Present Mind

I recently went on a seven day retreat in the south of England. Going on retreat is one of my favourite things to do. In fact, most registered Mindfulness teachers are required to attend at least one week-long retreat per year in order to deepen their own practice and...

As we approach slowly coming out of lockdown there will undoubtedly be a mixture of feelings to experience. Excitement and joy for many being able to see family and friends. Apprehension and even fear for many of us too. Fear of change, worry about infection rates and...

We are living through a time in human history where familiar routines and rhythms have been disrupted. A dizzying flow of news from around the globe, and extended periods of waiting for change, have left many of us feeling unsettled and disorientated. The danger is...

I’ve noticed recently that a strong sense of impatience regularly arrives in my body - a tightness in my tummy, clenching in my throat, jaw and face, with stifled restricted breath accompanied by thoughts about wishing time would pass by quickly so that we can all...

Everyone feels stressed or anxious at various times. For many this can impact sleep, have unpleasant physical symptoms like digestive issues, skin complaints etc and it can impact on our relationships with others. Not forgetting our relationship with ourselves too,...

*Meditation is the bit of Mindfulness that is sometimes called the ‘sitting practice’ bit. It can of course be done lying down, or even standing up… “I meditate sometimes, but I don’t have the discipline to do it every day.” “I meditated for a while, but I always seem...

I recall at the beginning of the pandemic and first period of lockdown in March, being thrown into a tailspin as I tried to make sense of how an invisible and silent virus could sweep through the world causing so much suffering.  Closer to home, the sudden loss...

Some years ago now, when my children were in pre-school and primary school, I co-ran an after-school club for young children called “Art in French”. The idea was that the children would learn French through arts and craft activities as at the time there was no...

Feeling Anxious due to the Coronavirus? Here are some tips and techniques to help. Many of us, including myself are feeling at the very least unsettled by the changes in our lives due to the Coronavirus.  The first thing that I say to myself when I notice this...

As the nights draw in, we may well find ourselves entertaining those not so helpful thoughts about longing for the long summer days to return and fighting against the natural inevitability of the changing seasons, with the arrival of autumn. Perhaps it’s too dark, too...

It feels like the end of holiday season now that autumn is approaching. In my courses I often talk about how, as humans, we often are on countdown to our holiday, wishing it here as fast as it can be. We often rush around beforehand to get everything done. Do you tend...

I find there’s something comforting about knowing that everything that arises passes away. We learn this from nature. When a flower blossoms, it will eventually wilt and die. When a storm rages, it will eventually pass and calm will be restored. One of the amazing...

Have you noticed that even when you're on holiday, or spending a lovely summers evening with friends and family; that you can still find yourself feeling emotions that you find difficult, such as sadness, boredom, anxiety, disappointment... As human beings, we all...

This has been one of the most useful pieces of advice I’ve ever been given! In a book I read this was offered as a helpful tip to manage physical and emotional pain. The chapter was all about pacing and how, as humans, we tend to go through boom and bust cycles...

Have you ever found that after a busy day, you get into bed, feeling exhausted from living in this fast paced, high tech, crazy world, ready to sleep and then.... you're wide awake with a head full of thoughts about the past or the future, spinning around like a fast...

Feeling Disheartened about your Mindfulness Practice?  Here are 6 Mindfulness Myth Busters that will help you to Practice Many people say that being mindful is the easiest thing in the world - it's so simple that even children and dogs are doing it all the time! Yet...