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Gratitude as a state of mind

gratitude

How often do you notice how great things are in life, and say thank you?

Or, how often do you notice how shit things feel in life, and are thoroughly not thankful for them!?

It’s all too easy to get caught up in the mind and label a situation as good or bad, depending on expectations of what’s wanted in that moment of time.

I still flit between these 2 states, but happily, the state of gratitude, seems to keep growing.  This isn’t because I won the lottery or finally worked through all of my shit, but it’s because I got sick of being depressed about all the things and the lessons I cannot change.  Slowly but surely, my focus keeps shifting to see more of the positives in life, and aiming to express gratitude for them; especially when I’ve had a rough day.

Try it, when you think things couldn’t get worse, or when you wonder why the hell you’ve ended up in the shit; find points about it that you can be thankful for.  It’s hard, sometimes very hard at first, but over time, the shit subsides and you begin to see the point to the lessons you’re seeing.

What are you grateful for?  Write your own list, please share it if you like!   Below is a small list from my daily thanks:

  • Thank you for my bed, and all it’s warm and comfy bits which allow me to sleep soundly
  • Thank you for my family; including my husband, friends, parents, brothers and sisters and all the beautiful people who help give meaning to my life and keep inspiring and loving me, no matter how I feel towards myself
  • Thank you for my health and all the people, foods and products that nourish me 
  • Thank you to my home, for keeping me warm and dry and allowing me to have my little space of paradise in the hecticness of London
  • Thank you to my job(s) which help me to earn my living in this current society
  • Thank you to my winter coat, you’re very warm and much needed right now
  • Thank you for my shower, all hot and cleansing and awesome
  • Thank you for all the things I walk into and that trip me up, and my clumbsyness, as it’s in these moments I realise my state of unmindfulness and again refocus into the present moment
  • Thank you to all the random people who either entertain, show kindness or aren’t very nice to help me see these same things in myself
  • Thank you to the Scientific art that is Yoga (and Pilates) which has helped me to pull my head out of my arse and enables me to lead a more and more fulfilling life with every breath I take
  • And of course, Thank you to all my teachers and students who help to keep me on the track I most prefer and shine a light where I didn’t notice one previously

 

Namaste, so much love, and have a fun weekend 🙂 xxx

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5 tips for achieving a regular practice

regular practice

Have you ever found yourself starting something and enjoying it, but then, letting it all fall by the waste-side in a hopeless mess?

I have, many times.  Thankfully it generally doesn’t happen with my yoga practice.  Here’s a few tips I use to help me reap the benefits of having a regular yoga practice:

  1. Make a consistent space in your diary.  You can find classes any time of any day (especially if you live in a big city), pick a time you can stick to for at least the next 4 – 6 weeks.
  2. Find a teacher who you feel good about seeing, and who guides you to a constructive, and potentially happier place during and after class.  There are many of us teachers; and if you don’t feel shiny, light and the desire to return then the chances are you wont; and thus it probably isn’t the right teacher for you.  Explore someone else’s class.
  3. Aim to attend at a studio that is relatively accessible/not too far out of your way; a 1 hour journey to and from class can be a right downer, and quite draining (unless you live out in the sticks and it might be quite a pleasant ride or less choice!).
  4. Eat appropriately around the class.  I.e. don’t fill up your belly (especially on meat or heavy, stodgy dishes) less than 3 hrs before class.  Some fruit or nuts are an ideal snack if you need something to keep you going in the mean time.  Keep it light.
  5. Have fun with it!  If it starts to feel like a bore or work activity it’ll soon lose it’s majic and charm.

All in all, lighten up with your practice 😉

Much love x

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The Simplest way to Healthier Insides

DSC_1353

Eat and Drink Alkaline.

Huh?  Alkaline is the opposite to Acid in terms of pH* levels; pH is a factor which has a large influence on how fast things grow (i.e. protein, bacteria, even cancerous tumors) in nature.  Keep with me here, needs a little science to explain..

So, what’s the point in bothering to eat more alkaline/alkalising foods?

Our blood generally ranges between pH 7.34 and 7.45 (slightly alkaline), this is the optimum conditions for our bodies to synthesise proteins, remove waste, and assist all the chemical reactions essential to our life.

Digestive juices however, are between pH 1.5 and 3.5, due their need to break down food stuffs.  Urine is around pH 6, depending on what you eat; and it’s the mechanism with the kidneys (blood filtering organs which filter toxins out of our blood and into our urine), which helps to keep our blood pH steady; hence you drink a lot of coffee, acidic, you get darker urine.

Why bother?  This is the role of our kidneys??

Yes, our kidneys do help but like us, they’re not infallible; the kidneys/urine excretory system isn’t instantaneous.  The kidneys help to level out the blood as it passes through them for filtering; but if you eat or drink things which are acidic this will also effect your blood pH for a time** (and thus the whole of your body).  This can create an environment where disease thrives and normal chemical and biological processes may suffer; some say then potentially leading to things like weight gain, kidney stones, weaker bones and muscles, arthritis, lower brain function, lower back pain, headaches, colon cancer and type II diabetes!

The good news – Alkaline diets are really easy to work with, the principles are simple: eat things you know are good for your body’s functioning and minimise/moderate the acidic bits.  e.g.

Alkaline foods:

Fresh fruit and vegetables, Lemon/Lime water excellent morning tonic

Soya bean (edemame), tofu

Almonds, chestnuts (most seeds and other nuts are slightly acidic so good in moderation considering their other benefits)

Olive, flax and canola oils

Green and herbal teas

Acidic foods:

Coffee, black tea (caffeine generally, which also can cause mood swings)

Processed foods, refined flours, refined sugars, and stuff that has a way long best before date!

Alcohol and soft drinks

Peanuts, most beans except soya

Potatoes, most grains (especially white wheat)

Meat, cold water fish and chicken are better varieties

Try it for 2 weeks and see if you notice the difference, simples!

SCIENCE PART:

*If you know me, you’ll know I’m a scientist at heart, hence my appreciation of yoga.  Thus, if you would like a little more info about what pH actually is:

‘pH’ is representative of ‘power/potential of Hydrogen’, which looks at the H or Hydrogen ion activity within an aqueous/water based solution

Neutral pH is about 7, this is equivalent to pure (non carbonated) water; totally acid is pH 0 and totally alkaline is pH 14.

**After food has been worked on by digestive enzymes in the stomach and passes into the small intestine (ileum) where you have villi which provide a rich link to the blood for absorption of nutrients from the digested foods.  Its between here and however long and many passes through the kidneys that the blood pH can be effected by what you eat; thus the non-instantaneous pH balancing act.

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Listening to yourself

 bodymind

Fortunately, my body is hypersensitive and thus is one which makes me listen; for which I am very grateful.  Even just the subtle signs of pimples, aches or dry skin can be your body trying to get you to listen to it as a means to help it function better.

Listening to yourself could be inferred in many ways.  There are multiple parts to our existence and thus there’s multiple parts of us we can listen to.

The body:  Tells us when we’re hungry or in pain

The mind:  Constant babble that can either be useful in solving complex arithmetic, or, is the distracting and destructive voice of the ego, which keeps us battling with ourselves or others

The higher mind/soul/spirit:  This tells us how best to reach our ultimate goals and where the love is

In my experience, it’s quite a noise occurring,  and the default or easiest part to listen to is the one which shouts loudest, i.e. the ego/mind.  Fortunately for me however, my body screams quite loudly at me a lot when I disrespect it; and has forced me to listen to it over my ego.  The current societal set up in the UK gears us from birth towards wanting money, power and externally percieved ‘beauty’, i.e. the mind/ego fulfillment; this is how I ended up in hospital a few times.  If it wasn’t for listening to my body then I’m not sure where I’d be right now but I doubt it would be a great place.

It’s only by learning to listen to the subtle and gross signs in my body that I’ve learnt to not listen so much to the crap in my mind.  In turn, I am then more able to listen to my higher mind/soul and find the love and direction I so desparately craved before.  Hence my moto:

Get into your body to get out of your mind!

x

 

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Winter Time, New Year Rhyme

winter

I have a marked lethargy and need for thicker socks.  Time to take stock, before we rock, 2014  😉

Thus in Winter we are here,
make the most for this time of year.
As our minds feel easier to clear;
Time to reflect and learn from this last year.

Learn the lessons from 12 months last;
Take all I need from this year passed.
Holidays and new year’s day;
We come again to celebrate,
And share the love where we feel great.

Sometimes are hard and not so fun;
But this FRESH New year is nearly begun.
There’s every potential that much joy can come;
or even sorrow I may wish to numb.

So I take some time and dig down deep,
and find the habits I wish not keep.

What’s the point in my life next year;
unless it’s to love and pass lessons I used to fear?
Thus in Winter we are here,
Let’s make the most in this time of year.

Love xxx

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New Year New Moon

new year new moon

A new moon signifies a time to set new intentions for the coming lunar month.  Using the vast energy of the moon we can have a stronger drive into our favored direction.  If this all sounds a bit far fetched, check out tide times, hospital and police staffing numbers and what happens to more sensitive people you know during different phases of the moon.

A new year, for us in the Northern hemisphere, is at the start of deep winter; usually accompanied by lots of rain, a chance of a cleansing, white blanket of snow and a reset in nature.  The new year is the perfect time to signify starting a fresh, New Years resolutions are a plenty.

This new years day coincides with a new moon, thus double whammy on the energetic potential for resolution or intention setting.  For me, thus hopefully helping with healthier living, happier loving and a greater joy to life generally for 2014.

What’s your intention/resolution/revolution for 2014?

Get focused, meditate on it a little; then let it go of it; live your life with as much love as possible.  Do the hard work you feel serves you when it comes up and trust in yourself.  You’re beautiful and boundless.

 

Namaste x

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Food for Thought

GMO Food for Thought

I got a book from my brother a couple of months back, very provocative – I nearly got too scared to eat anything after I read it.  However, in my opinion, information is power and we deserve more of a say over what we put in our bodies.  ‘You are what you eat’ as the saying goes, and cancer (in my humble and honest opinion), is a man made disease.  Please watch or read and draw your own conclusions.

The World According to Monsanto

Book:

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/search?searchTerm=the+world+according+to+monsanto&search=Find+book

Film (free to view):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex9YocKmoMU

New year, new perspectives.

 

Love x

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Motivation Pit Stop

Foody-Buddha-Belly

Self-yoga practice was really hard to get going today.  I felt more like hugging my foody-buddha belly and going back to bed!

Several days of over stuffing on yummy food, inclusive of surviving yesterday solely on my mum’s vegan, wheat free Christmas cake and dark chocolate.  Stretching never felt so tiresome yet so goooooooood 🙂

If you’ve been stagnant for a few days, maybe have a roll around on the floor or better yet come in for class tomorrow, 11am @ Brilliant Corners.  Let me help you to easy your body back into feeling good, and gently putting one foot forwards for flowing into new years eve dinner and dancing!

 

 

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A Pensive Poem from Home

Home Poetry

My homeward retreat has again left me replenished and refreshed.  Filling up with the abundance of love on offer; especially when taking a moment or 2 to listen to another.

Thus I am honored to share a smidgen of my love from home; in the form of this Christmassy poem.  (Written by R)

“Christmas is coming
That fact I truly know,
the times they are a changing
Time for me to go.

“Optimism, Fear and Regret,
Friends that I know.
Utopia, Rainbow’s End
Places where I’ll grow.

“The future is uncertain
Dare I turn the next page,
Adventure, Happiness and Knowledge
Or alcohol soft middle age.

“Christmas is coming
Goodbye to all held dear,
Everything is changing
My Destiny is near.”

 

Happy Holidays, InJoy what and where you land. x

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Winter Solstice & Low energy

css-winter

Class cancelled.  Dark skies.  Nothing seems to be lifting my energy today.

The Winter Solstice is upon us and marks the start of deep, dark winter.  Deep winter being when animals hibernate as a means of survival and the harvest of crops is at a minimum.

This year is the first time I’ve been quiet enough to reflect on my own internal state, and fully listen to the world around me.  Today, I go easy on myself – self-practice, relax and retreat to the coastal countryside I call home.

 

Happy Solstice.  Keep the fires burning inside, so this winter we can all thrive.  See you for a heating & restorative class next week x