Lets turn this crisis into an opportunity for something new to emerge!

We are in the process of a world crisis, which shares many of the symptoms of grief; our lives have been suddenly turned upside down in a short space of time due to COVID 19.

These conflicting feelings can be confusing. I do have more time now but can I really admit to enjoying this extra space. How can I enjoy myself when many of us are already experiencing or are on the brink of facing immeasurable hardship? This precious commodity of time has historically felt in short supply and now I have more, BUT….. “Not like this, I hear myself say.” I have a mix of conflicting feelings and it doesn’t feel easy.

Read More

AMANDA BATE

(Amanda runs laughter workshops and is also one of our wonderful receptionists!)

At Laugh Alive we fully understand and promote the importance of maintaining a light heart and an open frame of mind. This principle forms the basis of our work and is something we ourselves, actively instil each day. And, we do this simply by smiling.

As individuals and particularly in the current climate, we may be fearing the unknown or worrying about our futures… Therefore, it is difficult to smile or stay in the moment and to trust that everything will work out in the healthiest and most positive way.

I am personally living my current life by the mantra: WHEN NOTHING IS SURE… EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. This steers me through those scary moments of ‘What if…?’ and offers me the option of balance and inspiration. It reminds me to be thankful for all that I am and to celebrate all that I have.

Read More

Our life begins with loss and it is central to our condition.  From the moment of conception to the moment we take our last breath human beings are exposed to a series of losses which will shock us, sadden us, diminish us and cause us untold grief.  Thankfully most of us are spared too much heartache in our lifetime. 
Loss could be described as an inner wounding which is unique to each individual at a personal level and yet is common to all mankind universally.  It is a perfectly normal and natural response to being human and there is no shame in our need for grieving.  Whether we take these events in our stride or are unbearably overwhelmed by them, they, nevertheless, present us with opportunities for reflection, reparation, transformation and also new beginnings. 

Read More

Having a baby is a major experience in our lives and can elicit a range of feelings in expectant and new parents. Often the emotions that are felt at this time can feel extreme and overwhelming, even the good ones! 

Sometimes, a parent/s can feel a range of worries or negative feelings and these can predominate or feel unsettling. This can be particularly bewildering when the baby is planned and much wanted.  Sometimes new parents have a sense of the route of their difficulties or understand that previous relationship problems may be reactivated at this time but are unsure of how to change this. 

Read More

There is ample evidence that Psychotherapy, in all its many manifestations, changes lives and even saves lives. But what is it that takes place between a therapist and his or her client that has the power to bring about such dramatic change? This question is addressed in a very recent article in the Guardian (originally published in the online magazine Aeon) that can be read here through clicking on the link below. It was brought to our attention by Ian Hickey, an Educational Psychotherapist who works with children, young people and families at The Open Door in collaboration with Amanda Fletcher. Their joint practice is called Thinking Families. The Blog Page welcomes comments from anyone who would like to support, or take issue with, any of the views expressed in this article (it’s quite long but well worth the read!).

Read More

By Jo Magowan - Runner-up in The Green Parent magazine 2019 Writing Competition

It was my middle child, Sam who outed me as a professional homeopath. It happened during his class assembly in front of the entire school and a bunch of other year 3 parents. Their topic was “All about me” and they’d been learning about the human body, relationships and family trees. The whole class was on stage - some children spoke about their hobbies, others showed off their self-portraits. But Sam had chosen to talk about his family. This is when he announced my vital stats. “My mum is from Yorkshire. She likes cappuccinos and she is a homeopath”. And just like that, it was official.

I realised at that moment that I was re-emerging as an individual after almost ten years of motherhood. Ten years of glorious, exhausting, life-affirming, all-consuming motherhood.

Read More

I hate feeling cold and always struggle during the winter months. My urge to curl up into a little ball and retreat is strong, but clearly impractical! That’s why I love this photo of the girl defying the weather.

Everyone else is pulled down, closed in, isolated in their chilliness. But the girl with the colourful blanket (no doubt she is also wearing sensible thermals) is engaged with the world around her. She is calm, alert, and waiting for the train.

Why does this girl stand out? Unlike her fellow travellers, she’s aware of what’s happening around her. If I needed to know something, I’d ask her, not simply because the colours of the blanket mark her out, but because she appears receptive and happy to engage with another person.

Read More

During the 20th century, a very physical approach to yoga (with the invention of many new and varied postures –  ‘asana’ in Sanskrit) enjoyed a huge surge in popularity in the West, which led many people to think of yoga as a system of exercises to tone, stretch and relax the body.

However, traditionally yoga has a much broader meaning.    Within this word ‘yoga’ lies the concept of uniting – where two or more principles are joined. For example we can work with the breath, the body and the mind – using them as tools to help us concentrate, improve the quality of our breath, and lead us to a state of physical relaxation and mental clarity.  By stilling the ‘chitter-chatter’ of the mind, we are often able to see more clearly and deal with life situations more calmly and more effectively.

Read More

Joseph Pilates, was born in 1880 near Düsseldorf, Germany. As a child, he was subject to numerous illnesses which gave him the determination to be strong and healthy. He took up body-building, boxing and gymnastics to the point where by his teens he was getting work as a model for anatomical drawings. He explored and practised every kind of exercise he could and studied both Western and Eastern ideas about health and physical fitness and recorded the results. Dedicated to his task, he also practised the Eastern disciplines of yoga, tai chi, martial arts and Zen meditation. Additionally, he studied anatomy and animal movements.

In 1912 he travelled to England as a circus performer and self-defence trainer. When World War I broke out, he was interned in a camp on the Isle of Man. There, he developed a fitness programme for his fellow internees in order to maintain their health and fitness levels whilst being held in confinement. During his internment, he began devising apparatus to help in the rehabilitation of the sick and injured. The legacy of which can be seen in apparatus, such as the reformer and cadillac, both of which are fashioned around the shape of bed frame. Although, there are many fully equipped studios around the world, most people are more familiar with the repertoire on the mat.

Read More