Meditation Retreats

Self-Compassion focused meditation retreats, online and in Victoria, BC.

Step away from the pace of daily life and enter a day of intentional stillness. The MSC meditation retreat offers a nourishing opportunity to deepen your practice in community while exploring the transformative power of self-compassion practices.

Rooted in the evidence-based framework of Center for Mindful Self-Compassion’s Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program, this retreat invites you to slow down, reconnect, and cultivate a kinder relationship with yourself—right in the midst of your real, everyday life.

In our fast-paced world, many of us long for greater spaciousness. This retreat is your invitation to create that space intentionally. Chores, emails, and unfinished projects can wait. For this dedicated time, you are invited to set aside productivity and give yourself permission to simply be.

What Happens in a Retreat?

Throughout the retreat, you’ll be guided through a variety of practices designed to deepen awareness and self-kindness, including:

  • Guided meditations

  • Self-compassion practices

  • Gentle mindful movement

  • Reflective exercises

  • A mindful eating practice

There is no “right way” to do retreat. The invitation to be present is not something we succeed or fail at—it is something we explore. Every experience, whether calm or restless, focused or distracted, is welcome. We encourage you to hold whatever arises with warmth, curiosity, and compassion.

Silence is a central element of our retreat experience. While your facilitators are still speaking & guiding the practices, participants are silent for the duration of the retreat. If you are joining an online retreat from home, we encourage you to:

  • Choose a quiet, comfortable space where you won’t be interrupted

  • Let family or housemates know you’ll be in retreat

  • Communicate your needs with clarity and kindness

This retreat is included in the cost of the 8-week Mindful Self Compassion Program for program participants.

Sign up

Upcoming Retreats:

Saturday April 25th 8:30am - 12:30pm PST

  • Live Online (Zoom)

  • Co-facilitated with Megan Welwood (CCC)

    • The retreat will be recorded for anyone who signed up but could not attend - recording will only be of the facilitator’s voice and sound. The recording will be stopped prior to the “coming out of silence” exercises at the end of the retreat.

      **Can’t make it? Sign up for the email newsletter on the homepage to be notified of new upcoming retreats!

Book a Discovery Call
Book Online

How to Prepare:

  • To support your experience, we recommend:

    • Setting up a quiet, distraction-free space

    • Having pillows, blankets, and water nearby for comfort

    • Bringing a yoga mat if you have one

    • Ensuring you have space to move or lie down

    • Having a small snack available for a mindful eating exercise

    • Logging in from a computer (if possible) for the best group experience

    • Preparing outdoor practice options if you’d like to spend time outside

  • Cost: $55 Please note payment is required in order to register and confirm your spot. There are a a limited number of spots available. *Your spot is not confirmed until payment has been received.

  • Cancellation Policy: 85% of tuition refunded with cancellation notice of more than 4 weeks prior to program start date. 50% tuition refunded with cancellation notice of 2-4 weeks prior to program start date.

Questions?

Check out our frequently asked questions here.

Not seeing your question here? Let’s chat! Email me at hello@youflourish.ca or book a free 15-minute Discovery Call.

  • Nope! All levels are welcome. This retreat is structured to be friendly for all levels of practitioners, including complete beginners. Practices range from 5 minutes to 30 minutes, and we alternate practice that involve stillness vs movement.

  • There are pros and cons to both offerings. Our online retreats allow people to join from across Canada, and it allows folks to join from the comfort of their own homes. Practicing in your own space can be a special experience to sit in stillness & silence “in the thick of it”, and may help you to translate the habit into your day-to-day life more readily.

    An in-person retreat can offer a protected and peaceful place in a serene setting - a true escape. This can ensure no distractions and a good environmental setup.

  • Absolutely! These retreats are based on the Mindful Self Compassion curriculum. The ever expanding research body is one of the reasons I decided to become a teacher. You can find a list of articles with links to PDFs where there is open access here: https://self-compassion.org/publications-on-msc/
    Dr. Kirstin Neff recently wrote a review of the evidence to date in MSC here.

  • No. While being on camera is an expectation for the 8-week MSC program that this retreat is based upon, for the retreat you can be on/off camera as you please. Many folks choose to turn off their cameras for the extended practices if they choose to lie down instead of sitting at their computer.

  • Yes. At the end of the retreat, there is about half an hour dedicated to coming out of silence gradually. This is typical to most silent retreats. There are breakout rooms where you can share your experience with a partner, and then a broader group discussion. Sharing is always optional, and what you choose to share is also your choice.

Get in touch.

Please feel free to reach out with questions via this form or set up a free 15-minute discovery call here if you’d like to chat more about MSC!