Retreats provide a way to deeply cultivate, explore, and strengthen sustained mindfulness practice. Held in silence and relative simplicity, a retreat can open a space for connecting with and learning from one’s inner life. Retreats are a key aspect of deepening in mindfulness practice, which we consider essential for anyone interested in teaching mindfulness.

MBSR Teaching

• For those training to teach MBSR, the initial prerequisite retreat may be met through participation in one of the following:
  • Two qualifying 3-day retreats; or
  • One retreat of at least 5 days
• There are three additional retreat requirements during the MBSR teacher training pathway
• One of the four required retreats must be the Insight Inside Us Retreat, or equivalent.
• Note that retreat requirements should be completed prior to applying to the program, unless the retreat concludes within one week prior to the start of the program

MBCT Teaching

• For those training to teach MBCT, two retreats of at least 5 days (or four 3-day retreats) and one Insight Inside Us retreat, or equivalent, are required during the MBCT teacher training process
• There is no prerequisite retreat requirement

Qualifying Retreat Guidelines

• Retreats must be fully silent (outside of individual or group meetings with the teacher) 
• Retreats are teacher-led
  • We strongly recommend retreats (either in-person or online) with two teachers; this creates an environment of greater safety
  • Retreat teachers should be experienced in leading mindfulness retreats specifically, and should have received validation to teach retreats through their meditation lineage
• A minimum of 5-day retreat can be 4 or 5 nights in duration or two qualifying 3-day retreats (see the suggested schedule below.)

Retreat Format

• Each retreat day includes a minimum of 12 hours of retreat time consisting of a rhythm of sitting, walking, mindful movement, and informal mindfulness practices, primarily in silence with guidance from the teacher(s)
• During the 12-hour day there is a minimum of 8 formal practice hours interspersed with informal practices and time for self-care
• 3-day retreats include 16-18 hours of practice and cover a span of 23 total hours (see the 3-day schedule below for more details)
• Open practice periods (when not engaged online) are no more than 2 hours in length at any one time, to support personal focus and group cohesion
• Depending on the length of the retreat, each retreat will offer one or two brief group or individual practice discussions, to talk with a teacher about practice

3-Day Retreat Schedule

Includes 16-18 hours of practice and 23 total hours

• Day 1: Opening Day: 12:30 PM - 9:30 PM. 4-5 hours of practice, two 1-hour breaks, 1 talk/Q&A
• Day 2: 9:30 AM - 9:30 PM, 8 hours of practice, one 2-hour break and one 1-hour break, 1 talk
• Day 3: Closing Day: 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM 4-5 hours of practice, two 1-hour breaks, closing/sharing/Q&A

Below is a list of third party mindfulness retreat centers as a resource and convenience for participants. This list should not be construed as an endorsement or approval of any retreat center by Brown and the Mindfulness Center. Brown makes no representation or warranty about the quality of the retreat centers, and all participants should use their own judgment when evaluating a prospective retreat center.

Retreats Offered by Our Adjunct Mindfulness Teachers

We invite you to consider retreats offered by some of our adjunct mindfulness teachers through the websites below. Please click on each title below to learn more.

Programs with Jon Kabat-Zinn: Every fall, Jon Kabat-Zinn and his son Will Kabat-Zinn teach a weeklong program together at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, in Rhinebeck NY. This program is not fully silent, yet it offers a priceless opportunity to practice with Jon, the founder of MBSR, and his son Will. For this reason, if a trainee wishes to participate in one of these programs, it will count as a qualifying 3-day retreat.

There are many notable retreat centers around the world. You are welcome to attend a retreat anywhere as long as it meets the guidelines and format shown above. We have included a list of reputable retreat centers most of which are based in the United States. It is not exhaustive, nor does every retreat held at the listed centers meet our requirements. The list can be used together with the guidelines above to find appropriate retreats.

Please note: Some of the teachers in these retreat centers also teach in different venues or teach alone. Silent retreats taught by teachers affiliated with any of these centers are acceptable as long as they have a mindfulness practice theme and adhere to the guidelines above. If a retreat center or teacher is not listed, please feel welcome to ask.