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2026 Spring DiabetesSangha Meditation Retreat-Lacey Washington

Friday, Apr 24, 2026 at 3:00 PM to Sunday, Apr 26, 2026 at 2:00 PM PDT

Gwinwood Retreat Center, 6015 30th avenue southesast, lacey, washington, 98503, United States

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Event Information

Friday, Apr 24, 2026 at 3:00 PM to Sunday, Apr 26, 2026 at 2:00 PM PDT

Gwinwood Retreat Center, 6015 30th avenue southesast, lacey, washington, 98503, United States.

✨ Join Us for a Transformative 3-Day Meditation Retreat for the T1D Community!

April 24–26, 2026 • Grinwood Retreat Center • Lacey, WA

This one-of-a-kind retreat is created by and for people living with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). Spend three days in mindful practice, connection, and rest as we explore the Brahmavihāras—the heart practices of loving-kindness, compassion, appreciative joy, and equanimity—all held within a caring community that truly understands life with T1D.

What to Expect

🔹 A deeply supportive retreat beginning Friday at 4 PM and concluding Sunday at 2 PM
🔹 Guided meditations, gentle movement, and dharma talks led by DiabetesSangha facilitators Brooke Cassoff & Heather Nielsen
🔹 A full day of noble silence to rest, reset, listen inwardly, and restore balance
🔹 A welcoming space to explore the mind-body connection and cultivate resilience in diabetes management
🔹 All meals, snacks, and accommodations included
🔹 A retreat intentionally designed around the needs and lived experience of people with T1D

Why Attend?

💙 Connect with others who understand the unique emotional + physical realities of T1D
🧘 Deepen your meditation practice in a nurturing, immersive environment
🌿 Experience the healing power of silence, nature, and community
🙏 Return home feeling grounded, inspired, and more connected to yourself and your diabetes journey

Retreat Pricing

(Includes lodging, meals, snacks, and all sessions)

💲 Dorm Style (Cabins): $350
💲 Shared Double Room: $450
💲 Private Single Room: $650

✨ Optional Pre-Retreat Gathering (April 23): $150
💛 Pay-It-Forward Contribution: +$50–$200
🤝 Scholarships & Reduced Rates: Available upon request

🫶 Come rest, breathe, and reconnect—
a retreat created by and for the Type 1 Diabetes community.

 

 

 

Cancellation policy

In order to accomodate all, please note we have the follwoing cancelation policy: 

Before Jan 1- Free Cancellation

Before Feb 1- 25% refund

Before Mar 1-50% refund

After Apr 1- no refund available.

Event Location

About Organizer

DiabetesSangha Organizer name

www.diabetessangha.com

The DiabetesSangha is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting those living with Type One Diabetes , though meditation and contemplative practices. To learn more, visit www.diabetessangha.com

Contact the Organizer

Speakers

About Heather Neilsen
Facilitator
DiabetesSangha
No Sessions Available

 

 

 

 

 

About Brooke Cassoff
Co-Founder and Facilitator
DiabetesSangha
No Sessions Available

Photo Gallery

Is this retreat right for you?

 This retreat is for anyone living with Type 1 Diabetes who wants to slow down, reconnect, and deepen their relationship with mindfulness in a supportive T1D-centered community. It offers a spacious and compassionate environment designed for the unique emotional and daily realities of life with T1D — a place where you can simply show up as you are.

 

Gwinwood Retreat Center

The Beauty of Gwinwood Retreat Center
Nestled along the shores of a tranquil lake in Lacey, Washington, Grinwood Retreat Center offers an idyllic natural setting for meditation and renewal.
The property features lush forest trails, open meadows, and a private lakefront perfect for quiet reflection. The main lodge overlooks the water, and the surrounding grounds offer peaceful spots for journaling, walking, or simply watching sunlight dance across the lake.
Accommodations are simple, comfortable, and welcoming. Shared spaces encourage connection while maintaining room for solitude.
All meals are vegetarian, with vegan and gluten-free options available, lovingly prepared to nourish body and mind.

Your Retreat Facilitators

 

Retreat Facilitators
Brooke Cassoff
 Co-Founder & Facilitator, DiabetesSangha
 Mindfulness Teacher • Stanford CCARE Applied Compassion Training Grad
Brooke has lived with Type 1 Diabetes for over 20 years, meeting its ups and downs with curiosity, humor, and grace. She discovered meditation in 2016 during a time of transition and quickly found how mindfulness brings steadiness and clarity amid change.
A graduate of the Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education’s (CCARE) Applied Compassion Training, Brooke blends authenticity, compassion, and insight in her teaching. As a co-founder of DiabetesSangha, she is dedicated to creating spaces of connection, renewal, and belonging for people affected by T1D.
📧 Email: bcassoff@gmail.com

Heather Nielsen, LPC
 Leader & Facilitator, DiabetesSangha
 Licensed Professional Counselor • Health & Wellness Coach • MMTCP Grad
Heather began her mindfulness journey in 2002 with a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course that reshaped her life.  More than two decades later, the practices of mindful awareness and compassion remain the core of her life and work.  In 2025 Heather completed her teaching training with MMTCP.
Living with Type 1 Diabetes (since 1997) and autoimmune psoriatic arthritis (since 2018), Heather offers a deep understanding of how stress and health intersect. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Health Coach, and graduate of the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program, she supports others in finding balance, resilience, and ease through mindfulness and self-compassion.
Heather finds joy in motherhood, community connection, and time in nature- whether reading, hiking, skiing, or simply breathing in the quiet beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
📧Email: Heather@healthyconnectionshr.com