This retreat is in person, set in the beautiful North Warwickshire countryside. It’s an opportunity to explore and deepen into Mindfulness and Self-Compassion (MSC) practice. The emphasis will be on developing the resource of self-kindness and self-care through an exploration of mindfulness, loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity.

What to expect:

On this silent retreat, there will be guided practices as well as ample opportunity for you to deepen your own experience within the supportive container of the group. The first evening will be an orientation session. Days 1 to 4 of the retreat include early morning practice before breakfast followed by morning, afternoon, and evening sessions with a spacious lunch period. The retreat will include gentle movement, outdoor time, and time to connect in smaller groups. There will also be free time to rest and relax.

This retreat is based on the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) approach.

Mindful Self-Compassion is an integration of research by Kristin Neff with the clinical perspective of Christopher Germer. It offers core principles and practices that resource us to respond to difficult moments in our lives with kindness, care, and understanding.

The three key components of self-compassion are self-kindness, a sense of common humanity, and balanced, mindful awareness. Kindness opens our hearts to suffering, so we can give ourselves what we need. Common humanity opens us to our essential inter-relatedness so that we know we aren’t alone. Mindfulness opens us to the present moment, so we can accept our experience with greater ease. Together they comprise a state of warm, connected, presence.

Self-compassion can be learned by anyone, whatever our personal histories. It’s a courageous attitude that stands up to harm, including the harm that we unwittingly inflict on ourselves through self-criticism, self-isolation, or self-absorption. Self-compassion provides emotional strength and resilience, allowing us to admit our shortcomings, motivate ourselves with kindness, forgive ourselves when needed, relate wholeheartedly to others, and be more authentically ourselves.

Rapidly expanding research demonstrates that self-compassion is strongly associated with emotional well-being, less anxiety, depression, and stress, maintenance of healthy habits such as diet and exercise, and satisfying personal relationships. And it’s easier than you might think.

Who the retreat is for:

This retreat is for those who have either completed a Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) or an 8-week Mindfulness course (e.g MBSR, MBCT, MBCT-L). You may have completed the MSC course over eight weeks or in an intensive (usually five-day) format. This retreat is equally open to practitioners and mindfulness or MSC teachers.

The retreat meets the requirement to have sat a five-day, silent, teacher-led retreat before taking the MSC Teacher Training course AND meets BAMBA requirements for an annual retreat.

It would be helpful if you have a regular practice of mindfulness and/or loving-kindness/self-compassion meditation. Previous retreat experience of at least one day is required but, if not, please apply and we’ll discuss your application with you.

Requirements to attend:

You must have completed as a minimum either a mindfulness-based course such as MBSR/MBCT or equivalent and/or a Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) course either over eight weeks or in an intensive format.

Please ensure you are able to attend the entire event. If this is not possible, please contact us to discuss this before submitting an application.