We wanted to try something different to help those who come to our sessions as many things in life affect our mental health so as some of the attendees had physical problems we thought we'd book our local hydrotherapy pool, we also knew some had fear of things like water.

​The hydrotherapy pool is a unique facility, built as part of Teesside University’s £17m investment in health and sport science facilities.
The pool provides an optimal environment for people who require supported exercise as part of a rehabilitation or training programme.

• non weight bearing training to accelerate recovery times.
• the buoyancy of the water reduces the weight of a patient by about 70 per cent significantly reducing the load on joints, limbs and tendons.
• return to fitness sooner.

One lady has now overcome her fear of water by coming to the sessions and said the following:
“As a non-swimmer I have always had a fear of water and wouldn't even get in the hotel pool whilst on holiday! So when I found out Inward Bound had arranged sessions at my local Hydrotherapy pool I decided to go.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and I'm now gaining more confidence in the water and always looking forward to my next session.”

It’s been great watching Michelle gain confidence each visit and is attempting to learn to swim at her local swimming pool and her husband is looking forward to seeing her in the pool finally!

A woman was waiting at the airport one night,
With several long hours before her flight.
She hunted for a book in the airport shop,
Bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop.

She was engrossed in her book, but happened to see,
That the man beside her, as bold as could be,
Grabbed a cookie or two from the bag between,
Which she tried to ignore to avoid a scene

She read, munched cookies, and watched the clock,
As the gusly "cookie thief" diminished her stock
She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by,
Thinking, "If I wasn't so nice, I'd blacken his eye!"

With each cookie she took, he took one too.
When only one was left, she wondered what he'd do.
with a smile on his face and a nervous laugh,
He took the last cookie and broke it in half.

He offered her half, and he ate the other.
She snatched it from him and thought, "Oh brother,
This guy has some nerve, and he's also so rude,
Why, he didn't even show any gratitude!"

She had never known when she had been so galled,
And sighed with relief when her flight was called.
She gathered her belongings and headed for the gate,
Refusing to look at the "thieving ingrate".

She boarded the plane and sank in her seat,
Then sought her book, which was almost complete.
As she reached in her baggage, she gasped with surprise.
There was her bag of cookies in front of her eyes!

"If mine are here," she moaned with despair.
"Then the others were his and he tried to share!"
Too late to apologize, she realized with grief,
That she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief!!

If your reading this then we can assume you have survived the UK lockdown, congratulations! 
Life is on its way to the new normal, whatever that is going to be.
We can shop in our favourite shops once more. Soon we will be able to eat in our favourite restaurants, so long as we social distance.
Just the phrase ‘social distance' makes my energy drop. We, as human beings, are not designed to be lone creatures. We are social by nature, if fact most animals are and we share behaviours such as the need to belong, develop our own pecking order and have our own territory.
Humans share mirror neurons and unconsciously match each other’s emotions. A lack of social interaction causes all sorts of mental and physical health problems. As Aristotle said “Man, is by nature a social animal.”  
This week I heard the phrase ‘physical distancing’ and thought how much more gentle this sounded. Words are powerful. Our minds believe the stories we tell ourselves. If we are saying or thinking about social distancing, we are telling ourselves that we are being denied a basic need. This will have a negative effect on our mood.
Let’s start to be kinder to ourselves and think carefully about the words we use. Think about the lift we get when someone pays us a compliment, or the discomfort when you realise you’ve just said something you shouldn’t have said!
Words and the energy they carry are dynamic, they change the atmosphere and can cause joy or pain. So much pain we cause ourselves and others could be avoided if we were to be more mindful of our words.
Here’s a challenge... spend a day really noticing how you speak to yourself, without judging. Notice not only the words you say or think, but also your tone. Try to notice the emotions linked to your words.
Finally ask yourself these three questions; Is it true?  Is it kind? Is it necessary?
So, as we begin to engage with the community once more, remember the power of words. We may need to be physically apart b,ut we can still be social at a distance.
We also need to remember that coming out of lockdown can be just as stressful as going into it, but we found ways to cope. It is perfectly normal to feel unsure at this time. We all face uncertainty and challenge and are moving on the best we can.
If we bear that in mind as we venture out it may help us be more tolerant of others who could be feeling nervous. Friendly words and gestures can change the energy of any situation and can make an enormous difference to how you and others react. If we all try to be a little more mindful of our speech, then the new normal just may be better than the old.
Take care, Much love
Jan

​Great Britain has been in lockdown since mid March. Many of us were just starting to get used to our new normal when the government announced we can leave our homes for longer and as often as we wished. Before long we were told we could meet with one member of our family or a friend, then six other people outdoors, as long as we stayed two meters away. Our youngest children and those in their final few weeks of primary education can return to school. For many of us our homes have been our safe haven, a place where we were protected from the virus that the media is constantly telling us is so dangerous. Of course, sadly for some, home has not been such a haven.
Suddenly parks reopen, more people are on the street, traffic increases and garden centres open up. In a few days all shops will start trading again and many of us will be asked to return to work. For some the lockdown restrictions easing are a cause for celebration, signs we are moving back to normality. However, for others the thought of leaving their homes and venturing out into a new, different world is a source of anxiety and stress.
This is perfectly understandable, the last few months have been pretty out of the ordinary. After all, Coronavirus is still here and people are still spreading it. Trying to stay two meters away from others and wearing face coverings can be unsettling. The security of lockdown came with challenges but now we're told we can venture out and get on with our lives and this can also be scary. Our lives are different now. More freedom is bringing more anxiety for many people, with a mix of emotions between relief and fear.
If you are finding the ease in lockdown a struggle and feeling confused about what is and isn’t allowed, you are certainly not alone. So please remember, we are all in this together. Your anxieties are normal. Don’t be afraid to share your feelings. Take care of yourself. Choose healthy food and try to get some exercise. Rest. We know taking care of our physical health improves mood and reduces stress.
Meditate to calm your mind. Meditation doesn’t have to be sat crossed legged on the floor humming. Carrying out daily activities in a mindful way is a form of meditation. Even washing the dishes can be calming if you really feel the water, smell the detergent, experience the bubbles on your hands.
When you do go outside notice the wind on your face, the temperature, smells. Try to smile at everyone you see, it will make you feel better and might improve their day too, you may even get a smile returned.
You are stronger than you think. We were nervous when lockdown was imposed, but we adapted. Now restrictions are easing we will adapt again.
Much love
Jan 

Last week we investigated kindness and how being kind can help us feel better about ourselves and the world around us.  But how do we react when the same kindness isn’t shown to us? When life simply isn’t kind. Some of us will feel angry. Some let down, disappointed, some will feel compassion. I wonder how many will feel acceptance?
In the past three months our lives have changed profoundly. The way we interact with those outside our household. The way we work, shop, seek medical advice or visit the post office all require more planning and awareness than ever before. Simple pleasures such as playing with our grandchildren or meeting a friend for a coffee, have become a distant memory. Those of us who have abided by the rules and made enormous sacrifices amidst personal dramas will, understandably be reacting to news that others have not been so careful and considerate. However, it is how we react that determines our mood and ability to move forward.
The key to living a mindful life is acceptance. Acceptance of what is and what we are unable to change. Acceptance isn’t simply giving in. It is perceiving the situation and acknowledging  it without judging it as good or bad. In other words the ability to accept negative emotions without judging them. Stressful life events happen and resisting, as opposed to accepting them makes them stronger. Those who learn to accept difficult experiences allow them to run their course and dissipate. Acceptance helps us to stop focusing only on what’s ‘wrong’ and to notice other feelings and thoughts that may be happening alongside,  helping us to see the bigger picture.  
Acceptance of something really means calmness towards it. It is the ability to be as relaxed and happy as possible by minimising any anger about what can’t be changed anyway. It’s something you can do for your own peace of mind. When you stop fighting the ways things are and start being more relaxed you may even become able to respond more positively. When things go wrong it’s easy to think of a story coming to a sad end but perhaps it is the preceding chapter to a new story that has not yet been written.
Try to remember you don’t have to solve everything at once and only ever have to deal with the moment you are in and that any moment is temporary and will one day become a memory. Any pain or fear we are constructing in our own minds around today’s situation will eventually pass. Just as pleasures are also temporary, which is why we should never take them for granted, no matter how small they may seem.
It’s not easy to adjust to situations we would rather not be experiencing but it is possible to adjust to how things are and become more relaxed and positive in spite of them. The more you struggle to accept your situation the worse it may seem. It may take time but it is worthwhile gradually accepting the way things are for the sake of your own peace of mind and happiness.
In the words of Elkhart Tolle......
“Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it....this will miraculously transform your whole life.”
Until next time,
Much love
Jan 

Today is the first day of Mental Health Awareness Week 2020. This year’s theme was originally going to be ‘Sleep’. Although quality sleep is important to maintain positive mental health, in light of the pandemic the Mental Health Foundation decided to change the theme to ‘Kindness’.
So why kindness? Kindness strengthens communities and relationships. It is a cornerstone of good  Mental Health. Showing or receiving kindness raises our vibration and lightens our hearts. It helps reduce stress and deepens friendships. It boosts our self esteem and promotes feelings of confidence and optimism.
So what does kindness mean to you? Perhaps you are helping a neighbour by getting shopping, or maybe you are the one receiving help. The world has warmed to the kindness of Captain Tom Moore as he walked his garden to raise funds for the NHS, wouldn't it be amazing if that kindness could spread further and touch every community in in the UK? Let’s spend this week creating the sort of society we wish to see emerging from the pandemic and put kindness at the heart of all we do. This pandemic has given us the opportunity to change how we interact with others, to press the reset button on society and to rewire a kinder society that better protects our mental health. All from the comfort of our own homes.
Doing good makes you feel good! If you don’t believe me, try it. Think about the people singing songs on balconies in Italy, groups formed on social media to support the vulnerable, volunteers calling folk they have never met, just for a chat, delivering prescriptions and groceries to those who are unable to leave home. Being kind and compassionate improves our own wellbeing and happiness, reduces stress and may even help us live longer.
Random acts of kindness can still be carried out during lockdown or while social distancing . Why not pick a few from these ideas to try this week, or think of some yourself and see how you feel afterwards? We would love to hear about your kind acts in the comments section.

• Call a friend instead of messaging.
• Remind someone how much you appreciate them.
• Think of someone you are proud of and why. Tell them.
• Place a dish of fresh water at your gate so passing dogs can have a drink.
• Donate to a charity or food bank.
• Offer to pick up essentials for a neighbour.
• Help with a household task that you usually leave to someone else.
• Send an interesting article to a friend.
• Praise a colleague or friend for something they did well.
• Say thank you to key workers and mean it.
• Ask an isolating neighbour if you can walk their dog.
• Smile at twenty people on your daily exercise.
• Feed birds in your garden.
• Litter pick on your walk.
• Send someone a hand written letter or home made card.
• Start a conversation with a neighbour over the fence.
• Give an honest compliment.
• Treat yourself . You are important too.

So, in this week when mental health is in the limelight, using kindness can be a way to improve our own and that of others.
Have fun and remember, “In a world where you can be anything, just be kind" . (Caroline Flack 2019)

Much love                                                                                                                Jan 
18th May 2020

Back in January 2020 we heard on the news that a virus was infecting people in China. Now we are seven weeks into lockdown here in the UK, protecting ourselves and others from the same virus. Very quickly we found ourselves in a stressful and intense situation. Many of us feel uncertainty and anxiety, because of the virus but also because of the unprecedented measures being enforced around the world.
​
The world and our lives as we know them have changed.  
Constant news and social media further ramp up the stress and fear and we wonder why we can’t sleep, relax or think clearly.
Next, our mental health becomes impacted and we find it even more difficult to cope with the situation we have found ourselves in.
Sound familiar? Trust me, you are not alone!

Our worries are not unfounded, non the less, worrying gets us nowhere. Fortunately, there are ways to help us limit the anxiety. Mindfulness.
I’m not talking about ignoring what is happening.  I’m talking about ways to engage with the facts without allowing them to take over our thoughts and emotions.
Firstly, pay attention to what is happening in the present moment.
Where you are, what you are doing, what’s happening around you right now. This calms the mind and reduces stress and anxiety.
Secondly, notice the emotions that arise and accept them with kindness and compassion. Don’t try to label then or change them. When we accept our emotions we stop fighting them and give them less power.

This is a difficult time, we may have financial difficulties, loved ones may be sick. It’s hard to stay indoors and not see our family and friends. Look for the sparkles in the darkness. Being on lockdown allows us to slow down, perhaps rekindle a hobby, spend quality time with other members of our household, play with our pets, notice the beauty of nature, communicate with friends we haven’t spoken to for a while,  even become closer to our neighbours. 
Nature is being given a chance to restore and replenish. If we don’t pay attention to the present moment, don’t be mindful, we might never see the sparkles.
Much love Jan.