Australia is gum tree heaven, with hundreds of different varieties to delight you.  The eucalyptus or gum tree makes the Aussie landscape its own with Blue, Yellow, Box, Snowy and Stringy Gum’s to name a few.

Fully-grown gum’s surprisingly encourage forest fires because the eucalypt seed needs a little scorching to get it to germinate.  Naturally thin strips of tinder-dry bark hang down from the trees to the ground and also flash fires are stimulated by the oil-rich leaf litter.    Last February 2009 in the state of  Victoria  had been through many years of drought, which at the end of their summer caused huge out-of-control fires which tore across massive tracts of the bush.  When visiting this year I feared the prospect of more fires and was also worried about experiencing the hopelessly devastated ancient forests.  Surely with the scale and the intensity of the 2009 fires the largest of trees and the most plucky of seeds would have been totally destroyed.

This year in early February the people of Victoria were gearing up to survive the possibility of more fires with shelters, plans for saving property and most importantly escape contingencies.  It probably was a coincidence, but we arrived from Wales and after years of drought it appeared that behind our plane followed a great, big rain cloud!   That first week there were daily thunderstorms and there on regular downpours during the month, meaning the fires this year were minimal.  The straw-coloured paddocks and fields became green and my Australian brother joked I was the ‘Rain Goddess’!

In the Australian Alps, the eucalyptus woodlands that completely cover this vast range of Mountains were burnt and blackened for hundreds of square kilometres by an unimaginably ferocious fire, which left behind what looked like a dead forest.  But it was a joy to see that the Eucalyptus tree is so incredible that it has somehow survived, this year throwing out fresh, young re-growth from the skeletal body of the tree, close to the ground or high up depending on the variety, quickly creating again a vibrant living forest.

Standing amongst the trees after the rain the eucalyptus smells particularly fresh and strong.  The atmosphere warming my damp Welsh lungs with the transfered heat of the sun and fires of Australia.  I climbed high to the top of Mount Buffalo and the blue gum eucalyptus oil (Eucalyptus globulus) can still be seen as a blue haze in the atmosphere over the trees.   No wonder eucalyptus essential oil is a wonderful tonic for the lungs, and now the aroma of eucalyptus essential oil will  always remind me of the Australian bush and its amazing ability to rise from the ashes.

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The Welsh School of Aromatherapy has created an Information Station Forum to help everyone link-up.   Beautifully design by Stefhan Caddick our wonderful Welsh School of Aromatherapy website designer, it is simple to use and and easy on the eye.

Professional therapists, tutors, students, prospective students and home users of aromatherapy can enjoy sharing ideas, knowledge and experiences or simply to ask for information.   Anyone interested in Aromatherapy, Reiki, Massage, Body Therapy, products or other associated themes is welcome.

This is your forum and  you can link up with our ever-growing community of people who share your passion at any time, or just pop onto the forum as inspiration and read what others may be chatting about .

As a bigger picture this Information Station can play a part in helping Aromatherapy grow in 2010 and become massive in the next decade. Aromatherapy is a fast growing emergent therapy, and through information from clinical research to home use, we are increasingly discovering its power, join us to positively expand our knowledge and practice.

Just click here to get to the ‘How to use the forum’ page http://www.aromatherapywales.org/forum/help.php

Or directly to Forum home page http://www.aromatherapywales.org/forum/

See you at the forum!

Therapy with Essential Oils

A New Welsh School of Aromatherapy  Distance Learning Course

Designed for complementary therapists of all kinds who are already trained and practicing, to enhance the work you do through the use of essential oils.

Aromatherapy blends exquisitely well with all manner of existing therapies, including: Reflexology, Shiatsu, Reiki, and of course, massage therapies.

This course offers extensive training in the safe and dynamic therapeutic application of essential oils. It is especially useful to those who may not need to learn the massage skills included in the longer course.

The course is suitable for absolute beginners in Aromatherapy and also for those with a basic understanding. Especially when the subject is one of many in a broad ‘Holistic Therapies’ qualification, practitioners may qualify without sufficient knowledge to implement optimum use of the essential oils for their clients.

What will you learn?

The course includes all essential oil and anatomy and physiology theory involved in the Holistic Aromatherapy Diploma over 30 modules with assignments, home practical work, essential oil thesis and case studies, which you will work through and will be individually marked by your personal tutor.

Upgrade

Therapy with Essential Oils can be upgraded at a later date (applying within three years of qualifying) to the Holistic Aromatherapy Diploma, which is also accredited by the longest established organisation for professional aromatherapists in the world, the International Federation of Aromatherapy (IFA). The Welsh School of Aromatherapy can provide the aromatherapy massage and practical modules necessary for the IFA examination. Those undertaking the aromatherapy massage and practical modules are required to attend seven weekend workshops in Wales, which start in September each year, plus one weekend for the IFA theory and practical examinations.

Application

All are welcome, however to study by correspondence you have to have a good command of the English language and be able organise your study time. To apply download the application form available on this site and mark it ‘Therapy with Essential Oils training’.

Duration

This course may be started at anytime and takes a minimum of 6 months of home study depending on your ability and time available to study, and must be completed within 18 months.

Cost

Therapy with Essential Oils Correspondence training - £1,400, you will also need to buy six set books, essential oils and product ingredients.

To upgrade to the International Federation of Aromatherapy (IFA) accredited Holistic Aromatherapy Diploma ( including aromatherapy, lymphatic and facial massage module, also IFA practical and IFA theory examination fees) an additional £1,540

Any questions?

If you need to discuss any aspect of this course do please get in touch.

It’s not too late to stock up on some Scented Solstice Surprises - Don’t miss this chance to treat your loved ones to some Hand Made Luscious Luxury!

Ho Ho Chi Heaven will be at the Christmas Fair in Llanbedrog at the Glyn Y Weddw on Saturday 5th December from 10.00 - 4.00

Massage Gift Vouchers - Dizzy’s Fizzy Spells - Solstice Sparkle Bath Salts - Soothing Aftershave - Gentle Skin Toner - Rose Otto Hand Cream and Moisturiser - Hand Embroidered Lavender Bags - Lip Balm - Massage Bars - Crystallised Ginger - and MORE!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Mistletoes and Mincepices, Dizzy x

Reiki Attunements at Coleg Harlech

Reiki I Attunement Friday 12th March 2010.  £60 -£30 deposit secures your place

Reiki I is the entry level.  The student is attuned to Reiki energy for the healing of themselves, others, plants and animals.  At this level we will discuss the body’s energy centres known as the Chakras. Added value in training with the Welsh School of Aromatherapy is the delightful combination of Reiki and Aromatherapy, or ‘Aroma-Reiki’ and learning which essential oils are effective in working with each of the seven Chakras. This one-day attunement is open to all.

Reiki II Attunement Friday 23rd April 2010.  £60 - £30 deposit secures your place

Reiki II is the practitioner level, enabling students to become Reiki Therapists.  The student works with symbols and is shown meditation techniques to allow them to access and direct the Reiki energy in a more focused manner.  Distance healing and other techniques are also taught.  Before Reiki II attunement you will need to provide a copy of your Reiki I certificate.  This one day attunement is open to those who have completed Reiki I

On each Reiki level you will learn how and why Reiki works, its historical background as well as experience the Attunement.  After the Attunements we consolidate the theory with lovely practice sessions where you will both give and receive Reiki.  You will also receive a certificate and your own Reiki Manual to take home with you containing all the workshop information as well as documenting your personal Reiki lineage.

Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation, which also promotes healing.  Developed by Dr Mikao Usui in the 1900’s, Reiki treatment is given by the simple age-old technique of the laying on of hands, which can be learned by anyone. Reiki arose from Tantric Teachings that originated from the Japanese Tendai Buddhist monks, and is now available for people of any background.  It is not a religion and holds no doctrines or creeds.

Reiki Master Lindsay Woodman trained in the Usui Tradition and has been working with Reiki energy for 14 years. Working in clinics, hospitals and in homes, Lindsay incorporates Reiki into her aromatherapy practice and has worked in the areas of elderly, palliative, mental health, pregnancy and childbirth care as well as for carers, adults and children. She loves giving Reiki to plants and animals, and has often infused her aromatherapy remedies with Reiki.

These workshops counts towards Continued Professional Development (CPD’s) for therapists.

We smell the invisible molecules of essential oils that flow into the air through evaporation, and these molecules affect the way we feel.  Essential oils are often referred to as the spiritual essence of the plant, and so are particularly useful in healing our spirit, which makes aromatherapy combined with Reiki an exquisite combination.

An aromatherapy burner with water and a few drops of an appropriate essential oil will clean and perfume the air bringing the energy of its plant into the healing space.   This is a more pleasant and generally healthier than burning joss sticks, which often contain a combination of unnatural and cloying fragrances with smoke. But if you prefer this method of scenting the room there are some Tibetan joss sticks available that contain only herbal substances or you could use natural incense with a small charcoal burner.

One drop of an appropriate essential oil placed on your palms before you work will bring additional healing energy. Juniperberry essential oil clears and protects both you and your environment.  Simply put one drop of juniper in the palm of your hand, rub the palms of both your hands together gently.  As the aroma rises use your hands to massage over your aura, not forgetting behind, above and below.

Try bathing in up to six drops of an essential oil before or after healing work to cleanse, focus and relax. Diluting essential oils when using them in the bath with a little shampoo or in full fat milk.

Rosewater sprayed in the healing space is very safe to use and wonderfully calming.
Frankincense creates spiritual release and releases past pain
Lavender calms
Lemon focuses the attention
Rose resonates with love
Orange and other citrus feed the soul
Vetivert earths electrical mental energy
Cedarwood gives confidence

AROMATOUCH & CARETOUCH WALES

The Welsh School of Aromatherapy is pleased to announce its accreditation in teaching AROMATOUCH and CARETOUCH courses. Ideal for people working in care homes, day centres, teachers, teaching assistants, nurses, health care assistants and any other caring professions. These qualifications in aromatherapy and or massage skills enable anyone in the caring professions to safely use aromatherapy skills in their working environment.

These brand new AROMATOUCH and CARETOUCH courses are distinctively modern in style, designed to improve the environment for workers and clients alike, whilst also increasing the quality of individualised care. For many years carers have become progressively worried about giving safe touch to their clients. Clients and patients may well have become increasingly deprived of positive physical contact, which could in turn have a negative impact on physical and emotional wellbeing. Children, adults and elderly people respond positively to appropriate, safe, sensitive, warm-hearted touch and care.

AROMATOUCH and CARETOUCH allow the carer and the cared-for to experience a positive change within therapeutic relationships. On successful completion of the course, carers will be trained to practice safely within the limited sphere of practice of their working environment. The simple, but valuable techniques are designed to work effectively, even during a busy work schedule.

Safety issues and litigation fears have, quite rightly prohibited many employers from allowing staff to practice aromatherapy in their work setting. The exciting development of AROMATOUCH and CARETOUCH has tackled this safety issue head on, by limiting the sphere of practice to very safe and specific application of aromatherapy and massage skills.

This training has been designed in association with the International Federation of Aromatherapy which is the longest-established governing body for Professional Aromatherapy in the world.  AROMATOUCH and CARETOUCH trained carers will be able to access support, and insurance to practice as an associate member of The International Federation of Aromatherapy.

AROMATOUCH: Aromatherapy Skills for Carers (NVQ Level 3 pending)

Enables the carer to use specific essential oils, safe touch, massage skills professionally.
• Aromatouch 5 day course
• 35 hours unsupervised tasks and assignments
• 1-day presentation of assessments

OR
• 3 day Course (if completed as a separate module to Caretouch)
• 15 hours unsupervised tasks and assignments
• 1 day presentation of assessments

CARETOUCH: Massage Skills for Carers (NVQ Level 2 pending)

Enables the carer to use safe touch, massage skills and massage stories professionally.

• 2 day course
• 20 hours unsupervised tasks and assignments
• 1 day presentation and assessment

AROMATOUCH and CARETOUCH can be provided by request for 5 to 8 students at a suitable date at the Coleg Harlech Venue, or in an appropriate room in the work-place. The 2-day course can be run concurrently or on separate weeks.

Fees are £90 per person per day, which includes the Course Manual, all training by and assessment fees.

If you are interested please get in touch now.
Course dates soon to be announced for early 2010

It was a rainy Welsh Saturday and there can be nothing better to do than meet up with some like-minded people in the lovely Portmeiron atmosphere, to discover the magic of aromatherapy.  We touched and sniffed freshly picked herbs, learning how they could be changed into essential oils with the help of a little Italian still.  Each student was given their own informative booklet so they could focus on the aromas; blended delicious bath and skin potions to take home; gave and received lovely aromatherapy massage.

The group of eight seemed to enjoy every moment and there was a deal of interest in our further courses.

‘Thank you very much for a wonderful day yesterday, I have learnt loads and can’t wait to start using my new found knowledge! It was a lovely relaxed atmosphere and fantastic to be taught by someone who obviously loves the subject. Trouble is I enjoyed it so much I would like to do some more…’

If you are interested in any of our courses or would like one in your area do get in touch.

Email us to be informed of new courses as they become available.