Reclaim Your Mind: Finding Rest and Play in a Wired World

Reclaim Your Mind: Finding Rest and Play in a Wired World is a five-day meditation retreat at Hollyhock on Cortes Island, British Columbia, led by Jay Vidyarthi. It is for people who want a healthier relationship with their phones, screens and the attention economy, without swinging to total disconnection. The approach is secular mindfulness, grounded in Unified Mindfulness, and it welcomes beginners and experienced practitioners alike.

What to Expect

The retreat begins on the evening of the first day and closes in the early afternoon of the last. In between, the days mix guided meditation, contemplative teaching and group discussion. Practices range from effortless, restful sitting to more targeted techniques, and include mindful walks through nature. Small-group sharing, partner dyads, journaling and guided reflection give you time to take in what you notice.

Three principles shape the teaching: open presence, emotional clarity and effortless awareness. Together they support a meditation practice light enough to keep up in an ordinary, busy week, and a clearer view of how devices affect your emotions. Some insights about tech habits, the program suggests, only come when there is no device in the room. You also look at how the attention economy works, so you can slow a frantic pace and re-sensitize your nervous system to nature, real-world experience and human connection.

Play is part of the design. Laughter and lightness are woven into the practice, so deep rest and enjoyment sit side by side. You leave with reframes and simple rituals for carrying your intentions home.

A detailed daily schedule is emailed about 30 days before the program.

About Jay Vidyarthi

Jay Vidyarthi is the award-winning, best-selling author of Reclaim Your Mind and a certified Unified Mindfulness meditation teacher. He works where mindfulness meets technology, and as founder of Still Ape he has been involved in more than fifty technologies meant to support well-being, including Muse, the Healthy Minds Program and Sonic Cradle. Describing himself as an "attention activist," he has meditated for over 15 years and trained with monks and teachers from Unified Mindfulness, Monastic Academy, Mind & Life Institute and Vipassana International.

He has taught mindfulness in corporations, non-profits and community groups, and his online guided meditations have drawn hundreds of thousands of listens. His work has been featured by Harvard, MIT, TED, Forbes, CNN, Fast Company, Psychology Today and Mashable. Participants describe him as someone who does not scold or preach, and who offers practical tools with encouragement.

The Setting

The retreat takes place at Hollyhock on Cortes Island, where the nature walks are part of the program. Accommodation options and all-inclusive packages are available through the registration page.

Before You Go

No meditation experience is required, and seasoned practitioners will find plenty to work with. The retreat is taught in English. It suits you if your calendar is full, your energy is low and self-care keeps slipping, and if you want skills that hold up in daily life rather than only on retreat.

Cancellation more than 30 days before the start returns the balance minus a 20% non-refundable deposit. Within 30 days of arrival there are no refunds or credits.