Wellness Weekend

4:30 - 7:30 | Purchase at Food Truck

Kick off your weekend with delicious Mediterranean food from our friends at Banzo!

30 Minutes After Uncle Vanya Curtain | Free of Charge

Stick around after the performance of Uncle Vanya for a closer look at the skies above with the UW and Iowa County Astronomy Clubs!

8:00 AM to Noon | Mesa Parking Lot | $33

Sign Up On the Kindled Site

Kindled Community Sauna is a mobile, wood-fired sauna and cold plunge experience centered west of Madison. Kindled is born from a dream of leading people toward wellness and toward connection with others. For us, sauna is not a social media trend or a seasonal sport but rather a year-round ritual rich in history and tradition. Sauna has the ability to strip us down both mentally and physically- lighter clothing, fewer screens, more vulnerability, limited status symbols. Facing the heat and overcoming it fosters grit, resilience, and relaxation.

There is no rigid structure to the 60 minute sauna sessions. Cycle through hot, cold, rest, rehydrate, repeat how it feels best for you to do so. These are community sessions where you will sauna alongside up to 5 other folks. Wear whatever it is you feel comfortable getting sweaty and/or wet in. Please bring one towel to sit on in the sauna and another one to dry off after your session. Bring a water bottle and slip on shoes. An email will be sent out prior to your session with some details, reminders, and a waiver to sign.

8:00 AM - 8:45 | On the Hill Stage | $20

Move with fluid motion, feel your feet firmly beneath you, and breathe steadily to create connections to the body. This is a hatha vinyasa style yoga class for beginners and seasoned practitioners, led by Emily Benz of Rural Remedy. Bring a mat and beach towel. Dress for the weather in non-restricting layers.

9:00 AM - 9:45 AM | On the Hill Stage | $20

Rest and reset with this quieter yoga asana practice. The emphasis will be slow movements, long breaths, and restful poses. Pranayama (breath practice) will conclude the session. Bring a mat and beach towel. Dress for the weather in warm, non-restricting layers. Led by Emily Benz of Rural Remedy.

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM | Meet at Gateway Building | $25

Forest bathing and forest therapy (or shinrin-yoku) is the conscious and contemplative practice of being immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of the forest. Immersed in the atmosphere of Nature we will move slowly and silently, noticing what Nature shares on this sensory experience. Following prompts, or invitations, for nature connection, we become alive in the felt sense of the present moment, helping us find peace, being-ness and the many health and wellbeing benefits of time in the APT woods. Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide Kate Bast of Shinrin-yoku Madison for a meditative Forest Bathing Session in the woods of APT.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | John's Place | Free of Charge

Bring your picnic, or pick something up from Concessions, and join Certified Mindfulness Instructor, Lisa Thomas Prince for an energetic discussion on caring for your well-being, body and mind.

Session 1: Introduction to Qigong – a playful practice for health & wellbeing

Format: Outdoor Talk / Interactive Lecture

Held in the serene natural setting at APT, this engaging introduction invites you to explore Qigong as it was traditionally intended—a moving meditative practice rooted in the rhythms and intelligence of nature.

Curious about qigong and how it supports health and vitality? We’ll explore questions such as: What is qigong? How does it support physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing? What does current scientific research suggest about its benefits? You’ll also learn how qigong reflects natural principles—flow, balance, and seasonal awareness – and why practicing outdoors can deepen its effects.

This session offers both insight and inspiration, highlighting how time in nature enhances relaxation, attention, and overall wellbeing while supporting the gentle, regenerative qualities of qigong.

We’ll close with simple, practical guidance for a home practice—indoors or outdoors—so you can continue cultivating this connection wherever you are.

Key Takeaways:

• A clear understanding of qigong and its nature-based roots
• Insight into how qigong supports stress reduction, energy balance, and resilience
• Overview of research on qigong and the benefits of nature-informed practices
• Easy ways to begin practicing qigong at home

1:15 - 2:00 | Picnic Area | Free of Charge

Session 2: Qigong in Practice – A Guided Moving Meditation

Format: 45-Minute Outdoor Experiential Session

Immerse yourself in a gentle, guided qigong practice surrounded by the natural world—where the movements themselves are inspired by flowing water, swaying trees, and the rhythms of breath and earth.

In this 45-minute session, you’ll be guided through a sequence of traditional qigong movements practiced as moving meditation. With the support of fresh air, natural light, and the sensory richness of the APT environs, you’ll cultivate a deeper sense of presence, relaxation, and connection.

Movements are slow, simple, and accessible, making this practice suitable for all levels. Practicing outdoors enhances awareness and invites a felt sense of harmony with the environment—a core principle of qigong.

This experience complements the introductory talk by bringing the concepts to life in an embodied, restorative way.

What to Expect:

• A peaceful outdoor setting that supports calm and focus
• Slow, flowing movements coordinated with breath and natural rhythm
• An opportunity to connect body, mind, and environment
• A grounding, rejuvenating experience you can return to anywhere

3:00 PM - 3:50 PM | Meet at Gateway Building | $15

Join resident naturalist Grace Vosen and Core Company Actor Colleen Madden on a guided tour of the APT property, with scheduled stops to journal your experience.

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM | Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center | $45

Join our friends just down the road at Taliesin for a special early evening tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s personal home Taliesin and explore in a small group setting how elements of organic architecture promote well-being.

Learn more and purchase tickets here.

8:00 AM to Noon | Mesa Parking Lot | $33

Sign Up On the Kindled Site

Kindled Community Sauna is a mobile, wood-fired sauna and cold plunge experience centered west of Madison. Kindled is born from a dream of leading people toward wellness and toward connection with others. For us, sauna is not a social media trend or a seasonal sport but rather a year-round ritual rich in history and tradition. Sauna has the ability to strip us down both mentally and physically- lighter clothing, fewer screens, more vulnerability, limited status symbols. Facing the heat and overcoming it fosters grit, resilience, and relaxation.

There is no rigid structure to the 60 minute sauna sessions. Cycle through hot, cold, rest, rehydrate, repeat how it feels best for you to do so. These are community sessions where you will sauna alongside up to 5 other folks. Wear whatever it is you feel comfortable getting sweaty and/or wet in. Please bring one towel to sit on in the sauna and another one to dry off after your session. Bring a water bottle and slip on shoes. An email will be sent out prior to your session with some details, reminders, and a waiver to sign.

8:00 AM - 8:45 | On the Hill Stage | $20

Move with fluid motion, feel your feet firmly beneath you, and breathe steadily to create connections to the body. This is a hatha vinyasa style yoga class for beginners and seasoned practitioners, led by Emily Benz of Rural Remedy. Bring a mat and beach towel. Dress for the weather in non-restricting layers.

9:00 AM - 9:45 AM | On the Hill Stage | $20

Rest and reset with this quieter yoga asana practice. The emphasis will be slow movements, long breaths, and restful poses. Pranayama (breath practice) will conclude the session. Bring a mat and beach towel. Dress for the weather in warm, non-restricting layers. Led by Emily Benz of Rural Remedy.

10:00 AM - 10:50 AM | Meet at Gateway Building | $15

Join Operations Manager Cari Stebbins and actor Elizabeth Ledo on a guided tour of the APT property, with scheduled stops to journal your experience.

10:00 AM | Post House Garden | Free of Charge

Join APT leadership (and maybe a special guest) in Post House Garden in Spring Green for a conversation about APT and how art and nature affect health and wellness.

12:00 PM | John's Place | Free of Charge

Meet us at John's Place to bid farewell to the weekend before heading off you your next adventure - a community gathering of Word and Wellness, featuring Actor, Educator and Artistic Associate, Alys S. Dickerson.

Finish the weekend with a Found Poem experience. This closing event will connect our mental wealth with our experience of these woods. We will gather and reflect on our time of meditation, and restoration using shared words, and thoughts to create a piece of poetry that will remain even after our time at Wellness Weekend has ended. Come one come all.

All Wellness Weekend events are outdoors, and subject to the foibles of nature. Here are a few things to keep in mind before your journey to APT.

• Dress for the weather, and consider bringing layers including sun hats and rain gear.
• Sun screen is strongly recommended. Limited sunscreen is available in the Shops at APT.
• Bugs are likely to be present during the events. APT provides bug spray, but feel free to bring your own if you have a favorite.
• Bring your Water Bottle. Filling stations are available at the Gateway Building and in the Hill and Touchstone Theatres.
• Please bring your own yoga mat for yoga and other outdoor sessions.
• Bring a towel or two
• Be aware that your yoga mat will be on the ground, outside, and subject to the ground and elements.