Samādhi Wellness (2025)

13/10/2023

BURNOUT AND BOUNDARIES 🕯⛔️

So, my September of reflection has revealed that I am completely burnt out. I can't believe how long it has taken me to connect the dots - several warning signs have popped up and despite being someone who meditates regularly, journals and is in tune with their body, I totally missed them 🫣

The things I am doing with my life feel meaningful and important, but they are simply too many. There has been absolutely no space or time for my awareness. I haven't been able to process or absorb the effects of my experience whatsoever, which is detrimental not only to my wellbeing but my ability to sustain everything.

Speaking to a Buddhist friend and teacher, yesterday, she said to me - it's great that you're noble and honour your commitments. But sometimes it is necessary (and totally okay) not to go ahead with some of them. I realised that I've never given myself permission to change my mind, to cancel etc, even when I really need to.

Someone else gave me another good piece of advice this morning - ask yourself, in saying yes to something, what are you saying no to? Well lately I've been saying no to rest and recovery, emotional processing, time by myself and a quieter mind.

I've dramatically changed my approach to life over the years, but even now I still struggle with a sense of underlying guilt about not doing anything with my life. The problem right now is that I've taken on more commitments than I can manage, so in the little 'spare' time I have, I constantly feel like I 'should' be doing something else. Actually I don't need to be doing anything at all - sometimes it is okay for me to simply exist. We don't have to be useful to be valid..

Sometimes we need to push through things and sometimes we need to step back. So my practice right now is to become more boundaried with myself and others. Learning to say no and being comfortable with that. To stop constantly running onto the next thing and being unable to catch up with myself. Hopefully moving away from total exhaustion and towards some more simplicity, stillness and contentment. Peace out ✌🏼

16/09/2023

So today marks the beginning of the urban retreat with 🧘🏻‍♀️

I was away on retreat a few weeks ago and will be on retreat again end of this month, so I thought I'd keep the thread going and create a retreat in the midst of my life!

The days are turning darker as we move into autumn, and usually I resist this change, longing for the sunlight and warmth. But on reflection, I think this is the perfect opportunity for me to turn inwards.

Everything I do is truly heartfelt and integrated - training and working as a therapist, practicing and studying both Buddhism and Yoga. However, it's a busy time in my life which means every single day is scheduled, and recently I've noticed there is too much input and little to no space. There is an abundance of energy moving outwards to other beings and the world, but not quite enough coming in.

I've had some very deep experiences and breakthroughs in my Ashtanga practice over the last week, and this has reminded me of the power and intensity that comes from tuning in with our direct experience...

So, I will be pretty much off the grid until next weekend. Taking time to just be with my mind and body. Meditating, reflecting, contemplating. Finding deeper integration of my values and ideals with my day to day life. Slowing down and grounding, through the transition of the seasons 🍂🧡

09/09/2023

Last month I started weightlifting again after not touching a barbell for 18 months! I spent the last year and a half focusing entirely on yoga and it has been wonderful. However, for a while now I've been itching to get back into a gym and thought I'd share my reasons 🏋🏻‍♀️

• My yoga practice focuses on push but no pull, heavily uses triceps but not biceps, and works hamstring flexibility whilst largely neglecting quads. Muscles work in pairs, so it's really important for joint health and injury prevention to have balance in our training, where muscles are given the chance to play both agonist and antagonist whilst we utilise the joint fully.

• There are many different objects of physical activity - cardiovascular fitness, muscle endurance or hypertrophy, strength, power, mobility, flexibility, balance, co-ordination, etc. I have developed SO much through my yoga practice that I wasn't getting from weight training, but likewise, there are things I can develop through weight training that I won't get from yoga.

• Also, the shape and aesthetic of my body has changed and I kinda miss packing a bit of muscle!

Yes, consistency is absolutely key to progress and development in any discipline, and certainly has it's benefits (I've experienced this myself through regular Ashtanga practice). However, we are cyclical beings who are constantly changing, at the micro and macro levels. I think it's important to give ourselves permission to change. To shift our focus, even if only slightly or temporarily. Learning to intuitively know what our body needs and putting our training into the context of our wider lives is so important. That way we can work responsively rather than prescriptively with both body and mind ✌🏼

01/09/2023

*UPDATE TO TUESDAY NIGHT YOGA*

As most will already know, I teach yoga at the Buddhist Centre on Tuesday evenings. This was originally a vinyasa class, and we were alternating between a slow gentle flow and a fast energetic practice each week.

After some reflection and consultation with my yogis, we have decided to make this into a Gentle Yoga class! Gentle yoga really matches the tone and energy of the place following our meditation drop in class 6-7pm. Each are offered free of charge - why not come along for both? 🧘🏻‍♀️

In a nutshell, expect slow and mindful movement (mostly floor based). An emphasis on kindly awareness of breath, body and mind. Sometimes with a juicy extra like meditation, pranayama (breathwork), and mantra. You may even be treated to some beautiful restorative adjustments whilst lying in your savasana bliss 👀

Check out the link below for more details and be sure to email me to reserve a spot!

https://newcastlebuddhistcentre.org/classes/gentle-yoga-
samadhiwellness.meg@gmail.com

PS. Only 2 months to go until I complete my 200hr yoga teacher training. How exciting! 😋

29/08/2023

"A special transmission outside of the scriptures; no dependence upon words and letters;
Direct pointing to the mind;
Seeing into one's own nature and realising Buddhahood."

This was the theme of the young people's retreat I just attended at .

The wellness industry is booming, in an age where we have almost unlimited access to all sorts of information, guidance and teachings on how to help ourselves. But the Zen approach reminds us that actually, we already have everything we need = our direct experience.

The key lies in our experiences of body, speech, and mind. Our relationship to one another and connection with the world. As much as knowledge and intellectual understanding is helpful, it is an experiential kind of knowing, gained only through practice, that will liberate us.

Powerful stuff.. 🔮

20/07/2023

Finally getting round to posting from my recent yoga teacher training retreat ☀️

A lot can happen in 5 days...

• Full Ashtanga practice every morning all the way to Kapotasana.. it was a challenge and I loved it
• Teaching practice including a super fun primary series relay with my fellow TTs
• LOTS of hands-on adjustment work
• The most beautiful and emotional Summer Solstice celebration
• My first experience of Shiatsu (totally sent me away with the fairies for the rest of the afternoon)
• New friendships and connections that warmed my heart deeply
• Quite literally HOURS spent talking about nothing but yoga 😍

My body was pushed to its limits - I think I limped out of the studio most mornings. But by the end of it I was enjoying kapotasana, so I'd say that's a breakthrough..

A lot of mental and emotional processing happened, reflecting on the first half of 2023 and preparing for the latter. Tears were shed and laughs were had. Energies shifted.

Thank you to the mysterious yoga magic and the teachers sharing it with me. I feel SO fortunate and grateful to be training with Dionne and Dan. A beautiful blend of experience and approaches that leaves no dimension uncovered 🕉

02/06/2023

*** EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT ***

Starting 4th July, I will be teaching yoga at Newcastle Buddhist Centre every Tuesday evening 7:15-8:15pm 🧘🏻‍♀️

This will be a Vinyasa style class that will vary week to week between gentle, floor based sequences and more dynamic, playful flows.

What's even better, is that this class is FREE 😋 there is a suggested donation of £5 - if you are willing and able to contribute something, this will go towards the costs of running the buddhist centre.

It is a drop in class so you can just turn up, however we have limited space so it would be great if you could message or email me in advance (samadhiwellness.meg@gmail.com) to reserve your spot.

On Tuesdays we also run our weekly meditation drop in class 6-7pm - why not come along for both?

Oh and for those of you interested in Ashtanga, it is coming very soon! Watch this space 👀

26/05/2023

🧘🏻‍♀️ GOING ON RETREAT 🧘🏻‍♀️

I went on my first weekend retreat with other young buddhists in 2018, and have continued going on retreat regularly since then. Creating the space and time to reflect and connect with my experience is a super important part of my life and spiritual practice. On retreat we switch off our phones and get rid of all distractions to live communally, meditate, explore and discuss the Buddha's teachings. Spare time in the retreat programme might be spent journalling, reading, sleeping, walking in the beautiful countryside or simply doing nothing ☺️

In April, I was on retreat in Herefordshire to celebrate Triratna day and explore the question - Is A Guru Necessary? This was a real deep dive into what a guru is not, what a guru can be and whether or not we need one for our spiritual development. It was a chance to meet members of our community from the UK and Europe. Most recently, I was on a weekend retreat in Northumberland with the Newcastle Buddhist community. There was sunshine, a campfire, wonderful fresh homecooked food, and dharma practice. This retreat had a real strong spirit of friendship and through the tears, the laughs and the depths of conversation, connection with my spiritual friends was the highlight ❤️‍🔥

Are retreats a part of your spiritual practice? Would you like them to be?

11/05/2023

This week I led meditation at our Tuesday night drop in class. We did the Mindfulness of Breathing, and I chose a beautiful verse from the Dhammapada to inspire our practice:

"By means of energy, mindfulness, self-restraint and control, let the person of understanding make for themselves an island that no flood can overwhelm"

I encouraged us to see the mind as an island. Visualizing thoughts, emotions, sensations or anything that arises in our experience, as a wave that washes up to shore temporarily, before dissolving back into the ocean 🌊

The aim of mindfulness practice is really to become a much bigger island, so the waves can no longer flood or overwhelm us. In meditation we can watch them come and go naturally, tuning into the ever-changing nature of our mind.

Maybe give this a go yourself and see what it does for you. Or better yet, come along to our free Tuesday night classes - learn to meditate or get snippets of inspiration for your practice from myself and others in the team 💙

15/04/2023

Today, we celebrated the birth anniversary of Dr B. R. Ambedkar - a man revered for his role in Indian and Buddhist history. A revolutionary who transformed the lives of many, showing them the dharma and freedom from oppression and discrimination 🥳

It was an absolute pleasure and a joy to create, organise and host this event! I loved every single moment. From planning the programme, to decorating the buddhist centre, to sharing my personal reflections on my time in India and everything else inbetween.

It was a blessing to have our Indian friends join us over zoom, and share the importance of Dr Ambedkar and Buddhism in their lives. I am grateful for every ounce of love and inspiration they have given me, and I was so happy for the opportunity to share this inspiration with friends here in Newcastle today.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, to everyone who contributed today 🙏🏼What a joy to connect with you all. Once again my heart is so full it could burst!

May all beings be well and happy. May our lives be full of dharma, beauty, music and friendship. Jai Bhim, Namo Buddhay 💙

06/04/2023

💡 THE POWER OF AWARENESS 💡

I am now five weeks into seeing clients for CBT. In the initial stage of therapy, we are assessing and formulating. This means getting a deep understanding of the problem and how it is unfolding in that person's experience. At the most basic level, we do this by breaking things down into these five areas:

SITUATION: What was happening? Where were you? Who else was there? How or why may this situation have triggered the problem?

THOUGHTS: What thoughts or images came into your mind?

EMOTIONS: How were you feeling?

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS: Did you notice any changes in your body? Were there physical sensations?

BEHAVIOURS: What did you do, or not do, to cope with the situation?

After doing this with a client, they will often feed back that it is super helpful seeing their experience broken down like this, because they notice things that they didn't realise at the time. In my experience so far, I have been struck by how simple yet powerful this exercise is! We think we are aware, and yet we miss so much. Simply taking time to reflect and deepen that awareness can be therapeutic in itself 💭

26/03/2023

Samãdhi is a beautiful Sanskrit word, incredibly rich in meaning with no simple English translation.

I was introduced to samãdhi in two very important areas of my life. Firstly, as the second pillar of Buddhism, meaning 'the wholesome concentration of the mind' or practice of meditation. Secondly, in Ashtanga, where samãdhi is the eighth and final limb of yoga.

They are simply different roads to the same destination. Through both Buddhism and Yoga we seek samãdhi - a state of total meditative absorption that is Enlightenment itself. The highest (or deepest) kind of consciousness, unified with all that there is. A blissful, awakened state beyond all dualities. Just energy, pure and free.

I am sharing this because it underpins everything I do! I support myself and others with talking therapy, Yoga and Buddhist practice not just to make life a little better. But for those who wish to join me on the path, to unlock our full potential for awakening. The spiritual life is both challenging and wonderful. It is a journey through and towards unimaginable joy, love and freedom. Naming my venture 'Samãdhi Wellness' keeps me in touch with this potential every single day ✨️

Samādhi Wellness