Silent Retreat: Special Focus on Spiritual Psychotherapy

This silent retreat is a five-day silent meditation retreat for people who want a longer, deeper stretch of quiet, with a special focus on spiritual psychotherapy. It is led by Evelyne Vuilleumier, a yoga and meditation teacher and spiritual psychotherapist, at Mandali Retreat Center in Quarna Sopra, in the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola province of Italy. Yoga, meditation, satsang, self-inquiry, nature walks and dance fill the days, and the silence holds all of it together.

What to Expect

Silence begins after the first dinner and lasts until the final lunch. In between, the days follow a steady rhythm. Mornings start with a silent sitting, then breakfast, then two hours of yoga, either Vinyasa flow or therapeutic yoga. The yoga is soft, meant to help you come into the body, stretch and open it, so the inner world becomes easier to reach. The morning sittings give a way to meet your thoughts and take some distance from sticky patterns.

Afternoons are given to spiritual psychotherapy and shadow work, from 14:30 to 16:30. These sessions explore both the spiritual realms and the shadow sides, growing up and growing down, and include spiritual trauma work approached gently and deeply. They are also there to help with difficult topics, emotions or patterns that surface in the quiet. A self-inquiry session deepens the connection to your innermost core.

Evenings begin with a short silent sitting before dinner, then satsang from 20:30 to 22:00, where you can bring questions about your path and life challenges and look into essential questions such as "Who am I". One mid-week afternoon includes a nature walk in silence, connecting inner nature with the surroundings of Mandali. One evening is set aside for dance, a chance to loosen the body and celebrate.

The retreat opens on a Monday with check-in at 14:30, a welcome and introduction, gentle yoga and meditation, dinner, and a first satsang. It closes on Friday with silent sitting, yoga, a closing circle and lunch, with departure at 13:30.

About Evelyne Vuilleumier

Evelyne Vuilleumier is an experienced yoga and meditation teacher and a spiritual psychotherapist. The spiritual psychotherapy at the heart of this retreat is an approach she developed herself. She guides the group through each part of the program, from the first evening to the closing circle.

The Setting

Mandali Retreat Center sits in Quarna Sopra, with scenic hiking trails, contemplative outdoor nooks and permaculture gardens around it. Practice rooms are peaceful, and yoga and meditation props are provided. The silent nature walk moves through the grounds and surrounding hills.

Four nights of accommodation are included, in a single, twin, premium or shared room, or in a hermitage set apart from the main centre. Meals are vegetarian, three a day, with fruit, tea and filtered water available throughout. Guests can use the Body Care Centre sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and indoor heated swimming pool. Massages and therapies there cost extra.

The nearest airport is Malpensa International Airport. Flights and transfers to and from Mandali are not included.

Before You Go

All levels are welcome. You do not need to be a psychotherapist or have any experience in psychotherapy; openness and genuine interest in the topic are enough. The retreat is taught in English, with German if needed.