Mother’s Day with Mother Nature
A SPECIAL NATURE-FOCUSED WALK & AFTERNOON YOGA CLASS
On Mother’s Day weekend, celebrate with a guided nature walk, a gentle yoga asana (postures) and meditation among the redwoods, and time spent on your own for exploration – and a wellness treatment, if you’d like!
NATURE WALK
Begin your Saturday with a nutritious brunch with the Mount Madonna community, and then head out for a special nature walk with Lilith Ohlson-Perez, nature enthusiast and citizen-scientist.
Along with beautiful redwood groves, Mount Madonna offers a unique, magical ecosystem. On this walk Lilith will talk about Manzanita and Andersonii Manzanita which are endemic to the Santa Cruz mountains. Lilith will identify different ferns, discuss the history of tan oak bark and point out native herbs such as Yerba Buena. The walk will include Native American grinding rocks and any wildflowers that may be blooming and, hopefully, a few fungal species that spore during the spring.
This is a one hour moderate walk through the forests of Mount Madonna.
Later in the day, after time spent however you wish, participate in a nature-inspired hike, asana, and meditation class.
YOGA CLASS
In Yoga philosophy, the five elements of nature – earth, water, fire, air, and ether – are the building blocks of the natural world. When these elements flow towards balance, a foundation is formed which allows the potential of well-being to flourish – for both the body and mind. This practice, led by Lori Hansen, YTT 300, an avowed nature lover, is designed to bring awareness to the elements within and around, will include a hike to a quiet location on the Mount Madonna campus for gentle yoga asana and meditation among the redwoods.
The day’s program will also include:
- Brunch & dinner in the shared community dining hall
- Personal time
- Option to stay for arati (ritual of light) after dinner at the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple
- Option to book a wellness treatment at Kaya Kalpa Wellness Center (fees additional, see below for a special Mother’s Day weekend discount, advance reservations highly recommended)
Consider booking a massage or other holistic treatment for yourself and/or a loved one at the Kaya Kalpa Wellness Center. Decide between a variety of offerings and use discount code HEALTH20 for 20% off at checkout. This discount is valid for bookings between Friday, May 9 through Sunday, May 11, 2025.
Sample Schedule
| Saturday, May 10 | |
| 10:00 a.m. | Arrival & Check-in | 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. | Brunch | 11:30 am - 12:30 p.m. | Guided nature walk | 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. | Personal time | 3:30 - 4:45 p.m. | Yoga class | 5:15 - 6:15 p.m. | Dinner | 6:00 p.m. | Arati | 7:00 p.m. | Program Concludes |
Presenters
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Lori HansenLori has been teaching Yoga for seven years and completed 300-hour Advanced Yoga Training with Mount Madonna Institute in April 2024, during which she deeply explored how Yoga provides support for living in alignment with nature. As a nature lover, Lori prefers to spend her free time outdoors – walking her dog, working in the garden, hiking, rock climbing, and backpacking in the mountains.
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Lilith Ohlsen-PerezLilith grew up at Mount Madonna where she spent many hours walking and learning about her 380 acre backyard. She graduated from Mount Madonna School, attended UC Davis where she earned a degree in fine art and a teaching credential. She currently teaches painting, drawing and printmaking at Soquel High School. During most of her free time, she is a nature enthusiast participating in citizen-science through iNaturalist. Lilith continues to be an active member of our Mount Madonna community, visiting often and as a staff member for various retreats.
