In-Person on May 30th, 2026
at SickKids Peter Gilgan Centre for Research & Learning
in Toronto
from 10am - 4pm ET

Sliding scale price, $99-149

Join us for a day of mindful practice and insight aimed at building inner resilience and supporting your ongoing work. Resilience, like mindfulness, requires consistent practice and self-awareness; when we add compassion to our sitting, we encounter both the challenges and the gifts in our roles as caregivers. During the morning, we will refresh our silent mindfulness sitting skills, alternating between walking meditation and compassion-based exercises. While the mind is never completely quiet, extended meditation sessions create space to rewire ourselves toward greater ease, acceptance, and inner openness, unlike the constant demands and distractions of daily life. In the afternoon, we will focus on developing inner stability and strength—our capacity to sustain ourselves—through sharing stories and insights from our practices, as well as reflecting on recent research about actualising resilience through self-awareness training.

This retreat is a collaborative effort between the Compassion Champions Program at SickKids and the Mindfulness and Compassion Certification Program at Sarana Institute. We hope this full day inspires both new and experienced practitioners to explore mindfulness, share insights, and remember what it means to be present to the richness of each moment. Whether you have an established mindfulness practice or are just beginning, this day offers renewal and fresh energy to support your growth in cultivating these transformative skills rooted in mindful awareness and compassionate presence. Give yourself a day to reconnect with an inner space of open awareness and clear intention.

What to expect during this retreat:

• Guided mindfulness practices, walking meditation, and contemplative reflections;

• Opportunities to deepen your meditation skills within a supportive group setting;

• Group exercises in relational mindfulness that explore our strengths and challenges in caregiving professions;

• Resilience training informed by neuroscience research, exploring pathways to sustain ourselves.

• Enjoy a full day of practice, connection, and self-care.
  

Here’s what we suggest bringing along:

• A prepared lunch to maximize our time together

• Printed syllabus and materials, if you would like to have them

• Meditation cushion, if you have one, or indicated you will bring one (we’ll have extras!)

• Meditation mat or blanket for under the cushion, if desired

• Water bottle

• Tea mug or vessel for tea

• Journal

• Shawl or extra layer if you get cool during sitting