Day of Mindfulness

Overview.

This day of mindfulness is an invitation to settle into spacious ways of “being” through restorative, vitalizing, and reflective practices, while connecting to the world around us.

During this time of the year, we can find ourselves a bit (or a lot) more stagnant, tight, and less connected with the outside world. While this can be a nourishing time for slowing down and turning inward, it can sometimes tip us into “stuckness,” lowering our energy and motivation to engage in the meaningful activities and tasks in our lives. Even if we are not finding ourselves particularly “stuck,” most of us could use a boost in our energy and connection this time of year.

Supporting restoration and improved energy, this Day of Mindfulness will focus on practice, including sitting, laying down, and movement-based practices. There will also be opportunities to explore and walk on the surrounding trails, enjoying the beautiful and natural landscape as a part of these connecting and restorative practices. Care will be taken to support diversity of experiences and needs throughout the day.

Location: This day of mindfulness practice will be held in a spacious and bright retreat space overlooking gardens at Holy Wisdom Monastery, located on 130 acres of beautifully restored prairie and woods. In this setting, you can experience connection to the beauty and care of the natural world, including opportunities for walking on trails and contemplative practice in this beautiful landscape.

Holy Wisdom offers healthy, fresh meals prepared by their executive chef, with some of the food grown in the monastery’s large vegetable garden.  

Lunch is included and will be served to participants, where participants can eat in a bright, spacious dining area surrounded by views of the natural landscape. Dietary restrictions will be accommodated. 

Coffee and tea will be available throughout the day and we have access to a full kitchen with a refrigerator if you wish to bring any additional snacks. 

Schedule: Saturday, February 25th, 9am – 4pm

9am-930am Welcome and Orientation

930am-1130am Mindfulness and Compassion-Based guided practices and reflections (including sitting, laying down, and movement-based practices)

1130-1pm Lunch and free time (e.g., walking on trails or indoor spaces, self-guided practice for restoration and nourishment)

1pm-3pm* Body-Based and Movement Practice for Revitalization and Restoration (*break offered half-way through)

3pm-330pm Choice of writing practice, dyad and/or small group dialogue practices

330pm-4pm Closing Practice and Intention Setting

If any of these speak to you, you might benefit from this offering and practices:

– Feel a yearning or need to “get away”, to get space in your life to “just be”

– Have been having difficulty concentrating and/or feel emotionally overwhelmed or sapped of energy

– Feel overstimulated or overwhelmed by so much sensory input and daily demands on your attention – the news, social media, email and text notifications, phone calls, meetings, “to do lists,” etc.

– Have been trying to start a meditation or mindfulness practice but feels too daunting in your busy life

– Meditation and mindfulness practice have been a regular practice in your life and you seek to be in a supportive community of practice

– You give so much of yourself to family, friends, work, etc. and you can find yourself with little left for self-care

Benefits of regular mindfulness, compassion, and movement-based practices for you, your relationships, your work, and for the world?

– Better sense of connection to yourself – being more “at home” in your body and greater ease and spaciousness in the mind

– Improved sleep

– Improved attention and concentration

– Increased awareness of thoughts, emotions, and our “automatic” or habitual reactions and behaviors

– Greater ability to calm the body and mind

– More able to respond to and manage stress

– Improved communication in relationships at home and at work

– Greater awareness of our biases and judgements and ability to counter biases and release ourselves from judgements when they arise

Please join me for this unique Day of Mindfulness.

Registration ends February 17, 2023!