Mindfulness Retreats at Ratna Ling | Peace & Clarity in Northern California (2024)

FAQs

What do you do at a mindfulness retreat? ›

Most mindfulness-based retreats will involve periods of formal sitting practice, mindful walking and movement, discussion and teaching. The days are long with the first practice of the day usually beginning before breakfast and the last one after supper in the evening.

Takeaway. A meditation retreat is a great way to deepen your mindfulness practice to improve your overall well-being by tapping into the power of the present moment. “Meditation is a deep and impactful practice,” Silverman says.

How does a silent retreat work? Your days at a silent retreat feel like a full, multi-day meditation in complete silence. Activities include guided and silent meditation, walking, resting, and spending time alone.

During the 10-day meditation retreat, there shouldn't be any physical touch between the participants.

Mindfulness is a type of meditation in which you focus on being intensely aware of what you're sensing and feeling in the moment, without interpretation or judgment. Practicing mindfulness involves breathing methods, guided imagery, and other practices to relax the body and mind and help reduce stress.

Although Vipassana meditation is beneficial for most people, it is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric treatment and we do not recommend it for people with serious psychiatric disorders.

10 days, 11 hours of meditation per day. No talking or communication of any kind, not even hand gestures or eye contact. No reading or writing materials of any kind.

"The relaxation response [from meditation] helps decrease metabolism, lowers blood pressure, and improves heart rate, breathing, and brain waves," Benson says. Tension and tightness seep from muscles as the body receives a quiet message to relax. There's scientific evidence showing how meditation works.

How to choose a meditation retreat? ›

Your chosen location should align with your goals and create a supportive atmosphere. Wellness retreats can vary in duration from a weekend to several weeks. Your choice should be based on your schedule and the amount of time you can commit to your well-being.

Silent retreats encourage participants to take a vow of silence for a given time. That means no talking during meditations as well as during meals, yoga, journaling, reading, and other activities.

The Precepts

All who attend a Vipassana course must conscientiously undertake the following Five Precepts for the duration of the course: 1. to abstain from killing any being, 2. to abstain from stealing, 3. to abstain from all sexual activity, 4. to abstain from telling lies, 5. to abstain from all intoxicants.

For instance: there's "strong" evidence to support a correlation with better concentration and altered brain structure; and "promising" research that points to a correlation between meditation and reduced anxiety, lowered stress, easing of symptoms of depression, increased self-control and willpower, greater empathy ...

A practice of 40 to 45 minutes daily is recommended in Jon Zabat-Kinn's Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) method, 20 minutes twice a day is suggested in the Transcendental Meditation (TM) tradition, and a series of 10 to 15 minute stretches multiple times a day is practiced by Tibetan monks.

Retreat is traditionally a time to secure the flag and pay respect to what it stands for. During Reveille and Retreat, those out‐doors should stop activities, and turn in the direction of the installation Flag (located at the corner of J Ave. & Mifflin Ave.) and/or direction of the music.

The course involves a number of seated, lying, movement based and experiential practices and opportunities to talk about your experiences of these. Everything is invitational, practices can be adapted to meet individual needs, including any physical limitationsgroup members to take care of themselves.

Over the course of the retreat, you'll be exposed to teachings that are intended to help you make sense of your every thought and realign each one in a positive and peaceful direction. You'll have the chance to put those lessons into practice, whether through prayer, meditation, or meditation in action.

I think a wellness retreat needs to take place in a beautiful location surrounded by nature. Rooms should be luxurious and the food should be really good. And when you look at resorts, spend some time examining their spa offerings. A traditional massage is always welcome, but it's also a bonus to try something new.