Yes. The retreat is designed to be beneficial whether you're completely new to mindfulness and meditation or have years of experience. Before the retreat, you'll take part in three practical webinars, giving you all the preparation you need to participate with confidence.

In fact, having no previous experience can be an advantage. Without preconceptions or expectations shaped by other practices or spiritual traditions, you'll be able to approach the method with an open mind and experience it as it is.

Why do participants follow a plant-based diet?

During the retreat, we ask participants to follow a plant-based diet, avoiding all animal products. A lighter diet allows the body to devote less energy to digestion, helping you feel more settled and comfortable throughout the programme. The energy saved through simpler digestion can then be directed towards the body's natural processes of restoration and renewal.

Why are alcohol and tobacco not allowed?

The retreat is designed to support deep rest, heightened awareness, and sustained inner work. Alcohol, nicotine, and other mind-altering substances can interfere with this process and make it more difficult to engage fully with the practices.
For your wellbeing and to support the retreat experience, we ask all participants to refrain from alcohol, smoking (including e-cigarettes), and recreational or mind-altering substances throughout the programme.

Why are there preparation guidelines and periods of quiet?

The retreat is designed to help you step away from the constant stimulation of everyday life and settle into a quieter, more attentive state of mind. During the preparation period, participants are asked to take a break from music, films, books, videos, sexual activity, overeating, and other forms of entertainment or distraction.

This period of quiet helps you cultivate and conserve your inner energy, allowing you to direct it towards a deeper understanding of your true nature and the fuller realisation of your potential.

One of the key elements that makes the retreat so effective is stepping away from your usual routines. For most of us, our phones are deeply woven into everyday life — they're how we communicate, work, read, watch, and entertain ourselves. As a result, they constantly engage and stimulate the mind.

The retreat, by contrast, is an opportunity to slow down, settle into stillness, and experience the practices without the usual distractions. This quieter state of mind is an important part of the process and helps you engage more deeply with the retreat.

For this reason, all phones and other electronic devices are handed to the retreat organisers for the duration of the programme. If there are any important matters that may require your attention while you're away, we encourage you to make the necessary arrangements before the retreat begins.

If you have any injuries, medical conditions, or dietary requirements, please let the organiser know before the retreat begins. This helps our instructors and organisers understand your needs in advance and, where appropriate, make suitable arrangements to ensure your comfort and wellbeing throughout the retreat.