Retreats

Our retreats are designed to skillfully support your mindfulness and compassion practice.

Retreats and classes are based in Toronto, or approx 2.5 North near Chatsworth, Ont, at Sarana Springs, a beautiful refuge property.

AUTUMN EQUINOX RETREAT: SEPT. 20, 21, 23 CLICK HERE 

Our high quality retreats are often offered at a reduced cost generously made possible by donations to offset fees. Becoming a retreat donor benefits the lives of many. We are grateful to those who support our retreat community.

Retreat Location at Sarana Springs near Chatsworth, Ontario.

Sarana Springs is approximately a 2.5 hour drive from Toronto, north of Markdale and south of Owen Sound.

Sarana Springs, is a 170+ acre refuge property set in a beautiful  wilderness environment, where fresh water springs carve creeks throughout the property and where a small lake, ponds and river remind us how water sustains all life. Here, as our practice expands to sense into the roots of suffering, we share as a community the role of developing kindness, tenderly turning towards our vulnerability, and meeting forgiveness as a means for sustaining our selves and for extending this loving awareness towards our world.

Accomodations for Retreats at Sarana Springs

On site: payment made by cash or cheque the day of to Angie Blake

  • Tenting: $20 per night / $25 per night for 2 people in 1 tent
  • Off Grid Retreat Cabins: Please contact us to check availability. $50 per night. Bring your own bedding.

Off site:

Admin Contact for Retreat Inquiries: Maxine@saranainstitute.org  519.270.7450

On Being Compassionate:
by (Rev.) Andrew Blake

With practice, we learn to be with the qualities present in our moment-by-moment experience, and then with more curiousity and perseverance, we learn to touch into the roots of a reactive emotion or a strong trigger that sets us off into fear, sadness, jealousy, or rage. Slowing down brings us greater awareness of these states and, through this first skill of mindfulness, we learn that we can let them go in any given moment. This gradually brings us ease, acceptance and greater trust of emotionally states. This is not control, but rather what in neuroscience is called “regulation.” But how to we understand the roots of our emotions and even transform those old prickly triggers? How do we direct compassion and kindness to our own reactions and suffering? This is where your meditation cushion hits the pavement…continue reading here.