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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.
Thank you for reading, We hope you enjoy :)

Spring Equinox: A spiritual renewal

Workshops & Classes Posted on Tue, March 12, 2024 12:44PM

by Anne-Marie Allen

Can you feel it? That subtle shift in the air, the whisper of change rustling through the trees? It’s the Spring Equinox, and wow, is it a magical time! It’s also one of my favourite times of year so let’s kick back, grab a cup of tea, and have a friendly chat about the spiritual significance of this enchanting season.

First things first, what exactly is the Spring Equinox? Well, it’s that moment when the day and night are in perfect harmony, when the sun crosses the celestial equator and we begin to daydream of warmer days ahead. It’s like nature hitting the reset button, offering us a fresh start, a clean slate to work with.

How awesome is that?

Now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty – why is the Spring Equinox such a big deal spiritually?

Picture this: nature, after a long winter’s nap, stretching its limbs, yawning awake, and bursting forth with new life. It’s a powerful reminder of the cycle of rebirth and renewal that’s woven into the very fabric of existence.

And guess what? We’re part of that cycle too!

The Spring Equinox encourages us to shake off the cobwebs of winter, both literally and metaphorically. It’s a time to declutter our physical spaces, sure, but also to declutter our minds and hearts. Let go of what no longer serves you – old grudges, self-doubt, that ratty old sweater you’ve been holding onto for years. Make space for new growth, new opportunities, and new adventures.

But wait, there’s more! The Spring Equinox is also a time of balance and harmony. Just like the scales tipping ever so gently between light and dark, we’re reminded to find equilibrium in our own lives. Work hard, play hard. Hustle, then rest. Give, and receive. Finding that sweet spot where everything feels just right – now that’s the real magic of the equinox.

Let’s not forget about gratitude. Oh, sweet gratitude, how we love thee! The Spring Equinox is the perfect time to count our blessings, to pause and give thanks for all the beauty and abundance that surrounds us. From the blooming flowers to the chirping birds, from the warmth of the sun on our skin to the laughter of loved ones – there’s so much to be grateful for, isn’t there?

Gratitude is at the very foundation for attracting more good things to be grateful for in to your life!

And finally, the Spring Equinox is a time of intention-setting. What do you want to cultivate in your life? What seeds do you want to plant, both literally and figuratively? Take some time to reflect on your dreams and desires, and then set some juicy intentions for the months ahead. Whether it’s starting a new project, deepening a spiritual practice, or simply finding more joy in everyday life – the world is your oyster, my friend!

Join me and Eileen on the 20th March for our monthly healing circle we’ll be planting seeds embedded with our intentions and goals for the next few months!

Planting seeds embedded with goals is like sowing the intentions of our dreams into the fertile soil of possibility, nurturing them with faith and perseverance until they blossom into beautiful manifestations of our desires. It’s going to be such a special night I hope you can join us !

Energy healing techniques such as Reiki are great ways to help you let go of anything that no longer serves you this spring such as old grudges, self-doubt and old beliefs as well as helping to bring balance into your life, while raising your vibration and attracting more good into your life!

So, there you have it – isn’t the Spring Equinox a wonderful time of year. It’s a time of renewal, balance, gratitude, and intention-setting.

So let’s embrace the magic of this season, let our hearts be light, and our spirits soar as high as the springtime sky.



5 Beginner-Friendly Yoga Poses

Workshops & Classes Posted on Tue, March 12, 2024 12:26PM

by Connor Levai

Yoga serves as a pathway to self-discovery, connecting body, mind, and spirit. For beginners, embarking on a yoga journey can be both exhilarating and daunting. However, integrating grounding poses into your routine can alleviate any apprehension and foster stability and tranquillity. Grounding yoga poses anchor you to the present moment, fostering a sense of inner peace and steadiness.

Here are five beginner-friendly yoga poses perfect for cultivating grounding and centeredness:

  1. Tadasana (Mountain Pose): Tadasana, or Mountain Pose, forms the basis for numerous yoga postures. Stand tall with feet hip-width apart, firmly rooted into the ground. Engage your thighs, lift the chest, and roll the shoulders back and down. Inhale deeply as you extend your arms overhead, palms facing each other. Feel the earth’s energy coursing through your body. Hold the pose for several breaths, elongating the spine and grounding like a mountain.
  2. Virabhadrasana I (Warrior I Pose):Warrior I embodies strength and confidence while fostering grounding. Step one foot back at a 45-degree angle, ensuring the front knee aligns with the ankle. Ground through the outer edge of the back foot, connecting with the earth. Extend the arms overhead, palms facing each other, and gaze forward. With each breath, deepen the pose, embracing the stability and strength it provides.
  3. Balasana (Child’s Pose):Balasana, or Child’s Pose, induces relaxation and introspection. Begin by kneeling on the mat, big toes touching and knees wide apart. Sit back on your heels and fold forward, extending the arms in front or resting them alongside the body. Gently touch the forehead to the mat, surrendering to the earth’s support. Close the eyes, focus on the breath, and release tension, embracing the grounding sensation of the present moment.
  4. Vrksasana (Tree Pose):Tree Pose enhances concentration, stability, and rootedness. Start in Tadasana, shifting weight onto one foot and lifting the opposite foot to place the sole against the inner thigh or calf. Gaze at a focal point and bring the palms together at heart center. Feel the connection between foot and leg, grounding like the roots of a tree. With each breath, find balance and stability in the pose.
  5. Savasana (Corpse Pose):Savasana, the ultimate relaxation pose, integrates the benefits of practice and fosters complete groundedness. Lie flat on the back with legs extended and arms resting alongside the body, palms facing up. Close the eyes, allow the body to sink into the mat, and release tension. Embrace the support of the earth, grounding and nurturing. Stay in Savasana for a few minutes, surrendering to the stillness and serenity of the moment.

Incorporating these grounding yoga poses into your practice cultivates centeredness, stability, and connection to self and surroundings. Remember to listen to your body, breathe deeply, and approach each pose with mindfulness and intention. With dedication, you’ll cultivate a sense of groundedness extending beyond the mat and into every facet of life.

You can experience these exercises firsthand in my regular yoga class, held every Thursday evening at Acorn Natural Health Centre.

For inquiries or further information, feel free to reach out.



Meditation Musings with Eileen- More Calm, Less Stress

Workshops & Classes Posted 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 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!



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