Spring Mindfulness Retreat: Restorative Practices for Leading and Living an Authentic, Connecting and Liberated Life

Led by Lisa Baker, PhD & Carmen Alonso, PhD

Join us at the spacious Holy Wisdom Monastery Retreat Center in Middleton, WI for this restorative retreat inspired by our work with individuals, groups, and organizations seeking greater ease, clarity, connection, and authenticity in the service of individual and collective liberation.

You are invited to slow down and “unplug“, releasing and settling into the present moment - coming home to ourselves and connecting with our wisdom, power, and energy.

Overview. 

Restoration is a retreat theme as we “come home to ourselves,” noticing areas where we may feel tense and depleted and where we feel open and enlivened. In this spacious and caring setting and community we will be offering reflective and restorative practices supporting greater groundedness and ease, as well as improved energy and vitality. 

Leading, another theme of this retreat, we are invited to reflect on and explore our power and impact as a leader in our own lives and in the lives of others - whether at work, family, community, on the planet as a whole. 

We will be offering support and teachings of mindfulness, compassion-based practices and guidance, awakening and deepening connection and care to ourselves and the world around us. 

A variety of sitting, laying down, walking, and gentle movement practices will be offered throughout this daylong retreat. There will also be opportunities to explore and walk on the surrounding trails, enjoying the beautiful and natural landscape as a part of these connecting and restorative practices. Care will be taken and offered to support diversity of experiences and needs throughout the retreat.

Location: This retreat will be held in a spacious and bright retreat space overlooking gardens at Holy Wisdom Monastery, located on 130 acres of beautifully restored prairie and woods. In this setting, you can experience connection to the beauty and care of the natural world, including opportunities for walking on trails and contemplative practice in this beautiful landscape.

Holy Wisdom offers healthy, fresh meals prepared by their executive chef, with some of the food grown in the monastery’s large vegetable garden.  

Lunch is included and will be served to retreat participants in a  bright and spacious dining room. Dietary restrictions will be accommodated. 

Coffee and tea will be available throughout the day and we have access to a full kitchen with a refrigerator if you wish to bring any additional snacks. 

The retreat includes a day of mindfulness teaching, guided practices, and healthy, fresh lunch prepared by Holy Wisdom's executive chef. 

Friday, April 5th Retreat Day (tentative schedule)

9am-930am Welcome and Orientation

930am-1130am Mindfulness and Compassion-Based teachings with guided practices and reflections (including movement, sitting, and laying down practices)

1130-1pm Lunch and free time (e.g., walking on trails or indoor spaces, self-guided practice for restoration and nourishment)

1pm-3pm* Mindfulness and Compassion-Based teachings with guided practices and reflections (*break offered half-way through)

3pm-4pm Choice of writing practice, dyad and/or small group dialogue practices

4pm-430pm Closing Practice and Intention Setting

Lisa Baker, PhD

Lisa is a licensed psychologist and organizational consultant with 20 years of experience, focusing on organization culture and wellbeing, intercultural group processes and communication, and leadership effectiveness. Lisa has specialized training in mindfulness teaching, integrating a trauma-informed, racial justice lens. She has developed and taught programming in mindful leadership for social change and environmental sustainability at several local and national organizations. She also has a private practice in Madison, WI. 

Carmen Alonso, PhD

Carmen is a licensed Clinical Psychologist with 20 years of experience in the field. She is dedicated to serving adults in both individual psychotherapy and group settings. She has taught mindfulness-based interventions to alleviate stress and decrease suffering to a wide variety of groups such as:

• Clients with clinical depression and anxiety
• Veterans with and without PTSD
• Police officers
• Spanish-speaking populations
• Medical residents
• School personnel
• People of are currently incarcerated in maximum and medium security facilities

She has recently been involved in Restorative Justice groups (inside and outside of prison settings). She has combined her mindfulness teachings with Tae Kwon Do, a martial art she has been a practitioner of for over 30 years, including nearly 25 years as head instructor of the Choi Tae Kwon Do School at UW.

In addition to the regularly offered reduced fee prices supported by our participant community, for this retreat full scholarships are available through Just Mindfulness. 

Please contact Carmen at carmen@justmindfulness.net for any inquiries.

Participants are asked to bring their own yoga mat, blanket, and meditation cushion/pillow, if they have these items. We will also provide yoga mats, cushions, and blankets for those who need them. 

If a participant is has illness symptomatic and/or has a positive Covid-19 test 5 days or less before the retreat, they are asked to stay home and will be offered a full refund. Thank you for understanding that these precautions are offered to insure as safe and comfortable retreat experience as possible. 

Payment is required in full to reserve your spot.

Refunds are available up to two weeks prior to the retreat, no refunds thereafter, unless if symptomatic or positive for Covid-19 5 days or less prior to the retreat.

Please plan to arrive at The Holy Wisdom Monastery Retreat Center & Guesthouse, located on 130 acres of beautifully restored prairie and woods, 4200 County Road M, Middleton WI 53562   between 8:45 - 9:15am on the retreat day.