Mindfulness in Minutes

Mindfulness in Minutes – Part 1
9pm

When meditation is seen as something you have to do “outside” of real life – find the perfect setting, be surrounded by silence, and spend a required amount of time on a daily practice – the desire to pursue this can be overtaken by the reality of daily life. In the midst of hectic days, you may be on-the-road or on-the-run, caught up in meetings, busy with family, and dealing with… whatever! But these are exactly the moments when we can most use the benefits of mindfulness. Nina offers an approach that makes mindfulness accessible to real people in real lives when they really need it. In this session, Nina will guide you through some simple techniques that will help your brain begin to form a new habit – what if you could learn to watch the mind, instead of going with its storyline? Rather than reacting-and-regretting, what if you could learn to respond more skillfully in the moment? Learn more about how to bring it into your life!

Mindfulness in Minutes Overview
9:45am

If you missed Part 1 last night, join Nina for an overview of Mindfulness in Minutes and then continue with Part 2 at 10 am.

Mindfulness in Minutes – Part 2
10am

Building on our first Mindfulness in Minutes session, Part 2 with Nina will bring an opportunity to learn how to use these skills in the nitty-gritty moments of your life. For example, insomnia – is anyone In Search of A Good Night’s Sleep? Minds can be very active – especially at three in the morning. Learn how to use mindfulness to set the stage for sleep. What about Relationships That Really Work? Throughout the day, we’re constantly interacting with other people—family, friends, colleagues… Discover how a mindful approach to relationships can lead to more skillful interactions at home and at work. Instead of thinking “I wish I hadn’t said that” learn to change “that” behavior. And Nina will also focus on your most important relationship – with yourself. There will be time to talk about Never Diet Again – a mindful take on weight loss and wellness… And we’ll look at suggestions on relating to pain as a “habit” and exploring a different way of working with it. You’ll leave this session with an understanding of mindfulness that empowers you to bring it into your life and use it to enhance well-being, one moment at a time!

Forest Bathing: Mindfulness In Nature
11:15am

The term “forest bathing” or “shinrin-yoku” has been used in Japanese writings and research to describe the sense of well-being that comes from being outdoors immersed in nature. This Mindfulness in Nature walk with Nina and David guides you through wooded trails, alongside timeless cliffs and our crystal-clear lake. Embrace your senses with this unique walk before you enjoy lunch!.

Time on Your Own!
Afternoon

Enjoy the spectacular outdoor setting of Mohonk Mountain House, take a swim in our indoor heated pool, delight in a spa treatment, take a boat out on the lake…or do anything else you choose…mindfully, of course!

After Tea Talk and Book Signing: Mindful Work by David Gelles
5pm

One of the most surprising and promising trends in business today is the rise of mindfulness in the workplace. At first, the notion of yoga and meditation in the office seems like the province of Silicon Valley startups where employees bring their dogs to work and play football in the lobby. But in recent years, mindfulness has gone mainstream. Many of America’s largest companies, such as General Mills, Target, Google, and Aetna, have built extensive programs to foster mindful practices among their workers. This is because—as employees and employers are discovering, and psychologists and cognitive scientists have confirmed—mindfulness has tangible benefits. For workers, meditation lowers stress, increases mental focus, and alleviates depression. For companies, a more mindful workforce is more productive. Gelles’s revelatory book picks up where bestsellers like Thrive and 10% Happier leave off, by detailing the profound impact mindfulness can have on the world of work, and by showing readers how to become more mindful themselves.

Mindfulness in Music – Drumming and Harmonica
10:30am

Mindfulness–being present in the moment–is all about focus… and music can be a promising (and playful!) point of entry. Consider the concept of rhythm. Whether in the beating of your own heart or the cadence of your steps as you walk through the forest or the city… life is based on rhythm. In this workshop, you’ll learn to play percussion (mindfully, of course!) with simple blues, rock, and classical drum rhythms. Then you’ll apply these catchy rhythms by learning to play simple blues, rock, and classical harmonica–since the process of breath focus is considered by many spiritual traditions to be the basis of mindfulness practice.

The intense concentration needed to play these delightful instruments instantly (and David guarantees this) will give you a lovely way to express yourself musically, while strengthening the focus skills that underlie all mindfulness practices. Join David to get your chops going: in mindfulness… in drumming… in harmonica… and take home three new skills that complement each other in a unique way! It will be a great mix of music and mindfulness, and you’ll go home with an amazing set of tools to deal with, well…anything! Absolutely no musical experience needed.