Mindfulness events hosted by the SSEP
For some years now, the Stammering Self-Empowerment Programme has been hosting a variety of different mindfulness events.
Our programme continues to change and evolve in response to feedback and requests from people who stammer.
Currently we host regular weekly online meditation sessions and a variety of residential meditation events. Details of which are given below.
Please note that the events we host are for people who already know how to meditate. We do not teach people to meditate as there are already many excellent teaching programmes available – both live and on the internet – many of which are completely free.
In the Mindfulness and Cognitive Therapies module of our online course, we do however, discuss in detail how meditation can help you manage you stammering.
Online Mindfulness Sessions
We hold these silent meditation sessions most mornings and evening throughout the year – on Skype.
The group is open to both stammerers and normally-fluent speakers.
We start at 7am and 8.30pm (UK time) and we sit for 30 minutes.
These sessions are for people who already know how to meditate (i.e., who don’t need guidance) and who would like to meditate together with other people.
During the 30-minute sessions, you are free to practice whatever type of meditation you like. The most important requirement is that you are able to sit still and remain silent for 30 minutes at a time.
Most participants have some experience of one or more of the following: Zen, Vipassana, other Buddhist meditation, and/or Mindfulness training (such as Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
Most participants’ practices include focussing on breathing, or practices like “metta” (loving kindness meditation).
Participants sit in front of their computer/tablet/smartphone (normally with their cameras turned on, although the camera is optional)
Microphones must be turned off.
Your eyes can be open or closed (if your eyes are open, you will be able to see the others who are meditating with you.
You can also listen to (your own choice of) guided meditations or meditation music – as long as your microphone is switched off so others can’t hear it.
The start and end of the 30-minute session is signalled by a gong.
There is no talking or social interaction in the meeting itself, but after the meditation ends participants are invited to join our mindfulness social group (also on Skype) where there is the opportunity to chat.
These online meditation sessions are completely free of charge.
To join a meditation session: follow this link: https://join.skype.com/FB3iLUl5hv2X Please note that this is a moderated group and it is only possible to enter it after a moderator has arrived. So, if you find you can’t get in, it may be because the moderator has not yet arrived. So, try again just a few seconds before the meditation is due to start.
To join the meditation social group (after the meditation session ends), follow this link: https://join.skype.com/jYbkjpnqIGKq
For further enquiries, email: meditation@stammeringresearch.org
Residential Retreats
For some years now, Paul Brocklehurst (Founder of the SSEP) has been hosting a variety of residential mindfulness Retreats. These currently take place each Autumn and Spring in the village of Etsaut, in the French Pyrenees, and are designed for a maximum of about 10 people. The retreats are of varying lengths – between 3 and 5 days and are intended for people who already have knowledge and experience of mindfulness/meditation.
All retreats involve a combination of sitting meditations, and (indoor and outdoor) walking meditations.
The retreats are open both to stammerers and normally-fluent speakers and they do not involve any therapy of any kind.
The retreats are free of charge. However, we do request that participants help with the running of the retreats (in whatever ways they are able: cooking, cleaning, etc.) Donations are welcome.
Intensive 3½ day Silent Meditation Retreat27th September -1st October 2024
Programme
- 3½ days of silent sitting and walking meditation.
- For experienced meditators only.
- Some limited(free) accommodation available in our house (but rooms nearby available to rent if necessary)
- A maximum 10 participants
- Vegetarian meals provided (with vegan options)
- Free of charge, donations welcome.
Our intention is to provide a venue and a conducive environment for a small group of experienced meditators to come together for three and a half days of silent practice. Specifically, this retreat will involve a total of about 1¾ hours of formal sitting meditation each morning and evening, plus daily outdoor walking meditations in the surrounding countryside.
The formal sitting meditations each morning and evening will comprise three 30-minute sittings interspersed either with short (5 minute) walking meditations (kinhin) or (guided) yoga/stretching exercises.
Each day (weather permitting) we will also do a longer mindful walk in the surrounding hills, stopping for a picnic about halfway through. For these daytime walks, although the rate of walking will be slow, there will be some walking up and down hills (up to 300m ascent and descent), so participants must be relatively physically fit and must bring appropriate walking shoes.
Participants will be required to maintain silence (i.e. refrain from all unnecessary speech) for the duration of the retreat.
Detailed Itinerary…
START OF INTENSIVE: 27 September 2024
- 16.00-18.30 Reception open
- 18.30 evening meal & Introductions.
- 21.00 start of silence.
- 21.00-22.00 meditation (2×30 minutes sitting interspersed with walking meditation.
28-30 September DAILY SILENT MEDITATION ROUTINE:
- 6.30 – 8.40 meditation (sitting 3×30 minutes interspersed with walking meditation and stretching).
- 9.00 vegetarian breakfast.
- 10.00 – 16.00 outdoor walking meditation with picnic (weather permitting).
- 16.00 – 18.45 Free time
- 18.45 evening meal.
- 20.00 – 21.45 meditation (3×30 minutes sitting interspersed with walking meditation).
FINAL DAY: 1st October
- 6.30 – 8.40 meditation (sitting 3×30 minutes interspersed with walking meditation and stretching).
- 9.00 vegetarian breakfast & end of silence.
THE VENUE
The sitting meditations, breakfasts and evening meals are at La Maison d’en Bas in the village of Etsaut in the French Pyrenees. Weather permitting, the outdoor walking meditations will take place in the countryside surrounding La Maison d’en Bas.
Participants will be accommodated either at La Maison d’en Bas or elsewhere in Etsaut (a minute or two’s walk from La Maison d’en Bas).
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
If you wish to take part in this intensive it is vital that you already have some experience of intensive (whole day) meditation and are able to sit silently, without fidgeting, for at least 30 minutes at a time. In total there are six 30-minute formal sitting meditation sessions each day; in other words, three hours sitting per day. These sitting meditations are not guided.
Participants must also be relatively physically fit (able to manage ascents and descents of 300 metres, and must bring appropriate walking shoes and a small backpack.
Throughout the intensive, the only speech allowed will be that which is necessary (such as asking questions relating to activities, and alerting us to issues that need to be attended to. There should be no social conversation with anyone during these days.
Mobile phones and computers should be turned off (or put on flight mode) before the start of the intensive and we recommend that you remain offline until after the intensive is over. (We can provide you with the telephone number of one of our helpers, who will remain available throughout the retreat to receive calls and pass on important messages. You can forward this number on to anyone who may need to contact you in case of an emergency).
During this retreat, we request that you only read material that supports your meditation practice. We recommend that you bring a notebook or diary along, to write in.
ENROLMENT
- There is no charge for this event (it is free), however, you must fulfil the entry requirements, you must intend to stay for the full duration of the retreat and commit to participating as much as you are able in the meditation sessions, and you must be prepared to help, if you can, with the day-to-day running of the event (e.g., cooking/cleaning etc.)
- Donations are welcome.
- We have some limited free accommodation (beds in shared rooms in La Maison d’en Bas). Towels & bedding are provided.
- If you want a room to yourself, or if there is no more space in La Maison d’en Bas, we will let you know what other options are currently available in the village.
If you would like to enrol on this silent intensive, please complete this online application form and we will get back to you with details of remaining spaces and how to reserve them.
For further enquiries, email: