12/3/2010 MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT

NEW YORK METRO FOCUSING
Friday, December 3, 2010  6:30 - 9:00 pm
Moving Body Resources 112 W. 27th St., 4th Fl.
(To enter building, use code 402 & press green bell key)
The meeting room is a shoe-free zone.  Socks & slippers, please
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Bridging Zen and Focusing
with Janet Abels and Julia McEvoy

Bridging Zen and Focusing is an experiential presentation grounded in the practice of Zen meditation, while emphasizing the Focusing tools of quiet space, right distance, body awareness, and compassionate “being with,” which are the same tools used in Zen practice.  An introduction to Zen meditation, including a demonstration of posture and breath with an opportunity to meditate, will be given.  The presenters will also explain where these two body practices diverge, for example, Focusing naming and Zen not naming.  From a place of deep respect, the presentation will enrich and further the discussion that is now taking place in Focusing circles about the connections between Focusing, meditation, and spirituality.  The presenters invite people to participate as actively or passively in the evening’s experience as they want.

Sensei Janet/Jiryu Abels is a Focusing Trainer and is the founder of and resident co-teacher of Still Mind Zendo in New York City.  She was trained in focusing by Edwin McMahon and Peter Campbell at the Institute for Bio-Spiritual Focusing  She became a Zen teacher in December 2000 in the lineage of the late Taizan Maezumi Roshi and the White Plum Asanga, after 8 years of Zen training under Roshi Robert Kennedy.  She has led workshops in Focusing and used Focusing in her work as an accredited inter-faith spiritual director.  From 1987 to 2000, she had a private practice in spiritual direction.

Julia McEvoy, LCSW, CPP is an active Focusing Trainer.  She was trained by Mary Hendricks and has studied with many well known Focusing teachers including including Anne Weiser Cornell, Robert Lee, Rob Parker, and Shirley Turcotte.  She is Brooklyn Borough Director of a school-based drug prevention program in the Catholic schools of Brooklyn.  She is a senior student and Jitsu at Still Mind Zendo, of the White Plum Asanga, where she has practiced Zen with her teacher, Janet Abels, Sensei, since 1996.

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Also, enjoy our FOCUSING COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE:  In a lively exchange with others in our community, this is a time and place to share your Focusing projects, workshops, and trainings and to let us know what other goods and services you have to offer.  Bring your flyers and brochures for our literature table.

PLEASE INVITE FRIENDS and COLLEAGUES:  While NY Metro Focusing meetings are not introductions to Focusing, we hope newcomers get a little taste of the Focusing experience and are motivated to learn more by taking an Introduction to Focusing workshop.

Suggested Contribution:  $20 to cover rental and refreshment expenses.  Those new to Focusing are our guests for their first NYMF meeting.  Cash only please, since we are not able to take credit cards or checks.

Date of the next NYMF meeting:  Friday, January 28, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m.  Program TBA
Questions may be sent to:  contact@nymflists.com