"The meditation and relaxation evening with Maggie was brilliant - just what my body and mind was crying out for...I shall be returning again and again."
Lucy Timmings
"Great weekend with great company and wonderful food, I strongly recommend it."
David Donaldson; Chesterfield
STRESS MANAGEMENT
The use of Meditation and relaxation for healing is not new. Meditative and relaxation techniques are the product of diverse cultures and peoples around the world. Indeed they are rooted in the traditions of the world's great religions.
Relaxation and meditation techniques, such as mindfulness meditation, autogenics, progressive relaxation and stretching, all assist with stress. Meditation involves the client quieting the mind letting go of all sensory input, finding a place within and relaxing into our quite place.
Meditation and relaxation are proven alternative therapies they can be broadly classified under "the mind-body medicine". More and more doctors are prescribing meditation and relaxation, as a way to "lower blood pressure," improve exercise performance.
Meditation and relaxation can also help people with asthma breathe easier, relieve insomnia and generally help to improve the everyday stresses of life. Meditation and relaxation are safe and simple ways to balance a person's physical, emotional, and mental states. Simply they can be can beneficial to everybody.
I'll teach you basic approaches to meditation and relaxation and practice using guided and unguided methods to aid "stress management and the promotion of mind-body health". Meditation and Relaxation is open to persons of all physical ability levels and in both individual and groups sessions.
Relaxation
The ability to relax at will is an important ability that everyone should possess, in my opinion. Today’s life in the western world is very tense, stressful, both mentally and physically. This is true for high-tech and computer workers, who sit long hours in front of the screen, creating constant tension in some muscles and joints, for many hours a day. This is also true for other workers, such as those who drive a lot, especially in dense traffic, when the mental pressure is high.
Stress/anxiety is very common word these days, as people blame stress and anxiety for many of their problems. People have a hard time trying to relax but they can learn with my help.
RELAXATION TECHNIQUES
Below are the main relaxation techniques I can teach you or treat you with.
Massage Therapy - the manipulation of skin, muscles, ligaments, and connective tissue for the purpose of releasing muscle tension and increasing physical comfort of musculature and surrounding joints.
Reiki - read more in the What is Reiki? section.
Progressive Muscular Relaxation - tensing then relaxing the body’s muscle groups in a systemic and progressive fashion to decrease muscle tension.
Autogenic Training - a relaxation technique where the individual gives conscious messages to various body parts to feel warm and heavy; effects are thought to result from vasodilatation to the specified body regions intended for warmth and heaviness.
Mental Imagery - using the imagination to observe in the first-person images created by the unconscious mind and falls into categories:
- 1) images that replicate peaceful scenes to promote relaxation
- 2) images that substitute a less desirable behavior with a more healthy one
- 3) images that help to heal damaged body tissue.
Visualization - a directed exercise in mental imagery; consciously creating images of success, healing, or relaxation for the purpose of self-improvement.
Six week course: for people who experience stress/anxiety/depression
I will introduce clients to relaxation and stress management techniques for those experiencing stress/anxiety or depression that may be a response to physical or emotional issues.
Clients will be offered the opportunity to experience differing methods of stress management and reduction and relaxation techniques. This will include exploring and controlling anxiety provoking thoughts, visualisation and meditation and also an ‘emergency relaxation response’
Each week I will discuss and work with her clients regarding their issues around stress and anxiety. There will be the opportunity to practice and develop skills to help reduce stress levels.
Clients will be given a folder at the beginning of their course and also a number of handouts at each session which will cover the theory and practice relating to stress and stress management.
Session (1)
What is stress and anxiety?
The physical and psychological aspects of stress
What is relaxation?
The importance of relaxation & stress management
Practical: relaxation techniques
Session (2)
The impact of relaxation on a person's mind
Dealing with negative thoughts & anxious thinking
How psychological techniques can help assist clients in managing stress
Emergency relaxation technique for acute stress
Session (3)
Examination of everyday life and stress
Why anxiety is ‘normal’
Why we are ‘programmed’ to worry and be anxious
Exploration of how we can change the ‘programming’
Session (4)
Exploration and examination of the right technique for the client
Different methods of achieving relaxation
Exploration of:
- Lifestyle
- Stress
- Anxiety
Session (5)
Assisting the client to develop their skills
Assisting the client in developing ways of incorporating relaxation in their daily lives + helping them to deepen their experience of relaxation
Assisting the client to examine how they can make time for relaxation and ensuring that the method of relaxation is right for them
Session (6)
Assisting the client with their relaxation plan
Looking at building on what the client has learnt over the past few weeks
Helping the client plan for the future
Relaxation and visualisation techniques
Consolidation of past few weeks
Cost: £30 per session
SPECIAL 6 SESSIONS FOR THE PRICE OF 5 OFFER: book all 6 sessions in advance for only £150 - save £30 (1 hour session)
Monthly Sessions
Once a month relaxation and meditation meeting for a group of 4 people or more.
Last Tuesday of the month, 7pm till 9pm (refreshments supplied).
A fun evening, sharing experiences of stress and anxiety and developing ways of combating stress - relaxation and meditation techniques included in the sessions.
Cost: £5.00 per person, minimum of 4 people