Awaken In Nature Daylong Mindfulness Spring Retreat

Spend a full day immersed in guided mindfulness practices within the forested landscape of Patch of Heaven Sanctuary, in recognition of Earth Day. Designed as a seasonal pause from daily demands and digital stimulation, this spring retreat invites participants to step away from routine and into structured contemplation grounded in nature.

Awaken In Nature Daylong Mindfulness Spring Retreat takes place Sunday, April 19. The experience unfolds across the sanctuary’s 20-acre preserve and includes guided meditation, mindful movement, sound healing and silent reflection. Light breakfast nibbles and a mindful lunch are included.

A Seasonal Pause in Nature

Part of a quarterly Signature Series envisioned by Patch of Heaven’s Chief Experience Officer, Suzanne Jewell, the Awaken In Nature retreats align with the turning of the seasons and draw from the long-standing tradition of daylong meditation immersions practiced around the world. The intention is simple: to create a meaningful pause.

Participants are encouraged to disconnect from technology upon arrival and move through the day with intentional presence. From setting a personal intention at the community board to receiving a meditation cushion, journal and yoga mat, the retreat is structured to support both individual reflection and shared experience.

Grounded in insight meditation traditions, including vipassana practices that trace back more than 2,600 years, the program integrates contemplative teachings with earth-focused awareness. Research referenced by the National Institutes of Health has shown that mindfulness in natural settings may reduce anxiety and support overall calm. The retreat incorporates sensory-based awareness exercises known as P.A.W.S., guiding participants to engage sight, sound, scent, touch and taste as anchors for present-moment attention.

The Day’s Flow

The schedule includes:

• Morning welcome and Mindful Pocket Park immersion
• Guided meditation, mindful movement and dharma talk
• A contemplative walk through the sanctuary grounds
• Silent mindful eating during lunch
• A guided walk to the Tree of Life
• Afternoon sound healing session
• Reflection and journaling in designated contemplative spaces

The day concludes with a closing circle in the late afternoon.

Retreat Guides

The retreat is led by Suzanne Jewell, a certified mindfulness meditation teacher through the UC Berkeley Greater Good Science Center and Sounds True training, forest therapy guide and executive resilience coach. She is joined by Adriana Moreno-Zarate, MA, ERYT500, a certified mindfulness educator who teaches Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Mindful Self-Compassion and has guided yoga and meditation practices at the University of Miami for more than two decades.

Together, they facilitate a structured yet spacious day designed to help participants recalibrate attention, reconnect with natural rhythms and explore contemplative practices within a protected forest setting.