Presence In Practice: A Mindful Day Retreat for Stress Relief

Full day silent retreat designed to introduce participants to the evidence-based mindfulness practices adapted from the 8-week MBSR curriculum developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn.

This experience is especially supportive for those dealing with stress, anxiety, burnout, or overwhelm manifesting in physical, mental, emotional or social symptoms. Participants will share each and every present moment in an inclusive, trauma-informed setting. Awareness practices will include: seated meditation, yoga with standing or sitting options, walking meditation, mindful eating, a guided body scan, loving kindness meditation, and a beautiful contemplative art project of a lotus flower tealight holder.

The retreat will be held at the unique, artistic Choderwood near the Pittsburgh Zoo and is limited to 15 participants.

Our Day:

9:30- Registration/Check-In

10AM – Arrival & Opening Circle

10:30-Sitting Meditation Exploring Anchors

11AM-Mindful Eating/Body Break

11:30- Brief Talk about MBSR & Lunch Instructions

12:00 PM – Silent Lunch (participants bring own lunch)

1:00 PM – Sitting or Standing Yoga

1:30 PM – Sitting Meditation w/Some Guidance

2:00PM- Walking Meditation/Body Break

2:30 PM- Contemplative Art Project

3:00 PM –Loving-Kindness Meditation

3:30PM- Laying Down Yoga

4:00PM- Open Walking on Grounds or Free Choice Practice

4:30- Dissolving the Silence & Group Dialog

5:00PM- Closing Sit

Choderwood - A touch of Eden along the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh is located at 7665 Lock Way W, Pittsburgh, PA 15206.

Photos by Quelsy Creative from artilcle, Inside Choderwood: A Hidden Oasis on the Allegheny River

Bonnie is the owner of The School of Mindful Arts through which she has been teaching mindfulness meditation and contemplative art to children for eight years. Since completing her MBSR Teacher Qualifications through Brown, she has added the adult education division: Maitri Mindfulness- Meditation for Health with the intention of helping participants increase their sense of agency and wholeness no matter what their physical condition might be.Bonnie’s experience with meditation began through a Buddhist lens, and she is involved with the Buddhist Society of Pittsburgh. Her primary personal teacher is Tempa Dukte Lama from the Olmo Ling Bon Center in Pittsburgh with whom she has studied for fourteen years.

For more information, go to: http://www.theschoolofmindfularts.org