Best Meditation Classes in Tonbridge

We ask that everyone arrives on time for the start of the retreat (5-7 pm on the first day) and plans to stay for the whole retreat. Weekend retreats end between 3 and 4 pm, while longer retreats usually end between 10 am and 11 am. Please come to the retreat prepared to be fully present, with loose ends tied up as much as possible at work and at home and having made arrangements to enable you to fully attend the entire retreat without distraction.

To get the most from the precious opportunity of being on retreat we ask you not to take excursions, which would not only be disruptive for yourself but also affect others on the retreat. For the duration of your retreat please come prepared not to use your car, if you bring one, and please stay within walking distance of the retreat centre.

Accommodation is mainly in single sex shared rooms for 3-4 people. So, to attend a retreat here you need to be prepared to share a room, unless you wish to camp. At Rivendell our retreats are founded upon the principles of community, generosity and co-operation. While we recognise that sharing accommodation can take us away from our familiar patterns and therefore can be challenging, we believe it's an important factor in creating community. Sharing our space can generate an atmosphere of care and mutual concern and help to connect everyone on the retreat. If you have a serious medical condition or disability that impacts on room sharing please contact the office at the time of your booking to discuss your needs.

Spending time away from our usual distractions is a very powerful way to support the deepening of meditative calm and insight. Through letting go of the familiar world we give ourselves space from the complexity of life and can come to see our mind and its activity more clearly. To help you be fully present and to avoid distracting other retreatants, we ask you not to use mobile phones, laptops, I-phones and MP3 players, etc. in the retreat centre or grounds during the retreat. If in an emergency you need to be contacted on retreat we have an emergency contact telephone line. The answer phone on this line is situated in the actual retreat centre and is checked regularly during the day by a member of each retreat team for the duration of the retreat.

Rivendell is housed in old Victorian rectory which can unfortunately create access issues for some people. We currently have one shared downstairs bedroom, which has the use of a bathroom 9 metres down the hallway. This bathroom has an 8cm step up to the shower which also has a seat and handrails. This bathroom also has a toilet with handrails. Wheelchair ramps can be put in place, if needed, as outside access on all external doorways is up one or two steps. There are handrails on all steps. Some doorways inside the house are 70cm wide. The shrine room is situated in a separate building 12 metres from the main house. The garden is on a hill and is accessible via steps with handrails. The main lawn directly outside the house is accessible to wheelchair users. For hearing aid users there is a hearing loop installed in the shrine room and main lounge. Please speak to a member of the Rivendell team at the time of your booking for more detailed information and to discuss your needs whilst on retreat.