Like the Buddha, people for millennia have sought refuge, clarity, and wisdom in the natural world. On this silent mindfulness retreat in the serenity and beauty of nature, we will explore potent awareness and heart-based meditations that open the heart and mind to insight, interconnection with life, and a profound peace.
with Mark Coleman and Martin Aylward This unique, yearlong, professional U.S. mindfulness teacher training combines transformational cultivation of your own mindfulness practice and systematic development of mindfulness teaching skills, enabling you to teach a variety of mindfulness programs with confidence and clarity. You will be part of a committed, focused group of like-minded individuals with whom you will receive skilled, guided direction and personalized instruction that will allow you to flourish as a mindfulness facilitator. Our yearlong teacher trainings utilize in-person teaching intensives, online learning, individualized guidance from the teachers and learning mentors and peer group support.
Do you have challenges with focus and time management or struggle with emotional hypersensitivity or frustration tolerance? Do you find it hard to follow through on tasks or commitments, or to be reliable and consistent? The good news is that with mindfulness, compassion, and with the application of skillful techniques, it is possible to understand and function more effectively with care and wisdom. On this retreat we’ll explore navigating these challenges, how they interrupt our functioning, and how we can meet ourselves with compassion.
How often do you find yourself truly disconnecting from the chaos of daily life to reconnect with nature and your inner self, particularly during the chaos of the holiday season? Can you envision how connecting with your body, community, and the natural world could lead to a profound sense of gratitude and awe that could carry you forward? This spacious workshop will be an invitation to unplug, reset and realign as we connect to ourselves, others and nature.
Have you noticed the painful effects of self-judgment? Do you feel tormented by negative critical self-talk and the harsh words of the inner critic? Are you prone to judging everything you do as not good enough, not quite right, not living up to some impossibly high standard? Do you find yourself harshly judging your meditation, your practice or your other spiritual practices? If you wish to be more free from the influence of the inner critic, then this workshop offers tried and tested methods for overcoming the challenges of self-judgment.
Following ancient spiritual traditions that value the transformative power of nature, this experiential workshop will be spent meditating entirely outdoors among the natural beauty and mystery of Esalen. Whether under a blazing sunset or in the stillness of cypress trees, we will open to the profound serenity and wisdom of nature. We will cultivate mindfulness — being present to ourselves while developing a contemplative relationship with nature. This leads to beautiful states of joy, peace, wonder, love and connection with oneself, one another and the larger web of life.
