As I wrote in my very first blog post, relaxation is not as straightforward as it seems. You have to plan it and you have practice it. I’ll let you in to a secret. I’m crap at relaxation. I find it hard to switch off, my mind is often racing. My eyes generally stay open in the relaxation part of a yoga session.

Why does that make me a good person to talk about relaxation? Because it gives me an edge. The edge of someone who has tried a lot of ways to relax. I’ve had to work hard to chill the hell out and now I’m the classic poacher turned game-keeper.

I’ve tried some beautiful yoga, guided meditation, massage, my beloved reflexology, eye pillows, a metric shit-ton of lavender, an acupressure mat, hot baths, cold baths, roll-on oils, massage balls, facial rollers, foam rollers, hair rollers and chamomile tea. Shinrin-yoku, mindfulness, amazing hybrid tai-chi yoga, drawing, singing, and playing an instrument. The result? I’m approximately 47% more chilled out than I used to be. Sometimes.

So, when I design chill out sessions I’m like a relaxation magpie, stealing shiny nuggets of calm to share with you. Some will work for you, some won’t, some of it will be blissful and some of it might be challenging. Therein lies the beauty of trying lots of different techniques. I put a big focus on breath work – it’s woven into so many techniques, the cornerstone of any rest and relaxation

My chill out events are designed for people who find relaxation a challenge, or are starting from scratch, or who need to calm the f down. This month the relaxation nuggets include the all important breathing techniques, candle meditation, hand reflexology, and mindful art. There will also be tea and chocolate brownies…

Be Your Valentine – February Chill Out Event is on Monday 10th February at 7pm at Bookbugs and Dragon Tales, Timberhill, Norwich