WITH: Certified Mindfulness MBSR & Mindful Self Compassion Trainer/Teacher Fiona McMahon
DATES: Wednesday 1st to Sunday the 5th of July
Times: 4 pm on Wednesday and departure at 2.30 pm on Sunday
Single Ensuite Room €980
Shared Twin Ensuite Room €780
Non-Residential Course including 3 meals a day €490 (no accommodation)
The price includes four nights’ accommodation (if booked), the accredited MBSR course and retreat programme, an extensive workbook and guided practice recordings, a 30-hour CPD certificate, delicious home-cooked vegetarian meals, and morning and afternoon refreshments.
Places are limited, so we invite you to reserve your place early if you feel drawn to join us.
Join Certified MBSR and Mindful Self Compassion Trainer/Teacher Fiona McMahon for this 5 day and 4 night Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction MBSR Course and experience the life-changing, evidence-based, MBSR mindfulness course in a retreat format. Previous mindfulness or meditation experience is NOT required.
As well as experiencing the MBSR course, the retreat will enable you to nourish yourself by experiencing stillness and self-connection in a remote hillside setting in an area of outstanding natural beauty on the Ox Mountains overlooking the countryside below Kesh Mountain and Knocknashee in the distance.
You may be wondering “How could this mindfulness course help me?” or “How do I know if it will work for me? Ultimately, it is an empirical question, and everyone is encouraged to find out for themselves how mindfulness may or may not benefit their lives. Luckily to help us with the questions, from 1966 to 2021 a massive 16,581 publications on mindfulness were identified. Read More
With a maximum of 12 participants, this small and supportive retreat offers space to explore how mindfulness-based practice can help us live well. With an emphasis on kindness and compassion towards ourselves, there is plenty of time to rest, relax and renew — without any pressure to communicate or “do” anything.
The course and retreat includes morning and afternoon sessions from the 8-week MBSR programme, with guided sitting, standing and lying practices, gentle mindful movement, and walking practices in the retreat centre gardens and the stunning peat bog located just outside the gate . Together, these experiences invite a direct and personal exploration of mindfulness and compassion.
There will also be periods of shared silence, offering an opportunity to deepen awareness and gently reconnect with your moment-to-moment experience.
In the evenings, you are welcome to relax with a restorative sound bath (gongs) or take part in gentle mindful movement.
All sessions are optional, and you are encouraged to move at your own pace throughout the retreat. For your comfort, chairs, meditation cushions and blankets are provided.
Step out of “automatic pilot” and begin to experience life with greater awareness, curiosity and kindness, rather than being pulled by thoughts of the past or future.
Explore how you perceive and relate to the challenges and stresses in your life, and discover new ways of meeting them.
Cultivate a friendly, open awareness of habitual stress reactions, while developing more effective and compassionate responses.
Learn to recognise when you are caught in worry about the past or anxiety about the future, and gently return to the present moment.
Strengthen resilience and the capacity to recover more quickly from life’s inevitable ups and downs.
Deepen self-compassion and learn to relate to yourself with greater understanding and care, while nurturing communication skills, connection and social awareness.
Begin to integrate mindfulness more fully into daily life, reflecting on choices that support living well with balance and intention.
Previous mindfulness or meditation experience is NOT required.
However, mindfulness is not for everyone, no matter what you read on social media. Please READ HERE to discover if a mindfulness-based course is right for you at this time.
Nestled in the natural surroundings of the Cabragh Lodge retreat centre, our beautifully crafted, high-quality passive-design lodges offer a peaceful and restorative place to stay.
Each heated, two-bedroom lodge is designed with comfort and privacy in mind. Bedrooms are ensuite and include a shower, sink and toilet, with either a double bed for single occupancy or twin beds for shared same-sex accommodation. Soft, high-quality linens, cosy duvets, fresh towels and a hairdryer are all provided to help you settle in with ease.
Every lodge also features a small kitchen area with a kettle, fridge and a selection of teas and coffee — perfect for quiet moments on your private balcony as you take in the surrounding nature and expansive views.
Guests often remark on the peaceful energy of these unique lodges, along with the gentle, natural wood aroma that adds to their warmth and sense of calm — creating a truly restful retreat experience.
It is our intention to nourish you with delicious, home-cooked vegetarian meals that feed not only the body, but also the spirit. Freshly baked biscuits and cake, along with fruit, tea and coffee, are available for morning and afternoon breaks.
Breakfast is simple and wholesome, with a selection of cereals, yogurt, fresh fruit, toast, jams and eggs to start your day gently.
A typical lunch might include homemade butternut squash and carrot soup with a hint of ginger, fresh green and cucumber salads, and warm rolls, followed by homemade cookies.
Evening meals are hearty and comforting. You might enjoy dishes such as vegetarian lasagne with a spinach salad, followed by a homemade dessert such as apple and raspberry crumble with cream.
Wherever possible, ingredients are organic and locally sourced, bringing freshness, flavour and care to every meal.
We keep our retreats intentionally small, with a maximum of 12 participants, so early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.
Once your place is confirmed, we ask for a 10% deposit to secure your booking, with the remaining balance due 14 days before the retreat begins. This allows you to spread the cost if helpful, although you are very welcome to pay in full at the time of booking if you prefer.
If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
I look forward to welcoming you to Cabragh Lodge.
Warmly,
Fiona
