When: Saturday, March 28, 2015: 9am – 12pm
Where: McDermott Hall, 175 Garnett Road, Westmere
Fee: Dana/Donation for the teachers and $10 fee – this includes coffee/tea and light finger food
Contact: Corinna at cfriebel@actrix.co.nz for more information or to register
Registration is required for catering purposes. RSVP as soon as you can so there is time to prepare.
Jamie and Nicolina, returning to Canada from two months teaching in Queenstown, will hold a morning get together. Jamie will talk about his recent explorations in the World of Coffee from a Dharma perspective and Nicolina will get us energized and focused with Qi Gong and meditation. There will be lots of fine coffee to taste (some tea) and the usual Sphere Snacks.
Qi Gong and Meditation Saturday March 28 @ 9 am
In this morning session, we will explore Qi Gong as a practice for settling our energies prior to meditation and cultivating mindfulness. Medical Qi Gong focuses on cultivating Qi (energy), balancing the organ meridians and offering health benefits. We will explore both movement and sitting/standing practices.
Please wear comfortable, unrestrictive, clothing for this breathing practice and bring a yoga mat or blanket. Chairs are available for sitting or bring your own cushion if you prefer.
Coffee: An Extracted Meditation Saturday March 28th @ 10 am
An informal introduction to coffee, extractions and tasting exercises to clarify what is ‘tasted’. There will be hands-on time in the simplicity of latte art and the buzz of coffee extraction enthusiasm.
Nicolina’s Biography:
In 2004, Nicolina Sebok began studying Buddha Dharma and meditation with Lama Mark Webber. She has completed both short and long term directed and self guided retreats, including a four month Abhidhamma and Insight retreat, and a three month Vajra Yogini retreat.
Nicolina has offered Qi Gong classes as part of Lama Mark’s retreats. Her main Qi Gong training began in 2008, in Dr. Steven Aung’s style (www.aung.com), Aung Medical Qi Gong. As well as studying with Dr. Aung, Nicolina apprenticed with one of Dr Aung’s long time student, Linda Totino, as part her teacher training in Victoria, BC. Nicolina has taught Qi Gong in Vancouver, Galiano Island, Victoria, Ontario, New Zealand and Guatemala.
In 2013, she spent three months as the Visiting Resident Teacher teaching Dharma and Qi Gong at the Queenstown Dharma Centre in New Zealand. In addition to her personal practice of exploring Qi, Nicolina practices Tui Na Massage (a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine). Nicolina shares her experience of incorporating Dharma, contemplation and meditation into daily life.
Jamie’s Biography:
Jamie van Dam has been studying Buddha Dharma with Lama Mark Webber since 2001 and had the good fortune to also study with the Lama’s root teacher, the late Venerable Namgyal Rinpoche. During that time Jamie received the novice ordination from Rinpoche, which Jamie practiced and held for a number of years.
Jamie was Lama Mark’s principal attendant for five years, during which he organized and handled Lama Mark’s personal meals, travel and accommodation as well as helped organize international retreats and teachings. Since that time, Jamie has continued periodically as an attendant to Lama Mark, assisting in his scientific research and teaching Awareness Through Movement (ATM) classes during Dharma retreats.
Jamie has completed numerous short and long term retreats both self-directed and under the guidance of Lama Mark including a five month personal retreat, a five month Ngöndro and Insight retreat, a four month Abhidhamma and Insight retreat, and a three month Vajra Yogini retreat.
Jamie is a co-teacher and foster barista with the Canadian Barista Institute where they teach courses on how to open a cafe, how to taste coffee as well as training barista’s for specialty coffee employment. As a foster barista Jamie has trained, managed and helped open cafes in British Columbia. He also works behind the scenes for Barista Canada, which is an organization that promotes Canadian Specialty Coffee Competitions as well as community events. In 2013, Jamie competed in the 2013 Western Regional Barista Championship; where he placed 6th and had a lot of fun doing it.
Jamie is a graduate of the 2007 Victoria Feldenkrais Teacher Training where he studied with many well respected Feldenkrais trainers: Jeff Haller, Jerry Karzen, Beatriz Walterspiel, Alan Questel, Katrin Smithback and Bonnie Humiston. Under their guidance he completed the 800 hour training program which focused primarily on discovering awareness; the principles and strategies of learning; the self image and its development and functional, developmental and structural types of movements.
Jamie’s teaching style emphasizes a patient attentiveness with humour and understanding helping uncover natural wholesome ways of living with and for all life.