Stroud Shambles WI: Christine Gardiner on Aromatherapy and June Dolphin from the Samaritans who gave a talk on how to pack your Shoebox Gift for Christmas

VAL Stratford our Vice President welcomed members and visitors to our meeting and read through notices and forthcoming events.

Birthday posies were given to Maureen Bosworth, Rachel Giles, Joan Nelson and Helen Price and Happy Birthday was sung.

Our first speaker today was Christine Gardiner on Aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy is a practice of using natural oils extracted from flowers, leaves, roots, bark and other parts of a plant.

Its dates back to the Egyptians who developed one of the first machines to extract oils from certain plants, the oil at that time was used to embalm.

Christine practices Indian Head and Shoulder massages, Bach Flower Remedies and is also a Reiki Master Practitioner.

Christine explained that the Bach Flower Remedies use the gentle power of nature to help us rebalance our thoughts and emotions.

Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reductions and relaxation.

Aromatherapy can help to improve physical and emotional well-being such a anxiety, depression and insomnia.

Our second speaker was June Dolphin from the Samaritans who gave a talk on how to pack your Shoebox Gift for Christmas.

June told us how she was actually there on one occasion when the boxes were opened by the children, she said it was an unforgettable experience.

From the response our members gave, I am sure there will be many boxes to send to the Samaritans this November.

New members are always welcome to our meetings which are held on the second Wednesday of the month at 10.30am at the Congregational Church Hall, Stroud.