Lesley in Hong Kong

Ray Lewis The Release Effect TRE

Ray Lewis is visiting Hong Kong from 17th April 2015 for two weeks and can be contacted on   9748 7538.

 

A few years ago I met Ray Lewis on a plane.  We had a very interesting conversation about his job which he told me was 'helping people'.  He explained a little about how he did this and it was so compelling that I followed up his suggestion of reading his website once I was home.  

 

The Release Effect     Take a little time to explore his method if you are interested.

 

 

I pursued his ideas and went ahead and did some, he recommends five,  sessions with him where he asked me questions and then asked me to sit quietly and listen to him.  I cannot really explain what happened after that apart from to say that I was aware of what was happening and could hear his voice.  It was calming and easy.

 

Afterwards, not immediately afterwards, and I can't really be precise about the timing of how my negative feelings were alleviated, but I had a complete change of feeling.  I felt lighter and no longer afraid.  The same old crap was going on but I felt Teflon coated after the sessions and it just didn't bother me in the same way.  I had more strength to live my life.

 

The Release Effect    Ray Lewis

 

Ray in visiting Hong Kong again and will be doing an informative free talk on 20th April at Reflections for all who are interested.   All the details are below from Ruby of Reflections.  

 

 

Reflections - TRE 20th April 2015

 

Ray Lewis spent most of his adult life (more than 20 years) battling severe  manic/depression or bi-polar as it has come to be known, and during that  time he spent thousands of hours and many more thousands of dollars trying  to get "the monkeys off his back".   He was addicted to therapies and would try anything to get relief from the nightmare of his own mind that he was trapped in.  He'd tried different types of therapies, attended umpteen different types of weekend seminar and read hundreds of self help books that inspired him, and according to Ray, they all worked, and provided some relief, but unfortunately, eventually the negative feelings would always come back again.
 

Fifteen years ago through a chance conversation, Ray stumbled across the missing link in the puzzle of the nightmare he found  himself in.  The answer came in the knowledge of a small part of the brain that was relatively unknown until the famous neuro-science professor Joseph  La Doux, (NYU) discovered aspects of a little part of the brain called the Amygdala in the Limbic System, which led to the development of The Release Effect.  

 

The Amygdala can store memories as a feeling memory even before our first conscious memories which usually start around the ages of 2-5.  For example, a baby left alone too long could feel abandoned, which to a baby would feel like a life threatening situation, and then in the future, anything even remotely similar to being alone can trigger the same fight/flight response that the Amygdala remembered from all those years before.  Even though the current situation is not logically relevant to that feeling memory.  The Release Effect does not require a memory of the original event that created the feelings, it does not use analysis of the past.

 

 

 

The Release Effect evolved and in the last ten years, Ray has successfully treated  nearly two thousand people with this technique, to help them get rid of their "monkeys" as well, and finally find that elusive peace of mind. 

 

Ray has been free of his depression and feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, failure, fear of poverty, unappreciated and unloved etc for over 20 years and has devoted most of his time to travelling to take this new approach to people all around the world.  He finds people in Hong Kong to be very open-minded and looks forward to meeting you at an almost free talk on April 20 evening, where you can learn more about The Release Effect.

  Love Offering :     HK$77

 

To join the evening talk on April 20 with Ray, call Reflections on 2504 1333. 

 

 

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Ray Lewis The Release Effect TRE

We are all connected?

In my down-to-earth-women-from-the-north way, I go about my day to day, week to week, month to month 'stuff' that needs doing in a straightforward manner.  I believe that people who make a drama about the mundane are just attention seekers in an attempt to make their lives appear a little bit more interesting than yours (or mine).

And in my straight forward, let's call a spade a spade northerness, I find wild and weird talk of spirituality, meditation, mindfulness a tricky topic.  Although if I was assessed I would probably get a 'satisfactory progress' rather than a 'must try harder' on my report card these days.  

The past merely exists in our imagination.  We only have the now.  The future has not happened yet and so there is no need to worry about it.  And if you don't like the now then it will soon be in the past anyway. 

As much as this notion can take the pressure off my tendency to worry about the future, I do find it a flippant way to live life because it infers that no planning for the future is necessary and of course we all need to plan ahead to some extent. We'd run out milk too often for that to be fun.  A little forward planning is surely necessary?  I mean, insurance men would be out of a job wouldn't they?

I have indulged in meditation recently.  I have Ommmed and Hummmmed and thought about my third eye while concentrating on a candle flame.  I am at peace during these times but now I'm beginning to think that such indulgence cannot be of any benefit unless the world joins in. 

It seems that the rest of the world is not cooperating in such Ommmmness or Zenness and is actually on a mission to cause me complications to add  drama to my life which I simply do not want!

My solution is that all employees of NOW TV all sit down and think about just what they are doing to help the mental health of Hong Kong.  I know the answer is zilch.  In fact I strongly suspect that they go out of their way to cause mental health issues with unsuspecting customers by promising outrageous things like a faster service and interesting channels.  They could make a start by having staff who answer the phone who can actually answer questions and staff who come to my house who actually have solutions to problems instead of finding my situation of paying more money for an even worse service funny and openly laughing.

A further solution is to extend Zenness to the Government Motor Vehicle Inspection Centres and help them to understand that an appointment three weeks after my road tax runs out is not in the spirit of calmness or mindfulness and is just plain inefficiency on their part.  I feel sure that a little bit of candle staring will help them to bring my appointment forward enabling me to drive my car again.

Then there is BUPA Claims Department.  I feel certain that a little bit of humming in a darkened room with their eyes closed will really assist them is assessing my recent claim.  After such a calming session they will then fully understand that my aged doctor didn't mean to write Groft (with a G)  and that I am the person he saw that day and so process my claim.  They will stop being pernickety, pedantic and downright bloody awkward.   Unless of course there is a Lesley Groft who lives quite nearby and by pure coincidence has the same BUPA Membership number as me, lives at the same address and consulted the same doctor on the same day with the same symptoms?

An extra special session of mindfulness needs to be arranged for my Landlord who, after being asked to think about his inner critical voice, will be moved to withdraw his latest random 20% rent increase and to look at the level of inflation in Hong Kong (on average 4.58%).  In his new serene brain he will then also arrange to have any repairs done with a huge grateful smile on his face given that I am such an excellent tenant.

 

Island Yoga, Koh Yao Noi Island, Phuket

 

Island Yoga, Phuket

 

 

My bungalow

 

I spent a week at Island Yoga at the beginning of July and had a most wonderful time.  I am slightly hesitant to even write about it just incase people start flocking to Koh Yao Noi and spoil the tranquility.  

Their website is easy to use and I booked myself in for six nights.  Once this was done communication came through email and instructions on how to pay the initial deposit with PayPal were simple and clear.  

They are also very flexible {pun is intended}  so there is no specific 'course' or set period of time that you have to fit into.  You can arrange the dates to suit your own schedule and join the classes upon arrival because they are always different, challenging and interesting.  

How to Get There

Koh Yoe Noi Island is situated to the east of Phuket Island.  I took a taxi from the airport to Bang Rong Peir which took about half an hour and sat and waited peacefully, with a few Thai's and a monkey, for the small speed boat to take me on the 200 Baht trip to the Island.  There were a few tuk tuks waiting at the pier and they knew exactly where Island Yoga was.   Last boat each day is 5.30pm.

 

 

On the speed boat

 

Koh Yoe Noi

This small island does have some lovely places to stay including Sixth Sense Koh Yoe and Koyao Island Resort , is unspoilt and very quiet.  It has one circular road so it's impossible to get lost.  The local population is mostly muslim.  It was Ramadan when I was there and perhaps that made it even quieter, I'm not sure, but I liked it.  If you are familiar with the heady markets and bar world of Thailand this is the complete opposite.  It is an unspoilt place with no one pushing their wares at you. The locals were very friendly and would even stop and offer a lift just to be nice.  There are a few basic shops, 7/11 and one or two ATMs. The roads are empty so hiring a scooter or even a bike is relatively safe.  

Just as an example of how friendly it is, the  chain on my bike popped off. Once my fingers were covered in black oil and I realized I had no idea how to put it back on, I pushed it to a sleepy massage place and asked them if they could get me a tuk tuk to take me back to Island Yoga.  They quickly found a tool and fixed the chain for me and happily waved me on my way.

(Secretly, I wanted to ride in the tuk tuk)

 

Accommodation

Within Island Yoga there are a few options.  Some basic bungalows, meaning just a fan.  You can opt to share or you can stay in another location on the island and do pop-in classes to suit yourself.  I went for my own bungalow with air con.  I'm too used to air con to not have it!  I loved my bungalow, it had a comfortable bed with mosquito net, plenty of cupboard space for hanging clothes, a very nice hammock on the little deck for relaxing after a hard morning in the sala.

Food

After the first yoga session of the morning, which finished at 9.30am, breakfast was waiting for us.  A delicious spread of cereal, yoghurt, fruit as well as Thai vegetarian dishes.   This is included in the package.  If you want food at other times the wonderful Ning and her Thai family, who run the catering side, can russle up meals or snacks and this is added to your bill at check-out.

 

Me after yoga and breakfast.

 

Yoga - Two Classes Each Day

There are two classes per day.  The morning one is 90 minutes and starts at 7.30am.  This was a really excellent energising start to the day and each day the class was different.  One day we were out on the beach, one day we did laughing yoga, one morning we all were taught the secret of the netty pot and one session involved absoltuely no downward dogs at all.  The second session at 4.30pm for an hour, was Yin Yoga which involved a much more 'cushioned' variety where poses were held for longer periods of time.  

The instructors (I had Heather and Kierra) were highly knowledgable and committed to their practice.  They were bursting with creativity and filled everyone with the confidence to be strong and really enjoy each pose.  Afterall if you don't like something it'll soon be over and in the past anyway!

Yoga Sala

End of class relaxation

psssst  - So just between you and me and the gate post, sssshhhhh this place is fantastic.  I want to go back but don't tell anyone, ok!