Online retreats present the rare opportunity to integrate the silent meditation practice whilst still engaging with work, household and family duties. The online offerings seem to help people to open mental space in their daily live to see more clearly into habits and bring more mindfulness, clarity and peace.
Retreats are between one to five days long and the schedule is given before registering. It includes sessions of guided meditation, talks and questions and answers with the teachers. The retreats have a registration fee on a sliding scale so that everyone can pay at a level appropriate to their situation and financial assistance is available for those that may need it.
The Dharma Hall meditation sessions are offered regularly four times each week and last between 1 hour 15 minutes and 1 hour 30 minutes. They are free to join, with the invitation to give a donation to support the teachers, see link here.
Click here for details of our upcoming online retreats
Guidance for Online Retreats and Courses
Online retreats and courses offer the opportunity to practice meditation from your own space with the guidance of experienced teachers and the support of others joining online. It is different from a retreat in person, yet it can be a very powerful and insightful experience given it time to settle into the new format. We have here some information that will help you preparing to participate in online retreats and courses.
If you are not familiar with Zoom, you can get support with learning how to use it by clicking on the link below. You should do this before your retreat or course starts.
https://gaiahouse.co.uk/using-zoom/
How to prepare for an online retreat?We suggest that you have in mind your plan for the days of our retreat. For example, will you be:
- Maintaining silence?
- Continuing with/doing additional sitting and walking meditation?
- Cultivating an attitude of retreat throughout?
If so, be sure to set up conditions that support you, including discussing with those you share your space at home with.
It would be helpful to plan in advance, using the guidelines below, to simplify as much as you can and set boundaries around what you will and will not engage with. These are skilful ways of creating continuity and settling more deeply into practice and quiet.
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If one is currently experiencing acute emotional distress, such as clinical depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder, attending a silent retreat could be difficult. When negative thinking patterns are very intrusive or persistent, sometimes it could be easier to practice in a setting where there are more possibilities for active engagement (such as mindfulness-based stress reduction or mindfulness-based cognitive therapy programmes taught by an appropriately trained and competent instructor). Once the acute phase of emotional distress has eased, Insight Meditation retreats can then offer invaluable opportunities for developing practice further.
Practicalities to consider before an online retreat
- Arrange your computer or device so you can see and hear well.
- Make sure you have easy access to the schedule and Zoom links and arrive on time for all the sessions you can attend.
- If you have to miss any sessions, please check the noticeboard to access recordings of the missed sessions.
- Think about where you might go to practice any walking meditation.
- Shop before the retreat if you can so that you don’t have to do this during the retreat. Planning meals in advance may also be helpful.
- Think about disengaging from unnecessary conversations and interactions: explain to any other people in your household what you will be doing and discuss how they can support you.
Some zoom etiquette
For more information on booking please click here
More about the different types of retreat that Gaia House offers
Hopefully most questions you may have are answered on this website. However, if you have any other queries, please contact us, and we will be happy to help you.