Reiki Master Practitioner. Mindfulness Facilitator.
Soul Midwife. Believer in the Power of Positivity
Member of the UK Reiki Federation, the School of Soul Midwives and the wonderful world of wellbeing online.
Hi. My name is Yvonne Oakes and I thought I’d tell you a little bit about me, as I think it’s important to have a sense of connection when choosing a practitioner to work with.
Professional Career
I have 37 years nursing experience, 27 of which were spent as a specialist palliative care nurse. During this time I helped set up and run the specialist palliative care unit and acute hospital palliative care service in my local area, giving me the opportunity to help ensure the care and support people need at difficult or vulnerable times in their life are the best possible.
I had always wanted to be a nurse and commenced my career at 18 years of age. I chose it because I simply wanted to help others. Working in this field has helped me to grow as a person too.
I am passionate about people being treated with dignity and compassion, and that care and services provided are led by the person’s needs.
I am also passionate about people realising and reaching their full potential at any stage in their life.
I retired from nursing in 2017 but want to continue working with people, as having an ability to help others and not doing so, just doesn’t feel right to me.
I consider myself to be a calm, positive person with excellent listening/communication skills and very importantly, life experience…
Since my retirement I worked, until March 2020 on a part time basis for a local charity supporting young adults with learning and physical disabilities. This was a whole new experience for me. It was fun, and so rewarding seeing these young people full of life enjoying learning and reaching their potential through music and drama. It was great to be able to offer Reiki there and see the benefit to those who have received it. This has been the case elsewhere and documented in the UK Reiki Federation literature.
I am also privileged to work as a volunteer Reiki Practitioner for another local charity, The Mulberry Centre which is a centre supporting individuals affected by cancer.
Personal Development
Our lives are busy and often we put others’ needs before our own.
I think there’s a time in most peoples’ lives when we ask the question “who am I…what do I enjoy doing and what am I good at?” This has certainly been the case for me.
I believe the essence of a person is paramount and when we take the time to ‘find ourselves’, brilliant things happen.
One day, by chance (really??!!) Reiki found me and as well as enhancing my own life I was fortunate enough to be able to use it in my role as a specialist palliative care nurse, enhancing the care I was providing to patients in hospital, hospice and their own homes.
Through word of mouth my private client base also grew and the fulfilment this has given me is just brilliant. Since my relocation from South Wales to England many of my clients continue with their Reiki sessions via Distance Reiki. It is also wonderful to meet new clients, and make new connections here in West London.
Mindfulness
In one way or another mindfulness has been a way of life for me for many years, both personally and professionally. I have used it in a formal way, in meditation and in an informal way in my everyday life, both helping me through difficult times, and with appreciating the great times too, and I very much wanted to share and help others benefit from it. To enable me to do this I completed a one-year mindfulness facilitator’s programme.
I also used mindfulness techniques with patients within my nursing role, and continue to do so with private clients often in conjunction with Reiki. As a team of palliative care professionals undertaking emotionally charged work, several of us used it together to help us bring focus and clarity to our day.
Soul Midwifery
Following my retirement from nursing, which coincided with my move from Wales to England, I undertook Soul Midwifery training to continue working with people facing the end of their lives in a non-clinical way, as I really believe it is a privilege to share this time of a person’s life and try to help make it as good a time as possible, helping them to meet their spiritual, emotional and practical needs.
Read more about Soul Midwifery
Working with the energy of the Moon
I have always had a fascination with the Moon. Over time I began to realise how the changing phases of the Moon affected me, on various levels. Over the past 2-3 years I have further studied the Moon, both formally and informally and am more and more reaping the rewards of working with her energy and incorporating it into my everyday life.. and just as importantly sharing it with others. I am currently undertaking the Certified Moonology Course with Yasmin Boland, I have completed the Moon Magic Diploma Course with the Centre of Excellence and have undertaken the Lunar Cycle Alignment Programme with Harmony Healing.
Personal life experience
I am a Welsh lady now happily living in England with my husband, but with solid roots ‘back home’ making regular visits to family and friends there.
Most people experience difficulties in their lives at some point and I am no exception, having been through a divorce and the knock-on effects that brings, deaths of parents at a young age, general set backs and ‘normal’ disappointments.
My enjoyment comes from being with friends and family and my love of nature – I am outdoors as much as possible and I love being by the sea and the river.
I enjoy new experiences and embrace whatever today brings…