Tag: craniosacral therapy

Craniosacral therapy: “what do you feel?”

by Craniosacral Therapy/Paediatric craniosacral therapy/Nutrition/NAET/ NLP Health Coach/Mindfulness meditation, posted in Blog

During sessions, people often ask me, “What do you feel?”

Each person responds differently to a craniosacral session because every system has its own map, history, and way of responding to life experiences.

As I connect with the whole system — physical, emotional, and sometimes spiritual, when appropriate — I may notice different sensations through my hands and awareness. Often I feel heat, tension, or pain, especially when working around the head area.

For me, pain can sometimes reflect inner conflict, stress, or thoughts and emotions that the person may not yet be fully aware of. The body and brain often communicate through sensations before the conscious mind understands what is happening. When this arises, we gently explore what may be going on emotionally or mentally, allowing space for awareness, compassion, and new possibilities.

My role is to support the system and the person in letting go of what is no longer needed, with care, love, and compassion. As this happens, the whole system often begins to reorganize and adjust naturally. People frequently describe feeling lighter, calmer, more flexible, and more at ease afterward. Sometimes changes continue unfolding in daily life without great effort.

Heat can carry a different meaning. It may relate to anger, frustration, emotional intensity, or unresolved feelings toward oneself, another person, or a life situation. At times, especially with children, these feelings may even reflect emotional dynamics around them.

Children often release these patterns more easily. When parents become aware of what the child may be experiencing emotionally — whether frustration, fear, uncertainty, or difficulty adapting to new situations — they are often better able to support their child with understanding and openness.

Every person experiences life differently, and every body responds in its own way. The session respects the wisdom of the individual system and supports the person according to their own unique journey.

Book your healing session and see how you unfold in your own way and time!

Grounding and integrating, two distinctive things

by Craniosacral Therapy/Paediatric craniosacral therapy/Nutrition/NAET/ NLP Health Coach/Mindfulness meditation, posted in Blog

Everyone now talks about being grounded, that you need to ground, go out of your hand, think of feet, etc.. Well they are correct that you need to be grounded and thinking of your body and feet, but the reality of many people is, that they are very grounded, they do feel their feet, but they are not integrated into their body, they can be very solid on the ground, but part or aspect of themselves are completely ungrounded and not connected to their body.

This usually happen with trauma, either from babies, childhood or even in adulthood, where that trauma has not been processed, and hence part of your essence is out of your body. For some will be very difficult to ever be integrated into their body, unless they address, with the help of a therapist of their choice, the unconscious trauma. Some trauma that happens before the age of 2, where only sensation are stored into that trauma, are very difficult to address by yourself, as you feel that there is something, but not knowing what it is, you will keep ignoring it as something that will pass. Even though it returns over and over again.

With my gentle craniosacral therapy/healing approach, including some Neurolinguistic Programming input, in getting yourself your own positive resources for healing, that integration, will happen very quickly and smoothly.

Your vagal nerve, will settle and your mind and body start to feel safe. Depending on your system and what you would like to heal, there might be 5 to 10 session to get your on a possible integration with yourself to find new easy way to be yourself and feel grounded and integrated.

If you live in North London or you would like a distance healing, do book your appointment and you will have your 1st step to your own healing. Look at my website and prices to book your appointment click here

The Health Benefits of Apples: Why One a Day Matters

by Craniosacral Therapy/Paediatric craniosacral therapy/Nutrition/NAET/ NLP Health Coach/Mindfulness meditation, posted in Blog

Almost everyone knows the expression “one apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Even in Italy, where I grew up, we used this saying! Being lucky enough to grow up in the countryside near the seaside, I didn’t realize at the time that not everyone had the same fortune of picking their own fruits and vegetables from their front yard.

I remember simply going under the tree, picking the fruits of the season, washing them, and eating them. I don’t think I have ever tasted fruit quite like that again. The only time I still experience it is when I go back to Italy, where my parents still pick pears from the tree for our breakfast.

But fruits in general contain a good amount of nutrients and vitamins, so why are apples the ones most associated with this famous expression? I’m not sure exactly where or when it started, but here are some facts about apples, their history, and their qualities.

There are about 25 common types of apples, and they vary in colour and texture—from green to deep red. Some are sweet, such as Red Delicious and Royal Gala (my favourite), while others have a sharper taste, like Granny Smith, Pink Lady, and Cox apples.

It is believed that the original apple tree comes from Eastern Europe and Southwestern Asia. Through cultivation and hybridization—the process of combining different varieties or species of trees to create new ones—many more varieties have developed over time from the original apple tree.

In the past, apples were even thought to help people stay forever young. Modern scientific studies show that regular consumption of apples may help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, asthma, and type 2 diabetes, partly because apples release sugar slowly into the bloodstream.

Apples contain high amounts of flavonoids, especially quercetin. Quercetin is an antioxidant that helps protect the integrity of cell membranes. Our bodies are made up of millions of cells, and the outer part of these cells can constantly be under attack from oxidation. Quercetin, along with other antioxidants such as vitamin C and many flavonoids found in colourful fruits and vegetables, helps protect our cells from damage.

Quercetin also helps block the inflammatory cascade, which plays a role in several inflammatory conditions such as asthma, arthritis, and allergies.

Of course, some people may be allergic to apples. In that case, it is important to find suitable alternatives or solutions.

Another important component of apples is pectin. Pectin can help lower cholesterol levels by improving intestinal motility and reducing the reabsorption of fats and toxins—in other words, it helps the body eliminate waste more efficiently.

One medium apple provides about three grams of fibre. Eating about two apples a day may reduce cholesterol levels by up to 11 percent. Pectin is helpful not only for relieving constipation but also for easing diarrhoea. In fact, the over-the-counter medication Kaopectate contains pectin.

Nutritionally, raw apples provide vitamin C, pectin, fibre, potassium, and phytochemicals such as ellagic acid (another antioxidant) and quercetin.

So when people say that “one apple a day keeps the doctor away,” there is some truth to it. However, many fruits contain valuable nutrients, antioxidants, and fibre. For this reason, it is important to vary and combine different fruits to gain the widest range of health benefits.

Hopefully this has convinced you to start carrying an apple—or perhaps two—in your lunch box or bag. Of course, other fruits are just as good. A fresh fruit salad is also a wonderful and enjoyable way to get all that goodness!

http://www.nutritionhealth.net

Swaddled baby Leo and unswaddled baby Mia sleeping in a crib

Swaddling or not swaddling your baby — that is the question.

by Craniosacral Therapy/Paediatric craniosacral therapy/Nutrition/NAET/ NLP Health Coach/Mindfulness meditation, posted in Blog

If you have swaddled your baby, please don’t worry — all is well and nothing harmful has happened.

I have been researching swaddling and have not found strong medical evidence clearly proving significant long-term pros or cons. Historically, swaddling began in cultures where babies stayed very close to their parents throughout the day. Babies were often carried on the front or back while parents worked or went about daily life, and swaddling sometimes helped them feel secure and connected to their caregivers, especially during sleep.

From what we understand about infant brain development, movement is an important part of growth. Each movement helps stimulate the brain and supports the development of new neural connections. Because of this, some practitioners believe that babies benefit from freedom to move and stretch their bodies.

Sometimes babies who seem to need swaddling to settle may simply be adjusting to the experience of birth. Birth can occasionally be physically intense — for example after a caesarean birth, ventouse or forceps delivery, or a labour that was very fast or very long. Stress or emotional challenges during pregnancy can also influence how both mother and baby adjust after birth.

If you did swaddle your baby and your child is now a toddler, please be reassured: they are absolutely fine. Swaddling has been used for generations.

However, if you currently have a baby who struggles to settle and seems uncomfortable, you may wish to explore gentle supportive approaches that aim to help babies relax and find balance in their bodies. Some parents choose to see a craniosacral therapist — like myself — with 16 years of experience working with mothers and babies and 35 years of experience as a holistic therapist.

If you live in North London, look at the options below for either my private practice in various clinics or a community clinic drop-in.

Silhouette of a glowing humanoid form composed of illuminated leaves in a dark forest

Release Old Traumas for Better Wellbeing: Start Your Healing Journey

by Craniosacral Therapy/Paediatric craniosacral therapy/Nutrition/NAET/ NLP Health Coach/Mindfulness meditation, posted in Blog

It is now more than ever that our human body, either the physical, mental and emotional needs more help to heal than ever. The unbalance in more than one Country, can affect everybody in the entire World, as we are all one, this can affect our fields of emotion, mental, spiritual and eventually physical. This is even more for more sensitive people children, babies and sensitive adults, including spiritual open adults. It feels that we are swimming again the current, and getting tired or exhausted without doing anything. If you are feeling that is harder than usual to do the exact same things, you are right. Even if you do not notice it as much or you do not have time for that, well this is the time to ask for help. All the old Karma, or trauma or emotions that you have bottled up within you, needs to go, and now it is the time.

Nutritionally, physically, mentally and spiritually, it is time to let go!

Book your session to start shedding things that no longer serve you any good!

Craniosacral Therapy for Pregnancy

by Craniosacral Therapy/Paediatric craniosacral therapy/Nutrition/NAET/ NLP Health Coach/Mindfulness meditation, posted in Blog

Craniosacral therapy during pregnancy is a gentle, non‑invasive treatment that supports the body through the physical and emotional changes of this important time. Using a light, sensitive touch, the therapy works with the nervous system to encourage deep relaxation, helping the body release tension and adjust naturally as it prepares for birth.

Pregnancy sessions offer a calm and nurturing space to rest, slow down, and connect with your baby. Treatments last around one hour and are given with you fully clothed, resting comfortably—usually lying on your side with supportive cushions so you can relax completely.

Many clients find that their body begins to gently unwind during the session, allowing stress and everyday pressures to settle. Craniosacral therapy can help ease common pregnancy discomforts such as back tension, support pelvic balance, and encourage a sense of overall wellbeing.

Clients often describe feeling more connected with their baby and more confident as they approach labour and birth. By calming the nervous system and supporting the body’s natural balance, the sessions can help you meet your birth experience with greater ease and trust.

Support After Birth

Craniosacral therapy can also continue after your baby is born. Newborn sessions offer gentle support for babies as they settle into the world, particularly if they have experienced birth strain or simply need help relaxing and adjusting.

Post‑partum sessions for mothers provide time to rest, recover, and reconnect with your body after pregnancy and birth, supporting both physical and emotional wellbeing during this important transition.

Book your session today and experience the wonder of this therapy for you and your baby!

Beetroot, Betaine and Methylation for immunity and more

by Craniosacral Therapy/Paediatric craniosacral therapy/Nutrition/NAET/ NLP Health Coach/Mindfulness meditation, posted in Blog

Beetroot, Betaine, and Methylation and immunity

Raw Beetroot contains betaine (trimethylglycine, TMG), which is indeed involved in the body’s methylation cycle.

Betaine helps convert homocysteine → methionine in the liver via the Betaine-Homocysteine Methyltransferase (BHMT) pathway. This supports production of S‑adenosyl methionine (SAMe), which is the body’s main methyl donor.

SAMe is used in hundreds of processes, including:

  • Neurotransmitter metabolism (adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine       and more)
  • Liver detoxification
  • DNA methylation
  • Hormone metabolism

Methylation Genes

Several genes affect how well the methylation system works.

MTHFR

This gene helps activate folate for methylation. Variants can reduce efficiency of the cycle.

COMT

COMT uses SAMe to methylate catechol compounds, including: Dopamine, Adrenaline, Estrogen metabolites

People with slower COMT variants sometimes describe feeling “wired but tired”, because neurotransmitters clear more slowly.

Magnesium and COMT

COMT requires magnesium as a cofactor, so adequate magnesium can support the enzyme’s activity.

One commonly used form is: Magnesium glycinate. It’s often chosen because it’s well absorbed and gentle on digestion.Glycine and Hormone Metabolism

Betaine contains glycine, and glycine plays roles in: Liver detox pathways, Glutathione production, Neurotransmitter balance

SAMe-dependent methylation reactions also help process catechol estrogens, which is why methylation is sometimes discussed in relation to hormone balance. However, it’s important to note that hormone metabolism involves many systems, not only methylation.

Beetroot for Cough Relief

My mother used to support my immune system with raw beetroot juice, beetroot as well as TMG contains the following:

Nitrates → improve circulation

Polyphenols → anti-inflammatory

Vitamin C and antioxidants

Beetroot should not be consider a substitute for medication for your cough, however, if it does help and your cough is reduced than it is worth investigating your gene pool.

Traditional remedies often worked because they supported nutrition and immunity, even if people didn’t know the chemistry. Nowdays, we might have forgotten than food is still our main medicine and health, but also our own destroyer if we eat non-nutrition dense food! eg. take away food and more…. Let food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food!

IVF support before, during and after! Connecting to your body!

by Craniosacral Therapy/Paediatric craniosacral therapy/Nutrition/NAET/ NLP Health Coach/Mindfulness meditation, posted in Blog

I have worked with few mothers that were going to use IVF as the last resort, due to the mother or father being unable to conceive for unknown reasons at times.

Now infertility can happen for many reasons, and it seems that the past 20 years is increasing, due to high oestrogen in water, in food and the toxins in the environment. So many different reasons that at time, even with a very good nutrition, adjusting the body, doing lots of complementary therapy, still, things do not happen.

For whatever reason, you need to decide to go through IVF, make sure that you are prepared, for success or failure.

Nutritionally is important to have a good healthy body, the thyroid is one of the key essential organ also to allow the success of the IVF and or pregnancy in general.

Usually the doctors will do all the test to check that all is in order. Nutritionally, B12, folic acid, iron and protein are few of the most important factors. Sometimes an allergy to wheat and gluten can cause inflammation and hence low probability of success in pregnancy. Sometimes is the milk of eggs that are the problems. I use a method called NAET to test and help to reduce the over reaction for certain foods.

I have seen women before, during and after the IVF to support them through the journey, nutritionally, emotionally, physically and mentally, as well as spiritually at times with some women.

This is valid for all pregnancy in whatever way you achieve that blessing!

Craniosacral therapy what it will do for you click here

Nutrition and NAET click here

NLP and craniosacral therapy click here

CST leads you to connect to your body, before, during and after pregnancy, connect to your baby before, during and post partum, and understand the changes that are occurring in your life.

Resolves conflict with NLP tool before, during and after pregnancy. Be present at all time, whatever happens, understanding and know your feelings and emotions at all time. Becoming your best friend during this wonderful time to your body and your baby! You are already a mother the moment you decide to have a baby!

If you are struggling with IVF, come and see me, to see how you can be supported, you will get an email with suggestions after the session for nutrition:

  • Nutrition alone 1 hour £ 90 pounds (at Crouch end Clinic £ 110)
  • Nutrition and craniosacral therapy, 1 and half hour, of craniosacral therapy £ 120 at N15 (at Crouch end clinic £ 140)
  • Craniosacral therapy only 1 hour at N15 £ 65.00 (at Crouch end clinic £ 80)
  • Craniosacral therapy and NLP 1 hour and half at N15 £ 120 (at Crouch end clinic £ 140)
  • NAET for testing over-reaction to food 1 hour and half N15 £ 120 (at Crouch end clinic £ 140)

Contact me or email me to book your appointments.

Why You Need Vitamin B12: Functions and Benefits Explained

by Craniosacral Therapy/Paediatric craniosacral therapy/Nutrition/NAET/ NLP Health Coach/Mindfulness meditation, posted in Blog

As a nutritionist you get always surprised when something that you recommended to one of your clients did exactly what your client told you. Sometimes I think they might be a placebo effect when the improvement is so quick, but I must admit that it is possible.

One of my clients, a while back, said that vitamin B12 sublingual made a huge difference from the moment they took it. Now I thought, well the research mention that it might take few weeks to see a big improvement with sublingual or even with B12 injections, which by the way, sublingual and injections seems to have the same quick effect, so I now might choose the sublingual instead.

I had a series of little things recently, which started from my digestions of food, not as noticeable that I thought of a problem, as everything seems to be ok. I did have a bit of stress due to my dog passed away this year, but I did not think that stress and sadness would turn into a healthy issue, even though I should know better. As usual as therapist we think we are invincible and always ok.

Anyway, I did a good liver detox, digestions make over, food and diet a bit healthier than before (pretty healthy, already), a bit more soups and stew, with plenty of vegetables, nutritious proteins and good fats, and plenty of liver detox support supplements. That made my digestions and liver very, very happy. Now due to the liver and digestions problems, my immune system went down, with more viral infections that I usually have.

The last one is the one that is going around, the sore throat and flu. I manage it again with lots of vitamin C and other immune support. But still could not shift it, even with steam and lots of throat support and gargles with salt and water, and more, it seems my body immunity did not fight back quickly enough.

At some point I was much better, but still at night I would have this irritate cough and a sensation that a frog was stuck in my throat, I decide to go and buy some oregano to support my immune system with the vitamin C and a multi vitamin support. I could not find the oregano but for some nutritional instinct I decided to buy a sublingual Vitamin B12. I took 2 sachets of it of a total of about 500 microgram and within less than 10 minutes my irritate frog went completely, to my amazement, my mucus was loose and little. I thought was only my imagination, but did not have any cough at night and woke up still ok. I feel myself again. Now ideally would want to check my B12, but I am not vegetarian and I thought that might be normal. Eventually I will but could be that is going to be private, as the NHS right now is a bit annoying for appointments.

I looked more into the B12, and in reality, the fact that I had a stomach issue, due to low stomach acid, might have stopped the intrinsic factor and the R factor to transport my B12 into the cells.

Now I will explain a bit more about the absorption, and function of the B12 in more details, for everyone to understand the reason why everyone, from vegan to meat eaters can be low in B12, even though B12 is stored for years, if it is not transported into the cells, it is like you have none.

B12, unlike any other water B vitamins that are excreted every few hours from your body, is stored in the liver, with vitamin D, E and A.

Sources of vitamin B12 are only from animal products, any vegetarian source is by contact with animal or cross contamination or fortified vegetarian food, included cereals. Now the source of fortified food depends on the quality and the form of the B12.

B12 has a corrin nucleus and is part of the groups called corrinoids. This is a macrocyclic ring made of four reduced pyrrole rings linked together, this will carry an atom of cobalt, hence quite often you will see the name of the B12 as cyanocobalamin, hydrocobalamin, and Methylcobalamin and more. The methylcobalamin are the active form as coenzymes for many functions in the body.

Bioavailability of B12 can be impaired by vitamin C, so if you take B12 with a high or low dosage of vitamin C together at the same time or up to 1 hour after meal, such as 500mg, you stop from the B12 to work and be absorbed.

Digestion, absorption, transport and storage of vitamin B12:

Once the B12 is ingested from food, it needs to be released from the enzyme pepsin in the stomach (the stomach acid needs to be working well for the pepsin to be secreted, low stomach acid, will impair the secretion of pepsin and hence, B12 is not going to be released from the food, even if you are a meat eaters or eggs eater).

Also with stress, there is no signal to the stomach to release and activate pepsin to digest the proteins. The vagal nerve, is involved in the digestion process, too much into stress mode or sympathetic mode, will stop your full and healthy digestion, hence my stress or sadness caused by the loss of a dog, who was very dear to me, caused my stress, which caused my low stomach acid, which caused my B12 malfunction, which caused my immunity to go down, and so forth. Connecting the dots……

Once B12 is released from the food ingested, it needs two proteins for working. One is the intrinsic factor (IF) and the other is the R proteins. The IF is again made by the gastric cells (made again with a good and healthy stomach acid). IF is made and released by the stomach during a healthy digestion and works in the small intestine. The R proteins are everywhere in the body fluids, and have a high affinity for cobalamin. R will pick up the free cobalamin and transport it to the duodenum, first part of the small intestine, where the pancreatic juices will release the B12 again, unless you have a pancreatic insufficiency, (low enzyme activity) and again the B12 will not be released into the small intestine for transport into the blood stream. Again, if something goes wrong no B12.

In the proximal small intestine, the IF will pick up the freed B12 and transport it to the ileum, where receptors for B12 will wait for it to be transported into the blood stream. IF can transport B12 through the entire ileum and receptors are everywhere in the small intestine.

It seems that calcium ions is an essential mineral for the absorption of B12 into the blood stream.

From normal ingestion of food with B12, the process of absorption might take 3 to 4 hours before is in the blood stream.

As I mentioned before, B12 is the only one that can be stored in the liver for a long time and even years, and it is also found in small amount in kidneys, spleen, bone, heart and brain.

Now if children are vegan from weaning, and they are not given extra B12 supplementation from early age, there is a possibility that the child will be low in B12, which possible serious issues with their growth.

Some of the Function of B12:

  • Co-enzyme for the conversion of homocysteine into methionine.
  • Essential for the maintenance of the protective sheath surrounding nerves, hence, essential for the good function of the nervous system.
  • Has a key role for the making of a healthy red blood cell, hence essential for circulation and healthy blood.
  • Is a co-enzyme for one of the steps in making the ATP, the energy fuel for your cells, in the Kreb cycle, the energy nuclear power, in the mitochondria (where fuel for your body is formed, the CoA mutase).
  • It is part of the making of the serotonin in your body, the feeling good neurotransmitter, hence important for the health of the brain and mood.
  • Essential vitamin for making and repairing of DNA. This is essential for your life, really. The methylation part is an essential step for the DNA building block and the repair of damaged DNA. Without a sufficient B12, the DNA building and repair will be severely disrupted.
  • Supports also the normal function of the immune system. This is done by promoting white blood cells maturation and formation, as well as synthesis of division and replication of the DNA for the immune system.
  • Essential during pregnancy to prevent birth defect, with folate, this promotes cells division and DNA formation of the baby.
  • Essential for the health of the bones, through the synthesis of taurine, an amino acid essential for bone formation. There is also a positive correlation with good amount of B12 function and bone density.
  •  B12 for the eyes, is essential for the myelin sheath of the eyes, reduces dry eyes and reduction of oxidative stress, as well as inflammation.

Tests for B12 deficiency due to IF deficiency is a full blood count, which will measure serum B12 and some active B12.

An anti-intrinsic factor antibody test can be suggested for pernicious anaemia (autoimmune disease) or megaloblastic anaemia (big red blood cell).

Other tests are also recommended with folate as well.

As you have seen from the B12 ingestion, absorption, transportation and life of the B12, this is not just another B vitamin, is an essential vitamin for your health and life.

If you are vegan or you have children that are also vegan, do consider for life to have B12 sublingual supplementation, to make sure that your children will grow well without health issues, and you, yourself, is healthy.

Even as a meat eaters, if you have low stomach acid, or you are taking medication to reduce your stomach acid, if you had a gastric bypass, or you have any issues with digesting your food, pancreatic issues, bile issue, or constant stress, cannot sleep due to stress, have or had a bereavement, moved houses, or changed your lifestyle or you are the last person that you think about, due to overwhelming responsibility, than think about testing for B12 or even take for a while a sublingual B12 with folate if possible.

If you are pregnant and vegan, do take the vitamin, sublingual, as you have seen the long process and possible problems that the normal digestive journey of the B12 is, and possibly in a normal tablet form, will not reach the blood stream due to any of the digestive system problems.

Mindfulness meditation day for therapists

by Craniosacral Therapy/Paediatric craniosacral therapy/Nutrition/NAET/ NLP Health Coach/Mindfulness meditation, posted in Blog

Some of the benefits of mindfulness documented in research, with the Heart-Math meditation and healing and cleansing meditation are that you are more present in your body and life, as well as more relaxed, in life decisions and more.

This is a day though for therapists, and hence we will do more than being present and relax, we get to a place of stillness, centering at out heart for more peace and calmness, as well as cleansing your cup of dirty water, and replenish it with clean full nourishing water for yourself and others.

What do I mean with that?

As therapists we do hold to some things or another, even if we try not to, and sometimes the residue of other people issues, might still linger within you, so have a day all for yourself, to be present, grounded and filled with more light to give!

The principles of mindfulness meditation are the following for the day, and the Heart-Math meditation from the heart will be included during the day, as well as grounding meditations and clearing meditations:

The day will follow the following principles:

Non-Judgment: impartial witnessing, observing your evaluations and categorizations. Noticing the automatic habit of labelling our experience as good, bad or neutral. Habit of judging locks us into an automatic reaction without being aware of them, where they do not have any objective basis. Once we are aware of out judging, then we can choose actions and behaviours more consciously, rather than automatically reacting to the situations in our environment. This principle is useful as we start to engage in a new mindfulness practice that our mind may judge as boring or a waste of time.

2) Patience: allowing things to unfold in their time, bringing patience to ourselves and others.  This is an understanding that sometimes things must unfold in their own time. This principle reminds us to be patient with ourselves as our mind is stretched in new ways. Patience is a helpful quality to invoke when the mind is agitated. To be patient, is to be open to each moment as it unfolds knowing that like the butterfly, that some things can only unfold in their own time. So, when starting out your mindfulness practice or anything else please stick through whatever takes place trusting that some things will make more sense after you have practiced them for a while.

3) Beginner’s Mind: Willing to see things as if for the first time.  We let our beliefs about a situation prevent us from seeing things as they really are. No moment is the same as any other. Beginner’s mind allows us to be receptive to new possibilities and prevents us from getting stuck in our mind, which often thinks it knows more than it actually does. Try to cultivate your own beginner’s mind as an experiment. The next time you see someone familiar, notice if you are seeing the person with fresh eyes or through the lens of your beliefs about that person. When you are out walking, see if you are noticing things, you might have overlooked before. Developing beginner’s mind opens you to possibilities in life you may be missing out on, because you are viewing everything through the lens shaped by past experiences, that is not aware of what else there is to learn and explore.

4) Trust: Developing trust in your feelings and yourself is an integral part of the mindfulness practice. The act of trusting yourself and your basic wisdom, is an important aspect of the mindfulness training.  If you are feeling strongly about something, it is important to attend to that, rather than ignore it because an outside authority is telling you to do so. Mindfulness is an objective process of inquiry and accepting what people of ‘authority’ tell you without questioning the validity of it for yourself is against the basic premise of mindfulness. It is important to stay open and learn from other sources but ultimately you have to live your life and make your choices that feel right to you. It is almost easier to trust external authorities to tell us how to live our lives. Mindfulness involves practicing trusting your own feelings and that doesn’t mean you react based upon all your feelings but that you explore any feelings that show up fully to see what they are telling you about a situation and then you trust yourself to come up with the right action.

5) Non-striving: non-goal oriented, remaining unattached to outcome or achievement. Even though everyone undertaking mindfulness practice has some goals intentions while they are taking their training, at the time of mindfulness practice itself, simply do the practice without any expectations. When you set expectations, such as feeling more relaxed, you are introducing conditions that don’t allow you to be fully present with what is, because you are trying to change the present to be something else. If you are trying to change the present then you are not being with what is, which is what the mindfulness training is. Remember to allow anything and everything that you experience from moment to moment to be there, because it already is. If you are tensed, just pay attention to the tension. If you are criticizing yourself, just observe the activity of the judging mind. Non-striving may be the most difficult of all the principles because in our culture we are taught to be goal-oriented and to be constantly doing something in order to reach our goals. In mindfulness you will reach your goals by not trying to change the present but by being present to whatever arises, and in that way, you will find that the goals are ultimately reached. This is perhaps something you will need to experience for yourself to really understand.

6) Acceptance: open to seeing and acknowledging things as they are. It does not mean approval or resignation. Acceptance is the willingness to see things as they really are. Acceptance does not mean that you have to be satisfied with the way things are or that you don’t do anything to change what you don’t like. When you have the ability to see things as they are you free up energy to take the appropriate actions, instead of working with a mind that is clouded by denial, prejudices, fears, and self-judgments.

7. Letting go: non-attachment and the ability to put aside the tendency to elevate some aspects of our experience and to reject others. Letting go is a way of letting things be, of accepting things as they are. When you observe your mind grasping or pushing away, you can remind yourself to let go of the impulse to grasp or push away and see what happens.

8. Gratitude: being thankful for the little things in life, can be very rewarding. Not taking our body for granted is also very rewarding for ourselves. Being thankful for what works in our body and mind is rewarding. Give thanks to our own body, inside and outside, e.g., gives thanks to our legs, our heart, our liver, our spleen, etc. Being thankful for the people who we have in our lives, that supports us, being thankful for our food, the earth that supply our food, and more.

9. Generosity: give to others, your time, or things that they need. Give attention to others, not for a reward but for the only reason that you would like to help others, that you would like to give to others, to make them feel better.

Contact Maria Esposito BSc (Hons) on esposito_m@yahoo.co.uk or call her on 07956662954

Reduces anxiety and panic attack are two of the many benefits:

● Stress reduction

● Clarity and focus

● Greater resilience

● Enhanced creativity

● Improved relationships

● Improved concentration

● Rapport and communication

● Improved health and wellbeing

● Greater confidence and self-esteem

● Ability to have better quality sleep

● Reduced anxiety and depression

● Improved work-life balance

● Greater work satisfaction

● Memory enhancement

● Intuitive ability

● Pain reduction

Resilience of the heart – productivity and creativity – emotional
intelligence – stress reduction and wellbeing.

Online workshop for therapists is £ 80 pounds to be paid via bank transfer on booking, your place is booked when paid.

Bank transfer to Maria Esposito TSB  code 308472 account 24603860