Inward Bound Mindfulness Education

“Mindfulness has great power to reduce stress and promote a deep sense of wellness. For adolescents today, this is an urgent need. Supporting their inner work through thoughtful and effective mindfulness programs, as they are doing at iBme, can have far-reaching consequences for the good of adolescents at this stage of their development and beyond.” — Trish Broderick, PhD, Penn State Prevention Research Center
"Heartfelt gratitude to you for a wonderful workshop!! Folks really enjoyed and got much out of the morning with you." — Candace Coffin / Director of Specialty Services, Mount Rogers Community Services Board
“I am excited about this growing movement and pledge 100% support to this organization, its mission and team. I have been working with youth and individuals dealing with PTSD – utilizing meditation and yoga to open pathways to awareness and mindfulness. It works. It is working, and it needs to keep working.” — Niyati Shah, Tranquil Space, Washington, DC
“What a great endeavor! Our research demonstrates that mindfulness based programs can change brain structure and function, so a program like iBme can make a true, long-lasting impact on these students.” — Sara Lazar, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
“As Director of Mindfulness Education at UCLA MARC and as a long-time teacher of mindfulness for youth, on behalf of MARC I wholly endorse iBme’s work. They are on the forefront of a movement to revolutionize inner development for teens and those who serve them, something desperately needed for our youth who are increasingly stressed and lost.” — Diana Winston, UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC)
“As a psychology professor who teaches inner-city college students, I have lost count of the number of students who told me after my lecture on mindfulness and meditation, that they wished they knew how to do that. The iBme program has incredible potential to give students the boost they need to handle some of the challenges they face.” — Orin Davis, Quality of Life Laboratory, New York
“I have been teaching mindfulness techniques for almost 38 years, in the US and around the world. I recognize this (iBme) as an exciting program, with integrity, compassion and intelligence.” — Sharon Salzberg, Insight Meditation Society (Barre, Ma)
“The work that this organization does is definitely cutting edge and a most successful program. The adolescents that we have sent to the retreats and workshops have ALL had transformations and have been able to take on self-healing and have had tremendous changes in self-esteem and confidence.” — Candace Coffin, Director of Specialty Services, Mount Rogers Community Services Board
“As a psychiatrist I have had the opportunity to see the huge benefit that a basic introduction to mindfulness practices can bring to people suffering from a wide variety of mood and anxiety disorders. What a wonderful plan iBme has to bring education in mindfulness to youths, who so often struggle to manage and tolerate their intense emotions.” — Jennifer Pasternack, MD, PhD, Erie, PA

Teen Retreats

The iBme Retreat Model

We teach teens proven awareness and concentration practices that have been used for thousands of years. Teens learn how to settle a busy mind, how to skillfully handle emotions and thoughts, how to direct and sustain attention, how cultivate compassion, and how to truly listen and communicate. Through guided mindfulness meditation, small group discussions, and fun workshop activities, participants experience a sense of connection and safety that many have never felt before.

Mindfulness

The core of the iBme retreat model is mindfulness. Mindfulness is embedded in all the daily activities, which include several formal sitting and walking meditation periods. Using the mindfulness skills that are taught, teens begin to calm their mind and explore their own mind and body. Recent studies have also shown some of the other benefits of practicing mindfulness, which include an increase in concentration, empathy, emotional intelligence, self-esteem, and memory.

Authentic Communication

The second element of the iBme model is relational activities. In twice-daily small group discussions, participants are introduced to interactive mindfulness practices that help teens connect with each other and learn valuable communication skills. There are few words to convey how profoundly youth (and adults) are affected when they experience being seen and heard by their peers in the safety and intimacy of these small groups. For many teens and adults, these small groups are the highlight of the retreat.

Connecting with the Natural World

The third element of the iBme model is helping students realize our connection with the earth. The retreats are held in natural settings and activities include taking silent or guided walks, identifying wildlife and edible and medicinal plants, and eating wholesome foods. As teens quiet their minds, many are able to connect with the earth in an entirely new way.

Dynamic Workshops

Each day on retreat, teens are offered a variety of workshops including mindful sports, art, music, poetry, theater, and discussion groups on topics such as diversity, gender, and non-violent communication. The retreat culminates in a community share and celebration of artistic expressions on the final night.

If you have questions or would like to talk with a teen who has attended a retreat please contact us. You can also visit our Facebook page to connect with the iBme community.