Mindful Self-Compassion – 5 -day silent online retreat

with Dr Caroline Hoffman and Dr Colette Power

This retreat is on UK times from Wednesday 5th – Sunday 9th February 2025

This retreat is based on the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) approach.

Mindful Self-Compassion is an integration of research by Kristin Neff with the clinical perspective of Christopher Germer.  It offers core principles and practices that resource us to respond to difficult moments in our lives with kindness, care and understanding.

The three key components of self-compassion are self-kindness, a sense of common humanity, and balanced, mindful awareness. Kindness opens our hearts to suffering, so we can give ourselves what we need. Common humanity opens us to our essential inter-relatedness, so that we know we aren’t alone. Mindfulness opens us to the present moment, so we can accept our experience with greater ease. Together they comprise a state of warm, connected, presence.

Self-compassion can be learned by anyone, whatever our personal histories. It’s a courageous attitude that stands up to harm, including the harm that we unwittingly inflict on ourselves through self-criticism, self-isolation, or self-absorption. Self-compassion provides emotional strength and resilience, allowing us to admit our shortcomings, motivate ourselves with kindness, forgive ourselves when needed, relate wholeheartedly to others and be more authentically ourselves.

Rapidly expanding research demonstrates that self-compassion is strongly associated with emotional well-being, less anxiety, depression and stress, maintenance of healthy habits such as diet and exercise, and satisfying personal relationships. And it’s easier than you might think.

What to expect

On this silent retreat there will be guided practices as well as ample opportunity for you to deepen into your own experience within the supportive container of the online group. The first evening will be an orientation session. Days 1 to 4 of the retreat include early morning practice before breakfast followed by morning, afternoon and evening sessions with a spacious lunch period. The retreat will include gentle movement and time to connect in smaller groups. There will also be free time to rest and relax.

Who this retreat is for

This retreat is for those who have either completed a mindfulness based or self-compassion training. This retreat is equally open to practitioners and mindfulness or MSC teachers.

The retreat meets the requirement to have sat a five-day, silent, teacher-led retreat before taking the MSC Teacher Training course AND meets BAMBA requirements for an annual retreat. 

It would be helpful if you have a regular practice of mindfulness and/or loving-kindness/self-compassion meditation. Previous retreat experience of at least one day is required but, if not, please apply and we’ll discuss your application with you. 

Location and TImings

This is an online retreat via Zoom commencing at 4pm on Wednesday 4th February 2025 and finishing on Sunday 9th February at 1pm 2025. The daily schedule for Thursday, will be from 7am – 8.30pm GMT – UK timings.

Cost

The retreat will cost £395 per person

To apply, please email: caroline@drcarolinehoffman.com