I grew up in a very conventional (maybe even conservative) English family. I wasn't aware of Eastern medicine, energy medicine, meditation or any other form of 'alternative therapies' until I was in my mid twenties when I first came across Kinesiology. A fews years later, living in New Zealand, I experienced Reiki for the first time. I was at a pretty low point in my life.
I had been in a toxic relationship for a number of years and blindly chose to stay there. My body was covered in eczema, something I'd experienced to varying degrees throughout my life, and had learnt from Kinesiology it was a sure sign that I was not being honest about what was bubbling beneath the surface. AKA I was deeply unhappy but chose to ignore it.
I’d heard of Reiki and I was curious but I had no idea what it was or how it could help me. Just as I was about to hit rock bottom something drew me to seek out a Reiki practitioner, the day after I booked in that session, my life as I knew it at the time changed significantly. I truly believe now that that was no coincidence. I believe I was guided to Reiki to help me cope with the challenges and decisions that lay ahead of me, and so that I could experience the powerful healing abilities of Reiki first hand. It was with this knowledge and experience that I knew I had to share Reiki with others. What I felt in that first Reiki session was a deep sense of relief, support, love and a knowing that simply everything was going to be OK. It gave me strength and courage. I began to see the world around me through a different lens. A one of gratitude, compassion and love.
From that moment on Reiki became my lighthouse. A guiding light amidst any storm. Guiding me from the rocks. It grounds me, calms me and gives me a sense of trust in whatever may be unfolding around me. My daily practice gives my nervous system the regular reset it needs, allowing my body to return to its natural state of rest and digest. This has become more and more important to me as I attempt to navigate an otherwise overstimulated world. This is one of the many reasons I love to share Reiki with others, as I know first hand the benefits it can bring whether in one session or as a daily self practice.
Yoga nidra, also known as Yogic sleep or Non Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR) came into my life more recently. Five years ago after my first baby was born I was struggling to catch up on much needed sleep, I was feeling tired and looking for something to help. A yoga teacher suggested trying yoga nidra and this is where my journey began. I found it surprisingly easy to drop into a deeply restful state at any time of the day. Something that did not normally come naturally to me. When my second baby was born two years later, my sleep deprivation hit a new low, Yoga nidra became a life line.
I began practicing frequently and soon I learned that this powerful 'sleep' was more than just rest. It offered me the ability to bypass my conscious mind. The ability to slip effortlessly into a unique state of consciousness, where my brain is aware but resides in a dream-like state. In a Yoga nidra practice there is a progressive movement through the brain wave states that naturally occur during sleep. Unlike sleep there is a unique combination of DELTA and ALPHA brain waves present. While the conscious mind is quiet we gain powerful access to the subconscious giving us the ability to shift deep seated belief systems, behavioural patterns and conditioning. As I started to work with this in my practice I began to notice the ripple effect in my life.
I decided to study this ancient and deeply healing practice so that I could include it in my offering to clients. I wanted to share with others not only the ability to experience deep rest at any time of the day, but also as a tool to reset the nervous system, and to facilitate healing on a deep subconscious level, that is often unattainable in our waking state.
Think of shutting down all the open tabs of your brain and allowing your body to reside in a deeply relaxing and restorative state whilst remaining fully conscious and aware. Imagine all the muscles in your body releasing and letting go. And the best part is all you need to do to achieve this is to follow the guidance. It really is that simple!
Read more about Reiki and Yoga nidra here.
Anna is available for Kinesiology, Reiki and Yoga nidra appointments both online and in person. Book here or give Anna a call.
Anna runs fortnightly Yoga nidra classes in Woonona, NSW. Find out more here.
