Upminster Sanctuary Complementary Healing and Teaching

26/08/2026

To all of our wonderful customers. We are so sorry if you have been unable to reach us but BT have left us without phones or internet for weeks now.

Our part time staff are working remotely where they can and Julia Massey is working hard trying to return all calls via her mobile.

Please accept our apologies and know that we are trying our best. Unfortunately BT have let us down completely.

25/08/2026

Someone you love is under this Moon too. 🌙
There’s something comforting about looking up at the Moon and knowing that, wherever they might be, someone you love lives beneath the very same one.
Different towns. Different countries. Different time zones. They might not be able to see it at exactly the same moment as you, but eventually, the same Moon will pass through their sky too.

For centuries, the Moon has been associated with connection, reflection and the passing of time. Perhaps that’s part of the reason we’re still so drawn to it.
It can make the world feel enormous and, somehow, a little smaller at the same time.

At The Upminster Sanctuary, we love those simple moments that make us stop, look beyond the busyness of the day and feel connected to something bigger than ourselves.

Next time you see the Moon, think of someone you love, wherever in the world they may be. 🌙

upminstersanctuary.com

24/08/2026

The Summer edition of our Power of Plants magazine is out now! 🌸 📖

This edition includes:
🌿Going (Almost) Alcohol Free - Natasha Richardson
🌿Spagyrics by Hannah Charman
🌿A herbalist in every School by Elizabeth Fisher
🌿Sustainability in Herbal Practice by Alice Johnston
🌿The Permaculture Garden in the Summer by Holly Van Heffernan

PoP Magazine gives you a quarterly dose of articles, opinion, research and updates, showcasing all of the amazing ways that plants, practitioners and people interact. 🪴 😀

Full Members of the Institute receive a free copy of our magazine by opting in.
Not a member? You can buy an issue, or subscribe, on our website (link in bio)

Happy herbal reading!

24/08/2026

ARE YOU GUESSING — OR TESTING?

Hey Everyone!
Throughout September I’m going to be holding some small Nutrition & Health workshops at The Sanctuary in Upminster.
They’ll be around two hours and I want to keep them fairly informal — lots of useful information, questions and discussion around nutrition, supplements and some of the home testing that’s now available.

We’ll look at healthy weight loss and how to create a sensible calorie deficit while still getting enough protein, energy and nutrients and, importantly, keeping as much muscle as possible. This is particularly relevant for anyone using GLP-1 weight-loss medications, but equally applies to any weight loss protocol.

I’ll also be talking about Omega-3 testing — what your Omega-3 Index and Omega-6:3 ratio actually mean, and why EPA and DHA are so important for our health.

We’ll get into gut health and fibre, the microbiome and some of the newer testing looking at things such as tryptophan and the metabolites our gut bacteria produce.

We’ll also cover HbA1c and blood sugar/Insulin, Vitamin D, and why knowing your numbers can be so useful rather than just assuming everything is okay, or dosing according to the latest podcast you’ve heard!

And then we'll talk supplements.
I’m very much food first, but sometimes there are things we're simply not getting enough of. We’ll look at Omega-3, fibre and prebiotics, collagen, Vitamin D, vitamins & minerals, and how our needs can change through childhood, pregnancy, menopause, sport, weight loss and as we get older.

You’ll be able to test yourself and family members, or take some kits away with you should you wish after the presentation.

📍 The Sanctuary, Upminster
📅 Weekly throughout September (TBC – get in touch)
⏱️ Around 2 hours
🎟️ £20 per person

Interested? Drop me a WhatsApp on 07595 377400 and I’ll send you the available dates and times.
Miles

23/08/2026

What are you carrying through the front door?

We don’t only bring our keys, bags and shopping home with us.
Sometimes we bring the whole day.
The conversation we’re still replaying. The work problem we haven’t quite switched off from. Someone else’s bad mood. The traffic. The rushing. All those little things that can follow us from one part of the day into the next.
This is where a little mindfulness can make a difference. Simply noticing what you’re carrying, rather than letting the day follow you straight through the door.

Creating a small ritual when you arrive home can help mark that change of pace. Change your clothes. Wash your hands and face. Put the kettle on. Light a candle. Sit quietly for five minutes before doing anything else.
Nothing elaborate, just a mindful moment that says: the day can stay outside for a while.

At The Upminster Sanctuary, mindfulness is just one of the many ways we explore looking after our wellbeing, not only during the time you spend with us, but in the everyday moments too. 🌿

upminstersanctuary.com
01708 251124

20/08/2026

What’s in your wellbeing cupboard? 🌿
Most of us have a few things we naturally reach for when we want to feel a little more cared for.
A herbal tea before bed. Essential oils. Bath salts. A favourite remedy. Something warming, soothing or familiar that has quietly become part of how we look after ourselves.
For generations, people have kept simple ingredients and remedies close at hand, and that connection with natural wellbeing is still very much alive today.

At The Upminster Sanctuary, it’s something we explore through areas such as naturopathy, herbal approaches, aromatherapy and wellbeing workshops, helping you discover what might have a place in your own everyday routine.

So, if you had to open your wellbeing cupboard right now, what would we find? 🌿

upminstersanctuary.com
01708 251124

18/08/2026

We moved before we had words.

Movement has always been part of being human.
We stretch instinctively when we wake. We change position when our body feels uncomfortable. We walk when we need to clear our head. We instinctively move towards what feels good and away from what doesn’t.
Long before movement became something measured in steps, calories or workouts, it was simply part of how we lived.
And perhaps we’ve made it more complicated than it needs to be.

Yoga, Tai Chi and Qigong all offer very different approaches to movement, but none of them need to be about performance. They give us an opportunity to pay attention to the body, become more aware of how we move and spend some time away from the usual rush of the day.

At The Upminster Sanctuary, you can explore movement in a way that feels right for you.

No numbers. No competition. Just movement. 🌿

upminstersanctuary.com
01708 251124

16/08/2026

We talk about needing to relax all the time, but how often do we actually notice what relaxation feels like in the body?

Your jaw unclenches.
Your shoulders drop.
Your breathing becomes slower and easier.
Your hands stop gripping.
Your thoughts aren’t competing quite so loudly for your attention.

Sometimes it’s only when those things happen that you realise how much tension you were carrying in the first place.

A treatment, a therapy, a class, meditation, movement or simply dedicated time for yourself can give you the opportunity to notice those changes.

At The Upminster Sanctuary, there are many different ways to find what relaxation feels like for you.

Perhaps the first step is simply noticing when your body is asking for it. 🌿

upminstersanctuary.com

15/08/2026

Happy Birthday to this amazing man who brought Reiki to the world. Reiki is now a world renowned healing system cherished by many. Hospitals and hospices around the world are beginning to see the value of this deeply healing and relaxing system. Happy Birthday Usui Sensei ❤️

Happy Birthday, Usui Sensei!