Today is April 1st and the start of Stress Awareness Month. It’s no joke that we all suffer from stress for whatever reasons at various times in our lives. It is so important to take time out and look after yourself. The saying, “You can’t pour from an empty cup” is very true.

This year, the spring equinox coincides with a super-moon, known as the ‘Worm moon’, after the Native American observation that the worms begin to appear at the start of spring as the ground begins to thaw. It’s almost as if the birds know that winter is over as they busy themselves catching worms and gathering twigs for their nests. Look out for it tonight!

Why not treat your mum to a relaxing Reiki session this Mother’s Day (Sunday 31st March)?

If you’re looking for a Mother’s Day present that’s a little more original than flowers or chocolates, look no further and treat your Mum to a Reiki session with me.

Today is the first day of spring and also St David’s Day - always nostalgic for me, having been brought up in Wales. It’s also my brother, David’s birthday. He underwent major heart surgery in January which was a bit of a shock but he is now recovering well.

It may still be February but the first signs of spring are already starting to appear in our garden - tiny snowdrops, brightly coloured crocuses and cheerful yellow daffodils - my favourite flowers (it’s a Welsh thing). The birds sound more optimistic and temperatures are slowly rising. The days are gradually getting longer as we anticipate the end of what seems to have been quite a long winter.

Winter has arrived here in the New Forest and as the temperature drops, the temptation is to hibernate until the spring But if we wrap up warmly and brave the cold, it’s actually one of the most exhilarating times of year to go for a walk/jog/run/cycle. We’ve had some stunning sunsets over the last few weeks and the winter sun streaming through the trees is so magical.

Reiki is a simple, natural, non-intrusive method of energy healing which encourages the body to balance and heal itself. Reiki treats the whole person - body, mind and soul, resulting in many beneficial effects including relaxation, stress reduction, improved sleep patterns and a general feeling of peace and well-being. The client remains fully clothed whilst positive energy flows through the hands of the practitioner promoting relaxation, releasing tension and helping to balance the body’s ‘chakras’ (energy centres). 

It’s Reiki Awareness Week and what better time to talk about what Reiki is? When I tell people I’m a Reiki practitioner, I often get puzzled looks and it’s actually not that easy to explain what it is and how it works.

Reiki is a simple, non-intrusive method of energy healing which allows positive energy to flow through the practitioner’s hands, encouraging the body to balance and heal itself. The word ‘Reiki’ comes from the Japanese words ‘Rei’ meaning universal and ‘Ki’ meaning life force energy.

Some people are a little nervous about exploring alternative therapies. Reiki (pronounced 'ray-kee') comes from the Japanese words, 'rei' (meaning 'universal') and 'ki' (meaning 'energy). It is an ancient Japanese relaxation technique which was developed by Mikao Usui in the early 20th century. Reiki is a completely harmless, non-invasive, holistic treatment which is gentle but powerful. The Reiki practitioner uses a series of hand positions to channel energy to the body's energy centres (chakras) enabling the body to rebalance and revitalise itself. The client remains fully clothed throughout the treatment which can be carried out either hands-off or hands-on, depending on your preference. Reiki works on every level, not just the physical.

So what has been a dream of mine for the last two years has now become a reality. My lovely Reiki room is ready, my logo and postcards are done and Forest Reiki is on Facebook and Twitter (thanks to the very talented Emily Jagger at Jagger Design). I've had my first clients and they've booked to come back! I'm really looking forward to helping people relax, de-stress, rebalance, rejuvenate, recharge and revitalise.