Kaye-Lee Pantony

Wonderful Mindful Photography Workshop

Well we ran the Mindful photography Workshop and it was wonderful. Our goal was to enable people to use their cameras as portholes into themselves. We wanted the camera to act as a tool to be able to "see" if we could identify our internal states of mind and find an internal place of stillness. Here is what some of our students had to say:

I am very pleased with the course...I learned a lot-...look forward to taking additional classes in the future!

Very useful and enjoyable experience.

...very fun and helpful.

Thank you all for attending, we also enjoyed this process.

Mindful Photography Workshop

Discover the healing power of stillness. This course is designed to help you become aware of the difference between your inner chatter and internal stillness. Through some guided reflective exercises and photography instruction we will begin to see the differences between these two states of mind. Moving ourselves to an inner state of stillness we will use our cameras to “see” what this looks like. We will learn how to choose between these different states of mind and how this can have a positive impact on our over all well being.

Saturday April 21, 2012, 10:00-4:00

Instructors: Kaye-Lee Pantony and Robin Westphal

Cost: $79 for the full day, includes light lunch.

Early Bird Special: $69 if you sign up by Friday April 13/12

Where: Kingston Integrated Healthcare Clinic

541 Palace Rd., Kingston, ON

Contact Me kpantony@cogeco.ca to register.

 

 

Spring, Transitions and Stillness

 

As spring approaches we begin to anticipate the new kinds of activities that we can engage in like biking, hiking and gardening. Transitions are a challenge because we are not where we were, but not yet where we want to be. The wonderful anticipation of what is to come can often also lead to feelings of frustration. How do we manage these in between times? All too often we get overly busy rushing toward what is to come. The challenge is to be where we are now. However, the human brain does not want to be here now. I read a wonderful book by Doidge called The Brain That Changes Itself. In this book he described the brain as a creature with an appetite. How true that feels when we are in transition.

If Doidge is right and our brain has an appetite then we need to be very aware of what and how we feed it. This is why it is so important to learn how to be mindful, conscious of how we push ourselves to be active not listening to our bodies telling us to slow down. Mindfulness is about simply paying attention now to both our environment and how our bodies react to it.

Transitions are a time when we push ourselves to tomorrow but leave us feeling unfulfilled today. If we are mindful of these impulses then we can remind ourselves to slow down, stop and pay attention. This is a great time of year to practice mindfulness because there is so much to pay attention to as winter gives way to spring.

The one thing that I really enjoy about this time of transition is the birds. I deliberately listen for them. This is an act of mindfulness. I stop my activities to actually listen to my environment. I also like to search the trees to see if I can find the one bird that has made me stop and listen.

These small acts of being in the moment, even when we would rather be somewhere else, are hugely healing. They allow us to stay connected to our senses which help us stay connected to our feelings which help us stay connected to ourselves. What better way is there to manage times of transitions.

Sustainability and The Soup

 

Sustainability is the theme for the March Newsletter for the Kingston Integrated Healthcare Clinic. In my column for this issues I have written about another of my theories. This one is about the soup I see us in and its link to sustainability. Bon Appetite!

Sustainability is about living within our means, economically but also environmentally. In other words, it is about reducing our footprint on this planet in a number of ways such as reducing the use of fossil fuels but also in maintaining our health and the health of the communities and environments in which we live. Essentially sustainability comes down to lifestyle choices.

In my case I have chosen to be an urban dweller and have deliberately established what is called a walking lifestyle. Up until very recently I worked, shopped and spent the majority of my time within the downtown core of the city where I live. Unfortunately the grocery store where my neighbours and I shopped relocated to a suburban part of town. That means getting a weeks supply of food has become somewhat more challenging. Also, I just moved to a new office location. I was a 6 minute walk to work which meant snow or hail I could get to work. Now it is a 25 minute walk which, I must say, is much more challenging during snow and hail storms. 

Regardless of these challenges I have continued to make these choices because I want to keep my stress to a minimum which for me means in part reducing my dependence on my car. In addition, I am not a gym girl so for me exercise has to be part of my lifestyle which is why I like to walk to work. And the truth is that at this stage of my life a 25 minute walk is a better choice than a 6 minute walk.

Finally, sustainability also means healthy connections to each other. I am able to walk my son to school on my way to work. This makes me feel like we are part of each other’s day. In addition, walking through the various neighbourhoods to get to work makes me feel more connected to my city. However, I must admit I cannot wait until I can get my bike out but that too is another choice that is in keeping with sustainability.

Why is my investment in sustainability good for you and why should you invest in sustainability too? Well the truth is that we are all connected. If I make healthy choices I will likely be a better neighbour, parent, worker, and citizen. I like to think of us all as being in a great big soup. Some of us are carrots, some potatoes, some celery, some are even the stock. The reality is we are all in this soup together. If I take care of myself, my neighbours and my neighbourhood then you do not have to. If I take responsibility for me and you take responsibility for you then together we can take care of the soup. Why wouldn’t you want to invest in sustainability?

Wellness and a Rich Environment

 The crow caws even by the ocean drawing my attention away from taking pictures of the boys, my husband and son, boogie boarding in the surf. What I love about Florida is the big sounds, big waves and big sky. I am constantly reminded that I am a mere grain of sand of the beach. The ocean is the great leveler. Its immensity and power reminds me that we are but mere mortals no matter how big we imagine ourselves to be.

It is unpredictable too. Some days it simply swallows the beach leaving us little choice but to sit back in awe and wait until it grants us passage. And when the sun rises or sets over it it simply takes your breath away. The sky and the clouds and the roar of the surf tap into a primordial self that knows, even when we don’t, how to be humble and at peace.

When the gentle warm sea breeze kisses your skin you feel blessed and grateful to have been touched both inside and out. If you allow it the ocean will help you let go of what ever you imagine that you must hold tightly to. It will help you release your grip on your agenda and need for speed and those nagging thoughts that disrupt your peace.

The ocean doesn’t care what is going on inside your head. The surf roars and thunders and throws itself against the beach simply because it is following the rhythms of the universe. This rhythm lives deep inside all of us. However, we lose touch with it as we plug into our devices and lives and unplug from ourselves.

What I love about the ocean is that it simply hijacks our senses. The sights, sounds, touch and smell of it invade every orifice, every entry point into us. In so doing it brilliantly reconnects our senses back into each other creating a loop of integration. The ocean reaches deep into our very nature. It integrates us within ourselves, our bodies and our world.

However, to the ocean we are nothing more than the beach that it throws itself against. But if we allow it, if we stand still long enough, the ocean will wash over us too. It will soften our edges in the same way that it smoothes the surfaces of the immense rocks that lay in its path. And if we don’t pay attention the ocean can knock us down, drag us under and fill our lungs with salt water. Even this can bring us back to our senses, to ourselves.

This is why I love the ocean. This is why I like to end the year and begin the next one at this juncture where the sky meets the water and the ocean forces my senses to reintroduce themselves to each other.

Even if the ocean is miles away we can use the lesson learned from it to provide an environment for our senses that is rich and full rather then impoverished. We can fill our sight lines with colour and beauty, we can fill our auditory sense with pleasing sounds, we can enrich our tactile sense with softness and comfort, we can fill our environments with sweet, rich, smells and we can stop to taste what we put in our mouths. Our wellness is dependent on it.

I Am Back And Looking To New Horizons!

portrait by Tracy Olan www.Beautifuldayto.com

Where have I been? Well I have been a busy gal. In September 2011 I moved my office from downtown to mid-town. But that isn't all. I actually went from working on my own to becoming part of a clinic. This is exciting for me because I have worked alone for most of my career and it just seemed that the time was right for me to join a group of other practitioners.

I have moved into the Kingston Integrated Health Care Clinic www.kihc.ca This is a group of practitioners who specialize in integrated medicine including naturopathy, massage therapy, osteopathy and Reiki. It has been a great experience working with this group of practitioners. They have all been so welcoming and it has been a joy to be amongst people who share my views on wellness.

I am also writing a monthly column for the clinic newsletter entitled Simply Sublime Musings. That has been exciting too. To view the articles you can register with the clinic www.kihc.ca

Last but not least I also have a new website. I needed to be able to lay out all my stuff in one place so now I finally have somewhere to do that so check it out www.kayeleepantony.ca

 

 

Special $59 Launch Offer!

 

We have a Special $59 Launch Offer for our Sublime Workshops! 

For anyone who signs up by November 1, 2011 we are offering each workshop for $59!  (Cost may be covered by some Extended Health Plans)

 

Sublime the In-Class Workshop Series Fall session begins November 12, 2011  

 

 

Join us on a creative journey, using art, guided discussion, and a dash of inspiration.  No experience required! 

Learn how to live more fully! This workshop series is designed to teach you about a part of yourself that, when integrated, will make you feel complete. Through art exercises and guided discussion we will explore the things that affected and influenced your pre-adolescent self. Discovering and understanding this part of your self not only benefits you but has a ripple effect: it can benefit the family and community who depend on you to guide them.

 

OUR GOAL

    What we are going to do in these workshops is learn how to move toward becoming complete and whole. We will work toward integrating, through understanding, a part of ourselves that is often misunderstood and detached. We will use art exercises and guided discussion to explore the things that affected and influenced her. You will leave these workshops with a deeper sense of yourself and the tools to continue to grow, as well as, the artwork and the experience of sharing with a community of women on a similar journey.

 

QUESTIONS

 

Q:    Who should take these workshops?

 

A:    Any woman who wants to learn more about herself.

 

Q:    Should you still take them if you didn't like this stage of your life or if you have had trauma during your adolescents?

 

A:    Yes. I believe that by exploring this stage of your development you will be able to review any of the events that affected you negatively and reassess your original take on them. For example, perhaps what you once defined as weakness was actually bravery. I also think that in doing this course you can heal from earlier difficulties.

 

Q: What if I am not very artistic?

 

A: You don’t have to be an artist to take these workshops. We will use simple art techniques to help us express ourselves.

 

Sublime #1:Here and Now Saturday November 12/11     10:00-4:00

Sublime #2: Outside Influences Saturday December 3/11   10:00-4:00

Sublime #3: Integrating Your Inner Girl Saturday January TBA/12   10:00-4:00

(Sublime #1 is a prerequisite for Sublime #2 and #2 is a prerequisite for Sublime #3) 

 

 

 

SUBLIME: THE WORKSHOP SERIES

      
          

    Registration begins for the FALL ! 

Sublime the In-Class Workshop Series Fall session begins November 2011  

Join us on a creative journey, using art, guided discussion, and a dash of inspiration.  No experience required!

 

Learn how to live more fully! This workshop series is designed to teach you about a part of your self that, when integrated, will make you feel complete. Through art exercises and guided discussion we will explore the things that affected and influenced your pre-adolescent self. Discovering and understanding this part of yourself not only benefits you but has a ripple effect: it can benefit the family and community who depend on you to guide them.

 

OUR GOAL

    What we are going to do in these workshops is learn how to move toward becoming complete and whole. We will work toward integrating, through understanding, a part of ourselves that is often misunderstood and detached.We will use art exercises and guided discussion to explore the things that affected and influenced her. You will leave these workshops with a deeper sense of yourself and the tools to continue to grow. As well as, the artwork and the experience of sharing with a community of women on a similar journey.

 

 

QUESTIONS

 Q:    Who should take these workshops?

 

A:    Any woman who wants to learn more about herself.

 

Q:    Should you still take them if you didn't like this stage of your life or if you have had trauma during your adolescents?

 

A:    Yes. I believe that by exploring this stage of your development you will be able to review any of the events that affected you negatively and reassess your original take on them. For example, perhaps what you once defined as weakness was actually bravery. I also think that in doing this course you can heal from earlier difficulties.

 Q: What if I am not very artisit?

 

 A: You don't need to be an artist to take these workshops. We will use simple art techniques to help us express ourselves

 

INTRODUCTION

 

POTENCY

    I believe that the inner adoescent girl is a potent part of every woman. Sadly, as we age we learn to silence her. Western culture allows girls freedom up to a point and then we are taught to conform. We are sucked into a vortex and spit out in an ill fitting barbie suit. We look around and see that everyone is doing as she is told. She is either being a "good" girl or rebelling and being a "bad" girl. One way of another we are in reaction to the annihilation of a very potent self, the early adolescent girl.

 

    She is the part of us that knows how to have fun. She knows how to be free. She knows how to fight back. She knows how to sing, laugh and dance with abandon. She holds our potential, our hopes and dreams. She doesn't care what you think. She is brimming with her own ideas. She speaks in code to her friends who all understand her even if the rest of us don't. Her energy and vitality unnerve those who do not live as she does. She lives in us all and we need to reclaim and integrate her in order to feel complete and whole. We need to allow her to take her rightful place in our lives. We can call her forth and she will come. We have to drop our agenda and listen to her talk, listen to her energy, vitality and beauty. We must trust her. I believe that she knows what we need even when we don't.

 

VORTEX

    It seems to me that prior to a girl hitting puberty she is the most free. I read once that a pre-adolescence girl could walk down the street behind her mother doing the King Tut and no-one would pay much attention to her. However, once she hits puberty everything changes. I think of this transition in a girl's life as a vortex. It is a swirling, whirling, force like a whirlpool that she gets pulled into where she is expected to look, sound and behave according to a cultural script.

 

    Lots of girls are unhappy about their body changing. Lots of girls fight this transition. On some level they know they are losing something important and are being pulled into something bigger and more powerful then themselves. Once they are pulled into the vortex they change, they lose their freedom to be fully themselves. 

 

BARBIE SUIT

    On the other side of the vortex I think of the girl as being spit out in a barbie suit. What I mean is that she is forced to see how she measures up to a suit that none of us fit into. In other words, is she thin enough, tall enough, blonde enough, pretty enough, pleasing enough...? The barbie suit is a measure of the outside of a girl. It isn't about her inner beauty, strength and character. It is about how she fits into the cultural expectations, i.e., is she sexual enough but not too sexual? Is she the bride or the perpetual bride's maid? Remember that prior to puberty she could walk down the street being goofy and no-one much cared, least of all her. And that is the point, she didn't have to care much about who was watching or judging. She was free to be whatever she felt like being.

 

    I think that when an adolescent girl first comes out on the other side of the vortex she still has part of herself. She has not been transformed completely by the barbie suit because she still remembers her former freedom. She still knows what she thinks and is ready to share that with everyone. However, people judge her now. They express impatience and irritability when she describes what she sees because a girl with a well-fitted barbie suit would never do that. It is my sense the the thing that upsets us the most about adolescents is that they have not learned to edit themselves. They are notoriously honest when it comes to their opinions of the people around them. And they especially like to  point out when those people are being hypocrites. 

 

    This is what I call the pissy part of the adolescent girl. I think that this pissy part is an important part of her. I think that this is her way of expressing a loss that she intuitively feels. This loss is felt like a death. However, it is a death without a body. So there is no way to openly mourn. No-one understands what she is crying about. They just chalk it up to hormones. She doesn't know why she is crying either and hasn't got the ability to articulate what she is experiencing. This is the case because what she is experiencing has no name. It isn't called a right of passage. It isn't celebrated as a girls entrance into womanhood. It isn't recognized as a loss. It goes unmarked. When we do not name things we have no power to understand them, never mind change them. 

 

    This passage into and out the other side of the vortex is about a girl leaving herself behind. She is expected to put away her own ideas. She must stop laughing and singing loudly, and stop dancing with abandon. Now everyone is watching and judging her. She is expected to edit herself at every level in order to please those around her. No longer is she permitted to walk down the street, doing the King Tut, without a care in the world.

 This workshop series is designed to address and name this lose with the intent to reclaim what was left behind: the vitality and beauty of the pre-adolescent girl. Through understanding and integrating this part of ourselves we can feel complete and whole.

 

KINGSTON SCHEDULE

Sublime #1:Here and Now

Saturday November 12/11

10:00-4:00

 

Sublime #2: Outside Influences

Saturday December 3/11

10:00-4:00

 

Sublime #3: Integrating Your Inner Girl

Saturday January TBA/12

10:00-4:00

 

COST: $110.00 per workshop (may be covered through some Extended Health Plans)

 

(Sublime #1 is a prerequisite for Sublime #2 and #2 is a prerequisite for Sublime #3)

  

For more information email me at kpantony@cogeco.ca

 

 

Buried Treasure

 
 
What is more fun then digging for buried treasure? Our summer retreat in the woods holds many secrets. One of the best ones is an old abandoned mica mine. It is quite an adventure to get on our bikes, trowels and bags in hand, and head to this wonderful spot just off the trail. The hall this day was enormous and the holes dug were deep. Kind of a metaphor for life. If you are patient, dig deep and persevere you will discover all sorts of buried treasure. Wink wink nod nod.

Hammock Time

 
 
Just got myself a hammock. Found a couple of good sized trees and spent an afternoon swinging. The summer has been hot and too much movement, aside from swimming, causes fatigue. So just thought I would allow nature to tell me what to do, slow down, hang out and relax. I love our summer retreat in the woods. So much peace and wisdom out there. Been listening to Kabat-Zinn remind me to be here now. So I am practising stillness. I recall how easy that was as a child. I could lay on the grass on a hot summer day and watch the clouds without ever feeling like I needed to get to the next thing. So I am trying to take myself back to a state that I once knew instinctively. I'll let you know how it goes...