We host meditation retreats all year! 
From completely silent to dip your toe, testing mindfulness,
we have what you’re looking for!

At Sugar Ridge, quality time means me time.

“A wise teacher, and a wise centre, needs to offer a whole range of skilful practices, because people come along at different stages of their inner development, with different temperaments, and with different sets of problems.”
-Jack Kornfield

Mindfulness has become a buzzword in the media over the last couple years and it seems there is a mindfulness revolution happening around the globe.  This is a good thing for humanity!  Mindfulness has a host of physical benefits and it causes people to become nicer, to improve mood, improve concentration, and find joy in the littlest of things in life.  Who doesn’t want that?

There are hundreds of meditation techniques and many ways to improve mindfulness as you go about your day to day activities.  No need to sit cross-legged on the floor or have your mind be a blank slate.  Those are common myths we are helping to dispel through our retreats.  Our recommendation is that you find a technique that works for you and then stick with it for a long period of time rather than jumping from one technique to another.  Our retreats offer a sampling of many techniques so that you can see what works for you and let go of the rest. 

We offer a variety of retreat schedules and formats so you can choose what will work for your schedule and your comfort.  Some people are nervous to be in silence and want a more social retreat, whereas others want extended silence to work through a deeper issue.  Both are valuable and you may find them helpful at different times.

The following list of retreats categorizes them by type of retreat, length of stay and retreat content.

Silent Week long retreats are held in September, December and over Easter every year.  Choose from 2 – 7 nights stay.  Everyone starts together at the beginning of the retreat and you leave after 2, 5 or 7 nights as you wish.  Being in silence isn’t oppressive, it’s a gift we give to ourselves and to each other.  Having precious time to think and reflect is a wonderful gift to yourself.  The schedule is the same every day, allowing you to rest into the format and observe yourself as you move through the day.  Noticing your reactions to moments can be fascinating, and it’s an opportunity for growth.  As you notice your reactions you build self-awareness.

Upcoming Silent Retreats dates are: September 7 – 14, 2018 
                                                              December 9 – 16, 2018
                                                              April 18 – 25, 2019
                                                              September 6 – 13, 2019
                                                              December 13 – 20, 2019

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction is a wonderful introduction to using meditation as a stress reduction technique.  We offer it as a week-long intensive program.   Side effects include inner peace, ditching stress, personal growth, mental calmness and improvement with mood.  This week is offered three times a year with upcoming dates of:
October 14 – 19, 2018, February 3 – 8, 2019, July 21 – 26, 2019 and October 20 – 25, 2019

We offer a weekend retreat once per month with Liz Frost, founder of Sugar Ridge.  Her retreats always include mindfulness but some have a bit more formal practice than others.  Often some outdoor or offsite activities are also included.  Yoga is taught as a form of meditation, getting in tune with the physical body and noticing connections between emotion and mental states.  Here’s a list of what’s coming up over the next year:

Weekend Meditation Getaways: 
Thanksgiving Yoga and Meditation long weekend October 5 – 8, 2018
First Light Yoga and Meditation November 23 – 25, Nov 30 – Dec 2, and Dec 7 – 9, 2018

We know a longer getaway isn’t always possible so we offer day-long workshops as well.  Usually, a day workshop is from 9 – 4ish.  Here’s a list of those that have a focus on mindfulness and meditation:

One day meditation workshops

Mindfulness Meditation:  an Introduction with Liz Frost  October 10, 2018
Mindfulness Meditation:  A Day of Silence November 22, 2018
Mindfulness Meditation:  an Introduction with Liz Frost  January 16, 2019
Mindfulness Meditation:  A Day of Silence  February 13, 2019

Guest Facilitators:

Jeff Warren facilitates an eclectic mix of mindfulness techniques moving in and out of silence through this 4 day, 3-night retreat.  December 20 -23, 2018

David Hickey and Liz Frost team up for a Mindful New Year’s Retreat December 30 – January 1, 2019