Workshops ·
Weekend Workshops for Adults in Istanbul: Candles, Painting, Sound, Meditation
Adults looking for a weekend workshop in Istanbul can choose among Merve Tüfekçi’s candle making, finger painting (Healing Art), sound and meditation workshops. They are held at Şifa Köyü in Şile; dates change and the next one is given by the team. No painting or meditation skills are needed, and the workshops are not a treatment.
If you would like to spend a weekend in Istanbul making something with your hands or joining a quiet practice, you can choose among Merve Tüfekçi’s workshops for adults: candle making, finger painting, sound and meditation. The workshops take place at Şifa Köyü in Şile, on the Asian side of Istanbul. Dates change; our team tells you the next one, and if you come as a group we set the day together. Our team also tells you whether a workshop falls on a weekend.
Below, each workshop answers three questions: what is done, whether prior knowledge is needed, and what you take home.
What happens in the candle making workshop?
The wax is melted, a colour and a scent are chosen, and the candle is poured into a mould. With adult groups the workshop opens with a short breathing exercise. While the candle sets, the group talks about the intention it will be lit with: a wish, a thank you, an intention. You can ask our team which wax is used.
- Prior knowledge: The steps are done together, one by one, in the workshop.
- Preparation: Materials are discussed with our team while planning. If you are sensitive to a material, it helps to say so in advance.
- What you take home: The candle you made.
Can I join a painting workshop if I cannot paint?
Yes. There are no brushes in the Healing Art Workshop; paint is carried to the canvas with the fingertips. You do not need to know how to paint, because the aim is not to produce a beautiful picture. The workshop starts with a short breathing exercise, and then you turn to the colours you feel drawn to. The workshop is led by Merve Tüfekçi.
This workshop is not art therapy in a clinical sense, and it is not a treatment. Experiences differ from person to person.
- Prior knowledge: None needed.
- Preparation: Materials such as paint and canvas are planned with our team according to the number of people.
- What you take home: The painting you made that day.
What does a participant do in the sound workshop?
The Sound Therapy and Meditation Workshop is a group meditation with the sound of crystal bowls, Tibetan bowls, a gong and smaller shamanic instruments. It begins with a short breathing exercise. Then you lie down and listen to the instruments as they are played in turn. At the close the group sits quietly for a few minutes; anyone who wishes shares what they felt, and sharing is not required.
Although the name includes the word “therapy”, this is not a medical treatment. It is suggested that you come without expectations; experiences differ from person to person.
- Prior knowledge: None needed; you are not expected to know how to meditate.
- Preparation: Comfortable clothes and a mat are enough. The instruments are ready at the workshop.
Sound Therapy and Meditation Workshop →
Can someone who has never meditated join the meditation workshop?
Yes. The Meditation and Emotrance Workshop takes place in nature and is open to people who have never meditated before. The group works with the breath, meditates and practises Emotrance exercises. Emotrance is an experiential method that focuses on bodily sensations and emotions. In the workshop you try to notice where in your body you feel an emotion and to accompany it gently. This is not a treatment.
- Prior knowledge: None needed; everything is learned by doing in the workshop.
- Preparation: Our team tells you what to bring when the date is discussed.
Meditation and Emotrance Workshop →
Which other workshops are there for adults?
- Feminine Energy Activation: A workshop that brings together cards, crystals, dance and meditation.
- Affirmation Techniques Workshop: Affirmations are practised by writing, drawing, thinking and repeating; you leave with the sentences you wrote yourself.
- New Moon and Full Moon Meditation Workshops: Breathing and guided meditation in nature. The days of the new moon and full moon change every month, so our team gives the date.
Where are the workshops held, and is there an online option?
In-person workshops are held at Şifa Köyü in Şile, in a natural setting. You can also join the Meditation and Emotrance, Feminine Energy Activation, New Moon and Full Moon, and Sound Therapy and Meditation workshops online. All of the work can be done in Turkish or in English.
How is a weekend date arranged?
This post gives no fixed day, because dates change. When you write to our team you learn the date of the next workshop; if you are coming with friends, a day that suits you is set together. Details such as the fee are discussed in the same conversation. It helps to mention the following when you write:
- Which workshop you are interested in
- How many people you will be
- The range of dates you have in mind
- Whether you would like Turkish or English
In short, the choice becomes easier once you decide whether you want to take something home or to join a quiet practice: you leave the candle and painting workshops with what you made, while in the sound and meditation workshops the practice itself comes first.
This post is for general information only; it is not medical or legal advice.
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Frequently asked questions
On which days are the weekend workshops in Istanbul held?
There is no fixed day; dates change. When you write to our team you learn the date of the next workshop. If you are coming as a group, a day that suits you is set together.
Do I need prior knowledge to join?
You do not need to know how to paint for the painting workshop, or how to meditate for the sound and meditation workshops. In the candle workshop the steps are done together, one by one.
Which workshops give me something to take home?
You leave the candle making workshop with your own candle, the Healing Art Workshop with your painting, and the affirmation workshop with the sentences you wrote.
Can I join the workshops online?
You can join the Meditation and Emotrance, Feminine Energy Activation, New Moon and Full Moon, and Sound Therapy and Meditation workshops online. Our team explains the details.
Are these workshops a treatment?
No. The workshops are experiential practices; they do not replace a doctor or a psychologist. Experiences differ from person to person.