THE MINDFULNESS ALLIANCE
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Uplift Buffalo is an all day event designed to celebrate our region's inner and outer revitalization and help expand our perceptions about social change. From wellness related vendors and expert mindfulness teachers to book sales and food trucks, experience the revolutionary wave of mindfulness. Come and become a pioneering supporter of the mindfulness movement in Western New York! 

Stay tuned for more information and updates on Uplift Buffalo 2021! 

On September 28, 2019, The Mindfulness Alliance hosted its inaugural Uplift Buffalo event, WNY’s first Mindfulness Festival. Featuring world-renowned mindfulness teacher and New York Times-bestselling author Sharon Salzberg and over 40+ wellness related vendors, expert teachers guiding mindfulness techniques, a Learning Center, a Kids Corner, arts-based offerings, book sales, and food truck fancies, the festival was a huge success and a giant step for the mindfulness movement in Western New York! 


Who We Are
The Mindfulness Alliance is a grassroots 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that unites mindfulness practitioners, facilitates trainings, hosts events large and small, and runs educational programs. Our mission is to combine the power of mindfulness practices with the power of community to advance collective wellbeing. The Mindfulness Alliance works with all manner of professions and organizations across the region. Together, we can build healthier, flourishing regions where individuals, institutions and systems embody more compassion, justice and inclusivity.
Why Mindfulness
From celebrities like Anderson Cooper to our local teachers, more and more of us are practicing mindfulness. Mindfulness is a state of mind and a life practice. It is an open, curious, and kind engagement with what is happening in the present moment. Leading scientists have studied its benefits and learned that mindfulness helps us increase our ability to regulate emotions, decrease stress, anxiety and depression, reduce chronic pain, and increase overall well-being and happiness.

Uplift 2019 Goals
Learn
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Increase public awareness of the combined power that awareness and community can have on collective wellbeing
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Demystify mindfulness and illustrate its application in every aspect of daily life
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Learning Center 

​How to Lead a More Mindfully Inspired Life & Information to Get Started 

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​The Learning Center offered a mini-speaker series, educational materials, and experts on hand to answer all of your questions!

We had talks from counselors, doctors, psychologists, educators, lawyers, professors, facilitators, and advocates on:
  • Mindfulness for Beginners
  • Mindfulness & Relationships
  • Mindfulness in Schools
  • Mindfulness at Work
  • Mindfulness & Health
  • Mindfulness, Law & Justice
  • Mindfulness & Yoga
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Experience
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Provide a dynamic array of mindful experiences for the community to engage in and benefit from.
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Create a welcoming environment that supports diversity, equity, and inclusion
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Serenity Stage
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The Art of Mindful Living & the Joy of Community Connection


Experience the miracle of mindfulness first hand with exercises and engaging practices from local expert teachers:
  • Himalayan Institute
  • Yogis in Service
  • Mala Contemplative Education
  • East Meets West Yoga
  • Be Embodied
  • Shakti Yoga

And New York Times best-selling author Sharon Salzberg!
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Enjoy 
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Build community region-wide among awareness-based practitioners, advocates, teachers and the general public
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Highlight the services and products of mindfulness-based community organizations and practitioners​
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Vendors
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Enjoy holistic services, local artisan products, and food truck fancies! 
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Utilizing more than 17,000 square feet of event space at the Buffalo Grand Hotel, Uplift Buffalo offered vendor space to more than 40 wellness-related vendors.

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WE ACCEPT VENDOR APPLICATIONS ​
We are seeking those in the health, wellness and holistic fields to come and vend, sample or demonstrate - share your services with the community! 
​Questions to vendor@themindfulnessalliance.org
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EVENT DETAILS 

Uplift Buffalo 2019 was held on September 28th, 2019 from 10am - 4pm at the Buffalo Grand Hotel.
General admission tickets were $10, while kids under age 10 had FREE admission.
We also offered Community Scholarships if the price of a ticket prevented people from coming to the event. 


WNY WALKS!
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​Phil Haberstro and friends from the Wellness Institute went on a free 40 minute guided walk of the Historic “Hooks” Neighborhood! Walkers met in the lobby of the Buffalo Grand Hotel.

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Past Activities 

Embodied Expression
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Making visible the intrinsic values of mindful connection and presence in community


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Cynthia Pegado
Dancing Beyond Disease
Parkinson's Performance Ensemble
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Naila Ansari
Bridging the Gap:
​Connecting Identities

​Buffalo State College
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Nitya Vedantam
University at Buffalo
A diverse series of dances by Buffalo-based artists. 
Programming and choreography by Anne Burnidge, Director of Anne Burnidge Dance, Associate Professor and Chair of the UB Department of Theatre & Dance. ​
Kids Corner
It's never too early to start teaching kids how to be mindful, focused and regulate themselves.  Our Kids Corner has just the right age-appropriate activities to keep your kids of all ages engaged in a mindfulness practice all their own.
Parents & Teachers
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Our Resource Center has free materials for you, including handouts outlining activities, materials, and instructions!
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Activity Stations
TIME
YOGA THEME
10:30 - 11:00
Mindful Bubble Breathing Yoga
11:30 - 12:00 
Yoga with Essential Oils 
2:00 - 2:30
Teen Yoga
3:00 - 3:30 
Superhero Yoga
Yoga for All Ages
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*Thank you to Yogis In Service for facilitating!
ACTIVITY STATIONS
​10:00 - 12:00 
1. Pocket Buddy with Essential Oils 
2. Breathing Stick
3. Worry Stone 
4. Mindful Coloring
​Kids will create a 'Calm Down Kit', taking home the items they create.
ACTIVITY STATIONS
2:00 - 4:00
1. Breathing Buddy with Essential Oils 
2. Affirmation Bracelet
3. Kindness Bug
4. Mandala Making
*Additional all day offerings also include a Gratitude Wall, Sensory Walk and Joy Wall!
Book Store
Visit our book store with over 150 titles for sale!
A portion of the proceeds are being donated - thank you Talking Leaves Books!

And don't miss the book signing opportunity:
1:00pm - Sharon Salzberg book signing

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Food Truck Fancies!
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Enjoy the delights of food truck fun from 11:30 - 2:00pm
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Labyrinth
Ever try a walking meditation?
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10:00 - 12:00pm & 1:30-4:00pm 
Connect with this ancient practice when you walk our indoor labyrinth.

​The Mindfulness Alliance founding member and certified labyrinth walk facilitator Mitch Allegre will be there to support your contemplative experience.
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Donations

Katie Darling, University at Buffalo
Ophelia Morey, University at Buffalo
Michele Mercer, Millennium Collaborative Care
Danielle Pelfrey Duryea, Boston University
Michelle Zimmerman, Buffalo Public Schools
​Kristin Santa Maria, Kids Corner Designer

Teachers 

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Rolf Sovik, PsyD
​​President & Spiritual Director

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Carrie Jacobson 
​Co-owner
Catherine Cook-Cottone, PhD
​Founder & President
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Nicole Chumsky, LMHC
Founder & Director
Felicitas Kusch-Lango  
​Founder & Director
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Michelle Gigante
Director 

Vendors

Aquarian Expressions
Aura Salt Cave & Wellness
Be Embodied
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Blessings By Nature
Blooming with Health
Buffalo Healthy Living Magazine ​
Buffalo Zen Dharma Community
​Core Mental Health Counseling
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Create Space Buffalo
​Dark Forest Chocolate
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doTerra Essential Oils
East Meets West Yoga
Elle James Interior Design and Home Decor​
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Flowered Wellness
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Get Your Life Together Yoga
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Healing Care Givers
Gentle Spirit Botanicals​

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Golden Spiral Vitality
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Health Essentials of WNY
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Heart Fire Yoga
Himalayan Institute of Buffalo
​Indigo Awakening
Heart Fire Yoga
Himalayan Institute of Buffalo
​Indigo Awakening
Kir-Roma Reikqi
Life Itself
LNW Jewelry
​Maddie's

Maiden of the Waters
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Mala Contemplative Education
Nani~Wan Luxe
Nesting Doll 
New World Gifts and Books
Nia: Neuromuscular Integrative 

P Contemplative
Integrative Action ​ 
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Presence
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Peaceful Heart Mindfulness
Community of Buffalo
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Reiki with Andrea
​Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Institue
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Salsa for the Soul
Starry Wonder
​Suzanne Suchan Happiness & Holistic Healingaling
​The Light House Birth and Wellness Collaborative
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Transforming with Tracie
Universal Design Yoga
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Up North Apothecary Co.
Veda WNY Foundation
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Wellness Institute of Greater Buffalo
WNY Qigong   ​

Sponsers

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Community Supporter Sponsor
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Community Supporter Sponsor
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Featured Speaker Sponsor
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Connection Maker & Ticket Sponsor
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Forget-Me-Not Sponsor
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Printing Sponsor
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Ticket Sponsor
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Marketing Sponsor
ABOUT US
DONATE
STAY INFORMED
GET INVOLVED
CONTACT US
The Mindfulness Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
 P.O. Box 1793, Amherst, NY 14226
​ Copyright © 2019
  • Home
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