Nidra Gong Bath

This week a friend invited me to attend a Nidra Gong Bath at Alchemy Health Clinic in Wimborne. As this was a completely new experience for me I was only too happy to say yes! The hour long session was hosted by Jane Morgan Jones, who leads you first into Nidra Yoga (a kind of yogic sleep) with a guided meditation over an earthy heartbeat soundtrack and Scania Price, who then begins a meditation using gongs, shruti and mantra. The word bath has nothing to do with actual water - it refers to the sound of the gongs washing over you.

All that was required for the session was a yoga mat, a pillow and a blanket and all that we had to do was lie back, get cosy, relax and listen. Easy peasy!

The Yoga Nidra was familiar territory to me, as Jane guided us into a deeply relaxed state by first asking us to focus on each part of our bodies in turn, imagining them getting heavier and sinking into the ground. We were asked to bring attention to our breathing, becoming aware of how the breath entered and left our nostrils. Jane then took us into a journey of visualisation, asking us to picture a series of images in our minds - a blue lotus flower, a palm tree, a field of sunflowers, a smiling buddha and many more besides. She led us down a pathway to a little temple where we found ourselves face to face with our own reflections shining in a large gong ... and that was where the magic began.

Scania uses the gongs intuitively to build and release emotions and tensions - sometimes all you hear is a gentle, reassuring rumble, at other times it builds to an overwhelming crescendo of noise that vibrates and works its way through every cell of your body.  Despite the volume, you remain utterly still and relaxed ... I never once felt like I was going to fall asleep but I was definitely somewhere else ... in that space that exists between consciousness and sleep.

Different people experience different things during the meditation - for me it was a sense of something travelling right through my body and making physical changes, for my friend it was a series of colours and imagery popping up from nowhere. And I'm sure that when I go again it will be a completely new and different experience!

As the gongs died away at the end of the meditation we were brought back round by Scania singing a beautiful mantra and the gentle rustling of leaves - which to me conjured up mental images of a thousand doves fluttering their wings all around us. Finally, Jane invited us to slowly return to consciousness as the aroma of burning sage filled the room.  Afterwards there was the opportunity to ask questions or to comment on our experiences during the meditation. I felt amazing - cleansed, relaxed, energised, a million times lighter ... more alive! It was a truly profound and uplifting experience and I will definitely be going back for more next month.

I would especially recommend the Nidra Gong Bath for anyone experiencing stress, depression or needing to find clarity of thought. It really is good therapy!

I did feel slightly lightheaded and a little nauseous for a while after the session, but as a therapist I recognise this as part of the cleansing and healing process. It's advisable to take a bottle of water with you to drink afterwards, as this will help to facilitate the process and minimise these temporary side effects.

You can catch the next Nidra Gong Baths at the following locations:

The Italian Villa at Compton Acres Gardens, Poole - 17 August, 12pm, £10

Alchemy Health Clinic, Leigh Road, Wimborne - 28 August, 7.30pm, £10

Click here for a video of Scania in action on the Gongs!

Looking back ... and forwards!

As is natural for this time of year, I've been reflecting a lot on the events of the last 12 months - and what a year it has been!  I've enjoyed seeing my beautiful children continue to blossom and grow into confident young people. I'm lucky to work full-time in the wonderful world of arts marketing, which presents me with so many fantastic experiences and the chance to meet some amazingly talented people. I've been blessed to spend some brilliant times with the incredibly grounded, supportive and loyal friends that surround me - beautiful souls, all of them. And best of all, I've managed to successfully launch Sea Breeze Therapies - a long-term dream of mine that at times seemed just that - a dream.  It's been a long time coming (7 years, in fact!) but I've been utterly overwhelmed by the support and response I've had in such a short space of time.

I've taken the time to write a little about my intentions for 2015 - sometimes it helps to get it all down on paper (well, on screen at any rate!) I think the quote above is spot on, and the reason why many New Year's resolutions fail - we need to change our way of thinking before we can make any real changes to our lives.

Wellbeing

I started off 2014 in a state of flux with my health, having been plagued for many years with widespread muscular pain, often crippling fatigue and what can only be described as 'brain fog'. Finally in May of this year I was given a diagnosis of the chronic pain condition Fibromyalgia.  I had suspected it for some time, so it was no great surprise, but it did mean that I could finally eliminate the possibility of rheumatism or arthritis and start a course of exercise that would see the weight which had piled on during my diabetes-ridden pregnancy drop off. I've lost a stone and a half since May and I feel so good for it! I feel like I'm beginning to get the measure of this condition, and really hope I can continue to feel great in the new year.

Healthy Eating

This year I began to practice mindful eating. By this I mean, being totally aware of what you are consuming and when.  I start my day with a cup of hot lemon water - it's cleansing and refreshing, gets vital fluids into your body first thing and gives your digestive system a kick-start. For breakfast I have fresh fruit, a handful of nuts and a couple of tablespoons of low-fat natural yoghurt, perhaps with a drizzle of honey.  Lunch is usually a delicious, nutritious soup - chunky veg or those with beans are great for long-lasting energy release.  I also allow myself as much fresh fruit or raw veg as I want and drink plenty of water throughout the day (2 litres is recommended).  I tend to eat 'normally' at dinner times - when you work full time and have two small children planning separate meals is not practical!  I usually cook healthy family meals from scratch - spaghetti bolognese, risottos, jacket potatoes with tuna and salad, tacos, fajitas and pesto chicken salad are all firm favourites in our house. I try to be mindful of the portion sizes I eat, and I do steer clear of puddings. I really don't miss them any more - something I never thought I'd hear myself say!  So in 2015 I plan more of the same. Ideally I'd like to lose another half stone but I'm not going to stress it - 2014 has taught me that if I am more mindful when it comes to food, excess weight will come off when combined with a sensible exercise routine.

Exercise

This is a tricky subject for me. I love exercise - I used to be a great cross-country runner and spent all my formative years working with horses, which requires a considerable amount of fitness, strength and balance.  Fibromyalgia does not allow you to exercise easily - the pain can be crippling and the fatigue means you often just want to curl up in a ball and sleep.  But perversely, exercise is the single most useful thing you can do for this condition. Each person is different, and it's finding the right balance and working within your limits that is key. I've always loved yoga and this has been my saving grace this year. I devised a yoga routine that incorporated some more traditional strength building exercises, and do this every night, whilst watching TV. It's no hardship, believe me!  I combine this with a small amount of cardio (usually a fitness DVD, although I steer clear of those 'no pain, no gain' high intensity workouts) and run once or twice a week (no more than a mile, as that's all the tolerance this condition will allow me.) Weight has come off, yes, but it's the way my body has toned up and strengthened  that I'm particularly pleased with. My goals for 2015 are to work on my upper body strength.

Family Time

As I mentioned at the top of the page, I work full time, and fit massage treatments in during my evenings. My husband also works 3 or 4 evenings a week, so our time together is really limited. We have made a pledge to have at least one night a month where we give each other our undivided attention, and either have a night out or spend time together at home.  So vital for any relationship! 

Sea Breeze

This is the part I'm really excited about!  I have so many ideas buzzing around in my head about what I want to do, but I need to take some time out to do some proper business planning first. Priorities for 2015 will include renewing my insurance cover and my membership to a professional body. Training is high on the agenda - there are so many courses I want to do - I'd like to keep adding to my skills and knowledge so that I can provide the best treatments possible. I also want to do more with my Facebook page and blog - offers and discounts, interesting articles, giveaways, competitions, reviews etc.  I'd also like to develop a new corporate ID for Sea Breeze - something that will give my business a distinctive and appealing image.  And last but not least, I hope to continue to increase my client base, and always go the extra mile for each and every one of them. I have been blessed with some wonderful clients already, who have given me fantastic reviews on my Facebook page, referred friends to me and just in general talked about how much they enjoyed their treatments. I love getting to know my clients - most of them become good friends in the process and I am utterly blessed to have their support.

Whatever your intentions for 2015 I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy and healthy new year! Be kind to yourselves, spend time with family and friends and do whatever nourishes your soul.

Happy new year everybody! xx

Water - What You Need to Know!

Ever wondered why your massage therapist thrusts a glass of water at you when your treatment is finished and advises you to drink up?

It’s all for a good reason.

Massage can be very dehydrating on the body – all that kneading and work on the muscles forces fluid and metabolic waste out of the soft tissue and into the lymphatic system, where it heads towards your kidneys. (This is also why you often feel like you need the loo after a massage!) The lymphatic system acts a bit like the sewer pipes of the body – it collects and carries waste material away.

Tight or knotted muscles restrict circulation and inhibit your ability to flush out waste, so when massage has released that tension the waste that enters your circulatory system can be helped on its way to your kidneys  by ensuring you have a good drink of water. If these waste products are left to build up in your body it can cause you soreness in the days following a massage as well as other side effects including headaches or nausea.

Many people feel lightheaded and disoriented after a massage, so a glass of water is also a good way of helping them ‘come round’ gently.

  

How much water should you be drinking?

We all know water is vital to a healthy body, and most of us know that we should probably be drinking a lot more of it.  But how much, exactly? 

There’s no official scientifically-proven answer to that, but it’s generally accepted that around 2 litres a day is the desired quantity.  Any less than that and you can suffer from the effects described above, along with dry and inelastic skin, tiredness, irritability, depression or constipation.  If you’re not used to drinking this much water it can be hard at first – not least with all extra the trips to the bathroom that you find yourself making!  But if you build up your consumption over time your body and bladder do gradually adjust and you will find the benefits to your body and your skin are noticeable – drinking water really does go far beyond simply quenching our thirst.

 Too much of a good thing is bad for you

I’ve seen a few articles online recently which suggest you should be drinking as much as 4 litres a day. This is somewhat alarming, as where water is concerned it really can be a case of too much of a good thing is bad for you. Water intoxication, or hyponatremia, occurs when too much water is consumed over a short period of time, causing an imbalance of electrolytes (salts) in the blood.  This imbalance causes the brain to swell and prevents it from regulating vital functions such as breathing. It is extremely serious, and can cause death. Most cases of hyponatremia are seen when athletes over-hydrate during training or in competition, in Class A drugs users (drugs induce excessive thirst) or in the elderly, whose kidney functions may be impaired. Water intoxication is thankfully rare, but in light of some advice that is knocking around on the internet at the moment it’s definitely worth mentioning.

So the message of this blog is – go forth and drink plenty of water sensibly – it’s good for you!

The Science of Life

I'm giving a lovely treatment later this week, which not only feels fantastic, but when performed regularly can actually rejuvenate the face and diminish the appearance of wrinkles. Too good to be true, you say?  Read on ....

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurvedic facial massage is based on the ancient therapeutic principles of Ayurveda, which has been practiced in India for thousands of years and is one of the world's oldest holistic healing systems. Translating from the Sanskrit as "life science", Ayurveda promotes the idea that good health is achieved when your mind, body and spirit are in harmony, and that any disruption of this harmony can lead to ill health. Its primary focus is on promoting good health rather than fighting disease.

What's your dosha?

Under Ayurvedic principles, we are all comprised of three vital energies called doshas, known as vata, pitta and kapha. All three doshas are present within each of us to varying degrees, and are responsible for the characteristics of our mind and body. We tend to have one or maybe two dominant ones. It is when these doshas become unbalanced due to factors such as stress, our environment, our diet etc that we become ill.

What does the treatment include?

An Ayurvedic facial treatment begins with the client filling out a simple questionnaire to determine their dominant dosha. This will in turn allow the therapist to select a carrier oil that will suit the client's dosha profile and help keep them in balance according to Ayurveda.

The treatment itself is incredibly soothing - small circular movements are made with the fingers (first anti-clockwise and then clockwise) on the marma points (energy centres) of the face, neck and scalp.

What are the benefits?

Release of tension in the facial muscles
Improved skin tone/vitality
Stimulation of lymphatic drainage and circulation
Relaxation and rejuvenation
Harmony/balance across the whole body

This treatment isn't known as a natural facelift for nothing - it really can give your skin a wonderful rejuvinating boost and help reduce the appearance of fine lines on the face. Definitely one to try!