Joshua Tree Retreat

This Mindful-Way Mindfulness Meditation Retreat is an intensive, residential, teacher-led, 5 night silent meditation retreat, which emphasizes the deep understanding and practice of mindfulness meditation in its most universal and secular expression.

While open to all students who are willing to undergo the discipline of silent retreat, this mindfulness retreat also fulfills one of the retreat prerequisites for attending the Oasis Institute for Mindfulness-Based Professional Education and Training.

This 6-day 5 night silent residential mindfulness retreat includes meditation instruction, individual interviews with qualified meditation instructors, talks by senior teachers, guided sessions of mindfulness meditation practice, movement exercises, and mindful eating, as well as sessions of contemplation and teachings to deepen the understanding of the practice. On site Registration opens Jan 2nd at 3:00 PM and the event ends after lunch on Jan 7th.

During the retreat, there will be one small group interview session and one brief individual interview.

The Mindfulness Meditation Retreat is based on the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) principles developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn and Saki Santorelli at the Center for Mindfulness in the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Program Goals

• Provide a safe and nourishing environment for the cultivation and development of a deep and grounded mindfulness meditation practice.
• Foster a rigorous retreat experience – independent of a specific religious outlook – that fulfills Oasis Institute 
• Offer excellent support and guidance from highly trained and experienced teachers and meditation instructors.
• Practice noble silence to develop a strong container for deepening meditation practice.

For those who are new to meditation practice, please be aware that practicing for a week in silence can be an intensive and challenging – as well as a highly rewarding – experience. 

Daily Schedule will run from 6:30 AM to 9:00 PM and will consist of periods of guided and unguided meditation, Movement, Walking, and talks by the teachers, except for date of arrival- which begiins at 3:00 PM with registration and the final day which ends after lunch.

Participant Guidelines ATTENDANCE:

Participants are strongly encouraged to attend all practice sessions.

SILENCE:

Means no conversation except during formal interviews. No reading, writing or use of technology except under special circumstances where you may need to maintain contact with the outside world i.e. (illness of a family member, etc). 

ATTITUDES:

• Non-judging
• Patience
• Beginner’s mind
• Trust
• Non-striving
• Acceptance
• Letting go

EXPECTATIONS:

• Self-care
• Confidentiality
• Listening and participating
• Silence
• Non-disruptive
• Genuine effort
• No food or drink (except water) in meditation room

Instructors BETH MULLIGAN

Beth Mulligan, PA-C is a certified MBSR teacher, teacher trainer, and adjunct faculty through the UMASS Center for Mindfulness. She has been teaching MBSR for over a decade to diverse populations; from the critically ill, to non-profit organizations, the underserved, educators, and corporate leaders. She currently teaches at the Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine at UCI and Insight LA. Beth teaches the 10-week and nine-day practicum for teachers in training nationally and internationally. Beth is a certified Mindful Self-Compassion teacher and teacher trainer and does international training for the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion.

Beth has a background in primary care medicine as a Board Certified Physician Assistant having graduated Magna cum Laude from Duke University and has practiced medicine for over thirty years. She is a long time student of Charles Tenshin Fletcher, Roshi at Yokoji Zen Mountain Center where she has lived in residence. Beth is the Guiding Dharma teacher at Insight Community of the Desert and is a certified yoga instructor.

Beth is the Author of The Dharma of Modern Mindfulness, New Harbinger Publications

HUGH O’NEILL

Hugh O’Neill is co-owner of Mindful-Way.com, and has studied and practiced meditation and yoga for more than 20 years. His many years of creative and management experience in the media industry, including significant time working in international news and documentary production, combined with his intensive training in Mindfulness Meditation programs enable him to skillfully relate the concepts and practices of mindfulness to a wide range of populations. Hugh has taught more than 80 MBSR courses and dozens of other mindfulness programs at universities, medical centers, corporations and government agencies including the US Navy. Hugh has also been a presenter at the International Scientific Conference on Mindfulness, is a regular event speaker, and is the lead mindfulness teacher in a number of clinical research projects. Hugh has trained in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction with the originator of the MBSR program, Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn Ph.D. He has studied and lived in residence at Yokoji Zen Mountain Center under the guidance of Zen Master Charles Tenshin Fletcher, Roshi, and is Certified as an MBSR teacher through the UCSD Center for Mindfulness.

CAYCE HOWE

Cayce Howe is a meditation instructor for InsightLA, specializing in MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction), Basic to Intermediate Mindfulness Training, and also traditional Buddhism. He also oversees the Long Beach chapter of InsightLA, and is a primary teacher at their weekly Sunday Sits. Cayce’s meditation practice and study spans over 25 years, including living and working for nearly 6 years in meditation retreat settings and participating in a one year retreat in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Cayce has dedicated himself to assisting others in discovering the benefits of meditation. He rounded out his meditation experience with various trainings including MBSR and InsightLA’s year long Mindfulness Facilitator Training. He continues to deepen his practice through silent retreats and InsightLA’s Teacher Development Group.

JULIE CHIPPENDALE, BSN

Julie Chippendale , BSN has a long background in Nursing and is also a highly trained MBSR teacher which she has been offering at Scripps Medical Center since 1996. She is also a certified yoga instructor, and certified massage therapist. With a passion for mind-body healing through connection, she brings a wealth of experience to the retreat every year with a special focus on the Mindful Movement during our January Retreat. We’re thrilled to have her back with us.