British Complementary Medicine Association

19/12/2025

The office will reopen on 5th January 2026. Thank you to all our followers for your support this year.

06/11/2025

This is an important tip for everyone! Make sure you take care of your mind to give moments of restoration during those busy days!

Here’s Tip 7 from the Integrated Healthcare Collaborative (IHC) Sustainable Healthcare campaign:

Life can be hectic at times, and we can get swept along by work and other commitments. It’s important to find time to pause, focus on grounding, awareness and breathing. A sensory reset. Try taking a step away from work, problems, social media and other distractions, and bring calmness and clarity. Bring yourself back to the present moment.

Tip number 7 is to build mindfulness breaks into your day. They can help to reduce stress, enhance mental wellbeing and relax the body. Maybe you just need to take a breath. Maybe a few moments to connect with your environment through your senses. Maybe some time to sit and think about how you’re feeling about something that's going on.

Mindfulness can involve breathing methods, guided imagery, and other practices to relax the body and mind and help reduce stress. Find a simple mindfulness exercise that works for you. Many can be practiced anywhere and anytime. Research indicates that engaging your senses outdoors is especially beneficial. Some mindfulness exercises may need you to set aside time when you can be in a quiet place without distractions or interruptions. These could involve walking, sitting or body scan. Perhaps practice this type of exercise early in the morning before you begin your daily routine.

Let’s improve our health together.

18/10/2025

🌸 Today is World Menopause Day 🌸

Such an important milestone in the lives of so many women, one that deserves understanding, compassion and honest conversation. Menopause can be challenging, transformative and deeply empowering, and it’s wonderful to see more awareness and support growing around it.

Our lovely Sarah from SJKinesiology has shared a powerful and heartfelt post full of wisdom, personal truth and guidance for this stage of life. I’m honoured to share it with you today.

Let’s keep these conversations flowing and celebrate the strength of women in every phase. 💛

See Sarah’s post below ⬇️

Today is world menopause day. Such an important part of half the populations life. It's starting to get more understanding and consideration, slowly.
For me personally it is being quite the journey (edging in to full menopause).
For my clients it is a time of reclaimation, confusion, riteous rage, resentment, deep healing, empowerment.
Often the phrases that come are 'what the hell have i been doing with my life', 'enough of this shxt', 'Right! My time!'

As the 'oestrogen box' falls away, so all that has been comes into clearer relief. Tricky, and ultimately very very healing.
My Medicine teacher and wise elder speaks of this being the time the woman turns to face the community with all she has learnt, and fiercely contributes. A strong time for her to be supported in her wider endeavours (and yes this would also be great in all stages of life).

The thing I know from clinic (and personally) is that we MUST go into this phase with balanced, happy, adrenal glands.
Compromised adrenals cannot produce the back up oestrogen that can help smooth the changes out a little.

Personally this has meant
1. Prioritising sleep (as a parent carer of an often insomniac autistic young adult this has been a real edge)
2. Napping, especially when feeling overwhelmed (quite a rewrite for me)
3. Eating tonnes of fresh veg and fruit, and small amounts of local grass fed meat (apologies to those who don't agree regards eating animals)
4. Feeling into a slower way. This means disappointing people who would like quick answers and immediate replies to things. When I do go down the 'quick route' I often come across as arsey and confrontational!
5. Being a whole lot kinder to myself regards my capacity (a work in progress....)
6. A deepening sense of humour. Becoming a senior kinesiology practitioner and teacher of over 20 years experience, while far too regularly forgetting the names of muscles, meridians, systems, is deeply disturbing, humbling, and in my wiser moments...hilarious!
7..Realising the things that used to work, may not now. Being curious about my body wisdom, being open to new things, letting things go.
And lastly
8. BOUNDARIES. Having been a bit rubbish with these for most of my life, the fury that comes these days when my boundary is crossed is seriously intense. And not pretty for anyone. Getting clearer about what they are, and communicating them well in advance is crucial. Sticking to them is very much still a work in progress.

Meridian wise, the places to start are the Triple Warmer and the Heart protector. Tho to be honest *every part* of our being is affected.

I hope these reflections may be of use. Let's really bring these conversations up.

With love, and fire, SJ ❤️‍🔥🔥❤️‍🔥

📸 jet the wonderdog and I, he is my son's therapy hound, and a supremely important support for this Heart on their sleeve woman.

17/10/2025

🌿 Focus on the Therapy: Acupuncture 🌿

At the BCMA, we support therapists who practice acupuncture, an ancient healing therapy used for thousands of years to restore balance and wellbeing.

Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine, sterilized needles into specific points on the body, carefully chosen to treat a wide variety of conditions.

Why it works:

• In Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture balances the flow of Qi, or life energy, through the body along meridians.
• In Western science, acupuncture stimulates nerves, boosts natural painkillers, supports the nervous system, and encourages the body to heal itself naturally.

BCMA-registered therapists are trained to deliver this therapy safely and effectively, combining ancient wisdom with modern understanding to support both your physical and emotional wellbeing.

💚 We are proud to support our members who bring this amazing therapy to life.

If you have an article on Acupuncture we would be happy to showcase your amazing work.

15/10/2025

What does your fridge look like? 🥦🍓

Take a moment to step inside (metaphorically — or literally, if it’s calling you). Our fridges often reflect what’s going on in our lives — the balance, the habits, the care we give ourselves.

Are you stocking up on colour, freshness, and variety? Remember: fruit and vegetables are your daily allies for energy and wellbeing.

If you find it hard to get enough in — try juicing! 🥤 It’s a simple way to pack your daily recommended servings into one bright, feel-good ritual.

10/10/2025

What a week it’s been!
So much networking across different groups, connecting with amazing people, and diving deeper into the world of holistic health. 💫

One highlight was attending PauseLive Women’s Health Event in London. The energy was incredible! It was so inspiring to see so many people embracing holistic therapies and open conversations around wellbeing.

I also had the opportunity to share more about the BCMA along with our values and how we can support those in the wellbeing field.

From a personal perspective, this week has been all about growth and learning:
✨ Trying out new workshops
✨ Listening to up-and-coming research in the menopause field
✨ Hearing powerful, inspiring talks

One talk that really stood out was from a group of men giving a completely different perspective on menopause—how they can better support their partners, and how men also go through hormonal changes (often called andropause). Such an important and refreshing conversation! 🙌

Holistic health isn’t just about one gender, one age, or one approach—it’s about connection, understanding, and supporting each other.

💬 I’d love to hear from you… What have YOUR successes been this week? Big or small—let’s celebrate them together!

06/10/2025

🌿 Remember: Self-care is a must! 🌿

As we care for others, let’s not forget to take care of ourselves, too. 💚
Whether it’s a quiet walk, a good book, or just a few moments of stillness — every bit counts.

If you have any articles, tips, or resources you’d like to share with our community, we’d love to hear from you!
📩 Please message or DM us with your ideas. Let’s keep supporting one another. 💬

03/10/2025

FOCUS ON THE THERAPY 💕💕

Matrix Reimprinting is a gentle technique that works with our memories — seeing them not as fixed events, but as echoes that can still influence how we feel and act today. What I really loved about it is how supportive and transformative it can be: not only can we release the emotional intensity from past experiences, but we can also re-imprint them with positive beliefs and new perspectives.

For me, it felt really powerful to see how this approach can help clear old blocks in such a kind and gentle way. I thought some of you might find it interesting too — especially if you’re curious about different ways of working with the past to create more freedom in the present.

27/09/2025

Back in 2017, I recorded these words about my beautiful mentor, friend, and inspiration and today it feels so apt to share them again.

I was truly blessed to be personally trained in Bodymechanics and to work alongside this amazing lady. She touched so many people’s lives in her powerful way. Though she may not be here in person, she is always with me in spirit and continues to guide me. I often feel her presence when I am working with clients – a reminder of the wisdom, compassion and passion she poured into everything she did.

Her legacy lives on in all of us who were fortunate enough to learn from her and never forget, the work you do as a therapist truly changes people’s lives.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

27/09/2025

Thank you Christine Star for sharing your wonderful comment 💖💖💖

BCMA is and has been for 23 years very important to me. Setting up my school, creating an association, BCMA helped and supported me, especially our magic Tracy Smith . All association members became automatic BCMA members.

I than helped and served in the BCMA for 12 years as executive officer, specialising in school standards and school inspection. What a joy it always was to observe the high standard, but also the passion for the education and therapies.

I stayed in close contact to the present time as supporter of BCMA, even when I had to retire for healthreason.

I can only encourage all schools, associations and therapists to get involved and exploring the advantages to be part of this umbrella organisation

24/09/2025

Building Community, Supporting Therapists 💖

I began my journey as a Body Mechanic supporting Grace Olive Collins and through the BCMA I saw the value of therapy carried out to the highest standard. Building a community where the work we do can truly thrive.

22/09/2025

We’re so excited to start building this community together. 💬✨ Each week, we’ll be shining a light on a different therapy, practice, or association, helping us all learn, share, and connect.

This space is for YOU too — we’d love to hear your thoughts, experiences, and ideas as we grow together. Let’s make this a supportive and inspiring place for everyone. 💜

Stay tuned for our first spotlight coming soon! 👀