Half-day retreat (AW,CB)

Half-day Retreat

A few hours of silent and guided meditation

In-person with Alfie Wishart and Christiane Baud

Saturday, August 3rd, 2024 - 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Location4015 Normandy Avenue, Dallas TX 75205
(First Unitarian Church of Dallas building)

half-day retreat

Why take time for an extended meditation practice?

As late winter moves into the gushing of spring, the busyness of life tends to get in the way of our desire to start or to re-commit to a meditation practice and to mindful living. This half-day retreat is a way to set a marker, to allow the possibility for a new beginning or for a deepening of experience.

We all experience too many distractions, maybe a loss of interest in our practice, or a loss of focus on what and how to do it. This mini-retreat is a chance to experience the benefit of taking a pause and detaching from the regular schedule of busyness. In the midst of all the doing, gift yourself an extended period of simply being. This will help to:

  • steady your mind and recover your sense of calm
  • reconnect with your center and what matters to you
  • reclaim your sense of balance.

What to expect during the day

Alfie and Christiane will offer a series of mindfulness meditation practices – sitting, walking and eating – all with the aim of steadying the mind, warming the heart, establishing a sense of equanimity, and reminding ourselves of what is most important to each of us in this business and busy-ness of being human. The majority of the day will be held in silence to promote an inner focus while being supported by practicing with a community.

Those who have limited experience with meditation are most welcome. The practices will be relatively short, varied, and accessible to beginners and experienced meditators alike. There will be ample instructions throughout the morning. Time to process your experience and engage with the teachers will be offered as well.

Individuals who have never participated in a retreat may feel daunted by the prospect of being silent for an extended period of time. Invariably, people discover not only that they can do it, but that the experience is profoundly enriching.

What to bring along

  • Wear comfortable clothes and shoes that are easy to remove and put back on.
  • Bring a yoga mat / blanket(s) to lie on and a pillow to support your head.
  • Bring a light lunch that will be used for a mindful eating exercise in the middle of the day. A refrigerator will be available if you need to store your lunch.
  • Plan to spend the day detached from electronic devices.

About the teachers

Alfie is Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC), in the State of Texas. He is a long-time meditator, and a trained teacher in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and a trained teacher in Mindful Self Compassion. He is in private practice in Dallas.

Christiane is a certified mindfulness meditation teacher within the International Mindfulness Teachers Association having completed Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach’s Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program. Her approach and philosophy are based in equal measure on sound Western scientific knowledge and on contemplative approaches. On the scientific side, she relies on her background as a biologist and a psychologist to understand the human interconnected layers of body, emotions, and mind. On the contemplative side, she draws on 15 years of meditation experience within various traditions. She has taught yoga and mindfulness meditation in Dallas for the last 10 years.

Registration

THIS EVENT IS DONATION-BASED. WE APPRECIATE YOUR DONATION IN ANY AMOUNT.

The suggested amount is $28. Please give generously to support the work of Dallas Center for Mindfulness and Compassion.

For any questions, you may call Christiane Baud (214-235-5982)
Or contact us at:   info@dallascmc.org