I have discovered something amazing, something joyful in my pursuit to connect with what feels true, feels right and authentic, real and enlivening. I am rewilding myself through Qoya inspired dance, meditation and nature and invite you to join me, to reconnect to the wild, wise, free authentic you.
This starts from when we are little humans who are naturally wise, wild and free. Jess and myself (who are both mental health occupational therapists) aim to nurture children’s mental wellbeing through outdoor creative play thus The Giggling Gaia Project will launched Summer 2024 and continues Spring 2025.
The aim is to cheer up Mother Earth (Gaia)who has had such a difficult time. She makes us giggle with her funny creatures and all kinds of weird and wonderful plants so we know she has a fantastic sense of humour, so let’s make her giggle💚🦋💚. This will involve nature crafts, storytelling, nature musicians, games and a whole lot of fun stuff!
Besides the innate realisation that nature is medicine, I have studied how the human brain works through the study of Human Given’s psychotherapy, Hypnotherapy and practising and teaching meditation and come to the realisation that
“The way out is in”
Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh
Science is backing what wisdom traditions have always known, that
‘wisdom lies within the body’
A lot of you may be thinking, “what on earth is she on about”, and how do I discover this?
By moving our attention away from the mind which is busy creating concepts/stories which can pull us into the past or into the future and can result in feelings of distress. Instead, moving with a curious and gentle kind awareness towards the felt sense of what is going on in the body right in this present moment. This can be revealing, liberating, and set us free. Being in nature, meditation and embodied movement provide this portal.
Meditation
Meditation is a powerful tool that opens this awareness. Through meditation you become aware of where both unpleasant and pleasant feelings reside within the body. Through evolutionary drives we tend towards focusing on the unpleasant, and whilst honouring this part of us, my wish is to help create a more conscious awareness of joy which is a natural human state, so that you can access this feeling more easily in daily life.
People have commented during meditation classes that they find mindful movement a more tangible and easier way to connect with the body and its sensations. See classes.
Qoya Inspired Movement Dance
Qoya inspired movement for women is dynamic meditation in motion, it is movement with meaning. Whoever we are, whatever your life story, you can connect within the body to the feelings of joy , to our true wise, wild, and free essence as women. Qoya means “Queen” in Quechuan which is an Indigenous language used by Shamans in South America. Qoya being the female manifestation of “higher consciousness”, which as women we can all tap into.
Through movement we remember that just like nature our true essence is wise, wild and free. Whatever our age, shape, and level of movement experience, this is available to all of us.
Classes will be offered every couple of months.
Nature
The Giggling Gaia Project for children and their mums, dads, grandparents, the big kids 😁launched in 2024 and continues March 2025, go to classes to keep an eye out.
Not only is there endless research about natures benefits on our physical and mental wellbeing, but we instinctually know this. Dancing, meditating and having fun in nature is simply marvellous! It may be obvious through the images on this website that I’m very drawn to water and swim all year round. This is very meditative as you become very present in sensory awareness.
There is evidence that looking at images of nature can help to create a sense of calm. My Instagram page reflects the joys of nature and some musings!
“The savouring of pleasant experiences can become a habit that elevates our baseline level of daily happiness”
Christopher Germer -The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion
Go Wild Stay Sane
Re-wild yourself through nature connection, meditation and Qoya inspired dance.
Classes
Keep an eye out for upcoming Qoya classes.
The Giggling Gaia Project offers sessions once a month for tiny tots and workshops for 7-11 year olds during the holidays. Keep an eye out on social media.
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