WHO OUR ONE DAY RETREATS ARE FOR

Our single day retreats are ideal for people with some mindfulness or meditation experience. Introductory information about mindfulness will not be provided at this session. Rather, we will dive right in to guided practice. If you are totally new to meditation this day may be a challenge; however, all are welcome. For some, “jumping in” is a great way to start!

WHO OUR MULTI-DAY RETREATS ARE FOR

Before sitting a multi-day retreat we recommend that you have teacher-led experience with mindfulness or related contemplative practices. Please contact us if you have questions about whether a given retreat will be appropriate for you.

Our multi-day retreats are appropriate for:

• Those who have taken a course in mindfulness such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Mindful Self-Compassion, or Mindfulness for Healthcare Professionals.
• Established students of mindfulness interested in deepening and maintaining their practice.
• Self-taught mindfulness students usually do just fine if they've established a regular practice over at least a few months.
• Mindfulness teachers and students who’d like to strengthen their understanding of the Buddhist roots of contemporary mindfulness.
• Those seeking to fulfill a required teacher-led silent retreat for a teacher training: our 5 and 7 retreats fulfill this requirement for all of the major mindfulness teacher trainings we're aware of.
• Adults age 18 and over.

Our One Day Retreats are an immersion into silent, continuous, teacher-led practice. During this day of practice, we'll ask you to be as quiet as possible and let go of entertainments and distractions for the day.

One Day Retreats are included in our 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Mindful Self-Compassion courses and offered for stand-alone sign up in the Retreats section of our website.

Everyone with some experience of mindfulness and meditation is welcome to try a One Day Retreat. It can be a powerful and important way to explore mindfulness and compassion more deeply. If you are totally new to meditation, this day may be a challenge; however, all are welcome. For some, "jumping in" is a great way to start.

Whether online or in-person, you will be guided in a sequence of meditation and mindfulness practices including: sitting meditation, the body scan, walking meditation (indoors and out!), gentle mindful yoga, and contemplative practices like the loving-kindness meditation.

In-Person Retreats:

A great virtue of in-person retreats is the possibilities that emerge from taking a quiet day totally away from your usual routine and environment. Plus we've found some lovely sites to host our retreats. Be sure to bring your lunch, a blanket, and yoga mat and/or meditation cushion if you have one. We are able to bring some extra yoga / meditation gear to share, and all of our retreat sites have comfortable chairs for sitting.

Online Retreats:

Online retreats are rich opportunity to integrate sustained mindfulness practice into your "regular" life at home. We do recommend having a conversation with the occupants of your home. While it's not reasonable to expect roommates, spouses, or children to be totally silent for a day because you'll be on retreat, sometimes a  simple shift in routine to help you have a quieter, more protected space is possible.

​Residential Retreats are multi-day teacher-led silent meditation retreats. After initial introductory greetings and information your instructors will explain how silent retreat practice works to support you in a deep experience of practice. The daily schedule will include gently guided sitting and walking meditation, morning teachings, mindful movement, and the body scan, as well as compassion cultivation and loving-kindness meditations.

We also offer Residential Trainings for Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC). These 5-day events, offered at retreat centers, mirror the content of our 8-week courses. They're much more interactive than a silent retreat. See our MBSR & MSC sections for more information.

WHO COMES TO RETREATS

All are welcome! We are honored to support each participant in their meditation practice regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual identity, age, physical ability, political affiliation, or religion. Our retreats are suitable for beginning through experienced practitioners.

We are committed to offering support for any accessibility needs you have as we are able. Please contact us with any questions or requests related to accessibility prior to registering for a course.

YOUR FIRST LONGER RETREAT?

Before sitting a multi-day retreat we recommend that you have teacher-led experience with mindfulness or related contemplative practices. Please contact us if you have questions about whether this retreat will be appropriate for you.

IS RETREAT RIGHT FOR YOU?  Meditation retreats are not right for everyone. If you have a history of trauma or acute psychological issues, consider checking with a mental health professional to decide if intensive retreat practice would be supportive. If you have questions or concerns about whether a retreat is right for you, please contact us at office@mindfulnessnorthwest.com.

STRUCTURE AND PARTICIPATION

FOUR DAILY PRACTICE SESSIONS

• Mindfulness and compassion practices are offered in four blocks daily: early morning, morning, afternoon, and evening.
• Participants are expected to attend all sessions and follow the printed schedule you will receive on site as fully as possible.
  However, we are flexible and always willing to work with you on what your body and mind can reasonably do. Speak with the retreat teachers if you have concerns about following the complete schedule.

PRACTICING IN SILENCE

• After the initial orientation and introductions on the first evening, our residential retreats are held in silence.
• Participants are expected to follow guidelines around silence and participation:
  • not speaking to other participants including close friends or partners you are attending with
  • not using technology of any form
  • not reading books, magazines, flyers, or any reading materials
  • reducing interpersonal contact through the eyes or other body language
• Necessary communication with the retreat teachers can be done via a notes station or by taking them aside.

The intention of silent retreat is to settle deeply into your own experience and to not interact with others, allowing everyone space to have the retreat they need to have -- including you!

PERSONAL AND INTERPERSONAL SAFETY

• Participants are expected to be sensitive and responsive to these guidelines and the needs of fellow participants as fully as possible.
• Please do not take photos or make recordings of other participants or the teachers.
• Do not use alcohol or mind altering drugs of any kind.
• Emergency contact information to share with loved ones is generally included on our venue pages. Venue staff and Mindfulness Northwest instructors will make sure you receive incoming messages promptly while your phone is off. If you are expecting an urgent message please let your instructor know.

• Instructors are available at all times to offer support, including conversation if needed.

OTHER GUIDELINES

ATTEND THE ENTIRE RETREAT

Please arrive at the retreat at the beginning and stay until the end, as:

• Arriving late will cause stress as you will miss the orientation.
• Leaving early means you are offloading your clean-up chores on other participants and missing an opportunity for closure.
• Please stay on campus unless invited to take an off-campus break by the instructors.

RETREAT CENTER CHORES

• Several of our venues keep costs down, reducing your registration fee, by asking that event participants wash dishes, sweep floors, clean bathrooms, and do other chores around the facility. Final clean up chores before leaving are also done.
• Participants are asked to do chores as fully as they are able. If you have physical limitations, we will help you find a suitable chore assignment.

WHAT TO BRING

• Face masks ​​– please check our COVID policy for our current guidelines around masking. While masks may not be required at your training, it's always a good idea to bring some.
• Extra COVID tests, in case you develop symptoms during the retreat.
• Warm clothes in layers (sweater, jacket, raingear etc) Outdoor walking meditation will be a component of this retreat, rain or shine.
• Shoes that are (1) fine walking in damp grass and (2) slip-on if possible. We take shoes on and off frequently. Slippers for the practice room can also be nice to have.
• Toiletries and overnight things including a towel.
• Bringing your own bedding (pillows, sheets, blankets or sleeping bag) is required at most of our venues. Please check your registration confirmation email for this information.
• A flashlight can be helpful but venues are generally reasonably well lit. Sometimes there is walking between buildings in the early morning and evening.
• A yoga mat if you have a favorite. We are able to bring mats to share.
• Meditation cushions / supplies – if you have a meditation cushion(s), a bench or other sitting gear, feel free to bring it. We are able to bring a limited supply of cushions. Note that there are plenty of chairs available.
• An extra blanket or two for the meditation hall – nice for body scans and resting.

LODGING

Lodging assignments will be available on check-in at the course venue. You will have a room to yourself at most of our venues.

AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDING TAKEN BY MINDFULNESS NORTHWEST

Mindfulness Northwest staff may occasionally create audio/video recordings of our instructors for certification and training purposes during these programs. These recordings will include only our instructors in the photo frame (though they may pick up student voices at some points in the recording) and are for internal use only.

We may also request your consent to take photos or videos for promotional purposes. Your image will not be captured or used without your consent.

We've been happy to discover that doing a full day or multi-day meditation retreat online works well. It's a different experience than a residential retreat at a retreat center, but very valuable. With an online retreat done at home there are powerful opportunities to integrate your mindfulness practice experience into daily life within familiar surroundings.

Below are a few suggestions to help you create an optimal retreat experience, realizing each of you has a unique home situation.

PREPARING FOR YOUR RETREAT AT HOME

1. A quiet space - As much as possible, create a separate, quiet space away from family and distraction, even pets if they might distract you or other participants.
2. Unplug - Plan to “unplug” from your phone, clocks, or any other electronic device unless using it to connect to our virtual retreat room. Turn off any notifications that might pop up on the device you're using to connect to the retreat.
3. Free yourself up - Minimize or eliminate as many tasks and activities as you can. Normally we would be in a retreat setting to allow for an immersive experience. Retreating at home offers the benefit of being able to practice mindfulness skills in your regular environment while it offers the potential challenge of home distractions.
4. Have a conversation ahead - We suggest that you prepare your household members ahead, letting them know you’ll be practicing silence during this time. If you're able to, maintaining silence or minimizing talk between practice periods (like we do at our in-person retreats) is a valuable contribution to the retreat experience.
5. Explore integration and accept what happens - See an online retreat as an opportunity to integrate mindfulness practice and your daily life instead of as a way to “get away” – it helps to see this as a different type of experience from an in-person retreat at a retreat center.
6. It won't be perfect - Resistance and wanting things to be other than they are can be a part of all contemplative practices. Please accept that the day will unfold in the way that it does and much is beyond your control. If things are busier or in some way not to your liking in the environment as you do the series of practices offered, please accept things as they are and know that there is benefit.

WE ASK THAT YOU:

1. Sign in a little early to make sure you can connect.
2. Turn cameras on once the retreat starts. This is not a requirement, but we've found that having cameras on best supports a rich and connected experience for all participants.
3. Stay muted unless we are having a discussion.
4. Maintain silence and focus as possible during practice times: refraining from speaking, reading, writing, or using other devices.

Following the guidelines supports a deep dive into practice for you and the entire community. Thank you.

By signing up for a Mindfulness Northwest event you agree to the following:

EMAIL

Event registrants are automatically signed up for our emails, including a monthly newsletter, upcoming program announcements, and other updates. You can unsubscribe from these emails at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email.

ELIGIBILITY

Unless otherwise stated, our courses and retreats are designed for adults. If you (or an individual for whom you are registering) are less than 18 years of age, please contact the office before registering.

We also ask that people who are attending our programs together please register separately.

FINALIZING REGISTRATION

Registration is not complete until you have paid your registration fee or started your payment plan. You have 24 hours to do this. Please contact us if you need to request special arrangements.

REGISTRATION TRANSFERS, CANCELLATIONS, AND REFUND POLICIES

• Transfers to other events may be allowed at discretion of the Program Coordinator.     
  Note: Registration transfers must be to the same type of event, with the same pricing, and the event must already be published on the website.
• We do not provide credit for cancelled registrations, withdrawals, or missed classes.

• All event cancellations include a $40 non-refundable processing fee. Refunds for cancellation always have this fee deducted. (If the tuition paid is less than $40, that amount will be retained.*)

Cancellation Refund Timeline:

• Cancel up to 1 week before the event begins: Receive a full refund less the $40 non-refundable processing fee.
• Cancel between 1 week and the event start date: Receive a refund of 50%, depending on the amount paid at the time of cancellation (see above*).
•  

Note: Some retreats may have their own cancellation policy which will supersede this policy. If this is the case, it will be noted in the retreat web page.

RECORDINGS & PHOTOGRAPHY

As a participant you agree not to take photos, audio recordings, or video recordings of our classes or other class participants.

Note that Mindfulness Northwest may make audio/video recordings of our instructors for certification and training purposes. These recordings are for internal use only.

COVID POLICY

By attending a Mindfulness Northwest event you agree to abide by our current Covid-19 Policy.

REGISTRATION TRANSFER REQUESTS, CANCELLATIONS, AND REFUND POLICIES

• Transfers to other events may be allowed at discretion of the Program Coordinator.     
  Note: Registration transfers must be to the same type of event, with the same pricing, and the event must already be published on the website.
• We do not provide credit for cancelled registrations, withdrawals, or missed classes.

• All event cancellations include a $40 non-refundable processing fee. Refunds for cancellation always have this fee deducted. (If the tuition paid is less than $40, that amount will be retained.*)

Cancellation Refund Timeline:

• Cancel up to 1 week before the event begins: Receive a full refund less the $40 non-refundable processing fee.
• Cancel between 1 week and the event start date: Receive a refund of 50% of the registration tuition, depending on the amount of the  tuition. (see above*).
• Cancel after the event begins: No refunds.
•  

Note: Some retreats may have their own cancellation policy which will supersede this policy. If this is the case, it will be noted in the retreat web page.

ARE EXCEPTIONS EVER MADE TO THIS POLICY?

Yes. At our discretion we may grant exceptions to this policy. Please let us know your situation if you would like to be considered for an exception.

If you are enrolled in one of our multi-week classes and need to miss a class it is possible to make up that class session during a different class if we have one available during the same calendar quarter.

We are sorry but we cannot offer a make up session in a subsequent quarter's class or maintain a credit towards the future if you are unable to attend one or more of the sessions of the class you're enrolled in.

This policy is applicable to Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) as we generally run more than one session of these courses in the same quarter.

You may email us at office@mindfulnessnorthwest.com or call 360-830-6439 to make arrangements.

Please provide the name of your current class, teacher's name, location, day of the week, and the session you’ll be missing (e.g. Class 6 of Beth's Tuesday evening MBSR Online).

Mindfulness Northwest offers discounts and scholarships. Our mission is to make mindfulness accessible.

For all of our programs, we offer a sliding scale for tuition which includes scholarship rates.

No need to apply; simply choose the level that's the best fit for your budget. MNW alumni receive a discounted rate for some events. We also provide a 4-month interest-free payment plan option, available during registration.

Continuing Education Credit is available for many professions. In our 8-week courses, APA CE's & BRN's are available for psychologists, nurses, MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, and LCSWs; Clock Hours are available for Washington State educators; and in our 5-week Mindfulness for Healthcare Professionals course, CME credit is available for physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.

To receive Continuing Education Credits you must:

• Register for your credits during course registration (additional fee during registration). There will be an $30 late fee for all CE's requested after the initial course registration, and all registrations for CE's must occur before class 2.
• Attend sessions online or in person. Recorded sessions do not count for credit, and we do not provide them.
• Complete a post course evaluation.

5-week Mindfulness for Healthcare Providers (MHP) Course

Physicians, nurses, therapists, and social workers: PeaceHealth St. Joseph designates this live activity for a maximum of 16.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. It meets the criteria for Category I CME credit to satisfy the relicensure requirements of the Washington State Medical Quality Assurance Commission.

Learning Objectives for the 5-week Mindfulness for Healthcare Providers Course

After this education, learners should be able to:
• Choose appropriate mindfulness training techniques in preventive and responsive ways in high-stress situations.
• Utilize appropriate mindfulness practices to mitigate the risk factors for burnout.
• Discuss strategies with peers for a more positive, mindful engagement in work and home situations that have previously triggered stress response and unhelpful behaviors.
• Identify helpful vs. unhelpful thought patterns, problem solving, emotional regulation, and meaning-focused coping strategies.
• Demonstrate meaningful change in personal mindfulness, perceived stress, and burnout as shown in standardized measures administered pre- and post-activity.

8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Course

Psychologists: Up to 27.0 CE Continuing Education Credits for this program are provided by UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. The UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

California licensed MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, LCSWs: Up to 27.0 Continuing Education Credits for this program are provided by UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. The UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. 27.0 CE credit may be applied to your license renewal through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.For those licensed outside California, please check with your local licensing board to determine if CE credit is accepted.

Nurses: UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP16351, for 32.0 contact hours.

Washington State Educators: Up to 26 Clock Hours are available for eligible Washington State (K-12) teachers, administrators, and educational staff associates. Mindfulness Northwest is an approved provider through Washington State OSPI.

UCSD CE Learning Objectives for the 8 week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course:

• Articulate the key aspects of mindfulness as it relates to stress reduction, coping with pain and illness and enhancing well-being
• Differentiate MBSR from relaxation and other distraction techniques that may seem similar but are fundamentally and theoretically quite different in contending with difficulty and enhancing quality of life
• Apply mindfulness techniques in both personal and professional settings as a means of contending more effectively with the demands of both settings
• Integrate mindfulness into social interaction with patients, colleagues, supervisors, family and friends to facilitate more effective and mindful communication
• Articulate the potential benefits of mindfulness-based stress reduction (and mindfulness in general) to educate patients and their families about the benefits of such programs in their own lives
• Implement brief mindfulness practices with patients and family members as a means of contending with acute pain, anxiety and distress.

Clock Hours Learning Objectives for the 8 week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course:

• Explore mindfulness practices including sitting and walking meditation, mindful movement, body awareness, and others.
• Learn mindful approaches to manage pain, stress, and difficulty in an effective way.
• Connect with the wisdom of your own body and learn to relax tension.
• Develop tools to work with and transform stressful situations and reactions.
• Discover how to address depression and anxiety more skillfully.
• Gain more control over your own health and well-being, feeling empowered to live with more joy and equanimity.

8-week Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) Course

Psychologists: Up to 24.0 Continuing Education Credits for this program are provided by UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. The UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

California licensed MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, LCSWs: Up to 24.0 Continuing Education Credits for this program are provided by UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. The UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Credits may be applied to your license renewal through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.For those licensed outside California, please check with your local licensing board to determine if CE credit is accepted.

Nurses: UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP16351, for 28.75 contact hours.

Washington State Educators: Up to 26 Clock Hours are available for eligible Washington State (K-12) teachers, administrators, and educational staff associates. Mindfulness Northwest is an approved provider through Washington State OSPI.

UCSD CE Learning Objectives for the 8-week Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) class:

• Describe the theory and research supporting mindful self-compassion
• Develop and apply self-compassion practices to motivate themselves with encouragement rather than self-criticism
• Assess and manage difficult situations and emotions with greater moment-to-moment acceptance
• Develop and apply self-compassion practices to respond to feelings of failure or inadequacy with self-kindness
• Transform difficult relationships, old and new, through self-validation
• Utilize the art of savoring and self-appreciation to overcome negative attention bias
• Apply core mindfulness and self-compassion practices into daily life
• Demonstrate simple self-compassion practices to patients, students, or clients

Clock Hours Learning Objectives for the 8-week Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) class:

• How to stop being so hard on yourself
• How to handle difficult emotions with greater ease
• How to motivate yourself with encouragement rather than criticism
• Mindfulness and self-compassion practices for home and everyday life
• The theory and research behind mindful self-compassion