Wellness Wednesdays: Connecting Through the Senses

Date: 10/12/22 
Time: 10:00 AM 
Rain Date: 10/19/22 
Topic: Connecting Through The Senses 
Location: Council Ring @ Still Pond 

Description:  We spend a lot of our time in “simulator mode”, removed from the present moment as we envision future scenarios or past events. Not all of that time is helpful, and often we may be missing out on the richness of life that is occurring in the present moment.  Luckily, we can use our senses to connect us to the present moment so we don’t miss out on the the most important moment of our life – the one that is unfolding right now.  Join us as we engage our five senses to help us come home to the present moment.  Join us at Still Pond Preserve where we’ll make our way to the Council Ring, a special place that evokes a deep sense of community and togetherness.  

About the Instructor:  Erika Long

Erika began meditating while working in finance on Wall Street, and found that it helped her see more clearly, respond more wisely and relate more closely to the people and events in her life.

For the past twenty years, she has followed the teachings of Jon Kabat-Zinn (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction), Joseph Goldstein, Bob Thurman, Sharon Salzberg, Gil Fronsdal and many others; and traveled in India with Shantum Seth (a student of Thich Nhat Hanh).  She has also studied non-violent communication and believes in its power to create community.

Erika is a Certified Mindfulness Teacher under MMTCP (the Meditation and Mindfulness Teachers Certification Program led by Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield) in partnership with UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and is a Certified Mindfulness Teacher – Professional Level, International Mindfulness Teachers Association.    She is particularly fascinated by the neuroscientific research on meditation and mindfulness and feels passionately about expanding access to the benefits of meditation and mindfulness.

About the Wellness Series: Residents from all walks of life have relied on the New Canaan Land Trust’s preserves to find peace and solace. As we move into the autumn months and the leaves begin to change color and temperatures cool, the New Canaan Land Trust, Let’s Talk About It New Canaan, and The Community Mindfulness Project are partnering to create a series of wellness events inspired by nature and the outdoors. Through walking meditation, shinrin yoku/forest bathing, and mindful eating and other practices, program participants will learn about and have the opportunity to practice a number of different techniques to promote mental health and wellbeing. The goals of each program will be to teach participants a practice, ensure that they have the resources and experience to continue that practice on their own, and introduce them to the Land Trust’s network of open space.