Day-Long and Half-Day Retreats offer the opportunity for deep meditation practice and contemplative reflection with the convenience of a single day format. Through a continuity of sitting and walking meditation, participants can deeply explore the meditative process, and still be home in time for dinner.
Our monthly Day-Long or Half-Day Retreats are suitable for both novice and seasoned meditators.
Check the calendar for event dates.
Half-Day Programs
IMSB offers monthly Half-Day Workshops that strengthen mindfulness, introduce awareness based movement practices, or develop experiential Dhamma themes. Using a combination of sitting meditation, walking meditation, and movement or experiential practices, these half-day programs are designed to encourage wakeful presence, clarity of emotion, and balance in both body and mind.
Day-long Programs
The structure of Day-Long Retreats usually include alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation, instructions, dhamma teachings, and optional consultations with the teacher. Sometimes a movement discipline such as yoga, TaiChi, QiGong, or Feldenkrais is offered as an alternative to walking meditation during one session of the day. A typical schedule for the meditation Day-Long Retreat is provided below, though it can change without notice.
| Time | Description |
|---|---|
| 9:30 – 10:30 | Meditation & Introduction |
| 11:30 – 12:15 | Sitting Meditation |
| 10:30 – 11:30 | Walking Meditation or Movement Practice |
| 12:15 – 12:30 | Questions/Answers |
| 1:30 – 2:15 | Sitting Meditation |
| 2:15 – 3:00 | Walking Meditation |
| 3:00 – 3:45 | Sitting Meditation |
| 3:45 – 4:00 | Break |
| 4:00 – 5:00 | Dharma Talk & Closing |
| 5:00 | Clean Up |
Other details:
- These events will be held in Noble Silence to support the deepening of meditative realization. Please turn off cell phones, minimize conversations, and refrain from socializing until the end of the program.
- Day-long events may include a pot-luck lunch, or the suggestion to bring a bag lunch. Please check the event listing to determine if the event is a bag lunch or pot-luck event. Tea is usually provided. A refrigerator and microwave are usually available. Eating on site supports the development of concentration by avoiding the disruption of excursions to shops or restaurants.
- Chairs are provided. Please bring a mat, cushion or bench if you would like to sit on the floor. For some movement events you may want to bring a mat.
- Most of our Saturday programs are taught by Shaila Catherine, and periodically by guest teachers. Some programs incorporate gentle awareness based movement practices guided by guest instructors. Walking Meditation is always an option for students who do not wish to participate in the featured movement practice.
- Day-Long Retreats that do not have a movement theme usually include opportunities to consult with the teacher about your individual meditation practice. Usually these meetings take place during the walking meditations.
- Everyone is welcome. Arriving on time and staying until the end is appreciated.
- We meet at local churches including Foothills Congregational in Los Altos, St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Mountain View, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Los Gatos, and Westhope Presbyterian Church in Saratoga. re on the ground floor. There are no stairs at any of our facilities, but bathrooms are not all equipped with specialized features for accessibility. If you have a disability and would like to attend our events, please let us know how we can help. We do not amplify the sound at most Saturday programs.
Meeting Locations
Foothills Congregational Church – Parish Hall
461 Orange Avenue, Los Altos, CA 94022
map
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Los Gatos
15980 Blossom Hill Rd.
Los Gatos, CA 95032
Saint Timothy’s Church – Edwards Hall
2094 Grant Road, Mountain View CA 94040
map
Westhope Presbyterian Church – Social Hall
12850 Saratoga Ave, Saratoga CA 95070 (just off highway 85 at edge of San Jose)
map
Questions?
For questions visit Frequently Asked Questions.
For more information contact the information coordinator at the email address given on our contacts page.