The Therapy Shed Newsletter Volume 1 Issue 35

February 6, 2019

Moving Towards Spring

Dear

Welcome. Funny, I’ve struggled what to title this newsletter at this transitional time of the year, especially as I type we have had snow & black ice!

However, it’s a beautiful clear sunny day with light flooding into our room….so it turned me towards a positive title with movement. All this month I have been working with my yoga students on self hugging to the core as part of ONE YOU….a philosophy that has been mine for a little while… Perhaps at least 25 years as I remember a Matt cartoon that featured a person sitting on a hilltop with the caption ‘What will the world do without me when I’m gone’….I’ve so moved on from that arrogance but retain that stillness of looking out & observing. Plus to support my affirmation of ONE YOU I’ve been emboldened by buying in the sale a huge loosely knit bright pink cardigan from Oliver Bonas….possibly looking forward to Valentine’s Day as well. I have never really liked myself in bright pink but others do….so there you are!

I also have some great news about my therapy business & my website which I’ll update you on later…so I’m moving towards Spring & light away from being in the gap & in the dark of winter post the jollies of Christmas & NY….again as I type I’m listening to Chris Evans new breakfast show on Virgin Radio….Rolling Stones : ’You can’t always get what you want…if you try sometimes you might find you get what you need’.

As most of you already know my aim is to help you adapt as well as be happy wherever you are at, from a holistic well-being perspective…and not to lecture! My total experience as a coach, yoga teacher, well-being consultant, business leader, body worker, therapist & colour fashionista is available for you.

Bi-monthly & seasonally you will receive interesting things to do & wear, holistic health and fitness support ranging from healthy eating to relaxation techniques, including special offers…plus I will share my personal musings of those intuitive thoughts and ideas that have popped up for me.

Sincerely,

Ann Edwards

Go Do

I’ve held onto my Christmas twigs for too long, so it’s daffs & tulips all the way now in as many vases & pots that you have. I grew some paper white narcissus a la Sarah Raven, but they just bolted! Too forced!!
Make commitments to do stuff; I find so many people don’t want to commit to booking up, meeting, deciding, turning up….so plan ahead & use your electronic or paper diary so it’s there in black & white! Plus somehow get your friends & clients to actually read (not just the 1st line) of their emails….
For Valentine’s Day make some raw chocolate hearts or brownies or get some ideas from one of my clients : info@launette.com. Laura runs workshops locally.
Or send a rose plant from David Austin – they come in a lovely box & you can add your message….for all the people you care about & miss.
Buy this card from Clare Jackman
Listen to the radio – our apartment is so quiet that I like some background noise when I’m busy with stuff…the jury is out for me with the new line up of girls on Radio 2 (sorry), except Jo Whiley who does it for me, although it’s at 7-8 pm. I listened to Chris Evans this morning on Virgin…it was like coming home for me so will change from my DAB radio in the kitchen to the TV as it’s SKY 0215, 6.30-10am.
If you have a new business locally, join Ladies Who Latte (I know, pretentious name) to network & promote your local business in a relaxed way. We meet in Forest Row or Crawley Down on a Tuesday 10am-12noon, 1 x month in Java & Jazz, Forest Row. New group starting In Crawley Down plus it’s a national organisation, so groups around the country. Contact Adeline Garman via : www.frowladieswholatte.co.uk.
Plan your retreats.…whether just for a weekend in the UK or further afield….you can always pm me & I can let you know those that I can recommend as there are so many now to choose from.
Lots of films for all tastes, on Netflix & real cinema as it is awards season…we loved The Favourite & Colette (be prepared!) plus want to see Vice, Green Book & then if you search on Netflix there are all sorts of earlier treasures – Broken with Sean Bean, written by Jimmy McGovern about a tortured catholic priest in poverty stricken north of England (yes, I know a bit heavy but excellent acting); the award winning Americans about embedded Russian spies in the 70s; the wonderful new Sex Education with Gillian Anderson…watch with your kids! The Wife with Glenn Close. On Atlantic we are watching another series of Grace & Frankie….even the guys love it too! Plus Tin Star, perhaps an acquired taste! Catch up on the Leavers for Brexit one off with Benedict Cumberbatch plus on BBC2 Inside Europe – 10 years of turmoil. 1 of 3 on a Monday….just to make sure my blog readers are fully informed!! I’d love to talk to my leadership & management friends on Theresa May’s style & negotiating strategy….
If you’ve not been to see the new dining room @ Gravetye Manor you have to go.…one of the loveliest places I’ve been to in a while. They are still doing their fixed price lunches, some with a glass of Tattinger included!
I am building up a list of things to do in London, so Christian Dior @ the V&A, Bonnard @ Tate Modern. Plus should make more of an effort to see a play…?
About to start reading Michelle Obama’s book & want to read the new book by Dr Rangan Chatterjee on Stress. It was featured in the Daily Telegraph….
We were disappointed not to be able to see Michel Legrande @ Ronnie Scott’s & Royal Festival Hall again in September as he died this week. He created modern standards such as “The Windmills of Your Mind”, “The Summer of ’42”, “What Are You Doing The Rest of your Life”. Plus we lost Francis Lai who died in November….a composer of lovely love songs. So along with the loss of Charles Aznavour, David & I are feeling a little nostalgic….so onto a lighter note:

Fashion Fix

Top 8 tips for the Spring

I’ve scanned & read all the mags, Instagram posts, newspapers for you & this is it!

Some recycling & some new items for your Spring look:

1. Hair adornments from clips, barrettes/slides to hairbands. I loved Kate’s wide hairband worn for St Mary’s church service at Sandringham at Christmas. Plus as you can see I still have these 3…one is a Bruce Oldfield which I remember I bought in a smart chemist in Lancaster, many moons ago.

2. A big jacket/blazer for when the weather changes…I’m sure you have one somewhere or go to Oxfam.

3. A bright or beige (if you must) trouser suit, you can then wear the jacket as above.

4. Dig out the knee high boots or cowboys.

5. I’ve mentioned pearls before (I’m so predictive!), but earrings this time…..if you’ve not gone to see Helen in Snow Jewels in Lingfield …all sorts & price ranges to choose from…Valentines?

6. Boyfriend cardigan…remember Diane Keaton? You can also borrow one…

7. Pleased to say – keep your animal prints …new layered skirt from Baukjen is rather good plus python skin also good …don’t buy the leggings from Asquith as I’m getting them!

8. Finally, I’m wearing my Finery khaki boiler suit again with polo underneath plus my Harris tweed jacket with my heirloom cameos, fair isle socks & hiker boots…If you have a jumpsuit just re-position it, ready for warmer days.

Something for the guys: a mirror for the girls:

Still skinny jeans with a nice unstructured or structured jacket & polo plus cavalry boots…go on!

Healthy Tips

At this time of year we have probably had a bit of a detox – Dry January, Veganuary or in my case veggie & dry January so time is wandering towards nourishing food as well as raw chocolate! Plus my birthday in early February so looking forward to my Italian ciccetti @ Tozies plus Prosecco again!

Yesterday I made Ella’s black & kidney bean chilli which we were going to eat with trimmings & rice at our spiritual book club but it’s been called off due to black ice!.…so lots to eat for us….come round!

2 carrots, grated

2 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed

600g passata

50g tomato purée

2 x 400g tins black beans

1 x 400g tin red kidney beans

1 jalapeño pepper, deseeded and finely chopped

1 pinch salt and pepper, to taste

1 tsp chilli flakes (add more if you like it extra spicy)

Place the carrot and garlic into a large saucepan.

Add the passata, tomato purée, both the beans, jalapeño pepper and the chilli flakes to the saucepan along with some salt and pepper, to taste.

Cook the chilli for about 20 minutes, stirring it well, until it’s lovely and warm and everything’s nicely mixed together. Ella says 10 minutes but it wasn’t cooked by then as I made a big pot for 6!

Pour the chilli over brown rice or wild rice, serve with coriander, grated cheese, guacamole, soured cream & nachos to make it a feast. It freezes well so you can make up a batch as it’s so easy to make. Vegan too!

Annie’s Musings

On a different note, as I said in my intro I have been practising self hugging yoga with my students …so here’s a lovely thing to do, credit to Judy Hirsch:

Lie on the floor or bed, head flat, knees bent, hip width apart. Arms by side palms face down.
Connect with your hands & feet to floor, then your breath.
Breathe in & lift your arms to eye level & then as you breathe out take right hand down to top of left shoulder & left hand down slowly to right shoulder. Bring elbows down & give yourself a proper hug.
As you do this, feel your upper back & shoulders flattening & opening into the floor, away from your ears & just take some more deep breaths through your nose.
Start to open up slowly with an in breath & open your arms as though unfurling your wings.
Repeat with left hand coming down first.
Return to lying & see how this feels, perhaps you feel a little tearful or start hugging more….steady on!!

Plus how about this if you would like to extend your intentions/resolutions/affirmations beyond January….in yoga philosophy these are called Sankalpas.

San, he says, refers to a connection with the highest truth. Sankalpa, then, is a vow and commitment we make to support our highest truth. “By definition, a sankalpa should honor the deeper meaning of our life. A sankalpa speaks to the larger arc of our lives, our dharma—our overriding purpose for being here.” The sankalpa becomes a statement you can call upon to remind you of your true being…

So as a starting point & to bring this philosophy & way of being to life….read these through out loud or to yourself & pick one that has resonance for & with you; let it sit & wash around with you for a while. Then, recall it from time to time & observe what has or is happening for you:

My one is no 9…difficult for me as this is what I have been trained to do….observe & assess others behaviours….

Annie xx

About The Therapy Shed

Remember to rest, relax and hug.

Cosy regards,

Annie Edwards

* * * * * STOP PRESS * * * * *

My exciting news is that The Retreatery is becoming a Caudalie Day Spa as the only one outside London…so a real achievement by Sharon. If you’ve not tried these special (non etc) products pop in to try them…we have samples. The top of the range treatment cream Premier Cru is amazing & collects both Good Housekeeping Institute & India Knight accolades.

For me, I will move over from REN to incorporate Caudalie scrub & oils into my treatments. The Divine Oil has the most amazing fragrance & will be mixed with my Jojoba oil so that I can use it with my heated basalt stones in my signature LaStone treatment journey. You won’t get any of these treatments outside of London for at least 1/2 – 1/3 off London prices (excluding travel, food etc).