Mindful Mastery : 1440 Multiversity Nourishes Mind, Body and Belly
Refresh in the redwoods of 1440 Multiversity to recharge with a unique approach to experiential learning and living the good life.
Caught up in an endless succession of work and family obligations, not to mention the torment of too much traffic, it is easy to forget to truly live life, fully savoring the moments of each day and taking time to nurture relationships and focus on personal growth.
Just such moments happened to Joanie and Scott Kriens. For tech pioneer Scott, it was reflecting on relationships and leadership after the death of his father, and for Joanie, the connection to life she felt from the simple act of harvesting the fruits in her garden. These moments, among others, led to an inspiration to create 1440 Multiversity.
1440 Multiversity is nestled in the redwood forest an hour south from bustling Silicon Valley and just up the road from let-your-hair-down Santa Cruz. Reminiscent of a ski lodge that met a sprawling tech campus, the facility is the brainchild of philanthropists Joanie and Scott. Joanie harnessed husband Scott’s interest in authentic leadership development together with her own interest in health and mindfulness to create a haven that seduces you with its feeling of serenity.
One afternoon while savoring the delights of a freshly picked tomato, Joanie asked herself: “I wonder how many opportunities in a day you have an experience where you’re so connected.” Out of that desire to experience the fullness of living in each of the 1,440 minutes that constitute a day was born the “1440” part of 1440 Multiversity. Joanie chose the moniker “multiversity” to emphasize the fullness of whole-person learning. “We want it to be a learning destination where creativity and discovery and energy come from. We want a place where people come alive and people leave with more energy than they came with.”
For Scott, 1440 Multiversity is an outcropping of his personal growth journey and his work as CEO and now chairman of Juniper Networks, roles that fostered his belief that in order to lead, managers must connect deeply with those they are leading. Scott’s own life path created his vision of 1440 Multiversity as an oasis where learnable, applicable life skills such as the cultivation of truly real and connected relationships, with oneself and others, are practiced. Authentic leadership, integrated living—how to live more purposeful, compassionate, connected and meaningful lives—these are the principles that Scott lives his life by and hopes will motivate the work people do at 1440 Multiversity.
An oasis of tranquility from the noisy throb and hum of everyday life, 1440 Multiversity is essentially a curated entry into yourself, drawing you forward on a chosen path of discovery through focused two- to five-day programs. Illustrious faculty such as Alanis Morissette, Cheryl Strayed and Elizabeth Gilbert coach lifelong learners through topics as far-ranging as fatherhood, conscious living and dynamic aging. As one mother who attended a mother-daughter relationships class put it, “By the end of the weekend we were really connected and I felt so much better about us.”
Nature seamlessly melds with the class experience, as you’re free to wander hiking trails. Away from the nitty gritty of everyday life, you’re able to hone in, to feel the silence of the redwoods cradling you. Classes in meditation, yoga, qigong and other movement and self-awareness disciplines nourish creativity and healing.
Complementing the healthy living experience at 1440 Multiversity is the delicious food that pours three times daily out of their bespoke eatery, the Kitchen Table. The exquisitely prepared, allergy-friendly fare suits a wide range of specialized diets with attention to detail and an eye towards sustainability, sourcing produce and proteins within a 300-mile catchment area. As Chef Kenny Woods puts it, “Sharing a meal with people, eating together, the smells, the textures, can really feed us in so many ways besides just give us the fuel we need to go on to our next day of work.”
A sort of all-season camp for when the hunger to learn strikes, a place like 1440 Multiversity is for adults who don’t yet feel that they’re in their final iteration. We’re fortunate to be in an area where urbanites and suburbanites can get in their cars and within an hour or so be in a place to heal and nourish the long life we all hope to have—both emotionally and intellectually.
