On this page you will find an archive of all of our previous mind and body videos from from the weekly blog produced by Program Coordinator Kate Van Sloten.
2/19/21
Winter Poem Meditation
“As literature engages with life and everything in the world, it must also engage with the environment,” says Murali Sivaram Krishnan. Literature paints a picture, draws us in, and teaches us lessons about life. When we think of literary greats who made nature their muse, names like Leopold, Thoreau, Muir, and Emerson come to mind. These writers helped shape views of the natural world and they inspired us to protect it.
This week on The Nature Brief, I am pleased to bring you two authors who are PLC volunteers and members: Zed Moorehouse and Cindy Owsley. Zed and Cindy have struck up a friendship over the years and recently have started sharing their poems back and forth as pen pals. I have set their words to music and photos to create an immersive poetry experience. I hope you are inspired by their words about winter and they can bring you joy on these cold, blustery days.
This week on The Nature Brief, I am pleased to bring you two authors who are PLC volunteers and members: Zed Moorehouse and Cindy Owsley. Zed and Cindy have struck up a friendship over the years and recently have started sharing their poems back and forth as pen pals. I have set their words to music and photos to create an immersive poetry experience. I hope you are inspired by their words about winter and they can bring you joy on these cold, blustery days.
11/5/20
Get Your Zen Back with a Virtual Nature Meditation
As I thought about what to prepare for the Nature Brief this week, I thought of you and wondered...how are you doing? As I write this brief, the presidency is still undecided, Covid-19 shows no sign of slowing down, and this week our local restaurants and bars have had to close their dine-in options once again. Knowing many of you, I think it is safe to say that all of us are experiencing at least some stress in our lives.
Many of you aren't able to get out to the reserves and preserves right now, so I created a short, meditative virtual tour of them for you. This little video can give you a quick reset and bring a moment of peace and tranquility to your day when you can't make it to Stony Hills Nature Preserve or Prairie Hills Wetland Reserve in person. If you are feeling stressed, anxious, depressed, or unmotivated, watch our video to find your zen again. You deserve a break. You deserve some time in nature. Many research studies have proven that time in nature can help relieve stress and anxiety, improve your mood, and boost feelings of happiness and wellbeing.
For those of you who enjoy the world of art and literature, I also wanted to share with you one of my most favorite poems by Wendell Berry - "The Peace of Wild Things". It speaks for itself. I hope you enjoy it.
Many of you aren't able to get out to the reserves and preserves right now, so I created a short, meditative virtual tour of them for you. This little video can give you a quick reset and bring a moment of peace and tranquility to your day when you can't make it to Stony Hills Nature Preserve or Prairie Hills Wetland Reserve in person. If you are feeling stressed, anxious, depressed, or unmotivated, watch our video to find your zen again. You deserve a break. You deserve some time in nature. Many research studies have proven that time in nature can help relieve stress and anxiety, improve your mood, and boost feelings of happiness and wellbeing.
For those of you who enjoy the world of art and literature, I also wanted to share with you one of my most favorite poems by Wendell Berry - "The Peace of Wild Things". It speaks for itself. I hope you enjoy it.
7/23/20
It's Time For a Bath!
If you could become healthier just by being mindfully present in a forest, would you do it? See how the meditative Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) can bring positive health benefits to your life. Visit one of our woodlands to practice your Shinrin-yoku! All of our public sites have woodlands for you to try this restorative meditative practice. To learn more about the benefits of forest bathing, we reccomend the book below. You can also find more information about the practice of shinrin-yoku and forest therapy at https://www.natureandforesttherapy.org/