While our group is growing, please feel free to attend similar movement classes i run called Moving Sanctuary - these classes use words and song lyrics that are not specific to the Jewish culture - www.meetup.com/MovingSanctuary

Jewish Embodied Spirituality classes plan to resume soon

Do you love to move or wish to include your body in your spiritual practice?

Would you like to connect with the Joy, Peace and Power of your being and to embody your Jewish spirituality?

Moving Sanctuary: Jewish Embodied Spirituality

Creating a sacred space and a supportive community

for connecting with the Divine Presence within and everywhere else

through movement.

Movement practices include moving meditation and joyous freestyle movement, all to beautiful music, ranging from energizing fast tempos to slower more relaxed melodies. Guidance is offered to help us in this process.

No freestyle movement/dance or meditation experience is necessary. A safe space is created where each person is welcomed to be who they are. I believe that everyone can experience the joy, peace and harmony of the Divine resting in them.

King David’s psalms and Jewish prayers are offered as opportunities to help connect with the Divine.

POSSIBLE BENEFITS include:

* Embody and deepen your personal connection with Hashem

* Be nourished and rejuvenated

* Open to Joy within you

* Discover ways to be present with your body, heart, mind and soul in kind and respectful ways

"One thing I ask of You

I ask it with all of my heart

That I may dwell in Your House

All the days of my life.

Behold the beauty, the beauty of Yah

And to be in that Holy Place"

~ King David, Psalm 27:4

WHEN:

Wednesday evenings at least once per month.

See the calendar for details.

WHERE:

The Centering Space, 59 Cambridge Avenue, Toronto. Steps from Broadview Subway Station (off the DVP at Broadview and Danforth). 1 block W of Broadview, just N of Danforth.

Parking: there usually are 3-6 free spots on the The Centering Space grounds, directly in front of the main entrance, this is in addition to public parking on Cambridge Ave and other side streets .

PRACTICE COST:

* $10 or pay what you can for 1 hour classes

* $15 or pay what you can for 1.5 hour classes

WHAT TO WEAR:

Anything you would feel good and comfortable moving and meditating in. We do not wear street shoes inside the studio.

PLEASE READ:

Each person is responsible for taking care of their physical and emotional well-being during and after Moving Sanctuary: Jewish Embodied Spirituality activities. Movement, meditation and all other activities are offered as suggestions and each participant is encouraged to trust their instincts and participate to their level of comfort, this may include modifying the exercises as they see fit and choosing to not participate in what is offered.

As with any awareness practice, being present in our bodies and with our minds can make us more aware of our feelings, thoughts, body sensations and memories. This can be a source of growth for many people. For some people, particularly for people experiencing some mental health conditions, this can be destabilizing and not recommended.

If you have a mental health condition, please be in touch with me and/or with your family doctor/health care provider specializing in the area of mental health prior to participating in the classes to discuss your situation and whether the classes would be a safe experience for you.

If you have any concerns about potential impact of participating in the Moving Sanctuary on your health, please be in touch with me and/or with your health care provider prior to participating.

CONTACT INFO:

nadiastolpner@gmail.com, 647-836-1251.

ABOUT FACILITATOR AND FOUNDER:

I am excited at the opportunity to co-create with you a sacred space and a community for us to connect with the Divine Presence.

Regarding my background, I am a registered social worker and completed a Master of Social Work degree at the University of Toronto. I provided clinical social work services and led wellness programs for organizations including the Ontario College of Art and Design University, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and Integra Children’s Mental Health Centre. A dancer who is passionate about connecting with Hashem through movement and meditation, I have been receiving training and practicing meditative movement and meditation for over 10 years. The Jewish Embodied Spirituality component of this group is based on "Embodied Jewish Spirituality: Merkavat HaMachol" with Rabbi Diane Elliot, Julie Leavitt, Simona Aronow and Latifa Berry Kropf.

I am looking forward to co-creating a sacred space and a supportive community where we can dance, connect with and celebrate the Divine Presence within us.

With many blessings,

Warmly,

Nadia Stolpner

To receive updates about classes by e-mail separate from meetup.com, please send your e-mail address to nadiastolpner@gmail.com.

Copyright. Nadia Stolpner, MSW RSW, 2011. All rights reserved.