Discover the science of yoga - Are you open-minded?

by Eleni Markante

In one of my yoga classes recently, I was approached by an enthusiastic fellow student of life with the following statement: “I really enjoyed your class today, my daughter has told me all about the chakras and now I believe they are true!”

I was at first so happy that someone has seen the light, but then the thought that followed was one of distrust in today’s belief system. What proofs do we need to believe? What are we seeking? and immediately plunged into a pool of yet again ones life’s questions. The combination of our biological system and cosmology has been a matter of much personal interest. It is during this study that I started researching the scientific topic of matter and energy, only to find that various definitions in modern thinking describe what philosophical scriptures refer on Yoga.

So, it is no coincidence to be drawn to a holistic approach for health and wellbeing, one that encompasses our physical body, our emotions our thought processes and their interdependence. It is this balance we strive to achieve when we are practitioners of Yoga and matter and energy manifest throughout this journey. A concept not much observed clinically that bears the science of Yoga and its inherent reference to Prana, the principal vital force of creation and maintenance.

Along this yogic path we examine the secretion of hormones in the physical body regulating our metabolism, mood and management of stress and their relation to the energy points in the subtle (non-physical) body that recycle vital force. The purpose of this is to free the flow of prana by observing the effects of potential blockages in order to express harmony. Harmony is a space where we can enjoy our best health.  In my humble opinion, you better have a pretty open mind for health! So join me this Saturday as we approach our yoga practice from a deeper perspective, a space where our whole being endeavours to be present.

Eleni teaches Hatha Yoga at the Axminster Health & Wellbeing Centre and will be leading a workshop introducing the Endocrine System and the seven Chakras this Saturday, 23rd May from 10am until 1pm.

Please call the centre on 01297 32331 to reserve your space.

In this workshop you will:

1.    Learn about the relationship of the endocrine glands and the seven chakras

2.    Practice a sequence in relation to each chakra

3.    Receive a guided meditation associated with awakening your inner vision

Cost:£25

About Eleni Markante: I had my first taste of yoga in 1997 at the Life Centre in Notting Hill, London and fell in love with the practice. Today, I am honoured to meet other souls and share the numerous ways yoga and meditation can transform lives, simply by exploring comfort in stillness. As a permanent student, I am trained in different styles and still investing in continuous education.

My classes are designed to cultivate breath awareness, as a means to explore the mind, while finding balance by engaging wholeheartedly. I teach group and private yoga sessions. Book by sending me an email on markante@yahoo.co.uk

Cast your vote for Canned Sunshine 

and help to secure £1,000

We have applied to Aviva for funding to help stock Axminster Food Bank with food and other items.

We have the opportunity to receive £1,000 and in order to be successful we must receive the most votes between now and the end of May.

Please vote for Canned Sunshine - Axminster Food Bank.

You are given 10 votes which means you can vote 10 times for the Food Bank!

Follow this link:

https://community-fund.aviva.co.uk/voting/project/view/559/

Do tell friends and family and ask them to vote - the more votes the better chance we have of securing

funding.

Many thanks

OUR LOVELY GARDEN

 I am now sitting at my desk as a receptionist at the Health and Wellbeing Centre - after arriving back from two weeks vacation in the Big Apple.  It was a wonderful experience and I visited all the usual tourist spots. After one very busy day in the city I decided to go to Central Park and sit and relax away from all the hustle and bustle.  While reflecting on how lucky I was to be there - my thoughts went  to work and our lovely garden and how tranquil and inviting it is. On arriving back it's looking even more beautiful with all the lovely spring flowers starting to bloom. 

Not everyone has their own garden to enjoy, but it's wonderful to know they are always welcome to come and relax in ours!

Eva

Changing unhelpful thought patterns

Most of my clients want to change unhelpful patterns of thought or behaviour, whether that’s getting rid of a fear of spiders, overturning a life-long habit of believing the glass is half empty or wanting to feel more confident.

Until relatively recently scientists believed that our habitual thought patterns were laid down in our late teens, early twenties, and that they were pretty much fixed for life.

Fortunately, modern brain scanning techniques have turned this idea on its head.

Neuroscientists have discovered that our brains remain 'plastic' right up into old age. They have demonstrated our brains' ability to forge new connections, essentially changing the way we think. With 100 billion neurons (nerve cells) in our brains, each with 1,000 connections, the possibilities are endless. In fact, there is even evidence that we can overcome brain damage by rewiring the remaining neurons.

As a Solution Focused Hypnotherapist I help clients tap into this natural ability of the brain, by utilising the client’s own imagination. Brain studies show that thinking about doing something fires the same neurons as actually doing it.

So, by encouraging clients to think about how they want things to be, and actively discouraging them from focusing on how they don’t want things to be, I can help them to forge new, more helpful connections.

So, if there is some aspect of your thinking or behaviour that you want to change, start by imagining how you want it to be. If you do this often enough you will be surprised at how automatic this new pattern becomes.

Deborah Pearce

Solution Focused Hypnotherapist

01404 813388    07939 840788

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.