FAQ

Minds are busy places! Mindfulness helps us manage that busyness and deal with those thoughts rather than stop them or block them out somehow. We start with 3-minute practices and build from there. Just 3-5 minutes per day has measurable benefits for our minds and bodies so you are better off aiming for regular short practices rather than occasional longer ones. Over time we feel more comfortable with what the mind is doing and generally find that it starts to get better at concentrating on what we want to focus on. Your brain has evolved to be busy, we just want to make sure that any busyness is helpful and that we can learn to find periods of quiet.

Yes! It is a myth that mindfulness & meditation practices can only be ‘done’ sitting still in silence for long periods of time. Some people choose to develop this skill, others prefer not to. Mindfulness in its true self is a state of mind, or being, that helps us to live the best life we can, so we want to practice it in some way throughout the day, whatever activities we choose to engage in. I teach mindful movement (Qigong Shibashi) as well as mindful walking and these are great for those times when sitting still just isn’t right for us, or as a valuable extra skill to practice alongside sitting meditations.

Meditation & mindfulness are safe and effective stress management tools for the majority of people. However, if you have complex conditions or are under supervision by the mental health team/health care provider, you will need consent from them to attend a meditation course. There are safe versions of these practices for most conditions but not all. It is important that you get the right treatment so we would discuss this beforehand. I have many years of experience and training in delivering mindfulness, meditation and hypnotherapy for diverse conditions so you can be assured that your safety is paramount.

Depending on what you are using (i.e. phone, tablet or laptop etc.) you need to use either the 'log in' button or the symbol which looks like a little head in a circle. If you can't see the log in option, click on the top right hand side of the home page to get the drop down menu and right at the top of the menu, above the wording, will be the icon or the words 'log in'. Click here to log in. If you can't see these straight away, hover at the top of the page above the 'home' button and the option should appear.

If you have booked a drop in class and want to reschedule, you can do this up to 48 hours before hand. First log in to your profile using either the 'log in' button or the symbol if you are on a laptop or desktop. If using your phone and you can't see the log in option, click on the top right hand side to get the drop down menu and click at the top of the page above the 'home' button. Once you have logged in, choose 'my bookings' and select 'reschedule'. Make sure that you reschedule rather than cancel, as this will incur a re-booking fee.

All Stillworks members can access the recordings for our free monthly meetups in the 'members' area. Once you have logged in, select 'members' from the menu and then 'free meetups'. You will then see a page with all the current videos. NB: being on the mailing list does not automatically make you a member. You need to sign up to become a member using the form on the website or your invitation email. This gives you access to all the member benefits such as loyalty points which you can redeem against classes, courses & workshops, and the free resources. You can check if you are registered by clicking on the 'members' tab and see if your profile is there. This tab also gives you the opportunity to message other members. If you attend Qigong Shibashi / mindful movement classes you can also access the free home practice videos. Simply select 'members' and then 'Qigong Shibashi' and you will be taken to the relevant page. This page is only visible to people who are enrolled in a class. If you have previously taken classes with me and wish to be added, simply sign up as a member and ask me to add you to the correct group.

The drop down menu allows you to navigate to the What's On page to view upcoming Workshops & Classes at a glance. Or you can navigate straight to the Book Workshops & Classes page and choose the classes or workshops you are interested in. Clicking on the Class or Workshop name provides a more detailed description of it. If you have any queries that aren’t answered there then please email me. I endeavour to respond to emails within 48 hours Mondays to Fridays, however when I am teaching intensive courses this may take longer. To make sure you hear straight away when new classes or courses are running, join my mailing list where you will be notified before these are advertised. All mailing list members are also invited to join me for FREE monthly online meetups with a meditation or mindfulness practice and Q&A.

How to book for classes: Choose the 'book workshops or classes' tab from the menu and then click on the class you want to book. Choose 'check next availability' to see when places are available and then click 'next'. Mindful Movement Classes: These are generally booked per term as a block of 5, however, if there is space available, these classes sometimes have taster sessions available to book. If you would like to try a session before you book, please email or phone me to arrange this. Monday Mindfulness: This class for more experienced practitioners is only available as a block booking per half term, usually 5 weeks. If you already attend and are registered for this class follow the instructions above but choose Monday Evening Mindfulness Class. If you are not currently registered please speak to me before booking as any mistakes requiring a refund will generate a £5 admin charge. How to book for workshops: Choose the 'book workshops or classes' tab from the menu and then click on the workshop you want to book. Choose 'check next availability' to see when places are available and then click 'next'. The first time you do this you will be asked to create an account. After this you simply log in each term and buy your course / workshop. Important information: Please note that you will be asked to check the boxes for insurance and agreement to the booking conditions, this replaces the paper forms. Please also note that it is usually not possible to give refunds for places unless the event is cancelled. Please speak to me for more information if necessary.

No, there is no special equipment or clothing required for any of the classes or workshops I teach. Simply wear something loose and comfortable. If you are attending a mindful movement class, you may like to wear non-slip socks as we do not wear shoes in the yoga studio, however there are yoga mats available if you prefer ordinary socks. A bottle of water is handy for most classes and workshops.

If you have booked a drop in class and want to reschedule, you can do this up to an hour before the class starts. First log in to your profile using either the 'log in' button or the symbol if you are on a laptop or desktop. If using your phone and you can't see the log in option, click on the top right hand side to get the drop down menu and click at the top of the page above the 'home' button. Once you have logged in, choose 'my bookings' and select 'reschedule'. Make sure that you reschedule rather than cancel, as this will incur a re-booking fee.