About this Event
Hello,
My name is Philippe, and I've been engaging with meditation and embodied practices for the last 10 years. I have completed over 1000 hours of certifications in yoga and meditation, and my facilitation is also trauma informed, having completed Gabor Mate's 1 year professional training in "Compassionate Inquiry". I am currently living in Athens, completing a Masters Degree in Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy.
Once you have read through these pages and have all the info, you are welcome to contact me for a call. Maybe you have specific questions, or you simply want to get a sense of me as a person to help you decide if you'd like to join the retreat.
My commitment to you is that IT WILL NOT BE A SALES CALL.
I have no interest in trying to convince anyone to come, I want it to feel natural and for you to have all you need in order to make a grounded decision. Bring a cuppa and we'll have a chat.
All applications eventually require a 15-20 minute call with me along with the application form to make sure the retreat is a good fit for you, and for the group.
Send me a message on WhatsApp to schedule.
0857788200
This retreat is more than just an opportunity to try various practices of Body, Speech & Mind. It is an opportunity to co-create a loving community, and directly experience how cultivating togetherness deeply nourishes us. We will embark on a journey of integrating practices that deepen our capacity to meet life's challenges with compassionate presence, so that we can befriend ourselves and also be of support to our loved ones.
In a world that has become increasingly fragmented, this retreat will be an opportunity to reconnect with our innate wholeness. We will be building a safe container for personal or spiritual inquiry to blossom, as we deepen our awareness of our body, mind and spirit. The practices invite the possibility for spontaneous connection and courageous authenticity to emerge, offering each other an experience of feeling seen, heard and understood.
Inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village tradition, mindfulness will be interwoven through every part of our day, and it will form the ground from which we move, breathe, eat, speak and simply be together. The intention is that we can dissolve the separation that often forms between “spiritual practice” and “life.”. So while we will begin our practice listening to the sound of the bell on our first evening together, I hope we will come to see that it does not have to end with the final bell. Our practice is our life! So let us learn and support each other to awaken fully to each precious moment.
Integrating Body, Speech & Mind
Practices of the Body
We know that we must feed the body with nourishing and healthy food, but often forget to offer ourselves an embodied diet that wisely balances both movement and stillness.
The practice isn't just designed to feel better, but to get better at feeling! The morning sessions of mindful movement are not seen as separate to our meditation practice, but a continued exploration of cultivating presence, clarity and non-judgemental awareness.
The physical movement practice helps to nourish the physical body and prepare it for sitting meditation, and will blend elements of Yoga, Tai Chi and various other movement forms that are characterized by:
- A dive into body-based mindfulness, cultivating awareness of both the physical, and subtle body of feeling/sensation.
- A deep connection with the breath as a bridge linking body and mind
- Experiencing joint-nourishing movements with a gentle yet dynamic approach
Every day we will come home to the body with practices that support embodied inquiry. We will rest in the view that our body holds an innate wisdom, that when tapped into can be a deep source of healing and nourishment. We will explore our relationship with our own bodies and deepen our awareness of how we can feel, sense and act in the world with more ease. Embodied workshops will also serve as a mirror that may highlight personal patterns of how we relate with ourselves and one another.
Practices of Speech
“Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world” Buddha.
These teachings from the Buddha will guide us to speak from our heart, and learn to only speak if our words can pass through these three gates; Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
The quality of our relationships have an immense impact on our sense of fulfillment in life. So what contributes to healthy relationships? Few will disagree that communication is at the heart of relating well, and it is something we will practice!
“Dharma Sharing Circles” are a practice where we create a sacred circle in which all voices have the space to be heard. It is an opportunity to practice mindful speech where we can step into the courageous authenticity to be seen, heard and understood. But most importantly we will learn to practice deep listening to our fellow brothers and sisters. It is through offering our compassionate presence that we support each other to welcome everything that arises in our experience; our joy, our sorrow, our love and our loss. This practice of sharing can be vulnerable, but it offers us a healing experience that allows us to give a voice to that which our being desperately yearns to express. Anything shared remains strictly within the circle as we co-create the safety required to open our hearts with one another.
There will also be the possibility to explore some other sharing and connection practices, with the intention to develop our capacity to express ourselves truthfully and communicate more harmoniously with one another. We will go gently into the art of relating well in the process of the retreat.
We will also follow in the footsteps of our ancestors who discovered the power of how singing and chanting deeply connects us with one another as we bear witness to the unfolding mystery of life.
Practices of Mind
All actions of the body, and every word spoken begins in the mind. It is our mental state that determines how we perceive and engage with the world around us, so we must learn to work with our minds!
Harvard psychologists recently shared research that showed “A wandering mind is an unhappy mind”, and so we will learn to remain in touch with the aliveness of the present moment through practicing Samatha, also known as calm abiding meditation. Mindfulness of breathing will be our primary anchor, however we will also open our awareness to explore the field of sensations in the body. Instruction will be given in posture, and there will be both guided meditations as well as silent practice.
Ram Dass invites us with such beautiful simplicity to “quiet the mind, open the heart” and so we will also explore “Metta” practices of cultivating “loving kindness” to connect us with our innately compassionate nature.
Meditation practice is a process of becoming familiar with our inner landscape. It is through that familiarity that we connect with the wisdom to choose what mind seeds we wish to water and see blossom as kind actions and loving words.
The practice of Noble Silence in the mornings will support the deepening of our practice until around lunchtime each day, and will begin after our evening session.
Practices of Connection and Integration
The retreat will include singing and elements of physical contact in movement and somatic explorations. However, all practices are optional. The workshops are skilfully facilitated with clear instructions to ensure boundaries are respected, and that participants maintain agency in choosing to engage at a level that feels comfortable for them.
If you love to sing and dance - let your voice be heard and show us your moves! But if that is not your jam, you can always participate with your presence and at a level that feels good for you!
This retreat is for you if:
- You want a space to practice meditation and experience the beauty of stepping into a field of collective presence with a deep sense of togetherness.
- You enjoy moving your body and connecting with others
- You would like to experience a safe environment where you can simply be yourself and have the opportunity to express yourself with deep authenticity.
- You want to discover how the experience of community, belonging and connection can bring a sense of aliveness and joy to your life
- You are open to trying something new which might be outside of your comfort zone, knowing that it takes courage to allow ourselves to be seen and heard
- You are committed to showing up for yourself and the group with an attitude of kindness, compassion and respect.
- You are willing to go on digital detox, and ditch the phone for the weekend!
More importantly...what's the impact?
Develop a deeper awareness of your body
Learn meditation techniques grounded in the Buddhist tradition
Experience a deep sense of safety and belonging in a group
Develop communication skills, learning to speak authentically and to listen deeply in a way that gives people a sense of feeling seen, heard and understood.
Be welcomed as you are, in your joy and your sorrow.What's Included?- 2 Nights Shared Accomodation in an Eco Lodge
- 6 Wholesome vegetarian meals prepared by a professional chef
- 8 facilitated sessions of movement, presence and connection
Testimonials
Melanie, Irish Retreat Participant
Philippe is an exceptional facilitator. He holds the space skilfully, making it safe for the magic to unfold. The movement practices were spectacular. He shares some profound wisdom and a healthy dose of giggles. A group of strangers became friends in a few hours, beaming smiles at the end of the day. I won’t miss Philippe’s next retreat. Pure joy!
Oana, Irish Retreat Participant
"Presence and connection is what I found every time I attended one of Philippe's workshops and retreats. As a skilful facilitator, Philippe knows how to create a safe and warm container for exploration and expression. By sharing insights and useful information to set the tone before activities, then gently holding the attention on each participat as they take part in the exercises, to finally inviting reflection and harvesting feedback, Philippe generates the perfect conditions for gentle connection to happen with oneself and the others. I am truly grateful for having experienced this type of holding and if you're thinking of trying it too, you're in for a treat!"
Mara, Irish Retreat Participant
“Philippe holds a wise presence of intuitive facilitation. His natural ability to keenly listen to each individual, and to the group field is exceptional.
He creates a beautiful space of embodied reconnection to self and to others. With movement & connection practices; deep presence; song and heart sharing he brings such a unity of expression that can support true transformation.
I highly recommend Philippe. Give yourself the gift of attending his retreats, he is an authentic gem!”
Simona, Irish Retreat Participant
My intuition led to me to Philippe's retreat and I knew that I woud have got something good from the day. But my experience went well beyond any expectations...I had the opportunity to explore and challenge myself, learn new things, have lots of fun, move my body! Feeling and connecting with my whole self while meeting new people was an awesome and fun experience! I highly recommend Philippe's work
Ealga, Irish Retreat Participant.
I thoroughly enjoyed the retreat and found it nourishing, restorative and fun. Philippe guided the group throughout the weekend with great consideration of everyone's needs. He created a very welcoming nourishing space and has a talent for fostering connections. We were encouraged to reconnect with ourselves and connect with others. There was plenty of variety and different practices offered. I feel the retreat was suitable for everyone, regardless of experience or background.
Tatiana, Irish Retreat Participant
How blessed we are to have had the chance to experience mindfulness, connection and healing at such a deep level. I still enjoy the energy from the retreat, my awareness of spirit, body and breath is more alive than ever. I enjoyed absolutely everything, and Philippe created a great balance between the movement practice, meditation and connection.
Mustafa, India Retreat Participant.
Phillipe is a wonderful facilitator who leads his sessions with presence and grace, combined with knowledge and technique. The movements he guided us through were effortless, where each could listen, be guided and choose their own pace and limits, meeting everyone where they long to be met. After a few days, words were not necessary, and silence was enough for perfectly harmonious and nourishing sessions to unfold. It is quite a magical experience to be guided by him. He is a beautiful soul on the path, with sparkling eyes, beautiful smile, and a kind heart. I highly recommend working with him and experiencing it yourself.
Adriana, India Retreat Participant.
Philippe is an amazing teacher, extremely knowledgeable, fun and caring. I had the opportunity to practice under his guidance for a month during the monthly Datun retreat in Deer Park. The classes were superb, he combined elements of mindfulness with pure joy of the movement. The flows were full of life and positive vibe with Philippe being in tune with the energy in the room and always knew what we needed the most. He also shared a lot of precious knowledge with us, as his background apart from yoga is also in physiotherapy and was extremely good at communication. It was a pleasure to practice with him and saw great improvements in my personal yoga practice.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Bru Moytura Retreat Centre HQ of the reviving of the Irish Annals writing Tradition, Sligo, Riverstown, Ireland
EUR 279.84 to EUR 344.19
