Wellbeing Wednesdays at RHS Harlow Carr, Harrogate
New for 2019 I’m very excited to be leading yoga classes and a series of health & wellbeing mini-courses at glorious RHS Harlow Carr gardens in Harrogate. All sessions will be based in the fully accessible Bramall Learning Centre providing a great opportunity for everyone to improve their health and vitality in a relaxed, enjoyable environment.
Morning Dru Yoga classes from 9th January 2019
9.30-10.45am or 11am-12.15
Bramall Learning Centre, RHS Harlow carr, Harrogate
For all dates and booking codes and details please see further down page
We’re offering a couple of taster classes and winter wellness sessions in January and then from 27th February both the yoga classes and wellbeing mini-courses will be bookable in terms of 4 weeks. NB The yoga classes do not necessarily follow the same theme as the wellbeing sessions though there may be some natural overlap. To book your place and for all booking and venue enquiries please call the RHS Booking team on 020 3176 5830 quoting the Event code in brackets below. If you have enquiries as to suitability of the yoga, feel free to contact me directly.
Please note the sessions are partly intended to create added value for local RHS members (hence the pricing) so if you’re not a member yet, this would be a great way of trialling a membership for the year! There’s also lots of other great courses on offer from horticulture to willow weaving, photography and other arts and crafts which you can check out in the 2019 Harlow Carr online brochure.
Wellbeing Wednesday sessions at RHS Harlow Carr from 9th January 1-3pm
9th January 2019 New Year Health & Happiness 1-3pm (15098) Taster session £15 RHS/£20 non-RHS
Practical tips, nutrition and wellbeing advice for your best year ahead yet.
16th January 2019 Herbal Wellbeing for Winter Wellness 1-3pm (15100) Taster session £15 RHS/£20 non-RHS
Herbal teas and remedies to ward off the winter chills and warm your cockles
27 Feb, 6 Mar, 13 Mar & 20 March Discover Dru Yoga 4 week course 1-3pm (15104)
Ideal for beginners. Includes around 60 min of well-guided movement and breath work (with time for explanations and modifications) and a 20 min restorative relaxation plus time for tea, yoga chat and refreshment afterwards. Suitable for all ages and abilities
£60 RHS/£80 non-RHS for all 4 sessions
27 Mar, 3 Apr, 10 Apr & 17 April Natural Energy & Vitality 4 week course 1-3pm (15106)
Discover over 4 weeks how to optimise your energy levels with practical herbal and lifestyle advice including diet & exercise and tips for a goodnights sleep. Includes making your own ‘springtime’ tea blend, a smoothie making session and a herb walk.
£60 RHS/£80 non-RHS for all 4 sessions
1 May, 8 May, 15 May & 22 May Digestive Health 4 week course 1-3pm (15108)
Practical sessions to help you understand and improve your digestion including advice on herbal remedies, diet & movement, gut flora and stress-related issues. Includes a herb walk and making your own digestive herbal tea blend.
£60 RHS/£80 non-RHS for all 4 sessions
5 Jun, 12 Jun, 19 Jun & 26 June Relax and Restore 4 week course 1-3pm (15111)
4 gorgeous sessions of natural wellbeing, relaxation advice and restorative remedies including herbs, yoga and nutrition to help address stress, anxiety and sleeping issues and promote inner balance and calm. Includes a herb walk and making your own relaxing herbal tea blend and massage/bath oil.
£60 RHS/£80 non-RHS for all 4 sessions
3 Jul, 10 Jul,17 Jul & 24 July Womens Wellness 4 week course 1-3pm (15114)
Discover over 4 weeks a treasure chest of herbs and natural wellbeing and lifestyle advice specific to womens health to support and balance all stages of womanhood. Includes a herb walk and making your own balancing herbal tea blend.
£60 RHS/£80 non-RHS for all 4 sessions
4 Sep, 11 Sept& 18 Sept only Make your own Herbal Remedies 3 week course 1-3pm (15117)
Over 3 sessions, learn how to make herbal tinctures, infusions, decoctions and syrups and macerated oils to create your own herbal remedies at home.
£45 RHS/£60 non-RHS for all 3 sessions
2 Oct, 9 Oct, 16 Oct & 23 Oct Older, Wiser, Stronger 4 week course 1-3pm (15119)
Discover how to keep your body and mind strong and flexible with practical sessions on diet, supplement and lifestyle options plus herbal remedies and yoga specific for the over 50s. Includes a herb walk and making your own memory boosting herbal tea blend and joint massage oil.
£60 RHS/£80 non-RHS for all 4 sessions
6 Nov, 13 Nov, 20 Nov & 27 Nov Stay Happy & Healthy Winter wellness 4 week course 1-3pm (15122)
Beat the winter blues and keep the colds and chills at bay with 4 sessions of protective, immune and mood boosting natural wellbeing advice to keep your cockles warm all through the cold season includes herbal remedies, nourishing seasonal dietary advice and gentle yoga. Also includes a herb walk and making your own ‘cold and flu’ herbal tea blend.
£60 RHS/£80 non-RHS for all 4 sessions
Morning Yoga Classes dates and booking codes
Tel RHS booking team on 020 3176 5830
9th January 2019 9.30-10.45am (15097) or 11am-12.15 (15123) Taster session £7.50 RHS/£15 non-RHS
16th January 2019 9.30-10.45am (15099) or 11am-12.15 (15124) Taster session £7.50 RHS/£15 non-RHS
27 Feb, 6 Mar, 9.30-10.45am (15103) or 11am-12.15 (15125)
13 Mar & 20 March £30 RHS/£60 non-RHS for block of 4 classes
27 Mar, 3 Apr, 9.30-10.45am (15105) or 11am-12.15 (15126)
10 Apr & 17 April £30 RHS/£60 non-RHS for block of 4 classes
1 May, 8 May, 9.30-10.45am (15107) or 11am-12.15 (15127)
15 May & 22 May £30 RHS/£60 non-RHS for block of 4 classes
5 Jun, 12 Jun, 9.30-10.45am (15110) or 11am-12.15 (15128)
19 Jun & 26 June £30 RHS/£60 non-RHS for block of 4 classes
3 Jul, 10 Jul, 9.30-10.45am (15113) or 11am-12.15 (15129)
17 Jul & 24 July £30 RHS/£60 non-RHS for block of 4 classes
4 Sep, 11 Sept 9.30-10.45am (15116) or 11am-12.15 (15130)
& 18 Sept only £22.50 RHS/£45 non-RHS for block of 3 classes
2 Oct, 9 Oct, 9.30-10.45am (15118) or 11am-12.15 (15131)
16 Oct & 23 Oct £30 RHS/£60 non-RHS for block of 4 classes
6 Nov, 13 Nov, 9.30-10.45am (15121) or 11am-12.15 (15132)
20 Nov & 27 Nov £30 RHS/£60 non-RHS for block of 4 classes
Ashwaganda Withania somnifera
Astragalus Astragalus membranacea
Barberry Berberis vulgaris
Burdock Arctium lappa
Calendula/Pot marigold Calendula officinalis
Cayenne Capsicum frutescens
Chickweed Stellaria media
Cleavers Galium aperine
Clove bud Szigigium
Cornsilk Zea mays
Dandelion root/leaf Taraxacum officinalis
Echinacea Echinacea purpurea
Elder Sambucus nigra
Elecampane Inula helenium
Eyebright Euphrasia officinalis
Fennel seed Foeniculum officinalis
Feverfew Tanacetum parthenium
Garlic Allium sativa
Ginger Zingiber officinalis
A-Z Herbs
Herbal Medicine for All: A 5 day course over 6 months
Sunday 9th September 2018 at Edibles Permaculture Centre, West Slaithwaite, Huddersfield FULLY BOOKED
(9th Sept, 21st Oct, 25th Nov 2018, 20th Jan 2019 & 3rd March 2019)
Next 2019 courses starting:
Sunday 15th September 2019 at Ivy House Botanicals, 16 Bondgate, Otley LS21 3AB - NOW BOOKING
(15th Sept, 20th Oct, 17th Nov, 12th Jan 2020 & 9th Feb 2020)
£100 deposit required to book your place. 8 places max. Contact me on 07775920079 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to book.
I'm very excited to bring you this course aimed at those of you wanting more in-depth knowledge of herbal medicine whether to treat yourself, friends and family and/or for health professionals wanting a better understanding of the subject.It is taught in 5 one-day sessions over 6 months. Each session is a good balance of theory and hands-on practical learning experiences to keep you fully engaged, entertained and eager to learn more. While homework projects are suggested, they are not obligatory although some self-study in between sessions will enable you to get the most out of the course especially for useful feedback!
The courses are currently run on Sundays and, although no longer in my herb kitchen, I am thrilled to run it from the fully accessible Learning Centre at RHS Harlow Carr in Harrogate, Edibles Permaculture Centre in Slaithwaite, Huddersfield and Ivy house Botanicals in Otley. Each session starts at 10am and finishes at 4pm. Each group is limited to 8-10 places (dependent on venue) so its a great learning environment. Weather permitting, we spend some time outside every session to at least stretch our legs and re-energise our minds and do some herb gathering for medicine-making on a couple of sessions. Its a really wonderful way to spend a Sunday!
Please note I also run this course for private groups with their own venues and it can also be run in half day sessions over a longer period. Please do contact me if you would like to organise something for your group.
Course outline:
1st session: Feed me! Digestion, Blood and Energy tonics
2nd session: Protect me! Respiratory and Immune systems
3rd session: Balance me! Nervous system and Endocrine system
4th session: Understand me! Hormones continued and Herbs specific for male and female health
Final session: Cleanse me! Skin, kidneys, joints and lymphatics system
Theory covered:
Basic holistic anatomy and physiology for the key body systems (this will be fun honest!). I recommend fellow herbalist and Anatomy and Physiology teacher Pip Waller's Holistic Anatomy book which is very accessible and ask you to read a couple of chapters before each session. This way we get maximum time to spend on the herbs while ensuring everyone has a good overview.
Understanding the key actions of 25-30 herbs and their constituents and how they work synergistically both within the plant and the body.
Herbal therapeutics for the key body systems i.e. how to know what herbs to use when and where both safely and effectively.
Practical exercises:
Making infusions, decoctions, tinctures, syrups, vinegars, poultices and macerated oils.
Getting close up and personal to the herbs we explore at each session and practice at making up your own formulas and discussing treatment ideas as we go along.
Mini herb walks/field work (weather dependent).
Experiential herb tastings and advice on keeping your herb journal. You'll take away some herb samples every session to work with at home.
The whole course costs £250. A minimum of £100 non-refundable deposit is required to book your place and the remainder is payable by the start of the course. If you know you are unable to make a specific the sessions at the time of booking, I will try to book you in on a future session on a first come, first served basis subject to spaces available. Otherwise please note there will be no refund available for any missed sessions. Handouts will however be available.
To book your place, please call or email me to confirm availability. Payment can then be made online.
Bel x
Testimonials:
"The worst thing for me about Bel's 5 day "Herbal Medicine for All" course is that it had to come to an end. Since we started last September I have looked forward to meeting every few weeks at Bel's home on the edge of Otley Chevin to explore holistic health and herbal medicine with Bel and a small group of enthusiastic learners from varied and interesting backgrounds.
Bel's approach has been to take one or two themes in human physiology for each session (e.g. Digestion, Respiration, the Immune System), to review the interrelationships between our bodily systems, and to consider various herbal preparations for maintaining and regaining health. As part of each session we have also ventured on to the Chevin through the changing seasons, identifying plants with health benefits and simply taking in the beauty and wonder of nature.
I've been especially inspired by Bel's understanding and appreciation of the environment where she lives and her focus, wherever possible, on the gifts that the locality offers for our health and well-being. This has greatly increased my confidence in working with plants that I can find for myself in the wild or with plant products that are readily available in my kitchen cabinet. More than that, Bel's experiential learning approach encourages us not only to use all our senses to really get to know the plants we are working with in their natural habitat but also to try for ourselves the herbal products prepared for and during the sessions; tasting and smelling them, feeling their effects on our minds and bodies. It makes me wonder to what extent conventional medical practitioners have personally familiarised themselves with the effects of the drugs and treatments they prescribe to their patients!
I would recommend Bel's course to anyone wishing to learn more about natural ways of healing and the plants that can help strengthen and protect our health." Rob, Leeds April 2017