Cultivating Calm and Mindfulness for the Holidays

Cultivating Calm and Mindfulness for the Holidays is a half-day meditation retreat in the Theravada and Insight Meditation tradition, led by teacher Eileen Ybarra with InsightLA Meditation in the Los Angeles area of California. It is for anyone who finds the holiday season heavy, whether from year-end work, travel, family or financial pressure, or the memory of loss, and who wants a few hours of practice in a supportive community space.

What to Expect

The retreat runs from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM Pacific on a Saturday morning. The aim is to bring tenderness and care to the parts of ourselves that feel overwhelmed, and to return the heart and mind to balance.

The morning alternates between seated meditation and walking meditation. Mindfulness and heart-based practices are woven through, with dharma talks placed between periods of practice. It begins with a settling into practice and closes with time for discussion and connection with fellow participants, so you are not left to sit alone with a hard season.

The retreat is the in-person half of a hybrid two-part series. A companion version is offered online for those who cannot attend in person.

About Eileen Ybarra

Eileen Ybarra began studying Theravadan Buddhist meditation practice in 2004. Her first meditation teacher was Trudy Goodman. Since then she has studied with a range of dharma teachers through the Against the Stream Meditation Society, Insight Meditation Center of Redwood City, Durango Dharma Center, and Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Her profession is public librarianship.

The Setting

The class is listed at the Santa Monica Meditation Center, as part of InsightLA Meditation's offerings in Southern California. It is an in-person gathering, held in a community space meant for care and revitalization.

Before You Go

All experience levels are welcome. People new to mindfulness and meditation are as at home here as advanced practitioners, and no prior experience is needed. The retreat is taught in English.

Included are guided seated and walking meditation, dharma talks, mindfulness and heart-based practices, and time for discussion with other participants.

The class is donation based, with a suggested contribution, and no one is turned away for lack of funds.