Here you will find some of my favourites…

I love to burn Incense Sticks. To create atmosphere, aroma, bring about certain emotions and states of mind and over the years I have become very particular about where I buy from. Presently I use Temple Of Incense. I really align with their ethos and the sticks feel such high quality with beautiful smells and great burn times!

I have been reflecting a lot on how I can bring my Yoga and Shamanic practise back to teaching others and so I am now in the process of creating a Pain Management Yoga Course.

This course has been birthed from my present experiences of life. I understand first hand how it feels to live with chronic pain and so this is something that is driven with total empathy, compassion and understanding. Living the experience of pain I feel into my personal Yoga practise, into what feels uncomfortable and what brings about a sense of comfort. While I know that we are all so uniquely different, our bodies experience pain on many different levels and in many different ways, we do all have nervous systems and more often than that not these nervous systems of ours need regulating to bring about a sense of calm and relief. And guess what? Yoga has been scientifically proven to positively impact our Parasympathetic Nervous System, which is the Rest and Digest part of ourselves.

This course is designed to encourage the mind and body to find ease and contentment. Through gentle Asana, Pranayama and Guided Meditation the focus will on be-friending the pain and discomfort. Through Individual Practice and Collective group work a space will be created to feel into the hard edges of ourselves with an approach to soften them.

Often we fight pain, we feel anger and annoyance towards it which leads to more tension, frustration and discomfort; within this space we will learn to find a softness towards the discomfort. Over the years my practise has stepped towards discomfort which can lead to a beautiful balance of contentment. Although finding this equilibrium can be a challenge, it is not impossible, and through the practise of Yoga and Mindfulness it is achievable.

These classes will be designed to honour and create space for pain, discomfort and fatigue whether that comes within the mind or the body. They will be inclusive of every body. They will be inclusive of every ability. They will welcome you as you are.

Pain can be isolating, cause deep loneliness, lack of sleep, social and financial struggles, difficulties with relationships, challenges with motivation, fear of movement, fear of stillness… I want to create a space where all these elements are welcome, that we acknowledge its okay to feel these things and we gently step towards the discomfort.. because stepping towards the discomfort we give it love, kindness, softness and reassurance.

Yoga and Shamanic practices are incredible tools to manage the daily life of pain, discomfort and dis-ease.. and I feel it deep within me that it is my duty to share with others how comfort can be found in discomfort.
Yoga and Shamanic practices are incredible tools to manage the daily life of pain, discomfort and dis-ease.. and I feel it deep within me that it is my duty to share with others how comfort can be found in discomfort.

Creating spaces that feel safe and honouring of what we bring as individuals is paramount to me. Over the course of the eight-weeks I will guide you on a journey of self exploration, to become friends with your pain, to learn that pain does not dominate or rule the mind and body and to learn ways to ease the discomfort from practising Yoga with a Shamanic and Mindfulness approach.

The classes will be shaped to all ages and abilities, to varying pain levels and conditions.  I will however stipulate the ability to get on the floor will be crucial as we will be doing floor work. Perhaps  I will design a non-floor orientated program for the future but for now I will stick to this.

My ideas flow from the heart, driven by my own guides and intuition, so I greatly trust in the flow of this.

For now, preparations, planning and designing are well underway to create a dynamic, versatile and inclusive eight-week Yoga program for Pain Management in Devon!

My Pain

Scared to move, scared to sit still.
Mind plays tricks. Is it false or is it real?

I slowly stretch in anticipation.
The body and mind move with trepidation.
Mind knows what it needs to do,
Body closes down, reluctant to move.

I battle between movement and stillness,
Yet my body and mind both become restless.
Mindfulness, deep spiritual awareness, meditation,
Doesn’t seem to support this sense of desperation.

I yearn and long for my body that once was,
Before I took a fall from that sacred horse.

What lessons am I here to learn?
The teachings, the classrooms, I take in turn.

As my mind clouds up from the pain,
I dive into my darkest shadows once again.

Overwhelmed, my monkey mind dances in chaotic denial.
I work hard to settle, to soothe, to relax, to smile.

Relationships shake in the messiness of my recovery.
One step to fix, two steps I fall, five steps towards bravery.
I will not lose it all.

Trial and error through pain and rehabilitation.
Some highs, some lows, acceptance and reconciliation.

Pain, you are walking with me right now.
We must walk as allies. I am learning how.

Pain, we become deeply acquainted as you spear through my limbs.
You take my breath. I wince and yelp. My light quietly dims.

Pain, my daily friend and foe,
I don’t like you, yet I understand that you help me grow.

You help me see the truth of my life:
That is to nurture love, to find contentment, to let go of the strife.

Pain, I applaud the suffering you bring,
But let me tell you this—you shall not win.
For I shall walk with you hand in hand, side by side,
But you will not prevail. You will not cast me aside.
You will not beat me down and crush me.
I will hold firm, deeply rooted, as strong as land and sea.

With each step I take, one foot in front of the other,
I remember you, Pain, as we stand together.

In harmony, in poetic, unencumbered dancing,
Surely you are only here to teach me the lessons of enhancing?

Enhancing my skills, my knowledge, my wisdom,
Of how best to love,
to live,
to flourish in my kingdom.

One day, Pain, I hope you will surrender and abandon my castle,
Where I can rest with ease, my body calm and gentle.

Until that day comes, until you decide to go away,
I shall honour and welcome your choice to stay.

But please know this, and please know this well, Pain:
My strength, my courage, my desire to grow mean I will not wish to see you again.

For now, though, I accept this is where we both reside.
No walking, stumbling, or running to hide.

I will learn to see you, to feel you with grace,
As you spread that grimace upon my face.

I will learn the art of patience and to take things slow,
When my mind is telling me to
go,
go,
go.

Pain, whilst we dance this tribal ritual together,
I will sit with you quietly, to remember.

To remember my roots, my authentic being.
As we twist, turn, fall, and rise, each movement uncovers meaning.

The movement of discovery, shedding past identities,
Somehow, Pain, you became a key.

A key to unlocking some secrets within.
It’s uncomfortable. It’s ugly… a reminder here, Jess, to breathe out and breathe in.

Breathe out and breathe in.
Breathe out and breathe in.

Pain, I breathe you in, I breathe you out.
A sense of calm washes over me, yet I yearn to scream and shout.

Honour the anger. Honour the pain.
Know that there should be no shame.

Let this be said once again to you, Pain,
As I feel you hold tight, calling my name.
I will accept, for now, that you are here,
But soon there will come a moment when you are to leave me, my dear.
And in that moment you leave I shall open the door,
Standing firm in the knowledge you are not welcome here anymore.
Leave with my love, leave with grace,
Leave me with a smile upon my face.