Cultivating Our Natural Connection: Practicing Awareness in Nature

1300 L Street,Sacramento CA 95814

24 April, 2022

Description

Join Maureen for a morning of immersion in the nature found at California State Capitol Park. All levels of experience and ability welcome! OverviewIn this half-day, in-person event in downtown Sacramento, Maureen will guide you in several practices that support awareness and presence with support from the natural world. Awareness means knowing our thoughts, emotions, and sensations in the mind and body. Presence is the quality of being awake to the present moment, as contrasted with a mind residing in the past or future. Awareness and presence support well-being and can be improved through practice. Practicing in nature offers deep support by pulling us into our present surroundings and away from distractions such as technology and idle conversation. The time will be held in spacious silence and without technology devices (including cameras, cell phones, smart watches). Logistics Date and time Sunday, April 24 from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm CostThe cost is free in exchange for written feedback on the program at the end of the event. Limited to 10 participants. Lunch NOT provided. Getting thereWe will meet at the southwest corner of the intersection of 13th St and L St at 9:30 am. For navigation assistance, use the address 1300 L Street, Sacramento, 95814. By bicycle: If arriving by bicycle, you may leave your bike near our gathering place or lock to a nearby pole. By public transit: Sacramento Regional Transit offers light rail and city bus options that operate on Sunday mornings. Additional information including a trip planner can be accessed at http://sacrt.com/ By car: If arriving by car, free on-street parking is available for much of the periphery of the park. Try to park on L Street between 15th and 13th Streets. Additional parking is available further down L Street, along N Street, or along 15th Street. If unfamiliar with the area, please allow additional time to navigate the one-way streets. To avoid distraction and damage, please leave valuables at home. AccessibilityThis outing is designed to support a range of abilities, both physical and mental. We will do some light walking (approximately 0.5 miles total) with options for level, paved surfaces. We will be sitting on chairs or cushions in the grass with adjacent paved surfaces that can readily accommodate wheeled mobility devices. Participants with all levels of mental training (such as meditation) are welcome. If you have specific concerns or questions, please contact Maureen. What to bringPlan to spend the morning in the park in postures of sitting, standing, walking, and/or lying down. For the practices, bring a folding chair (such as for camp, deck, or beach) and a blanket (beach towel or picnic blanket). A portable sitting cushion can be substituted for the folding chair if desired. Bring knowledge and willingness to set your phone to Do Not Disturb mode.Please wear walking or hiking shoes. Bring a small backpack with additional layers of clothing, portable snacks/food, water, sunscreen, and hand sanitizer. We will be outdoors with space between participants, but face masks are encouraged if desired. Food and water are NOT provided but a few nearby restaurants will be open. Bathrooms are available in the park just south of the meeting location or at the Starbucks on 12th St just north and west of the meeting location. Further details will be provided in additional communication closer to the event. About the venue California State Capitol Park encompasses 40 acres and 10 city blocks surrounding the State Capitol building and supports over 300 species of trees, flowering plants, and cacti. The park dates to the 1880s and is listed in National, California, and Sacramento historic registers. The park will be open to the public during the event. California Highway Patrol provides park security. This event is operated under permit. About the practices Maureen will guide the group in several practices that utilize awareness of the body, the senses, breathing, and/or emotions. We will explore the interconnection between our inner and outer landscape and our place among other living beings. The practices are designed to support people in realizing they are a part of nature, not apart from nature. While this will be a supportive and nourishing outing, it is not a leisurely morning in a park! You are expected to participate in the practices to the best of your ability. You are expected to support the silent space and refrain from conversations with other participants during the event. There will be opportunities to share your experience with the group during the event. About MaureenMaureen (she/they) is a lifelong nature lover who enjoys spending time outside and is a passionate supporter of our more-than-human relatives. Maureen's outdoor hobbies include hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, skiing, climbing, photography, wildlife tracking, and botany. Maureen's professional training and career are in the fields of hydrology and environmental engineering. Maureen sustains long-term meditation and yoga practices and is a teacher in training with Awake in the Wild. About Awake in the WildAwake in the Wild is an organization that is dedicated to helping people awaken to their interconnectedness with all life. Teachers lead a variety of contemplative activities that support opening the heart to joy, healing from grief, and engaging in environmental activism. Awake in the Wild was founded by Mark Coleman, a leading mindfulness meditation teacher and author. The Awake in the Wild Teacher Training is an apprenticeship training in guiding contemplative nature practices inspired by wisdom teachings from the Buddhist tradition and wilderness retreats. Visit https://www.awakeinthewild.com/ for more information.