Mindful Mondays
Start your week with intention on Mindful Mondays
Modern life can be an exciting whirlwind of opportunities. But it can also be overwhelming and, at times, 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 10.00am 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 a calm mind and positive outlook.
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.
"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
Our next Mindful Monday is on Monday 27th October, 10.00am to 2pm. Come and join us!
You can take part in any one or all of the following activities and resources in various spaces around the café: Craft activities, Chatty room, Quiet room, Jigsaw room, Board games and Story telling. We are also on hand to tell you more about Reading for Wellbeing and how books and stories in all their forms can change our mental health for the better!Stay for lunch
Fancy a spot of lunch? Well, you can also treat yourself to some delicious home cooked food and cakes (not included in the £5 entry fee). Want to help someone out? We have a wonderful Pay It Forward board which means you can treat someone else to a hot drink or tasty treat.
Introducing QiGong for Wellbeing
We’re lucky to have Jeanine Ash, Director of Space to Be Wellbeing, as part of our Mindful Monday team! Jeanine is now offering two QiGong for Wellbeing sessions at 10.30am and 12 noon in Castle Centre Hall next to the café. QiGong is a form of Tai Chi and is a mindful practice. The sessions help to ease stress and calm the mind and are suitable for all ages and abilities. The exercises can be done either seated or standing and also:
- support joint health and flexibility
- improve balance, posture and coordination
- support breathing and circulation
To book your place and/or find out more, please email Jeanine at [email protected]. Or call 07791 530331.
Please note: we ask you make a community donation of between £3 to £6 for these sessions. To be given to Jeanine. Thank you.
Tell us
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
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.
