Drawing on Buddhist conceptualisations of the nature of experience, suffering and the self, the retreat will offer a bridge into contemporary secular mindfulness practice, teaching and life. The five-day retreat takes place Ammerdown Retreat Centre, near Bath. It is led by Ruth Sequeira, Chris Barker, Jo Cromarty and Robert Marx.

The retreat

This retreat will support a deepening of participants’ mindfulness practice using the framework of the four Foundations of Mindfulness (satipatthana) and the Four Divine Abidings (brahma vihara). Drawing on Buddhist conceptualisations of the nature of experience, suffering and the self, the retreat will offer a bridge into contemporary secular mindfulness practice, teaching and life. The retreat will use a traditional retreat structure which allows us to simplify our life in order to see more clearly how we relate to ourselves and the world, and to respond with kindness and compassion. There will be periods of teaching, guided and unguided practice, dialogue and unstructured time. Most of the week will be held in silence with opportunities to for a one-to-one meeting with a retreat leader and for optional peer sharing groups.

Where and when is it?
The retreat is at the beautiful Ammerdown Retreat Centre, near Bath. The retreat starts on Sunday, 20 September and finishes at 2pm on Friday, 25 September 2026. You can arrive between 5pm and 6pm on the Sunday.

Who is the retreat for?

The retreat is suitable for mindfulness teachers in training, qualified mindfulness teachers and those simply wanting to deepen their practice and bridge contemplative wisdom traditions and secular practice and teaching. The retreat will count as their retreat for those training in mindfulness-based approaches with the Sussex Mindfulness Centre MC or NHS Talking Therapies; and for those applying to, or renewing their membership on the BAMBA Register, this retreat meets the requirement for mindfulness teachers to do an annual, mostly silent retreat.

What requirements are there to attend?

Completion of an eight-week mindfulness course (MBCT/MBSR), or similar eight-week programme, and participation in at least a day of guided silent mindfulness practice. Please ensure you are able to attend the entire event. If this is not possible, please contact us at spft.smc@nhs.net to discuss before submitting an application.

We will offer a short online orientation meeting a few weeks before the retreat to help you think about the optimal conditions to support you in the retreat. A zoom link will be sent nearer to the start date for this.