“ As a regular participant, I have benefited beyond anything I could have imagined. Through this program, and the sacred space that is so tenderly held by Manaar and her team, I am healing wounds to unimagined depths within my being. In these deep wounds I have been able to transform anguishing pain into greater depths of love. I am in full support of this program for others who have been through a traumatic experience and who would like to heal themselves to a greater depth.”

I used my voice, which has always been timid and shy, to vocalize my pain. I put my pain into my voice. It started weak, slow, soft, and timid. Then it began to shift and became firmer, bolder, louder, and fuller. I completely let go and surrendered. A raw guttural sound erupted from every cell and from the depth of my being. It was a total and all-encompassing pain releasing. My sound went on and on... long long, long. I didn’t realize I hadn’t taken a breath for an unbelievable amount of time. I released! It was beyond any experience I’ve ever had... if that makes sense. I was completely drained but good drained. I was relaxed, centered, and grounded in my body. I’ve been able to continue to carry this feeling with me. The day after, my birthday, I spent alone. I was o.k and I am o.k. This experience has been transformational ..."

“ Manaar is a wonderful leader who, with a soft touch, invited participants to explore sound, beginning with our own breath, with body awareness, with our hands as instruments. We moved to song and then to drumming art a pace that enabled each of us to explore without concern there was a “right” or “wrong” to what we were doing. By the end of the session we were drumming, dancing and freely expressing ourselves in song. I appreciate the way Manaar brings her talent as a teacher, a musician, and a mentor to the process. She drew upon her multi-cultural background to bring us a sense of the cultures of the Middle East without limiting us to any one tradition. That, in itself, is healing”.