Oct - Old Ottawa South

THE OSCARlOCTOBER 2013Page 17ABBOTSFORD AT THE GLEBE CENTREAbbotsford Fall Programs: Create, Relax, StimulateBy Julie IretonEveryone has a story to tell. Butnot everyone knows just how to putpen to paper in order to share thosestories.“I wrote a very brief memoir of myfirst seven years. It’s about living onthe farm. I thought it would be nicefor my nephews and nieces,” saidAnne LeDressay.This fall, LeDressay will get achance to tell others about the verypersonal writing process when sheteaches others at Abbotsford how toput memories into print.As part of its new, fall program, thesenior’s centre across from LansdownePark will be offering a coursein ‘Writing Memoirs’. Whetheryou’re already writing, or just thinkingabout it, this course is a fun wayto learn and to meet other aspiringwriters.LeDressay is a former Englishliterature professor who spent yearsteaching in Alberta. She now callsthe Glebe home and starting inSeptember, LeDressay will deliverthis course through a combination oflecture, discussion, in-class and athomewriting.“The course will be quite general.I can adapt to whatever level andexperience,” said LeDressay. “Somewill just need reminders, for othersit will be new. They can all benefitfrom other people in a group doingthe same thing.”LeDressay says she hopes to encouragecourse participants to readsegments of their writing to the entiregroup and receive feedback.“When writing something personalit can be difficult to be objective.We’ll talk about a lot of writingtechniques that are also applicablein writing fiction, but I want them toknow the difference,” she said.‘Writing Memoirs’ isn’t the onlynew course in Abbotsford’s fall lineup.There will be courses to stimulatethe creative side, exercise the bodyand relax the mind.People looking to pick up someunique relaxation techniques, shouldexplore ‘Relaxation with Clay’ withart therapist, Vera Van Mierlo. VanMierlo brings her technique andtraining from her original home inBelgium.“Working with clay can helppeople feel better”, explained VanMierlo. “Our therapy is about usingproperties to have a positive experience…the use of clay helps deepenthe experience and make the relaxationmore intense.”Van Mierlo says as the participantshold and mold the clay throughoutthe class and they end up with a tangibleresult they can take home.Creative, energetic seniors visitingAbbotsford this fall may alsowant to check out the new, ‘PropellerDance’ classes. This artful dance isfor people with different abilities –including those with mobility issues,balance problems or even those inwheelchairs.“I’ve been paralyzed for a longtime. I was in a motorcycle accidentwhen I was 18,” said Liz Winkelaar,the propeller dance instructor. “Ifound a poster for Propeller Dance,I thought I should do something formy body and I threw myself into it.”It’s an improvisational style ofdance. Winkelaar says she’s askingseniors at Abbotsford House to beopen to the idea.“It’s different from what they areused to. It’s less structured and moreabout self-awareness, creative movementsand exercises we do to helpbuild skills.”Stop by Abbotsford, 950 BankStreet and pick up a fall programguide which lists the times, datesand costs of all of the programmingincluding those highlighted in thisarticle, or call reception at 613-230-5730. The program guide can also bepicked up at Sunnyside Library.SURROUND CIRCLE YOGAYoga and a Whole Lot More at Surround Circle Yoga!By Maureen FallisSeven years ago Surround CircleYoga was merely a dream. It tookmonths and many long nights planningand imagining how it wouldall come together. The studio wasdivined, designed and developed inone of the most beautiful rooms inSouthminster United Church with theintention of making it a sacred spacefor Old Ottawa South neighbours andfriends to come together to practiceyoga and share in the pattern of life.We initially started with three yogaclasses and have since grown to overten classes a week! The classes andprograms are more diversified now.In addition to our popular ‘everyday’gentle yoga classes… we are proudto have nurtured a niche with RestorativeYoga, Yoga 55+, Yoga Thrive- Therapeutic Yoga, Private IntroductoryYoga and Private Yoga Parties.It’s been such a delight to cultivatepartnerships with professionalpractitioners who share our visionfor creating a place and a space fordeep inner physical and emotionalwork. We welcome the opportunity toextend our gratitude to these partnerswho bring their brilliance to thestudio with programs such as: Acu-Destress, Ecstatic Dance, Qigong,Mindfulness, and Creative Spirit -Inner Journey.This fall we are fortunate to makeconnections and collaborate with …Cindy Teevens, a celebrated localauthor and leading inner peace andhappiness facilitator. We welcomethe opportunity to host The 2013Joy of Awakening all-day retreat onSaturday, October 5th where Cindywill help people shift their state andpermanently transform their lives,from the inside out.Kati Gabor, founder of The StartChild Puppets, will share a magicaland heartwarming world of puppetrywith children and adults throughpresentations of seasonal plays andworkshops. The beauty of naturalwool and silk, of gestures and toneof voice, used in creating the atmosphereof gentleness and nurturing,opens the door of the soul to take innourishment from an artistic experience.The mystery of this exchangebecomes the focus of not onlyperformances but also workshopsoffered in simple puppet making.By creating this soul bridge betweenparent and child, adults are beingsupported in their task of parenting.Kati will present her first showat the beginning of October for 2-5year old children, and then will offera seasonal play later that month accompaniedby another member of thegroup. The whole troupe of The StarChild Puppets will present a puppetshow at the studio around the holidays.Plans are also in the works fora series of workshops throughout theschool year. Please watch for datesand times on our website.It’s ever so exciting to expand intoareas where we’ve never gone before;the scope is only as wide as theimagination! We are open for all sortsof collaborative ideas and we welcomeand encourage you, the reader,to let us know whether this kind ofprogramming is what you want fromus. If you have suggestions or knowof people in your circle of influenceNEW PATIENTS WELCOMEDr Pierre IsabelleDr Mathieu TremblayGLEBE DENTAL CENTREFIFTH AVENUE COURT-EVENING APPOINTMENTSOPEN MONDAY-FRIDAYFor appointments call 613-234-6405who might be interested in joining usas a facilitator or practitioner … wewould be very happy with a referral.To find out more about our private,group classes, or special events andworkshops, please see www.surroundcircleyoga.comor call 613-327-4627.BrokerageNew Listing: Centretown Single3 Bed 1.5 Bath Open ConceptGlebe Comm / Res PropertyTraditional Main Street Zoning3 Story + Basement ~8000 sq-ftDan Moloughney, B.Eng.Broker of Record613.233.2323www.OttawaUrbanRealty.com