MBSR
2023-09-25 09:30 - 11:30, 2023-10-02 09:30 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
If you have ever wondered how your meditation practice and living mindfully can contribute to the well being of the world, all beings and the planet itself, this class is for you!
Why MBSR? Why now? When Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn first created and offered MBSR 44 years ago, he took his long dedicated Buddhist practice, into the heart of a New England Medical Center where he worked as a molecular biologist. He did it by using non-Buddhist, inclusive language, combined with stress physiology, adult learning theory, and neuroscience hoping to open these beneficial practices to as wide a range of suffering people as possible. It worked. Since then, overwhelming research has shown that this program has myriad health benefits and significantly increases empathy and compassion. Originally, his focus was not only to help individuals, but he saw it as a Public Health Initiative, knowing that everything is truly interconnected. As others suffer, we suffer. As we change the world changes.
This 8-week program, founded on Buddhist teachings and practices, is also informed by physiology, neuroscience and Kabat-Zinn’s experience as a social activist. When we practice mindfulness, it increases our capacity to face our own suffering, the suffering of the world, and to foster the courage and resilience to take wise action to benefit others and the planet. This particular class, taught by Dr. Dennis McLeod and Beth Mulligan, is informed by our experience training a group of BIPOC MBSR teachers, and learning how to offer the class in way that is “Bigger Than Self Mindfulness,” founded on anti-oppression and an imperative to decolonize the program. Join us as we explore our innate capacity to transform our own suffering, which, if cultivated skillfully, leads us to express the true values of our hearts and recognizes that we are all deeply interconnected.
Who is this class for?
* People interested in developing a personal mindfulness meditation practice, for stress reduction and increased well being.
* People with an established or invested in creating a meditation practice, who wish to take the most widely researched structured program, to cultivate greater health, physically, mentally and emotionally, while cultivating the strength to face the greater suffering in Society, and benefit the world.
* People who have primarily learned Mindfulness from white teachers in white communities, and want to experience it from highly skilled and culturally sensitive teachers .
* People who want to take their personal practice into the world, addressing the limits and harms of white dominant culture, developing awareness to see where they can engage with inequities in society, and make change happen.
WHEN: Mondays starting July 31 (Orientation), then Aug 14 – Oct. 3, 9:30-11:30am (no class 9/4), Daylong on Sept 23, 8:00am – 2:30pm
COST: Sliding Scale $50 – $250. No one is turned away for lack of funds.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Dr Dennis McLeod is psychologist, mental health consultant, a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion practitioner, and mindfulness teacher. He is a proud alumnus of Morehouse College and he completed graduate studies at the University of Florida. His clinical interests and areas of expertise include Black men’s mental health, identity, trauma and coping. You can find more info here.

Beth Mulligan has completed all steps of the professional Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher training program through the University of Massachusetts under Jon Kabat-Zinn PhD and his colleagues and is a certified MBSR teacher. She teaches Mindfulness at many major medical centers, Universities, schools, non-profit organizations and corporations. She also trains professionals in mindfulness based interventions and participates in research on the benefits of mindfulness. With her partner Hugh she is the co-founder of Mindful-Way Stress Reduction programs which serves diverse populations across the country and in England. You can find more info here.

With deep gratitude to Mindful-Way, Insight Community of the Desert and Meditation Coalition for making this happen.

Recommit to Your Practice
2024-01-06 09:30 - 12:30
A Half Day Retreat
with Mary Stancavage
January 6, 2024
9:30am – 12:30pm
St. Paul’s Commons*
840 Echo Park Ave
Los Angeles, CA
We look to the new year as a time of new beginnings and this morning provides an opportunity to reconnect and recommit to your practice. The practice invites us to ‘be with’ whatever is present and find a place of stillness regardless of what is going which is imperative in today’s world. This time your offer yourself is a true gift. There will be sitting and walking meditation, dharma, conversation and an opportunity to set an intention for the new year as well.
Suitable for everyone. Lots of parking!
If you need a ride share, please let us know.
COST: Sliding Scale of $15 – $45. Please pay at the highest level you can to support those who have less.
No one will be turned away for lack of funds. (If you don’t register in advance, please RSVP so we can send parking instructions).

9th Annual Women's Retreat
2024-05-25 16:00 - 2024-05-29 16:00 | Big Bear Retreat Center, 1000 Sugarpine Rd., Big Bear City, CA, 92314, United States
The 9th Annual Women’s Retreat – Canceled
May 25-29, 2024 (four nights)
with Sydney Reece & Mary Stancavage

At Big Bear Retreat Center
We regret to announce that this year’s Women’s Retreat has been canceled. We are so sorry for this and apologize for any inconvenience. Please fee free to reach out to us if you have any questions. Sending you all much love.
We’re excited to announce that our annual women’s retreat is back at the beautiful Big Bear Retreat Center in Big Bear, CA, and we’ve moved the dates to May. We are looking forward to being in community with you.
Developing a Deep Intimacy with Our Experience

Our practice is a journey to equanimity which is an appropriate response to each moment and is grounded in Wisdom and Compassion. This retreat will be a chance to experience an extended period of meditation that is so vital to the development of Equanimity.
There will be periods of sitting and walking meditation, with instructions and daily dharma talks held in a safe container of loving kindness. There will be an opportunity for affinity and break out groups. Retreats offer the opportunity to move deeply into our experience and know the poignancy of the human condition and the capacity of the heart. This form of practice supports our deepest intention to be free. Join us for what promises to be a wonderful experience. This retreat will be held in noble silence
We use an inclusive definition of “woman” and “female” and we welcome trans women, genderqueer women, and non-binary people who are significantly female-identified. Attendees only need to identify as women in a way that’s significant to them.
More info about what to expect and what to bring to BBRC is found HERE.
COST
The retreat fees cover the accommodations and three meals a day with additional snacks available in the dining hall which is open 24/7. Coffee is served daily. Each residence cabin has 3-4 rooms, sharing bathrooms, a kitchen, and a living room. Every building offers outdoor decks to enjoy the natural environment and trails throughout the land (and adjacent national forest) for nature walks. All the linens, towels, bed sheets, blankets and pillows are provided by BBRC. The cooks and staff work for BBRC are paid however teachers are not compensated for the retreat and offer the teachings freely. They receive dana as an expression of gratitude. There will be an opportunity at the end of the retreat to learn more about the practice of dana (generosity) for both the teachers and the retreat manager. A deposit of $175 is required to reserve your space. Full payment is due at the beginning of May – you will be billed.
PRICING OPTIONS

Triple Shared Room
$645

Double Shared Room
$730

Single Room Shared Bath
$815

Single Room Private Bath
$945

Sydney Reece, M.Ed., is an international educator in social justice advocacy and a meditation teacher specializing in addiction and trauma resilience. She has over 20 years of experience supporting adults, formerly incarcerated individuals, and homeless youth, as well as the health professionals who serve them. Over the last 8 years, she has worked in school districts, nonprofits, meditation centers and universities; building access to mindfulness meditation practices. Sydney educates on understanding internal systems of oppression and self-regulation based in insight meditation practices. She is particularly attuned to the subtleties of diversity dynamics and needs of women and People of Color. While teaching abroad for the Chambre de Commerce Orlèans, France and the Education Nationale; Sydney taught cross cultural negotiations and effective communications helping students and executives bridge cultural misunderstandings in times of crisis and conflict. Contact sydneyreece7@gmail.com for more information.

Mary Stancavage has practiced meditation, yoga, and cultivated a spiritual practice for over 35 years and in 2009 was empowered to teach Buddhadharma. Mary is based in the Los Angeles area and teaches classes, retreats and does individual mentoring both locally and internationally. She has taught mindfulness at recovery centers, has co-facilitated Year-to-Live groups since 2008, and has had a weekly dharma class for over a decade. Her Morning Meditation group has met daily at 7am PT since March 2020. Mary is part of the Guiding Teachers Council at Insight Community of the Desert and a founding teacher at Meditation Coalition. Mary completed the Buddhist Chaplaincy Program at the Sati Center and served as volunteer chaplain at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center. She also served as Executive Director of the Mind Body Awareness Project from 2016 to 2018. In taking the practice off the cushion, Mary is honored to serve on the board of CLUE: Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice. Along with teaching, she continues to investigate what it means to live with an undefended heart. Fun fact: Mary has a Masters Degree from UCLA and worked as an archaeologist in Syria. More info can be found at her website, marystancavage.org

A Morning of Practice Online
2024-06-08 09:30 - 12:30
A Morning of Practice
A Half Day Retreat with Mary Stancavage
June 8, 2024 – 9:30am – 12:00pm
Every once in a while it’s important to pause and take a break from the world to rest and regenerate. This morning will be an opportunity to let go and get back to cultivating present time awareness and Rest in Being. There is so much going on today, we often leave ourselves until last – take the time now. There will be meditation, dharma and an opportunity to connect with each other in conversation. This morning is offered by donation, but an RSVP is necessary and a Zoom link will be sent after registration.
RSVP HERE
Suitable for everyone.
By donation

BIPOC Retreat
2025-08-27 17:00 | Big Bear Retreat Center, 1000 Sugarpine Rd., Big Bear City, CA, 92314, United States
This is a retreat for people who identify as Black, Indigenous, or as a Person-of-Color. Both beginning and experienced practitioners are welcome.
Registration for this retreat closes on August 13th, 2025 at 11:59pm Pacific Time. If looking to join after this date, please inquire at guestservices@bigbearretreatcenter.org.
Coming together as a BIPOC community, we create a space of ease and support to meditate and cultivate inner freedom. Held in an environment of silence, this retreat provides an in-depth experience of the Buddha’s teachings on mindful awareness, as well as the cultivation of lovingkindness meditation, illuminating a path toward healing and greater happiness.
Set in the mountains of Big Bear this retreat offers a get away from the city with extensive time for quiet, meditation and walks in nature. Hakim Tafari will also be offering optional periods of mindful movement.
Since ancient times, wise cultures have understood the value of retreat. Time in retreat allows us to step out of the complexity of our life and to listen deeply to our body, heart, and mind. Retreats offer practical instruction and group support for discovering inner peace, deep understanding, and liberation.
Our wish is to make this retreat accessible to any person of color who would like to attend. We offer a sliding scale to choose your payment options. Those who can contribute more, however, help ensure that the community of POC meditators continues to flourish.
This retreat is in partnership with Meditation Coalition and Black Being LA
MORE INFO AND TO REGISTER
