Retreats and Workshops

Day-Long Retreats and Workshops are offered throughout the year and are suitable for beginner, intermediate, and advanced mindfulness and meditation practitioners. Day longs typically run from 10a.m. till 4p.m., while workshops run two hours in length. Day-long retreats include formal and informal mindfulness practices, relational mindfulness practices, walking meditations, working with negative emotions, working with thoughts, and cultivating positive emotions.

May you rest in the arms of a gentle universe. Hearing those words from you simply warmed my heart and soothed my soul. Thank you Dr. Ali for the kind and gentle way you lead meditations and for teaching me the countless ways in which I can be mindful. A calm respite from the chatter of my mind and from the busyness of life. So grateful to practice with you.” - Avis L. (Los Angeles, CA)

I learned so much from Dr. Ali’s classes and took away a gift for myself that I also pass on to my patients. As a therapist, I can already notice that I am more present in the room in both therapy and in my interactions with loved ones. I can now gently redirect myself when I realize I am trailing off into my thoughts. Thank you Dr. Ali.” - Yuri T. (Chicago, IL)

Upcoming Retreats

Mindfulness and the Language of the Heart: Healing Mind, Body, and Soul

Date: Sunday, July 25, 2021
Time: 9:30a.m. – 3:00p.m. (PST)
Location: Virtual/Zoom Classroom

"Direct your eye right inward, and you'll find a thousand regions in your mind yet undiscovered. Travel them, and be expert in home-cosmography." - Henry David Thoreau

This day-long retreat explores the intersections of mindfulness meditation and the language of the heart to heal mind, body, and soul. Participants will explore how mindfulness supports healing through the practices of positive emotions such as loving-kindness, joy, equanimity, altruism, gratitude and forgiveness. Mindfulness and heartfulness are synonymous and through practice we can cultivate our capacity to bring kindness into the world and into our own lives. Meditation expands the field of our awareness and in its wake we can experience deeper immersion into the realm of the spirit. Mindfulness fosters emotional regulation; reduces emotional reactivity; increases self-awareness and well-being; and improves lost focus and attention. This day-long retreat will provide teachings and practices to cultivate healing through positive emotions. No prior experience with mindfulness or meditation is necessary.

Cost:

Regular: $75
Covid Rate: $60

Financial Assistance Available*

*Dr. Ali is deeply committed to equity and accessibility. You are invited to contact him (wiseheartmindfulness@gmail.com) if you cannot afford the fee and want to participate. Please submit any scholarship requests at least 48 hours before event start date.

Upcoming Workshops

Working with Difficult Emotions

Date: Sunday, June 13
Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm (PST)
Location: Virtual/Zoom Classroom

In this two hour workshop we will practice bringing mindfulness to working with difficult emotions. Most of us aren’t taught about relating to, or working with, our emotions in a healthy way. We typically don’t have working with emotions classes taught in schools. The way in which we manage or handle emotions (not always in healthy or skillful ways) is learned by observing our families, the media, and peers. A good definition for E/motion is Energy-in-motion and we can learn to work with our emotions rather than becoming the emotion. This workshop is designed for the newcomer and the experienced practitioner of mindfulness.

Working with Thoughts: Don’t Believe Everything You Think

Date: Sunday, June 27
Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm (PST)
Location: Virtual/Zoom Classroom

In this two hour workshop we will learn specific practices and skills to bring mindfulness to thoughts. We will learn how to work with thoughts without being controlled by them. It is easy to get lost – even hijacked – by strong and difficult thoughts. Often thoughts are obsessive, self-critical, repetitive, and ruminative in nature. In this workshop we will learn skillful ways to experience the freedom that comes from learning how to let go of thoughts. This workshop is designed for the newcomer and the experienced practitioner.

Cost (for each workshop)

Regular: $35
Covid Rate: $25

“Buy One, Gift One Promotion” – With a paid registration to attend the day-long retreat or a workshop you are eligible to Gift a friend or relative to attend that same retreat or workshop at no cost. To register someone as part of the “Buy One, Gift One Promotion” please have the individual send an email to wiseheartmindfulness@gmail.com with the following information:

Subject Line: “Buy One, Gift One Promotion”
Name of retreat or workshop registering for
First and last name
Email address
City and State
First and last name of person gifting the “no-cost” registration

Once the email has been received your guest will receive a confirmation email along with the Zoom registration link to be used to attend the session.

Refund and Cancellation Policy
Refunds should be requested by email to wiseheartmindfulness@gmail.com. Registrations/credits can be applied to a future retreat or workshop. Wise Heart Mindfulness reserves the right to cancel a retreat due to low enrollment. Registrants will be notified in advance of the retreat and a full refund will be given. No refunds/credits are given to "no-shows".