Ideas for a healthier more mindful life ...............

noreply@blogger.com (Trisha Hills) — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 13:03:00 -0800

I was going through some old notes this evening and came across the following poem, I have no idea who wrote it or where it came from but thought it worth sharing

A stable mind cannot be overvalued and depends on singleminded practice

compassion stabilizes the mind

languor disturbs the mind

gladness stabilizes the mind

doubt disturbs the mind

equanimity towards things pleasant or painful stabilizes the mind

carelessness disturbs the mind

equanimity towards things good or bad stabilizes the mind

lethargy disturbs the mind

liberation of the breath stabilizes the mind

self-indulgence disturbs the mind

mindfulness of arising perceptions stabilizes the mind

misconception disturbs the mind

sorrowless illumination stabilizes the mind

ungroundedness disturbs the mind

objectless awareness stabilizes the mind

instability disturbs the mind

noreply@blogger.com (Trisha Hills) — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 09:15:00 -0800

Yin Yoga – a restorative practice

Most of us are familiar with the Yin/Yang symbol, an image that depicts ultimate balance. Even with extremes there can be found an influence from the opposite end of the spectrum. Yang is seen as the masculine form, heat, light, movement, impulsiveness; Yin is the feminine, cool, dark, still, reflective. When balance is present life moves smoothly, when extremes occur problems arise - consider the impact nature can have, extreme weather conditions causing devastation through flooding and arctic temperatures, or fires ranging out of control, prolonged heat leaving landscapes bare and lifeless.

Imbalance is also a human condition. Modern life with its patterns of addiction, depression, digital overload reaps havoc on our bodies and our minds. More and more we see patterns of addiction, depression and digital overload adding to the emotional and physical stress that daily life can bring.. There are many avenues open to us to help bring the elusive balance into our lives, yoga is one of them. Yoga provides the movement and strength of Yang through dynamic practices such as Ashtanga and Vinyasa flow; and the stillness of Yin in meditation and pranayama. However, within each we must find the other, Yin brings to a dynamic practice a sense of containment, control and focus, the ability to return to centre. Yang energy stops a Yin practice sinking into lethargy or becoming dormant, it provides the spark of interest and exploration.

But Yin and Yang are more than energy, the systems of the body can fall into either camp, those responsible for controlling and containing our energy or those that monitor and purify. We also have the structure of the body itself, the extreme yin of bone marrow to the yang of the digestive organs, and somewhere in the middle our connective tissue, or fascia, – that which binds, borders, supports. Without our connective tissue we would have no form, it wraps around every cell, every muscle, it is the ground substance through which our hormones travel, it attaches bone to bone, muscle to bone. It provides us with tone and tension, it can be to the point of rigidity or almost fluid. If every other organ or structure was removed from the body, the network of connective tissue that was left would maintain our physical form.

It is the health of the connective tissue that gives our bodies a sense of ease, the ability to move unhindered through a range of motion, when it is out of balance we see the extremes of hypermobility or stiff unresponsive joints and limbs. Many factors are involved in the quality of this tissue, as we age it can become drier, losing its flexibility and tone. Posture and stress impact as well, holding patterns set in, raised shoulders, tight lower back or chest – fascia that was there to support movement becomes hard and stiff, restricting us, causing pain and discomfort.

So how do we bring back that sense of ease? Bodywork can help, a good massage will bring warmth and movement to stiff tissues encouraging fluidity back into muscles and joints. Movement itself is invaluable, walking, swimming or stretching. Good diet and hydration are paramount, but one of the most effective ways to open and stretch the connective tissue is Yin Yoga. Yin yoga approaches asanas slowly, supports such as belts, bolsters, and blocks are used to reduce strain. Participants are encouraged to find their edge in a posture and then back off, maybe a millimetre, maybe into a different posture. The aim is to create enough space to allow the body to sink down or ease open. The breath remains calm. Postures are held for between 3 and 5 minutes, as tension releases deeper poses can be found and explored. Some poses may be tough with an element of strength required, other will be deeply relaxing, both physically and emotionally. An extended relaxation at the end of a class will allow the work done to be realised throughout the body.

A regular Yin practice is a valuable addition to fitness and wellbeing. The connection it gives us to our inner selves both physically and emotionally, will reap benefits long after we step off the mat.

Thieves Blend

noreply@blogger.com (Trisha Hills) — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 08:42:00 -0800

After spending Christmas in bed ill, I was introduced to Thieves Blend by the lovely Tina Dennett, she sent me an email with her recipe, which I have copied below. You can google the term and find any number of sites giving their take on the blend, but essentially it is the ultimate anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, immune boosting blend out there, many thanks for sharing Tina:

Basic Recipe for Thieves blend below. Makes 10ml of neat blend which goes a long way.

60 drops Clove bud oil
50 drops Lemon
30 drops Cinnamon Bark ( I do substitute for leaf & this works well for me)
25 drops Eucalyptus (any of the eucalyptus oils can be used)
15 drops Rosemary

Store in dark 10ml bottle out of sunlight.
Any of the following can be added (max of 15 drops of any) by reducing the main recipe, but do not reduce any of the above ingredients by more than 5 drops each.

Thyme(red)
Ravensara
Hyssop (a very effective immune booster)

To make up mouth wash:
10 drops of Thieves Blend
1 tsp vodka ( acts as a short term preservative)
Make up to 200 ml with spring/mineral water
Store in dark 200ml bottle out of sunlight

Gargle & rinse mouth 2x daily as preventative or as needed up to 4x daily
DO NOT SWALLOW

This is a really potent blend and should never be applied neat on to the skin as it can burn. I also mix 10 drops with 15ml beeswax to rub under nose, very good for clearing the head.
Personally I increase the amount of lemon in the mouth wash, once I've made the bottle up I add another 5 drops of lemon, find the taste is better plus the lemon is an immune booster & an antiviral.

noreply@blogger.com (Trisha Hills) — Mon, 9 Dec 2013 03:57:00 -0800

I often read the following extract to students who feel they 'are not very good' at yoga or meditation:

From: Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki

The Marrow of Zen 'in the zazen posture, your mind and body have great power to accept things as they are, whether agreeable or disagreeable'

In our scriptures ...., it is said that there are four kinds of horses: excellent ones, good ones, poor ones, and bad ones. The best horse will run slow and fast, right and left, at the driver's will, before it sees the shadow of the whip; the second best will run as well as the first one does, just before the whip reaches its skin; the third one will run when it feels pain on its body; the fourth will run after the pain penetrates to the marrow of its bones. You can imagine how difficult it is for the fourth one to learn how to run!
When we hear this story, almost all of us want to be the best horse. If it is impossible to be the best one, we want to be the second best. This is, I think, the usual understanding of this story, and of Zen. You may think that when you sit in zazen you will find out whether you are one of the best horses or one of the worst ones. Here, however, there is a misunderstanding of Zen. If you think the aim of Zen practice is to train you to become one of the best horses, you will have a big problem. This is not the right understanding. If you practice Zen in the right way it does not matter whether you are the best horse or the worst one. When you consider the mercy of Buddha, how do you think Buddha will feel about the four kinds of horses? He will have more sympathy for the worst on than for the best one.
When you are determined to practice zazen with the great mind of Buddha, you will find the worst horse is the most valuable one. In your very imperfections you will find the basis for your firm, way-seeking mind. Those who can sit perfectly physically usually take more time to obtain the true way of Zen, the actual feeling of Zen, the marrow of Zen. But those who find great difficulties in practising Zen will find more meaning in it. So I think that sometimes the best horse may be the worst horse, and the worst horse can be the best one.

For me, this analogy can be applied to almost anything in life, too often we are encouraged to see the value in the culmination of an idea, celebrate the high achiever. Maybe sometimes we should be encouraged celebrate the journey, the effort and dedication, regardless of the outcome

My name is Gossip.

noreply@blogger.com (Trisha Hills) — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 10:58:00 -0800

My name is Gossip.

I have no respect for justice.

I maim without killing.

I break hearts and ruin lives.

I am cunning and malicious and gather strength with age.
The more I am quoted the more I am believed.

I flourish at every level of society.

My victims are helpless.

They cannot protect themselves against me because I have no name and no face.
To track me down is impossible.

The harder you try, the more elusive I become.

I am nobody's friend.

Once I tarnish a reputation, it is never the same.

I topple governments and ruin marriages.

I ruin careers and cause sleepless nights, heartache and indigestion.

I spawn suspicion and generate grief.
I make innocent people cry in their pillows.

Even my name hisses.
I AM CALLED GOSSIP.

Unknown Author

Laugh, and the world laughs with you .......

noreply@blogger.com (Trisha Hills) — Thu, 7 Jun 2012 14:34:00 -0700

http://www.uklaugh.org/index.html

a laughter festival in Manchester June 2012 - worth a look : ))))

Useful Yoga Videos

noreply@blogger.com (Trisha Hills) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 05:17:00 -0700

http://www.yogajournal.com/video/

I get asked to recommend yoga videos on a regular basis. Different people have different needs and there is an enormous choice out there, it is difficult to be specific, but anything published by Gaiam or Yoga Journal is always trustworthy.
The above link will take you to the Yoga Journal site where you will find a number of free, very good yoga videos. Jason Crandell in particular is great - good, clear instruction and a wide selection of practices - and its all free!

food glorious food

noreply@blogger.com (Trisha Hills) — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 06:18:00 -0800

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/08/dining/mindful-eating-as-food-for-thought.html?_r=1&ref=health

Very good article on mindful eating.
Should start something going on experience of texture when eating mindfully - scrambled egg is very hard put into words

The train of thought

noreply@blogger.com (Trisha Hills) — Sun, 5 Feb 2012 13:38:00 -0800

Imagine standing on the platform of a railway station and a train pulls in. There is nothing to say where it is going, how long the journey will take, whether or not the destination will be pleasant, nothing at all, just a random train - would you get on?
The above is a useful analogy for me when I am asked to explain mindfulness. We are unlikely to get on to the train but we are more than willing to latch on to thoughts, with no consideration to the journey they may take us on. We often feel pulled in, unable to control their intensity. Our mood can switch in an instant because of a fleeting thought, or remain stuck, we just have to ride out the storm.
Mindfulness gives us a pause, a moment of clarity that holds a picture of what we are actually doing, we can see it for what it is, the effect it is having on us. It also gives us a strength to see that there are options, choices, responses available when we need to call on them.
Mindfulness is never 'just done'. It is a learning, a progression. It is experiential so you just have to get out there and try it.

Mindfulness

noreply@blogger.com (Trisha Hills) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 07:07:00 -0800

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgSGcsnRZs0&feature=youtu.be

This link was posted on Linkedin by Johan Berkstad, well worth listening to.

Mindfulness

noreply@blogger.com (Trisha Hills) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:26:00 -0800

There is a lot of interest in the media at the moment in mindfulness. Many articles are written about its benefits, and many websites are out there to reinforce the message. But in simple terms, what is mindfulness and how does it help?

Mindfulness is simply the practice of bringing present moment awareness to the present moment. In other words we approach the situation we are in without the baggage that we carry from our past or the expectations that we have for the future. In his seminal book Full Catastrophe Living, Jon Kabat-Zinn describes how our minds appear to us when we begin to pay them attention – ‘ you will probably find that there is a great deal of mental and emotional activity going on beneath the surface. These incessant thoughts and feelings can drain a lot of your energy. They can be obstacles to experiencing even brief moments of stillness and contentment’. Kind of stating the obvious, most of us know this, but what most of us don’t know is how to calm this chatter, to contain it, bring clarity and a fresh outlook to situations, this is where mindfulness comes in.

Unfortunately, for those of us who like a quick fix changing our auto pilot response, or calming relentless mental chatter, requires commitment and practice. Mindfulness is gained through experiential learning, through a regular practice where distractions are put to one side and time is given to understanding and developing a more mindful way of being. Just as you can have any number of cookbooks on your shelves, and any number of ingredients in your cupboards, unless you bring the two together, physically engaging in the task, nothing will ever get made, and you will never get to experience the chocolate cake, the beef and ale casserole or the simple salad, you will just have an idea of what it could taste like. Such is mindfulness, you can read the books, listen to the cds, or even occasionally sit and give some time to practice, but only by embracing a dedicated and regular practice can you truly begin to reap the benefits.

This commitment to exploring mindfulness is never a chore, you can give it 5 minutes a day, 20 minutes a day, or even longer, the important fact is the need to give it quality attention. Nature hasn't designed us to fail, so any steps that we make towards improving our health, are rewarded quickly. So before you take the leap of buying another book or downloading a podcast, pick up your diary and pencil in a few minutes each day, become familiar with the pattern of your life, book yourself in to just be with yourself. When you can see that it is possible to bring a 5 minute slot into your day, you are ready to begin.

Over the next few weeks, I will be exploring ways in which mindfulness can become part of daily life.

Ref: Full Catastrophe Living, Jon Kabat-Zinn, ISBN 0749915854

Immune Boosting Chutney

noreply@blogger.com (Trisha Hills) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:01:00 -0800

Yet another recipe given to me by Chionnessa Kaur (Chionessa, where are you?). This chutney, though an acquired taste is simply brilliant and will get you through a heavy cold, relieve a consistent chesty coughs, and boost your immune system.

Ingredients

5” fresh ginger, finely chopped

Whole bulb of garlic, finely chopped

2 onions, finely chopped,

2 tsp turmeric

Fresh red or green chilies, thinly sliced (add to your own taste)

Tamari for seasoning

Saute the first 5 ingredients in a small amount of vegetable oil for about 20 minutes. Allow to cool and add tamari to taste. When completely cool store in an airtight container in the fridge and eat on a regular basis – try for a couple of teaspoons a day. It can be eaten with mail meals such as hot pot, shepherds pie, roast veg, or with sandwiches or baked potatoes, or if you’re feeling hard core just eat it off a teaspoon.

Health benefits of Immune Boosting Chutney

Garlic – supports the bodies immune system, anti inflammatory,

Onions – anti inflammatory and a natural probiotic

Ginger – boosts circulation, kills cold viruses, relieves congestion,

Turmeric – anti oxidant, anti viral

Tamari – powerful anti oxidant

Yogi Tea

noreply@blogger.com (Trisha Hills) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:24:00 -0800

Its that time of year when you should consider throwing a few store cupboard ingredients into a pan of boiling water and making yourself a vat of fresh, spicy, Yogi Tea. The recipe below was given to me by Chionessa Kaur, a Kundalini Yoga teacher, and it has become a staple in my house for over 10 years.

Ingredients: 4 pints water
50g piece of root ginger, thinly sliced (no need to peel)
3 sticks of cinnamon
20 black peppercorns
20 green cardamon pods, split
15 cloves
1 tea bag (I use Yorkshire Tea)

Bring the water to boiling then add everything apart from the tea bag. Cover the pan and simmer for 3 hours. Add the tea bag and simmer for 5 more minutes. Remove all ingredients with a slotted spoon. You now have your tea : ).

Once the tea is made you can do anything with it - I like mine plain. Other options are mix 50/50 with milk or soya, add honey or sugar.

The health benefits of drinking Yogi Tea through the winter months are fantastic, consider the following:
Black Peppercorns - Carminative, Ease Sinus Congestion, Warming, Anti-Oxidant
Cardamon - Carminative, Anti-Inflammatory, Eases Sinus Congestion
Cinnamon - Warming, Eases Congestion
Cloves - Analgesic, Warming
Ginger - Aids Circulation
Tea - Anti-Oxidant

But above all else, the tea is delicious, Enjoy!

Manuka Honey

noreply@blogger.com (Trisha Hills) — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 14:13:00 -0700

I went for a dog walk with my friend Colette yesterday. She has been through the mill a bit healthwise so gets to have an eye kept on her by the NHS, so they discovered two stomach ulcers and prescribed a drug from the proton pump inhibitor class, she stopped taking it after she couldnt stand living with the side effects and did some trawling of the internet. After finding Manuka honey as a recommendation she decided to give it a go even though she loathes the stuff. So her symptoms subsided and she felt a lot better. after 6 months another laporoscopy found that her ulcers had gone, her doctor was surprised to find that she had stopped taking the medication after 2 months so the rest was down to the Manuka Impressive stuff

The British In Bed

noreply@blogger.com (Trisha Hills) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:32:00 -0700

I watched The British in Bed last night, BBC 2, it was lovely, made me feel humble and happy
I loved the elderly Jewish couple, the Sikh couple, and the lady who made bead jewellry - get yourself down to Relate, drag your husband there, save your marriage and buy a large box to tidy all your beads away at the end of the day !

drunks

noreply@blogger.com (Trisha Hills) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:54:00 -0700

last friday saw me in A & E for 3 hours with one of my children - alcohol related, much to everyones shame It struck me that during the time we were there the only people who were admitted were there because of alcohol abuse, I wonder how much money the NHS had to spend on that Friday night, how much police time was wasted, how many people were involved in fights or accidents
maybe the NHS, police and other services should be able to send bills out to all of those (including my daughter) who are there because of self inflicted conditions, maybe then people would start to think twice about their lifestyles
I found the whole evening sad