“A Hymn to Life” Art & Mindfulness Experience at The 2026 International Congress on Integrative Medicine and Health
An immersive art and mindfulness experience by Sunning Hill Retreat, created for reflection, presence, and human connection.
From April 20 to April 23, 2026, Sunning Hill Retreat presented “A Hymn to Life” a multi-day immersive art and mindfulness experience, at the Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City during The 2026 International Congress on Integrative Medicine and Health.
During the four-day professional conference, Sunning Hill Retreat created a space that felt different from the usual rhythm of meetings and presentations; a place where attendees could pause, breathe, reflect, and reconnect with themselves and others. More than 200 participants attended the event; clinicians, educators, policymakers, Congress board members, committee members, and staff, students, and trainees.
Curated by Sunning Hill Retreat, the experience was centered around the abstract artwork of artist ZHEN-RU. The journey was designed to gently guide participants from simply viewing the artwork to noticing what was happening within themselves.
This was not a traditional art exhibition--it was a quiet mindfulness journey. Within the space, participants were invited to step away from their professional roles and busy schedules by taking them back to the fundamentals of life and utilizing the senses. The experience started with focusing on breathing to becoming present with what they saw and felt.
The artwork left room for each person’s own interpretation. There were no fixed answers and no single way to experience the pieces. Through color, texture, movement, and stillness, the installation invited participants to slow down and notice emotions, memories, and inner spaces that are often overlooked in daily life.
Many participants found reflections of their own stories, grief, pressures, hopes, and longings within the works. The experience concluded with group reflection sessions, where attendees shared openly in a safe and supportive setting. In these moments, art became more than something to observe; it became a bridge for trust, vulnerability, and human connection.
We are deeply grateful to the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine & Health for the invitation and trust, and for welcoming A Hymn to Life into such a meaningful gathering of clinicians, educators, researchers, students, and leaders.
We also extend our heartfelt thanks to every volunteer, partner, and team member who helped bring this experience to life. Your time, care, and quiet dedication made it possible for participants to enter a space of reflection, connection, and renewal.