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Buddhas in the Boardroom

Buddhas in the Boardroom

 

Proposal for a six week workshop for your employees on reducing stress, finding joy in the workplace and bringing creativity to everyday tasks.

 

WABI SABI WAY

 

Wabi Sabi is a Buddhist philosophy that emerged in Japan in the 15th century as a reaction to the opulence of that period's tea ceremony. In its fullest expression Wabi Sabi is a way of life, embracing the notion of impermanence, simplicity, and the natural world. Those who practice Wabi Sabi strive to find the beauty in imperfection and aging, and honor authenticity in all its forms. Wabi Sabi Way, led by Rachel Balaban and Kim Fuller, provides a variety of offerings, which we believe best express the philosophy of Wabi Sabi. Rachel and Kim are happy to work with you and your organization to tailor a program that best suits your specific needs.

 

Each day millions of people do the same thing by waking up, preparing for their day and leaving for work. We often do this without even noticing the first breath we take in the morning as we wake from our sleep. There is a question often asked of people when they are grumpy of " did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed?" We ask, did you wake up at all?

The workshops we propose will be for people who would like to wake up noticing their first breath, enjoy the process of getting ready for their work day and enjoy that work day amongst their fellow workers, the phone calls, the office cubicle and in the challenges put before them. So many of us spend a good part of our day at work but find it hard to be mindful and relaxed in that part of our lives. It is called work but we propose to call it living and learn how to do that peacefully and with joy. The exercises will help reduce stress in and out of the work place, increase mental clarity, creativity, and awareness and joy at the workplace and with others whom you live and work with.

 

The workshop would be best suited for a group of 10 - 20 participants in a space that is convenient for employees to get to during the work day or just after. Just after work would be a great time to come to the workshop as a way to transitioning from work to home life. The workshop room should have plenty of space to sit and move with ease.

 

Why should you hire us?

If you are mindful you are a better listener and communicator. If you have energy and little stress, you are more productive and happy. If you are happy then you are more confident, more willing to help your co-workers and customers, more likely to enjoy your job and be willing to try new things and be less fearful of change. Our workshops aim to help you find that happy place.

 

Workshop time - One hour and a half for 6 weeks. Various groups could come on alternate days to accommodate larger numbers of employees.

 

Elements of the workshops

WABI SABI PHILOSOPHY - Wabi Sabi is a Buddhist philosophy that embraces the notion of impermanence, simplicity and the natural world. Life is constantly throwing you new twists and changes and it is important to be able to handle them with ease. Stress has been known to have a direct negative influence on the immune system. If you can live with more ease and simplicity then you can have a healthier and more productive work and home life. Many of our exercises give tools to practicing mindfulness when you are listening to co-workers, handling difficult tasks under deadline and help organize your time and space so you can work with relaxed joy.

MEDITATION - Meditation is the practice of calming the mind and becoming aware of the present moment. Living or being in the moment is the only place you can be but so often we are thinking about our past or worrying about what is in our future. These thoughts can cause stress and unhealthy anxiety. When we deal with the here and now in a mindful and calm way we can be much more peaceful in our daily activities.

MOVEMENT - Dance and movement can tap in to energy in the body that could be blocked or held in a certain area of the body that can bring on pain, discomfort or stress. If you get that energy moving it can release those tensions and begin to give you some relief. Often people sit at their desks all day with very little activity so we will teach some various stretching, movement, and breathing exercises to incorporate in to your day to help keep the creative juices flowing.

EXPRESSIVE ARTS - Through the process of meditation you will learn to connect to your body and be able to access painful or fear-based emotions that cause stress and can actually be unhealthy for your immune system. Once you are aware of these unhealthy emotions you can release them by expressing them on to paper, in a sculpture or painting. You can then re-envision a new image to replace the negative one to be a reminder of how to respond to stress producing emotions with more peace and joy. This expressive arts process is called A.R.T. You access, you release and you transform. We all process information with images first and words second so it makes sense to understand your imagistic responses to things so you can uncover the truth about yourself and your response to the world. Your body does not lie but your thoughts add judgment, which can cause conflict between the heart, the home of your soul, and the head. You must trust your body's messages and get away from old habits of living with fear of change. You may discover what you are meant to be in this lifetime and that can be scary if this could bring on major changes in your life. If you are brave and true and trust the messages of your body, heart and spirit you will find true happiness. May you then send that happiness out to others and help create a universal happiness and path to enlightenment for everyone.

 

SESSION OUTLINES

 

Session 1- GETTING TO KNOW YOU THROUGH YOUR SHOE. Bring slippers to wear to each workshop.

Purpose - Get to know co-workers better, promote creative thinking, and practice listening.

 

Session 2-HOW DO I FEEL?

Purpose - learning to tune in to your body's energy and discomfort and how it changes throughout the day. Provide tools to help charge up your energy and release any holdings of stress and anxiety.

 

Session 3-LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT YOU

Purpose - teambuilding, understanding your own strengths and the strengths of others, trust in co-workers abilities and creative thinking.

 

Session 4 - "YOU ALREADY ARE WHAT YOU WANT TO BECOME." Thich Nat Hahn

Purpose - to explore your goals and how you go about achieving them.

 

Session 5 - WHAT HAT AM I WEARING TODAY?

Purpose - This exercise is about recognizing how you communicate with people you have preconceived notions about. We often let labels or prejudices get in the way of our clear communication. Creativity is also part of this exercise.

 

Session 6 - MEDITATION AND THE MANDALA

Purpose - Stress relief, finding your creativity and productivity.

 

Who are we?

Rachel Balaban is a Brown University graduate, wife, and mother of three teenage daughters. She is a clothing designer and has owned her own business, Potjandozie, for almost 20 years. Rachel has danced most of her life and has taught movement and dance extensively. She loves to laugh, travel, swim, and spend time with her family, friends and pets. Most of all, she is grateful to be blessed with a life she loves.

 

Kim Fuller is a Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) graduate who has worked as a professional photographer for nearly 20 years. Through her experience at taking formal and casual portraits and shooting dozens of weddings, Kim knows how to make people feel comfortable in front of a camera lens. Kim is married with children Ella, who is 13, and Henry, who is 16.