I was very scared watching myself here (DIP Madrid Workshop recording)... But then I saw that I did everything I had been hiding for years, and that instead of running to the sink I ran to myself and could not vomit. Then I saw how much I had been avoiding going crazy, not being scary. Then I experienced how BIG this seemingly small act actually was. I lived it for quite a long time. Then I forgot where I was, what I was doing, who I was... I consumed myself. Slowly I drifted apart with people I did not know, in a country whose language and feelings I knew nothing of. Not to mention being physically displaced! Not understanding felt so good... At least as good as GOING CRAZY... Thank you Ziya...
Gizem Topal
Professional Dancer | Stage Performance
How can something be so pragmatic, so spiritual and so much fun at the same time?! I felt great respect, it was so inspiring. I grew closer to my body, which was what I wanted most. Playing with it… What I had missed the most… Being alone together was so precious. My favorite thing! And here is the practice. There is intimacy. Nobody is running a spiritual competition! Everyone is so natural… Creating such an environment, and the way you hold it, is very, very precious. Thank you, my teacher.
Can Jarna Öztürk
Concept/Production Designer
I released a huge anger inside me that was rootless and causeless, completely unnecessary in my system. It is hard to put into words the contribution of the space that made my body feel so strong, safe and full of love — and it would break the spell :) ... For this I want to thank you from the most beautiful part of my heart... I jump onto your big neck and embrace you with feelings of respect, love, friendship and unity.
Büşra Ekşi
Dancer
And short notes after the journey: Everyone who sees me says "YOU ARE GLOWING!". So this work polishes the soul... I do not want to smoke. I do not know how this happened. I thought it was the extra oxygen changing the body. Normally 1.5 packs a day; now, for 3 days, not even 1 pack is finished... This work served my body, my soul, my mind, my heart, my eyes, my ears — every bit of me. In other words, what touches my soul after hours of yoga happens here within a few minutes. Because right now doing pilates and trying to open my spine, or walking to lose weight, feels almost ridiculous... I will come back, I will offer all of this, and on top of whatever I will yet discover, there is a world of unknown joy in this place... It was a strange answer, I cannot explain it to my life...
Esin Tümer
Lecturer
Social statuses, masks, ages, prejudices and the like all slowly disappeared, and the journey towards the unity of being one soul began. We started with the body, the garment of the soul. We breathed, got to know our muscles, loved our body, found our axis, tuned our perceptions, felt our presence, noticed our little universe… Tiny neutrons and giant planets came together at one point, and we became us. We saw that walking the path to the Creator lies within us, and that there is an entrance gate to that path from within us. We returned, we returned, we returned… Only the one who returns
Zeynüddin Aslan
Creative Drama Leader
It was as if a bundle had been taken and turned inside out. The crumbs inside poured out one by one, the rubbish was thrown from the inside out, the wrapping was opened... I could not leave everything about the past in my hand, in my palm, in my essence; I could not keep it inside. There were tears, and they all poured into the cleansing... So this is really what your work is; when I whirled with Ziya it was as if everything was left behind — I returned, and became a new me.
Özlem Baydar
Learning Designer, Coach, Mentor, Speaker
Ziya teaches us to ignore the brain — which he calls "the big boss" — and its desire to always be in control. He tells us: "stop being civilized, do not make polite conversation, just go inside". We do this on the last day. I whirl for about 40-50 minutes, spinning around myself… This is how I love life: going one step further every day, without fear, by trying — whether that step is inward or outward. I am happy. I will have my red skirt sewn as soon as possible, and this year I will celebrate my birthday by whirling.
Meltem Tolunay
Research Assistant
In these three days, where egos were set aside and sharing carried a different meaning for each participant, the only indispensable things were the harmony between the group's energy and dynamism and one's own inner world, the peace and happiness on the faces of individuals trying to perform the art of whirling in their own style, and the serenity brought by the desire to reach Unity. I would like to thank Ziya Azazi, who devoted his limited time to meeting new people, to passing on his knowledge with a different method, to motivating and energizing us with his attention to each one of us, and to filling the room with his heart while whirling.
Canan Minkara Emgen
HR Director
We are in speed, in delight, yet we are the ones who dwell here; we do what our eyes see. We are where our essence touches; we go, we return, we wander within ourselves — this is what we mean. We stay here… Thank you, my dear teacher Ziya Azazi
Hülya Değerbilir
Architect
I would like to thank Ziya Azazi, who contributes to the lives of others with his quality teachings and inspires people through the window he opens onto his own "process". In my view, the combination of content enriched with concise, clear and memorable metaphors and a modest, sincere communication style made a coherent workshop possible. What else could his ability to embrace a group of different ages, professions, religions, education levels and subcultures across the various dimensions the work requires be, other than the mental reflections of the "smart muscles" in his body?
Hana Rita Scherler
Faculty Member
Yesterday we had a wonderful experience with our magnificent teacher Ziya Azazi! We set out on our own inner journey, learned that it is possible to control our brain, and began to look at life and at ourselves from a different perspective. Here we are not only learning to perform Semah; we are also learning to live ourselves. I am grateful for what I have learned and for what I will learn…
Nilüfer Ömürlü
Artist
Ziya Azazi, thank you for your heart, your mind, your soul and your being. It was a perfect experience for me. A memory hard to forget, to be shared for a lifetime. Thank you…
Süreyya Adiloğlu
Dance Teacher
Ziya Azazi, thank you too — for your support, for creating and sustaining this space, for sharing, for integrating, for our journey of colors in every moment, and for your big heart. May it keep adding flavor…
Meriç Fıratlı
Musician
A person discovering themselves, experiencing that they can control their mind, seeing that they can do things they thought impossible, sharing the same space with truly sincere hearts while doing all this, the first thing that comes to mind on hearing good music being the desire to whirl, shedding the weights upon them while whirling — and doing all of this thanks to, and right beside, a great master... How could I describe this in a few sentences? Dear Ziya Azazi, I feel very lucky to know you… Endless thanks…
Handan Ergezer
Mindfulness Trainer
I was surprised that, in a foreign place, I could do things I normally thought I could not do — and so comfortably — and I saw that I was able to adapt… From now on, I will try to follow your activities and you with great pleasure. I hope everyone one day has the chance to meet you and to experience the feeling you create. Thank you so much for everything!
Gökhan Deli
I left the simulation called life and entered reality. Trust, like everything, is a relative illusion; you cannot trust — you can believe, and you make a choice. You determine what you are when you whirl or when you stop. In my new world everything is meaningful, necessary and balanced. I have finally reached my center. At the limits of my age and my body, I aim to burn away the excess upon me and turn into air. Son of life who held my hand, you are light, just like your name — I am grateful to you forever.
Zuhal Tunç
Expert Guidance Counselor
This was a profound experience that deeply affects people's existence and their questioning throughout their lives. It was a pleasure to meet a kind-hearted and hard-working person who contributes such beautiful things to life and to people. I understand your value. Thank you... With love...
Özlem Onay
Thanks to your guidance, I realized for the first time that my mind and body have done an incredible job of protecting me and keeping me alive all these years, and I developed a new sense of gratitude. But of course, that is not all. The sleeping being within me keeps me alive, yet it turned out it needs boundaries to do so. The real fun began after it woke up — when we joined forces, changed direction, and the boundaries began to be lifted one by one.
Özlem Atabay
I returned to the true self within me; I realized how much I had been hiding from myself — perhaps for the first time I stayed with myself and truly became me. I saw how small I am before our place in the world you described to us, and yet how big I am with myself. I discovered that falling in love begins with myself, that the things called impossible are actually within me, and how much the whirling I never expected could bring me closer to myself. Thank you for helping me step outside of my self.
Ceylan İpekçi
I was deeply impressed by how quickly my friends who joined the workshop shifted into and opened up to a new state. And the fact that collective whirling can create a field of collective consciousness impressed me too. For me, it was the happiness of being able to stay in the flow without limits, just like in my childhood.
Lamia Karaali
I forgot myself, I stripped away the concept of self and saw that another self exists. I returned to my heart and felt myself, my heart and my sincerity. Leaving the world behind and looking through another door, I saw what true peace is and where it is — that it is within me. With your effort and your courage, you shed a light on my path...
Çiğdem Demirayak Özsoy
Entrepreneur
This showed me how precious the "me" is in my life. You gave me moments in which I can return to myself and make time for myself. Thanks to your transfer of knowledge and motivation, I whirled without any difficulty. And more :) Thank you very much — I am happy to be with you.
Elçin Canbaz
My perspective on life and on myself has changed. I overcame my fears. I began questioning certain concepts again. My boundaries expanded. If this is a journey, I have only just begun — and as you always say, I am no longer the same me. And of course, none of this would have happened without you and your suggestions as a teacher. Every time we talked, we learned something new from you. Only thanks to your miraculous energy and motivation could we create our own miracle. I am grateful.
Ayşe Dumral
Sir, working with you was one of the special Nme periods I lived. I faced some of my fears freely and by being alone with myself. It was very enjoyable to try to be myself honestly, to be able to dominate my mind although I rarely succeed, to explore with your guidance. It was wonderful to have a tremendous sense of inner peace. I'm looking forward to your next work.
Zehra Emiroğlu
Dietitian
