Secrets of Extraordinary Relationships | Linda Bloom, LCSW and Charles Bloom, MSW

Linda Bloom, LCSW and Charlie Bloom, MSW are psychotherapists, seminar leaders, and authors of the widely acclaimed books, “101 Things I Wish I Knew When I Got Married: Simple Lessons to Make Love Last” and “Secrets of Great Marriages: Real Truth from Real Couples about Lasting Love.” They have been conducting workshops together since 1986 throughout the country and internationally. They are the founders and co-directors of Bloomwork, and they currently live and work in Santa Cruz, California.

Their website is www.bloomwork.com.

Yoga and The Spirit of Poetry and Writing | Phyllis Pilgrim and Susan Duhan Felix

Phyllis Pilgrim has been inspired by the teachings of BKS Iyengar, H.H. the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hahn, and Shinzen Young, among others. She explores the nether regions of the world, with a spiritual component to each adventure. Recent journeys include hiking the Inca Trail, visiting Dharamsala to listen to the teachings of the Dalai Lama, and trekking in Tibet, Bhutan and Tasmania. Phyllis will teach the daily 10:00 am (45 min.) Yoga fundamentals for beginners and the daily 4 pm Inner Journey (50 min) to explore the inner practices of yoga and meditation.

Phyllis is the author of "The Hidden Passport", nominated as a finalist in the 2009 San Diego Book Awards. It tells of her young life in Japanese concentrations camps in Java in WW2. She reveals much about her life and philosophy enhanced by her practices in yoga and meditation. www.phyllispilgrim.com

Susan Duhan Felix received a Master’s Degree in Spiritual Poetry from the University of Connecticut. She wrote her Master’s thesis on “How T.S. Eliot’s Wasteland Exemplifies The Lack Of Ritual In Modern Day Life”. She was co- founder of the Wormwood Review, a very successful small press poetry magazine. She served on the Berkeley Art Commission for six years and was elected president for three of those years. Presently she is Art Ambassador of the City of Berkeley and a member of the Berkeley Cultural Trust. In 1987 the California State Assembly passed Resolution No 1452 …commending Susan Felix...for her brilliant display of artistic talents and her exemplary record of community leadership.

In 1989, the City of Berkeley honored her by declaring March 16th, 1989 Susan D. Felix Day and again honored her with the same award in 1999. Also in 1999 Susan received the “Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition,” from the US Congress. Susan was selected for the special Millenium Edition of Marquis' Who's Who of American Women.

Conquering Procrastination While Enjoying Guilt-Free Play | Neil Fiore, Ph.D.

It's normal to avoid doing tasks that are boring, overwhelming, or difficult; but ongoing procrastination can become a costly, destructive habit. In this dynamic seminar, executive coach and author of the best-selling “The Now Habit,” Neil Fiore, PhD provides clear strategies for overcoming procrastination and taking care of life's details before they become problems. Get answers to why we procrastinate and how to replace procrastination habits with the productive habit of starting now! You’ll learn to direct your life from an empowered place of choice rather than from a sense of ambivalence, obligation, resistance, and guilt. Learn how to develop four skills to conquer procrastination and shift from feeling overwhelmed to being focused, efficient, and effective. Learn to replace procrastination with the Productivity.

Making the Impossible Possible: Using More of Your Brain

At times life-challenges can seem impossible to resolve. Yet somehow we get through them and discover resources we didn’t know we had. With a childlike sense of wonder we learn to enjoy solving puzzles, going from not-knowing to knowing, and finding a wonder-full surprise. You’ll come to realize that your unconscious mind can work on your issues while you sleep or play and can reach conclusions and solutions that your conscious mind becomes aware of at the right time. When you access more of your brain you learn to make the seemly impossible, possible.

Igniting Your Passion: Awaken Your Relationship

Issues with work, your home, your relatives, and the kids can cause you and your partner to drift apart. You want more intimacy, communication, and passion in your relationship. You’ve read about how to rekindle desire in your marriage but you can’t seem to get started. Let’s explore how you can re-ignite feelings of warmth and love in your relationship. What are the 5 things your partner could do or say that would make you feel more loved, respected and heard? How will you ask for some small sign of affection that you’d like to receive from your partner? What change in your attitude will shock your partner into breaking free of old patterns? We’ll apply what I learned teaching engineers how to communicate on the job and with their spouses at home. Learn why arguing causes resentment and destroys intimacy; why skin-on-skin touch is essential to stress reduction and the sparking of passion; why Tantric sex, Dance, and Kegel exercises are so hot?; and how a healthy diet helps ignite passion.

Take Charge of Your Habits: Replace Reactions with Choice

Old, negative habits are like defaults or favorites on your computer: they come to your mind because you go to them most frequently when under pressure. Learning to replace these negative re-actions with healthy choices puts you in charge of your life, your diet, and your goals. Taking charge of your habits gives you more alternatives and greater freedom to live a more fulfilling and spontaneous life. We’ll explore the research on effective habit change, long-term maintenance of healthy habits, and how to apply it to your life.

Neil Fiore, Ph.D., is a psychologist from Berkeley, California. He is the author of 6 books. His latest from McGraw-Hill is "Awaken Your Strongest Self: Break Free of Stress, Inner Conflict, and Self-Sabotage." His bestselling "The Now Habit: Overcoming Procrastination While Enjoying Guilt-Free Play" is now on CD as is "Awaken Your Strongest Self." Also on CD is "How to Conquer Test Anxiety --Optimal Performance on Any Exam" from www.audible.com. Neil has published in The New England Journal of Medicine, Working Woman, Boardroom Reports, and The San Francisco Chronicle; he has been cited in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Psychology Today. Neil is the recipient of the University of California's Distinguished Achievement Award. Boardroom Reports chose Neil as one of its Top-10 Self-Help Gurus. Neil has presented to Amgen Pharmaceuticals, AT&T, Levi Strauss, Stanford Hospital, UC San Francisco Hospital, and conducted several seminars to audiences in Germany, Hong Kong, and at The Smithsonian. Neil regularly conducts seminars for the University of California Extension in San Francisco.

On the Web: www.neilfiore.com

Learn to Tango | Elena and Victor Pankey

Tango Caminito Dance Company Producer, tanguera Elena and her husband, Victor Pankey, learned and polished their tango skills in Argentina with some of the best teachers in the world. Elena completed tango choreography and master classes and obtained a professional diploma as a tango teacher.

Elena has designed a special course for couples: "Tango as a Relationship Therapist." It teaches how to listen to each other, how to develop deep concentration during the dance, and how to be a strong leader and a creative person.

Their special course during Couples Week includes: "Energy and Connections in Tango Embrace" (tango box is the first 8 magical steps); "Tango as a Relationship Therapist" (four main starts in tango); "Leaning Tango is Leading Life" (Back ocho, front ocho); "Communication in Tango" (four poses in tango; embellishments, adorns, lapis); "Tango is Just a Walk with Love in Your Heart" (tango unique walks); and "Tango Meditation: How to Listen to Each Other" (some unique moves and steps: lean, parada, barrida).

The couple founded Tango Caminito School in Fallbrook, California (www.tangocaminito.com) where they teach authentic traditional Tango Argentine (salon) style.