Kindness Festival 2025 – Online Kindness Meditation Retreat

Kindness and compassion are fundamental to our nature, extending to those close to us and suffering beings worldwide. However, directing the same kindness towards ourselves can often feel more challenging.

This short online retreat will offer guided meditations focused on the body and heart, both of which respond well to gentle attention. The practice will begin with connecting awareness to the body, allowing relaxation to unfold naturally. As the session progresses, participants will turn their attention to the heart, exploring kindness and goodwill towards the inner voices that often bring difficulty or self-criticism. These aspects of ourselves, often driven by fear and self-protection, can find relief and safety through compassionate attention.

The retreat will include spoken guidance at the beginning and end, with silent practice in the middle except for teacher-led instructions. Meditation will be primarily in a seated position, with some lying-down practices and gentle guided movement. A short lunch break will be included. While the retreat is open to both experienced meditators and beginners, those new to meditation may find several hours of practice challenging.

About Dan Lupton

Dan has been teaching Mindfulness-Based Approaches with his wife Eva since 2013 (www.everyday-mindfulness.com). For the past four years, he has led body-based meditations on Tuesday mornings at 9am as part of The Good Heart’s Heartspace programme (www.thegoodheart.uk/heartspace). He also offers a longer course called Body & Heart. Dan works as a body-oriented talking therapist and lives in Chapmanslade near Frome.

Advance booking is essential

To help the retreat run smoothly, you’ll be asked to provide the following details at the final step of your booking:

• Name

• Email address

• Phone number

• A brief outline of any previous meditation experience

• Any physical or mental health concerns you’d like Dan to be aware of

(Dan may follow up with you individually for a brief chat before the retreat starts.)

Once registered, you will receive the Zoom link and retreat guidelines