The practice of mindfulness is growing internationally, and now being practiced in many different settings, including hospitals, schools, businesses, and professional sports teams. Mindfulness was even featured on the cover of TIME Magazine, and Anderson Cooper featured a mindfulness retreat on 60 Minutes. Over the last five years, Mindfulness has become a central part of the Middlesex curriculum as well. Each of our freshmen, and many members of our faculty, parents, and extended community, have begun practice through a program led by alumnus and mindfulness educator Doug Worthen ’96. Mindfulness has become accessible to school communities in the last 30 years largely due to the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn, parent of two Middlesex alumni (Will ’93 and Naushon ’98). Will Kabat-Zinn ’93 is a highly respected and experienced mindfulness retreat teacher on the west coast. Please join Will, Doug, and an experienced team from Inward Bound Mindfulness Education in a transformative foray into Mindfulness on campus this June, offered exclusively to adult members of the Middlesex community (faculty, parents, and alumni) and their partners/spouses. This is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with Middlesex and explore mindfulness through a variety of silent meditation and group reflection practices. All levels of experience welcome. Scholarships are available to assist with the cost of participation.
Typical Daily Schedule
(in silence unless stated otherwise)
7:00am Wake Up
7:30am Movement & Sitting Meditation
8:00am Breakfast
9:00-11am Morning Meditation Session
11-Noon Small Groups (not silent)
12:30pm Lunch
2:00-4:30pm Afternoon Meditation Session
4:30pm Yoga (restorative/gentle)
6:00 Dinner
7-9pm Evening Meditation Session and Teacher Talk
9-10pm Small groups (not silent)
10:30 Bed
note: if you are a beginner and the schedule is intimidating to you, know that most have a much easier time than they imagine. The energy of practicing in a group is surprisingly helpful and supportive. So if you are now having a thought like “I can’t do all that”…..it probably isn’t true!