A Friend in Me: Self-Compassion and Mindfulness Family Retreat
Coming this Fall! Registration links open in April.
Retreats aren’t just for adults. Without going too far from home, you can introduce your family to a day retreat. Take a break from phones, distractions, and busy schedules and enjoy some time with other families in practices for the heart and mind. Families will grow their kindness and compassion with meditation, yoga, games, crafts, and more. Families will learn to develop their inner superhero of compassion and quiet their inner bully. Let your family members grow kindness for themselves and others, all while having fun in nature at Meeman Shelby State Park.
Meeman Shelby State Park is just north of Memphis, around 30 minutes from our center. Families will have the option of coming for the day or renting a cabin or camping spot on a first come, first serve basis. What better way to extend the Valentine’s Day holiday than a family retreat centered on compassion and loving-kindness on Saturday, November 9, 2024.
The cost is $125 per adult and $60 per child (ages 3 and under free) and includes breakfast, lunch and snacks.
SCHEDULE:
9:00-10 arrive and settle in, light breakfast/coffee/tea/juice available, meet and greet
10 Mindfulness practices that are fun for the whole family
10:30 Meeting our inner bully and compassionate superhero, take a self-compassion break
11 Create superhero shields and play superhero games while practicing compassionate self-talk
12 lunch (meals are provided) and indoor/outdoor play
1-3 parents and kids meet separately:
Parents meet and practice a slow paced yoga and compassionate friend meditation, learn about fierce compassion, learn how their own self compassion and regulation is also regulating for their children/teens, and share in a discussion time with fellow parents
Kids enjoy yoga games, followed by a compassionate superhero meditation, a craft, learning about fierce compassion and enjoy outdoor mindfulness and nature connection activities to deepen kindness for themselves, others, and the natural world
3-4 short snack break and wrap up with group mindfulness activity
OPTIONAL 4 - 9 PM Evening Activities
For those staying overnight, there will be an option to pay an extra $20 per person for dinner and smores. There will be dinner as well as an optional night hike, star gazing, fireside smores and fireside games, indoor board games, and bedtime yoga and meditation.
REMEMBER: If you want to spend the night on Friday and/or Saturday you must go to Meeman Shelby State Park’s website and reserve lodging. They have limited campsites and cabins available on a first come, first serve basis. Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park — Tennessee State Parks (tnstateparks.com)
This retreat is co-led by Amy Balentine owner of the Memphis Center for Mindful Living, LLC and other therapists at the center including Emma Shoaf, Alex Hunt, and Jasmine Sullivan. While this retreat is led by therapists, it is not therapy, but mindfulness and compassion practices are certainly healing and therapeutic for us all!
The retreat based on the 6 week course for Kids and their Caregivers called A Friend in Me, developed by Amy Balentine and Lorraine Hobbs. Their related workbook,The Self Compassion Workbook for Kids, can be found locally in Memphis at Novel bookstore or Amazon
