The Novara Centre Blog

Posted on January 6, 2019 by in , ,

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in the new year

Kathryn O’Halloran has created a special video about MBSR which also includes a brief mindfulness exercise – https://youtu.be/Kn3AEjZ3bkk “Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right now without wishing it were different; enjoying the pleasant without holding on when it changes (which it will); being with the unpleasant without fearing it will always be this way (which it...

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Posted on January 6, 2019 by in

Setting intentions and the New Year

Setting intentions and the New Year The dust has hardly settled on the Christmas festivities when we are back making lists again! With the New Year comes thoughts of giving ourselves goals to achieve. We can put ourselves under immense pressure to ‘do this’, and not ‘do that’ – to be more ‘of this’ and less ‘of that’. We can...

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Posted on January 6, 2019 by in , ,

Can you remember when you last had a massage?

Can you remember when you last had a massage? “Healing begins with an aromatic bath and daily massage” – Hippocrates I view self-care as restorative. It is essential to make us strong, and to keep illness and stress at bay. Maintaining our health and well-being can be a little bit of a battle, but regular massage and reflexology treatments can...

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Posted on December 16, 2018 by in , , ,

“I Love the Darkness of Winter”

I love the darkness of winter. The dark evenings and the dark mornings of November and December draw me inwards, so that quiet reflection and contemplative rest seem a natural part of life at this time of year. As each Christmas and winter holiday approaches I find myself making a conscious decision that I am not going to get caught...

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Posted on August 25, 2018 by in ,

The Hero’s Writing Journey(s)

Under their apparent diversity, the great myths of humanity present us with the same map of yearnings and fears that every human being experiences on the way to self-discovery. The Hero’s Journey is a pattern of narrative that appears in drama, storytelling, myth, religious ritual, and psychological development. It describes the typical adventure of the archetype known as The Hero,...

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Posted on August 25, 2018 by in

Transitions and Changes

Transitions and Changes Autumn, this is my favourite time of the year. I always loved the autumnal hues of the trees, going back to school, Halloween and Christmas. To me it was magical as the winds of change demand our attention, and the evenings get darker and longer. Through-out life we go through a series of transitions. It’s human nature....

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Posted on June 13, 2018 by in ,

The M Word

“Menopause”. There. I’ve said it. It’s a time in life that can be hard to admit, and even harder to accept. A time of change, transition and wisdom. A second Spring. All fine when you feel upbeat and full of energy. But how about the other side of menopause – hot flashes, bloating and weight gain, exhaustion, anxiety and irritability,...

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Posted on March 12, 2018 by in

Yoga – a tool for life for everyone

Yoga is accessible to anyone at any age. Despite trendy studio marketing being full of lithe bodies in pretzel-like poses, tanned and adorned in the latest NY yoga gear, the reality is that most yoga classes are comprised of people with different motivation to practice yoga ranging from: “I felt I needed to do something”, and “My doctor said it...

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