At the meeting place of land, sea, and sky, we gather for an evening of slow movement, reflection, and shared presence beneath the New Moon.

Milford Point is a barrier beach—shaped by water, wind, and time—and held within a wider system of shoreline, marsh, and tidal flow. The nearby mudflats, sandbars, and salt marshes create a resting place for migratory birds, offering refuge along long seasonal journeys. This is a place of passage, of pause, of return.

We begin in a small cedar grove near the shore. The cedars, though not dense, offer a quiet steadiness—an anchoring presence at the threshold of a more open landscape. Here, we take time to arrive together, to breathe, and to gently transition out of the pace of the day.

From there, we move slowly along the boardwalk and toward the shoreline as the sun begins to lower. The path opens from grove to dunes to sea, and the horizon widens. Often, something in us responds to that widening—a softening, a settling, a sense of being held within something larger.

Throughout the walk, Kristin will weave in gentle breathing practices and light, accessible stretches, supporting a deeper sense of presence, grounding, and connection with the natural world.

This evening is held by a quiet theme of journey. The New Moon marks a point of quiet beginning—a time for listening inward, for honoring what is shifting, and for noticing what is just beginning to take form beneath the surface.

All around us, life is in motion. Birds move along ancient migratory paths. Tides shift. Stones are shaped and reshaped by water over long distances. You may be invited to choose a stone that calls to you, to hold it, and to consider the path it has taken. In the same way, we each carry the imprint of where we’ve been—shaped by time, movement, and experience.

There will be space to pause along the coast—to sit, to listen, to watch, and to be. For those who feel drawn, there will be an invitation to walk barefoot for a short stretch of sand, reconnecting with the body through direct contact with the earth.

As the sun sets and the sky darkens, we’ll gather in a women’s circle on the beach. Within the circle, there will be space for reflection and optional sharing. Stories, if spoken, are held gently. Listening is just as meaningful as speaking.

We are honored to be guided by Kristin Hotchkiss, a Certified Yoga Instructor and Kripalu-trained Mindful Outdoor Guide. Kristin’s approach is gentle and responsive, weaving subtle movement, breath, and awareness into the landscape itself. Her guidance supports a sense of grounding, curiosity, and connection—both within and with the natural world.

This is not a hike, but a slow, contemplative walk with moments of stillness, reflection, and shared presence.

Details

• Open to 10 women/$50.00/non-refundable

• Please bring a journal and pen

• Dress in layers (it can be cooler along the coast, especially near sunset)

• Wear sturdy walking shoes suitable for sand and uneven shoreline

• Bring a yoga mat or blanket for sitting during circle

• You may wish to bring water and a small snack if needed

• Optional: a small bag if you’d like to carry a found stone or personal item

• Optional: towel if you’d like to walk barefoot along the sand

• This is a slow, contemplative walk, not a hike

• Terrain includes boardwalk, sand, and rocky shoreline

  About Your Guide, Kristin Hotchkiss

  A 200-hour registered yoga instructor with nearly two decades of teaching experience in Connecticut, Kristin is also a certified Mindful Outdoor Guide through the Kripalu School of Outdoor Leadership. Her background in public health, her lifelong relationship with plants, and her deep love of the outdoors shape her belief that real wellness arises when we reconnect with what supports us: body, mind, nature, and the quiet wisdom of the land.

  Her herbal work began at home—simple remedies, kitchen herbs, and plant allies woven into daily life—and eventually deepened into formal study with the Herbal Academy of Herbal Arts and Sciences and Twin Star Herbal Education in New Milford, Connecticut. This plant-centered knowledge now enriches the way she guides others, whether through nature-based practices, small-batch herbal support, or gentle educational offerings.

  Kristin leads yoga, forest bathing walks, and mindfulness-based nature experiences designed to bring the body and mind back into balance. Her approach blends soft, intuitive movement with breathwork and the restorative rhythm of the natural world, helping others feel calm, centered, and at ease—both on and off the mat.

  Yoga, time outdoors, and plant work have long been anchors in her own life, offering clarity, resilience, and steadiness through challenge. Her purpose now is to share those tools with others, creating spaces where people can pause, reconnect, and belong. Whether you join her in the forest or on the mat, Kristin hopes you leave feeling rooted, aligned, and renewed.