Introduction class to Essential Oils by Dr Thomasina Craster and Jan Erik Posth
5 June 2019
Coming Monday evening, 10.June, I will be running together with Dr Thomasina Craster an introduction to 10+ go-to Essential Oils that will empower you with natural solutions to everyday health challenges for you, your family and friends.
Location is our clinic in central Bath, The Bath Practice, 26 Monmouth Street, Bath BA1 2AP.
The class is free of charge, limited tickets are available here.
We look forward hearing from you!
Newsletter May 2019
24 May 2019
One step at a time, and none at times
“Meet your own self. Be with your own self, listen to it, obey it, cherish it, keep it in mind ceaselessly. You need no other guide. As long as your urge for truth affects your daily life, all is well with you.“
Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
These are exciting times, fast paced and often riddled with a sense of urgency.
A few weeks ago I had the extraordinary privilege to participate at a much inspiring weekend seminar with Charles Eisenstein in Edinburgh, in my eyes one of the most visionary thinkers, speakers and authors of our turbulent time.
This gathering developed to be a beautiful “murmoration of activist and healers” in the midst of the dilemma of “not doing enough” and “what to do”. Charles, as in his newest book “Climate – a new story”, explains eloquently not only that our current “war on carbon” is misleading, but also that we need to find the time and space within ourselves to hear what the planet really wants from us, what she is singing to us. A “change of mind” rather than re-enacting the world of linearity and problem solving, which created the mess we find ourselves in in the first place, be it environmental, political, economical, physical or mental.
Having said that I don’t mean to appear criticising the ongoing protests, be it XR or our kids, inspired by Greta Thunberg, exercising civil obedience in form of school strikes (a historical first?!) to protest against (us adults running the show so badly).
I believe both, active nonviolent action as well an inner search, fearless and humble, is necessary and asked for. Both of these protests appear to address not just carbon emissions and global warming, the domineering convenient truth, but a much bigger picture.
Speaking of enlightening authors, another current source of great inspiration to me, Stephen Jenkinson, author of the books “Die Wise” and “Come of Age” and protagonist in the documentary “Griefwalker” is coming to the UK. This work, founded on his experience in what he calls “The Death Trade” as palliative carer, is a cultural, political and moral agitation on dying and elderhood. Don’t miss his “Nights of Grief and Mystery” near you!
To catch up where we left it last: In March I attended “Julian House’s” 10th “Big Bath Sleep-Out” in Alice Park in Bath to raise money and awareness for it’s homelessness services. More than 300 participants raised more than £48.000 pound (and counting). That’s what it looked like and here you can still support my fundraiser.
Technically it wasn’t much of a big deal for me, I’ve slept much rougher and wilder in my years as rock climber on a shoestring. In fact I enjoyed a good night sleep in the open under a clear night sky. And to some extend, given the amount of adolescent kids participating, along with many families, it felt a bit like a party on a festival. Very well organised and high spirited, thumbs up, Julian House and it’s volunteers!
Similar to the work with The Dying the topic of homelessness strikes a cord with me. Whilst I feel that many other charities should ideally be financed by state or business, both those affairs concern all of us not just to a certain degree but at any means. By default homelessness comes with homes and dying comes with life. And both of these culturally inherent issues seem utterly neglected and avoided in our dominant Western culture.
I somehow suspect the work that is needed most in our times of loss and being lost begins with our ability and readiness of grieving and allowing, as opposed to quick fixes and more and more control.
About a month ago I began time restricted fasting, a method known as 8/16, in addition to my ongoing gluten and dairy free diet. I’ve always been intrigued by fasting (rather than dieting), as with most things that seem to be going on in human history since forever. Not motivated to loose weight but as a way of detoxing by increasing rates of metabolism, promoting longevity, alertness and mental acuity. Whilst I’ve come across many a diet or detoxing method this one made not only sense but seemed easy enough to give it a go. Just don’t eat or drink (other than water or unsweetened tea or coffee) between dinner and lunch for roughly 16 hours. Originating in the world of workout, weight training and bodybuilding this concept of fasting has become quite popular, is even intuitive for some.
The first two weeks went by easy enough, the charm of novelty and holidays helped, paired with sometimes copious amounts of coffee and almost continuous eating and snacking for the entire 8 hours allowed. Still, my waist shrank and I obviously lost a bit of weight, I guess as much as I could.
The first and only, still pretty serious problem I encountered was when going for a long dog walk along the river without having access to any drinking water. I made it back home on willpower but felt very drained for a couple of hours even after hydrating and eating.
I make sure now to drink plenty and not consume any stimulants (tee or coffee) before food.
Even though the amounts of food, as well as time spend preparing and eating, still feels similar to before the fast (if not more sometimes) I’ve learned to more and more appreciate the daily routine, even the feel of hunger. I consciously and effortlessly drink plenty of water (3-5 liters/day) and I enjoy eating more than ever.
When I find myself in situations that I’m asked “is all this not very difficult to do?” I know that I would have considered the sum of these steps impossible myself not too long ago. I think it is very if not most important to do small steps and do what feels right at a time. And to also try to make the move, sometimes beyond what you think of as your comfort zone.
Keep the stepping up going!
With love
Jan Erik
Newsletter March 2019
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Hillside Massage goes local: Charity and Currency!
10 February 2019
Again, it popped up on my newsfeed as for quite a few years now. The Big Bath Sleep-out.
For the 10th time the local charity Julian House invites to sleep outside in Victoria Park for one night on March 8 and raise money for the homeless.
I love sleeping outside. Usually on a holiday, on the beach or in the mountains – but the park will do.
And even though I have a rather complicated relationship to charities in general, there are actually 2 local charities that touch me in a way I can agree with. Both a house, Julian and Dorothy, the latter engaging in hospice work of all sorts of shape and form.
Not bound by work duties for the first time of my time in Bath I will commit to the Sleep-Out as “Team Hillside Massage” raising money for Julian House. Join the team for the night or/and contribute to my fundraising here, the highest contribution will qualify for a Massage Coupon (1 hour massage).
The really big news this week is just as local and even more political: Hillside Massage now is part of and accepts “Bristol Pound” as payment. According to the app I’m the first business in Bath that has joined Britains biggest local currency!
In order to engage in and contribute to our local community I now offer the first massage treatment for almost half price (£20/30mins, £30/hour) to local residents. Qualifying is everybody with a “Discovery Card” or a B£ account.
This feels like coming home since I passionately believe that the solutions to most of our so-called global problems are to be found locally, be it healthcare, environmental healing, food production, social engagement, energy or banking. Active in my community in Sweden before 2012, less so since living here, I think one of the most promising and engaging initiatives I’m aware of is “Transition Towns” , founded by Rob Hopkins, Peter Lipman and Ben Brangwyn 2006 in Totness, local currencies being one of many ideas for creating more resilient communities.
Until Wednesday 13/2 you can still admire the abstract artwork by my fellow students and myself in the Guildhall in Bath. “Unfurling” has been put together and made possible by our amazing teacher Lucy Baile at “Fern”.
Happy 2019, blocks and silver bullets
2 February 2019
On Happy New Years, Blog Blocks and the Silver Bullet of Wellbeing
“Health, contentment and trust
Are your greatest possessions,
And freedom your greatest joy.”
(Joy, Dhammapada)
How long can one wish a happy new year? I’ve learned, probably from one of my moderately superstitious italian friends, that it supposedly brings bad luck to wish a happy new year before the 31st of December. There seems to be no fixed rule though how long into January it is still appropriate. Certainly the beginning of February seems highly inappropriate! I like the swedish greeting after New Year, which combines both a late Christmas and New Year greeting, is used well into January and could be translated with “Happy Continuation”.
So, inappropriately late even by swedish terms, I would like to wish you all happy beginnings and continuations in 2019.
Blogging. It’s been on my mind forever and on my to-do list for quite some time. Apart from some feeble random outbursts in the past I’ve always found ways and reasons to avoid it. Typically, I believe, for many us that were informed and educated in pre-internet times, I’ve always felt not sufficiently entitled to write and publish words and other content (with the exception of photographs). I never considered myself a writer, jokingly I even used to say in the past that I had to become a photojournalist because I could not read or write.
Here’s my resolution – feed content! The expectations are high.
Last summer, for the first time since my early 20’s, my mild psoriasis – an inheritable skin condition that in some form or shape affects a quarter of the population – disappeared miraculously after I joined my partner on a gluten and dairy free diet for just 2 weeks. Astonished I began reading up on gluten, autoimmune conditions and other diet related topics.
Not only did I have a few relapses in my ongoing diet but I also realised that there were most certainly other lifestyle factors involved. My psoriasis eventually returned when the summer was over and contrary to my initial, wishful, impression I come to the belief that there is no silver bullet, no holy grail and no universal solution to any condition, be it physical, mental, or environmental. Only individual and holistic approaches will serve long term, true healing.
More on this and other health related issues coming up here or in my newsletter.
The body is extension and servant of the mind, but when the body becomes the mind with desires, with distractions or with pains – the servant becomes the master.
14 January 2019
Hillside Massage at Shindig Weekender 2018
7 June 2018
Thank you all for a great time, filled with healing, connecting to new and old friends, thunderstorms, music, food and family.
Hope to see many of you in my clinic or elsewhere – stay tuned and be in touch!
Site is up!
19 May 2018
Hello world!
By the time you can read this we’re there with the site and a blog and..
Lots of thank you’s for help and support and patience and interest.
Tom Keeble is the man, the hacker and the designer, an amazing climber and friend, and all that in the midst of his A-Levels!
Thank you Frida Posth for her amazing drawings that we used for some logos! You rock!
Let us know what you think of the site, of the treatments and of all the things I forgot to think about. Leave a comment or review on facebook or on yellor in a mail.
So long!
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