Our Retreats

MINDFUL LIVING SOUFUL AGING RETREAT SCHEDULE

 

Friday Evening

3:30-4:45   Arrive, settle into your room

5-5:40      DINNER -

5:30 PM   Manager’s Announcements in Center Room of Bermed Lodge

 

6:00 PM    Opening Ceremony in Loft of Bermed Lodge

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6:15         Welcome - Dual themes of Mindful Living & Soulful Aging

6:30        Setting intention, aspirations & acknowledge challenges;  

7:00        Brief intro on use of Anchors in Meditation – Body, Breath, & Sound 

7:30        Bathroom & Stretch Break

7:45        Games for building connection.

8:15        Mining the Gold, Spending the Treasure ~ Poetry Reading & Contemplation

9:15         Final Meditation 

9:30        Prep for sleep (noble silence)

 

Saturday

 

7:00 AM    Wake up! (noble silence)

7:30        Mindful Movement & Sitting meditation practice 

8:00        Breakfast (noble silence) 

8:30        Free time

9:15         Sitting Meditation

9:45        Walking meditation

10:00       Contemplation, Writing & Sharing on Mining Gold/Spending Treasure 

11:00        Small discussion groups 

 

12:00    PM    Lunch 

1:15        Free time

2:00 Choice of Workshops

             Workshop A :  Learning the Conversation/Living the Questions - Katherine

             Workshop B :  Guided Imagery & Music with Mandala Art - Jessica

             Workshop C:    Mindful walking practice – Being in nature – 

 

3:30        Break/Solo Reflection Time

3:45         Mindful movement

4:30        Sitting meditation practice

5:00        Dinner

5:30        Free time

6:30        Walking meditation (Optional)                

7:00        Self-compassion meditation 

7:45        Break - snack

8:00        Small discussion groups

9:30        Final Sitting meditation practice 

10:00        Sleep preparation (noble silence)

10:30        Lights out 

 

Sunday 

 

7:00 AM    Wake up! (noble silence)  

7:30        Mindful Movement & Sitting meditation practice 

8:00        Breakfast (noble silence)

8:30        Free time

9:15        Contemplation & Sharing on Spending Treasure (CR & KC)

9:45        Sitting meditation practice

10:15        Small discussion group 

                        

11:30       Full group closing 

               Dyads: review intentions, motivation, scheduling time/place

               Instructions for leaving retreat and gentle return home

               Gratitude Bell

 

12:30 PM    Lunch

1:30 PM    Retreat concludes​

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A Ripple of Transformation

 

The impact of  our retreats extends far beyond individual participants. One powerful example is Captain R. Scott Schwarzer of the Radford City Police Department (RCPD), who attended a weekend retreat and found the experience so transformative that it enhanced both his personal well-being and his professional effectiveness.

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Inspired by the benefits he received, Captain Schwarzer invited Joe and his teaching team to bring these practices to his police squad. In 2022, Joe led a series of mindfulness trainings for the RCPD through Instill Mindfulness. Captain Schwarzer has since retired and joined the teaching team. They have since worked to develop an Inner Situational Awareness Training (iSAT), designed specifically for correctional officers, nurses and other staff at New River Regional Jail.

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