What we’re about
About MANA — The Mindfulness and Nature Association
The Mindfulness and Nature Association Inc (MANA) is a community-based not-for-profit charity dedicated to weaving mindfulness, compassion, and ecological awareness into everyday life to protect nature. We aim to nurture both human well-being and the preservation of Australian nature.
We believe that caring for the Earth and caring for ourselves belong together. We need our natural environment to be healthy for us to live and become healthier. Through our programs, courses, and community events, MANA offers pathways for people to:
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Practise mindfulness — with weekly online groups and in-person practice days that are grounded, accessible, and deeply human.
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Protect and reconnect with nature — as kin, mirror, and companion.
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Build resilience and compassion — to meet the challenges of modern life.
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Strengthen community — through shared practice, dialogue, and regenerative projects including permaculture.
MANA hosts three formal meditation sessions each week and an annual retreat. Our work brings together evidence-based mindfulness approaches (including MBSR and MBCT), compassion-focused therapy, interpersonal neurobiology, and ecopsychology. From Natural Mindfulness walks and 8-week courses to reflective writing and seasonal gatherings, MANA provides a living framework for renewal — personal, communal, and ecological.