Classes & Events 2016
It's hard enough to be human, here, in all our flaws, failings, and limitations, right? And, if we're honest with ourselves, there's a way in which we're always doing our best in any given moment, right?
So, why do we make things so much harder by beating ourselves up? If you want to unwind yourself from a long habit of self-criticism, and relax into the only real medicine that can soothe you at your core, then I invite you to join me in this one-day workshop.
At the end of the workshop I'll give everyone time to sense into what feels like the right amount of money for you to give me, based on the value you experienced during the day. Reserve your spot now - just click here and send me an email... If the link doesn't work for some reason, here's my email address: Margit@MargitBantowsky.com Want to help me spread the word? Here's a full-page flyer and also half-sheet leaflets for you to share with your friends, co-workers, family, clients, acquaintances, folks at your favorite watering hole, etc. Thanks!!
New!
Meditation for Sensitive People an 8-week study group class is full Starting on Monday, Sept 12, 2016, this 8-week class will be based on psychotherapist and spiritual teacher, Judith Blackstone's, illuminating and beautifully written book, Belonging Here: a guide for the spiritually sensitive person.
Judith's approach to presence, which she calls fundamental consciousness, is gentle and deeply embodied, with specific care towards the unique challenges of people who are more "sensitive" and have experienced challenging childhoods. Spiritually sensitive people often feel overwhelmed by the world, keenly sensing other people's emotions and seeing subtle patterns that others are unaware of. Our survival mechanisms can make it hard to be fully 'here' and relate comfortably and intimately with others. [a more elaborated list of characteristics is below] Judith has many excellent, specific meditations to help us contact subtle dimensions of self and become more comfortable inhabiting our bodies, relating to others, and being in the world. She offers a beautiful process of guiding us home, and discovering how our personal presence, or consciousness, connects with all of life. Here are the details: · Monday Evenings, 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Class will follow the eight chapters in Judith's book, plus a final meeting for closure. It will include a combination of discussion and following Judith's experiential guided meditations. First day is Mon, Sept 12, and final day is Mon, Nov 7. · Individual Meditation Practice: I will make audio recordings available and encourage you to practice this work on your own between classes in a self-paced way. · Cost: I am asking for an investment of $180 ($20 per class), which includes audio recordings for each week. · Book: You will need to provide your own copy of Belonging Here. · Maximum: Class is limited to 6 people. (it'll be held at my house) · It's okay to miss a class: the recordings will be there for you, and we can pair you with a 'buddy' to stay connected. Here's a link to Judith's book: http://www.judithblackstoneblog.com/2012/judiths-new-book-belonging-here-a-guide-for-the-spiritually-sensitive-person/ I think this will be a really juicy journey, and would love to share it with you. Let me know if you're interested or have any questions! "Writing with compassion and using engaging case studies, Judith Blackstone presents a powerful system of practices to help us move toward embodiment while at the same time remaining connected to all of life. I recommend this book to all who are spiritually sensitive and who feel discomfort in living in this world. Brilliant work!" ~~ Sandra Ingerman, author of Soul Retrieval: Mending the Fragmented Self ~~~~~~~~~~ Five common characteristics of spiritually sensitive people that Judith's work addresses: · Thin skin: subtle attunement to our environment; exceptional sensory sensitivity (can be easily over-stimulated); permeable; · Landing on Earth: can be difficult to 'land' here fully embodied; may tend to live in or above our heads; have diffuse, porous energy, upward and/or outward; may have strong will; paradox of maturity and immaturity; · Cries of the World: high sensitivity to other's emotions; deep awareness of and compassion for suffering around them; pierced by life; · Shape Shifting: rich capacity for imagination; strong inner vision; dreamy; escape into fantasy; may use fantasy to avoid reality; feel trapped by one's false persona and long for authenticity; · The Stranger: feeling like an outcast or exiled; talent for seeing big picture, or patterns that others don't see; often don't quite fit in w/ family; long for something true, real, meaningful. 
The Art of Self-Kindness A One-Day Workshop Saturday, May 21, 2016 10:00 am - 4:00 pm It's hard enough to be human, here, in all our flaws, failings, and limitations, right? And, if we're honest with ourselves, there's a way in which we're always doing our best in any given moment, right?
So, why do we make things so much harder by beating ourselves up? If you want to unwind yourself from a long habit of self-criticism, and relax into the only real medicine that can soothe you at your core, then I invite you to join me in this one-day workshop.
Reserve your spot now - just click here and send me an email... If the link doesn't work for some reason, here's my email address: Margit@MargitBantowsky.com Want to help me spread the word? Here's a full-page flyer and also half-sheet leaflets for you to share with your friends, co-workers, family, clients, acquaintances, folks at your favorite watering hole, etc. Thanks!!
Previous Events, 2016
Two New Presence Process groups starting in April!
The first round of 10-week Presence Process meditation groups were a great success! I'm offering another two groups in late April: a Tuesday evening and a Wednesday evening group. Note: WEDNESDAY CLASS IS NOW FULL Scroll down to see Testimonials from participants in the first group that started in January. Newcomers and repeat practitioners are both welcome! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Presence Process may be a good fit for you if:
You want a deeper connection with your inner life and wisdom You'd like to be more at ease and peace with yourself You have persistent situations in your life that aren't shifting You've been wanting to meditate but "just haven't gotten around to it yet" You like having the structure and support of a course and a group I invite you to consider giving yourself the gift of exploring the transformative journey called The Presence Process, created by Michael Brown. The 10 weeks are broken into distinct modules that build on one another, leading to a profound re-orientation towards our experience that is remarkably effective. Some of the benefits I have gained from doing the Presence Process two times now: Increased capacity to relax and settle into myself The softening of some old, core 'knots' in my psyche A more 'saturated' sense of being, aliveness, and presence More resilience, ability, and willingness to engage "challenges" Increased self-responsibility, resulting in less blame & drama, and more grace & ease The course includes the following elements... all you need to bring is your own copy of the book!
There will be two groups: one meeting on alternating Tuesday evenings, and one on alternating Wednesday evenings, from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Both will be held in Westside Olympia. Tuesday group dates: April 26 May 10, 24 June 7, 21 July 5 Wednesday group dates: April 27 May 11, 25 June 8, 22 July 6 Classes generally consist of a group meditation practice followed by discussion of the various weekly themes, plus topic-specific guided meditations to deepen the experiential component. It's okay if you can't make one of the classes, we'll figure out a way to keep you connected with the flow of the work! Investment: sliding scale $115 - $145 Note: To provide an optimal learning environment, class size will be limited to no more than 6 participants. Reserve your spot now - just click here send me an email... Feel free to contact me with your questions. If the link doesn't work for some reason, here's my email address: Margit@MargitBantowsky.com You can read more about the Presence Process book here. Or watch a 1-hour overview video here.
What People Are Saying....
Comments from participants in the 1st Presence Process group that recently finished: "I love the way Michael Brown puts the information together - how he orders and builds the topics. The work has great depth and breadth, and allowed me to go deep within myself and the Process." "I liked the check-ins during classes. I liked the teachings and the between-class partnering, and loved the guided meditations that Margit created to supplement the book. Margit is an excellent teacher!" "I found the work very integrative, it allowed me to hear things differently without religious overtones. Margit is a great teacher and facilitator. There is so much material here that I'll do the Presence Process again so I can absorb more of it." "The Presence Process walks you through the concepts in a logical way and it allowed me to have an open mind. I appreciate how it teaches the skills of self-awareness and how to remove boundaries to our growth." "I liked having the accountability of a class setting. Margit is an amazing leader." "The book was dense but full of wisdom, organized in a way that can be digested. It's good to remember that it's a process, and to take time to digest things. It was powerful to become aware of the role I play in the repetitious patterns in the theater of my life, and taking responsibility for my experience." "I appreciated Margit's teaching and found her guided meditations helpful - they gave a practical experience of some of the concepts. Margit is amazing!" "I liked having people to bound ideas off of. I enjoyed the guided meditations, the chapter reviews, meeting with my partners, and the interactive discussions." "It was great to make time to go deeper with myself, and have the space to encounter the important aspects of my life. It's good to have the book to go back to." "I enjoyed having a container for self-exploration work, and a path to follow. I loved being reminded to not 'leave' my experience, and instead to be present with my breath." "I experienced the breathing practice as a gift I was giving to myself, and a reminder that this moment matters! I enjoyed prioritizing the sacredness that was previously disconnected in my life." The 2nd Presence Process group starts
Thursday, February 4 !!! The Jan 18 class filled up quickly, so I'm offering a 2nd group. Same cost and details as below, except the group will be limited to 6 participants, and the six in-person meeting dates will be: 1. Feb 4 (week 1) 2. Feb 18 (week 3) 3. Mar 3 (week 5) 4. Mar 17 (week 7) 5. Mar 31 (week 9) 6. Apr 14 (week 11 - closing) PP Group #2, Event Flyer
8.5x11" in PDF format: 
Monday, January 18, 2016 6:30 - 8:30 pm (group is full) The Presence Process a 10-week contemplative journey 
"Resurrection"
Chalk pastel painting by Margit Bantowsky
One-Day Workshop
Saturday, December 5 10:00 am - 4:00 pm The Golden Key: The Art of Self-kindness It's hard enough to be human, here, in all our flaws, failings, and limitations, right? And, if we're honest with ourselves, there's a way in which we're always doing our best in any given moment, right?
Then why do we make things so much harder by beating ourselves up so much? If you want to unwind yourself from a long habit of self-criticism, and relax into the only real medicine that can soothe you at your core, then I invite you to join me in this one-day workshop.
Reserve your spot now - just click here and send me an email... If the link doesn't work for some reason, here's my email address: Margit@MargitBantowsky.com Want to help me spread the word? Here's a full-page flyer and also 1/2 sheet leaflets for you to share with your friends, co-workers, family, clients, acquaintances, folks at your favorite watering hole, etc. Thanks!! 
"Raven Finds the Golden Key"
Monoprint by Margit Bantowsky Free! Library Talks
Three Key Relationship Tips for Leaders Tired of feeling stuck and challenged by someone you're working with? Learn three simple yet powerful tips to help you ease challenging relationship dynamics and promote more collaboration. As a leader, you're in the position of supporting and guiding people towards a goal. And you've probably noticed how even the simplest logistics and planning can get derailed by interpersonal tensions. You might also have noticed that using reason, incentives, or threats doesn't seem to make things a whole lot better. If you're ready to explore new ways of relating to others, then I invite you to join me at one of my free talks! Monday, May 18th, 5:00 - 6:00 pm, Lacey Library (near St. Martin's University) Wednesday, May 20th, 12:00 - 1:00 pm, downtown Olympia Library Mini - Workshop
Engage! - Relationship Fundamentals for Effective Leaders
Pay-what-you-want ** 10:00 - 1:00 pm, Saturday, May 30 To reserve your seat, send me a note! Workshop location will be determined by group size. ** YES, I really mean it! At the end of the workshop, I'll invite you to gift me whatever amount feels right for you. 
Previous Events 2014:
Dismantling Racism in Healthcare
Tuesday, May 6th, 2014 9:00 am – 4:00pm. This one-day event at The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA, is aimed to provide health practitioners and counseling professionals with increased awareness of racial disparities in health and healthcare outcomes, and liberation tactics to enhance their practices. The event is free to the public, and no pre-registration is required. From 1:00 - 2:30 pm, I will be facilitating "The Lived Experience" portion of this event, which is an opportunity for participants to listen to people of color as they discuss their lived experiences with health care systems in the US. Spanish translation will be available during this segment. Click here for more information about the Dismantling Racism one-day event: http://blogs.evergreen.edu/healthcenter/events/dismantling-racism-in-healthcare-2/ To view or download flyers for "The Lived Experience" portion, click on the buttons, below. Hope to see you there! 
New Tele-Course starts April 7:
Transition with Grace Cultivate trust, ease, and action during times of change A nourishing, 16-week guided exploration and virtual support group focusing on transition.
This Tele-Course will be geared towards people who:
We will explore how these feelings may be indicators of a deeper, more soul-level call for change, and how to align with that movement. The course will also give you five key skills, five key orienting attitudes, and six key capacities which can help you feel more confident and comfortable as you go through transition. The generous course format (every other week for 15 weeks) allows us to sink into the natural rhythm of change instead of pushing and trying to force things to happen. Benefits of the course may include:
Transition with Grace Tele-Course details Time: Every other Monday, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Dates: April 7 - July 21 Cost: $375 Earlybird: register by April 1 and get $75 discount! Course includes materials on transition, helpful guided meditations, and support and discussion. My goal is to help you develop an effective practice that sustains you through transition, and that suits your unique self and life. To register or to ask questions, us the forms on my Contact Page, thanks! 
Updated course - - CLASS POSTPONED
Dream Team!
An 8-week focus boost for creative types A Virtual, In-Life Retreat to help launch your Creative Dream in a supportive, enlightened environment. Based on the successful 9-week Dream Team OLY! from spring 2013, this course has been streamlined to be even more effective.
This year, DreamTeam! is designed as a virtual retreat… that you weave into your life. This allows you to more easily integrate creative work into your daily and weekly routine. This offering is for people who:
I'm teaching this as a Tele-Course this year to accommodate creative people from outside of Olympia, and also to reduce driving and logistics time for those of us who are really busy. What you'll get:
Dream Team! Course Details Time: Every Tuesday, from 6:30 - 9:00 pm Dates: CLASS POSTPONED Cost: $435 Earlybird: register by April 30 and get $75 discount! Course includes materials on the creative process, helpful guided meditations, check-ins, coaching, structure & support, and group discussion. My goal is to help you develop an effective practice that suits your unique personality and creative process. To register or to ask questions, us the forms on my Contact Page, thanks! 
Classes & Events 2013
Dream Team OLY! "A 9-week focus boost for creative types" April 25 - June 27, 2013 An in-person class held in Olympia, WA Click on the button to see the full course description: "Postage Stamp Paintings" art exhibit Oct 4 & 5 "Miniature Meditations on the Journey of Life" - tiny watercolors recently exhibited during Olympia's Fall ArtsWalk. To see a slide show, click on the button... and then scroll down. |
What people are saying about
"The Art of Self-Kindness:" "Prior to attending Margit's "Art of Self-Kindness" workshop, I was struggling with fear and loss. What shifted for me was I gained a sense of connection, and more compassion and kindness. The sacred pause and space that Margit and the other participants created was catalytic for me. It was great to practice kindness towards myself and others at the same time... a perfect foundation work for a gentler way of living." ~~ C.A., Olympia, WA "Before Margit's workshop I was addressing the body critic. Through her class I learned to nurture myself - all of me. This is a self-care practice that is about honoring the critic and loving myself too, and noticing what the critic is doing or saying to try to keep me safe. The workshop allowed me a chance to unfold, embody, welcome, process, allow, explore, and celebrate... ME. The intention of the workshop was to welcome all of us in. Margit did an incredible job allowing us to be as we are! I learned to be okay with the process and let go of the idea that I need to be "fixed."" ~~ A.P., Olympia, WA "I had been noticing the ways I was neglecting myself and feeling a sense of worthlessness. Margit's workshop helped me realize that I am not alone in these feelings and that there is hope. It gave me an opportunity to take a break and remember this. I loved how courageous we all were, and it allowed me to notice how much I had disappeared into a state of numbness. What was particularly catalytic was a total sense of trust I had for Margit and the other participants. I know it is a process, and I came away with a renewed commitment to staying present in my body." ~~ B.D., Olympia, WA "I was having difficulty relating to myself as a "good enough" person, it seemed almost unattainable. After the workshop with Margit I feel more empowered, and more at peace and connected with myself. I loved sharing with the other women in the class, and the conceptual framework and tools around self-kindness were really valuable. Margit's calm, authentic manner created a wonderful learning environment." ~~ S.D., Shelton, WA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
