Workshops and Conferences©

Offered in English or in French for the Private Sector and the Government

Over 30 years of experience.

Choose from numerous topics; adapt a workshop to your needs.

Why mental health in the workplace matters

613.721.7888

New!   Three New Workshops:

                                 * Stress Management and Insomnia (2 hours) click here

                                          * Burnout Prevention (2 hours) click here

                                          * Living a Balanced Life through Mindfulness (a 10-
                                             week one hour course)  click here




New!  Living a Balanced Life through Mindfulness (a 10-week, one hour, weekly course) Click here (Offered in both languages)


Also check our other workshops below (any combination is available upon request):

1. Yoga

2. Rejuvenation workshop

3. Global Health

4. Stress Management - adapt this workshop to your needs

5. Nutrition, Healthy Habits and Stress Management

6. Developing Physical and Mental Harmony through Yoga and Meditation

7. Introduction to Meditation - phase 1

8. Introduction to Meditation - phase 2

9 . Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation - phase 1

10. Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation - phase 2

11. Stress Management - adapt this workshop to your needs

12. Introduction to the Psychology of Meditation, the Yog-Sûtras

13. PBL and Mindfulness Workshops

14. Active Listening

15. Communication Skills

16. Our clients

17. Autobiography


On-Going Group and Private Consultations and Classes

1. Yoga
1 hour or 1 ½ hour workshop

Ideal for our busy lifestyle, this workshop on Yoga postures emphasises flexibility, stimulate blood circulation and align the vertebrae naturally. Deep breathing during the postures will generate a revitalising massage to the inner organs, while simultaneously relax and strengthen our whole system.

1. Introduction to fundamental concepts of the Yoga philosophy
2. Relaxation Exercises
3. Stretches based on Somatics and Hatha Yog, the traditional Yoga postures
4. Balancing postures which help create a sense of confidence, focus and equilibrium
5. Postures that can be done at work, stretches done on a working chair to relieve stress
6. Traditional breathing exercises based on the Yoga tradition

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2. Rejuvenation workhsop:
A 90 minute workshop

1. Relaxation Exercises
2. Stretches based on Somatics and Hatha Yoga, the traditional Yoga postures
3. Balancing postures which help create a sense of confidence, focus and equilibrium
4. Postures that can be done at work, stretches done on a working chair to relieve stress
5. Traditional breathing exercises based on the Yoga tradition
6. Visualisation: it's use, philosophy and exercises
8. Mindfulness Meditation - accessible to all, a great de-stresser!
9. Taking a step back, perspective, awareness at home and at work

3. Global Health: Relaxation, Nutrition, Soft Stretches, Deep Breathing and Meditation.
2 hour workshop

A fabulous workshop on understanding how to relax on a deeper level, offering tools and easy exercises for a total rejuvenation.

1. Introduction to Global Health
2. Introduction to Proper Nutrition
3. How to increase your energy
4. Establishing Priorities
5. SWOT ANALYSIS - Shifts of attitudes (optional)
6 . Relaxation
7 . Introspection
8 . Gentle Stretches based on the Yoga Tradition
9 . Traditional Breathing Exercises
- Basic Breathing Exercise
- 4 Level Breath
- Calming Breath
- Breath and Concentration
10 . Introduction to and easy and effectivel meditation technique
11. The power of detachment
12. Gaining perspective

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4. Nutrition, Healthy Habits and Stress Management
1 hour workshop

1. Introduction to Proper Nutrition
2. Simple tricks to improve our eating habits and vitality
3. Five Foods You Should Eat Every Day
4. Healthy Eating: Preventing Disease With Food
5. Cures in your cupboard
6. How to increase our energy
7. Establishing Priorities
8. Relaxation
9. Introspection
10. Traditional Breathing Exercises
11. Burn-outs – prevention
12. Goal setting

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5. Developing Physical and Mental Harmony through Yoga and Meditation
2 hour workshop

1. Understanding your own mind
2. Clear thinking
3. Positive and Negative thinking
4. Burn out
5. SWOT ANALYSIS - Shifts of attitudes (optional)
6. Goal setting
7. Taking care of yourself - the importance of Deep Breathing
8. The practice of Yoga and it's benefits
9. Two fundamental types of Meditation
10. The Four Noble Truths

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6. Introduction to Meditation - phase 1
1 ½ hour workshop

Introduction to Stabilising Meditation techniques, the philosophy surrounding it, and deep breathing. We will provide practical tools to focus and quieten mental activity.

1. Introduction to the principles of Stabilising Meditation
2. How to develop Focus in Meditation
3. Understanding Mind and it’s potential
4. Scanning the body
5. Relaxation Techniques
6. Deep Breathing Exercises
7. Stabilising Meditation Techniques - experimentation

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7. Introduction to Meditation - phase 2
1 ½ hour workshop

Following the phase 1 workshop, we will offer more advanced meditation techniques and the philosophy surrounding them. As well, we will introduce further deep breathing exercises. This workshop is meant to help achieve deeper levels of concentration and meditation.

1. Introduction to the principles of Analytical Meditation
2. How to deepen our Meditation
3. Understanding our potential
4. Breathing Exercises
5. Analytical Meditation Technique - experimentation



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8. Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation - Phase 1
1 ½ hour workshop

This practice cultivates a refined state of awareness resulting in greater mental clarity and acceptance of the present moment. Mindfulness meditation brings into focus the fact that our lives are a successions of moments; our challenge is to remain present in each and everyone of them. Mindfulness Meditation is a simple but efficient way to de-stress, to establish habits that are useful and promotes a healthy perspective. We learn to cultivate our rapport with our family, our professional life, with the world at large and above all with ourselves.

Phase 1 :

1. Introduction
2. Mindfulness exercises
3. Interpreting Positive and Negative mental states
4. Concentration
5. Appreciation and perspective

Comments from the Canadian Space Agency on Mindfulness workshops

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9. Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation - Phase 2
1 ½ hour workshop

We can define Mindfulness Meditation as the art of living. It's attributes are sensitivity, clarity, appreciation of the present moment, respect for others and for our ourselves. We don't need to observe our mental activity for very long to realize that the present moment is obscured by an overactive mind. It is common to realise that our mind is dwelling very frequently either on the past and the future, and this can engender an uneasy and even anxious mind. Phase 2 is a more advanced workshop, following the Introduction to Mindfulness Medsitation Phase 1 workshop.

Phase 2 :

1. Detachment - taking a step back
2. Changing our state of mind
3. Objectivity
4. Perspective
5. Inner calm, presence of mind
6. Experimentation

Comments from the Canadian Space Agency on Mindfulness workshops

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New: Stress Management and Insomnia (2 hours) Offered in both languages


Stress: 

How to survive the intense stress that can come with a challenging career. Learn efficient and proven tools that make a difference.

Modern life is full of hassles, deadlines, frustrations, and demands. For many people, stress is so commonplace that it has become a way of life. Stress isn’t always bad. In small doses, it can help you perform under pressure and motivate you to do your best. But when you’re constantly running in emergency mode, your mind and body pay the price. If you frequently find yourself feeling frazzled and overwhelmed, it’s time to take action to bring your nervous system back into balance. You can protect yourself by learning how to recognize the signs and symptoms of stress and taking steps to reduce its harmful effects.

Insomnia:

How to get a good night's sleep. Insomnia, if not adressed, can become a serious issue. Learn efficient tools to reduce insomnia and cope with dialy stresses. An indepth look at insomnia and tools to reduce it.
Each person experiences insomnia differently. People with insomnia may:

• Have trouble falling asleep. This can mean lying in bed for up to an hour or more, tossing and turning, waiting to fall asleep.
• Wake up and have trouble falling back to sleep.
• Wake up too early in the morning.
• Feel tired when they wake up, like they didn't get enough sleep.
• Feel grouchy, sleepy, or anxious, and be unable to get things done during the daytime.
• For more information on this workshop contact us at (613) 721-7888

New: Burnout Prevention (2 hours)  Offered in both languages


Fatigue and Overwork:

In this workshop we will explain the biology of stress, an indepth look at the cause of fatigue and burnout; we will teach valuable and accessible prevention techniques: easy tools to implement for living a balanced life and specifically targeted for burnout prevention.

What is burnout?

New: Living a Balanced Life through Mindfulness (a 10-week, one hour, weekly course) Offered in both languages

This 10 week course will help you to experiment with tools that enable you to live a more balanced life, and simply awaken more joy in your life. Meeting weekly does create a structure that will inspire you to improve your daily life, step by step.

This course includes group activities and personal work, developing mindfulness in all areas of our lives.  Those tools are well-known stress reduction techniques that are easy to implement at work and at home.

The outline:

1.

1.  Introduction to Mindfulness

2.  The art of a balanced life

3.  Relaxation

4.  Deep Breathing

5.  5-minute module

2.

1.  Mindfulness practise Phase I and II

2.  Thinking pattern - cognitive structures that are useful

3.

1.  Taking perspectives

2.  Visualisation

3.  Mindfulness Meditation

4.

1.  Attentive Listening

2.   Lines of Development

3.  State Training – 5-minute module

5.

1.  Communication skilfulness

2.  Harmony at work and at Home

6.

1.  What’s your type?

2.  Core Values, Vision and Life Purpose

3.  Every day expanded awareness

4.  The Rejuvenation Module I

7.

1.  Redefining the Body

2.  The 3-Body workout

3.  Meditation

8.

1.  States and Stages

2.  Concentration

3. Free your energy

4.  Keep it simple

9.

1.  Willpower

2.  Procrastination

3.  Actualizing changes

4.  The Power of Thought

10.

1.  Assessing your current situation

2.  Identifying what’s missing

3.  Choose your practice

4.  Refreshing yourself

NEW! Workshops on Meditation: 4 Part Series offered in both official languages

These 4 workshops will introduce you to the art and science of meditation. You will learn about ancient, but now scientifically proven, methods for focusing and quieting the mind, bringing balance to your life and improving your ability to deal with daily challenges. Deep breathing, philosophy and various different types of meditations will be covered. Your instructor, Lynne Cardinal, has been teaching and offering conferences and workshops on stress management, meditation, yoga and relaxation techniques for over 20 years in Canada, Europe and India. She studied Eastern Philosophy at the International Meditation Institute in the Himalayas where she received a Ph.D. in Eastern Philosophy.

Phase 1 & 2 - Stabilising Meditation

These two phases will introduce you to Stabilising Meditation techniques, the philosophy underlying meditation and the value of deep breathing. You will be provided with practical tools for focusing and quieting mental activity.

Phase 1 - a one-hour workshop with PowerPoint presentation.

1. Introduction to the Principles of Stabilising Meditation
2. How to Develop Focus in Meditation
3. Understanding Mind and its Potential
4. Scanning the Body
5. Relaxation Techniques
6. Deep Breathing Exercises
7. Stabilising Meditation Techniques--Putting it in practice

Phase 2 - a one-hour workshop

1. Stabilising Meditation--part 2
2. Deepening your Meditation
3. Understanding Mind and its Potential
4. Developing Focus
5. Deep Breathing Exercises
6. Stabilising Meditation Techniques--Putting it in practice

Phase 3 & 4 - Analytical Meditation

Phases 3 and 4 offer more advanced meditation techniques along with their accompanying philosophy. You will learn additional deep breathing exercises, study the power of thoughts and be lead to deeper levels of concentration and meditation.

Phase 3 - a one-hour workshop

1. Introduction to the Principles of Analytical Meditation
2. How to Deepen your Meditation
3. Understanding the Power of Thoughts and their Usefulness
4. Breathing Exercises
5. Analytical Meditation Technique - Putting it in practice

Phase 4 - a one-hour workshop

1. Analytical Meditation - part 2
2. Conflict Resolution
3. Understanding situations, getting perspective
4. Breathing Exercises
5. Analytical Meditation Technique - Putting it in practice

For the latest comments on those workshops, offered at Nortel in May 2007, click here: Comments

Stress Management

"Question. : After peace, what is the most important thing people should understand about life?

Answer - Deepak Chopra: That all stress is self-induced and stress is the No.1 epidemic in our civilization and is responsible for all the major epidemics of our time... whether it's cardiovascular illness or cancer or infections or accelerated aging or addiction." Excerpt from the Ottawa Citizen, June 11th, 2006, p. C3

10. Stress Management
A 2-hour workshop, half a day or an entire day. Choose amongst the topics mentioned below; or let us know of your needs and we will adapt it accordingly.

During this session, you will learn practical tools to cope with daily stresses. Chronic Stress is the major cause of a global epidemic of depressive illnesses and with Heart Disease are considered to be the major health issues of the 21st century. Both are stress-related illnesses. In this workshop we will explain the biology of stress, the cause of fatigue and burnout, and teach valuable and accessible prevention techniques: tools required for living a balanced life.

1. Understanding Stress
2. Chemical and Nutritional Stress
3. Time Management
4. Establishing Priorities
5. SWOT ANALYSIS - Shifts of attitudes (optional)
6 . Fatigue and Overwork (burnouts)
7 . Judging versus Observing
8. The Art of Communication with NVC sm (Nonviolent Communication sm)
9 . Thought Awareness, Rational Thinking and Positive Thinking
10 . Autosuggestions
11. Gentle Stretches
12. Breathing Exercises
13. Meditation
14. Detachment and perspective
15. The Importance of Laughter

OPTIONS:

1. Chronic Stress and Disease
2. Symptoms Checklist
3. Tactics for Coping with Stress
4. Symptom Effectiveness
5. Applied Relaxation Training
6. Autogenics
a) Respond quickly to verbal commands to relax
b) Return your body to a balanced, normal state
c) Calm your mind
d) Resolve specific physical problems

7. Refuting Irrational Ideas
8. Thought Stopping
9. Worry Control
10. Coping Skills Training
11. Goal Setting and Time Management
12. Assertiveness Training
a) Describing Your Problem Scenes
b) Your Script for Change
c) Learning How to Listen
d) Arrive At a Workable Compromise
e) Avoiding Manipulation

13. Job Stress Management
14. Motivate Yourself
15. When In Conflict, Negotiate
16. Pace and Balance Yourself
17. When It Doesn't Come Easy - Getting Unstuck

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11. Introduction to the Psychology of Meditation, the Yog-Sûtras
1 ½ hour workshop

This workshop is based on the ancient tradition of Yoga. It's author, Patanjali, lived approximately 3,000 years ago, yet his brilliance remains extremely useful today and his work unparalleled. A very inspiring workshop on how to handle our reactions, emotions, and develop concentration. Everything you always wanted to know about meditation, in a nut shell!

1. Introduction to Patanjali
2. Overview
3. Selected verses and their meanings
4. Introduction to the psychology of mind as a tool
5. On the value of Practise
6. The power of Introspection
7. The importance of Detachment
8. The practise of Concentration, it's objectives, and some exercises
9. Deep Breathing exercises – Selected exercises introduced by Patanjali
10. Meditation exercises

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12. Problem Based Learning and Mindfulness Workshops

New! Langford Educational Consulting® and Kaivalya Centre®
Collaborative Workshop Series

Problem Based Learning and Mindfulness Workshops ©

Langford Educational Consulting® and the Kaivalya Centre® are collaborating to offer professional daylong seminar workshops using a highly innovative and collaborative teaching and learning process called PBL (Problem Based Learning) and Mindfulness. Workshop participants are introduced to the use of PBL methodology as a professional learning tool. Acting as meta-cognitive coaches our educators provide a structured group facilitation process.

For more details on the PBL and Mindfulness Workshops click here

13. ACTIVE LISTENING - A 1/2 DAY workshop

Listening is a hugely underrated skill. By improving your listening skills, you can radically improve your relationships with the people around you. Conflictive relationships can become productive, difficulties can be smoothed over and otherwise escalating problems can be "nipped in the bud". And just think of the wasted time, energy and resources that you can save if you understand messages fully, the first time you hear them! For more details contact us at 613.721.7888

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14. COMMUNICATION SKILLS- A 1/2 DAY or FULL DAY workshop

Good communication skills are essential for any successful career. In this workshop we will explore the following subjects:

1. Introduction to Communication Skills
2. Communicating in Your Organization
3. Spoken Communications
4. Written Communications
5. Communicating by Email
6. Running Effective Meetings
7. Win-Win Negotiation
8. Speaking to an Audience
9. Presentation Planning Checklist
10. Communicating Internationally

For more details contact us at 613.721.7888

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15. Some of our Clients:

Health Canada

IDRC

Nortel

Drug Strategy and Controlled Substances Programme - Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch

Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission

Canadian Space Agency

MDS Nordion

Natural Resources

Industry Canada

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

16. Autobiography:

Lynne settled in Ottawa in 1998 where she co-founded the Kaivalya Centre. The Kaivalya Centre offers Private Consultations, Group and Private classes, workshops and retreats, in Yoga, Stress Management and Meditation.

Lynne Cardinal has been teaching and giving lectures and seminars on subjects related to Stress Management, Yoga, Relaxation, Philosophy and Meditation for over 20 years in Canada, Europe and India. She studied Eastern Philosophy at the International Meditation Institute in the Himalayas where she received a Ph.D. in Eastern Philosophy. She lived in the Himalayas for over 15 years, first studying the philosophy of Yoga and Meditation then teaching at the Institute. Studying the scriptures directly from the Sanskrit, Lynne is the co-author of several books and tapes on the Philosophy of Yoga. Each Sanskrit verse is translated word-by-word and explained. This philosophy contains many direct meditation techniques plus insights into the workings of the human mind, as explained by Patanjali, the author of the Yog-Sûtras.

She has also produced a guided meditation cassette and CD entitled The Art of Meditation which is available in English and in French. She and her husband also co-produced a CD of sanskrit chants titled Madhuram. She has published numerous articles on Yoga and Meditation and on Proper Nutrition, in the Tone Magazine, in la revue Cheminement, in Vitality Magazine, in The West End Chronicle, in Health’N Vitality, and in Vitalité Québec; as well as in many other Newspapers and Magazines in the Ottawa region. She has published an article in the Ottawa Citizen regarding the effect of violent films and programs on children. She recently published a book on Meditation in French entitled L’art de la Méditation which is available in all French book stores and will be published in English in the near future. Lynne has been interviewed on CBC French and English radio, CFRA and CBC Winnipeg. She has given talks and signature sessions in the year 2002 and 2003 at the numerous Quebec book fairs. She was also the invited guest expert for 13 French televised chronicles on the benefits of meditation and relaxation shown during the fall 2002 line-up of the Roger's Ottawa French Cable Network. Lynne regularly offers workshops at various government levels and departments. She has also attended a 12-hour training in NVC ( Nonviolent CommunicationSM), a process created by Marshall B. Rosenberg, Ph.D.

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Comments from the Canadian Space Agency on bilingual workshops on Mindfulness:

----Original Message-----
From: Gilles.Leclerc
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2007 4:13 PM
To: info@kaivalya.ca
Cc: Branka.Preradovic

Subject: Journée de ressourcement de l'Agence spatiale canadienne du 1er
novembre 2007

Bonjour Madame Cardinal,

Au nom de l'Agence spatiale canadienne, je vous remercie et vous félicite
pour votre excellente présentation sur la Méditation Pleine Conscience la
semaine dernière à Varennes, dans le cadre de notre Journée de
ressourcement.

La séance de méditation que vous avez donnée devant une salle pleine a reçu
des commentaires unanimement positifs. Plusieurs participants nous ont
témoigné qu'ils avaient mis en pratique les techniques acquises jeudi
dernier.

En espérant que nous pourrons répéter cette expérience très fructueuse dans
un avenir proche, je vous prie d'accepter mes plus cordiales salutations.

Gilles Leclerc

_______________________________________
Gilles Leclerc
Directeur général | Director General
Technologies spatiales | Space Technologies
Agence spatiale canadienne | Canadian Space Agency
6767, Route de l'Aéroport, Longueuil, QC, Canada, J3Y 8Y9
Gouvernement du Canada | Government of Canada

---------------------------------------------

Subject: Journée de ressourcement, 01 novembre 2007, MERCI!!!

Bonjour Mme Cardinal,

Juste un mot pour vous dire un grand merci pour votre conférence et séance de méditation pleine conscience lors de notre journée de ressourcement le 01 novembre à Varennes. Nous avons compilé les évaluations de la journée et tous les commentaires des participants à votre conférence sont élogieux.

Merci encore et au plaisir!!!


Branka

_______________________________________
Branka Preradovic

Conseillère principale d’orientation professionnelle | Senior Career Guidance Counsellor
Direction des Ressources Humaines | Human Resources Directorate
Agence spatiale canadienne | Canadian Space Agency
6767, route de l'Aéroport, Saint-Hubert (Québec) J3Y 8Y9
Site web/Web site : [www.space.gc.ca]
Gouvernement du Canada | Government of Canada

Kaivalya Centre©
613.721.7888

All Rights Reserved © 2004
Lynne Cardinal - Kaivalya Centre

info@kaivalya.ca