ENDORPHIN MEDITATION – LIFE CHANGESFacilitate positive life changes with The Endorphin Effect.
Relaxing guided meditation to:
- help you become calm and centred
- connected to the good things in life
- create the life you want
Cost: £10.00 Beginners welcome.
For weekly meditation classes and one-to-one sessions contact bodel.rikys@virgin.net
Meditation for Beginners WorkshopLearn how to meditate in a simple contemporary way, without any particular spiritual orientation, and sitting comfortably. This day workshop with experienced practitioner Bodel Rikys provides the basics for continuing self practice. It covers posture, breathing, awareness, attention, letting go, mindfulness. We will also work with self healing, creative problem solving and contemplation within meditation.
Next course takes place on Please Inquire by emailing bodel.rikys@virgin.net 10am - 4pm at The Institute, 11 High Road, East Finchley, London N2 8LL Course No: 468 Fee: £48. |
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Bodel Rikys has had 30 years experience with meditation, yoga, holistic health and self-development work. She is an artist and a Core Energy Management coach.
Endorphin Meditation Evening ClassClasses with Bodel Rikys taks place on Tuesdays at 6.45 -7.45 pm at The Yoga Therapy Centre 90 -92 Pentonville Road, Islington, London N1 9HS Tel: 020 7689 3040 (entrance on Penton Street). Cost £10. For more information email bodel.rikys@virgin.net |
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Core Energy Management – The Endorphin Effect was developed by Dr William Bloom and is a set of holistic strategies for mind/body healthcare and enhanced wellbeing.
In particular, Core Energy Management – The Endorphin Effect, teaches how to produce and use endorphins, the feelgood hormones, at will.
Bodel teaches meditation and Core Energy Management in adult education and is available for group and individual sessions. See Core Energy Management for details.
Endorphin Meditation CD now available“creative energy work to enhance your life”
Guided exercises to trigger endorphins, the feelgood hormones, improve your health, connect with the vitality of nature, and from this place create the life you want.
£10.00 plus £2.50 postage and packing
email bodel.rikys@virgin.net
Bodel Rikys & Endorphin Meditation
Daily Telegraph 8th August, 2005Just lie back and think of happy times to release your body's feelgood endorphins, says Judith Woods
Most of us are aware of the existence of endorphins, those happy hormones that make us feel good.
Known as nature's natural painkillers, these opiate-like chemicals are generally produced when the body is under extreme physical stress, hence the well-documented euphoria of the runner's high.
After 20 to 30 minutes of hard aerobic exercise, endorphins are released and will result in a mood and energy boost for two to three hours, and a mild buzz for up to 24 hours. Sex also promotes production of these pleasurable neurotransmitters, because of the enjoyment of physical contact.
Laughter is another good source of endorphins, which is why watching a good sitcom will generate enough hormones to keep you contented all evening.
And as we all know, there's nothing like a bar of chocolate to give you a lovely rush of wellbeing. Studies have shown that when a group of overeaters was given a drug to block endorphin release, they no longer craved chocolate.
But what if there were a less fattening, less strenuous way of achieving a happy high? According to therapist Bodel Rikys, endorphin meditation is the answer. Rikys holds weekly classes and one-to-one sessions, where she shows clients how to tap into the feelgood factor within.
You can reduce stress, promote self-healing and make positive life changes by invoking your endorphins, says Rikys, who has practised meditation for more than 30 years.
It's not a case of emptying your mind - that's very difficult to do. It's about filling it with pleasurable thoughts, which in turn will produce a feeling of wellbeing. The endorphins will turn off the stress hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, and have a positive impact on your body chemistry.
It sounded so simple that I was immediately rather sceptical. If it really was that easy to feel marvellous, why hadn't we all been doing it for years? There was only one way to find out, so I signed up for a session.
I've long been intrigued by meditation, but the rather formal, stiff-backed, legs-crossed posture always put me off. It was a relief, then, to be told I could sit or lie on the floor - however I felt comfortable. I chose to recline on a large cushion, with my knees bent.
I was told to close my eyes and breathe deeply into my abdomen. Then, in my mind's eye, I was to scan my body with kindness, paying great attention to any places of tension or soreness. By offering myself sympathy, I was creating a soft, receptive frame of mind, which is apparently crucial to summoning up my endorphins.
Then I was to think about something that made me feel happy: an activity or place. Just as I was beginning to feel fretful because I could not visualise a vivid enough image, Rikys reassured me that it was enough to see colours, enough to see hazy impressions.
I chose to remember snorkelling on a holiday in the Caribbean, when I spent hours watching silvery shoals of fish glint and shimmer in the refracted light. Guided by Rikys's soft tones, the more I conjured up the cool feeling of the water around me and the sun's hot rays on my back, the happier I felt, and I began to smile. And smile some more.
Part of me felt utterly ridiculous, as I imagined how I must look, lying on the floor grinning from ear to ear, but I couldn't help myself.
Imagine there is a bright sun just where your ribcage ends, and it is filling you with light, every part of you, said Rikys. Now think of a golden trickle of endorphins, like oil or honey, streaming through you, soaking your bones with happiness. Wherever your body is in pain or needs healing, the golden flow will deepen until you are saturated.
By now, I am slightly embarrassed to recall, I was actually giggling. I felt excited and elated, yet simultaneously conscious that I was in a completely artificial situation.
Rikys then went on to talk about nature and how I was connected to the world around me, which was so soothing, I promptly fell asleep. As she gently asked me to wiggle my hands and toes, I stirred, and reluctantly opened my eyes. As I sat up, I have to confess I felt wonderful.
The effect of this kind of meditation is cumulative, said Rikys. The more you do, the better you'll feel. If you stack up endorphins in your body, it's like building up a reservoir of wellbeing, as opposed to a reservoir of stress.
For the rest of the day, I had a definite spring in my step, and two friends separately observed that I appeared to be on tremendously good form. Even the next day, I felt more energised than usual.
It was a remarkable experience. Simple yes, but deceptively so. When I subsequently tried to repeat the meditation, at home, I couldn't maintain my concentration. For me, having a relaxing voice talking me through the process was crucial.
I'd love to be able to conjure up my golden endorphins at will, but in the meantime I've done the next best thing. I've booked another session for next week.
Bodel Rikys holds weekly Endorphin Meditation classes at Highbury, London N5 and Islington N1; Cost: £10 per session. Please email bodel.rikys@virgin.net for directions and times. One-to-One sessions also available. Cost: from £40. Please email for more details or to make an appointment.
Daily Telegraph, 8th August, 2005 |
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What is Transcendental MeditationTranscendental Meditation is unique. It brings about a deep inner tranquillity that is both relaxing and revitalising. This dissolves stress and fatigue, promoting happiness, health, creativity and clear thinking.
Transcendental Meditation (TM) is taught by experienced, highly trained teachers, and comes from a distinguished tradition. Your course is tailor-made for you, giving you personal attention to ensure the best results.
TM does not require any change in lifestyle or beliefs. In fact, it works whether you believe in it or not, and its benefits have been confirmed by an extensive body of scientific research. It is easy to learn, and can be practised by anyone. Perhaps this is why over 5 million people worldwide, and almost 200,000 in the UK, have learned the technique.
Benefits of Transcendental MeditationTranscendental Meditation has profound benefits on the mind, body and spirit:
Benefits of Transcendental Meditation On The Mind- Deep restfulness
- Builds energy
- Dissolves stress and fatigue
- Promotes happiness
- Easier to learn new concepts
- Higher verbal IQ
- Increased intelligence
- Greater creativity
- Improved memory
- Clearer thinking
- Greater realisation of inner potential
- Increased ability to relax
- Less anxiety
Benefits of Transcendental Meditation on the Body
- Lowers blood pressure
- Reduces headaches and backaches
- Improves the quality of sleep
- Reduces drug use
- Improved overall health
- Reduces risk of heart disease and cancer
- Less stress
- Reverses the ageing process
- Promotes rest and relaxation
Benefits of Transcendental Meditation in the Workplace- Less anxiety, job tension, insomnia and fatigue
- Reduced cigarette and hard liquor use
- Fewer health complaints
- Enhanced effectiveness, productivity, job satisfaction and working relationships
“I meditate and greet the morning with profound cheerfulness”“I had no idea what to expect [when I went to meet a TM teacher]. White robes? A flowing beard? Sandals at the least. What I find is a man in a suit, shirt and tie. The office is piled high with files and paper, with computers, telephones and faxes.”
“Calmed by the mundane surroundings, I drink tea. He says two things that strike a chord. The first is that TM is not a religion, a cult or a philosophy, but simply a technique to calm the mind - and by extention the body. The second is...[that] meditation, he says, 'is a long, warm bath, a holiday for the mind.'”
“The list of meditation's benefits seems, at times, daunting. Among its advantages, it has been proved effective in improving stress-related disorders such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, migraine and pre-menstrual syndrome. It has also been proven to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol... Even IQ has been proven to increase - by 5 points in 2 years, and 9 in 4 years.”
“Meditation is, for me anyway, an intense and private joy... During the summer months, I even began taking delight in waking and meditating with the sun... It used to take me hours to connect to the day. Now, after a cup of good strong tea, I meditate and greet the morning with profound cheerfulness.”
Red Magazine, October 2000
“The beauty of Transcendental Meditation is that it has been so thoroughly investigated. Its life enhancing effects have been verified by over 500 studies, many of which have been published in leading medical and scientific journals.”
Dr. Nicholas Argyle, Consultant Psychiatrist, UK
“In multiple published research studies, Transcendental Meditation has been shown to be the most effective technique for reducing stress and rebalancing the biochemicals in the body to produce improved physical and mental health.”
Hari Sharma, Professor of Pathology, USA
Please phone or email Michael for further information:
Transendental Meditation
City and East London Area
Tel: 07960 683160
Email: michael@tmcityandeastlondon.com |
 Meditation - courses, workshops, ongoing groups, one-to-one sessions, with Linda HallSee Below For Upcoming Courses and Groups”Linda’s meditation groups formed a core element of my recovery from a serious depression in 2003. Since then, I have taken the practice that I learned from them into my everyday life, knowing that I could return to the beginnings of calm and balance, with just five minutes of the breathing techniques and visualisations I learned with Linda.
She is a deeply spiritual teacher, kind and compassionate, and, having recently rejoined one of her groups, I realise that her commitment to the practice of meditation is continually evolving.
Experienced and assured, Linda is more open and relaxed than ever, able to extemporise on any theme and gently guide us towards a profoundly healing connection with the universe.”
Jane Law |
Resourcefulness Meditationwith Linda HallThe evolving face of meditation in the 21st CenturyResourcefulness Meditation puts us in touch with natural resources already existing within ourselves and the world around us, and allows us to harness their power. It is rooted in the belief that all meditative states are naturally occurring and available to everyone. Resourcefulness Meditation enables us to access these states consciously.
Resourcefulness Meditation (RM) draws its approach from a broad spectrum of Eastern philosophy and Western psychology. It respects individual beliefs, and does not align itself with any religion. Rather than imposing any specific structure required to be mastered, such as: breathing technique, body posture or mental practise, it seeks to reveal positive ways of being in the ‘here and now’ through simply using the natural every-day faculties of intention, focus and awareness.
- As well as being an effective way to manage stress, and a gentle means for self-development, Resourcefulness Meditation presents an opportunity to explore and develop the spiritual side to our nature. It allows us to do this in an individualistic, experiential way, free from the dogma and ritual sometimes associated with more traditional forms of practise.
- Resourcefulness Meditation fosters a greater understanding of the relationship between body, mind and spirit. It seeks to increase personal choices in life, and encourages taking responsibility for the self as a route to empowerment.
- Resourcefulness Meditation works with the body’s own natural intelligence and innate ability to rebalance. It enables us to embody learning by bringing understanding down from the mental into the physical - the cognitive level at which most ‘real’ learning is made.
- Resourcefulness Meditation promotes inner awareness, helping us to see that we are co-creators of our own lives. It enables us to develop a healthy relationship with our self, and the world, through practising mindfulness, compassion and acceptance, and through acknowledging our own needs.
- Resourcefulness Meditation recognises the subtle energy system in the human body within the larger energetic system of the cosmos and its connection to health and well-being.
- Resourcefulness Meditation helps us to experience ourselves as being part of a much larger, organic whole - the universe. This expansion of consciousness often facilitates new perspectives and may help us to go more freely with the natural flow of life.
- Resourcefulness Meditation builds ‘every-day life skills’ that can be easily incorporated into day-to-day living. Because it takes into account the nature and current needs of the individual it is a suitable practise for most people and may be of particular benefit for those with stress related conditions.
Like everything in life, meditation is evolving; RM provides a philosophy on meditation that holds the uniqueness of the individual and the interconnectedness of all things at its heart. It offers meditation techniques which are safe, easy to learn and well suited to western culture in the 21st Century. ©
”The meditation sessions enable me to connect to that quiet place within myself where I can feel life’s possibilities. The loving kindness and compassion within the group is heartfelt and rejuvenates my spirit. The meditation sessions are a rich and rewarding experience.”
Elizabeth Farrell |
Restoring body, mind and spiritContemporary research in psychology confirms that the ‘age old’ practice of meditation develops inner contentment and peace. When the mind slows we are able to regain focus, insight and a sense of overall balance. It does not require any special skills, and with the right guidance, is easy to learn.
Linda has fourteen years experience in the complementary healthcare field as a holistic massage therapist, healer and teacher. She has a down-to-earth style that makes understanding the process of meditation accessible, interesting and fun. Her approach is secular and respects individual beliefs.
As well as a means for self-development, she sees meditation as a way to learn practical, essential life skills that can be easily incorporated into day-to-day life for stress management.
My ApproachMy approach to meditation is a synthesis of Western psychology and Eastern philosophies and is not aligned to any religion. As well as observing the benefits of meditation in the management of my own health, I draw widely from my work as a holistic massage therapist and healer.
I believe that the body and mind possess an innate wisdom and a natural ability to move back towards a healthy state of balance. Meditation is a natural way to break chronic states of the stress response in the body which if left unaddressed can compromise mental and physical health. Meditation helps us to regain our equilibrium.
Regaining balanceWell-being and good health improves when we take responsibility for ourselves; our body is intelligent and holds the means of change within. Meditation is something we can all do - our body naturally knows how to, it just gets hijacked by our busy mind for most of our waking hours. So getting in touch with our body and the ground beneath us is the first step.
Being with the here and nowMeditation draws us ‘back home’, grounding us in the present, giving us a sense of feeling more at one with ourselves and the world in which we live. It helps us understand the inextricable link between body - mind - emotions - spirit and how this connection shapes our experience of life.
Going with the flowStress contracts and restricts us on every level of our being. Meditation allows us to soften and open to Lifes’ flow. This may lend us a clearer perspective, increasing self-confidence and promoting peace of mind.
It is well known that regular practise of meditation can bring about significant life shifts. It affords the opportunity for us to heal at deep levels: allowing for the release of stress, along with old negative feelings, thought patterns and memories; it fosters a healthier relationship with ourselves and others. Providing support during life’s challenges, meditation not only helps us be with the difficulties we face but to grow through the experience.
Supporting health and well-beingMeditation helps to maintain general good health: inducing deep relaxation, it reduces stress and stabilises energy levels as well as encouraging healthier breathing patterns. It helps to clear the mind, boosts the production of natural ‘feel good’ endorphins, and supports the immune system.
Meditation can be beneficial for most stress related conditions, including: anxiety attacks, insomnia, depression, muscle tension, headaches, lowered immune response, shock, high blood pressure, asthma, chronic fatigue (ME), most neural related conditions, hyperactivity, and mood swings. It also can help in the management of pain and disease.
An investment in ‘self’I suggest that you to see meditation as an important self-investment. Not only are you acquiring life skills for stress management in the now, but a solid resource for preventative healthcare for your future. Furthermore, by its’ very nature meditation provides a natural resource for self-development and a means to explore a ‘spiritual’ perspective to your experience of life.
Living more mindfully in the present, rather than the dream worlds of the future or the past, encourages your mind, body, emotions and spirit to integrate* (*these different aspects of ‘self’ can become separated through stress). Meditation enables us to move towards wholeness.
”Linda is a highly trained and experienced meditation teacher and facilitator of self-development groups and events. She is warm and compassionate and dedicated to her clients. She brings a wealth of knowledge to her work and her loyal following speaks for her results.”
Lizzie Holden |
Courses, Workshops, Groups,
One-to-One Sessions
Teaching different aspects and approaches to meditation and encouraging the individual to develop what works best for them. The groups are small and friendly, creating a safe space for sharing feedback as part of the learning process. There are printed information sheets of theory and practise covered in each session. When the course is completed there will be an an opportunity to continue attending an ongoing fortnightly group.
When: Once weekly: Wednesday evening 7- 8.30 pm
Next course: Evenings, weekly, commencing 28th May 2008.
Cost: £120.00 for the course (£15.00 per session) Concessionary fee available for students/low income
Venue:. Green Lanes, London, N16. ** See details
Tel: 020 7923 9831 or email: Linda@ResourcefulnessMeditation.com
“I know Linda to be a very accomplished and gifted practitioner. She has wide-ranging skills and long experience in the field. All this combined with her positive outlook and intuitive yet pragmatic methods are a winning combination. She has bags of integrity. Linda balances consummate professionalism with great warmth.”
Amanda Falkson |
“Learning to meditate with Linda is inspirational. She listens to the needs of every individual in the group and weaves a series of meditations which leave me feeling uplifted and renewed.”
Eileen Ball |
Ongoing GroupsOnce you have completed either the course or one-day workshop there will be an opportunity to attend a fortnightly ongoing group to support your practise. The sessions deepen and become free-flowing in their content. The group energy creates a safe and supportive space for members to engage in their individual process.
Cost: £13.00 per session.
Venue: Green Lanes, N16. ** See details.
”Linda creates a wonderful calming space where it is easy to relax and let go. She is full of positive images and ideas that help you explore meditation. I have found it has helped me to calm down and be more attentive to my daily life.”
Richard Broughton |
These sessions are designed to focus on your needs as an individual and to explore how meditation can help you. They provide a space to work at a more therapeutic level than the groups, and are an opportunity to focus on the self-developmental aspect of meditation.
Should you wish to work on specific issues, such as anxiety, anger, low self-esteem, abuse, family history or anything that is blocking you from living your life more fully I may also incorporate other therapeutic modalities such as NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), Clinical Hypnosis and Energy Healing. In my experience this integral way of working deepens my clients’ ability to process learning and move towards resolution.
Cost: One hour, £50.00. The first introductory session lasts one and a half hours and costs £75.00
(concessions: 'students/low income').
Venue: Green Lanes, N16. ** See details
Resourcefulness Meditation offers support in the management and recovery from ME, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.
Learn to meditate in a small, friendly, interactive group for people with ME via telephone conference calls. The sessions run for eight weeks and last one hour fifteen minutes each.
This exciting new group is run with The Optimum Health Clinic, Harley Street. All participants will receive a welcome pack containing a manual and three CDs.
When: Weekdays
Where: Wherever a phone is available.
Cost: £120.00 for the whole course
Next course starts 27th May, 2008
Contact: linda@TheOptimumHealthClinic.com
Tel: 020 7923 9831
Further information at www.MeditationForLife.co.uk
Meditation CD
‘Meditations for Life’With Linda Hall
Guided Meditations for Relaxation and Self-healing
Over sixty minutes of relaxing meditations to soothing background music leading you to deep levels of tranquillity, grounding and inner peace.
To hear a sample, find out more, and order, visit www.resourcefulnessmeditation.com
Retreats
3 Days at Duncton Mill & 2 Days at Oxon Hoath14th - 17th July & 8th - 10th August |
Relax, unwind and replenish your energy this summer in the heart of Sussex or Kent in two retreats run by Linda Hall.
For full details please go to meditation retreats
”I have happily been attending Linda’s meditation groups for about 4 years. I am always encouraged by the process which in its quiet, calm and peaceful way can be a lovely experience, especially when I am feeling overwhelmed by the way I deal with life. Linda has a true gift – a gently understanding, non-obtrusive manner, often accompanied by much laughter. There can be joy. And I have met some delightful kindred spirits.”
Lesley Stockwell |
*also available*
On-site meditation clinics for organisations/companies
Inspirational talks/seminars to organisations/ groups
Please enquire for details
** Venue details: Green Lanes, London N16 ( 4min walk from Clissold Park or Newington Green)
Transport: Nearest overground station: Canonbury (2min link to Highbury & Islington tube, Victoria Line); 73 & 476 bus Newington Green to Angel tube Islington (Northern Line); 393 bus Stoke Newington Church St (Clissold Park) to Highbury & Islington tube (Victoria Line); bus 141 Green Lanes - Old St tube (Northern Line) – Manor House tube (Piccadilly Line); bus 341 Green Lanes – Angel tube, Islington (Northern Line) – Manor House tube (Piccadilly Line).
BiographyLinda Hall BA, MTI, dip THLinda’s original background was firstly as an artist, then as a self-employed gilder/picture-framer. In 1993 she moved from the creative arts into the complementary healthcare field and qualified in Holistic Massage with the Massage Training Institute. She went on to train in Therapeutic Healing with the McNeil School of Healing and with the Association For Therapeutic Healers, receiving her diploma in 1996. To support an holistic approach to her work she completed a one-year Counselling course at Spectrum, a centre for humanistic integrative therapy, in 1998.
In 2001 she was made an associate teacher of the Rowan School of Healing, and from there went on to expand her private practice to include working with meditation as a way to help her clients adopt self-help skills and take responsibility for their own health and well-being.
Continuing her professional development, Linda is currently completing a two year training in Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapy with The Optimum Health Clinic, with whom she qualified as a Neuro-Linguistic Practitioner in 2006. This training covers a wide range of stress-related conditions, including ME. Linda herself had ME for over eight years and has now made a full recovery.
Linda receives ongoing professional supervision and is both passionate and committed about her work. She is presently writing a book aimed at making the process and techniques of meditation accessible and easy to understand, presenting them as everyday life skills for the twenty-first century.
“Meditation is all about coming back to yourself as a human being rather than a human doing”Full Member of The Association For Therapeutic HealersTo contact Linda Hall please telephone 020 7923 9831 or
email: Linda@ResourcefulnessMeditation.com
”I joined Linda’s meditation class as a beginner six years ago, and have continued ever since. I have learned how to be grounded, how to know myself, how to relax mentally and emotionally, and how to hear my inner voice and see its images. I have also become sensitive to energy in a new way.
Linda’s calm, clear, intuitive, feminine approach is ideal for me as it is down-to-earth and springs from her own experience, rather than being aligned with any formal system, although it is in tune with Buddhism. Non-judgemental and physically undemanding, it supports with loving-kindness rather than demanding study and effort (which every other approach I have looked into seems to require of its participants). This has made it invaluable to me as a method of dealing with the various extreme stresses I have faced over recent years, enabling me to gradually take control of my feelings and learn to live with things I cannot change.
In addition, the group I am part of has become a source of real support and fellowship, in a very informal way; we are all quite different but bonded by similarities discovered in the course of our personal journeys. I recommend Linda unreservedly to anyone else who is seeking a route to peace and contentment in the gales of 21st century stress.”
Heather Peace |
”I always thought meditation was for other people and certainly not for me, how wrong I was.
I have been attending Linda’s meditation sessions for almost 2 years. I guess initially I was intrigued about meditation, however, now I can’t imagine not having meditation as a part of my life. I would like to say I practise on a daily basis but, like most people, I just don’t find the time. The sessions have helped me step out of my busy day-to-day life and concentrate on ‘me’. For this I am grateful.
Linda as a teacher and a person is amazing, it is she that has kept me interested and keen to understand more.”
Katie Reynolds |
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This web page is part of N16health.com an alternative medicine and complementary health resource for the people of Stoke Newington in Hackney and Islington, north London UK and interested people worldwide.
# MEDITATION: WHOLISTIC - ALL THERAPIES |
