Mindspa at The Madeley Centre & Audlem Public Hall
Mindspa incorporates mindfulness, breathwork, visualisation, and relaxation techniques to guide you away from the stresses of the day and transport you to a place of mental and physical calmness.
Integrating elements of meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, Yoga Nidra, Yin Yoga, breathwork, visualisation, somatic movement, cultivating awareness, mind-body connection & non-attachment, stress relief and coping mechanisms, derived from ancient and modern philosophies from India, China, Japan, and the west.
There is no religious, spiritual, or belief-led basis for the classes, they are secular, but if you hold a belief that is important to you, you can most certainly incorporate this into your own personal practice.
You will be gently guided through each approach, often asked to do nothing at all except breathe and be here in the present moment. Any movements will be minimal, gentle, slow, and approached while sitting or lying in a comfortable position.
There is no ‘right or wrong’ here, only your own personal journey. Classes are built upon the needs of the attendees. This is your space.
Each session includes a deep relaxation exercise, often using visualisation and guided meditations. The aim is to cultivate mindfulness that you can take out into your daily life to improve mood, sleep, stress levels, overall wellness, reduce pain, and increase resilience.
No experience necessary!
Classes are held at:
In person classes in have now ended, but online courses and sessions will be available soon!
If you’d like to know more, deepen your practice, or simply access sessions to use at home, I will soon have online sessions and courses available.
The courses will delve deeper into mindfulness, setting you up with a sound knowledge of this fascinating topic as well as providing guided sessions. The online sessions will be lighter on information and similar to in person classes.
Share:
FAQS
Q: Can I just turn up?
A: Yes, you can! Absolutely everyone is welcome, but this is an adult class and we politely ask no children under 16.
Q: Do I need to bring anything with me?
A: If you intend to follow the session on the floor, a mat for comfort and blanket is recommended, as we relax your body temperature may drop a little. You may also want to bring a pillow/cushion/bolster to put under your head or knees when lying flat or under your bum when sitting (or you could use your blanket for this). A bottle of water is advisable too. You can also just come as you are and sit in a chair. Loose, comfortable clothing is also advisable, but we’re not doing ‘exercise’ so, if you need to call in straight from work, you’ll be fine! Shoes are optional, but please leave them to one side to avoid tripping.
Q: I have limited mobility, is the class suitable for me?
A: Absolutely! Whatever your level of mobility you will be able to fully engage with everything we do. Everyone can follow the gentle exercises on a mat or chair (or a bit of both), or in a wheelchair. The Madeley Centre is an accessible building and Feral Therapy is proud to be part of the Disability Confident Scheme. If you have any questions before or during the session, please get in touch.
Q: I’m really nervous about attending alone!
A: If you’d like me to meet you at the Centre door or would like a chat before the session, let me know. Everyone will be made to feel very welcome, this is a non-judgmental and supportive space, it is your space, and you are very welcome here.
Q: I’ve never done anything like this before, can I still come?
A: Yes! You will be guided all the way through, all approaches are slow and gentle, the main thing I want you to do is relax! Very little else is required. Mindfulness isn’t about being perfect either (there is no such thing!), it is about experiencing this moment as it is and not judging it.
Q: Do I have to sign up or come every week?
A: No! Come as often as you like or just turn up when you can or need a bit of ‘me time’. Sessions will vary and teach a variety of techniques over time, but this isn’t a course, it is an opportunity for some fully-immersive self-care. Each session is unique and you won’t be left behind or miss anything if you only come occasionally or switch from our morning sessions on Fridays to our evening ones on Tuesdays or vice versa.
Q: I don’t have a mat.
A: No worries! You can use a chair or sit/lie on a blanket. I’ll bring along a spare mat and blanket (I only have one spare set though so first come first served!), but if you would like to come regularly you can purchase a reasonably priced mat/blanket through me and it will be ready for your next session.
Q: What if I have questions during the session?
A: We will pause between each approach, please feel free to ask questions at this point. I will also ask how people are feeling or for feedback on what we just did throughout the session. If you need anything at all, even during deep relaxation techniques when you feel you do not want to interupt, do not worry! Raise your hand and I will come over to you.
Q: What if I fall asleep?
Q: Great! My work here is done! It is quite common for people to drift off during sessions, I’ll be keeping an eye on everyone and will pop over and gently bring you back from the land of nod and give you all the time you need to come around. We’ll do one deep relaxation approach towards the end of the session and then slowly bring ourselves back to full operating capacity (albeit a more relaxed one!) before we leave.
Q: I’d really like to learn even more about mindfulness.
A: Great, this is music to my ears! Mindfulness is a skill for life! I can run private sessions, recommend resources or, if there is enough interest, look at running a more structured class to teach principles and deeper practices, or an 8-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course subject to interest. If you are interested, let me know.
Q: I’d love to come, but I’m struggling for money.
A: Please do not feel embarassed about contacting me in this situation. The financial state of the UK is problematic to say the least and in these trying times, relaxation is more important than ever. I am offering one free place at each session, to apply contact me before the session, or simply email/message ‘I need a gift’ and I will let you know if I can accommodate your place for that session.
Q: What qualifications and insurance do you have?
I hold the following qualifications that are relevant to this particular class:
- Meditation Teacher Diploma (distinction)
- Relaxation Therapy Diploma (distinction)
- Body Healing Coach Diploma (distinction)
- Breathwork Diploma (distinction)
- Mindfulness-Bases Stress Reduction (MBSR) Therapist Diploma (distinction)
- Yin Yoga Teacher Training Certificate (Yoga Alliance Accredited)
- Yoga Nidra Teacher Training Certificate (Yoga Alliance Accredited)
- And have completed over 750 hours of CPD in this field over the last two years as required to gain and retain my professional membership to the CMA & GOYA
- I am a full practioner member of the Complementary Medical Association (CMA), hold experienced teacher certification with the Global Online Yoga Association (GOYA), and am registered on the Mindfulness Teacher Register
- My insurance, membership and other information can be found here
- Feral Therapy is a member of the Government’s Disability Confident Scheme and is committed to providing equal opportunities for all