Our upcoming programs and events
Sarana Institute runs several major programs, events, workshops, webinars, and more throughout the year.
Some of our most popular programs include:
The Mindfulness and Compassion Certificate Training Program
Click the event links below to learn more about each upcoming program.
Community Days + Trailblazing
You're invited to our spring Sarana Community Days + Trail Blaze at Sarana Springs on April 25th and 26th! You're welcome to come for one or both days. There is no fee for this weekend of trailblazing - just bring a contibution to our communal meal for each day you join us!
Join us for the day, for a few hours, for a night, for a meal! We'd just love to see you.
This is a hands-on weekend where we:
clear fallen debris and prepare the land for visitors
spend time together in community
weave practice into caring for the land
All ages are welcome to join us, and friends are welcome too. Everyone attending will need to complete their own registration form.
What to expect:
Each day will include time on the land, shared meals, and simple community practice. You can come for the full day or drop in for part of it.
What to bring:
Weather-appropriate outdoor clothing, sturdy footwear, a water bottle, and something for the potluck meal. If you have work gloves or favorite hand tools, you're welcome to bring them, though we'll have some on hand.
Accessibility and activities:
There will be a range of tasks, from light work to more physical trail clearing, so you can choose what feels right for your body. Some areas of the land are uneven or forested, and we'll do our best to match people with appropriate activities.
Staying overnight:
Overnight options include camping or a sleepover in the Barn, as some of our Yana participants enjoyed last year. Please bring your own bedding and any personal items you'll need.
We also have 2 simple cabins available. To reserve one, we ask for a minimum donation of $50 to the Yana program. Cabins are first-come, first-served.
We'd love to gather with you for these community days. Sign up here!
Meditation Study Series
To learn more and register, visit here: https://saranainstitute.org/meditationseries
Mindful Self Compassion Series
Learn more and register here: https://www.saranainstitute.org/msc
Free Course: Listening Inwards and Outwards
Learn more and register here: https://www.saranainstitute.org/listening
Winter Meditation Study Series
Learn more and register here: https://www.saranainstitute.org/meditationseries
Yana Holiday Hangout
Join us for Yana Holiday Hangout: Reflect and Reconnect, designed to help you center yourself during this busy season. Through mindfulness and contemplative practices, we’ll create space to focus on what truly matters as we prepare for the next cycle of growth. This is also a chance to reconnect with fellow Yana members in a supportive circle of shared experiences.
Learn more and register here: https://www.saranainstitute.org/yanaholiday
Mindful Self Compassion Course — Sarana Institute
The Mindful Self Compassion Course with Amber Robinson is a transformative 9-week journey designed to cultivate the skill of self-compassion.
This empirically supported program will guide you towards emotional well-being, resilience, and a healthier relationship with yourself and others.
Our next course begins on October 22nd at 7pm for 9 weeks and is offered at a donation-reduced sliding scale rate of $50-$100.
Winterizing Fruit Trees and Edible Forest Design Workshop
Enrich your senses and expand your gardening skills at our Autumn Fruit Tree Workshop. Join us for a day of education and experience as we continue our ongoing project of creating a sustainable community food forest at Sarana Springs.
We will focus on preparing fruit trees for winter, assessing tree health, and learning design strategies to create permaculture guilds.
Autumn Meditation Retreat
To learn more and register, visit saranainstitute.org/autumnretreat
Mindfulness and Compassion Professional Training Program
This training certificate is designed for professionals and volunteers in the health, long-term and palliative care field. It supports caregivers in developing mindfulness and compassion skills that sustain wellbeing in meeting the complex demands of our healthcare system.
Learn more and register on the registration page.
PAUSE Caregiving Retreat
Learn more and register here: https://www.saranainstitute.org/pauseretreat
Spring Foraging and Nature Connection Workshop
This is our 3rd annual foraging workshop! Alexis Burnett of Earth Tracks Outdoor School will guide us on a morning hike in the forest as we learn about the abundant beneficial plants (both native and non-native) that grow among us. We will learn techniques for plant identification, ethical harvesting frameworks and more.
Earth Day Workshop: Permaculture Tree Guilds
What better way to celebrate Earth Day than getting your hands dirty and expanding your plant knowledge? Julie Lamberts permaculture expert and owner of Rooted By The Bluffs, a local native plants nursery, will guide us to collaborate on a Tree Guild at Sarana Springs. The hands-on experience and education from Julie will support you in bringing permaculture into your own backyard. This event is by registration only (sliding scale fee) and includes a catered lunch featuring wild edible plants and local flavors.
Free Webinar: Facing Our Stressed Healthcare System with Compassion
Join Us for a Free Webinar: Facing our Stressed Healthcare System with Compassion on Wednesday, March 22 | 12pm - 1pm ET
In this session, our M&C Faculty — Lysa Toye MSW, Rev. Agnes Wong MD, and Rev. Andrew Blake will guide us through:
Recognizing the internal and external impacts of stress
Powerful mindfulness practices to center yourself
Cultivating compassion for yourself and others
An open discussion on coping with the current healthcare landscape