Day Meditation Retreats: Quarterly opportunities to step out of the stream
Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Online
A day retreat is exactly long enough. Long enough to settle beyond the surface agitation of daily life. Long enough for the mind to reveal what it's been carrying. Long enough to remember what stillness feels like. But not so long that it becomes inaccessible to people with jobs, families, and limited time. These retreats are part of the 8 week MBSR course, and as a refresher each quarter.
What happens on a Day Retreat
Typically, 9:30am - 4:00pm (full-day), held locally across major Australian cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide) so you can attend without extensive travel.
The day includes:
- Time in nature - taking in the good
- A range of led practice: sitting, walking, movement, open awareness (20-40 minutes each)
- A silent lunch in nature - yes, no phones!
- Silence throughout (no talking, no phones, no reading)
- Optional brief check-in with teacher if needed
What you're NOT doing:
- Performing or being assessed
- Trying to get somewhere
- Wasting time
- Required to sit in uncomfortable positions (chairs always available)
- Expected to have profound insights (though they sometimes happen)
- Left alone without teacher support if distress arises
The frame is simple: practise with continuity, let whatever arises be exactly as it is, notice where the mind habitually goes, return to direct experience. Repeat. For a few hours. Interesting!
What makes the difference: Practising alone at home, you stop when it gets uncomfortable. On retreat, you keep sitting. That's where the learning happens - in staying when your habitual impulse is to escape what is arising now. The teacher and community hold the container; you do the practice.
Who are these Retreats are for?
Students & Graduates of MSBR or Pain to Peace:
The foundational practices in your 8-week course prepare you beautifully for the silent day and most people say it is a turning point in their understanding of practice and how to bring it into life. This is where the body scan moves from awkward checklist to actual embodied awareness. Where sitting meditation shifts from "trying to concentrate" to genuine presence. You already have the willingness and the basic know-how; now you're building capacity.
People Building Regular Practice:
Many participants attend the day retreat each quarter, creating sustained commitment and familiar community. Quarterly day retreats create rhythm. Instead of practice being something you do (or don't do) in scattered 20-minute sessions, you build momentum through regular intensive days. Many participants attend the same local day retreat each quarter, creating sustained commitment and familiar community.
Anyone Curious About Longer Retreats:
Experiencing the day of silence gives you good information before committing to a longer residential retreat. Day retreats let you discover what extended practice reveals-both the gifts and the challenges-in a manageable timeframe.
Locations & accessibility
We offer day retreats across Australia to reduce travel barriers.
Live Online Full-Day Retreats:
- 9:00am - 4:00pm AEDT (MBSR grads)
- 9:30am – 1:30pm AEDT (From Pain to Peace grads)
Practice from home with guidance, then return to family/work commitments the same day. Perfect for those with caregiving responsibilities, physical limitations, or geographical distance from in person retreats.
In-Person Full-Day Retreats:
- NSW: Sydney area + Blue Mountains
- Victoria: Melbourne area
- Queensland: Brisbane area
- Western Australia: Perth area
- South Australia: Adelaide area
Most locations use accessible community centres, dharma centres, or peaceful suburban spaces - not elaborate retreat centres.
Investment & Choose-What-You-Pay
Standard Rate: $55 (full-day) or $25-33 (half-day)
Supported Rate: $35 (full-day) or $15-40 (half-day)
The suggested rate covers teacher costs, venue hire, and organisational support. If financial circumstances mean this is difficult, pay what works for your situation. If you can pay more, that supports accessibility for others. No one is turned away for lack of funds.
What's Included:
- Full day of guided practice
- Experienced teacher present throughout
- Venue with space and access to nature
- Community of practice
- Tea/coffee (bring your own lunch for full-day retreats)
- Chairs for practice
Not Included:
- Meals (except what you bring)
- Transportation to venue
Frequently asked questions
Do I need previous meditation experience?
Yes — basic familiarity with mindfulness meditation practices. If you've completed MBSR you're ready. If you're completely new, start with an MBSR course first.
What if I can't sit cross-legged on the floor?
Chairs are always available. Many participants use chairs exclusively. There's zero expectation of particular postures — just that you're awake and engaged with practice.
Can I leave early if it's too much?
Yes. While we encourage staying with the full day (that's where learning happens), if genuine distress or emergency arises, you can absolutely leave. Check in with the teacher first please.
What should I wear?
Comfortable, loose clothing. Layers are helpful (temperature fluctuates when sitting still for hours). Nothing fancy needed.
Do I really have to be silent the whole time?
Yes. Silence is what creates the container for practice to deepen. You can speak briefly with the teacher if needed, but participant-to-participant silence is maintained throughout.
What if I need to use my phone for an emergency?
Inform the teacher at the start. Keep phone silent and stored away, checking only if truly necessary. The goal is to disconnect from devices, but we understand genuine emergencies happen.
Will there be teaching or just sitting in silence?
There will be practice guidance throughout and more silence in the afternoon. This isn't a workshop or class—it's a practice day. The teaching happens through your direct experience, not through lectures.