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In this October
Issue:
Retreat Reviews: Food Glorious Food!
Announcements
Meaningful Fall/Winter Vacations
Women's Wellness Fall Getaways
Workshops
Web page links
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RETREAT REVIEWS
Women's Weekend Getaway-
Food Glorious Food!- at Thirteen Moons
Our culturally volatile theme provoked a series of insights and
inspired options to old behaviour. Creative exercises reflected
expressions of current vs. idealized self, and resulted in an awareness
of a surprising sense of lack of worth: Everyone else was worthy
of the efforts to create a beautiful meal except the cook herself.
Discussion revealed inner conflict regarding old eating patterns
that were prompted by an intolerance of difficult emotions with
the resulting turning to instant comfort in food rather than feeling
the emotions.
Sunday delivered a
session of Two Chair work, a Gestalt tool that enables a client
to give voice to conflicting emotions by assigning each point of
view to a chair and expressing the debate out loud as she sits in
one and then the other as prompted by the facilitator. (See Sept.
News for more on Gestalt Therapy methods.) On this retreat the
conflict was defined by the prevalent dilemma of one side wanting
new healthier eating habits, the other demanding instant comfort
by junk food bingeing. As the session progressed an alarming gridlock
between the two sides became painfully apparent. Slowly, the participant
felt compassion for the saboteur within, acknowledging an understanding
of how she coped with unbearable pain.
With
more exploration, the following revelation emerged: the time of
pleasure the saboteur within experienced could be identified during
the anticipation of the food, but the actual eating of the meal
was missed in a numb haze of mechanical feeding! So no side
won- there existed only a lose/ lose eating context without pleasure
for the sabateur or lasting comfort from the feelings at hand and
no healthy considerations for the other side. During lunch we experimented
with being in the moment, being there for the full sensual contact
with each bite. It turned out to be one of the most satisfying and
pleasurable eating experiences the client had had.
The lunch of culinary
pleasure was the culmination of the morning cooking class led by
Louise Racine, our Thirteen Moons host. We made Mediterranean Rice
with cloves, turmeric, raisins and other goodies; garden picked
organic Kale and Seaweed Salad with sesame and ginger; Roasted Tofu
Satay with tamari, chili paste, coconut milk and peanut sauce. We
ended with a heavenly coconut milk custard laden with fresh organic
pineapples. This was truly a rewarding time to choose to be fully
present and accounted for. Hopefully it's the start of a beautiful
new relationship with the loving act of true self nourishment.
" Thirteen Moons
was very relaxing, restful, accommodating, peaceful. Felt like home
away from home."
" The therapeutic
process was very powerful, surprisingly helpful, a great jolt into
awakening and healing. Very encouraging."
" The Two Chair
work stands out the most!"
Women's Wellness Weekend
costs will be increasing in 2005. Please consider registering for
our last two fall Getaways listed below in order to enjoy the 2004
prices.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
JOIN
Ongoing Evening Group Therapy 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
7:30-9:30pm for some Expressive Art, Gestalt therapy, and discussion,
Please phone 416.696.0086 or email info@aziza.ca
Gestalt therapist, Laila
Ghattas, is also available for private Gestalt Therapy, Expressive
Art and Reiki Sessions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FROM THE HEART
an event created and presented by Lighthouse Events, Toronto, Ontario
A full day venue celebrating
life and creativity. Vehicles such as dance, art and therapy, writing,
aromatherapy, singing, sounding, story telling and walking meditations
will creatively access what your heart is open to discover. Unique
full group inspirations unfold in the morning followed by lunch
and small group workshops in the afternoon, completing the abundant
offerings of this heart filled day. Aziza founder, Laila Ghattas,
will be facilitating an art & therapy clay workshop.
$85 includes lunch
Saturday October 23
Momiji Centre, Toronto
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information
or to register please email Gail Ross at gailross@on.aibn.com
web link below
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There will be a One
Day Truly Madly Deeply Art & Therapy Workshop
Saturday November
20
at Evelyn's Healing
Centre in Bowmanville.
Details to come in the
next newsletter.
MEANINGFUL Fall/Winter
VACATIONS
REDISCOVER YOUR SELF
IN MEXICO
Coed 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 creative
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
REDISCOVER YOUR SELF
IN BALI
a creative/yoga/wellness retreat
Coed: 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 verandah.
For retreat details
see links below
Women's Wellness
Retreats
A monthly offering of 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.
~~~
Flying Solo /
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Authentic Living
/ November 12- 14
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. On this Women's 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.
WEB PAGE LINK below
WORKSHOPS
Truly Madly Deeply
Art & Therapy
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 facilitator, Laila Ghattas, will guide
the class in art-making projects that are fun and 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, a journal and art making
attire.
Toronto, Wednesdays
at WonderWorks
Oct. 20
Nov. 17
7-9 pm, $45
for locations see WEB PAGE LINK below
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RELATIONSHIP PATTERNS AND BEHAVIOUR: A Co-ed 2-Day Workshop
Toronto, October 30-31
“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.
If you live outside
Toronto, have a ready group and want this workshop to be held in
your city, please email us at info@aziza.ca
WEB PAGE LINK below
WEB PAGE LINKS
Retreat
Calendar www.aziza.ca/calendarRetreats
Women's Wellness Getaways www.aziza.ca/13moons
Truly Madly Deeply Art & Therapy
Workshops www.aziza.ca/workshops
Relationship Patterns Co ed Workshop
www.aziza.ca/relationships
Rediscover Your Self in Bali www.aziza.ca/bali
Rediscover Your Self in Mexico www.aziza.ca/mexico
Lighthouse Events
www.lighthouseevents.ca
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
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.
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
