Flourishing Through Nature-Based Meditations (July 15 – August 5)

For millennia, people have found refuge and resilience by practicing contemplative meditation in nature. This transformative combination supports joy, peace, a sense of belonging, wisdom, nourishment, and stewardship of personal and planetary well-being.

In this four-session in-person engagement class on the Stanford main campus, you will be guided to live intimately in openhearted relationship with the natural life around you. You will develop a variety of mindfulness-based nature meditation practices that train you to be present to your inner and outer experience with clarity, receptivity, and wise compassion. 

Each class includes practicing outside in the diverse natural beauty of the Stanford campus. Each week will include lecture, guided practice, and a short gentle walk to reach a location close to the classroom that enhances the specific practice of that week. Practices include forest bathing, water watching, and more.

Please watch the documentary My Octopus Teacher prior to the first class if possible, available on Netflix. No previous meditation experience is required.

Instructor: Tia Rich, PhD, is a lecturer in the Stanford School of Medicine and director of Contemplation By Design. She has been integrating breath-based self-care, mindfulness, compassion and meditation into health and well-being programs for Stanford University since 1984.