Where it all started…
My journey started around 2010 when I noticed the difference in my energy after a yoga class at a gym. It was as though the fog in my mind had been lifted and I was back to my normal and cheerful self. It didn’t take long before I felt I was running on empty again. It felt as though I only had a calm mind after a yoga class, which was once a week and the rest of the time I was frantically in my head with my thoughts and scratching away at my ever growing to do list.
‘we have a complex network of energy channels that run throughout the body known as the Chakra System’
After a few years of feeling like this I began to search for a better way. This lead me to train at the Harry Edwards Healing Sanctuary, which helped me understand that we have a complex network of energy channels that run throughout the body known as the Chakra System. In the same way as we cleanse our body daily with soap and water, there is a requirement to cleanse the energy within the body. If the energy channels within the body are neglected we can be left to feel lethargic and emotionally off balance. The great news is that this is easy to manage once we know how.
‘I now know this was the trigger of my anxiety, digestive issues and aches in the body, because the muscle in my body were always tense, ready to act on the outside stimuli’
As my journey progressed it lead me to train as a Hatha Yoga Teacher with Jillandra School of Yoga. My biggest AHA moment on the course was the discovery of how our breath can affect our nervous system.
When we are stressed we tend to breathe shallow into the chest, which triggers the Sympathetic Nervous System and the release of hormones (such as cortisol and adrenaline) into the body to prepare the body to either fight or flight to the outside stimuli. In times of physical threat these hormones are essential to keep us safe, but for me, and I am sure many of you can relate, the trigger was more often then not a physiological stress such as the pressure I put on myself to meet multiple deadlines and complete tasks.
I now know this was the trigger of my anxiety, digestive issues and aches in the body, because the muscle in my body were always tense, ready to act on the outside stimuli. The good news is that we can offset the effects the Sympathetic Nervous System has on the body when we trigger the Parasympathetic Nervous System through deep relaxation.
For me I like to do this by walking in nature, reading an easy to read book, listening to gentle music, through a guided meditation or a movement meditation with the use of gentle flow movements.
Ayurveda – using herbs, food & making lifestyle changes to bring my mind and body back into balance…
During the yoga course I discovered the philosophy of Ayurveda and everything seemed to click into place. I had been back and forth to the doctors for a minor health condition for 15 years, which always resulted in antibiotics. I had wondered if the food I ate or my chosen lifestyle had enhanced the condition and I often said “I would like to know what the root cause of the disorder was“. This led me to train at the Ayurveda Institute as an Ayurveda Lifestyle Coach.
The teachings allow me to recognise when there is an imbalance in my body and what herbs, food and lifestyle changes I can adapt to bring my mind and body back into balance.
Using mindfulness tools to help manage my anxiety…
Over the years I had adapted a more mindful way of living through my self care practice, but I knew I was only touching the surface of what mindfulness had to offer. With a mind full of thoughts and my anxiety taking a hold of me I decided to sign up to a 8 week Mindfulness for Health course with Breathworks.
I was sceptical at first, but as the weeks progressed I started to notice a difference in my every day life. Things that I would normally react to didn’t have the same affect.
I found I was acting more to situations rather than reacting. I was so blown away by the changes in my personal life, I decided to train as a teacher to enhance my own practice and the services I offer.
What I love the most is that the mindfulness tools I use are easy to apply to everyday activities.
Something missing, the JOY to be alive…
As my practice deepened I soon realised that even when I ate a balanced diet and managed my thoughts through mindful meditation there was still something missing.
That was the joy to be alive. A hobby that made me laugh, smile and move my body. This lead me to Chakra Dancing.
I loved the music so much, and felt a huge change in my own energy that I decided to train as a Chakra Dancing and Creative Mindful Meditation Therapist.
My ultimate goal is to combine and share the tools that have helped me on my own self care / spiritual practice with others via workshops, classes, weekend retreats and 1-1 sessions.
“If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it.”
Margaret Fuller