YGSE Wellness Retreat

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YGSE Wellness Retreat

This full-day Wellness Retreat offers York graduate students in education an opportunity for a rejuvenating day. Join in and take a break!

By YGSE

Date and time

Fri, Mar 29, 2019 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM EDT

Location

College Street United Church

454 College Street Toronto, ON M6G 1A1 Canada

About this event

This urban day-retreat offers York graduate students in education a fully accessible space and place to talk about their current wellness practices and strategies (or current lack there of) as well as learn and try new techniques to de-stress and manage stress in new ways.

The morning schedule provides you with a chance to relax, come together with peers, and stretch the body and mind. You will learn breathing techniques, and try Kundalini yoga and meditations with yoga teacher and author, Demetria Jackson. After lunch (provided), the afternoon schedule includes guest speaker, Dr. Shelley Murphy from OISE, an expert in mindfulness in education. After our speaker, you have the opportunity to relax and release tensions while 'deeply listening' (Oliveros, 2005) to sound/music, including the oboe and symphonic Gong.

Note on techniques highlighted in the Wellness Retreat: Kundalini yoga has specifically designed yoga kriyas (exercise sets) and meditations to tap into the parasympathetic nervous system for de-stressing and increasing a sense of calm. And, the Gong is one of the oldest forms of sound healing (more information provided at the Wellness Retreat!)

Join in, release tensions, have some fun, and learn about new stuff, too.

LOCATION:

College Street United Church - northwest corner of College/Bathurst). Note: this venue is fully accessible - all are welcome!

FRIDAY MARCH 29: SCHEDULE

10:00am - 10:30am: Registration & Welcome (coffee, tea)

10:30am - 12:00pm: Morning pranayama (breathing), Kundalini yoga, and meditation led by Demetria Jackson. Please bring a yoga mat if you have one, or you can sit on chairs provided.

12:00pm - 12:20pm: Talking circle - checking in on your experiences, after the yoga and meditation

12:20pm - 1:30pm: Catered lunch and chocolate truffles

1:30pm - 2:30pm: Guest speaker: Dr. Shelley Murphy, OISE

2:30pm - 3:30pm: Afternoon breathing, humming (increases your nitric oxide!), and 'deep listening' to oboe (by Derrick Tu) and Gong (by SA Bliss)

3:30pm - 4:00pm: Closing (with take-away self-chosen practice and facebook support group info)

FOLLOW UP MINI-RETREAT

At the closing of the full-day retreat, you will choose a technique for wellness, which is intended to support your wellness long-term. You will experiment with your chosen technique as a 40-day practice until we meet up again on MAY 10 for a 3-hour follow up mini-retreat, from 12pm to 3pm at the same venue.

Attendees can join a private facebook group in order to stay in touch and check in with each other regarding stress levels, stressors, success (or not) with your chosen 40-day practice, and generally to stay in touch with each other for support.

Looking forward to retreating with you all toward our individual and collective wellness!

Your hosts from YGSE: Stacey Bliss, Josefina Rueter Veiga, and Farra Yasin

Funding for this event generously provided by:

Graduate Student Wellness Initiative Fund, Faculty of Graduate Studies, York University

College Street United Church - enter the main door, and go to the right. We are in the MacKenzie room, the cozy room with sofas! 454 College Street (northwest corner of College/Bathurst). Note: the building is fully accessible.

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