Silent Mindfulness and Compassion Meditation Retreats
All our retreats count towards the British Association of Mindfulness-Based Approaches (BAMBA) Good Practice Guidelines. They are open to anyone from complete beginners to trained Mindfulness Teachers. A retreat is required to give teachers an opportunity to deepen their practice and to experience the kind of processes that might arise for their participants doing a more intensive practice. Silence is incredibly important and is an opportunity to settle, let go of talking and communicating verbally and allow our minds, our body and our hearts to just settle and create some clarity.
Following Good Practice Guidelines and embracing accessibility we have created one-day and two-day online retreats as well as our residential five-day retreat at Sharpham House, giving you options to complete the required total of 5 days in a way that works best for you.
Benefits of doing a retreat:
Online Retreats for Mindfulness Teachers and Trainees:
One-Day Retreat with Dilya Mavlanova and Stephanie Unthank :
9th Oct, 13th Nov or 30th Dec 2021
Timing: 9.30am to 4.30pm
Cost: £82.50 per day
10% off all retreats for Alumni Members
Our one-day retreats are subject to a minimum number of attendees. If we do not meet that criteria the retreat could be rescheduled or cancelled.
Two-Day Retreat with Karen Atkinson and Angie Ward:
Fri 12th Nov 2021 4pm to Sun 14th Nov 2021, 6pm
Cost: £165
10% off all retreats for Alumni Members
Residential Retreat
Join us for our five-day silent, teacher led retreat and experience tranquillity and joy through the enriching mindfulness and compassion practices.
The retreat balances gentle movement with stillness practices, held with kindness, to create harmony of the body, heart and mind. This retreat is open to everyone and also adheres to the Good Practice Guidelines for mindfulness teachers.
Sharpham House is a beautiful and majestic building, surrounded by 550 acres of stunning nature, the River Dart, woodlands and greenery. This stunning venue is warm and comfortable and the perfect location for a mindful retreat.
If there is something that you want to discuss you will have the opportunity to schedule appointments to see the teacher and there is a notice board where you can write requests and questions.
For our retreat there are 21 bedrooms available, made up of Heritage, Premium and Standard rooms. All rooms are single occupancy, most have a shared bathroom and a few have an en-suite. Please click here to view the rooms in more detail.
Five-day retreat in Sharpham House
Our next 5 day retreat is:
Tuesday 28th September 4pm – Saturday 2nd October midday 2021
This retreat is now full. To join our waiting list please email angie@mindfulnessUK.com
Standard single is £695 (1 room left)
Premium and Heritage rooms is £790 (4 rooms left)
Includes all teaching, accommodation and food. Spaces are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.
(10% off all retreats for Alumni Members)
Meet your tutors
Karen Atkinson
Karen is the Co-founder and Senior Partner of MindfulnessUK, an author, a trustee of the British Association of Mindfulness-based Approaches (BAMBA), a teacher and trainer of mindfulness and compassion skills and practices, and a Bangor trained supervisor of mindfulness teachers. Karen has been teaching mindful movement and meditation for over 30 years, and recently published ‘Compassionate Mindful Inquiry in Therapeutic Practice’. It is fair to say that she takes the greatest pride in having used her unique position to develop the Integrated Mindfulness and Compassion Qualification, a ground-breaking qualification and the first of its kind in the market. As a highly respected, extremely experienced, and well-trained mindfulness teacher with a warm, intuitive, friendly, and professional manner, Karen’s mission is to bring this enhanced enjoyment of life to as many people as possible.
Angie Ward
Angie is Head of Teacher Training and delivers the IMC Qualification as well as supporting all new students as they start their training at Mindfulness UK. Angie leads our partnership projects with the Mental Health Foundation and develops and delivers Mindfulness and Compassion Programmes in Education, Health and Social Care for Teaching & Support Staff, Children and Young People. Angie’s career in Health and Social care spans over 20 years, working with people in social care, and children’s and mental health charities as well as specialising in developing and delivering training and CPD for equality, diversity and Special Educational Needs (SEN.) Benefitting from regular meditation for many years, Angie is an experienced and supportive tutor with a sensitive approach to teaching and leading students through the transformation of learning.
Stephanie Unthank
Stephanie is a qualified and registered mindfulness teacher, a director of MindfulnessUK At Work and a director of the British Association of Mindfulness-based Approaches (BAMBA). With an initial career in the corporate banking sector, in a variety of managerial roles, Stephanie has a deep understanding of the benefits of wellness in both body and mind. Leading all training of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Stephanie also has leadership and change management expertise, and is an advocate of sustainable cultural change. Stephanie is a positive and enthusiastic teacher and has a very approachable and insightful manner, always creating a warm and welcome environment for all her students to learn and supports employee wellness.
Don't just take our word for it
Thank you so much for a wonderful retreat! I was so moving by the whole thing and the generosity and spirit of it. It was incredible that you were able to create such a sense of community through Zoom. I have learnt a lot from it as well as feeling rejuvenated. It was also so lovely to be in contact with you both again, and I really enjoyed being amongst a group of kind and like-minded people. I so appreciate the depth of your sharing and the way this informed the practices and teachings – a beautiful and precious gift.
Elizabeth Downing
Steph is the most generous and compassionate mindfulness teacher I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Her natural presence creates an environment of inclusivity and safety, and her teaching is always clear and accessible. I always come away from time with Steph having developed a deeper awareness of my own thoughts, feelings and emotions. Her half day retreats are well-structured and offer a depth to practices that allow more insightful attention and reflection.