About classes

Awakening the Adult Within Groups

Mon, 3 Feb 2014 00:00:00 -0500

Awakening the Adult Within is about seeing who you are more clearly, about being able to identify your “unhealthy” habits and core family issues, and about applying mindful awareness skills in letting patterns go. In reality no one “wakes up” on their own; we need each other. Through the benefits of group practice and energy, you will learn to develop focussed awareness (mindfulness), penetrating awareness (insight), non reactive awareness (equanimity) and awareness that transforms (compassion).

This group is not a psychotherapy group in the traditional sense, but rather it a “contemplative” group that supports you in developing the skills of self-reflection, contemplation, deep listening both towards yourself and others, as well cultivating qualities of “natural” awareness, moral courage, patience, effort, fearlessness, and lovingkindness.

Each of us lives with long-standing patterns and unhealthy habits that prevent us from a happier life and prevent us from giving our best back to the world. This reality means everyone suffers. Outwardly, we are living in times of great challenge, yet learning to let go of these old patterns is the true “inner” work that leads to freedom.

Through mindfulness practices and other contemplative exercises, as well as dyads and group exercises, we trust ourselves to touch beneath the surface and connect to the roots of our suffering. With support, we nurture our capacity to be “present” in the moment and to let go of our expectations, regrets, judgments, suffering, and self-criticism.

This is an exciting and innovative group meditation class newly developed by Andrew that draws from both his own “waking up,” as well as years of study and work in psychotherapy, healing, and Buddhism. He credits many teachers and teachings which have shown him a path to awakening.

Each group will include meditation practice, guided contemplations, group and dyad sharing, homework assignments, and each class will explore elements in a model tha works in transforming old patterns, by one-learning to accept them, two-taking responsibility for them and third-learning to change the behaviours with new or healthier ones.

Each series will run in 8-week blocks, but my hope is that this will be an ongoing group, where you can renew your commitment every 8-weeks and continue the work. New members will attend an intro day-longintro course before entering the ongoing group. A minimum of 8 participants is needed to run a series with a maximum of 14. A background in psychotherapy is a prerequisite for this group or a history with a strong mindfulness or meditation background. Speak to Andrew directly.

A water-lotus blooming on a pond: an image for this work

The water’s surface represents the line of mindfulness and awareness, the roots beneath leading into the mud below are our ancestral stories, the mud at the bottom is life itself and the whole history of this Earth, the stems and leaves are our patterns which are connected to our parents, grandparents, etc, the lotus is our awakened adult awareness and expresses the actualizing our full potential, the other flowers are the people in our lives and this group, the seed pod within the lotus represents whether we renew old potential patterns or sew new ones, above us is the sun, moon and a boundless sky which is the limitless potential of the universe around us, and lastly the reflection in the water represents how you see the world and what you project into the world. Our inner work is to reflect who you really are, rather than our unhealthy patterns, incorrect belief systems, or illusions.

What I can expect to learn from these sessions:
* learn invaluable skills in choosing awareness over old habits, mindfulness over familiar patterns, and the benefits of positive nurturing states over believing your negative ones
* discover ways to transform old habits in the moment into purposeful and loving actions
* become more responsible and less reactive
* integrate core elements of meditation, Buddhist psychology and Buddhist teachings
* study a new model of personal change
* become more loving towards myself and others.

How do I know if this group is working for me?
* you will observe noticeable changes in your life from the work
* you have strategies to use in your everyday life
* your inner state has changed in a positive way. You may not be fully awake, but you are becoming more aware of yourself and more able to address your life and make changes with caring.
* the group is not right for everyone, it is important to speak to Andrew first to see if the group is suitable for you

Andrew trained in depth psychotherapy with Dr. Jim McNamara and studied transpersonal psychology at Norwich University. He has extensive Buddhist training, study and practice within Tibetan and Zen Buddhist traditions (1980-present). His root teacher, Ven. Dhyani Ywahoo, whom he met at age 22, introduced him to Cherokee and Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, and trained him in the healing arts and as a meditation teacher.

Andrew has taught widely in the fields of Hospice-Palliative Care, Buddhism and Meditation, Qigong, and his teaching bridges the Expressive Arts, Nature, and other Healing Systems within the framework of what he calls, Awakening the Adult Within . He has been a Counselling Psychotherapist since 1995 and meditation teacher since 1985. He integrates and bases his work on the works of many other brilliant teachers and mentors, including Frank Ostaseski, Gigi Coyle, Fleet Maul, Bernie Glassman, Bert Helliger, and Greg Kramer to name only a few. In 2010, he was ordained a Lay Buddhist Chaplain by Roshi Joan Halifax, who is a long time mentor and dear friend.

PLEASE SPEAK TO ANDREW DIRECTLY FOR MORE INFORMATION, TO SEE IF THIS GROUP IS APPROPRIATE FOR YOU AND TO REGISTER.
REGISTER: andrew@andrewblake.ca
OR CALL: 416-726-4219

Mindfulness Meditation, Mindful Life

Mon, 20 Jan 2014 16:51:40 -0500

Meditation has its roots in the Eastern Buddhism, yet today Western science is more interested in this state or quality of being we call, mindfulness. What is the purpose of being mindful and how do we practice mindfulness? Ironically, mindfulness is not a “full mind,” but rather when our minds bends towards ease, openness and freedom. While most of us have minds full of our “to do” lists, self-criticism, and endless planning, mindfulness is a state that trains us to “let go” and to focus on just this moment...it is easier said than done.

This practice is about learning to become aware of the moment. As this awareness grows you learn how your mind works. Mindfulness allows a space to know your self more intimately and eventually more accurately. It also helps you to let go, especially of our negative states. In the Zen tradition, this is called “beginner’s mind,” which is touching a mind which fresh, awake and free of judgment. Unlike our conditioned states that feed our negativity, meditation helps you to release stress and find new ways to let go of life’s challenges more willingly.

Your practice:
-- begins with learning about your sitting posture through awareness of the body;
--and develops through focus attention on your breath, counting of your breath and other objects of focus
--you will have guided instructions to assist you to build your par
--gradually you learn to be present to emotions, thoughts, and other impulses, without attachment to them
--you learn the skill of equanimity or a balanced mind.

In these session:
--you will learn about the neuroscience of meditation and how this powerful practice affects your brain and your well being
--you will gain insights from the teachings and instructions about meditation from Buddhism
--and you will find strategies to bring these practices into your everyday life.

“Great spiritual traditions are used as a means to ripen us, to bring us face to face with our life, and to help us see in a new way by developing a stillness and a strength of heart” Jack Kornfield

 Andrew began studying meditation at age 16, and today has over 30 years teaching experience. Andrew believes that teaching mindfulness and the skills of meditation are crucial in meeting our stress and transforming our lives.

For more information and to register: andrew@andrewblake.ca
ONLINE REGISTRATION AVAILABLE SHORTLY
CALL: 416-726-4219

Unconditional Love Qigong

Mon, 20 Jan 2014 00:00:00 -0500

“Qi” is the source of Universal energy which connects us and our world’s together. “Gong” means to gather and exchange this energy. Through simple moving meditations, you learn to calm your mind, energize your body, and open your heart. This practice, called Sheng Zhen Qigong, was developed by Master Li Jen Fung. (To view Master Li on Utube, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cCD0l7COqk ) “Sheng Zhen” means unconditional love and thus our practice is learning to open to the energy of love and to offer love back into our world. We live in challenging times, so naturally we look for practices which strengthen us and bring us into a state of peace. This is one such practice.

Each session includes guided meditation instruction as well as standing and sitting qigong practices. Everyone can practice qigong and the movements are simple and easy to learn. Mostly you learn in qigong to relax your busy mind and to smile more, then the qi moves freely and easily in your life. For over 15 years, Andrew has been teaching this style of practice and into each class he integrates Buddhist and Cherokee teachings and practices.

Try an introductory class today or sign up for the full 10-week series.

Learn more about Sheng Zhen and the work of Master Li at: www.shengzhen.org

Learn more about qigong: View this 10 minute video by Master Li : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V5MyeUuK78&list=PL9159FB081BE77D45&index=7

Other Locations and Qigong Classes:

TUESDAYS 10-11:15AM (Beaches-Woodbine/Gerrard) at RED CANOE STUDIOS
www.redcanoestudio.com 57 Devon Rd (east of Woodbine, south of Gerrard) Enter
rear of building to coach house.

WEDNESDAYS 11AM-12:15 (St. George/Bloor) XIAOLAN HEALTH CENTRE
88 Prince Arthur Ave (Enter from West side of building to lower level)

Andrew has been teaching Qigong every Wednesday for the past 15 years. He must like it and so must the group that has continued to be committed to practice for all those years. As one participant said, “Wednesday’s is the one day that I connect to my spiritual source and I take that into my week. I just want to stay in that place.”

For more information and to register: andrew@andrewblake.ca
ONLINE REGISTRATION AVAILABLE SHORTLY
CALL: 416-726-4219