FIRE-in-my-MIND

My guest this week is Stef Healy - A sound therapist based in Bangor, Gwynedd, North Wales. She prompts relaxation & meditation through sound, using vibrations from gongs and singing bowls to bring the body into balance, harmony, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Sound baths are a great way to relax and unwind from stress and tension that accumulates within body. As I guest at one of Steffs retreats I lay down on some cushions and pulled down my sleeping mask. Over the next 60 minutes I went on a deep meditative voyage into my consciousness. The sounds the gongs produce a truly ancient, amazing, rising and expansive. It was as if the suns energy had been turned into sound and I was seeing the ebb and flow of energy from the solar corona.To find out more about Stef and her treatments and retreats visit PURE SOUND her events are also published on Facebook - click here.

My guest today is Yakir Soloman, he is a Chinese medicine health practioner based out of Israel. He began life in a small village with a curiosity for Eastern philosophy, having read Shogun - a novel written by James Cavall set in Japan, he was inspired to search for the mysterious Qi energy, and unlock the magic that shrouds esoteric traditional asian medicine. Having studied Chinese Medicine in his home country for a number years he travelled east to begin a scholarship in Chongqing. He encountered significant difficulties as a foreign English speaking student especially communicating with tutors, doctors and hospitals and could only make direct oberservation. But he was still missing a piece in the puzzle. Becoming stressed a fatigued and isolated about his dream slipping away he steered is frustration and focused his motivation to find an experienced English speaking Practioner and mentor whom he studied under for the remainder of his stay. Returning to his home country with all the amazing knowledge he discovered he has set up his own practice to offer treatments to those suffering pain, imbalance, common ailments and stress related fatigue with treatments such as Acupunture and Acupressure. He is also the host of his very own podcast The Inner Gardener - publishing in both English and Hebrew, sharing ideas about traditional Chinese medicine and connecting with other practioners. 

This week I meet with Dr Aron Choi - a Naturopathic Physician. We discuss his life journey touching on aspects of personality and motivation working at a silicon valley start up in the tech boom, to being forced into a position of redundancy during the financial crash and how he discovered his calling as a Naturopathic Doctor. In doing so he has helped dozens of people overcome stress related fatigue, symptoms and ailments without the use of drug prescriptions and medications. In doing so he has discovered the amazing powers that both the body and mind working in harmony with each other can stimulate both recovery and healing, bringing the mind body connection back into alignment. We chart Dr Aron's challenges, discoveries and intentions for his practice based in Atlanta, Washngton.To find out more about Dr Aron's practice please visit: https://www.aronchoi.com/The Awkward Silence: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-awkward-silence-podcast/id1367674918?mt=2    

This week I speak with a sucessful International Graphic Designer & Art Director : James Eccleston. I have known James since studying Graphic design in Manchester, UK.  It has been interesting to catch up with  James's story and how he has overcome struggles in an incredibly competitve and technology driven industry where typical only the top 10% compete for the most desirable design jobs in the UK. From climbing onto the ladder as humble and skint graphic designer in London to becoming an International Art Director with a team of assistants he has regularly encountered and dealt with stress and pressure from both clients, managers and colleagues.Due to illness triggered by stress James decided to cut and run from a high powered Art Director role in London and travel the world on a soul searching mission, discovering the World outside of the London design bubble. His journey lead him to rediscover what he enjoyed about creativity and why he became a graphic designer in the first place - which was to deeply connect with people and express his ideas.To find James and his work, please visit :- http:/www.james-eccleston.com

In this podcast I speak to a fellow broadcaster about the challenges of working in a creative field whilst paying the bills and putting food on the table - when we are following the money and delivering to a specific audience or brief this can often create an internal conflict, as we are not following our heart.