Teacher
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Melanie PensakMelanie Pensak, an Earth Protector, offers nature-based meditation experiences designed to honor Mother Earth, cultivate interconnection with the land and assist people in developing their daily mindfulness practice. She is known for her 4 -year Airbnb Experience Meditate @ the Beach in Los Angeles.
Melanie presently leads nature-based meditation classes and half day retreats on Shoshone-Bannock land in Boise, Idaho. During this time of safe distancing, Melanie also offers online meditation courses via Zoom as well as one-on-one mentoring in the areas of mindfulness and nature practice. She is certified as a Mindfulness Teacher through the Mindfulness Training Institute accredited by the International Mindfulness Teachers Association (IMTA). Melanie is a Teacher of Mindfulness in Nature through Mark Coleman’s program Awake in the Wild.
She is particularly interested in the concept of reciprocity creating outdoor mindfulness workshops which integrate giving back to the land through responsible restoration and regenerative practices. Melanie feels passionate about helping people incorporate mindfulness and nature into their modern, busy lives after living in cities herself for 15 years.
She is also a Certified Speech-Language Pathologist who enjoys helping children and families communicate. Melanie provides therapy online and offers one-on-one guided play with children outside in nature.
During the pandemic, Melanie lived and worked in community on an organic farm and engaged in land stewardship on a ranch. In her free time, she enjoys learning how to be a part of the shift towards regenerative living for all beings. She supports organizations such as Extinction Rebellion Los Angeles, Farmers Footprint and Non-Toxic Neighborhoods.
You can also find her online as a hostess and community leader for Sangha Live. She is presently diving deeper into the Indigenous Knowledge of her own Ukrainian and Polish ancestry. When it is time to play, Melanie can be found exploring in nature, salsa dancing and refining the art of doing nothing.
Healing with Nature: Transforming Grief in Chronic Illness
Come together with fellow individuals identifying with chronic illness for a unique 60-minute online mindfulness session. This session aims to foster a connection with the natural world as a grounding source to navigate the grief experienced throughout chronic illness, accommodating different abilities and energy levels with tailored adaptations for both indoor and outdoor participation.
A chronic illness significantly alters how individuals navigate their lives, impacting their experiences with their body, mind, identity, creativity, relationships, and sense of purpose. It’s common to feel grief over the loss of cherished abilities, recreational activities, employment, and community connections.
The practices presented in this class are designed to help individuals acknowledge their feelings of loss and love, and to embrace nature as a supportive companion. Meditations will focus on grounding through the earth element, allowing nature to absorb feelings of grief and sadness, while the sky will be used to open the mind and heart. Additionally, there will be an optional dyad inquiry with the community, offering a space to reflect on one’s experience of grief while being supported through deep listening.
Recognizing grief is the first step towards experiencing and processing emotions. In this class, we will explore how to use nature as a sanctuary to express feelings of loss and to remember love.
Participants are encouraged to be on a deck, balcony, porch, in a garden, or on the grass, either seated or lying down. If being outdoors is not accessible, participants are invited to sit, recline, or lie near a window, plant, or animal. This session is open to anyone who identifies as experiencing chronic illness. We will also record the class for all participants to accommodate those who may benefit from “attending” the class in shorter sessions.
Cost: $15 + Dana/Donation.
How to Attend: This event will be held live on Zoom and a video recording will be made available within 72 hours of the event’s conclusion to all registered participants.
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