Mindfulness Retreat for College Admission Professionals and Counselors
Are you already registered for Pre-Con? See below for important information to prepare for this year's Pre-Conference Session!
We're so glad you will be joining us for a half day mindfulness retreat! Please see below for instructions on what to bring and more information on the retreat schedule.
Mindfulness Retreat Instructions
Please let us know in advance if you have any special needs. We are glad to do whatever we can to make your experience the best it can be.
What You Might Like to Bring:
Below is some information about retreat practice that may be helpful for those of you who are newer to the experience. Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. Otherwise, we look forward to meeting you!
Your Are Empowered
The Midwest Alliance for Mindfulness is a trauma informed organization. We appreciate the amazing diversity of our community and experiences, and we honor our personal sovereignty over our own bodies. Please know that you are invited to be completely in choice about how you practice, so long as you are also honoring others’ choices and needs.
Companionable Silence
We will be practicing companionable silence throughout the retreat, including during the breaks. Silencing devices and refraining from unnecessary conversation can help to deepen our practice by limiting distractions and some of the usual obligations of daily life. We will provide instructions regarding companionable silence at the beginning of the retreat and we will let you know when the period of silence begins and ends.
As with all of our invitations to practice, you are in choice about how much or little you communicate during the retreat. We ask that you honor a diversity of needs and preferences around silence by maintaining silence in the practice space (except when commentary is invited by the teacher) and by keeping your voice and activities low in volume in other spaces.
You are welcome to approach a teacher at any time with questions and needs, but please consider taking this outside the practice space or discreetly whispering your communication. You can also pass a note if you prefer. To honor this protected space, we invite you to abstain from electronic communication during companionable silence if possible. Please keep devices silenced so as not to disturb those who wish to stay disconnected.
Meditation Postures
Please feel free to take whatever posture best serves your practice needs at the time. Some common postures include sitting on a chair or cushion, lying on a mat or other surface, or standing. You are welcome to adjust your posture at any time should you become uncomfortable. Depending upon the space that is available, we may designate an indoor space for movement should you choose to move when others are practicing stillness.
Mindful Movement
Opportunities for mindful movement will be offered throughout the retreat and as with all the practices, they are optional. If you have any physical concerns or require any accommodations, please let the guiding teacher know.
Experiencing Discomfort and Difficulty
It’s not uncommon to experience some mild discomfort or difficulty during retreat practice, especially when we are adjusting to a new location, community or way of being. If you have any questions or you find yourself feeling quite challenged, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the guiding teacher or any of our teaching team. We will do our best to answer your questions and we likely have some suggestions to help make the experience more comfortable for you.
Mindfulness Retreat Instructions
Please let us know in advance if you have any special needs. We are glad to do whatever we can to make your experience the best it can be.
What You Might Like to Bring:
- Clothing you can move in. If the weather allows, we may spend some time outdoors.
- A shawl or blanket to wrap up in during stillness practices may be nice.
- If you want to take our shoes off and get comfortable, you might want to bring warm socks.
- Refillable beverage container for hot/cold drinks. Water and hot tea available
- Chairs will be available, but you’re welcome to bring your own cushions for sitting if you have them.
- A yoga mat and pillow may be handy if you wish to lie down to practice.
- You may wish to bring your journal and or writing utensil if this is part of your practice.
Below is some information about retreat practice that may be helpful for those of you who are newer to the experience. Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. Otherwise, we look forward to meeting you!
Your Are Empowered
The Midwest Alliance for Mindfulness is a trauma informed organization. We appreciate the amazing diversity of our community and experiences, and we honor our personal sovereignty over our own bodies. Please know that you are invited to be completely in choice about how you practice, so long as you are also honoring others’ choices and needs.
Companionable Silence
We will be practicing companionable silence throughout the retreat, including during the breaks. Silencing devices and refraining from unnecessary conversation can help to deepen our practice by limiting distractions and some of the usual obligations of daily life. We will provide instructions regarding companionable silence at the beginning of the retreat and we will let you know when the period of silence begins and ends.
As with all of our invitations to practice, you are in choice about how much or little you communicate during the retreat. We ask that you honor a diversity of needs and preferences around silence by maintaining silence in the practice space (except when commentary is invited by the teacher) and by keeping your voice and activities low in volume in other spaces.
You are welcome to approach a teacher at any time with questions and needs, but please consider taking this outside the practice space or discreetly whispering your communication. You can also pass a note if you prefer. To honor this protected space, we invite you to abstain from electronic communication during companionable silence if possible. Please keep devices silenced so as not to disturb those who wish to stay disconnected.
Meditation Postures
Please feel free to take whatever posture best serves your practice needs at the time. Some common postures include sitting on a chair or cushion, lying on a mat or other surface, or standing. You are welcome to adjust your posture at any time should you become uncomfortable. Depending upon the space that is available, we may designate an indoor space for movement should you choose to move when others are practicing stillness.
Mindful Movement
Opportunities for mindful movement will be offered throughout the retreat and as with all the practices, they are optional. If you have any physical concerns or require any accommodations, please let the guiding teacher know.
Experiencing Discomfort and Difficulty
It’s not uncommon to experience some mild discomfort or difficulty during retreat practice, especially when we are adjusting to a new location, community or way of being. If you have any questions or you find yourself feeling quite challenged, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the guiding teacher or any of our teaching team. We will do our best to answer your questions and we likely have some suggestions to help make the experience more comfortable for you.