Showing posts with label Swindon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Swindon. Show all posts

Saturday, 1 February 2025

Swindon Wellbeing Festival at STEAM! 🧘 🌿

 

I am excited to be presenting and running a workshop at this event!

📍 STEAM Museum

📆 8th & 9th February 2025

20 min talk: 'Who are you really?'

45 min workshop: 'Gaite way to relaxation' How the way you walk can tell you about yourself.

The whole event programme is included with your day ticket. This includes an exciting range of workshops, mini-treatment sessions and talks, all designed to help you to improve your overall wellbeing.


Book your tickets online today: https://www.steam-museum.org.uk/event/swindon-wellbeing-festival/

Tuesday, 20 December 2022

I am ready to celebrate! But it’s not what you think.

When I started my Remedial Massage practice, in 1993, a ‘business mentor’ said that it wouldn’t work in Swindon; I should go to Totnes or Glastonbury!

My thought was: relocating is not an option and people deserved pain relief in other towns too! 

 As Sean Stevenson put it: “don’t believe a prediction that doesn’t serve you!”


So despite the prediction and the difficulties life threw at me along the way, I followed my passion. Now I can celebrate 30 years in business  for the whole of 2023!

 

nd massage in a spa

I want to celebrate with you as I truly enjoy what I do.  Helping people get better never feels like work and it now includes a lot more than massage. So I have devised 30 special mini retreats, available till 30th Dec 2023. 

Maybe you are ready for a reset or a reboot like with old computers to get them functioning better.

Just like I was told my business wouldn’t work, have you been told that:

 

If you work hard you will succeed, Computers will make your life easier, Doctors will make you better!  

This is what I heard as a child from parents, teachers, the media... However these didn't fit my experience of life. Trying harder just made me exhausted and frustrated at not making progress.

Computers haven’t really made my life easier.

My experience as a nurse helped me realise conventional medicine was ill equipped to deal with chronic problems.

I believed these, until I realised they were just stories.

We have been conditioned to believe that someone else’s way is the right way and often only way.  

How about in your life, are you lead by false beliefs?

We have been taught that in order to be liked we have to be good and behave. That generally means to listen and please others, rather than honour ourselves, our needs and values.

How often have you had a gut feeling and not followed through, then regretted it? This is because you were listening to someone else's path, not your own and staying true to yourself.

Ignoring such feelings and persistently sacrificing yourself can lead to frustration, anger, and overwhelm. Effectively what most people accept as normal stress. It arises because everyone else's wants and needs are getting on top of you. It might be the norm but that doesn’t make it normal!

Have a spa and relax!

Do you deal with it by ignoring it hoping it will magically vanish one day? Or maybe you go away for a spa day, or have a massage now and again. You might even think that going on holiday will make it better.

However, have you noticed that you relax there, but when you get home the same things still wind you up? Nothing has changed!

To me these are temporary avoidance. It's OK, they help recharge your battery but doesn't resolve anything.

You see, most spas and massages are designed as a generic product. They are not there to help you address specific issues and a holiday is a distraction and can be sometimes be just as draining.

Have the things you are doing to improve your situation stopped working or not working as well?

Doing more of the same and expecting a different outcome, is insanity, 

according to Einstein. 

Do you really want things to change?

Maybe you are ready for a completely different kind of retreat. One that can help you feel better for more than a few hours. One that can make a difference to your life. You might not need to do more but feel comfortable doing less.

YES, you can stop people-pleasing without your world falling apart!

Are you ready to put yourself first? (Yes you’ll probably feel guilty but this retreat can tackle that too.)

Remember, you can't take care of others if you don't look after yourself first. This is why you must put your own oxygen mask on, before helping anyone else (including your children!)

Do you want the courage and confidence to live YOUR life, rather than the one you have been told or believe you should live?

Because as the quote often wrongly attributed to Oscar Wild says 

“Be yourself, everyone else is already taken”.

 

Changing your relationship with yourself, will affect the one you have with food, money, work and ultimately your relationship with others. You can't change others but you can change yourself!

It is easier than you imagine because you already have all the tools you need. How do I know?  You are still alive! So whatever life has thrown at you so far, you have survived it!

Now you can choose to do more than survive and it starts with being able to love yourself. You can then love your life and others more, if you wish. The lack of alignment with our deepest self is the greatest cause of stress.

Ready to celebrate who you really are? Want to trust yourself, so you can have more of the life you want?   

The Body~Mind relax and regenerate mini-retreat is for you.


You will have a completely unique blend of physical treatments, as well practical approaches that will help you ease tension, find peace of mind and deeply relax. Like a complete physical, mental and emotional makeover!

 At the end, you will be able to think more clearly. Rather than simply patching symptoms that resurface over and over again, you will understand and be able to tackle the causes of your discomfort. Because only in a truly relaxed state are we most creative and best able to make good choices.

You will begin to feel yourself again, ready to own your life, in the knowledge that you are comfortable being who you are. A human being, not a human doing.

Not only are these 30 sessions unique to my birthday celebration, I am also giving the first 9 people who book a discount on the £300 price.

If this is not for you, but you would like to find out about other offers and events, I will be running over my celebration year, subscribe to my UPdates. 

You can also find some self help videos on my Youtube channel.

 

In order to get the most benefit you will need to commit to a 2 day, one to one, experience.

 Day 1:

Morning: You will be focussing on a reflective practice setting your intention and planning what you want from the retreat.

Prepare your lunch and evening meals. Ensure your home will be a nice place to relax in the evening and next day.

Afternoon: At 1.30pm you will join me, at my practice, for a 4hours treatment tailored to your needs.

It will include:

 -Clarifying your morning preparation about you intention for the session. Explain what you would like to achieve at the end of day 2.

- A physical assessment (Eg. gait, posture, mobility, blood pressure)

- An optional foot spa, a 90 min full body massage and/or other body work to release physical tension.

-Address, release and give you tools and techniques to deal with your most pressing cause of stress.

Evening: You will return home and continue to relax, eat the food you prepared that morning and sleep in the comfort of your own bed.

 

Day 2:

Morning  you will have time to reflect on what is really holding you back and what you are ready to change. 

Afternoon: a zoom call will answer any question that may have arisen and addressed the issues you have uncovered.

This process will:

Help you see the wood for the trees, by getting some clarity on the things that are truly getting in your way. Often not the things you think are the problem.

You will be able to put into practice easy techniques to help you get a better night’s sleep and improve your life.

Help you feel contented and more yourself. Feel more confident that you can own your life in the knowledge you are comfortable being who you are: a human being rather than a human doing!

Commitment:

You will need to have cleared your diary of commitments for the day of the treatment and the following day so you have time to process all the changes.

  

As I mentioned, there are only 30 retreat sessions available between now and 30 Dec 2023.

The first 3 to book will get over 30 % discount at £210

 The next 3 will pay £230

And 3 more get £30 off at £270. 

 

To book or for any further information, get in touch.

Until next time, be well, be you. 

Julie Nicholls Body~Mind Coach


Wednesday, 20 May 2020

Tips to find the right therapist

When you choose to see a therapist or coach, you are putting your health and well-being in their hands to some degree. So, how do you choose the right therapist for you and your condition or problem?
 "Be a free thinker and don't accept everything you hear as truth. Be critical and evaluate what you believe in". Aristotle 

Why did I write this?

If you're new to looking for a therapist or you want to find one you feel might be more suitable for you, then I hope this article will help you find the right therapist for you.

When I started in practice in 1993, therapists were few and far between.  Now, it seems, every town has hundreds of practitioners, therapists and coaches offering a myriad of possible solutions to your problem.

On the face of it this gives you a lot of choice - a good thing you might think.

What alarms me is, that some training establishments offer qualifications, for lay people, to be therapists after only a one day course. Or even worse, solely by correspondence.  And many without any anatomy or physiology knowledge.  Hence the explosion of therapists and therapies in our high streets and on the web.

As I mention in Why Therapy Doesn't Work, many 'treatment' offerings are nothing more than relaxation. While that's important, you might get as much benefit from a friend with a listening ear, and it won't cost you an arm and a leg!

Hopefully if you see a therapist/coach, you experience a sense of well-being after a treatment/session and feel pleased with the outcome.  If not or you're left with a nagging feeling that you would like more, then I suggest you read on and judge for yourself whether it's the right therapy or therapist / coach for you.

 How to find the right therapist or coach for you!
If you're new to this or have doubts about right the type of treatment for your problem, here are some tips, questions and information to help you choose.

Because a practitioner or therapist has helped you with one condition, or because they helped your friend who had a similar issue to yours, does not necessarily mean that they're right for you this time.

About the practitioner

 

Their qualifications

Ask yourself and them the following:
  1. What qualifications do they have?
  2. How long was the training to achieve those qualifications?
Training diploma for IEMT
There are many people calling themselves therapists or practitioners who have only attended a weekend course without any further training, home study or practice.

Although they may have the skill to perform the techniques learned, this does not necessarily make them able to treat your specific problem nor have the skills to run a professional practice.


      3. When did they qualify?
      4. How long have they been in practise?

The answers to these last  two may be very different.

They may have qualified many years ago, but have only just started their practice.  Ergo, they might not be up-to-date with developments or new standards.  It may also make a difference to their skill level, as this develops with the number of clients treated. 

Qualifying in a therapy does not necessarily equip everyone with the skill to run a professional practice. Many people skills are required which are not usually taught in ‘therapy’ schools. By which I mean such things such as record keeping, communication, bedside manners and empathy.

They may not stay in practice long if they don't possess such attributes. This doesn't make them a bad practitioner. But you might want to consider if you want to invest your time and money on someone you're not sure will be able to help you in the long run. Particularly if you have a chronic condition which may need ongoing support.

How skilled are they in what ails you?

Consider:
  1. Have they ever treated the type of problem you have?
  2. And if not, is there any evidence that the type of therapy they're offering is helpful to your specific condition?
If the answer is NO to both these questions, then this might not be the right therapist for you. If it's no to the first, but yes to the second, it may be the right therapy but not the right therapist. Is there someone they can recommend?

What else do they offer?

Do they offer you other products or services, which may help support your recovery? Or are you left to find those for yourself?

Do they provide advice or information to help you to understand your condition so you can help yourself, or do they just treat you and send you on your way until the next visit.

If they do offer advice:

Are they simply telling you what to do? Or do they provide you with information you can refer to once you are home? A few days later it may be difficult to remember some of the details.

Do they demonstrate what you need to do and then let you do it, to make sure you are doing it correctly?  Do they check you are doing it correctly?

I've had countless clients who've been told to do an exercise and been given a leaflet (generally by a doctor or physiotherapist). But they never actually went through the exercise with the therapist so the client isn't sure they are doing it correctly.

Legalities

 

Do they have professional indemnity insurance?


If something were to happen and they're not insured, you would find it difficult to claim compensation, as they may not be able to pay the amount awarded. God forbid, however these things do happen as in this case in 2019.

Do they hold membership of a professional body?

Logo for the LCSP register for remedial massage therapists

In some fields like osteopathy, chiropractic or acupuncture and in my fields of Remedial Massage and IEMT, this is compulsory. In others fields there is no regulatory body.


This may mean practitioners don't have standards, set by governing bodies, which they have to comply with . They may not need to keep up with advances in their field of practice or demonstrate any proof of continuing professional development.

Also, you may have no one to turn to about the standard of the care or treatment you received, if you feel it 's not satisfactory. Such an instance leaves the therapist free to continue practising - even if they fall short of even basic care.

 

About the Session

 

Duration

How long does a session take?  And how long will the effect last?
Some treatments take less than ten minutes. So if you need to travel an hour or so to get there, is it really worth your time or could you find someone closer?

On the other hand, if the session lasts two hours, it may well be worth the journey.
Often sessions are weekly until your symptoms improve - sometimes it could be more than this. This could make it difficult for you to fit in, if you have to take time off work.

You may want to consider this in relation to the next questions regarding cost and venue.

Cost 

  1. Does the price reflect the time it takes (so charged by the hour for example) or the value of the session?
  2. How many sessions will you need? And do you need a minimum number of sessions?
  3. At what times are sessions available? Will you be easily available then?
  •   Here is what Andy Austin developer of IEMT has to say about therapists and their pricing structure
  • https://youtu.be/F-9vylNJrKY

The Venue

  • How easy is it to get to the practice, especially if you are using public transport?
    • How long will it take?
    • Is there be parking near-by?  If so will you have to pay for it?
    • Will you need to use stairs or a lift to get to the room?
All important to consider if you are not very mobile because of pain or you suffer from claustrophobia for example.

 

About you!

 

How were you treated?

If you're already seeing someone or have spoken to them over the phone - ask yourself how that person treated you. The sessions are meant to be about you and you need to feel ultimately that you are getting value for money. I know your health is priceless but for most people the wallet doesn't extend that far!

Rushing
  1. Do feel you had enough time to explain your problems before a solution or treatment plan was offered?
  2. Does the practitioner give you time to ask questions?
  3. Do you have time to share your progress or difficulties? 

Rapport

  • Do you feel you're the most important person to that practitioner at that moment? Or do you feel their mind is elsewhere?
  • Is the session about you and offering a solution or simply about applying a technique?
  • Do you feel every session is unique to you?  Or is every treatment much the same with same technique used each time? Whether it works or not.
  • What would make your experience better? What, if anything, might be missing?
  • If you know what it is, are you able to tell the practitioner, so that the session can be improved? Or do you feel they wouldn't be receptive to this? After all you know your body better than anyone else ever will. Any practitioner worth their salt would respect that.

Reaction

Ultimately, do you feel comfortable with the practitioner/coach or therapist in question?  Or do you have a sense that something is not quite right?  Even though you may not be able to put your finger on it, it's vital you trust your instinct. You might pick this up in a handshake or something they say.

When I started my practice, I wanted to work from a chiropractic clinic. I was interviewed by the owner and I thought something was off then but could not have told you what the problem was. Twenty years later the chiropractor was forbidden to practice, due to inappropriate behaviour with a client.

Remember this is your time and money you're spending.  It's important that you feel completely comfortable with both the therapist and the type of treatment you're receiving.

Here is a different perspective regarding personal training and finding the right coach which you may also find useful. As well as these  5 tips , 10 ways to find a therapist  and why the relationship with your therapist matters


Wishing you health and happiness - naturally!
All rights reserved Julie Nicholls 2020

Why therapy doesn't work!

There are three main reasons why therapy doesn't work - and why therapists fail their clients!

Image of bridge with cloud cover with Einstein's quote Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results



If you're anything like most of my clients, you'll have seen a whole range of therapists and had a whole lot of therapy.

Yet your pain or discomfort remains and you feel the fundamental issue isn't resolved. You may still be seeing someone at the moment for fear that things will get worse if you stop. 



 

Why therapy doesn't work!

A practitioner might have told you: 'There's nothing more I can do for you. You'll have to learn to live with it.' Yet never telling you what things you needed to learn so you can live with it. One way why therapy doesn't work.

“A wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings, and learn how by his own thought to derive benefit from his illnesses.” Hippocrates
Are you now thinking that it is impossible to get better, so you put up with pain and discomfort? Do you take medication, you'd rather not, because you're worried about the side effects?

Do you long to feel free, normal or yourself? But have no idea what else to do or where to turn? Why have you not got the results you really want?

If you have thoughts such as these, then I hope this blog helps you see some light at the end of your tunnel. I trust it will help you understand what might not be working and what you might do to remedy it.

Let me share with you why therapy doesn't work!


The wrong tool for the job

picture of a hammer and screwdriver to describe choosing the right tool for a job

A hammer is a very useful tool. It will do a great job if you want to get a nail into a wall. But, it's not much good if you need to screw two pieces of wood together. 


Firstly, the therapy you are having might be the wrong therapy for your particular problem. You might have heard that an osteopath or chiropractor sorted someone's back, so you go and see them. Although it helps a little at first, the improvement doesn't last. Not every back problem is the same and it might be, in your case, that the issue is with the muscles and not the bones. So it's the wrong type of therapy for a long-term solution to the problem.

The wrong approach - are you standard?


Secondly, most of what is on offer, in terms of therapy, is standardised. It's designed as a one size fits all. Yet we're all individuals. How can anything possibly work for everyone?

You're rarely given time to explain all the complexities of what is going on for you, simply the symptom you wish to deal with on the day. If you go to a Spa, you get a massage that is the same for everyone. What's more, it would be the same every time you go - no matter what your issue. It's not designed as treatment. It's for relaxation only. And relaxation is neither treatment nor therapy. So that won't resolve your issue.

Even chiropractic is standard. It focuses on the principle that, as long as the spine is in line, then everything else will work. Only a few therapists will go beyond the remit of one discipline. And even if they do practice more than one, it's up to the client to decide what they want. When in fact the therapist might be better placed to choose what is likely to get the best result for the client.

The wrong therapist - connection and honesty


So, on the note above, is it that you have the wrong therapist? You might know that this particular treatment is right for the condition you have. But yet, for some reason it's not working for you. 

Julie Nicholls therapist relaxing patient's neck Have you considered how you feel about the therapist? 

Perhaps you simply don't gel or connect with them. If you've got the slightest hesitation and don't feel at ease or comfortable with them, then you'll struggle to relax or be as honest with them as is best. All this will inadvertently sabotage your healing process. 
Do you feel the practitioner has your best interest at heart? 

Are they interested in you getting better? Or are they keen for you to come back every month for the same problem so that they stay in business? Are they helping you understand your condition and what you can do to help yourself ? 

It may not be their fault, this is the training many therapists get. As I mentioned earlier, they learn a technique and keep applying it. It pays their bills after all and they never look any further.

Always trust your instinct if it doesn't feel right (and you don't need to have a reason for it) or you're not getting the result you want, find someone who can help you.
Rather than continue on Einstein's much-quoted path to insanity (at the top of the page), here are some tips to help you find the right therapy and the right therapist

If none of this applies to you, then of course there is the question of self- sabotage. In that case, you might want to read about what back pain taught me. Or maybe you're not ready for the change? But that's a story for another blog.

All rights reserved Julie Nicholls 2020

Sunday, 6 October 2019

3 Mindful movement workshops

Footsteps in sand with Gabriel Roth's quote when your body surrenders to movement your soul remembers its dance

 

“Movement is my medicine, my meditation, my metaphor and my method, a living language we can rely upon to tell us the truth about who we are, who we are with, and where we are going. There is no dogma in the dance”. – G.Roth.”

 

 A theme

An Invitation to Explore the 5Rhythms' Conscious Movement Practice in three Sessions.

An opportunity to dance through the rhythms in good company, beginning with the basics, diving deeper into the beat and on the way, finding your own dance; expressive and unique.

27th Oct 19: All about you; your body, your dance.
We will cover the basics of the 5Rhythms: the wave that provides the foundation and grounds a dance, the different beats and how if we let go of goals, expectations and self judgement we can begin a conscious expressive dance of relationship with our physical self.

1 Dec 19: You and Me
Diving Deeper into the practice.
Working with the space between us; how do we move from self to connection with another.

9 Feb 20: All of Us
A Celebration of "me, you and us"
Exploring how a group affects our dance and how connections are made in in company; Working with the space we find for ourselves in this situation.


We will explore these ideas whilst being conscious of our body's needs. A chance understand more of the connection between body movement and mood as well as thought. We will do this through movement, words, witnessing and dance.  The 5Rhythms of flowing, staccato, chaos, lyrical and stillness will be our guide and muse for this class.  Bring your hopes, ideas along with a bag of worn out ways, that you might encourage yourself to leave behind you!

As usual

  • All are welcome young, old, fit or unfit.
  • No partner or previous experience of dance needed
  • Are you recovering from illness or injury and want to go at your own pace?
  • No steps to learn and nothing to get right or wrong and no judgement from the teacher.
  • Would you like to be more at peace with yourself?
  • Do you want to be able to navigate the chaos of life more easily?
  • You like to dance, have fun but can’t follow a class or have 2 left feet?
Could this be for you?…find out and complete the booking form to join us on the dance floor

More about Mindful Movement modalities

The 5 Rhythms’ movement work, is a clear and beautiful way to begin the practice of conscious dance.

It's fun, interesting and students can become accustomed to the idea of dancing from your feet. They can discover how they are able to let go of the need to do anything, other than listen to their body and dance from that instinctive point.
In this world of ours, we tend to be taught from very early age about right and wrong. Once students truly and deeply take on board letting their body express what it needs to, it is joyful and liberating. When they know instinctively that the body knows what is right for it, in any moment, the practice becomes deeper and the movements reflect the reality of the person moving.
It would be wrong not to say at this point that once a student dances their true reality, then change and transformation will begin.

Open Floor takes conscious dance a step further

A rapid description is pretty impossible, but one can say that this practice starts off with being inclusive of the whole person. I have a physical body, I have a thinking mind. I am an emotional creature, which are all part of me.  We are also a people who seek another dimension in my life, some would call it spiritual, others a yearning for “something more”.  All this the teacher brings every time she goes to a class or a workshop.
The whole of us is always with us, whether we are conscious of it or not.
Another way of putting this ‘inclusivness’ is that every human has a hunger – a physical hunger, a hunger to connect with another, hunger for belonging and this hunger for something else. We work with these hungers and invite and encourage all or any of them to walk in the door. The name OPEN FLOOR is also about “all are welcome whoever you are and whoever you feel yourself to be” when you walk on to the floor.
If you want to experience that, then dare to be brave and join us.

The music

The music is different each time and is a mix of: electronica, jazz, classical, pop, rock and roll, alternative, some fast some slow.

Booking:

Date: 27th Oct, 1st Dec 2019, 9th Feb 2020    Time: 2pm to 5pm

Venue: Liddington Village hall, Swindon SN4 0HB with plenty of free parking. http://liddington4.org/wp/hall2/

Booking: places are limited to 16 so book now as to avoid disappointment. Fill out the form. You will then receive payment details.  For more details call Julie on 01793 495551

Can’t make the date and want to be kept informed of the next event subscribe here
 
Investment:
  • £20 early bird by 7th October: £18
  • Book 2 places (either 2 workshops or 2 people) : £2 off
  • Book all 3 workshops: £3 off the total
  • On the day £22 cash per person

Teacher Gay Murphy says:


portrait of 5 rhythms Teacher, Gay Murhy
Teacher Gay Murphy
I am a 76 year old grandmother who first found 5Rhythms® twenty five years ago.  It was as if my three year old self was reborn and with her ability to move and dance from within without restraint or self consciousness.  I immediately fell in love with this practice.  Long years of being physically tied up in knots, awkward and shy fell away as I gradually let go of the inhibitions and literally ‘loosened up’ in all manner of ways.
I was taught by a group of people gathered together by Gabrielle Roth, the founder and the strength behind the 5 Rhythms as we know them today.

After 16 years of teaching the 5Rs I became a student again and joined a movement practice called Open Floor International. Most of the founders of this practice were taught by Gabrielle Roth to whom we owe a profound gratitude.

I am passionate about teaching conscious dance practice; to encourage others to find the ground under their feet and let their wings fly! 

When I stand in a hall, I aim to look for simplicity as in;
  •  Not too much teaching,
  • Respect for each student who shows up and allows themselves be moved,
  • Courage for myself to let go and adapt my planned teaching at any time to what is going on in the room;
  • The confidence to listen to my instincts and to act on them.
  • Encouragement and inspiration to the people who have turned out on a cold night!
Surrounding and supporting my teaching is my enthusiasm for these practices. How it touches my heart every time I teach and witness what happens on the dance floor. http://www.joyfuldance.co.uk
On the day:
  • Wear loose comfortable clothes; layers to remove as you warm up and put back on as you cool down.
  • Dance in comfortable shoes or bare foot as socks are too slippery on the wood floor.
  • Bring some water.

For more about what it can do for you:

Read:
Join: Mindful Movement Space Facebook group to keep up with other dates and similar events.