Where a weekly sit lasts an evening, a sesshin unfolds over several days — often around five. We sit together from early morning into the evening, mostly in silence, with alternating periods of zazen and kinhin (walking), meals taken mindfully, a little work, and time to rest. Days shaped like this let the mind settle in a way that an hour here and there rarely can.
They are also an opportunity to meet the teacher one to one, and to hear a teisho (talk) that might land in a way it wouldn't at home. There is nothing to achieve and nowhere to get to — only the quiet, steady work of showing up, again and again, to this moment.
Newcomers are welcome; you don't need years of practice to sit a sesshin, only the willingness to give it your attention. We hold retreats through the year, including week-long training periods at Stonewater in the Lake District, and we join sesshins across the wider Stonewater Zen Sangha. If you're curious, do get in touch — we're happy to help you find the right first step.