Do you spend sleepless nights staring at the ceiling? 

Do you wake up multiple times in the night? 

Do you do you wake at 3 or 4 in the morning and fall back to sleep just before your alarm clock goes off?

Do you take sleeping pills or natural remedies? 

Are you interested in learning more about sleeping disorders with the aim to understanding better the mechanisms around sleep; learning specific practices - inspired by kundalini yoga & meditation as well as modern techniques to improve sleep? Are you willing to try to improve your sleep and share your experiences?

Many of you have shared your sleep challenges with me. Insomnia is torture and the negative thoughts about being unable to fall asleep make the symptoms worse.

I have great empathy towards those who suffer from any form of sleeplessness. Personally, it has been one of my biggest challenges since a very young age. For me, meditation and yoga have been key to healing. Indeed studies show that by producing higher levels of beneficial alpha, theta and delta brainwaves, we can counteract the excess of our dominant beta brainwaves.

Along with Dr. Caroline Depuydt, a fellow yoga practitioner and psychiatrist, and author of the book "Bien dans ma Tête", we have brought our heads together to offer a sleep workshop. Caroline is a psychiatrist with an open mind to alternative methods and treatments for insomnia, depression and other conditions affecting the mind. 

Together we have been sharing our experiences and techniques and we would like to share this precious combination of scientific explanation, ancient practices and practical advice in a 2 part workshop in 2022.

Participation at both parts of the workshop is advised.

Part 1: Thursday 27 January 2022 18:00 - 22:00

Part 2: Saturday 12 March 2022 10:00 - 14:00

MM81, 81 avenue de Tervuren, 1040 Brussels - between Merode and Montgomery

90 euros per workshop

160 euros for both parts paid in advance.

You will receive a INAMI receipt for having participated in a group workshop with a registered psychiatrist. The receipt will give you a reimbursement of about 20 euros per workshop.

This is valid with Belgian and EU insurance companies or "mutuelle". Your investment therefore is 120-130 euros for both workshops.

The energy exchange includes a light meal or snack at both workshops.

Dr Caroline Depuydt, Psychiatrist and author of the book "Bien dans ma Tête".

Fiona Crossley, Kundalini Yoga teacher and Gong Master.

Part 1 - Thursday 27/01/2022  will cover the following topics:

Sleep physiology:

• Melatonin and adenosine
• Sleep architecture
• Sleep cycle and hormones (cortisol)

The main sleep disorders:

• Sleep insomnia
• Multiple nocturnal awakenings
• Waking up around 3-4 a.m.

Autonomous nervous system: orthosympathetic and parasympathetic functioning (vagus nerve)

Our workshop will be interspersed with techniques for dealing with the overactive mind that prevent us falling asleep. And what to do when we wake up at the dreaded time of 3-4am morning…

Meditation, Yoga & Sound Therapy

Specific practices for you to learn, experience, enjoy and put into practice

The workshop will end with a gong bath to completely reset and rebalance. 

Individual review: if you are currently following a medical treatment for sleeping problems and would like a short review with Caroline, please advise in advance; we will try to fit this in within the workshop schedule. No prescriptions - only review and advice.

Homework: you will be advised to keep a diary of sleep and use the techniques you have learnt during the 6 weeks between workshops.

Part 2 - Saturday 12/03/2022 will cover the following:

• Feedback on your diary of sleep - will be requested in advance so that we can adapt the content of Part 2:
• Sleep and the female cycle
• Developing a routine for better sleep
• Supplements and natural remedies
• Dangers / side effects of sleeping pills - and the possibility to review your treatment with a non judgmental view. No prescriptions will be made or changed - you will offered an opinion.
• Tips for stimulating your vagus nerve and putting it into practice

Meditation, Yoga & Sound Therapy

Specific practices for you to learn, experience, enjoy and put into practice