"....one of the greatest privileges of a human life is to become midwife to the birth of the soul in another." ~ Plato

 

COMING OF AGE: APPROACHING THE SECOND HALF OF LIFE WITH CREATIVITY AND AWARENESS

Physical changes and diminishments do not have to take away from the meaning of life. Our bodies may change but as we grow older we can still be in a process of learning, growing and becoming. We can continue to develop other aspects of ourselves that give us meaning and purpose. If we want to have peace in our later years, we need to look at our past and present and make decisions about our future. Some aspects we will begin to explore include our feelings about our mortality, healing relationships, forgiving and finding forgiveness, recognizing achievements and deciding on a legacy to leave for future generations.
 

In this workshop we harvest the wisdom of our experiences, celebrate our contributions and receive the benefits of our struggles and planning. We will take delight in our successes and reframe our failures and feel the depth of our wisdom. Together we will reweave our lives, and make new cloth from the fine and rough threads.

Most of us want to live our own deepest hopes for ourselves, to live honestly, generously and passionately. We need to want change, transformation and growth in order to not just survive this time of our lives.

The workshop will stimulate you to create your life with passion rather than to passively wait for life to lead you somewhere. Inner exploration and creativity go hand in hand. Movement, music, art, poetry and guided imagery will help us on our journey through the second half of life.

 

 

 

A GATHERING OF DAUGHTERS: CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR MOTHERS

The mother/daughter relationship is one of the most intricate and intense relationship a woman will ever experience. This first and essential relationship has a powerful effect on an adult woman's interactions with her mate, children and friends.

Understanding how this relationship shaped the daughter's future and reflects the mother's past is crucial. Intimate conversations and creative exercises will offer every woman a chance to find her mother in a more loving way, as well as find herself in that same context of love and acceptance.
 

 

MOVEMENT FOR LIFE

Focus on Healing Through Movement and Dance, the Lebed Method, is a therapeutic exercise program. Through the use of specifically designed movements, the program enhances physical and emotional well-being. The program was originally designed for breast cancer survivors but has been expanded and enhanced to include women with other illnesses or for those who simply enjoy dance and movement in a group setting.

We live in a world, where we are affected by pollution, stress, the aging process and illness. Our bodies, which have an inherent ability to heal and self-regulate often need a boost to unlock the healing powers inside of us. Movement provides a deeper experience of your body, giving you an entirely new dimension to being alive. You do not have to be a Baryshnikov or Hines to experience the joy of movement.

The program is designed to restore limberness, quiet jangled nerves, soften the heart and open doors of discovery. Have fun and feel tension lift as you improve balance, increase range of movement, feel renewed energy, and improve circulation. The movements are not strenuous and you will definitely feel like you are dancing as you deepen your sense of being in your body. Join us for love of movement, people, fun and life!!

 

 

 

GUIDED AUTOBIOGRAPHY: EXAMINING LIFE

An autobiography is the story of a life told by the person who has lived it. Your autobiography is the story of your life—its details, events, and experiences.  Writing it begins with harvesting the rich memories, then organizing them and evaluating them.

 

It is a normal developmental task of the later years to become conscious of memories and unresolved past conflicts.  Through the use of themes and questions that evoke these memories, we will explore key experiences as a way to find new meaning in life as the uncertainties of the past, and the conflicts, paradoxes and events of life are put into perspective.  

 

Together we will explore where we have been, where we are, and where we would like to be.  We

will write our life stories and share them in a supportive atmosphere, and gain strength and renewed appreciation of our lives.

 

 

 

HONORING THE BLANK PAGE: CREATING A HANDMADE BOOK WITH STILLNESS AND REFLECTION

 

A story exists on a blank page and waits for us to draw it out.  An image is a bridge between evoked emotion and conscious knowledge. By moving back and forth between external images and internal dialogue, we will create a meaningful encounter with one’s self.

 

Using collage techniques, guided imagery, the right questions and poetry for inspiration, we will give voice to the unspoken, the unheard and the forgotten.

 

In this course, images and words blend as we create a handmade artist’s book.  The interior of your book will reflect the richness and depth of your unique parts, while the exterior reverberates and celebrates your wholeness.  Be prepared to cut, tear, paste, write and sew!  No art experience necessary.

 

 

 

ASSERTIVE COMMUNICATION: THE PATH TO INTEGRITY AND DIGNITY

 

Do you sometimes feel you are not heard?  Do you lack confidence and are afraid to speak up?  Do you say YES when you mean NO?  Are you having trouble setting boundaries?  Are you tired of feeling intimidated or ignored by others?

 

Assertive communication can strengthen your relationships, reduce stress from conflict and provide you with a supportive social network in difficult times.

 

Learn when to be assertive, how to be assertive and why you need to use assertiveness skills.  Discover why you lose your power and how to get it back.

 

Taking charge of your emotions and expressing yourself honestly and directly will help you value yourself and thereby you will handle difficult people more easily. Build your confidence and self- esteem with simple skills and practice.

 

 

 

MEDITATION, THE MANDALA AND THE LABYRINTH:  PATHS TO SELF-UNDERSTANDING

 

Meditation, the mandala and the labyrinth are all tools to help us train our minds to be more aware of our life experiences.  With these methods we can quiet our minds, improve focus, become more attentive to every moment of our lives and discover answers to key questions.  Here, we observe our experiences while participating in them as they occur, resulting in self-discovery.

 

We will learn and practice meditation, create mandalas for self-discovery  and visit a labyrinth for a combined experience.

 

 

 

HONORING YOUR LIFE AND TIMES: YOUR MEMOIR

 

Writing your memoir is a gift to yourself, to family members and to friends who become family.  It provides an opportunity to relate not only what happened in your life, but how you felt about your life circumstances and the events that shaped them. Those who read your stories will be left with a strong sense of family identity and continuity. Guided questioning will focus you inward to reacquaint you with and reawaken the essential memories, decisions, and discoveries that have made you the utterly unique person you have become.  Bring a beautiful journal or notebook.

 

 

 

INNER WORKOUT:  a stress-releasing, “spa for the mind” -  a mid-week event to re-energize your work week.

 

Beneath the stresses in our daily lives flows a deep need for creativity, passion, silence, and a place of contact with ourselves and what matters to us. This group is about slowing down, reconnecting to our inner selves and handling the feelings that overwhelm us.

 

With the help of discussion, guided creative exercises, meditation and connection with a supportive community, we will explore ways to restore and nurture ourselves. 

 

 

 

 

THE JOURNEY AHEAD:  USING POETRY AND JOURNAL WRITING FOR SELF-EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY

We enter into magical territory when we encounter poetry.    When we read or hear a poem, we participate and react with our hearts, our minds, our senses and our souls.  Poetry renews us, inspires us, brings joy and wonder.  A powerful metaphor or phrase can elicit deep feelings and associations and provide us with an introspective reverie.   Because poetry touches us on many levels, it is often a vehicle for healing and enlightenment.

 

In this class, we will use poetry as a tool for self awareness, self-discovery and self-change, embarking on a journey into self-knowledge.

 

We will combine our experience with the words and images of poetry with the power of journal writing.   The dynamic combination of poetry and journal writing provides us with a bridge between the past and the future, enabling us to understand our deepest feelings.   Together they gently guide us to reflect, heal, focus, discover and enjoy every moment and possibility of our lives.

 

Your talent is already present and your life experiences qualify you for this class.   A willingness to explore and a desire for discovery are the only prerequisites!   Bring a journal or notebook.  Choose one with mindfulness and care for it will hold your unique stories and deepest thoughts.

 

 

 

 

STILL HERE:  EMBRACING AGING, CHANGING, AND DYING

 

Ram Dass, born Richard Alpert was an eminent Harvard psychologist and psychedelic pioneer with Dr. Timothy Leary.  After traveling to India he became a well-loved spiritual teacher and author, and founder of charitable organizations.

 

Reading from his book Still Here: Embracing Aging, Changing, and Dying, we will explore the fears that accompany aging and dying (loss of power, identity, dignity and relationships among others) and learn how meditation and mindfulness can help bring peace and acceptance as we move through the journey that lies ahead.

 

Recent research shows that meditative practices change brain physiology in ways that produce tangible benefits. A regular practice teaches us how to reduce stress, regulate emotion, improve self-awareness and develop empathy, compassion and acceptance. 

 

Participants will learn the practice of insight meditation. We will use this practice, guided meditations, writing and discussion as we join Ram Dass who survived a major debilitating stroke, as he teaches us how to age with courage and compassion.

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HEALING THE WOUNDS OF RELATIONSHIP: SEPARATING WITH DIGNITY

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If you are experiencing the end of a relationship or are on the verge of ending a relationship you might be asking yourself many questions.  Rejection, fear, sadness, anger, shame and loss may be some of the powerful feelings that challenge you as you look into the future.

 

Before being able to appreciate the rewards of a life as a single person or with another individual, one must be free of neediness and feel a sense of wholeness. In this workshop, you will begin to:

 

• Understand and accept the existence of the multitude of feelings and learn how to deal with them in a positive way.

 

• Identify the internal issues around relationships so you can move into healthier and more satisfying partnerships, or be happy single.

 

• Learn how your children are impacted and how you can help them survive this experience in a healthy way.

 

 

 

THE CONVERSATION

PREPARE FOR THE RIGHT MOMENT TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION WITH A LOVED ONE ABOUT THE LAST STAGE OF LIFE

 

At some point in our lives we are faced with having to make decisions about the future for our partners, our parents, our children, or ourselves.  It is often difficult to bring up the topic for discussion because we have strong feelings about the situations. Whether it be the thought of dying, moving to a facility, division of property, burial vs. cremation, and other end-of-life decisions, these topics provoke strong feelings. 

 

It’s not easy to talk about how you want the end of your life to be. But it’s one of the most important conversations you can have.  Think of the gift you give your loved ones when they have no chaos or confusion and they are not left wondering about your wishes.

 

Explore your own thoughts and feelings about the future and then learn how to have a conversation that can create a shared understanding of what matters most to you and your loved ones. This can make it easier to make decisions when the time comes.

 

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This will be a gentle conversation in a safe, respectful and supportive environment. Figure out your own needs and wishes and then learn how to open THE CONVERSATION when you are ready to tell someone what you want, or when you want to help someone else get ready to share his or her wishes.

 

We will not be filling out legal papers or making decisions.  We will be looking at how to face the challenges with dignity, courage and full awareness so you can communicate your wishes.

 

SOME FACTS:

 

•     60% of people say that making sure their family is not burdened by tough decisions is “extremely important,” yet 56% have not communicated their end-of-life wishes.

 

•     82% of people say it’s important to put their wishes in writing.  23% have actually done it.

 

    90% of Americans know they should have a conversation about what they want at the end of life, yet only 30 percent have done so.

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THIRD AGE PLAYERS

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We are a new creative arts group for people over 55.   We are offering workshops led by local guest artists teaching improvisation, writing, movement, music, song-writing, and more! Together we will tell our stories, explore universal themes and develop performance pieces that can be shared with a wider audience.

 

It is now well known that there is a beneficial relationship between creativity, artistic activity, and a person’s well-being.  It is also recognized that creative expression enhances quality of life and contributes to healthy aging.

 

Although our older years often come with age-imposed physical, emotional, and cognitive limitations, they can also be a time of profound inner growth, renewed vitality, and ripening insights.  Because the creative arts are a natural forum for the exploration and expression of these insights and challenges, we invite you to be part of this experience.

 

Join Arzi McKeown and Stephanie Glickman in these workshops.  There are very few requirements:  You need to be over 55 years old, have an interest in working with others in creative and expressive modes, and are looking for a sense of satisfaction and empowerment.  

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