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!

17. The End is Nigh

The end of my Anatomy Physiology and Swedish Massage course I mean! (Well, there's six more classes to go). I've drawn up a revision plan for A&P for the next month as the exam is on the 3rd February. Our practical exam for massage is the week before. I can't wait to get my Mondays back again, hurray!

I have now completed all the lessons for my crystal healing course and am also revising for that exam. In the meantime I am attending a short course in Crystal Therapy at the Crossgates Learning Centre on Wednesday evenings as a supplement to my studies. A couple of weeks ago I tried out crystal healing layouts on a friend for the first time and was blown away by the energy both of us could feel. I've been adding to my crystal collection too and now also have moldavite, serpentine, watermelon tourmaline and peridot to name but a few!

I have been offered a place on the Indian Head Massage VTCT Diploma Level 3 course at Thomas Danby which starts on 21st February. This sounds like it will be a bit more laid back than the A&P/Body Massage course as there is no reading list as yet and it looks as if we don't have to wear uniforms. I guess I shall just have to wait and see. Plus, it's a much shorter course, 16 weeks as opposed to 24. Also, its just for 2 and a half hours each Thursday evening rather than all day on Monday, phew.

Back in November I attended a seminar at West Yorkshire Business Link entitled "Is Self-Employment Right for You" which was interesting and a bit alarming but its just an introduction to a series of 6 further in depth seminars on different aspects of starting up and running a business. I am booked on the first of these "Business Planning" in March. Prior to that on the 22nd February I am also attending a women's event at Business Link called "What's Holding you Back?" which looks at business start up and the support available. There's also a buffet, yay!

My reiki at the Robert Ogden centre is going well and I feel that my regular working with the reiki energies has made me more confident about my insights whilst doing a treatment and better able to tune into my intuition.

Over the summer I hope to get started on my colour healing course and then I intend to enrol on the VTCT Reflexology course at Thomas Danby in the autumn.

All exciting stuff if a little scary at times. So much has changed since this time last year, all of it good though. I have much to be proud of : )

With love and blessings from

Anna

)O(