In this August Issue:

Retreat Reviews: Georgian Bay Kayak Retreat; Fear Worry & Other Nuisances Women's Retreat
Announcements
Meaningful Summer Vacations
Women's Wellness Getaways
Workshops & Classes
Web page links

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RETREAT REVIEWS
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Georgian Bay Women's Kayak Getaway
Agreeable weather put the cherry on the icing of this most enjoyable wilderness retreat. Paddling was nice and steady, totally calm in the sheltered waters around Franklin Island as the group built up confidence and kayaking skills while skimming through the quiet inlets and bays. The women had up close and personal glimpses of shorelines that offered up shy, wild purple iris and other indigenous wild flowers, long grasses and smooth Canadian Shield granite and quartz out of which grew proud, wind blown White pines. A steady breeze kept bugs away and the odd daring soul braved a dip in the refreshing Georgian Bay waters at the end of each paddling day.

Highlights included the wonderful camaraderie felt by all in this company of strangers- relaxed inspiring colourful personalities congregating in one of the world's most beautiful spaces; late afternoon therapeutic art activity that resulted in helpful insights to reflect on and take home; sighting of the endangered, beautiful Massassauga Rattlesnake; chocolate mousse hand whipped to perfection following a delicious roasted vegetable pesto pasta and Greek salad dinner; playful water fight amongst now fearless paddlers on the meandering return route to Snug harbour.

Please view the photo gallery page of this retreat found under WEB LINKS

The Co ed Getaway is launching out of Kilbear this weekend.
Summer of 2005 will have many GB Getaways to choose from.

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Fear, Worry and Other Nuisances-
Women's Retreat at Thirteen Moons
Our weekend focused on uncovering outmoded habits and patterns interfering with life enjoyment. We experimented with the idea that you can't worry and be in the current moment at the same time- you can only achieve worry by thinking about the future and what you can't control. We explored ways of how to avoid the often less frightening now and choose instead to fret about later. It was a time of courageous liberation from tenacious, unconscious, anxiety producing thoughts as awareness of patterns emerged.
What a treat to be available for the songbirds in the marsh, the wind in the cedars, the dew on the grass underneath wriggling toes, freshly baked blueberry banana muffins melting the creamy butter, leaning alongside an aromatic spinach mushroom omlette. When you choose to be here and now and the focus is the abundance of all the nurturing gifts found at Thirteen Moons and the land, there's simply no room left to worry!

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ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Come As You Are
August 6 -8

Come with your own agenda for healing and relaxing on this weekend retreat at Thirteen Moons. With open ended exercises, you have opportunity to focus on and be supported in meeting your immediate needs and concerns in your life process- whether your issues are around money, body image, self esteem, relationships, boredom etc, it's up to you. Come as you are and have some fun exploring, uncovering some insights... relax in the hammock chair, journal by the marsh and feast on gourmet vegetarian delights served on these refreshing monthly Women's retreats.

WEB PAGE LINK below

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Flying Solo
A Co-ed Workshop
August 14-15

“Someone told me once that in this life, you get who you are, not what you want. If that’s true, and I believe it is, becoming everything you want to see in someone else acts as a kind of beacon, drawing toward you someone who is or will be the perfect mate for you.” Sandra Shamas

On this weekend workshop we creatively explore how you are in intimate relationships- How your past relationships repeat certain patterns, how your family influenced your idea of what intimacy and relating look like; what you really believe to be true; what's appropriate to keep and what you're ready to leave behind. Whether you are solo, involved or come as a couple, with this awareness you'll have a clearer understanding of what you expect and want in a relationship.

Held in Toronto
Sat. Aug 14 10am - 5pm
Sun. Aug. 15 10am - 4pm

cost is $250 plus $25 for lunch and materials for the 2-day workshop.

Space is limited to 8, please register early!

WEB PAGE LINK below

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JOIN
Ongoing Evening Workshops
Women's and Co ed options
If you are interested in joining an affordable, ongoing
co ed or women's creative therapy group
that meets monthly in East Toronto
starting this September
7:30-9:30pm
for some Expressive Art, Gestalt therapy, and discussion,
Please phone 416.696.0086 or email info@aziza.ca

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Rediscover Yourself in Mexico
Creative Yoga Retreat
Dec. 4 - 10, 2004.

Just south of Tulum nestled on the Caribbean Sea, our creative wellness retreat offers a perfect environment for those seeking reintegration. We start each day with an hour of refreshing Pranayama yoga. Our personal growth activities are complemented with snorkeling, beach labyrinth meditations, scenic tour and stargazing. Come, leave your busy life for a while and imagine...7 luxurious days rediscovering all the parts that make up the whole of you.

For retreat details see links below
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REDISCOVER YOUR SELF IN BALI
a creative/yoga/wellness retreat

Co-ed: January 26- February 4, 2005.

This unforgettable Creative /Yoga/Wellness retreat offers diverse activities for a delicious taste of this paradise island. Imagine ten days in the healing embrace of Bali walking along rice paddies, through weaving villages, past Hindu temples and other sacred sites; Time to be creative, to reflect, meditate, feast on local culinary delights, unwind with massage, refresh with yoga, surrender to a labyrinth path and doze off on your own veranda.

Register by August 30 and save $200US !!

For retreat details see links below
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Search Engine Optimizing, editing and writing skills of A.C. Riley,
Aziza Healing Adventures is now prominently listed in the top ten results on most pertinent web searches.
Anne Charlotte Riley is a talented marketing and online content writer, editor and SEO expert.
She acts as an advocate for correct apostrophe usage, produces insightful Web analyses, search engine optimization programs, keyword research and Web site critiques. Anne also offers freelance writing services that include the creation of catchy advertising copy, sales-oriented brochures and e-mail newsletters.
Due to the enviable positioning AHA is now enjoying and profiting from, many of Aziza's retreat partners are now calling Ms. A.C.Riley wanting to harness this powerhouse of cyber talent and secure her help in climbing to new search engine heights.
Have a look at her hip site and ask her to quote on your cyber renovations.
Join the TOP TEN Search Results Club now!
www.acriley.com

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MEANINGFUL SUMMER VACATIONS
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Lake Superior
Personal Growth Kayak Retreat

Six Day Co-ed Retreat: August 21 - 26

Lake Superior is one of the greatest sea-kayaking destinations in the world. From rocky headlands to Caribbean-like white sand beaches the sights of Superior are awe inspiring. Our 6 day personal growth retreat combines Expressive Art activities conducted at the lodge and in the outdoors with local hiking and a 2 day sea-kayak and overnight camping excursion along the spectacular Superior shoreline. There's plenty of time for relaxation, reflection and journal writing as you drink in the riches all around you. Memorable, satisfying meals enhance the whole of your Superior experience. This retreat provides a unique environment where self-awareness and balance can be explored and restored with a combination of art exercises, sea kayaking , spectacular coastal walks and Gestalt therapy.

web page link listed on WEB PAGE LINKS below
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Nova Scotia
Creative Wellness Retreat
Our exceptional Atlantic location is found at Prospect Bed & Breakfast, half an hour south of Halifax. Our week together offers the rich combination of creativity, relaxation, reflection, coastal walks, an introductory sea kayak excursion, sunset at Peggy's Cove, local seafood feasts, starlit strolls and sublime ocean gazing. Prospect Bay offers the very best of Nova Scotia. Free of tourist influence, this remote, boulder studded coastline invites exploration, meditation, ritual and much insight to ponder as sun, mist and fog move over the endless expanse of Atlantic magic.

Five-day Co-ed Retreat
September 27 – October 1

WEB PAGE LINK below
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Women's Wellness Retreats
A monthly offering of themed retreats geared to women and held at the
tranquil Thirteen Moons Women's Retreat Centre, Norwood, near Peterborough, Ontario.
Please plan to register early to avoid disappointment.
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Food Glorious Food!

Sept 18-19

Is food your friend or foe? Is eating something you look forward to doing, or something you avoid, feel guilty about, or turn to for stress relief? This two day retreat gives you a chance to creatively explore your relationship to food, and enjoy participating in an organic vegetarian cooking class designed to inspire an appropriate focus on the loving act of true self nourishment.

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Flying Solo Women's Retreat

October 15 - 17

On this women's retreat we explore how you are in intimate relationships- How your past relationships repeat certain patterns, how your family influenced your idea of what intimacy and relating look like; what you really believe to be true; what's appropriate to keep and what you're ready to leave behind. Whether you are solo or involved, with this awareness you'll have a clearer understanding of what you expect and want from a relationship

WEB PAGE LINK below

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WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
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Truly Madly Deeply Art & Therapy Workshops

Express and discover yourself! Come to one of our Art & Therapy workshops and explore materials such as paint, clay, collage and found objects. Aziza’s instructor, Laila Ghattas, will guide the class in art-making projects that are not just fun but will also unveil new ways of looking at yourself and your way of being. Small group discussions, using Gestalt therapy principles, enhance the therapeutic aspect of each Expressive Art activity.

No previous art experience is necessary. Just bring an open mind and art making attire.

7-9 pm
$45

Evening at SuperSprouts 720 Bathurst St.
Wed. Sept. 22

Evenings at WonderWorks 79A Harbord St.
Wed. Oct. 20
Wed. Nov. 17


WEB PAGE LINK below
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If you have a group of 3 or more, a private workshop can be
designed for you on alternate date- day or evening.

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WEB PAGE LINKS
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Georgian Bay Photos www.aziza.ca/georgianbayphoto
Retreat Calendar www.aziza.ca/calendarRetreats
Women's Wellness Getaways www.aziza.ca/13moons
Lake Superior Personal Growth Retreat http://www.aziza.ca/superior
Nova Scotia Creative Wellness Retreat www.aziza.ca/novascotia
Truly Madly Deeply Art & Therapy Workshops www.aziza.ca/workshops
Flying Solo Co ed Relationship Workshop www.aziza.ca/relationships

Rediscover Your Self inBali http://www.aziza.ca/bali

Rediscover Your Self in Mexico www.aziza.ca/mexico
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Have a corporate or private group with a special focus?
Aziza Healing Adventures will design a retreat to meet your specific needs.
Please visit www.aziza.ca/group

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Laila Ghattas, B.F.A.Visual Arts, B.Ed., Certificate in Gestalt Therapy, Certificate in Expressive Arts, Usui Reiki 1st & 2nd degree, is the founder of Aziza Healing Adventures and leader of the retreats and workshops. Laila is an artist, Gestalt therapist, group facilitator, Reiki practitioner, and has worldwide outdoor adventure experience.

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For more information please email laila@aziza.ca or call 416-696-0086

If you have friends who might be interested, please forward this newsletter,
with our thanks!

sincerely yours,

Laila Ghattas
Aziza Healing Adventures
www.aziza.ca