5 Day Silent Retreat requirement

Oasis Institute OASIS training and certification
#1

Hi,
I have completed the 8 week MBSR course locally and would like to move on to the next step in becoming trained as an MBSR teacher. Is that next step the practicum that’s being offered in Jan 2016? How do I apply and when is the deadline to apply? I also understand there is a 5 day silent retreat requirement. I have signed up for the 5 night residential retreat in Florida in February, but obviously I wouldn’t have completed it before the practicum begins in January. Is this acceptable?
Any help you can provide me on next steps is most appreciated. I live in New Jersey, so I’d need to take the practicum for out-of-towners.
Thanks so much,
Jessica :)

#2

Hello, Jessica,

Please accept my apologies if this is the first you are hearing back from us on your questions, or if this is a duplicate response. We are handling many, many inquiries these days about our professional trainings. You are correct that you will want to complete a silent retreat prior to applying for the practicum course. Silent retreat is a pre-requisite for taking the practicum, and does need to be completed prior to beginning the practicum course.

All the best,
Margaret

#3

Margaret,
Thank you for your response. Actually, that specific question was answered, but I’ve been waiting patiently to hear the answers to the following:

  1. If I register and pay today for the 5-Day Mindfulness Tools at Omega in July 17-22 2016, then also apply for the July 17-26 9-Day Practicum at Omega, how does that work with the payment since I’ll have already paid for Mindfulness Tools part of it? And what if I don’t get accepted into the Practicum? Will the MindfulnessTools I take this year apply towards the next Practicum I get accepted into next year? Are we even able to take those 4 days separately?

  2. Since you will have more applications than open spots for the Practicum, how do you choose who gets in? Assuming all prerequisites are met, is it first come (in order of when you receive applications) or do you select based on application essays and experience? If I’m not accepted, how do I get on a wait list?

  3. For the 9-Day Practicum in Ft. Lauderdale in April… That one is being hosted by you, The Center for Mindfulness in Medicine. So, since you’re hosting it, you can answer: Does the whole 9 day Practicum have to be taken as a “residential” course- meaning we must sleep at The Sheraton? Or if we live close, can we stay at home and attend the workshops each day? It seems like Mindfulness Tools might be “residential” meaning we are required to actually stay at the hotel? And if so, can we just do those 5 days as a residential, then the remaining 4 days of the Practicum staying elsewhere?

Thank you for answering these questions.
Jessica :)

#4

Hi, Jessica,

In response:
1: Applying for the 9-Day practicum is all that is needed for the July dates. You have already taken an MBSR class, and assuming you have completed a retreat by then, there is no requirement to take the 5-day Mindfulness Tools. You will be charged for the practicum course only after you have been accepted.
2: When there are more applicants than open spots, ordering is based on length of history and depth of engagement with mindfulness practice.
3:9-Day Practicum participants are required to be in residence for the full program.
I hope that helps. All the best,
Margaret