Office workers across the West Midlands are set to benefit from a unique wellbeing and personal safety programme as local martial arts group Masamune Dojo expands its successful Shefuay initiative into the corporate sector.
The move supports Mental Health Awareness Week (May 11–17), particularly this year’s theme of ‘Take Action’, encouraging employers to turn awareness into meaningful support for staff wellbeing.
Shefuay is an empowering holistic programme that combines martial arts, movement, sport and dance to help participants build confidence, reduce anxiety, improve resilience and develop practical personal safety awareness.
Widely recognised for their innovative approach to wellbeing, mindfulness and self-empowerment, Shefuay mindfulness sessions are also being offered free to local people of all ages with the support of Sport England and Goodmedia.
Originally launched three years ago with support from the Yardley Neighbourhood Network Scheme, the programme began as an introductory course for vulnerable groups with visible and invisible disabilities, with workshops held at a local dojo (martial arts training centre).
Course founder and designer Fay Goodman, a highly qualified martial artist, personal safety trainer, author and musician, continues to bring Shefuay workshops into communities and workplaces to help organisations strengthen employee wellbeing, confidence and resilience.
Alongside this work, Fay also supports children’s health, wellbeing and safety through The Conies charity, recently honoured with The King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest accolade for volunteer groups in the UK.
Fay said: “Shefuay enables employees to explore self-empowerment activities at their own pace, from traditional martial arts to gentle movement and martial dance, all within a friendly and supportive environment. Workshops can be delivered during lunch hours or after work to suit each community and organisation.”
She added: “The concept of Shefuay is about achieving a meaningful quality of life and long-term wellbeing. By combining martial arts, movement, personal safety and healing music, we help people draw on positive energy and emotions of peace, harmony, gratitude and contentment to better manage the pressures of modern life. This approach has proved highly successful within the community and is increasingly valued within the workplace.”
Anthony Collins Solicitors in Birmingham is among a number of organisations that have already benefited from Shefuay personal safety and wellbeing workshops delivered through Birmingham Colmore. The most recent session, held in support of International Women’s Day, was hosted by Anthony Collins Solicitors and focused on confidence building, personal safety and wellbeing in the workplace.
Paul Street, Project Manager for Safer Colmore, whose workstream led the business engagement in the district, said: “The initial workshops were extremely well received, with participants highlighting not only the confidence they gained, but also the relevance of the scenarios covered. It’s clear that providing staff with the tools to feel safer, both in and out of the workplace, has real lasting benefits, and we’re delighted to see organisations like Anthony Collins Solicitors leading the way in prioritising personal safety and wellbeing.”
The name Shefuay combines “Shefu” — a term associated with skill, wisdom and open-mindedness — together with the meaning of the author’s name, “faithful”.
For more information or to book a corporate workshop, call 07976 426463 or hello@shefuay.com or music@goodmedia.co.uk
The Shefuay website is at shefuay.com
Masamune Dojo: masamunedojo.co.uk