Less Doing, More Being: Honoring Our Natural Rhythms in a Season of Busyness

Less Doing, More Being is a free online mindfulness program hosted by Drala Mountain Center in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado, in the Buddhist tradition. Led by author and mindfulness teacher Dr. Cynthia Garner, it is an evening for anyone whose year-end calendar has filled with deadlines, gatherings, travel and obligations, and who would like to meet that season with more rest and presence.

The program begins from a simple observation: at the darkest and quietest time of the year, the natural world turns inward and our bodies may be asking for rest, while our culture asks us to do more. Rather than making slowing down one more task, Cynthia Garner invites participants to listen to the body, notice the momentum that keeps us moving, and create small pockets of rest within the life they already have.

What to Expect

The session runs 90 minutes, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm Mountain Time, live on Zoom. It is experiential rather than a lecture, and moves through a gentle arc:

- An opening and grounding practice
- An exploration of natural rhythms and seasonal patterns
- Guided mindfulness and somatic inquiry
- An introduction to "micro-rest" practices
- Reflection and integration

The aim is practical. Participants explore how to honor the biological need for restoration while staying engaged with the people and responsibilities that matter to them. The practices are for slowing down, restoring energy and staying connected, especially in busy and demanding moments.

About Dr. Cynthia Garner

Dr. Cynthia Garner is a somatic therapist and boundary-setting coach who works with educators, mental health professionals, caregivers and survivors of relational violence. She teaches Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), and is the author of Fierce Boundaries: Practical Skills and Somatic Exercises for Healing in a Traumatized World.

Her path to this work includes seven years as a classroom teacher, which she left in 2017 during a period of deep personal and professional loss. She went on to graduate counseling coursework, a two-year somatic psychotherapy program, and training in clinically studied mindfulness-based interventions. She also took part in the year-long Mindful Schools Teacher Certification Program and their School-wide Implementation Program.

How It Works

The program is part of the Drala Mountain Online Practice Series, a collection of tuition-free online offerings held on select Tuesday evenings. Participants receive a Zoom link by email within 24 hours before the program starts. The session is recorded and can be viewed for up to two weeks afterward, which helps if you cannot attend live.

Before You Go

- Experience: All levels are welcome. No prior meditation or mindfulness experience is required, and experienced practitioners are equally at home.
- Language: English.
- Cost: Tuition is free. In the Buddhist tradition of dāna, a selfless act of giving from the heart in appreciation of the teachings, a tax-deductible donation of any amount can be made at registration.
- Included: The 90-minute live session, guided mindfulness and reflection practices, an introduction to micro-rest techniques, and the recording.