A course for relaxation and simple meditation techniques that can help you to manage the effects of stress on the mind and body

Do you find it hard to relax and let go of stress and tension? This course will teach you relaxation and meditation exercises that can help you to manage the effects of stress on the mind and body and increase your resilience so that you can stay calmer under pressure.

This is a closed group and so the course price covers attendance for 6 weeks.

Tue 20th October 18:00-19:30

Tue 27th October 18:00-19:30

Tue 3rd November 18:00-19:30

Tue 10th November 18:00-19:30

Tue 17th November 18:00-19:30

Tue 24th November 18:00-19:30

This course will cover…

Self awareness; recognising your patterns of stress and tension so that you can take early action to manage them better

Gentle stretching & self massage exercises to reduce tension in the muscles

Progressive relaxation, releasing tension throughout the body

Calming breathing practices

Guided imagery to calm the mind, soothe the body and increase feelings of well-being

Simple forms of meditation including basic Mindfulness practice

Quick fixes; short de-stressing practices that you can fit easily into your day

Ideas on creating a relaxing space for practice

What to expect

The course is led by an experienced facilitator who will explain how relaxation works. We will practise the relaxation techniques together in the session, followed by some discussion, you can say as little or as much as feels comfortable.

Some of the exercises can be done lying down, but if you feel more comfortable it’s OK to sit in a chair. Please wear clothes that are comfortable and not too tight around the waist and neck. You may want to bring your own blanket and cushion in order to be comfortable, but don’t worry if you forget: We have some that you can borrow for the session.

To make the most of the course, we encourage you to practise at home between sessions. You will be given a set of resources each week that build into a workbook you can use for reference during and after the course. You’ll also be directed to other useful resources.

Who is the course suitable for?

People with any of the conditions listed below.

Stress and tension

Chronic depression

Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Heart disease

Cancer

Gastro-intestinal disorders eg IBS

Anxiety

Chronic pain, headaches and migraine

It is not suitable for people with epilepsy, narcolepsy, psychosis or drug/alcohol problems. Some exercises may not be suitable for people with severe asthma. If you have serious panic attacks, you might feel more comfortable learning the techniques from a counsellor on a 1:1 basis. If you have a physical disability you are welcome to attend the course, we ask that you choose to partake only in the physical stretching exercises that are comfortable for you.

Who are Oasis-Talk:

Oasis-Talk are a well known and trusted local mental health and wellbeing service in Bristol. We offer a wide range of therapeutic services and have been facilitating groups for over 8 years. We are a Community Interest Company, which means that all our profits are reinvested to help more people.

Who will be delivering the course?

Our team of therapists and wellbeing managers offer a blend of skills and experience which has been captivated in the development of our courses. The content is continually updated to align with new research and developments.

This course will be delivered by Chris Bowles, who has over 30 years’ experience designing, developing and facilitating wellbeing groups. She is a qualified, accredited and experienced Mindfulness teacher (since 2008).

Feedback received about Chris from our last group:

‘Chris was amazing…we felt valued and we felt encouraged and want to go on to do more’.

We would love for you to join us.

How much does it cost?
The course is free for anyone with an income less than £16,00 per year. If you earn more than £16,000 the cost is $120 for the full six weeks.