The Wellness Fountain

29/03/2025

🌿 Join us this coming Tuesday for an evening of deep connection, stillness, and expansion 🌿

After returning from a powerful retreat, I’m so looking forward to holding space again for our beautiful monthly meditation group — and this one will be particularly activating.

🌀 We’ll explore a guided practice designed to clear mental noise, awaken higher states of awareness, and open the doorway to your own intuitive wisdom.

✨ My dharma talk will focus on using the body as an anchor — a sacred access point to inner strength, clarity, and expansion. We’ll move into a breathwork and sound journey to deepen this experience.

Details:
🗓 This Tuesday – April 1
🕖 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM (please arrive by 6:45 PM)
📍 EJ Ward Community Centre
189 Underwood Street, Paddington NSW

Please bring:
🧘‍♀️ A yoga mat
🛋 A cushion or something comfy to sit or lie on
💧 Water bottle
💖 An open heart

✨ This session runs by dāna (generosity) — pay what feels right for you, either in cash or via digital transfer on the night.

🌸 Please RSVP via DM or Messenger — spaces are limited.

Come as you are. Leave with more of who you truly are.

With love,
Maria-Elena

05/02/2025

My recent interview with Body and Soul is now online. Check it out.

Constantly doubting yourself? Try this simple trick

05/02/2025

Constantly doubting yourself? Try this simple trick

01/12/2024

We may joke about order of birth quirks (you know... middle child syndrome right!) but at times being the eldest daughter may have inadvertently led to subtle differences in responsibilities and expectations as well as shaped what you were rewarded for. WHO recently asked me for my thoughts about Eldest daughter syndrome. Let me know your thoughts!

01/12/2024

Did you know there are a range of benefits to or***ms? WHO chats to the experts to uncover the ways climaxing can be good for you.

25/11/2024

Tuesday 26.11.24 DM me
💨Breathwork, pranayama and practices of focused stillness have been at the core of advanced spiritual and contemplative practices as far back as deep antiquity. We know the ancient Egyptians taught practices such as breath, stillness, and going inward for deep release and connection to the divine. The Ancient Greeks adopted these Ancient Egyptian teachings and we also see similar practices passed down through vedic teachings and later Buddhist teachings.
Fast forward to our current times and practices such as breathwork, meditation, stillness and somatic release are finding space as cornerstones of optimal psychological health, healing and physical health.
Active breathing has the capacity to circulate cerebro-spinal fluid back up into the pineal glands which activate neurochemicals such as DMT, serotonin and tryptophan. These chemicals in addition to stabilising mood and helping us feel well are the chemicals most associate with deep insights, spiritual experiences and deep healing and understanding.
Mark Moon is a deeply gifted breathwork practitioner who has been offering group and 1:1 breathwork sessions for a number of years. He will be leading our sangha next week.
Join us tomorrow evening (26 November) as we embark on a beautiful close to our mindfulness meetings for 2024 and set our intentions for the new year -shedding what no longer serves us and calibrating our energy and frequency towards our new direction.

DEETS
📆 Tuesday, 26 November 2024
📍EJ Ward Community Centre Paddington NSW (Upstairs room)
🕰️ 6.45 pm (for 7 pm start) - 8.30 pm
🧘🏽 Bring a yoga mat or cushion for your comfort, 🧣 some extra layers or warm clothing, 👯 bring a friend
💰 No fee however Dana or voluntary contribution to pay for our space in cash or Paypal melukeides@gmail.com, or PayID 0416770154 is appreciated.
For this session we ask that you try and attend on an empty stomach, not having eaten for up to two hours prior (hydration is fine). Breathwork may not be suitable for pregnant women - let us know and an alternative practice will be made available for you.

25/11/2024

Spa + Clinic reached out to me for the best ways to help keep staff happy and fulfilled.

Boosting morale and optimising health and wellness in spaces that support others to feel and look their best is as important as the actual products or technologies being used. Clients often feel very attached to their personal clinician so ensuring we have a workforce that walks the talk starts at the top.

I am sure some of these tips will resonate with many businesses. Have a read

Flexible scheduling is vital in modern work environments (and it benefits both employees and employers). Try to offer options such as flexible start and end times, compressed workweeks, remote work, or job sharing. This ultimately shows you are willing to accommodate their individual needs and commi...

27/10/2024

🌟 Join us this Tuesday evening for a special meditation session on "Will and Grace" at the EJ Ward Community Centre! 🕊️

In our fast-paced world, it’s essential to balance our efforts with ease. This session will explore the twin concepts of Will — the discipline to act on what we can control and live according to our values — and Grace — the art of releasing and letting go of the outcome.

🧘‍♂️ Whether you’re looking to strengthen your self-discipline or find peace in acceptance, this guided practice will offer you tools to harmonize both. It’s about learning to fly with both wings of determination and surrender.

🕖 Time: 7:00 PM - Please arrive by 6:45 PM 📍 Location: EJ Ward Community Centre, Paddington 🧘‍♀️ Bring: Yoga mat and cushion

We welcome all levels of practitioners, from beginners to seasoned meditators. Join us for an evening of deep reflection and tranquility. Contributions are voluntary and can be made via cash or electronically.

Let's breathe together and find balance in our lives!

05/10/2024

🚀 Unlock Your Full Potential: It’s Not Just About Motivation, It’s About Dopamine 🚀

We often think of dopamine as the “pleasure chemical,” but its role goes far beyond that. Dopamine drives motivation, focus, and achievement—the very things that keep high-performing executives at the top of their game.

I’m thrilled to share my latest article, Understanding Dopamine: More Than Just a Pleasure Chemical, published in Kokoro. In this piece, I delve into how understanding dopamine can reshape your approach to success and help you reach your goals with greater clarity and energy.

If you’re looking for insights into how this powerful neurotransmitter can unlock new levels of motivation and achievement, this article is for you!

💡 Read it here: https://kokoro.today/exclusive/understanding-dopamine-more-than-just-a-pleasure-chemical/
🔑 Gain actionable strategies to supercharge your mindset and performance.

30/09/2024

“Is your job draining?”

One of the most common things that people ask me. The answer is that at times it has been. Usually when I haven’t been living the talk by making sure that I am carving out time for me, self reflection, meditation, exercise and free time.

Most of the time my job is full of moments of connection, compassion, reward and care. It’s energising and heart expanding. There is no other work for me.

Pouring from a full cup. 🍵

18/09/2024

Exciting news! I was recently featured in an interview on Balance the Grind, where I discussed my approach to compassionate mental health care. In the article, I delve into my journey as a psychologist, how I integrate mindfulness and self-care, and the importance of personalized treatment for each client. I’m thrilled to share my insights on combining clinical psychology with holistic practices to support mental wellness.

Check out the full article here: [Link in Bio]

16/09/2024

"I love and respect all my emotions." 🌱✨

True self-care and self-love begin when we stop rejecting or invalidating our own inner experiences. Instead of pushing away our feelings, we learn to greet each emotion with unconditional love, kindness, and patience.

When we release judgment, we create a space for nurture and care, welcoming all that arises within us. Just like in Rumi’s beautiful poem The Guest House, we come to realize that every feeling—whether joy, sadness, anger, or fear—is a guest sent to guide us, to teach us, and ultimately, to help us grow.

"Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond."
– Rumi

Let’s honor and embrace the full spectrum of our emotional experience, knowing that each moment brings us closer to healing and wholeness. 💖