The Gravity TO Nature Hike has been moved to Saturday, May 26, 2018 due to rainy weather conditions forecast for tomorrow.
Gravity TO Nature Hike
NOTICE: Due to rain and thunderstorm weather conditions, this event has been moved to Saturday May 26.
Event: Gravity TO Nature Hike
Date: Sat. May 26, 2018
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
You're Invite: No need to confirm your attendance just come, family and friends are welcome, children most welcome, unfortunately no pets (pets not allowed in the park)
What to bring with you: weather is often cooler and windy by the lake, dress for the weather, bring hat, sunscreen, water and wear comfortable walking shoes or boots, bring binoculars if you have them
Description: Hike will detail how the spit was formed and we will explore its flora and fauna, we will experience the latter part of the spring migration of birds
Location: Meet at covered sign at entrance to park, near fenced parking lot just inside the park Tommy Thompson Park (also known as Leslie Street Spit)
located at 1 Leslie Street, Toronto, ON, (corner of Unwin Ave. and Leslie Street) www.tommythompsonpark.ca
How to get there: Park is located at the base of Leslie Street, south of Leslieville, along Lake Ontario, located east of Cherry Beach, parking is available at the park
TTC: go to Donlands Subway Station and take Jones 83 Bus (ride takes 20 to 25 minutes) to its last stop on route, at the corner of Leslie and Commissioners Street and walk south 5 minutes to park entrance
thanks
Paul
PS any questions please let me know Tel: 416-703-7316 or Cell: 647-382-4952
SPRING AWAKENING
APRIL 6-8 With Grant Hutchinson & Rose Riccio
The practice of Spring is awakening. As the snow melts and small sprouts emerge from the earth, we can sit with our own potential to awaken, unfold and blossom into the present moment. Take the time during this weekend retreat to slow down in a supportive environment with sitting and walking meditation, on the cushion and in the woods. The charming, off grid centre, Harmony Dawn, is located near Rice Lake, Ontario. You will be nourished by Nicola's fantastic yin-yang balanced vegetarian cooking, while rooting in silent community, with yourself, the birds, the changing light and the fertile earth.
Early Bird rate $360+HST before Feb 15th
Regular rate $385+HST after Feb 15th
For more information and to register please contact Grant Hutchinson at grantgrant.hutchinson@gmail.com
Creativity, Intuition, Spontaneity: A Master Class with Shinzen Young
Join Shinzen Young and the Consciousness Explorers Club(CEC) at the Institute for Traditional Medicine for a full day of practice, fun, and insight with one of the most well-respected Buddhist teachers in North America, and the CEC's prime mentor and much-loved uber-nerd.
Creativity, intuition, spontaneity and wisdom are resources available to any explorer willing to let go of their dominant frame of mind. Fair warning: cultivating these qualities through meditation will lead to more "zen bounce" in your life. To get there, Shinzen will teach participants how to activate the ability to "think without thinking." Cue the zen paradox - meditate your way into the unmeditated. Sit back, trust your inner knowing, and empower your thoughts to think themselves. Watch as thoughts self-organize into unmeditated forms bringing novel and sage perspectives to the fore, leaving the rest behind.
Structured as a one-day retreat, the day will be focused around practice and Q and A.
Guided practices will help beginners and seasoned meditators alike get the most out of the day.
Shinzen's gift for insight through unexpected analogies, illustrations, and humour has long made him one of the most respected Buddhist teachers in the West. His teachings merge scientific clarity with a rare grasp of source-language teachings, East and West. Don't miss this opportunity to sit and dialogue with a true master.
This is a fundraiser for both the Consciousness Explorers Club(CEC) and the Community for Mindful Living.
The CEC is a non-profit committed to pluralism, service and irreverance in the world of meditation. We're working hard to expand our programming and online presence to spread the emotional and health benefits of practice to explorers everywhere. We have priced tickets at various tiers so more people can come and get the benefits of these teachings. The CEC also needs help right now so we can expand our nonprofit mission to help more people and be supported doing it. Please give generously. We have included an upper tier for those who want to make a larger donation.
Tickets may be purchased here.
Mindfulness Challenge 2017 is almost here!
We want to remind you about this amazing event, presented by The Centre for Mindfulness Studies.
Mindfulness Challenge 2017 is almost here!
Incredibly diverse 4-hour mindfulness program designed to awaken the senses and cultivate kindness
Fundraiser “meditate-athon” to bring mindfulness for mental health to marginalized people
Watch the 3-minute video!
When: Sunday, October 15
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Where: Toronto | Oakville | London | Virtual
What people say:
“An incredible and uplifting experience”
“A deeply rewarding act of compassion”
“I hope you will help with this most worthy cause”
Movement Therapy
By Mina Arakawa
I'm currently studying in a 2-year program in movement therapy and offering sessions to Gravity sangha members at a sliding scale.
Movement therapy awakens the body and helps you see the connection between the physical and emotional holding patterns, and unravel those patterns. It provides a way into the body, another way to study the self, and is a good complement to the meditation practice and studies we do at Gravity. I'm drawn to the practice because it honours our agency to heal and take care of ourselves. You may want to give it a try if the following are your concerns:
- reducing and managing pain, stiffness and tension
- building strength and flexibility
- improving posture
- increasing ease and freedom of movement
- recovery from injury, injury prevention
- reducing stress
- managing auto-immune and neurological conditions
The beauty of this practice is that it is available to people of all levels of mobility and experience. All you need is an open curiosity to learn about the body, and a desire for increased wellness and ease.
Price for 1-hr session: $35-60 (sliding scale)
Location: 283 Spadina Ave. 34d Fl. (home visit may be available depending on location)
For further information contact: mina@willowmovement.org
SITTING WITH SPRING
The practice of Spring is awakening. We can sit with Spring, allowing the seeds of awareness to germinate and expand our capacity to wake up to our lives, to each other and to the natural world. Take the time during this weekend retreat to slow down in a supportive environment with sitting and walking meditation, on the cushion and in the woods. The charming, off grid centre, Harmony Dawn, is located near Rice Lake, Ontario. You will be nourished by Nicola's fantastic yinyang balanced vegetarian cooking, while rooting in silent community, with yourself, the birds, the changing light and the fertile earth.
Early Bird rate $350+HST before Feb 15th
Regular rate $375+HST after Feb 15th
For more information and to register please contact Grant Hutchinson at grantgrant.hutchinson@gmail.com
Mindfulness Challenge - The Centre for Mindfulness Studies
The Centre for Mindfulness Studies is holding a Mindfulness Challenge. This is a 4-hour series of mindfulness activities, including gentle yoga and mindful eating, designed for everyone from beginners to zen masters, and guided by some great teachers, including Scott from Octopus Garden and Jeff from Consciousness Explorers Club, as well as The Centre's own Pat Rockman.
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”
Mindfulness Challenge 2016 isn't your average fundraising event. It's a feast of fitness-for-the-mind activities—from meditation to yoga to mindful lunch and back again, all designed get your compassion juices flowing.
Guided by some of Toronto's best mindfulness and yoga teachers, it's a great way for beginners to dive in, and for experienced meditators to ride the wave of so many people practising together. Come and unplug, breathe and connect with yourself and others, and discover a more compassionate world.
When: Sunday, October 30
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Where: Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas St E, Toronto
(satellite event - Sugar Ridge in Midland)
Cost: $50 to register
$40 for team captains
Minimum Fundraising Goal: $200
All funds raised will help bring mindfulness for mental health programs to marginalized people who live with depression, anxiety and other mental health challenges. Our goal is to raise $75,000, enough to help 1,000 people.
For more information and to register, visit their website:
Retreat with Peter Levitt
Peter Levitt, founder and guiding teacher of the Salt Spring Zen Circle, will be our teacher for this retreat. Known for the warmth, humour, clarity and depth of his teachings, Peter is also the author of 14 books of poetry and prose. In 1989, Peter received the prestigious Lannan Foundation Award in Poetry. He collaborated as Associate Editor, with editor Kazuaki Tanahashi, on the translation of Dogen's lifework, Treasury of the True Dharma Eye: Zen Master Dogen's Shobo Genzo, and he and Tanahashi coedited, The Essential Dogen: Writings of the Great Zen Master.
The retreat includes periods of seated meditation, walking meditation, dharma talks and discussion. Together, we will explore some of the exciting and challenging themes found in the work of Eihei Dogen, a 13th century Zen Master, and discover how these may be applied to our lives.
October 28 - October 30
Click for more information and to register for this retreat.
Embodied Astrology
Robert Kingsbury is offering a two hour session each Tuesday in Kensington Market
(though sometimes the time changes - best to contact him on fb)
Spiritwind Centre - 64 Oxford St
https://www.facebook.com/events/575605135921786/
it's pwyc
Robert is also fulfilling practicum hours for a course in Biodynamic Craniosacral and looking for people to practice with, contact himfor info. The sessions are really great, Robert knows so much!
Robert Kingsbury