C r e a t i v e   W o m e n ' s   N e t w o r k  P r o f i l e s

Home  Profiles Classified Ads Links  Articles Poetry Pages Horoscopes CWN Jewellery Shop

Chris Bowles

Personal Development Coach & Facilitator

I was born in Liverpool in 1953. At school, I loved writing; I grew up with the Liverpool Poets: poetry was the new rock and roll, and I read my own work at several festivals. I left home to study French at Lancaster University, then moved to London, where I had the privilege of working at the Victoria and Albert Museum. It was a truly unique environment, and my trip to the office every day took me through galleries of wonderful sculptures, textiles & paintings. I then worked at the Crafts Council, before my desire to continue my education took me to London University and an MA in French.

After I graduated I found myself working for the Career Development Adviser at the Chartered Management Institute. Her encouragement and mentoring led me to a change in career direction; I studied counselling, stress management and aromatherapy, and did a lot of personal development, and when my boss left I took over her job. I found the process of helping people discover their true path in life and work enormously fulfilling.  When I wasn’t working, I pursued my spiritual quest, spending several years with an esoteric society where I discovered a love of singing and creative pursuits of all kinds.

In 1990 I decided to follow my intuition, and moved West to Bristol, where I now live. I worked freelance as a career consultant and personal counsellor, and completed a Diploma in Humanistic Psychology with the Institute for the Development of Human Potential, then set up my own consultancy, Breathing Space (website: www.breathing-space.biz). I weave together my skills in coaching and facilitation and my creative interests to provide a “breathing space” where clients can step off the treadmill for a while, relax and reconnect to what’s really important for them in order to make positive life changes.

Breathing Space offers personal coaching and a variety of workshops (including mini-retreats for women) and relaxation sessions. I use sound, scent, artwork and guided visualisation to help clients access their own inner wisdom and creativity.

Much of my work is inspired by the archetypal Elements of Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Ether; I feel that they offer profound insights into our connection with the cycles of nature, which has to some extent been lost in the contemporary Western world. I came to the Elements through my spiritual journey and exploration of esoteric traditions and world mythology over the past 30 years.

My current interests?

Creative Writing – I recently completed a course with the Open College of the Arts and am working on a radio play and some short stories.

Sound and voice work for healing and meditation

Crafts – particularly mosaics

Singing in a 140-strong acapella community choir

My future vision?

To publish the books I’m planning on the Elements and Creative Visualisation

To run an overseas retreat centre offering workshops, relaxation and creative breaks

In the meantime I’d really like to run some residential courses – if you know of a great venue that needs a facilitator, I’d love to hear about it!

Breathing Space Personal Growth Ltd

Programmes for relaxation, stress management, wellbeing and positive life change. To book your FREE coaching session, and for details of forthcoming workshops and retreats, visit the website at: http://www.breathing-space.biz

 Contact: