What it's all about? And how did It come about?  Claire and I were having a chat and we began speaking about our own losses and struggles with loneliness at various times in our lives. As we were chatting we began to discuss that these feelings are actually quite common and that loneliness is a nationwide epidemic and steadily increasing. There are many contributors and stats supporting this statement as Claire discusses in her recent blog.  Many of you will already know Claire as an exceptionally talented massage therapist. And some of ..read more

Most of us experience loneliness at some point in our lives and over 45% of the UK population have reported emotions associated with feeling lonely. It is a natural response to our social needs not being met, yet if we fail to acknowledge our own feelings and push them aside, our physical and mental health can be affected. Loneliness is often not recognised in others as there are many factors which contribute to how it makes people feel and the type of loneliness they are experiencing. It can be linked to major life events such as bereavement, relationship breakdowns or becoming a new parent ..read more

In the middle of winter when we really do feel like we are in the thick of it.   Living in times that we have never experienced before and in a culture that is built on productivity. Are we missing something? Are we constantly chasing something that doesn't exist? Are we blind to what we inherently already have at our finger tips?  I don't know about you, but it can be way too easy to slip into the comfort and familiarity of cyclical and somewhat, negative thought patterns and feelings. We begin to reach for those emotional crutches in the hope of lifting our mood a little. Just ..read more

You know when spring has arrived as the sun is rising earlier in the morning with the sound of birds awakening you. The light is lasting longer into the evening, buds are forming on trees, the grass is looking greener, daffodils are blossoming, and ducklings are hatching. Spring represents growth, beginnings, creation, optimism and expansion. In Chinese Medicine the element for spring is Wood, the colour is green, emotion is anger and organs are Liver and Gall Bladder. Woods energy of growth compliments the rising yang nature of expansion which stretches outwards and upwards. Wood can help nou ..read more

The benefits of Barre: Why everyone is doing this incredible exercise class! Over the last few years, Barre classes have popped up all over the place as more and more people have become aware of its fantastic benefits and results they produce. Barre is a combination of Ballet, Pilates, Strength training and Yoga. A low impact but high intensity workout to sculpt the whole body. Barre uses a series of targeted, repetitive, low-impact movements that work to tone and sculpt muscles – quickly! While many people are turned-off by the idea of Barre because they think they need to have dance experien ..read more

Since I became a Massage Therapist, I have always been drawn to and enjoyed giving Face and Head Massage. Three years ago, I found myself in a role which specialised in Gym workouts for the face. Through sculpting and toning different faces all day, every day, I was introduced to facial tension, and became passionate about easing the discomfort that people were carrying round with them on a daily basis. 84% of the population suffer with a form of facial tension known as TMJ Dysfunction. TMJ stands for Temporal-Mandibular Joint; the two joints which connect the jaw to the skull. It is the most ..read more

Where do I begin? ? 2021 has been another year of totally unexpected twists and turns. The end of a year signifies a time for reflection for me, so I would like to share my reflection with you at this time. Opening Deva Yoga just over four years ago was a huge turning point in my life. There were lots of life events that brought me to that point and although it was something that I had dreamt of, I wasn't quite expecting it to happen when it did. Now four years on, I really can't imagine life without it. To be completely honest, it ha ..read more

Yoga is a great way to keep fit, physically and mentally. But whether you’re a beginner or have practiced for years, some positions can seem impossible to perform, or even bring about some pain or discomfort. For example, if you have tight hamstrings, downward facing dog can be difficult, if you have lower back pain, forward or backward bends might be painful. If your hips are tight, the lotus position may be tough to get into and hold. From my own experience, I started going to yoga classes to help improve my flexibility, but got frustrated when finding simple positions difficult or uncomfort ..read more

Yoga has the capacity to change your experience of life. Anyone who practices yoga can tell you about the effect of the practice has had on their experience of the world. Yoga has the capacity to change your body. The practice of Yoga offers us  A Physical practice of posture and breath Self-regulation of the stress and the emotional response Cultivation of the mind body awareness   The Experience of a deeper state of being Yoga has the capacity to change your mind. Studies by numerous institutions have shown how Yoga can relieve depression and anxiety. The numbers I quote are ..read more

I'm doing fine - how you doin?   Our automatic response when we are asked this question is exactly this... 'I'm fine thank you - how are you?' When you may actually be feeling a little like this picture ? So right now, stop for a minute and answer the question honestly, even if it is just to yourself. How are you REALLY doing?   For me, in all honesty this month has been a drag! The dark nights, the cold, wet and windy days and the constant influx of negativity surrounding the current affairs of the world. There have been days where there seems very little sunshine o ..read more