The role of the physical environment in formal and informal mindfulness: the sensory retreat experience

Abstract

A sensory engagement with the surroundings lies at the heart of awareness. Mindfulness practices cultivate such awareness, where the physical environment is a significant feature. However, the synergy between mindfulness practices and the physical environment has received little scholarly attention. This study focuses on the “retreat experience” to explore how mindfulness practitioners perceive the physical environment – both natural and built – through their formal and informal mindfulness practices. We investigated the unfolding of the sensory experience within two settings throughout the duration of the retreat. Data was collected through participatory observation and in-depth interviews with nine retreatants, the mindfulness instructor, and two retreat center operators. Results provide us with insights into the rich interplay between the inner and outer worlds, where sensory awareness plays a crucial role in cultivating presence and practice. Besides the expansion of each sense and their multi-sensory interaction, the perception of the retreat setting’s spatial interreations is also crucial for providing retreatants with meaningful encounters with the surroundings.