Interwoven Institute Facilitates Mindfulness, Connection And Crafting

BREWSTER – When Calmer Choice closed its doors last year, former executive director Sarah Manion made a promise: the work wouldn’t end there. This past June, she introduced the Interwoven Institute, a new venture she frames not as a fresh start, but as the next chapter of the mission she’s long championed.

“I think it’s a continuation of a lot of the same work that I was doing at Calmer Choice,” she said. “The throughline of my work is really rooted in mindfulness practice and that’s shown up in different ways. It is at the heart of Calmer Choice and at the heart of Interwoven Institute.” 

  The Interwoven Institute was born from a simple idea: in today’s age of anxiety and distraction, people need space to slow down and for practices that connect them back to the natural world. 

The organization supports connection with a number of different activities including monthly practices, workshops, travel retreats and programs. Their first trip is scheduled for the end of this month and will take place in Oaxaca, Mexico. 

Manion said that as a fiber artist, crafting has helped her find a balance between everyday life and the idealized version of complete stillness and meditation. Allowing herself to feel calm, present and connected helped her to root herself and experience the joy of making something that came directly from her environment. 

On Monday, the Interwoven Institute hosted a craft sangha, which is a group of people who come together to make things and practice mindfulness, a slow, relatively quiet practice where individuals bring their own projects and come to connect with each other. There is some structured mindfulness, but the true takeaway is connecting with your breath and feeling grounded while using your hands. 

“There are many, many craft groups,” said Manion. “Which are really based on social interaction and talking. This is a chance to be a little bit quieter because you’re creating and crafting together in community to feel the practice, but to experience it in a different way.” 

There is an opportunity for participants to share with one another about what they are feeling and experiencing, as well. 

Manion said the final part is to connect with the materials. 

“This yarn in my hand was once a living being,” she said. “It was a sheep and that sheep lives in this place. So unfolding the lines of connection between craft and the living world. Feeling connected to the earth in that way.” 

Last month, Manion led a quahog weaving workshop at Salt Yarn Studio in Dennis, where participants were able to dive deeper into the origins of quahogs and use them in their crafting practices. 

For Manion, the future of Interwoven Institute is open. She is looking forward to finding mutually beneficial collaborations with local small businesses and artists. She said programming could be expanded now that the organization is officially a registered nonprofit. She also wants to lead at least two trips a year.

But with all of this exciting growth, Manion said she is determined to make the programming accessible and economically sensitive. The monthly craft sanghas are free to attend, but require a registration for capacity purposes. The quahog workshop did require a small fee since materials were provided. 

“It’s a little mix of things, but there is an economic aspect where I don’t want it to get to a point where it’s not an approachable program,” she said. 

Manion said this organization is a true fulfillment of who she is. As a born-and-raised Cape Codder, she is always thinking of the connection between herself and her environment. 

“Using craft is a way to connect with place,” she said. “And it’s such a cool, fun way to re-explore your local landscape.” 

Manion said the programs are open to anyone interested, as they are trying to grow the community of like-minded individuals. For more information on upcoming programming, visit the organization's website at www.TheInterwovenInstitute.org.