Nurturing Wellbeing Reflecting on the Mindfulness and Self-Care Workshop
I am sincerely humbled by the opportunity that I had to facilitate Create Calm : Mindfulness and Self-Care Workshop for the staff at the Bienvenu Shelter.
An important word on the work being done at the shelter, the Bienvenu Shelter is a sanctuary of healing, welcoming, caring and empowering Migrant and Refugee women and their children. The Bienvenu Shelter provides safe and secure accommodation, education and protection programmes, empowerment in the form of skills training and the shelter also serves as an outreach to the local community.
The aim of the workshop was to equip the staff with mindful and self-care essentials to add to their life’s tool box personally and professionally. Meditation, mindfulness, self-regulation, breathing techniques, nutrition for stress relief, the importance of sleep, setting healthy boundaries and methods for self-soothing during stressful, anxious moments were on the agenda for day.
I would like to take a moment to reflect on the workshop and share some of the key takeaways from our enriching experience together, by creating calm.
1. Meditation: Nurturing Inner Stillness
To start the morning off, I guided the staff through a mindful meditation, creating an atmosphere that set the tone and intentions for the day. The team were able to explore the power of quieting the mind and begin their journey of deepening their self-awareness. We also worked through the benefits and different styles of meditation.
2. Mindfulness: Embracing the Present Moment
Mindfulness, is a powerful tool for finding inner calm at the present moment. We went through various techniques and exercises to help anchor their attention on being present and to be in the here and now.
3. Self-Regulation: Empowering Emotional Balance
I gave the Bienvenu staff tips on how to self-regulate by doing exercises into understanding their emotional states, identifying triggers and learning effective strategies to navigate challenging situations.
4. Breathing Techniques: Harnessing the Power of the Breath
The staff learnt various breathing techniques throughout the workshop, an invaluable tool for managing stress and promoting wellbeing. Not to mention by the end of the workshop the staff were very relaxed.
5. Nutrition for Stress Relief: Fuelling our Bodies and Minds
We went into detail on how stress impacts the body and that nourishing themselves with whole-nutrient dense foods supports not only their body functions but their mental and emotional wellbeing too.
6. The Importance of Sleep: Recharging for Optimal Performance
The quality of our sleep is the cornerstone of our wellbeing, we delved into the significance of establishing healthy sleep hygiene and discussed practical strategies for improving sleep quality.
7. Creating Healthy Boundaries: Nurturing Self-Care
Setting healthy boundaries is an essential form of self-care. We worked through the importance of recognising and communicating their needs effectively, establishing personal and professional boundaries.
8. Self-Soothing Techniques: Cultivating Inner Resilience
During the workshop I shared self-soothing techniques for when one is feeling anxious, stress or just a feeling of uneasiness. I showed the team some grounding exercises, we did some progressive muscle relaxation and visualisation techniques to support inner resilience.
9. Unique Drumming Session: Tapping into Sound, Rhythm and Harmony
Initially when organising the workshop, Lisa de Sousa the COO of the Bienvenu Shelter mentioned that the venue had the conga drums, I then thought it would be a great idea to incorporate the drumming as part of the workshop. Drumming is also a mindful activity and after extensive research over the past decade it is found to be therapeutic as it increases the alpha waves in the brain. A volunteer played the drums and the rest of the team broke into song and dance. Group drumming is found to significantly reduce feelings of anxiety, depression and loneliness, it also fosters a sense of unity. We were all uplifted after this section of the workshop.
Facilitating the Mindfulness and Self-Care workshop and witnessing everyone’s openness and engagement reaffirms the importance of these practices in our lives.
Thanks to all at the Bienvenu Shelter, I am immensely grateful to have had the opportunity to guide and support each team member on their mindfulness and self-care journey.
In today's fast-paced world, fostering a culture of well-being within organisations is becoming increasingly essential. Mindfulness and self-care practices have proven to be effective tools in promoting overall health and productivity, both on an individual and collective level. If your company or school is looking to enhance employee well-being and interested in creating a positive environment, I'm here to help! Contact me to discover how we can integrate mindfulness and self-care practices tailored specifically to your organisation's unique needs.
To book your Create Calm - Mindfulness and Self-Care Workshop contact Claudia.
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