Cost: $15 + Dana/Donation.
How to Attend: This event will be held live on Zoom and a video recording will be made available within 72 hours of the event’s conclusion to all registered participants.
Healing with Nature
Transforming Grief in Chronic Illness
With Melanie Pensak
Saturday, October 19, 2024
9:00 am Pacific | Noon Eastern
Event Desciption
Come together with fellow individuals identifying with chronic illness for a unique 60-minute online mindfulness session. This session aims to foster a connection with the natural world as a grounding source to navigate the grief experienced throughout chronic illness, accommodating different abilities and energy levels with tailored adaptations for both indoor and outdoor participation.
A chronic illness significantly alters how individuals navigate their lives, impacting their experiences with their body, mind, identity, creativity, relationships, and sense of purpose. It’s common to feel grief over the loss of cherished abilities, recreational activities, employment, and community connections.
The practices presented in this class are designed to help individuals acknowledge their feelings of loss and love, and to embrace nature as a supportive companion. Meditations will focus on grounding through the earth element, allowing nature to absorb feelings of grief and sadness, while the sky will be used to open the mind and heart. Additionally, there will be an optional dyad inquiry with the community, offering a space to reflect on one’s experience of grief while being supported through deep listening.
Recognizing grief is the first step towards experiencing and processing emotions. In this class, we will explore how to use nature as a sanctuary to express feelings of loss and to remember love.
Participants are encouraged to be on a deck, balcony, porch, in a garden, or on the grass, either seated or lying down. If being outdoors is not accessible, participants are invited to sit, recline, or lie near a window, plant, or animal. This session is open to anyone who identifies as experiencing chronic illness. We will also record the class for all participants to accommodate those who may benefit from “attending” the class in shorter sessions.
Event Information
Date:
Saturday, October 19, 2024
Time:
9:00 – 10:00 AM Pacific Time
Location:
Online via Zoom – A recording of the event will be available to registered participants within 72 hours of the event’s conclusion.
Cost:
$15 + Dana (donation)
About The Teacher
![Melanie](https://www.awakeinthewild.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Melanie-Pensak.jpg)
Melanie Pensak
Melanie is a trauma-informed mindfulness teacher, grief educator and speech-language pathologist who feels passionate about supporting folks navigating chronic illness after her own life-changing experiences with mold illness (CIRS) and Lyme disease. She identifies as a woman experiencing a dynamic, invisible disability. When her capacity for traditional meditation and nature practice and physical abilities shifted, she explored new ways of staying connected to land, natural elements and practice. Nature has been a constant support during her health recovery, and she looks forward to helping you remember the power of connection during yours.