Bodhi Retreats-IMSB Measures to Prevent Spread of COVID

Updated August 29, 2025

We are continuing to make some efforts to prevent the transmission of the coronavirus and other illnesses at our retreats. The specific measures vary based on the retreat facility, available ventilation, number of participants, room size, and current rates of infection in the USA. For the safety of everyone, all participants in our residential retreats are required to comply with the measures that we adopt. Some people will welcome our measures with relief and appreciation, and some people may judge our measures as overly cautious or wearisome. It does not matter whether you believe that our measures are still necessary, whether you like or dislike them—we require your full compliance.

Given that participants are traveling from different countries and US states and may have been exposed to viruses in crowded conditions of airports and airlines, we believe the first few days of the retreat merit caution. We want everyone to feel free to employ more cautious behaviors than our current guidelines require.

The list of measures below will give you a good sense of what to expect at our residential retreats as you decide whether this retreat is suitable for you. The exact measures are subject to change and will be adjusted to suit the situation at each retreat, given the conditions at that time and place.

Don’t Travel If You Are Ill

  • It is most important that we make every effort to keep illness out of the retreat. If you get sick before the start of a program or have been exposed to someone with COVID,  please contact our registrar and stay home. Do not attend the retreat if you have a cough, sore throat, or any symptoms like a mild cold or unusual fatigue even if you have tested negative for COVID.
  • Everyone is asked to take extra precautions in the ten days prior to the retreat and during travel to the retreat. Try to avoid large gatherings, consider wearing a mask when in crowded conditions including while traveling to the retreat, and avoid situations that are likely to expose you to disease.
  • We expect everyone to be considerate of one another’s health and safety and to report to the teacher immediately if cold symptoms occur or if feeling sick in any way during the retreat, even if you are confident that it is not COVID. We will try to avoid spreading any illness in the retreat.

Masks

  • Masking requirements will depend upon the conditions of ventilation and space in the facility. As late as 2023, face masks were required indoors for the first 3-4 days of the retreats, until we tested-to-unmask. Since the beginning of 2024, masking has generally been optional on our retreats.
  • If someone experiences symptoms of illness, we may require masks to be worn in indoor common areas, including the meditation hall. They must be worn completely over the mouth and nose in our indoor spaces unless eating or drinking (or talking in the case of teachers). N95 masks are highly recommended, but we accept cloth or surgical masks if they fit properly.

Pack Tests and Masks

  • All participants are required to bring a 10-day supply of masks, and 2-4 rapid antigen tests to the retreat. These may be used if someone in the retreat becomes ill. You are always welcome to wear a mask if you prefer to be more cautious, which is especially wise in the first few days of the retreat.

Miscellaneous

  • All participants should have a plan for getting home safely should they test positive or come down with an illness during the retreat. We are not able to take responsibility for extended care of an ill participant. Some, but not all, of our retreat centers have appropriate accommodations for isolation, so the decision to isolate an ill participant within the retreat or depart from the retreat will be made on a case by case basis.
  • Anyone refusing to comply with our mask or testing requirements or other measures to prevent the spread of illness will be required to leave the retreat immediately.
  • If you leave the retreat early for any reason, you will bear all associated costs. Retreat fees are not refundable.

To attend this retreat, each retreatant must agree to abide by our guidelines, remain on the property after arrival until the end of the retreat, wear a mask if requested by the retreat teacher or manager, test for COVID if requested, and agree to leave the retreat immediately if they become ill, test positive for the coronavirus, refuse to wear a mask, or if for any reason they are asked to leave by the staff or teacher. A question on the retreat application gives applicants the opportunity to affirm their commitment to comply with our guidelines.

If you anticipate resisting any of our rules or are unwilling to wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth if the teacher or staff decides that masking is warranted (including in the meditation hall), please do not attend our in-person events or residential retreats. Instead, consider attending one of Shaila’s online courses from the comfort of your home.

We hope our position and expectations are clear, and that the care we take together will inspire us to create a wonderful and healthy retreat experience. If you have any concerns about our efforts to reduce the risk of contracting coronavirus or any contagious illness, please contact the event registrar.

We are looking forward to this profound opportunity for practice.