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\r\n New Year – New You?<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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New Year! \u00a0New You? New Body? \u00a0New Mind? New\u2026. (pause for breath and\u2026)   NOPE…   How about instead we say things like: Learn about who I really am Learn about what really drives ME and makes me happy Learn to love and accept myself as I am Because then you can learn then to love and accept others as they are\u2026And the love and acceptance will flow through you and them to others in a virtuous cascade But how can you learn about yourself? By pausing. \u00a0By giving yourself time to check in with yourself (what on earth does… Read More New Year – New You?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n Coming Home<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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I just did a restorative yoga class with the brilliant make+move where Lucy pointed out that \u2018your body is your first ever home\u2019.\u00a0 I\u2019ve never heard it described like this \u2013 but what a brilliant way to think of the body\/mind connection. As someone who has often felt homesick when travelling, I wish I had that about it like this when I was a younger.\u00a0 I can come home anytime I like.\u00a0 I can come home to the breath, to my connection to the earth (the literal one through my feet), to my heart, my stomach, my core person.\u00a0 Unfortunately,… Read More Coming Home<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n Feelings – lots of lovely feelings<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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I work with feelings.\u00a0 From my fingertips, through my palms,\u00a0 my wrists and into my lower arms.\u00a0 A sense of \u2018feeling\u2019 is vital to my work as a massage therapist.\u00a0 When you have a massage with me, you \u2018feel\u2019 my touch on your skin and through into your muscles.\u00a0 But I also have other kinds of \u2018feelings\u2019 whilst I do massage \u2013 and you do to too.\u00a0 Good and bad feelings about who we are, what we are doing, the world we live in \u2013 all sorts of feelings.\u00a0\u00a0 We usually think of the first sort of feelings as physical… Read More Feelings – lots of lovely feelings<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n You don\u2019t deserve it<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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I was talking to my closest friend the other day (let\u2019s call her Lila) about whether or not I should book a massage.\u00a0 And well, no, it seems I shouldn\u2019t.\u00a0 \u2018Lila\u2019 pointed out that I shouldn\u2019t get a massage because: I don\u2019t have time.\u00a0 She said I should work on my new business every hour of every day to make it a success\u2026 plus she pointed out that I haven\u2019t spent enough time with my friends or family recently (because I\u2019ve been working on the business) so if I\u2019m going to do something nice it should be with them\u2026 They… Read More You don\u2019t deserve it<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n Oh my days!<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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Monday You had a lovely weekend.\u00a0 You spent time with people you love, you had fun.\u00a0 And then you go back to work.\u00a0 That\u2019s ok \u2013 it\u2019s a job you like \u2013 you catch up on the emails, find out how everyone else was over the weekend, get a little bit worried about how much you have to do this week and head home – maybe via the gym because you\u2019re full of energy and hope. Tuesday Ahhh\u2026 Tuesday\u2026. The day of no motivation.\u00a0 The day of \u2018well yeah, I put a lot of effort into Monday already\u2019.\u00a0 The day… Read More Oh my days!<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n Finding a safe space<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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I recently watched\u00a0this\u00a0video on You Tube where Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski discusses stress.\u00a0 He describes how a lobster grows (it outgrows its current shell, gets uncomfortable, goes into hiding, sheds the shell and grows a new one) and uses it as a metaphor for why stress can be beneficial and lead to periods of growth. I agree that sometimes stress can make us stronger and help us grow.\u00a0 But the part of the story that really stands out for me is that the lobster\u00a0seeks refuge\u00a0during this time of change. Somewhere in our modern story the idea of pursuing safety in… Read More Finding a safe space<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>

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\r\n Who am I and what am I doing?<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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I\u2019m Lydia Spry \u2013 a newly qualified holistic massage therapist (MTI) with a lot of thoughts and ideas \u2013 and a newly discovered desire to write!\u00a0 I work at various clinics in Bristol and also run a practice from my home. I am a successful, well-educated young(ish) woman with a wonderful partner, fantastically supportive family and lovely home with wonderful plans for the future.\u00a0 But, I also experience severe anxiety, depression and panic attacks which can be completely debilitating. So – where could I mull over all the ideas, thoughts and issues that come up during massage?\u00a0 Or think about… Read More Who am I and what am I doing?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>","max_pages":1}