The Transformative Action Project (TAP) is thrilled to be partnering with the Emerald Necklace Conservancy this summer and fall 2023 to offer a series of mindful explorations of nature throughout the Conservancy. This June we have been basking in the graceful beauty of the foliage at the Pinebank Promontory overlooking Jamaica Pond. In July, we venture out to the hillocks and rock croppings of the The Wilderness at Franklin Park. In August, we sit in the cool shade of the trees along the embankments of Leverett Pond at Olmsted Park. September finds us in the hollow of Bussey Meadow and the quiet thick groves of Hemlocks on Hemlock Hill in Arnold Arboretum. October brings us back to Olmsted Park.
Led by Barbara Hamm, Psy.D., Director of Mindful Practices @ the Transformative Action Project and staff member of the Center for Mindfulness and Compassion, these free practices invite all to expand their connections to the natural world through meditation, mindful movement and more.
So, grab your yoga mat and join us Thursday mornings and one Sunday evening a month, June through October, for an hour of mindful practices immersed in the beauty of Boston’s Emerald Necklace parklands. These practices are designed to help you relax, gain clarity of thought and strengthen the qualities of curiosity, joy and calm through a connection with nature.
Benefits of Mindfulness in Nature:
Reduced stress and anxiety, improved focus and concentration, increased self-awareness, enhanced creativity and problem-solving skills, & improved mood and sense of well-being
Why Mindfulness in Nature?
Nature is a powerful place to cultivate mindfulness. The sights, sounds, smells, and textures of nature can help to anchor our attention and bring us into the present moment. Nature can also provide a sense of peace and tranquility, which can be helpful for reducing stress and anxiety. Spending time in nature can also help us to connect with something larger than ourselves, which can promote a sense of well-being and meaning.
We hope you’ll join us for this series of mindfulness practices in nature! Scroll down for details about upcoming sessions, and how you can register.
SESSION & REGISTRATION DETAILS
Information about each session can be found in the calendar section of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy website. This is also where you can register. We also have event notices on Eventbrite.
Locations, Dates & Times:
June 2023: Jamaica Pond’s Pinebank Promontory
Thursdays 6/6 and 6/8/23 (8-9 am) Sunday 6/18 (6:30-7:30 pm)
July 2023: Franklin Park’s The Wilderness
Thursdays 7/6, 7/20 (8-9 am) Sunday 7/30 ( 6:30-7:30 pm)
August 2023: Olmsted Park’s Leverett Pond
Thursdays 8/3 and 8/10 (8-9 am) Sunday 8/20 (6:30-7:30 pm)
September 2023: Arnold Arboretum
Thursdays 9/7, 9/14, 9/21 (8-9 am) Sunday 9/24 (6:30-7:30 pm)
October 2023: Olmsted Park
Thursdays 10/5, 10/12, 10/19 (8-9 am) Sunday 10/29 (6:30-7:30pm)
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Barbara Hamm, Psy.D.
Barbara Hamm is a clinical psychologist with a specialty in the field of trauma psychology. Within this field she has sought to move beyond the office setting and into the community connecting with artists, activists, first responders, educators, academics and naturalists to design and offer resources which help support and strengthen the qualities of curiosity, joy , calm and awe. These are some of the capacities that stress often overrides and in doing so narrows one’s perspective and distorts one’s self-view and impacts our relationships with others.
This series, Coming Home to Nature, is designed to support the gentle release of tension, increase the awareness of and strengthen the renewal of connection to the wild and peace of the natural world which coexist as they do within each of us. And through this to help an affirming realignment of our fundamental well-being.
Barbara is currently an affiliate staff member of the Center for Mindfulness and Compassion at the Cambridge Health Alliance. She is also the Director of Trauma-informed Mindful Practices at the Transformative Action Project and maintains a private practice.
PARTNERS AND COLLABORATIONS
This series is brought to you by The Transformative Action Project (TAP), an initiative of The Public Health Advocacy Institute’s arts and social action programming, Violence Transformed. TAP is supported by funds from the Federal Victims of Crime Act of 1984 issued through the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance. The Exploring Awareness in Nature series is hosted by the Emerald Necklace Conservancy. The Center for Mindfulness and Compassion is a collaborating partner.