5 or 10 days · in silence · secular
Mindfulness Retreat
A silent retreat to practise mindfulness in depth: find stability, take care of yourself and explore the qualities of presence, in a structured and nourishing setting. Secular, with no religious framework. Held in person, in a dedicated place, these retreats offer the depth that comes from living and practising together in silence, day and night. They also count towards teacher training for MBSR instructors (IMA) and OPALE mindfulness teachers (Euthymia).
5-day retreat€440
10-day retreat€605
Price coversTeaching and guidance
Not includedAccommodation and meals
PracticeAround 8 hours a day
Teacher trainingCounts for MBSR (IMA) and OPALE (Euthymia)
LocationAnywhere in the world, on request
Before registeringInterview and questionnaire
Why practise in silence
Silence supports turning inward and lets you explore experience with more continuity. For several days you enter a simple, regular rhythm that brings more calm and clarity.
Silence can bring a surprising freedom: no need to talk or to present yourself, only to be and to take care of yourself in depth. It is the rule throughout the retreat, broken once a day for a group question-and-answer session with the teacher. You are not left on your own: the meditations are guided, and you can ask for an individual meeting at any time.
The retreat is spiritual in the sense that it pays close attention to the mind and how it works, but it is not religious and asks you to adopt no belief system.
Some meditations are recorded so that you can keep practising at home and carry the experience into daily life.
A day on retreat
7:00 – 8:00
First session
9:30 – 12:30
Second session
14:30 – 17:30
Third session
18:00 – 19:00
Exchanges and questions
One hour kept for exchanges and questions with the teacher: the one moment of the day when silence is broken.
20:00 – 21:00
Fourth session
Each session is made of periods of 45 minutes of meditation, separated by 15-minute breaks. Meditations alternate guided and silent practice, sitting and in movement, so that experience settles gradually, without forcing and at each person’s pace. At the end of the afternoon, one hour is kept for exchanges and questions with the teacher.
Taught by
Stéphane Offort, retreat teacher with over 30 years of practice
Guiding a group in meditation cannot be improvised: the effects of mindfulness are deep and varied, and every person is unique. Stéphane has over thirty years of meditation practice, including fifteen years in retreat in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, and long training in secular mindfulness. Between 2020 and 2021 he led three ten-day silent retreats for the LONGIMED study conducted by Inserm in Lyon under Antoine Lutz.
Anywhere in the world
Bring a retreat to your country
In-person silent retreats can be held anywhere in the world, on request, for a group of at least 10 participants. Whether you belong to a meditation group, an association, a company or simply a circle of friends, Stéphane can come to you and lead a five- or ten-day retreat in a place you choose together.
Also available
Online retreats: a day or a weekend
Can’t travel? Join a one-day online retreat (sliding scale €50–€99) or a three-day weekend retreat (from €180, standard rate €240), live on Zoom, from home.
Questions people ask
Do I need meditation experience?
Yes. You should either have completed a mindfulness-based program of at least eight weeks (such as MBSR) or have prior experience of mindfulness meditation. The ten-day retreat is intended for people who have already done a five-day retreat, or who already guide others in meditation or yoga.
Why ten days rather than five?
Arriving takes about two days, while body and mind slow down; leaving begins about two days before the end. In between, the experience of mindfulness tends to deepen from the third or fourth day until the eighth. Ten days gives that middle period room to unfold.
Can I keep my phone?
Yes. It is recommended to limit its use to protect your practice. If you need to deal with an emergency, you can do so on your own, away from the group.
Does the retreat count toward teacher training?
Yes. A silent retreat of at least five days meets the participation criteria for entering MBSR instructor training with the Institute for Mindfulness-Based Approaches (IMA), and OPALE mindfulness teacher training with Euthymia.
Where do retreats take place?
Retreats are held in different countries. The venue and practical details, including the cost of accommodation and meals, are sent to you for each retreat when you get in touch.
Are the practices adapted to physical limitations?
Yes. The venues are accessible to people with reduced mobility and the practices are adapted to each person.
Can a retreat be organised in my country?
Yes. In-person retreats can be held anywhere in the world on request, for a minimum of 10 participants. Write to us with your project: place, dates you have in mind and the group concerned.
Still have a question?
Write to Stéphane, or book a free 15-minute call to talk it through. You will get a personal answer.
Other ways to practise
Ask about the next retreat
€440 for five days, €605 for ten days, for teaching and guidance. Write to us for the details of the next retreat and to arrange your preliminary interview.