On Sat., September 28, come explore mindfulness through health, wellness, art and food during a full-day experience at Central Library planned by team members Nita Ambedkar, Kiran Nautiyal, Deepti Awasthi, Vidya Matreas, Arpita Joshi, and Vinita Shrivastava as part of the Library Takeover program! Mindfulness the Indian Way is designed for those who want to learn how the rich traditions of Indian culture can help them feel more present and aware in their daily lives.
Beginning at 9am and continuing throughout the day, you can drop in to try your hand at different mindful practices, including yoga, art, traditional dance, and more - all led by local artists and organizations! Plus, a mini-bazar of local vendors selling jewelry, art, food and more will be available for attendees to peruse for the duration of the event outside the community room on the 3rd floor.
Whether you're new to mindfulness or looking to deepen your understanding, this event will provide a rich, immersive experience that blends cultural traditions with the principles of mindful living. Join us in rooms 301 and 302 at Central Library and discover the art of mindfulness the Indian way!
Event Timeline:
9am - 3pm
9-10am: Opening Circle
- Get grounded for the day's events in a group setting as we enjoy all-ages yoga and an introduction to mindfulness with Nita Ambedkar of THP, The Happiest Place.
10-11am: Food + Mindfulness
- Enjoy an Indian breakfast and mindful chai provided by Amber Indian Restaurant, and enjoy a cooking demo led by Sara Parthasarathy, the co-founder of Flavor Temptations. We'll also be talking about the history of mindfulness in Indian culture and go into the "why" behind some of the traditions we're explore throughout the day.
11am - 12:30pm: Health + Mindfulness
- During this time, we'll talk about health and wellness techniques that help connect the mind, body and soul, including a session on ayurveda led by Raka Bandyo of the Ayurveda Association of Wisconsin and a session on homeopathy by Anu Chalke. From 12-12:30pm, stop by a special discussion on Mindful Leadership!
12:30-1:30pm: Art + Mindfulness
- In the afternoon, presenters will showcase art styles used to express creativity through different mediums. You'll enjoy a performance of Doha singing that explores the connection between music and spirituality, then get in the zone with a wood burning demonstration where you'll learn about the significance of mandalas from Gauri of Prettyful Creations. Finally, we'll delve into the history of mehndi or henna with Deepti & Mini of Deep’s Henna, and maybe even get to try creating some henna art for yourself!
1:30-2:30pm: Dance + Mindfulness
- Get your body moving with sessions all about dance! Raka from Karmic Flower will introduce you to Odissi dance and the language of the body, as well as demonstrate different dances. Find out how nature and dance interplay with SriVidya’s team of Sri Natya Vidhyalaya dance school, and how you can be mindful with social media and dance challenges with Anurima Das of Soulful Dance Academy.
2:30-3pm: Closing Circle
- As we leave our time together, we'll reflect and cool down with yoga, breath work and final thoughts with Diane Sing of Madison Outdoor Yoga and Nita Ambedkar of THP (The Happiest Place)
Registration is requested. Sign up below.
Library Takeover is funded by Madison Public Library Foundation and TruStage. The event was largely made possible thanks to the organizing efforts of Nita Ambedkar of THP (The Happiest Place).