Chicago Botanic Garden Winter 2019

Yoga for the Holidays Celebrate the season with relaxing self-care yoga at the Garden. This special session helps to keep you balanced and centered through the holidays. Bring a yoga mat and we’ll help you find your Zen. All levels are welcome. Steve Nakon, Whole Journey $60/$75 | Classroom 2, Learning Center New! Enjoy unrestricted access to all holiday yoga classes with the unlimited pass option: $128/$160. 3 Mondays, December 2 – 16, 9 – 10 a.m. or 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. or 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. or 3 Tuesdays, December 3 – 17, 8 – 9 a.m. or 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. or 6 – 7 p.m. or 3 Wednesdays, December 4 – 18, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. or 3 Thursdays, December 5 – 19, 9 – 10 a.m. or 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. or 6 – 7 p.m. New! Meditation Exploration Meditation helps reduce common concerns like stress, anxiety, and ruminating thoughts. Explore different meditation methods through discussion and a weekly, guided, 15-minute group sit. Topics include: body scan meth- od, meditations on thought, emotion, and self-compassion. Suitable for beginners and those wanting to expand current practice. Wear comfortable clothing. Bring a cushion, block, or blanket if you prefer. Jeffrey H. Bunn, owner, The Mindful Law Coaching & Consulting Group $60/$75 | Classroom 2, Learning Center 6 Saturdays, January 11 – February 15, 11 a.m. – noon New! Stress Reduction Movement and Practice Experience a soothing blend of movement, mindfulness, and stress reduction techniques designed to support your body’s innate self-healing ability. Guided practice will help calm your mind and body, while giving you tools to manage stress at home and work. Open to all levels of fitness and ability. Melissa Leger, instructor $79/$99 | Classroom 2, Learning Center 5 Saturdays, January 18 – February 15, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. or 5 Saturdays, February 22 – March 21, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Stress Reduction Techniques and Practice More than 76 percent of Americans indicate they experience mild to severe stress. Apply techniques used to release tension as you practice mindful breathing and enjoy a guided relaxation session. Class includes diffusing essential oils and tips for use at home. Please bring a yoga mat or towel. Chairs are available if you prefer to stay upright. Melissa Leger, instructor $24/$30 | Linnaeus Room, Regenstein Center Tuesday, January 21, 6:30 – 8 p.m. New! Yin Yoga & Yoga Nidra Yin yoga works by gently loosening connective tissues, opening and restoring joints, and in- voking freedom and lightness in the body. Yin yoga consists primarily of seated poses held for a period of time, allowing gravity to do most of the work. Finish with a guided yoga nidra meditation: a deeply relaxing, sleep-like state while still maintaining full consciousness. Bring a mat, pillow, and blanket. Sharyn Galindo, Whole Journey $29/$37 | Classroom 2, Learning Center Friday, January 31, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. New! Date Night Meridian Therapy Workshop Experience the art of touch, healing, and heart- felt communication through the act of partner meridian stretching and acupressure. Ancient Chinese medicine describes meridians as ener- getic pathways related to your organs. Meridi- ans have distinct functions, assisting your body in organ communication, blood flow, lymphatic drainage, hormone regulation, and cellular respiration. Registration fee is for two people. Bring a yoga mat, pillow, and blanket. Bridget Schrank, L.Ac.; and Daniel Domoleczny, L.Ac., D.A.C.M. $79/$99 | Classroom 2, Learning Center Friday, February 14, 6 – 8 p.m. New! Drawing as Meditation Practice drawing and color techniques as a form of meditation. Slow down the art-making process, creating a peaceful and healing expe- rience. Use intuition to connect to natural, cre- ative forces. Through this meditative practice, enjoy calming, observational drawing of plants. Explore using tone and color to create a serene mood with colored pencils on paper. Janet Trierweiller, visual artist, reiki master, feng shui practitioner $79/$99 | Classroom 9, Learning Center 2 Saturdays, March 7 – 14, 9:30 a.m. – noon New! Cacao Ceremony with Conscious Breathwork Cacao has 40 times the antioxidants of blueberries, the highest plant-based source of iron and magnesium, more calcium than milk, and is a natural antidepressant. Honor the cacao bean with a warm cup of ethically and sustainably sourced, ceremonial-grade cacao and practice guided meditation with conscious breathwork, pranayama, for a wonderfully powerful experience. A supply list will be sent. Daniel Domoleczny, L.Ac., D.A.C.M.; and Bridget Schrank, L.Ac. $60/$75 | Classroom 2, Learning Center Saturday, March 21, 4 – 7 p.m. Earth Day Forest Bathing Forest bathing refers to the practice of immersing all of your senses in the healing forest to reduce stress hormones and increase immune function. Connect with forest life around you through mindful activities on a gentle walk, typically covering less than a mile, and ending with a simple tea ceremony utilizing native plants. Dress for the weather. Sally Peterson, certified nature and forest therapy guide $28/$35 | Meet at McDonald Woods Shelter Wednesday, April 22, 5 – 6:30 p.m. Wellness programming is generously supported by NorthShore University HealthSystem. Wellness & Fitness 34 To register, visit chicagobotanic.org/education or call (847) 835-6801.