Mindful Miles - Moore Creek Preserve hike

Mindful Miles Meet up Group
Meditation in Movement
February 8th 2025
Moore Creek Reserve
Shaffer Rd entrance. Just past western Drive on the right is the trailhead pullout but parking is on the south side (left) on Shaffer Road at
highway 1.
11 am-1pm

This Objective of this hike is to will combine Mindfulness, Forest Bathing, and Meditation with movement.

The goal is to be present and focused only on the present moment (the NOW) while using and focusing your attention on your 5 senses.
Although there will be a group meeting up to start, each individual will walk alone and will not be engaging with others until the end if they care to. This is an individual session for YOU only. People can share their experiences at the end of the walk but it is optional.

I’d ask if each person would bring an intention (written down) for the hike. You will NOT be asked to share your intention unless you’d like to, but please have it written down.
Bring all that you’d need for 2 hours on the trail – sunscreen, hat, water, snacks/food etc; small towel/Pad/blanket if you want to sit down along the way.

We will meet at the corner of highway 1 and Shaffer Road at 10:50 am before we cross the highway to the trailhead. The hike starts promptly at 11am from the north side of the highway.
The hike will be a total of 3.2 miles with a ½ hr silent meditation ¾ of the way through the hike. After the meditation the rest of the hike is all downhill!

Plan on being out for about 2 hours total or a little less. We’ll meet back at the original meeting spot at the end (Shaffer and Highway 1 south side) for those who want to debrief, chat , have their lunch etc. There is a nice picnic table gathering spot at the Seymour center about 5 minutes away where we can sit and eat our lunch or snacks if anyone is interested in that after the hike.

Please try to come a few minutes early or right on time so I can give you some more information about the objective and trail we’ll take, mileages etc. We will start at 11:00 SHARP.
I look forward to seeing you!
Please let me if you have any questions or problems. Text or call 510.599.5975
Thank you!
Kim
Mindfulness: A mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.

Mindfulness can help people avoid destructive or automatic habits and responses by learning to observe their thoughts, emotions and other present-moment experiences without judging or reacting to them.
Forest Bathing: (Shinrin-yoku-a Japnaese word) Is a practice or process of therapeutic relaxation where one spends time in a forest or natural atmosphere, focusing on sensory engagement to connect with nature.
Meditation: To engage in a mental exercise (such as concentration on one’s breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness. To observe one’s thoughts without judgment.
Moore Creek Preserve:
Moore Creek Preserve is a 246 acre natural area that lies within the most pristine watershed area in the City of Santa Cruz. It was acquired in 1998 as a cooperative effort between the City of SC and the Land trust of SC County. Because the Preserve supports numerous threatened and endangered species and other sensitive resources, the public use is limited to hiking only.

The Moore Creek Preserve features high quality habitats, including wildflower fields, coastal prairies and rare examples of live oak and riparian forests. A number of rare, threatened and endangered wildlife and plant species inhabit the property, including the red legged frog, Ohlone tiger beetle and the San Francisco popcorn flower.

one’s breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness. To observe one’s thoughts without judgment.