An Improviser's Guide to Mindfulness Daylong Retreat with Pam Victor
Theme: Compassion

Saturday, February 21st, 2026
10am-4pm (including a silent lunch period)​
​Happier Valley Comedy
1 Mill Valley Rd., Hadley, MA
​$120
PREREQUISITE: Completion of any weekly class at HVC or permission from instructor

As the Dalai Lama said, "If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." Compassion for self and others is at the, well, heart of a mindfulness practice. Evidence supports the many benefits of compassion, such as greater happiness, life satisfaction and motivation, better relationships and physical health, more resilience to handle life’s turbulence, and less anxiety and depression.

In this daylong retreat, Head of Happiness Pam Victor offers you a variety of mindfulness-based activities to build your compassion practice, such as mindfully playful improv exercises, connection-rich guided discussions, sitting and walking meditations, journaling, and periods of prolonged silence to deepen your experience. In a choose-your-own-retreat style, you're invited to select the activities that feel most joyful, easeful, and beneficial at each moment of this retreat.

This retreat is open to brand new and experienced meditators and improvisers. (As experienced mindfulness practitioners know, we are all beginners!) Join us for a day of practice strengthening the muscles of staying in the present moment with an open heart - resisting mentally time traveling into the unchangeable past and the unknown ahead - and cultivating a spirit of loving-kindness for all beings…including (especially)  yourself!

“When we are mindful of our struggles, and respond to ourselves with compassion, kindness, and support in times of difficulty, things start to change. We can learn to embrace ourselves and our lives, despite inner and outer imperfections, and provide ourselves with the strength needed to thrive.” - Kristin Neff

Questions? Email Scott.

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY AS TO STUDENTS
The Happier Valley Comedy School admits students of any race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religious affiliation, age, ability, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religious affiliation, age, ability, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school-administered programs.