A Day at the Summit
Family-Friendly Practice & play | Saturday, April 25
This family-friendly day experience invites participants of all ages to explore the natural beauty and spirit of Mount Madonna, from a guided nature walk and family yoga to a short trek up to the Mount Madonna School campus for the 20th Annual Summit for the Planet eco-festival.
The day begins with an optional Walk-a-Thon starting at the school for those looking for an early morning adventure — check in at 9:00 a.m. and begin your walk (or run!) at 9:45. Alternatively, begin with a slower start with brunch in community at 10:00 a.m. From there, enjoy a guided nature walk and koi fish feeding at the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, time at the eco-festival, a special family-friendly yoga class, dinner, and evening evening arati (ritual of light). Whether you’re connecting with family through partner poses on the mat or having a blast at the Summit for the Planet, this is a day designed to be joyful, vibrant, and fun for the whole family.
Fins, Swings, & Mountain Things: A Guided Walk
An adventure for all ages, this guided walk led by Purnima Conway will begin at the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, where families will have the chance to feed the koi fish while koi caretaker Manorath Wheeler shares fascinating facts about Mount Madonna’s koi — did you know that koi hibernate in the winter?
From the Temple, the walk will continue to Om Pond and on to the iconic Mount Madonna Oaks Swing, a beloved fixture that has provided thousands of hours of playtime to generations of children and adults over the course of more than 40 years. After swinging to your heart’s content, the group will continue together to the Mount Madonna School upper campus for Summit for the Planet.
Summit for the Planet Eco-Festival
The Summit for the Planet eco-festival features live music, a Trash Fashion Show, environmental and wildlife exhibits, student art and club displays, fun for kids, delicious food, and good vibes all around. Event entry is free. Bonus activities include pony rides, rock climbing, a petting zoo, bounce house, carnival games, prizes, and more!
Family Yoga: Connect, Play, Discover
This playful, family-oriented yoga class with Pushpa Danielle Barr, assisted by her daughter Cadence, invites parents and children to move, laugh, and connect through partner poses, storytelling, and plenty of silliness. Designed to nurture the bond between parent and child, the class creates space for shared experience on the mat in a way that is accessible, lighthearted, and fun. The goal is simple and sweet: that every child walks away knowing a little more than when they came in. Suggested ages for children are 5 to 12, though all are welcome.
Additional offerings on the mountain include:
- Personal time to relax in community spaces, including Anjaneya’s World Cafe and Oceanview Books & Gifts
- Option to visit the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple
- Option to book a wellness treatment at Kaya Kalpa Wellness Center (additional fees apply, advance reservations recommended)
To participate in this special class, please register for a Mountain Experience day visit.
Not able to attend this special Mountain Experience or Summit for the Planet this year? Make a pledge to sponsor a walker or runner!
Sample Schedule
| Saturday, April 25 | |
| 9:00am | Check in for the Walk-a-Thon at MMS (optional) | 9:45am | Walk-a-Thon (or run!) at MMS (optional) | 10:00am | Arrival & Check-in at the Community Building | 10:00 - 11:00am | Brunch | 11:30am - 12:15pm | Guided Nature Walk | 12:15 - 3:00pm | Summit for the Planet eco-festival | 3:30 - 5:00pm | Family Yoga Pratice | 5:15 - 6:15pm | Dinner | 6:00pm | Arati | 7:00pm | Program Concludes |
Presenters
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Purnima Cathy ConwayMS, RYT 500Purnima teaches pranayama (breathing techniques), meditation, mudra (symbolic gestures), mantra (chanting) and sacred sound within the context of Ashtanga (eight-limbed) Yoga. She emphasizes cultivation of the traditional limbs of yama (restraints) and niyama (observances) to attain peace. A musician, she leads kirtan (devotional singing) and Vedic chanting at retreats and events. She serves as Vice Chair of the Mount Madonna Institute Board and is the Chief Executive Officer, Hospice of Santa Cruz County.
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Pushpa Danielle Barr500 E-RYT, RPYTWith over 30 years of dedicated practice and continuous evolution, Pushpa is a seasoned 500 E-RYT and RPYT (prenatal) yoga and meditation teacher who blends ancient wisdom with joyful spontaneity. Her classes are grounded in breath and presence, offering a sanctuary where students reconnect with their bodies and hearts. Pushpa’s approach is playful yet purposeful, guided by the power of observation, meeting each student where they are and guiding practitioners to slow down and embrace the present moment. Her classes are all-level and she welcomes all who are curious about the effects of yoga.
Beyond the mat, Pushpa is an AMI-certified Montessori educator who taught for 11 years with children ages 3 to 15. She has offered many children’s yoga, family yoga, prenatal yoga, and Mama & Me classes, along with adult, partner, and chair yoga classes that nurture connection, nervous system regulation, and joyful embodiment. Her work with pregnant people is especially heart-centered, supporting students through the profound physical and spiritual threshold of pregnancy with steadiness, breath, and community.
Pushpa is also a devoted mother and an herbalist deeply attuned to nature’s rhythms. She leads transformative workshops, retreats, kirtans, and women’s circles designed to awaken the soul’s purpose and cultivate a life of gratitude and presence.
