Almost 40 women from diverse cultures and ages attended Seena’s “Mind, Body & Soul” event in Sydney, on Saturday 3 August 2024 held at Dar-ul-Islam in Bonnyrigg, dedicated to provide effective tools and strategies to help manage mental health challenges and improve overall well-being.
The event began with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an and acknowledgement of country by Mobinah Ahmad, Managing Editor of AMUST, who then welcomed attendees and went through the program for the day.
This was followed by a welcome address from Mrs Mehar Ahmad, President of Seena Inc, who spoke about the organisation and its various projects.
Mrs Mehar Ahmad, President of Seena Inc.
The workshop was facilitated by Dr Farah Khan, a psychologist (Provisional) with a PhD in Clinical Psychology, who has over 13 years of clinical experience and more than 20 years of teaching experience.
Dr Khan gave an insightful presentation on depression and anxiety, explaining what these conditions are, their symptoms, and effective ways to combat them.
Dr Farah Khan.
After Dhuhr prayer and a delicious halal Thai banquet, the hands-on workshops commenced. The focus was on teaching positive thinking, avoiding negative thoughts, and learning from the past without dwelling on it.
The first activity involved participants passing a table tennis ball quickly to each other’s cups. This fun exercise illustrated that engaging in physical activities can help shift focus when feeling sad or down.
Some women had their cups too full and couldn’t fit more in, symbolising the importance of using support when needed.
In the second activity, women passed cushions around while a timer was on. When the timer stopped, whoever was holding a cushion stood up, and the rest of the group showered them with positive affirmations, compliments on their beautiful smiles and dresses and asking Allah to bless their lives.
This exercise was incredibly uplifting, as the women supported and encouraged each other.
The third activity involved passing mirrors around. When the timer stopped, whoever was holding the mirror had to look into it and say “I love you” three times to themselves.
While confronting at first, the group’s encouragement helped everyone express self-love proudly. One attendee cheerfully exclaimed, “I love you, babe!” as she looked into the mirror.
In the final activity, participants privately wrote down their negative thoughts on paper. Dr Khan then asked them to rip up and discard the papers, symbolising the release of negativity.
“What you feed, grows. Let’s feed positivity and happiness,” Dr Farah Khan concluded.
Mrs Mehar Ahmad thanked everyone for attending and expressed her gratitude to Dr Khan for leading such a brilliant workshop.
She presented Dr Khan with a certification of appreciation as well as a lily plant, a symbol of beauty and growth that, with love and care, will bloom into a stunning white lily.
Mrs Mehar Ahmad with Dr Farah Khan.
Seena Inc has been hosting the “Mind, Body & Soul” event annually since 2021. The event provides a space for women to gather, relax, foster friendships, and feel empowered.
Attendees appreciated the learning experience from Dr Khan and the engaging activities. One participant shared, “The games and activities we played really made sense, and the way Dr Farah maintained her energy throughout was absolutely admirable. The food was flavourful as well. I enjoyed every moment of the workshop.”
Others echoed similar sentiments, praising the opportunity to socialise, connect with like-minded sisters, and actively participate in the activities.
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