On Monday 9th August 2021, we were pleased and delighted to learn that we have been selected as finalists in the FHT 2021 Excellence Awards.
The award celebrates the success of those raising the bar in therapy education and practice and to be included as finalists is really good news.
We look forward to working in a post lock down environment, exploring ways in which we can continue to grow, develop and connect with communities.
This amazing book was mentioned on the Breakfast Club, I ordered a copy straight away, feeling somehow drawn to it, more to the title than anything else.
Written by a body psychotherapist it speaks of healing and the body centred steps by which this can be achieved.
What is of primary importance to me is the acknowledgement that trauma is experienced in the body and that the possibilities of healing this trauma can lie within the hands of the individual and the collective. Resmaa Menakem includes body centred exercises which relate to exploring and checking in with the body’s responses, some of the exercises are closely akin to meditation.
It is really refreshing to read material which in a sense affirms the healing practices which many of us have utilised; effective techniques which work with the body to heal and create balance.
Today we have moved into a phase where lock-down rules no longer apply in most instances.
We are looking forward to all the ways in which we can work within our communities to make techniques more accessible, whether this is through teaching or application, sharing knowledge and skills can impact on the wellbeing of not just the individual but also the collective.
Updated: Jul 3, 2021
Meditation has been an integral part of the workshops and training we have facilitated .
We have been delivering meditation in various forms within the community for a number of years, and the response has been positive.
I have found that meditation is a practice which can be very grounding, in the sense that the thoughts, and feelings, and continuous questioning which sometimes takes place within our minds becomes still, the energy which is given to the activity of thinking and over thinking, can seem like emotional and mental gymnastics. This can be exhausting and can manifest as stress, anxiety and even fear.
The introduction of meditation can offer the possibility of calming the mind, whilst creating a stillness within. Practiced within a group environment, there is a sense of community and connectiveness.
We encourage private practice, as it allows for the possibility of exploring the process in a different way, giving rise to opportunities to include other techniques, or to create an environment which is suitable for individual needs, e.g., use of incense, oil diffusers, music etc.
Receiving support from several community organisations, who offered spaces in which group meditation could take place assisted in making the process accessible.
Explaining the value of meditation and the ways in which it can improve both physical and mental health and wellbeing, can often encourage individuals to explore its possibilities.
Some of the benefits include, improved sleep patterns, the ability to manage stress and anxiety.
Research has suggested that regular meditation can improve brain functioning, offer greater clarity of thought and improve mental performance, and cognitive ability.
The additional benefits which can arise as a result of regular practice include decreased tension in the body, the lowering of blood pressure, and an increase in energy levels.
It is possible that even 10 or 15 minutes of meditation during the morning can lay the foundations for the rest of the day, which may mean greater calm, greater clarity and the ability to negotiate challenges with a new perspective.