Centre Manager
Acupuncture, Mindfulness, Yoga

Ruth Irving
BA (hons) Philosophy PGCE. Dip. Ac. MBAcC. YTT

Ruth has been a professional acupuncturist (tCM) for nearly 15 years.  It's over ten years since she established Carlisle's principal centre for natural wellbeing, Carlisle Therapies.  An integrative approach to health is her philosophy.

Lifestyle changes are key to a tCM (traditional Chinese Medicine) approach to maintaining best health.  Ruth encourages her patients to balance their often busy lives with mindful movement, breathwork and mindfulness.

Ruth has completed over 300 hours yoga teaching training (YTT).  She runs inclusive indoor weekly classes and workshops from Carlisle city at The Yoga Rooms and outdoor Kirkbride Yoga on the Turf classes - weather permitting.   

In 2021 Ruth is expanding her wellbeing services to include Mindfulness.  Running monthly Introduction to Mindfulness workshops. 
 

When not managing the centre, working full time as a professional acupuncturist and teaching yoga or mindfulness Ruth can be found in the Cumbrian fells hiking or mountain biking.

​

Visit her professional Acupuncture and wellness website here.
 

Yoga & Holistic Therapies incl. Reiki

Jana Mulholland

Jana’s interest in holistic living began many years ago.  She turned to yoga, meditation and holistic therapies for self-healing. It truly transformed her life and, realizing how life-changing holistic living can be, she wanted to share it.

​

This led her onto her own yoga teacher’s journey. Jana travelled to India 2 years later where she had studied many styles of yoga and meditation with some of the best masters gaining her 200hr Yoga and Meditation Teacher Qualification. Whilst in India, Jana has also received her Usui Reiki Level 1 and 2 attunements and became a Reiki practitioner herself.

​

Since her return from India, Jana teaches various styles of yoga including Hatha, Vinyasa Flow and Yin. 

​

Jana is passionate about inspiring and empowering others to step into their full potential, she truly believes in the body’s ability to heal itself and is devoted to helping others to find this truth for themselves.

Yoga & Tai Chi

Mark Davis

Twenty-five years of learning and along the way I’ve been fortunate in meeting some of the best teaches in the world as part of my own journey. From training long hours in melting humid heat of Sri Lanka to staying in the dark caves of long dead enlightened masters in India, ashrams and mountain tops, the search always leads back to oneself.  From Peruvian Shaman and secret teachings of Tibetan Lamas, all these things melt into one within the cauldron of one’s own practice and inner path.

​

My teaching is part of my practice, it is through this prism that I attempt to pass on what I have learned.  Tai Chi, Yoga, and meditation are to me one, even though physically using a different body dynamic, but with dedication and endless practice one can glimpse the unity of one’s whole self; known as “yoga” (unification).  This is the core of any true inner practise, develop the awareness and mental inner focus to control the mind, and thus seeking the potential to truly feel and be aware in ever deepening states of consciousness.  

​

My endless journey continues with the delight of learning every day, and hopefully passing a taste of what I have found to others. The health benefits are innumerable helping to keep or rekindle the joy of life and youthful vigour.
 

Yoga & Tai Chi

Hilary Watson

I began with Tai Chi having seen an advertisement in the local adult education leaflet and really wanted to give it a go. This was in 2003, my teacher then said he was teaching an Ashtanga Yoga class so a few months later I started to do yoga. I could barely touch my toes but persevered.

I began to realize the more you do it the more changes begin to happen in both yoga and tai chi.I started to teach yoga in 2005 and tai chi in 2017. I really enjoy both and the many health benefits they have. My aim is to try and pass this on to anyone I teach. Improving posture and alignment and balance of mind and body. Helping people relax and have more understanding about their body. Both are the ultimate in mindfulness, movement and meditation.
 

I try to keep my classes friendly and relaxed so a person only goes to their limit which is different for everyone...

I have been taught by some great teachers, I go to a yoga and tai chi class every week to keep my practice going too, you are always learning something new.  Through time with practice, you find your general health will improve, it helps you through the ups and downs in life. I like people to feel relaxed and rejuvenated at the end of a class. My classes are suitable for beginners. I can also teach chair yoga and I have taught children's yoga and meditation.  Namaste

Chair Yoga

Deborah Hewertson-Tidstall

Deborah took up yoga when she was 34 in 1996, partly because she was unhappy at the state of her health – for example she could not crouch down without her knees hurting. She attended classes in Carlisle run by Anne McDarby, a vini yoga teacher now retired, and this more therapeutic approach informed a lot of her teaching since.

She spent many months training with the British Wheel of Yoga, and in her thirties taught various yoga classes across West Cumbria.

​

In 2017, at 55, Deborah decided to retrain with the British Wheel of Yoga and to take their very intensive two-year NVQ 4 course. which she completed in February 2019, being granted their 500-hour diploma in May 2019.

​

Deborah's teaching approach involves tailoring the practice to the student. Her motto is - always be comfortable and cultivate awareness of your own body and your own breath. Her passion is to enable her students to let yoga enhance their lives as it has enhanced hers.

​

She is also a level 2 practitioner of Angelic Reiki.

Psychotherapy & Life Coach

Mick Armstrong

Adv.Prof.Dip. in Psch'y, MNCS, MBA and Qualified Clinical Supervisor, Diploma in Transformational Coaching and Diploma in Neuro Linguistic Programme methods.

Psychotherapy

Mick came to be a therapist by an unusual route in that he worked in prisons as his main career. In the late 1980s Mick decided he wanted to help victims of crime so volunteered for the victim support scheme. There was then a natural progression in gaining qualifications, he became a specialist in trauma for victim support and developed post incident support to staff in prisons. Alongside this there was a gradual progression through the ranks which took him from Prison Officer all the way up to his final post as prison inspector.
 

His journey meant that Mick could learn and practice many roles such as Training and Development, Operations, Security, and, on completing his MBA (Master’s Degree in Business Administration) more complex roles such as project management and heading up several departments in numerous large prisons.
 

On retirement Mick increased the level of his qualifications and is now at an advanced level in psychotherapy. He has taught new counselling students, facilitated critical incident response groups and is qualified to offer clinical supervision to other therapists.
 

Last but not least Mick’s integrative style means counselling is tailored to the needs of individual clients. He has extensive knowledge of many models and can offer help across a broad range of issues.
 

He is happy to arrange a free (no obligation) 20 minute consultation to see if you want/need counselling.

​

Transformational Coaching

Mick is also a qualified transformational life Coach and mentor, working in a holistic way he pays attention to a client’s wellbeing as well concentrating on their goals. Coaching is usually a short-term process and can be scheduled in a flexible way if that’s what is best for the client.
 

Coaching is different to counselling as it concentrates on the future to help people move on from issues such as unforeseen developments, stress, relationship problems or more professional problems like taking on a new role (such as becoming a manager). Goals are an important element and often a coach can support a client to identify their goals and achieve success.
 

With a wealth of life experiences as well as leadership roles Mick offers support to people to steer their way through life's challenges. 
 

Training, qualifications & experience

• Diploma in Transformational Coaching 

• Diploma in Neuro Linguistic Programming

• Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA)

• Advanced Professional Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling.
   

Mick has successfully practiced life coaching and mentoring for the last thirty years through his work in prisons and psychotherapy. If you feel coaching might be for you Mick can offer a free 30-minute discovery session (no obligation to continue).
 

If you are you unsure about what the future holds why not contact mick by email:
 

michaelrarmstrong@yahoo.com or phone him on 07584 634060

Hypnobirthing, Maternity Reflexology, Reproductive Reflexologist

Alison Lindsay

BSc (Hons), BMid (Hons), RM, MAR, MARR

Alison has been a practising midwife since 2012, working in varied settings including a homebirth team, community clinics, birth centres and busy labour wards.

​

She began teaching hypnobirthing in 2017 in order to offer new parents a more comprehensive and positive option for their antenatal courses.

​

Her interests in Women's Health and Fertility have since led her to expand into holistic therapies, where she specialises in reflexology for pregnancy and reproductive health. This can include support for fertility and also for reproductive disorders such as PCOS or Endometriosis.

​

Alison has qualified in Reproflexology and in doing so, is the only specialist Reproductive Reflexologist in Cumbria.

She works with couples to enhance their natural fertility, and can also support clients planning or going through fertility treatments such as IUI or IVF.

​

She is Registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and is a Member of the Associations of Reflexologists and Reproductive Reflexologists respectively.

Reikeaze Reiki for Women

Chris Bell
RGN. Specialist Nurse & Reiki Practitioner

​

From an early age Chris wanted to be a nurse.  Always wanting to nurture and help others she completed her nurse training at John Moores university in Liverpool.   Her intention was to nurse patients at home and she joined the Liverpool District Nursing Team. 

​

Later she moved with her family to Glencoe, continuing her District nursing career .  Embraced by patients and colleagues she was privileged to spend 6 wonderful years in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland  It was here that her eyes were opened to benefits of complementary therapies and Chakra realignment.  Chris went on to  complete a course in Indian Head massage but due to the demands her nursing role put this on hold. 

Later moving to The Eden Valley she continued my District Nursing career.  Her passion for Palliative care was growing  at this point and wanting to enhance her skills in palliative and end of life care she was delighted to secure a post at  a local Hospice.. It was here that  Reikii found me " and her own Reiki journey began ...

Now trained as a Reiki Practitioner it is her privilege to share this beautiful therapy with clients.  Used as a complementary therapy alongside conventional medicine , Reiki helps to ease tensions and promote well being on all levels, physical, emotional and spiritual .  Helping to promote a deep sense of relaxation it may help reduce  anxiety , nausea, pain ,insomnia and hormonal imbalance. Due to the purity of Reiki it can do no harm and makes an ideal therapy for clients who are not able to try conventional medicine. or patients going through or recovering from chemotherapy

Chris provides professional, confidential sessions bespoke to the needs of clients on the day so no two sessions will be the same .