Five ways to practice mindfulness around Daylesford

There are plenty of ways to foster more mindfulness in your life. Get out into nature, embrace a creative practice or whisk yourself away for a weekend retreat. Whatever it is you fancy, if you want to get mindful in the Daylesford region, here are the top spots to do so.

Take an immersive and mindful hike through Daylesford’s incredible Wombat State Forest. In their Forest Tour, Wild Mindfulness seamlessly weave together the beauty of nature and the benefits of mindfulness. Over a few hours they will take you on a leisurely 5km hike to soak in the true beauty of the forest while connecting you to the nature around you through interactive mindfulness activities. The experience completes with a mini picnic nestled amongst majestic gums overlooking a tranquil forest dam. Pretty darn inspiring! If you are looking for solo experience or are keen to go with a group of friends, Wild Mindfulness also offer private group bookings.

In the quaint town of Kyneton, you’ll find The Old Auction House. The historic 80-year-old weatherboard building which once served as the Ferris auction rooms has been converted into multiple creative spaces. The galleries, artist studios and retail stores are perfect for wandering through on a rainy day. Better yet, there are numerous workshops and courses you can sign up for to expand your creative horizons and lean into the mindful headspace that creativity cultivates. Learn to make your own silver jewellery, get an introduction to leadlighting, build your own Kokedama, brush up on your sketching or explore the world of eco printing – the perfect way to while away a few hours.

Wander into Wildness

Sometimes we can find ourselves in a place that isn’t comfortable and not know how to move forward. Or maybe you are plagued by an itch that there is something more out there for you than the monotony of the daily grind. Nat from Wander into Wildness knows exactly what that feels like. For a long time she was longing for something she couldn’t quite articulate. Close to 10 years ago, she followed a nudge to radically change her path and ever since she has been helping others do the same. Through nature connection, sound healing and story rewriting she will help you reconnect to your wildness and uncover the sense of wholeness and embodiment that you have been craving. This is the kind of experience that could change your entire life!

Escape to this stunning Japanese country spa and wellness retreat for a unique retreat or workshop. They offer a range of more unique workshops as well including Zen Your Space, Japanese Cookery, Kokedama and SAORI Weaving. Our pick? Their two-day Move, Meditate and Massage Retreat. After spending 2 hours with an experienced yoga, meditation and shiatsu therapist, you’ll receive a personalised program which will incorporate a range of yogic and oriental therapy techniques to help you to ground yourself and move your body with greater ease. Your retreat also includes accommodation with daily breakfast and a relaxing shiatsu massage.

Lightness of being you

Nicole, a Holistic Personal Development and Wellbeing Coach, works individually with people who are feeling anxious, stressed or stuck to reconnect with their inner calm. Each month she offers a sacred women’s circle – a safe space for spiritually minded women to gather and soulfully connect with each other and the Earth. Designed to root you back to your cyclical nature and remind you to take care of yourself, these immensely powerful sessions will plug you back in through calming meditations, individual sharing and wisdom-awakening discussion topics.

 
Image credits: Shizuka Ryokan, Well Traveller TV, The Old Auction House