About the retreat:

Experiencing difficult emotions is an inherent part of being human, but it often leads to pain and feelings of isolation. Mindful self-compassion can help us respond to these emotions with kindness instead of self-criticism, fostering a vital inner resource.

On this retreat we will explore the empowering practice of meeting emotions like anxiety, fear, depression, uncertainty and shame with both tender and fierce self-compassion

It is not always easy to treat ourselves compassionately and in many ways it can feel counter-intuitive because we’re often socialised to push on through, achieve, strive and be ‘successful’. When we fall short of these ideals our inner critic can be quick to speak up. Research shows that self-criticism can take a heavy toll on both our minds and bodies leading to ruminative thoughts that interfere with all aspects of our functioning, and impacting our bodies by stimulating inflammatory mechanisms that lead to health challenges. By contrast, developing the capacity to respond to ourselves with compassion when we experience life’s inevitable challenges is strongly associated with a decrease in depression, anxiety, stress and shame and with increases in happiness, life satisfaction, optimism and better physical health. It also enables us to be more available and responsive to others.

This weekend could form part of the retreat requirement as part of the BAMBA Good Practice Guidelines for Mindfulness Teachers.

You may also wish to attend our donation event in October 2025, ‘Meeting difficult emotions with self compassion with Caroline Hoffman.’ Details can be found on our website.