TAKE FIVE

18th-22nd October, 2023 - Shoreham

A Mindful Mind’s first Self-Compassion Retreat for health professionals.

Retreat to the stunning Mornington Peninsula for 5 days of self-compassion immersion. Feel seen, heard and held with fellow health professional Vivienne Law’s carefully curated offerings and guidance.

About the retreat (intention)

This retreat is for health professionals:

  • Looking to strengthen their self-compassion practice to combat the pressures and demands of working in a  care-giving profession 

  • Wishing to deepen their Mindful Self-Compassion knowledge in order to bring more to the clients they work with 

  • Wanting to retreat from the busyness of professionals practice and rejuvenate in luxury with like minded individuals 

We learn by doing - or in this case, being self-compassionate. Therefore you can expect this retreat to be experiential rather than like a TED Talk.

This retreat has been carefully designed with three core values in mind: embodiment, connection and choice - and aims to: 

  1. Provide you with resources and practices that integrate into your personal and professional life, so you leave feeling well versed in holding yourself with more kindness and understanding, 

  2. Help you connect authentically with your self-compassionate side through an intentional mix of formal meditation, movement, self-inquiry practices, peer led discussion and personal (free) time. 

  3. Make you feel seen, heard and supported by a community of awesome, selfless, like-minded people who get what you go through: your fellow health professionals,

  4. Give you an opportunity to rest, restore and realign, so you can return to providing compassionate care feeling like your true self. 

Location

Nestled in the heart of Shoreham only 100m from the surf beach, Atlas Retreat is a stylish and modern residence with luxury design features.

The property is inspired by the seven continents of the world and features a touch of culture in every room.

Atlas boasts comfort with spacious bedrooms, a multi-functional room (where practices and workshops will be held), an open space kitchen, living, dining area as well as a mineral spa & pool available for use.

Rest assured, there’s plenty of secluded nooks for reading or quiet time.

Your host

Hello, I’m Vivienne Law. I’m a mental health nurse, meditation practitioner and trained mindful self-compassion teacher.

As I entered my career in nursing I realised quickly that it was a slippery slope from clinical judgement to self-critical thinking and carer-fatigue. This is when I first found meditation. But even then, I discovered that one practice at the start or the end of day has its limits in the support it can provide. I needed something I could integrate into my working day.

As someone who has always resonated with the notion of prevention before intervention, Self-Compassion hit the mark for me and when I first heard the words during a conversation at a meditation teacher training course, I was hooked. I read the work of Kristin Neff, Tara Brach and the likes. I also did the work. I integrated the teachings and turned my attention towards how I was holding myself - professionally and personally.

Without an ounce of doubt, Mindful Self-Compassion has been the practice that’s helped me to stay on my own side. It has transformed the way I show up in the healthcare industry. Practices like the Self-Compassion Break and Giving & Receiving breath come naturally now and enable me to provide heart-led, patient-centred care, without losing myself or feeling emotionally drained. I can leave work at work on the more challenging days. I can balance meeting myself and others where we are, and maintain healthy boundaries.

This is what inspired Take Five. I wish for other health professionals to include themselves in the circle of compassionate care as much as the people they serve.

Meals

Self-compassion starts from the inside.

Our onsite chef Aliza from Shakti Fresh has got us covered with delicious vegetarian meals that will be sure to keep us nourished and nurtured. Aliza is a self-taught chef who turned her passion for a plant based lifestyle into her career. She cooks everything fresh, using only the best locally-sourced ingredients. And you can eat with ease knowing that all dietary needs are catered for.

All meals are provided but again, you are not obligated to eat with the group throughout. We do kindly ask you to advise us if you intend on opting out of a meal to minimise food wastage. 

CPD Credit

A certificate of attendance for health professionals wishing to use the retreat towards CPD hours will be available. Hours will be calculated based on how many self-compassion workshops have been attended i.e. 4 x 2hr workshops attended = 8 hours CPD.

Up to 15 hours will be awarded.

CPD = continuing professional development

Rooms & Pricing

Upstairs rooms

Antarctica: Twin share (2 king single beds or 1 super king), $2850pp.

*This luxurious and spacious room overlooks the mineral pool with separate balcony and generous ensuite.

Downstairs rooms

Africa: Twin share (2 king single beds), $2550pp

South America: Twin share (2 king single beds), $2550pp

North America: Twin share (2 king single beds), $2550pp

Europe: Triple Share (3 x king single beds or 1 super king + 1 king single), $2150pp

Fear not, there’s still a spacious feel with the triple share option, unlike a German hostel dorm during Oktoberfest!

Notes

All downstairs rooms are able to be converted to a super king for those wishing to share a bed and are accompanied with luxury amenities, a large ensuite and space to store belongings.

For solo attendees who desire solitude, please enquire about single room availability and pricing via email: vivienne@amindfulmind.com.au . Please note there is limited availability for single room occupancy.

Inclusions

4 nights accommodation

Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner + snacks

Beverage bar w/ tea, coffee, fresh juice, kombucha, still & sparkling water

8 self-compassion based workshops (derived from the mindful self-compassion program).

Generous welcome gift pack (trust me, you’ll see!)

Opening and closing circles

Daily movement class (except on day 4)

Sound meditation

Plenty of secluded nooks and opportunities for quiet time

Sample Schedule

6.45am: Morning movement (45 minutes)

8.00am: Breakfast

9.00am: AM MSC workshop (2-2.5 hours)

12.30pm: Lunch

2.00pm: PM MSC workshop (3 hours) 

5.00pm: Free time

6.30pm: Dinner

8.00pm: Campfire chats or sound meditation

*MSC = Mindful Self-Compassion

** Please note the schedule differs from day-to-day

Choice is really important because it is how we start embodying the essence of mindful self-compassion. So, know that you are invited to participate, but never obligated. With all offerings optional, we hope that the element of choice gives you permission to mindfully check in with yourself and engage in the retreat in a way that most aligns with your intentions.

Workshops can be substituted for free time. Please note there is an extended period of free time allocated to day 4 of approximately 5 hours, but more on this in the welcome pack! 

Let's make it official!

Confirm your room with a $350pp deposit

Rooms are allocated on a first come first serve basis and you will be contacted within 24 hours of deposit payment to arrange this.  

Pay before July 16th, 2023 for $100 off.

The Fine Print

Deposits are non-refundable. Balance due August 18th, 2023.

Cancellation policy:

Any additional payments made before August 18th are refundable.

Cancellation between August 19-September 20 incurs a 25% fee.

Cancellation between September 21-October 4 incurs a 50% fee,

Cancellation after October 5 is strictly non-refundable.

FAQ’s

  • This retreat views ‘health professional’ through the lens of compassionate caregiving and includes those who work in the following areas (but not limited to):

    • Nurses, Paramedics & Midwives

    • General Practitioners

    • Psychologists, Psychiatrists

    • Occupational Therapists

    • Speech Pathologists

    • Social Workers

    • Physiotherapists, Chiropractors, Osteopaths & Exercise Physiologists

    • Dietitians & Naturopaths

    • Personal Care Assistants, NDIS & Disability Support Workers

    Students or trainees of any of these professions are most welcome too.

    Other health and wellbeing professions most welcome include:

    • Healing modalities such as Reiki, Spinal Energetics, Sound Healers

    • Yoga, Mindfulness & Meditation Teachers

    *My sincerest apologies for any profession omitted here, you do amazing work and that’s all the more reason to come on retreat so we can hero you!

  • You are able to secure your room and place on the retreat with a non-refundable $350 deposit. You’ll have until August 18th to pay the balance. You will be sent an invoice for the balance to be paid via bank transfer (please check your junk email as they do sometimes end up there).

    You can pay your balance in instalments, so long as the balance is paid before August 18th.

    If you require an extension please reach out to Vivienne via email to discuss this.

  • Deposits are strictly non-refundable to cover costs incurred prior to the retreat start date.

    Any additional payments made before August 18th are refundable.

    Cancellation between August 19-September 20 incurs a 25% fee.

    Cancellation between September 21-October 4 incurs a 50% fee,

    Cancellation after October 5 is strictly non-refundable.

  • All meals prepared will be vegetarian. If you have any allergies or intolerances please let us know in the client intake form (filled out at time of deposit) and we will work to accommodate these.

  • We want to ensure that everyone feels safe and comfortable, so if you wish to be paired with someone of the same sex, then we will honour this.

    That said, connection is at the heart of this retreat and in an effort to warmly welcome those of gender diverse communities, we will allocate twin share pairs as the bookings come in.

  • Dates: 18th-22nd October, 2023

    Location: Atlas Retreat, Shoreham

    Check in: 4pm (official start is 5pm so please arrive by 4.30pm latest if possible)

    Check out: 11.30am

I can’t wait to meet you!

If you have any questions that aren’t answered on this page please feel free to get in contact with me via email: vivienne@amindfulmind.com.au.

I aim to respond within 24 hours.