Return to right

09/03/2024

Return to right will be closing on the 17th March. My wife has been offered a role abroad so, after much deliberation, we will be relocating to Singapore in April.

I have met some truly wonderful people since opening the business and I feel very fortunate to do the work I do. For every customer that has come to the studio, every therapist who has shared their knowledge with me and especially those of you who have returned to me regularly, I humbly thank you 🙏🏾

I haven't decided what's next but, whatever the future has in store, I am trying to trust that I will be exactly where I am meant to be.

I hope to see some of you over the coming weeks but, for those that I don't see, I hope our paths will cross again at some point in the future.

Until then:

May you be peaceful, happy, and light.
May you be safe and free from injury.
May you be free from anger, afflictions, fear and anxiety.
May you be able to recognise and touch the seeds of joy and happiness in yourself every day.*

*Adapted from Love Meditation on the Plum Village app - "May I"

🇸🇬

01/01/2024

"Peace begins with your lovely smile".

A beautiful calligraphy by , printed on a bag very kindly gifted to me by and .

Happy New Year to all, wishing you the very best for 2024.

May your smile bring you peace
May it bring you joy
May it bring you compassion
May it bring you ease of wellbeing

🙏🏾

10/11/2023

I've seen reflexology work on a number of levels but, for relaxation, it is a wonderfully healing therapy for the mind and body.

I make every effort to ensure that the chair, the temperature, the lighting, the oils and the music are all conducive to creating a restorative environment.

As a reflexologist I understand the benefits of having a treatment but I was curious to see the impact visually. So, I asked a client if they would share what happened to their heart rate during a session.

Four interesting observations:

Image 1:
- Heart rate dropped from 94 beats per minute before the treatment to 63 beats per minute during the treatment.

Image 2:
- Their heart rate dropped so low during the treatment that their device recorded them as being asleep for 1 hour 8 minutes.

- They achieved their best sleep score for the week (90) despite sleeping for less time than previous days, meaning the quality of their sleep was better.

- The day after their resting heart rate dropped by 1 beat per minute.

08/11/2023

I am immensely proud of my wife Victoria Edwards for being recognised in the Global Diversity List 2023, published today in The Guardian.

She has always been an advocate for equality; supporting those who are often overlooked, unheard or underappreciated.

The list "celebrates the people who work tirelessly to ensure that diversity and inclusion are at the very heart of everything they do".

"Vic has revolutionised Lockton’s Diversity agenda internationally, drawing on her experience of working in various industries and countries".

03/11/2023

A moment of contemplation.

Our youngest son stays at home on Monday and Friday, so him and I usually go for a walk to town, a park and then somewhere in nature. Today we saw some beautiful ducks and swans on the River Stort which he was delighted about...until I stopped him jumping in with them 😆

After he fell asleep I decided to stop and take a few minutes to just be. Having time to myself is even more precious these days and much needed to allow me to be present for my family, the business etc.

I often walk the same routes and enjoy watching the same scenes change through the seasons. Aware that I may have walked this route many times but trying to see it anew helps me to find joy and recharge.

To help cultivate a beginner's mind, I try to recite some of the mantras I have learned from my meditations:

Every step is peace.

Every step is joy.

Every step is a miracle.

🙏🏾

30/10/2023

We recently had our first meeting at Alpha Osteopathic & Health Clinic. It was a great opportunity to meet everyone, discuss how we can establish the clinic as a multidisciplinary practice and support each other as small businesses.

I was blown away by how much knowledge and the range of different treatments we can now provide. I learnt a lot and feel very fortunate to be on this journey with such a positive group. 🙏🏾

I've been creating the clinic website (link in bio) but there's lots more we'll be doing over the coming months.

10/10/2023

I'm delighted to have been mentioned in the Health & Wellness section of this month's The Bish magazine 😁 thank you Discover Stortford for continuing to support small businesses in the community 🙏🏾

My wife was equally as excited, her first comment was "that's amazing 🤩"...

Shortly followed by "my foot is now famous" 🤣

25/09/2023

I had an interesting talk with Harrison from about social media last week. He gave me some great tips and inspiration. He also challenged me to show more of myself on social media.

I chose this photo from a few years ago because, of the 14 photos I just took, my wife said I looked either too grumpy or too solemn - smiling on demand has never been my strong point 😅

As an empath, social media doesn't come easy to me. I experience moments of joy every day and sometimes find myself reaching for my phone with the idea that "this would make a great post" but then I feel like I'm losing the beauty of just being in the present moment and enjoying it while it lasts.

This year has been better than I expected in many ways. The business is growing slowly and new clients are starting to become regular clients, something I feel very humbled to have achieved. The challenges have always been around managing family life; with sickness, school/childcare and my wife's business travel - if you aren't able to book appointments for a few days then these are usually the reasons why. As much as I want to be able to work, family always comes first.

Recently two existing customers contacted me asking to see me that day. I was blown away by the fact that of all the things they could have done or people they could have seen, they chose to see me. The feeling I got from this reaffirmed that I am on the right path, I was literally buzzing from this all day!

I hope that I will always be able to do this work and provide a space for people to come when they are physically or mentally in need of some healing, it is truly an honour to be able to serve 🙏🏾

08/09/2023

Too nice to stay inside and too much energy to contain! Both the boys are growing fast, it's a joy to watch them develop... aside from the constant refereeing of course!

08/08/2023

The sunflower seeds planted by my wife and son are finally blooming, such a wonderful site to see and for them both to share. I look out of the window each day and am reminded of how patience and nurturing leads to growth... a good reminder for me during the school holidays! As I was admiring them the other day a butterfly landed on one, it was a lovely moment 🙏🏾

20/06/2023

Yesterday I did my usual walk along the River Stort. As I haven't done it for a while I was struck by how much more vibrant everything looked.

Whatever the time of year I love walking this route. When my mind becomes overrun with thoughts I find that walking in nature helps me to find moments of peace.

19/06/2023

I used to think father's day had to be about recognising your dad and giving him the day he wants. However, the longer I've been a father the more I realise that, in our house, that is not going to happen!

So yesterday I decided to enjoy the fact we were together. No plans to go out, no presents (well I got two lovely ones anyway - a book and some incense!)

The only plans I had were treating some clients at the studio. Between appointments I met Vic and the boys at the park for a picnic ❤️

My favourite moment? As I came to the park I couldn't see my family, and then my eldest son shouts out "daddy" and proceeds to run across the park to give me the biggest hug.

Day complete 🙏🏾

09/06/2023

Walking to the studio yesterday I felt a surge of gratitude as I tried to take in everything around me.

What is usually a busy road was unusually peaceful so I could enjoy each step without distraction.

I'm not sure if the MBSR course by I'm doing has a part to play but everything felt a little more vivid.

The blue of the sky, the heat of the sun, the birdsong, the smell of cut grass and hedges.

It was as if this moment had been created just for me.

I started to smile unintentionally.

I felt nourished by the energy of the natural world around me.

And then these words, which I've heard many times in meditations, came into my mind.

Present moment, wonderful moment 🙏🏾

08/06/2023

On Saturday we went to an immersive theatre show and afterwards took a trip down to the local market. I met from . We spoke about our different journeys as new business owners and shared a few connections on wellness and personal health. His drinks are delicious and well worth a try as a treat, as it's a Thursday I'm having this one without alcohol 😁

03/05/2023

Last year we didn't get round to doing much with our garden, but this year we're starting to make some small changes. My wife and son have grown some vegetables from seed and it is a joy to see how excited he is each day as he races upstairs after school to check on them 😊 they started with tomatoes, basil and chillis (I am most excited about the chilli harvest!) They plan to grow a few more now they have started which is exciting and also something for them to share each day. We are also hoping that it will water a few seeds in him about patience, nurturing and appreciating how much effort is involved to bring food to his plate...but I think this may take a few seasons! 🌱

28/04/2023

Thank you for the kind words it is always a pleasure to be able to treat fellow therapists. I am looking forward to booking myself in for a Reiki session with you very soon 🙏🏾 #

24/04/2023

It was a joy to meet and treat so many people at the Hummingbird Cancer Support Group Wellness Event yesterday. Thanks to the team who made the day go so smoothly, I've never seen so many blissed out people in one place 😁 I didn't expect to do so many treatments but was pretty much back-to-back from shortly after it opened, thank you to Paula Hewlett for the exposure and experience. I wish I had more time to talk to other businesses but hopefully there will be another one soon. It was great to see other therapists in action, all coming together with one intention, to help and heal as many people as possible ❤️. Here are some of the people I did get to talk to on the day but please feel free to tag any more in the comments:

Bishop's Stortford and Stansted Round Table - activities and events for men's wellbeing
- personal trainer
Ciara Foy Hypnotherapy
- mobile reflexology

- hand poured, customisable candles

21/04/2023

I'm looking forward to the Hummingbird Cancer Support Group wellbeing event this Sunday. I went along to their regular Monday meeting this week and was inspired by the work they do. I will be offering short treatments for anyone interested in finding out how reflexology feels, but there will also be an opportunity to try reiki and massage from other therapists. With health and wellbeing practitioners, workshops, exercise classes and local wellness businesses it should be an enjoyable day and all for a worthwhile cause. Use the link to get your free ticket.

This event is an opportunity to come and have some much-needed rest and relaxation. All in support of Hummingbird Cancer Support Group.