Foundations of Meditation I: Establishing the Ground

August 7th - 9th, 2026

Register Now

Arrival: August 7th, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Departure: August 9th, 12:30 PM

Pricing:
$0  Tuition + 2 nights lodging
Combined at checkout

Meals & drinks included
Inc. V, VG, GF

Add extra nights at 50% off

Pricing:
$0  Tuition + 2 nights lodging
Combined at checkout

Meals & drinks included
Inc. V, VG, GF

Add extra nights at 50% off

At Drala, we are deeply committed to offering inclusive and transformative programs that inspire personal growth, cultivate inner peace, and support meaningful practice. To honor this commitment, we offer tuition-free Foundations Programs such as Foundations of Meditation I & II and Retreat & Renewal.

About the Retreat

Establishing the Ground

Foundations of Meditation 1 offers a clear and supportive introduction to Buddhist meditation practice. Whether you are entirely new to meditation or returning to reestablish your foundation, this retreat provides the essential forms of sitting and walking meditation. Instruction focuses on posture, breath, and cultivating mindful awareness of thoughts, emotions, and sensations with neutrality towards our experience.

Foundational teachings of the Buddha are introduced in an accessible way for why we practice and how meditation supports clarity, balance, and inner stability. The emphasis is not on mastering technique, but on developing a gentle, sustainable relationship with awareness itself.

Through guided meditation, teachings, and periods of reflection, participants begin building confidence in the practice. No prior experience is required—only curiosity and a willingness to simply be.

Foundations 1 establishes the ground: learning how to sit, return to the present moment, and meet experience with steadiness and kindness.

Retreat Faculty

Sue Schneider, Ph.D.

Sue Schneider, Ph.D., is a medical anthropologist, integrative health coach, and mindfulness instructor. For over a decade, she has taught mindfulness meditation to thousands of adult students in university and community settings and offered trauma-informed mindfulness training to educators, therapists, and coaches. She is a graduate of the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program with Jack [...]

Can’t Make it This Weekend?

Here are other opportunities to join us for foundations programs that are already on our calendar. We offer a range of Tuition-Free Foundations programs designed for all levels of experience and meditation practice if this isn’t quite the right fit.

December 4-6, 2026

Lodging

We have several accommodations to choose from during checkout.
All options include our healthy meals and drinks. Inc V, VG, GF.

Dormitories
Rooms with beds for up to 7-8 people. Gender-segregated with men in their own dorm and women in another. The dorms use a shared bathroom down the hall, which is also equipped with shower stalls.

Monk Rooms
A cost-effective option for participants looking for indoor, solitary lodging, but who don’t mind using a shared bathroom or are looking for a more affordable retreat solution. These rooms are in the same hall as the Ridgen Dormitories, but offer more privacy than the dorms. In addition to a bed, bedding, a private room and closet, the monk rooms also have a large window and a desk and desk chair for added comfort.

Single and Double Rooms
The perfect choice for a retreat where you want both your own space and your own bathroom. Each room offers a little more space, a dresser and closet, and a 3/4s bathroom (toilet, sink, and shower, no bathtub) attached to each room.

Junior Suite
Our Lodge Junior Suites include a queen-size bed topped by a cozy comforter, a desk, dresser, closet and private bath with bathtub, plus a sitting area.

Register Now
Family Camp: Skillful Compassion in Family LifeSinging into Wholeness: A Sacred Chant Retreat