Take a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life to focus on your well-being and inner peace. This retreat is the perfect opportunity to unwind, recharge, and connect with like-minded individuals. Join us for a rejuvenating experience at the beautiful Bournemouth West Cliff Hotel & Spa 10 minutes walk from the local beautiful sandy beach.

This retreat will teach you how to improve your mental focus, develop emotional balance & resilience and increase your self-compassion.

You will learn how to cultivate mindful awareness

This is the first step needed to have a healthy and happy life. Once you have a certain amount of awareness you will be able to develop greater mental clarity, improved mental focus as well as mental fitness. This is what will make it possible for you to respond more rather than react to challenging situations.

You will explore how to navigate and regulate your nervous

system and emotions. This is a key component that enables you to discover a greater sense of resilience. The retreat will teach you how reduce the intensity of fear, anxiety, anger and distress and tune into a greater sense of calm feeling more grounded under pressure and when triggered.

You will discover how to increase your sense of self- compassion

This is what makes it possible for us to be patient with this whole process. When we are kinder to ourselves we can allow ourselves to be more understanding and let things be as they are, even if we struggle with our experience. Healing and change takes time and self-compassion helps us to stay motivated.

My story and inspiration for this retreat?

I understand the struggle of trying to meditate when your nervous system feels overwhelmed – I've been there myself. After 25 years of mindfulness practice, COVID left me facing brain fog, chronic stress, and that familiar feeling that traditional meditation just wasn't accessible anymore. I felt like I had acquired nervous system brain damage. From this shared experience, I am currently researching a new approach called Mindfulness Based Resource Enhancement (MBRE) – a trauma-sensitive approach for anyone whose balance has been disrupted by life's difficulties. Whether you're starting fresh, returning after a break from meditation, or simply seeking new tools, this retreat meets you exactly where you are.

What makes this retreat different

This retreat is like a gentle hug for your soul – a space where you can explore life's ups and downs without feeling overwhelmed. We're all about building your personal toolkit of mindfulness life skills that boost resilience, spark self-compassion, and help you rediscover what lights you up inside. Think of it as creating a strong stabilizing foundation that supports your wellbeing journey. We draw from evidence based modalities like EMDR, MBSR, MBCT, DBT, MSC and IFS, as well as shamanic Buddhist principles, but in a way that feels practical, manageable and nurturing. You'll move at your own pace with caring support every step of the way. This beautiful experience enhances and works alongside any professional support you might have – it's a wonderful complement to, not a replacement for, therapy.

Suitable for beginners and or experienced practitioners.

This retreat welcomes everyone – from complete meditation newbies to those who've been sitting cross-legged for decades. It's thoughtfully crafted for anyone dealing with chronic stress, ADHD, post-COVID brain fog, or other life circumstances that make traditional meditation feel out of reach. If you've already done some personal healing work, you'll find this approach particularly soul-soothing. For those currently wrestling with more intense symptoms, our one-to-one support might be a better match – just give us a shout and we'll help you figure out what works best.

Join just to meditate

If you're simply looking to deepen your mindful awareness and connect with others who share your interest in meditation, this retreat offers exactly that kind of nurturing community experience. You don't need to have any specific issues in order to join.

What people say about our previous retreats

This is video of a previous retreat facilitated by Robert Gebka through the Dorset Mindfulness Centre. Please note that the centre is no longer active and that some of the details and contact information on the video are inactive.

The retreat is secular, evidence-based

The retreat style is modern, secular, psychologically orientated and non-religious. The ambiance has gentle hint of Tibetan Buddhist flavour, which is part of my personal lineage and heritage.

This is a non-residential semi-silent retreat.

The retreat is a non-residential semi silent retreat. We encourage participants to dialogue, within the group exercises, but at the same time we encourage participants to maintain a spirit and ambiance of introspection and silence. There are many options with numerous hotels in the local area should you wish to stay over night. Accommodation can be booked with the hosting hotel directly here.

Can I join for one day only?

Although we hope that you can join the whole weekend, you are most welcome to join for one day only. We recommend that if you do wish to only join for the one day, that you consider joining on Saturday. In this way you will get the most out of it.

Your facilitators

The retreat is led by Robert Gebka, a former Zen Buddhist monk and NHS mental health worker. He is the Author of Managing Depression for Mindfulness for Dummies and is currently writing his second book on men's mental health. The supporting facilitators for this retreat are Imelda Marcos, a MBSR teacher and Richard Hepper, a Certified Mindfulness Practitioner. Between them they have over 50 years of meditation experience. Together they aim to bring a warm, light-hearted and compassionate experience allowing for a safe and supported personal development space.

Robert is an accredited member of the below professional bodies.

Cost

The cost for the retreat is £65 per person per day. This is usually paid via bank transfer or paypal. We will send you the payment details once we have received your booking form.

Practicalities

This retreat is for people 18 and over. We will provide snacks throughout the weekend, lunch is not provided. You can bring your own lunch or pre-book lunch with the hotel. Parking is free at the hotel site, but you need to register your car at reception to avoid being fined. Please wear light clothing and if possible bring a blanket and or yoga mat and a pillow for the laying down mindfulness exercises.

Speak to us if unsure

If you are currently struggling with severe depression and or unmanagable and intrusive trauma symptoms then we recommend you contact us to explore a one to one personalized approach.  Although the retreat is immensely therapeutic it is not a form of therapy. If you are currently in mental health crises then please contact your GP or call 111 as this retreat would not suitable for you.

CPD certificate & CE credits

Certificate of completion is available upon request.

This retreat counts towards the annual 5 day retreat BAMBA registration criteria.

I would like to join, what do I do next?

Simply click on the ENROL HERE button below. Your details will be kept strictly confidential and details will be deleted after the retreat. Once we receive your booking form we will review it and email you the payment details. Confirmation of your place will be emailed once we receive payment. Please note that all bookings are non-refundable and non-transferable.

We look forward to welcoming you to the retreat.