Com WS Aug 2014

Post script: इस वर्कशाप की सबसे अच्छी यादों मे से एक है - शनिवार की रात, खाना खाने के बाद सबको स्वीट शोप पर ले गये ऒर बोल दिया जिसको जो भी मिठाई खानी है ले ले, payment common fund मे से हो जायेगा, क्योकि पैसा बचा हुआ है । ऒर फिर सबने मिलकर एक mini party celebrate की । उसके बाद रात 11 से 11:45 योग ऒर ध्यान के फायदे बताये । फिर Sri Ramakrishna ने जो मध्य रात्री के ध्यान की बात कही है, उस पर कृष्ण जनमाष्टमी की पूर्व रात्रि पर 11:45 से 12:30 सबको guided meditation भी करवाया । (by Hemant)
Participants contributed to a donation (below) to Special needs children at Anugrah:

Last Day (third): The first session about feedback, was facilitated by Hemant. He will soon share about it. Hemant had organized two sessions on meditation in the hotel itself, on the previous night and today morning, discussing how a calm relaxed mind might help better communication. Some participants were given a news paper picture to give an extempore talk.
Feedback on the bus ride: It was a liberating experience for most of us. Everyone used some technique and couple of participants took things really far, giving a great time to other passengers and driving the conductor crazy! A movie made on this episode could be titled: Haklon ka Inteqaam! Most of us realized that there was no place, where they could not use a technique and speak, if they just made up their mind: That difficulties lie within, not without, not with words or situations or people.
Richard, a dentist and an entrepreneur from Australia, joined us about 11 am and a free Q&A session followed, gist of which was: people who dont stammer, also face equally daunting challenges in life; they survive and overcome them through determination, hard-work and constant practice. So can we, who stammer. Richard too gained some insights into human diversity.
After lunch, photo session. Some more discussion on: interconnections between: speaking- reading- writing - listening and "thinking" skills; Volunteerism; stage acting, classical singing, Gym, learning languages, martial arts, time management, how / why to start a shg in your work place or institution; how to keep up motivation? how to work out a graded course of challenges? etc. etc. The group exchanged IDs and phone numbers, to keep in touch and to phone and practice. The group also decided to attend NC, if possible. Everyone was gifted a DVD with some relevant material by Hemant. Hemant was thanked by the group, for the pivotal role played by him, in setting up this Comm WS. As the group dispersed, a participant shared a thought:

When nothing works, Voluntary stammering still works! When I make up my mind to stammer openly, I find, the word somehow comes out rather easily and the guy gets the point. I know now- it is all about attitude..not so much about techniques..( a participant)

In the hectic race from one event to the next, we just forgot one thing: our jamming session! Never mind, we will dance in NC! Watch out..
Thanks for reading!
(All the participants and Hemant)

Day 2: Recap. Block correction techniques. Pausing. Some theory and a lot more practice! But today, the group stayed outdoors, interacting with people near the OPD. In twos, they approached (perfect!) strangers and asked general questions and conducted stammering interviews too. A counselling session- learning and practising counseling techniques in pairs. Then, inside OPD, everyone spoke in front of the waiting patients and their relatives- kind of mini-intro in a "salesmen style" in a crowded market. After lunch- three subgroups presented a play each: Goa IPL auction (Many Thanks to Harish for the great script), Teen Bhikhari and Kangaroo. It was followed by free flowing feedback and discussion. And yes, a great fun round of mimicry! Last adventure on the menu was: a bus ride to Dakpatthar- an outing and a chance to practice all the skills participants had learned in last two days, in a real moving crowded Indian BUS..

Day one (15th Aug): Fifteen participants despite heavy rains. We begin with intro (individual, then rapid round). Some participants had already learned basics in Skype and Google hangouts (thanks Vishal/ Karthik/ Ninad!). We quickly covered Bouncing, gentle onsets, Prolongation, Voluntary stammering, eye contact, dealing with secondaries, breathing etc. Practised them in pairs, in mini groups. Stammering interviews generated interesting discussions about employment, dating, marriage, children! Finally mini-presentations in the OPD hall. Lot of side discussions. By 5 pm, the group had jelled in a vibrant group, where everyone was willing to share, listen and learn from each other. Due to heavy rains the group could not walk back to the hotel, so we got into two Maruti vans and left for Guru KIRPA (yes, that is OK!), where, we heard, that Hemant and another participants from Jalandhar had finally arrived after missing a train connection! Lot of adventure for one day!