Opening to Inner + Outer Change: A Life Balance Retreat

A Workshop Retreat

This is designed to be a highly interactive workshop retreat format, not a silent insight meditation retreat. 

Thursday, April 25th – Saturday, April 28th 
Registration closes April 11th at 11:59pm Pacific Time

If you’re considering a big change, are in the midst of one now, or are still feeling the effects of past changes, this unique retreat offers you the personal understanding and tools to open to the next phase of your life with clarity, confidence, joy, and deeper Insight.

Early registration is encouraged, as space is limited for this unique workshop retreat.

Come join us in the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains of Big Bear, CA and explore whatever internal or external life changes you might be considering, restoring balance to your life. We’ll be together in community for short guided meditations, teachings and interactive exercises, healthy meals and plenty of downtime to enjoy the beauty of nature.

How well we navigate changes and transitions in our lives has a direct impact on the degree of well-being, purpose, and satisfaction we experience on a day-to-day basis.

Together in a supportive environment, we’ll be learning principles about the nature of change, adult stages of development, as well as time-tested mindfulness practices that can help you move through times of change with more balance and clear intention. Throughout the retreat, you will be offered a series of highly effective self-assessments and tools from the Life Balance Institute that are designed to give you clarity about your specific situation and support you in moving towards your next steps. These tools have helped countless individuals step into greater alignment with what they truly care about in life- to connect with what is truly meaningful. In addition, each day we’ll practice meditations together specifically designed to support you in meeting change more effectively and in coming home to yourself in daily life.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Discover a “Path to Well-being” that is beyond getting what you want and getting rid of what you don’t want in life.

• Use the “Journey through Change” as a map to locate yourself in the process of your current change

• Identify your values and intentions so you have a basis for making wise decisions.

• Recognize habits of mind that undermine you and learn practices to disengage from their influence.

• Explore which areas of your life need attention, gain insights about your strengths and challenges in dealing with change, and begin to strategize about next steps.

This work has had a deep impact on many Dharma and meditation students and offered them the tools to really bring their practice into the very structure of their life, restoring meaning and a sense of empowerment to live aligned with what truly matters in life.

Cost:

*retreat fees include teacher compensation

Single room with private bath $1730

Single room with shared bath $1490

Double room with shared bath $1080

Financial support: A limited number of financial support options are available. We ask that these be prioritized for those that identify as marginalized communities. Contact us at guestservices@bigbearretreatcenter.org for more information

   

Accommodations:

The Center consists of several single-story buildings and cabins for dining, meditation and sleeping. Our residence cabins are large furnished and comfortable with 3-4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, living rooms, a full kitchen and decks outside in nature for shared use. Our residential cabins and rooms are simply furnished with a balance of comfort and simplicity. All beds are twin, and all bedding is provided by the center.

The Meditation Hall:

Our beautiful meditation hall is a large room that accommodates most meditation and movement retreats. We have supplies for most participants, but guests are always welcome to bring their own supplies (not required). Guests can typically expect to have access to a zabutan (large cushion), zafu (small cushion), yoga mat, blocks, a meditation chair, a blanket and a selection of other yoga and meditation props with limited supplies. If you’re unsure, please contact us or visit our welcome guide for more details.

Meals:

The Center provides fresh, healthy meals made with seasonal and organic ingredients to support a nourishing time in retreat. Meals begin with dinner on arrival evening through to breakfast on departure morning. For this retreat, meals will be offered to support meditation retreat practice with a simple medium breakfast, hearty lunch, and light dinner (typically soup and salad). All meals will be vegetarian, and we accommodate most major dietary restrictions. Snacks will be available in the dining hall 24/7, including teas and coffees. The Center has refrigerators in the cabins and dining area for guests to store their own snacks – please bring any foods that might support your time here.

Planning your trip: If you are booking a flight for your trip our recommendation is to search for flights to the Ontario Airport (ONT) whenever possible. If your travel plans require you to land at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) we highly recommend arriving at least one day prior to your arrival at BBRC for retreat. Registration opens on Arrival day from 2:00pm – 4:00pm. Most retreats close by noon or later on departure day so please allow yourself adequate time for travel to the airport. Please visit our Getting to Big Bear page on our website for more detailed travel recommendations.

Ride-share: Ride-sharing / Carpooling is highly encouraged, and is one of the most convenient ways to travel to Big Bear Retreat Center. For this retreat we have set up a self-organized ride-share page that you can visit at anytime before, we will send email reminders closer to the retreat.  Visit the ride-share page

Covid Policies: For this retreat we are requiring a proof of a negative rapid test on arrival day for all yogis, teachers and staff. A re-test will be required on the third day by dinner. Masking and vaccines are optional.

Guests are asked, when possible, to bring their own rapid tests or test before travel on arrival day. Tests will be provided by the center by request only.

For any questions please contact guestservices@bigbearretreatcenter.org or visit our website bigbearretreatcenter.org

Cancellation Policy: Please visit our website for more on the cancellation policy for this retreat- bigbearretreatcenter.org/cancellation-policy