 Personal update: It has been an exciting, exhilarating, exhausting and scary few months! The biggest lesson I am learning is that being a ‘Wellbeing Facilitator’ can be very challenging to one’s own wellbeing! I say that with a touch of humour but I have been taking a long look at how important (even more important?) it is now to look after myself. Starting up a new business can be terrifying, at times! I began with dreams, enthusiasm and a huge desire to share the tools that have helped me so much over the years. However, the reality of paying the mortgage and bills recently brought me to a cycle of work – life imbalance (definitely NOT life-work balance), not respecting my own wellbeing. I have taken time over the past few weeks to identify days and times when I DO NOT think about work. I know that my mind will not have read this blog, so I realise that work thoughts will undoubtedly pop up, but I have promised to pop all those thoughts into my ‘basket’ until the next workday! I do also see the irony of me writing this on a Sunday!
So, what am I going to do to get back some of that balance? Make sure that I am exercising in some way every day; a Yoga with Adriene session, one of Choc’s vidoes (see below for more info!), a cycle ride, a long walk or a swim. More music must also figure highly in my balanced life too. I love doing all those things but have not been creating the space, so that needs to change. I also recognise that I have not been seeing friends as much and intend to change that as well! Living on my own means I can become a bit of a hermit (which I quite like to be honest!) but I know it is so good for me when I get out and about. It goes without saying that spending time with my family is a massive part of looking after my wellbeing. I do love being a mum and granny (number 6 grandchild arrived just a few days ago)! BUT, all of that is ‘doing’ something! More than anything, I need to ‘be’. My sitting cushion has not been sat upon so much recently, so a special time will be set aside to sit, as well as quiet time in the outdoors. Better time management has to come back into my life! AndBreathe update: Venues: Number One, Scott Skinner Square, Banchory/Urban Wellness Hub, Balgownie Drive, Bridge of Don/Insch Podiatry, Rannes Street, Insch/Elemental Crystals, High Street, Inverurie I am now in each of my four different venues, twice a month. One to One appointments are gradually picking up. The EFT appointments have been especially rewarding. As well as mental and physical health issues, I have worked with clients on the emotions associated with getting back to competition after injury, loneliness, grief, divorce and the challenges of overcoming life-changing health issues. The EFT for Animal appointments are also a highlight in the week for me. Even I find it hard to understand (yes, I keep telling clients not to try to understand EFT!!) how EFT for animals works, but it most certainly does! I am so grateful that my life has always included animals. Online: AndBreathe Online Mental Wellbeing Toolkit Pilot: This is an exciting new venture for AndBreathe. I am very aware that many people following AndBreathe on Social Media live outwith Aberdeenshire with many much further away than that, so this pilot has been running through August testing the waters. I have been introducing the volunteers to the AndBreathe tools and offering more in-depth information than is on the general AndBreathe pages on Social Media. My plan is to continue the AndBreathe toolkit and offer a variety of practices, activities and information through videos and articles, using the AndBreathe tools in a weekly post. I want it to be accessible for everyone, so the charge will be minimal at £10 per month. I am very aware that not all AndBreathe clients are on Social Media, so the pilot has also been running via email for a few volunteers and I would like to continue this when the toolkit is up and running. One email a week will be sent, which will include the week ahead and any additional posts from the preceding week on Social Media. Online EFT – Clients can book online EFT sessions through the AndBreathe website, or by emailing me direct. I conduct the sessions through Zoom and email a link to the client before the day/time of the appointment. These sessions are very helpful for people who live too far away, or who have mobility issues. Collaborations with Wellbeing with Agnes, Finding Qi in Me and Choclates – Pilates with Choc: I have always enjoyed collaborating with other people, so I feel very fortunate to be working with Agnes, Lorna and Choc in a variety of projects. Finding Your Happy: 16 Guidelines for Life: Lorna (Finding Qi in Me) and I have now completed training to become 16G facilitators and look forward to introducing 16 Guidelines to people across the North East of Scotland and beyond! We have 4 taster sessions through September and October, followed by a Level One course throughout October and November. Finding Your Happy: 16 Guidelines for Life gives people practical tools to help them live a life like that: a life where they better understand themselves and get happier as a result. But it’s more than that; happier people make a happier world. These workshops are for anyone who knows their life could be better than it is; and not by getting the newest phone, or more money, or a bigger house. If you’re feeling like there’s something missing, if you know that there’s more to life, and if you want practical tools to discover all of this and more, you need just 16 Guidelines. We look forward to seeing you there! Enrich Your Spirit: Time to look after you! We aim to create a very special atmosphere during these events. Lorna is an experienced QiGong practitioner and opens the day with an hour-long QiGong session. QiGong is a form of gentle exercise, designed to enable strengthening and stretching of the body to enhance balance, reduce stress and support deep relaxation. From there we move gently into a mindfulness session, influenced by 16 Guidelines. The 16 Guidelines programme provides a simple and flexible framework for developing empathy, compassion and resilience in daily life. After lunch, participants settle on their mats and snuggle down in their blankets ready for the Soundbath meditation. We use a variety of instruments to support your personal healing journey. A very special day because you deserve it! Outdoor Wellbeing for Teens & Adults: Agnes, Wellbeing with Agnes, and I team up for Outdoor Wellbeing events. We currently have sessions for teens running in Kemnay and Haddo,as well as sessions for adults. Outdoor Wellbeing for Teens: Mindfulness and woodland skills in the wilderness to help build confidence and resilience in teenagers. Being a teenager is hard, with so many expectations and social pressures but very little life experience or coping mechanisms to deal with myriad situations. These sessions are great for young people to just be who they are without worrying about school, friendship groups or lack thereof, looking a certain way, saying the right thing or judgement (from others or of self). A chance to be part of a social group with no expectations and the freedom to choose and be empowered. For young people currently in S1-S6. Cost per session: £10 - £5 (sliding scale based on ability to pay). Discounts available for sibling groups. To book Haddo sessions email Suzanna on [email protected] To book Kemnay sessions www.andbreathe123.com Wellbeing in the Outdoors – Adults @Haddo This is mindfulness for both the experienced practitioner and newbys alike. In this two hour adult only session you can move towards a more mindful life, and learn how to be fully present in any given moment. It is said this is the key to better mental health: the past is gone, the future not yet written. We can only live in this very moment, so we must learn how to appreciate it.There will be various mindfulness and meditative activities to participate in. A lovely way to ease the mind after a busy day. The session costs £15, but a reduced fee may be possible for people who struggle to pay the full amount. We want to include as many people as possible, so please don't be embarrassed to ask if you can pay a little less if you feel £15 is beyond your budget. Email Suzanna on [email protected] to book. Choc at Home: Choc’s online ‘at home’ programme was the inspiration for the AndBreathe Mental Wellbeing Toolkit. Choclates or Choc(‘s Pi)lates is based on the principals of Pilates and helps busy people get fitter and stronger safely, without spending hours in the gym. I was delighted recently, when Choc asked me to make a series of 8 videos on mental wellbeing for ‘Choc at Home’, to work alongside her physical wellbeing programme. Choc also runs Choclates beginners-intermediate and intermediate-advanced classes in Huntly, as well as Postnatal mum and baby classes in Huntly and Insch. And finally….. I have a huge favour to ask if you have attended any of the AndBreathe workshops, collaborations or had a one to one appointment. If you feel able, please leave a review on Google
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