Mindful Mondays
Start your week with intention on Mindful Mondays
Modern life can be an exciting whirlwind of possibilities and opportunities. But it can also be chaotic, confusing and, at times, very lonely.
In the spirit of the fictional ‘Woodyard’ to create a safe space to connect, to share and to reduce isolation, we are holding community drop-in sessions at Castle Chambers Café, (26 Castle Street, Barnstaple) on the second and fourth Monday of every month, from 10.0am to 2pm.
‘Mindful Mondays’ will help you to start your week in a calm and positive way in a warm and welcoming environment with a range of activities focusing on mindfulness, wellbeing and self-care. The very best way to start your week with intention.
Our next Mindful Monday is on Monday 8th September, 10.0am to 2pm.
"The beauty of Mindful Monday is that you choose the level of interaction that is right for you. There's no pressure to join in anything - so you can simply sit quietly with a book or some headphones and relax. Or, if you're feeling more sociable that day, you may get involved in a chatty room, sharing crafts and ideas or making connections with likeminded people. The choice is yours!"
Kayleigh Pullin-Rogers, Project Coordinator
What you will find
The Castle Chambers Café is hosting Mindful Monday community drop-in sessions on the second and fourth Monday of every month, from 10.00am to 2pm. The sessions feature a combination of wellbeing activities supported by community artists, mindfulness activities, breathing exercises and creative wellbeing practices. Mindful Mondays is a community initiative run by The Woodyard project in collaboration with the Castle Chambers Café, Space to Be Wellbeing CIC, NDVS and Barnstaple Town Council.
For the fee of £5, you can access any one or all of the following activities and resources in various spaces around the café:
- Chatty room
- Jigsaw room
- Board games
- Story telling
- Reading for Wellbeing – find out more here
- Craft activities
- Mindfulness Sessions run by Space to Be Wellbeing CIC (see below)
- Special guest visitors – read who else will be there
There is also the opportunity to purchase refreshments and delicious home cooked food (not included in the £5 entry fee). We also have a wonderful Pay It Forward board which means you can treat someone else to a hot drink or tasty treat.
The sessions are open to all (18+ years), welcoming everyone and provide an opportunity to connect with others or to ‘just be’ in a calm and welcoming space. Want to know more? Listen in to this conversation between Marie Gould, NDVS and Hepsie Goddin, Co-chair, The Woodyard Management Committee with Laura James from The Voice radio.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW A VIRTUAL TOUR OF OUR MINDFUL MONDAY SET UP.
Your views are vital
Have you come to a Mindful Monday session? If so, we would love to hear what you think and if you have any ideas for how we can improve and develop the project. Please click here to have your say or scan the QR code on the right. Thank you.
“They are so valuable to all but wonderful for differently abled people. They offer a safe, comfortable experience with others. Please have more sessions.” Mindfulness session participant
“The subsidised price makes it accessible to me. These sessions are vital in this stressful day and age – more people across the region, of all ages and lifestyles, could benefit from considering their wellbeing and learning how to look after themselves better.” Mindfulness session participant
Mindfulness Sessions
Jeanine Ash, Director of Space to Be Wellbeing, already runs a much loved Mindfulness session in the Castle Centre next door to The Castle Chambers Café. This takes place on the second and fourth Monday of every month from 10.30am to 11.30am.
These friendly and welcoming sessions are based on the three Cs of mindfulness – ‘Curiosity, Compassion and a Calm centre’. They may include gentle breath awareness and techniques, calming meditation and mindful movement.
The session supports people of all ages to develop beneficial and effective mindfulness techniques, improving positivity, self-esteem and a settled outlook to everyday life.
Interested in taking part?
As part of Mindful Monday, Jeanine has introduced a further Mindfulness session from 12 noon to 1pm. If you would like to know more or are interested in joining a session, please email Jeanine at [email protected]. Read more about the work of not-for-profit community organisation Space to Be Wellbeing here.
Please note: this session (12-1pm) will be included in the Mindful Monday entry fee of £5.
Next steps
Moving forward, our aim is to source opportunities to host events that cater to the needs of the community. In addition to the fortnightly sessions, we will be taking The Woodyard ‘on tour’ out to neighbouring towns and villages to support isolated groups of people to access Reading for Wellbeing and the support the Woodyard can access through signposting.
