Workplace Wellbeing with Merlin’s Magic Wand 🪄
Summer was in full swing, when I met with the lovely team at Merlin’s Magic Wand. With a busy time just past and more challenging work on the horizon, Erin Woods - Charity Manager at Merlin Magic Wand, was keen to give her team a much needed moment to pause and re-energise. To intentionally take care of their health, happiness and wellbeing.
The wellbeing week brought the team together for a fresh air filled group walk, encouraged more awareness of their self-care needs and left everyone nicely pampered with a massage at work! All they needed was one more ingredient…
…a “Wellbeing and Stress Management workshop” with Waking Waves 🌊
But first, who is Merlin’s Magic Wand?
Merlin’s Magic Wand is an international children's charity who provide magical experiences for children who need it most. They do this through three inspiring charitable programmes:
Magical Days Out: complimentary attraction tickets and travel support for much loved Merlin attractions like LEGOLAND
Magic on Tour: community outreach activities bringing the magic of Merlin to children
Merlin’s Magic Spaces: transformational projects in hospitals, schools, orphanages and more.
What was the focus of our workshop?
Waking Waves workshops are adapted from modules within “Waves of Wellbeing and Resilience” a 6 to 8 week course on Waking Waves. With the help of Erin, we pulled together those elements which would be most supportive for her team during this time. Covering everything from the basics of ‘Mindfulness’ and building mindful habits, to the effects of stress in our busy lives and using simple breathing practices to bring calm, in moments of difficulty or anxiety.
Key challenges and takeaways
Hybrid workshop sessions always present their challenges, needing to split in-person and calling in. Not to mention a few niggling “I have lots of work to do!” thoughts. But these are the challenges we face in our working world right now. And the stresses that come with this, are the very things, the mindful teachings and practices are designed to support. So it was great to see the team ‘switch off autopilot’, share their stress triggers firsthand and engage in an abdominal breathing practice, to bring some calm and stability.
“A thorough understanding of what mindfulness is and isn’t and a sense that it is no longer a 'thing to do' but a thing to be”
Erin Woods, Charity Manager, Merlin Magic Wand
And best of all, most enjoyed the opportunity to pause. And most came away with strong intentions, to integrate more mindfulness in their working life! Here’s 4 quick questions with Erin Woods…
4 questions with Merlin’s Magic Wand
What a pleasure it was to work with the team at Merlin’s Magic Wand!
“Thank you for the lovely session - it was an enlightening and refreshing way to take time out of the work day!”
Natasha Ridley, Technical Artist, Merlin Entertainments
And knowing it might support those doing such inspiring work for children, made it that little bit more special.
If you are looking for a fantastic charity to support, please get in touch with Erin Woods and the team at Merlin’s Magic Wand.
And if you or your organisation would like to organise your own wellbeing or stress management workshop, or tailored course, please get in touch or take this brochure.
Have a wonderful day!
Derek
Waking Waves
📧 hello@wakingwaves.com
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