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/

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!

 

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

How Accunect can help you!

 

Accunect is a 3 min simple self-care practice that can transform your life!

During stressful times it is easy to loose our way with good habits and forget about the importance of taking good care of ourselves.

Last August I attended an Accunect Self- Care day in Frome. I have found  that doing the Accunect SelfCare routine, every morning since, has really helped me stay calm and more balanced during these very intense times. I am very grateful to have these tools available to me.

If you haven't experienced Accunect SelfCare during a session with me, it's a powerful energy balancing routine that you can do in 3 minutes or less - do it before bed to help you sleep or when you wake up to start the day balanced.
It includes techniques to balance both the brain and the acupuncture meridians so that you have a whole body/mind reboot to get back to health and functioning well. 

I am really impressed with the effects which is why I am happy to share details of the upcoming online workshop so you can learn and get the benefits too. 

Want to experience what it's like first?

I am offering 30 min relaxation sessions that includes Accunect in exchange for a donation to my chosen charity. Get in touch to book your taster

 

Healing for you and your family

Accunect SelfCare can be done on yourself and your family. It supports overall health, wellness, balance and vitality. If you want help addressing a specific health issue OR want to cultivate general health and well being this routine is a great asset.
Anyone can benefit from the very young to the very old. You don't require any previous experience.

A powerful self-healing technique:
- Balance core energy systems in 3 minutes and energise your day
- Improve health and maintain wellness for the whole family

This fun, easy, heart-centered course will change how you look at yourself and how you look at health and healing forever.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

• Clear stress and life overwhelm, quickly
• Increase energy levels and vibrancy
• Improve sleep
• Deeper sense of well-being, balance and calm
• Gain clarity
• Harmonize, synchronize & boost all body systems
• Increase natural immune function
• Improve digestion
• Help balance emotions
• Boost all body functions
• Improve nervous system and brain function
• Speed up physical, mental & emotional healing
• Speed up the processing of life’s difficult events

JOIN NOW!

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO GET ON THE COURSE?

• Learn the Accunect 8 Principles™ – and how healing happens
• Attunement to the high vibrational healing frequency of Accunect
• Balance your brain and nervous system - brings your body out of stress mode and into healing mode, relax your nervous system and gain clarity, focus, and thinking ability
• Balance your organs, meridians and emotions - giving your system a thorough balance and 'spring clean' every day
• In depth knowledge of the meridian system and organs from a holistic, physical, mental and emotional perspective
• Connection of the whole body mind system - between our physical, mental, spiritual and emotional aspects - gain an understanding of how they affect each other
• How to balance your brain and heart connection
• A quick energy balancing technique for any emergency situation
• Gain understanding and insight into The Accunect Healing System, what a clinical Accunect session looks like, and how you can learn or experience more.
• Full colour reference manual is included
• The balances can be done on yourself, your family, your friends, your pets! Accunect® is Energy Medicine that addresses chronic and acute health problems by re-calibrating the body’s systems that get disrupted due to stress.

It’s powerful—simple—amazing—fun!

WHEN, WHERE, WHO

Date and Time: Saturday 15^th August and 17th Oct 2020 10 am- 3.30 pm

 Venue: One a computer near you! 

Investment: Early bird Price £125 until 26th Sept / £150 full price.   You'll get everything you need to participate online, . A full colour reference manual will be posted to you after the course. 

 Teacher: Sarah Chave For more details www.replenishzing.com or contact sarah@replenishzing.com

Book here

Here's what some recent students have said about studying Accunect SelfCare:

• "Thank you so much for a wonderful day. I arrived feeling out of balance and will be leaving feeling back in balance, serene and back in my body. Sarah is an incredible teacher who clearly knows a lot. I would highly recommend this course"JM Director,
• "A wonderful day spent learning. The routine is accessible and brilliant. I am very much looking forward to using it daily on myself and on my family and in my therapy practice. Sarah taught it beautifully, keeping each of us engaged and inspired. Feels really good to have given myself a day of deep healing" NC Therapist
• "I highly recommend SelfCare to anyone who wishes to gain a vital and priceless tool to aid healing on physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels for yourself, your loved ones and pets." A.L ,Wiltshire
• " I began to feel more relaxed and pain I've had for years eased. I am feeling a lot more confident and happier with myself" Dee Shaw, Wiltshire"
• I felt a deep sense of relaxation and connection having experienced the sharing practice. This simple self healing technique is much needed in our high stress, fast paced world. Brilliant, thank you Sarah! ."Angela Gray, Wellbeing Advisor, Dorset

 

If you want to be kept informed of the next workshop, sign up for UP-dates. Include Accunect as a topic you want to know about. 

Of course if you have any questions please get in touch and I will be more than happy to help.

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?

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?

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!

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

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. 

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