Chicago Botanic Garden Spring 2020

50 To register, visit chicagobotanic.org/education or call (847) 835-6801. 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 at work. Open to all levels of fitness and ability. Melissa Leger, instructor $79/$99 | Classroom 2, Learning Center 5 Saturdays, April 4 – May 2, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. New! Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Evidence-based research shows that developing awareness through mindfulness practice can lead to greater overall health and well-being. Care for yourself through the interplay of mind and body, mobilizing your inner resources for coping, growing, and healing. Class begins with an orientation, followed by eight practice sessions. An optional retreat day surrounded by the Garden’s natural beauty is included. Melissa Leger, instructor $549/$689 | Classroom 1, Learning Center Thursday, April 9, 6 – 7:30 p.m. and 8 Thursdays, April 23 – June 11, 6 – 8:30 p.m. and Optional Retreat: Saturday, June 6, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. New! Brain Body Balance Stability Training Proprioception is your body’s subconscious abil- ity to sense the way you move through space. Stimulate your cerebellum and create new neural pathways designed to strengthen your brain/body connection for better balance. Im- prove your body alignment, sensory awareness, stability, and foot, ankle, and knee strength to move more efficiently. Leah R. Friedman, founder, B+ST $20/$25 | Classroom 1, Learning Center Wednesday, April 22, 9 – 10 a.m. or Wednesday, June 3, 9 – 10 a.m. Shinrin-Yoku Forest Bathing Shinrin-yoku, Japanese 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. This class may be taken multiple times. Sally Peterson, certified nature and forest therapy guide $40/$50 | Meet at Circle Garden for a woodland walk Saturday, April 25, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. or $40/$50 | Meet at McDonald Woods Shelter Saturday, May 16, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. or $40/$50 | Meet at the entrance to the Dwarf Conifer Garden Saturday, June 13, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. or Earth Day Forest Bathing $28/$35 | Meet at McDonald Woods Shelter Wednesday, April 22, 5 – 6:30 p.m. or New! Midsummer Forest Bathing $28/$35 | Meet at the entrance to the Dwarf Conifer Garden Wednesday, June 17, 1 – 3 p.m. Wellness programming is generously supported by NorthShore University HealthSystem. Wellness & Fitness