The AI Antidote

The AI Antidote is a mindfulness workshop for anyone who feels pulled in too many directions by screens, notifications and the pace of digital life. Led by Joni Staaf-Stamford at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York, it runs over a weekend and focuses on attention: where it goes, what takes it, and how to choose more deliberately. It suits people who experience distraction, digital overwhelm or anxiety, and anyone who wants to be more present. No prior mindfulness experience is needed.

What to Expect

The weekend draws on mindfulness, psychology, neuroscience and philosophy to look at the forces competing for your attention, and at how you engage with technology and with daily life. The aim goes beyond sharper focus. It is about reclaiming the ability to choose how you live, which can open the way to clearer thinking, emotional intelligence and more authentic relationships.

Sessions alternate between guided mindfulness practices, thought-provoking discussion, reflective writing and experiential exercises. Individual and group reflection help you bring what you notice into your own life. Physical activity is light and optional, with gentle movement and walking meditation suitable for all experience levels.

You leave with practical tools for pausing, refocusing and responding intentionally to everyday distractions, along with a clearer sense of your own attention patterns and how your choices affect your well-being and relationships.

The rhythm of the weekend:

- Friday: check-in from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. (rooms available after 5:00), then the opening workshop session from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
- Saturday: workshop from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and again from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday: a final session from 9:00 a.m. to noon, with check-out at 1:00 p.m.

The schedule may change at the discretion of the faculty.

About Joni Staaf-Stamford

Joni Staaf-Stamford is a retreat leader, counselor and author who helps people reclaim their attention. Her teaching here connects the practice of paying attention with a better quality of life.

The Setting

The workshop takes place on the Omega Institute campus in Rhinebeck, New York. Guests can stay on campus, with lodging booked separately from tuition, or register as commuters if they live nearby. Both options include all meals and use of the facilities and grounds, including walking trails, optional classes, recreation and parking.

On-campus lodging ranges from cabin rooms with a queen bed, heat, air-conditioning and linens, to shared-bath cabin rooms, dorm singles, tent cabins and campsites. Double rooms are available when you register with a companion. Dorm rooms and tent cabins require your own sheets and towels (tent cabins also need a sleeping bag), or you can rent them from Omega for a small fee. Tent cabins have no heat or air-conditioning, and camping has limited availability, with no stoves, campfires or recreational vehicles on campus. Accessible rooms are available by request through registration.

Before You Go

The workshop is offered in English and is open to all levels. Bring a journal and wear comfortable clothing for gentle movement and walking meditation. Tuition covers instruction and time with the faculty. Travel to Rhinebeck is not included. The workshop begins on Friday at 7:00 p.m., so plan to arrive during check-in.