24. Sharing the Success

Follow this link to the Sharing the Success website for more info about the ABDN awards where I was recently a winner. http://www.sharingthesuccess.co.uk/page.aspx?id=1092



I'm also on A4E's website, here's the link

http://mya4e.com/About-A4e/Success-Stories/Anna-s-Story.aspx



And today I'm attending a meeting with Leeds Wellbeing Centre about the opportunity of working with their vulnerable client group as a self employed complementary therapist, offering reiki, massage, indian head massage etc.

More news on that soon.

Blessings from

Anna
)o(

23. Anna wins Female Entrepreneur of 2009

I was delighted to be presented with the ABDN Female Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 award at the Asian Business Network's 11th Annual Award dinner at the Royal Armouries last week. Averil Frederick of the Milun Centre nominated me for the award and Simon Brereton of the Sharing the Success (LEGI) team, who presented me with the award on the night, spoke of my drive and determination and the challenges I had overcome to achieve my success. The evening was hosted by Kulvinder Ghir of Goodness Gracious Me and the Kumars at No 42 who kept us all entertained as you can imagine!



Back in January I was invited to attend the LEGI dinner at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Leeds where Carl Hopkins, the Secret Millionaire, both inspired and entertained us in equal measure. Myself and three other local female entrepreneurs, Lyndsay Din and Siobhan Thomas have all utilised the service of the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative and we were invited along as three of the organisations success stories of the past year.

In October last year I embarked on my studies for the Foundation Degree in Complementary Therapies with Teesside University. Although this has not been easy so far it has made my practice much more diverse as I am now able to offer an even higher standard of service to my clients along with a wider range of bodywork techniques. These include acupressure and meridian techniques, ayurvedic techniques, no hands massage and hot stone therapy. Visit my website at http://www.rayoflight.me.uk/ to find out more.

I am now also offering on site therapies for the corporate sector as well as events and parties. I can also deliver workshops or presentations to your company or organisation on any aspect of complementary therapies that might interest you such as a reiki healing workshop, a talk on crystals or some simple massage techniques. Check out the website for more details.


Blessings from

Anna
)O(

22. Festival of Fun!

Here's some images from the recent Health and Healing Festival at Bodington Hall. The event was a great success and lots of fun. I was pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable it was and pleased by the great response we got. The reasonably priced taster treatments were very popular and it was a joy chatting to all the visitors.

My partner, Rob, supported me at the festival and was also amazed by how much he enjoyed it; having thought beforehand that he would probably get bored. Nothing could be further from the truth as I pitched him straight in by asking him to do reiki on clients with me so they got a double whammy of healing! He was a huge help chatting to people and taking their details whilst I did treatments and he also got a lot of names for the tai chi and meditation sessions he hopes to start in Leeds in the near future.

I shall definitely exhibit at similar events in the future but probably not till next year now, perhaps I'll give the Ilkley Complementary Festival in spring a try next.

As regards how business is progressing, I am pleased to be slowly building a client base and am finding that Indian Head Massage is proving particularly popular. Lots of clients are going for two treatments per booking, usually having a massage and a session of reiki too. They are taking advantage of the special offers and discounts to save themselves money and the number of repeat bookings is increasing.

More events in the future include the Leeds Mela on the 3rd August and a staff day for Yorkshire Forward in September where I shall be offering taster treatments and Rob will be doing a tai chi workshop.

Blessings from

Anna

)O(

21. News, news, news

Here's a link to an article from the Yorkshire Evening Post all about the Pathways Action for Employment Offical Opening that I attended in my capacity as one of their success stories!

Unfortunately they didn't put any of my contact information on or even the name of my business - but all publicity is good publicity as they say.

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/business-news/Minister-launches-the-pathway-back.4192386.jp

Plus there's more news from Ray of Light, I have now added Indian Head Massage and Ear Candling to the range of therapies that I can offer, if you would like to know more about the benefits of these treatments then visit my website at http://www.rayoflight.me.uk/.

Blessings from Anna

)O(

20. Out and About

There's two exciting events for Ray of Light in the pipeline. Firstly, I might be having a stall at the next Artsmix market on Sunday 8th June offering mini treatments in the midst of this exciting alternative arts and crafts market which has music, food and lots of interesting stalls with handmade and fair trade goods on offer. It's open from 11 am till 4pm so come along and have a look - it's in Chancellors Court just off Assembly Street at the back of the Corn Exchange. Visit http://www.mosaic-arts-market.org/ for more details. You can have a hand or foot massage for £8, a shoulder neck and upper arm massage (over clothes) for £5, a sample reiki healing for £5 or a full reiki healing for £15. There's also the opportunity to have a free crystal diagnosis which will also find out how in touch with your higher self you are!

I am also exhibiting at the Health and Healing Festival at Bodington Hall in Leeds on the weekend of 12th and 13th July . Visit http://www.healthhealingfestivals.co.uk/ for more info. I shall be doing sample treatments as above plus Indian Head Massage for £10. There'll be lots of other Mind, Body, Spirit themed stalls, workshops and activities available all weekend so I hope you'll come and say hello.

Hope to see some of you at either or both of these events.

Blessings from

Anna

)O(

19. Progress

Here's a pic of me at the Open Day at Milun Women's Centre, which was a brilliant day, lots of fun and generated lots of interest in the therapies I'm offering. I did a variety of sample treatments for people attending the open day, several foot massages; a number of back, shoulder, neck and arm massages and even a couple of reiki healings. I am starting officially at the centre on the 6th May and already have a couple of bookings. I shall be there every tuesday afternoon, at Centrica on Thursdays from 10am till 3pm and at North Leeds Therapy Centre the rest of the time.

Check out my website for prices and special offers, plus there's 10% off everything throughout April, May and June.

Earlier this month I was delighted to pass my Crystal Healing exam with flying colours, gaining an A grade! I'm offering a free 30 minute crystal healing treatment with any other therapy booked during April, May and June.

So if you'd like to make an appointment give me a ring on 0780 6774068 or 0113 2161615, alternatively email on rayoflightanna@gmail.com.

Blessings from

Anna

)O(

18. And so it begins

Well, it had to happen. I am officially freaking out because I shall have to commit to actually starting my own business now. I have decided to offer reiki, crystal healing and massage as a therapist from the 1st May. I have two therapy spaces on offer - the Milun Women's Centre in Harehills and the North Leeds Therapy Centre in Oakwood. I plan to work from these two locations one day a week each. I also have the opportunity of working with Centrica (the umbrella company of British Gas) on a regular basis, offering therapies in the workplace to their call centre staff. Now all I have to do is get customers. Simple as that, or not as the case may be. But, I have done my market research; I have all my information in place; I have my promotional material printed. All that remains is to get out there and deliver the possibility to the public. Surely, not such an onerous task with my organisational and interpersonal skills? I hope not. Wish me luck!