Helping you rest, feel calm and make positive changes
For people with Fatigue, Anxiety and Stress
Resting Deeper - online group
* Would you like some support with getting better quality rest, in the context of a small welcoming group?
* Would you like to get more skilled at moving out of tired and wired, or out of overwhelm and collapse, into a state where deep rest is possible?
*Would you like to learn some new skills and practices to help you stay interested in resting?
Resting Deeper is an on-going resting group on zoom, for people with fatigue, including those with CFS/ME and Long Covid.
Or email: alys@alysjenkins.co.uk
Theme for Aug - Sept: Finding Balance
For many of us - despite our heroic efforts to change - the tendency towards over-extending remains.
Anyone who knows me, knows that finding balance is an ongoing challenge for me.
Like many of us, the times I am most vulnerable to things getting out of balance is when I have more energy.
Initially I experience this as a pull towards rather than a pushing, a moving towards things that are important to me; a "want to" rather than a "should do".
I know its tipped from pulled towards into pushing, when I notice I am feeling stressed, resentful, exhausted, overwhelmed, along with the predictable flare up of physical and cognitive symptoms.
Often this makes me feel foolish, here I am AGAIN... doing the same thing....
But once those feelings subside its a chance to look at my life - what is important to me? where do I want to put my (limited) energy? where am I currently putting my energy? am I doing enough each day of the things that nourish and sustain me? (deep rest, gentle movement, eating well, connection, nature...).
When I am out of balance I know these core things have been sidelined, usually by "shoulds".
I am in the midst of trying to find more balance (...again!...), and share from my own experiences of living with signifcant fatigue, my personal practice of meditation, somatic movement and embodiment practices, and from my training in embodiment coaching.
Limited spaces available. Booking essential.
What to expect:
The sessions start with a check in (max 10 mins, speaking is entirely optional), followed by 50 minutes of practice, including micro practices (mini re-sets); embodied enquiries connected to the theme of the block; and building on the foundational practices of breath and body awareness.
You are welcome to lie down for the whole session. Most people join from their beds. All the practices can be adapted, so even if you are bed bound you are very welcome in this gentle, nurturing space.
The small group setting offers opportunities for being alongside other people facing similar challenges, in a quiet, un-demanding way.
There is the option to stay for 15 mins at the end of the session (4pm-4.15pm) to continue resting quietly in the company of others, or to share your experiences of the session and practices.
I encourage you to have your cameras on, especially for the first 10 minutes. Keeping your camera on throughout the session helps me guide better.
The sessions are recorded (I am the only person recorded, not group participants) and you will receive a link to the recording afterwards, to help you get deep rest outside of the sessions.
Participants have the option to join the private whatsapp group, for sharing relevant resources and encouraging each other along.
I run the group in blocks of sessions, with pauses in between for you to integrate the practices and for me to rest.
Support to Rest - 6 week course on zoom
From time to time I offer 6 week “Support to Rest” courses, that are either commissioned by groups such as Stockport ME, or that I run when enough people express interest.
‘Support to Rest’ is a six week, live, online course on zoom.
Over the 6 weeks you will be guided through around 18 body based (“embodied”) practices to help you rest and feel calm. The practices help you to build skills around rest and can be particularly helpful if you are feeling “tired and wired” / “anxious and fatigued”.
The sessions are very gentle, offering a calm, relaxing, nurturing space, in which you can experience self-tenderness and self-kindness (including towards your ailing body).
The course also includes an overview (and accompanying PDF) of the autonomic nervous system, polyvagal theory and the vagus nerve, and how each of these relates to rest.
The small groups offers the opportunity for low level social contact, as well as space for questions. You are welcome to lie down for the whole session.
There is the opportunity to stay on the call for up to 15 minutes after the session, for questions, social contact or to continue resting quietly alongside others.
After each session you will receive a follow up email, with a summary, and a link to the audio and video recording of the session, so you can continue to practice (no group participants are on the recording).
This course is suitable for beginners.