What is involved?

The intention of the one-day Mindfulness Network Community Friends (MNCF) silent retreat is to gently hold the space enabling you to deepen your personal practice of mindfulness-based meditation taught in courses such as Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy. The teachings are offered in a space of noble silence and through sitting, lying, mindful Shibashi, and mindful movement as we cultivate direct exploration of both formal and informal mindfulness-based practice. There will also be short talks on mindfulness, deepening understanding of the essential teachings that are the very fabric of mindfulness-based practice.

The online silent retreat will include:

· Periods of both guided and self-directed practice
· short talks
· periods of silence to enable you to connect more fully with your inner experience
· an encouragement to use the time in the morning and afternoon breaks and lunch break for self-care, and continued silent practice

In addition, if you feel the need you can send a private chat to the team, and the teachers will either respond to what you raise during the talks and practice guidance or arrange an individual meeting with you.

Who is the event for:

This online silent retreat is suitable for people who have an established regular mindfulness practice, along with people who teach or are training to teach mindfulness-based programmes and others who are integrating mindfulness into their professional work.

It is also suitable for those who have attended an eight-week MBSR/MBCT (or similar) course and who have a personal practice of mindfulness. This online silent retreat can contribute to fulfilling the retreat requirement for mindfulness teachers who wish to be included on the BAMBA Listing of Mindfulness Teachers.

Requirements to attend:

Attendance of at least one day of guided silent mindfulness practice is required.

To participate in the retreat day, you will need:

A room where you can close the door and engage in the workshop away from family distractions. Confidentiality must be maintained by ensuring that those who are not at the event cannot see your screen or hear the audio. It may be helpful to use headphones.
Log in via a computer that is resting on a hard surface and which has audio and a webcam. Please don’t use handheld devices.
A space for practice, a mat, cushion, and blanket may be helpful for your comfort.

The Facilitators: Feryal Melville-Polat, Emmanuelle LG, and Belinda Da Costa