Urban Retreat: Finding Flow

After their popular event last year, Andrea Cygler and Mj Stephens are back in Manchester with another urban retreat to help you pause from everyday life and re-find your flow. 

Across two days, you will explore the delicate balance between the qualities of anchoring, creating space and finding rhythm.

Andrea and Mj, who have been part of the Breathworks teaching team for over a decade, will expertly guide you through familiar and new practices, with activities to help you ground and feel stable while you find balance and poise, opening and receiving. All of which will support you in moving forward with more steadiness, assurance and grace.

Through meditation, movement, poetry and creativity you will explore what flow means to you, and how you recognise and harness it.

There will be lots of space for stillness and quiet reflection, conscious conversation and companionship, laughter and play.

What You Will Gain

1. A reconnection with shared practice in the community
2. A sense of composure and steadiness to help navigate times ahead
3. Explore what 'flow' is and bring it into our practice
4. Support and inspire each other to find your way

Who This Event Is For 

People who have previously attended a mindfulness course, workshops or retreat and want to continue their learning. 

This event counts as Continuous Professional Development for Breathworks Teachers.

What to Bring

Please arrange your own lunch daily, there are plenty of delicious cafés and supermarkets around the area or the centre has a kitchen / lounge area if you wish to bring a packed lunch. Refreshments, hot drinks and biscuits will be provided for tea breaks. 

We recommend wearing loose and comfy clothing, and bringing a water bottle (water refill available at the centre). 

Details

When: Sunday 2 & Monday 3 June 2024

Time: Sunday 9:30 - 17:00, Monday 9:30 - 15:30 UK time (see this Time Zone Converter for your time zone)

Where: The Manchester Buddhist Centre, 16-20 Turner St, Manchester M4 1DZ 

Schedule

When	What
Sunday, 2 June 2024
9:30	Arrival & refreshments
10:00	Intros & settling practice
10:45	Input & exploration. Entering in
11:30	Refreshment break
12:00	Practice & reflection
13:00	Lunch (please bring your own)
14:00	Input, activity & reflection
15:00	Practice
15:30	Refreshment break
16:00	Activity & reflection
17:00	Close (an evening get together will be arranged for those who wish to join the group for a meal in Manchester)
Monday, 3 June 2024
9:00	Arrival & refreshments
9:30	Practice & check in
10:15	Practice & reflection
11:00	Break
11:30	Input & activity
12:30	Lunch (please bring your own)
13:30	Practice & reflection
14:30	Reflection & entering out
15:30	Close

Your Retreat Leaders

Andrea Cygler 

Andrea has been part of the Breathworks teaching community for many years and was trained initially by the 3 founders. She is a longstanding core trainer, mentor and supervisor for Breathworks, passionate and dynamic in supporting others to develop their own practice, teaching skills and areas of expertise so they can inspire and support others to live well.

Her own mindfulness practice has been transformational in helping her navigate the challenges of the 21st century but she knows this has taken much patience, gentleness, creativity, perseverance, self-compassion and support. In her work with others, she hopes that these qualities are felt as apparent and encouraging.

Andrea works as a freelance wellbeing facilitator and is enjoying the return of some in person events. She currently working in women’s refuge, rehab and recovery, suicide prevention and mental health awareness training. Last year she led a rewarding and moving piece of work for Breathworks delivering community based ‘Take back Your Life’ sessions across venues in Manchester.

She lives in Liverpool and balances the bittersweet vibrancy of a lively inner-city life with a steadier and more peaceful pace, at home down by the river Mersey, surrounded by woods, birdsong,  big skies and dramatic sunsets. She enjoys making home, cooking, entertaining , yoga and being quiet.

Mj Stephens 

Mj has been an Accredited trainer with Breathworks since 2013 and has a wealth of experience teaching mindfulness. He particularly enjoys teaching the 8 week courses, helping people with both chronic health conditions, and those suffering from anxiety.

He is a Buddhist and has a personal practice of more than 30 years. He is also a qualified Alexander Technique teacher, with a particular interest in movement, so loves leading the Mindful Movements events run by Breathworks.

Mj enjoys working with people and has a broad range of workplace experience, which include Macmillan Cancer, Physiotherapists at Sussex Community NHS, Teacher Training at Sheffield IAPT as well as Everyturn Mental Health,  Maggie’s Cancer charity, and Cheshire Fire and Rescue. This year he has particularly enjoyed working face to face with Royal Devon Hospitals, leading 2 days of mindful movement for their pain specialists, and ran a community Moving Well course for Versus Arthritis.

As part of the senior training team Mj is frequently involved in the BW training events, supervision of practice courses and one-to-one work. He is a member of BAMBA.

About the venue

Nestled deep in the heart of the vibrant Manchester Northern Quarter, the Manchester Buddhist Centre provides a little oasis of tranquillity and calm, perfect for shared practice.

Getting there

Transport to the venue

Victoria and Piccadilly train stations are a 6 - 9 minute walk away from the Buddhist Centre. You can also take the tram (Metrolink) from the station towards Turner Street. 

Alternatively, Piccadilly and Shudehill bus stations are also a short walk away from the centre.

There is parking at:

• High Street (Arndale) NCP carpark, Nicholas Croft, M4 1EY, 0845 050 7080. 24 hours / 7 days.
• Church Street NCP car park, M4 1LX, 0845 050 7080. 6am – 10pm / 7 days

Accessibility

The Buddhist Centre has:

• Lift to all public floors
• Disabled-friendly toilet on the ground floor 
• Loop systems for hearing aid users in both halls

Please note, there are six steps up to the main entrance with handrails on both sides. 

There are several disabled parking bays on and near Turner Street. 

Cost 

Supporter's Rate Pay for yourself and help support one person to join on a Bursary.	£275
Individual Rate Full-priced rate	£215
Concessionary Rate For those in financial hardship who cannot afford our full priced rate (see below for more).	£140
Bursary Rate A limited number of places are reserved for those unable to afford the Concessionary Rate.	£85

A Guide to Concessionary & Bursary Place

Breathworks is a charitable organisation with a mission to make the benefits of mindfulness accessible to everyone. To help remove barriers for people in financial hardship, we offer a limited number of concessionary and bursary places on events and courses. We operate our booking system on the basis of self-assessment and trust. Please have a careful read of our eligibility guide below, and contact us if you have any further questions.

Concessionary Rate: applies to individuals with an income of less than £22,000 a year (or less than £25,000 if you live in London).

Bursary Rate: a limited number of bursary places are reserved for individuals with significant financial barriers that limits them from affording the Concessionary Rate.

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