United States · 7 days
The retreat runs from 5 to 11 January 2027, six nights on land at Spirit Rock. You sleep and eat on site, so the whole week happens within the centre's grounds. The format is a traditional residential Insight Meditation (vipassanā) retreat: sitting and walking practice through the day, teacher-led instruction, and even…
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United States · 7 days · From USD 1500 (indicative)
The retreat runs from 5 to 11 January 2027, six nights on land at Spirit Rock. You sleep and eat on site, so the whole week happens within the centre's grounds. The format is a traditional residential Insight Meditation (vipassanā) retreat: sitting and walking practice through the day, teacher-led instruction, and evening dharma talks.
The teaching covers the Four Foundations of Mindfulness from the ground up, with lovingkindness meditation alongside it. That structure makes it workable for someone on their first long retreat as well as for people who have sat many. The page names the audience plainly: new and experienced meditators.
Five teachers lead the week. Howard Cohn, Erin Treat and Leslie Booker are the main teachers, Teresa Todoroff teaches movement, and Ramona Lisa Ortiz-Smith is a teacher in training. Having several teachers means group interviews and individual meetings are part of the schedule rather than an add-on.
Spirit Rock sits on 411 acres in the hills of Marin County, roughly 45 minutes north of San Francisco. Retreats there are rooted in Insight Meditation, and residential retreats are held largely in silence. The centre is the featured partner in Mindful's 2027 Retreat Guide.
What separates this from a general meditation week is the silence and the length. Six nights of largely silent practice is a different thing from a weekend workshop — the schedule gives you enough time for the practice to settle, and the teachers are on hand throughout rather than dropping in for a single session.
- 6 nights on-land accommodation at Spirit Rock Meditation Center - Vegetarian meals, with vegan and gluten-free options available - Step-by-step instruction in the Four Foundations of Mindfulness - Lovingkindness meditation practice - Meetings with teachers - Evening dharma talks - Movement sessions with Teresa Todoroff
- Travel to and from Spirit Rock in Woodacre, California - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Any extras not listed by Spirit Rock