Sufism, The Way of Love: A Tamarkoz (Sufi Meditation) Experience
Led by Lynn Wilcox, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, California State University, Sacramento; Nasim Bahadorani, DPH, California State University, Northridge; Mohammad Sadoghi, University of Calfornia, Davis; and Saloumeh Bozorgzadeh, PsyD., Private Practice. Benjamin Doolittle, M.D., M.Div., Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Yale University.
A multidisciplinary team from the Sufi Psychology Association will present a transcultural experiential workshop on Sufism, the way of love. The leaders are academics and professionals holding doctorates in the fields of Counseling Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Public Health, and Computer Science who have come together from different parts of the United States in order to present this holistic workshop. This experiential workshop allows attendees to experience Islamic Sufi practices effective in producing positive changes in physical and mental health.
For the last thirty years, Tamarkoz®, a heart-focused concentrative practice that is unique to and was developed by the Pir (Spiritual Leader) of M.T.O. Shahmaghsoudi®, School of Islamic Sufism®, has been taught around the globe to select audiences. However, it is not widely known. Workshops, retreats, and even semester long courses at University of California, Berkeley are being taught on this practice. While the health benefits of some forms of meditation are well-established in scientific research, not much has been published on Tamarkoz®. One preliminary study indicated it reduced stress in heart patients. Another larger study showed Tamarkoz® to significantly reduce perceived stress, decrease heart rate, increase positive emotions (i.e. love, compassion, awe, etc.), and increase spirituality in its participants, who were students at UC, Berkeley. The results demonstrate that the techniques are not limited to gender, race, religion or lack of religious preference, since love transcends these limitations.
This workshop will allow attendees to learn about love as it is has been presented for over 1400 years in Sufi Poetry, and to experience the impact of a heart-focused meditative practice.
Participants will be able to experience Tamarkoz®, to learn about the physical and mental health benefits, and to understand the difference between Tamarkoz® and other meditative practices. The components of this relaxing and stress-reducing Tamarkoz® workshop include Mind Relaxation, Deep Breathing, Movazeneh® (slow motion movement exercises emphasizing specific electromagnetic centers, particularly the heart), an exercise in Self-Discovery (discovery of the true self versus the social self), Focused Progressive Relaxation, and a Spiritual Visualization.
The precise methods utilized will depend on the space and circumstances available. Optimal conditions would include floor mats with sufficient space to lie down with arms and legs extended. If such space is not available, a poor but still effective second choice would be a room with sufficient space to sit and stand comfortably with arms extended and sufficient space to bend forward.
Attendees will be asked to please wear socks and comfortable slacks as this workshop incorporates simple meditative postures and light movement.
A multidisciplinary team from the Sufi Psychology Association will present a transcultural experiential workshop on Sufism, the way of love. The leaders are academics and professionals holding doctorates in the fields of Counseling Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Public Health, and Computer Science who have come together from different parts of the United States in order to present this holistic workshop. This experiential workshop allows attendees to experience Islamic Sufi practices effective in producing positive changes in physical and mental health.
For the last thirty years, Tamarkoz®, a heart-focused concentrative practice that is unique to and was developed by the Pir (Spiritual Leader) of M.T.O. Shahmaghsoudi®, School of Islamic Sufism®, has been taught around the globe to select audiences. However, it is not widely known. Workshops, retreats, and even semester long courses at University of California, Berkeley are being taught on this practice. While the health benefits of some forms of meditation are well-established in scientific research, not much has been published on Tamarkoz®. One preliminary study indicated it reduced stress in heart patients. Another larger study showed Tamarkoz® to significantly reduce perceived stress, decrease heart rate, increase positive emotions (i.e. love, compassion, awe, etc.), and increase spirituality in its participants, who were students at UC, Berkeley. The results demonstrate that the techniques are not limited to gender, race, religion or lack of religious preference, since love transcends these limitations.
This workshop will allow attendees to learn about love as it is has been presented for over 1400 years in Sufi Poetry, and to experience the impact of a heart-focused meditative practice.
Participants will be able to experience Tamarkoz®, to learn about the physical and mental health benefits, and to understand the difference between Tamarkoz® and other meditative practices. The components of this relaxing and stress-reducing Tamarkoz® workshop include Mind Relaxation, Deep Breathing, Movazeneh® (slow motion movement exercises emphasizing specific electromagnetic centers, particularly the heart), an exercise in Self-Discovery (discovery of the true self versus the social self), Focused Progressive Relaxation, and a Spiritual Visualization.
The precise methods utilized will depend on the space and circumstances available. Optimal conditions would include floor mats with sufficient space to lie down with arms and legs extended. If such space is not available, a poor but still effective second choice would be a room with sufficient space to sit and stand comfortably with arms extended and sufficient space to bend forward.
Attendees will be asked to please wear socks and comfortable slacks as this workshop incorporates simple meditative postures and light movement.