When Maxine Harrison decided to downsize, perhaps in to a nice country cottage, she had no idea that her house-hunting would lead to a multi-disciplinary centre for holistic healing opening in the town. But following a "light bulb" moment and ten months of sweat and toil the Elysian Centre opens its doors on Tuesday May 3.
Maxine Harrison has been a follower of alternative therapies for over 25 years, following the birth of her children. Harrison is a firm believer in the benefits of holistic healing and she volunteers for a homoeopathy charity in Swaziland. But she had never dreamed of running her own centre until her property search brought her to 18 Cinque Ports Street. Having realised that the upper floor was exactly the space she was looking for to convert into a home she went to look at the lower floor. As Harrison puts it "It was if a light bulb turned on in my head. I thought this would be ideal for a holistic practice".
That thought gained momentum when she asked her friend, the renowned homoeopath Colin Griffith who practises in Wittersham, to take a look at the place. Griffith not only agreed on the building's possibilities but committed to transferring his practice, which he shares with his son Nick and daughter Bella, to the site if Harrison bought the property. The site was bought and so on Tuesday the practice opens, just by Rye DIY.
The centre has three consulting rooms as well as a studio that will be used for yoga. Initially the centre will offer the following core services:
• aromatherapy
• homoeopathy
• osteopathy
• psychotherapy (specialising in learning difficulties)
• reflexology
• shiatsu
• sound healing
• zero balancing
Future plans include therapy taster sessions, for those who wish to dip their toe in the water and to meet the therapists, as well as a drop-in homoeopathic clinic. And on Sunday May 29th there will be an open day with photographic and pottery exhibitions and live musical performances, details of which we will publish nearer the time.
This new endeavour is a fascinating additional resource for the local community. Like many other people I have spoken to I thought why hasn't this happened before, it's so 'Rye-ish' - now that is about to happen is all thanks to Harrison and her "Eureka" moment.
Anyone who want to know more can contact Harrison on 01797 224855 or 07973 176127. The centre opens on Tuesday May 3rd at 18 Cinque Ports Street, Rye, TN31 7AD. The centre's website, which is planned to be up and running for the opening, is www.elysiancentre.co.uk and you can also e-mail info@elysiancentre.co.uk. The open day will be Sunday May 29th.
Photo: Tony McLaughlin
