Meditation on Peace

With Bonni Ross

Saturday, June 6 & Sunday, June 7

9 am — 3 pm

Early Birds $135 - $170 after April 30

Manifesting peace begins with our own bodies and minds and extends out into the world through our thoughts, words and deeds. We’ll begin each day with gentle movement to loosen the body and increase awareness. Structured sitting and walking meditation, interspersed with creative explorations, will open our senses and minds to the natural state of serenity that is within us and around us.

On-site accommodation is available for three meditators. Preference will be given to people living off of the Sunshine Coast. Please ask the registrar for details.

Written in the Body

With Anthea Penne

Saturday, June 13 & Sunday, June 14

1 pm — 4 pm each day, with Individual consultation from 5 — 7 pm Saturday

Early Birds $160 - $200 after April 30, 2009

Writing that comes from a visceral place often produces a style that resonates deeply with readers. Such honesty is found by open exploration of those frequently dark places where our bodies have buried — or hidden — the residual effects of life experiences. This workshop will encourage that exploratory journey by using the medium of writing and the vocabulary of words.

Please Note: Participants are asked to come to the first session with a creative biography responding to the question, "Who am I?" Your response can be as inventive as you like: a poem, an anecdote, a list of your idiosyncrasies — whatever feels most comfortable to you.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

With Dr. Eddie Berinstein

Saturday, June 20 & Sunday, June 21

9 am – 4 pm

Early Birds $160 - $200 after April 30

MBSR was started by Jon Kabat-Zinn in the late 1970s and has since benefited thousands of people worldwide. The cultivation of mindfulness through meditation practice allows us to be more present for our moments as they unfold and to embrace the "full catastrophe" of our life in a more harmonious and balanced way. The primary purpose of the workshop is the cultivation of mindfulness into everyday life, thereby using it as a means and a tool to help deal with chronic pain, stress, and illness. The workshop will consist of both formal and informal mindfulness practices including sitting, walking, loving kindness, and body scan meditation. There will be group dialogue and interaction as well as some guided body movement.

On-site accommodation is available for this course, at $25 per night plus GST.

Seeing With Your Heart: Having Satisfaction

With Robert Sinclair

Saturday, June 27 to Sunday, July 5

10 am – 4 pm

Early Birds $600 - $750 after April 30, 2009

We are all artists. This workshop will be an exploration of clear seeing and deepening knowing through the doorway of painting and drawing. We will start the workshop using oriental brushes and ink on rice paper to stimulate the creative process of imagemaking. Following this will be an exploration of drawing as a way of clarifying our seeing and engagement with the world. Next, colour mixing exercises for those unfamiliar with watercolours. The latter part of the week focuses on blending these with watercolour painting. Various mindfulness exercises, art projects, body movements and guided visualizations will be interwoven to make a workshop of very rich exploration.

On-site accommodation is available for this course, at $25 per night plus GST.

Yoga and Art for Children

With Trudy Austin

Saturday, July 11 (suitable for children ages 5 -8)
10 am – 4 pm

Sunday, July 12 (suitable for children ages 8 -12)
10 am – 4 pm

This program is designed to foster joy in learning and creative expression. Through the use of yoga postures, movement and quiet time we explore ways to use the mind and body together. We have fun being a lion, warrior, cobra, turtle, tree, dancer, or even a triangle! The students move between yoga and the art table. They will be painting, collaging and voicing themselves creatively using the focus we find doing yoga.