"Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious." -- Ruth Reichl
Scenes from the day
Refreshments
Come join us for our next event on Saturday, January 18, 2014 from 2:00-4:00pm for a relaxing afternoon of Starting the New Year Mindfully: Tea and Creative Journaling workshop. Tea and a variety of other beverages will be served along with vegetarian savory and sweet treats for sipping and noshing while spending some quality time with your journal as well as the company of others. A mindfulness exercise and gentle stretching will ground and center you and some guided prompts will help you get a mindful start on the new year. A crackling fire will set the scene for the day. We hope you can join us!
Amidst a snow and sleet-filled day, we welcomed with much delight, our first workshop participants. After months of planning and anticipation, the day had finally arrived, and we were brimming with energy and excitement. Among the questions we’ve asked ourselves and each other throughout this process: Would our offering speak to what people wanted or needed? Would they walk away from the experience with something that could be truly useful and helpful? Did we allow enough time for everything we had planned? Would the weather or distance deter participants from coming? Most of all, would we be able to build the kind of community we had envisioned – a space of openness, acceptance, safety, reflection, creativity, fun… love?
In the end, all we can do, as in any situation, is prepare as best we can, share what we know, listen with open hearts and minds, and be present in the moment. With that in mind, we diffused essential oils, set the rooms ablaze with candles, fresh cut roses, art supplies, cushions and pillows, and prepared a small buffet of luscious treats to keep everyone refreshed and fueled for our activities. A favorite was the easy to make energy bites of dried fruits, nuts and dates that look like donut holes.
In the end, all we can do, as in any situation, is prepare as best we can, share what we know, listen with open hearts and minds, and be present in the moment. With that in mind, we diffused essential oils, set the rooms ablaze with candles, fresh cut roses, art supplies, cushions and pillows, and prepared a small buffet of luscious treats to keep everyone refreshed and fueled for our activities. A favorite was the easy to make energy bites of dried fruits, nuts and dates that look like donut holes.
Refreshments
Our guests started arriving at 12:30pm, and for each one we were grateful and appreciative for their effort and willingness to brave the inclement weather and join us on our maiden journey. Resounding in our heads was our mission: to build community... What does that look like? What does that feel like? How does that happen? Well, after this workshop we now have a really good idea of what that looks and feels like from a Zen Gypsies perspective! Our model is built on four pillars: mindfulness, movement, creativity and self-inquiry. Given this, we started the workshop with an opening circle, introductions and asked participants to name a favorite way to nurture themselves. It was a wonderful way to learn a little something about each person, find common ground and appreciate the diversity in experiences. Afterwards, we led the group in a twenty minute mindfulness exercise in conscious breathing. For some, it had been their first experience with meditation and we were thrilled to learn later that it had been a positive one.
Following meditation, we offered participants an experience in self-inquiry, which unexpectedly sparked some fascinating and thought-provoking dialogue. As the group felt more comfortable with each other after this moment of sharing, we transitioned into the movement segment. Our good friend Janella, led this portion of the workshop, which had us all laughing, sweating and dancing. With enthusiasm and a wicked sense of humor, Janella instructed the group on some of the basics of belly dance movement and so much more. It reminded us of why we loved the dance: it’s for women of all shapes and sizes, ages, and backgrounds. It is divinely feminine and grounding. With all of us invigorated, yet open and relaxed, this naturally eased the flow of creativity. We worked on vision boards to display in tangible form, our dreams, goals, hopes, thoughts and aspirations. Vision boards can be a fun and helpful tool in getting clear on what you want as well as serve as a creative and colorful reminder along the way towards goals.
We ended the afternoon with a closing circle, sharing our vision boards, and thoughts in general about the workshop experience. As with any mindful experience, it seemed that time sped by and a sense of well-being pervaded the group. We felt deeply satisfied and enriched by the interaction we had with these wonderful women. After saying goodbye and hugging the last of our departing guests, we said to each other excitedly, "I can't wait to do another one!!!"
Following meditation, we offered participants an experience in self-inquiry, which unexpectedly sparked some fascinating and thought-provoking dialogue. As the group felt more comfortable with each other after this moment of sharing, we transitioned into the movement segment. Our good friend Janella, led this portion of the workshop, which had us all laughing, sweating and dancing. With enthusiasm and a wicked sense of humor, Janella instructed the group on some of the basics of belly dance movement and so much more. It reminded us of why we loved the dance: it’s for women of all shapes and sizes, ages, and backgrounds. It is divinely feminine and grounding. With all of us invigorated, yet open and relaxed, this naturally eased the flow of creativity. We worked on vision boards to display in tangible form, our dreams, goals, hopes, thoughts and aspirations. Vision boards can be a fun and helpful tool in getting clear on what you want as well as serve as a creative and colorful reminder along the way towards goals.
We ended the afternoon with a closing circle, sharing our vision boards, and thoughts in general about the workshop experience. As with any mindful experience, it seemed that time sped by and a sense of well-being pervaded the group. We felt deeply satisfied and enriched by the interaction we had with these wonderful women. After saying goodbye and hugging the last of our departing guests, we said to each other excitedly, "I can't wait to do another one!!!"
* * *
Upcoming Event
Come join us for our next event on Saturday, January 18, 2014 from 2:00-4:00pm for a relaxing afternoon of Starting the New Year Mindfully: Tea and Creative Journaling workshop. Tea and a variety of other beverages will be served along with vegetarian savory and sweet treats for sipping and noshing while spending some quality time with your journal as well as the company of others. A mindfulness exercise and gentle stretching will ground and center you and some guided prompts will help you get a mindful start on the new year. A crackling fire will set the scene for the day. We hope you can join us!
It's so great to put this out in to the world; and, those who need it will find you. Thank you for the work that you do. Where will your tea workshop be held?
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your kind words! The tea workshop will be held in Hyattsville, MD. The link in the post takes you to our events page, which provides the details.
ReplyDelete