Wellness & Creativity Programming
Slow down, get creative, and reconnect at Sonoma Botanical Garden through a series of wellness and creativity programs. Set among seasonal blooms and peaceful woodland paths, these experiences invite you to connect with nature, others, and yourself. From forest bathing walks and meditation hikes to hands-on art workshops and yoga, each program offers a chance to relax, explore, and be present. Whether you’re looking for calm, inspiration, or time outdoors, the Garden offers a welcoming space to enjoy the moment.
Forest Bathing Walk
Come enjoy a gentle, guided Forest Bathing Walk where East meets West at the Sonoma Botanical Garden, thoughtfully complemented by the presence of our Spirit Guides exhibition. Inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin yoku, or “forest bathing,” this experience encourages you to slow down and awaken your senses—taking in the sights, sounds, and subtle energies of the Garden while reflecting on the cultural and spiritual connections between nature and the imaginative forms of the Spirit Guides.
This walk will be led by Susan Karle, a Certified Forest Therapy Guide, who brings over a decade of experience guiding nature connection practices with people of all ages. Her approach integrates her background in grief and trauma work with a deep respect for the healing power of nature.
Saturday, April 18, 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
$17 for members, $32 for non-members | Includes Garden admission. Please check in at the Garden’s Welcomer Center. To learn more and sign up, click “Register” and explore the “Info” tab on the registration page.
Fabric Block Printing Workshop with Sonya Philip
Inspired by the bold colors and rich patterning of the sculptures in our Spirit Guides exhibition, we invite you to join us at Sonoma Botanical Garden for a hands-on introduction to the art of fabric block printing with Bay Area artist and maker Sonya Philip. In this welcoming workshop, Sonya will guide participants through the fundamentals of block printing on fabric, including pattern repetition, color play, and ink application techniques.
Saturday, May 23, 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
$78 for members, $95 for non-members | Includes Garden admission. Please check in at the Center for Learning & Engagement. To learn more and sign up, click “Register” and explore the “Info” tab on the registration page.
Paint Your Own Spirit Guide Workshop
Join the Spirit Guides artists, Jacobo Ángeles and María Ángeles, for a vibrant, hands-on workshop where you’ll paint your own wooden nahualito—a small spirit guide inspired by the rich traditions of Zapotec culture.
Guided step-by-step by the artists, you’ll explore the symbolism, stories, and cultural meaning behind these fantastical creatures while learning traditional painting techniques that bring each figure to life. Their son, Ricardo Ángeles, will join the workshop as translator, ensuring a welcoming and engaging experience for all participants.
Saturday, May 30, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 30, 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
$78 for members, $95 for non-members | Includes Garden admission. Please check in at the Center for Learning & Engagement. To learn more and sign up, click “Register” and explore the “Info” tab on the registration page.
Summer Restorative Yoga
Begin your Saturday mornings with a calming session of restorative yoga at the Garden – an invitation to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with yourself in a peaceful natural setting. Whether you’re looking to unwind from a busy week or manage ongoing stress, this beginner-friendly class offers a gentle path toward physical and emotional balance.
Saturday, June 6, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Saturday, June 20, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Saturday, July 4, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Saturday, July 18, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Saturday, August 1, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Saturday, August 15, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
$30 for members, $35 for non-members | Includes Garden admission. Please check in at the Center for Learning & Engagement. To learn more and sign up, click “Register” and explore the “Info” tab on the registration page.
Plein Air Sketching Workshop with Hannah Day
Enjoy a morning in the garden while sketching the seasonal flowers, foliage, and the sculpture of Spirit Guides: Fantastical Creatures from the Workshop of Jacobo and María Ángeles. In this one day workshop, participants will learn and practice foundational drawing techniques while sketching both organic and constructed forms, creating a unique composition of art and nature. Discover the meditative benefits of a plein air art practice, and gain a deeper appreciation for the natural world around you through close observation and intentional rendering.
Saturday, June 6, 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
$78 for members, $95 for non-members | Includes Garden admission. Please check in at the Center for Learning & Engagement. To learn more and sign up, click “Register” and explore the “Info” tab on the registration page.
Meditation Spirit Hike
Take a centering journey through the Garden’s vibrant summer landscape, where stillness, mindfulness, and gentle movement come together in a seasonal meditation hike inspired by the themes of our Spirit Guides exhibition. This reflective experience leads participants along a quiet trail to the Garden’s highest point, offering space to slow down, breathe deeply, and attune to the subtle presences that shape the land. Along the way, pause to notice summer’s quiet messengers—sun-warmed leaves, the hum of pollinators, shifting light through the canopy, the scent of dry earth—and engage in mindful breathing and guided reflection.
This program is offered in collaboration with Sonoma Yoga, a community-centered studio with over 20 years of experience and a dynamic team of yoga, fitness, and meditation guides to support your practice. Please dress accordingly and bring water.
Saturday, June 13, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m
$17 for members, $32 for non-members | Includes Garden admission. Please check in at the Garden’s Welcome Center. To learn more and sign up, click “Register” and explore the “Info” tab on the registration page.
Sunset Spirit Sound Bath
In celebration of our Spirit Guides exhibition, join Glen Ellen–based practitioners Amelia Belle and Bob Rudorf for a restorative open air sound bath inspired by the wisdom, symbolism, and grounding presence of the natural world.
Open to all levels, this experience invites you to reconnect with nature and yourself—an opportunity to pause, reflect, and attune to the rhythms of the living landscape.
Saturday, June 20, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 18, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 22, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
$45 for members, $55 for non-members. A check-in table will be set up at the end of the visitor parking lot. To learn more and sign up, click “Register” and explore the “Info” tab on the registration page.
Watercolor Meditation Workshop with Lisa Solomon
Inspired by the bold colors and rich patterning of the sculptures featured in our Spirit Guides exhibition, join us at Sonoma Botanical Garden for a hands-on watercolor workshop with Bay Area artist and maker Lisa Solomon. This workshop is open to all experience levels, from complete beginners to those with prior artistic experience.
In this immersive workshop, we’ll open up the world of color, using painting as a means of exploration—and, potentially, relaxation. The session will begin with a brief, accessible exercise to help participants become familiar with the paints in their palette and comfortable working with watercolor brushes.
Saturday, July 25, 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
$78 for members, $95 for non-members | Includes Garden admission. Please check in at the Center for Learning & Engagement. To learn more and sign up, click “Register” and explore the “Info” tab on the registration page.
