The Mind Body Ecology Institute

We guide people in reconnecting with nature to foster both personal and planetary well-being, while encouraging wise and responsible environmental stewardship.

About MBEI

In the face of global environmental challenges, systemic racism, growing inequity, and the alarming decline in mental health, especially among young adults, our mission is more vital than ever.

Although we remain hopeful for the future, we view the environmental crisis as a reflection of a deeper, internal crisis—a disconnection from ourselves, each other, and the natural world.

Through our programs, we help reawaken a sense of connection with nature, community, and self to promote personal and planetary health. 

Our work weaves Western science and humanities with global Indigenous and Buddhist wisdom along with nature-based meditation and embodiment practices to cultivate reverence for the preciousness of life in all its rich diversity.

People who attend our programs develop a practical sense for our interdependence along with the skills of well-being and impactful ways each person can foster collective flourishing.

"There is no flourishing without Mother Earth flourishing." – Yuria Celidwen, author of Flourishing Kin: Indigenous Wisdom for Collective Well-being

MBEI programs are rooted in a unique blend of:

• Community building, talking circles, deep listening, storytelling

• Meditation (a blend of nature-based open awareness and compassion meditation along with mindful movement)

• Creative arts

• Discussion of worldviews, values, interdependence, resilience, and flourishing 

• Exploration of cognitive and behavioral patterns

• Personal reflection on ways we can cultivate an ecologically and socially-engaged path to support individual and planetary health.

Participants report profound improvement in their mental health, community engagement, personal growth, and environmental action.

All programs combine community building, meditation, embodiment practice, storytelling, and deep listening to reawaken our connection with nature, all underpinned by insightful dialogues on self, worldviews, interdependence, equity, and sustainability.

 “When we love the earth, we are able to love ourselves more fully.” - bell hooks

Sustainability discourse is predominantly centered on structural or “outer” changes in public policy and law, green technology and business, innovative agriculture, and shifts in our behaviors. Wise engagement in these areas is necessary. 

However, these discussions overlook the necessity of also changing ourselves to address environmental and social inequities. 

Our programs uniquely approach well-being through a nature-based, “inner” developmental or "transformational" model that addresses physical, mental, and social well-being as interconnected facets of human existence and planetary health.

Inner transformation involves expanding worldviews, mindsets, and values, and learning the skills of well-being.

We provide an avenue for participants to expand their worldviews, values, as well as thinking and behavioral patterns in bringing about profound inner transformation.

The Mind Body Ecology Institute strives to help individuals understand their role in the dynamic web of life, fostering collective flourishing.

We are kindly asking for your help in supporting our mission.