Mindfulness for Health
Mindfulness means paying full attention to what we are doing right now. It's about noticing our thoughts, feelings, and surroundings without judging them. It helps us stay present and calm in the moment.
Mindfulness is important because it helps us feel calmer and more focused. Practicing it daily can reduce stress and make us more aware of our emotions. It can also improve our sleep, boost your mood, and help us make healthier choices. By staying present, we can handle life's challenges with a clearer mind and a more positive attitude.
Monthly Mindfulness Series
Discover the power of being present in the moment! Join our free Monthly Mindfulness Series to explore what mindfulness is all about.
Since 2020, Healthy Acadia has provided free virtual workshops for community members to learn tools and techniques that support mindfulness for better health and wellness. Each month, community leaders in the field of mindfulness share their knowledge and lead participants through simple mindfulness practices that we can incorporate into our daily lives. It's a great chance to connect with others, learn new ways to stay calm and centered, and find inspiration together. We welcome you to join us in exploring a variety of mindfulness topics and experiences and learn tools and tips for becoming more mindful to support our health and wellness.
Join us online via Zoom on the first Thursday of every month from 5 to 6 p.m. These workshops are free and open to all. Pre-registration is required to receive the Zoom link to join.
Subscribe to Healthy Acadia’s e-newsletter to stay updated and register for these events!
Upcoming Workshops
July 9, 2026, 12-1 p.m. - 3 Body Qigong for Summer, with David Sholemson. This special in-person event will be held in the Community Room at Healthy Acadia’s 77 Beechland Road, Ellsworth location.
Celebrate summer with a gentle, nourishing 3 Body Qigong practice designed to support the heart energy—the Fire element in Traditional Chinese Medicine. This seasonal class helps cultivate balance between heart and mind, encouraging joy, calm, and emotional stability.
Through flowing movements and mindful breath, we’ll support circulation, digestion, and overall well-being while offering full-body preventive maintenance. Leave feeling grounded, open-hearted, and refreshed—ready to enjoy the season with ease and vitality. All levels welcome. For more about David and his practice, visit https://www.3bodyha.com/.
Pre-registration is required for this free event. Register online at bit.ly/mindful-070926.
Recent Workshops
2026 Monthly Mindfulness Series
June 4, 2026 - Mindfulness in Nature, with Jen Harry
Both practicing mindfulness and spending time in nature have been shown to have multiple benefits for our mental and physical well-being,” said Jen Harry, who has been teaching Mindfulness, Meditation, and Resiliency Skills on Mount Desert Island and surrounding areas for over ten years. Join Harry and Healthy Acadia to explore the benefits and learn a few mindfulness practices you can use in your favorite outdoor location.
Click here to watch the Zoom recording. When prompted, enter passcode Nf+.=Cp4
May 7, 2026 - Restorative Somatics: A Gentle Practice for Body Awareness and Nervous System Care, with Kalinda Dinoffer
Experience restorative somatic practices designed to balance your nervous system, enhance self-awareness, and integrate internal sensations. Through gentle movement, breath, body sensing, reflection, and meditation, including a guided Yoga Nidra practice, participants are invited to gently observe their present moment experience and connect with their body’s rhythms. The session creates space to cultivate curiosity, self-compassion, and quiet listening for what the body may be communicating.
No prior experience is needed, just a willingness to notice, slow down, and meet yourself where you are. Please have a comfortable place to sit and, if possible, a yoga mat or other supportive surface to lie down on. Optional props such as pillows, blankets, and a journal are welcome.
Click here to watch the Zoom recording. When prompted, enter passcode: ux+3upi+
April 2, 2026 - NeuroMuscular Balancing & Somatic Exploration, with Josh Warren and Kalindi Dinoffer
Josh and Kalind’s experiential class blends somatic awareness and four key gentle stretches to help balance your pelvis and find ease in the body. Participants will explore how muscles, bones, and the nervous system interact, learning to release tension, restore balance, and move with greater comfort. No recording was captured for this session.
March 5, 2026 - Vagus Nerve Reset: Finding Calm, with Julia Daigle and Ursula Hanson
This workshop invites you to explore the vagus nerve - what it is, where it’s located, and how it supports balance and calm during stressful moments. You’ll learn simple, accessible ways to engage the vagus nerve and help settle an overwhelmed/overstimulated nervous system.
The session includes guided, experiential practices for emotional and physical regulation that can be done in just a few minutes. By the end of the session, you’ll have practical tools to help reset a busy nervous system and support a return to calm. Bring pen, paper, and any questions!
Click here to watch the Zoom recording. When prompted, enter passcode: rym0%wmu
February 5, 2026 - Self-compassion: Simple and Essential, with Ursula Hanson. Explore self-compassion as a practical, everyday skill to support emotional well-being. Grounded in research on mindfulness, emotional regulation and resilience, the session will explore the core elements of self-compassion: self-kindness, common humanity and mindful awareness. Participants will learn how relating to themselves with greater care can help soften self-criticism and strengthen their ability to cope with life’s challenges, using simple tools and guided exercises.
Click here to watch the Zoom recording. When prompted, enter pass code: $?KO3Hz7
Tuesday, January 6, 2026 - Savoring Stillness: The Art of Mindful Eating in Ayurveda, with Erik Jackson. Explore how presence, awareness, and gratitude can transform eating into a daily meditation and a meaningful act of self-care through an Ayurvedic lens. Mindful eating is more than slowing down, it’s a way to harmonize the senses, awaken digestion (Agni), and deepen our relationship with food as nourishment and medicine. Participants will learn foundational principles of Ayurvedic eating, including the six tastes, simple mealtime rituals, and how emotional and sensory awareness influence gut health and overall well-being. The discussion offers an opportunity to reconnect with food as a practice of grounding and inner stillness.
Click here to watch the Zoom recording. When prompted, enter passcode: ?Z**b.3R
2025 Monthly Mindfulness Series
2024 Monthy Mindfulness Series
Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Tools, Techniques and Exercises
Enjoy exploring these Mindfulness and Self-Compassion exercises and techniques! We have compiled a lovely list with links to websites and articles by leading professionals in the field of mindfulness and self-compassion. Have Fun!
For additional information about this and future mindfulness events in the series or additional programs focused on building skills that promote mindful living, please reach out to Ursula Hanson at ursula@healthyacadia.org or Sonya Connelly at sonya.connelly@healthyacadia.org. We are available for workshops, classes and/or resources! We look forward to hearing from you!
Subscribe to Healthy Acadia’s e-newsletter to stay updated and register for these free events.