Cultivating Joy: A Silent, Mindfulness Retreat

Join us at Menla for a gentle, joy inspired, silent retreat consisting of meditation, self compassion, mindfulness and walks in nature with Jayne Gumpel LCSW, Michael Burbank, & David Gumpel MA.

We will begin to gather as a group at 3pm Friday for check in and will enjoy our first dinner together at 6pm. Silence will commence around 9:30 pm after the evening introductory session and will continue through Sunday morning when we will break our silence and enjoy our final lunch together with shared reflections.

Cultivating JOY through the lens of silence and self compassion is a noble offering to yourself. Guided meditations and simple mindfulness practices are offered as an invitation to notice and make connections to joy in the midst of it! Attending to and noticing the obstacles arising cultivates space for those moments of joy that may pass by unnoticed. It is not necessary to have meditation experience but it is preferred. This retreat is not a traditional Vipassana silent retreat yet it holds silence as a sacred practice and also includes writing, sitting and eating meditation practices, music with eye shades and a mat, and movement. This is an opportunity to bring joy into your everyday life!

All participants are encouraged to commit to the full program, including a live zoom preparation session prior to the retreat.This is especially important for participants who have yet to experience a silent retreat.A full digital detox is highly encouraged, and at a minimum no cell phones will be allowed in the conference center or at meals. Finding freedom from our phones will feel liberating after the initial moment of letting go. In the evenings after our silent dinners, we will have an opportunity to listen to evening discussions and contemplate their relevance to our lives.Mindfulness allows for a balanced awareness of negative thoughts, enabling individuals to observe their feelings without becoming overwhelmed or overly identified with them. This aligns with Dr. Tara Brach’s teachings on radical acceptance, suggesting that embracing our present experience with compassion leads to deeper self-awareness and growth.In essence, self-compassion during a silent retreat is essential, facilitating a nurturing space for exploration, acceptance, and personal transformation.A capacity for self regulation, self reflection and self care is appreciated. The group experience is a safe and sacred opportunity to connect to one’s self and to the reality that we are all connected. This retreat is co hosted by MENLA.org and AccessMindfulness.org

Schedule:

Friday. July 31

• 3 – 6 pm Arrival & Check-in
• 6 – 7 pm Dinner
• 7:30 – 9:15 Opening Session – Silence Begins

Saturday, August 1
Silent Day

• 7:15 – 8 am Early Morning Sit
• 8 – 9 am Breakfast
• 9:30 am – 12 pm Morning Meditations
• 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
• 1:30 – 2:30 pm Afternoon Break, Free time for Relaxation, Spa & Rest
• 2:30 – 5:30 pm Afternoon Program
• 6 – 7 pm Dinner
• 7:30 – 8:30 pm Evening Program

Sunday, August 2
Silent Day

• 7:15 – 8 am Early Morning Sit
• 8 – 9 am Breakfast
• 9:30 am – 12 pm Morning Meditations
• 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
• 1:30 – 2:30 pm Afternoon Break, Free time for Relaxation, Spa & Rest
• 2:30 – 5:30 pm Afternoon Program
• 6 – 7 pm Dinner
• 7:30 – 8:30 pm Evening Program

Monday, August 3
Silent Day

• 7:15 – 8 am Early Morning Sit
• 8 – 9 am Breakfast
• 9:30 am – 12 pm Morning Meditations
• 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
• 1:30 – 2:30 pm Afternoon Break, Free time for Relaxation, Spa & Rest
• 2:30 – 5:30 pm Afternoon Program
• 6 – 7 pm Dinner
• 7:30 – 8:30 pm Evening Program

Tuesday, August 4

• 7 – 11 am Check-out of Rooms
• 7 – 8 am Morning Meditation & Yoga – Silent
• 8 – 9 am Breakfast – Silent
• 9:30 am – 12:30 pm Closing Morning Program – Silence Broken
• 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch & Departure

*Please note that the schedule is subject to change.