Wellness Takes Place in Nature - We Offer Two Ways to Connect to Nature:
What is Mindfulness? Put simply, “Mindfulness is a powerful but simple tool – focusing your awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting your feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. This powerful technique is even more impactful when practiced outdoors, in nature, lowering your blood pressure, stress levels, and heart rate and improving your immune system and well-being. Mindfulness will also help decrease anxiety and depression and helps to balance your nervous system.” (Heather Sullivan, mindfulgreenhouston.com).
The Friends of The Lorraine Cherry Nature Preserve is pleased to offer free Morning Mindfulness events which take place on the first Saturday mornings of the month during the months of March, April, May, September, October, and November at 9:30 am. We meet at the Gulf Coast Birding sign across from the corner of Pineshade and Shirkmere. Please, join us to experience our wonderful nature preserve during the practice of Mindfulness.
Ready for Morning Mindfulness to Begin.
Yoga by Facet Seven
What is yoga? Put simply, “Yoga is a physical and spiritual practice that originated over 5,000 years ago in India. In Sanskrit, the term “yoga” comes from the root “yuj,” which means “to join” or “to unite” the body with the mind through purposeful, mindful movement. (Brown University Health, brownhealth.org/be-well/yoga-and-its-many -benefits)
Yoga by Facet Seven at TLCNP.
The Friends of The Lorraine Cherry Nature Preserve is pleased to offer free Yoga by Facet Seven events on the Second Saturdays of the months of March, April, May, September, October, and November at 10:15 am. We meet at the picnic table in the Ball Field. Please, join us to have a unique experience of yoga outside in our wonderful nature preserve.
Yoga by Facet Seven at TLCNP.
Yoga by Facet Seven at TLCNP.
Interestingly, both practices share some of the same cornerstones. With each thought or movement there is a breath, which helps inspire introspection and mindfulness in both practices. Through introspection, a focus on breathing, and moving mindfully, one can not only feel rejuvenation, but also a sense of mental clarity and relaxation. Both practices are well known to help calm the mind and decrease stress levels, which may also help battle problems with mood. (See more information at Brown University Health, brownhealth.org/be-well/yoga-and-its-many -benefits)
Yoga by Facet Seven Group Photo at TLCNP.
Benefits of Being Outside in Nature
Adding either or both those practices to the benefits of being outside helps cement wellness. “Spending time in nature is one of the easiest, most accessible ways to boost your physical and mental health, and it’s free,” says Amanda Beaver, a registered dietitian at Houston Methodist Hospital. The physical health benefits that Ms. Beaver documents from being outside in green spaces are: lower blood pressure and heart rate, improved sleep quality, boosted vitamin D levels, strengthened immune system, greater focus and attention, reduced cortisol, and enhanced connection to our own imagination and sense of wonder. (houstonmethodist.org/blog/articles/2026/feb/nature-rx-what-are-the-health-benefits-of-nature/)
Sun rays at TLCNP.
Cooper’s hawk on low snag at TLCNP.
Be sure to check the kiosk for our flyers and follow our FaceBook page to keep up with the schedule for each of these offerings and many other of our outdoor events. If you want to sign up for the monthly Bird Walks in the Forest email list, which gives a monthly overview of all that is happening at the nature preserve, please email tlcnpinfo@gmail.com and ask to be added to the email list.
Swamp Leatherflower at TLCNP.
American Robin at TLCNP.