River Valley Wellness Centre

Stress Reduction and Relaxation Groups

In a series of sessions for eight weeks participants are engaged in a process of self discovery, learning, and exploring, while being exposed to a safe and supportive environment with others engaged in a similar venture. Facilitator, Lori McKinney introduces the concepts of Mindfulness and present day living and covers topics such as stress, anxiety, depression, loss, emotional balance, spirituality and many others, with which people tend to struggle.

Particular attention is paid to cultivating an atmosphere of relaxation through the implementation of music, poetry, sharing and restful meditation. People from all walks of life can participate in this opportunity and benefit can be experienced by anyone. The program is based on a model developed by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, who is world renowned in the study of Mindfulness. The facilitator, Lori McKinney has trained directly with Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn and has learned how to guide individuals with their own uniqueness along this new path of wellness and daily living.

Life Coaching

Life coaching is a guided exploration of your current life with an eye for improvement, enhancement, advancement, and change, all for the purpose of increasing satisfaction, contentment and passion for living. It is an opportunity to freely discuss life choices, life styles, patterns of living, relationship dynamics, and employment concerns in a non-judging, non biased, insightful environment. Predominant is the notion: “we learn who we are, as we hear ourselves speak”. Life coaching brings into awareness what is sometimes hidden in each individual under the layers of cultural conditioning, role expectations and historical beliefs.

Counselling

When people find themselves in difficult transitions in life be it illness, death, divorce or trauma, there is often a need for a therapeutic comprehensive systematic approach to helping people move through these processes. Affiliated with the Centre are highly trained counselors to assist people in the following areas: marital discord, addiction, depression, mental illness, youth issues, post trauma affect, grief and loss.

Viniyoga

What is Viniyoga?

All yoga traditions come from the same philosophical roots and practice similar postures, sometimes called asanas. What makes Viniyoga unique is its emphasis on awareness. Viniyoga calls on each practitioner to increase their awareness of our unique breath, body, mental, and emotional patterns as a gauge for how we are doing and how we need to practice. So often we forced to live our lives on autopilot, consumed with deadlines and expectations, driven by force and self-will. Viniyoga is an invitation to restore the body, breath, and mind to a place of balance and awareness.

The word “Vini” is an ancient Sanskrit word meaning “to start from where you are” and that encourages us to progress towards our goals gradually, intelligently and patiently.

With these underlying principles, Viniyoga classes are highly adaptive classes that are able to fit are variety age, ability and skill levels and employ a variety practices, such as postures (asanas), breath techniques (pranayama), and meditation, all as a means for bring forth the best that each individual has to offer at any given time.

Reiki

What is Reiki?

Reiki is a technique for stress reduction and relaxation that promotes healing. The word Reiki (pronounced Ray-Key) is made up of two Japanese words – Rei which means “God’s wisdom or the Higher Power” and Ki which is “Life Force Energy”. It is often referred to as “Energy Healing”.

Reiki is a healing practice that helps us balance on every level-physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. It supports our well being and strengthens our natural ability to heal by encouraging balance within the body. Beneficial effects include relaxation, feelings of peace, security and well being.

Treatments are given by a Reiki Practitioner lightly placing their hands on, or slightly above, different points of the client’s body ensuring complete coverage to the major organs, glands, and joints of the body. This allows the Reiki flow of energy to go where it is needed.

Although Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. The connection of mind, body, and spirit is reawakened bringing about change and personal growth.

Palliative Care

Areas of support that I could provide for caregivers, or the frail, elderly, disabled or ill include;

Practical matters - planning care options (location of care, arranging respite and homemaker support), bridging communication between service providers, estate planning,Êplanning for Power of Attorneys, funeral preparations and place of death.

Family issues - dealing with challenges of care, difficult family dynamics, resolving unfinished business,Êexploring family beliefs and rituals, saying good bye and giving permission to die.

Grief issues - Êdealing with losses/changes that occur during illness or death, working through emotions of grief, conducting life review (finding meaning and worth in telling one's story), planning for spiritual support, and reconciliation work to aid in the process of letting go of life.

Education and support for caregivers - learning to practice self-care, managing stress, use of relaxation techniques, reviewing tasks of caregiving, exploring and referring to community resources, and engaging in 'present moment living'.

Our Store

All our CD's are $10.00. They are available by contacting us, or purchasing them at Acorn Books in Woodstock.

Our Introduction to Meditation CD is a good place to begin exploring the principles and practices of Meditation. I have specifically kept it in the realm for those who are inquisitive and wanting just a taste of what meditation may have to offer in the everyday modern life.

Coming Awake CD is designed to be used to quiet the busy mind during a busy day or at the end of a long day. It can also bring one back to a place of being grounded in one’s own life in the midst of chaos, stress and difficult life events. It is meditative but allows for a broad usage: while driving, exercising, working or just playing in the background as one goes about their day.

Love is a CD that is purely meditative to be used while sitting in the meditative posture or lying down. It was made using deep concepts of loving oneself and loving others. This CD is designed to allow the listener to enter into their own meditative state for learning and listening, while receiving messages of deep love and acceptance.

All CD’s are guided by Lori Ellis-McKinney. Please contact us for orders.