De-Stress at the Sanctuary
June 2007 at Harry Edwards Healing Sanctuary, Shere
The event opened with a splendid buffet in a marquee overlooking some glorious Surrey countryside on a bright summers evening. If the setting did not get us off to a good start, then nothing would.
Following an introduction by Tony Bennett who is a former trustee at the Sanctuary, the 26 delegates were ushered into the main building and introduced to Toni Jode, Head of Healing at the Sanctuary who took the group through a number of practical techniques of relaxation and introduced a basic method of meditation.
The unique ice-breaker to relax the delegates saw all 26 in attendance stand in a circle, turn to the right and perform a brief shoulder massage to the person on their right. It did the trick and banished any apprehension.
Toni took us through the basics of getting our breathing right – in and out through the nose, with the stomach area inflating as much as the chest with each inhalation. Get that right and your breathing is much more efficient and it relaxes the body immediately. A key messages was to practice blocking out items that cause us stress and to make time to perform simple exercises to relieve stress and to meditate and to manage our energy levels.
This was followed by a number of simple exercises that could be performed at the desk or in the car. The emphasis was on getting the posture right by, literally from the ground up with both feet firmly on the floor, the spine straight, the shoulders relaxed and the head held comfortably. All very practical for those of us who spend so much time at a desk or behind the wheel.
Toni took the groups through a simple route to meditation by way of a simple journey in the mind to a favourite place that makes us feel relaxed. For the purpose of the exercise Toni took us to a beach and helped us to focus on that place, thus temporarily blocking out the normal thoughts that occupy the brain. Thereafter, practice makes for deeper and more effective meditation.
Following an engaging Q&A session delegates went back to the marquee to take wine, network and enjoy the scenery and setting.
By Dan McNamara - 27 June 2007