“Letting go a little improves life. Letting go alot brings happiness and joy” Jim McGregor

Feel more relaxed and peaceful on the inside by simply turning 100% of your awareness inwards. Yes, give yourself permission to disconnect from the busyness around you (even if its only for a few moments) and re-direct your energy, awareness and breath inwards.

Once your awareness is gently guided away from the stimulating, overly demanding outside world – you have successfully pushed the “pause” button – on your day – and are now ready to enjoy a simple relaxation practice.

You are your own best expert of your body …….. and you know in this moment  ………… whether you are living life from your calm, peaceful centre ….. or  responding to life from a fatigued, stressed, exhausted place.

The picture shown, is one of my all time favourite restorative yoga postures, balasana.   I happen to think it’s one of the kindness relaxation practices we can offer our mind, body and life.

And, if that suggestion doesn’t appeal then I’ve shared a few others with you below.

Enjoy, my soon to be very relaxed, friends.

Calm your nerves and release the tension:

1:  Turn your back to the world: Balasana or child’s pose (pictured above) is incredibly restorative.  It’s such a simple way to calm an overcrowded mind, insomnia, call back your scattered energies back, calm your breathing and relax.

Click here for full details. I promise you’ll love it.

2:  Melt the frown and lose the clenching. Smile and release the worry.  It takes energy, lots and lots of energy to hold a tense, tight frown on your forehead.  Lose the frown and relax the skin across your forehead.  Notice how any pressure in your temples is automatically released at the same time.

While you are at it, zoom into your teeth, mouth and jaw.  Un-clench your jaw, relax your tongue (very important) and part your teeth slightly. Feel the release.  This helps enormously release facial, jaw and neck tension.  You might even notice your shoulders starting to un-hunch, relax and drop. Bonus.

Melt the frown, un-clench your jaw and drop your shoulders.

3: Ocean therapy.  Trust me, this is divine. Close your eyes, gently cup the palms of your hands over your ears, now listen to the sound of the ocean.  You can actually hear the waves inside your head.  Bliss. Enjoy for as long as you need too.

For an added dose of relaxation gently move the palms of your hands very slightly in a circular motion.  I personally find this little ritual incredibly soothing.

4: Rest your eyes: Eyes often hold lots of stress, fatigue and tiredness.  Give your eyes a well deserved break. Lay down, close your eyes and place a yoga eye pillow over your eyes. Allow the soft gentle pressure of the eye pillow help your eyes let go of fatigue and strain.

5: Chant “Om”: Chanting is refreshing and brings a light quality to your being. It’s incredibly therapeutic and helps clear heavy, dull, stuck energy in your body.

Take a full deep breathe in, and on your exhale gently chant om (aum) down into your body and out into the world. One om will probably last around 10 seconds or longer depending on the size of your inhale.  As little as five rounds of om can significantly calm your mind and body.

6: Alternate nostril breathing: Calm your mind and sooth your nervous system by enjoying 5 minutes of alternate nostril breathing.  All the juicy details are explained in an old post of mine.  You are welcome to read it –  12 great reasons to start alternate nostril breathing.

Photo by yogamama

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What I’m loving at the moment:

I’m reading Women’s Power to Heal: Through Inner Medicine by Maya Tiwari. Includes healing osteoporosis, menopause and fertility. Have you ever considered aligning your monthly cycle to the new moon to improve your health?

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Why not subscribe via email or rss feed and get free updates

You can also grab your daily rejuvenation tip by clicking here

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I can highly recommend Ananga’s guided meditations and music.

Please click here to listen.

“Practice peace, drink tea” Samovar Tea Lounge

Why not slow down, unwind and digest your day by sipping tea peacefully with two teaspoons of mindfulness.  Allow each mouthful to dissolve your worries, each swallow to deepen your breath and each pause before the next sip, to relax your body.  Tea has the power to do that.

Turning a cup of tea into a ritual of meditation, mindfulness or pure enjoyment is one of my most favourite things to do on this planet.  So you can imagine how excited I was when I found myself at the Samovar Tea Lounge in San Fransico – Mission Castro earlier this month.  Yep, it’s true, I was officially the happiest person on our planet that day.

I’ve been a fan of Jesse Jacobs from the Samovar Tea Lounge and his newsletters for a while now.  I’m sure quite a few of you are already getting his newsletters.

His philosophy to life and the ritual around tea is one of the first things you feel, and I mean really feel, when you walk into his tea lounge.

The tables are full of beautiful tea pots and drinking ware not to mention the divine colours filling glass tea pots.  And, to top it off Krishna Das playing in the background.

It feels unique, is unique and I wish lived closer.  In case you don’t know I live in Australia.

Anyway, to give you a small taste of Jesse Jacobs philosophy (and the reason I was inspired to write this post) here’s a snippet from his menu:

Slow Down And Sip Some Tea:

“Let your cup of tea lift you above the daily grind, filling you with calm and vitality. Let this infusion of pure water and carefully picked leaves connect you to the farmer who cultivated the tea harvest, the Samovarian who brewed the pot, and to your breath in this moment. Listen to your heartbeat and look around. Who do you care about? Who cares about you? What else matters? Not much actually. Can you slow down enough to see your life and touch the world and those people you love?”

A word of warning comes with visiting the Samovar Tea Lounge – so much choice – I honestly didn’t know what to order.  And, for those of you who know me well this will come as no surprise –  I ordered the chai masala.

Add more slow tea moments:

So, after my recent visit to Samovar Tea Lounge I felt it divine timing to remind myself – and perhaps you as well –  around the lost art of taking the time to sit down, sink into the moment and really savour the pleasure from drinking a great cup of tea – or coffee for that matter.  No standing, texting, multi-tasking, stressing or the like.

I’m all for starting a “slow tea” movement.  How about you?

More “slow tea” moments simply make the world a more peaceful place.

And to get your tea rituals brewing make sure you head over to the Samovar Tea Lounge blog.  Oh, and if you want to drool over some great teas click here. Enjoy.

Here’s the fabulous Chai Masala I savoured.

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What I’m reading at the moment:

10 Mindful Minutes: by Goldie Hawn. Great book for understanding how the brain works  - and evener greater book for appreciating the importance of teaching our children mindful breathing.  When you read this book you’ll understand how intimately the breath and brain are connected.  I’m loving it.
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You can also grab your daily rejuvenation tip by clicking here

Or hang out with a cool bunch of people and unwind a little over at our facebook page

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Unwind Retreats, Ubud, Bali, 2012:

My unwind retreats are now offered 3 times a year in Bali – March, July or September. It’s all about the practice of intentional rest (gentle & tranquil yoga, therapeutic breathing, yoga nidra meditation) for a calmer, healthier and happier you.

Please click here for all the relaxing details.  I’d love it if you could join me.

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Still to this day one of the most popular articles I have ever written is  ”Smile into your organs“.  It’s all about holding a smile on your face,  feeling the feelings of the smile (for me its joy and a lightness) and then with a little help from your breath send that smiling energy into each of your organs.  One smiling breath at a time.

Smile into your liver to dissolve anger, smile into your kidneys to help dissolve fear or smile into your lungs to help dissolve sadness.  Trust me it works, even if some organs resist at first (and believe me – they do resist at times) eventually they will soften enough to open up and receive the smiling energy.

I’m all for smiling as a therapy.  I’m all for smiling as an awesome way to flow through life.

So I was thrilled to watch and read about the latest scientific studies on smiling from Ron Gutman at Ted TV.  He shares how smiling is directly linked to our longevity and overall health and well-being. You’ve got to love that.

And, as 2012 is the year where I’m keen to live life more lightly, I reckon smiling is an easy, no-brainer way to bring more lightness into our daily life.  What do you think?

Wake up and smile:

How about smiling with your lips, cheeks, eyes and whole face first thing in the morning and let it soak into your body.  Remember your first waking thoughts/rituals will either bring you closer or take you further away from the kind of day you’d like to have.

So, in an attempt to add more smiling faces to our planet I’m sharing Ron Gutman scientific research and insights on smiling.  You can also click here to watch his 8 minute talk on Ted TV

Amazing facts about smiling:

By Ron Gutman

1:   Smile is stimulating to the brain as eating up to 2,000 bars of chocolate

2:  Smiles aren’t just a response to feeling good, they can actually make you feel good.

3:  Smiles can predict success in marriage.

4:  Frequent smilers report greater well-being throughout life

5:  Smiles not only makes you look more friendly, it actually makes you look more competent

6:  Smiles can help you live longer

7:   Smiles hold the same meanings in cultures around the world, even for cannibals

8:  Smiling can help connect with others quickly

9:  Smiling is evolutionary contagious

Smiling activates the emotional processing centers of our brains and produces real, tangible pleasure that we can experience and enjoy. When we smile we don’t only feel good, but we also look good to others around us. We’re perceived to be more friendly, sociable, trustworthy, and even more competent. When others see us smiling, they see us in a better light, and they instinctively and instantaneously mimic our smiles. This smile activates the emotional processing centers of their brains and makes them feel better. It also strengthens our connection to them and improves our social interactions.

Photo by Theen

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What I’m doing at the moment:

After travelling in America for the past few weeks I’m currently following Nadia’s Ayurvedic eating advice –  Why?  Because I know light warm food calms me down, settle my nervous system and relaxes my being after so much travel. Plus I’m secretly addicted to my afternoon tea of chai tea and date and coconut balls.  Love you Nadia xx

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Why not subscribe via email or rss feed and get free updates

You can also grab your daily rejuvenation tip by clicking here

Or hang out with a cool bunch of people and unwind a little over at our facebook page

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Unwind Retreats, Ubud, Bali, 2012:

My unwind retreats are now offered 3 times a year in Bali – March, July or September. It’s all about the practice of intentional rest for a calmer, healthier and happier you.

I’d absolutely love it if you could join me for lots of very gentle, tranquil restorative, yoga nidra meditation, mindful breathing and daily specialized Ayurvedic and Balinese massages.  No yoga experience needed just an intention to let go, unwind and experience profoundly deep relaxation.

Please click here for all the relaxing details.

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“I step back, let go and trust in the flow of my life”

I am declaring 2012 as the year for Living Life Lightly.   Sounds freeing doesn’t it!

This year I’m keener than ever to simplify (and/or eliminate) all things that weigh heavy on my shoulders, in my body, thoughts, personal living space and life. It’s time for me, (perhaps you as well) to release thoughts, activities, things, people and places that are heavy and draining.

Eliminate, eliminate, eliminate. Simplify, simplify, simplify. Breathe, breathe, breathe.

How about you? Ready for more lightness and flow in your life?

Below is my starting point for living life a little more lightly in the year ahead.  I’m sure I’ll be adding more as the year progresses but nevertheless I’m happy with my little list so far.

Oh, and while I’ve got you. Have you chosen your personal power word for the year ahead?  Mine is the same as last year “gentle”.   Read about it here.

Lighten your load in 2012:

1: This year I will eliminate even more stuff from my home.

Whilst I’m quite good at clearing clutter, it doesn’t take long for a feeling of heaviness to creep back into rooms, spaces and cupboards – particularly with 3 boys.

I guarantee the more stuff and emotional clutter you give-away or throw out the lighter you’ll feel.

2:   This year I will complain less and feel more blessed:

Silently rehashing complaining thoughts fills my being with heaviness and negativity.  Blah! Not to mention that I’ll be sending my energies into the opposite direction of where I really want to be going.

Each time I notice myself complaining I will follow with my trusted mantra “I trust in the flow of my life”.

The less I complain the lighter I will feel.

3. This year I will finish what I start:

Being surrounded by lots of little unfinished jobs weighs heavy on my shoulders and mind. Its happens to me when I’m rushing through life and not gently flowing.

I get too excited easily and then my mind starts darting all over the place. I’m doing lots but finishing nothing.

Note to self – More finishing less scattered busyness.

4: This year I choose to breath rather than stress out:

No more clenching muscles and holding the breath for me.

With a calm breath comes calm thinking and a relaxed body.  You cannot feel light if your breathing and muscles are tense and uptight.

A deep satisfying inhale equals a lighter feeling me.

5: This year I will replenish my energies more often in nature.

Nature is a great antidote for discharging excess static energy from too much technology. So ditch the concrete jungle and four walls in favour of more fresh air, sunshine, grass and trees. Nature is medicine.

Soak yourself in nature and let the rejuvenation and lightness begin.

6:   This year I will watch my energy levels.

No more exhaustion for this little bunny.

This year I will rejuvenate my energies by spending more time alone. More stillness, restful yoga, walking (without technology and talking), meditation, mindful breathing practices, chanting and other yummy ancient energy giving rituals – in place of over checking emails, sleeping with my iphone, running to my ipad first thing in the morning or neglecting to eat regularly.

The more I care for my energy levels the lighter I will feel.

7: I will spend less time in places and with people that drain my energy:

Yep, you and I both know “those” places and “those people” which time and time again leave us feeling heavy and lethargic. Totally drained of energy.

For me it’s driving, shopping centers and too much talking.  How about you?

8:  This year I will know when to walk way:

When life is not working or I’m simply pushing way too hard – I will know – when to get up and walk away from my routine and the familiar to create some space for the heaviness to shift.

A change of scenery can be the perfect medicine to clear the  mind, brush away the cob webs and dissolve the heaviness.

When life becomes too heavy I will know when to get up, walk away and bring lightness and flow back into my life.

9: This year I will live in my body more:

Living excessively in the head restricts the flow of prana in your body and (for me) creates a heaviness or tension in the temples, jaw, neck, shoulders and stomach.

Get out of your head and back into your body by practising “the 3 arrivals”.  Arrive fully into the moment by arriving with your breath, arriving with your body and arriving with your mind.  Read more here.

10:  This year I will lighten the load for my stomach:

No more heavy weird feelings for my stomach.  2012 is the year of happy tummies.

Note to self  – sit down when I eat – arrive at my meal – no gulping or rushing (big mistake for me) – notice what I eat – no multi tasking – must repeat this one to self again – no multi tasking while eating – practice Ayurvedic eating principles more.   End result one happy, more relaxed and lighter feeling tummy.

The more nourishing meals I eat in a soul satisfying environment the lighter and calmer my stomach will feel.

Books to help you lighten your load in 2012

The Path of Practice: A Woman’s Book of Ayurvedic Healing by Bri. Maya Tiwari

You Can Create An Exceptional Life. by Louise Hay and Cheryl Richardson

Agni by Nadia Marshall – An Ayurvedic course for a healthy digestion.

The Breathing Book: Vitality & Good Health. by Donna Farhi

Everyday Dharma: Seven Weeks to Finding the Buddha in You by Lama Miller

The Artist’s Way Workbook by Julia Cameron

Relax and Renew: Restful Yoga for Stressful Times by Judith Lasater

Spent by Dr. Frank Lipman

A Complaint Free World: How to Stop Complaining by Will Bowen

The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation. by Thich Nhat Hanh

Photo by Mait Juriado’s

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My favourite book for the year:

The Path of Practice: A Woman’s Book of Healing With Food, Breath and Sound by Maya Tiwari

I absolutely love this book. It”s certainly my favourite book for 2011. I felt such a connection – it brought tears to my eyes – on more than one occasion.

Don’t you love it when a book really resonates with you.

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Why not subscribe via email or rss feed and get free updates

You can also grab your daily rejuvenation tip by clicking here

Or hang out with a cool bunch of people over at our facebook page

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“I absolutely love listening to Ananga play the beautiful Udana flute. Her flute music is one of the most soothing and relaxing sounds on this planet” Carole Fogarty

Click here to sample the 9 tracks

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I’ve been sitting here and wondering – what I could possibly share to help settle any anxiousness or restlessness you may be feeling around this time of year.   I then remembered the counting breath meditation.

It’s simple. No meditation experience necessary.  If you can breath (tick) and if you can count (tick) –  then you can enjoy and benefit from the 27 breath meditation.

Don’t worry if you aren’t in the most perfect environment.

Make the most of sitting in front of your screen right now, close your eyes and start counting 27 inhale, 26 exhale, 25 inhale, 24 exhale, 23 inhale, 22 exhale, 21 inhale, 20 exhale and so on.

Of course the point is not how many breaths you actually count.  It’s all about “you” taking a few moments to digest your day, settle your energies and trigger a calmer version of yourself.

For those of you up for a deeper experience I’m sure you’ll love an old time favourite called “The 100 breath meditation”.

My gorgeous on-line friend Ananga from England who creates the most exquisite soulful music and guided meditations wrote about this exact meditation earlier this year.

So now I’ll hand it over to Ananga as she guides you through the 100 breath meditation.   Enjoy.

100 Breath Meditation:

Setting up:

Breathing and being:

Challenges and tips:

Benefits and new beginnings:

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Why not subscribe via email or rss feed and get free updates

You can also grab your daily rejuvenation tip by clicking here

Or hang out with a cool bunch of people over at our facebook page

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Ubud Retreats, Ubud, Bali, 2012:

“I’ve been offering retreats in Bali now for over 7 years – they are my absolute passion.   It is my deepest intention with the help of the universe to create the most nurturing, restful and restorative 5 days of your life”  Carole Fogarty

I’d love it if you could join me in March, July or September.  Please click here for all the relaxing details.

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“I absolutely love listening to Ananga play the beautiful Udana flute.  Her flute music is one of the most soothing and relaxing sounds on this planet”  Carole Fogarty

Click here to sample the 9 tracks

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You may or may not know that I write daily (well mostly daily) tips here on my blog.  I’m actually wanting to collect 365 absolutely awesome unwinding tips so I can pop them all together.  I’ve been working on them now for over a year.

It’s a constant flowing process.   Add some, delete some, re-write some.  I’m in no hurry.  I’ll simply know when I have 365 of the most helpful, inspirational and/or even life changing Unwinding Tips that are ready to for releasing into the universe.

In the meantime I’m able to keep track in a rather casual way which are the most popular ones by the responses I get when I post them up on Rejuvenation Lounge’s facebook page.

So, without further a do here’s the most popular unwinding tips for 2011.

Enjoy, and if you have a moment let me know your most favourite one.

25 of the most popular unwinding tips for 2011:

In no particular order.

1: Sometimes you simply need to walk away from your routine and the familiar – to clear your mind, gain some clarity and see your life differently.

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2: Stop doing things you know aren’t good for you. If you know it drains your energy then do something about it.

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3: Just for today, step back, let go and trust in the flow of your life.

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4: Today might be the day you choose a different response to a difficult or challenging situation.    You might be surprised with the results.

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5: Let it all go. Stop squinting, lose the frown, drop and relax your shoulders, un-clench your jaw, now smile – doesn’t that feel better!

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6: Seek silence and spend time alone.  More being and less doing.

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7: Today feels like a great day to simplify, eliminate and un-complicate. It’s about more letting go and less holding on.

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8: Centre yourself with a prayer. Hands in prayer pose and repeat:

“May I be filled with love and kindness”
“May I be at peace”
” May I be well ”
” May I be happy”

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9: When nothing is working – do nothing.

Create some space for flow to happen again.

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10: Invite more simple into your life.

Simple creates flow. Simple is kind to your body and mind. Simple fuels your heart with all the good stuff. Simple creates spaciousness both in and around us.

Simple is the very foundation from which we “feel” more connected and peaceful

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11: Feeling pressure, overwhelmed or confused?

Ask yourself  “What’s essential?”

It opens the doorways for all the unnecessary to fall away so you can re-focus your energy onto living your life and not how someone else wants you too.

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12: Relax ……… you are here now.

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13: Shake off the over analyzing. Take lots of pauses and just let it go.

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14: The wonderful art of pausing. Think before I speak. Breathe before I react. Rest before I exhaust myself.

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15: A  weekend of clearing clutter can create the space for life to flow again.

It’s got to be one of the best therapies for getting “un-stuck” or shifting unwanted energies around you.

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16: My personal power word for the year ahead is “Gentle”

Think gently, talk gently, listen gently, drive gently, cook gently.

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17: Loving the idea that “15 minutes a day of doing absolutely nothing” can and does change your life.

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18: Live Well With Less. Your stuff can drain your energy, demand your attention, continue to cost money (insurance, storage, cleaning etc) and cause you to worry.

Less stuff = less worry.

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19: Have your ever tried an “echo” exhale?…… Exhale slowly and fully …. Pause….. Then exhale again…….There is always a slight residue left in the lungs.

In that residue is to be found the sludge of toxic memory and ego. Exhale
further, let them go and experience and even deeper state of peace.

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20: Is your heart chakra deficient?

Relax your shoulders, lengthen your posture and lift your chest.

Inhaling “I receive love” – Exhaling “I share love”

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21: Your ear lobes are energetically linked to your brain.

When the right ear lobe is massaged it allows the left brain and pituitary gland to become stimulated.

When the left ear lobe is massaged it allows the right brain and pineal gland to become stimulated.  This gives you a “whole brain” experience.

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22:

Sometimes all it takes is a 20 minute walk in nature.

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23: Distract yourself from over thinking or worrying by tracing the figure 8 into the palms of your left and right hand.  It has an incredibly calming effect.

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24: Stop trying to force things to go your way. It knots you up, tenses your body & interrupts the flow of your life.

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25: Rest is not a weakness. It’s essential. Quality rest makes a valuable contribution to your body, to your mind and definately to your soul.

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Why not subscribe via email or rss feed and get free updates

You can also grab your daily rejuvenation tip by clicking here

Or hang out with a cool bunch of people over at our facebook page

_________________________________

Unwind Retreats, Ubud, Bali, 2012:

“I’ve been offering retreats in Bali now for over 7 years – they are my absolute passion.   It is my deepest intention with the help of the universe to create the most nurturing, restful and restorative 5 days of your life”  Carole Fogarty

I’d love it if you could join me.  Now offered 3 times a year in Bali – March, July or September.

Please click here for all the relaxing details.

_________________________________

“I absolutely love listening to Ananga play the beautiful Udana flute.  Her flute music is one of the most soothing and relaxing sounds on this planet”  Carole Fogarty

Click here to sample the 9 tracks

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Open this book at any page and I promise you’ll be inspired to go forth and live a healthier, happier and juicer life.  Not one single page is wasted.  Every page is full of colour,  endless words of wisdom, inspiration and valuable well-being sign posts. It’s written is a fun, funky way.  Crafted with oodles and oodles of passion.  Energy jumps off every single page.

I bought this book about 6 months ago and refer back to it often for inspiration.  Please don’t be fooled by the title.  It’s so much more than food.  Whilst many of you will already know I lean towards the Ayurvedic lifestyle of eating – and this book is more towards raw,  I still feel it’s a keeper and not just one of those books you borrow from the library and give back.  And, if you’ve already read it, this may be perfect timing for you to re-visit the wisdom.

Simply read Kris Carrs top 15 suggestions below and get an instant  feel of her energy and what she believes are the keys to living life like you mean it.

Lots of focus on the importance of rest, meditation, calming the mind, putting time aside just for you, the craziness of chemicals, moving your body and healthy boundaries.  It includes all the stuff I love.

So, if you happen to be need of a little motivation to change your current lifestyle then look no further than the list below.

Oh, and in case you haven’t heard of Kris Carr she developed cancer in her early 30′s (she’s now 40) and totally turned her lifestyle and eating habits around to be here today to write the Crazy Sexy series of books (she’s influenced by the Hipprocates approach to health).  I personally find them joyful and would happily recommend them to anyone with health issues or wanting a kick in the “derrier” for a healthier lifestyle.

But don’t take my word for it – you be your own best expert. Read through her tips below, feel the energy of her words and see if her writing style speaks to you.

Top 15 crazy sexy lifestyle tips:

1. Get back to nature and back to the garden – preferably the organic garden – when affordable – when not, try to choose fruits and veggies that are less sprayed. You can find a Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides at foodnews.org. There are over 80,000 chemicals in our world today, eating them and putting them on our bodies is a dangerous proposition.

2. Create an anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle. Learn about pH, the acid/alkaline balance, and say goodbye to the SAD, acidic diet in favor of alkaline raw organic veggies, sprouts, green drinks, green smoothies, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, love and oxygen.

3. Make juice not war. Green smoothies are great too. My favorite juicer is the Breville Ikon, and the best blender is the Vitamix. Instead of your morning cup of Joe, (or nightly cup of booze) try filling your day with fresh vegetable juice.

4. Drink lots of clean, purified water.

5. Decrease the amount of animal products you consume (especially dairy products) and move towards more of a plant-based diet.

6. Refined sugars and processed starches are the devil – dump them. If it’s made in a lab it takes a lab to digest. If it has a shelf life longer than you, don’t eat it. Choose low glycemic foods as much as possible.

7. Shake your booty. Your lymph system, which carries away waste, needs you! Unlike your heart, it doesn’t have a pump.  Aerobics is the pump. Brisk walking is the pump. Yoga is the pump.

8. Give your colon a regular spring-cleaning. That’s right, flood your body with alkalinity and flush it of toxins. As the good stuff goes in the bad stuff should come out – on a regular basis.

9. Use natural skincare products. Your skin is your largest organ and what you put on it you literally drink in. Everything you consume either gets assimilated or eliminated. Chemical creams and perfumes tax your body big time.

10. Stress also creates acidity, so turn down the volume on chaos and turn up the joy factor up. Find and regularly commit to activities that help you bring it down a notch. Some ideas: meditation, gratitude journaling, guided relaxation or visualization CD’s, nature.

11. Snooze. Snooze. Snooze. Optimal hours: 11-7am.

12. Chew. Your stomach does not have teeth.

13. And stop eating late so that when you snooze, your body can focus on repair instead of digestion.

14. Set boundaries so that you have the physical and emotional time to take care of yourself – it’s not selfish, it’s self-preserving.

15. Make time for fun, for love, for laughter!

* Click here for Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr

Kris Carr’s Green Smoothie

Makes enough for 2 people. You can adjust the recipe accordingly. My taste buds are different than yours so don’t be afraid to play!

-1 Avocado
-1-2 pieces of low glycemic fruit: we love green apple, pear, berries & cantaloupe
-1 Cucumber
-A bit of kale or romaine or spinach
-Coconut water (or purified water)
-Stevia to taste
*You can also add a sprinkle of cinnamon and some cacao.
*You can also use coconut meat or almond butter or nut milk in place of avocado.
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What I’m really, really  loving:

The Path of Practice: A Woman’s Book of  Healing With Food, Breath and Sound by Maya Tiwari

I absolutely love this book.  It”s certainly my favourite book for 2011. I felt such a connection – it brought tears to my eyes – on more than one occasion.

Don’t you love it when a book really resonates with you.

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Why not subscribe via email or rss feed and get free updates

You can also grab your daily rejuvenation tip by clicking here

Or hang out with a cool bunch of people over at our facebook page

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“I absolutely love listening to Ananga play the beautiful Udana flute.  Her flute music is one of the most soothing and relaxing sounds on this planet”  Carole Fogarty

Click here to sample the 9 tracks

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“Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived”  Helen Keller

First thing in the morning I mindfully light an incense stick, almost like a meditative practice. It’s my way of blessing the energy in my home and sending lots of  good vibes out ahead into my day.

The wonderful smell from the floating smoke instantly triggers joyful memories held in every cell of my body.  I feel happy – as I’m transported gently back to the nourishing and smiling energies of Bali.
Yes, my favourite incense at the moment happens to be “Temple Spice” which I always buy in Bali.

Some incenses gives people headaches which I’m guessing is because they are mostly synthetic.

The Temple Spice incense however, is far from artificial.  It’s the “real thing” of the incense world and hand made with Balinese fingers.

The label reads “This incense (dupa) is a blend of flowers, barks, herbs, oils, nuts and spaces, using no synthetics or endangered plants.  Hand made with fair trading and internature principles”.

Introducing Kim purveyor of great incense:

The universe works in wonderful ways and therefore I firstly must give a huge thanks to Christine a facebook friend who found Kim for me.

Kim in her search for the best Japanese incense in the world – not only found it with a 12th generation incense maker – but also started an incense shop in Greville Street, Melbourne (Australia) and along the way discovered other ancient and traditional incense makers around the world.

And yes, Kim does sell the “Temple Spice” incense from Ubud. The great news for you (if you’re an incense lover) Kim is offering a whopping 25% discount to all Rejuvenation Lounge readers.  Yeah Kim, but more on that later.

So, if you are like me and interested in finding good quality incense then I’m sure you’ll love the following interview I had with Kim recently. I was super keen to understand and learn more about incense, particularly the story behind some top of the range incense  that sells for around $40.00.  I can only dream and imagine what beautiful energy – top of the range incense would bring into my home.  Perhaps one day I’ll be able to experience this wonderful Japanese incense.

Five interesting facts about incense:

Question:  Kim, please share some lesser known facts about incense:

Question:  Aren’t all incense basically the same?

Essentially, incense is aromatic, naturally derived material that is burned to release its aroma. Incense is used throughout the world in traditional health care, for religious ceremonies and rituals, for purification, meditation and other spiritual purposes … and also for pure enjoyment. The composition and form of incense varies considerably – just as with coffee, wine and perfume, the quality of the incense depends on the quality of its ingredients and the manufacturing process. Think of the difference between instant coffee and a great single origin prepared by your favourite barista … or the difference between cheap cask wine and a top quality aged shiraz … a market stall ‘just like Chanel’ perfume and the genuine article …

Many of the inexpensive varieties of incense commonly available are made with artificial fillers, chemical binders, and synthetic fragrances. These ingredients may cause irritation and headaches, and the fragrance they produce … well, it’s not always pleasant. Natural incense gives an entirely different experience – less smoke, less likelihood of irritation and a pure fragrance that’s not overpowering.

Question: Apart from a wonderful smell are there any other benefits to burning incense?

Good quality incense has many benefits, apart from the obvious one of not inhaling chemical irritants! Different types of incense are used for different purposes – for example, sandalwood is often used to aid meditation and spiritual connection, frankincense is used for its calming and relaxing qualities, and white sage is used for clearing or cleansing spaces, particularly when people move to a new home. Green tea incense (with a charcoal base) is excellent for eliminating cooking smells, and incense made from lemongrass and citronella (both grasses of the Cymbopogon family) is an excellent insect repellent!

Question:  Kym, could you briefly take us through the process of hand rolled/made incense?

The ingredients – usually sandalwood or other aromatic woods, leaves and flowers – are ground to a fine powder then mixed with binding agents to form a dough. Natural incense is bound with oils, tree gums and bark, and sometimes honey. This dough is rolled around bamboo sticks, then laid out to dry before packaging. There are many variations on this process depending on the country, and region and style of incense, resulting in sticks having different appearances and scent characteristics. For example, in Japan, no bamboo stick is used. The aromatic dough is rolled out or extruded (much like pasta making), then laid on trays to dry for a few weeks. Then of course, there are the other types of incense, including cones, pellets and granulated incense – there are many styles of incense!

Questions:  What is the most expensive incense in your shop and why?

$100 Incense give-away – Yeah!

I twisted Kim’s arm and she has very kindly offered a $100 incense pack to one of my readers who zip over to Mettascents facebook page and “like.” How easy is that.!   Kim will announce the winner on December 12th  so click here for Mettascents facebook page. Not on facebook?  Don’t worry just leave a comment below.

25% discount – exclusive to Rejuvenation Lounge readers:

Kim very kindly is offering a 25% discount for all “on-line” purchases.  Simply use the code:  rejuvenation when placing your on-line order and the discount of 25% will automatically be applied.   Offer closes 20th December.

and no ………. I’m not getting any commission I’m doing it for the love of really, really, good incense.

Click here for  my favourite Balinese incense Temple Spice.

Click here for green tea incense from Baieido of Osaka (it gets rid of animal and unpleasant smells)

Click here for gift sets for Christmas

Take a tour of the store with Kim:

Please click here to take a virtual tour of Kim’s incense store Mettascents in Melbourne, Australia.

Kim’s recommendations for closed up apartments over winter:

Click here and listen to Kim chat about her Japanese charcoal incense which absorb odors.

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Why not subscribe via email or rss feed and get free updates

You can also grab your daily rejuvenation tip by clicking here

Or hang out with a cool bunch of people over at our facebook page

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Rest and Rejuvenation Retreats, Ubud, Bali, 2012:

“I’ve been offering retreats in Bali now for over 7 years – they are my absolute passion.   It is my deepest intention with the help of the universe to create the most nurturing, restful and restorative 5 days of your life”  Carole Fogarty

I’d love it if you could join me in March, July or September.

Please click here for all the relaxing details.

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“I absolutely love listening to Ananga play the beautiful Udana flute.  Her flute music is one of the most soothing and relaxing sounds on this planet”  Carole Fogarty

Click here to sample the 9 tracks

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“My home is filled with calm, loving, uplifting energy”

It’s important to notice how the energy in the space around you makes you feel.

Does your energy go ‘up” or “down”.  To you feel calm or restless, drained or uplifted or simply a bit weird and not quite right?

You certainly don’t need any special abilities to feel or sense the vibes in a room.  Your body is a clever instrument that is more than capable of tuning into how the atmosphere in a space makes you “feel”.  You simply need to place your awareness on the space and ask “How do I feel in this room”?

If you feel relaxed and supported – Great!

But what if  you feel the “vibe”  is zapping you of energy or a bit on the unsettling side?

For over 20 years I’ve studied and practiced lots of space clearing rituals from many beautiful ancient cultures from around the world.  It’s been my passion for a long, long time. And I still – to this day perform space clearing rituals in peoples homes and work spaces.  The rewards are endless.

Know however, there are little things you can do “daily” or “at the time” of something unpleasant happening to dissolve any unwanted vibes lingering in your personal space.  Perhaps you want to clear an argument (done this many a time with my own boys), illness, residual feelings from watching a scary movie or perhaps boost the vibes in your kitchen before you are about to prepare a meal.   The reasons for shifting/clearing and uplifting energy in your personal space can be endless.

Below are a few very simple ways you can energetically shift how any space, corner, room or even cupboard feels.

Hopefully this post will act as a simple reminder to nurture the atmosphere in your living and work space a little more.

Simple ways to shift the energy in your space:

1.  Light a stick of pure incense:

Yes, the simple act of pausing, lighting your favourite stick of incense, and sending prayers or affirmations out into the space can help fill any room with lots of good vibes.   Most morning you’ll catch me lighting a stick of incense to bless my home and the day ahead.

2.  Clap your hands or ring a bell

If you don’t have a special bell then clapping can often work just as well (by the way a Balinese Priest Bell is my favourite space clearing bell).

Clapping is an absolutely great way to break up any “yucky” energy.  I often clap into the corners, along the walls and then into the centre of a room.  The room always feels different afterwards. The clap must be crisp and clear.  If you find your claps are dull or flat then continue until the sound of your clap shifts to crisp and clear. Flat, dull clapping simply means you are breaking up some stagnant, heavy energy.  Believe me this works.

2.  Sound medicine with OM:

Chanting OM into a room has a profound effect on the energy filling it – not to mention the wonderful flow on effects to the energy channels in your body.

Personally I have always found OM a very healing sound.  Whether I OM to rejuvenate my energies or OM directly into a room –  life just feels better afterwards.

The alternate (which I often do) is to leave a Cd of chanting or OM playing continuously in a room.  Guaranteed, when you come back the energy in the space will feel different.

3.  Draw the infinity symbol:
The infinity symbol looks like a figure 8 on its side.

Clear your mind then trace the figure 8 into the four directions of your room.  I learnt this simple practice years ago from Denise Linn.

I know without a doubt it has a magical effect (much the same as saying OM)  on any room. It’s particularly lovely done into the palm of your hand and around your eyes.

4.  Cleanse  with a sage smudge stick:

For over 20 years I’ve used the purifying power of the smoke from dried white sage leaves – either loose or as a smudge stick.

If you are familiar with Native American Indians and their culture then you will know about sage.  Every Saturday for nearly 6 months I sat in a tippee and was taught North American India ways.  Before we entered the tipee our feet and body was cleansed with the smoke from sage.

Use it to cleanse your shopping, your mattress (very important), your aura, an object, computer, the car or any room, space or cupboard.

5.  Space clearing mist:

There are many flower essence producers around the world  who make essence blends to help release built up negative emotional, mental and physic energies in any environment.

As I’m in Australia, I naturally use Australian Bush Flower Essences space clearing mist.  It can be easily bought from any good health food store on on-line from their web site.

Alternately I’ve had great success with Alaskan flower essences in the past.  ”Calling all angels” and “Guardian” mist sprays have both been fabulous.  Click here to read more about them.

6.  Sprinkle space with rock salt:

Rock salt is used by many cultures in their space clearing rituals.   I find rock salt particularly helpful if the energy is a little more intense or has been there for some time.

Sprinkle the rock salt across the door way, corners and into the centre of the room you feel needs cleansing.  Leave for 24 hours and then vacuum up. I personally think its also a great idea to sprinkle rock salt onto your mattress once or twice a year to cleanse any unpleasant dreams, thoughts or conversations that may be lingering in the energy of your mattress.

I also (from time to time) have a pile of rock salt either side of my front door to help cleanse the energies of everything flowing into my home.

7.  Sacred symbol or images:

Sacred shapes, symbols or images can subtly shift the energy in any space.  Many of my favourite cafes in Ubud, Bali  have sacred geometric shapes like the merkaba (pictured left) hanging from the ceiling.  My kinesologist has a sacred symbol on the ceiling just about my head as you lay on his massage bed.  It helps to enhance the potency of his treatment.

OM of course, is a fabulous sacred symbol that leaves a positive energy in any room.   I personally choose sacred shapes, symbols or images intuitively.  So, go with the flow and trust your gut.

Photo by williamcho’s

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What I’m loving at the moment:

Sarah Wilson, health practitioner, writer and TV presenter quit sugar as an experiment to support the health of her auto-immune disease. She noticed such a huge change to her health and emotions that she wrote an e-book about it. I think its a fabulous idea – although not sure I could go 100% no sugar but it sure is interesting learning about how dangerous and addictive sugar is.

Click here to visit Sarah Wilson.

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Why not subscribe via email or rss feed and get free updates

You can also grab your daily rejuvenation tip by clicking here

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I use and love Ananga’s guided meditations and music

Please click here to sample her music:

For over a month now I’ve been absolutely captivated by a wonderful book called “The Path Of Practice – A Women’s Book Of Healing”.  It’s been circling me for a couple of years ……  and now …..  finally landed into the palm of my hands.  It’s written by a beautiful soul called Mother Maya Tiwari.

Mother Maya’s teaching are influenced from Ayurvedic wisdom.  Mother Maya  has helped thousands of women over the years reconnect to their feminine energies and heal female health issues through beautiful mindful practices of food, breath work, meditation and chanting with healing sounds.  Mother Maya’s unique philosophy is all about tuning to your personal body wisdom and intuition by connecting with the primordial femine healing power of shakti.

My new morning ritual:

Part of my new morning ritual ( taken from Maya’s book) have been a combination of  Goddess Shakti Pose, shiva linga hand mudra, a wonderful mantra from the goddess Durga (to destroy negative forces and remove obstacles) and the mindful preparation of a wholesome breakfast (something I’ve always done). This practice also changes slightly depending on the cycle of the moon.

Do I feel different?   Yes.  Absolutely.  I get a sense of being filled with more gentleness on the inside, am so much more aware of the feminine energy filling my belly (in fact I’m quite protective of its energy) and have a heightened intuitive sense. I feel more me, if that makes sense.

So, if all of this resonates with you then you’ll love the following Shakti asana Goddess pose.  I noticed a difference almost immediately – particularly with how my belly feels.

The potency of this pose is in how you direct your breath – and prana –  in and out of your body. The Shakti asana, Goddess pose is pictured above.

Recall your Shakti (feminine energy):

This is one of the first rituals Maya shares in her book.  She believes its a powerful way to cultivate the shakti-prana of the Divine Mother.

• Lay on your back with your head pointing east
• Stretch out your legs hip-width apart
• Let your arms fall to your sides, palms up
• Bring the soles of your feet together so that the knees fall to either side
• Fell the stretch in your pelvis
• Visualize the intake of breath coming in through your vulva.  Let this energy flow into your belly.
• Slowly release the breath downward and out through your vulva.
• With each breath imagine Shakti in the form of white light flooding your belly.
• Hold the posture for approximately 5 minutes
• It’s important to remember that shakti-prana is not exclusive to women.

I’d love to hear what you think.

You can find out more about The Path of Practice –   A Woman’s Book of Ayurvedic Healing by clicking here:

You can visit Mother Maya’s web site here:

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What I’m reading at the moment:

Sarah Wilson, health practitioner, writer and TV presenter quit sugar as an experiment to support the health of her auto-immune disease. She noticed such a huge change with her health and mood that she wrote an e-book about it.

Click here to visit Sarah Wilson.

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Why not subscribe via email or rss feed and get free updates

You can also grab your daily rejuvenation tip by clicking here

_________________________________

I use and love Ananga’s guided meditations and music

Please click here to sample her music:

“More receiving, less exhausting”

If you could buy energy I’m guessing it would be the most popular item sold in every supermarket.  Unfortunately we can’t buy energy, and as our bodies age if you are anything like me (now in my early 50′s)  energy is something I value more and more each day.

So, here’s my little list of slightly different, yet easy ways we can actively value, protect or replenish my energies.  Enjoy.

1 – Stop doing it

Stop doing things you know aren’t good for you.  If you know it drains your energy then do something about it.

2 – When life gets hard

Always keep a copy of your favourite inspirational book close by.  Open randomly and read a few paragraphs to bring  a little relief to your current situation.

3 – Get rid of what’s weighing you down

To reclaim 20% more energy remove 20%  clutter from your life.   You’ll feel lighter, clearer and certainly more energized.

You might also like to try the  energy “up, energy down” exercise.  Stand in front of your hallway cupboard (or any other part of your home), close your eyes and notice if your energy goes “up” or “down”.  If your energy goes down you need to either clear clutter, re-arrange or cleanse the space.

4- Cleanse the air around you:

If the space around you feels heavy or zapping you of energy then clear the negative vibes.

Cleanse by smudging with dried white sage or chant “Om” into all four directions or ring a bell (any sound instrument)  into all four corners and the centre of the space or  simply open up all the windows and let the sun and breeze shift the energy.

5 – Live more moments gently:

“Just for today I will push less”

Pushing wastes buckets loads of energy.  Push less, accept what is and go with the flow more – you’ll feel less pushed and pulled around by life.

Think gently,  talk gently, listen gently, cook gently, work gently, do gently and live gently.

6 – Avoid toxic people

Do your best to limit yourself to people who love drama and gossip, particularly when you are feeling fragile and exhausted.

7 – Protect yourself from other people’s stresses

Carry a piece of smoky quartz or black tourmaline with you.  It will help transmute and dissolve negative energies.  I also spray myself daily with Australian Bush Flowers Essence Space Clearing Mist to protect my subtle body energies.

A valuable tip I learnt from Ian White (Founder of Australian Bush Flower essences) is to dab a blend of Fringed Violet and Angelsword at night onto your solar plexus to release any negative energies you’ve come in contact with during your day.

8 –  Put yourself first more often

You don’t need permission to put yourself first.

Make sure each day you put yourself on top of your daily “to-do” list.  Even if its only for 5 minutes as least you’re saying “yes” to your own self care more often.

9 – Listen to the Blue Danube

Dr. Masuro Emoto has scientifically proven that listening to the Blue Danube will nourish your central nervous system.

Go figure.  Who would have thought.  Click here to listen to the Blue Danube by Strauss if that sort of music resonates with you.  I happen to love it as it reminds me going to ball in my early 20′s at the Ritz in London.

10 – Centre yourself with a prayer

“More living from the heart, less living from the head”

Whenever you feel flustered or low in energy place your hands together in prayer pose over your heart and repeat the following kindness prayer for as long as you need to.

“May I be filled with love and kindness

May I be at peace

May I be well

May I be happy”

11 – Get out of your head

“Spend less time in your head and more time in your body”

Throughout your day re-direct your focus, breath and awareness into four key areas of your body.

Breath into your feet for a few moments, then stomach, then shoulders and then the space between your eyes.  You can click here for a more detailed explanation.

12 – Uncomplicate your life

“More letting go and less holding on”

When you un-complicate your life you do something magical.  You create some space for the “new” to arrive,  free yourself up from being a “constant doer” and put a healthy distance between you and the busyness of life.

Simplify your home, simplify your bills, simplify your commitments, simplify your daily routine and let go of all the “stuff” that no longer serves who you are today.

13 – Spend time alone:

“More being, less doing”

Seek silence and don’t let stress be the number one focus for your mind and body.

Renew yourself. Spend time alone. Being still and resting in silence is one of the most healing and restorative practices you can do.

Sitting still in silence for 15 minutes a day, can, and does change your life.

14 –  Rest your body:

“More receiving, less exhausting”

If you do nothing else from this list.  Do this one.  Quality rest is not option is the busy crazy world – its essential.  Sleep is not necessarily quality rest, particularly if its restless and you wake feeling tired and lethargic.

Start with crocodile pose or legs up wall or grab a yoga bolster for some simple restful yoga postures.  If you’re not motivated enough to do it on your own then I can highly recommend a great restful yoga and mindful breathing DVD.

Above photo by rajith

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What I’m enjoying at the moment:

The Path of Practice: A Woman’s Book of  Healing With Food, Breath and Sound. by Maya Tiwari

I absolutely love this book and I certainly think its fast becoming my favourite book for 2011. I felt such a connection it brought tears to my eyes on more than one occasion.  Don’t you love it when a book really resonates with you.

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Why not subscribe via email or rss feed and get free updates

You can also grab your daily rejuvenation tip by clicking here

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I use and love Ananga’s guided meditations and music

Please click here to sample her music:

Just for today pay attention to one small ritual, way of thinking or way of being in your daily life and do it differently.  It can be absolutely anything.     The beauty is (I believe), by making one small adjustment to how you think or move through your day has the potential for you to experience life with a much deeper sense of satisfaction.

Sometimes we do things or think certain thoughts because that’s what we’ve always done.  Without questioning, why we are doing it.

Well, of late I’ve been doing my own little bit of questioning and I must say its been a healthy and rewarding process.

As most of you know I love simple.  Simple is gentle and kind.  Simple creates flow.  Simple fuels your heart with all the good stuff.  Simple creates spaciousness both in and around you.  So, lets start simple.  Just for today do one simple thing differently.

So, if you are not sure what to do differently here’s a little list to help get the ball rolling.

Enjoy, and let me know what you did differently.

Just for today do one small thing differently:

1. Just for today I will say “no” more often and know that its OK

2. Just for today I will “earth” myself by walking barefoot

3. Just for today I will step back, let go and trust in the flow of my life

4. Just for today I will imagine what I would be doing if I wasn’t afraid

5. Just for today I will listen to my life

6. Just for today I will sit down every time I eat

7. Just for today my mantra will be “My happiness brings me more happiness”

8. Just for today I will pause for 15 minutes of intentional rest with my eyes closed

9. Just for today I will not sit for too long

10. Just for today I will drink more water and less coffee

11. Just for today I will pause and look at the sky – for as long as it takes to feel calm, centred and grounded again.

12. Just for today I will  ”push less”

13. Just for today I stop the “over analyzing”

14. Just for today I refuse to read, listen to or watch gossip

15. Just for today, I will do everything 10% slower

16. Just for today I will do my best to let it all go – it’s time

17. Just for today I will think, work, eat and talk gently

18. Just for today I will stay connected to my body.  I’ll walk in nature, meditate, focus on my breath or simply feel the sensations in your body

19. Just for today I will listen carefully to how I talk to myself

20. Just for today I will eat only healthy food

21. Just for today I will practice the art of pausing. Think before I talk. Breathe before I react and rest before I exhaust myself

22. Just for today I will practice random acts of kindness on myself

23. Just for today I will do only one thing at a time – mono task

24. Just for today I will bring a more loving energy into my home

25. Just for today I will ignore my distractions

26. Just for today I will listen to my favourite music, over and over again

27. Just for today I will say “I love you” to the people I care about the most

28. Just for today I choose to respond to life by “breathing” – and not clenching or stressing

29. Just for today I will ask myself “What’s the hurry?’

30. Just for today I will journal and get to know myself better

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My recent book recommendations:

Restful Yoga for Stressful Times by Judith Lassater

Chakra Foods for Optimum Health by Dr.  Deanna Minich

_________________________________

Why not subscribe via email or rss feed and get free updates

You can also grab your daily rejuvenation tip by clicking here

_________________________________

I use and love Ananga’s guided meditations and music

Please click here to sample her music:

As I return from Ubud, Bali after facilitating another Rest and Rejuvenation Retreat, my heart is filled with the beauty of prayer.  The beautiful Balinese Hindu culture offer many delicious daily prayer, blessings and offerings to their 16 main gods and goddesses.  They face east to pray, the men with legs folded and the women sit on their heels with knees bent (yes, the yoga pose of vajrasana).  Just as you wear a wedding ring as a symbol of love so do the Balinese wear a sarong and sash to show the gods they are serious with their prayers.

Staying with my Balinese family I watch them daily bless many energy locations of their family compound with flowers, dupa (incense) and holy water.   It fills me with an overwhelming feeling of being safe and protected.   I have the Hindu gods on my side.

So, whether you feel drawn to prayer or not, I know without a doubt simply being in Bali surrounded with a continious flow of prayer  - you can’t help but feel more peaceful, more centred and certainly more grounded on the inside.

You’ll also find yourself smiling more than usual.

Witnessing prayer is therapeutic, yet practising prayer I have found brings my awareness to the bigger picture of life.

I get a sense of being connected to something greater than myself – the universe, and that I am not alone.

I obviously needed to be reminded of this as the Balinese healer I visited a few weeks ago, told me whilst I was spiritually strong I needed to simply pray more for things that I want.  I can do that.

Bottom line, support from the heavens is always there, you simply need to ask.

I promise to let you know about my experience with the Balinese healer soon.  It’s a great story.

Prayer for protection and guidance:

*October 2nd is the one day of the year set aside in the church calendar to honour your guardian angels.  I actually didn’t know this but was blown away to find out I actually uploaded this article onto my blog on October 2nd.  I got goose bumps all over.

I feel quite drawn to angels and archangels.   I own lots of oracles cards many of them Doreen Virtues. So, with that in mind I share a prayer where you surround yourself from the four key directions with an archangel.

You can apply this prayer/ritual not only yourself but your home, your car and your family.  Enjoy.

Face east.

• Call upon Archangel Uriel who resides in the east.  This is the energy of clarity, re-birth and new beginnings.  In your minds eye imagine, hear or sense the clarity that flows from the east.
• Call upon Archangel Gabriel who resides in the south. This is the energy that supports overcoming fear. In your minds eye imagine, hear or sense your fears dissolving as you connect with the energy of the south.
• Call upon Archangel Raphael who resides in the west. This is the energy of coming into wholeness by overcoming the opposites.  Raphael means “healer of god”.  In your minds eye imagine, hear or sense a letting go of that which doesn’t serve who you are today as you feel more whole and healed.
• Call upon Archangel Michael who resides in the north.  This is the energy of wisdom and love.  In your minds eye imagine, hear or sense an abundance of love and wisdom flowing into you from the north.

If you are anything like me then you might like to light a candle to encourage more mindfulness.  Once you feel connected to the four directions and four archangels  imagine being soaked in beautiful white light.  If other colours come to mind, just go with those.  Sometimes I imagine being soaked in green or purple light.

Enjoy and trust in the flow of your life.

Photo by Wandering Angel

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What I’m loving at the moment:

I have always felt particularly drawn to hand mudra’s as a way of bringing balance back into the body.  Simple and easy to do.  Gertrud Hirschi  deck of 68 cards are perfect for exploring the healing power of hand mudras.  Mudras for Body, Mind and Spirit:

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Why not subscribe via email or rss feed and get free updates

You can also grab daily rejuvenation tips over at facebook by clicking here

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Come join me at my next Rest and Rejuvenation in Bali:

Daily restful yoga, mindful breathing practices, yoga nidra meditation and daily hand selected Ayurvedic and Balinese body treatments.

Click here for all the relaxing, restful and restorative details.

“This is a good day.  This is going to be a really good day”   Louise Hay

Have you ever paid attention to the very first thing you say to yourself when you wake up in the morning?  If you haven’t then I can highly recommend it.  It’s very revealing and can be incredibly life changing –  if you want it to be of course.

I was so pleased to be reminded of this recently when I borrowed a copy of Louise Hays latest book from my library called  You Can Create An Exceptional Life.

Yes, I’m a firm believer in making our  ”waking thoughts” count.   After all they will either bring us closer or take us further away from the kind of day we’d like to have.

So, before my feet have even touch the floor first thing in the morning I start nourishing my thoughts and filling myself with good energy by mixing it up with either a prayer, mantra or affirmation.

Believe it or not, it actually makes me feel quite special and alive.

Start your morning with nourishing thoughts:

Simply wake up and choose to think about or recite whatever you want.  It’s that easy. It can be a word you repeat, an affirmation or even a prayer.  Some mornings I simply repeat the word “I trust”, over and over again.  It has an energy that helps settle and calm me if I happen to wake up feeling a little stressed.

Here’s my favourite prayer at the moment followed by a few of Louise Hay’s suggestions from the book.

I lay in bed with my eyes closed, hands in prayer pose and repeat as often as I like.

May I be filled with love and kindness”
“May I be at peace”
” May I be well ”
” May I be happy”

“All is well.  I have time for everything I need to do today”  Louise Hay

“Good morning, bed, thank you for being so comfortable, I love you”  Louise Hay

Start your morning with a smile:

I love Thicht Nhat Hanh and if you are familiar with any of his books you’ll know he talks alot about smiling.

So I wasn’t at all surprised when I grabbed a copy of his book “Present Moment, Wonderful Moment” from my book shelf to check out what he had to say about waking up in the morning

“What a better way to start the day than with a smile.  A smile affirms your awareness and determination to live in peace and joy” Thich Nhat Hanh

“Waking up this morning, I smile.

Twenty-four brand new hours are before me.

I vow to live fully in each moment

and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion”  Thich Nhat Hanh

Enjoy, and if you have the time let me know your little ritual for the first waking moments in your day.

Photo by iamtheo’s

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What I’m loving at the moment:

Reading Agni – Building a strong digestion fire.  It’s an Ayurvedic food and lifestyle course/book by Nadia Marshall.

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Bali Rest and Rejuvenation Retreats for 2012

Bookings now being taken.

Click here for all the relaxing, restful and restorative details.

Are having trouble putting time aside to unwind, digest and let go of your day?   If you are, then I’m guessing you’ll love my recent DVD discovery.  It may well be the perfect therapeutic relaxation partner you’ve been looking for.

In fact if I was clever enough to make my own simple restful yoga and mindful breathing DVD, it would be very similar to this one.

So you can imagine how excited I was when I bought Rodney Yee’s Relaxation & Breathing DVD from Amazon and loved it.

It includes 5 simple restful yoga postures and 3 mindful breathing practices.   If pushed for time you can simply do 10 minutes of mindful breathing practices.  If you have around 30 minutes you could easily complete all 5 of the very therapeutic, restful yoga postures.

Mix it up depending on how you feel and the time you have available.  After all 10 minutes of mindful breathing and relaxation has to be better than none.

I’ve written quite a bit about simple restful yoga and mindful breathing before (there’s a few links below) but sometimes we are too restless to “let it all go” by ourselves and that’s when a DVD can come in very handy.  A handy little partner to help you stop, rest and digest your day.   Plus, I have to admit I like the sound of his voice, its very calming.

*Why you need to know about restorative yoga – * Five great therapeutic uses for your yoga bolster – * Restful yoga for insomonia – * De-stress with legs up the wall – * 12 ways to release muscle tension on the spot

Rodney Yee’s Tips:

Here’s a couple of the key points that Rodney talked about in his introduction that particularly resonnated with me.

1. To be relaxed requires full and deep breathing.   To breath fully it is necessary to be relaxed

2.   Connect with, and then follow your breath to help identify where you are gripping or tensing your breath.

3. Use your breath and relaxation to help let go of tension and stress.

4. Learn to surrender to the power of the breath.

What you can expect in the DVD:

Introduction

Legs up the wall to calm the mind, reduce fatigue and reduce swelling in the legs.  Perfect if you’ve been standing upall day.

Reclined cobblers pose to relax belly, help with lower back pain, open hips, aid digestion and help with menstrual cycle.

Relaxation with chair, perfect to rest lower back, open shoulders, most helpful if you sit in a chair for long periods.

Relaxation pose encourages you to let go of all movement, thoughts and bodily sensations.

Awareness breath (10 minutes) helps you identify where you grip or tense your breath.

Exhalation awareness (10 minutes) encourages you exhale completely and fully.  Begin your inhalation at the base/end of your exhalation.

Pranyama alternate nostril breathing to balance the energies in your body and calm the mind.

Bonus relaxation meditation

If you feel this DVD is just what you’ve been looking for then click here to buy from Amazon.

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My recent book recommendations:

Restful Yoga for Stressful Times by Judith Lassater

Chakra Foods for Optimum Health by Dr.  Deanna Minich

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I use and love Ananga’s guided meditations and music

Please click here to sample her music:

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What I’m enjoying at the moment:

Receiving the benefits from my daily Yoga Nidra practice.

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BOOKINGS NOW BEING TAKEN ……..

There are 4 places still available for my March 2012 Bali Rest and Rejuvenation Retreat.

Click here for all the relaxing, restful and restorative details.  Maximum 6 participants.

Renew yourself. Spend time alone. Being still and resting in silence is one of the most healing and restorative practices you can do.

Why sit still and do nothing for 15 minutes a day?  Because in this busy, crazy, over stimulated world its essential to come back to your centre and find  your “peaceful place”.

Being still for 15 minutes (which by the way is only 1% of your day) creates the space so you can disconnect from the outside world and turn your energies and awareness inwards.  It gives your mind and body the opportunity to rest and digest the day so far.

Being still is nothing more than intentional rest.

Bottom line it allows you to listen to your life, tune into how you are feeling and pay more attention to the needs of your body.  It’s a gift to your health and well-being.

Here’s a simple stillness practice. Breathe in through your nose and tell your mind to stay focused on your breath. Voila.

14 great reasons to be still by the experts:

Relax you are here now.

Hope you enjoy my little inspiring collection of quotes on stillness.

1. “When you don’t know what to do, get still, the answer will come” Oprah Winfrey

2. Silence helps to settle and calm your nervous system.

3. “Being still is a key factor for hearing our best lives calling us”  Martha Beck

4. “One way people can develop peace in themselves is just by sitting quietly and breathing”  Thich Nhat Hanh

5. “When you experience yourself in stillness you experience yourself in clarity”  Eckhart Tolle

6. “When you lose touch with your inner stillness you lose touch with yourself”  Eckhart Tolle

7. “Sitting, lying or walking peacefully un-distracted for 15 minutes will activate different aspects of your nervous system and immune function. Your body will soon start to replenish itself again”.

8.   “It is not wise to dash about. Shortening the breath causes much stress. Use too much energy, and you will soon be exhausted. That is not the Natural Way. Whatever works against this way will not last long.”  Tao Te Ching

9: “The aim of  stillness is simple.  To pay more attention to your inside world rather than your outside world”  Carole Fogarty

10: “Learning how to be still, to really be still and let life happen – that stillness becomes a radiance” Morgan Freeman

11: “Through return to simple living comes control of desires.  In control of desires stillness is attained.  In stillness the world is restored”  Lao Tzu

12: “Wherever you go in the midst of movement and activity, carry your stillness within you.  Then the chaotic movement around you will never overshadow your access to the reservoir of creativity, the field of pure potentiality”  Deepak Chopra

13: “It is the stillness that will save and transform the world”  Eckhart Tolle

14. To know who you really are and to find how you are really feeling can be discovered in stillness

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What I’m enjoying at the moment:

I’m re-reading The Breathing Book by Donna Fahri.  I love, love, love this book.  Each time I pick it up I learn something new.  And, as the Chinese say breath is 100 times more important than medicine.

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BOOKINGS NOW BEING TAKEN ……..

There are 4 places currently available for my March 2012 Bali Rest and Rejuvenation Retreat.

Click here for all the relaxing, restful and restorative details. Maximum 6 participants.

“Humming creates a wonderful circuit of energy in your body re-vitalizing its cells and charging its chakra’s” Deva Premal

Humming is medicine for your whole body.  Its therapeutic – and one of the easiest ways to refresh your thinking and clear your head, especially if you haven’t got time to go for a long walk.

It can be done anywhere, anytime and is incredibly soothing for your whole being. 

Whilst humming may seem a little weird at first, trust me, you can’t help but notice the therapeutic effects it will be having, almost instantly, on your body.

As you begin to hum you’ll notice your shoulders start to drop, your muscles start to un-clench and relax particularly around your cheeks, eyes, jaw, nose, throat and neck.

Humming invites your body to release and let go. It really is a little explosion of magic that starts in your mouth.

Feel more peaceful humming meditation:

Place one hand gently on top of your head, and the other hand resting gently on your stomach.

Close your eyes if that feels more comfortable.

Now inhale, and hum gently on the exhale.  No racing or rushing. Simply hum at a pace and rhythm that is right for you today.

Feel the vibration of the hum move to your hand on top of your head.

Feel the vibration of the hum move to your hand resting on stomach.

Notice, how effortlessly your body starts to respond by releasing, letting go and relaxing.

Optional extra:

Direct the vibration of the hum to any area of your body where you feel the energy is stuck, blocked or super tight.

Therapuetic benefits:

1. Clears out the cob webs from every corner of your brain.

2. Slows your breathing and thoughts down.

3. Activates the parasympathetic nervous system (triggers the relaxation response in your body)

4. Feel more peaceful on the inside.  Humming helps to clear any restless or agitated energy you may be feeling on the inside.

5. Refreshes your thinking.  Dissolves worry, racing thoughts and anxiousness. When you are humming there is no room for worry or fear.

7. Helps to release stress and worry being held in and around your stomach area.  Your stomach will start to un-clench, release and soften.

Photo by tymesynk

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The DVD I’m loving at the moment:

Last week my latest order from Amazon arrived.  The DVD is called Kundalini Yoga to Detox and Destress with Maya Fiennes. I’m  new to kundalini so still learning.  Its very different to any other kind of yoga. Maya uses lots  of movement, mantra’s and breathing.  There’s sequences to detoxify kidneys, strengthen adrenals and get the energy flowing up and down your spine.  Most of the exercises are done sitting on a mat.   My body certainly feels  more alive and awake.

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Ananga plays the beautiful Udana flute – music for relaxation

Click here to sample the 9 tracks

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To experience life more from your centre it pays to be  thoughtful about where your head is at during the day.   Being  more mindful can help shake off an over analzying mind,  change any negative chit chat, be more present with what you are doing or even encourage you to “let it go”.  It simply puts you in charge and not your distractions, not the stress, nor the outside world.

Practising mindfulness is an opportunity to check in with yourself, notice what’s going on, and do your best to relax into the moment and go with the flow.

10 Simple Mindfulness Practices:

The following mindfulness practices are nothing more than simple acts of kindness towards yourself.

1.  Shake off the over analysing

Take lots of pauses and tell yourself to let it go.

2.  Create space in your body

Give your organs room to breath and detox.  Soften your jaw, relax your shoulders, lower your shoulder blades, relax your belly really let it flop, lengthen your spine, un-clench your buttocks, spread your toes and sit or stand taller.

3.  Me time – 15 minutes a day of stillness can change your life

You need some quiet time away from the noise and distraction to settle, re-focus, re-centre and digest your day.  Never under estimate the power of rest and stillness.

4. Go to nature and it will bring you peace

We all know intuitively that being in nature is good for us.  As we connect to the natural rhythm of the earth we begin to feel more grounded and with that comes a sense of release.  Nature helps us de-stress, let go and appreciate the air we are breathing.

5. Celebrate the little things

Focusing on what you are grateful for, right now in this very moment can bring balance into your thoughts, body and life.

6.  I listen to what I say

If I hear myself using negative chit chat  then I change my thinking.  Too easy.

7.  I taste what I am eating

Arrive at your meal, see it, smell it and taste every mouthful.  Eating without remembering means you are not here and totally disconnected from your physical body.

8.  I arrive at my task

Firstly arrive with your breath, then your body, followed by your mind.  Take a few moments to settle in before beginning.

9.  Walk barefoot

Take off your socks, spread your toes and breath into your feet.  Feel the energy flow down through your legs and into your feet.  Ground yourself  by feeling the soft grass, sand, soil or leaves and sticks under your feet.  Pay attention to walking evenly with both feet and not favouring one foot more than the other.

10.  Go to water to turn off

Water has a calming and cleansing effect on our mind.  So whether its standing on the banks of a lake, the beach or soaking in a bath –  breathe into the body of water and notice how you start to switch off, let go and arrive more effortlessly into the moment.

* Photo taken by kenleyneufeld

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What I’m watching and doing at the moment:

Relaxation & Breathing for Meditation by Rodney Yee.  Its a DVD which gently guides you into restful restorative yoga postures and mindful breathing exercises.   Rodney has a very calm soothing voice which helps enormously with the relaxation process.  Its thumbs up from me.

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Bookings now open for my 2012 Rest and Rejuvenation Retreat in Bali.

Click here for all the relaxing details.

“The way to health is to have an aromatic bath and scented massage every day” Hippocrates Father Of Medicine:

A warm bath helps the body let go and relax.   Better still a warm bath ritual can be incredibly therapeutic and deeply restorative. Especially when you add healing ingredients to your bath water such as Epsom salts, vetiver, rose essential oil, grated ginger, baking soda,  flower essences or cinnamon sticks.  Not to mention how incredibly restful it is for a fatigued mind.   I say it’s the ultimate meditation practice.

Once the bathroom door is closed you’ve officially given yourself permission to disconnect from everyone and everything.

It’s time to let go of that bossy voice inside your head, connect to the real you and “soak away” into feeling more peaceful and relaxed on the inside.   Let the bliss begin.

The flow on effects are awesome.  Resting the body will help trigger the relaxation response, calm your nerves and allow your immune and digestive system to strengthen.  Perfect if you are recovering from an illness.

As Dr.Ian Gawler shared at a workshop I attended ‘When the body is given the opportunity to rest and release tension, the body will automatically start to heal and repair itself”.

Guidelines: Don’t hurry, relax your breathing and sooth all your senses with calming music, a soft flickering candle, aromatherapy oil burner or whatever else will assist in relaxing deeply.

Below is a list of some fabulous bath recipes and rituals I’ve collected over the years.   Enjoy, and please feel free to share your own bath rituals and meditations.  I’d loved to hear them.

Therapeutic Bath Meditations:

1.  Chill out:

Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) sedates your nervous system.  It relaxes your muscles, releases toxins and is probably best known for reducing swelling. Magnesium is a mineral your nervous system and adrenals need in order to relax.

Add one cup of epsom salts to your bath water, light a tea candle and turn out the lights.  Follow your breath for the simplest of meditation practices.

2. Let it go:

“I let go easily and effortlessly”  Carole Fogarty

Use your bath time to let go of unwanted, repetitive, worrying thoughts.  See, feel or sense your worries dissolve and melt away firstly from your head, then heart and lastly your body.  Use your exhale  (if you need too) to help you physically release and let them go them. Repeat the above affirmation over and over again if it helps.  “I  let go easily and effortlessly”

Ingredients: 1/2 cup sea salt, black tourmaline and tea light candle.   Black tourmaline is one of my favourite cleansing crystals.  It has a very drawing effect on your aura and can transmute negative energies.  The combination of sea salt and black tourmaline can help shift the negativity and leave you feeling uplifted and much lighter energetically. It’s like having the worries of the world lifted off your shoulders.

3.  Detox heavy metals and radiation:

“I am healthy and filled with energy”  Louise Hay

I found this great little recipe from Kris Carrs book Crazy Sexy Diet.  Its a great remedy  for detoxifying heavy metals out of your system or if you’ve been exposed to lots of radiation – think long plane flight or hours on a mobile phone.

Ingredients: 1 – 2 cups of epsom salts, 1/4 cup of baking soda and a few drops of lavendar essential oil.

4. Candle gazing meditation:

“It is only a thought and a thought can be changed” Louise Hay

Having trouble switching off?  Try candle gazing.  Grab yourself a gorgeous candle and ask your mind to focus on nothing but the flickering flame.  Inhale and exhale into the candle.

Very soon the gentle flickering flame will draw you into its world and lull you into a sense of calm and relaxation.  For extra relaxation support try vetiver.  Vetiver essential oil is very grounding and helps me enormously in slowing down. Rub a few drops onto the soles of your feet before getting into the bath and add 3 – 6 extra drops into the bath water.

If you are having trouble switching off there’s a good chance your adrenals are working overtime.  Licorice tea is excellent for you adrenals.  Sip whilst soaking and candle gazing.  Something else which may help you switch off is passionflower herbal extract.  I use it often to calm myself down.

Ingredients: 1 large gorgeous candle, vetiver essential oil and one cup of licorice tea (optional extra).

5. Back and belly breathing:

“My breath is a powerful healing tool”

At the moment I’m really into “mindful breathing” whilst soaking in my bath.  A 15 minutes session of back and belly breathing works wonders.

Most of us are used to breathing into the fronts of our body but what about our backs.  It can be a little tricky at first but after a while you’ll soon be able to feel the back expand on the inhale and fall on exhale.

To practice back breathing place your hands on waist with your fingers resting over your kidneys.  Breathe into your fingers and feel them rise slightly on the inhale.

It’s great for releasing muscular tension particularly in the middle to lower back.

More therapeutic bath ingredients:

Apple cider vinegar -1 cup added to your bath water is said to be very alkalizing for your body. Its also helpful for fighting bacteria,  fungal growth and bladder infection.  If you’d like to know more about apple cider vinegar visit earth clinic which is a great resource for natural remedies.

Grated ginger - 1 tablespoon added to your bath water helps to improve circulation, remove toxins and considered in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine excellent for your health.  If the idea of grated ginger doesn’t appeal to you then add ginger essential oil or 1/2 cup of powdered ginger.  A bath I have often in Bali is filled with grated ginger, cinnamon sticks along with other ground spices to help improve circulation and detox the body.  Deepak Chopra recommends drinking at least 2 – 3 cups of freshly grated ginger tea a day, something which I particularly love sipping on in winter.  So why not try sipping freshly grated ginger tea whilst soaking in your bath.

Epsom salts and/or baking soda help remove acid waste products from your cells and tissues

Rose oil – well known in the aromatherapy world as a wonderful anti-depressant to help with anxiety and mental fatigue. Its also fabulous for aged skin.  My favourite essential oil for my face.  Imagine smelling of roses all day.

*Photo by claire.

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What I’m reading at the moment:

Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr.  Includes 21 day adventure cleanse.  Packed with great chapters such as –   Make juice not war.  Go back to nature and back to the garden.   Refined sugars and processed starches are the devil.  Stress creates acidity so turn down the volume on chaos.

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Bookings now open for my 2012 Rest and Rejuvenation Retreat in Bali.

Click here for all the relaxing details.

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