.00 plus HST after February 1, 2024
Join Shifu James for this powerful and life- transforming 10 day ret
reat. Shifu James has been trained as a teacher by the Thai Meditation and Dharma Master, Dhiravamsa, and has been leading meditation classes and retreats in Canada for 34 years. Vipassana/ Mindfulness meditation is seemingly simple, but requires guidance from an experienced “spiritual friend” if we are to realise its purpose as taught by the Buddha – Freedom from Suffering and Enlightenment.
Periods of sitting meditation will alternate with other activities like qigong, nature walks, walking meditation, private interviews, dharma talks and more.
For more information, please contact nic@harmonydawn.com
Location: Harmony Dawn Retreat.
Please click here to read all testimonials.
Qigong & Tai Chi With Shifu Andy James (Click here to Purchase)
Date: August 16 - 18 /24
Cost:
$520.00 plus HST
If you are interested in learning (or learning more) about Qigong and Tai Chi Chuan, this unique weekend workshop is for you!
The workshop will offer detailed instruction on universally important fundamentals like standing, walking and breathing as well as more advanced mind-body-energy self-healing techniques. Instruction will be individually adjusted to your level of experience or lack thereof. All are welcome.
Professor Jerry Alan Johnson, founder of the International institute of Medical Qigong, wrote about Shifu James: “James’ in-depth understanding of Chinese integral mind-body training stems from his (more than) thirty-five years of personal internal martial arts experience… A master instructor internationally recognized by his peers for his mastery of the most esoteric aspects of the internal martial arts”.
The workshop will be held at the beautiful and tranquil Harmony Dawn retreat, famous for its Yin-Yang based cuisine. Instruction, food and accommodation are all included.
For more information, please contact nic@harmonydawn.com
Location: Harmony Dawn Retreat, please contact us to register.
Please click here to read all testimonials.
Contact Us
2 Day Vipassana (Mindfulness) Meditation Retreat With Shifu Andy
James
Oct. 25-27 | Nov. 15-17 OR Nov. 15-18(extra optional day at $190.00 + HST=$710.00 + HST for 3 days)
Cost:$520.00 plus HST
Shifu James has been trained as a teacher by the Thai Meditation and Dharma Master, and former Thai Buddhist Abbot, Dhiravamsa, and has been leading meditation classes and retreats in Canada for 34 years. Vipassana/ Mindfulness meditation is seemingly simple, but requires guidance from an experienced “spiritual friend” if we are to realise its purpose as taught by the Buddha – Freedom from Suffering and Enlightenment. The 2 day weekend retreat is a brief but intense introduction to starting or rejuvenating a serious Vipassana- Mindfulness based meditation practice in your life. … which can be profoundly transformational.
Schedule for the weekend:
Friday
Arrival at 4pm, settle in
Dinner 630
730
Opening session with retreat instructions and guidance, Silence begins
Saturday
Morning qigong and sitting practice
Breakfast 830
1000ish first session- sitting meditations, qigong
Lunch 100pm and free time
300pm 2nd session- dharma talk, sitting meditations
Dinner 600
730, evening session
Sunday as per Saturday until departure at 300 pm.
Contact Nicola at nic@harmonydawn.com if you would like to book or would like more information.
Cooking Retreat - Spring 2024 (Click here to Purchase)
Date: May 3-5/2024
With Nicola, Andy James
Harmony Dawn’s Cooking for Health, Meditation and Qigong workshops have been designed to feed body, mind and spirit. The three aspects complement each other to give participants a deeper understanding of what the Harmony Dawn experience is all about and what goes into the food preparation for their guests. All skill levels are welcome; workshops are limited to a maximum of 10 people.
Our cooking workshops are an experiential celebration of food and cooking with the group preparing Saturday lunch and dinner and then Sunday lunch. The participants will gain a real understanding of how to put together a vegetarian menu plan for 
optimal health, to use seasonal ingredients, and to make cooking fun, flavourful and nutritious. Workshops are tailored to participants’ diverse interests so you may find yourself learning and preparing gluten free foods , vegan cooking, culturally diverse cuisine, bread making, desserts, alternative ingredients, macrobiotics and more.
Shifu Andy James teaches the Insight (Vipassana) meditation and Qi gong sessions, which are an introduction to these disciplines. Qigong can be described as Chinese Yoga - very gentle flowing exercises with an emphasis on moving energy through your body to enhance health.
"I have been to several cooking workshops, but my experience at Harmony Dawn far surpasses any of them. The cooking experience was amazing - it was nothing short of an organizational masterpiece. Nicola provides individual and personal attention to the hands on experience all the while imparting nuggets of nutritional and cooking wisdom. Combined with Andy's meditation and Qi Gong classes, I feel inspired to make healthy and delicious changes in my lifestyle." Cindy Bryson- workshop attendee
Included in your weekend:
- Begins Friday afternoon around 4pm and finishes Sunday mid afternoon
- Accommodation and 6 amazing meals
- Tuition and guidance throughout the weekend
- Three hands-on cooking sessions – Saturday lunch, dinner and Sunday lunch
- Vipassana meditation sessions and Qi gong exercises
- Relaxation time is built into the schedule
Location: Harmony Dawn Retreat
For more information on this workshop please contact Nicola
Please click here to read all testimonials.