Upcoming Offerings

Fall 2022

Mindfulness, Yoga and Nature Retreat

Friday, October 28 to Sunday, October 30, 2022

Harmony Dawn Retreat Centre (near Rice Lake, ON)

Limited spaces available; further information to come and will be posted on the Harmony Dawn Retreat Centre website. Please contact me to register.

For an example of what the retreat will look like, please take a look at the description of my Spring retreat that took place over Earth Day weekend (April 2022): https://www.sugarridge.ca/retreats/event/mindfulness-in-nature-a-weekend-retreat?instance_id=1661

Summer 2022

Naturally Mindful: Summer Silent Retreats

Friday July 15th, and Friday August 12th, 10 am to 3 pm

Kortright Centre for Conservation (Vaughan, ON)

This five-hour silent retreat in nature will provide you an opportunity to experience mindfulness in nature practices that will allow you to rest your mind, connect with yourself and your body, and deepen your relationship to nature. The day begins with the sharing of guidelines for the day, an arriving circle and intention setting, a gentle yoga class, followed by various mindfulness meditation practices that will be guided (i.e., including forest bathing, sitting meditation, walking meditation, eating meditation, self-compassion, gratitude practices) in a flow sequence, that helps the mind to settle and body to restore. Silence allows the mind to rest and clarity and authenticity to emerge. Quiet time in nature, within a shared community experience, can also be healing. Ways to work with discomfort and access the support of nature will be discussed. The silent retreat is an experience in community, supported by the beautiful natural environment of Kortright Centre and an experienced and skilled facilitator. The retreat will end with a sharing circle about our experiences from the day and guidelines to support re-integration. This day-long retreat is a perfect introduction to a silent retreat experience (if you’ve never had one) and will help you deepen your mindfulness practice if you are an experienced practitioner. No prior experience with mindfulness or yoga is necessary; the yoga will be accessible to all levels and options will be provided. Simply arrive with an open mind and show up exactly as you are; you will be supported throughout the day. This day-long retreat also includes a catered vegetarian meal (vegetarian to be friendly to the planet, which we are also doing by engaging in extended mindfulness practice). Further information about what to bring will be sent to participants before the retreat. This retreat is facilitated by Dr. Ameeta Dudani (drdudani.com), a clinical psychologist and experienced mindfulness and yoga teacher/consultant. Dr. Dudani has been facilitating mindfulness programs since 2015 and has curated nature-based mindfulness programs for Kortright Centre and the community. She is a devoted mindfulness practitioner and lifelong yogi. She has been practicing mindfulness meditation regularly since 2012 and believes that mindfulness is a superpower that promotes self-acceptance and healing from the inside out. Ameeta is a registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches trauma-sensitive yoga that is accessible to all levels and bodies. She is trained in hatha yoga, yoga for anxiety and depression, accessible yoga and trauma sensitive yoga. Ameeta’s primary teachers of mindfulness are nature and all beings. Her practice is deeply influenced by Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh as well as by pioneers of the secular mindfulness movement such as Jon Kabat-Zinn and Daniel Siegel. Ameeta believes that nature is truly the best teacher of mindfulness and that by regularly (and deeply) immersing ourselves in nature we can care for ourselves, each other, and the planet.

Cost: $115+HST (includes lunch and snacks)

For more information and registration (limited spaces available), please visit: https://kortright.org/whats-on/programs-for-adults/#health-wellness

Past offerings

Spring 2022

Mindfulness in Nature – An Earth Day weekend retreat

Friday, April 22nd to Sunday, April 24th, 2022

Sugar Ridge Retreat Centre (Midland, ON)

For details and registration, visit: https://www.sugarridge.ca/retreats/event/mindfulness-in-nature-a-weekend-retreat?instance_id=1661

Winter 2020

Forest Therapy walk

Saturday, January 25, 2020, 10:00 am to 12:30 pm

Forest therapy is a concept based upon the Japanese practice of shinrin yoku (“forest bathing”), the practice of immersing yourself in nature – or more specifically the forest – and connecting with the forest in a deep, gentle way that allows for inner and outer healing.
A forest therapy walk isn’t simply a walk in the forest – it’s a slow, intentional journey – with various mindful and nature connection practices integrated – that engages every one of our senses, and allows for deep healing and connection. We don’t travel very far in this walk – we learn that a little actually goes a long way for us, and the importance of “slowing down.”
Each 2.5 hour walk is an immersive mindfulness experience in the forest, no matter what the season. The walks are guided and much of the walk is in silence. Different invitations and practices are inbuilt – in order to foster greater connection with the forest and with yourself – and you will also participate in walking and sitting meditation. However, everything is invitational and, as with all mindfulness practices, you are encouraged to take care of yourself and your needs.
Each walk ends with a ritual tea ceremony and sharing of our experiences, to honour the collective experience and the land that supports us.

To register visit: https://www.swanlake.bc.ca/special-events/ or phone 250-479-0211.

BC Mindfulness Summit (Feb. 21-23, 2020) at the University of Victoria

Saturday Feb. 22, 2:00 pm – Mindfulness in Nature and Forest Therapy workshop (2 hours)

For more information and registration, visit: https://continuingstudies.uvic.ca/health-wellness-and-safety/series/bc-mindfulness-summit

Spring 2020

6-week Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation in Nature course

at the Swan Lake & Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary

Based on the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, this unique 6-week course will help you to cultivate the practice and attitudes of mindfulness meditation in daily life by learning from your own experiences and from the wisdom of nature.

Sundays, March 1 to April 5, 9:30-11:30 am, with a 5-hour Silent retreat on Saturday March 28, 10 am to 3 pm

Further information: Mindfulness Course poster 2019

To register visit: https://www.swanlake.bc.ca/special-events/ or phone 250-479-0211.

Yoga and Mindfulness for Emotional healing (6-week series)

Mondays, beginning March 30, 6:00 to 7:30 pm

at Victoria West Community Centre

Cost: $90 (*registration opens March 1st)

To register, visit: https://www.victoriawest.ca/community-centre/program-registration/

Restorative Yoga (6-week series)

Wednesdays, beginning April 1st, 6:00 to 7:15 pm

at Victoria West Community Centre

Cost: $72 (*registration opens March 1st)

To register, visit: https://www.victoriawest.ca/community-centre/program-registration/

Reducing Anxiety and Depression: 10-week Mind-body therapy group for Teens aged 14-18

A 10-week group for adolescents aged 14-18, integrating best practices in Mindfulness, Yoga, Self-compassion and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.

Please contact me for more information about my next offering.

8-week Mindfulness based Stress reduction group for Parents

A psychoeducational group for parents of children of all ages (including adult children). Adapted from Jon Kabat-Zinn’s MBSR course.

Please contact me for more information about my next offering.

Naturally Mindful: A 6-week Introduction to mindfulness meditation in nature

This unique 6-week course will help you to cultivate the practice and attitudes of mindfulness meditation in daily life by learning from your own experiences and from the wisdom of nature.

Please contact me for information about my next offering.

Further information: Kortright_NaturallyMindful_Summer2019

SMART (Stress Management and Resiliency Training): Mindfulness training for Educators and Helping Professionals

5-day Summer Intensive in Toronto, July 2-6, 2019, at Estonian House

Further information: SMARTSummer2019_5-DayIntensive_Toronto

Teaching Mindfulness from a Trauma-informed and Trauma-sensitive Framework: One Day Primer Workshop for Educators and Helping Professionals

Offered through Mindfulness Everyday

Further information: TraumaSensitiveMindfulness_Summer 2019_wAmeetaDudani

Offerings by friends

Healing In Nature Bereavement Network

Offering nature-based walking groups in Rouge Park, for youth and young adults who have experienced loss

An innovative not-for-profit project that provides grief support using nature as a catalyst. I am very happy to support this amazing offering by co-founders Paula and Michael, and I feel humbled and grateful to have met these two lovely individuals and nature-lovers, who took my Naturally Mindful course at Kortright Centre in Fall 2017!

Please see their website for more information and details about their upcoming walking groups:  http://bereavementnetwork.ca/

Vive Mediation Inc.

Offering women’s wellness retreats in Uxbridge, Ontario

My friend and amazing woman and entrepreneur, Sally Morgan, who I have had the good fortune of meeting at one of my Forest Therapy walks and who attended my SMART Summer intensive in 2019, offers daylong women’s wellness retreats for women undergoing transitions. Please see her website or follow her on Facebook for more information: https://www.vivemediate.com/one-day-retreats.html