brave & blissful

12/11/2025

Special Christmas Peace Offerings ☮️
Peace in the world starts with each one of us finding our own deep peace within.

Christmas can be a wonderful time of the year, but for many reasons this is not the case for so many of us...
Some of us are; -
- sick, dying
- grieving all kinds of loss
- under financial pressure
- struggling every year because of past experiences and/ or family dynamics
- angry/ lonely/ depressed/ anxious
- emotionally stuck, "don't believe" in Christmas and struggle with feeling on the "outer," not part of wider celebrations
- have difficulty celebrating when there is so much turbulence in the world

Whatever is holding you back from enjoying the anticipation of Christmas and the holiday period, I invite you to explore this by developing greater awareness and insight into what is happening and how you can change your perceptions through acceptance and compassion.

🧡1. Peace within, over the Christmas season & beyond.
1:1 in person sessions available plus a limited amount of evening sessions on Zoom, discounted rate/ sliding scale available for non- waged before Christmas. $140- $80/ session.
Please contact Sally to arrange an appointment.

💜2. Peace within, over the Christmas season & beyond- a deep dive workshop into finding your own peace and quiet joy through a 1 day retreat style workshop;
Saturday 6th OR Saturday 13th December 10-4pm
Limited spaces- only 10 places available.
Discounted investment $280
Sliding scale available for non waged. Integr8 151 Gala Street, Invercargill.

💙3. A "Blue Christmas" reflection & gratitude event
on Saturday 20th December at 8pm.
Especially for those of us who have lost loved ones throughout the year but not confined to 2025. If you are still grieving, you are warmly invited to this peaceful space to reflect and to find peace within your own heart.
All welcome to this free event at Integr8 151 Gala Street, Invercargill. Please contact Sally to register.
Koha appreciated, refreshments available.

Mention this ad when you book before November 28th to receive a 20% discount 🙏
https://braveandblissful.co.nz/special-christmas-peace-offerings/

Wishing you deep peace, Sally 🙏☮️❤️🩷🧡💛💚💙🩵💜

23/10/2025

PREVENTION OF CHRONIC DISEASE
- Advocating personal responsibility:
I enjoy listening to RNZ & have done so for many years but I find myself avoiding it now, due to the increasing number of conversations towards health disasters rather than promoting ways in which people can help themselves to be well.
This morning, a medical professional from the Charity hospital here in Southland, reported that there is an increasing number of 20-30 year olds being diagnosed with late stage colorectal cancers. This is tragic news but it was disappointing to hear him say "they have no idea" why there is such an increase in people and particularly young people, being diagnosed with bowel cancer when we have had evidence for many years that lifestyle choices impact significantly on our health and create about 80% of all chronic disease- including cancers. He went on to say, that modifying "lifestyle factors probably made no difference".
I think this approach is unhelpful to people listening, who may now think it doesn't matter what they eat or the fact that they don't exercise because chances are high they will get cancer at some stage in their lives, so they may as well give up trying to be healthy.

This is where personal responsibility comes in, something that needs to be shouted from the rooftops as our medical system is unable to cope with demand. Instead of worrying about getting RN's to do colonoscopies as was suggested, PLEASE let's turn our attention to PREVENTION.
Not only is prevention better than cure, but it also enhances the lives of the people, reduces the burden on our stretched health system and puts responsibility back where it belongs- in the lap of every New Zealander.

The Lancet published a study in 2019 that confirmed 74% of all deaths each year result from chronic disease and 80% of chronic disease is caused by our lifestyle choices which includes;

- nutritionally deficient diets high in carbohydrates, processed food ( it's called junk food for a reason), fat, salt & sugar; a lack of fresh fruit, vegetables, fibre and water
- lack of daily exercise & weight control
- poor stress management, mental health concerns including anxiety & depression
- inadequate rest, relaxation & sleep
- substance abuse; including to***co, alcohol & other street drugs

We are complex beings and every cell in our body (approx 30 trillion), is interdependent. To look at a person solely in terms of their bowel is to fail to see the connection between the many complex pathways that exist in our bodies including the Gut- Brain Axis, how the microbiome effects at least 70% of our immunity and how stress is usually held in the gut/ digestive system.
We must always consider ourselves holistically and view each client not from a "how can I cure this person" stance, but from a place of " how can I help this person feel empowered to make some changes to how they are living their life?"

Developing self awareness through mindfulness helps us to slow down, see what is happening in our lives and make positive changes for ourselves and our families.🥰

05/10/2025

Tikkun Olam- prayers for repairing the world

03/03/2025

Mindfulness Meditation & Relaxation Classes

My intention is to create a sangha, a spiritual community in Invercargill to share Western Buddhist Psychology & dharma or teachings.
The teachings of the first Buddha are possibly even more relevant today as they were 2500 years ago, as we struggle to live in a world of turmoil and uncertainty.

Many people are responding to the turmoil with anxiety, depression, aggression and confusion. Instead of being helpful, these states usually make the situation worse, creating more suffering.
By looking to Buddhist psychology, we can learn new ways of handling those feelings & thoughts by developing self- awareness & presence.
When we feel more in control of our own lives we have freedom to be more creative, productive and happier. Turmoil and agitation are replaced with calmness and peace.

When we do this it produces a ripple effect and our closest relationships, families and whanau all benefit.

We don't have to "become Buddhist", to experience relief from our human problems/ suffering. Nor does Buddhism conflict with Christianity, Jesus Christ understood meditation & encouraged followers to look inside themselves to find peace.

Learning some simple mindfulness meditation & teachings can be enough to transform the way we think, feel and act- we experience calmness, clarity and equanimity.

Being in a community with other people provides a sense of belonging & opportunity to learn from, & gain strength from each other.

When we meditate together on topics such as Loving Kindness, Radical Acceptance & Self- Compassion; we give the world a healing gift of presence & peace.

If you feel called to discover or enhance your spiritual path, please join us in person:

* Thursday evenings at 6.15pm- 8pm
(NB: there is no class on March 20th )
151 Gala Street, corner of Jed Street.

First class introductory investment is $20 Sliding scale available $20-$40

Spaces limited to 12, please let me know you're coming
by texting Sally on 0211316656 or emailing me at braveandblissful@gmail.com

I look forward to meeting you!🙏
Sally

24/02/2025

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION & RELAXATION CLASSES

You're right, it is all about you!

Are you struggling with an overactive mind or juggling all the family/ relationship/ work/ tasks/ situation balls that demand attention, leaving you frazzled, exhausted, grumpy, tearful & drained; with no time in the day to look after yourself?

What if I told you Life isn't meant to be this hard? That we're actually meant to enjoy ourselves? We are meant to be happy- does that seem impossible to you?

I invite you to invest some time to explore other ways of being by learning self awareness.

Taking time to listen to our thoughts, feelings & bodies, teaches us so much about how we're showing up in life- for ourselves and those closest to us, as well as the wider community. Letting go of whatever is holding you back, leaves room for creativity, resourcefulness, productivity and a greater sense of purpose & meaning in our lives. Calm, peace & joy can all be yours.

As Henry Ford said, "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got".

It's already almost March, is this the year, you'll choose you?

Classes start Thursday March 6th
at 151 Gala Street, Invercargill.

* simple, enjoyable Yin yoga stretching
* discussion of a self awareness topic
* insight meditation to explore the topic
* relaxation focussing on breathing after meditating

Full instructions will be given. These classes are suitable for anyone!


Each session will be from 6.15pm- 8pm; please arrive early to get settled, classes start at 6.30pm

You will need- comfy non restrictive clothing, a cushion & a yoga mat. You may also like to bring a journal & a pen.

$40/ session cash or bank transfer

Space is limited to a small group, so please
register before March 4th

text Sally 0211316656 or email braveandblissful@gmail.com

10/02/2025

Haere mai Invercargill,
Are you wanting to be healthier, happier, more at ease with life? But not found what you're looking for?
I offer one on one Well-Being sessions & workshops for groups.

'Being in touch with oneself is the meaning of meditation, to be aware of what is going on in your body, your feelings and in your mind'. Thich Nhat Hanh

"When we change the way we see the world, the world changes." Wayne Dyer
Learning to apply mindfulness techniques to everyday life situations is transformative. Release anxiety, fear, anger- whatever obstacles are holding you back from being your authentic self.
One on one sessions are available in Invercargill or online & the course below is live & starting soon!
This is an opportunity to develop self- awareness & life skills in a completely safe & interactive environment.
Be empowered to live the life that right now may seem like an unreachable dream- turn the dream into reality by joining us 🥰

04/02/2025

"When we change the way we see the world, the world changes." Wayne Dyer
Learning to apply mindfulness techniques to everyday life situations is transformative. Release anxiety, fear, anger- whatever obstacles are holding you back from being your authentic self.
One on one sessions are available in Invercargill or online & the course below is live & starting soon!
This is an opportunity to develop self- awareness & life skills in a completely safe & interactive environment.
Be empowered to live the life that right now may seem like an unreachable dream- turn the dream into reality by joining us 🥰

03/02/2025

The beginning of a new year doesn't mean you have to continue living in the same way, doing the same old things that no longer serve you.
I offer one on one Wellbeing therapy in person or online & in a few weeks courses are available that can potentially transform the way you see & experience the world.
I'd love to have you join us.
Please see my website for more info.
Sally Avison 🪷

22/01/2025

Is 2025 the year for you to invest in yourself?
Wellbeing courses start in a few weeks in Invercargill!
Therapy sessions are also available in person or on Zoom.
Full Celebrant services also available.
Please contact me via my website braveandblissful.co.nz
I look forward to hearing from you 😊
Warm regards,
Sally Avison 🪷