Upminster Sanctuary Complementary Healing and Teaching

14/12/2025

Winter at The Sanctuary❄️
In winter, everything naturally slows down.
The air feels quieter, the light softer - and our bodies often ask for warmth, rest, and stillness.
At The Upminster Sanctuary, the environment itself becomes part of your healing.

Our peaceful gardens, warm therapy rooms, and gentle natural light offer a space to pause, soften, and settle - especially when the outside world feels cold and busy.
Winter is a time to turn inward.
To breathe more deeply.
To allow support rather than push through.
Whether you’re coming for a treatment, a class, or simply a moment of calm, the Sanctuary holds space for you - gently, quietly, and without expectation.
✨ Sometimes healing begins the moment you step out of the cold and into warmth.

See our website for more details on our classes and treatments.

upminstersanctuary.com

📍 Upminster Sanctuary - a place of holistic healing, inside and out.

11/12/2025

Acupuncture for Emotional Balance

Acupuncture isn’t only for physical aches or tension - it’s a powerful
support for emotional wellbeing too.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, emotions and physical states are deeply connected. When one becomes overwhelmed, the other speaks up.

Many people feel emotional imbalance as:
✨ restlessness or overthinking
✨ tightness in the chest
✨ disrupted sleep
✨ low mood or irritability
✨ feeling “on edge” without knowing why.

Acupuncture works by supporting the natural flow of energy through the body, helping regulate the nervous system, soften emotional tension, and create a sense of inner steadiness.

At The Upminster Sanctuary, our practitioners use acupuncture as a gentle, grounded way to bring you back into balance - emotionally, mentally, and physically.
Whether you’re carrying stress, anxiety, or simply feeling out of sync, this therapy offers a space for the system to breathe again.

See our website for more details on our classes and treatments.

upminstersanctuary.com

📍 Upminster Sanctuary - a place of holistic healing, inside and out.

11/12/2025

Only 3 spaces left. If you would like to put your name down so you don’t miss out then please get in touch. Deposits not being taken until January 🙏🙌

Step into a profound journey of healing, clarity, and transformation with my full line up of Level 1 and Level 2 Original Japanese Reiki Courses in 2026
Upminster Sanctuary Complementary Healing and Teaching

A deeply immersive in-person weekend workshop held within a healing sanctuary in Upminster, surrounded by serene gardens and aligned with ancient leylines. The moment you arrive, you’ll feel the land holding you, inviting you into stillness, presence, and renewal.

Rooted in the true history of Reiki, this workshop returns to the heart of Mikao Usui’s original teachings — honouring Reiki not simply as a technique, but as a path of self-healing, spiritual connection, and conscious living.

Central to this tradition are the Reiki Precepts — gentle guiding principles designed to help you live with balance, clarity, and a lighter heart. These precepts form the foundation of Reiki practice, offering a simple yet powerful way to cultivate a happier, more harmonious life.

Throughout this powerful weekend, you will explore:

✨ Traditional Japanese Reiki Meditations to cultivate the energy within the tanden (energy centre)
✨ Four transformative attunements that open, and strengthen your connection to source
✨ The authentic history of Reiki, including Mikao Usui’s teachings and the origins of the system
✨ How to keep your energy clear, grounded, and nourished on a daily basis
✨ Extensive self-healing practices you can continue at home
✨ A beautiful personal journal to record insights, experiences, and your energetic development
✨ A comprehensive Reiki manual, posted to you before the course so you can begin learning right away
✨ Lifetime support, ensuring you always have guidance on your Reiki path
✨ Reiki shares helping you grow in confidence and connection and sharing treatments
✨ I am a Master Teacher member of the Reiki Federation, upholding the highest standards of practice and ethics
This weekend is not simply a course — it is a deeply healing, heart-opening, and life-shifting experience that has received incredible feedback from those who have attended.

Here is what some of my students have said:

🌟 “This course has been everything I had hoped for, and more. I have come away with a full heart and a deeper connection to source. Thank you Clare for your beautiful teachings and putting together such a wonderful group of Reiki sisters.”

🌟 “I found Clare's Reiki 1 course very inspiring and thought provoking. The simplicity with which the teachings are delivered makes you feel ready to use Reiki as soon as you leave. The attunements and treatments created a deep sense of connection and healing. I would recommend these courses to anyone who is wanting to heal themselves or others.”

If you’re longing for a gentler, more aligned way of being…
If you’re ready to clear old energy, reconnect to your centre, and awaken your inner healing potential…

Join me for a weekend that will stay with you forever.

Your Reiki journey begins here — and it is truly extraordinary.

Contact Clare on 07752 296904
claregilby1@gmail.com

11/12/2025

Winter Wellness: Herbs & Herbalists 🌿❄️

During the cold months, many people experience fatigue, lowered immunity, and seasonal illnesses, making winter wellness herbs an important natural support.

✨ Elderberry - prized for its antiviral properties and commonly used to reduce the severity of colds and flu.
🌿 Echinacea - helps stimulate the immune system, making it more resilient against infections.
✨ Ginger - warms the body, aids digestion, and reduces inflammation.
🌿 Turmeric - valued for its anti‑inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it supports joint health and strengthens immunity.

Herbs provide an integrative approach to staying strong and healthy through winter, offering both preventive and restorative benefits. While these herbs can offer powerful support, working with a qualified herbalist ensures they’re used safely and effectively, tailored to your unique needs.

Why see a Herbalist?
Professional training → Medical herbalists complete thousands of hours of study and clinical practice, ensuring safe and effective care.
Personalise support → Tailor herbs to your constitution, lifestyle, and health needs.
Navigate safety → Ensure herbs don’t interact with medications or conditions.
Deeper understanding → Herbalists are trained in pathophysiology, meaning they treat the root causes of illness, not just symptoms.
Expert Guidance → Learn to integrate herbs safely and effectively into daily life.
Holistic care → Herbalists look at the whole picture, diet, stress, sleep, and environment not just symptoms. 🌿

👉 Find a qualified herbalist near you using our tool: https://buff.ly/qJppP0R

09/12/2025

The festive season can be bright and joyful… but it can also be loud, busy, and a little overwhelming for your body and mind.

Between late nights, rich food and a few extra drinks, your system can start to feel out of rhythm without you even realising.

Here’s your gentle reminder:
You’re allowed to enjoy the season and care for yourself at the same time.
A few Sanctuary-style ways to stay steady:
🌿 Pace yourself - alternate a soft drink or water between alcoholic drinks to help your body keep up.
🌸 Take mini pauses - step outside to breathe, soften the shoulders, and reset your nervous system.
💧 Stay hydrated - your body will thank you the next morning.
✨ Listen inwards - if your energy dips, it’s okay to leave early or take a night off.
🕊 Balance stimulation with stillness - a moment of calm the next day can help your system re-regulate.

And if you feel the season catching up with you, our therapies - from reflexology and acupuncture to Reiki, breathwork and aromatherapy - are here to help your body rest, recover, and restore its natural balance.

It’s not about restriction.
It’s about kindness - to your body, your energy, and yourself. 🌿

08/12/2025

Looking for that special gift for somebody you love? Pop in and take a look at our little spiritual shop. We sell:

Handmade Xmas Cards
Oracle Cards
Smudge Sets
Smudging Fans
Dot Art Paintings
Sleep Sachets
Palo Santo Room Clearing Spray
Insence Sticks
Gift Vouchers
Crystals
Bach Flower Remedies

Merry Christmas to all of our wonderful clients we are so grateful that you continue to support our small business.

We are here for those in need and look forward to another year of healing in 2026 🙌🙌❤️❤️

07/12/2025

Supporting Your Body as Winter Bugs Arrive

The winter bugs are beginning to make their way around - and as the days grow colder, our bodies naturally work a little harder to stay balanced, energised, and well.

At The Upminster Sanctuary, we focus on gentle, natural ways to support your body’s own resilience.
Not to fight the season, but to move through it with more steadiness and ease.

Holistic therapies can help by:
🌿 Acupuncture - supporting the body’s natural defences and easing tension
🦶 Reflexology - improving circulation and restoring energetic balance
🍃 Herbal medicine - using plant wisdom to support emotional and physical wellbeing
🌸 Aromatherapy massage -reducing stress, calming the nervous system, and helping the body reset

Winter doesn’t have to feel heavy.
With the right support, you can move through the season feeling grounded, nourished, and more connected to your own wellbeing.

06/12/2025

05/12/2025

Step into a profound journey of healing, clarity, and transformation with my full line up of Level 1 and Level 2 Original Japanese Reiki Courses in 2026
Upminster Sanctuary Complementary Healing and Teaching

A deeply immersive in-person weekend workshop held within a healing sanctuary in Upminster, surrounded by serene gardens and aligned with ancient leylines. The moment you arrive, you’ll feel the land holding you, inviting you into stillness, presence, and renewal.

Rooted in the true history of Reiki, this workshop returns to the heart of Mikao Usui’s original teachings — honouring Reiki not simply as a technique, but as a path of self-healing, spiritual connection, and conscious living.

Central to this tradition are the Reiki Precepts — gentle guiding principles designed to help you live with balance, clarity, and a lighter heart. These precepts form the foundation of Reiki practice, offering a simple yet powerful way to cultivate a happier, more harmonious life.

Throughout this powerful weekend, you will explore:

✨ Traditional Japanese Reiki Meditations to cultivate the energy within the tanden (energy centre)
✨ Four transformative attunements that open, and strengthen your connection to source
✨ The authentic history of Reiki, including Mikao Usui’s teachings and the origins of the system
✨ How to keep your energy clear, grounded, and nourished on a daily basis
✨ Extensive self-healing practices you can continue at home
✨ A beautiful personal journal to record insights, experiences, and your energetic development
✨ A comprehensive Reiki manual, posted to you before the course so you can begin learning right away
✨ Lifetime support, ensuring you always have guidance on your Reiki path
✨ Reiki shares helping you grow in confidence and connection and sharing treatments
✨ I am a Master Teacher member of the Reiki Federation, upholding the highest standards of practice and ethics
This weekend is not simply a course — it is a deeply healing, heart-opening, and life-shifting experience that has received incredible feedback from those who have attended.

Here is what some of my students have said:

🌟 “This course has been everything I had hoped for, and more. I have come away with a full heart and a deeper connection to source. Thank you Clare for your beautiful teachings and putting together such a wonderful group of Reiki sisters.”

🌟 “I found Clare's Reiki 1 course very inspiring and thought provoking. The simplicity with which the teachings are delivered makes you feel ready to use Reiki as soon as you leave. The attunements and treatments created a deep sense of connection and healing. I would recommend these courses to anyone who is wanting to heal themselves or others.”

If you’re longing for a gentler, more aligned way of being…
If you’re ready to clear old energy, reconnect to your centre, and awaken your inner healing potential…

Join me for a weekend that will stay with you forever.

Your Reiki journey begins here — and it is truly extraordinary.

Contact Clare on 07752 296904
claregilby1@gmail.com

05/12/2025

04/12/2025

Seasonal Aches & Tension

Winter often brings tight shoulders, cold hands and feet, and general tension as the body contracts against the cold.

Massage, cupping therapy, reflexology, and acupuncture help bring warmth, circulation, and relief.

📍 The Upminster Sanctuary