What We Do |
Inward Bound Mindfulness Education (iBme) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of teens, parents, and professionals. Through mindfulness retreats, iBme helps participants cultivate awareness, compassion, and kindness for themselves, others, and the natural world.
Mindfulness education is spreading across the country into schools and youth programs as research comes out about how these skills improve memory, concentration, emotion-regulation, and self-esteem in young people. This is introducing thousands of young people to the practice of mindfulness.
The iBme retreat model is unique in that it allows participants to dive deeper into mindfulness practices in a safe, residential environment. Participants gain a level of insight into their own experience and heart felt connection with peers that may be only possible in a retreat setting.
On our retreats, we combine periods of intensive mindfulness meditation and loving kindness practices with small group discussions, mindful movement, and creative workshops. A few common workshops are theater games, primitive skills, mindful sports, drumming, poetry, and facilitated discussions on topics such as gender, diversity, and social justice.
iBme retreats combine periods of talking with periods of silence. During some of these talking periods participants learn interpersonal skills, such as deep listening and authentic communication. These skills are essential for most of us who spend our days interacting with family, friends, and colleagues.
The iBme team is made up of a talented, diverse group deeply dedicated to serving teenagers. Many of them are known around the world for their work in mindfulness education. We invite you to learn more about our Staff, Teachers, Advisors, and Board.
Our Programs
Teen Retreats: Our core focus is offering weekend and weeklong residential mindfulness retreats for teens. On retreat, we introduce teens to meditation. We also incorporate small group discussions, mindful movement (such as yoga), and creative workshops.
Wilderness Retreats: Similar to our teen retreats, but with more emphasis on connecting with the natural world. These are set deep in wilderness settings.
School programs: iBme works with schools by offering daylong and residential weekend and weeklong retreats in partnership with individual schools and organizations.
