The Wisdom of Water: Nurturing the Wellspring Within
Mindful Qigong, Singing, Sound Meditation + Reiki

with Caroline Nicola and Tara Maxon
$35

"Nothing in this world is as soft and yielding as water.
Yet for overcoming the hard and inflexible,
nothing can surpass it."

— Tao Te Ching

Join us as we explore and embody the adaptable, flowing nature of water through movement, breath, song and rest. We'll experience how connecting with this vital aspect of our own inner nature and outer world can help us cultivate more ease, buoyancy and resilience.  

We’ll begin with mindful movement, encouraging a sense of watery ease and flow. After that, we’ll embody the power of water through song, cultivating connection and a sense of belonging, analogous to the strong bonds of water molecules. Our water-themed songs will be taught in a call-and-repeat style. It’s an accessible, community-based approach to singing; no experience is necessary. 

The movement and singing will foster deeper states of relaxation during our final offering— a 30 minute water-inspired sound meditation plus hands-on reiki. Lie down and rest in the harmonic sounds of the healing instruments and allow the wisdom of your BodyMind to harmonize, heal and restore. 

Caroline Nicola  is a sound practitioner, massage therapist and visual artist living in Aptos, California. She is a Sisters in Harmony Song Leader Training graduate, studied sound healing with Carrie Arlah of Breath + Oneness Yoga, studied mindfulness and meditation with Thich Nhat Hahn, Jack Kornfield and Bob Stahl, and is currently participating in a 6 month yoga and mindfulness meditation teacher training with Hannah Muse. She loves cultivating well-being through play, rest and connection. From Sound Blessings to Silent Dance Parties, her events combine merriment and mindfulness, movement and stillness. 

Tara Maxon has led a weekly Guided Mindfulness group at the Diversity Center since 2022, incorporating Eastern and Western movement modalities. They have studied mindfulness and qi gong in the US and Europe, and are certified in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and Kristin Neff's Mindful Self-Compassion practices. They became a Reiki Master Teacher after a two-year apprenticeship. After massage training and licensure in New York, Tara offered body and energy work at NYC's Open Center, and on the massage crew at Esalen Institute. They're inspired to share tools for mindful embodiment, which can help regulate the nervous system and lead to a felt sense of "all is well."

Photo credit: Caroline Nicola