Welcome
Meditation, Mindfulness and Qigong teachers in Whitchurch
We are Alison and Andrew Ricketts and we live in Whitchurch. We have practised meditation, mindfulness and qigong for many years and know and believe in the benefits of these practices.
Awareness has grown in recent years of how many people live with anxiety, stress and depression. There is also growing recognition that more attention needs to be paid to our recovery after illness, surgery or any event that has knocked us off balance. Meditation, mindfulness and qigong are being used in all these areas to support our physical and mental wellbeing and promote healing.
We believe that the best way we can help people in our community is to teach these practices. That is why we are on this path. This website will help you understand what we teach and how we teach. We hope that it will help you decide whether this is of interest to you.
What we teach
Health Qigong
Qigong is a wonderful way of using dance-like movements to exercise the whole body .
Qigong (pronounced “chi-gung”) uses sequences of flowing movement and gentle stretches to improve our strength, flexibility, breathing and posture.
Qigong can be practised and enjoyed by all ages and abilities. The exercises can be adapted to suit your own flexibility and strength. You can even exercise while sitting if you choose.
Research into the benefits of Qigong has shown that regular practice can reduce stress levels, reduce high blood pressure, help with depression and anxiety. It can help the cardiovascular and respiratory systems and offer other benefits.
We teach qigong in one-hour sessions. You can use these as drop-in sessions but to learn a complete form and gain greater benefit requires regular attendance and practice.
During COVID we introduced Open Air Qigong sessions, at Bourne Valley PYO and the Whitchurch Silk Mill Mill. These have proved very popular. We also run indoor sessions when rules permit.
We teach Health Qigong, a modernised and scientifically guided form of the ancient and traditional Chinese exercises.
Meditation and Mindfulness
Meditation and mindfulness are often linked but they need to be understood separately.
Mindfulness is focusing on what is really happening to us. In mindfulness we strengthen our awareness of the real "here and now" and spend less time focused on our imagined "there and then".
Practising mindfullness helps us to achieve a healthier balance between living and thinking.
In Meditation we set aside a period of time while we focus our mind. In meditation we calm our normal mental chatter and gently encourage our minds to do what we want them to.
Practising meditation helps us to improve our concentration and calm our busy minds.
A large amount of research has been carried out showing the benefits of these practices.
We teach meditation and mindfulness in courses that show you how to use these methods to help with whatever challenges you face and help you establish your own practice.
Meditation and mindfulness are not just about facing challenges. They can also help enrich your life in many other ways.
We offer drop-in sessions for those who have been on our courses to support your continued practice.
Is qigong for me?
Consider the following questions:
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Would you like to practise gentle and graceful exercises with a friendly group of people?
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Would you like the exercises to be adapted for your own levels of strength and flexibility allowing you to enjoy the exercise fully?
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Would you like to exercise to improve your flexibility, strength, breathing, and posture?
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Do you suffer from stress or high blood pressure and are looking for something to help?
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Are you looking for some help in your recovery following illness, surgery or anything that has knocked you off balance?
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Would you like to exercise in a way where you can focus and calm the mind?
If the answer to any of the above questions is "yes" then qigong is for you.
Qigong is suitable for all. We can include children in our classes, if accompanied by an adult. The minimum age is really only set by the child being able to participate in a one hour session.
Is Mindfulness for me?
Consider the following questions:
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Are you facing a challenge such as stress, anxiety or depression and looking for something that might help you?
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Has a GP or specialist suggested that mindfulness may help you?
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Would you like to find a way to create a calm space for yourself and be able to focus more on the things in your life that give joy.
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Have you heard about meditation and mindfulness and would like to explore the ideas for yourself?
If the answer to any of the above questions is "yes" then meditation and mindfulness could be for you.
Our meditation and mindfulness courses are suited for most adults. However, they may not be suitable if you have certain mental health conditions. Please get in touch directly with us if you would like to discuss this. We treat all such enquries in confidence and will do our best to help you.
We are teachers
We are teachers, not therapists, although we sometimes work in partnership with therapists. We provide a sensitive and supportive environment in which you can:
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understand what meditation, mindfulness and qigong are and how they can help you
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see how you can use these practices to help you feel better, cope with whatever challenges you face, and enjoy life more.
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Establish your own regular practice
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Use these techniques to empower you, putting you more in charge of how you live your life.
Affordable for all
We know the benefits of these methods and we want to make them available to all who need them. We have to make a charge but we will always try to find a way forward if the cost is an issue. If this may be the case for you then please get in touch with us.
Younger People
We can provide sessions to help younger people with stress and mental wellbeing. These will be tailored to your need and are usually based on a combination of qigong and mindfulness exercises.
We have provided such sessions in the past for a local secondary school and to a local scout group. These have been very well received.
Please get in touch if you would like more information.
Other Talks Available
We can provide talks or tailored sessions for organisations, groups or companies. Please get in touch if you would like more information.
Ask Alison or Andrew a question
Contact Info
Phone
Address
Whitchurch, Hampshire