”Listen to silence, it has much to say.” — Rumi
A silent retreat is an opportunity to deepen your mindfulness practice and tune into the mind and body in ways that are often not possible in the busyness of daily life.
Yoga Garden, Wakefield, led by Jennifer Innes
Join us for a restorative day of deep connection and presence in the peaceful natural setting of the Yoga Garden, 15-min. North of Wakefield. This retreat-style offering draws on key teachings and practices from the Short Course in Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC)—developed by Drs. Kristin Neff and Chris Germer—and offers the spaciousness of a silent retreat to support integration and insight.
You’ll be guided through a gentle rhythm of experiential practices—anchored in mindfulness and self-compassion—interspersed with brief conceptual teachings and reflective periods of inquiry. Most of the day will be held in supportive silence, creating space to turn inward and tend to your heart.
Whether you’re new to self-compassion or already familiar with MSC, this one-day retreat offers:
🌀 Guided meditations and embodied practices
🌀 Reflections on self-compassion, self-criticism, and emotional resilience
🌀 Gentle movement and time in nature (weather permitting)
🌀 A nourishing lunch served on-site, with time to savour and rest
🌀 A supportive community of practice
You’ll also receive conceptual framing to understand the “why” behind each practice—supporting both personal insight and the ability to use these tools in everyday life. This retreat is grounded in the Short Course in Mindful Self-Compassion, so you’ll come away with practical skills you can continue to draw on.
Who Is This For?
Self-compassion is the practice of treating ourselves with the same care, warmth and kindness we would offer a good friend. Research indicates that it’s a powerful inner resource that enhances emotional resilience, reduces anxiety and self-criticism, and promotes overall well-being.
This retreat is especially supportive for:
No prior meditation experience is required. All are welcome.
Limited spaces available.
Date & Time: Sunday, November 2, from 9:15 AM – 4:30 PM. Extended check-in from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM with exclusive use of the grounds and sauna for our group only.
Location: The Yoga Garden Retreat, 15 minutes north of Wakefield, QC
Includes: Guided retreat, tea/coffee, and snacks. Please bring a vegetarian lunch (dairy is ok, and fridge and microwave are available on site).
Cost: $259 + HST by credit card or by e-transfer to info@omwellness.ca (preferred)
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1-Day Mindfulness Intensive with Jennifer Innes, Sunday October 5, 2025, from 11:00-4:00. Register Here.
Day-Long Fall MBSR Retreat with Jennifer Innes, November 29, 2025, from 9:30-3:30. Register Here.
Half-Day MSC Retreat with Jennifer Innes, February 7, 2026, from 9:00-1:00. Register Here.
*For MBSR and MSC retreats, we open a few spots to the public if you have some experience. Please contact info@omwellness.ca to check availability. 1-Day Intensives are open to all. All Urban Retreat are held at Mindfulness at Centrepointe in Nepean, Ontario.
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These centres offer residential and non-residential retreats (in Canada and the US), with many online courses and retreat options available. This is a partial list, but a good place to start. *You don’t need to be Buddhist to attend.
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Steven is former social work professor and founder of War Child Canada, Steven Hick dove into the Dharma full-time in 2005. He has since founded the Ottawa Insight Meditation Community and now teaches insight meditation with an emphasis on reducing the stress in our daily life. He is Director of MBSR Ottawa where he established MBSR teacher training in Manitoba, Newfoundland and Alberta. Steven is the author of numerous books including Mindfulness and Social Work and Mindfulness and the Therapeutic Relationship. He holds a PhD in social work, and is a father and activist. Steven has been practicing meditation and yoga since 1979 with a variety of teachers, including Matthew Flickstein, Adyashanti, Bhagavan Shanmukha and Thich Nhat Hanh.
*Practice groups offered by dharma teachers are donation-based. Please visit: https://payattention.ca/weekly-sitting/ for details. * These are currently on pause.
The last Tuesday of each month from 7:30 to 9:15 p.m. and on the second Saturday of each month, from 9:15 to 11:15 a.m. Please email Kathy here.
A dedicated practitioner of Vipassana (insight) meditation, Roxanne Dault (she, her) has sat many long retreats in Asia and in the West, spending more than two years in silence in the last 15 years. She is a student of the Dhamma for life and enjoys sitting long solitary retreats. Roxanne has been involved with True North Insight for many years and now teaches weekly sits and residential retreats. She took part in the four-year Insight Meditation Society (IMS) Teacher Training, where she now teaches short and longer retreats. She is also part of the teaching team for a graduate program on mindfulness at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM). She is trained in Somatic Experiencing®, a body-mind approach aimed at relieving the symptoms of trauma. Roxanne wants to share her love for this practice so that we can all touch the freedom in every moment!
Roxanne Dault biographie
Passionnée par la méditation, Roxanne Dault participe depuis plus de 15 ans à des retraites en Occident et en Asie, passant ainsi plus de deux ans en silence dans la dernière décennie. Elle enseigne des séances hebdomadaires à Montréal et des retraites résidentielles au Canada, en France et aux États-Unis. Elle est chargée de cours dans le programme de 2e cycle à l’Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) sur la présence attentive. Invitée par ses enseignants, elle a complété une formation de quatre ans à l’Insight Meditation Society (IMS) aux États-Unis pour y enseigner de longues retraites résidentielles en silence ainsi que des programmes pour approfondir la pratique. Ses enseignements sont influencés par la spiritualité autochtone, ses nombreux voyages ainsi que son expérience en Somatic Experiencing® pour la gestion du stress et des traumas. Roxanne souhaite transmettre son amour pour cette pratique afin que tous découvrent la liberté à chaque instant!
Pascal Auclair has been immersed in Buddhist practice and study since 1997, sitting retreats in Asia and America with revered monastics and lay teachers. He has been mentored by Joseph Goldstein and Jack Kornfield at the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in Massachusetts and Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California, where he is now enjoying teaching retreats. Pascal teaches in North America and in Europe. He is a co-founder of True North Insight and one of TNI’s Guiding Teachers.
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