Climate-specific mindfulness retreats
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Climate and social justice activists are no strangers to feelings of overwhelm, depression, and burnout. While the ills of the world that we work to heal often feel like a relentless uphill battle that we can withstand for a while, eventually that climb becomes too much to bear. Mindfulness and mindful meditation have been proven to be effective ways of finding restoration by grounding oneself in the present moment. They tap into truths about the non-dualistic joy and suffering that are part of existence at all times, in ways that are soulfully nourishing.
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Plum Village, a Zen Buddhist retreat center in France that is rooted in the teachings of activist and global spiritual leader Thich Nhat Hanh, sometimes offers online mindfulness retreats for activists and climate activists. Recommended for moments of high emotional drama, despair, burnout, compassion fatigue, and general exhaustion.
Learn more or find an upcoming retreat: plumvillage.org/retreats
The climate crisis disproportionately burdens communities of colour and layers more stress on top of existing oppression. This in turn demands culturally sensitive support. Zen Buddhist priest and senior scientist at the Environmental Defense Fund, Dr. Kritee Kanko hosts multi-day ecodharma retreats for people of colour, as well as BIPOC grief circles.
Sign up to Boundless in Motion’s contact form to be alerted of upcoming events: boundlessinmotion.org/contact-us
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The Upaya Zen Center has a strong commitment to Socially Engaged Buddhism. They link contemplative practice with social and environmental activism with programs like Awakened Action, led by Roshi Joan Halifax, Terry Tempest Williams, Valerie Brown, Rebecca Solnit, and Christiana Figueres.
Learn more or find an upcoming retreat: www.upaya.org​​
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Mountain Cloud Zen Center's Ecodharma Residency program is coming up in May 2025 with Zen teacher David Loy. The program is designed to meet this moment, and is a recognition of our interconnection with the Earth and all she enlivens.
Learn more or find an upcoming retreat: www.mountaincloud.org​​
Somatics
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To practice somatics (from the Greek soma for “body”) is to listen to the sensations that come in through the body as a foundational language. It is a way of working with the connection of the mind and body to become aware of deeply rooted conscious and unconscious patterns, survival strategies, and modes of existence that we learn from traumatic situations. By becoming aware of these patterns embedded in our neurobiology, we can uproot and reorganize them towards justice-oriented change and liberation.
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Generative Somatics, an organization that works in the service of climate and social justice, offers several kinds of trauma-informed somatic programs that engage our emotions, sensations, and physiology for individual, collective, and societal transformation.
Learn more or find programs: generativesomatics.org​
A gentle, nurturing program that helps people heal from stress and anxiety using story, self massage, and mindfulness with the wisdom of nature.
Learn more about their programs here
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Gain a deepened awareness of the radical power of ecological grief and its relationship to yoga as well as a transformational toolkit of supportive somatic practices and resources to return to both on and off the mat.
Learn more about Laura Johnson, PhD, RYT-500, TCYM and the program here
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