Mindful Birding with Holly Thomas – G25060403
When we weave together the observation of wild birds with mindfulness, this is mindful birding. This joyful practice offers us a chance to be present with what is: to reflect, appreciate, experience gratitude, wonder and awe.
The simple act of focusing attention on the present moment with kindness and without judgment can be a gateway to well being, but this isn’t always easy. Attentiveness in nature, noticing the sights, the sounds, the smells, and sensations that arise, can be a form of mindfulness practice that comes more easily for many people. With mindful birding, the birds themselves – their movements, behaviors, sounds – can serve as the anchor for our attention.
Birds are beautiful, interesting, charismatic, and they’re all around us, yet they often go unnoticed. As humans, we have a deep connection to the natural world that can become fragmented by our modern landscapes, soundscapes, and technology. What better way to reconnect than listening to birdsong or the sound of a stream?
Join birding enthusiast and mindfulness meditation teacher Holly Thomas as we explore the beauty and wonder of Ghost Ranch – with the birds as our guides. We’ll share a weekend together with sit spots, mindful walks, journaling and guided meditation.
Instructor
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Holly ThomasHolly loves sharing two of her greatest passions – birding and mindfulness!! She began a love affair with birds as a child and discovered mindfulness through her father’s meditation practice.
Her career path took her to UC Berkeley, where she got a PhD in Physiology and researched stress and the inflammatory response in an effort to understand how our bodies recover from injury and how we can optimize well being.
Over many years, Holly noticed that often the way she felt when she was birding, exploring nature, was the way she felt when deep in meditation. That brings us to mindful birding – the weaving together of birding with mindfulness practice.
Holly is a registered yoga and Mindfulness Meditation teacher, also trained in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, and Brain Longevity®. She leads birding outings and workshops, is a founding member of the Mindful Birding Network, and co-hosts The Mindful Birding Podcast.