Less Screen More Green Retreat

Contemplative Arts & Digital Wellness Retreat

Ready to break free from tech overload; screen-related  stress, and the pressure of daily life? Join us at this healing sanctuary to reconnect with nature through this immersive digital wellness and contemplative arts retreat.

Inspired by Less Screen More Green by Kerry Crofton (with a foreword by Dr. Jane Goodall), the program combines mindfulness, contemplative photography, Forest Bathing, Chi Gong, gentle yoga, and The Mindful Tech Plan™.

• Mindfulness Meditation & Forest Bathing: guided mindfulness meditation and Forest Bathing practices invite participants into a slower, more sensory relationship with the natural world. Through breath awareness, gentle movement, and contemplative walks, participants are encouraged to ground themselves in the present moment and reconnect with their sense perceptions and soak in the healing power of nature. These restorative practices support nervous system regulation, mental clarity, emotional balance, and relief from digital overload.
• Chi Gong: These gentle, Tai Chi-inspired movements support energy flow, grounding, circulation, breath awareness, and relaxation. Participants will receive a hand-out with these sequences so they can continue this practice at home.
• Gentle Yoga: Simple, accessible yoga in the gardens at Casa Werma invites participants to stretch, breathe deeply, and reconnect with their bodies in a relaxed, non-performative way. Suitable for all experience levels, these sessions include gentle “deskercises” to relieve screen-related tension. Participants are also welcome to enjoy their own individual yoga practice if they prefer.
• Zen & The Art of Contemplative Photography – seeing our everyday world with fresh eyes: using a digital camera or smartphone camera (in offline mode), in our morning sessions, participants are guided through a series contemplative photography exercises. In the afternoons we wander aimlessly taking pictures when a perception catches our eye; later we share the images and discuss our experience.

This practice invites participants to:

• slow down and observe more deeply
• discover beauty in ordinary moments
• engage creatively without performance or social media validation
• cultivate presence through seeing things more clearly – as they are

These sessions can be enjoyed by anyone. No photography experience is required.

More details about our contemplative photography at: https://www.themindfuleye.org/

• Mindful Tech: is a path to finding freedom from screen and digital media addiction. Our approach is not rejecting technology, but learning how to use it consciously, mindfully rather than compulsively. Anxiety, depression and insomnia can be related to tech habits. Our Mindful Tech Plan™ offers science-based strategies to reduce screen-related stress during the day, and sleep through the night.

Participants explore:

• how to reduce screen-related stress and develop healthier screen habits
• nervous system regulation
• how to reduce digital overstimulation to stay focused during the day and sleep better at night
• how to set boundaries around notifications and social media
• creating restorative offline spaces and practices in everyday life.

DIGITAL DETOX OPTIONS – Participants may choose between two levels of digital detox for this retreat:

A. Full Digital Fast: Participants remain offline for the retreat. An emergency contact phone number is available if needed.

B. Partial Digital Detox: Participants only go online for 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening.

Throughout the retreat, phones and cameras may still be used intentionally for contemplative photography practices, always without Wi-Fi or cellular connection.

Daily Rhythm:

8:00 am Breakfast

9:00 am Morning Practice – Mindfulness meditation, then Chi Gong and/or Yoga

10:00 am – Contemplative Photography Session – series of presentations, based on the Miksang levels, and Forest Bathing practice

12 noon – lunch

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm – Aimless Wandering —tuning into your perceptions while exploring Casa Werma’s beautiful grounds, or our colourful surrounding town, with a digital camera – or smartphone in airplane mode. And/or journalling? – with pen and paper!

3:00 pm Tea Time

3:30 pm Mindful Tech Sessions – healthier tech and ergonomic habits; stress reduction and sleep improvement strategies

5:00 – 5:45pm Afternoon Practice – Mindfulness meditation

6:00 pm Dinner

Evening: Contemplative Photography – sharing images and discussion circle

For more details on our Digital Wellness program:

In English: https://www.digitalwellnessprograms.com/digital-wellness-retreats

En Español: https://www.digitalwellnessprograms.com/retiros-de-bienestar

Pay-It-Forward program tuition not including accommodations: $658 usd.  We invite all who are able to do so to consider paying Pay-It-Forward tuition rate. By doing so, you make it possible for us to offer scholarships to others, particularly our Mexico sangha, while also contributing to Casa Werma’s year-round operations. Please select Pay-It-Forward Tuition Add-On in Registration.

Heart Gifts It is customary to offer a monetary heart gift to a dharma teacher. This is a significant source of income for many teachers. Gifts are voluntary, and any amount will be appreciated. There will be an opportunity to do this near the end of the program