Silent Retreat

"In the silence of the heart, God speaks." - Mother Teresa

Mindfulness on the Mountain Retreats with Gordon Peerman, Ryan Black and Kenneth Robinson

The Rev. Gordon Peerman, DMin, is an Episcopal priest, psychotherapist and mindfulness teacher. He has been engaged with contemplative practices, including Centering Prayer, mindfulness meditation, yoga, and chi gong since 1975. He has taught Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction at Vanderbilt and St. Thomas Health Services, as well as classes in Buddhist Christian Dialogue at Vanderbilt Divinity School. He lives in Nashville.

Join Gordon and his team in a silent weekend retreat of meditation, gentle movement practices, and sound immersion with a special focus subject to be announced. Mindfulness on the Mountain retreats are a guest favorite.

What This Retreat Offers

A guest favorite at St. Mary's Sewanee, this silent weekend retreat invites participants into a gentle, immersive experience of meditation, mindful movement, and sound immersion. Join Gordon Peerman and his team for a weekend of deep stillness and renewal on the South Cumberland Plateau. A special focus subject will be announced — stay tuned for details.

Retreat Leadership

The Rev. Gordon Peerman, DMin is an Episcopal priest, psychotherapist, and mindfulness meditation teacher who has led many retreats at St. Mary's Sewanee. Engaged with contemplative practices since 1975, he has taught Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Buddhist-Christian Dialogue at Vanderbilt University. He lives in Nashville.

Ryan Black is Founder and Master Instructor of Nashville Tai Chi and Wellness. A former U.S. Navy diver stationed in Japan, he reached Master-level in Kendo and spent over a decade training in Tai Chi under Grandmaster Yang, Jwing-Ming of YMAA in Boston. He is a trained mindfulness facilitator through Vanderbilt's Osher Center for Integrative Medicine.

Kenneth Robinson is a body-oriented therapist, teacher, poet, musician, and founding member of the kirtan music group Chant Ram. With thirty years in the healing arts and graduate degrees from the University of Tennessee and Vanderbilt Divinity School, Kenneth leads participants into open-hearted awareness through the meditation of sound.

Together, Gordon, Ryan, and Kenneth weave movement, meditation, and music into a richly embodied retreat experience.

Who This Retreat Is For

This retreat is especially suited for:

Those longing for extended stillness and silent practice
Anyone seeking renewal and restoration as the year draws to a close
Beginners and experienced practitioners alike — all are welcome
Those drawn to the integration of meditation, movement, and sound
Anyone who has attended a Mindfulness on the Mountain retreat and wishes to return

Financial Assistance

Scholarships are available for those needing financial assistance. For scholarship inquiries, contact Reservations@stmaryssewanee.org | 931-598-5342

Registration Information

After 72 hours of registration, a $100 cancellation fee applies. There are no refunds within 7 days of the program arrival date.

Scholarships are available. Contact Reservations@stmaryssewanee.org for application.

*A minimum registration is required for retreats to take place. If the program does not meet the minimum registration within 2 weeks of the event, there is the possibility of cancellation. If SMS cancels a retreat for any reason, any registered guest will receive a full refund of all payments