GAIL AYLWARD
ABOUT
Gail has been meditating for many years, starting in 1994 with a 10 day silent retreat in Bodhgaya, India, the sacred place where the Buddha got enlightened.
Two years earlier, whilst pregnant with her first child, she attended her first Hatha Yoga class in London which she enjoyed a lot and found very beneficial. She has continued to practice both of these methods and is a qualified Yoga, Restorative Yoga, and Mindfulness teacher, and teaches retreats emphasizing a kind gentle attention within both the sitting meditation practice and the yoga postures.
In 2005 she co-founded Moulin de Chaves a meditation retreat centre in SW France. The same year she became a student of The Diamond Approach, an embodied practice cultivating presence using the art of inquiry. Deeply inspired and transformed by this work, she followed their 10 year teacher training, and in 2021 was ordained as a Teacher/ Minister in the Diamond Approach school.
Gail is deeply grateful to have had the Diamond Approach plus a meditation and yoga practice to guide and support her over the years.
Married to meditation teacher Martin Aylward, and with two adult children, Gail understands the challenges of raising a family, having a job, being in a relationship and how the past can influence the present.
THE DIAMOND APPROACH
The Diamond Approach is a modern day spiritual path. It brings forth a unique understanding of ancient spiritual wisdom and modern psychology to help students uncover their true potential. The Diamond Approach invites us to discover our inner love of truth solely for its sake – You simply need a sincere desire to know what is true about yourself.
The teachings, practices, and community are a path for self exploration that support greater self- awareness and a more fulfilling life. Individuals develop a deeper understanding of themselves and true nature.
Using the tools of inquiry to inquire into our present moment experience can open up and unlock barriors to ourselves.
Having been a student in the Ridwan school since 2005, the Diamond approach and the art of inquiry has been an essential part of Gails spiritual path. In 2021, after following their ten year teacher training, Gail was ordained as a Teacher/Minister in the Diamond Approach.
To find out more about the Diamond Approach at diamondapproach.org
Gail is now available to offer Diamond Approach one to one private sessions, either in person or via zoom. To find out more about sessions, contact Gail gail@mindful-mentoring.com
Gail and Martin sitting under the sacred Bodhi tree, in Bodhgaya, India, whilst doing an inquiry. The coming together of 2 spiritual paths, Buddhism-mindfulness and The Diamond Approach.
YOGA
Anyone can practice yoga. You don’t have to be slim, young, or flexible. If you can breathe, you can practice yoga!
The ancient science and philosophy of Yoga originates in the Vedas, the oldest record of Indian culture. Systemised by Patanjali over 2,000 years ago, The Yoga sutras teach a way to be, to live in harmony with ourselves and the world.
The sutras offer guidance on how to look after the body, and train our mind using Astangha, The eightfold path. By practicing in this way, we become more attuned and connected to our true nature.
During retreats I offer gentle mindful practices of Hatha yoga, ha meaning “sun” and tha meaning “moon”, using the breathe the intimate connection between body and mind as an anchor. Opening with each inhalation and relaxing and letting go with each exhalation, supports us to land back in this body, in this present moment.
With a kind approach, practices start wherever you are.
RESTORATIVE YOGA
Everyone needs to rest and relaxation to support a healthy nervous system.
Restorative yoga is a gentle practice of resting the body in a posture for approx 15 minutes, whilst being supported by props, bolsters, cushions and blankets.
Resting in a reclined or inverted posture, in a calm safe environment, adding warmth and darkness allows the nervous system to shift from stress and anxiety back to calm, peace and ease. The heart rate and breathing begin to slow down as the parasympathic nervous system clicks in.
This practice is particularly useful if you are suffering from stress, anxiety, have health issues or just need some gentle calming practices to soothe the body, heart and mind.
MEDITATION
The Buddha spoke about suffering, he also spoke about freedom and the path to liberation.
Having attended my first 10-day silent retreat in Bodhgaya, India, the place where the Buddha became enlightened, the feeling was of coming home. It was both challenging and yet a liberating first retreat experience.
Over the years, I have attended many silent retreats in India and Europe following the Theravada Buddhist Insight meditation tradition, and greatly value this practice of cultivating awareness, learning to disengage from busy mind, and instead achor the attention in the now.
An ongoing meditation practice has been the foundation of my spiritual path. Knowing from the inside that there is more to this body and mind, allows for greater freedom, less clingling and more peace and ease.
“Do not dwell in the past,
do not dream of the future,
concentrate the mind on the present moment.”
– The Buddha
UPCOMING EVENTS
CONTACT
If you would like to find out more about Mindful Mentoring you can email Gail at gail@mindful-mentoring.com
Mindful Mentoring is a support for an ongoing meditation practice. It is not a substitute for any other form of treatment, therapy or prescribed medication.