DRAFT: Paying Attention in a Particular Way

Now in its third year, our Manchester Urban Retreat returns for 2025 with a fresh new theme. Led by experienced mindfulness teachers MJ and Andrea, this weekend retreat offers the depth of immersive mindfulness practice—but with the flexibility to arrange your own accommodation or return home each evening.

It’s the ideal format for busy lives, those juggling responsibilities, and new meditators who may feel a bit daunted by a fully residential retreat.


Enjoy a restorative meditation retreat in the heart of the city of Manchester

Retreat Details

📅 Friday 11th July (9:30am–5:00pm) & Saturday 12th July (9:00am–4:00pm)
📍 Luther King House, Manchester
☕ Refreshments & lunch provided | 🍽️ Optional group meal on Friday
🏡 Non-residential: Arrange your own accommodation or travel from home if local

Please note: Bookings for this retreat will close at 5pm on Thursday 26th June. 

How Does An Urban Retreat Work?

With an urban retreat, you benefit from the depth and connection of an in-person retreat, but with greater flexibility. The retreat days take place at Luther King House, Manchester, and your evenings are free to spend however you choose—whether that’s heading home, reflecting quietly at your accommodation, or exploring the city.

💡 With an urban retreat, you arrange and pay for your own accommodation. See our recommendations here.

It’s also become tradition to enjoy an optional group meal on Friday evening for those who’d like to socialise. This is not part of the teaching schedule and will be at your own expense.

What’s included in your ticket?

✔️ Expert teaching from MJ & Andrea
✔️ Lunch & refreshments on both days (provided by the venue)
✔️ A carefully structured retreat experience in a supportive group setting

Pictured right: Andrea Cygler teaching at the 2023 Urban Retreat

The Retreat Theme

Paying Attention in a Particular Way

Mindfulness isn’t just about paying attention—it’s about how we do it. This year, our retreat focuses on cultivating awareness with care, exploring the attitudes that shape how we meet each moment.

Over two days, we’ll delve into Jon Kabat-Zinn’s nine attitudinal foundations of mindfulness, with a special focus on trust, acceptance, and gratitude. Through guided practice, we’ll explore how these qualities can deepen awareness, help us navigate challenges, and make mindfulness more sustainable in daily life.

This retreat offers space to step back from distractions, reconnect with your practice, and develop a more compassionate way of being present.

A Retreat That Fits Into Everyday Life

Unlike retreats in remote locations, this one is designed to integrate mindfulness into daily life. Across the weekend, we’ll create space for:

✨ Guided meditations to deepen awareness
✨ Practical exercises to apply mindfulness in real life
✨ Group discussions for insight and support

With a non-residential format, you can stay locally or return home each evening—whatever works best for you.

Retreat attendees enjoying the sun and provided lunch at the 2023 Manchester Urban Retreat (Castlefield Hotel)

Who Is This For?

This retreat is for those with at least six months of meditation experience—whether you teach mindfulness, practise regularly, or want to reconnect. 

It’s also a great choice for first-time retreat participants. Many have found this a gentle and accessible way to step into a retreat experience without feeling overwhelmed.

Schedule

We carefully design all events at Breathworks to be as accessible as possible, and we know that frequent breaks are particularly important for those navigating health challenges. Please see the schedule below as a guide for what to expect across the weekend. 

Friday 11th July

09:30 Arrival & refreshments (provided)
10:00 Introductions, orientation & settling practice 
10:45 Teaching input
11:30 Refreshment & comfort break
12:00  Guided meditation practice & group reflection
13:00 Lunch (provided) 
14:00 Teaching input, activity & group reflection
15:00 Guided meditation practice
15:30 Refreshment break
16:00 Activity & reflection
17:00 Close


Saturday 12th July

09:00 Arrival & refreshments (provided)
09:30 Guided meditation practice & check-in 
10:15 Guided meditation practice & group reflection
11:00 Refreshment & comfort break
11:30 Teaching input & activity 
12:30 Lunch (provided) 
13:30 Teaching input, activity & group reflection
14:30 Guided meditation practice
15:30 Reflection & reporting out
16:00 End


Meet Your Retreat Leaders 

Mj Stephens

Mj Stephens 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.

Andrea Cygler

Andrea Cygler has been part of the Breathworks teaching community for many years and was trained initially by the 3 founders. She is a longstanding senior 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. This year she lead 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 inner city life and community with a more steady and peaceful pace, enjoying cooking and making home down by the river Mersey, surrounded by woods, birdsong and big skies.

Tickets & Financial Support

Breathworks is a UK registered charity with a mission to make mindfulness accessible to everyone. When you purchase a ticket for one of our events, you are not only investing in your own wellbeing, but paying it forward to someone else in need - All profits are reinvested to support our charitable work, helping us cover essential costs like staff, operations, and expanding our impact

We're offer three different pricing options to those wishing to join us: 

Rate Cost Details
Standard £215 Full priced rate
Concessionary  £140 Applies to individuals with an income of less than £22,000 a year (£25,000 if you live in London) or those in financial hardship
Bursary £85 A limited number of bursary places are reserved for individuals with significant financial barriers that limits them from affording the Concessionary Rate.

We trust our participants to assess their eligibility honestly and ask you to consider the Standard Rate if you possibly can, to keep our offering sustainable. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your situation, please contact us here.

Discounts for Accredited Breathworks Teachers

If you are an accredited Breathworks Teacher, you are eligible for 10% off your place (bursary places not included). Details of how to access your discounted rate are on the Community of Practice Teachers & Trainee's Group.

Payment Plans

Spread the cost with interest-free monthly instalments - request a payment plan here. Please note, the full balance must be paid 7 days before the retreat start date. 

Accommodation Suggestions

Please note: Accommodation is not included in our urban retreats and must be organised and booked by the individual. Below are some options you could explore:

Luther King House
  • Location: Onsite at the venue (Luther King Centre)
  • Description: Simple B&B with a canteen and friendly staff
  • Accessibility: Fully accessible ground floor rooms
  • Price: £35–£90 per night
  • Amenities: Breakfast included, close to Platt Fields Park & Curry Mile
  • Parking: Free onsite
  • Website: https://lutherkinghouse.co.uk/

Travelodge Upper Brook Street
Airbnb
  • Location: Plenty of options in the nearby Fallowfield area
  • Description: Well-maintained properties in a popular student area
  • Proximity: Most within walking distance of the venue

Hotels Further Afield
  • Along the Bus Route: Hyatt, Kimpton Clock Tower, Holiday Inn (near Universities)
  • City Centre Options: The Alan, Mercure, Ibis (all within 5 min of Piccadilly Gardens for easy transport)

How To Book This Retreat

After selecting your ticket price and completing payment, you'll be prompted to fill out a short online form. You'll then receive a confirmation email with your booking details, and we'll send you additional information as the event approaches.

Contact

If you have a question about this event or wish to speak with a member of our friendly team, please find details on how to contact us here. 

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