Wellness Events at Arts & Cultural Organizations in The Palm Beaches

Part of the appeal of museums and cultural organizations is the sense of wellbeing they provide and the wonder they inspire—and in some cases, that gratitude-inspiring experience is curated and very much intentional. If you’re planning to attend Eudēmonia from Nov. 1-3 in West Palm Beach or just looking for a little peace of mind, try one of these wellness experiences at four favorite local institutions, from waterfront sunset yoga to watercoloring in a lush tropical garden.

Yoga at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum

Every Monday evening, beginners and experienced yogis alike gather with local yoga studio owner Mary Veal on the ground-level deck of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum to participate in a serene sunset yoga session.

Photo by Captain Kimo

The waterfront setting, plus yoga mats arranged beneath the twinkling lights of sprawling banyan trees, invokes a sense of awe at the wondrous nature surrounding you and invites you on a journey into yourself. There’s a reason this weekly yoga offering is popular among locals and visitors alike.

The class is open to all levels and requires only a yoga mat and a flashlight. The class begins at 7 p.m. during Daylight Saving Time and 6 p.m. the rest of the year.

Of course, the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum is worth a visit during the day, too. The most popular activity, of course, is climbing the 105 steps of the lighthouse’s spiral staircase to reach the viewing deck at the top, where you can get a 360-degree view of the scenic Jupiter Inlet and the Atlantic Ocean beyond.

Mindful Moments at the Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach

To further their mission of helping people experience the transformative power of art through intimate and creative encounters with wide-ranging collections, the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach launched a program called Mindful Moments.

While marveling at all the art is a given on any visit to the Norton—their collection includes more than 8,200 works of European, American, and Chinese art plus contemporary art and photography—this particular program invites visitors to participate in a mindfulness meditation practice using a specific work of art in the museum as the object of attention. Participants experience an instructor-led meditation session then reflect and discuss the work of art.

According to the museum, “The awareness of one’s thoughts, bodily sensations, and emotions during the reflection can often lead to a greater understanding of the self and ultimately a healthier lifestyle. Additionally, practicing together in community and hearing about other people’s experiences help participants to develop a greater sense of connectedness and understanding of humanity.”

Slowing down to experience the power of visual arts—and to notice one’s thoughts, feelings, and motivations along the way—increases one’s sense of presence and clarity, and can hopefully inspire gratitude, empathy, and increased self-awareness.

During Summer at the Norton, visitors can also take free tai chi classes, a form of moving meditation, to involve their physical bodies as well.

Sado Tea Ceremony at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, Delray Beach

Meditative walks at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach are a favorite pastime among locals, but participating in a sado tea ceremony, which takes place in the authentic Seishin-an Tea House, will further deepen visitors’ appreciation for this cultural gem.

A word meaning “the way of tea,” sado is the term for Japan’s traditional and highly ritualized tea ceremony, or a way of serving and drinking green matcha tea that involves a host and guests. The practice, with its series of very precise movements, is considered a moving meditation and can be highly beneficial to mental and emotional health when used as a way to slow down in today’s frenetic world.

During the Morikami’s guided sado workshops, guests are asked to sit on the floor of the tatami room in the seiza position (with knees bent and folded beneath the thighs) to fully appreciate the aesthetics and traditions of the ceremony. Those who take the workshop learn how to participate as a guest as well as the appropriate way to prepare and serve a bowl of tea. If you go, make sure to wear white socks and long pants or a long skirt.

Different experiences are available for beginner and intermediate tea lovers. In addition to Japanese tea ceremonies, the Morikami offers a wide variety of workshops, classes, and experiences, including calligraphy, gift presentation, ramen spoon carving, kintsugi (mending broken pottery with gold), shibori indigo dyeing, and more.

Watercolor at Mounts Botanical Garden, West Palm Beach

It’s hard not to feel inspired on a stroll through the 20-acre Mounts Botanical Garden in West Palm Beach; luckily, you can channel that into painting if you take a watercolor class with local artist and photographer Carl Stoveland.

Mounts offers adult watercolor classes for novices and experienced painters alike. Time is split between demos by Carl and supervised painting time. During the beginners’ class, students start with the basics and learn a new technique each week, over time creating simple paintings and progressing one’s skills.

While you can always drop in, signing up for a weekly painting class is the best way to reap the benefits of this calming hobby—and increase your confidence over time! Watercolor classes are a way to combine an interest in art and nature, relax, express yourself creatively, and produce simple but beautiful pieces of art you can feel proud of.

If you sign up, equip yourself with a basic set of pencils, pens, paints, sketchpad, watercolor pad, or journal plus a way to take photos (like a cell phone camera or tablet).

In addition to the lush grounds—which offer plenty to enjoy on their own—tai chi classes, cacao ceremonies, sound baths, orchid potting workshops, honey tastings, and other mindful events are also on the Mounts calendar.

Tickets are now on sale for Eudēmonia in The Palm Beaches, a 3-day summit from November 1–3, 2024 in West Palm Beach for your good health, wellbeing, and longevity.