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Acorn Health Blog

What we love is great health...

...and we like to write about how we can all achieve better health, naturally. Sometimes tips on how you can DIY to better health and sometimes on the therapies that can make a difference to you, your health and wellbeing.
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Meditation Musings with Eileen- More Calm, Less Stress

Workshops & Classes Posted by JadwigaPosted on Thu, April 27, 2023 10:56AM

MEDITATION …  Welcome More Calm and a Lot Less Stress into your Life

By Eileen Strong

Top Reasons people want to Learn to Meditate

In last month’s Acorn newsletter, our “Meditation Musings” blog bullet-pointed a list of more than 10 possible potential  benefits of meditation, including reducing your stress levels;  and giving your physical health a boost;

(For the full list,  take a quick click on the following link to revisit that Blog Post and check out the whole list: “MEDITATION MUSINGS: Being More YOU”  It was a pretty varied and diverse list! 

I used the words “possible potential benefits” above because you do have to actually do it in the first place,  and then more you do it, the better you get at it.  Just like building muscle at the gym, your “meditation muscles” get stronger (and more impressive!) with practice!   It IS possible to have a bit of a quick fling with Meditation, and get a life-changing result.  But it’s the longer term Meditators are the ones who report the most significant real-life changes.  

But  HOW can Meditation do all that stuff? Could it REALLY be such a cure-all fix-it miracle-worker? Well, no. I personally wouldn’t say that.. although there are many who claim that to be true.  Let’s remember that are many, many different ways to Meditate and….

Different meditation techniques get different results

What is possible is that when you have a specific aim or purpose in mind, there will be a meditation technique that can help you achieve it. 

When I asked some of my previous Meditation Class Students what the most significant benefits had been for them, one of the Top take-aways was how quickly it can help you to switch from Super-Stressed mode to being Calm-&-Relaxed when you know how.

  • “Surprising how little changes can be made to make any situation more relaxing”
  • “What really surprised me was how quickly I could go from “being in work mode” to  “super relaxed” in such a short space of time”
  • “I learnt how relaxation techniques can be applied almost anywhere and not confined to a darkened room”
  • “Excellent for asserting some  control when feeling overwhelmed or anxious”

If managing and reducing stress levels in your life is very important to you, then Meditation can be a self-help technique that could be for you.  Let’s see why.

Meditation: reducing Stress Levels

One of the earliest published research studies on Meditation was released in the 1960’s with the work of Dr Herbert Benson, who famously measured the brainwave activity of a significant number of meditators who were practicing a specific Meditation technique.   He also measured physiological changes that corresponded with the changing brainwave activity.  He essentially proved that meditation could induce a physical state of deep relaxation. 

Back in the 1960’s,  it was pretty ground-breaking research of it’s time and was instrumental in bringing Meditation to the attention of a more mainstream audience.  

In  more recent times, the “Mind-Brain-Body” connection (Mind-Body Medicine)  is becoming more widely researched, recognised and understood.  You’ve  probably heard both those terms bandied about quite a lot in wellness circles; especially in holistic/alternative approaches to health.

With the subsequent development of scientific instruments and rising interest in the potential role of Meditation in Clinical applications (amongst others) we now know so much more about the science behind Meditation, and the whole Mind-Brain-Body connection.

So if getting a better grip on your personal Stress levels is important to you, and you’d like to learn a basic Meditation technique geared to help you with that, are you ready to give it a go?  Read on! 

Join our Monthly Class

This  Mind-Brain-Body connection was the theme for our Group Meditation Class earlier this month, where we came together to enjoy not only a Meditation for Relaxation, but also a true Mind-Body Medicine self-healing technique too.   (More on those in future posts!)

Our monthly class here at Acorn is suitable for beginners through to more experienced meditators and we explore different themes each time.  It’s a very friendly, informal class with chairs provided for your use.  Check directly with us for the latest schedule.

(At time of writing in May 2023,  these are on the 3rd Wednesday Monthly 7pm through to end of July only.  Summer/Autumn classes will have a new schedule so do check back with us for the latest timings).

To Pre-book your place on our Monthly Meditation Classes, click here: EileenStrongCoaching-Events. 

For more information on any of the above topics, or to enquire about private 1-2-1 meditation sessions, click here: Contact_Eileen  

We look forward to hearing from you, and helping you welcome More Calm and Less Stress into your life.



Meditation Musings with Eileen

General Health & Wellbeing, Workshops & Classes Posted by JadwigaPosted on Thu, March 30, 2023 10:38AM

MEDITATION …  Helping you Learn more about Being more You  

By Eileen Strong

Time to Be. 

 We talked in previous blogs about Meditation being a tool you can use to switch yourself from a stressed, anxious, or over-busy mind state, to a state where you can experience a depth of calmness, peace, and relaxation .. simply by developing a little more self awareness of your “state of being” during your busy day, and deciding to Just Do It!  

We also thought about how this needn’t be a lengthy process, and if you can find even just a spare minute or two, there are ways even The Busiest Person In The World could fit it into their day .. if they really want to.  Check back on last month’s blog for some ideas on how you might be able to do that with your own busy schedule.

Potential Blessings and Benefits of Meditation

I use the word  “potential” in this sub title because the word “Meditation” in itself is an umbrella term for a practice that covers a multitude of different techniques and traditions, and even if we had 4 people in a room “doing” the same Meditation technique, each will have their own unique experience of it. 

But to stick to that “umbrella” terms for now, there are Meditations that will help you:

  • Reduce your levels of stress or anxiety;
  • Reduce physical pain and boost the immune system:
  • Help you develop your mental focus and powers of concentration;
  • Enhance your creativity;
  • Help to open your mind up to new ideas and inspirations:
  • Identify and balance emotional disturbances:
  • Help you to connect with and deepen psychic skills;
  • Connect more intimately with your spirituality;
  • Help you develop greater self awareness;
  • Help you deepen your understanding and awareness of other people;
  • Improve performance in business or sport;
  • Help you make grounded decisions
  • Help you create your own day

Wow, we are literally just scratching the surface here of potential blessings and benefits of Meditation.  Did something leap out at You from this list?  What was that? 

And how does it all work anyways? How can it DO all that stuff?   

Well, speaking from my own experience of Meditation, I do not believe that it is some magical “cure-all”. 

Yet there is undoubtedly a science and wealth of research behind it (particularly in the field of neuroscience) that can help to explain some of those what, where’s, why’s and how’s. 

In addition, it’s absolutely true too that some individuals can indeed have a “quick fling” with Meditation, and as a result, get a potentially life-changing “aha!” moment, deep inner insight or practical take-away everyday relaxation skill that will be endear Meditation forever to them.   This does, however, seem to be quite rare.    

What does seem to be true, though, is that most long-term Meditators will be able to tell you about the richness and reward a longer term relationship with your own Meditation Practice  will bring into your life.

So what is it that you would you like more of in your Life?  How could a regular Meditation Practice enhance your life?  What is that would tick more of your self-care, self-nurture, self-growth boxes? 

Maybe it’s time to take a fresh look at Meditation and put a Meditation Me-Time date in your diary .. starting today!  

Want to learn more?

We host regular Monthly Meditation Classes here at Acorn in our Studio, suitable for beginners and re-starters. 

Acorn also has a range of Online Courses too, including our “Learn to Love to Meditate” course;  click the following link to take a look at all of those:  “Learn to Love to Meditate Course”

To book a place on our Monthly Class in the Studio, or for more information on anything discussed in this post, simply get in touch with us here at Acorn for more information, or email me direct at Eileen@eileenstrongcoaching.com

We look forward to hearing from you!



Meditation Musings with Eileen

Workshops & Classes Posted by JadwigaPosted on Thu, February 23, 2023 11:21AM

Meditation?? Nah, not got the time for all that!!

By Eileen Strong

Facts of life:  we’re all busy!

So you’ve heard all about the potential physical and mental health benefits of Meditation.  It is, after all, always being featured in the latest Health & Wellness magazines, E-zines, Blogs, Pods, Celebrity “secrets of my success” interviews, etc etc etc.

BUT .. you’re busy! Life is hectic! It’s full of demands on your time that you simply cannot escape from and you’re pretty full on already without trying to cram something else in.  Sound like you?  We’re all the same in that respect.  Life can be pretty full on and we all have stuff to do, and roles to fulfil: carer, worker, brother, sister, mother, father, lover, worker, student, house-keeper, shopper, run-a-round, rescuer … I bet you could probably add a few more roles to that list of your own. 

And if you know you’re a bit of a stress-head, or you suffer with anxiety, overwhelm, overthink, or stress-related symptoms of illness,  you will most probably already  SUSPECT that Meditation would probably be a good thing for you to get into … BUT .. you’re busy!!! You’re just never going to fit it into your already busy, hectic day! 

Well, let’s see if we can help you find a way, because as the famous quote by Henry Ford/Buddha/Yoda/OtherGuru goes ….

“If you want to get something different from what you’ve always got,

you’ve got to do something different from what you’ve always done”

So, back to last month’s Meditation Questions on what the whole idea of Meditation is for you, how long do you think you need in order to Meditate?   1 or 2 hours of sitting cross-legged on a cushion on the floor with an empty mind, humming “Ommmmmm” to yourself?

Well, that is an option for you.  And that IS a practice for many thousands of people who regularly meditate.  If you read our Acorn newsletter last month, you’ll recall the 3 simple factors I highlighted about Meditation that everyone should know and none of them are difficult.  And there are also many many MANY different ways to DO Meditation.  We mentioned a few of those last month too.  (Here’s the link for last month’s blog on Meditation if you want to check back for a 3 minute read:   Meditation: What’s it mean to you?)

What’s all this mean for me? 

What all this means is  that simply by  INTENDING to do it, we can shift ourselves PDQ from our busy, stressy, doing, fretting, over-thinking, over-worrying state, and within a minute or so,  drop into what I call a more “meditative state of being”.  i.e. being calm, focused, yet relaxed.  Yep .. in just a minute or so. 

How cool is that? And -more importantly – how many minutes are there in a whole day?

Well, 24 hours in a day.  Let’s delete 8 hours of those for a good night’s sleep (Meditation can help you with that too, by the way, if you need it!) which still leaves 16 hours with 60 minutes in every hour.  Let’s do the math. 16 hours x 60 mins = a whopping 960 minutes.  Could you promise yourself just  1, 2, or 3 mins of that, every day, to introduce some regular Meditation into your life.  Just 1, 2 or 3 mins for YOU?  Investing in YOUR physical and mental health?  You – you beautiful soul –  deserve that at the very least, and I know you can do that, with just a bit of determination.  So why not give it a go?

HOW, exactly, can you fit it into a busy day?

Well, take a look at your day.  It might seem absolutely rammed full of all that “stuff” you have to do.  Think about all the routines, or little habits, that you already have in place in your day.

Morning face-wash, morning cuppa, breakfast, morning dog-walk/school run, mid morning coffee break, lunch break. How about the afternoon, tea-time, time to exercise, evening family time, pre-bed relax time, bed-time.  Look at all those habits and routines you already have in place .. and ask yourself, where can I add (or include) 1, 2 or 3 mins to just stop and BREATHE?  And if you’ve got more time, like a whopping whole 5 or 10 mins YOU time, try it then too?  

So what do I do then, if its all so easy?

 Of course, there’s a bit more to meditation to simply stopping, and breathing.  Or .. is there?  Well, it’s a great place to start.   You might be quite surprised what a difference just that teensy little 1, 2 or 3 minutes can make.

Literally, just STOP, and BREATHE.  This is a very mindful practice.  It’s a great place to start, really it is!  Could you do it for the next 7 days? 

Why  not give it a whirl.  Let  us know how you get on with this!  We’d love to know!

Want to learn more?

I’m delighted to be hosting a monthly meditation class here at Acorn in the studio.  If you’re fairly local to Heanor, why not come along and join us. 

 It’s very friendly, informal and welcoming .. and you’ll learn loads about Meditation, how to do it, get to practice it, and meet some other folks too who are finding out more about it just like you, and beginning to reap the rewards of it in their lives. 

This isn’t a same-old same-old class either; we don’t do anything by halves here at Acorn Natural Health Centre!!

Regular members of the class can expect to:

  • Get well practised in the basics of a solid Meditation practice for use at home and other times in your day!
  • Practise  different Meditation techniques (there are hundreds; that should keep us going for a while!!) A great opportunity to just have a go!  Have fun with it too, why not?
  • Enjoy a beautiful, relaxing Guided Meditation every month (a different theme each month, usually aligned with the seasons, for some variety!)
  • Meet guest Meditation Teachers from time to time whom I invite along to join us so you get a fresh perspective and new experience .. all good!
  • And other exclusive bonuses just for class regulars.

To pre-book your place on Eileen’s upcoming monthly Meditation classes, visit EileenStrongCoaching-Events and buy a ticket,  or for any extra help with anything discussed in this Blog,  contact her direct at eileen@eileenstrongcoaching.com



Meditation Musings with Eileen

Workshops & Classes Posted by JadwigaPosted on Thu, January 26, 2023 10:33AM

Meditation .. what’s it mean to You anyway?

By Eileen Strong

Did you know .. that there are 100’s of different ways to “do” Meditation?

I was talking to a guy just before Christmas who had been warned by his GP that he really needed to get his blood pressure a bit lower.    I asked him if he’d ever done any Meditation, or had he thought of learning how to do it, because Meditation can and does tick all the health and wellbeing boxes for the majority of people who try it and get into a regular practice of some sort. Lowering blood pressure is just one of many of those benefits.

  “Oh no,” he said, shaking his head.   “I’m not into all that kind of hippy-woo stuff!”

And I thought to myself, oh, that’s such a shame, if only you’d just give it a try! And what did he mean by “hippy-woo stuff” anyway?

Well, I do know what he means by “hippy-woo!”  Many people think of the social revolution of the 1960’s/early 70’s when they hear the word Meditation, and associate it with .. well, whatever else he associates it with that doesn’t appeal to him about hippies or woo.

Isn’t it a peculiar thing how we all seem to have our own different ideas about Meditation.  I mean, what is it that pops into your head when you hear the word “Meditation”?  

A Tibetan Monk sitting in a cave? 

Maybe a hippy with a guitar, smoking a joint?
Or maybe it means  “meditating” on a problem, and being in deep thought?

Or engaging in some kind of religious prayer or pagan ritual perhaps?

Or maybe you do Yoga or Tai Chi and  just associate Meditation with those or some other relaxing practices.

Truth is, it’s all those things, and more.  There are moving, walking, talking, dancing, sitting, standing, cross-legged, singing, talking, humming, Omming, out-of-body, pain-relief, mindful, compassionate … and a whole lot more Meditations!  Meditations you can do in a minute, or over a couple of hours?

And you know, every different “sort” has it’s own rewards and it’s own benefits. 

I first starting teaching Meditation in 2014 and I like to keep things simple and easy to do.  Maybe I’m just a bit lazy like that.  But why make life more complicated that we need to?

So,  I personally just like to highlight 3 things that 98% of different meditation practices have in common.

Simple Fact No 1: We all breathe while we’re doing it.  Yep. Otherwise, we wouldn’t still be here having this conversation right now.

Simple Fact No 2: We can all attain and enjoy deeper states of calmness and peace while we’re doing it.

Simple Fact No 3: We are mentally alert, yet physically relaxed while we’re doing it.

When we meditate, we can shift ourselves out of our busy, stressy, doing, fretting, over-thinking, over-worrying state, and – simply by deciding to do so – drop into what I call a more “meditative state of being”.  i.e. being calm, focused, yet relaxed.

Even just knowing we can shift from stress-mode to relaxed-mode within the space of 60 seconds is empowering in itself! Would you agree? 

Did you even realise you can do that?

And would you like to find out how easy it can be to do that too?

And, then some, what ARE all those health and wellbeing benefits of Meditation anyway?

We hear about it all the time these days in health and wellbeing circles everywhere, you’ll find it practiced all over the world, and it’s been around for 1000’s of years!  So, there must be something to it, right.

Would you like to find out more about Meditation and how you can easily learn to do it for yourself?

Why  not come along to the monthly Meditation Class that I host here at Acorn.

It’s very friendly, informal and welcoming .. and you’ll learn loads about Meditation, how to do it, and meet some other folks too who are finding out more about it just like you.   

And  before I finish, I’d like to add that I still go to other meditation classes myself too! 

The day we think we know it all

is the day we stop learning.

Would you agree? When there’s 100’s of different ways to “do” it, why just stop there?!

To pre-book your place on Eileen’s upcoming Meditation classes, visit EileenStrongCoaching-Events  or contact her direct at eileen@eileenstrongcoaching.com for more information.



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