Experience: Acupuncture at Anamaya & New Meditation App

I visited Anamaya last year for Facial Reflexology and was so excited to be invited back to experience some Acupuncture with Dr Cheng.

As I've mentioned before, Anamaya is a sanctuary of relaxation and healing, located just off bustling Kensington High Street. Once you're off the street and through the doors, you're met with a serene, blissful atmosphere and the aroma-therapeutic scents of Neom candles.

Anamaya offer a carefully edited selection of practitioners who specialise in Homeopathy, Massage, Craniosacral therapy, Osteopathy, Dietetics, Energy Healing, Pilates, Psychotherapy, Mind, Body and Spirit therapies and of course Acupuncture.

Now, I'd had Acupuncture before in an effort to relieve my fear of flying before I moved over the the UK (obviously it had some effect because I'm here aren't I?) so I went into the experience at Anamaya with confidence and feeling as if I knew what to expect.

What I perhaps underestimated however, was the sheer kindness, humorous spirit and incredibly comforting nature of the Acupuncturist Dr Cheng.

Dr Cheng is one of those people who makes you feel comfortable and safe and I was made to feel totally at ease as he went through my concerns with me (namely stress and headaches). After examining my tongue (you'll be surprised what your tongue can tell you about yourself!), posture and ability to bend my neck in various ways, Dr Cheng was able to assess my concerns and decide the best course of action. In my case this involved 19 needles placed in various points on my back, legs, arms, neck and head and being left to relax for about 20 minutes before Dr Cheng returned to the room to check on me and 'wiggle' the needles.

I'm not needle shy (though I do feel a bit funny having blood taken) so having 19 of the little blighters stuck in me didn't concern me at all and if you're wondering if acupuncture is painful, it really isn't. The needles are so fine and tiny that you can barely feel them at all, though I have to say the points felt a bit 'achy' when Dr Cheng wiggled them slightly halfway through the session.

Then that was it, I was all done. Within an hour, I'd had a very enlightening consultation and an Acupuncture session that left me feeling oddly relaxed and energised all at the same time. If that makes any sense at all? I went for a stroll through Kensington High Street and felt at peace - despite the fact that it was a busy Saturday afternoon and it was very, very rainy.

Dr Cheng is a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, a Governing Board Member of the British Acupuncture Council and the Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine as well as a Principal Lecturer and Postgraduate Course Leader of Traditional Chinese Medicine here in London. I felt extremely fortunate to have him treat me and certainly recommend him - it's worth mentioning that Dr Cheng is very highly regarded for treating chronic illnesses and pain, hormonal issues and migraines and is popular among people trying to conceive.

He is available at Anamaya on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm and also consults on Chinese Medicine and Chinese Herb Treatments. A session with Dr Cheng ranges from £95-155 depending on conditions and length of sessions.

Anamaya have also recently launched a very in depth Meditation App.  Developed for those of us who struggle to fit in meditation classes, the app features over 360 guided meditations complete with visualisations, mindfulness exercises and learning resources as well as tips for getting the most out of your meditation session. Priced at £15 and available through iTunes, the Anamaya Meditation App is the first of its kind and features 11 distinct focuses, meaning it accommodates to everyone, whatever their age, sex or profession.

The focuses include:

• General Meditation 
• Relax
• Loud Brain
• Concentrate
• Worry
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Anger
• Pain 
• Pregnancy
• Sport

The Anamaya Meditation App

Though I haven't tried the app for myself as yet, I think it's a fantastic concept that will especially benefit busy city dwellers who might not have time to actually attend classes.

If you'd like to know more about Anamaya, visit the website and check out the range of therapies on offer - you won't regret it.
You can call Anamaya on 0203 011 0355  or email them at info@anamaya.co.uk

The Acupuncture was provided for me for review purposes. All opinions my own.

Anamaya Wellbeing Clinic - My Experience with Facial Reflexology

If you feel good, you look good, that's pretty much a given. Of course makeup enhances, conceals and makes us look like 'more attractive' versions of ourselves but we all know that those who have good skin to start with need less slap.
But how does one achieve a great natural complexion? There are the undeniable benefits of a good skincare regime of course, but go one step further and the results can be even better.

Here's where facial reflexology comes in.
Yesterday I experienced this treatment for the first time at Anamaya - a haven of relaxation, wellbeing and general goodness tucked away just off one of my favourite places in London, High Street Kensington.

I was originally booked in for a Japanese Facial Lifting Massage, but after a relaxed consultation with my practitioner Rupert, we decided Facial Reflexology would be more beneficial for my health and therefore my complexion!
Using divinely scented Rosehip oil, Rupert went to work feeling around my face for any issues that may need addressing. I was genuinely surprised when Rupert touched a particular area of my face and asked if I suffered lower back pain. I certainly do. How could he know this? Was this man some kind of wizard? He's not a wizard, no (I don't think so anyway) but he is extremely knowledgeable in what the face and feet can tell about the rest of ones body, having graduated from the Central London of Reflexology in 2004.
You may be a little confused about what I mean when I'm talking about Facial Reflexology - isn't reflexology something to do with feet?
Originally, yes but the Facial Reflexology Sorensen system that Rupert practices is a fairly new, unique treatment developed by Danish practitioner Lone Sorensen over the past 25 years.
The treatment works on the same principles as traditional reflexology - stimulating and massaging particular points and areas that correspond with various parts of the body, but it's all done via your face, which I can tell you right now is ridiculously relaxing.
Rupert has treated women with stress related issues, problems with the nervous system and various other complaints and has seen particularly good results after treating ladies suffering reproductive problems.

After working  on my face for a good 50 minutes or so (and when I say good, I mean good), Rupert cooled my skin down by rolling a couple of cold stone spheres over my face, then I was left to wake up properly and gather my thoughts with a glass of water.

Facial Reflexology can be used to treat physical and emotional issues but it's also being touted as a brilliant beauty treatment as stimulating the face in such a way can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, even out skin tone and even banish spots!

I can't really describe how my skin felt after the treatment, but I will try! My face felt slightly numb but also stimulated and refreshed at the same time. Even today as I write this, almost 24 hours after the treatment, my skin is still feeling 'plumped up'.

I really enjoyed this treatment and I love the fact that it's beneficial for my health as well as my appearance.

Anamaya itself is a totally relaxing, calming, clean environment - a little slice of heaven in the city complete with candles, fresh flowers and an all round gorgeous vibe.

Facial Reflexology is only one of the treatments available - there are practitioners offering Acupuncture, Massage, Meditation, Reiki, Energy Healing, Homeopathy, Craniosacral Therapy and even Pilates all in one place at Anamaya.

You can find out more about Anamaya, the practitioners and the various treatments and therapies on offer by visiting the website here. For more information about Rupert French and his treatments you can find him here.


My experience at Anamaya was fantastic, I wouldn't take the time to write about it if it wasn't, so if you're in London and city life is getting on top of you or you'd like to try a beauty treatment with a twist I suggest you visit Anamaya.

Call Anamaya on 0203 011 0355 or email the team at info@anamaya.co.uk

Thanks for reading!

*I was given the treatment free of charge for editorial purposes but that doesn't change the fact that Anamaya rocked my world.