Community Events

Announcing Reset & Renew: A Week of Restorative Offerings

In times of stress, change, and uncertainty, we often need spaces that invite us to slow down, listen inward, and reconnect—with ourselves, with one another, and with the living world of which we are a part. Creative and contemplative practices offer powerful ways to restore re-balance, connect and renew our sense of vitality.

As part of the Bakken Center’s Arts & Wellbeing programming, Reset & Renew offers a week of accessible HeART of Healing experiences that weave together creativity, sound, movement, mindfulness, and nature-based practices, supporting personal and collective wellbeing. No previous experience necessary. Come as you are and participate as you wish.

Mindful Mondays - Open to the public
Monday, March 2 | Noon to 1 p.m. Central | Online via Zoom
Free. Registration is required. 

Mindful Mondays sessions combine mindful movements and meditations that will leave you feeling rejuvenated. 

Sound Bath for UMN Staff, Faculty, and Students
Tuesday, March 3 | Noon to 1 p.m. Central | In-Person, Mayo Meditation Space
Free. No registration is required, but space is limited. Chairs and a limited number of yoga mats and cushions will be available to use or feel free to bring your own.

During a sound bath, participants are invited to lie down or sit comfortably while immersed in soothing sounds. Sessions are carefully crafted to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, helping to reduce stress and anxiety, and bringing rest and relief to mind, body, and spirit.

Creative Sanctuary for UMN Students
Tuesday, March 3 | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Central | In-Person, Mayo Meditation Space
Free. Registration is required. 
Chairs and a limited number of yoga mats and cushions will be available to use or feel free to bring your own.

Just in time for midterms, HeART of Healing offers a creative sanctuary. Creative Sanctuary weaves together immersive sound, poetry, story, and song. It is a space designed intentionally for students to tap into a sense of peace, creativity, and reflection that is free from external expectations.

Join us for dinner from 6:30 to 7 p.m., followed by a Creative Sanctuary experience. Students will be invited to rest, move around as they wish, or bring along drawing, craftwork, journaling, or other forms of creative expression to enjoy during their experience. There is also the opportunity to stay for an optional listening circle afterwards that includes cookies, tea, and gentle reflection time.

Honoring Spring: Calling in New Life - Open to the public
Wednesday, March 4 | Noon to 1 p.m. Central | Online via Zoom
Free. Registration is required. 

During this webinar, you’ll have the opportunity to explore practices that awaken the senses, soothe the nervous system, and open the heart. We will honor the season of Spring by celebrating seeds with musical meditation, breathwork, and mindful movement.

Reset & Renew Meditation, Breathwork and Reflective Journaling on Intention Setting - Open to the public
Thursday, March 5 | Noon to 1 p.m. Central | In-Person, Mayo Meditation Space
Free. Registration is required as space is limited.

This gentle one-hour session invites participants to pause, breathe, and reflect. Through guided meditation, calming breathwork, and reflective journaling, we will create space to reset the nervous system and reconnect with what feels meaningful and supportive. Participants will be guided to set personal intentions grounded in care, clarity, and presence. No prior experience is needed. Please bring something to write with and write on.

Other Events

Whether you are University of Minnesota faculty, staff, a student, or a member of the broader community, we have events for you. Select expand all to open the tabs below to explore upcoming HeART of Healing events.

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For University of Minnesota Faculty, Staff and Students

HeART of Healing Sound Baths

Please note that this event is for University of Minnesota students, staff, and faculty only.

  • First Tuesday of each month
  • Noon to 1 p.m.
  • In-Person at the Bakken Center’s Meditation Space (B-393), Mayo Building


A sound bath is a full-body listening experience that calms the nervous system and invites deep relaxation. Sometimes called vibroacoustic therapy, this practice engages the body at a cellular level, helping to release stress and restore balance. Focused on supporting mental health and wellbeing, sound baths are often combined with whole health practices such as journaling, mindful movement, and meditation.

How Sound Baths Help

Stress negatively affects health in nearly 76% of adults, contributing to headaches, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Evidence shows that music-based interventions significantly improve both mental and physical stress outcomes. Sound baths support renewed calm, clarity, and focus.

What to Expect

This programming is led by trained community wellbeing and creative facilitators and may include guest musicians. No experience is necessary, and you may participate as much or as little as you feel comfortable. You can move around or simply rest while immersed in resonant waves of sound that are both heard and felt. Chairs and a limited number of yoga mats and cushions will be available to use or feel free to bring your own.

Dates

  • March 3, 2026 - Facilitated by Molly Sturges
  • April 7, 2026
  • May 5, 2026

Event Details

  • These events are free, and open to University staff, faculty, and students. No registration is required, but space is limited. Please plan to arrive early to get settled.
  • Location: The Bakken Center’s Meditation Space (B-393), Third Floor, UMN East Bank Campus, Mayo Building (420 Delaware St. SE)

For University of Minnesota Students

HeART of Healing Creative Sanctuary

Please note that this event is only for current University of Minnesota students.

Many college students struggle with stress, and evidence shows that arts-based interventions significantly improve both mental and physical stress outcomes.

Creative Sanctuary weaves together immersive sound, poetry, story, and song led by the Waking the Oracle Ensemble. It is a space designed intentionally for students to tap into a sense of peace, creativity, and reflection that is free from external expectations.

Students are invited to rest, move around as they wish, or bring along drawing, craftwork, journaling, or other forms of creative expression to enjoy during their experience. There is also the opportunity to stay for an optional listening circle afterwards that includes cookies, tea, and gentle reflection time.

What to Expect

This programming is led by trained community wellbeing and creative facilitators and may include guest musicians. No experience is necessary, and you may participate as much or as little as you feel comfortable. Chairs and a limited number of yoga mats and cushions will be available to use or feel free to bring your own.

Location

In-Person at the Bakken Center’s Meditation Space (B-393), Mayo Building

Dates and Times

  • March 3, 2026 - Register
    • 6:30 to 7 p.m.: Join us for a free dinner
    • 7 to 8 p.m.: Creative sanctuary experience
    • 8 to 8:30 p.m.: Optional listening circle with cookies and tea
  • April 7, 2026 - Registration Opening Soon
    • 5 - 5:30 p.m..: Join us for a free dinner
    • 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.: Creative sanctuary experience
    • 6:30 - 7 p.m.: Optional listening circle with cookies and tea
  • May 5, 2026 - Registration Opening Soon
    • 11:45 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Join us for a free lunch
    • 12 - 1 p.m.: Creative sanctuary experience
    • 1 - 1:30 p.m.: Optional listening circle with cookies and tea

Event Details

  • These events are free and open to all University of Minnesota students. Please plan to arrive early to get settled.
  • Location: The Bakken Center’s Meditation Space (B-393), Third Floor, UMN East Bank Campus, Mayo Building (420 Delaware St. SE)

For the Community

Honoring Spring: Calling in New Life

This webinar is open to all.


Every Spring, small seeds push through dark soil to blossom into miraculous forms of new life. Seeds teach us about change, unlimited potential, and interconnection, giving life to all aspects of our existence together on planet Earth. During this webinar, you’ll have the opportunity to explore practices that awaken the senses, soothe the nervous system, and open the heart. We will honor the season of Spring by celebrating seeds with musical meditation, breathwork, and mindful movement.

Reset & Renew Meditation, Breathwork and Reflective Journaling on Intention Setting


Thursday, March 5 | Noon to 1 p.m. Central | In-Person, Mayo Meditation Space
Free. Registration is required as space is limited.

This gentle one-hour session invites participants to pause, breathe, and reflect. Through guided meditation, calming breathwork, and reflective journaling, we will create space to reset the nervous system and reconnect with what feels meaningful and supportive. Participants will be guided to set personal intentions grounded in care, clarity, and presence. No prior experience is needed. Please bring something to write with and write on.

Honoring Summer: Inviting Wonder and Aliveness

This webinar is open to all.


Summer’s luminous energy invites us to reconnect with the wonder that lives within and around us. During this webinar, you’ll have the opportunity to explore practices that awaken the senses, soothe the nervous system, and open the heart. We will honor the season of warmth, expansion, and aliveness with musical meditation, breathwork, and mindful movement.