Jaya Rudgard
Jaya Rudgard began meditating in 1984, and from 1996 to 2005 was ordained as a nun in the Thai forest tradition in England at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery.
She subsequently trained as an Insight Meditation teacher at Spirit Rock in California and Insight Meditation Society in Massachusetts.
She teaches meditation retreats and courses in the UK and internationally. Jaya has extensive experience teaching Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Mindful Self-Compassion and teaches retreats for Mindfulness teachers and teachers in training. She also enjoys practising and teaching qigong.
For upcoming online courses and retreats with Jaya, including qigong and meditation retreats, please see Upcoming Retreats and Courses.
For information about learning qigong with Jaya please see Qi-mindful.com.
Qigong
Qigong (chi kung), meaning ‘energy-skill’, is the ancient Chinese practice of mindfulness in motion. Grounded in Taoist wisdom, it simultaneously promotes physical health and fitness, emotional resilience and mental clarity.
Some qigong practices can develop strength and endurance, whilst others maintain and increase mobility, soothe the nervous system and activate and support the body’s natural healing powers. Above all qigong is deeply enjoyable and relaxing, and is suitable for all ages and levels of fitness.
Jaya has practised and shared qigong for many years and is a certified Holden Qigong instructor. For information about her current online classes please visit Qi-mindful.com.
Upcoming Retreats & Courses
UK
Gaia House
28 July – 3 August 2026
The Five Spiritual Faculties, with Tuere Sala
7 – 15 November 2026, Gaia House ONLINE
Your Own Refuge (November Solitary at Home, for experienced practitioners), with Juha Penttilä & Monica Antunes
18 – 24 January 2027
Apparent Here and Now – A Relational Meditation Retreat, with Tuere Sala and Ayya Anopama
27 July – 1 August 2027
Waking Up to a Sacred World, with Sumedha and Mark Ovland
Nightingale Centre, Peak District (for Bodhi College)
8 – 13 October 2027
Qigong and insight meditation retreat, with River Wolton
USA
1 – 30 September 2026
Outdoor Practice at the Forest Refuge: a monthlong outdoor retreat for experienced practitioners, with Susie Harrington – Forest Refuge, IMS, Barre MA
29 December 2026 – 7 January 2027
Embodying the Heart of Wisdom: New Year’s Retreat for experienced students, with Yanai Postelnik and Akincano Weber – Retreat Center, IMS, Barre MA
5 – 11 May 2027
Understanding the Heart, Freeing the Heart: Thai Forest Tradition Retreat, with Chas Di Capua – Retreat Center, IMS, Barre MA
26 October – 7 December 2027
3 Month Retreat (Part 2), with Brian Lesage, Bhante Buddharakkhita, Tuere Sala and Jill Shepherd
Ireland
9 – 15 August 2026
Mindfulness retreat with Christoph Köck for The Mindfulness & Compassion Centre
Switzerland
10 – 14 February 2027, for Beatenberg Meditation Center
4 day Insight Meditation Retreat (in English), with Yuka Nakamura
Netherlands
6 – 20 March 2027, for Bodhi College at ITC Naarden
Embodied Presence, Wise and Steady Heart (2 week retreat, with some single week places also available), with Yuka Nakamura, assisted by Denis Bicanic Bratski
Finland
10 – 17 June 2027, for Nirodha Retreats
Qigong and insight meditation retreat (in English), with River Wolton
Italy
25 – 29 August 2027, for Progetto Pienessere
“This Precious Human Life” (retreat in English with Italian translation) – Santuario di Graglia, Piedmont