In this relaxing two-hour workshop, you’ll experience the synergy between mindfulness and photography.

This will be an opportunity to restore yourself–by slowing down, letting go, and exploring photography as a gateway to increased inner stability and calm. It’ll be a chance to deepen your innate creativity, intuition, and connection to yourself and the world.

We’ll begin indoors at the Sanctuary studio with a friendly introduction, and you’ll be gently guided through a simple, yet profound, mindfulness practice readily accessible to everyone. This will help us slow down and notice with fresh eyes.

Grounded and settled, we’ll make our way outdoors for independent photography time. Afterwards, we’ll come together to share experiences and then close with inspiration and practical tips for integrating mindfulness into your photography and daily life.

PLEASE NOTE: Remember to bring any camera that you are comfortable using (phone cameras welcome) and note that technical aspects of photography and sharing photos are not part of this workshop. For all levels of experience in mindfulness and photography. Simply come as you are.

For ages 18 and above.

Amy Thompson Avishai has been a photographer and mindfulness practitioner for more than two decades. A Fulbright fellow, she has taught at Massachusetts College of Art and Design and other institutions. In her 20s and 30s, Amy photographed for The New York Times and other newspapers, and was featured in National Geographic. She also completed documentary projects abroad, including a Fulbright project about the education of girls in rural areas of Morocco. Amy’s interest in meditation began while photographing in Cambodia in 2003. Her own practice deepened as time went on and she came to recognize the similarities and synergy between mindfulness meditation and her creative process. She soon began introducing mindfulness practices to students at the Griffin Museum of Photography and later began hosting workshops out of her studio in Western Massachusetts. In 2023, Amy founded The Center for Mindfulness Photography, offering a variety of workshops, classes and destination retreats. She is a graduate of the two-year intensive Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program with teachers Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach, in partnership with the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley. Visit Amy’s website, mindfulphoto.com, to learn more.

Testimonials:

“I left feeling renewed, inspired and with a sense of calm… It was through Amy’s low pressure discussions on mindfulness and guiding us through various meditations, that I noticed an immediate shift within me. I felt like I walked through a new door… I was truly engaged, present and grateful to enjoy my surroundings. When I read in her workshop description to ‘come as you are,’ she really meant it. There was no judgement and no expectations.” – Jenny Jackson, Healthcare Professional

“Amy created a calm and inclusive space for everyone involved. Her guided meditations helped me shift my perspective in ways that I can see reflected in the photos I took, and it deepened how I was able to use photography to bring awareness to the world around me. For anyone who loves photography, or is looking for new ways to look at the world, Mindfulness Photography is a powerful experience.” – Josh Stearns, Journalist and Organizer

“Amy’s workshop was as inspiring in its depth as it was in its simplicity…She is very receptive to the dynamics of the group and creates a safe and welcoming environment to explore meditation and creativity. I had a major shift in my relationship to photography and to the creative act, and found a playfulness in the process that I hadn’t experienced for a long time…I left with a renewed sense of purpose and awe, and a very happy nervous system.” – Liza Semler, Educator