ABOUT

Vitality isn't something we acquire.

It's something we rediscover when body, mind and heart are given the chance to work together again.

My journey

I've been on a pretty amazing journey over the last 40 years since I dropped out (very early!) of the world of career-driven work. Some of it has involved professional training and practice as a therapist in various disciplines, some of it living in a less orthodox way in different communities and meditation centres.

Over those years I've studied, trained in and practised psychology, person-centred therapy, focusing, Chinese medicine, various forms of body-centred therapy including holistic massage, pulsing and acupressure, meditation and mindfulness, and most recently integrative qigong and breathwork (phew!). I've also spent many years facilitating retreats and holistic camps, and have continued to explore approaches such as positive psychology, contemporary neuroscience and mindful ageing.

All of this has shaped who I am along with the way I practice and what I offer today - but honestly? My greatest teacher has been my own life experience - particularly those periods of challenge, uncertainty and change that we all face at times.

Again and again I've found that the practices I'm sharing now - and especially qigong and mindfulness - have helped me find my way back to wellbeing, balance, perspective and joy. They haven't removed the difficulties, but they've helped me meet them without completely losing my centre or sense of who I am.

Qigong and me

I've practised qigong for a long time, since I was first introduced to it by an amazing teacher, Devadasi, in 1987 and promptly fell in love with how it made me feel. But it was sporadic - a bit here, a bit there, never quite finding the right teacher again - and it quite often faded into the background as other practices took over.

I went through a tough period a while ago and felt in real danger of losing my vital energy, my wellbeing, my connection with my body and my spirit, and my purpose - really, losing what made me me. Something brought me back to the practice that I'd fallen in love with before, and I started practising qigong both in a class in the Ariège and with various teachers on YouTube. I moved to the Minervois, tried a couple of local classes but found I couldn't connect with the teaching style at all, so really dived down to find online teachers that I felt could support my practice.

Although I continued (and continue) learning from different teachers, I eventually started practising every day with Nick Loffree and found that his practices, his style, and he as a person really resonated with me.

Shortly afterwards my life was really turned upside down for over 2 years - practically and emotionally. I believe that it was my daily practice of qigong and meditation that I allowed me to keep my balance, and got me through it relatively unscathed. Soon after that very turbulent period I hit my 70th birthday and realised that it was time to reclaim the person who is the most 'me', who had been in the background for too long - and I knew that part of that was to start once again sharing with others the practices that are so important to me.

I began training as a teacher with Nick several months ago, and am now qualified, although I'm continuing onto more advanced level training where I'm planning to focus in on Daoist practices and qigong for emotional issues and mental health, both of which are very close to my heart. I also continue to learn from some of the different teachers I've encountered along the way, including Ken Cohen, Peter Caughey, Fabrice Piché, Damo Mitchell, Roger Jahnke and Mimi Kuo-Deemer.

My approach

I absolutely don't see myself as 'the expert', or my role as fixing people or providing all the answers. I've always believed that we all have an innate capacity to grow, adapt and flourish when given the right conditions.

In fact I would say that I'm not primarily in the business of teaching qigong, or breathwork or mindfulness, or one-to-one coaching, at all. Those are the outward forms it takes.

What I'm really trying to do is to create conditions in which you can reconnect with your own built-in capacity for wellbeing, by sharing practices, tools and a space where that can happen at its own pace.

For me there's nothing woo woo or alternative about wellbeing - it's human, it's needed, and it's for everyone.

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