Mindfulness Stretch and Move Classes
Current Class Time:
Tuesdays 6:30pm at the Sophia Centre (225 Cross Rd, Cumberland Park) during term time
Wednesdays 5:20pm at the clinic
Tuesdays 6:30pm at the Sophia Centre (225 Cross Rd, Cumberland Park) during term time
Wednesdays 5:20pm at the clinic
Class description:
Suitable for people of all ages, fitness levels and beliefs, Mindfulness Stretch and Move classes are small group classes consisting of gentle stretches, movement sequences, body awareness, breath awareness and deep relaxation using mindfulness techniques. Learn to gently explore movement with awareness to help release muscular tension and calm and slow the mind. Notice how the body reacts to your thoughts and emotions and learn to be with challenges such as pain without quite so much reactivity. The stretches and movement sequences can be modified to suit your individual needs.
Physiotherapy assessment:
An individual 40 minute physiotherapy assessment with Nicola Marsh is required before attending the classes. Following this assessment you can either start attending the 1 hour group class or Nicola also offers 40 minute 1:1 sessions.
Suitable for people of all ages, fitness levels and beliefs, Mindfulness Stretch and Move classes are small group classes consisting of gentle stretches, movement sequences, body awareness, breath awareness and deep relaxation using mindfulness techniques. Learn to gently explore movement with awareness to help release muscular tension and calm and slow the mind. Notice how the body reacts to your thoughts and emotions and learn to be with challenges such as pain without quite so much reactivity. The stretches and movement sequences can be modified to suit your individual needs.
Physiotherapy assessment:
An individual 40 minute physiotherapy assessment with Nicola Marsh is required before attending the classes. Following this assessment you can either start attending the 1 hour group class or Nicola also offers 40 minute 1:1 sessions.

Suitable for people with:
· Back and neck pain
· Headaches
· Chronic Pain
· Stress
· Anxiety
· Depression
· Chronic fatigue
· Fibromyalgia
· Musculoskeletal pain/injuries
Potential benefits of Mindfulness Stretch and Move:
· Decrease pain and fatigue
· Increase strength
· Increase flexibility
· Increased mobility
· Improved balance
· Decrease symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression
· Improve wellbeing
· Improved sleep
· Improved ability to concentrate
· Stronger immune system
About the teacher:
Nicola has a Bachelor of Physiotherapy and has completed her Level 1 Hatha Yoga Teacher Training. Nicola practices Yoga and Mindfulness regularly herself and is passionate about helping people feel safe and confident to move, and improving her client’s wellbeing.
What to bring:
· Pillow
· Blanket
· Back and neck pain
· Headaches
· Chronic Pain
· Stress
· Anxiety
· Depression
· Chronic fatigue
· Fibromyalgia
· Musculoskeletal pain/injuries
Potential benefits of Mindfulness Stretch and Move:
· Decrease pain and fatigue
· Increase strength
· Increase flexibility
· Increased mobility
· Improved balance
· Decrease symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression
· Improve wellbeing
· Improved sleep
· Improved ability to concentrate
· Stronger immune system
About the teacher:
Nicola has a Bachelor of Physiotherapy and has completed her Level 1 Hatha Yoga Teacher Training. Nicola practices Yoga and Mindfulness regularly herself and is passionate about helping people feel safe and confident to move, and improving her client’s wellbeing.
What to bring:
· Pillow
· Blanket
Why is Mindfulness combined with physiotherapy beneficial?
Our body constantly responds to our thoughts through our sympathetic nervous system. Even subconsciously our thoughts can create changes to our breathing, blood pressure, muscle tension, digestive, immune, hormonal systems and pain mechanisms. This is known as the flight or fight stress response which is highly valuable but in our modern world our sympathetic nervous system can be in overload. It can contribute directly to winding up our pain. Over sustained periods of time such as with injuries, sympathetic wind-up can slow the body's ability to heal and contribute to chronic pain and ill health.
Mindfulness will help your mind become aware of what is happening in your body. It will allow a greater connection of how your thoughts impact on your body. You will learn to move again in a pain free way and create a calming of the nervous system. This can improve your body's ability to repair and be restored.
Our body constantly responds to our thoughts through our sympathetic nervous system. Even subconsciously our thoughts can create changes to our breathing, blood pressure, muscle tension, digestive, immune, hormonal systems and pain mechanisms. This is known as the flight or fight stress response which is highly valuable but in our modern world our sympathetic nervous system can be in overload. It can contribute directly to winding up our pain. Over sustained periods of time such as with injuries, sympathetic wind-up can slow the body's ability to heal and contribute to chronic pain and ill health.
Mindfulness will help your mind become aware of what is happening in your body. It will allow a greater connection of how your thoughts impact on your body. You will learn to move again in a pain free way and create a calming of the nervous system. This can improve your body's ability to repair and be restored.