Transforming our Relationship to Life

15-19th November, in person retreat

Meditation is widely recognised as a practice that nourishes wellbeing. And while this is no doubt important, the original purpose was vaster and far more profound… It was to transform our relationship to reality itself, to bring a transformative shift in understanding.

As the world goes from crisis to crisis, and our collective ways of living cause greater and greater harm to the planet, it is clear that we are not in right relationship to reality and such a transformation is deeply needed. 

In this retreat, we'll explore what just such transformed relationship might look and feel like. We'll explore how we can come to see life as sacred, and be enchanted by the beauty of reality. We'll discover meditation as practice that can open the door to seeing the deep interconnection of all that is, and in turn lead to a falling in love with reality, with life itself. We'll also explore how this can become the basis for a boundless compassion, free from the distinction of self and other. 

This promises to be a beautiful and nourishing experience, held in the beautiful setting of Wiston Lodge.  

You are very much welcome to join us! 

5pm, Wednesday 15th November till 1pm, Sunday 19th November

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Register your place

Live guided meditations

Meditating with others is a powerful way to nourish our practice of mindfulness. Knowing that we are practising with others at the same time - even if they are hundreds or thousands of miles away can strengthen our intention and deepen our presence.

Devote a day to practice

On this retreat we will engage in practices that allow us to rest and recharge.

Stillness offers the opportunity to see what is happening from moment to moment with clarity and freshness.

With this clear seeing we are able to look deeply into the nature of life and the reality of our deep interconnectedness

Find inspiration and connection with others

We've been amazed at the level of connection and intimacy that can emerge on zoom calls. We think of it as a digital campfire.

Over the course of the retreat, you'll spend time with everyone as part of the whole group, but there'll also be times where you'll breakout into smaller groups and have the chance to share and learn with people from all over the world.

Retreat Schedule

The online retreat will have a mix of teaching, guided meditations, and opportunities to share and connect with others in zoom breakout rooms. The schedule for the day will be as follows...

  • 10am-11.20am Sitting, movement meditation & bodyscan

  • Break

  • 11.35am-12.15pm Looking deeply into interconnection

  • 12.15pm-1pm A mindful walk cultivating the insight of interbeing

  • Lunch

  • 1.45pm-2.30pm Experiencing the flow of reality

  • Break

  • 2.45pm-3.30pm Listening Circle

  • 3.30pm-4pm Closing Sitting Practice

Instructor(s)

Michael Bready

Michael is the founder and director of Youth Mindfulness. He has’s taught mindfulness to thousands of children, teenagers and adults and developed numerous mindfulness curricula including the Youth Mindfulness Kids Programme, SOMA Programme, Mindfulness for Life and Inner Strength Programme for young men in prison. His current passion is exploring what the latest science is telling us about the nature of human beings and how that can lead to a brighter, wiser, and more humane future.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much time do I need to set aside for this retreat?

    The retreat will start at 10am on Saturday 22nd July and runs until 4pm. There are short breaks in the schedule as well as a longer break for lunch. We recommend that you keep the entirety of day free so that even when you're not on a live session you can still keep the energy of mindful practice alive.

  • What happens if I miss a session or I can only make part of the day?

    We've put this retreat together as a complete experience so we think you'll get the most out of it if you attend all the sessions. However, if for some reason, you have to miss a session, it's not the end of the world.

    What's most important is that you commit to the experience as much as you can - that's the way you'll get the most out of it.

  • How should I prepare?

    Clear your diary and set up a comfortable space where you can be undistracted. Commit to putting aside other distractions - like your mobile phone and other devices for the duration of the day. Let any people you live with know that you'll be going on this retreat and think ahead to how that can work best in your household.

  • I live with other people, can I still join?

    Absolutely! You don't need to live in a hut on a mountainside to participate in this retreat. In fact, part of the learning on this retreat can be an exploration of how to deepen our mindfulness practice in the context of our own home. It'll be helpful to talk with the people you live with before the start of the retreat to let them know your plans and that you'll need to be undisturbed during the sessions. Closer to the start of the retreat we'll send information on how to prepare.

  • Who is the retreat for?

    The retreat is for anyone looking to deepen and refresh their mindfulness practice. We expect many people who have completed training with Youth Mindfulness, but we also welcome people who have never trained or followed a course with Youth Mindfulness.

Tech questions

  • What equipment do I need?

    We'll be hosting the retreat through zoom. You can access zoom through your web browser or by downloading the app. You can test zoom is working on your machine by going here: https://zoom.us/test

  • I don't have a very stable internet connection, will this be a problem?

    This could be an issue when you join the breakout rooms - it might be difficult for other participants to hear you.

    If you can watch youtube videos alright with your internet connection, you should be able to follow the talks and the guided meditations.

  • Do I need to have my camera turned on?

    While not essential, we do encourage this, as it creates a sense of connection amongst the whole group.

  • Can I join the retreat from my phone?

    Yes you can. But we think the best experience will come from joining on a device with a larger screen - like a laptop or tablet. If a phone is most convenient for you - you're most welcome to join in this way.