Join us for the Second Annual Garden Retreat—a day dedicated to self-exploration and wellness! Whether you’re looking to relax, recharge, or discover new ways to nurture your mind and body, this event has something for you. Experience a variety of activities including nature walks, yoga, Tai Chi, art-making, and more—all designed to support your personal wellness journey. Each session will be led by an expert instructor and offer valuable tools for living a healthy, balanced life. Choose your morning workshop and prepare to unwind, recenter, and breathe deeply. This event is open to all ages and fitness levels, and your ticket includes full access to workshops plus a soothing sound bath to close the day. After the sound bath, take time to explore our art-filled gardens and grab lunch on your own; then, consider returning for an afternoon introduction to a new suite of wellness mini-retreats that we’ll offer over the course of this year.
More details outlining the day’s events are below. Don’t miss out on this transformative experience — we look forward to seeing you at the Second Annual Garden Retreat!
Program accessibility information available.
Show Flow
All programs are outdoors unless otherwise noted.
9:00AM: Gates open
9:00-9:30AM: Registration
9:30-10:00AM: Welcome
10:15-11:15 AM Breakout Workshops
- Drawing in Nature | Indoors
- Mindful Doodling | Indoors
- Forest Bathing
- Meditation and Intro to Mala Beads
- Herbalism | Indoors
- Horticulture Tour
- Tai Chi
- Wellness Walk
- Yoga
11:30AM-12:00PM: Community Closing – Sound Bath
This is an opportunity for us to gather, connect, and unwind with a collective sound bath experience.
Workshop Descriptions
Drawing in Nature
Enhance skills in visual memory through observation and rendering of the landscape and nature using graphite, charcoal, pen, ink, and watercolor. Drawing pad and material provided. Led by Shawn Allen- Dela Rosa.
Mindful Doodling
Bring your sketchbook and come draw with like-minded people through the practice of mindful doodling. Build a mental health practice using simple drawing techniques. This session is inspired by Zen tangles and mandala-making. Come ready to let go of inhibitions about art-making and get into a flow state. Led by Jason Norton.
Forest Bathing
Forest Therapy, or forest bathing, provides participants with the opportunity to explore their senses in a serene part of the sculpture park by relaxing and noticing nature. A sharing circle will provide the chance to share observations with others in the group. Being in nature on a guided walk can lead to less stress, a sense of peacefulness, and a lightening of the spirit. Taking the time to observe the hidden beauty that is all around us is a skill that can be taught and recreated in people’s lives with their own “sit spot” near home. Led by Sharon Lohse.
Herbal Teas for Health
Learn the basics of using herbal teas to support your health. You’ll learn three ways to brew herbal tea and then taste each one. You’ll also learn basic herbal safety, how to select teas, and how to brew teas for best potency and flavor. Led by Amanda Crooke.
Horticulture Tour
Come discover the hidden treasures that appear as the seasons change. Gaze in wonder as the gardens transition from winter into spring with a walk through our beautiful grounds. Led by GFS Manger of Horticulture Cat Swiderski.
Introduction to Mala Mediation
Creating a mala bead necklace is a form of meditation, binding both you to your intentions and the beads. As you string your beads, you will think about your goals and aspirations. Led by Nicoli Sinclair from the Veda Den Meditation School.
Tai Chi
This workshop promotes overall wellness through the practice of Yang Style Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese art that blends exercise with stress reduction. Join staff from veteran-owned Dao Concepts and keep that drive to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.
Wellness Walk
Enjoy a morning walk; it’s a great way to boost your energy and connect with others. Select from three differently paced walking groups–fast, medium and leisurely–to explore the sculpture park. Led by Grounds For Sculpture volunteers.
Yoga
This workshop is designed to help you explore how your body moves. You will be provided with tools that give optimal movement through the practice of yoga. Enjoy using your breath as you work through the various asanas, or poses, that will give you a connection between mind and body. This class will have modifications for all levels; note that there will be transitions from the floor to standing. Join us as we discover an even deeper relationship with our own bodies. Led by Anjali Goswami.
Sound Bath
During this final community session, you’ll find sensory relaxation, focus, clarity of mind, and an elevation of awareness as the sound bath experience eliminates disorder in the mind and body. The physiological benefits of sound therapy include decreased blood pressure, a boosted immune system, improved sleep patterns, and decreased anxiety. Sound baths offer opportunities to connect with oneself in a powerfully healing way by tuning the internal rhythms and resets the mind-body balance. Led Sarah Hummel.
The Wellness Initiative and related programs was made possible in part by Capital Health Systems and the Institute of Museum and Library Services [MA-252851-OMS-23]