Akasha Wellbeing Program

24/11/2025

Today's Sunday Akasha Wellbeing Program post comes from Susmita.

🌿Reimagining Bonsai

Have you ever seen a bonsai tree? It is a miniature version of the original, potted in a container that may be kept inside. Bonsai trees are born from the same seeds that can create magnanimous forests. The only variable is the human desire to shape, style, and control how a tree grows from seed to sapling to bonsai.

I encountered a bonsai enthusiast and his carefully pruned bonsais for the first time in Vietnam. A soulful painter, he loved to spend hours training and shaping bonsais with techniques of pruning and wiring. It confused me and broke my heart.

The intensive care that he put into altering the natural pattern of growth was explicitly pure because he pursued it from an aesthetic vision. What surpassed it was imagining the pain experienced by the potential tree because of the ruthlessness of being forced to grow in one way and not the other. It was taming the natural spirit.

The art of bonsai is aesthetically pleasing. However, for a seed that is tamed and manipulated, is there anything pleasant?

Did you ever feel that you were pruned and prepared by others to be someone who does not fully harness the possibilities in you? Did you ever feel that you were the one who tamed your spirit to fit in?

Possibly we all have felt like a bonsai, even if it were for a fleeting moment.

So, here’s my little dandelion-hope for us.

When the challenges of life seem to overpower our souls, may we be enabled to use the pit of fire as the cauldron of reinventing ourselves. When the voices outside and inside try to terrorise us into submission, may we evolve into phoenixes. When the limits of our existence attempt to negate our dreams, may we remember and honour that we are stardust.

May we see what the eyes cannot see and listen to what the ears cannot hear. May we never allow ourselves to be bonsai-fied.

Thank you Susmita!

16/11/2025

As winter approaches, Ayurveda reminds us to slow down, nourish ourselves, and find warmth within. This season carries the qualities of Kapha — cold, heaviness, and stillness — which can bring sluggishness or imbalance if we don't stay warm and active. We are invited to find balance between slowing down and gentle movement.

To support your your body and keep your inner fire strong. ✨ Eat warm, freshly cooked meals with spices like ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, and black pepper. ✨ Stay gently active — walk, stretch, breathe deeply. ✨ Keep your body warm, especially your head, ears, and feet. ✨ Rest well and nurture your heart with joyful moments.

Through breath, movement, and awareness, we can bring light and vitality into the colder months. Join us at Akasha & Base Graz through the week to move, breathe, and stay connected this winter.

With love and warmth,Estelle

16/11/2025

Sundays are a time to slow down, breathe, and reflect. We’re beginning a new series where our Akasha Wellbeing Program team shares their thoughts, tips, and musings to inspire a more mindful week ahead. This week, Beatrix Schwerdtfeger shares her thoughts as she sets off on her journey to India.

Life is a journey.
We all know it – yet each of us walks it in our own unique way.

Once again, I'm on my way to my motherland: India.
It's almost my 40th journey there – and this time, I'll be turning 60. India has been part of my life for decades – a land I deeply love, yet one that keeps challenging me.

People often speak about how difficult life can be for women in India. But after many years of experience, I've also seen another side. Sometimes it's mothers or elder women
who push their sons into marriages they don't truly want –even well-educated, modern young men.

The truth is: women are not always the victims.
Not in India – and not anywhere else in the world.

Clarity means knowing who you are,
what patterns you've learned,
and what your culture in this lifetime has brought to you –
its strengths, its challenges, its unconscious influences.

Becoming aware of all this, step by step,
helps us stop passing on pressure or subtle violence
to those who depend on us.

That's one of the intentions behind my work –
whether in intuitive painting at the Sedwell Center,
or in my Consciousness Studio (Bewusstseinsatelier)
in the Zinzendorfgasse near the University of Graz.

For many years I've been practicing Integral Yoga,
as taught by Sri Aurobindo –
a path of deep inner transformation,
toward something far more harmonious and luminous
than we can presently imagine.

And since I'm writing this just before Christmas,
I simply wish to remind us all:
Compassion and clarity belong together.
Only when we live both
can true transformation begin. ✨

Beatrix Rother-Schwerdtfeger, Seddwell-Center and Bewusstseins-Atelier Graz

08/11/2025

Mental Wellness in the Holiday Season

Hello, I am Susmita Paul , the Founder of The InkWell Project. I look forward to sharing with you on 18th and 19th November, some techniques and methods to unwrap the stillness in your hearts amidst all the noise and busyness of holiday life.

💦 I invite you to take a moment to check out the event details below:

💝Unwrap the Stillness workshop,18th November, 6.30pm to 8pm:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BXq2JQS5k/

💝Unwrap the Stillness workshop, 19th November, 10am to 11.30 am:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1D3KqtXUCD/

💖Amidst the busyness of choosing and getting and wrapping gifts 🎁for your loved ones, baking and cooking👩‍🍳 for family and friends, decorating💟 and cleaning up🧹 after all the celebrations or the holidays, why don't you gift a little time of stillness to yourself ❣️?

Please note, the number of participants who can be accomodated for each workshop is limited.

Feel free to write to us for more information and registrations through Facebook or,

📨 paul.susmita.psc@gmail.com , or, project.inkwell.awareness@gmail.com

📲+43 660 8267540

🌐

(W)riting into Wellness

09/05/2025

Treasure Hunt - Expressive Arts
Wednesday, May 28, 3 pm - 5.30 pm
Participants will embark on a treasure hunt full of unexpected beauties during this session. Drawing, poetry and play will guide us. Where might the treasure be hidden? What wonders will we discover along the way? No prior artistic experience is needed—just curiosity!
***
More about the workshop:
This workshop is based on the methods and techniques of the Expressive Arts field and invites you to engage in a creative process. As a trained expressive arts facilitator, my role is to guide the group through various artistic disciplines—such as drawing, painting, writing, poetry, music, and movement—not only to connect with the body, but also to help create a supportive environment. This space encourages connection and exchange among participants, allowing them to share a unique experience and witness each other’s creative journeys.
Through the creative process our goal is to enhance our ability to wonder, to playfully explore, and to experience joy by bringing imagination back into our lives and reintegrating creativity into our daily routines.
How do we do that?
During the session we will explore a theme and an art form that can guide us into the creative process.
The theme of our session: "Treasure hunt"
I invite you to embark on a treasure hunt, full of unexpected beauties. Where might the treasure be hidden? What wonders will we discover along the way?
We will first get to know each other and and start engaging with the arts. Drawing, music and play will guide us.
***
Please note:
This workshop follows a low-skill, high-sensitivity approach. That means no prior artistic experience is needed—just a curiosity to explore what emerges throughout the process. Everyone interested is warmly welcome. In fact, having no experience can even be an advantage, as our focus is not on the final product, but on the unexpected surprises that arise through the creative process.
Registration:
Thank you for your interest in my workshop. If you’d like to join, please fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSeu8qhY3MO.../viewform...
Price: free for Base Members. 25-35 euros for non-members depending on your budget. If you want to join, but the price is outside of your budget, please let me know, and we can explore alternative options.
Workshop Material: All the workshop material will be provided on site. You just bring yourself!
***
More about the facilitator:
Ogül Büber Ottitsch
Alongside her work as a curatorial assistant at the Graz Museum since 2021, Ogül Büber-Ottitsch is completing her training in the Expressive Arts Therapy Program for Mental Health, Education, and Social Change. She is supervised by Aylin Vartanyan Dilaver, a lecturer at the EUROPEAN Graduate School EGS and the Expressive Arts Institute Istanbul. The insights gained from this three-year training flow directly into the workshop offered here.
As an Expressive Arts Facilitator-in-Training, her focus is on integrating art into everyday life and professional practice to foster personal growth by spreading the power of imagination and play.
Before immersing herself in the world of Expressive Arts, Büber-Ottitsch practiced (performative) storytelling. She learned this art from storytellers in Turkey and organized storytelling events in Austria, Germany, and Turkey, performing stories in German, English, and Turkish. She also initiated and organized a storytelling festival at the Museum für Geschichte Graz in collaboration with the Caritas Academy, where multilingualism was the central theme. Participants were invited to perform their favorite fairy tales in their native languages.
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oguel.bueber.artprojects/

https://www.facebook.com/events/1922990251438990?locale=fr_FR

380 Followers, 846 Following, 121 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Ogül Büber | Expressive Arts & Storytelling (.bueber.artprojects)

13/12/2024

✨ Meet Beetoo, Another Bright Star in the Akasha Wellbeing Team! ✨

At Akasha, we share our passion for creating transformative experiences. Explore Sufi Whirling and Dynamic Meditation with Beetoo in his Sunday workshops.

🎥 Discover his inspiring journey, unique expertise, and what makes his sessions so special in our latest video!

💫 Watch now and join us to experience the magic of Akasha Wellbeing.

05/12/2024

🎥 Just for Teens: Meet Emina and TEEN VIBE!

In this video, Emina introduces herself and her workshops designed especially for teens. She’s passionate about creating fun, safe, and empowering spaces where teens can connect and grow.

✨ Catch Emina live on Saturday from 11 AM to 12 PM at Seddwell Center during the CONNECTION - Akasha Wellbeing Open Days—a session just for teens!

📍 Watch the video and join us this weekend to experience her energy and expertise firsthand. Teens, this one’s for you! 💫

04/12/2024

🌟 Let's Continue to Meet the Akasha Wellbeing Team! 🌟
✨ Meet Holistic with Estelle - Body Mind & Spirit Path! ✨
Estelle is a gifted Yoga Teacher, Energetic Worker, and Ayurvedic student, bringing a holistic approach to every session. She invites you to join her for the following special events this week:
🧘‍♀️ Origine: Hoponopono Yoga, Movement & Meditation
🗓 December 6th | 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Explore the transformative power of yoga, movement, and meditation through the wisdom of Hoponopono with Estelle.
🌙 Moon Wisdom Circle
🗓 December 7th | 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Celebrate the solstice with candle making and deep meditation, as Estelle guides you through a powerful journey of reflection and connection.
🌿 Wellbeing Fusion Time: Lunch & Spa Care
🗓 December 8th | 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Enjoy a nourishing lunch followed by a relaxing mini-spa experience to rejuvenate your body and soul.
Join Estelle and dive deeper into your wellness journey with these transformative workshops! ✨
See you soon! 💫

02/12/2024

WELLBEING OPEN HOUSE -CONNECTION Weekend Dec 6 - 8

The english speaking Akasha Wellbeing team at the Seddwell Center offer a great wellness program including meditation, yoga, sound vibration therapy, wellness writing, women's circles, bollywood dance, needle free accupunture, massage, nutrition talks and lots more. You can watch short videos introducing them all on their facebook above.

They are having a special Open House Connection weekend Dec 6th - 8th, where you can try them all out (most of the events just ask for a donation) or just drop by their potlucks to meet the team. The full program can be found here - www.akashaconnection.com

06/11/2024

A new individual space " PIANO LESSONS WITH NICOLE"

"The intention of the lessons is to find joy in learning and playing the piano.
It will be central to find for each person the music they can feel and connect with.

Everybody has a different way of taking in, absorbing and learning.
We will explore how to access a constructive learning process.
To find this opening we will include breathing, body awareness and relaxation, intuitive painting, conscious listening and visualization.

This process can help with focus in a world where overstimulation and distraction are all around.
To make this journey a rewarding one, investment in the form of daily practice will be necessary.

I have been teaching music for 35 years in Antwerp/Belgium.
From November on I will offer individual pianolessons in the International Welcome Office, Dreihackengasse 28. All ages from 8 years on are very welcome.

If you would like to meet me :
1) Wednesdays I will be in the International Welcome Office, Dreihackengasse 28,
14-16pm.
2)You can write me to nicolecrombejd@gmail.com to make an appointment.
Practical arrangements can be discussed when we meet.

Looking forward to meet you,"
Nicole