Customer Reviews

Don't Just Do Something, Sit There: A Mindfulness Retreat with Sylvia Boorstein

Unfortunately, because of my schedule, I'm not able to attend another retreat for several months. So, when I heard about people taking "personal" weekend retreats alone, I decided to try one myself. This book is a -wonderful- "manual" for doing such a retreat. I locked myself in my house for 3 days, and used this book as my teacher. Sylvia writes so warmly... I really needed her compassionate words when my meditations got rough. I found myself laughing aloud many times during the retreat. It was a hard retreat (I find meditation -very- hard to practice daily, but I do it anyway because that's the only way really), but I emerged with a similar feeling as my first retreat -- more aware, and more loving toward myself.

I would not recommend this book if you have never attended a formal retreat (in a group setting, with experienced teachers). But, if you've done that, then this is a great way to supplement and boost awareness "in-between" formal retreats.

I took one star away only because I found the timetables hard to keep up with. My 2nd night, I didn't get to bed until 11pm. Maybe I should have given it five. Oh, just let me have this one grudge, please? :)

Thank goodness for people like Sylvia. She knows exactly how to make the self-critic in my meditation ("I'm not DOING it right!") run for cover.

Unfortunately, because of my schedule, I'm not able to attend another retreat for several months. So, when I heard about people taking "personal" weekend retreats alone, I decided to try one myself. This book is a -wonderful- "manual" for doing such a retreat. I locked myself in my house for 3 days, and used this book as my teacher. Sylvia writes so warmly... I really needed her compassionate words when my sittings got rough. I found myself laughing aloud at her words a handful of times during the retreat. It was a hard retreat (I find meditation -very- hard to practice daily, but I do it anyway because that's the only way really), but I emerged with a similar feeling as my first retreat -- more aware, and more loving toward myself. She also offers a handful of techniques that were new to me, and helped me greatly.

I would not recommend this book if you have never attended a formal retreat (in a group setting, with experienced teachers). But, if you've done that, then this is a great way to supplement and boost awareness "in-between" formal retreats.

I took one "star" away only because I found the timetables hard to keep up with. My 2nd night, I didn't get to bed until 11pm. ...On second thought that was my own fault for taking a long afternoon nap... Maybe I should have given it five... Oh, just let me keep this one grudge, please? :)

Thank goodness for people like Sylvia. She knows exactly how to make the self-critic in my meditation ("I'm not DOING it right!") run for cover.