I’m really chuffed to announce that this Friday will be my 100th meditation session under my local council’s Healthy & Active program.
It’s a fantastic initiative offering 179 activities (in the current April to June period) for little or no cost.
Think walking groups, yoga, dance classes, fitness for older adults, Pilates, Pickleball, parents and bubs progams, Tai Chi, workshops…
You name it, you can probably find it!
There’s also a separate program of activities for children during school holidays.
I first encountered the progam in early 2021, after I finished fulltime work.
I was searching for something active to do and found some free ‘yoga in the park’ classes.
It was just what I needed.
Stretching and holding a pose under clear blue skies, listening to Black Cockatoos flying overhead.
Shortly after, or maybe alongside this, I can’t quite remember now… I started my meditation and mindfulness training.
The course consisted of eight core session, plus three electives for the Advanced Certificate.
I so loved studying again and found each session so interesting.
I thought I’d probably conclude the training that year…
But I didn’t actually graduate until mid-2022.
Then it was trying to sort out my business and what I wanted to do.
Fortunately I remembered the Healthy & Active program and was (only just) in time to register for the 2023 January – June sessions.
It was two and a half months before I heard I was successful (yay!)
I could only do the first half of that year due to surgery….
But I’ve reapplied every year/session since and so far (fingers crossed) I’m still going strong.
I still have some participants with me from 2023 – and feel very grateful for this.
Each year people come and go…
Some try one session and maybe it’s not for them, so we don’t see them again…
I love that everyone has this opportunity to try something they may not have done before…
Something that maybe a bit different…
A sort or ‘try before you buy’ attitude.
If it’s not for them… they can try something else until they find (hopefully) what resonates with them.
Others just come when they can…
And I love this flexibility…
We all know life can get in the way sometimes…
But the fact some people come back after a gap is wonderful.
We’re just about to wrap up our January – June program this year…
But we start back up at the end of July so there’s plenty of time to take a look and see what’s available and interesting to you.
Below I’ve listed a few other council programs, so it’s worth searching your local area to see what’s on offer.
Happy Healthy & Active Anniversary!
Ann 🙏