Guidelines for  

Day of Mindfulness Retreats

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(Hours and duration vary. Refer to the email for concrete information.)

 

After you have emailed your intent to attend the Retreat to the contact listed in the email, your Zoom link will be emailed to you the day before and 30 minutes before the start of the Retreat.

 

We are looking forward to gathering with you on this day of self-care, a day of profound practice, and of sitting together with our World Online Community. Many have said that the All Day Retreat has been one of the most powerful experiences, not just while attending the MBSR program, but continuing over the years! If you have attended a different Imagine mindfulness course, we would also like to welcome you. 

 

These guidelines will help you prepare for the day.​ 

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We invite you to prepare your space so it reflects your intentions for your practice. Create a space where you can enjoy the day without being interrupted by a person, pet, or phone. Let others in your living space know you are participating in a retreat. We all want to arrive in ‘being’ mode instead of ‘doing’ mode. Set up a space in your house where you can be without being disturbed, a place where you feel comfortable and safe to sit and lay with your eyes closed. 

 

Having all you need ready and close-by is helpful to experience the day fully. The following are considerations in preparing what you need for the retreat. 

 

What will you need?

• Be sure that your device is fully charged and connected to a power source. 

• A yoga mat

• Some pillows, blanket and cushions

• Having some clothing layers by your side

• Prepare food and drinks in advance (snack/morning/lunch/evening meal) to enjoy eating and drinking mindfully.

• You might want to consider having something close to you that can serve as an anchor during periods of overwhelm. Perhaps a gem-stone you like, a picture of you with a dear one, a bouquet of flowers: something that can help you to come back to the here and now, that you identify with as part of your life and that feels safe. Of course we will be available for you if at any moment you feel the practice is becoming too much. 

 

We will start our day at the time specified in the email you received with an official opening and end our time together, coming out of silence between 7 and 9 hours later (specified in the email you received). You are welcome to join for the entire time or join and leave at any time that works for you. 

 

Please make sure to mute yourself when you join and settle into the practice, knowing we will welcome you with a smile. ADDITIONALLY, we ask that you keep your VIDEO ON at all times. It creates a much friendlier space. You are free to turn the camera away when you are momentarily occupied with something else. 

 

When you leave, please schedule some time for yourself to break the silence in a kind and compassionate way. Perhaps you continue, by yourself, to sit for 10 minutes in silence, with gratitude for yourself that you have joined the day for the time you did. Perhaps, after these 10 minutes, you start by humming or making some other soft sounds, taking some time for yourself to gently ease back into speaking mode and continue to be kind and gentle to yourself. Remembering you are more vulnerable, more open, after a prolonged time of practice. 

 

During the retreat, we will be guiding you through all MBSR practices: formal practices such as body scan, sitting meditation, walking meditation, meditation in motion and also some informal practices including poems and a morning/ lunch/ evening meal. There will be breaks during the day as well, including the possibility to go outside during walking meditation. 

 

At the end of the day we will transition back into talking and will end with some brief sharing. We recommend that after the Day Retreat you continue to take good care of yourself and not plan too much. 

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We are looking forward to spending a day together in silence.