Unfolding summer

In Eastern Medicine, summer is connected with the heart and fire element - consciousness - warm bright and expansive.  Earth is in full bloom, revealing her abundant nature and if we look around we can see this impulse rising through our people and ourselves.  Let it happen! We are facing all kinds of uncertainty, collectively and no doubt each of us personally, and still we are elemental beings, undeniably part of the unfolding summer.  So in small, medium and big ways, let's gift our nature and our enjoyment. We can appreciate the long light evenings, skin warmed by the sun, the taste of fresh fruit, and the company of nature and each other. 

If your heart or any part of you would benefit from some attention, life force renewal or movement of ki I would love to see you for Shiatsu or Acupressure over the summer. Last month I did a course in Anpuku with Ivan Bell who wrote a wonderful book The Spirit of Shiatsu. Anpuku is a practice that works primarily with the hara, the area between the ribs and the hips which houses so many of our organs. It is one the the root systems from which Shiatsu was born and it felt like finding a missing and vital aspect of our practice. Working deeply in this centre, our core, which holds so much of our emotions and relationships with nourishment.

Over the weekend I felt a gravitational pull downwards, a release that felt energising as I became more viscerally aware of my relationship with earth and the people around me. I felt how working with the substance of these organs has potential for deep healing - we all came from our mothers belly and our belly button is the locus of our natural rooted connection to life. If you are interested in Anpuku or have any questions I'd love to hear from you, its great for anyone with digestive issues, lower back pain, or those seeking a deeper sense of embodiment of this centre.

Celebrating greatness, I wanted to share a yoga teacher I absolutely adore who may resonate with some of you. US based Dr Arielle Schwartz, is a clinical psychologist who has developed Resilience Informed Therapy for working with trauma, and has incredible body and soul wisdom. She's my go to woman when I want to relax and be guided - here is a midsummer class of hers Celebrating Light/Seeds of change

Pictures from West Lexington in Dorset - a soft landscape tamed by the wild sea.

Lastly, this Sunday July 6th at Rose Hill Community Centre 10.30am - 12.00pm we have our last Movement Medicine class before a break for the summer - would love to see you there! There will be space to be as we are, allowing the natural medicine of music, movement and connection to dance what needs to be danced and celebrate our life force. You can book here until the start of the class www.movementmedicineoxford.uk it's been a really beautiful beginning to offering Movement Medicine in Oxford.

Movement is Medicine