It is a perfect place to unwind and recharge our batteries! You tailored our stay which was too short ( I know) perfectly. We felt loved and nurtured.
Thank you James, Kim and Shining Tree
News, Blogs & Updates from Shining Tree
May 28th, 2012
May 28th, 2012
I have had a wonderful couple of days + appreciate the balance between care and tranquillity to chill and retreat from life for a few days.
your centre is a gift to all who come here and you both have designed and built a beautiful space- thank you for sharing it!
Do you need a panel of “experts” to tell you that you should treat the elderly with dignity and compassion?
February 29th, 2012
Do you need a panel of "experts" to tell you that you should treat the elderly with dignity and compassion? It seems that "care" staff in the NHS do. In my nursing journey, we were low paid ,not academic, and the reason to become a nurse was to care for people.Nowadays it is a profession and career. Nurses with degrees do not want to clean up shit......if they do they they can't do it with love or consistently for a whole shift. Modern nurses today are generally too fat and unhealthy to work physically hard for eight to twelve hours! Meoww!! We used to have the odd degree nurses in the 1980s, the general opinion was that they didn't want to get there hands dirty and wanted to become managers..how prophetic. One of my patient who was working in recruitment in a top hotel said the following: "We recruit "nice" people to train,you can't train people to be nice"
It is only when you have respect, compassion and love for yourself that you can feel those emotions for other people. It is the society we live in which shapes our attitude. We live in a highly materialistic & selfish society, manipulated by powerful organisations to stay shallow and selfish......captive audience.We are now just a flock of sheep there to be exploited for their gain. I didn't have a tent outside St Pauls, honest!! Our true budhha nature is that of compassion and love and empathy.
So come on you fat, unhealthy and ingorant nurses. come to Shining Tree and find your true nature.
Meditation every Friday 11.30am. It's free......no catch!!
If you had cancer would you leave your survival to chance…….or can you be extraordinary?
February 24th, 2012
Breakfast news talked about the discovery of the genetic code of hereditary breast cancer this morning. At present patients with this dilemma can have mastectomies to prevent the cancer occurring. In the future, I am sure a “cure” for cancer and even other chronic life threatening conditions will be found,but does that mean we will all then enjoy everlasting health? I personally don’t think so.
In life, you reap what you sow; the success, achievements and life you have is a testimony of your journey . If you believe that “life is a bitch and then you die” , so be it. If you believe that life is nothing more than amassing as much material wealth as you can and getting through life with as little difficulty as possible, then so be it. Or you might feel that life is a journey for growth, understanding and enlightenment through challenging and empowering lessons; in which case having a relationship with our physical body, respecting it and maintaining it is vital for our growth. But do we?
Over two decades as a naturopathic practitioner, I consistently see patients who are completely dis empowered by the medical profession and even from complimentary practitioners. Anybody that you consult for you health who foster dependency from you and don’t teach you anything are dis empowering you. You don’t have to be qualified in anything to tell someone that they should eat healthily and exercise. But when you profess to be qualified in conventional or complimentary medicine, then you advice must be clear, concise, practical, achievable and effective ……..it is also not about flogging as much drugs, supplements and merchandising to vulnerable patients either.
Time and time again, patients come to me with no knowledge of what they can do to help themselves. Even with life threatening conditions like cancer, people will say that they were told that they don’t have to do anything other than follow the treatment, which would be drugs, surgery, chemo/radiotherapy. Are we really that gullible ? Or are we just relieved that someone has given us permission to sit on our fat arses and do absolutely nothing to help ourselves. “We can’t do anything because it’s hereditary”, “The consultant said there is nothing I can do to help myself”, yeah right! Another very common displacement is someone who has been helped with a life threatening condition, then go on to raise money tirelessly for charity…….but still not doing anything to improve themselves!!!!!!
I tell my children that I don’t care what they do in life. Whether they empty dustbins or are brain surgeons, be extraordinary, give it 120%, always be kind and be nice. If I have raised a child who is a kind and nice person, then I have succeeded as a parent. So am I saying that if you have the hereditary breast cancer gene, you shouldn’t have your breasts removed? No. Your life depends on the choices you make and the things that you do, not on the things that other people do. Don’t just listen to the “experts”. Take control, make changes in your life to improve your health. At the end of the day, whether you fail or succeed, you can hold your head high and know that you did the best you could, not the best that someone else could for you.
Be in control, be aware,make a relationship with your body, learn stillness, find joy in all that you do, look inwards rather than outwards for happiness, be alive, but most importantly be extraordinary.
S L A B
February 20th, 2012
I have an acronym that I share with my patients and it is: S L A B
S the inner smile, loving detachment, putting 120% effort into everything that we do but don’t take anything too seriously. Doing the best we can but don’t be a slave to success or failure. The journey is all…….success and failure is not always what we perceive it to be.
L Awareness in the yogic locking system (root, abdominal and throat ) There is a direct relationship with the Yogic locks/ Chakras, acupuncture points of the Conception and Governor Vessel channels and the Autonomic nervous system ganglions. This is where East meets West, and I believe that using Yogic breathing awareness with my Tai Chi enhances it from a healing prospective. It should definitely help with the nervous system . Check out the Yogic lock techniques in the following link:http://www.shiningtree.co.uk/_wp/2011/02/stir-fry-and-meditation-its-a-matter-of-technique/
A Attitude is most important . I sincerely believe that our thoughts are energy and what goes out always comes back. Our attitude of life creates our reality. My two attitudes are always gratitude and appreciation of all the things I have. What do I have? I have my family and people around me with whom I learn and grow with……I am a wealthy man!
B Breath, Prana, Qi , Vital essence, Pyscho-physiological energy.Breathing deep, breathing slow, nourishing and healing the body and mind. Breathing also means movement, non-stagnation, change and growth.
If we apply SLAB to all that we do, all will be well. Really ? Yes. But we must own it and our attitude and smile must be heartfelt and genuine.
Om Shanti
What is Shining Tree
February 13th, 2012
“One seeing is worth a thousand reading” – a Chinese proverb
We get people coming into Shining Tree asking what we do. I hope that this little effort captures the essence which is Shining Tree.
Another way of answering the questions is……”you are Shining Tree”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvcpkAdLq0k&feature=youtube_gdata
Retreat feedback January 2012
February 6th, 2012
“Dear Kim and James,
It was lovely meeting you. Thank you for providing such a wonderful place for my much needed “me” time. Although brief, my stay here did teach me some valuable concepts that I will incorporate into my home routine. Keep up the good work, and I hope to return one day- perhaps with a friend.
Take care, Julie. ”
” The experience was very personal. James and Kim have a lot of knowledge to offer on more than just what was involved in the workshops and classes. I feel that I learned a lot of very important things. It was so nice to feel at home and taken care of amidst all my travels alone. I felt I was staying with family which was wonderful!! Thank you so much for sharing your home, knowledge and way of life with me, /thanks for taking care of me and making me feel so welcomed in you home! Fiona. “
Shame on you British nurses!
January 6th, 2012
David Cameron told British nurses to be more caring towards their patients today, that nurses should be more patient and not paperwork orientated. Shame on you British nurses! Did you really have to be told that??
I trained and qualified in nursing in 1986 and stopped nursing in 2004 to open Shining Tree. My area of nursing was always acute medical and elderly nursing. The pay was poor and the work was hard, but that was what I signed up for and loved doing . Nursing to people like myself was a profession, a vocation…….not a “career”. The priority was always the acutely ill patients, whether medical or surgical and patients who were helpless and needed our care -we were their advocates. There has always been indifferent and lazy nurses in the ranks, just as there will always be soldiers who are less than courageous; but if the negative elelment start outweighing the positive then you will have serious problems.As we do now in nursing. Not every nurse liked me when I was on duty, because I made them work when I was in charge of the ward; but they respected me, because I led from the front, I didn’t sit on my arse doing paper work while they gave the care. I gave the care because this is what I trained to do and loved doing. There is really nothing more rewarding than finding a patient covered in poo and pee and leaving them all clean and comfortable, but doing it with their dignity in mind. I can remember many a hellish night of hard, hard slog, but then, we British nurses were the best in the world! Nurses cannot blame management or lack of resources for their poor care to the patients. We have a code of conduct, which states that if a nurse feels that the environment that they are on is unsafe, they can refuse to work. Nobody complains, they just don’t give the care…..it could be your mother or grandmother they are neglecting. How can they do it……..I really don’t know.
It is always people that make things work. Hard work,stamina, compassion, empathy, common sense, intelligence, kindness and a wicked sense of humour are the attributes of a good nurse, not loads of academic qualifications and a reluctance to participate in patient care
Picture is of King’s Lynn School of Nursing class of 1982-86.
Every one of these girls are angels... ….except for the bloke with the dodgy haircut
I had a bad dream the other night. I dreamt that I was back in nursing . I needed to turn a elderly patient and give her some care, but I couldn’t find any nurses who would help me do it.
Meditation rears its ugly head
January 5th, 2012
Meditation has been featured on Breakfast television on BBC over the last two weeks. Usual format, a reporter gives a stereotypical Western viewpoint of what Meditation is, speak to some scientists, joins a group that meditates and see if there is any improvement in any of the participants; say: “mind over matter”, another time slot on the programme filled. Maybe I am been a bit cynical.
There does seem to have been a ground swell increase in interest about “meditation” lately. I can’t figure out whether it is a natural increase in people’s consciousness in their search for spirituality or whether there is some market led manipulative force at work here- i.e. very soon their will be “meditation lounges” in all Tesco stores and Gyms, and sheeple being sheeple will all flock to do meditation because if Tesco and Gyms have it, it must be good!
Now don’t get me wrong, I am really looking at a gift horse in the mouth. I should be jumping on the bandwagon, getting in touch with local papers, local radio, saying “look at us, we do meditation at Shining Tree”. But we have never been very good at marketing ourselves - ranting and raving yes.The outcome of the BBC feature was positive. Basically it concluded that meditation brings about a change in your brain activity and relief of pain http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16406814 It also featured a lady with Lupus ( an auto immune disease characterised with imflammation and pain) who said that meditation helped her. Basically, it finished off with saying its “mind over matter” if it works use it.
My concern with the feature is that Meditation in the Western mind is still perceived as something that is done by wise man and sages and that it is just about sitting quietly. It is of course not- http://www.shiningtree.co.uk/_wp/2011/02/stir-fry-and-meditation-its-a-matter-of-technique/ the article on this link will show you that Meditation is a state of mind, it is mind, body and spirit. The lady with Lupus looked quite unwell to me, and I wonder wonder whether she has a full life style plan such as good nutrition and a comprehensive body awareness programme which covers Yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong…………and yes, meditation.
Meditation is not something that you “do” to suppress symptoms. Meditation is a way of life, it’s an attitude, it’s a synthesis of mind, body and spirit.It is not “mind over matter”, it is “mind and matter”. Whenever I watch programmes which show a very shallow understanding of a subject matter, it reminds me of a young child playing with the box rather than the present. We need to grow up.
Shining Tree Retreat feedback December 2011
January 2nd, 2012
- How did you find the accommodation at Shining Tree? Homely,comfortable,warm,real, natural
- a). Did the clinical therapies you received meet with all your needs ? and b). did we tailor make a programme for you specifically? Yes to treatments. Have been exactly what I needed, without my knowing exactly what I needed. I include the food as a treatment. My particular experience has been much bespoke treatment.
- How did you find the Yoga, Qigong & Meditation classes that you at Shining Tree? I wanted a robust yoga retreat when I arrived- and I leave with an enormous gift of meridian yoga. Gentle, strong & harmonious. I have been learning the Qigong stances- Embracing the one, Golden tortoise and Golden plates.
- Do you think that you have gained enough knowledge to continue the practice of Qigong, Yoga and Meditation at home? Its a start and I’ll include what I know into my morning practise. I will definitely seek out more qigong in London.
- How was the food? Awesome.
- Do you think you have gained enough nutrition and cooking experience to continue what you have learnt here? Yes, sprouting, soaking, humus, puddings.
- Did you enjoy our pool and sauna area? Loved it. – Right temperature, – never too busy, -great for relaxing.
- Did you enjoy our woodland gardens? Yes. The tinsel in the tree, the caravan, the incredible sunset while drinking tea in the garden.
- We would be grateful if you would give us a general account of your impression and experience while at Shining Tree. A gentle and healing experience I would like to support and share- especially with my father. Thank you for your wisdom and generosity,
