Blog Archives
Kahuna philosophy
Continuing the theme of last weeks newsletter I’m going to introduce some of the important wellbeing courses that I’ve been on over the last thirteen years.
This week I’m going to introduce Kahuna philosophy and bodywork. Kahuna was one of the first types of bodywork that I learnt back in Sydney (some 13 years ago). The course was run by an amazing Irish woman, Nemara Hennigan and the training venue was in the beautiful South National park in Sydney. As we were taught we could see the Pacific glinting, the sandy beaches and hear cockatoos and kookaburras playing.
Ka huna literally means light and wisdom. It is the beautiful marriage of positive intention and knowledge and echoes the core teaching of Buddhism and Hinduism – that at our core, each of us is already perfect and all we need to do is develop practices that allow this beauty and radiance to shine through.
On day one of our training we spent many hours sitting on a beach doing a mindfulness exercise which involved brushing sand into piles and then brushing the sand apart. We learnt to focus our attention and made our hands move with the action of a wave and gentle caress. This brought to mind some key aspects of kahuna which have proved valuable in all areas of my life:
– When you do something put all your energy and attention into it at that moment
– Healing is soft and gentle – it should cleanse and caress you like a wave
– As you brush the sand you stay connected at all times, your hands move in one direction and then turn without loosing contact. This taught me many things. In bodywork I approach the person gently and stay connected. In positive psychology coaching and in my friendships I try to engage, listen and be dependable and supportive
The Kahuna centre in Sydney has explained the philosophies seven key principals in a beautiful way. Over the years I’ve tried to bring each of these into my own life and into the way that work at Breathe London. They also formed part of the basis of my interest in Positive Psychology. Take a look at each of these and see if you can build these principals into your relationships and work.
IKE (ee-kay) – The world is what you think it is
Our thoughts make us who and what we are. If you want to change your situation, all you have to do is change your thoughts! Your body and your life will follow! Alter the way you see reality and you WILL alter reality.
KALA (kah-lah) – There are no limits – Be Free
Following on from Ike – ensure that when you think, you think without limitation! Don’t think about the things that you are “allowed” to have, or the things you believe are “just possible”. The most successful people think without limitations. Be free in your thinking! Whatever the mind of a person can conceive and believe, it can achieve! So THINK BIG.
MAKIA (mah-kee-ah) – Energy flows where attention goes – Be Focused
Have you ever noticed that the more interested you are in something the more likely you are to do something about it? Whatever holds your interest will also tend to attract your emotional and physical energy. The more successful a person is, the more you will find that they direct and hold their energy on something by conscious choice. They don’t wait for something to catch their attention; they go out and catch something with their attention. A person at all times has a choice as what to focus their attention on – so be focused on what you want at all times.
MANAWA (mah-nah-wah) – Now is the moment of power – Be Here
The past or future does not have any power because you can’t touch it, taste it, smell it, feel it or react to it in any way. For all practical purposes it doesn’t even exist! All we have right now is the memory of things, skills, pains, and experiences. It’s the memories that we respond to now – not the past itself. The memories exist in the present moment and you can alter your relationship to them – change your thinking about them and thereby change the effect on your life.
As for the future, no one knows what is going to happen. We can make logical or intuitive guesses but we don’t really know. However if we think of the future as a blank slate (rather than fixed or predestined) then we give ourselves permission to try anything.
ALOHA (ah-lo-hah) – Be Happy
Aloha means many things, but in one word perhaps it’s best described as “love”. Love is happiness. Aloha is a caring for others as well as or as much as for your own self. Australians say, “no worries” – the Hawaiians use the idea of Aloha to define their society, their relationship with each other and their philosophy of life. It is with “aloha spirit” that all things are done. Not meant to harm and not meant to cause unhappiness to others.
MANA (mah-nah) – All power comes from within – Be Confident
Mana is power or energy. All power comes from within. Hawaiian belief is that Mana is the name for the one source of all the power that exists in the universe. This power is universal and flows through not only us, but through animals and plants, the foundation of the earth, the skies and planets, and everything that we know exists. It’s a life energy so to speak. This Mana flows through us and gives us the power to do what we believe we can do. The power to do anything that we decide to do and that we take action towards.
PONO (poh-noh) – Effectiveness is the measure of truth – Be Positive
Effectiveness is the measure of truth. A method, a plan, certain actions, when put in motion may work. If they work, that is all you need to be concerned with. There are many ways to do most things. Don’t pigeon-hole yourself into thinking that you can only accomplish something in one way or that there is only one truth. For instance, how many ways are there that someone could find happiness? A million? How many ways could someone cook a fish? Create a pyramid? Make money to buy a car? Because you see someone accomplish something using one method, do not believe that there is just that one method. There are likely many more ways to go about it. That there are always alternatives to what you’re doing is the crux of “Pono” – do what feels right for you.
I hope you found this useful
Love Andy
Thank you Nemara for being such a wonderful inspiration . For anyone going on holiday check out her centre in Paddington http://www.sydneykahuna.com.au/
Our next relaxation and energy course is Sat 28th January http://breathe-london.com/relaxationworkshop
DETOX YOUR BODY AND MIND – 3 hour detox package for just £99!
POST-CHRISTMAS / NEW YEAR SPECIAL – We are offering a 3 hour detox package for just £99!
Start 2011 feeling great with a Breathe Detox package including:
– One hour Lymphatic Drainage to clear toxins and stimulate the immune system
– One hour Deep Tissue massage to revitalise body and mind
– One hour of one-to-one Yoga or Acupuncture to raise energy levels
Buy the detox course of treatments online and we’ll send you vouchers in the post. There is no limit on when you can use the vouchers.
Breathe at the Colombo Centre has the largest team of dedicated Sports and Deep Tissue Massage therapists in Waterloo, SE1 in the heart of the Southbank and minutes from London Bridge.
We also have a wide range of stress busting relaxing massages, Rolfing, Reiki, Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, Aromatherapy Massage, Pregnancy massage, Myofascial release, Reflexology, Lomi Lomi massage and One to one Tai Chi and Yoga.
Our therapists offer treatments Monday to Friday 10am to 9pm and Saturday 10.30am to 4.30pm.
Massages usually cost £30 for 30 minutes, £50 for one hour and £70 for 90 minutes.
To meet our therapists and see our timetable, click here…
To view our range of treatments, click here…
Other lifestyle benefits can be found at www.bprlondon.com
Massage Gift Vouchers
It’s easy to buy gift vouchers for a loved one or colleague through the Breathe website.
To order your voucher, or a series of vouchers for a course of treatments, simply purchase from our online Massage catalogue.
You can either pick the vouchers up from the centre or we will post them to you. Vouchers can be used for massage or acupuncture treatments. If possible, please let us know who the vouchers are for in the “Order Comments” field during the checkout process.
To read more about our range of treatments including Sports, Deep Tissue, Thai, Swedish, Reiki, Reflexology and Rolfing, go to the Massage treatments details page.
Other lifestyle benefits can be found at www.bprlondon.com
£10 off weekend massage treatments
Due to demand our Saturday clinic will be open from 10.30am to 5.00pm. For the next few weekends all treatments will be £10 off our normal rates. This week Claudia is offering Sports & Deep Tissue Massage, Swedish massage, Thai massage and Lymphatic drainage. Our normal rates are £30 for 30 minutes and £50 for 1 hour. Next weekend Andy will be offering Deep Tissue massage, Swedish massage, Lomi Lomi massage and Reiki. To book either mail us back or call the Colombo Centre on 0207 261 1658
To buy Christmas gift vouchers or courses of massage for a friend go to
FREE LIFE STRATEGIES WORKSHOP
FED UP with not being ‘in control’ of your life?
TIRED of going around in circles?
WISH you had more time with family or friends?
WISH you had more time to do what you love doing?
LOVE your job but don’t have a life?
Answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions and genuinely want to change your life, then book yourself on one of my FREE 2-Hour Life Strategies Workshops. Find out why you get ‘stuck’ and how coaching empowers you to get‘unstuck’ and begin to live the life you deserve.
The 2 hour Life Strategies Workshop will enable you to:
· Clarify what’s most important to you in your life
· Discover what changes you want to make and where you want to get to
· Identify what’s holding you back from making permanent changes
· Learn simple strategies to begin to live the life you deserve
· Feel more confident about how to implement and use these strategies
· Explore options for future coaching and NLP group workshops
Workshop Date:
Saturday 20 November from 2-4pm.
The Vestry, Holy Trinity Church, Clapham Common. Closest Tube Clapham Common, Northern Line. Spaces limited. Pre-registration required call Ami on 07718 341 531
Weekend therapies – £10 off
From this Saturday Claudia is starting a Saturday clinic from 10.30am to 2.30pm. She will be working alternate Saturdays with other therapists. This week she is offering Sports & Deep Tissue Massage, Swedish massage, Thai massage and Lymphatic drainage all for £40 for a one hour session. To book either mail us back or call the Colombo Centre on 0207 261 1658
Also check out our new Thursday Rolfing therapy with Keith. At Breathe we focus on therapies that make a profound difference to your wellbeing and are tried and tested. To read more about Rolfing and how to book a session go to Rolfing at Breathe
Because of our strong belief of the connection between mind and body our business is a combination of physical therapies, western psychology and yoga. Ida Rolf developed rolfing in the 1950s. She believed that transformation of the mind and body went hand in hand. “Do we run because we are scared or are we scared because we run”
To get our latest offers follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Other lifestyle benefits can be found at www.bprlondon.com
New physical therapies at Breathe
We are pleased to announce that Keith is joining the physical therapies team at the Colombo Centre on Thursdays between 10am and 7pm
Keith is an expert Rolfer with many years experience. Rolfing is the most powerful bodywork technique that we have ever experienced. Over the course of ten, one hour sessions, the fascia is worked on and complete re-alignment of the body occurs.
At Breathe we focus on therapies that make a profound difference to your wellbeing and are tried and tested. To read more about Rolfing and how to book a session go to Rolfing at Breathe
Because of our strong belief of the connection between mind and body our business is a combination of physical therapies, western psychology and yoga. Ida Rolf developed rolfing in the 1950s. She believed that transformation of the mind and body went hand in hand. “Do we run because we are scared or are we scared because we run”
To get our latest offers follow us on Facebook and Twitter
New prices and special offers for massage
Massage sale at Colombo
To introduce our new online massage courses, we are offering an additional 30 minute gift voucher, worth £30, for Sports & Deep Tissue massage, Reiki massage, Acupuncture or Hypnotherapy. Simply buy a course of massages online and you will also receive a gift voucher to give to a friend or loved one.
In addition to this, if you purchase a course of either five or ten, 60 minute or 90 minute treatments we will also give you a one to 40 minute Remedial Yoga session. Many of our clients have found that a combination of deep tissue massage and focussed yoga exercises has significantly improved their posture and reduced levels of discomfort in the body. You can either use this Yoga Voucher, worth £40, yourself or give it to a friend.
Buying a course online is easy. Simply use our online payment service and you will be emailed a receipt of your course details plus booking instructions. When you make payment please request which of our gift vouchers you would like to receive and we will then send you a 30 minute treatment voucher (plus yoga voucher if you bought five or more one hour courses). To buy just click here
Five, 30 minute treatments £130 (saving £20)
Ten, 30 minute treatments £220 (saving £80) (NEW)
Five, 60 minute treatments £220 (saving £30)
Ten, 60 minute treatments £400 (saving £100)
Five, 90 minute treatments £300 (saving £50) (NEW)
Ten, 90 minute treatments £550 (saving £150) (NEW)
Therapist details:
We now have nine massage, acupuncture, hypnotherapy and life coaches at the Colombo Centre. To read more about our therapists, treatments and timetable go to therapist details
The team at Breathe London
Breathe is a London based wellbeing business specialising in the fusion of ideas from Positive Psychology, Yoga and Massage Therapies. Our physical therapy centre is based on the London’s South Bank and we run Business Psychology and Personal Development courses throughout the UK and online.
Other lifestyle benefits can be found at http://www.bprlondon.com
New therapies at Breathe London – Osteopathy
New therapies at the Colombo Centre – We welcome Michael to Breathe-London’s physical therapies team.
Osteopathy: Michael has many years experience in Osteopathy and Cranial Osteopathy and will be working at the centre on Wednesdays between 3pm and 8pm. To read more about the benefits of Osteopathy go to www.breathe-london.com/osteopathy
Holistic massage on Friday evenings: For gentle Holistic treatments Anita works on Fridays between 4pm and 8pm.
Reflexology: Katherine brings her years of experience of Reflexology to the centre on Saturdays between 10.30 and 2.30. To read more go to www.breathe-london.com/reflexology
The team at Breathe London
Breathe is a London based wellbeing business specialising in the fusion of ideas from Positive Psychology, Yoga and Massage Therapies. Our physical therapy centre is based on the London’s South Bank and we run Business Psychology and Personal Development courses throughout the UK and online.
Other lifestyle benefits can be found at http://www.bprlondon.com
New Events at Breathe London – March 2010
Sports massage and physiotherapy:
We’re sad to say that Adelle is leaving us after two years. She’s heading back to Wales to set up her own business and we wish her lots of love.
Claudia and Stan are specialist Sports Massage Therapists and are extending their hours to cover Adelle’s time.
In addition Andy, Stan and Claudia also provide Deep Tissue Massage throughout the week. This means we offer Sports or Deep Tissue Massage Therapy Monday to Friday 10am to 9pm!
To see our new timetable go to www.breathe-london.com/timetable
Osteopathy:
In addition to our existing sports injury services we are introducing a regular Osteopathy clinic. More details in our next newsletter.
Acupuncture:
In many studies acupuncture has been shown to have a significant positive impact in the treatment of back pain, sciatica, stress management and neck and shoulder problems.
At Breathe we have created a low cost acupuncture clinic on Monday’s and Tuesdays, with treatment costs as low as £30. For more details go to www.breathe-london.com/waterloo-acupuncture
Managing stress:
There are lots of powerful breathing exercises and positive visualisation tools that you can use to help you feel confident, relaxed and centred. Over the years we’ve documented these techniques and created a simple illustrated, step by step guide. Download your PDF for £9 by going to www.breathe-london.com/positive-energy-guide
Holistic massage on Friday evenings:
Until the end of March, Anita is offering gentle Holistic Massage at the Colombo Centre, Waterloo for half the normal price, just £25 for a one hour treatment. To book call the Colombo Centre on 0207 261 1658 and book with Anita between 4.30 and 9.00pm.
Our new weekend massage clinic starts in the next few weeks!
The team at Breathe London
Breathe is a London based wellbeing business specialising in the fusion of ideas from Positive Psychology, Yoga and Massage Therapies. Our physical therapy centre is based on the London’s South Bank and we run Business Psychology and Personal Development courses throughout the UK and online.
Other lifestyle benefits can be found at http://www.bprlondon.com
Breathe London 