Experience the energy of sitting with others, find support and encouragement from like-minded individuals, and learn different present-moment practices like yoga, Tai Chi, walking, star, and tea meditation. Refresh your mind and body as you immerse yourself in nature at the beautiful Living River Retreat Center on the Cahaba River, Montevallo, AL.
Suited for more "Seasoned" practitioners. Beginners are welcome, however, minimal instruction will be given. Potluck dinner begins the retreat.
A Foundations group begins Friday at 6:00 pm for those who would like more instruction on meditation.
Schedule is subject to minor changes
4:30 – 6:00pm: Check-In
6:00pm: Potluck Dinner
6:45pm: Orientation
7:30pm: Meditation instruction, and lightly guided meditation
9:00pm: Noble Silence begins; ends after breakfast the next day.
10:00pm: Lights out
5:00am: Wake up
6:00am: Morning Meditation
8:00am: Breakfast, Mindful Eating
9:00 am: Movement Practice
10:30am: Sitting Meditation
12:00pm: Lunch
1pm Group Walking Meditation Outside (weather permitting)
2:pm: Afternoon Meditation
3:30: Free time
4:30 to 6:00pm: Check-in
6:00pm: Dinner & Orientation
7:30pm: Seasoned & Foundations separate Meditation
9:00pm: Noble Silence begins; ends after breakfast the next day.
10:00pm: Lights Out
5:00am: Wake up
6:00am: Morning Meditation
8:00am: Breakfast
9:00am: Movement practice
10:30pm: Mid-Morning Meditation
12:00pm: Lunch
1:30pm: Free Time
2:30pm: Afternoon Meditation
3:45pm: Tea Meditation in Dinning Hall
4:00pm: Movement Practice
6:00pm: Dinner
7:30pm: Evening Meditation. Both groups together
9:00pm: Star Meditation
Noble Silence through breakfast
5:00am: Wake up
6:00am: Morning Meditation
7:30pm: Packing and cleaning
9:00am: Small Group Discussion
10:00am: Brunch
11:00am Group walk
12:00pm: Sitting Meditation. Both groups together
1:00pm: Group Sharing & Conclusion
Departure by 2:30pm
Our personal retreat chef will prepare delicious and nutritious vegetarian/vegan meals with fresh and locally sourced ingredients to support your meditation practice.
We eat our meals together in mindfulness. We usually have 15-20 minutes of silent eating at the start of lunch and dinner, and breakfast is usually fully in silence. Eating in silence helps us appreciate the food deeply, and cherish the presence of those around us.
*Living River Retreat Center asks that no food be brought into the cabins or in luggage as it will attract mice.
Motel-Style Room: 1 Queen or 2 Twin Beds
Bunk Cabins: $255
Camping: $155
Motel-Style Room: 1 Queen or 2 Twin Beds
Bunk Cabins: $225
Camping: $135
Lynn is an entrusted lay Zen teacher in the Soto Zen tradition, professor at The University of Alabama, and psychologist. She began meditating in 1995 and began to study with Gaelyn Godwin, Abbot of the Houston Zen Center (www.HoustonZen.Org) in 2005 until she moved to Alabama in 2006. She resumed her studies with Gaelyn Roshi in 2012, completed the Jukai precepts ceremony at the Houston Zen Center in 2017, and received lay teacher ordination in 2020.
She also received training in Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention therapy from developer Sarah Bowen in 2014 and has served as a therapist using this approach.
She served as co-coordinator of a meditation group meeting at the Birmingham Unitarian Church in the tradition of Thich Nhaht Hahn from 2010 – 2013, and co-founded the Tuscaloosa Zen Meditation Circle in 2014. Lynn and Hank Lazer have co-led the Tuscaloosa Zen/Quiet Tide programs since 2019.
Phyllis has been learning about, meditating and guiding others in mindfulness meditation practice for about 20 years. Her move to Alabama from New York allowed her to slow down enough to learn the power of paying attention!
She has been a part of the Birmingham Shambhala community during this time, and has been drawn especially to the compassion and joy of the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. She is also a founding member of the Alabama Meditation Network.
Phyllis has a strong commitment to the “everyday walkin around” benefits of mindfulness and aspires to incorporate meditation and mindfulness into her life as partner, mom, family member, friend, and her work as a clinical psychologist. She enjoys sharing and learning with others who value taking time in their lives to explore the world, both around and within themselves.
Her hobbies include long distance walking, and enjoying her 5 dogs.
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In order to create a safe and welcoming meditation and learning environment, we ask everyone to:
Refunds will be available up to two weeks before the retreat.
Later cancelations receive a retreat credit.
Any form of present moment practice which has a foundation of body and breath awareness.
Any entity that provides group meditation in a community of equanimity, compassion and acceptance, regardless of gender, race, economic status, or sexual orientation.
