Co-sponsored with the donothing® Leadership Retreat
The donothing Leadership Retreat offers leaders and entrepreneurs with the most rewarding challenge they may ever take — a leadership-focused mindfulness and meditation retreat.
Join us and discover why meditation is such an impactful and practical practice to integrate into our lives, especially as leaders. After slowing down, unplugging and looking within, you’ll grasp why presence and awareness is the greatest gift we can offer.
Exciting Program Announcement!
We’ve added TWO new, exciting sessions to the donothing Leadership Retreat—both of which will be led by renowned mindful leaders.
Mindful Connections
Led by Patricia Karpas, a mindfulness expert and host of the Untangle: Mindfulness for Curious Humans podcast, the Mindful Connections session will kick-off our five days of mindfulness with interactive exercises designed to inspire and connect with yourself and other retreat participants.
MindTravel SilentHike
Thousands of people worldwide have experienced Murray Hidary’s MindTravel SilentHike, and now he’s bringing it here to the Shambhala Mountain Center for the donothing Leadership Retreat! Don’t miss this rare opportunity to immerse yourself in music, nature, and mindful leadership lessons.
About the Retreat
Every detail at the donothing Leadership Retreat is created to inspire. Nestled high within in the Colorado Rockies, the retreat is held at the majestic Shambhala Mountain Center.
You will be guided through valuable mindfulness techniques along with a supportive community of like-minded leaders.
Whether you’re searching for an opportunity to deepen your meditation practice, get back on track, or you consider yourself a novice, the donothing Leadership Retreat was designed with any mindfulness level in mind.
We invite you to join us and enjoy:
- Unplugging—yes, this is a highlight!
- Learning and refining mindfulness skills
- Connecting with other like-minded leaders
- Discovering how to bring mindfulness into your leadership and your life
- Exploring nature and soaking in the inspiring energy of the surroundings
- A guided hike led by SMC Executive Director, Michael Gayner
- Delicious and healthy cuisine prepared on-site for all meals
- Private accommodations
Why Attend?
Leaders express experiencing endless benefits from attending the retreat. However, here are five key areas where past participants have shared with us to be especially impactful.
→ Increased Productivity
The donothing Leadership Retreat will open your mind and allow ideas to flow. Although you won’t be writing them down, the best ones will rise to the top. By the end of the retreat, expect to have some real breakthroughs.
→ Increased Focus
By cultivating a deeper mindfulness practice, return to your daily life with a refined ability to train your attention and offer complete presence to any task.
→ Let Go of Fear
Many of your business and life decisions — or non-decisions — may be based in a deep-rooted fear. Maybe it’s a fear of failing or of being outside of your comfort zone.
The retreat will guide you in developing a meditation practice that allows for more authentic, vulnerable leadership.
→ Rejuvenate Your Mind and Body
Do you feel busy all the time — even when you’re on a so-called “vacation”? At the retreat, let your mind and body truly receive the rest it deserves.
→ Gain New Perspective
Gift your mind with the ability to bring yourself back to now. At the retreat, you’ll find a new perspective on what really matters — the present moment.
What to Expect
Day 1
You will arrive at SMC mid-afternoon, settle in and rest and/or explore. We will have dinner together followed by a fireside chat. This is always a highlight for the group as it’s a time to connect and learn about each other.
Day 2
After breakfast, we’ll enjoy an overview of SMC’s beautiful, energetic land by Executive Director, Michael Gayner. Then, we will head out on a hike where Michael will guide us to the very spots he discussed during his talk.
After the hike, you will have time to connect, relax, have a massage, or explore. In the afternoon, we will join our facilitator, Janet, and begin the meditation portion of the retreat with mindfulness instruction.
Day 3
The day starts with instruction and meditation. After lunch, we will begin settling into silence. Our afternoon includes instruction, mindful walking and stretching practices, meditation and wisdom talks.
Day 4
The day begins with instruction and meditation. After a period of various mindfulness practices, there’s time for relaxation. The afternoon consists of instruction, small break-out groups for questions, meditation and wisdom talks.
Day 5
On our last day, we will slowly come out of silence and share our insights about the retreat experience with each other. The session concludes with a powerful ritual that is most rememberable for the participants.
Next, we will enjoy a final lunch. Together, we’ll reminisce about the last few days and treasure this special time — right now — in the present.
Why Did Past Participants Love this Retreat?
“The practice of meditation does feel like it’s helping to increase the size of the space for me between stimulus and response. I noticed it immediately when I was back in my office on Friday.”
“A [comment] was raised by one of my staff—and I was able to slow my response. My impulse was to react defensively, but I slowed down and responded with a clarifying question. The two-second pause probably changed the interaction from a negative to a positive for both parties. Pretty amazing.”
“[I learned] the ability to focus on breathing—to relax—before reacting when faced with something I might be eager to respond to…especially negatively.”
“I am able to bring to benefits of meditation to my employees. I have learned to treat everyone with kindness and to handle employee challenges in a calmer, more productive way.”
“I was very surprised that I was able to shut down from technology for as long as I did and became ok with it. It was very challenging at first—but by the end, it just wasn’t a thing…”
“I was also surprised that I was ok being alone in my room or on hikes without any distractions. I started observing things that I normally wouldn’t have if I were either with someone or was distracted with music, phone, etc.”
Join us in Colorado from April 19–23rd, 2020 for the next donothing Leadership Retreat and take the most rewarding leadership challenge of your life!
Janet Solyntjes
(Lead Teacher)
Janet Solyntjes, MA, is a Certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher and has been leading silent meditation retreats in the U.S. and internationally for over 25 years. Janet provides online study groups and individual mentoring to mindfulness teachers-in-training and has been on the faculty of Naropa University, the Center for Mindfulness, and the Engaged Mindfulness Institute. She facilitates the annual donothing retreat for entrepreneurs and supports business leaders and teams in the integration of mindfulness into workplace settings.
Rob Dube
(donothing Founder)
From Blow Pops to Forbes Best Small Companies! Rob started his first business in high school selling Blow Pops out of his locker. For the last 28 years, he’s served as President and Co-founder of imageOne, ranked as one of the Top 25 Small Businesses in America on the 2017 list of Forbes Small Giants.
Throughout Rob’s entrepreneurial journey, he’s developed an unwavering passion for delivering extraordinary experiences that positively impact the lives of his team members, the goals of their customers, and the fabric of the community…A unique approach to business that has driven the company to success in its industry, and as a top workplace. imageOne is simply the best at helping clients optimize and manage print, automate business process, and secure documents and is well-known as an exceptional company, receiving local and national recognition for its multi-award-winning culture.
Rob is an avid meditator of 14 years, the author of donothing™: the most rewarding leadership challenge you will ever take, the organizer of the donothing™ leadership retreat, host of the donothing™ podcast and a contributor to Forbes, Thrive Global, and EO Octane.
Featuring These Special Guests
This year, we’re bringing TWO new, exciting sessions to the donothing Leadership Retreat—both of which will be led by renowned mindful leaders. Here’s more about those leaders and what you can expect.
Patricia Karpas
Mindful Connections
Patricia Karpas is a former media executive, co-founder of the five-star app Meditation Studio, Head of Content for MUSE, the Brain Sensing Headband, and the host of the podcast, Untangle: Mindfulness for Curious Humans.
On Sunday evening, Patricia will lead us in some practices to help kick off our five days of focused, mindful growth together.
Murray Hidary
MindTravel SilentHike
On Monday, tech pioneer and multi-disciplinary artist Murray Hidary will guide us on a once-in-a-lifetime MindTravel SilentHike. His purpose-driven approach is at the heart of Murray’s successes and global recognition.
Immerse yourself in music and nature while creating a deeper connection between yourself and your surroundings. You’ll also grow professionally as Murray integrates impactful leadership lessons into the SilentHike’s narrative.
Murray’s MindTravel events typically host 100s of participants. Don’t miss this rare opportunity as you share in the experience with a small group of like-minded leaders and entrepreneurs.
About Shambhala Mountain Center:
Nestled high in the Colorado Rockies 2 hours north of Denver, Shambhala Mountain Center is a six-hundred-acre mountain valley retreat surrounded by native forests, gentle meadows and rocky peaks. Tamed by decades of use as a contemplative refuge, we provide a safe and supportive container for exploring paths of deepened awareness, personal wellbeing and societal transformation. For more than 40 years, extraordinary people have gathered here to experience Shambhala teachings and partake in over 100 year-round offerings featuring indigenous wisdom traditions, body awareness practices, contemplative arts, mindful living or other paths of personal transformation.
Click here to see our location in Google Maps.
Cancellation Policy
Refund payments will be issued per the following cancellation schedule:
50% if cancelled by January 20, 2020
25% if cancelled by February 20, 2020
10% if cancelled by March 20, 2020
No refunds or credits are issued for cancellations received after March 20, 2020.
Children Policy
Shambhala Mountain Center welcomes children of parents/guardians who are participating in our scheduled programs, or who are simply engaging in a personal retreat. However, we do not provide childcare. Parents are encouraged to also bring a caretaker for their children, so that the parents can fully participate in their program.
Click here to learn more about bringing your child to SMC.
Arrival Details
Registration takes place from 12:00-3:00 pm at Sacred Studies Hall on April 19, with lunch available from 12:30-1:30 pm. Please arrive before 3:00 pm to check in and settle into your accommodations. Your first program session will be from 3:30-5:30 pm, followed by dinner. The Guest Registration house closes at 5:30 pm after which no one is available to provide information or orient you to your accommodations. Further specifics regarding your program’s schedule will be available upon arrival. If applicable, you will receive an email from the program coordinator in the week prior to your program with any additional information you may need.
Copy updated from edited on Google drive 1/24/19 kk