Awake in the Wild Nature Meditation Program: Nature-Based Mindfulness Practices to Enhance Joy, Wisdom, and Well-Being (MC2T25)

Registration closes at 11:59pm (US Pacific Time) on May 2, 2024, Friday PRIOR to the second class. A waiting list will be created if it fills early. An audio recording will be available following each session. Continuing Education Credits? (see details below)

Program Dates: April 2025 – June 2025

Daily Session Times: 9:00am – 4:00pm Pacific Time. All sessions are on Saturdays, non-residential, and held on the land at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in the Hermitage Meadow above the upper Retreat Hall.
Session 1: April 5, 2025
Session 2: May 3, 2025
Session 3: June 7, 2025
Session 4: June 28, 2025

Open to everyone; however, there are access limitations due to physical location of program. PLEASE READ details below.*

Description

In these uncertain times, as much of life is lived virtually, it is essential that we stay connected to our bodies, our senses, and the earth to access wisdom and perspective. Like the Buddha, people for millennia have sought refuge, peace, and wisdom in the natural world. Throughout this training program, we will explore potent nature-based awareness and heart-based meditations that open us to joy, insight, and peace.

In immersing ourselves in the beautiful landscapes of Spirit Rock, we will cultivate a receptive, embodied mindful attention which allows an openness to receive nature’s wisdom teachings about impermanence, selflessness, and the inter-connection of all life.

Together, we will discover how nature evokes profound insight, transformation, and helps bring forth inspired ecological action.

Throughout each daylong, there will be a variety of nature-based sitting and movement practices, talks, and group discussions. There will also be encouragement for home practice. Be prepared for unexpected delight, mystery, silence, and illumination!

Program Includes

• 4 in-person daylong retreats (all non-residential)
• Small groups (optional, self-facilitated – meet in between large group sessions)
• Home practices, readings, and reflections

*IS THIS PROGRAM FOR YOU?

PLEASE READ: Location, Accessibility Requirements, What to Bring, Restrooms

• Location: Entire program is held outdoors in the Hermitage Meadow, located a 30-40 minute hike into the hills.
• Please be aware that it’s a steep, strenuous hike on uneven, unpaved trails to get up to the semi-remote outdoor practice space (and 30-40 minute hike back to the bathrooms).
• Participants must be in good physical shape and not require mobility assistance for this program (e.g., do not need a mobility scooter, wheelchair, or similar).
• The program will take place rain or shine (all weather conditions).

In accordance with Leave No Trace principles, you will need to carry all the items that you will need for the day.

Packing List:

• Sturdy, closed-toe shoes with good tread as you may be on and off trails (hiking boots, trail running shoes, approach shoes, etc)
• Daypack
• Lunch, and snacks (optional); meals are not provided by Spirit Rock
• Water bottle(s)
• Your own seating (camping chair, cushion, blanket, etc.)
• Warm layers and rain gear for all weather conditions
• Sunscreen and sunglasses
• Fragrance-free bug spray and tick spray

Our beautiful land is home to turkeys, deer, and lizards, as well as ticks, bees, wasps, and snakes, including rattlesnakes. Note that restrooms will be in the Community Meditation Center, a 30-minute hike away via the Two Arrows Trail. Please plan accordingly.

Respecting Silent Residential Retreat Space
There will be a silent retreat in progress during this program. This is a sacred space for people who are doing longer silent meditation practice. Please do NOT enter the residential retreat space during your visit to Spirit Rock. This includes restroom facilities and hiking trails that lead into the upper campus area.

Program Fees

Our sliding scale options for this program include financial support for the teacher. Please consider paying at the highest rate that you can afford: your generosity supports the teacher as well as Spirit Rock, staff, and your fellow practitioners who need to pay less.

Standard Sliding Scale:
Benefactor -$1320
Sustainer – $1020
Basic – $640

Scholarship Rates:
Mudita/Karuna Scholarship Rate – $360
BIPOC Scholarship Rate – $360

Financial Details and Assistance

Participating in AIW will require your commitment of both time and financial resources. If you need to withdraw from the program, the following fee structure will apply. ALL participants have the option of paying in full, or a 50% deposit, at the time of registration. Automatic installments will be set up if you choose to pay a deposit. All program fees must be paid in full by April 6th. Payment plans are available for all levels of the sliding scale. Scholarships are limited and reserved for those truly experiencing financial hardship.

Important note: Installments can only be set up on a credit card. If you register less than 3 weeks prior to the start, a payment plan is not automatically available. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Cancellation Policy**
$50 non-refundable, flat fee for all applicants on or before February 8, 2025
35% fee = February 9 – March 8, 2025
50% fee = March 9 – 22, 2025
NO REFUNDS = On or after March 23, 2025

**Cancellation fee is a percentage of the total amount agreed to pay. These fees apply to all participants. Late cancellations do not allow us time to fill a vacated spot in the program.

Continuing Education (CE) credit available:
This program offers 12 CE credits for $120 for psychologists, and California licensed MFTs, LCSWs, LEPs, LPCCs, nurses, and chiropractors. Please review our Continuing Education Credit information page to determine if your association or board will accept credits offered by Spirit Rock.***

Teachings are appropriate for health care professionals as well as the general public. Healthcare providers often face high levels of stress and burnout. Meditation and mindfulness practices have been shown to reduce stress and enhance overall well-being. Training in nature-based mindfulness can enhance a provider’s ability to incorporate these practices into their work, promoting better patient experiences and outcomes. Studies have shown that both mindfulness practices and visiting natural environments can reduce both physical and psychological stress. The immersive experience in nature and encouragement for home practice promotes self-care for healthcare providers and can be utilized in a clinical setting.

Learning Objectives for participating health care professionals-
At the end of the program, you will be better able to:

• Utilize techniques to cultivate self-care through connecting with the natural world, in preparation for or when working with clients;
• Utilize a mindfulness technique for cultivating joy, that maybe used to reduce emotional exhaustion;
• Describe mindfulness and nature-based practices that can aid in reducing client stress levels;
• Describe engaging in nature-based practices fosters resilience, promoting an increased sense of ease and joy;
• Describe the psychological ramifications of prevalent online-centric lifestyles, emphasizing the advantages of reconnecting with the body, senses, and nature;
• Utilize nature-based mindfulness practices to incorporate the concept of impermanence in therapeutic interactions, in ways that may be used to reduce anxiety or fear;
• Describe a mindfulness practice within a natural setting that encourages radical acceptance, offering a valuable tool for diminishing self-critical tendencies;
• Describe the transformative impact of being present in nature to cultivate equanimity and resilience through an interconnectedness with, and understanding of the natural world.

Continuing Education content level: Introductory

Schedule: (Full attendance is required daily 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. Partial credit for partial attendance is prohibited by board regulations. CEC certificate is only available for CEC participants with complete attendance.)

Daily CEC Schedule:
9:00 am – 10:30 am – Lecture, and Guided Meditation
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 am – Non-CEC Session
11:00 am – 11:45 am – Lecture, Q&A, and Guided Meditation
11:45 am – 12:15 pm – Non-CEC Session
12:15 pm – 1:00 pm – Lecture & Q&A, and Guided Meditation
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Lunch
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm – Lecture
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm – Non-CEC Session
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm – Lecture & Group Discussion

***Please note:

• Attendance Requirement: To be eligible for Continuing Education Credits, participants must attend at least 3 of the 4 classes, in full, and fulfill all requirements stated on the Continuing Education Credit information page.
• For full Provider information, and additional CEC information, including attendance requirements, cancellation, and grievance policies, please visit our Continuing Education Credit information page.
• For those with a different license than listed on our CEC info page, please contact your licensing board or association directly to request pre-approval/acceptance of CE credits offered at Spirit Rock. Spirit Rock does not confirm the applicability of credit for those with licenses different than those listed.
• Spirit Rock is a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP16905 for 12 contact hours.
• Potential Conflict of Interest Statement: This instructor may have authored publications relevant to the subjects covered in this course. The instructor might reference these publications during the course, and they may receive financial compensation if these publications are purchased.
• Credit is awarded for instructional time only and does not include extended silent meditation, if offered.