If you've decided you would like to learn Reiki or are curious about how you go about training you usually look on the internet and then get confused over who to choose.  Here are some guidelines to help you choose your Reiki Master/Teacher or Reiki Practitioner.

I’m a Reiki Master/Teacher and have a Reiki practice in Hythe for treatments and training. The term ‘Master’ I’ve always been a bit uncomfortable with as you never ’Master’ Reiki, it just becomes a way of life and a journey of self growth and knowledge that is never ending and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

The most important thing is that you feel comfortable with your teacher, are they warm and empathetic, are they happy to chat about Reiki and answer your questions?

A good Reiki Master will always be happy to answer any questions you have, tell you what support they provide after the course and they should be able to show you their lineage, qualifications and insurance.

Lineage

Lineage is their Reiki ‘family tree’ which shows who they learnt from, who their teacher learnt from  etc., right back to the founder of Reiki, Mikao Usui , this gives you peace of mind that they have been properly taught along the way. It also offers you a unique connection to the source of Reiki. My lineage has been verified by the Reiki Federation.

Are they a member of a professional organisation?

At Calm in Kent I am a member of the UK Reiki Federation and The Reiki Healing Association?

Are they available to talk to you about the class or treatment beforehand?

I encourage students to talk to me beforehand and ask any questions they may have, I’m friendly, approachable and empathetic.

Do they offer ongoing support/mentoring after the course?

I offer support after your Reiki training and enjoy hearing how you are progressing with your self healing and other aspects of Reiki. So you have the reassurance of knowing you can receive help with any questions you have after the course has ended. You can contact me via messenger on Facebook, email or text, if I can answer your questions in this way I will, otherwise we can arrange a telephone call to chat.

I also run a Students Support page on Facebook.

Do they offer Reiki Shares?

I offer Reiki Shares for students to attend after their course (optional).  Reiki Shares are beneficial to you as they give you an opportunity to meet likeminded people and to practice your new found skills to give and receive Reiki. It’s also a good opportunity to ask me anything about Reiki. 

Do they practice Reiki on a daily basis and incorporate the Reiki Principles into their everyday life?

I practise self Reiki every day and have done since my level 1 training years ago, I love talking about Reiki and work on self growth and expanding knowledge continually.

Are they a practising therapist as well as a teacher?

Being a practising Reiki therapist gives a teacher knowledge and continued experience to pass on to students.

Does their course content meet your needs?

At Calm in Kent I have structured the course so that you receive a solid grounding in Reiki and understand what Reiki is, its background and how to use it in your everyday life. We practise the hand positions for self healing and work through giving Reiki to your friends and family (although not professionally as that is Level 2 training)

My course outline can be found at www.calminkent.com/courses

What are you getting with your course?

With Calm in Kent training you receive an A4 comprehensive manual which I have written from my own experience and knowledge, it’s packed full of information, with step by step details on the practical use of Reiki for use during the day and to take home afterwards. You’ll also receive a Reiki notebook to keep notes during the day.  With Level 1 you receive your certificate at the end of the day.

I provide hot and cold drinks during the day. We have refreshment breaks in the morning and afternoon and break for lunch, Hythe has a lot of cafes where you can buy lunch or bring a packed lunch with you.

Check the testimonials of the person you are considering training with.

One of the best ways of deciding who to learn with is to check out their testimonials or reviews from other students, this gives an unbiased opinion in their own words from other students that have used this teacher, together with a good indication of the experience you can expect.

Take a look at the testimonials my students have written and read some of their experiences, www.calminkent.com/courses scroll to the bottom of the page to see testimonials.

Make sure you resonate and feel comfortable with the person who will be teaching you. You will be with your teacher all day on the day of your course, and rely on them for back up afterwards, so it is important that you feel comfortable with the teacher you choose. It is a good idea to have a Reiki treatment before you train, this would be good way of meeting the person you may choose to teach you.

I hope all of the above has given you food for thought and will help when it comes to choosing your Reiki Master for your own journey with Reiki. Trust your intuition, it will guide you to the teacher that is right for you.

I’m always happy to chat about Reiki so please feel free to email or message me to arrange a call to ask any questions you have.

Sue x

The HEART CHAKRA or ANAHATA is the 4^th chakra in the 7 chakra system, located in the centre of your chest, its colour is green. This chakra is the centre of love, balance and connection. It helps your capacity for compassion, affection, trust and love.

The heart chakra is also know as the heart centre as it connect the three upper body chakras to the three lower body chakras at one point, it is a complex chakra. It’s where the physical and spiritual meet so is the root of emotional and energetic healing.

With a well-balanced, open heart chakra you are full of love, empathy, compassion and forgiveness. If this chakra is unbalanced or blocked you may feel anger, hatred, jealousy, irritable and impatient.

A balanced chakra allows you to be who you are instead of attempting to fit external expectations.

If your heart chakra is balanced you will

Easily give and receive love

Feel loving and calm

Accept yourself just as you are

have a strong sense of empathy for yourself and others

be a compassionate and giving person to yourself and others

be able to experience and express emotions

handle stress with ease

If it’s overactive you may feel

Clingy and lack self independence

Jealous

If its underactive you may feel

Restless

Lack of empathy and compassion

Low self esteem

Irritable and impatient

Difficulty trusting others

So how can we balance our heart chakras? There are numerous ways, here are a few

• Heart Chakra meditation
• Wearing the heart chakra colour, green.
• Chanting mantras, the mantra for the heart is YAM
• Repeating heart chakra affirmations; there are many you could use or make your own up, one example is “I deeply and completely love and accept myself”
• Frequency of heart chakra, music affects us deeply, listening to music with the frequency of 639 Hz is commonly thought to bring balance to this chakra.
• Sound or singing bowls create a range of vibratory frequencies to harmonies parts of the mind, body and soul. Each chakra resonates with a specific key, the key for the heart chakra is F with crystal bowls.
• Crystals, one of the best crystals for the love chakra is Rose Quartz, and because this chakras colour is green you won’t go far wrong with any green crystal.
• And last, but definitely not least, REIKI is excellent for opening and healing your heart chakra. A Reiki treatment will help you feel calm and balanced or you can learn Reiki yourself and have healing at your fingertips any time you need to feel relaxed and calm.   

One hand on your heart wherever you are can help bring calmness and reduce anxiety. I teach my students to use this technique regularly.

Healing the Anahata is a process, once you are aware of this powerful energy centre and work to keep it open and balanced it can bring self-empowerment.

Opening your heart chakra is the start of your healing process.

Hand on heart, stay calm and relaxed.

Sue x

Using positive affirmations  Oct 2022

When affirmations are used correctly, they can completely change your beliefs and help you live a happier life. Every thought and every word you speak is an affirmation so why not make it positive.

Do you ever catch yourself saying something like …….

 “I’m not good enough, I’ll never succeed”

 “I’ll never be as happy and successful as my friend, colleague etc”

Most of us are frequently visited by negative thoughts that influence our mood and confidence. The problem with negative thoughts is that they can become self-fulfilling. There’s a great quote by Henry Ford “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right” 

So why not reverse this by using positive and uplifting thoughts. This is where affirmations come in, they are great to train your mind to reverse negative thoughts.

Positive affirmations are positive phrases and statements that are repeated to help challenge negative thoughts and encourage positive changes in your life. If you want to be more motivated of need to build your self esteem this would be good practice for you to find joy in little things or to remove negative self-talk. How often do you talk unkindly to yourself, you wouldn’t talk to a friend like that, so why do we do it to ourselves. 

Using positive affirmations to change your thought patterns needs regular practice. Choose one or two positive affirmations and read them to yourself when you wake up and repeat them throughout the day and again before you go to sleep. Make it a routine every day.

If you’re not sure what to say here are a few examples for you:

I am positive

I am full of energy and optimism

Today is the day for change

I am enough

I am worth it

I choose to live in a way that brings me peace

I am healthy and radiant

I will make the most of new opportunities

I am strong and confident

My future is full of laughter

Happiness comes from within me

You may think they don’t sound like you if you are feeling anxious with low self esteem, or negative about your life, but go with it, try it for a few weeks. Say these affirmations as if they are true now, say it like you mean it, say it from your heart.

So where can you find affirmations?

You can write your own affirmations that are positive and fit with you.

Search Google for affirmations.

You can buy affirmation cards and pick one each day to use.

Slowly your brain will click into a more positive way of thinking, they really do work if you repeat them regularly during the day.

Alternative ways of implementing affirmations into your day.

There are many ways you can implement affirmations into your life. Some people look at themselves in the bathroom mirror in the morning and repeat positive affirmations, yes I know, that one can be difficult. You could place sticky notes on the bathroom mirror so you can see them, read them and reinforce them. You could write the affirmations in your diary or notebook, or journal with them for deeper meaning. Or if you already meditate, repeat them whilst meditating. Find the way that works best for you.

Using positive affirmations is more than wishful thinking. Building positive affirmations into your day can be hugely beneficial. Repeating an affirmation can help boost your motivation, your confidence, your resilience to stress and general outlook on life. They can lift you up when you’re feeling down and improve what’s already good. Think of affirmations as a step towards change. 

Start adding more positivity into your life.

Sue x

Listen to people who say "I'm fine"    July 2022

How many times has someone asked you “How are you?” and you’ve replied “I’m fine” when you really aren’t fine at all but don’t want to explain or don’t want others to know you’re feeling awful physically, or more often, emotionally or mentally.

“I’m fine” paints over what we really want to say which may be difficult, complex or scary to share. So we say “I’m fine” slap a smile on our face and the other person leaves. When sometimes we want to scream “no I really am not fine”.

                                          When you say “I’m fine” do you really mean:

• I’m up, I’ve washed, I’m dressed and I’m muddling through the day the best I can.

• I’m finding life hard, I can’t focus on anything, but I don’t want to tell you because I feel weak.

• I’m not fine but I haven’t got the energy to explain, I’m just too tired.

• My brain is tired, overloaded and overwhelmed but I’m standing talking so I must be fine.

• I don’t want to sound negative and pull you down.

• It’s the wrong time and place to talk about how I feel.

• I talked about my feelings before, it didn’t go well, I was judged I don’t want that again.

• If I say I’m fine enough times maybe I will be.

Try to find a way to explain to someone how you are feeling, find the right place and time. Message a friend and ask to meet to talk or have a phone conversation.

Just saying “I’m not fine” to someone out loud can often help. 

I am fine at the moment, but like everyone, there have been many times in my life when I wasn’t and help has been found from surprising places and surprising people. The people around us are crucial to our mental health, we all need a strong network of friends or family who we are comfortable to confide in when we need to and sometimes medical intervention is needed, it’s not a weakness. 

How are you?

Sue x

What's in your toolbox? Feb 2022

Think about what we have in our sheds and garages for DIY. Our tool boxes and tool kits to repair and restore things around our house. We have Polyfilla to smooth over holes and cracks in the walls, screwdrivers to make things secure, steel rules to measure things, spirit level to make sure things are straight.

So why not build a personal toolbox to help ourselves - our own toolkit.

So what would you have in your toolkit?

Phone numbers of friends, it’s always good to chat over problems, worries and troubles and restore our emotional state.

The biggest tool I have in my self-care tool kit is Reiki, I self-heal daily and have done from the first day I trained. This keeps me calm, relaxed, level and balanced. It’s the most wonderful self-help tool I could have, I don’t remember my life without it.

So what else – Meditation – this helps you feel calm, and restores and soothes your mind. Start with guided meditation, I often post one I’ve recorded on my Calm in Kent Facebook page on Sundays.

And creativity, we shouldn’t forget being creative is great for lifting spirits and making us feel relaxed and increasing our well-being. Whether that’s arts and crafts, painting, drawing, sewing, crochet, photography, pottery or whatever you enjoy - Anything where you lose track of time is good for your well-being.

Exercise – Now don’t all groan! It doesn’t have to be the gym, a simple walk in nature, in the woods or by the sea is great for us, getting some fresh air. Find something you actually enjoy and you will do more of it. I’m going to try to get back to swimming soon, I love the water and once I get there it isn’t a chore, I really enjoy it. I think, like most things, it’s just making the effort to go and then we feel the benefit. If you feel anxious or depressed just moving your body can help, get up and make a cup of tea, open your windows and breathe the fresh air if you can’t physically get out.

So often our mental, emotional and physical health are put into separate boxes as if they are not connected, but whatever affects us mentally and emotionally will affect us physically in time. So what will you do today to move your body?

Journaling or Morning pages – these are good practice as a brain dump to release everything from your mind. Write it down on paper get it out of your mind.

So what else could we think of for our tool boxes, my yoga teacher always used to say to us ‘You are what you eat’, if you think carefully about this it is true, what we eat builds our bones, our immune system, our blood etc. We all have times when we eat what we know isn’t healthy or good for us, that’s normal. So for February I’m going to try to eat healthy, nutritious food, colourful food is usually healthy, fruits and veg etc. I’ve got a little bit of weight to lose from after my operation when I wasn’t exercising at all for several months and I’m still working on building my fitness and health. I’m not worried about this as I think now I’m walking and eating better it will come off naturally. Don’t beat yourself up if you eat unhealthy things sometimes, it’s not worth stressing over.

And sleep, we all need to drag ourselves out of hibernation soon, but a good night’s sleep is essential for our well-being. Turning off social media and stopping our phones beeping at us at least a couple of hours before bed is good practice as the white light and intrusion from these effects your brain and keeps it buzzing, this prevents easy sleep. Maybe try a guided meditation before sleeping, you will probably go to sleep half way through.

I’m interested to know what you are going to put in your self-help tool box?

Sue x

New Year's Resolutions v Intentions Jan 2022

Are you thinking about New Years resolutions?

What about setting intentions instead? Whilst you can set intentions at any time of year, I think most people ponder on their life as we tip over into a new year.

What would you like more of in your life?

What changes need to be made for you to be calm, peaceful, happy, healthy and awesome? Quite often we need to let something go to make room for something new. Have a think, what could you change to make your life better, what do you want?

Setting intentions rather than new years resolutions is softer and gentler, in my experience there aren't many New Year's resolutions that are kept, mine would usually fall by the wayside at some point. Resolutions tend to judge things as good or bad, and to me always seem a set up for failure, which is not a good feeling to start the year with. An intention is a much gentler way to move on. An intention is something you want to do, not something you 'should' do. Setting an intention is a way of giving direction to ourselves, initiating change, or changing our attitude, or maybe working towards a dream.

To begin to set your intention find a quiet place where you will be undisturbed for 10 to 15 minutes, have a notebook and pen handy, light a candle or play some soft music if this feels right for you to make a relaxing space.

Take your time to reflect on your life, where you are, where you would you like to be, your relationships, your work, your creativity, what you do for fun or leisure time, what you enjoy, your sense of wellbeing, your quiet time. Consider where you are placing your energy, what has too little or too much of your energy.

Are things unbalanced? Is seriousness outweighing fun? Could you address that balance? Is patience needed? What about compassion or empathy for others or yourself? Write down in your notebook whatever comes to mind, your thoughts, or maybe a single word.

After 5 or 10 minutes place your notebook aside close your eyes and think of one sentence of intent. When writing intentions avoid the words 'should', 'never', 'always', 'must'. Examples of intentions.....

To prioritise time for myself to breathe and just be.

To believe in myself and move forward freely.

To spend more time having fun with my family.

To relax more often.

To learn a new skill.

To try different exercise to find one I enjoy.

To start a new chapter in my life.

To choose calm over anxiety.

Your intention can be anything, maybe one word, or your intention may be more detailed. It is YOUR intention it can be anything you want it to be. 

Spend 5 mins reflecting or meditating on your intention, feeling it. Can you let your intention start this very moment?

During the day repeat your intention to yourself either silently or out loud its surprising what change you can manifest.

It's not necessary to initiate changes that have to be kept all year long, intentions can be made daily, weekly or monthly.

Give yourself space to grow without 'should do's' and 'have to's'.

Happy New Year.

Sue x

The feeling of Christmas Dec 2021

Christmas is definitely a feeling for me, I find the wind up to Christmas magical I love the twinkling Christmas lights that brighten up our High Streets, I like the carol singing, the Christmas music on the radio, and the children's faces when they see Father Christmas, I still look forward to the Rotary club's Christmas float with Father Christmas on and give him a wave, well you never really know for sure do you........I do spare a thought for the people working in retail who have to listen to the same songs over and over again. But like everyone now and again there's the slight panic of whether I'll get everything done on time, usually I get to the point where I give up and decide what's done is done and what isn't doesn't matter, so I apologise if I've forgotten to send you a Christmas card, the feeling's there and I will be thinking of all my friends, family and clients and hoping you're all having a festive time.

Sadly the feeling of Christmas is not a good or happy one for everyone, for those who suffer from stress, anxiety and depression and the many people who are trying to make money go round, for those who have social anxiety and find it difficult to mix with others, this time of enforced jollity is hard. For those who have lost loved ones during the year or who are facing anniversaries they'd rather not have to, the thought of Christmas is a painful one. Christmas heightens all of these feelings and makes it a difficult time. 

Christmas day can be the loneliest day of the year for a lot of people who live on their own and may not see anybody, the loneliness made worse by the adverts on tv featuring family and friends having a jolly time in the cosy, cheerful family home with picture postcard perfection. When they do go out the feeling of loneliness grows when everyone is seemingly having a lovely time with their family and couples are hand in hand. 

The smallest thing may help someone, a smile costs us nothing.

Smile at strangers in the street and say good morning or Happy Christmas, you may be the only one that wishes them a Happy Christmas or the only person that has spoken to them that day.

Check on friends who live alone, a phone call may help if they're not near to you. 

Do what you can to help others in this rushed time. 

Above all keep calm, know when to stop and rest, and enjoy your Christmas break whatever you're doing.

Happy Christmas.

Sue x

How many of you play chess or know how to play chess?

I learnt when I was young but have to admit its not a game I ever took to. Too much strategy and planning, its not a pleasant past time for me although I know a lot of people enjoy it.

We often treat life like a game of chess planning our moves. But what if you don’t have to spend all your time figuring out your moves in your head or worrying about the future. Working out what if, what if I do that and this happens, what if I do this and that happens? What about being in the present moment for a short time each day and giving your mind a rest.

We are all problem solvers but we take it too far. When we find ourselves at a loose end or having a rest we flip into problem solving mode.  Why not say instead, ‘here is a moment for me when I don’t have to solve any problems’ and just appreciate that?

Too often we walk around with our heads down, solving problems in an imaginary future, completely failing to see what is around us, we miss so much that we could be appreciating. A huge amount of what we worry about never happens, why do we waste so much time even thinking about it.

What about considering taking 15 minutes of the day just to appreciate your surroundings wherever that might be. I know it’s difficult for some of you, Mum's with children at home, but they go back to school soon so you could grab 15 minutes in a day for yourself. 

Practice taking 15 minutes when you won’t try to solve any problems in your life. You are simply being aware of what is going on in that moment, what you can see, what you can hear or just focus on your breath, when the thoughts or problems come into you mind push them aside they are not wanted right now this is your time to just be in the moment.

Maybe try it when you leave work or in your lunch break or when the children have gone to bed, or I do know someone who gets up earlier than anyone in her house so she can have her coffee and enjoy a short time just to be, enjoy your time without continuing to work in your head for a short time each day.

Take time out to rest and just be, forget planning your next moves for a few minutes.

Sue x

Balance July 21

Balance is really about being in a state of mind that allows you to zig and zag easily and confidently.

Does it feel impossible to stay balanced when you have a heavy workload or are juggling family commitments and work?

There are things that you can do to address this….

Make sure your basic needs are met –

• Are you eating healthy, nourishing food? 
• Are you staying hydrated, make sure you drink plenty especially in this hot weather?
• Are you getting enough sleep?
• Don’t let work take over your life to the point of exhaustion.
• 
  

Plan ahead –

• It’s impossible to totally control everything but planning will help your stress levels when you have a lot to do
• To do lists are great, but always add some easy things you can cross off quickly, the list doesn’t look so daunting if it looks like you’ve already achieved some of the list.
• Organisational apps on your phone can be helpful.
• You can’t beat pen and paper -  A diary of the important events you must attend.
• 
  

Make time for yourself –

• Take time out to do something you enjoy.
• Make sure your relaxing bath or shower at the end of the day is without a mobile phone pinging at you, it should have nothing more taxing than soft music, candlelight or a good book.
• Give yourself regular breaks during the day, your mind will work better for it.

Be mindful of your emotions –

• Emotions can sky rocket when we are busy and stressed, running late or having a bad day, anger can escalate, anxiety soars, you may be snappy and have less patience, or you may feel emotional feeling like you can’t cope.
• Stop and be still, take time to breathe during your day, a few minutes focusing on your breathing can clear your head and put you in a better place.
• Take your lunch break, get some fresh air if you can, the time you take for lunch will be made up easily in the afternoon because you will have more focus and clarity.
• Check your shoulders during the day – are they scrunched up around your ears, let them go, relax them down, it’s surprising how much tension we hold in our shoulders.

Make time for your family –

• Children grow quickly and fly.
• Loved ones may not always be with you.
• When you’re with family make sure you are completely with them, not worrying about what you’re doing next.

You can say no –

• You don’t have to say yes to everything.
• You can say no to baking cakes for the whole of your child’s class or school fair.
• If you have a busy schedule, don’t fill your diary with more appointments or meetings with friends or work.
• There are things that are necessary, things we need to do, but think whether it’s something that, 1. Is necessary or 2. Is something you want to do.

Nourish your soul –

• What makes you feel good?
• What would you like to do?
• What makes you happy?

Consider all these things when planning your to do list, self-care is not selfish it’s a necessity for your sanity and for a better and more balanced family life.

Remember you’re not super human, it is possible, even with a busy life, to find a work/life balance that keeps you happy. Running around exhausted won’t make you or your family happy. Sit down and reconsider what’s important in your life and what you can do to have a more balanced and happy life.  Get plenty of sleep, make space for personal time and remember it’s unrealistic to think you can everything done in a few hours of rushing around.

With a bit of planning you can achieve balance for yourself.

Sue x

One of the most important tools we have is the ability to listen. So what do we need to be a good listener?

To be an ‘active listener’ it requires us to stop thinking about what we’re going to say next and focus on what the other person is saying right at the moment they say it.

Active listening is when we listen to what is being said, we don’t interrupt, we don’t disagree, and we don’t judge. Our responses are non-verbal, we smile, we nod or we may even touch the speakers arm in an empathetic way. Sometimes we make brief comments like ‘ok’, ‘yes’ to encourage the speaker to keep speaking and to accompany our non-verbal response.

We are often planning what to say next and whilst we are doing this we are not actively listening. 

Have you ever been to a lecture or talk and at the end of the talk the speaker invites questions, and no one does? How awful for the speaker that they have just delivered what they considered to be a riveting subject and everyone in the room has drifted off elsewhere in their mind. You feel embarrassed for the speaker in this moment of silence until a brave soul raises their hand and asks a question and you sigh with relief. Asking for more information about what we have heard makes us likeable; to be an active listener we need to be curious. 

Don't listen with the intent to reply but with the intent to understand.

So for today make an effort to actively listen to what others say, you may be surprised what you hear.

Sue x

By putting our own self-care first means we can be more available to others

It’s sometimes hard to put ourselves first, but if we look after our own self-care and well-being we will have more energy to be available to help others. Reduce the stress in your life, put yourself first. Simplify your life wherever possible and slow down.

Self-care is a process we can build on, introduce strategies slowly so you don’t get overwhelmed. By introducing one thing a week you can soon build self-care habits which become a way of life. Give it a go, feel the difference.

So what can we do for self-care?  Here are a few suggestions…..

Slow down – I think we can all do with slowing down, taking breaks even if only five minutes to breathe, just stop for a while. We achieve so much more by taking breaks during the day.

Write things down - It may seem weird but by writing things down it gets it out of our brain, write down your emotions and then take a look at them on paper, it may feel different once you’ve read them, and you’ll be keeping a record of when your mood alters which may help work out what you need to do to change your fluctuating moods. By having a notebook by your bed and writing down your worries and the things you need to remember can free your mind to enable you to sleep.

Walking – Walking is an easy form of exercise for most people, not as tough as running or the gym and much more pleasurable to be outside in nature. Maybe just going to the shops or walking around the streets looking at the architecture, or just getting out of the house it’s all a form of self-care for you. Do whatever feels right for you.

Meditate - It doesn’t matter what sort of meditation you do, and there are lots of forms of meditation, pick one that feels right for you. Guided meditation is a good place to start if you have never done meditation before. I often do short guided meditation on Calm in Kent Facebook page and also do a meditation on Freedom Radio on Sunday and Wednesday evening at 9pm you can find the link for that on Sundays on my Facebook page.

Read – Taking time out to read is a good form of self-care.

Play music – Soft music relaxes our body and is soothing for our mind. Music is wonderfully relaxing and has the ability to alter our state of mind rapidly.   Whether we play it on for a break in routine or having it playing in the background whilst we go about our daily life it can be beneficial at calming us down or uplifting us. Make a playlist for music for different occasions, one for when you want to calm with soothing soft music, and one for when you want to energise with upbeat uplifting music. 

Stretch - Moving our body and gentle stretching of our muscles can release tension in our body and also help us sleep better.

Be creative – Whether that be knitting, sewing, drawing, colouring, painting, pottery, the list is endless. Splash some paint on paper you don’t have to be a talented artist to enjoy it and find it relaxing.

Bath or shower – Water, candles, soft music and bubbles or oils in your bath all guaranteed relaxants.

Book a relaxing treatment –Holistic treatments are calming, try a relaxing Reiki treatment or a soothing Indian Head Massage, you deserve it and you’ll leave feeling like you’re walking on air with a wonderful sense of well-being.

Whatever you choose, take care of yourself, you are important and you deserve it.

Sue x

Quite simply Reiki is one of the easiest and most effective healing modalities in the world.

Anyone can learn Reiki, it’s easy to use and easy to understand  – Everyone should do the first level, which only takes a day’s training and a little practise.

It’s effective to use for yourself or others.  Think of it as a tool that you always have with you, it’s always there for you to tap into and you need no special equipment. A practical, self-help tool for life. 

If you’re anxious about anything, use Reiki and your anxiety will lessen. Blood pressure a bit high before taking an exam or going for an interview? A few minutes with Reiki and you’ll feel the difference.

It’s always available to you as an unlimited resource.

The first level of Reiki is a wonderful opportunity to learn how to self-heal and how to treat your friends, family and pets. It’s an experience of self-discovery beneath all the ‘stuff’ in our lives – feel peace, calm, compassion, stillness and balance through Reiki. Learn how to use the Reiki principles in your daily life so you experience less worry, less anger, more gratitude and more compassion for yourself and others. 

Reiki Level 1

• Learn how to perform Reiki on yourself and your family, friends and pets
• Helps you with being more ‘you’. Feeling more like yourself
• Develops increased intuition
• Supports you to become more grounded
• Manage your own energy levels without being overwhelmed
• Feel calmer, more aligned, balanced, connected and peaceful
• A valuable self-help tool for life

Level 1 is a prerequisite of Level 2 is where you will learn more advanced techniques and train to become a qualified Practitioner.

So how do you learn?

At Calm in Kent I provide training with ongoing support for beginners at Level 1, and those wishing to train as a practitioner at Level 2. Classes are in person and held locally, each level receives certification and you’ll receive a manual to take home. 

For more information contact me by phone 07841 206893 or complete the contact form on the website www.calminkent.com.

Why learn Reiki?

I’d say why not, it’s the best thing I ever did, I look back and wonder what I ever did without it. It’s the simplest, easiest and most portable self-help tool you can have.

Sue x

Take a look at the full course overview - Click here Level 1 Reiki Training

Creating a Calm Space March 2021

When you have a stressful day, where do you want to go? What do you want?

I usually want to go home and find myself surrounded by my own things that make me feel calm.  When I walk into a space or a room I can feel energy, whether that be positive or negative energy. It’s hard when I find myself in a space full of negative energy because I just want to get away from it. It makes me feel uneasy and stressed.

But have you ever walked into a space and felt instantly calm, that’s the feeling I like my clients to feel when they walk into my treatment room. I like them to feel like they are in a cocoon, safe, nurtured, relaxed and calm.

Other places can have a calm feel, book shops often have it, crystal shops, spa’s, some people’s houses, the ones I love to visit.

When I’m stressed it’s important for me to find the balance and feel calm again, being calm is important to me. Finding the calm energy somewhere isn’t just about a physical space it’s also a calm within you. So creating that calm space that’s special for you is a personal thing. You have to figure out what makes you feel calm indoors. Is it reading a book, having a relaxing bath, flowers, being creative? Once you’ve worked it out it’s easier to incorporate some of those into a room to make it your calm place.

There are no rules, these are ideas to get you started, it’s purely about what feels right for you, all that matters is that this can be an oasis of calm and peace , where you can relax, recharge your energy and stay balanced.

So what can you do to make a space or room feel calm, or maybe just a peaceful corner in a room?

Colours

Keep colours calming with soft greys, blues and neutral greens or soft pastel colours.

Declutter

Clutter can be distracting and overwhelming. Having a space with minimum distraction helps.

Comfort

Have soft pillows, cushions, soft throws, cozy blankets, furry rugs, think of things that are tactile and relaxing to touch. I love snuggling down with a soft blanket.

Lighting

Use soft and warm lighting, it makes it easier to relax. In the evening dim the lights or light candles. Salt lamps have a lovely relaxing glow. In the daytime a room with a big window and lots of natural light is my favourite. 

Sound

Soothing music can foster a sense of calm and help with your meditation practise. Alternatively the sound of bells, chimes or Tibetan sound bowl can assist with calming and meditation. Or why not choose a small fountain, the sound of trickling water can instil a sense of tranquility for some.

Clean air

This might not be something that you first consider when thinking about creating your calm space. Airing a room and opening windows brings energy into a room. Unpleasant smells are far from relaxing. Himalayan salt lamps have a lovely glowing light but also have air purifying, soothing and calming properties.

Plants and greenery

Adding plants to a space can make it instantly relaxing and can help to purify the air.

Aromas

Aromatherapy and the smell of oils is very much a personal choice, there are some smells that I don’t find relaxing. Essential oils and scented candles can be amazing for calming and reducing stress and anxiety, and some boost energy. Some of the most soothing oils are lavender, peppermint and lemon (not necessarily combined).

What are you going to do in your newly created calm space?

Now that you’ve created your calm space, you need to be calm in it. Are you going to read a book, bath, meditate, do yoga, listen to music, drink your favourite tea or just be, you don’t have to ‘do’ anything?

What have you done to create a calm place in your home, have you got any recommendations?

Sue x

You are unique, one of a kind, there is only one of you. So why try to change?  Embrace who you are, your many gifts, the fact that you are you.

Do you think you need to be more clever, more like someone else, more beautiful, taller, slimmer, faster, brighter? Do you compare yourself to others? I think we all do it sometimes. Doing this eats into your self esteem and doesn't bring you happiness. By comparing yourself to others you are blocking your own potential. We live in a society where everything is compared instead of celebrating our uniqueness. You don't actually need to be 'more' of anything. You're beautiful as you are. Some will love you, others won't. It's very true that we can't please everybody all of the time, so don't waste your energy trying to. Not everyone will like you and you don't need to change, it's not your fault if others can't see the wonderful things about you.

Everyone is different, we talk and think differently. You don't have to 'fit in with the crowd' it's not always as great as it may seem. Everyone has something different to bring to the table, that's what makes life interesting. Don't dismiss or under estimate anyone, they may surprise you.

We are all born with unique traits that help us shine.  Each of us has skills, abilities, character and personality. You have unique talents and gifts that no one else has.

Nobody is perfect, we all have flaws and let's face it the world would be a pretty boring place if we were all perfect.

Accept who you are, an original is always worth more than a copy. You don't need to copy anyone else. Be that original. Do what makes your soul happy.

Be you. You are special.

Take care.

Sue x

New Year's Resolutions v Intentions Jan 2021

Are you thinking about New Years resolutions?

What about setting intentions instead?  Whilst you can set intentions at any time of year, I think most people ponder on their life as we tip over into a new year.

What would you like more of in your life?

What changes need to be made for you to be calm, peaceful, happy, healthy and awesome?  Quite often we need to let something go to make room for something new.  Have a think, what could you change to make your life better, what do you want?

Setting intentions rather than new years resolutions is softer and gentler, in my experience there aren't many New Year's resolutions that are kept, mine would usually fall by the wayside at some point.  Resolutions tend to judge things as good or bad, and to me always seem a set up for failure, which is not a good feeling to start the year with. An intention is a much gentler way to move on.  An intention is something you want to do, not something you 'should' do.  Setting an intention is a way of giving direction to ourselves, initiating change, or changing our attitude, or maybe working towards a dream.

To begin to set your intention find a quiet place where you will be undisturbed for 10 to 15 minutes, have a notebook and pen handy, light a candle or play some soft music if this feels right for you to make a relaxing space.

Take your time to reflect on your life, where you are, where you would you like to be, your relationships, your work, your creativity, what you do for fun or leisure time, what you enjoy, your sense of wellbeing, your quiet time. Consider where you are placing your energy, what has too little or too much of your energy.

Are things unbalanced?  Is seriousness outweighing fun?  Could you address that balance?  Is patience needed?  What about compassion or empathy for others or yourself?  Write down in your notebook whatever comes to mind, your thoughts, or maybe a single word.

After 5 or 10 minutes place your notebook aside close your eyes and think of one sentence of intent.  When writing intentions avoid the words 'should', 'never', 'always', 'must'.  Examples of intentions.....

To prioritise time for myself to breathe and just be.

To believe in myself and move forward freely.

To spend more time having fun with my family.

To relax more often.

To learn a new skill.

To try different exercise to find one I enjoy.

To start a new chapter in my life.

To choose calm over anxiety.

Your intention can be anything, maybe one word, or your intention may be more detailed. It is YOUR intention it can be anything you want it to be. 

Spend 5 mins reflecting or meditating on your intention, feeling it. Can you let your intention start this very moment?

During the day repeat your intention to yourself either silently or out loud its surprising what change you can manifest.

It's not necessary to initiate changes that have to be kept all year long, intentions can be made daily, weekly or monthly.

Give yourself space to grow without 'should do's' and 'have to's'.

Happy New Year.

Sue x

Is your mind like a pool of water, thoughts drip in like drops of rain and then sometimes there’s a downpour and you get deluged and you feel overwhelmed? 

Like your physical body your mind does need to rest sometimes. Guided meditation can help you learn how to take your focus off of your thoughts to give your mind a rest. 

I started thinking about meditation a few years ago and like you I thought no way. My mind is always busy I'm always thinking of things, I couldn't empty my mind. I thought you have to sit in a cross legged position on the floor and chant ohhmmm. But I discovered there are a lot of different types of meditation, there are no expectations we recognise we have thoughts and that's a good thing. Meditation teaches us that we can recognise we have those thoughts but not engage with them. It's helped me a lot, when I first started I said I didn't have time to meditate and was told to get up earlier and do it first thing in the morning, I didn't want to get up earlier, but I tried it and it works, I get up earlier and meditate first thing before I start my day, before I shower, and then get on and work or do whatever that day needs. Starting your day in a stress free and relaxed way makes a lot of difference to how your day goes.  I wouldn't be without it now, I really notice the difference if I miss a day.

You don’t have to do it in the morning, choose a time to suit you, after dinner, before you go to bed….try to choose a time and stick to that time every day, it soon becomes a habit then.  It’s all about finding a way the suits you and fits in with your lifestyle.

Start with just 5 minutes. I'm not asking you to wipe out all your thoughts, or to find somewhere silent, be wherever you feel comfortable sitting, I can't do the cross legged thing it’s not comfortable for me, so wherever you feel comfortable, deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. For just five minutes close your eyes, don’t mind the time don’t mind the thoughts just be still. For some of you it will seem like 5 hours and some 5 seconds. Don’t have any expectations it’s ok to have these thoughts just a acknowledge them, don’t focus on them and just let the float by. Bring your focus back to your breath and breathe in and out, slow your breathing and your mind and body will slow and feel calmer. As you breath in say to yourself ‘I am breathing in calm’ and as your breathe out say to yourself  ‘relax’.

If you think you haven’t got time and you’re rushing around all day and can’t fit another thing in, you are probably the person that needs to meditate the most.

Stop and breathe to still your mind.

Sue x