Teacher: Mirjam Luthe and Helga Luger-Schreiner

Live-Online Inspirational Practice with Christiane Wolf and Cassondra Graff in two evenings (Dhana) 

The radiant, elegant cosmos that we can observe is actually our own consciousness and not something separate from us on the outside.

(Thich Nhat Hanh)

We are living in a time, when confusion, loss of control and fear seem to take hold of our minds. (Self-)Compassion can become an antidote: To live well, thrive and care, we need to live well together. (Self-)Compassion helps to broaden our awareness and our respect for ourselves and then also for other living beings – expanding and deepening our relationship with our planet Earth, helping us to become aware of our interconnectivity. And compassion is not a luxury, it is even a necessity, if we are to survive. Life is calling us to live it well, fearless and intentional, to not only survive, but to let all life including ourselves thrive. Life is a precious gift. Let’s celebrate it!

Following ancient traditions that value the transformative power of nature, we will seek refuge in the beauty, stillness and silence of the natural world in the breathtaking Italian Alps, in Ostana province.

Join Mirjam Luthe and Helga Luger-Schreiner (both Certified MSC Teachers) at Monviso Institute, Ostana, Italy, for an immersion into self-compassion in connection with nature. Nested in the mountains of the Italian Alps, in Ostana province, immerse yourself in your natural capacity for compassion and wisdom by participating in a 5-Day Mindful Self-Compassion Intensive course, the empirically-supported 8-week Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program designed to cultivate the skill of self-compassion. It was developed by Christopher Germer, PhD, a leader in the integration of mindfulness and psychotherapy and Kristin Neff, PhD, a pioneering researcher in the field of self-compassion. MSC combines the skills of mindfulness and self-compassion to enhance our capacity for emotional wellbeing. Mindfulness is the first step—turning with loving awareness toward difficult experience (thoughts, emotions, and sensations). Self-compassion comes next—bringing loving awareness to ourselves. Together, mindfulness and self-compassion comprise a state of warm, connected, presence during difficult moments in our lives.

Program activities will include meditation, short inspirational talks about the science of mindfulness and self-compassion, many experiential exercises, and group dialogs. We will take care of our physical needs and incorporate movement though yoga, hikes, swims and dance (optional). We will enjoy healthy local food. The goal is to provide a safe and supportive environment for exploring how we typically respond, when difficult emotions arise and to provide tools for becoming a warm and supportive companion to ourselves. The emphasis of the program is on enhancing emotional resources and personal capacities. We will also enjoy sensing and savoring the great outdoors and exploring our surroundings, the local Occitane culture, connect with local people and learn about their  resilience to undesirable changes and about new ideas for reviving Alpine villages like Ostana.

In addition to indoor practice in a safe container of our meditation room in the local “Centro Culturale” with a nice coffee place, we will practice with mindfulness outdoors to help awaken our sensitivity to our inner and outer world, open our appreciation of nature as a profound teacher, and invite wakefulness to every moment. Every activity, from meditation to hiking and a short daily work meditation time on the MVI compound, to sitting around the campfire is an opportunity to deepen our awareness. We will together discover how meditative time outdoors easily leads to states of joy, peace, wonder, love and connection with oneself, each other and the larger web of life.

No meditation experience is necessary. A previous interview with the teacher(s) is required. Sufficient physical condition (adapted to altitude of about 1500m asl and walking in the woods and on mountainous terrain) are required. Accommodation varies among simple options with camping and outdoor toilet and shower to more private ones in a local youth hostel, to private rooms in an Agriturismo or a Rifugio, or sharing an apartment. Please note: This offer differs from regular MSC Intensive locations,  as we will integrate the local setting in our practice and not stay as a group overnight in the same accommodation. We will share meals, where possible, but leave freedom for personal choices.

This course qualifies as a pre-requisite on the path towards becoming a Trained MSC Teacher (see www.centerformsc.org)

Course language: English (with a possibility of partial German translation and Italian partial translation, where needed)

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TEACHERS>>

Mirjam Luthe 

Helga Luger-Schreiner