| Our brand of freedom Body practitioner workshop Truth about dieting Our brand of freedom KANSAS CITY, MO -- Santikaro Bhikkhu, the well-known American Buddhist monk, will examine what it is about our brand of "freedom" that would cause others to hate us, and will reflect on how freedom is being used to justify war and other acts of violence. He will speak at Unity Temple on the Plaza, 707 W 47th St, Kansas City, Mo., from 7-9 p.m. Friday, January 9. His talk, titled "In the Name of Freedom: Buddhist Reflections," will enrich your understanding of this sacred value regardless of your intellectual or spiritual leanings. Susan Moon, editor of Buddhist Peace Fellowship's journal Turning Wheel, says: "Santikaro Bhikkhu brings a friendly and rigorous intelligence to matters of Dhamma and social justice. In workshops and seminars I've attended, he's brought a helpful clarity to complex issues, from a dhammic take on the enneagram to a Marxist take on the Four Noble Truths. Perhaps it's because of his many years as a monk that his teaching is flavored with cheerful renunciation and wry humor." Santikaro Bhikkhu was born and raised in the Chicago area where he recently returned after 20 years in Thailand. There he served four years as a Peace Corps volunteer and rural schoolteacher before ordaining as a Buddhist monk in 1985. He studied with Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, the renowned Dhamma Master and one of the first Asian Dhamma teachers to teach the importance of socially engaged Buddhism. Santikaro translated a number of his writings available in English. Santikaro is a founding member of Think Sangha, a community of socially engaged Buddhist thinker-activists working on the interface between Buddhism and structural suffering. Through Asian Rainbow and other inter-religious forums, he has explored the interdependence of spirituality and peace work. He is a member of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship (BPF) Dharma Council, and an advisor to the BPF Prison Project. Now living in the U.S., he plans to establish "Liberation Park," a monastic community and Dhamma training center in the Chicago area, where he will continue to practice and write about the Dhamma in a socially engaged context. He visits Kansas City regularly and volunteers at Lansing Correctional Facility. This event is organized by The Community of Mindful Living, which practices mindfulness and meditation in the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. They meet every Monday from 7-9 p.m. at Unity Temple on the Plaza. They host daylong mindfulness retreats quarterly, and weekend retreats yearly. All are welcome. Body practitioner workshop Kansas City, MO -- The Midwest Institute of Bodywork and Somatic Therapy, an alternative healing school located at 5518 N. Antioch Road in Kansas City, Mo., is offering a three-part, nine-hour introductory workshop for those interested in a career as a Certified Body Somatic Practitioner. The workshop is Jan. 12 and 14 from 6-9 p.m., and Jan. 17 from 9 a.m.-Noon. The cost is $100. For more information or to register, call (816) 453-3577. Body somatics is a method of healing the body and maximizing well-being, developed about 18 years ago by Carmelita Davis-Beets. Having been certified in acupuncture, Reiki, electromagnetic field balancing, neuro-muscular therapy, hypnosis, cranial sacral therapy, yoga, weight training and Hellerwork, Davis-Beets found that no healing method existed that addressed equally the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of our lives through the medium of the body. Body somatics, through deep tissue manipulation, works directly with the cause of structural body problems through the systematic release of congested, constricted muscle and fascia tissue. "Certified Body Somatic Practitioners learn to restructure and realign bodies to bring about healing and wholeness," Davis-Beets says. "Body somatics clears the body, removes pain, and restores natural movement and balance, as well as energy flow. The healing power of body somatics is truly amazing." The Midwest Institute of Bodywork and Somatic Therapy offers courses in energy medicine, Shiatsu, Eastern medicine and other alternative healing methods. The school is certified by the Missouri Department of Higher Education. Students may take classes to increase their knowledge of certain areas of alternative medicine, or work toward certification. Students are of all ages and backgrounds. More information about the Midwest Institute of Bodywork and Somatic Therapy can be found at the school's website, www.body-somatics.com. Truth about dieting Kansas City, MO -- We live in a society which values thinness at any cost, although being thin doesn't necessarily mean being healthy. Many women experience dissatisfaction with their body because they do not conform to the cultural ideals. But maybe the ideals are unrealistic. "Lighten up!" is a therapist-led group, starting in January, for women who have a difficult relationship with their bodies and with food. This may be a helpful group for women who are fed up with dieting, willing to take responsibility for their own well-being, and need support. "Lighten up!" will explore: ¥ Why diets don't work for 90-95 percent of the population ¥ The impact of Media and our Culture on shaping our ideals of beauty ¥ Re-defining Beauty ¥ Boundaries and Defenses ¥ Choices vs. Deprivation and Rebellion ¥ Emotional Eating: Food as Comfort & Protection ¥ Feelings: Fear, Anxiety, Anger, Shame, etc. ¥ Getting in touch with your Body and Spirit ¥ Loving Yourself as you are: the key to change ¥ Mindful Eating and Celebration ¥ Needs and Hunger? Internal vs. External Cues ¥ Movement? the Benefits ¥ Healthy Choices: A Balanced Lifestyle ¥ Nutrition and the Food Pyramid ¥ The Glycemic Index ¥ Oils, Fats and Trans-Fatty Acids. "Lighten up!" will meet from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings at Westport Growth Center, 4104 Central. The cost will be $35 per evening, with a minimum commitment for four sessions. For more information, call Judi Howen, M.A., L.PC., at (913) 789-7436, ext. 2. |
||
|
Jan 2004 |
|
