AUGUST '06 NEWSLETTER

In this Issue:
Retreat Review
Did You Know?
Announcements
Women's Retreats
Relationship Workshops
Meaningful Vacations
Truly Madly Deeply Workshops
Couples Retreats

Gliding along the Georgian Bay archipelago is one of life's sweetest pleasures. Aziza Healing Adventures is committed to successfully promoting sea kayaking to women. Our mandate- every woman needs to experience sea kayaking at least once in her life. Aziza participants understand why.

Self-empowerment through self-propulsion while floating peacefully in moving water, glancing at a multitude of shoreline wildlife, chatting casually alongside a kindred spirit, feeling strength in long forgotten muscles, silence broken by drops dripping from your paddle, who wouldn't want that experience at least once in her life?

The Canadian Shield is a holy place, unlike anywhere else in the world. Rocks are smooth with rounded contours, made up of lavender, rust and charcoal coloured quartz and granite shimmering in the sunlight, warm and inviting to sit upon for a rest and bite of lunch. Patterns and grooves have been carved out over millions of years under determined glaciers heading elsewhere at their own pace. Stubborn, resilient plants undeterred by scarcity of soil and space sprout in unlikely crevices, teaching a whole new way of being, reframing one of the secrets of life; work with the given.

Breezes keep the bugs at bay, temperatures comfortable and the water lively. Clear skies inspire the application of a second layer of sunscreen, a wide brimmed hat, and a new commitment to keeping well hydrated. Self care takes on a new immediacy, juxtaposed with an abiding pleasure in simply being. Here. Now.

Three days seem to linger beyond measured time as senses take in everything there is to see and feel, breath and taste, hear and experience. A snack of brie cheese, smoked oysters with rice crackers and crunchy vegetables followed by a tangy Caesar salad and homemade minestrone soup, thick and textured with the goodness of the earth's midsummer bounty never tasted so good.

The delicious absence of ceiling and walls, of phones and cars, of obligations and chores, of email and traffic, it's something to get used to... or try at least once in your life.

There are only two spots left for the August 2-4 Women's Sea Kayaking Getaway, the last kayaking event of 2006. Click here for more info.

THE LIFE AQUATIC is an article in EveryWoman Magazine in which Laila Ghattas was interviewed about the effective use of sea kayaking as a therapeutic approach on Aziza Healing Adventure retreats. Click here to read the article.

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Truly Madly Deeply Therapeutic Art in the summertime.

Whenever it's possible, the Toronto TMD, Relationship and private workshops take place outside in the garden. A green, lush, peaceful haven that is perfectly conducive to creativity flowing. In the studio garden you'll discover sculptures and rocks, a willow nest and table, a hammock, beautiful happy flowers and a couple of kitties mulling about. A great place to forget about your day, your stress, your worries, pick up a hunk of clay, plasticine or pastel, and lose your heavy thoughts as you surrender to creative self expression.

The workshop begins with a cup of tea, some sweets, meeting the rest of the group and a brief introduction about the format over the next while. Different media is available to choose from and an open ended question is asked of you to explore: "What does your life look like right now?" As you begin with making something familiar, because that's the most comfortable starting point, you'll relax and let the clay take you where it wants to go. Creative expression is the vehicle to you let your inside voice out. Your head, your intentions, your insecurities, all these move aside as your unconscious speaks through your creation. It's a wonderful change of pace!

We then move inside to the studio and explore your creation: What descriptive words does your creation evoke? What words come to mind when you look at other creations in the room? Now, with that list of words, write a paragraph or so describing your life. Try this at home with a friend- you'll be surprise what you find out about what's really going on inside you! Once again, participants leave an Aziza event knowing themselves better than when they arrive. That's the guarantee. Here are some remarks:

" Full of wonderful surprises! A supportive, healing environment!"

"It's amazing to realize that reflections of myself can be determined by my work."

" It was two hours of learning, fun and playing while learning about myself."

"A very fun, easy way to discover useful things about yourself."

By popular demand: Individuals are asking for private workshops to accelerate their healing journey. Requests come from people who are unable to participate in scheduled events, or who prefer to have one on one attention over the course of a day to get to the heart of the matter at hand. This is especially true for Relationship Patterns and Behaviour workshops which can now be individually enjoyed over one day, scheduled at your convenience. You get to have a tailor made workshop that best suites your immediate needs, for the same price of group workshop over two days.

The feedback is fabulous.
" A must if you desire to build healthy relationships!"
" Exploring and expressing myself with creative materials was a great tool which revealed a connection between my past and present."
" This workshop has made us realize the real underlying problems in our marriage and provides us with mechanisms to deal with it and fix it."

Please email if you are interested in a personalized private workshop.

5-Day Retreat Vacation

This 5- day retreat is ideal for women with lives that are often focused on the needs of others. Whether you are a mom, career woman, or a woman in transition with questions, this retreat will be a welcome change. Take time out to focus on you, consider what you need and want right now, explore your heart's desire. Two spaces left! Click here for details.

Also available Oct. 30 - Nov. 3

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• Dreaming of a relaxing respite from family/work obligations?
  
• Need time to reflect and find clarity?
  
• Longing to be nurtured and restore your depleted spirit?
  
• Seeking the camaraderie of kindred souls?

A monthly offering of retreats held at tranquil Southern Ontario locations. Retreats begin Friday with dinner and end Sunday after lunch ( except mid week Sea Kayak Retreats) and include therapeutic creative activities, gorgeous vegetarian meals, reflective journal writing, relaxing free time and physical wellness activities like forest walks and labyrinth mediations.

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5-Day Retreat Vacation

This 5- day retreat is ideal for women with lives that are often focused on the needs of others. Whether you are a mom, career woman, or a woman in transition with questions, this retreat will be a welcome change. Take time out to focus on you, consider what you need and want right now, explore your heart's desire. Two spaces left!

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Come with your own agenda for healing and relaxing on this weekend retreat. 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.

This very popular retreat was full in July. Here's another chance to 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

5-Day Retreat Vacation

This 5- day retreat is ideal for women with lives that are often focused on the needs of others. Whether you are a mom, career woman, or a woman in transition with questions, this retreat will be a welcome change. Take time out to focus on you, consider what you need and want right now, explore your heart's desire.

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Please register early for this popular retreat. Ever feel like you are living someone else's life? Someone else's agenda, values, schedule? It's never too late to waken and begin small steps towards living Your life. Never. This weekend dare to dust off some of your long forgotten dreams and have a peek at what you really want. Imagine a more fulfilling life, and explore ways to achieve it. It's the new start you've been waiting for.

October 30 - November 3, Women's Retreat

This week is ideal for women with lives that are often focused on the needs of others. Whether you are a mom, career woman, or a woman in transition with questions, this retreat will be a welcome change. Take time out to focus on you, consider what you need and want right now, explore your heart's desire. Fill up your depleted inner well with therapeutic creativity, good company, gorgeous nourishment, in a totally relaxing supportive setting.
Click here for details

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Just south of Tulum nestled on the Caribbean Sea there is a perfect environment for those seeking reintegration. Awaken to an hour of refreshing yoga at sunrise on the beach. Creative personal growth activities are complemented with cenotes snorkeling, beach strolls, scenic tour and authentic cuisine. 7 luxurious days rediscovering all the parts that make up the whole of you.

Early bird special till August 15. For your convenience, you can pay in easy installments each month, or quarterly. Email for details.

Click here for retreat details.

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Our annual Creative /Yoga/Wellness retreat offers diverse activities for a delicious taste of this unforgettable island. Ten days unfold with a balance of walking along rice paddies, through weaving villages, past Hindu temples and other sacred sites, with time to be creative, to reflect, meditate, feast on local culinary delights, unwind at the spa, refresh with yoga, surrender to a labyrinth path and doze off on your own verandah.

Click here for retreat details.

Early bird special till August 15. For your convenience, you can pay in easy installments each month, or quarterly. Email for details.

ONLY 4 SPACES LEFT!

Imagine abandoning yourself to fun communication through colour, shape, and texture. We'll explore the jewels of insight you've just uncovered through your creation and unveil new ways of looking at yourself and your way of being. Held in Toronto, Ontario Click here for details

Saturday 10:30 - 4:30
Sept. 23

Evenings 7:30 - 9:30
Sept. 20

CUSTOMIZED RETREATS & WORKSHOPS

Have a corporate or private group with a special focus? Aziza Healing Adventures will design a retreat to meet your specific needs and facilitate it at any international or local destination your heart desires. Please visit www.aziza.ca/group