New Year’s Online Silent Retreat: Widening the Heart, Deepening Practice

IDEAL FOR: Experienced (intermediate or advanced practitioners). This is a silent retreat.

Co-sponsored by the Mindfulness Center at Brown University and filling the retreat prerequisite for MBSR teacher training.

This retreat will be assisted by Lucia McBee LCSW, MPH, CYI and Elana Rosenbaum MS MSW, LCSW

Join us for the New Year! Take 7 days to renew and explore the Foundations of Mindfulness in stillness and in movement grounded in compassion, joy, friendliness and equanimity.

The retreat will be structured the same as an in person retreat, the daily schedule will start at 8 AM EST and end at 8 PM EST (except for opening and closing days) and we have a schedule similar to the in-person retreat: walking, movement, sitting, meals and work time, along with an evening dharma talk and meetings with teachers. You will need internet capability that allows you to be on camera for the retreat.

If you live with others you will need to get their commitment to cooperate so that you can remain in silence as much as possible if not completely.

This retreat will no doubt offer some new challenges but will also provide the opportunity to observe our routine life and habits anew. The schedule will be rigorous with seamless practices identical to a residential retreat. Please consider your time zone and the adaptations that will be required. Kate can speak with those of you who anticipate factors in your environment or situation that could interfere.FAQ about Online Silent Retreat

What if we need to go outside of the house? We will give clear parameters for retreating in the world rather than in seclusion. We will ask participants to get food and supplies ready ahead of time so that driving and shopping would not be necessary during the retreat. There will be specific times during the day for mindful food preparation and hygiene.

Could you provide a phone number so that loved ones could call in case of emergency? That way our phones can remain turned off? Absolutely. I will give you my number to pass along to family should they need to reach you. One of the challenges will be refraining from using the computer for anything other than our live online retreat. Phones should be turned off and put away

Would you keep up updated on the COVID-19 if something drastic were to happen nationwide? Definitely yes. While this retreat will provide seclusion from the daily news, should something arise that is imminent you would be notified in a timely fashion.