IN SEEKING balance in their lives, women often strive to shed social pressures felt both consciously and unconsciously, and Festival du Feminin, founded in France, has helped many on this journey of transformation. Now it’s coming to Bangkok.

The first Festival du Feminin held in Asia takes place next week, on March 17 and 18, at the Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort. It comprises a series of workshops that offer a flexible approach to nurturing body, mind and spirit through inspirational experiences.

“The mission is to make women aware that the feminine dimension has a role to play in the harmony of the world,” says Sylvie Baradel, one of the organisers. “If women feel strong in body, mind and soul, we feel confident about playing a role in helping the world.”

The festival will host 10 workshops on each of the two days, each session lasting an hour and a quarter. “Participants can attend whichever ones suit their interests,” Baradel says. “Each workshop is done by international experts and facilitators – women who are committed to working with and guiding women to develop this power and creativity in their daily lives.”

Founded in Paris four years ago by Centre Tao, the women-only event has quickly gained an international following. It’s billed as “part of a larger global awakening to bring women together and empower femininity, in a sisterhood movement that is blossoming across the world”.

As well as interactive workshops covering “healing and spiritual arts”, the festival features “women’s circles” and “celebration evenings”. Leading the workshops and introducing “mind-body experiences and powerful practices” are facilitators mainly from France and Quebec. The topics include ethnology, sexology, shamanism, energy healing and midwifery

The aim is to “help women follow their own path to reach their deepest, most sacred and lively inner world. Physically, mentally and spiritually enriching, the festival exposes women to a wide variety of practices, including initiation rituals, visualisation, meditation, holistic modalities and creative arts.”

“The festival has extended across France and into neighbouring French-speaking countries such as Belgium, to Morocco and as far as Quebec in Canada, the US and Colombia,” says Baradel. Another is planned for India next year.

“Since I live in Bangkok I wanted to bring the festival to Thailand for its first time in Asia. What’s unique about the festival is that it’s made only for women and only women are allowed to attend. It’s a special time and space for women, wherever they are and of whatever age and culture, to gather together and discover what we have in common and become stronger together.

“Women network in business and socially, but during the festival there are no political, economical or social issues. This is something intimate that belongs to the universe and deals with inner transformation,” Baradel notes.

“In their hearts, women sometimes feel it’s nice to be a woman, but how many girls are also thinking, ‘Why am I a victim of something? Why it is easier for the men, why do they dominate? But we are not trying to wage a battle. We just want women to come together and find their space – find what they have inside that makes them strong – so they can get up on their feet and express themselves.”

She cites research indicating that most women deny, even unconsciously, being afraid of becoming a victim in a society dominated by men. “There is much healing that needs to be done in each country. If I have one wish, it would be that every woman in this world feels proud to be a woman.”

Admission to both days of the festival costs Bt6,000, covering all workshops and including a Bt500 voucher for food and beverages. Proceeds after expenses will be donated to GAMS (Group for the Abolition of Female Genital Mutilation), a French non-profit organisation that is also trying to end the practice of forced marriage.

Buddhist nun Mae Chee Sansanee Sthirasuta, founder and director of the Sathira-Dhammasathan Centre in Bangkok, has endorsed the festival, as have Antoinette Layoun, who was forced to be a child soldier in Lebanon and now promotes peace, and the yoga guru Swami Shantiananda Acharaya.

– The Festival du Feminine takes place on March 18 and 19 at the Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort.

-The workshops will be |conducted in English and French.

– Learn more at http://www.FestivalDuFeminin.com/en/bangkok or |”festivaldufeminin” on Facebook.

– Those attending can book a Deluxe Premier Room at the Anantara at the discounted rate of Bt3,400-plus per night, inclusive of breakfast for two. Email bangkokriverside@anantara.com and quote “Festival du Feminin” or call (02) 476 0022, extension 1503.