On-land Programs and COVID Safety Protocols. Learn More
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COVID Safety Protocols

Effective June 5, 2023

On June 5, Spirit Rock implemented the following important, new updates to our COVID-19 safety protocols:

For Residential Retreats

  • Masking: Optional for all participants, staff, and teachers, attending a residential retreat. If you choose to mask, any masking type will be allowed. Please bring your own supply of masks.
  • Vaccination: All staff, teachers, and practitioners must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, which includes at least one booster. If you have not received at least one COVID-19 booster since your first COVID vaccination, you will need to have a booster before you attend retreat. The first booster must have been received no less than two weeks (14 days) prior to the retreat start date. Any FDA-approved booster is acceptable. If you have had more than one booster, in addition to your first COVID-19 vaccination, you are fine to attend regardless of the timing of the boosters. Proof of vaccination with booster(s) will be required. Individuals will not be admitted to the retreat if not "fully vaccinated."
  • Negative COVID test: All practitioners must arrive with proof (picture or actual test) of a same-day negative antigen test that they have taken prior to arrival. Practitioners who do not arrive with a negative test will be given one prior to admittance. Individuals will not be admitted to the retreat if the test result is positive for COVID-19. Spirit Rock will administer a second test to everyone on day four or five for all retreats that are seven nights or longer. Anyone who tests positive at that time will need to exit the retreat.

For Non-residential Programs (in our Community Meditation Center)

  • Masking: Optional for all participants, staff, and teachers, attending a non-residential program. If you choose to mask, any masking type will be allowed. Please bring your own supply of masks.
  • Vaccination: Not required; vaccination + booster (at least 1) strongly encouraged.
  • Negative COVID Test: Not required; same-day COVID testing strongly encouraged.

Additional Safety Protocols

  • Ventilation/Air Filtration: We have upgraded air filtration in all the meditation halls, and have provided small air purifiers in all dorm rooms and public spaces.
  • Surface Cleaning: Sanitizing of all high-touch areas is done frequently and hand sanitizing stations have been placed in convenient locations across campus.
  • Dining: We have additional indoor and outdoor seating options for dining. We’ve added more tents with heaters to our outside dining space and have air filters in the dining hall as well. Typically, our opening night supper is a time for conversation and community connection. However, to minimize aerosolized particles and promote greater safety for all practitioners, retreats will begin with noble silence at the first meal and continue through the end of the retreat. We have extended the buffet time to 45 minutes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We ask that retreatants practice mindfulness while eating and not linger in the dining hall.
  • Physical Distancing in Meditation Hall: Cushions and chairs will be arranged to maintain physical distancing in the meditation hall.
  • Symptom Check: All practitioners, staff, and teachers will receive a symptom checklist and thermometers are located in the shared restrooms. All practitioners are to monitor their symptoms daily and notify a staff member if their symptoms indicate COVID-19.
  • Sick Policy: If a practitioner or teacher becomes sick, they will be asked to remain in their room, and if serious, return home. We will also ask them to take an antigen self-test onsite, and if they test positive for COVID-19, they must exit the retreat.

Caring for the Community

Spirit Rock welcomes people from around the U.S. and the world to participate in our retreats and programs. Our intention is to include as many people as possible. We have chosen to require COVID-19 vaccination + booster for our residential retreats but not our non-residential programs. This is not a decision we have made lightly. It reflects our obligation to keep our workplace and practice spaces as safe as possible.

If you are not vaccinated + boosted, we invite you to participate in our non-residential programs and online retreats to deepen your practice and connect with our community.

If you have any questions, please contact us at srmc@spiritrock.org. Thank you for your practice and dedication to Spirit Rock.

Upcoming In-person Retreats with Space Available

October 2023

Sun - Fri, Oct 1-6, 2023 (5 Nights)

Maranasati: Mindful of Death, Awakening to Life

Eugene Cash, Victoria Cary, Solwazi Johnson, Pamela Weiss

Maraṇasati—mindfulness of death—is part of living an awakened life, nourishing a skillful orientation to both life and death. Learn More and Register

Tues - Sun, Oct 17 - 22, 2023 (5 Nights)

Finding Refuge in our True Nature: Dharma, Wisdom, and Compassion - Open to LGBTQIA+

Noliwe Alexander, Carol Cano, MA, John Martin, Louije Kim, Kimber Simpkins-Nuccio (movement) and Mario Castillo (guest trainee)

Taking refuge in the inherent goodness of our true nature, we deepen in awareness, lovingkindness, and wisdom. Learn More and Register

Mon - Fri, Oct 23 - 27, 2023 (4 Nights)

The Alchemy of Presence

Victoria Cary, Ayya Santacitta and Louije Kim

Learn to meet difficult experiences with curiosity and attunement, supporting the organic emergence of wholesome qualities of mind. Learn More and Register

Mon - Fri, Oct 23 - 27, 2023 (4 Nights)

Aligned, Available, Abiding: The Grounding Practice of the "Arriving Sequence"

Dana DePalma, MFT and Stephanie Antoine (yoga)

Learn the step-by-step practice of the Arriving Sequence, which provides inspiration, groundedness, and perspective, and empowers walking the Dharma path. Learn More and Register

November 2023

Sat - Wed, Oct 28 - Nov 1, 2023 (4 Nights)

Body as Nature, Nature in the Body

Anushka Fernandopulle, Tara Mulay, Bonnie Duran, MPH, DrPH and Vance Pryor

Practice connecting to our body with loving awareness, recognizing ourselves as part of nature, and developing awareness of our mortality. Learn More and Register

Sat - Sun, Nov 18 - 26, 2023 (8 Nights)

Refuge, Resilience, Presence, and Love In Our Times

Kittisaro, Thanissara, Gullu Singh, JD, Dawn Mauricio, Djuna Devereaux (yoga) and Adam Stonebraker, MA (assistant)

Explore what it means to walk a path that balances inner well-being while meeting the challenge of our planetary emergency. Learn More and Register

Mon - Sun, Nov 27 - Dec 3, 2023 (6 Nights)

Cultivating Equanimity: The Happiness of a Heart in Balance and Peace

Nikki Mirghafori, PhD, Bonnie Duran, MPH, DrPH, Sylvia Boorstein, PhD and Janice Clarfield (movement)

Equanimity is a crown jewel of Buddhist practice, the unshakable balance of mind-heart born of wisdom and love.Learn More and Register

December 2023

Mon - Sat, Dec 11-16, 2023 (5 Nights)

Cultivating the Heart of Forgiveness

Noliwe Alexander, Bonnie Duran, MPH, DrPH, Louije Kim, Solwazi Johnson, Jonathan Relucio (movement) and Ramona Lisa Ortiz-Smith, MBA (guest trainee)

Explore how forgiveness and letting go, as a heart practice, allows for a reclaiming of our true loving nature.  Learn More and Register

Mon - Sat, Dec 11-16, 2023 (5 Nights)

Practicing Peace: Bringing Ease into Every Moment

Nikki Mirghafori, PhD, Isabelle Frenette (movement)

Learn to cultivate attitudes of peace, ease, release, friendliness, and well-being in every moment on and off the cushion.  Learn More and Register

Sun - Sat, Dec 17-23, 2023 (6 Nights)

Insight Meditation Winter Solstice Retreat: Embracing the Dark, Inviting the Light - HYBRID

Oren Jay Sofer, SEP, Dawn Scott, devon hase, Heather Sundberg (online) and David Cabrera (movement)

Center yourself at the time of the holidays through quieting the mind, grounding in the body, and opening the heart.  Learn More and Register

Wed - Wed, Dec 27, 2023 - Jan 3, 2024 (7 Nights)

New Year's Insight Meditation Retreat - LOTTERY

Eugene Cash, Tuere Sala, devon hase, Dawn Scott and Hakim Tafari (movement)

Celebrate the New Year with love, awareness, and awakening. Sit, walk, and meditate yourself into the Now!  Learn More and Register

January

Thurs - Tues, Jan 4-9, 2024 (5 Nights)

Winter Insight Retreat

Howard Cohn, Leslie Booker, Lila Kate Wheeler and Hakim Tafari (Tai-Chi)

Ground your Insight practice and awaken to a sense of well-being, presence, and true nature that is independent of circumstances.  Learn More and Register

Wed - Wed, Jan 10-17, 2023 (7 Nights)

Mettā Retreat

Donald Rothberg, PhD, Kaira Jewel Lingo, Beth Sternlieb, Gullu Singh, JD, Sylvia Boorstein, PhD and Melvin L. Escobar, LCSW, RYT (yoga)

Develop your capacity for mettā (lovingkindness) and invite benevolence to become the orientation of your heart and mind.  Learn More and Register

February

Sat - Sat, February 3 - March 30, 2024 (56 Nights)

Insight Meditation 2-Month Retreat

John Martin, Andrea Fella, James Baraz, Devin Berry, Tara Mulay, Kim Allen (assistant), PhD, Rasika Link (movement), Guy Armstrong, Sally Armstrong, Dawn Scott, Susie Harrington, Tuere Sala, Kodo Conlin, Eleni Monos (trainee) and Jaya Rudgard

Grounded in the four foundations of mindfulness, our two-month retreat offers the rare opportunity for sustained and dedicated deep practice.  Learn More and Register

Sat - Sat, February 3 - March 2, 2024 (28 Nights)

February Insight Meditation 1-Month Retreat

Andrea Fella, John Martin, Devin Berry, James Baraz, Tara Mulay, Kim Allen (assistant), PhD, Rasika Link (movement) and Jaya Rudgard

Grounded in the four foundations of mindfulness, the February one-month retreat offers an opportunity for sustained and dedicated deep practice.  Learn More and Register

March

Sat - Sat, March 2 - 30, 2024 (28 Nights)

March Insight Meditation 1-Month Retreat

Guy Armstrong, Sally Armstrong, Dawn Scott, Susie Harrington, Tuere Sala, Kodo Conlin (assistant), Eleni Monos (guest trainee), Rasika Link (movement) and Jaya Rudgard

Open the door to emptiness, profound understanding, and great freedom by learning to meditate on the nature of awareness itself.  Learn More and Register

View Full On-Land Retreat Calendar

 

Cancellation Policy for On-land Retreats

Standard Cancellation Fees:
  • $100 On or before 8 weeks
  • $175 4–8 weeks before
  • $300 2–4 weeks before
  • No refunds as of 2 weeks before 
Scholarship Rates (and Retreat Commuter) Cancellation Fees:
  • $75 On or before 8 weeks
  • $100 4–8 weeks before
  • $200 2–4 weeks before
  • No refunds as of 2 weeks before

* Fees reduced for serious illness or death in family

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