“I have learned so much this weekend and know now that to practise in this way is vital to me. Thank you”
“The opportunity to immerse myself in practice, being away with no distractions of daily life”
“Facilitators who clearly love, know and understand the practice and role-model compassion and loving kindness”
Course Overview
Be Calm, Be Happy provides a gradual introduction to mindfulness and meditation and key teachings on positive happy living over six sessions, which will be covered throughout the retreat. The course includes guided mindfulness exercises and meditations, group discussions and practical exercises led by experienced facilitators in a warm, friendly atmosphere, with a maximum of 15 people.
Information about the course and retreat
This retreat will cover all 6 sessions of the Be Calm Be Happy course, and includes all accommodation and meals from supper on Friday evening to afternoon tea on Sunday afternoon, as well as refreshments in between. All materials for the course will be provided. The retreat is held in the beautiful setting of Holland House http://www.hollandhouse.org/
Please do not contact them with any queries, but direct these to the course leaders.
All meals will be vegetarian so please advise if you have any further dietary requirements.
Arrival on Friday 13th December from 5pm, first activity will be supper at 6.30pm.
Please advise if you will not arrive in time for supper (and make your own arrangements to eat).
Frist session starts at 7.30pm on Friday.
Friday and Saturday begin at 8am with optional Mindful Movements or breakfast at 8.30am. There will be sessions throughout the day (all of which you are expected to attend) punctuated with regular breaks and some free time to enjoy the gardens. Each evening will end by 9.30pm.
Sunday will begin at 8.00am with meditation before breakfast.
The retreat will end with afternoon tea on Sunday, at 4pm, departure at 4.30pm.
You will be sent a more detailed programme and timing schedule nearer the time.
Course content
Session 1: Stopping and calming
Session 2: Turning to the positive
Session 3: Loving communication
Session 4: Nourishing happiness
Session 5: Interdependence and community
Session 6: Guidelines for a happier life
Reported benefits
- Increased enjoyment of life
- Increased ability to be calm and relaxed
- Increased control of emotions such as anger and anxiety
- Improved sleep quality
- Fewer feelings of anxiety and depression
Who can attend
This retreat is suitable for beginners, as well as those wishing to refresh their mindfulness practice. It is suitable for those of all faiths and none. Our course participants come from a wide range of backgrounds. Many of our participants are keen to learn new ways to look after their own well-being and to identify positive responses to challenging situations.
Please be aware that the retreat can raise emotional issues. Whilst mindfulness can be helpful with ordinary anxiety and low mood, this retreat is not suitable for people with extreme anxiety, severe depression, psychosis or personality disorder. The retreat is not intended to provide a therapeutic environment, and is not a substitute for ongoing medical support.
Proposed Commitment
Participants are expected to attend the full retreat from Friday 5pm to Sunday 4.30pm. If you will have difficulties arriving on Friday 13th December by 5pm, or in time for supper, please let us know. The first evening session will begin at 7.30pm and we expect everyone to have arrived in good time before this.
Course Leaders
The course leaders for this course are Dr. Lauri Bower and Clare Belbin-Carlile.
Lauri has been practising meditation for 30 years and met Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings in 2006, from which point she committed to putting mindfulness practice at the centre of her life. In 2008 she began researching a Ph.D. on Thich Nhat Hanh and his teachings of mindfulness and Engaged Buddhism. With her Ph.D. complete Lauri began teaching mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR) courses and is delighted to bring this experience to a course devoted to the Plum Village mindfulness tradition. Mindfulness has become a crucial aspect in Lauri’s life and she has experienced firsthand the healing and transformational aspects of this practice. Lauri has also been teaching mindfulness for 5 years and is continually inspired by the positive changes that it can bring. She has 15 years experience of running retreats.
Clare first encountered Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings through his books and subsequently retreats from 1998. She became increasingly committed to her daily practice with the support of the Sanghas in York and Kirkbymoorside, and it is now a central part of her life. The Plum Village tradition has enabled Clare to work with the demands of a complex life managing a large shared household to benefit the needs of adults with special needs, alongside bringing up her own four children. She provided guidance and teaching for young interns over many years. Clare’s mindfulness practice is deeply rooted in her daily practice which includes drawing and painting in the Helmsley Walled Garden. Clare studied Fine Art at Newcastle and completed her postgraduate degree at Edinburgh. Clare’s practice transforms and enlivens everything she does.
Lauri and Clare usually run the Be Calm Be Happy course in Yorkshire.
Tickets and Pricing
£295 – Supported Ticket, unwaged
£325 – Concession Ticket, low income
£360 – Standard Ticket (break even price)
£395 – Supporter Rate (this ticket helps us to be able to offer ‘concession’ places on our courses).
£425 – Sponsor Rate (this ticket further helps us to be able to offer ‘supported’ places on our courses).
We ask you to consider carefully what you can realistically afford without depriving yourself and your family or dependents. Supported and Concession Tickets are intended for those who are unwaged, have a low household income and/or limited funds available. In offering a range of ticket prices we aim to make the retreat available to as many people as possible.
All ticket prices include all meals from supper on Friday evening to lunch on Sunday afternoon and single or twin accommodation (please express a preference and we will do our best to accommodate this). If you want to share with a specific person please state their name
Is there disabled access to venue?
Yes. Our Meeting Room and all downstairs rooms are accessible for a wheelchair user (except the entrance to the Chapel is from outside – which we probably will not use anyway).
There is one downstairs accessible twin room which has a walk in wet room. There is a disabled parking space with a path up to the house.
What further information will I receive?
All our retreat attendees will receive an email after they have purchased their ticket, confirming their place on the retreat. “Joining Information” will be emailed nearer the time, confirming the information on the venue, facilities and what you need to bring.
What is your cancellation policy?
If you cancel your booking at least 28 days before the start of the retreat we will refund your full course fee minus a £15 administration fee.
If you cancel your booking less than 28 days before the start of the retreat we will issue a 50% refund of the course fee, only if we fill your place. Otherwise no refund can be offered as the venue requires full payment 28 days in advance. We recommend taking out travel insurance to cover cancellation fees.
Once the retreat has started no refunds will be issued.
Contact Information
Should you have any further questions please do email us at: bcbhmindful@gmail.com
