The Gathering 2026: Nourish • Rest • Connect • Thrive

NourISH • REST • CONNECT • THRIVE

Join us for The Gathering, a free community brain health and wellness experience designed to turn what we know about healthy living into practical steps we can use in everyday life.

Brain health does not begin when someone develops memory problems or a neurological condition. It is something we build throughout our lives through the way we eat, sleep, move, manage stress, care for our physical health, understand our medications, and stay connected to one another.

During this interactive afternoon, community members will have the opportunity to learn from health and wellness experts, experience brain-healthy cooking, participate in interactive Community Connections, explore restorative wellness practices, share nourishing food together, and end the afternoon with intentional rest.

🧠 Brain Health in Real Life: What Actually Works?
A practical multidisciplinary conversation exploring sleep, nutrition, cognitive and emotional wellness, medications and supplements, and everyday strategies that support brain health.

🥗 Brain-Healthy Cooking Demonstrations
See healthy eating put into practice through live cooking demonstrations featuring realistic, flavorful approaches to nourishing the brain and body.

🤝 Community Connections
Meet local health, wellness, and community organizations through interactive experiences focused on movement, cardiovascular health, medications and supplements, sleep, lifestyle medicine, nutrition, stress management, restorative wellness, and more.

🌿 Wellness Experiences
Explore restorative practices, including Reiki and other opportunities to slow down, reconnect, and care for yourself.

🍽️ Nourish Together
Come to the table for a shared brain-healthy tasting experience. Learn about the foods on your plate and participate in a brief mindful-eating experience focused on slowing down and being present.

✨ Rest Together
We will conclude The Gathering with a restorative community sound bath—an opportunity to become still, breathe, and end our afternoon together with intentional rest.

You will leave The Gathering with practical ideas you can use to:

Protect your sleep. Feed your brain. Move your body. Know your numbers. Understand what you take. Manage stress. Stay connected.

Whether you are thinking about your own brain health, supporting someone you love, or simply looking for realistic ways to live well, The Gathering is for you.

This event is FREE and open to the community. Registration is required.

Space is limited. Because this event is offered free of charge to the community, please register only if you plan to attend. If your plans change, we kindly ask that you cancel your registration so that your space can be offered to someone else.

Presented by The Brain Health Collective
Educate • Empower • Enrich Lives

Organized by Meditate With a Doc, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Info: 2:00–2:10 PM — Welcome to The Gathering
Begin the afternoon and learn how to navigate the day's experiences.
2:10–2:40 PM — Experience Rotation I
Brain-Healthy Cooking Experience or Community Connections & Wellness Experiences.
2:50–3:30 PM — Brain Health in Real Life: What Actually Works?
A multidisciplinary expert panel exploring practical approaches to sleep, nutrition, cognitive and emotional wellness, medications and supplements, and lifelong brain health.
3:40–4:10 PM — Experience Rotation II
Brain-Healthy Cooking Experience or Community Connections & Wellness Experiences.
4:15–4:30 PM — Nourish Together
A shared brain-healthy tasting and mindful-eating experience.
4:30–4:45 PM — From Knowing to Doing
Turn what you have learned into one practical action you can take with you.
4:45–5:00 PM — Rest: Community Sound Bath
A restorative sound experience and peaceful conclusion to The Gathering.

Event venue & nearby stays

OSU Healthy Community Center, 1600 East Long Street, Columbus, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.

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