www.citizen-times.com, September 12, 2006

Alexander, USA -- Great Tree Zen Temple will host a "Voice of Woman" women's retreat exploring voice and body awareness Friday through Sunday.

This workshop invites women to explore spirituality through meditation, vocal exploration and body-mind listening. In an environment designed to bring forth your voice, this is an opportunity to open your heart and create equanimity, joy, and healing.

The retreat will be led by the Revs. Teijo Munnich and Myo-O Marilyn Habermas-Scher.

Munnich was ordained as a Soto Zen priest in 1981. She trained at Hokyoji Monastery in Minnesota, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center in California and Hosshinji Sodo in Japan. In addition to serving as abbess of Great Tree, Munnich also leads meditation workshops in Asheville, Charlotte, Knoxville and Savannah.

Habermas-Scher has an extensive background in choreography, opera, vocal improvisation, performance art and storytelling. She is the originator of VoiceWork body-based voice training. She has practiced Zen and Vipassana meditation for 30 years. In 2000, she was ordained in the Soto Zen tradition. She is currently training at Hokyoji Monastery in Minnesota.

The retreat begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday and ends by noon on Sunday. (Staff Reports)