Pause & Breathe CIC

These are Ju-Jitsu classes Bonnybridge for Juniors (aged 5-11). Our Little Samurai programme aims to teach children emotional control and how to respect physical boundaries. We do this in a fun way, helping our participants to build their confidence through learning the skill of martial arts.

All children are welcome - complete beginners, as well as those that may have practiced some martial arts in the past.

Please note each child can only benefit from one FREE trial session. After this, places are £30 per month - we do have some concessionary rates available. To continue after the first session, email: pause@pauseandbreathe.co.uk

Phil is the lead instructor for these sessions. Occasionally sessions may be covered by another facilitator. All of our instructors are fully trained, insured and have DBS checks in place.

Phil is a well-recognised Martial Arts teacher, specialising in Japanese Ju-Jitsu. Phil is a 7th Dan, and has been inducted into the World's Martial Arts Hall of Fame as National Instructor of the Year (2023). Phil has over 45 years experience in Martial Arts. He has his own club, Kuroyaki-Ryu, which is part of Pause & Breathe.

We meet together every Wednesday night from 7-8pm. Each week we have a different theme, which we discuss and share a meditation for. Susie - your facilitator - will bring some theory along, perhaps a handout or a video to watch, or something to guide the discussion.

The idea is that when we form connections, particularly with people who have the same values as us, we can breathe more easily. These sessions aim to help us feel seen, heard and understood. We are building a community of people interested in mindfulness and wellbeing, to help us all live a little more with presence - in the moment. Let's form connections, and talk about the things that really matter to us.

The sessions will stand alone, so you are welcome to come when you can make it.

Everyone is welcome. 

The price of the session is £8, with a concessionary rate at £6.40 (for those in receipt of their pension / on a lower income). We have two spaces at £3, please only take these if you could otherwise not afford to come.

Susie will be your facilitator for these sessions. Susie worked as a Social Worker within Criminal Justice for 20 years, and is passionate about helping people to make difficult changes. Since the beginning of 2017, Susie has been delivering mindfulness within her local community in Falkirk. She co-founded Pause & Breathe CIC with her husband, Phil Blackburn and is delighted to now be opening The Place to Pause & Breathe - to bring people together in community.

These are Ju-Jitsu classes Bo'ness for Juniors (aged 5-11). Our Little Samurai programme aims to teach children emotional control and how to respect physical boundaries. We do this in a fun way, helping our participants to build their confidence through learning the skill of martial arts.

All children are welcome - complete beginners, as well as those that may have practiced some martial arts in the past.

Please note each child can only benefit from one FREE trial session. After this, places are £30 per month - we do have some concessionary rates available. To continue after the first session, email: pause@pauseandbreathe.co.uk

Phil is the Senior instructor for these sessions. We also have other instructors who may be taking the class. All of our instructors are fully trained, insured and have DBS checks in place.

Phil is a well-recognised Martial Arts teacher, specialising in Japanese Ju-Jitsu. Phil is a 7th Dan, and has been inducted into the World's Martial Arts Hall of Fame as National Instructor of the Year (2023). Phil has over 45 years experience in Martial Arts. He has his own club, Kuroyaki-Ryu, which is part of Pause & Breathe.

Join us for a Mindfulness Meditation - a perfect way to start a day. These meditations are held by Susie.

Everyone is welcome - whether or not you've practiced Mindfulness before.

We do have donation spaces available. If you choose this option, I'll be in contact to let you know how to pay.

These are Ju-Jitsu classes Bo'ness for Seniors (anyone aged 12+).

Everyone is welcome - complete beginners, as well as those that may have practiced some martial arts in the past.

Please note everyone can only benefit from one FREE trial session. After this, places are £30 per month - we do have some concessionary rates available. To continue after the first session, email: pause@pauseandbreathe.co.uk

Phil is the Senior instructor for these sessions. We also have other instructors who may be taking the class. All of our instructors are fully trained, insured and have DBS checks in place.

Phil is a well-recognised Martial Arts teacher, specialising in Japanese Ju-Jitsu. Phil is a 7th Dan, and has been inducted into the World's Martial Arts Hall of Fame as National Instructor of the Year (2023). Phil has over 45 years experience in Martial Arts. He has his own club, Kuroyaki-Ryu, which is part of Pause & Breathe.

These Qi Gong sessions are suitable both for those who have some experience and for complete beginners.

Qi Gong has a powerful effect on the whole of the body and mind. Every exercise has an effect on the whole energetic system, allowing energy (qi) to flow freely. It is possible to practice Qi Gong with mobility difficulties – each posture can be adapted, and it is feasible to practice whilst sitting on a chair.

Join Phil as he shares some Qi Gong moves, for physical and emotional health. Phil might end with a meditation too.

Everyone is welcome - whether or not you've practised Qi Gong before.

We do have donation spaces available. If you choose this option, I'll be in contact to let you know how to pay.

These Qi Gong are suitable both for those who have some experience and for complete beginners.

Qi Gong has a powerful effect on the whole of the body and mind. Every exercise has an effect on the whole energetic system, allowing energy (qi) to flow freely. It is possible to practice Qi Gong with mobility difficulties – each posture can be adapted, and it is feasible to practice whilst sitting on a chair.

Join Phil as he shares some Qi Gong moves, for physical and emotional health. Everyone is welcome - whether or not you've practiced Qi Gong before.

We do have donation spaces available. If you choose this option, I'll be in contact to let you know how to pay.

Chakras are responsible for our energetic, emotional, physical, psychological, mental and spiritual wellbeing. To feel good, we really need them to be in balance. Blocked or misaligned chakras can lead to physical and mental ill-health. When our chakras are out of balance life can be challenging in a myriad of ways.

When the chakras are balanced, open, life is easier. We can experience love and positivity, a sense of fullness. We have better experiences within our relationships, conversations flow more effortlessly, we can set and achieve goals and there’s a sense of ease in life.

Over these eight weeks, we focus on each of the chakras in turn. We learn a little more about each chakra – the links with the body, how it feels when its balanced and misaligned. We talk about healing practices to unblock your chakras, and there will be meditations shared in each session that link with the chakra we’re focused on. You might find that you relate to, or enjoy, one chakra more than another, but see if you can approach all seven with an open and interested mind. We sometimes find that we lean towards the ones that are balanced, and the ones that are misaligned are more difficult to be with.

Some of you may have no knowledge or experience in the chakras, for others they may be familiar friends. All are welcome. We can all approach with a beginner’s mind.

The course starts on Monday 23rd October, running 7-8pm. There will be eight weeks in total - one for each chakra, and a round-up and longer meditation in the final session. There is a handout for each session too.

Attend for the full course for £75, or any individual session for £10. Please don’t let the cost put you off – we have reduced cost spaces available, plus concessionary rates. Pick the rate that best matches your circumstances. Email to book in: susie@pauseandbreathe.co.uk

Week 1 – 23rd October – Root Chakra

Week 2 – 30th October – Sacral Chakra

Week 3 – 6th November – Solar Plexus Chakra

Week 4 - 13th November - Heart Chakra

Week 5 – 20th November – Throat Chakra

Week 6 - 27th November – Third-Eye Chakra

Week 7 – 4th December – Crown Chakra

Week 8 - 11th December - Bringing it all Together

Get in touch if you have any questions: pause@pauseandbreathe.co.uk

Susie will be your facilitator for these sessions. Susie worked as a Social Worker within Criminal Justice for 20 years, and is passionate about helping people to make difficult changes. Since the beginning of 2017, Susie has been delivering mindfulness within her local community in Falkirk. She co-founded Pause & Breathe CIC with her husband, Phil Blackburn and is delighted to have opened The Place to Pause & Breathe - bringing people together in community.

Join us for the chance to pause and breathe on a Tuesday morning. This session will consist of a meditation and brief inquiry to start your day the right way.

The session is £5 to attend, but you can also make a donation if that's better for you. Pre-booking is handy for me, but not essential - drop-ins are also welcome.

Susie will be your facilitator for these sessions. Susie worked as a Social Worker within Criminal Justice for 20 years, and is passionate about helping people to make difficult changes. Since the beginning of 2017, Susie has been delivering mindfulness within her local community in Falkirk. She co-founded Pause & Breathe CIC with her husband, Phil Blackburn and is delighted to now be opening The Place to Pause & Breathe - to bring people together in community.

Join community members Caroline and Louise to make your own Christmas Cards and a Gift Box.

We have had to change the date due to the snow - hopefully you can make it!

This Crafternoon will be a lot of fun. At the end of the afternoon everyone will have 5 cards and a Gift Box to take away with them. Sets and guidance will be provided, but there will be the chance to make these unique to you.

Hot drinks and snacks provided - let us know if you have any dietary requirements.

Our Crafternoon will be held on Friday 8th December from 11.30am-2.30pm. It costs £20 to attend, which covers all materials provided and hot drinks and snacks. There will also be some nibbles provided for lunch, please feel free to bring some to contribute too. Some reduced rate spaces available too.

Do get in contact with any questions: pause@pauseandbreathe.co.uk

Caroline and Louise have been members of the Pause & Breathe community for the last few years, they are both keen crafters and Caroline sells the cards she makes at Craft Fairs and Markets.

Our FREE Wellbeing session this week is a "Drumming Circle with Morag Wylie from Sound Balance Scotland

Drumming is fun, drumming is easy, drumming is good for you. What's not to like?! Anyone can drum. And anyone can chant. We all have an inbuilt sense of rhythm and we all have a voice.

Drumming helps us to relax, let go of daily stress and energise us all at the same time through some simple rhythms. At the same time we will free up our expression by having fun with our voices learning simple chants and songs.

No singing or drumming experience required. Suitable for beginners and experienced drummers alike.

Please make me aware if you have any health conditions that may be affected by drumming. These include pacemakers, defibrillators, stents, first trimester of pregnancy, bipolar disorder, psychosis. Drumming should not be undertaken under the influence of alcohol or recreational drugs.

Our Free Wellbeing Sessions are held every Friday morning in The Place to Pause and Breathe, Bonnybridge. These have been funded via Falkirk Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund. These sessions are held on an ongoing basis by Pause & Breathe, and we are delighted to welcome a range of guest facilitators throughout the year. You can come to all of them, or drop in and out. Please do book though, so we know how many people to expect.

The sessions will be held in The Place to Pause & Breathe, on Fridays, from 10am-11am. After the session there is the option to stay until 11.30am for refreshments. 

Get in touch with any questions: susie@pauseandbreathe.co.uk

Meet your facilitator:

Morag Wylie has been running sound baths and other sound healing events for over 6 years and has a wide range of experience in several modalities. She is a qualified Sound Healing Practitioner and Associate teacher with the Sound Healing Academy International. She is also a Laughter Yoga teacher and loves to help people discover their inner joy.

"Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet" - Thich Nhat Hanh.

When we walk together mindfully, we wall to enjoy the process of walking - not to arrive at a destination. We walk a little more slowly than usual, and in silence, so that we can be completely present on the walk - to take in all that the natural world has to offer.

We'll meet outside Callendar House and walk slowly and mindfully, led by Susie. Dogs and children welcome.

We take the same route every time, so that we can witness the changing seasons. These walks take place every season - four times a year.

The walk is free. If you'd like to make a donation, this would be very welcome. You'll be sent details of how to in the joining email.

There's an open invitation to go for a cuppa afterwards - we can sit outside for this and order from the food van. Hopefully you'll join us for this.

Our FREE Wellbeing session this week is "Mindful Games and Festive Movement" with Susie Hooper from Pause & Breathe and Lindsey Porter from Yoganuu.

Join us for an informal session as we break up for Christmas. During the session we will play some Mindful Games, and have some movement designed to be especially festive. If you can, bring some Christmas goodies to share - and maybe even wear your best Christmas jumper.

After the session we'll have a Christmas Party with festive treats, everyone is welcome - the party will take place from 11am-1pm.

Our Free Wellbeing Sessions are held every Friday morning in The Place to Pause and Breathe, Bonnybridge. These have been funded via Falkirk Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund. These sessions are held on an ongoing basis by Pause & Breathe, and we are delighted to welcome a range of guest facilitators throughout the year. You can come to all of them, or drop in and out. Please do book though, so we know how many people to expect.

Get in touch with any questions: susie@pauseandbreathe.co.uk

Meet your facilitators:

 Susie worked as a Social Worker within Criminal Justice for 20 years, and is passionate about helping people to make difficult changes. Since the beginning of 2017, Susie has been delivering mindfulness within her local community in Falkirk. She co-founded Pause & Breathe CIC with her husband, Phil Blackburn and is delighted to have opened The Place to Pause & Breathe in Bonnybridge - bringing people together in community.  

Lindsey has been teaching yoga since 2006 after studying Yoga in India and supporting others on their journey to teaching yoga as a Tutor on the Yoga Scotland Foundation course since 2018. She is a qualified and experienced NLP Practitioner, Reiki Master and Holistic therapist. Based in Falkirk where she lives with her family, she is a SEN parent.

This is a Community Campfire, to say goodbye to our online community which will no longer run in the way that it has for the last few years.

In our Community Campfire we'll have the chance to share our experiences of being together online - perhaps there will be some poems, some songs. A chance to come together. Everyone is welcome, the session is free to attend.

This session is being held by Susie. Other facilitators - past and current - from our online community will also be present.

What does it mean to have a vision?

Do you have hope, meaning, purpose?

How do you turn these into reality?

Debbie Cluness will be holding a vision boarding session on Saturday 6th January 2-4pm. The session will be warm and welcoming and include a cuppa and some snacks. There will be a 10 minute meditation initially in order to connect with what your vision for 2024 might be. This helps to ground you and bring you into a space where you can work creatively. Debbie will take you through a small exercise to help you identity your hopes and intentions for the coming year. This will help you to work on your vision board for 30 minutes or so.

At this point, we will have a small refreshment break and then anyone who wishes to can share what they have created. We will agree at the start of the session that what is shared will remain within the group in order to help the group participants feel comfortable throughout and maintain confidentiality. There will be no pressure to share anything.

Some questions;

What is vision boarding? Vision boards are visual representations of the hope and direction you wish your life to take. You may have a theme or idea you wish to work on or not. Either way the session will focus on working through some magazines or other material you wish to bring that stands out for you. Cutting out images, words, colours and then gluing these onto a piece of paper. You can then use other mediums supplied to write or draw on your vision board if you wish. Then sit back and admire your creation. What does it mean to you, what is standing out for you, are there any surprises?

What will be supplied: paper and various art mediums including, water colours, paint pencils, pastels, pens and pencils. There will be a selection of magazines and some scissors and glue.

What should you bring: if you have magazines/other resources (such as photographs) you wish to work through to contribute to your vision board then please bring them. A blanket and water bottle and a cup will be useful also.  

Our Vision Board Session will be held on Saturday 6th January from 2-4pm. It costs £25 to attend, which covers all materials provided and hot drinks and snacks. You will have created something that you can take home with you.

Do get in contact with any questions: pause@pauseandbreathe.co.uk

Meet Your Facilitator:

Debbie is an integrative counsellor based in private practice and in high school working with all ages. Her passion is working creatively, which encompasses many ways including working with sand, stones, creative art; paint, pastels, pens and pencils. This brings her to offering a vision boarding session where I will hold the space for the group. Debbie is a mother of 2 boys, a wife, sister and daughter and has a lot of time for the people in my life who she cares about. She also has a cat called Biggles who quite frankly rules the home. Spare time doesn’t come freely but she tries to create it and connecting with others is always her priority along with listening to live music concerts, outdoor swimming, yoga and pilates. Her body is changing as she gets older so exercise can be painful but walking is currently suiting her well. Debbie says: "I am looking forward to meeting you and spending time in a creative space."

If you are in any of the stages of menopause, from peri to post and are looking for a place to come together with a community of women to share, support and empower each other as we journey through the seasons towards our Second Spring, then we would love you to welcome you to our regular Menopause meet ups. 

We are holding these regularly, the sessions will be a mix of discussions, gentle yoga, relaxation and information sharing about stages of menopause and how to manage this.

The sessions will be held in The Place to Pause & Breathe, Bonnybridge. The date of the next one is Sunday 14th January 10-11.30am. The cost is £15 to attend, with concessionary and reduced rates available also. 

Get in touch with any questions: susie@pauseandbreathe.co.uk

Meet your facilitator:

Jen is the founder of Tranquility21 and The Tranquil Yoga Studio. One of her main passions is supporting women as they transition through menopause, and for every woman who comes along to feel nourished, nurtured and empowered. She also loves to teach Seasonal, Restorative & Yin Yoga, Meditation and Yoga Nidra and to share the ancient ways of Ayurveda that can support you in incorporating moments of tranquility into your every day life. 

Before this Yoga Nidra (deep relaxation) starts, we'll do a written exercise to form an intention for the year ahead. This is not a resolution - it's not about eating less and moving more, but it's more about how you would like to live your life - the values that are important to you.

After you've created your own intention (sankalpa), we'll have a Yoga Nidra practice to help embed it. Yoga Nidra is a deep relaxation meditation, designed to get you to that place between being awake and being asleep - where the magic can happen.

Bring paper and pen, and then have somewhere warm and cosy where you can lie down and be comfy.

This session is being held by Susie. It's £10 to attend, we have a reduced rate if this is unaffordable.

Join Lindsey of Yoganuu in a sharing circle session - at 'The Place to Pause and Breathe' studio in Bonnybridge. The theme of this circle is "intentions".

During the circle we will explore some gentle movement, delve a little deeper into our intentions, take time to touch base and share which can help enrich our sense of community. Everyone will receive a gift to take home with them. All are welcome.

Our circle will take place on Friday 19 January 2024: 7-8.30pm. Attendance is by donation.

Do get in contact with any questions: pause@pauseandbreathe.co.uk

Meet Your Facilitator:

Lindsey has been teaching yoga since 2006 after studying Yoga in India and supporting others on their journey to teaching yoga as a Tutor on the Yoga Scotland Foundation course since 2018. She is a qualified and experienced NLP Practitioner, Reiki Master and Holistic therapist. Based in Falkirk where she lives with her family, she is a SEN parent.

“Within each of us there is a silence

—a silence as vast as a universe.

We are afraid of it…and we long for it…

The experience of silence is now so rare

that we must cultivate it and treasure it.

This is especially true for shared silence.”

– Gunilla Norris (The Importance of Shared Silence”)

How much silence do we truly have in our lives? Our silent day retreat allows us to rest from the busyness in our everyday lives. Silence gives our minds and bodies a chance to recuperate and settle. We can take away the worrying about what to say and how to say it and enjoy the peace that this can bring.

The retreat includes some teachings, some guided meditations, and some movement.

Please either bring your own lunch, or some vegetarian food to share. Tea and coffee and snacks will be provided.

The cost of the day is £50. For concessions (those in receipt of their pension, on lower incomes and students) this price is £40. Please only select this rate if you fall into one of these categories. I also have two spaces at £15, please only take one of these if you would not otherwise be able to attend.

Yoga mats, meditation cushions and chairs will be provided. Please bring your own blanket for additional comfort, and bring along thicker socks or slippers as we will have our shoes off. People often find a notebook helpful, for personal journaling throughout the day.

Please feel free to email me with any questions - susie@pauseandbreathe.co.uk.

The retreat is taking place in The Place to Pause & Breathe, 83 Broomhill Road, Bonnybridge, FK4 2AT

Testimonials:

• I have had the most peaceful day and learned so much

• A positive day, which helps rejuvenate mind and body

• I would highly recommend Susie’s retreats as a safe space to take your mindfulness practice further

• A very warm space to connect with one’s self and others and take time to stand back

• The perfect introduction to mindfulness with a teacher with a lovely energy

• It was great to be away from the busyness of everyday life 

Meet your facilitator:

Susie worked as a Social Worker within Criminal Justice for 20 years, and is passionate about helping people to make difficult changes. Since the beginning of 2017, Susie has been delivering mindfulness within her local community in Falkirk. She co-founded Pause & Breathe CIC with her husband, Phil Blackburn and is delighted to have opened The Place to Pause & Breathe in Bonnybridge - bringing people together in community. 

Our Online Book Club meets every 6 weeks, usually to discuss a book based around wellbeing.

In this meet-up, we're going to be discussing "Reconciliation" by Thich Nhat Hanh.

Fancy joining us? It's just £7 to come along. Everyone is welcome. We're holding this both online and in-person, so you can do whichever suits you best.

If you're joining in person, there will be hot drinks and snacks available for a small donation.

Brand new sessions for 2024: Full Moon Circles - which will be held once a month, as close to the Full Moon as possible.

The Full Moon is a time for reflection and setting intentions for the month to come. Within these sessions we'll have the chance to share our reflections, and set intentions. Each Full Moon has a different name, we'll discuss the symbolism behind this, and how we can take the energy of this specific full moon into our lives. Within each session there will be a themed Yoga Nidra (deep relaxation meditation), which enables us to turn more fully toward the symbolism of the moon.

In January, the moon is a "Wolf Moon", encouraging us to focus on our connections and communities and offering opportunities for deep self-reflection.

The full moon circles will be held in The Place to Pause & Breathe, Bonnybridge. The date of the first one is Friday 26th January from 7-9pm. The cost is £20 to attend. It's possible to attend three circles for £50 (let me know which ones you'd like to attend), or to book in for all 12 for £180. I can offer a reduced rate, get in contact if you'd like to take this up.  

Here are the dates of the circles for 2024. They are all Fridays, and will take place from 7-9pm:

26/1; 23/2; 22/3; 19/4; 24/5; 21/6; 19/7; 16/8; 13/9; 18/10; 15/11; 13/12

Get in touch with any questions: susie@pauseandbreathe.co.uk

Meet your facilitator:

Susie will be your facilitator for these sessions. Susie worked as a Social Worker within Criminal Justice for 20 years, and is passionate about helping people to make difficult changes. Since the beginning of 2017, Susie has been delivering mindfulness within her local community in Falkirk. She co-founded Pause & Breathe CIC with her husband, Phil Blackburn and is delighted to have opened The Place to Pause & Breathe in Bonnybridge - bringing people together in community.

Susie is a Mindfulness Coach and a certified Daring to Rest Faciitator. Her approach is trauma-sensitive, and she is an advocate of giving participants choice in everything she offers. 

Our session will be a mix of movement – Pilates and gentle stretching, and mindfulness – meditation and a yoga nidra – deep rest practice. We’re celebrating winter in our session, which will resonate throughout our morning together – giving us the chance to sink into this season, and all it has to offer.

We gather together and experience the quiet, solitude of winter, and honour the hibernation and rest phase of the year. Understanding the balance between the light and the dark that creates such a rich opening for spring, and from the deepest of winter the light will begin to return.

Our theme for this event is restoring some peace and tranquility after the exertions around Christmas and to draw back our energies as we start the New Year. We will be creating some space for the breath with a focus on strengthening and stretching the mind and body.

Energising Strength & stretch class- This class provided energising sequences using the whole body movements and resistance bands to combine both pilates strengthening work with dynamic stretching. the perfect combination of strength work, mobilising, and stretching.

Lifting our body, mind and spirits and focusing on the opportunities we can give our bodies and minds in 2024. 

This session is suitable for both beginners and those with more exercise experience. If you have any mobility or injury needs please discuss these prior to the class and modifications will be offered. Due to the nature of some of the exercises in the classes they are not suitable for women in their second or third trimester of pregnancy.

Our morning will be held on Sunday 28th January, from 10am-1pm. During the morning there will be a break for hot drinks and home-made snacks (provided). The cost of the morning is £30 / £24 for concessions (those in receipt of their pension / students / on lower incomes). We have one of our reduced rate places left at £20, for anyone who could not otherwise afford to come along. Please pick the price that best reflects your circumstances.

Do get in contact with any questions: pause@pauseandbreathe.co.uk

About your facilitators:

Gillian Booth from Acorepilates in Glasgow qualified as a mat Pilates with the Pilates Foundation 6 years ago and is passionate about all things in movement, health and well-being. Having practiced in Pilates over the last 16 years she knows the benefits it can bring to our busy and stressful lives. Through practicing the 6 principles established by Joseph Pilates in 1945 of Breath, Concentration, Centring, Control, Precision and Flow she offers classes that are both energising and restorative to the body. Stretching exercises are always incorporated into her classes to promote longer term flexibility and range of motion, preparing the body for relaxation and reducing stress levels.

Gillian says “In today’s world we are surrounded by the belief that we need to push our bodies hard through exercise to achieve results, which often places unrealistic and unachievable expectations on us. I believe that through a balanced approach that incorporates regular whole-body movement, valuing connection with the mind and being outside with nature to be more sustainable longer term.”

Expect classes to help develop toning of the body, lengthening of muscles and strengthening of the core. Above all you should feel refreshed and stretched ready for whatever awaits the rest of your day. “Always remember when you’re on your mat everything is better”.

Susie Hooper

Susie worked as a Social Worker for 20 years and is passionate about helping people to make difficult changes. Since the beginning of 2017, Susie has been delivering mindfulness within her local community in Falkirk. She co-founded Pause & Breathe CIC with her husband, Phil Blackburn and is delighted to have opened The Place to Pause & Breathe in Bonnybridge - bringing people together in community.

Susie says: “I discovered mindfulness through my work as a Social Worker – we introduced it to clients, and I realised what a great practice it was. When I first started to practice, I found it so difficult to work out what I was feeling, and I was really cut off from my body – not really picking up on any of the messages my body was giving me about how I was. I had bad IBS, got lots of colds and generally felt under the weather a lot.

Through practicing mindfulness, I gradually started to be able to tune into my body more – to hear what it was telling me about how I was feeling. Doing this encouraged me to make major changes in my life – I left a marriage which was unhappy and focused more on my self-care. My IBS is now under control, I’m generally a lot healthier physically and I have more understanding of my emotions. I’m less reactive to emotions like anger and anxiety – generally feeling a lot more in balance. And I’m so much nicer to myself! Less of the inner critic, which had been so pervasive. And I’m now in a marriage which is happier, and in which I feel I can really be me.” 

Join Duncan from Rooted Willow Fife for a willow weaving workshop. These will be held monthly, you can drop in to one or come to them all.

The monthly willow workshop will be a chance for you to learn and develop the skills for making projects from willow. This is a remarkably satisfying and rewarding experience. Each workshop will enable participants to gradually expand their knowledge of willow weaving techniques and to practice them. This is done with the knowledge that all you have to do is turn up and relax in good company for the afternoon. You also get to take something you have made and are proud of home with you to enjoy or give as a gift. These will be bird feeders, plant supports, wreaths and many more beautiful ornaments!

Our January workshop will take place on Sunday 28th January from 2-5pm. In this month's workshop we will be making hearts.

It's possible to book in for one workshop for £30, or to book for three it's £75 (saving £5 for each workshop). Let me know which dates you'd like to book for:

28/1; 25/2; 24/3; 28/4; 26/5; 30/6; 28/7; 25/8; 29/9; 27/10; 24/11 - all Sundays from 2-5pm. There is a reduced rate of £20 per person for two people, this is for anyone who could not afford to pay the full price.

Do get in contact with any questions: pause@pauseandbreathe.co.uk

An intimate workshop created to explore how you can inject art and creativity into your mindfulness practice, which is great for your own mental wellness, health and wellbeing. You will be walked through a creative mindfulness journey, learning what mindfulness is and how we can use it in our everyday lives. The workshop will end with a guided meditation and an open discussion about your feelings and what you will take away from the experience of creating your piece of abstract art.

If you are looking for a little bit of calm, this workshop is for you! You don't need to be a skilled artist, or "good at art" to attend this workshop - creativity and mindfulness is for everyone!

This workshop will be held on Friday 2nd February from 7-8.30pm. The cost is £25 per person, which covers all materials provided and hot drinks and snacks. You will have created something that you can take home with you. We do have two reduced cost spaces, for anyone who could not otherwise afford to attend.

Do get in contact with any questions: pause@pauseandbreathe.co.uk

Meet Your Facilitator:

Mark Ratcliffe is a certified meditation coach and has a diploma in mental health first aid and Art Therapy. Mark is an abstract artist and creator based in the North of England, United Kingdom. Mark has his own channel on YouTube under the name of Mark J Ratcliffe Art where he creates free tutorials on fluid art.

Mark draws a lot of his inspiration from his Art from the places he visits, nature and the people that he meets along the way. Mark says “abstract art is subjective and the one thing I really enjoy is when people look at a piece of art and see different things; we are all unique individuals and our interpretation reflects that”.

Often the way that we communicate can result in hurt or harm, sometimes we can talk to people in a way that creates distance and discord. Yet we all strive for connection, and to be understood.

Nonviolent communication helps us to find ways of communicating that contributes to forming connections. It helps us to live compassionately, collaborating with others in an authentic way. This can help our relationships become more satisfying, and increases our empathic connection with others and also with ourselves.

Join us for a Study Group to explore nonviolent communication thoroughly. We will take our time to read a book, and work towards putting the skills into practice.

We will be reading "Nonviolent Communication"by Marshall B. Rosenberg. We are really going to take our time with this, meeting monthly to discuss agreed sections of the book. In between meetings we will communicate via a WhatsApp group, where there will be tasks and questions set to reflect and put into action the skills that we're reading about.

The Study Group will meet once a month for 6 sessions, on the first Tuesday of every month.

Our first session will be on Tuesday 6th February 7-8pm, running until 3rd July.

This group can be attended either online via zoom, or in person - please click on which suits your best. There's no difference in price, it's just helpful for me to know where people will be for the set up of the room!

The study group costs £75 to join, we also have concessionary rates and a couple of reduced rates for anyone who otherwise could not afford to come along. Please pick the rate that best matches your circumstances.

Susie will be your leader for this study group. Any questions, please email her: susie@pauseandbreathe.co.uk

Susie will be your facilitator for these sessions. Susie worked as a Social Worker within Criminal Justice for 20 years, and is passionate about helping people to make difficult changes. Since the beginning of 2017, Susie has been delivering mindfulness within her local community in Falkirk. She co-founded Pause & Breathe CIC with her husband, Phil Blackburn and is delighted to have opened The Place to Pause & Breathe in Bonnybridge - bringing people together in community. Susie is a Mindfulness Coach and a certified Daring to Rest Facilitator. Her approach is trauma-sensitive, and she is an advocate of giving participants choice in everything she offers. 

Join Susie and Phil from Pause & Breathe for a day retreat to open up to Spring. There will be a mix of Mindfulness, Qi Gong and Yoga Nidra (Rest) practices to help us get ready for the change in season.

Perhaps we feel ready to leave Winter behind. Perhaps we still feel the need to be cosy and to hibernate. Just because Springtime is starting, it doesn't necessarily mean that our energy increases. During this day we can take time to tune in to how Spring is resonating for us, how able to feel to welcome it this year.

In Qi Gong, Spring is linked to the element Wood. Our Qi Gong movement will focus on this element, helping us to open to Spring. Wood – and Spring can link with increased energy – but often in this season we forget to rest, we’re so impatient to get things done. Yoga Nidra (deep relaxation meditation) can bring in a sense of balance for us during this season of increased energy – helping us to rest and rejuvenate, at the end we can feel brimming with energy again, ready for a beautiful Springtime.

Our day will include some journaling, identifying a sankalpa (intention) for Spring. We will tune into the energy of Spring, through both meditation and Qi Gong movement. A beautiful vegetarian lunch will be provided, along with hot drinks and snacks. Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements.

The day will run from 10.30am-4pm at Trossachs Tryst in Callander. Weather dependent, we may be able to hold some of our sessions outside. There is also an open invitation to join us for a dip in Loch Venachar at the end of the day. Please note that any swimming or dipping is at your own risk.

The cost of the day is £80 per person. We do have two reduced rate spaces, please get in contact if these would best fit your circumstances.  

Testimonials from our Welcoming Winter Day Retreat in the same venue:

• The day was lovely, very welcoming and relaxing, with beautiful surroundings.
• It was a beautiful space, and I felt super relaxed during and after.
• Susie led some beautiful meditations and journalling which I really enjoyed, followed on from some gentle Qi Gong.
• A perfectly balanced day in a stunning setting with a range of activities reflective, relaxing & restoring!!! 
• I left with a deep sense of peace & feeling that my day had been worthwhile.