Yoga and Mindfulness Teacher, Complementary Therapist offering: Yoga Classes, Mindfulness, Corporate Services, Back Care Classes, Breathing Exercises, Meditation and Relaxation. Reflexology, Swedish massage, Indian Head Massage and Eastern Facial massage.
Designed to be practised by people of all abilities, all fitness levels and all age groups. Dru is a style of yoga that can be quickly dipped into or learnt in more depth over a lifetime.
'Dru Yoga should be available in every GP surgery.' Dr Hilary Jones
Dru Yoga is a graceful and potent form of yoga, based on flowing movements, directed breathing and visualisation.
With its foundations set firmly in ancient yogic tradition, Dru works on body, mind and spirit—improving strength and flexibility, creating core stability, building a heightened feeling of positivity, and deeply relaxing and rejuvenating your whole being.
Dru Yoga's Total Body Workout DVD will remove your stress, trim your weight and leave you feeling on top ...
Zoom Relaxation
Zoom Relaxation Sessions are run throughout the year.
Book in and enjoy a relaxation session - destress, let go, rejuvenate and relax.
Make time for you, introduce some more self care into your life, press the pause button and enjoy mindful movement, breathing exercises, meditation, guided visualisations, release the breath and sink into bliss.
Corporate Yoga or Meditation classes can be organised on request.
ZOOM CLASSES ARE PROVIDED AND THIS CAN INCLUDE MINDFULNESS.
YOGA CLASSES
Fri: Monthly Yin Yoga St Marks church, 7.15 - 8.15pm
EXERCISE CLASSES ARE DELIVERED IN SHELTERED HOUSING FACILITIES AND THIS INCLUDES RELAXATION.
Alison also delivers blocks of Yoga to Carers Services online and in person.
Complementary Therapies
Swedish Massage
A massage tailored to suit your needs, a personalised blend of oils will either tone, detoxify, energise or soothe the body as they are massaged deep into the skin.
Full body treatment (1 hour)
£35.00
Indian Head Massage
Designed to help ease tension - to relieve and calm emotions of the mind. Focusing on the scalp, face, neck, shoulders and back, this treatment alleviates stagnant energy, gets rid of toxins to help balance the body’s natural harmony. A wonderful treatment for relieving: headaches, stress, sinus problems, muscular tension and promoting sleep.
45 min treatment
£30
Reflexology
A deep compression massage of the feet, Reflexology works with subtle energy flows, revitalising the body so that the natural internal healing mechanisms of the body can do their own work. The lower legs can be massaged, or Reflexology can be combined with a leg massage.
1 hour treatment
£35.00
Combination Massage
Combination massage uses different techniques aiming for total relaxation and pure indulgence. This massage combines Swedish massage, scalp massage, and foot massage.
1 hour
£35
Eastern Facial massage is a special blend of complementary techniques drawn from Anma, the traditional system of massage in Japan and Ayurveda, the Indian healing method. ... Eastern Facial Massage can also help: Calm and sooth your nervous system, relieving symptoms such as headache, insomnia and eye strain.
£35
INTRODUCTION TO NICE GUIDELINES
These are the guidelines which Doctors and Health Professionals in the NHS use to advise and treat people for a wide range of conditions. NICE stands for National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
The NICE guidelines for Low back Pain (early management) recommend that people with back pain should be told that it should settle with major treatment, and that keeping moving is essential. One of the treatment options that the guidelines recommend is a structured group exercise programme tailored to the individual.
SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF THE DRU BACK CARE PROGRAMME.
Recently, two randomised controlled trials at Bangor University have investigated the effectiveness of the Dru Back Care Programme.
The results from these two studies show that compared with the usual care, the Dru Programme is associated with statistically significant reductions in back pain.
In a recent study with NHS employees, 56 staff who practised the Dru Back Care Programme for eight weeks reported only 2 sickness absence days due to musculoskeletal conditions compared with a control group of 53 staff who missed 43 days during the same time period.
This indicates for employers, the Dru back Care Programme can generate substantial coast savings by reducing the number of sickness absence days due to back pain and musculoskeletal conditions.
ZOOM Mindfulness sessions can be offered to work place or charities and have been working well through ZOOM.
Corporate feedback -
The reason I wanted to try mindfulness practice was to take some time for myself and to help me manage stress more effectively. I had heard that this was one of the benefits along with improved brain power and overall wellbeing. I was delighted when the opportunity came up as I had been thinking about it for a while but struggled to fit anything new into my busy life/work schedule. I have tried various meditation classes and retreats over the years but this experience has definitely been the most uplifting.
I have really enjoyed taking time to slow down and feel my body without mind chatter taking over. The impact his has had on me has been immense. I have felt generally calmer and less worried about everything. It has been an extremely stressful time at work for my team yet I have managed to take this challenge on without feeling the responsibility of the world on my shoulders, and each week feeling stronger and more focused after the practice session.
It has reminded me how important it is to take some time to concentrate on your own being and to shut the world out in order to recuperate. In modern times, this as a wonderful tool which has the potential to make a huge difference for a lot of people.
Alison can offer taylor made breathing, stretching exercises and relaxation for Corporate clients. The workplace can often be a hectic place and performance and happiness can be increased with these simple exercises.
Book wellbeing days at your organisation, to reduce stress, benefit staff's health and well-being. Therapies can promote healing, relax muscles, help pain. Improve posture with massage and stretching.
Providing a range of options to help people get back to work. For example, for the many people on long- or short-term sickness absence who have musculoskeletal disorders or mental health problems, this could include:
> back management programmes.
> Promoting physical activity in the work place through applying NICE guidance. NICE stands for National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
>Mindfulness
> Therapies
> Meditation
> Relaxation
Living with a chronic illness such as cancer can have both a physical and mental impact. Heightened levels of stress, anxiety, pain, nausea and worry can affect both the patient and their family, friends and carers. And while modern medicine can help to relieve some of these symptoms, new research into the benefits of integrative medicine are leading many people to look at other avenues to help along their journey.
Reflexology for cancer may be able to help with a range of ailments, including the reduction of stress, tension and anxiety, stimulation of the lymphatic system, increasing circulation, increased energy and pain management. As it’s a non-invasive form of therapy, it’s an alternative to traditional massage for those who prefer to avoid full-body touch. And as there is no undressing or repositioning required, it can be ideal for those who are very sick, who can’t be moved during treatment or touched in certain places. It could also help to reduce nausea caused by chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Alison has delivered 8 weekly Mindfulness based living courses and is now bringing her attention to deliver 1/1 Mindfulness.
What Mindfulness Is?
Mindfulness is being in the moment, knowing we are in the moment, and knowing what is happening in the moment, both around us and within our own mind. It is a faculty which, if developed, leads to a limitless growth of our human potential.
The moment we knowingly observe our thoughts or behaviour, we are mindful – we know what is happening in the moment. This simple fact transforms the way we live because it grounds us in the present. And the present is our only reality.
“Knowing what is happening, while it is happening, without preference” Rob Nairn
“The human condition – lost in thought.” Eckhart Tolle
Why Practice Mindfulness?
“I find it exciting and reassuring to learn that mindfulness can be applied to everyday life – even the most mundane of tasks and actions”
We are all very busy in our modern lives and many of us are looking for ways in which to cope with anxiety, stress and pain. Furthermore, we are looking for ways in which to enhance our wellbeing and cope better with life’s challenges.
There are many mindfulness courses available for specific problems, but our compassion-based mindfulness courses are for everyone.
The mindfulness element trains us to be present in the only moment that matters – the present one. We can show up for the pleasantness of the presentness.
The compassion element supports those of us who are hard on ourselves to recognise that we are actually OK as we are. Once we recognise this we can be happy and more relaxed about life’s ups and downs.
Benefits of Mindfulness
Mindfulness is proven to be beneficial for mental health in the right circumstances and participants have reported:
Feeling less stressed
More resilient to life’s challenges
Feeling more relaxed
Increased self-awareness and confidence
Increased sense of wellbeing
Recent scientific evidence states that meditation & compassion-based mindfulness practices change the brain in a positive way and help to:
Lower heart rate and blood pressure
Relieve stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia
Increase ability to cope with difficult situations