Path To Emotional Healing Program 

Picture yourself thriving in life – moving ahead, instead of feeling at a standstill, frustrated and unhappy.

A touchstone for such fulfillment is positive emotional health. That’s hard to cultivate if you’ve been knocked off balance by stress, anxiety, grief or loneliness. Yume’s transformative program of structured therapeutic garden walks can help you lighten these burdens, regain your poise and composure and bring a happier life into view. 

The program’s facilitators will guide you in pursuing independent, self-directed healing in regular walks through Yume’s gardens. Immersed in and physically responding to their quiet beauty, you’ll embark on a journey of awareness that increases your receptivity to peace of mind. You’ll summon your best self as you develop the ability to reflect on your feelings and to ease emotional experiences that may be troubling you.

Health studies show that regular walking and personal reflection in the nurturing environment of a Japanese garden produces meaningful and lasting emotional benefits – and more so for instance than art therapy or visiting Western-style gardens. Depression, sadness and other forms of mental distress are reduced, and you attain greater resilience in the face of adversity. With your emotions balanced and your self-esteem enhanced, you’re better able to care for yourself. Your mind turns to happiness and you’re freer to pursue it. In time, you feel more gratitude, contentment and joy. 

HOW IT WORKS:  The Path To Emotional Healing Program has a deeper purpose than to simply enjoy a stroll in nature. It is scientifically designed and requires a minimum commitment of at least one month to help boost your sense of emotional ease.

 Your first step will be write a confidential mini-biography describing key positive emotional episodes in your life, as well as negative emotional experiences that cloud your mind and spirit and that you want most urgently to lift. This account is private: neither the facilitator nor others in the program will see it. It is strictly to focus your efforts to improve your emotional life.

Next, you’ll speak with the facilitator to explore the program in detail and learn the science behind it. You’ll be introduced to a walking route through the Gardens with special programmed stops and receive a companion workbook explaining how to make the most of the deeper meaning of each pause to aid your emotional healing. The benefits you may reasonably expect to receive by faithfully completing the walking program will also be discussed. 

The workbook presents sets of themed walks that identify points along your way through the Gardens at which to rest, feel at ease and envision a rejuvenated life for yourself. Walks are based on such themes as awareness, trust, possibility, joy, and fulfillment. They are designed to foster active self-reflection that opens an arena for progress in resolving pressing emotional issues. You’ll perform another key exercise toward this end by journaling diligently about your reflections and your response to the gardens as you proceed through the walks at your own pace. You’ll walk solo, not in a group, to protect your physical health and to safeguard the privacy of your intimate inner journey.

It’s recommended that you walk the Gardens for 50 minutes at least twice weekly. If you occasionally cannot, you may watch an optional video filmed at Yume and designed for peaceful contemplation as if you were at the Gardens in person. You’ll receive a secure personal access code to view the video online as often as you like.

WHO MAY BENEFIT:  The program is for anyone troubled by chronic depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, suffering from more transitory setbacks such as grief and loneliness following the loss of a family member, friend, or pet, or in emotional distress because of divorce, job loss, retirement, aging, or a life-threatening illness. 

Also welcome are members of self-help groups for stroke and cancer survivors, support groups for veterans, and groups dealing with gender issues and domestic violence. If you’re a caregiver or counselor, you’re invited to join too.

WHAT IT COSTS:  The program fee is $250, payable by cash or by check to Yume Japanese Gardens at the time of the orientation session.

The fee covers meeting with a facilitator, your workbook, a contemplative video, and unlimited admission to the Gardens for 90 days.  

Space in the program is limited and advance registration is required. To enroll, fill out the registration form linked below.

NEXT ORIENTATION SESSIONS:

(Every two weeks)

Friday, January 26, 2024, at 10AM

Friday, February 9, 2024, at 10AM

Friday, February 23, 2024, at 10AM

Friday, March 8, 2024, at 10AM

Friday, March 22, 2024, at 10AM

Friday, April 12, 2024, at 10AM

Dates may be subjected to change according to student participation.

Additional sessions may be held to accommodate high demand.  

Alternative orientation dates and visiting hours to suit special circumstances are allowed. Please contact us at yume.gardens@gmail.com

Learn How People Have Been Inspired And Helped 

See a video of participants in the Stroll for Well-Being Program at Florida’s Morikami Japanese Museum and Gardens: Click Here