Celeste will be teaching the 2023 - 2025 cohort of the life balance strategist training program along with Phillip Moffitt and Jennifer Ward.
More information about the life balance institute here:
Registration now open!
Join us in the beautiful San Bernardino mountains for this short insight retreat to refresh the mind and inspire the heart. In this retreat, we will focus on the Buddha’s teaching of non-clinging. The more we practice letting go, compassion, wisdom, and insight begin to blossom. We will strengthen our capacity for continuity of mindfulness and connection with ourselves and each other, while enjoying nature and quiet rest within this secluded setting.
The structure of an Insight meditation retreat includes time for sitting meditation, walking meditation, rest, mindful eating, and Dharma talks to deepen your embodied understanding along with instructions and guidance, and short practice discussion meetings with the teachers to support you within the container of a silent retreat.
Dana/Generosity: There will also be an opportunity to offer Dana for the teachers at the end of the retreat. Thank you for your support!
Registration now open!
Join us for an in person retreat in the beautiful San Bernardino mountains and deepen your practice within this secluded setting in nature.
In this silent retreat we will focus on the development of equanimity as a ground for skillful cultivation of all the other Brahma Viharas, as well as a support for our mindfulness practice. This ground of wisdom and capacity of heart strengthens our connection with ourselves, with others, and the world around us.
There will be time for enjoying nature, deep rest, and practice in this beautiful setting. As we learn to slow down and attune to the fresh simplicity of our present moment experience, we can rest in stillness and connect with the heart’s inner capacity for healing and freedom.
Together we will explore some of the supports for presence: letting go of distraction, the deliberate cultivation of simplicity and contentment, and a renewed sense of connection with our own bodies, hearts, and minds in community. By bringing mindful attention to our moment to moment experience, we can learn to cultivate resilience amidst change and grow in awareness, love, and wisdom.
The structure of this retreat includes guided meditations with Q&A each day, time for silent sitting and walking meditation periods, rest, mindful eating instruction, Dharma talks, and small group practice discussion meetings with the teachers.
Dana/Generosity: There will also be an opportunity to offer Dana for the teachers at the end of the retreat. Thank you for your support!
Testimonials from past participants:
“I was so blown away by the compassion and collaboration shared between the teachers. It made me feel very safe and trust their guidance throughout the process.”
“Both Celeste and Dawn shared with such generosity and skill that even when the topics seemed complex they were able to penetrate and land.”
“Celeste and Dawn were a great team! Great wisdom, passion and compassion and insight.”
Registration is now open!
Please join Celeste and Ayya Santacitta Bhikkuni for a very special online half day retreat exploring the four distortions of perception, or Vipalassa (Pali).
The 4 Distortions of Perception:
Seeing what is impermanent (anicca) as permanent (nicca )
Seeing what is painful (dukkha) as pleasant (sukha)
Seeing what is without a self (anatta) as a self (atta)
Seeing what is not beautiful (asubha) as beautiful (subha)
All we think about and project onto reality tends to be channeled through these misperceptions. As ‘business as usual’ is steadily eroding around us, we are called to navigate the world differently.
At an evolutionary threshold like this the Buddha's teachings are a formidable anchor to keep us grounded while our old narratives are dissolving, and we are urged to go deeper.
Putting on the corrective lens of the Dharma - imminent, curious and discerning - we will contemplate a path to greater clarity, understanding and equanimity in our own lived experience, opening the door to our next steps.
Schedule: PST (subject to change)
10:00 - 10:45am Arriving, Welcome, Guided Meditation
10:45 - 11:15am Dharma Talk
11:15 - 11:30am Stretch Break or Walking / Movement Meditation
11:30 - 12:00pm Second Guided Meditation
12:00 - 12:30pm Dharma Talk
12:30 - 1:00pm Questions + Responses
To learn more about Ayya Santacitta’s work, please visit Alokavihara.org
Registration is now open!
Join Celeste for an in person retreat on Cortes Island at Hollyhock Retreat Center in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, and deepen your practice within this secluded setting in nature. Hollyhock retreat center offers fresh healthy meals, bodywork, a hot tub, access to gorgeous woods and is also located on the Salish sea. More information below…
During this weeklong silent meditation retreat, we will focus on practices that quiet the mind and open the heart to support the unfolding of insight and compassion. We will learn to bring mindful attention to our moment to moment experience, facilitating a renewed sense of connection with our own bodies, hearts, and minds.
The structure of this Insight meditation retreat includes time for guided and silent sitting meditation, walking meditation, rest, mindful eating, and Dharma talks to deepen our embodied understanding. There will also be small group meetings with the teacher to offer personalized instruction and support.
As we deepen our connection to our direct experience, we cultivate continuity of mindfulness and awaken the heart and mind for greater ease, balance, and clarity in daily life.
Dana/Generosity: There will also be an opportunity to offer Dana at the end of the retreat. Thank you for your support!
Registration is now open!
Join Celeste and Meera Bawa for a very special in person workshop retreat on Cortes Island at Hollyhock Retreat Center in the Pacific Northwest. and explore whatever internal or external life changes you might be considering, restoring balance to your life. We’ll be together in community for short guided meditations, lots of teachings and interactive exercises, healthy meals and plenty of downtime to enjoy the beauty of nature. Hollyhock retreat center offers bodywork, a hot tub, gorgeous woods and is also located on the Salish sea. More information below…
How well we navigate personal changes and transitions has a direct impact on the degree of well-being, purpose, and satisfaction we experience in our daily lives. If you’re considering a big change, are in the midst of one now, or are still feeling the effects of past changes, this unique retreat offers you the personal understanding and tools to open to the next phase of your life with clarity, confidence, joy, and deeper Insight.
Together in a supportive environment, we’ll be learning principles about the nature of change, adult stages of development, as well as time-tested mindfulness practices that can help you move through times of change with more balance and clear intention. Throughout the retreat, you will be offered a series of highly effective self-assessments and tools from the Life Balance Institute that are designed to give you clarity about your specific situation and support you in moving towards your next steps. These tools have helped countless individuals step into greater alignment with what they truly care about in life- to connect with what is truly meaningful. In addition, each day we’ll practice meditations together specifically designed to support you in meeting change more effectively and in coming home to yourself in daily life.
You will have the opportunity to:
Discover a “Path to Well-being” that is beyond getting what you want and getting rid of what you don’t want in life.
Use the “Journey through Change” as a map to locate yourself in the process of your current change
Identify your values and intentions so you have a basis for making wise decisions.
Recognize habits of mind that undermine you and learn practices to disengage from their influence.
Explore which areas of your life need attention, gain insights about your strengths and challenges in dealing with change, and begin to strategize about next steps.
This work has had a deep impact on many Dharma and meditation students and offered them the tools to really bring their practice into the very structure of their life, restoring meaning and a sense of empowerment to live aligned with what truly matters in life.
I hope you’ll join us!
Early registration now open!
This retreat meets the requirements for participants in Jack Kornfield + Tara Brach’s Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification program through Sounds True.
Join Celeste and nico hase for this special online Insight meditaton retreat. Together we will explore the profound yet simple practices of mindfulness and insight meditation that help us to steady our minds and hearts to see more clearly.
Using the three marks of experience–opening to change, instability, and interbeing–as powerful stepping stones, we can learn how to access our own heartfelt wisdom and steady compassion through the direct path of radical presence.
The daily rhythm of this online Insight meditation retreat includes guided and silent meditation practice in the communal virtual meditation hall, walking and movement meditation, rest, mindful eating instructions for meals and Dharma talks to deepen your embodied understanding. There will also be small group practice discussion meetings with the teachers to support you within the container of a silent retreat.
Early registration is now open! Please note this is a completely dana based retreat.
Weaving Ourselves Back Into the Fabric of Life: An Exploration of the Four Distortions of Perception
Join us for an in person retreat in the beautiful San Bernardino mountains and deepen your practice within this secluded setting in nature. For this particular retreat, our theme will be clearing up the Four Distortions of Perception, or Vipallasas as they are known in Pali.
Seeing what is impermanent (anicca) as permanent (nicca )
Seeing what is painful (dukkha) as pleasant (sukha)
Seeing what is without a self (anatta) as a self (atta)
Seeing what is not beautiful (asubha) as beautiful (subha)
All we think about and project onto reality tends to be channeled through these misperceptions. As ‘business as usual’ is steadily eroding around us, we are called to navigate the world differently.
At an evolutionary threshold like this the Buddha's teachings are a formidable anchor to keep us grounded while our old narratives are dissolving, and we are urged to go deeper. Putting on the corrective lens of the Dharma - imminent, curious and discerning - we will contemplate a path to greater clarity, understanding and equanimity in our own lived experience, opening the door to our next steps.
The structure of this silent insight meditation retreat includes a guided meditation with Q&A each day, time for silent sitting and walking meditation periods, rest, mindful movement, Dharma talks, chanting, and small group practice discussion meetings with the teachers.
We will tend to the heart and mind with compassionate mindfulness and strengthen our connection with ourselves and each other, with time for enjoying nature, deep rest, and practice in this beautiful setting.
Together we will explore some of the supports for presence: letting go of distraction, the deliberate cultivation of simplicity and contentment, and a renewed sense of connection with our own bodies, hearts, and minds in community. By bringing mindful attention to our moment to moment experience and learning to clear up our perception, we can learn to cultivate resilience amidst change and grow in awareness, love, and wisdom.
Dana/Generosity: There will also be an opportunity to offer Dana for the teachers at the end of the retreat. Thank you for your support!
To learn more about Ayya Santacitta’s work, please visit Alokavihara.org
With Celeste Young, Christiane Wolf, and Jake Dartington.
We are happy to share that this retreat has been thoughtfully formatted to accommodate international time zones so that we can practice together as a global community! This is our fourth annual international Insight retreat.
This retreat also meets the requirements for participants in Jack Kornfield + Tara Brach’s Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification program through Sounds True.
Practicing “alone together” while in our own spaces presents a unique and powerful new kind of retreat container to deepen our practice and the integration of mindfulness into how we’re living during these times. After teaching several online retreats, we’ve learned what works well for supporting a home retreat and have created a schedule that’s accessible to people with different circumstances. This particular format combines the dedicated practice time of a residential retreat while also supporting those with family members and/or other responsibilities.
There’s an optional first meditation period that usually begins before breakfast. Each morning the teachers offer continuing meditation instructions for the day. The whole retreat is a succession of mindfulness trainings, including breath awareness, inhabiting the body with mindful attention, meditations on the nature of feelings, and awareness of mind from the Buddhist Insight Meditation tradition.
Sitting (or stationary) Meditation: Sitting meditation is at the heart of silent retreats. In sitting practice silence and stillness develop, concentration deepens, and awareness expands. Through training the heart, kindness and compassion are awakened to meet all that arises within awareness. We come into presence and learn to find freedom in the midst of life as it truly is. The Buddha invited us to establish mindfulness in all postures. For those who find sitting is not possible for their body, alternate stationary postures are suggested.
Walking Meditation (or movement meditation): Throughout the retreat we learn to cultivate mindful awareness in all postures: sitting, walking, standing, and lying down. In mindful walking meditation practice, we learn to sustain meditative awareness through movement, and establish continuity of mindfulness in the midst of activity. Walking meditation helps us to bridge the gap between our experiences in seated meditation and daily life. We alternate between sitting and walking meditation to support the establishment of mindfulness and concentration and to balance the factors of energy and calm in our practice. The Buddha invited us to establish mindfulness in all postures. For those who find walking meditation is not possible, alternate forms of mindful movement are suggested.
Eating Meditation: Instructions will be given on how to integrate the process of nourishment and eating as a meditation during retreat for continuity of mindfulness and a deepening of practice. Retreatants are encouraged to bring the same calm, focused attention to eating as is brought to sitting, walking, and other activities. Through reflection on the Buddhist teaching of interdependence, we have the opportunity to slow down and recognize each bite of food we eat is a result of countless causes and conditions and to appreciate the blessing of mindful nourishment.
Dharma Talks and guided meditations: Each day, the teachers present a different set of teachings that are central to practicing mindfulness and compassion. These teachings can be applied to our own direct experience. Sometimes the talks focus on retreat practice, and sometimes they offer teachings for wise living in the world.
Dana/Generosity: There will also be an opportunity to offer Dana for the teachers at the end of the retreat. Thank you for your support!
Testimonials for Christiane, Celeste, and Jake:
At the beginning the teachers said “You get the retreat you need” and it was absolutely true for me. There were difficult moments, and joyful moments, and for all of them the teachers were supportive, compassionate, and felt right there with me while also encouraging us to listen to ourselves. I’m definitely planning on attending at least one every year. – Caroline Y
For me the container that was created here was unusually effective and powerful in holding the ground and connection as well as providing the tools and focus to take a deeper dive into life unfolding in me and around me. Feeling very grateful for having had the possibility of attending and going a long the way with these extraordinary teachers and heartful sangha. – Daniel S
This retreat has been transformative as well as insightful in ways I could have never wished for or even imagined. The kindness and embodied wisdom of the teachers, as well as the Sangha, allowed for an experience that I will carry in my heart forever. – Marina P
Early registration is now open.
This retreat also meets the requirements for participants in Jack Kornfield + Tara Brach’s Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification program through Sounds True.
During this retreat, we’ll explore practices that help us to quiet the mind, open the heart and deepen our capacity to find balance and steadiness in the midst of change and uncertainty. We will cultivate the loving awareness and clear seeing that is so needed in our world today within this unique retreat container.
The daily rhythm of an online Insight meditation retreat includes guided and silent meditation practice in the communal virtual meditation hall, walking and movement meditation, rest, mindful eating instructions for meals, Dharma talks to deepen your embodied understanding and small group practice discussion meetings with the teachers to support you within the container of a silent retreat.
Practicing “alone together” while in our own spaces presents a unique and powerful new kind of retreat container to deepen our practice and the integration of mindfulness into how we’re living during these times. After teaching several online retreats, we’ve learned what works well for supporting a home retreat and have created a schedule that’s accessible to people with different circumstances. This particular format combines the dedicated practice time of a residential retreat while also supporting those with family members and/or other responsibilities.
IN PERSON SOLD OUT. JOIN WAITLIST HERE
SPACES STILL LEFT FOR ONLINE VERSION OF THIS RETREAT.
*Please note this is a hybrid retreat, taking place at an in person location as well as offered online to extend this offering to those outside of the LA area.
Please join us as we come together in community at InsightLA’s retreat house in Benedict Canyon to practice together within the container of a silent Insight meditation retreat centered around the theme of wise intention in the new year! This is a non-residential weekend.
Most of us have goals, and the New Year is often a time of self-improvement. Our mindfulness and Dharma practice invites us into another kind of exploration, however, that is not based on “improving”, but on moving towards our deeper aspirations or intentions from a place of acceptance, presence with what is, and attention to the way we bring these goals to fruition.
How do we embrace change and move towards new possibilities from a place of contentment? What intentions do we allow to arise when we cultivate a calm, clear mind, and a peaceful, loving heart? How do we accept what is, while steadily moving in the direction of our own well-being?
Through mindfulness, Insight, and lovingkindness practices along with inquiry we will explore our relationship to these questions as we move towards awakening on the path. There will be periods of silent and guided sitting meditation, walking meditation, and a Dharma talk to support the development of your practice. Together, we will explore in community and leave refreshed and renewed for the New Year ahead. The retreat will be held in silence to support a deepening of mindful awareness and insight.
Participants are encouraged to continue practicing mindfulness in the evening at home to strengthen their continuity of mindfulness for the full retreat experience, as this is a non-residential retreat.
Please bring your own water bottle, lunch and snacks each day.
Schedule PST:
Saturday, January 6th – Saturday: 10am – 5pm
Sunday, January 7th – Sunday: 10am – 4pm
SOLD OUT. Join Waitlist Here
Join us for an in person retreat in the beautiful San Bernardino mountains and deepen your practice within this secluded setting in nature. For this particular retreat, we will be developing the Brahma Viharas, the four qualities of an awakened heart: Lovingkindness (Metta), Compassion (Karuna), Appreciative Joy (Mudita) and Equanimity (Upekkha).
We will tend to the heart and mind with compassionate mindfulness and strengthen our connection with ourselves and each other, with time for enjoying nature, deep rest, and practice in this beautiful setting. During this five day retreat, we will learn to slow down and attune to the fresh simplicity of our present moment experience, rest in stillness, and connect with the heart’s inner capacity for healing and freedom.
Together we will explore some of the supports for presence: letting go of distraction, the deliberate cultivation of simplicity and contentment, and a renewed sense of connection with our own bodies, hearts, and minds in community. By bringing mindful attention to our moment to moment experience, we can learn to cultivate resilience amidst change and grow in awareness, love, and wisdom.
The structure of this Metta meditation retreat includes guided meditation on each Brahma Vihara with Q&A each day, time for silent sitting and walking meditation periods, rest, mindful eating instruction, Dharma talks, and small group practice discussion meetings with the teachers.
Dana/Generosity: There will also be an opportunity to offer Dana for the teachers at the end of the retreat. Thank you for your support!
Testimonials:
“Dawn and Celeste really got through to me in a way that no other teacher has before. Their loving spirits, gentle demeanor, and presence made this retreat so wonderful and helped me experience myself more than I would have thought possible.” – Annie C
“This retreat was my first, ever. I meditated a lot but never as intensively as one would while on retreat. During the retreat I faced every aspect of myself, in the loving company of sangha (which I never experienced until then). Love, joy and a blissful feeling filled my experience during this whole retreat. It was a very beautiful experience. The teachers were lovely, the administrative work was exquisite, the community was phenomenal. I can’t express with words how deep and lovely this experience was.” – Guillermo C
“I am a healthcare worker. This retreat offered me deep rest, deep wisdom and a balm for my soul.” – Lesley S
SOLD OUT. Join Waitlist Here
How well we navigate our inner and outer changes has a direct impact on the well-being, purpose, and satisfaction we experience day-to-day. If you’re considering a big change, are in the midst of one now, or are feeling the effects of past changes, this workshop offers you the tools to open the next phase of your life with clarity, empowerment, and greater personal understanding.
This highly interactive and supportive program is designed to help you move through transitions and times of great change with more balance and intention. During this workshop, you will complete a series of self-assessments from the Life Balance Institute in order to gain clarity about your specific situation and support you in taking next steps. In addition to the self-assessments, your experience will include interactive exercises, time for your personal questions and observations, and meditations that teach practical skills to use in your daily life.
You will have the opportunity to:
Discover a “Path to Well-Being” that goes beyond getting what you want or getting rid of what you don’t want.
Identify your values and intentions to create a basis for making wise decisions.
Recognize the mental habits that undermine you and learn practices to disengage from them.
Explore which areas of your life need attention.
Gain insights about your strengths and challenges in dealing with change and strategize your next steps.
Expect a weekend full of dynamic inquiry and the opportunity to learn essential skills for meeting all your life changes with authenticity, confidence, and clarity.
with Celeste Young, Christiane Wolf, and Jake Dartington. Registration is now open.
We are happy to share that this retreat has been thoughtfully formatted to accommodate international time zones so that we can practice together as a global community! This is our second annual international Insight retreat. We hope you’ll join us.
This retreat also meets the requirements for participants in Jack Kornfield + Tara Brach’s Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification program through Sounds True.
Practicing “alone together” while in our own spaces presents a unique and powerful new kind of retreat container to deepen our practice and the integration of mindfulness into how we’re living during these times. After teaching several online retreats, we’ve learned what works well for supporting a home retreat and have created a schedule that’s accessible to people with different circumstances. This particular format combines the dedicated practice time of a residential retreat while also supporting those with family members and/or other responsibilities.
There’s an optional first meditation period that usually begins before breakfast. Each morning the teachers offer continuing meditation instructions for the day. The whole retreat is a succession of mindfulness trainings, including breath awareness, inhabiting the body with mindful attention, meditations on the nature of feelings, and awareness of mind from the Buddhist Insight Meditation tradition.
Sitting (or stationary) Meditation: Sitting meditation is at the heart of silent retreats. In sitting practice silence and stillness develop, concentration deepens, and awareness expands. Through training the heart, kindness and compassion are awakened to meet all that arises within awareness. We come into presence and learn to find freedom in the midst of life as it truly is. The Buddha invited us to establish mindfulness in all postures. For those who find sitting is not possible for their body, alternate stationary postures are suggested.
Walking Meditation (or movement meditation): Throughout the retreat we learn to cultivate mindful awareness in all postures: sitting, walking, standing, and lying down. In mindful walking meditation practice, we learn to sustain meditative awareness through movement, and establish continuity of mindfulness in the midst of activity. Walking meditation helps us to bridge the gap between our experiences in seated meditation and daily life. We alternate between sitting and walking meditation to support the establishment of mindfulness and concentration and to balance the factors of energy and calm in our practice. The Buddha invited us to establish mindfulness in all postures. For those who find walking meditation is not possible, alternate forms of mindful movement are suggested.
Eating Meditation: Instructions will be given on how to integrate the process of nourishment and eating as a meditation during retreat for continuity of mindfulness and a deepening of practice. Retreatants are encouraged to bring the same calm, focused attention to eating as is brought to sitting, walking, and other activities. Through reflection on the Buddhist teaching of interdependence, we have the opportunity to slow down and recognize each bite of food we eat is a result of countless causes and conditions and to appreciate the blessing of mindful nourishment.
Dharma Talks and guided meditations: Each day, the teachers present a different set of teachings that are central to practicing mindfulness and compassion. These teachings can be applied to our own direct experience. Sometimes the talks focus on retreat practice, and sometimes they offer teachings for wise living in the world.
Dana/Generosity: There will also be an opportunity to offer Dana for the teachers at the end of the retreat. Thank you for your support!
Testimonials for Christiane, Celeste, and Jake:
At the beginning the teachers said “You get the retreat you need” and it was absolutely true for me. There were difficult moments, and joyful moments, and for all of them the teachers were supportive, compassionate, and felt right there with me while also encouraging us to listen to ourselves. I’m definitely planning on attending at least one every year. – Caroline Y
For me the container that was created here was unusually effective and powerful in holding the grounds and connection as well as providing the tools and focus to take a deeper dive into life unfolding in me and around me. Feeling very grateful for having had the possibility of attending and going a long the way with this extraordinary teachers and heartful sangha. – Daniel S
This retreat has been transformative as well as insightful in ways I could have never wished for or even imagined. The kindness and embodied wisdom of the teachers, as well as the Sangha, allowed for an experience that I will carry in my heart forever. – Marina P
SOLD OUT. The waitlist for this retreat is closed.
Spring is a wonderful time to turn inward and renew ourselves. Come spend the week at Big Bear Retreat center in the serene San Bernardino mountains deepening your Insight meditation practice with others. By bringing mindful attention to our moment to moment experience, we can learn to cultivate resilience amidst change and grow in awareness and love. We will focus on practices that quiet the mind and open the heart, supporting continuity of mindfulness and the unfolding of insight.
The structure of a silent Insight meditation retreat includes time for sitting meditation, walking meditation, rest, mindful eating, and Dharma talks along with some instruction and guidance, and short practice discussion meetings with the teachers to support you within the container of a silent retreat. This helps us to deepen our connection to our direct moment to moment experience, cultivate continuity of mindfulness, and awaken the heart and mind for greater ease, balance, and clarity in daily life.
We will tend to the heart and mind with compassionate mindfulness and strengthen our connection with ourselves and each other, with time for enjoying nature, deep rest, and practice in this beautiful setting.
Schedule PT:
Arrival and check-in 2-4pm
Retreat Ends 10am
We are looking forward to practicing an in-person retreat in the beautiful San Bernardino mountains. With the support of nature and a friendly, peaceful quiet we will care for the heart and mind with compassionate mindfulness.
Guidance will be given for gathering awareness, relaxing the body, opening the heart, and calming the mind.
The structure of our meditation retreat will include time for sitting and walking or movement meditation, rest, mindful eating, and Dharma talks along with instruction and guidance, time for questions and reflections, short practice discussion meetings with the teachers to support you within the container of a silent retreat.
Retreat practice helps us to deepen our appreciation and gratitude for the mystery of being alive and for the benefits of generosity and kindness to ourselves and others.
Teachers:
Celeste Young
Eric McCullum – Assistant Teaching
SOLD OUT. Join Waitlist here
This will be a very special kind of retreat co-sponsored by InsightLA and Life Balance Institute. Early registration is now open and is encouraged, as space is limited for this unique retreat.
Come join us in the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains of Big Bear, CA and explore whatever internal or external life changes you might be considering, restoring balance to your life. We’ll be together in community for meditations, teachings and interactive exercises, healthy meals and plenty of downtime to enjoy the beauty of nature. More information below…
How well we navigate changes and transitions in our lives has a direct impact on the degree of well-being, purpose, and satisfaction we experience on a day-to-day basis. If you’re considering a big change, are in the midst of one now, or are still feeling the effects of past changes, this unique retreat offers you the personal understanding and tools to open to the next phase of your life with clarity, confidence, and deeper Insight.
Together in a supportive environment, we’ll be learning principles about the nature of change, adult stages of development, as well as time-tested mindfulness practices that can help you move through times of change with more balance and clear intention. Throughout the retreat, you will be offered a series of highly effective self-assessments and tools from the Life Balance Institute that are designed to give you clarity about your specific situation and support you in moving towards your next steps. These tools have helped countless individuals step into greater alignment with what they truly care about in life- to connect with what is truly meaningful. In addition, each day we’ll practice meditations together specifically designed to support you in meeting change more effectively and in coming home to yourself in daily life.
You will have the opportunity to:
Discover a “Path to Well-being” that is beyond getting what you want and getting rid of what you don’t want in life.
Use the “Journey through Change” as a map to locate yourself in the process of your current change
Identify your values and intentions so you have a basis for making wise decisions.
Recognize habits of mind that undermine you and learn practices to disengage from their influence.
Explore which areas of your life need attention, gain insights about your strengths and challenges in dealing with change, and begin to strategize about next steps.
This work has had a deep impact on many Dharma and meditation students and offered them the tools to really bring their practice into the very structure of their life, restoring meaning and a sense of empowerment to live aligned with what truly matters in life.
I hope you’ll join us!
IN PERSON SOLD OUT, join waitlist here. There is still space available for the online version of this retreat.
Please join us as we come together in community at InsightLA’s retreat house in Benedict Canyon to practice together within the container of a silent Insight meditation retreat centered around the theme of wise intention in the new year! This is a non-residential weekend.
Most of us have goals, and the New Year is often a time of self-improvement. Our mindfulness and Dharma practice invites us into another kind of exploration, however, that is not based on “improving”, but on moving towards our deeper aspirations or intentions from a place of acceptance, presence with what is, and attention to the way we bring these goals to fruition.
How do we embrace change and move towards new possibilities from a place of contentment? What intentions do we allow to arise when we cultivate a calm, clear mind, and a peaceful, loving heart? How do we accept what is, while steadily moving in the direction of our own well-being?
Through mindfulness, Insight, and lovingkindness practices along with inquiry we will explore our relationship to these questions as we move towards awakening on the path. There will be periods of silent and guided sitting meditation, walking meditation, and a Dharma talk to support the development of your practice. Together, we will explore in community and leave refreshed and renewed for the New Year ahead. The retreat will be held in silence to support a deepening of mindful awareness and insight.
Participants are encouraged to continue practicing mindfulness in the evening at home to strengthen their continuity of mindfulness for the full retreat experience, as this is a non-residential retreat.
Please bring your own water bottle, lunch and snacks each day.
Schedule PST:
Saturday, January 21st – Saturday: 10am – 5pm
Sunday, January 22nd – Sunday: 10am – 4pm
with Celeste Young + Dawn Scott
BOTH IN PERSON + ONINE SOLD OUT, WAITLIST CLOSED.
This retreat will be held both in person at Big Bear Retreat Center, and also online. To register for the online option, click here
Join us for an in person retreat in the beautiful San Bernardino mountains and deepen your practice within this secluded setting in nature. We will tend to the heart and mind with compassionate mindfulness and strengthen our connection with ourselves and each other, with time for enjoying nature, deep rest, and practice in this beautiful setting. During this six day retreat, we will learn to slow down and attune to the fresh simplicity of our present moment experience, rest in stillness, and connect with the heart’s inner capacity for healing and freedom.
Together we will explore some of the supports for presence: letting go of distraction, the deliberate cultivation of simplicity and contentment, and a renewed sense of connection with our own bodies, hearts, and minds in community. By bringing mindful attention to our moment to moment experience, we can learn to cultivate resilience amidst change and grow in awareness, love, and wisdom.
The structure of this Insight meditation retreat includes guided meditation with Q&A each day, time for silent sitting and walking meditation periods, rest, mindful eating instruction, Dharma talks, and small group practice discussion meetings with the teachers.
Dana/Generosity: There will also be an opportunity to offer Dana for the teachers at the end of the retreat. Thank you for your support!
Testimonials:
“Dawn and Celeste really got through to me in a way that no other teacher has before. Their loving spirits, gentle demeanor, and presence made this retreat so wonderful and helped me experience myself more than I would have thought possible.” – Annie C
“This retreat was my first, ever. I meditated a lot but never as intensively as one would while on retreat. During the retreat I faced every aspect of myself, in the loving company of sangha (which I never experienced until then). Love, joy and a blissful feeling filled my experience during this whole retreat. It was a very beautiful experience. The teachers were lovely, the administrative work was exquisite, the community was phenomenal. I can’t express with words how deep and lovely this experience was.” – Guillermo C
“The Rest in Simplicity Retreat was so well and thoughtfully planned, down to every Zoom link and Dharma talk. The teachers, Celeste and Dawn, were incredibly warm, passionate, authentic, and engaging leaving me feeling inspired about the Dharma and wanting to learn more.” – Krista P
“I am a healthcare worker. This retreat offered me deep rest, deep wisdom and a balm for my soul.” – Lesley S
“This retreat took my practice to a complete different direction. Looking back my practice had become very robotic and almost at a plateau. During this week, the teaching provided has just open so many new doors to my practice and I’m so grateful for that. Celest and Dawn are such incredible teachers.” – Stephane Z
SOLD OUT. JOIN WAITLIST
Time in retreat allows us to step out of the complexity of our life, to listen deeply to our body, heart and mind.
A retreat provides an opportunity and a caring container deepening our meditation practice. The mindfulness practice on retreats is often accompanied and complemented by training in loving-kindness meditation.
Most of the retreat is held in silence, with periods of sitting and walking meditation There are teaching talks, guided meditations, and time for questions and answers. Three healthy vegetarian meals are provided for participants and dietary restrictions are accommodated to whenever possible.
Retreatants are encouraged to practice mindfulness in a continuous way, staying with their own present experience as it unfolds, moment to moment. In this silent and mindful environment, awareness sharpens, the body quiets, the mind clears, and space opens for insight and understanding to develop.
By cultivating the power of awareness, clarity and kindness, we discover our path to inner freedom and a peaceful heart for the benefit or our relationship to our selves, our community and our wider world.
Schedule:
Arrive and Settle Friday 3-5pm
Depart Monday 11am
This half day retreat is open to students who have just completed a retreat or have sat other insight meditation retreats in the past and would like support around integrating their insights from retreat practice into their lives.
The theme for this half day will be focused around practicing with the Buddha’s teaching on the 4 noble truths. We will have time for sitting and walking meditation and connection in community around the process of continued integration.
Celeste will be co-teaching with Phillip Moffit
Join us for an in person retreat in the beautiful San Bernardino mountains and deepen your practice within this secluded setting in nature. We will tend to the heart and mind with compassionate mindfulness and strengthen our connection with ourselves and each other, with time for enjoying nature, deep rest, and practice in this beautiful setting.
In this particular retreat, we will explore the teaching of the 4 Noble Truths in order to see clearly the nature of the mind and how we can find release from emotional and psychological suffering.
In the oldest version of the suttas, the 4 Noble Truths are presented as a practice of 12 insights that are to be developed. On this retreat we will practice utilizing these twelve insights as a means for gaining wisdom and compassion for meeting the challenges of our daily life and opening to new possibilities for finding well-being that is not dependent on conditions being as we want them to be.
The structure of an Insight meditation retreat includes time for sitting meditation, walking meditation, rest, mindful eating, and Dharma talks to deepen your embodied understanding along with instructions and guidance, and short practice discussion meetings with the teachers to support you within the container of a silent retreat.
By bringing mindful attention to our moment to moment experience through the lens of the 4 Noble Truths, we can learn to cultivate resilience amidst change and grow in awareness and love. We will focus on practices that quiet the mind and open the heart, supporting continuity of mindfulness and the unfolding of insight.
Join us for an in person retreat in the beautiful San Bernardino mountains and deepen your practice within this secluded setting in nature. We will tend to the heart and mind with compassionate mindfulness and strengthen our connection with ourselves and each other, with time for enjoying nature, deep rest, and practice in this beautiful setting.
The structure of an Insight meditation retreat includes time for sitting or stationary meditation, walking or movement meditation, rest, mindful eating, and Dharma talks along with some instruction and guidance, and short practice discussion meetings with the teachers to support you within the container of a silent retreat.
This helps us to deepen our connection to our direct moment to moment experience, cultivate continuity of mindfulness, and awaken the heart and mind for greater ease, balance, and clarity in daily life.
SOLD OUT. You can join the waitlist here
This weekend workshop will be offered online through Spirit Rock Meditation Center.
How well you navigate change has a direct impact on the degree of well-being, purpose, and satisfaction you experience on a day-to-day basis. If you are considering a big change, or are in one now, or are still feeling the effects of a past change, this workshop offers you the personal understanding and tools to set a well-considered course for the next phase of your life.
During this weekend workshop, we will share principles about the nature of change in human lives and time-tested mindfulness practices that can help you move through times of change with more balance. Throughout the workshop, you will complete a series of self-assessments that are designed to give you clarity about your current situation and a sense of next steps.
In this workshop, we teach skills and strategies to effectively respond to the challenges of change such as:
• Discover which areas of your life need attention, gain insights about your strengths and challenges in dealing with change, and begin to strategize about next steps.
• Recognize habits of mind that undermine you and learn practices to disengage from their influence.
• Identify your values and intentions so you have a basis for making wise decisions.
Expect a weekend full of dynamic inquiry and the opportunity to learn essential life skills for meeting your changes and transitions with authenticity, confidence, and clarity.
Most of us have goals, and the New Year is often a time of self-improvement. Our mindfulness and Dharma practice invites us into another kind of exploration, however, that is not based on “improving”, but on moving towards our deeper aspirations or intentions from a place of acceptance, presence with what is, and attention to the way we bring these goals to fruition.
How do we embrace change and move towards new possibilities from a place of contentment? What intentions do we allow to arise when we cultivate a calm, clear mind, and a peaceful, loving heart? How do we accept what is, while steadily moving in the direction of our own well-being?
Through mindfulness, Insight, and lovingkindness practices along with inquiry we will explore our relationship to these questions as we move towards awakening on the path. There will be periods of silent and guided sitting meditation, walking meditation, and a Dharma talk to support the development of your practice. Together, we will explore in community and leave refreshed and renewed for the New Year ahead. The retreat will be held in silence to support a deepening of mindful awareness and insight.
Participants are encouraged to continue practicing mindfulness in the evening at home to strengthen their continuity of mindfulness for the full retreat experience, as this is a non-residential retreat.
Please bring your own water bottle, lunch and snacks each day.
Schedule PST:
January 8th – Saturday: 10am – 5pm
January 9th – Sunday: 10am – 4pm
SOLD OUT. REGISTER FOR WAITLIST
Join next retreat with space available: Wise Intention in the New Year
Give yourself the gift of an entire day spent practicing mindfulness and lovingkindness and deepen your practice within community.
In this daylong retreat we’ll explore the Buddha's teachings on boundless love- in particular the teachings of Metta and Compassion.
As the mind is liberated through our meditation practice, so too the heart is freed and can dwell in more peaceful "abodes" known as the "Brahma Viharas" or "Divine Abodes". We will explore practicing with traditional meditations to cultivate the first two Brahma Viharas of lovingkindness and compassion for greater balance and ease in our meditation practice as well as in daily life.
The day will unfold with some guided meditations and silent sitting (or stationary) practice as well as walking meditation (or movement). There will be a Dharma talk, time for mindful eating and enjoying the nature surrounding us in the canyon as well as time for resting the heart, body, and mind all within the container of a silent retreat.
Towards the end of the day there will also be an opportunity to connect with community through mindful speaking and listening practice.
Space is limited, advance registration is encouraged.
Free event open to all at Lani Trock’s installation “and so we blossom gently into the infinite garden”. There will be time for mindful discussion and reflection with the artist about her work and the role mindfulness and insight meditation can play in skillfully envisioning a healthier future for all beings, as well as a guided meditation, walking meditation practice and community conversation. No registration necessary. Join us!
From Lani:
the bridge is a practice of collective self-inquiry, to cultivate peace within, building pathways between heaven and earth. from this sacred space of inner balance and self-awareness, we are invited to imagine society blossoming into its highest, most peaceful potential. from a multitude of diverse perspectives, we may each contribute our unique vision for the future of all life flourishing on this planet and beyond. open dialogue is a safe space to discuss and share our somatic, spiritual and philosophical experiences, through meaningful conversations together in community.
Learn more about Lani Trock’s residency at PRS
Learn more about Lani Trock
SOLD OUT. JOIN WAITLIST.
Join us as we come together in community in person once again to deepen our practice in this beautiful and secluded setting in nature. An Insight meditation daylong retreat offers us offers a unique opportunity to slow down, turn inward and connect with our own experience within a supportive, silent retreat container.
We will alternate between periods of sitting and walking meditation with time for mindful eating and rest as well as a Dharma talk. There will be some instructions and periods of silent practice. This supports the development of a continuity of mindfulness that is often less available with the busyness and distractions of everyday life. Towards the end of the day, there will be an opportunity to practice mindful speaking and listening and for questions and sharing.
Deepen your practice through the cultivation of mindfulness and lovingkindness, and give yourself the gift of a day spent quieting the mind and heart and allowing the innate wisdom and compassion that is our birthright to unfold and develop.
Please note, we are monitoring the COVID-19 situation in LA and may move this retreat online if needed.
This daylong retreat will be held at the Benedict Canyon Retreat House.
Space is limited, early registration is open now and is encouraged.
Changes & Transitions in Your 50s & 60s: Finding Clarity and Well-Being in Times of Change with Phillip Moffitt and Jennifer Ward
(Celeste will be assisting this workshop as part of her training in Life Balance and skillful change work)
This is a tumultuous time full of change as we navigate the pandemic, the need for social justice, along with political, environmental, and economic challenges. As a result of these challenges, you may have experienced a change that’s beyond your control or perhaps you’re recognizing the need for personal change. Change brings up anxiety and uncertainty and it can also be exciting to connect with bigger visions for ourselves and our world.
Research shows that meeting change with mindfulness and being empowered to navigate uncertainty allows us to experience a deep sense of well-being even when life is difficult.
Some of the tools we offer in this workshop are:
Reflecting on your life and assessing what’s out of balance.
Using our “Journey through Change Map” to orient yourself in your change.
Recognizing habits of mind that undermine you and learning to disengage from them.
Creating a plan for skillfully navigating your change.
Expect a weekend of dynamic inquiry and learn to meet change with confidence and clarity.
Annual InsightLA summer retreat.
This retreat will be held online.
with Celeste + Beth Sternlieb
All practitioners welcome! Beth and Celeste have expanded their annual summer Insight retreat to a week in the service of deepening our practice together. This retreat also meets the requirements for participants in Jack Kornfield + Tara Brach’s Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification program through Sounds True.
Mindfulness is a powerful tool when applied thoughtfully in meditation and in daily life. In the wider scope of the Buddha's teachings, however, it is just one support for the cultivation of liberation and freedom from suffering, which is found within a larger path known as the noble eightfold path.
In this retreat we'll dig a little deeper and explore the path factors of wise understanding, wise view, wise speech, wise action, wise livelihood, wise effort, wise mindfulness and wise concentration and what it looks like to cultivate the path of freedom and liberation as a modern-day householder, both in meditation, and off the cushion in daily life.
During this six day online retreat, we will learn to slow down and attune to the fresh simplicity of our present moment experience, rest in stillness, and connect with the heart’s inner capacity for healing and freedom.
Together we will explore some of the supports for presence: letting go of distraction, the deliberate cultivation of simplicity and contentment, and a renewed sense of connection with our own bodies, hearts, and minds in community. By bringing mindful attention to our moment to moment experience, we can learn to cultivate resilience amidst change and grow in awareness, love, and wisdom.
The structure of this online Insight meditation retreat includes two guided meditations with Q&A each day, time for sitting and walking meditation periods in the communal virtual meditation hall, rest, mindful eating instruction, Dharma talks, and small group practice discussion meetings with the teachers. This format offers the dedicated practice time of a residential retreat while encouraging integrating the Dharma into our daily lives.
The retreat includes 6 full days and 6 nights of practice together. It will start at 9:00am PST on Friday, July 9th and end at 11am PST on Thursday, July 15th.
With Celeste and special guests: Artists Kathryn Garcia and Elaine Su-Hui
“In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few."
-Shunryu Suzuki Roshi
When we learn to pay attention with mindfulness to our moment to moment experience as it really is, we see things with new eyes, we experience what Suzuki Roshi refers to as beginners mind. In this weekend immersion, we will explore Insight Meditation and the new possibilities it can open in relationship to awakening creativity.
Creativity can show up in countless ways: the mind’s flexibility to envision and imagine new ways of being, living, and working, in our relationships, or in how we express our deeper values in life. Creativity may be expressed for you through an art practice and a chosen medium or multiple mediums, or it may be that you’re not clear where the creative impulse longs for expression in your life and you want to take some time in contemplation and community to reflect on your own relationship to creativity and mindfulness. All forms of creativity are welcome and the format of this immersion will be more open than a traditional silent retreat.
Time will be spent in sitting and walking meditation in silence and with instruction, as well as with journaling prompts, mindful inquiry and short Dharma talks exploring the theme with Q and A and discussion.
On Saturday we will have a special guest teacher, Elaine Su-Hui. Elaine is an artist, Dharma practitioner, meditator and the founder of Inner Fields in NYC. She will be offering a talk on the relationship between Dharma and creativity. More information on Elaine’s work: elainesuhui (IG).
Sunday we will have a special guest teacher, Kathryn Garcia. Kathryn is an artist, Dharma practitioner, and meditator. She will be offering a talk on how her meditation practice informs her artistic work and how her work informs her practice. More information on Kathryn’s work: BBYDBL (IG).
Schedule (PT):
Schedule: Day one June 5, 2021
10:00 –11:00 Welcome, opening meditation, weekend immersion orientation
11:00 – 11:30 Walking meditation
11:30 – 12:00 Sitting meditation
12:00 – 12:30 Walking meditation
12:30 – 1:00 Dharma talk
1:00 – 1:15 Q and A + mindful eating instructions
1:15 – 2:30 lunch
2:30 – 3:00 sitting meditation
3:00 – 4:00 Creativity + Insight talk- special guest speaker Elaine Su-Hui
4:00 – 4:15 Walking meditation / stretch break
4:15 – 4:30 Journaling exercise
4:30 – 5:00pm last sitting meditation and closing of day one
Day two Sunday June 6, 2021
10:00 – 10:30 Opening meditation
10:30 – 11:00 Walking Meditation
11:00– 12:00 Creativity + Insight Talk- special guest speaker Kathryn Garcia
12:00 – 12:30 Walking meditation – “walking the question” reflection
12:30 – 1:00 small group mindful inquiry practice + community sharing
1:00 – 2:15 lunch
2:15 – 2:45 Sitting meditation
2:45 – 3:15 Walking meditation
3:15 – 3:30 sitting meditation
3:30 – 4:00pm Closing of immersion
*schedule subject to slight changes
ELAINE SU-HUI
KATHRYN GARCIA
with Celeste Young, Christiane Wolf, and Jake Dartington. Registration is now open.
We are happy to share that this retreat has been thoughtfully formatted to accommodate international time zones so that we can practice together as a global community! Please click this link to view the two schedule options for the retreat. You can choose the option that is listed for your time zone.
This retreat also meets the requirements for participants in Jack Kornfield + Tara Brach’s Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification program through Sounds True.
Practicing “alone together” while in our own spaces presents a unique and powerful new kind of retreat container to deepen our practice and the integration of mindfulness into how we’re living during these times. After teaching several online retreats, we’ve learned what works well for supporting a home retreat and have created a schedule that’s accessible to people with different circumstances. This particular format combines the dedicated practice time of a residential retreat while also supporting those with family members and/or other responsibilities.
There’s an optional first meditation period that usually begins before breakfast. Each morning the teachers offer continuing meditation instructions for the day. The whole retreat is a succession of mindfulness trainings, including breath awareness, inhabiting the body with mindful attention, meditations on the nature of feelings, and awareness of mind from the Buddhist Insight Meditation tradition.
Sitting (or stationary) Meditation: Sitting meditation is at the heart of silent retreats. In sitting practice silence and stillness develop, concentration deepens, and awareness expands. Through training the heart, kindness and compassion are awakened to meet all that arises within awareness. We come into presence and learn to find freedom in the midst of life as it truly is. The Buddha invited us to establish mindfulness in all postures. For those who find sitting is not possible for their body, alternate stationary postures are suggested.
Walking Meditation (or movement meditation): Throughout the retreat we learn to cultivate mindful awareness in all postures: sitting, walking, standing, and lying down. In mindful walking meditation practice, we learn to sustain meditative awareness through movement, and establish continuity of mindfulness in the midst of activity. Walking meditation helps us to bridge the gap between our experiences in seated meditation and daily life. We alternate between sitting and walking meditation to support the establishment of mindfulness and concentration and to balance the factors of energy and calm in our practice. The Buddha invited us to establish mindfulness in all postures. For those who find walking meditation is not possible, alternate forms of mindful movement are suggested.
Eating Meditation: Instructions will be given on how to integrate the process of nourishment and eating as a meditation during retreat for continuity of mindfulness and a deepening of practice. Retreatants are encouraged to bring the same calm, focused attention to eating as is brought to sitting, walking, and other activities. Through reflection on the Buddhist teaching of interdependence, we have the opportunity to slow down and recognize each bite of food we eat is a result of countless causes and conditions and to appreciate the blessing of mindful nourishment.
Dharma Talks and guided meditations: Each day, the teachers present a different set of teachings that are central to practicing mindfulness and compassion. These teachings can be applied to our own direct experience. Sometimes the talks focus on retreat practice, and sometimes they offer teachings for wise living in the world.
Dana/Generosity: There will also be an opportunity to offer Dana for the teachers and center at the end of the retreat. Thank you for your support!
Testimonials from previous retreatants:
“The instruction was exceptional in its clarity and sophistication. Celeste and Christiane offer a beautifully fine tuned integration of MBSR, insight oriented meditation and Buddhist teachings. I feel truly privileged to have been their student. I have learned more on this retreat than in all the years and courses I have taken over the years. They are true masters. I felt step by step guided until I could clearly understand equanimity. I will recommend it to many of my patients.” – Dr. Eliana C.
“This retreat has been transformative as well as insightful in ways I could have never wished for or even imagined. The kindness and embodied wisdom of the teachers, as well as the Sangha, allowed for an experience that I will carry in my heart forever. “– Marina P
For more info on the retreat schedule and registration, click below.
This retreat will be held online.
with Celeste + Dawn Scott
This retreat is sold out and the waitlist is closed.
Please note this retreat meets the requirements for participants in Jack Kornfield + Tara Brach’s Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification program through Sounds True.
As we focus on practices that quiet the mind and open the heart, we support a continuity of mindfulness and a deepening of our meditation practice, which provides us with a true refuge amidst uncertainty.
We live in an increasingly complex world, and many of us long for more stillness and quiet in our busy lives. With the current challenges we are facing, we may discover the space for a slower life tempo but are not sure how to start cultivating the calm and tranquility we seek. At other times, we may feel overwhelmed by our personal responsibilities and the turbulence of our world. Whatever our current conditions, the spirit of our times is calling us to strengthen the depth of our practice and find moments of peace.
During this six day online retreat, we will learn to slow down and attune to the fresh simplicity of our present moment experience, rest in stillness, and connect with the heart’s inner capacity for healing and freedom.
Together we will explore some of the supports for presence: letting go of distraction, the deliberate cultivation of simplicity and contentment, and a renewed sense of connection with our own bodies, hearts, and minds in community. By bringing mindful attention to our moment to moment experience, we can learn to cultivate resilience amidst change and grow in awareness, love, and wisdom.
The structure of this online Insight meditation retreat includes two guided meditations with Q&A each day, time for independent sitting and walking meditation periods in the communal virtual hall, rest, mindful eating instruction, Dharma talks, and small group practice discussion meetings with the teachers. This format is configured to maximize its effectiveness as a virtual retreat during this extraordinary time. It combines the dedicated practice time of a residential retreat while supporting those with family members and other personal commitments.
The retreat includes 6 full days and 6 nights of practice together. It will start at 9:00am on Friday, February 19th and end at 11am Thursday, February 25th.
This is a dana (donation) based retreat.
For more information on the schedule and registration, click below:
This retreat will be held online. Registration is now open.
How do we embrace needed change and move towards new possibilities from a place of contentment? What intentions do we allow to arise when we cultivate a calm, clear mind, and a peaceful, loving heart? How do we accept what is, while steadily moving in the direction of our own well-being and a collective well being that acknowledges the truth of interdependence?
Most of us have goals, and the New Year is often a time of self-improvement. Our mindfulness and Dharma practice invites us into another kind of exploration, however, that is not based on "improving", but on moving towards our deeper aspirations or intentions from a place of acceptance, presence with what is, and attention to the way we bring these goals and aspirations to fruition.
Through mindfulness, Insight, and lovingkindness practices along with inquiry we will explore our relationship to these questions as we move towards awakening on the path. We will also draw on elements of Phillip Moffitt’s secular Skillful Change work. There will be periods of silent and guided sitting meditation, walking meditation, journaling suggestions and Dharma talks to support the development of your practice. Together, we will join in community for deep listening to our own hearts as we turn towards the possibility of deep renewal for the New Year ahead.
Participants are encouraged to continue practicing in the evenings at home if possible to strengthen their continuity of mindfulness for the full retreat experience, as this is a non-residential an online retreat.
Opening Evening Schedule Friday, Jan 8, 2021: 5:00 – 7:00pm Welcome, Opening Meditation and Retreat Orientation.
Full Schedule, including Saturday Jan 9 and Sunday Jan 10: listed on InsightLA registration page. Click below.
SOLD OUT. This retreat is completely full and the waitlist is now closed.
Space available in the Spring Insight Retreat with Celeste + Christiane
This retreat will be held online.
Please note this retreat meets the requirements for participants in Jack Kornfield + Tara Brach’s Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification program through Sounds True.
With Celeste and Christiane Wolf, MD, PhD
During this retreat, we’ll explore practices that help us to quiet the mind, open the heart and deepen our capacity to find balance and steadiness in the midst of change and uncertainty. We will cultivate the loving awareness and clear seeing that is so needed in our world today within this unique retreat container. The daily rhythm of an online Insight meditation retreat includes guided and silent meditation practice, time for independent sitting in the communal virtual meditation hall and walking meditation periods, rest, mindful eating instructions for meals, Dharma talks, and small group practice discussion meetings with the teachers.
Practicing “alone together” while in our own spaces presents a unique and powerful new kind of retreat container to deepen our practice and the integration of mindfulness into how we’re living during these times. After teaching several online retreats, we’ve learned what works well for supporting a home retreat and have created a schedule that’s accessible to people with different circumstances. This particular format combines the dedicated practice time of a residential retreat while also supporting those with family members and/or other responsibilities.
There’s an optional first meditation period that usually begins before breakfast. Each morning the teachers offer continuing meditation instructions for the day. The whole retreat is a succession of mindfulness trainings, including breath awareness, inhabiting the body with mindful attention, meditations on the nature of feelings, and awareness of mind from the Buddhist Insight Meditation tradition.
Sitting (or stationary) Meditation: Sitting meditation is at the heart of silent retreats. In sitting practice silence and stillness develop, concentration deepens, and awareness expands. Through training the heart, kindness and compassion are awakened to meet all that arises within awareness. We come into presence and learn to find freedom in the midst of life as it truly is. The Buddha invited us to establish mindfulness in all postures. For those who find sitting is not possible for their body, alternate stationary postures are suggested.
Walking Meditation (or movement meditation): Throughout the retreat we learn to cultivate mindful awareness in all postures: sitting, walking, standing, and lying down. In mindful walking meditation practice, we learn to sustain meditative awareness through movement, and establish continuity of mindfulness in the midst of activity. Walking meditation helps us to bridge the gap between our experiences in seated meditation and daily life. We alternate between sitting and walking meditation to support the establishment of mindfulness and concentration and to balance the factors of energy and calm in our practice. The Buddha invited us to establish mindfulness in all postures. For those who find walking meditation is not possible, alternate forms of mindful movement are suggested.
Eating Meditation: Instructions will be given on how to integrate the process of nourishment and eating as a meditation during retreat for continuity of mindfulness and a deepening of practice. Retreatants are encouraged to bring the same calm, focused attention to eating as is brought to sitting, walking, and other activities. Through reflection on the Buddhist teaching of interdependence, we have the opportunity to slow down and recognize each bite of food we eat is a result of countless causes and conditions and to appreciate the blessing of mindful nourishment.
Dharma Talks and guided meditations: Each day, the teachers present a different set of teachings that are central to practicing mindfulness and compassion. These teachings can be applied to our own direct experience. Sometimes the talks focus on retreat practice, and sometimes they offer teachings for wise living in the world.
Dana/Generosity: There will also be an opportunity to offer Dana for the teachers and center at the end of the retreat. Thank you for your support!
For more info on the retreat schedule and registration, click below
This retreat will be held online.
Please note this retreat meets the requirements for participants in Jack Kornfield + Tara Brach’s Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification program through Sounds True.
With Celeste and Dawn Mauricio
During this retreat, we’ll explore practices that help us to quiet the mind and open the heart and support of the development of wisdom, clear seeing, and loving awareness that is so needed in our world today. The daily rhythm of an online Insight meditation retreat includes guided and silent meditation practice, time for independent sitting in the communal virtual meditation hall and walking meditation periods, rest, mindful eating instructions for meals, Dharma talks, and small group practice discussion meetings with the teachers.
Practicing “alone together” while in our own spaces presents a unique and powerful new kind of retreat container to deepen our practice and the integration of mindfulness into how we’re living during these times. After teaching several online retreats, we’ve learned what works well for supporting a home retreat and have created a schedule that’s accessible to people with different circumstances. This particular format combines the dedicated practice time of a residential retreat while also supporting those with family members and/or other responsibilities.
There’s an optional first meditation period that usually begins before breakfast. Each morning the teachers offer continuing meditation instructions for the day. The whole retreat is a succession of mindfulness trainings, breathing practices, deep awareness of the body and environment, meditations on the nature of feelings, and awareness of mind from the Buddhist Insight Meditation tradition.
Sitting (or stationary) Meditation: Sitting meditation is at the heart of silent retreats. In sitting practice silence and stillness develop, concentration deepens, and awareness expands. Through training the heart, kindness and compassion are awakened to meet all that arises within awareness. We come into presence and learn to find freedom in the midst of life as it truly is. The Buddha invited us to establish mindfulness in all postures. For those who find sitting is not possible for their body, alternate stationary postures are suggested.
Walking Meditation (or movement meditation): Throughout the retreat we learn to cultivate mindful awareness in all postures: sitting, walking, standing, and lying down. In mindful walking meditation practice, we learn to sustain meditative awareness through movement, and establish continuity of mindfulness in the midst of activity. Walking meditation helps us to bridge the gap between our experiences in seated meditation and daily life. We alternate between sitting and walking meditation to support the establishment of mindfulness and concentration and to balance the factors of energy and calm in our practice. The Buddha invited us to establish mindfulness in all postures. For those who find walking meditation is not possible, alternate forms of mindful movement are suggested.
Eating Meditation: Instructions will be given on how to integrate the process of nourishment and eating as a meditation during retreat for continuity of mindfulness and a deepening of practice. Retreatants are encouraged to bring the same calm, focused attention to eating as is brought to sitting, walking, and other activities. Through reflection on the Buddhist teaching of interdependence, we have the opportunity to slow down and recognize each bite of food we eat is a result of countless causes and conditions and to appreciate the blessing of mindful nourishment.
Dharma Talks and guided meditations: Each day, the teachers present a different set of teachings that are central to practicing mindfulness and compassion. These teachings can be applied to our own direct experience. Sometimes the talks focus on retreat practice, and sometimes they offer teachings for wise living in the world.
Dana/Generosity: There will also be an opportunity to offer Dana for the teachers and center at the end of the retreat. Thank you for your support!
For more info on the retreat schedule and registration, click below
Coming Home to Wisdom: Summer Insight Daylong Retreat Online
Join us online for a very special Summer Insight retreat with Beth Sternlieb and Celeste Young.
This annual summer insight meditation retreat has been reformatted specifically to be an online daylong retreat, accessible for people who are staying home right now and would like to deepen their practice and connect with some calm, stillness, and a sense of inner refuge within community.
The structure includes two guided meditations with time for q and a, silent sitting and walking meditation periods in the communal virtual meditation hall, rest, mindful eating instructions for lunch, Dharma talks and other guidance and instructions to support your practice. Much of the retreat will be held in noble silence, which helps us to deepen our connection to our direct moment to moment experience, cultivate continuity of mindfulness while at home, and awaken the heart and mind for greater ease, balance, and clarity during these challenging times. There will also be an opportunity to connect with others for mindful speaking and listening practice towards the end of the retreat. Join us for a weekend of deep rest within community and reconnect with yourself and others in a safe and supportive environment, from the comfort of your own home.
During these unprecedented times, it can be challenging to find a sense of refuge amidst the storms of uncertainty swirling around us. While the timeless teachings of the Buddhist Tradition don’t offer us lasting certainty, they do offer the possibility of finding a reliable refuge in what are known as the 3 jewels: The Buddha, or the possibility of living with wakefulness, the Dharma, the teachings of the Buddha, or the universal truths we can all learn to open to, and the sangha, the community of people who are also walking the path- our spiritual friends. When we focus our attention on finding refuge in these 3, we are able to steady our hearts to meet changing conditions. In this very special online retreat, we will explore each refuge through Dharma talks and reflection, and move between periods of sitting and walking meditation in silence and with some instruction and guidance, as well as q and a.
We will focus on practices that quiet the mind and open the heart, supporting continuity of mindfulness and the unfolding of insight, with emphasis on the power of refuge in community during this time of physical distancing. There will also be time for some gentle mindful movement practice as well as the opportunity to meet with the teacher to receive individualized practice support.
Practicing “alone together” while in our own spaces presents a unique and powerful new kind of retreat container to deepen our practice and the integration of mindfulness into how we’re living during these times.
By bringing mindful attention to our moment to moment experience and learning to turn towards the 3 jewels as supports, we can learn to cultivate resilience amidst change and uncertainty. Participants are encouraged to continue practicing at home in the evenings on their own to strengthen continuity of mindfulness for the full retreat experience. This is a great opportunity for those who have been on retreat and want to re-connect to their practice as well as for those who have not been on retreat and would like to explore practicing at home with the support of a community and teacher.
If you have attended a retreat before and can only join for 2 of the 3 days, you can register for the 2 day option.
Testimonial from a previous participant in an online retreat with Celeste + Dawn:
“After attending a retreat while home bound during COVID-19 i am amazed at how the synergy of the attendees and teachings came through the virtual environment. The teachers kept to a specific schedule, framed the experience as closely to a location based retreat, and the teachings were as profound and reliably fulfilling as I was looking to experience. I would attend future online retreats while we navigate this current pandemic. Insight LA was well organized, the online support team was spectacular, and the teachers sincere, approachable and effective at offering their wisdom.”
Updated April 16, 2020: ONLINE RETREAT
This retreat has been reformatted specifically to be an online retreat, accessible for people who are staying home right now and would like to deepen their practice and connect with some calm, stillness, and a sense of inner refuge.
We live in an increasingly complex world, and many of us long for more stillness and quiet in our busy lives. With the current challenges we are facing, some of us may find we finally have that opportunity but aren’t sure how to begin to cultivate it. Others may feel even busier in some ways and overwhelmed with the current events in addition to continuing to work and fulfill commitments while other members of our household are at home. Whatever our conditions might be, this is an important time to strengthen practice and find moments of peace- whether amidst the unexpected activity or quiet of our home life..
During this four day online retreat, we’ll learn to slow down and attune to the fresh simplicity of our present moment experience, rest in stillness, and connect with the heart’s inner capacity for healing and freedom, within whatever conditions we find ourselves during this time. As we focus on practices that quiet the mind and open the heart, we support a continuity of mindfulness and a deepening of our meditation practice, which provides us with a true refuge amidst uncertainty.
Together we’ll explore some of the supports for presence: letting go of distraction, the deliberate cultivation of simplicity and contentment, and a renewed sense of connection with our own bodies, hearts, and minds in community. By bringing mindful attention to our moment to moment experience, we can learn to cultivate resilience amidst change and grow in awareness, love and wisdom.
The structure of this online Insight meditation retreat includes two guided meditations with q and a each day, time for independent sitting and walking meditation periods in the communal virtual hall, rest, mindful eating instructions for meals, Dharma talks, and short individual or small group practice discussion meetings with the teachers. This format is configured to maximize its effectiveness as a virtual retreat during this extraordinary time of shelter-in-place. It combines the dedicated practice time of a residential retreat while supporting those with family members and/or other responsibilities.
General Schedule (All times are Pacific Time):
7:00 – 8:00am Individual morning sit (virtual meditation hall open)
9:00 am First Guided Meditation Period/Q + A
10:00am – 12:30pm Individual Sitting and Walking Practice
2:30 – 3:00 pm Individual Sitting Practice (when not attending your Practice Meeting)
3:00 – 3:45 pm Dharma Talk
3:45 – 4:15 pm Individual walking practice
4:15 – 5:00pm Second Guided Meditation Period
5:00 – 6:00pm Individual Sitting and walking practice + individual meetings
7:30 – 8:00pm last community sit of the evening with chanting
The retreat includes 4 full days of practice together. It will start at 9:00am on Saturday, May 2nd and end at 8:00pm on Tuesday, May 5th. We are asking participants in this retreat to commit to all items on the schedule that are in bold, and as many of the other practice sessions as your circumstances allow.
There will also be an opportunity to offer Dana for the teachers and center at the end of the retreat. Thank you for your support!
Join us online for a springtime weekend Insight retreat for folks in their 20’s and 30’s! Michael Karakashian will co-teach this retreat with Celeste.
This retreat has been reformatted specifically to be an online retreat, accessible for people who are staying home right now and would like to deepen their practice and connect with some calm, stillness, and a sense of inner refuge.
The structure of this online Insight meditation retreat includes two guided meditations with q and a each day, time for independent sitting and walking meditation periods in the communal virtual hall, rest, mindful eating instructions for meals, Dharma talks and other guidance and instructions to support your practice in ways that are relevant to what we’re facing personally and collectively right now. Much of the retreat will be held in noble silence, which helps us to deepen our connection to our direct moment to moment experience, cultivate continuity of mindfulness, and awaken the heart and mind for greater ease, balance, and clarity during these challenging times. There will also be an opportunity to connect with others for mindful speaking and listening practice towards the end of the retreat. Join us for a weekend of deep rest within community and reconnect with yourself and others in a safe and supportive environment.
Schedule:
10:00am – 5:00pm Saturday
10:00am – 4:00pm Sunday
Below find a detailed schedule for day one: (day two will be similar with slight changes).
We understand that due to different living situations, work or family commitments during this time of COVID-19, you may not be able to attend every session. We ask that if you are attending retreat with us, you commit to attending all events in bold, as well as as many independent sitting and walking meditation periods as your schedule allows for.
10:00 – 11:00 Welcome, Retreat Orientation + Opening Meditation
11:00 – 11:30 Walking meditation
11:30 – 12:00 Sitting meditation—some instruction in beginning
12:00 - 12:30 Walking meditation
12:30 – 1:00 Dharma talk
1:00 – 1:15 Q and A + Mindful Eating instructions
1:15 – 2:15 Lunch
2:15 – 2:30 Mindful movement
2:30 – 3:15 Metta meditation
3:15 – 3:30 Walking meditation/stretch break
3:30 – 4:15 Sitting practice
4:15 – 4:45 Walking practice
4:45 – 5:00 Community closing + continued practice instructions
This event will be utilizing the Zoom video conferencing platform. After you register, you’ll receive an email with the secure zoom log-in information. You’ll be provided a link to access video and dial-in number that will allow you to join by phone if preferred.
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