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Buddhism & Meditation Weekend
Yoga for Meditation Weekend
Yoga can be thought of as a way to prepare our bodies for meditation. It is a practice that helps to bring together the body and mind, and restore and integrate our energies for life, health, and our highest purposes. This weekend will offer yoga for all levels, alongside meditation practice and a glimpse of the Buddhist vision.
- Join in yoga sessions, with options for beginners. There will be more dynamic sessions as well as restorative yoga.
- Learn or deepen meditation practices
- Get an Introduction to the Buddhist vision and ritual
- Enjoy periods of silence, as well as free time for walks or rest
- Be part of a retreat community for the weekend
Who runs the retreats?
Life on Retreat
A Buddhist retreat is a chance to escape the noise and complexity of modern life and deepen your experience of yourself and of the world around you. It’s not a holiday or a spa, however most people come away refreshed and inspired.
Retreat life is simple, with a daily programme to follow. There will be periods of meditation, talks on aspects of Buddhism and simple rituals as well as free time for rest and walks in the countryside. As the retreat progresses there will be more meditation and longer periods of silence to allow for reflection. On most retreats there will also be small groups led by a team member in which you can discuss your experience of the retreat. Our retreats are known for being friendly, inspiring and enjoyable.
A Buddhist retreat is a chance to escape the noise and complexity of modern life and deepen your experience of yourself and of the world around you. It’s not a holiday or a spa, however most people come away refreshed and inspired.
Retreat life is simple, with a daily programme to follow. There will be periods of meditation, talks on aspects of Buddhism and simple rituals as well as free time for rest and walks in the countryside. As the retreat progresses there will be more meditation and longer periods of silence to allow for reflection. On most retreats there will also be small groups led by a team member in which you can discuss your experience of the retreat. Our retreats are known for being friendly, inspiring and enjoyable.
Retreat life is simple, with a daily programme to follow. For children aged 3.5-18 years, there will be indoor crafts and outdoor activities as well as a dedicated teens group. For adults, there will be space to engage in meditation, yoga, talks and workshops. There will also be sessions for the whole family – yoga, meditation, Buddhist storytelling and ritual. Our retreats are known for being friendly, inspiring and enjoyable. In order to support the communal atmosphere on our retreats, we require that you only book a retreat if you can attend for the full duration.
Retreat life is simple, with a daily programme to follow. There will be indoor crafts, games, art, music, as well as outdoor activities. There will also be sessions of yoga, meditation, Buddhist storytelling and ritual. You might gain better focus, less stress, friendships with people your age, and a chance to understand yourself and your emotions more deeply. Our retreats are known for being friendly, inspiring and supportive environments. In order to support the communal atmosphere on our retreats, we require that you only book a retreat if you can attend for the full duration.
Accommodation & Food
Living communally is an important aspect of being on retreat and you’ll be sharing rooms and meals with others, as well as practising together in the shrine room. It’s often a surprise just how warm the atmosphere of communal life can become on retreat and how supportive it can be for individual practice.
Our retreats are usually for up to 60 people, with most accommodation in shared single-sex bedrooms. We require couples to stay in separate rooms from one another so do let us know when you book if you’re coming with a partner.
We serve three tasty vegan meals a day. Toast, biscuits, fruit and hot drinks are available via self service at any point on retreat. Medical dietary requirements such as common intolerances and allergies can usually be accommodated if it is possible to do so within our existing menu and available ingredients. Upon booking, you will have an opportunity to provide these details. If you’d like to discuss your dietary requirements before booking a retreat, please get in touch with us. Please note that we do not permit food to be brought with you to the retreat centre.
Living communally is an important aspect of being on retreat and you’ll be sharing rooms and meals with others, as well as practising together in the shrine room. It’s often a surprise just how warm the atmosphere of communal life can become on retreat and how supportive it can be for individual practice.
Our retreats are usually for up to 60 people, with most accommodation in shared bedrooms. We require couples to stay in separate rooms from one another so do let us know when you book if you’re coming with a partner.
We serve three tasty vegan meals a day. If you have dietary restrictions many of these can be accommodated if you let us know when you book. Toast, biscuits, fruit and hot drinks are available via self service at any point on retreat.
Living communally is an important aspect of being on retreat and you’ll be sharing rooms and meals with others, as well as practising together in the shrine room. It’s often a surprise just how warm the atmosphere of communal life can become on retreat and how supportive it can be for individual practice.
Our retreats are usually for up to 60 people, with most accommodation in shared single-sex bedrooms. We require couples to stay in separate rooms from one another so do let us know when you book if you’re coming with a partner.
We serve three tasty vegan meals a day. Toast, biscuits, fruit and hot drinks are available via self service at any point on retreat. Medical dietary requirements such as common intolerances and allergies can usually be accommodated if it is possible to do so within our existing menu and available ingredients. Upon booking, you will have an opportunity to provide these details. If you’d like to discuss your dietary requirements before booking a retreat, please get in touch with us. Please note that we do not permit food to be brought with you to the retreat centre.
Living communally is an important aspect of being on retreat and you’ll be sharing rooms as a family, and meals with others, as well as taking part in activities together. It’s often a surprise just how warm the atmosphere of communal life can become on retreat and how supportive it can be for individual practice.
Families will share a room together. Bathrooms and showers will be shared between other families in the same accommodation block, with four or five rooms in each block.
We serve three tasty vegan meals a day. Toast, biscuits, fruit and hot drinks are available via self service at any point on retreat. Medical dietary requirements such as common intolerances and allergies can usually be accommodated if it is possible to do so within our existing menu and available ingredients. Upon booking, you will have an opportunity to provide these details. If you’d like to discuss your dietary requirements before booking a retreat, please get in touch with us. Please note that we do not permit food to be brought with you to the retreat centre.
Living communally is an important aspect of being on retreat and you’ll be sharing rooms and meals with others, as well as taking part in activities together. It’s often a surprise just how warm the atmosphere of communal life can become on retreat and how supportive it can be for individual practice.
Our retreats are usually for up to 60 people, with most accommodation in shared single-sex bedrooms.
We serve three tasty vegan meals a day. Toast, biscuits, fruit and hot drinks are available via self service at any point on retreat. Medical dietary requirements such as common intolerances and allergies can usually be accommodated if it is possible to do so within our existing menu and available ingredients. Upon booking, you will have an opportunity to provide these details. If you’d like to discuss your dietary requirements before booking a retreat, please get in touch with us. Please note that we do not permit food to be brought with you to the retreat centre.
What people say
Anwar
Great location (less than 5 min walk from Baker St station), and spotless studio apartment with all the facilities you could ask for! Will gladly stay here again.
Holly
Great apartment centrally located-everything was easily accessible with the underground close by. There are many cute shops and restaurants in the area.
Tamille
The apartment is very great, excellent location, and have everything that we need. Beatrix is a very nice host, and thoughtful.
How to get there
For all retreats we provide an optional return coach from the London Buddhist Centre in Bethnal Green, which you can add for £50 when you book.
Alternatively you can read about other ways to get to Vajrasana below.
Travel by Coach (from the LBC)
For all retreats we provide an optional return coach from the London Buddhist Centre in Bethnal Green, which you can add for £60 when you book.
Travel by Car
Vajrasana has car parking facilities which can be used for the duration of a retreat. Please note that we do not have electric vehicle charging stations on site.
Address: Vajrasana Retreat Centre, Walsham le Willows, Bury Saint Edmunds IP31 3AR United Kingdom
Travel by Train
Regular trains run from London Liverpool Street to Stowmarket station. If you are travelling from outside of London, it may be more convenient to get a train into Thetford or Bury St Edmunds. You will then need to get a taxi from the station to Vajrasana. (Please note that although Elmswell is the nearest station, it has no bus link to Vajrasana and taxis will have to come from one of the bigger towns)
Taxi options
We recommend booking taxis with plenty of advance notice as there is often limited availability.
Address: Vajrasana Retreat Centre, Walsham le Willows, Bury Saint Edmunds IP31 3AR United Kingdom
StowmarketKelly's Cabs: 01449 676 767
Stowmarket Taxis: 01449 677 777
Approximate cost: £30
Elmswell
Elmswell is the nearest station, about 4.5 miles from Vajrasana, but it is not easy to get a taxi from here. Call one of the above Stowmarket companies well in advance and don’t get off the train here unless you have a taxi pre-booked.
Thetford
A2B Taxis: 01842 755 222
Approximate cost: £40
Bury St Edmunds
A1 Cars: 01284 766 777
Local Buses
Things to know
Practical Information
Practical Information
We will ask you to turn off all electronic devices and not contact anyone outside the retreat
We will provide a number which you can give to anybody who might need to contact you in an emergency
No alcohol or recreational drugs are allowed
We will ask that you don’t bring news media with you or work to do
Smoking and vaping is allowed only in designated places
We will provide further information when you book, including a list of the things that we suggest you bring with you
Health, Wellbeing & Accessibility
Mental Wellbeing & Accessibility
Mental health covers a broad spectrum of experiences and conditions. Having a diagnosed or suspected mental health condition does not necessarily mean you cannot come on retreat. Please click below to find out more.
Vajrasana has been designed with accessibility in mind. If you have any particular access needs to go on retreat please click for more information below and feel free to get in touch.
Payment & Cancellations
Payment & Cancellations
If money prevents you from booking on a retreat then we’d like to try and help. There are a number of ways we might do that including a bursary fund.
Our retreats are not refundable or transferable. If you cancel your retreat place more than a month in advance, then the amount paid minus the deposit will be returned to you.
About the London Buddhist Centre
The London Buddhist Centre is at the heart of a varied and vibrant community of Buddhist practitioners in East London.
We teach Buddhism and meditation in a way which is relevant to contemporary life.
We host regular classes and courses at our centre in Bethnal Green as well as retreats at Vajrasana in rural Suffolk.
See our full schedule.
Contact Us
If you have any further questions about our retreats, you can email bookings@lbc.org.uk or call us on 02087099978 (10am-5pm weekdays).
