Why Did We Leave Corporate Careers To Start Up ANANDA HEALING?
Recently, I had to do a presentation to a room full of strangers who had little or no idea about Ananda Healing, who we are, why we started the business, our ethics, our passion. So, I told them our story, our why!
It struck me afterwards, that probably few of you know the whole story and so I decided to share it with you too
Firstly, who are we? Lets start with Duncan, Duncan is a Reiki Practitioner, Master Hypnotherapist, and Master NLP Practitioner (Neuro Linguistic Programming). He comes from a very practical, no nonsense background, his family had a carpentry & building business, they ran a small holding and the extended family were all farmers. He left school to join the Royal Marines and then the Police Force. Maybe not the background you think of when you think of a therapist? He loves Mathematics, computers and logic (I prefer shopping myself!). But how you go from IT to Hypnotherapy and NLP? To Duncan it is simple – if you can program a computer, you can program a mind – if you can fix a bug in a pr0gramme, you can fix a problem in the mind! And I have seen him do this so many times, and sometimes at lightening speed! It never ceases to amaze me.
I have seen him fix phobias, fears, self-esteem issues, sports performance, smoking and weight – he is the registered Hypno-Band practitioner for the area (some of you may have heard Paul McKenna talking about this recently – it is basically providing the benefits of a physical gastric band but without the pain, risks, surgery of massive cost! Not to mention an over 70% success rate!). Duncan is also amazing at dealing with children’s issues, including self-esteem, bullying, psychology impact of divorce etc.
So now you know a little bit about Duncan but why did we set Ananda Healing up? What was behind this ‘crazy’, according to my Mum, decision to give up successful corporate careers to start a therapies business? What are out core values?
We are passionate about well-being, we want people to feel good about themselves. We want to help people see that there is always a choice.
Both Duncan and myself have had to come to terms with serious health issues in the past and continue to live with these now. Duncan was a serving Police Officer, aged just 28, when he broke his back whilst riot training. He could have just given up at this point but he didn’t. He took a masters degree, carved a new career and, this is the interesting bit, if you ask him about the accident now, he would tell you it was one of the best things that has happened to him.
I too have had a difficult ride with regards to my health, since babyhood really, including a heart condition and Type 1 Diabetes but I would echo Duncan’s thoughts. I would say the decision that made the greatest difference to me personally was learning to meditate. My dad considered meditation to be as important as learning to read and write, but then my dad was something special – a story for another day. For Duncan it was learning to become a Hypnotherapist & NLP Practitioner. We always say to our clients, “Everyone’s journey is different and you have to find what works for you” – we are just here to facilitate.
We both took responsibility and made positive choices – choices regarding our lives and our well-being. Many people do not even know that have a choice. My Dad, who I have already explained was extraordinary, always told me “You may not have a choice in what happens to you but you always have a choice in how you deal with it” AND THIS IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE WISH TO GIVE OUR CLIENTS
Before we started Ananda healing though we took time to talk and form our ethos that would drive and guide our philosophy. We decided that money would not drive our business, service would. We made the conscious decision to provide the very best for our clients, even if that meant recommending they go to someone else! And we have stuck to that throughout.
We began by specifically offering treatments that enhance well-being and by doing so we saw this was giving people back some control. I could go on about the research on massage etc and the chemical/physiological changes that happen in the body but, again, that is for another day. Gradually we also discovered that beyond the holistic therapies, our clients also responded profoundly with treatments that made them look good, which in turn made them feel good. It started when I was asked, many times, by clients, if I could recommend a skincare range that was natural and, or, provided help with problem skin, children’s skin etc. It took me two years of research and putting some very strange stuff on my own skin until I eventually found Arbonne, the Swiss formulated, botanical skincare range – it is phenomenal! (Do let us know if you would like to trial it). It really is the skincare industry’s best kept secret as it is only available through consultants such as ourselves. Forget what the Celebs are advertising – this is what they are using!.
Because of our discovery about how people look and the effect on their well-being since starting Arbonne, we have decided to now start moving more into the beauty side of the business. We have recently launched the Gelish 21 day manicure system that DOES NOT DAMAGE YOUR NAILS and DOES NOT CONTAIN FORMALDEHYDE.
During the summer we will be launching other beauty services BUT THIS WILL BE DONE, AS ALWAYS, WITH YOUR WELL-BEING AND HEALTH IN MIND.
Your well-being is our passion.
9 Healthy Reasons To Make A Massage Appointment Today (the benefits of massage)
With more and more research now being done to support the health and well-being benefits of massage, we are delighted to share this blog with you. It has been taken from the Huffington News (we would recommend this online site to anyone interested in all things health & well-being) and each point is supported by research. We hope you find them interesting and some surprising, so here goes -
1. Managing anxiety and depression as it reduces the stress hormone ‘Cortisol’ Could be useful for the January blues?
2. Eases pain, especially back pain and arthritis – just ask Amanda’s Mum – she can play golf again!
3. Improves sleep due to it’s effects on the delta brain wave pattern associated with deep sleep. Our clients would definitely confirm that!
4. Boosts immunity by increasing the number of white blood cells
5. Reduces PMS symptoms including pain, bloating and mood swings
6. Improves alertness (though probably not whilst you are having it done!)
7. Reduces the number of tension headaches and migraines in sufferers
8. Your skin loves it! It increases blood flow & lymphatic drainage giving you plumped up radiant skin.
9. Massage relieves the symptoms associated with serious illness including cancer – All of the cancer patients we have on our books will agree
So, officially, regular massage is good for you! But you already knew that didn’t you?
Need to book yours? Call 01342 842098 or go to the link below for further details
http://www.ananda-healing.co.uk/treatments-services/massage/
So Why Do Women Love Beautiful Nails?
In the last few years, despite recession and difficult times, the nail industry remains in growth – WHY? Well I have my own theory
A fabulous lady called Rita Davenport once said to me “Women can cope with being poor but they refuse to be ugly”. Rita was a TV Presenter, President of Arbonne (our fabulous botanical Skincare range) and motivational speaker – a force of nature and a truthful lady. So, is she right? Is that our motivation? – a refusal to give in to our perception of ugly?
I continue to be amazed that whatever work I can do as a healer or a massage therapist, still does appear to give the joy I see one someone’s face when I transform short or weak nails into something beautiful, sexy or elegant. I do believe, from my own research, that when we look down and we see our own nails looking great, it takes us from the mundane, it lifts our spirits and makes us feel more beautiful. Whatever we see in the mirror, whatever the year on our birth certificate, the balance on our bank statement, the one thing that can be relied upon to make us feel we are still out there, still a woman – whether you are 19 or 91.
The price for this wonder drug we call stunning nails? £19.99
The results and effects? – Priceless
How to choose the right therapist for you-My Top Tips
OK, so you have decided you need or want a treatment and need a local therapist – what do you do now? Google one? Look one up in the Yellow Pages? Then you find there are 20 in your area alone so which one? Well here are my top tips for finding the right one for you.
1. Ask your friends if they know anyone. Personal recommendation is always a good place to start, especially if you know someone who has actually tried the therapist themselves.
2. Once you have a name, hopefully by recommendation, but if not, the same applies, give them a call. Ask them some questions. Do they sound friendly? Knowledgeable? Do you think they are someone you could trust and be happy in their company for the hour you are paying for!
3. Ask them to clarify their qualifications and experience. No therapist who is qualified is going to mind you asking.
4. Are they listed with any governing body, ie. The Beauty Guild
5. Are they insured? This is vital! You are putting your well-being in their hands. You need to know you are covered.
6. Confirm the price and length of time the treatment will last before committing. You don’t want any embarrassing surprises on the day.
7. Check if take your means of payment. Again, many small business do not take credit or debit cards. (We do btw!)
8. Do they insist on a proper consultation before treating you? Yes, this may seem like a waste of time and invasive, especially if you are busy, but it is vital to all concerned that an accurate picture of your health is gained BEFORE any treatment takes place. Personally, I would be very concerned if no discussion was had and no medical history taken.
9. Discuss your expectations with the therapist. You don’t want to waste your time and money and you don’t want to waste theirs.
10. Trust your gut! It will tell you when you have found the right therapist for you.
I hope you have found this informative and helpful. Let me know if you have or if there is something else I should have added. Its all about sharing!
Contact either Amanda or Duncan on 01342 842098 to discuss your needs. It costs you nothing for a telephone call and we always promise to make sure you get the right treatment for your needs.
Gardening and how great it is for you
Gardening has always been a real love of mine. Health wise it is a great form of exercise but I also find it very therapeutic, and not just heavy gardening but planning, planting, deadheading, general tidying and of course, just sitting in it. There is nothing better than planting seeds, bulbs or small plants and watching them grow. Mentally I can get totally lost whilst gardening and not think about anything else. Since starting my Container Gardening Business, it has enabled me to share that ‘feel good factor’ with other people.
One of my clients is over 90, she loves her garden and really enjoys sitting out on the patio. It is quite a small garden with lots of pots – the kind I like best – but she can no longer look after it herself. I arrived one morning for my regular visit and she was feeling quite down. 2 hours later I had tidied and weeded the flower beds and containers, trimmed and deadheaded and planted some hanging baskets. She turned to me and said ‘You don’t know how much better I feel now’. Of course, that made me feel really good too.
For the past 5 years I have planted up and maintained the beds and containers at a local Pub which has won a Horsham in Bloom prize every year since I have been doing it. Many people stop as they pass by and comment on it. They say how lovely it looks, how they love walking by and what a good job I am doing. I have got to know a lot of them really well now. They seem to enjoy it as much as I do.
I also make up planters as gifts for birthdays, Christmas, Easter and any other occasion. It’s nice to see peoples face light up when I deliver their gift.
Of course, it is not just outdoor plants that are good for you. Indoor plants can lift the spirits and give a nice feel good factor but they are very beneficial to your health too.
They can purify the air, absorb toxins, and give off health-giving oxygen and water vapour.
Some of the beneficial effects proven by research are:
- Increased positive feelings
- Reduced feelings of anxiety, anger and sadness
- Reduction of sound levels
- Faster recovery from mental tiredness
- Improved concentration
- Reduction of absenteeism in the workplace
- Control of Humidity
- Improved concentration and productivity
So the message here is gardening is good for you, plants are good for you. If you can’t manage to do this yourself, then I can help. I can offer advice on what plants to have in the home and what type of plants to plant in the garden according to the type of soil, position and conditions.
Eve
www.gardeningofeden.co.uk
Tel: 01403 275048 | Mob: 07940 756323
Sensory Rooms and they can optimise a child’s life
When we heard about Christina, an interior designer with a difference, we became intrigued about her work with children with special needs. Several of our clients have children with such needs so we thought you would like to know more about her too.
Here Christina explains about her design of Sensory Rooms, their history, and how they can optimise a child’s life.
As well as being a qualified interior designer, I have over 36 years in Nursing and Health Visiting and have worked with families whose children have Special Needs. By using these two skills together I can enable children/people to optimise their communication, their well-being and help parents by listening to and working with parents. Communicating differently, face to face non-verbal communication and using smell, touch, lights, sound, colour and vibration, being more visual. Parents may be signing to their child, for example Makaton. I work with parents/carers to incorporate all of this to put together a bespoke Sensory Room for their child.
WHAT IS A SENSORY ROOM? It is therapeutic, it can be educational, it is a haven to relax in, or somewhere to chat to friends. Multi-Sensory Rooms or MSRs provide a sense of well-being, enhancing the quality of life, through stimulation and using the senses we have and optimising them; for example the Olfactory system (our sense of smell), pleasant smells can remind us of certain times in our life – toffee apples, newly mown grass, a certain perfume can evoke strong memory & subsequent feelings. All of these can be re-created in a Sensory Room. Auditory (hearing) senses help heighten our awareness, similarly visual, taste and touch can have the same effect. All these can be brought into the Sensory Room as required. Many people think of Sensory Rooms as being dark with lights but this does not have to be the case. In fact bright and cheerful rooms can equally be pleasing for a child. Sensory Rooms are individual for a child because what is pleasing for one child may not be for another.
WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF SENSORY ROOMS? They evolved in the late 1970s, when two Dutch psychologists thought about Snoezelen rooms to use as a therapy for those with learning disabilities. It soon became evident that the rooms had benefits for people with different disabilities. Eventually, a wide range of Multi-sensory stimulations was used to provide special environments for people with a variety of needs and conditions, including in a field autism, brain injury, chronic pain, and for those in palliative care. Snoezelen Rooms, Multi-Sensory Rooms tend to be used interchangeably hence the name MSR.
WILL IT BE EXPENSIVE TO INSTALL ONE? No, I work with your budget and you will be surprised how reasonably it can be done for. My design fee is £350 per room and for this I will discuss your ideas, provide a written client brief, measure up and take photographs (prior to project & after), provide sample board and 2D CAD plan.
We hope this information has been of interest to you – we were fascinated.
If you would like to know more about Christina’s work her contact details are as follows –
Christina’s Interiors Telephone: 01403 257074 Mobile: 07970 989640
Christina@christinasinteriors.co.uk www.christinasinteriors.co.uk
Massage, Meditation, Hypnotherapy, Athletes & You
Massage, Meditation, Hypnotherapy, Athletes & You
With everyone glued to the splendour of the Olympics and those amazing athletes, we can only wonder at what it has taken in training, sacrifice and determination to get them there. We strongly suspect that whatever admiration and awe we are watching with now will only increase with the start of the Para Olympics.
We have been lucky enough to look after a number of marathon runners this year at Ananda Healing. We have seen first hand what it takes to drive yourself forward through rain, pain and mental torment – when every fibre of your being is telling you to stop. Athletes seem to be built from stronger stuff than us mere mortals, but are they? Could it just be they have a stronger why? It seems to us that the only thing that separates us is their reason why. Could it be that if you dug deep and found a reason to do something that became so strong it would elevate you to a different league in your chosen area?
Some of you may also be wondering where Ananda Healing fitted into the sports training programme. Well, mainly with massage but also with meditation, hypnotherapy and NLP. Research is now proving the benefits of massage to athletes, with improved cell repair rate, in particular. Meditation – we you know that is our pet subject and everyone should do it! Duncan is also finding a number of sports people in particular are benefiting from the mind training techniques of Hypnotherapy & NLP which is invaluable to them to improve their game – the mind needing as much training as the body!
So you are not a top athlete or even aspiring to be one – how can you benefit from therapies?
Everyone can benefit from massage in particular as it lowers blood pressure, reduces pain (even in chronic conditions such as arthritis), releases “happy” hormones to improve your feelings of mental health and well-being. . As for meditation – again, don’t even get us started – we have a recent client who has just finished her meditation course who says she cannot believe the impact it has had on her life; she feels centred and peaceful for the first time in years! And finally, the hypnotherapy & NLP – maybe your first step to improved health is to give up smoking? Perhaps you don’t want to run a marathon but would just like to get through the day without that fear, phobia or habit controlling you?
If you’re having difficulty in getting your why clear and bright enough to drive you, speak to us about our Vision Boarding & Goal Setting workshop!
We made a promise to ourselves when we started this practice – we would be here to serve and to do what we could to improve life for you. That drive started us out four years ago and it drives us today – THAT IS OUR WHY!
Guided Meditation & Its Benefits
Amanda and I often will always recommend that people learn to meditate, and you always have that option at Ananda Healing. But, what if you don’t want to learn to meditate? What if you don’t have the time right now? How can you quickly and easily gain the benefits of meditation (more about those in a bit) without having to go through the process of learning the skills? Guided meditations are an easy way to gain some of the benefits of meditation, the easy path if you like. You get the deep relaxation and the health benefits that brings whilst listening to a Cd (or even an mp3 on your phone, or mp3 player). Now, I’m not suggesting that this is instead of learning to meditate with Amanda (which is a brilliant course, and worth every single penny), but simply that you can get some benefits immediately.
What are the benefits of meditation?
The benefits of meditation are many-fold, such as:
- Reduced Stress and anxiety by an opportunity to spend time by ourselves, without feeling at the beck and call of others.
- Reduced probability of heart disease. There is a growing awareness of the link between our state of mind and physical health. Quite often physical ailments are symptoms of inner turmoil.
- Happiness and Peace of Mind. Is there anybody who does not, in some way, seek after happiness? Meditation takes us to the source of happiness, which is to be found in our own peace of mind.
- Reduced pain for existing injuries and illnesses (I know a great deal about this one, and can definitely vouch for the power of meditation to ease pain).
- Control of your own thoughts. Increased positivity. Have a look at the Happiness Revolution for example.
- Detachment. It’s easy to get caught up by the rush of today’s world and it’s demands on us, detachment helps us to gain perspective.
- Concentration which is essential to fulfill our potential. When we have concentration we can do more in less time.
- Spontaneity and Creativity. Your creativity comes from your unconscious mind, and meditation helps us to access this part of the mind, allowing our creative side to come to the fore.
- Discovering the Purpose of your life. If you feel perfect contentment and happiness then, at the moment, meditation is not necessary, if not then meditation can be of great help. In meditation we gain a new perspective of life, uncoloured by our own egoistic perspective.
Why Guided Meditation rather than a Meditation Course?
Meditation takes time and perseverance, which is where a course comes in. You can’t expect to gain all the above benefits in the first few attempts and without some form of guidance. It takes time and effort to tame the mind. This is where a guided meditation comes in. During guided meditation you will be directed on a journey to deep relaxation, a place of wonderful peace. So you can gain a number of the above benefits without the need for meditation courses or tuition.
Also guided meditation helps to remove external distractions. The use of background music and noise help to block out external noises that otherwise may distract your meditation. In addition it provides a “story” to follow which will engage the mind and draw it gently to the meditative state.
Above all guided meditation allows you to start meditating immediately and helps to remove distractions.
So what’s so special about the Guided Meditations from Ananda Healing?
Each of our meditation tracks:
- is written and recorded by experienced professionals, mainly Amanda, so you receive the benefits of targeted language.
- uses soothing soft background noise to mask external and internal interferences.
- utilises bilateral sounds across all soundtracks to facilitate brain hemisphere synchronisation.
- adds Brainwave Entrainment techniques. Binaural/monaural beats and isochronic tones.
What we have done is to combine ancient meditation techniques with the modern science and the best technology available to deeply relax the mind which will help you to relax easily and effortlessly, and get the most out of your meditation time!
Amanda and I will be organising meditation groups soon, and we hope to see you there!
Feng Shui – Part 4 – Chi and the Eight Enrichments
Feng Shui
Chi and the Eight Enrichments
Our friend Jean Goodrich, Pebbles, has written a great article about Feng Shui and has given us permission to share it with you in this blog series. Thanks Pebbles.
You can find all the separate articles here: The Art of Creating Sacred Space, Clutter Clearance, Sacred Space Remedies, Chi and the Eight Enrichments
A simple plan to help you understand the areas of your home, office, or even desk, that are related to areas of your life, can be drawn to help you to locate areas of your dwelling that relate to your mind, body or spirit. Draw a rectangle, long sides horizontal. short sides vertical, on paper in front of you. Divide into 2 rows of 4 squares. Starting bottom right and going round clockwise, label the squares in this order:- Prosperity and Fame, Peace and Happiness, Pleasure and Indulgence, New Beginnings, Relationships, Children and Family, Wisdom and Experience, and Wealth and Money. Note where entrances fall in this map, and use the same layout for each floor of your property. You will soon see that certain areas may be misplaced and need changing around or remedying. Make any changes slowly and carefully, being aware of the energy movement as you are doing this, and the feel of the energy after each change has taken place. This is the fun part! feeling the energy changes and the positive effects on your life. Playing with the energy and ‘tweaking’ it as you go, is all part of the transformation!
Give your home an energy ‘spring-clean’ every so often, by using sound and incense to move blocked or unwelcome energy. Smudge sticks waved into corners or swirled into inaccessible places like under beds or in cupboards or wardrobes, and don’t forget the loft or cellar, if you have them. Clapping, drumming, gongs, bells and music are all very useful and appropriate for balancing and harmonising the energies in your space. It can make you feel as if you have been on a Wurlitzer afterward though, so make sure that you do this at an agreeable time for all concerned. The folk you share your space with may not entirely embrace these ideas, so do what you can and wait for the knock-on effects.
I have known these basic and simple techniques to cause all sorts of disputes including divorce, as people’s energy reaches its’ full potential, and others they share space with, resist change. There are stagnant people as well as space, and they have to embrace the constant and ever changing environment, or move to a space more in keeping with their needs. Life is a constantly changing dynamic and to deny this is to invite discord in body and mind. No one can dictate to another how space and time is used, it is purely personal, and each of us has the final word on our choices in life. Accept the things that ‘space clearing’ reveals about you and use this knowledge to grow and strengthen in spirit.
Have fun playing with the energies in your personal space, and ‘happy space clearing’ too! Grow and transform; enjoy yourselves!
If you would like to contact Pebbles, please email us or contact us at Ananda Healing (01342 842 098 / 07917 730 944) and we will pass your details onto her.
Feng Shui – Part 3 – Sacred Space Remedies
Feng Shui
Sacred Space Remedies
Our friend Jean Goodrich, Pebbles, has written a great article about Feng Shui and has given us permission to share it with you in this blog series. Thanks Pebbles.
You can find all the separate articles here: The Art of Creating Sacred Space, Clutter Clearance, Sacred Space Remedies, Chi and the Eight Enrichments
Once you have broken the back of the clutter clearance, you can begin to incorporate the ‘remedies’ to enhance the positive energies that you are slowly uncovering and becoming accustomed to.
Check the perimeter of your property and heal any unhealthy energy that is invading. Bury quartz crystals around the perimeter at intervals and hang a pa kua mirror above the entrance. This will insure that only those energies you want to enter do. Hang wind chimes at entrances to deter negative energies and bring in ‘good’ energy with visitors. Use strategically placed mirrors to deflect unwelcome energies from overlooking buildings, trees too close, or pylons and other current carrying structures. Coils of stainless steel wire can be buried in the earth to remedy underground water or other invasive energies like ley lines, at their crossing points to and from, your property.
Entrance and Exit doors should not be opposite each other. If they are, deflect energy by blocking path with mirrors, screens or beaded curtains, so that you do not allow vital personal energies to flow straight through and out, of the home.
Plants, and even cats and dogs, will cure sharp edges and corners in rooms, or deflect blocked energy from an awkward corner; however, dogs and cats tend to move about, so use other living things, birds, fish or greenery for this cure. Avoid spiky plants and always have an odd number of fish! Small mirrors that are just big enough to see your eye in, are also perfect for this.
Internal doors tend to block energy when closed, or trap energy behind them. Where sensible, change for screens or beaded curtains that tinkle when touched. They have a wonderful effect on the energies of the living space!
Where possible, beds should never be end on to the door. This is considered bad luck, as you leave your home feet first when you have passed away, and death to an Oriental is bad luck! Remedy with a mirror on the back of the bedroom door, or re-arrange the room. Make sure that you are not overshadowed in your bed by too much tall imposing wardrobes. Heal with strategically draped material or mirrored fronts. At night, cover mirrors that are facing the bed, with material, so that the swirling energy does not keep you awake or make you exhausted. Do not stuff too much junk under your bed if you can help it, or place quartz crystals under your head area as a remedy if you have to use the space for storage, and keep it as tidy as you can.
Place a set of wind chimes above your main cooking area and a small mirror behind to reflect the positive energy of the cooking station back into the home.
Please stay tuned for the next part in this series: Chi and the Eight Enrichments
If you would like to contact Pebbles, please email us or contact us at Ananda Healing (01342 842 098 / 07917 730 944) and we will pass your details onto her.
