The Now Project

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Reviews

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  Trina Tiernan

  To have time each week to switch off and check in with yourself. Brilliant experience 😊

  27-03-2023
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  Clare Vickers

  I've just completed my second 6 week Mindfulness course with Adrian and The Now Project. I attended several years ago and felt a refresh and a reset was needed, very glad I came back. Highly recommend this for anyone interested in Mindfulness and how it can benefit us in our daily lives. Thank you Adrian

  27-02-2023
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  donna davis

  Thank you all for such a wonderful experience and the hard work you put into making it a safe space for everyone. I have just spent a weekend at your retreat with my daughters and needless to say we couldn't rate it enough . I am still buzzing with with energy and enthusiasm and am looking forward to my new found journey of what I have learnt . A big thank you also to all the beautiful souls who I met along the way.

  27-02-2023
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  Gnosis Seeds

  I was recommended to the Now Project by a friend, I decided (against my natural tendency) to step out of my comfort zone, as I was becoming more and more despondent with the world and so disappointed in humanity, a downward spiral that I knew from previous experience would lead back to darkness. I made a conscious effort to leave my expectations at home and arrived to the warmest of welcomes on the hottest of days ☀️ (August 22) . The location is in a very peaceful setting, accommodation is basic, but to be honest, not my reason for being there and I believe that the golden gifts on offer from the Now project are being made available and affordable to people who would otherwise be financially prohibited in other high cost establishments. Adrian’s talks were informative in an easy to understand way of unlocking personal potential, self awareness. Drawing on ancient sources of wisdom and practices that have served the betterment of humanity for epochs of time, liberally sprinkled with an experiential humour not unlike my own, learning to laugh at my own habitual , often self destructive thought patterns has been a saviour of my sanity. Steve’s classes are also drawn from various ancient sources of wisdom, Yoga, Tai Chi, delivered in an understanding and nurturing way, holding space with ease. The gong baths are immersion in sound and can have profound effects. Last but by no means least Chris, you will not be hungry for long, tasty nutritious real food, made with love and served with a smile, just don’t mention the ‘C’ word…. 🍰 😋 I had a profound experience in the emotional clearing, a build up of stored trauma/anger that I expelled through a build up of internal heat that dissipated quickly, leaving me feeling lighter than air afterwards for some time, a purge of that which wasn’t serving me but weighing me down. The staff make a point of being very attentive during this process with constant reassurance and guidance, also making themselves available to talk through any issues on a one to one basis if needed afterwards and post retreat. The ability to take calmness into chaos and maintain it , using simple, accessible tools and techniques is just one of the gifts on offer at the Now project, for me that’s a golden gift and 180 degree turn from my past behaviour patterns, in fact, I liked it so much I went back for more and completed the advanced course ( a deeper dive of the same simplicity) I also managed to re establish some semblance of faith in Humanity. But please don’t take my word for it, see for yourself Adrian, Steve and Chris ❤️ Wishing you many pleasant nows Simon 🙏🏻

  27-02-2023
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  melanie sillavan

  I have just read another review from the same weekend retreat that I did and my experience was very, very different… Intense indeed – I sobbed twice – for which I was and am deeply - deeply grateful. I have long been aware that I have been unable to cry, even though I wanted to - instead was wrapped in armour. I didn’t mind being upset - I was glad - both because I wanted and needed that release and because we had been warned it might happen, reassured it was ok, that we were ok and even why they wouldn’t ‘comfort us’ in the traditional way; although in fact Steve was going round the room really caring for us all and holding - emotionally - those who were upset. I felt that - I was one of them. During the most intense Emotional Clearing Meditation on Sunday both Ade & Steve touched base with me to check if I was ok, or if I wanted to slow down, as it was so intense for me. I found both Gong Baths very powerful too - I had only done one thing mildly like this 10 years ago.The first night felt less comfortable but still absorbing; mostly I thought because we were new to the weekend. By the 2nd evening having got to know everyone else more and done more Mindfulness I felt really free to be totally immersed. I was very awake and aware all through and it was the start for me of (trauma release) arm jerks, which I had already experienced for 5 years, becoming free flowing arm movements – a fantastic, beautiful and I’m sure healing experience. I thought all the folk leading this course were so well placed to; they are honest about the deep pain and trauma they have gone through and in healing themselves, who better to help others with their open hearts? I thought all of them were so generous towards us whether it be delicious food, full on workouts by them in the Gong Baths or sharing individual feedback and suggestions to look beyond the course. As the mother to adopted sons with complex/developmental trauma – I have read nearly all there is to read on this. I have both witnessed & experienced deeply, trauma trapped in the body. I have painfully witnessed the addictions and self-medication. I realise I have childhood trauma too and I was so grateful to release some of that – as I have tried in so many other ways, but never accessed such deep cleansing. I know and feel I have more work to do, but count myself lucky to have fallen into this particular retreat with Ade, Steve, Simon & Chris, who made me feel safe, emotional (yay! at last!) and ultimately more hopeful, creative and buzzing.

  27-02-2023
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  Katie Morris

  Overall, some good bits but not as advertised, proceed with caution. Definitely not suitable for people with unresolved emotional trauma. There were some aspects of the retreat that I enjoyed: the 1hr Tai Chi session was excellent, as was the mindful walk and the woodland meditation. The gong baths were quite overwhelming but I enjoyed them, and some of the mindful breathing exercises were very relaxing and very useful. The venue was basic but fine (though only 2 toilets for 18 people), the food was plentiful and of very good quality. Some of the talks from Adrian were quite unusual, they ventured into what felt like Eastern philosophy at times, which is fine but felt slightly odd. However, there were some practices that I felt were not as described in the programme and were not carried out appropriately. It is worth being aware that the staff are not endorsed or accredited by any professional bodies, which may result in these practises being carried out without proper oversight. In the Mindfulness of Emotions session participants were encouraged to engage in hyperventilation breathing exercises (Kapalbhati). This excercise, while recognised in Yoga, should be practised with caution; we were not warned before the session that it is unsuitable for people with various (common) health conditions like asthma, heart conditions or hypertension, and that it is not suitable for beginners (we were all beginners). During The Energy of Mindfulness breathing, without prior warning we were brought into a space of inner child healing. This caused distress for most participants, which was encouraged and exaggerated by the staff. Another session (Energy of Mindfulness) involved the explict triggering of trauma (noting that various group members had highlighted recent bereavements, difficult family backgrounds or other trauma at the start of the weekend) without then offering suitable trauma processing tools afterwards. Many group members were extremely upset during these sessions. Some group members reported feeling better after the sessions, though some were very upset. The Emotional Clearing Meditation on Sunday afternoon involved more hyperventilation breathing, and we were told we could expect screaming, shouting, crying etc. Many people did experience these effects, which were encouraged and facilitated by the staff. Some people behaved unusually or unpredictably, and I didn't feel safe in this session, because I did not feel that staff would intervene appropriately if group members exhibited behaviour that could endanger themselves or others. The programme claims that this retreat helps to resolve emotional pain. Some people may find some lifting of emotional distress, which may be amplified by the physiological and psychological effects of the breathing exercises. However, I felt that insufficient care was taken to ensure that group members were appropriately cared for with regards to their trauma. There were some vulnerable individuals in the group, who were potentially put at risk by the staff as there was no screening for trauma at the start of the weekend or any disclaimers regards participation for people with unresolved trauma.

  27-02-2023
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  Andrew Westrope

  27-10-2022
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  David Beckett

  Absolutely amazing experience, met some amazing people and then I’ll project his self run by Adrian Steve and Chris is fantastic. It got me into a very calm place and I’m still feeling the positive effects of it now a few days later. Very organised, the place is absolutely beautiful and a good mixture of gong baths, sound baths, meditation sessions and Q&A sessions on mindfulness and life. I’ve already got in touch with a few of my friends and will definitely be going back! Highly recommend 😊

  27-08-2022
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  Michael Cawley

  A truly wonderful experience. A friend recommended the Mindfulness course to me and I'm so glad I just booked it straight away and didn't overthink it. Overthinking would be something that I definitely did, but thankfully getting better at not doing that so much anymore. The fact that in the very first class, you get that glimpse of a beautiful quiet still mind was amazing! I've been meditating for 7 years, and yet some of the short group mediations that Adrian leads in the course were so powerful and impactful. It was so great to have this little oasis of calm and wisdom to be able to visit every week, and it got even better when the practical lessons that Adrian gives which teach you to expand that little oasis to become more and more of your everyday experience. Little by little, slowly slowly, it all makes a difference. Adrian is an amazing teacher. I've got so much more respect for teachers who have lived the life and can speak with real life experience, rather than just theory. He is incredibly kind and generous with people, and with his warmth and humour, he really makes it feel like a safe space for everyone to just be. I highly recommend the Mindfulness course, and think everyone would benefit from it.

  27-06-2022
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  Melissa Sweeney

  I had tried various mindfulness courses but none of them clicked with me until a friend recommended the Now Project with Adrian. I finally “get it” and it has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. Thank you so much Adrian for having the courage to see outside the box and share it with the rest of us!

  27-06-2022