As the New Year approaches, many of us (myself included) set resolutions, vowing to make positive changes in our lives.  However, as the weeks pass, these intentions often fade away.  So how can you ensure that this year, your resolutions become a lasting reality?  Here are my 10 top tips – some effective strategies – to help you stay committed and achieve your goals: 1. Set Clear and Realistic Goals: Begin by defining specific, achievable, and realistic goals If you create vague resolutions like “get fit” or “eat healthier” these are harder to measure and maintain.  I ..read more

I always find myself writing blogs like this at this time of year!! The festive season— lots of Christmas carols humming in the air, streets sprinkled with twinkling lights, and the warmth of family gatherings – right?? Not always! Amongst all the joyous melodies and glittering decorations, it’s not uncommon for stress to sneak in and steal a bit of our holiday cheer. From gift shopping frenzies to party planning and financial strains, the Christmas season can sometimes feel like a marathon of stress. But fear not – I have your back!! Embracing a few mindful strategies can transform this sea ..read more

  A LOT has been written about Cold Water Therapy.   So what IS all the fuss about?? I’m sure you will have heard of Wim Hof the Dutch super athlete who is famed for his Cold Water records. It was my introduction to his techniques that made me explore the benefits of cold immersion more in depth.There are many potential benefits to Cold Water Therapy including: Reduced muscle soreness and inflammation Improved cardiovascular health Increased energy levels Improved mood Improved sleep Increased immune function Increased pain tolerance Increased mental focus and clarity However, it ..read more

Breathing – natural, essential for staying alive so why write a blog about something as simple as taking a breath in and a breath out? Well for a number of reasons.  Being a yoga teacher, breathwork (or pranayama) is fundamental to a yogic practice – in fact it is one of Patanjali’s 8 limbs of Yoga: Pranayama is the fourth stage (or discipline) of techniques that are designed to help gain mastery over the respiratory process – this stage of yogic practice helps see the connection between the breath, the mind and the emotions.  Pranayama is derived from several Sanskrit roots; p ..read more

My name is Julie Elder.  I am an holistic therapist and yoga teacher who specialises in utilising the body’s ability to heal itself using a variety of techniques including Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy, Bowen Technique and Kinesiology. I am also a Reflexologist, Reiki master, Yogi and meditation teacher! Creating a regular wellbeing practice is really important – both for consistency and results. My days tend to start with some breath work, followed by meditation and a cold water dip. Having this consistency brings results – it helps me maintain momentum ..read more

Holistic Ways to Help Yourself – the Power of Hypnotherapy and CBT Did you know that the emotions have a far greater control over our thoughts, feelings and general well-being than most people realise.  We’ve all been there I am sure – that little inner voice destroying your confidence and affecting your wellbeing.  The thing is that although this voice has little – if any – basis in fact, it’s highly effective.  It burrows away at your subconscious planting all those feelings of insecurity and anxiety. If only there were a way to combat this, to plant more productive seeds ins ..read more

Coping with Chronic Pain   Pain means different things to different people, in different contexts, and based on different experiences. Acute, short-lived pain following a traumatic injury, in many cases heals. The pain that becomes increasingly hard to live with and manage, is the pain that has persisted month after month and often year after year. Some adults say they have lived with pain their entire lives from teenage years, whereas others develop this persistent or chronic pain later in life, sometimes for reasons that can’t be diagnosed. Chronic pain is notoriously difficult to ..read more

Spring Cleaning  The good ol’ Spring Clean has its roots in ancient times – maybe as long as up to 3000 BC As beings bound by cycles Spring is the ideal opportunity to brush ourselves off and our homes ready for the warmer lighter days ahead. In the winter, due to the lack of sunshine our bodies produce more melatonin making us more sleepy.  Melatonin levels are connected to the amount and frequency of exposure to sunlight – the more time we spend outside, the less we produce that sleepy hormone. Spring Cleaning is a great way to wake up from that winter slumber of the ..read more

I’d just like to share my thoughts on choosing a yoga teacher.  There are so many types of yoga so choosing the type can be a stress in itself. Some options such as Ashtanga or Vinyasa tends to be stronger and faster.  Hatha yoga tends to be slower although you can have slower flowing vinyasa or stronger faster Hatha practices. The advantage you have at the moment however is that with everything being online you have the opportunity to pretty much try any classes further afield from where you live, so the world is, pretty much, your oyster. Diversity I’ve ‘attended’ classes with ..read more

What a massive impact this year has had on our immune systems!  So as we continue into winter and with Covid-19 still amongst us what can we do to help maintain our body’s ability to stay healthy?? Your first line of defence is to choose a healthy lifestyle. Every part of your body, including your immune system, functions better when supported by healthy living: Sleep Your body needs sleep to fight infectious diseases. Too little sleep will affect your immune system. So, if you’ve been burning the candle at both ends, and not getting good, solid night’s sleep, you will be far more susc ..read more