Graphic Design at the Centre

Hi!

My name is Katie I am 22 and I have been at the Centre for the past 3 months working as a Graphic Designer on work experience!

I had just qualified as a BA (Hons) Degree student and I was ready to put my designs out into the world, However.... I could not get a job. I applied everywhere, Taunton, Yeovil, Chard, Axminster, Ilminster, Lyme regis, and yet no matter how many times I sent my CV out to companies, or asked around for some part time work I would not get a reply from anyone. It was really down putting, I started to apply to jobs that were not even in the artistic field, and yet I still would not get once interview. I began to wonder what was the point of me studying for 5 years and not being able to get a job in the field that I loved, or even a job in a supermarket. I was turned down for one because I was "too overly qualified..."

For nearly 3 months I had been without a job and I was put on job seekers. I was lucky enough to have some really understanding people at the job Centre, and they gave me many options and a lot of help in creating new CV's writing cover letters and even options to start up my own business. This is how I found out about Axminster Health and Wellbeing Centre.

They were looking for someone who would be interested in helping them with their social networking and promoting the Centre, I thought that there was no harm in applying to this so I did.

A couple days later I had a phone call to come into the Centre for an interview. I Met Sam and Sara, two of the Managers at the Centre who were really friendly and helpful. Apparently I was just what they needed! At first I was shocked, I have never had this opportunity before, except in school when we had to go on work experience, and I was thoroughly excited!

I started on Tuesday and my first task was designing the Centre leaflet!

I was very nervous but Sam and Sara assured me that there was nothing to worry about! I was allowed to go at my own pace and create designs for them.

I enjoyed being at the Centre so much that I have stayed on through my job seeking. 

After a while I was contacted by more job opportunities, people were interested in seeing my work and my designs, as they found out that I was volunteering at the Centre. A therapist who is here often  has also asked me to design some business cards and leaflets for her on freelance! My luck was slowly picking up, and I have noticed my designs have improved as well as my confidence.

I have always struggled with interacting with people who are strangers, but the Centre has improved my confidence massively, and I think this has showed in the interviews that I have had for jobs. I handed out leaflets for the food bank down in Tesco for 3 hours straight because I enjoyed it so much, and people who were generally interested in the food bank stopped and chatted with me. I also created the Volunteer Newsletter which requires me to interact with every volunteer at the Centre. 

I cannot thank the Centre enough for what they have allowed for me, it has given me new insight and has boosted my confidence as well as giving me the opportunity to do something that I love. If anyone wants to do volunteering work, you should come here, there is always loads of work to do, and you will never be bored. They also have access to a lovely garden and library for anyone to access. It has given me more than I can say, and though I will not be at the Centre much anymore due to me becoming so busy I will always try and get work done for them, whether it is the Volunteer newsletter or a leaflet!

I will always be grateful to the Centre.

Katie

www.bladelmtd.com

l

Every now and then...

Now and again I am reminded just how amazing the human body is and how the body and all of it's functions seem to carry on day in day out doing what it needs to do with very little interference and conscious direction from us!

Working at the Centre has given me the opportunity to learn more about some of the practices that our complementary therapists offer to clients and just yesterday I became quite intrigued by a practice that can help babies, who are not in the 'head down' position, turn ready for delivery.

This was of immense interest to me on a personal level - had I known about 
pelvic diaphragm release sixteen years ago I might have had an entirely different experience of pregnancy and delivery!

My delightful son's position was  'transverse' for most of my pregnancy with him and in spite of the fact that many people assured me that he would eventually 'turn' I was never convinced  and he never did 'turn'. Something about my body just didn't feel right - something felt restricted somehow.

My son was born by planned cesarean section, delivered by a lovely registrar and team of midwives so all was well, however it seems to me that a treatment of pelvic diaphragm release may possibly have helped and prevented the need for surgical intervention. 
I believe that would only have been a good thing for all concerned.

Pelvic Diaphragm Release involves, as I understand it, the use of Myofascial Release Techniques to release restrictions around the pelvic diaphragm and is one of the tools available for midwives or bodywork practitioners to use when supporting pregnant women.

 If you find yourself with a baby in 'breech' or 'transverse' it is definitely worth asking your midwife for more information about the subject and the options available for support for this situation. 

More than anything though the fact that these treatments are now available has heartened me and on a wider level has also reminded me that it is totally acceptable for our bodies, at times, to need a little bit of help from those that are skilled at giving it.

SN

Another busy week at the Centre

There's been a lot happening again this week with more work in the garden - it's looking really good, yoga classes, lots of therapies and a mindfulness course.

Tonight at 7pm one of our therapists, Ranbir, is giving a talk and demonstration on Tui Na. This is an ancient form of Chinese massage, Rambi described it to me once as being a bit like acupuncture without needles! I was lucky enough to try out this massage and I really enjoyed it. Rambi really knows the body and though it's not gentle, it really feels like it's doing some good. In fact when I stood up afterwards I felt like I'd had a great workout and as if lots of toxins had been drained from my body! If you're not sure then come and meet him tonight and find out more about it or just call into the Centre for more information.

Tomorrow as part of the 8 week mindfulness course we have a Saturday workshop which I'm looking forward to. Since starting the course 5 weeks ago I have found myself slowing down and appreciating things more. I've also become much more aware of my body and the feelings within. It's very enlightening and the challenge for me I think will be keeping up the daily practice once the course has finished. But I'm going to give it a really good try.

I thought I'd finish on another lovely, thought provoking poem that came from the mindfulness course last night.

WILD GEESE  by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about your despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain

are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees,

the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting --

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things.

Walk Slowly (Danna Faulds)

It only takes a reminder to breathe,

a moment to be still, and just like that,

something in me settles, softens, makes

space for imperfection. The harsh voice

of judgment drops to a whisper and I

remember again that life isn't a relay

race; that we will all cross the finish

line; that waking up to life is what we

were born for. As many times as I

forget, catch myself charging forward

without even knowing where I'm going,

that many times I can make the choice

to stop, to breathe, and be, and walk

slowly into the mystery.

Thank you Danna Faulds - This poem really moved me when I first heard it during my Mindfulness Training Course - SN

The garden at the Centre looked great this morning.
The plants, which are coming into full flower, are looking lovely. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and the space was sheltered from the cool breeze that could be felt elsewhere in the town.
It felt like an oasis in the middle of busyness.
Do feel free to come and sit in the garden  at the Centre - it's there for people to enjoy.
SN

Axminster Health and Wellbeing Centre

Testimonial by volunteer Emma Prior

I was first made aware of the Centre, by Jane Rowe shortly after moving to Axminster in September 2014. It did take me a little while to actually go in and visit, like many things in life we keep meaning to do. However, after my first visit I wish I’d gone in sooner.

I had noticed the advert for volunteers on the front door and wondered if I could find out a little more about what the Centre did and what opportunities it may hold for me. As a massage therapist myself I have an interest in health, wellbeing and helping people. In addition I still felt quite new to the town and thought it may be a good chance to meet some new people. For once, how correct my thoughts and hopes were.

On entering I was met by a friendly face on reception and after a short chat was shown around the centre and given some information, both verbal and written as to what the centre offered. There are some wonderful facilities and opportunities at the centre which I was completely unaware of until this moment. This includes: The Axminster Food Bank., a free library and the chance to just make yourself a drink and read or sit in the garden. Free Read Easy classes and a large number of groups and classes including meditation, yoga, mindfulness and cancer support. Not to mention the long list of therapies on offer.

However it was the chance to interact with people that I decided would be best for me and so I signed up to volunteer on reception. I have volunteered now for 2 months and enjoyed every minute of it. The staff and volunteers are extremely friendly and I feel I have gained confidence on the telephone and increased my experience at dealing with customer queries. These are very important attributes to me as at the end of April I am leaving the centre to expand and develop my own Soft Tissue Therapy and Sports Massage business which will be based at 5 Milton’s Yard in Axminster. I will continue to be a supporter and friend of the centre as I believe it does great work within the community and encourage all those who have been ‘meaning to pop in’ for a while to make the time to go in and see what’s on offer. I guarantee you’ll be pleased you did. 

Mindfulness for Stress

My Mindfulness Experience - Midway through an 8 week course.

I have been engaging with Mindfulness Training for 4 weeks now and for a practice that is so gentle it is proving to be quite transformative for me.

I started the Mindfulness Training hoping to manage stress and anxiety more effectively. I didn’t really know what to expect but the course sounded interesting so I decided to give it a go.

I am finding that the breathing meditations and the movement meditations are helping me to be more aware of my physical self and to feel physical sensation more fully, much the same as I felt naturally as a child but something that as an adult I had lost touch with.

Now, when I am being Mindful I feel more alive in my adult body.

I have to admit that I don’t always enjoy the heaviness of the sensations that I experience especially during the Mindful Movement practice but, with the same token, in feeling the sensations they also remind me that I am a physical human creature that just ‘is’ as well as a thinking/doing being. For me, that thought in itself is calming and quietens my mind!

I am learning that in feeling sensation I am able to manage my emotional and thinking state to a greater degree than I did before. This awareness seems to be allowing a space for me to distinguish between a reaction and a response.

Mindfulness is also teaching me to be gentle and not to judge myself harshly when I fall into habitual ways and that it is my choice not to dwell in unhelpful thoughts or to allow negative thoughts to multiply.

Somehow life seems very subtly sweeter and simpler…

Samantha Norris