Name: Smuttynose Group
Grades:  7th through 9th Grade
Meets at: Brookfield
Leaders: Victor Finizio & Mike Leger

Name: Appledore Group
Grades:  10th through 12th Grade
Meets at: Marshman
Leaders: Ankur Mathew & Jessica Falconer

WORKSHOPS
Week long classes offered daily

When we meet others we say where we’re from and what we do in life within the limited patterns of most social or work settings. The Writing Circle is a refreshing way to discover different aspects of yourself and others in a warm, inspiring, and supportive environment. I define a writer as someone who writes - so whether you are a seasoned writer or would like to write for the first time, you are welcome to come to this workshop. Best of all, there is no wrong way to do this! Each day I provide a “spark”, an open-ended invitation that will kindle your memories, stories, and thoughts for a spontaneous short write. There is an opportunity, always optional, to share what you’ve just written. I have found that we often hear ourselves for the first time when we read aloud. You give a gift to listeners, who in turn give you a gift of attentive and deep listening. Feedback is always kind, encouraging, honest, and specific. Each workshop day is unique so feel free to attend one day, some days, or every day. Please bring your preferred writing implement and a notebook. You can find out more here: Writing Room Workshops

In Acting and Improvisation, we'll be learning the basic tenets of acting, and will play with each other by "living truthfully in imaginary circumstances", as a famous acting teacher said. Getting in touch with your emotions and learning not to censor your gut reaction can not only help with acting, presenting, and interacting with people, but can help you learn a lot about yourself! We will start by really learning how to listen and respond to another person, then bring that into improvisation games and even small scripted scenes. You can drop in to a couple of meetings just to learn to open up and play, or come the whole week to build up a whole new skill!

Come explore lifelong sexuality in all its glorious manifestations in a covenanted, safe, open-minded and fun environment!

Tanya and Beat have been teaching OWL (Our Whole Lives) Sexuality Education for over 20 years to youth at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship in Morristown, New Jersey. They are excited to facilitate this universally interesting workshop to fellow shoalers at LOAS 2! Together we will find meaningful, respectful, enlightening, and fun ways to enhance our communication skills and continue to increase our understanding of healthy relationships, sexual diversity, and sexuality. 

This year’s art workshop’s aim is to rediscover the unbridled creative flow of a child.  We will be doing group and individual exercises and projects that aim to release our goal oriented selves and purely create.  We will paint from music, I will lead you through guided abstract paintings, we will find meaning in the meaningless.  Come play with us in the Artbarn!

          Qi Gong is the classical series of movements, postures and breathing that promotes health, healing, and inner tranquility. Similar to and derived from classical T’ai Chi, these slow-motion exercises and holding postures are practiced daily by millions worldwide.

          This tradition is the lineage of Doctor and Professor Cheng Man Ching, Master of the Five Excellences and Surgeon General of China before the Cultural Revolution He came to New York’s Chinatown in the 1970’s and founded a school open to all where he taught the Yang style short form of T’ai Chi and assigned Five Element Qi Gong moves to his patients specifically chosen to balance their Body, Mind and Spirit. 

          Pat Gorman was an early follower and student of Professor and his lineage and has been studying and teaching Qi Gong, T’ai Chi and his Medical lineage for over 40 years. Pat and her husband Steve “Tuna”  Flores, both Five Element acupuncturists, have been teaching Qi Gong  at the UU in Bridgehampton for over 10 years and have also taught around the U. S., the U.K. and Europe. They have written and produced the highly acclaimed Roots and Branches Five Element Qi Gong DVDs. Last year they presented a Starburst at LOAS 2.

          This year, a comprehensive 5 Day program will be presented to help persons identify and correct their own imbalances; stay in sync with the changing seasons; help with stress and adversity; and flourish in the midst of today’s challenges. These slow, easy and often playful movements and postures are invigorating and renewing for all ages and stages of health. Experience and understand the Five Elements within you. Smile with us in a fun and playful class, imbued with real Classical Chinese Tradition. Pat and Tuna will help you find and learn the Qi Gong moves, postures and breathing that will be most beneficial to your own Body, Mind and Spirit.

Yoga for All
with Denise Tinlin

This workshop is a great place to start your yoga journey!

We will explore the foundations of yoga in a fun, playful, inspiring, comfortable, and judgment free atmosphere.  The format is open, so students will be encouraged to ask questions throughout class.  There will be lots of hands on adjustments and simple modifications to meet everyone’s needs.  You will learn simple breathing techniques, basic meditation techniques, the foundation poses of Sun Salutations and basic transition poses found in most yoga classes. Also, Yoga Nidra will be offered , Yoga Nidra is a beautifully guided meditation which instills a sense of internal peace and will leave you feeling incredibly relaxed , present and rejuvenated. This Yoga is open to all ages and levels of experience. 

"Yoga is not a work-out, it is a work-in. And this is the point of spiritual practice; to make us teachable; to open up our hearts and focus our awareness so that we can know what we already know and be who we already are." — Rolf Gates

   
Denise Tinlin is a Yoga-Alliance certified teacher 500RYT with 200 hrs of additional training. 

I see yoga as a powerful tool that increases self-awareness and brings peace and love to life. I aim to give students an awareness to experience their mind, body and soul, both on and off the mat, to encourage focus on breath as a way of being present. I believe connecting with the spiritual side of yoga through meditation is key to contentment and happiness and believe every person is unique and should be seen, heard and kept safe. 

The Yoga practice has the ability to help us learn to accept ourselves for who we are while continuing to grow. I believe that yoga is truly for everyone and every body.  I strive to teach the balance between hard work, discipline and relaxation. We are all interconnected, so let us come together in this practice to understand ourselves and connect through the breath to our mind, bodies, spirit and each other.

S T AR B U R S T S
Single, 45 Minute Mini-Workshops to fill in your days
Check The Chalkboard for days and times. Locations may vary.

Tickle Me Fancy!
with Diane Taraz

     A playful hour of songs that made people smile in centuries past.
     This is the antidote for those who think that folk music is boring!
     We will address adult themes, but cloaked in the gentle vocabulary of the 17th and 18th centuries, so if your kid is old enough to “get it,” then they are probably old enough.

In 1781, Elizabeth Freeman, known as Mum Bet, sued for her freedom in a Massachusetts court, and won. Join Diane for a look at the life and times of this remarkable woman through the compelling songs that surrounded her throughout her long life.

Sing-along chanteys, thrilling ballads, and maritime lore about pirates, shipwrecks, and adventure on the bounding main — plus some fascinating Star Island history.

Celestial Navigation
with Chris Blaydon

Ever wonder how they did that? Made it from the Old World to the New World without the internet or Google Maps?  Join Chris and learn the secret!

Procrastination - Discussion of the book The Tools: 5 tools to help you find courage.

Inspirational 
Quiet & Solitude
with Tom McGuinness

We will sit, take a few deep breaths, enjoy the quiet, interrupted only by short quotes about these two virtues.