Manzanita Village Retreat Center | Manzanita Village and the Five Changes

Retreats at Manzanita Village

Workshops and retreats at Manzanita Village are open to anyone with a genuine passion for learning and changing.

They weave together perspectives and practices drawn from Buddhism, Neuroscience, and Deep ecology, Modalities for developing Creativity, Leadership Skills, as well as from cutting edge elements in organizational and personal development.

Our work is based on the understanding that long term person transformation can be embodied, learned, and applied more easily and rapidly than is usually appreciated. As young children we learn with extraordinary speed, in the same way you can re-learn what has held you back from realizing your true human capacity.

If you are a seeker, an activist, writer, creative artist, a creative entrepreneur ; if solution-based thinking, creativity, and making a difference are important to you, then you will feel right at home at Manzanita Village.

“I came here for a some peace and quiet. I ended up rethinking everything I though I knew about my life, and what was possible.” Chuck Page, San Diego

The Teachers

Caitriona Reed and Michele Benzamin-Miki, poet, painter and martial artist respectively, have been leading workshops internationally for more than twenty years.

It is so refreshing to be in the presence of two people who are so committed to living from the heart — Scout Wilkins, Montana.

These teachers are amazing. They’ve helped me fuse my spiritual practice with my work for justice and liberation… and through this, have helped me to understand the world and my place in it. I urge you to come check this out… it’s guaranteed to rock your world — Neelam Pathikonda, Los Angeles.

I am grateful beyond words for the remarkable work of Caitríona and Michele. No spiritual teachers I know bring a broader, more relevant range of knowledge, experience, and well-honed skills for awakening us to fullness of being. While thoroughly schooled in ancient traditions, their work is fresh and bold, igniting both courage and joy for meeting the challenges of today’s world. For over a decade my own life and teaching has been enriched by their adventurous creativity and passionate respect for life — Joanna Macy, activist, teacher, and author of “World as Lover, World as Self” and “Coming Back to Life”, and co-founder of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship.

In my 23 years of personal and professional development work, I have been extremely fortunate to have seen some of the greatest motivational speakers of our time. I can honestly say that Caitriona is by far one of the most captivating, entertaining, engaging and inspiring speakers and storytellers on the circuit today. She has an amazing knack for blending the breadth of her experience with the depth of her knowledge in a relaxed, easy-to-understand delivery. She’s hip, funny, dynamic and has her finger on the pulse of today’s current trends. Her work is not only inspiring but life-changing. I personally experienced a fundamental shift in my thinking in just minutes — Liora Mendeloff, CEO and Founder Lele Associates Inc. Los Angeles.

Michele has integrity to the max. You create peace, and are peaceful – firm without rigidity, yielding without weakness – incredible modeling for how to live in balance in an unbalanced world — Penny Post Massachusetts

I have become a completely different person — Florence Addison, Accra Ghana.

Workshops and Retreats

Although our focus is currently on working with individuals in short-term intensives for long term permanent positive change, we also conduct and/or host certification training, conferences, interactive workshops and silent meditation intensives.

I love the land here. The chaparral forest,among mountains and hills, beneath countless stars is itself a teacher. Lawrence Ellis, Lawrence Ellis Associates Oakland.

Change IS possible, and immanent. Before I came I wanted to change. I knew that change was possible, but didn’t know how and wasn’t motivated.. The things that I’ve heard and experienced during this retreat have really solidified in me something that really makes me want to move forward and change everything about the way I live my life — Dr. Chevy T. Williams, Philadelphia.