Editor Rejuvenation Lounge and facilitator of Women’s Rejuvenation Retreats

Rejuvenate With Relaxation:

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”  Lao Tzu

The 3 arrivals is a fabulous well-being practice that encourages your mind, body and breath to arrive - into the present moment with awareness and calm.  Its origins are Buddhist, and takes no more than 5 minutes of your time to bring you into the here and now.   Your breath, mind and body are all invited to be at the same place, at the same time.  A very healthy relaxed  place from which to live.

 Photo by  Justin Adam’s:

I have personally found the 3 arrivals  a real life saver over the past few weeks as I have spent many long hours in emergency rooms and hospitals with my youngest son.   So whilst the 3 arrivals  is essentially recommended as an ideal practice prior to meditation, you can easily benefit from this wonderful  restful / mindfulness exercise anywhere, anytime.  Before you get out of bed, before you turn the computer on, in the shower, waiting in a queue, at traffic lights,  before you eat a meal or when you are about to start a new task.  In fact, I truly believe that the more you practice the 3 arrivals the more you will want to do it.

7 weeks to finding the Buddha in you:

The 3 arrivals is sourced from a wonderful book I am currently reading called Everyday Dharma: Seven Weeks to Finding the Buddha in You by Lama Willa Miller.   I love, love, love this book.   Each day Lama Willa shares simple insight or thoughtful exercises to encourage you to live your life with more awareness.  You certainly do not need to be a Buddhist to benefit from this book.

Meditation on the 3 arrivals:

Time taken 5 minutes:

Step one:  Arrive with your body:

Step two: Arrive with your breath:

Step three: Arrive with your mind:

1: Firstly, arrive with your body. 

Give your body permission to unwind and chill out.  Get into a comfortable position, then exhale (as loud as you like) with a sigh or ahh!   Let it all go.  Use the exhale to release physical tension and stress.

As Lama Willa Miller shares this is like a mini holiday for your mind and body. 

2. Arrive with your breath.

Notice your breath.   Feel the rhythm of your breath.   Let your breath breathe you.  Simply allow it come and go naturally.  Allow your breath to arrive into this moment.

3.  Arrive with your mind.

Stop getting involved in your thoughts. Stop planning and worrying.  Do not think about the past or be concerned about the future.  Give yourself permission to just be.  If you do nothing the mind arrives.

As Lama Willa Miller says “Thoughts are like fish-bait.  If you stop biting at the bait, you will not get hooked.  If you leave thoughts alone they will not harm you”.

You can find Lama Willa Miller on twitter and learn more about her book by clicking here.

I’d like to finish by wishing you all a  very Happy New Year and may 2010 bring flow and lightness to your life.   I trust that I continue to deliver simple yet helpful articles that inspire your life in some small way.  I also value your comments and truly welcome any suggestions or questions that you may have for me.  You are welcome to email me on:  healthylivinglounge@gmail.com 

Thanks so much for reading my article, Carole.

Return anytime to the Rejuvenation Lounge or connect with me on facebook or twitter

You are welcome to subscribe to my weekly articles by email - It’s free:

More articles from the Rejuvenation Lounge:

5 of the best 30 second relaxation practices:

How to focus on one thing at a time:

How to teach your children meditation:

12 great reasons to start alternate nostril breathing:

from the Yoga Studio in Secunderabad (Hyderabad, India).

Rejuvenate Your Mind: 

“Time is non refundable.  Spend it wisely”

Yoga Nidra means, “sleep with awareness.”   It is an effective way of achieving relaxation physically, mentally, and emotionally.   In fact, a single hour of Yoga Nidra is equivalent to many hours of quality sleep and is much more resorative and rejuvenating.

Modern medical science accepts that a calm mind can act as a healing force for many conditions. These conditions include heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes, digestive problems of all kinds, arthritis, acute cough and cold ailments, as well as other chronic degenerative conditions.

 Photo by Tarnalberry

How to prepare yourself for Yoga nidra:

Gently lie down on your back in Shavasana posture (as above), legs apart, arms a little away from the body, with palms up. If you want to cover yourself with a cotton sheet, you may.   Close the eyes gently, while adjusting your body.

There should be no movement during Yoga Nidra. Try to listen to your heartbeats…   Be witness to all the sounds of the surrounding nature…Watch the incoming and outgoing breath for some time consciously… As you breathe in, the abdomen is rising, and as you breathe out, the abdomen is falling… Feel great comfort, ease, and relaxation…

Set your intention:

Before beginning the practice of Yoga Nidra, make a short resolve.  It is an important stage in Yoga Nidra. Resolve is a determination to become something, or to do something, in your life. Everyone has desires and ambitions.   For example, you may like to give up any of your habits, or you want to practice something new to better yourself.    You may resolve that you will remain healthy all your life or that you’ll follow the path of Yoga from now and onwards.  Whatever resolve you make, repeat it three times to yourself, thinking that God is witnessing you.

Next, move your awareness through your body:

• Face.  Be aware of the top of the head…   the forehead…   both sides of the forehead…   the right eyebrow…   the left eyebrow… the space between the eyebrows…  the right eyelid…   the left eyelid…   right eyeball… left eyeball… right ear… left ear… right cheek… left cheek…the nose… upper lip… lower lip… and the chin…

• Right side Visualize the right hand thumb… index finger…middle finger… ring finger… little finger… feel the tips of the fingers… Be aware of your right palm… wrist… forearm… the right elbow… upper arm… the shoulder… the right chest… right side of the stomach… the thigh of the right leg… its knee…the calf muscles… the ankle… the heel… the sole… the right big toe… the second toe…the third toe… the fourth toe… the fifth toe… the whole right foot.

• Left side Now take your consciousness to the left side. Repeat as you did above with the right side.

• Back.  Your body is touching the floor… be aware of the points of contact between the body and the floor… Relax your heels… calf muscles… back of the knee… thighs… hips… lower back… upper back… right shoulder… left shoulder… shoulder blades… back of palms… back of the arms… the neck… and the back of the head…

Now move your awareness to your major body parts:

Bring your awareness on the main parts of the body… full right foot… left foot… feel both feet together… the right leg… the left leg… both legs together… full right hand… full left hand… feel both hands together… the right arm… the left arm… both arms together… your full back and spine…complete abdomen… chest… and the whole face… the face is totally relaxed and peaceful… now feel your whole head and body together.

Visualize your body lying down on the floor completely relaxed.

Concentrate on your breathing:

Now become aware of your natural and normal breath.   The breath is coming in and going out freely… you move with the breath fully consciously.

Do not force the breath… Be the witness… Concentrate on the abdomen…

With each inhalation, it is expanding…with each exhalation, it is sucking in… Now, as you are aware of your breath, start counting backwards with each in breath and each out breath, as follows:

“I am breathing in 27 (or 10); I am breathing out 27 (or 10); I am breathing in 26 (or 9); I am breathing out 26 (or 9); and so on, from 27 (or 10) to 1.

Say the words and numbers mentally as you count your breaths.  After completing the counts, pause for about 5 minutes if you started counting from 27 and for about three minutes if counting started from 10.

Keep your awareness on the sensations in your body:

Be aware of your body and of your sensations.  Feel, with each inhalation, that cool air is entering your nose, and the body is becoming more energetic.

You are getting strength, power, courage, good health, and happiness.

Feel as with each exhalation, warm air is coming out of your nose, and you are releasing all the toxins, stress, ill health, all the weakness from your body.  The body is becoming relaxed, and you feel as if you are sinking into the floor.

Nature visualization:

Mentally select a place of natural beauty, which you have ever visited and liked, such as a park, a garden, a lawn, or a riverside.  Feel as if you are mentally present at that place.  Take your mind to that place, and feel as if you lying at that place and are breathing the air of that environment.  Keeping the mind involved with the same environment, feel as you are experiencing and enjoying the same happiness again.

Repeat your resolve:

Repeat your affirmation and resolve, mentally, three times, with total involvement and awareness.

Culmination:

Unwind all efforts…  draw your mind outside…   become aware of your breathing…   become aware of your surroundings… the room you are in…  do not open your eyes… lie quietly until your mind is completely awake and externalized.

When you are sure that you are wide awake, turn the body to left side and sit up slowly.  Rub your hands, massage the face gently, and open your eyes.  The practice of Yoga Nidra is now complete.

Note:

Keep your cell phone and landline phones off during the resting period to avoid distraction.

This is a guest post by  Dr. Rita Khanna’s of the Yogashaastra Studio in Secunderabad, Hyderabad, India .  Dr. Rita Khanna’s was initiated into this discipline over 25 years ago by world famous Swami Adyatmananda of Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh (India) and is a well-known name in the field of Yoga and Naturopathy.    Her email address is: yogashaastra@gmail.com

I really appreciate the time you’ve taken to read our guest post, Carole.

Return anytime to the Rejuvenation Lounge or connect with the Rejuvenation Lounge on  facebook

You are welcome to subscribe to my articles by email - It’s free: 

More articles from the Rejuvenation Lounge:

Teach yourself walking meditation:

The benefits of humming daily:

12 great reasons to start alternate nostril breathing:

How to get your “om” on

Editor Rejuvenation Lounge and facilitator of Women’s Rejuvenation Retreats

Rejuvenate Your Home:

“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Whenever I see prayer flags they seem to instantly inspire me to act more peacefully.   They remind me of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the colourful Tibetan monks.  There is something magical and quite calming about their very presence.

Prayer flags are an important part of the Tibetan culture.  Each  coloured flag is infused with special mantra’s, sacred symbols and words that are believed to use the energy of the wind to send blessings in the breeze.   Lung-ta is the Tibetan name given to a set of prayer flags that fly in a horizontal line.

 Photo by hatter10_6

The wind horse  is probably the most common ancient symbol you’ll find on prayer flags.  It is said to represent good fortune.  The higher you hang your wind horse  prayer flags the more good fortune is believed to come your way.  

Now, in the western world it is not uncommon to find Tibetan prayer flags hanging across entrances, in front yards, back yards and even inside homes.   I love them and happen to think Tibetan Prayer Flags  are a perfect way to bless your home.

The meaning of the colours:

The most common of prayer flags today are made of five colours blue, white, red, green and yellow.  Each representing the five elements - blue for sky, white for clouds, red for fire, green for water (or wood) and yellow earth.   Monks believe that the blue flag, which always starts the set of five colours, should be hung at he highest point as it symbolizes the sky.

In case you didn’t know green is considered an auspicious colour for the Dalai Lama which has been determined by his Tibetan astrology.  In the book Tibetan Prayer Flags it explains that green flags would be raised on a Wednesday to coincide with his lucky astrological day.

Cleanse your prayer flags:

Zamling ji sang is the name of a Tibetan smoke ritual which uses the smoke of burnt offerings to clear obstacles and heal the environment.  A Tibetan monk would chant a mantra and ring his bell as the auspicious smoke floats into the air.

In Tibet juniper bushes are considered a sacred plant.   The smoke from this plant releases special energies that purify and cleanse newly hung prayer flags and the surrounding area.

Whilst I don’t have a juniper bush handy,  I do use a sage smudge stick or herbs on a disc of charcoal to create my own little sacred smoke ritual when hanging new prayer flags.   I also add a few rounds of  “om”  to make it extra special.

Best location for your prayer flags:

In Tibet they can be seen on mountain tops, on the eaves of homes, around temples, at high passes, scared locations, even across rivers and bridges.  They are hung for all in all sorts of locations for all sorts of reasons; the arrival of lama, to bless a home, sacred site, protection against earthquakes and send blessings in the breeze.

Many of my friends use them near their front entrance but really the choice is yours.   You might choose to erect them in an area of your garden that seems flat or lacking in some way to bring blessings and new energy to that location.  I’ve even heard of a woman using the energy of the wind and prayer flags to scatter her husbands ashes.

Best time  to hang your prayer flags:

 The early hours of the morning, when the energy of the day is still calm and pure, is considered very auspicious to hang your prayer flags.

According to the Tibetan calendar there are certain days which are considered inauspicious (Bhaden days) for hanging your prayer flags.  Over the next few months they are December 20th 2009,  January 1st and 28th 2010 and February 8th 2010.

A wonderful gift idea - Send your blessings on the breeze:

You might also be interested in a wonderful book I bought about 5 or 6 years ago called  Tibetan Prayer Flags: Send Your Blessings on the Breeze.   It also comes with a set of 15 wind horse prayer flags.

It is written by Diane Barker who has traveled many times to Tibet and was lucky enough  to have  Dru-gu Choegyal Rinpoche as a consultant on this book.  Its a small beautiful book that’s easy to read, very informative with many amazing pictures, and a set of prayer flags.    A wonderful gift idea.

I really appreciate the time you’ve taken to read my article, Carole.

Return anytime to the Rejuvenation Lounge or become a fan on facebook

You are welcome to subscribe to my articles by email - It’s free: 

More articles from the Rejuvenation Lounge:

How to get your “om” on:

10 inspiring quotes from Confucius

12 great reasons to start alternate nostril breathing

The instant benefits of humming daily

Editor Rejuvenation Lounge and facilitator of Women’s Rejuvenation Retreats

Rejuvenate Your Energy:

“ Stand in front of your hallway cupboard. Does your energy go up or down”   

There are lots of things that potentially can zap our energy, and many wonderful things that will nourish and refuel it.  Often, without realizing there can be certain areas in our living space that can subtly deplete us.

If you value your energy then its worth taking time out to stop, notice and feel if anything in your living space is adversely effecting or draining you.  Its all about tuning into the energetic influence your stuff has on you.

Photo by victoriabernal:

At this very moment I am practicing the Energy Down Energy Up exercise in my home. I get myself into a quiet, still frame of mind and feel the feelings that I sense coming from draws, certain objects, cupboards, walls or any area of  space.  Is my energy go up or does my energy go down ?   I then quietly tune into my intuition and decide what if anything, needs to change.

If a rooms feels stuck or heavy it can simply mean it needs re-arranging or a space cleansing.  Changing the layout of a room can be as good as a holiday and great for getting the energy moving and uplifted again.   Alternately it may be clutter that is weighing heavy on the rooms atmosphere which then requires a clutter busting session.

Interestingly it can be as easy to fix as one item or piece of furniture that spoils the whole feeling of a room.   It could be something annoying, broken or inherited (sad memory).  We are all different and what is draining for one person may not be for another.  Trust your intuition and what you are feeling.  Your body knows best.

As a result of doing this exercise I discovered that my couch pulls my energy down.  When I’m really honest I have to admit that its uncomfortable, I don’t like the colour and it always seems to annoy me.  I’ve tried putting it outside in the sunshine,  cleansing it with a sage smudge stick,  throwing rugs over it, putting crystals underneath it but nothing has changed its energy draining effect on my body.  The couch must go.

“Surround yourself with things the lift you up, not bring you down”  Carole Fogarty

The Energy Down Energy Up Exercise:

If you are doing this exercise for a room then its best to stand in the centre.  You are likely to get the strongest and truest feelings there.

If you are doing this exercise for a certain object then hold it (if you can) to either your heart or stomach area.  This may help you sense more clearly if your energy is going up or down.

I also find that early morning, before the kids are awake is one of the  best times to practice the energy up, energy down exercise.  Everything is a little clearer and calmer, before the busyness of the day.

1:  Close your eyes:

It’s best to have your eyes closed so you are not distracted by any house cleaning or the likes, that you may distract you.

2:  Relax your breathing:

The calmer your mind and body the more in tune you will be with your “gut feelings”.  Breathe into your belly, let go and relax.

3:  Place your hands on your stomach:

Intuition or gut feelings are often felt in the stomach area.  By placing your hands on your stomach area you may be able to feel any tightness or tension that comes into your stomach muscles and sense a more accurate energy down energy up feeling.

Hands on stomach is a great alternate if you are not sure if your energy is going down or up.

4:  Trust your very first impressions:

Your body will know instantly when standing in the centre of a room if it pulls your energy down or brings your energy up.  Don’t get carried away with a conversation in your head (it will confuse you). Trust your first very first thought or feeling.

5:  Not sure:

If it’s a neutral feeling, then that’s OK, but keep a watch on it in the future.  If you are having trouble deciding if its energy down or energy up open your eyes and notice what feelings you have then.

If that doesn’t work quickly think of one word that comes to mind when you look at the object.  It might give you a clue such as annoying.

6: Still not sure, try clapping:

If the above doesn’t work then experiment with my favourite tip of all - clapping.  By clapping into a corner or in front of a cupboard you can tell by the crispness or dullness of your clap whether the energy is heavy and draining.  Sharp, crisp clear clap means the energy is light and uplifting.  Dull, flat clap means the energy is stagnant, heavy and depleting.

I’d also like to let you know that I am in the process of writing a simple “House Blessing and Space Clearing Guide” to help you shift heavy or dull feelings in your home.  Expect it to arrive just after Christmas. It will help greatly with any “energy down” feelings you may have about your home.

In the meantime you are very welcome to share any ideas and thoughts you may have with the readers in the comments section below.  Please note if you have received this post via email you will need to go back to the blog to leave a comment.

I really appreciate the time you’ve taken to read my article, Carole.

Return anytime to the Rejuvenation Lounge or connect on facebook

You are welcome to subscribe to my articles by email - It’s free: 

If you liked this article I would really appreciate a stumble:

More articles from the Rejuvenation Lounge:

4 effective clutter busting games:

6 excellent reasons to uncomplicate your life:

Energy suckers v energy givers:

Simple solutions when you just can’t shift your clutter:

Editor Rejuvenation Lounge and facilitator of Women’s Rejuvenation Retreats

Rejuvenate Your Breathing:

“One way to break up any kind of tension is good deep breathing” Byron Nelson

When your breathing is restricted it creates an unseen chain reaction in the body that can greatly compromise your overall health, well-being and ability to think clearly.

You can literally create miracles simply by adjusting the flow of your breath.  Imagine being able to reduce stress hormones, calm your emotions, boost your oxygen intake, gently massage your internal organs, let stress go, come back to your centre, relax your muscles, detox your body and simply improve the overall efficiency of your organs and body.

 Photo by szlea’s

As Christmas nears and life is probably getting a little busier and crazier than usual, now is the perfect time for us all  (myself included)  to remember to breathe.

I  do my best to come back to my breath often (probably 2 or 3 times each hour), spending a few small minutes to observe it and adjust as necessary.   Most times I need to relax, soften and deepen it.  At the same time I repeat a mantra that I have borrowed from Thich Nhat Hanh  “Breathing in I am calm, breathing out I smile.”

I guarantee calming your breath over Christmas can be a real sanity saver.     I personally find it helps bring me back to my centre,  re-aligns my focus (slows down rushing thoughts) and creates a healthy buffer around me from the busyness of the outside world.  Spending longer on the exhale is like pushing tension and stress away from you. Holding your breath is like sucking it in and calling it closer.

Breathe peacefully over Christmas and enjoy these very simple breathing tips.

How to breathe better:

1: Lift your chest:

Rounded shoulders and sunken chest squish your lungs and restrict your oxygen intake.  Give your body, lungs and organs some more breathing space.  Improve your posture and open your chest up.

2: Breathe past your collar bones:

Short shallow breathing is the sign of a stressed, tense body with thoughts to match.  Simply soften, relax and deepen your inhale each time you catch yourself in panic mode with short, shallow  breathing.

3:  Don’t squeeze your stomach in when you inhale:

A relaxed soft belly allows your lungs and diaphragm to fully expand.  Squeezing the tummy in (on the inhale ) restricts your oxygen intake.

4:  Breathe into your belly:

Feeling your belly rise and fall with each breath cycle is something I am taught regularly in yoga.  Place your hands on your belly and feel them rise on the inhale and fall on the exhale.  It’s a fabulous way to know for sure that your breath is reaching all the way down to your belly.

5:  Fill the front, sides and back of your belly:

If you are keen to get extra clever - feel the front, sides and back of your belly area expand with each inhale.   You might notice, like me, that the back area of your belly is often tighter and not as open as the front or sides.

Simply bring your awareness and breath to any tight areas of your belly and use the breath to invite more softness and spaciousness.  Ah! use your exhale to let go, release and create that extra space inside your belly area.

6:  Un-hunch your shoulders:

Hunched shoulders block the flow of blood and energy to your brain.  Relax your shoulders, open your chest, lengthen your neck and create more breathing space between your shoulder blades. Notice how much easier it is to breath now.

It also wouldn’t hurt to part your lips slightly and make sure no tension is being held in your jaw.

7: Exhale fully:

As you exhale fully and deeply, feel your belly button move towards your spine.   Use your exhale to remove all that stale, stuck yucky air and energy lingering in the bottom of your lungs.

8: Exhale longer:

Spend longer on the exhale if you are wanting to slow your thoughts down, relax your body or let go of something. Use your exhale to create a healthy breathing space between you and the busyness of the outside world.

If I’m a bit frazzled spending twice as long on the exhale is a quick way to re-balance my breathing and energies.

9:  Stop holding your breath.

When you start paying more attention to your breath you may find that you hold your breath more often than you realize. Simply being aware is the perfect first step towards improving the quality of your breath.

10:  Your nose is for breathing, your mouth for eating:

In all the practices I have explored over the years - yoga, tai chi, qi gong they have all encouraged to breath in and out through the nose.

* 12 great reasons to start alternate nostril breathing

Recommend resources:

If you are keen to improve the quality of your breathing even more and acquire a deeper knowledge, then there is no better place to start than with one of Dennis Lewis books.

Book 1 - The Tao of Natural Breathing: By Dennis Lewis:

Book 2 - Free Your Breath, Free Your Life: By Dennis Lewis.

Following are a couple of articles which may also appeal to you.

How you sit effects your breathing by Dennis Lewis

Deep breathing facts by Dennis Lewis

I really appreciate the time you’ve taken to read my article, Carole.

Return anytime to the Rejuvenation Lounge or connect on facebook

You are welcome to subscribe to my articles by email - It’s free: 

More articles from the Rejuvenation Lounge:

12 great reasons to start alternate nostril breathing

The instant benefits of humming daily

15 clever things to know about your breathing:

14 fabulous ways to look after your body at work:

Attract more positive energy:

Editor Rejuvenation Lounge and facilitator of Women’s Rejuvenation Retreats

Rejuvenate Your Body:

“Remember the tea kettle - it is always up to its neck in hot water, yet still sings” 

Chai tea is the wonderful spiced drink from India.  It’s a delicious brew of black tea combined with awesome spices such as cardamon pods, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and ginger along with moo milk, soy, rice or even coconut milk for an exotic twist.  Yum!

I’ve been a lover of chai tea for nearly 20 years and even dare to consider myself a bit of a chai tea alchemist in the making.  I brew it with love and enthusiasm and drink it with absolute pleasure.

 Photo by move the clouds

Drink it hot in winter or as an iced tea in summer. And, if you happen to already be a lover of chai spices - then you are going to love the chai recipes I’ve discovered over the years.  Imagine chai ice cream, chai cheesecake, chai muffins and chai creme caramel.

Double yum.

7 Greats Reasons To Drink Chai Tea:

Following are the health benefits for the most common spices that you’ll find in chai tea.  Of course for maximum nutritional value and flavour its best to make your own from whole organic spices.   This guarantees you are maximizing the vital life force energy of the spices.

I personally prefer to buy a good quality loose chai tea and add extra cardamon pods, cinnamon, ginger and grated nutmeg to my liking.

1 - Cardamom:

Stimulates the mind and gives clarity, increases appetite and soothes the mucous membranes. It helps relieve gas, heartburn and nausea, settles upset stomachs and is effective against allergies caused by dairy products.

I use green cardamon pods in my chai tea.

2 - Cinnamon:

Has long been used to fight colds, flu and sore throats. Also used as an antidote for diarrhea, stomach upsets and to help ease menstrual cramps. It is warming to your body and restorative to the nervous system.

Just smelling the wonderful odor of this sweet spice can boost brain activity!

3 - Cloves:

Believed to invigorate and restore, helps generate heat in the body, useful during the cold/flu season. Cloves soothe tooth ache, serve as a breath freshener, relieve nausea and can also be taken for gastric upsets.

4 - Star Anise:

In traditional Chinese medicine, star anise is prescribed as a digestive aid. More recently, Shikimic Acid, extracted from star anise, is one of the chief ingredients in the antiviral Tamiflu drug used to fight avian influenza.

5: Nutmeg:

Supports your digestion and can help relieve nausea.  Helps moisten the airways and reduce the drying of the mucous membranes in the throat that is often associated with smoking.  Also a great tonic for  lack of sleep when taken in small doses.

6: Vanilla:

Not found in many chai tea blends but it’s in one of my favourites mychai.

Loved for its exotic flavor and aroma. Also helps to improve the appetite and assists in digestion.

7:  Ginger:

Ginger is commonly used as a digestive aid and contains compounds that ease motion sickness and nausea. These healing qualities can be attributed to its high Vitamin C and antioxidant content. This root is also useful in fighting heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. It is also excellent for improving sluggish circulation.

 * Great short video clip on how to make chai tea:

Chai tea recipes:

And just when you thought life couldn’t get any better here’s a list of wonderful things you can cook with your favourite chai spices.  Enjoy.

 1 - Chai tea ice cream:

2 - Chai muffins:

3 - Iced chai tea:

4- Chai creme caramel:

5 - Chai cheesecake:

6 - Vegan chai muffins:

7- Chai latte muffins:

Thanks to Leeanne Crawford from Mychai for helping me with the information on the healing and medicinal qualities of the spices.

I really do appreciate you taking the time to read my article, Carole.

Return anytime to the Rejuvenation Lounge or connect with me on facebook or twitter

You are welcome to subscribe to my articles by email - It’s free: 

More articles from the Rejuvenation Lounge:

Attract more positive energy:

The yoga of eating:

Snack happy with bliss balls

Ghee, the healthiest butter:

Editor Rejuvenation Lounge and facilitator of Women’s Rejuvenation Retreats

Rejuvenate Your Mind:

“Today I will uplift the atmosphere in my mind”  

It’s time to give your stress wings and let it fly … away.  Lets be honest,  I mean really, is all that continuous stress and excess worry really worth it ?

Will the things you are rehashing,  over and over again in your mind today really matter in few years time.  And more importantly, do you really know the side effects or damage that’s happening below the surface of a worried looking face.

 Photo by  Lucas Janin’s

So, in my ever evolving journey to live a life - as stress free as possible - I am sharing with you, what I believe to be a collection of worthy, thought provoking quotes on stress.   This post is intentionally simple, short and very stress free.

As an old Chinese proverb says “Tension is who you think you should be.  Relaxation is who you are”.  How awesome is that.  Enjoy.

10 Quotes on stress to help you loosen up:

1:  “If you ask what the single most important key to longevity, I would have to say it is avoiding worry, stress and tension.  And if you didn’t ask me, I’d still have to say it”  George Burns who lived to 100

2:  “Stress is like an iceberg.  We can see one-eighth of it above, but what about what’s below ?”

3:  ‘The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it”  Jim Goodwin

4:   “Give your stress wings and let it fly away”  Carin Hartness

5:  ” For fast acting relief.  Try lying down” Lily Tomlin

6:  “Is everything as urgent as your stress would imply”  Carrie Latet

7:   “How beautiful is it to rest and then do nothing afterward”  Spanish proverb

8:  ” I try to avoid stress - it makes me feel like I’m rubber-stamping all my organs “Urgent” Berri Clove

9:  ” Tension is who you think you should be.  Relaxation is who you are.  Chinese Proverb

10:  ” Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.”  Etty Hillesum

More suggestions to help you  loosen up:

5 of the best 30 second relaxation practices:

12 instant benefits of humming daily:

12 great reasons for start alternate nostril breathing:

3 potent herbal sedatives:

I really appreciate the time you’ve taken to read my article, Carole.

Return anytime to the Rejuvenation Lounge or connect on twitter

You are welcome to subscribe to my articles by email - It’s free: 

More articles from the Rejuvenation Lounge:

14 fabulous ways to look after your body at work:

Attract more positive energy:

How to get your “om” on

15 clever things to know about your breathing:

Editor Rejuvenation Lounge and facilitator of Women’s Rejuvenation Retreats

Rejuvenate Your Aura:

“Every cell in my body is loved and healthy”

Your aura is simply an extension of you.   When strong it acts as a protective shield.  When fragile or damaged it can leave you drained, unwell and feeling disconnected from yourself.

Think of your aura as your own personal body guard (in the form of a giant bubble) that simply “flicks off” anything stressful, disturbing or potentially draining that you may be sensitive too.

 Tom’s photo’s

I’m a firm believer in cleansing and nurturing the aura for the overall integrity of our health and well being.    Particularly, when many ancient cultures from around the world believe, that illness first starts with a weakness in our auric field.

Years ago I completed a crystal healing practitioner course, and discovered how relatively easy and inexpensive it was to repair and strengthen an aura, by simply wearing or even just holding certain crystals.

However if crystals are not your “thing” then I have shared with you below, a collection of aura cleansing and strengthening remedies that I have gathered and used (at some stage) over the past 20 years.

Please feel free to share your own aura strengthening remedies that you have successfully used the past, I’d love to hear them.

12 Great ways to strengthen your aura:

1: Yogic cleansing bath:

This recipe helps removes chemicals from your physical body and negativity from your aura.  Soak for 20 minutes each day and repeat for 7 days.

If you start to feel dizzy or a little weird leave bath immediately as you have successfully loosened and removed enough toxins and negativity for one day.

• 1 lb Baking soda
• 1 cup Sea salt

* Six special bath recipes for sleep, relaxation and healing:

2: Sage smudge stick:

The smoke from white sage is known by the North American Indians to be very cleansing.   I love white sage and have used it successfully for many years to remove negative vibes that I sense in my home or around me.    Sage emits negative ions which is the good stuff you find in the air just after a storm or at the ocean.

To cleanse your aura, simply light your sage smudge stick and use your hand to direct the smoke over your head, face, front/sides of your body, under your feet, around your hands and arms, and as much of your back as you can reach.

Here is what a Sage Smudge Stick looks like:

3: Let the sun feed your aura:

Lots of lovely sunshine is known to feed and expand the aura.  Spending time outside amongst nature is incredibly healthy for your body, mind and soul.

The sun fuels you with energy, optimism and loads of vitamin D whilst nature nourishes your senses and grounds you.

4:  Sea salt:

Swimming in the ocean or soaking in a salt water bath greatly helps to cleanse the aura and draw out stress.

The sun expands and feeds your aura whilst the sea carries away the negativity.

If you don’t have a bath, and not near the ocean, simply give your body a sea salt scrub before taking a shower.  Grab a handful of sea salt and rub it all over your skin before showering.  It helps remove dead skin cells, refreshes your aura and draws out toxins.

5: Cold shower:

Cold showers have the ability to clear away negativity in your auric field, remove toxins, improve circulation and draw out tension from your body.

I have personally put the cold shower theory to the test for a whole 3 months (over summer a few years ago).  The results were amazing.

My thoughts were clearer, I felt lighter, more energy and things which normally bothered me and hung around my thoughts for days - came and went with ease.  I didn’t hold onto negative stuff like I had done before.  It helped me greatly through a very difficult time in my life.

* Boost your energy now:

6: Sound medicine:

Sound is recognized by many ancient cultures as a healing tool.  The sound from Tibetan singing bowls and crystal bowls are well known for their ability to dissolve negativity and clean your energies.  Listening to their sounds before going to sleep is an easy way to support your overall well-being.

Alternately chanting the sound   “Om”  is an incredibly fast and efficient way to shift stuck, stagnant or negativity energy from your aura and physical body.

Click here for my personal recommendations on healing music.  You’ll find the Tibetan Singing bowls in the relaxation link.

7: Labradorite (crystal) :

This crystal is worth a special mention.

Labradorite has been shown by Kirilian photography to heal tears in the auric field by preventing leakage.  Holding a labradorite crystal for 20 minutes will last for about 12 hours after the stone is no longer worn.

It is dubbed the “healers” stone and is widely used as protection by body workers, teachers, childcare workers and nurses.  It’s a great crystal to wear as a bracelet.

8: Reduce your exposure to electrical stuff:

The radiation and frequencies which are emitted from electrical gadgets, I believe, can interfere with our bodies own natural rhythms, cycles and well-being.  Spending too long, at close range, to these man made frequencies can build up static in your auric field and can cause disturbances.

Make your bedroom a priority to be as electrical free as possible.  Charge all your gadgets away from your bedroom or at the very least away from your head when sleeping.

Lepidolite is a fabulous crystal to have as a protective field of energy between you and your electrical gadgets. At home I place piece near our TV, beside the beds and near the computer.   You will notice over time, the lepidolite eventually becomes paper thin as it absorbs the radiation. It’s quite amazing.

9:  Vetiver (an essential oil):

A few drops applied to your belly button at night with help you from taking on too much of other people’s junk.  Vetiver is very grounding, and particularly balancing when feeling spacey after long sessions in front of a screen.

It’s excellent essential oil for calming and grounding and one of my favourite essential oils to use at home.

Vetiver also has a special relationship with your chakras and helps to bring them into alignment.  Your chakra’s are directly connected to your aura.

10:  Black Tourmaline (crystal):

Great for deflecting radiation and is well known for transmuting negative energy from the aura.  It’s a protective stone that can also help you with negative thinking.  Its the perfect crystal to carry in your handbag.

Crystals have been used for thousands of years for healing and protection.  Smoky quartz on your desk or near the phone will protect you from other people’s stresses and negativity.  Amber is an excellent stone to help strengthen your aura. Kunzite will detach unpleasant thoughts.

I can highly recommend wearing an ametrine (amethyst and citrine) bracelet for around 3 - 6  months to heal tears and holes in your auric field that may have appeared from surgery, child birth or extreme stress.

11: Flower essences: Fringed violet and Angelsword:

Angelsword repairs and Fringed violet helps heal damaged or distressed auric fields. Take orally or dab 7 drops of each onto your solar plexus (just below your belly button) before going to bed.

Both these flower essences come from the Australian Bush Flower essence range.   If you don’t live in Australia I recommend buying the equivalent flower essences from your own country.

One overseas essence that I can recommend is the Guardian spray from Alaskan essences.  I have personally used this spray many times.  It is known to create a powerful force field of protection in your aura.

12: Be mindful of people and places that zap your energy:

Notice which places, people or situations leave you consistently feeling zapped or drained.  Limit yourself to these situations or at the very least wear a protective crystal to prevent your energy being leached.

Labrodrite would be a good crystal to start with.

* Attract more positive energy

I really appreciate the time you’ve taken to read my article, Carole.

Return anytime to the Rejuvenation Lounge or connect on facebook or twitter

You are welcome to subscribe to my articles by email - It’s free: 

More articles to lift your spirits:

14 fabulous ways to look after your body at work:

How to get your “om” on

The 12 instant benefits of humming daily:

15 clever things to know about your breathing:

Editor Rejuvenation Lounge and facilitator of Women’s Rejuvenation Retreats

Rejuvenate Your Mind:

“Everyone of your thoughts count so don’t waste them”

In times of stress its always beneficial for our minds to communicate a different message to our bodies other than worry, panic or anxiety.  Dis-functional thinking can worsen your stress, the situation, (or even an illness) and fill your body with unnecessary tension and anxiety.

An affirmation is a handy tool for difficult times, and encourages you to respond differently to any unpleasant situation.

An affirmation can either help you move on from what has already happened or support you by affirming what you would like to happen or how you would like to feel.

An affirmation is a fabulous way to create a healthier energy around any situation that you may be facing in life.

Photo by alchemist’s daughter

The new and old workings of an affirmation:

Dr Mona Lisa Schulz    is a neuropsychiatrist and has a doctorate in behavioral neuroscience, shares that affirmations have a bio chemical, a neuro chemical and a neuro pharmacological effect on the body.   All of which re-wires the brain so it lights up differently.   The mind is then able to communicate more supportively to the body.  Mona Lisa is well known for her book The New Feminine Brain: Developing Your Intuitive Genius   and has personally used affirmations to stop her own migraines and severe back pain which she had previously suffered from for many years.

Florence Scovel Shinn 1871 - 1940  well known for her book in 1928 Your Word is Your Wand believed (way back then) that words have power and whatever man voices, he begins to attract.

“Man’s word is his wand.  Man has the power to change an unhappy situation by waiving over it the wand of his word”  writes Florence Scovel Shinn.

In her book  Your Word is Your Wand   Florence shares many affirmations that she has prescribed for her clients with great success over the years of her career.

Dr Emile Coue (1857 - 1926),  was a French pharmacist who at the beginning of last century opened a free clinic. He offered his clients an affirmation (or as he called it way back then a “conscious autosuggestion”) in conjunction with their medical treatment that they needed to repeat as prescribed.

Coue believed that dysfunctional thinking patterns could worsen an illness. The Coue method offered this specific ritual as part of his mind/body belief to support the healing process.

His clients were to repeat 20 times in the morning and 20 times in the evening the following affirmation:

“Every day in every way, I am getting better and better”

The secret to a successful affirmation:

Many of Coue’s successors discovered that an important ingredient for the success of his work was the mental repetition without effort.  For maximum efficiency the affirmation needs to be repeated calmly, without will, yet with absolute confidence and expectation of success, according to Coue.

Louise Hay believes that an affirmation should always be written and said in the present tense such as   “My income is constantly increasing”.   It’s always a great idea to have a visual reminder of your affirmation either around your home, at your work or on a sticky note attached to your coffee mug.   In case you don’t know Louise Hay totally turned her life around and survived cancer by using affirmations daily. Louise has a wonderful book which comes with a short CD that I can highly recommend called  How To Use Affirmations To Change Your Life:

16 Affirmations For Difficult Times:

So no matter what your personal situation, know that you can create a healthier energy around the situation by choosing an affirmation, writing it down and then repeating it often.

Most of the following affirmations are from Louise Hay except where mentioned.  My personal favourite at the moment (which is not listed below) is “Every cell in my body is loved and healthy”

1. “My life gets better everyday”
2. “There is a huge demand for my particular skills and abilities”
3. ” I earn good money and enjoy what I do”
4. ” The past has no power of me”
5. “  I release old hurt, resentment and anger easily”
6. ” I know that I deserve love and I accept it now”
7. ” I go with the flow, my life is easy and filled with joy”
8. ” I create a joyful, peaceful world to live in”
9.  ”I trust myself and I trust life”
10.  ”Breathing in I am calm”  “Breathing out I smile”  Thict Nhat Hanh
11. “I am safe wherever I turn”
12.  ”I am gentle kind and patient with myself”
13. “I laugh at life and choose not to be offended by anyone or anything”
14.  ”My income is constantly growing”
15. ” I make friends easily wherever I go “
16. ” I easily flow with change “

On finishing I would love to leave you with a wonderful Buddhist kindness prayer.  It is believed to help lift your worries.

“May I be free of worry, May I be well, May I feel safe and at ease, May I be at peace”

I really appreciate the time you’ve taken to read my article, Carole.

Return anytime to the Rejuvenation Lounge or connect with me on facebook or twitter

You are welcome to subscribe to my articles by email - It’s free: 

How To Use Affirmations To Change Your Life:

More articles to lift your spirits:

10 inspiring Confucius quotes to grab on the run:

24 ways to give your body the extra attention it deserves:

The 12 instant benefits of humming daily:

Editor Rejuvenation Lounge and facilitator of Women’s Rejuvenation Retreats:

Rejuvenate Your Family: 

“Today I make healthy choices that support and fulfill me” Louise Hay

Food can be medicine for both your body, and your mind.  In Ayurvedic medicine Kitchari is an important one pot staple dish.  It has been considered the perfect protein in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years.

An excellent meal for convalescence, children, elderly and especially for when you are feeling depleted.   It’s healing and very soothing to your digestive system, and an incredibly light meal that encourages a buoyant spirit. I personally find it one of the most nourishing and strangely calming meals to eat.  There is nothing heavy, lacking, nor dulling about this one pot meal.

Photo by JonBen

 Kitchari - An ayurvedic mind/body balancing recipe:

I’m currently making this dish at least 3 times a week and hence the reason why I’m sharing it with you today.   The following recipe was given to me by my Ayurvedic practitioner as a recommendation to improve the efficiency of my digestive system.

Please feel free to adjust recipe as you choose.  Most of the time I fry a little onion, ginger and garlic in ghee, and then add to my Kitchari. You will find there are lots of variations of this dish out there on the internet.

The main ingredients are always rice, moong dhal and digestive spices.  The important thing is to prepare one with flavours that appeal to you. You may also find that the spelling changes slightly.

Ingredients for kitchari:

 

• 1 cup of split moong dhal lentils (moong is light yellow in colour - if you can’t find, use the small light red split dhal - it is also known as mung). Rinse and soak the moong dhal for at least 2 hours beforehand.
• 1 cup of basmati rice
• 4 teaspoons of turmeric  (I use a combination of both fresh and powdered turmeric)
• 1 tspn asafoetida (also known as food of the gods or hing) Buy from Indian food store or health food shop.
• 6 crushed cardamon pods
• 2 tsp salt ( I use a good organic sea salt)

Place washed rice and soaked dhal into a pot with all the above ingredients

Cover by 4cm - 5cm with water, then simmer

If you like a more soupier dhal then add more water

Simmer until the dhal has lost its shape and has a nice velvety texture

I usually cook slowly for 1 1/2 hours

Garnish with coriander

Optional variations:

Replace the above spices of turmeric and cardamon with 1 tspn of each of the following ground coriander, black pepper, garam masala, cummin powder

or

1/2 tsp turmeric, 1 tspn cummin powder, 1/2 tspn fennel powder, 1/2 tspn black pepper, 1 tspn salt, fresh ginger, 1 onion, 3 cloves of garlic, ghee.

Fry  ginger, onion and garlic in ghee and then add spices to the dhal, rice and water.

* Click here for pictures and more information on moong dhal

* Find out more about asafedita by clicking here:

* Another recipe that you may like, which includes vegetables from Frans House of Ayurveda blog

Thanks so much for reading my article, Carole.

Return anytime to the Rejuvenation Lounge or connect with me on facebook or twitter

You are welcome to subscribe to my weekly articles by email - It’s free:

More articles from the Rejuvenation Lounge:

Ghee, the healthiest butter:

3 potent natural herbal sedatives:

An awesome shake that soothes your nerves:

Snack happy with bliss balls:

5 simple and cheap ways to detox the body naturally:

Editor Rejuvenation Lounge and facilitator of Women’s Rejuvenation Retreats

Rejuvenate Your Family and Home:

“Dab the essential oil vetiver onto the souls of your feet before bed, to help calm and ground you”

Airborne virus and bacteria enter the body through the nose and mouth usually via the hands, but also breathing.  By dabbing your hands, nose and around the mouth with a few drops of essential oil you are creating a fabulous natural barrier to further boost your bodies natural defense system.

 Photo by calypso:

In addition (or as an alternate) you can use an oil burner as an effective way to fill the air in your home with lots of anti-bacterial, anti-viral and antiseptic properties from the most suitable therapeutic and medicinal essential oils.  As winter is coming up in America (and many of my readers are from America)  I felt it perfect timing to share with you some fabulous information on essentials oils that I have recently been reading.

It’s worth a quick mention that I am currently drawn to clove, lemon and cinnamon essential oils - even hand made cinnamon incense.   I’m trusting my gut feelings with the oils I feel drawn too and have been enjoying infusing my home with their wonderful aromas.  So, if you are in doubt as to which oils to use, trust your gut feelings.

9 Essential Oils That Boost Your Protection From The Flu:

1 - Clove oil:
Clove inhibits the growth of oral pathogens. The health benefits of clove oil can be attributed to its antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, aphrodisiac and stimulating properties.  It is useful for cough, asthma, headache and stress.

2 - Lemon oil:

Lemon oil vaporized or applied to the mouth and nose can impact meningocuss, typhoid bacilli staphylococcus aureus and stretococuss pneumoniae within three hours. The therapeutic properties of lemon oil are antimicrobial, antiseptic, carminative, diaphoretic, tonic, anti-rheumatic.

3 - Thyme oil:

In traditional aromatic medicine thyme has been used to fight against bacterial, viral and fungal infections especially in the respiratory tract. Thyme is a tonic for the nervous system and is good for physical and mental exhaustion (jetlag), relieving tension (fear of flying), anxiety and insomnia.  Thyme lifts the spirits.  The therapeutic properties of thyme oil are anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, carminative, expectorant, tonic, hypertensive.

4 - Pine oil.

Pine oil is useful to relieve mental and physical fatigue.  It is cleansing and invigorating and makes an excellent vapour therapy to kill air born germs that enter via the nose and throat. It can be used for cuts, bites, muscle aches and pains.  Coughs, bronchitis, catarrh, colds and flu.  It eases breathlessness and sinusitis. The therapeutic properties of Pine Oil are restorative, anti-neuralgic, antiseptic, antiviral, antibacterial, deodorant, expectorant.

5 - Lavender oil.

The aroma is settling, soothing and helps promote sleep.  Lavender is perfect for stress, crisis, cold’s and flu.  It is known for its spirit lifting abilities. The therapeutic properties of Lavender oil are antiseptic, analgesic, anti depressant, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, bactericide, decongestant, deodorant, sedative and nerve tonic.

6 - Cinnamon oil.

Cinnamon oil has great value in aromatherapy. It fights exhaustion and feelings of depression and weakness.  It has powerful antiviral and antibacterial properties and is useful to fight cold’s and flu.  Therapeutic properties of cinnamon oil are analgesic, antiseptic, antibiotic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, astringent, insecticide, tonic.  Cinnamon inhibits the growth of respiratory tract pathogens Hemophiliacs, influenza, streptococcus pneumonia.

7 - Eucalyptus oil:

Eucalyptus oil has a cooking and deodorizing effect on the body. Useful with fevers and migraine.  It helps coughs asthma, throat infections and sinusitis and catarrhal conditions.  It soothes inflammation and eases mucus clearing the head of stuffiness of colds.  The therapeutic properties are analgesic, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, expectorant, deodorant, decongestant, expectorant, anti-spasmodic.  It is useful for burns, cuts, skin infections, blisters and assists in breathing freely.

8 - Blood orange oil.

Blood orange oil has a sweet, fresh smell.  The therapeutic properties are antiseptic, anti-depressant, anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, calming and sedative.  It is a sunny and radiant oil, bringing happiness and warmth to the mind.  It helps people to relax.  It can be used to strengthen the immune system.

9 - Manuka oil.

Manuka oil is from a plant grown in New Zealand. It is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory.  Manuka oil has shown to be effective in laboratory tests against over 30 different micro-organisms.  In particular streptococci and staphylococcal bacteria and fungi that affect the skin.  You can find out more about manuka oil by clicking here

My personal book recommendation:

In case you are interested my favourite essential oil book which I’m guessing I’ve owned for over 20 years is The Fragrant Mind: Aromatherapy for Personality, Mind, Mood and Emotion.  It has been with me every step of the way for all my children’s bumps, bruises, aches and pains.

Give-away:

I bought a bottle of Super Traveller from my local health food store here in Australia, which combined all of the above oils into one handy bottle.  I recently took it with me on my travels.

The very detailed information sheet which accompanied this product is where I sourced all the fabulous information for this article.  Thanks Rose, for allowing me to share this information.

As an added bonus Rose has kindly offered a bottle of her Super Traveller as give-away to my readers.  Yeah!  Thanks again Rose.  All you need to do is simply leave a comment below.  Winners will be announced in the comment box below at the beginning of November.  You can find out more about the Super Traveller by clicking here.

Thanks so much for reading my article, Carole.

Return anytime to the Rejuvenation Lounge or connect with me on facebook or twitter

You are welcome to subscribe to my weekly articles by email - It’s free:

More articles from the Rejuvenation Lounge to boost your health:

12 great reasons to start alternate nostril breathing:

5 simple and cheap ways to detox the body naturally:

Boost your energy now:

Attract more positive energy today:

Editor Rejuvenation Lounge and facilitator of Women’s Rejuvenation Retreats:

This is a short post expressing my thanks and to let you know I have returned from facilitating my Women’s Rest and Rejuvenation Retreat in Ubud, Bali - and the very reason for the temporary disappearance of my weekly articles.  My intention was to write articles whilst away but that was easier said than done. I should have known better.

Honeymoon guesthouse cooking school in Ubud, Bali September 2009:

The good news is my weekly articles are now back with more passion and enthusiasm than ever before.  In fact, I have lots of blog articles currently swimming around inside my head just itching to get out and onto paper.  In particular sharing the contents of a one day workshop I attended in September with Dr. Ian Gawler on meditation.  It was awesome.

I feel totally alive when writing and wish to personally thank you for supporting my blog.  I am ever so close to reaching my first goal of 1,000 subscribers ( I think yesterday it was 994) and certainly could not have done it without you, your comments and on-going support.  I promise to continue to do my best and write articles that are thoughtful, useful, simple yet with content that is meaningful and easily incorporated into your daily life.

I feel blessed to have started my writing journey via my blog and for the extra income it gives my family, which I am trusting, will continue to grow as my blog readership grows.  Being a single mum with 3 boys the extra income comes in very, very handy. I also greatly appreciate, from the bottom of my heart,  your kind donations that are constant reminder - I might just be on the right track with my blog and its content.

My next article will be up and ready tomorrow, so enjoy. It’s called “9 Essential Oils To Boost Your Flu Protection”.

Peace, love and chocolate to you all.

Carole Fogarty

I’d be thrilled if you supported my blog by shouting me a cup of delicious chai tea.  I love writing. It’s my passion.

** If you are in need of  5 days of daily massage, special ayurvedic treatments along with daily deep rest, relaxation and simple meditation practices then my next retreat in Bali is on the 4th - 9th July 2010.  My guess is that it will be booked out by Christmas, as I prefer no more than 8 participants.

Click here for details on the Rest and Rejuvenation Retreats in 2010:

Editor Rejuvenation Lounge and facilitator of Women’s Rejuvenation Retreats:

Rejuvenate Your Habits: 

“Change one thing in your life, and it effects all your life“

Value your time, by appreciating the huge potential your next 30 seconds has.  I regularly add thirty second breaks into my day to stop, breath, soften my body and adjust my thinking.  It’s a very simple way to add lots of little healthy, relaxation practices into the day.   All you need, is the co-operation of your mind, body and breath, to enjoy, and achieve,  30 seconds of relaxation.

Photo by monkeycat:

Thirty seconds is not a demanding amount of time.  It requires minimum effort, very little concentration power and doesn’t need to be scheduled into your diary.

A thirty seconds relaxation practice is very do-able - anywhere, anytime.  The shower, the car, before you get out of bed, or especially when you are waiting in a queue. It’s a very portable and flexible relaxation habit - perfect for a super busy lifestyle.

Kick start your 30 second relaxation habit:

Simply leave post-it notes saying “It’s time for 30 seconds of  relaxation”  on as many surfaces as you want.  The steering wheel of your car, bathroom mirror, on your pillow, computer, in your diary, coffee mug, oven, on your clock - wherever you want.

Perhaps today, perhaps right now, is the perfect time for you to enjoy a thirty second relaxation practice.

5 of the best 30 second relaxation practices:

1:  Sounds of the ocean therapy:

Close your eyes, cup the palms of your hands over your ears, un-hunch your shoulders and listen to the sounds of the ocean, playing inside your head (designed especially to calm your thoughts).  Yes, it’s true, when your hands are gently cupped over your ears you can hear the ocean.

With your eyes closed, picture yourself on the beach with all the sunshine and warmth.  Feel, and enjoy the next 30 seconds of peace as you turn inwards, away from the outside world and listen to your own creative ocean therapy.

2: Smile into your organs: 

The ancient Taoists believe that a constant inner smile is the key to health, well-being and longevity.

A smile, when energetically directed towards your internal body (along with the help of your breath) can improve blood flow, release tension and free up stuck emotions.  You’d be surprised how tight and tense your organs can get.

Close your eyes, relax and smile. Feel the smile cover your entire face.  Now transfer that smile into your liver.  Use your inhale to invite your smile to penetrate deep into your liver.  Feel your liver respond by softening and letting go, as it receives the healing energy from your smile.

3: Ask for a hug:

Touch is healing so hug loud, hug well, hug often and hug longer.

Hug your children, partner, pet or close friends more often.  Heck, why not give free hugs to strangers. It is said that we need at least 4 hugs a day for survival, 8 hugs a day for maintenance and 12 hugs a day for growth. Wow, that’s an impressive daily quota.

So if hugging therapy seems like your thing, make hugging your new relaxation habit.

* 10 hugging tips to grab on the run:

4: Belly breathing to calm an anxious stomach:

Most of the yoga classes I go to start with belly breathing.  After a few rounds, I feel my scattered energies have been called back, my stomach begins to un-knot and soften, I have more awareness of my body and how its feeling (very important), and I most definately feel calmer.

Start by rubbing your hands together and then placing your warm palms onto your belly.  Encourage your breath to flow down into your belly area.  Feel your hands rise with each inhale and fall with each exhale.

To further deepen your belly breathing relaxation practice, breathe into the sides and back of your belly area. This will automatically invite more oxygen and blood flow into this area of your body.

Enjoy the relaxing gifts that belly breathing has to offer your body, mind and soul.

5:  Calm your mind with a mantra:

A mantra sends a clear message to your body, and is a practical no fuss way to take charge of scattered, anxious, stressed thinking. Remember your thoughts are not in charge - you are.

Repeating the mantra “Breathing in I am calm”  Breathing out I smile” for 30 seconds will encourage your muscles to relax, your thoughts to slow down and your breath to deepen.

This wonderful relaxation mantra is borrowed from the awesome Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen Master and his book Present Moment Wonderful Moment: Mindfulness verses for daily living.

Thanks so much for reading my article, Blessings. Carole.

Bookings now being taken for all 2010 Rejuvenation Retreats. Please click here for dates and details:

You are welcome to subscribe to my articles by email - It’s free: 

If you enjoyed this article  I’d really appreciate  a stumble:

More articles:

10 meditation tips to grab on the run:

The importance of tea and friendship:

100 wise tips to feel better fast:

12 great reasons to start alternate nostril breathing:

Editor Rejuvenation Lounge and facilitator of Women’s Rejuvenation Retreats

Rejuvenate Your Soul:

“I am progressing on my spiritual path at a pace that is just right for me” Louise Hay

As my next Womens Rejuvenation Retreat in Bali  is coming up at this end of September, I feel its perfect timing to share with you my love of Bali. Particularly Ubud and the amazing things this wonderful town has to offer your physical and spiritual health, and overall well being.

Something quite special and very magical happens to me, each and every time I visit Ubud.   I instantly feel at home.  Strange but true.  I begin to slow down, seem happier (I smile a lot more, you can’t help it in Bali, everyone smiles) and start to feel more connected, to my spiritual self, nature and life.

Photo by Sektordua:

Things that worried me beforehand no longer seem important. Stress and tension in my body starts to dissolve, and my sleeps are very deep and restful. My senses awaken as they are stimulated beyond belief with amazing smells, sounds and tastes of Bali.  I feel more, and more alive, as each day passes.  Ubud, once again has worked its magic.

The meaning of Ubud:

Ubud means medicine in the Balinese language and it is widely believed that it offers medicinal healing to its visitors. These special healing qualities are said to have been discovered in a vision, centuries ago during a global quest by a holy man from India, called Rsi Markandya.  You will often see people meditating on this site near the Champuan river, in the gorge where it is believed his vision took place.

 Marvelous Ubud:

Ubud, which is about an hour from the airport and near the centre of the island, is fast becoming the ideal place re-boot your health and well-being.  It has a very peaceful gentle feel and is surrounded by rice fields and lush tropical vegetation.

There are lots of yoga classes, meditation classes, raw cafes, organic cafes, amazing health practitioners, lots of music and art classes, fabulous Balinese healers, exotic flower baths, endless Balinese massages, not to mention the absolutely beautiful Balinese people and their daily spiritual practices.

If you don’t have lots of spare cash (like me, being a mother of 3 boys) then Bali is a fabulous destination where you can live like a queen or king on very little a day. Of course, whatever your budget there’s a price range of accommodation, food and spa treatments to match.

Whether you are taking US dollars or Australian dollars you get great value for your money.

10 Great ways to bring out your inner hippy in Ubud, Bali:

1: Eat at Bali Buddha:

If you really want to find your inner hippy and meet lots of travelers then this is the place to go.  Great menu, eat organic, vegan, raw, whatever you want.  You are welcome to spend hours lounging around playing board games, reading a book or simply enjoying the atmosphere.  It’s even got free Wi-fi.  It’s a great place to start de-toxing by eating and drinking healthfully.

Start with a dosha balancing drink of banana, almond and dates or a Macao (organic raw cacao, maca, honey and soy milk)

And if you haven’t got time to stay then visit their health food store next door and buy some goodies to take back to your homestay.

Bali Buddha Cafe 

2: Papaya body wrap:

After enjoying a 60 minute Balinese massage your body is then covered in a blended fresh papaya body mask and wrapped in a blanket for 15 minutes to marinate.  Finish with a very special flower petal bath.

Papaya energetically helps you when feeling overwhelmed, improves your digestion and supports you to let go of the past.

You can find this gem of body treatment as Sedona spa in Ubud.   Alternately you may opt for the sea salt scrub to remove dead skin cells and impurities along with any negativity that may be lingering in your auric field.

Or for the ultimate of body treatments experience the duo massage where two therapists work on your body at once.  OMG!

3:  Take a yoga class or two:

Ubud is the place to be if you are into yoga, and not just every day yoga.  In fact Yoga barn  offers so many different styles of yoga  - Dao Yin Chinese yoga, Vinyasa flow, Hatha flow Japanese, yin yang yoga, restorative yoga plus some wonderful other classes such as drumming, meditation, movement meditations, kirtan and acro kids.

Alternately just on the outskirts of Ubud in Penestanan are Balinese yoga classes with Made Sumantra, or yoga pranala with Linda Mandini’s  She offers a fabulous class for those wishing to get re-acquainted with their body no matter what age and includes yoga asana’s, pranayama (alternate nostril breathing), meditation and yoga nidra (deep rest).

4: Visit a traditional Balinese healer - Balian:

Ni Wayan Nurisah comes from  family of Balinese healers and has been practicing for 14 years.  She is well versed in Chinese medicine and Balinese medicinal plants and massage. Wayan has a traditional Balinese healing centre at Jl. Jembawan near the post office and across the road from Bali Buddha. How handy is that. Wayan is also the herbal healer from Eat, Pray, Love fame.

5: Bali Bike Tour:

Start with breakfast overlooking Mountain Baturs active volcano then cycle down hill for the next 2 1/2 hours. A wonderful way to feel alive, mix with the locals, connect with your body and nature. It’s a wonderful way to appreciate the sheer beauty of the lush tropical Balinese countryside and its terraced rice fields whilst being eco-friendly.

Bali Bike tour

6: Check out the noticeboard at Bali Buddha:

The noticeboard out the front of Bali Buddha cafe is the place to find accommodation, workshops, healers, music classes, batik workshop, yoga classes or whatever else you are into.  It’s one of the first places I visit to find out the latest “happenings” in Ubud.

7: Jalan, Jalan (walk, walk) through the rice fields:

When was the last time you walked through rice fields?   The only way to get to know the rice fields and locals is to walk the very narrow tiny tracks through water filled rice fields (all within walking distance of Ubud).   In fact you’ll find some great stops along the way such as an old man selling coconut water (incredibly healthy for you) or hidden massage huts amongst the rice fields. I’ve had some of the best massages in the most unlikely spots in Bali.

After all the walking, walking, grab yourself a foot massage at one of Kenko reflexology outlets.

8:   Grab a foot reflexology treatment:

Kenko reflexology have two outlets in Ubud, one across the road from the Ubud market and the other down monkey forest road.  It’s a wonderful therapeutic treatment that is perfect for tired feet that have been  jalan jalan all day long.  No oil is used just a blended power mixture and the price is super cheap.

Reflexology in case you don’t know is a wonderful therapeutic treatment that works on improving the health of your organs and internal body, simply by pressing and massaging certain parts of your foot.

9: Excite your taste buds with a cooking class:

I love, love, love Balinese food.

The Casa Luna Cooking school is fabulous cooking school run by the awesome Janet DeNeefe (an Australian who married a Balinese and has lived in Bali for around 25 years)  Her book Fragrant Rice (which I can highly recommend)  is part cook book and part her journey marrying a Balinese, having four children and living in Ubud.

Fragrant Rice: My Continuing Love Affair with Bali

Excite your taste buds with a lavish Balinese feast, along with class notes you can take home.  Explore the spiritual aspect of food in Bali and get to know the Balinese food gods.  There is a cooking class every day with some days including a market tour.

You start your class by sipping on iced chrysanthemum tea and finish with coconut green crepes or black rice pudding. I always include these cooking classes as part of my Womens Rejuvenation Retreats.

10:  Eat Pizza or have another massage or another flower bath:

Yes, you can certainly get great pizza in Ubud.  Pizza Bagus  located Jl.Raya Pengosekan, the best part is they even do home delivery. Every Saturday morning out the front you can expect a fabulous organic farmers market.  When my children are craving something other than mie goreng this is where I take them.

Alternately, grab yourself another Balinese massage in the form of a mandi lalur scrub followed by a flower bath.  Imagine, laying in a bath filled with 3 cups of tropical flowers and essential oils whilst your head is being massaged.  Divine.  There are little hundreds wonderful body treatments to choose from in Ubud with prices starting from as little at $4 US,  yes Bali can be a very inexpensive place to holiday.

Questions about Ubud:

If you have any questions about Ubud, Bali I am more than happy to help you out if I can. I always travel there with my children, and can highly recommend it as a family holiday destination.

Thanks so much for reading my article, Carole.

To see the latest books I’m reading, music I’m listening too and DVD’s I’m watching, this month, zip over to my blog, Rejuvenation Lounge.  You’ll find them on the front page. 

You are welcome to subscribe to my articles by email - It’s free:

 If you enjoyed this article  I’d really appreciate  a stumble:

More articles:

11 rules for being human:

Easy 1 minute daily detox rituals:

10 hugging tips to grab on the run:

Teach yourself walking meditation:

Boost your energy now:

Editor Rejuvenation Lounge and facilitator of Women’s Rejuvenation Retreats

Rejuvenate Your Habits:

Are you a “yes breather” or “no breather” ?

When faced with any sort of negativity or stress your breath is the first thing to change in your body.  You might hold, tighten or restrict your breath, followed by clenching your jaw,  hunching your shoulders, knotting your stomach (that’s me) or generally just tensing lots of muscles in your body - all of which limits you, and limits your ability to cope with any situation.

These are all symptoms of “no breathing”.  It is a very restrictive way to breathe, and restrictive way to live your life.  You begin accumulating negativity and stress (by not releasing it with your breath ) and become stuck in that moment.

 Photo by urbanizr’s

Yes breathing allows you to trust in the flow of your life:

“Obstacles are not opposing you, but merely & gently re-routing you”

Neale Donald Walsch

Your breath directly reflects how you flow through life, but more importantly how you flow through life’s obstacles.   “Yes breathing” strengthens you to move through life’s little challenges, whilst at the same time, helps you dissolve the stress that you have been exposed to along the way.

 ‘Yes breathing” gives you the power to trust in the flow of your life and not become trapped/stuck with what has already happened in the past. “Yes breathing” supports the health and well-being of your body, mind and soul.

“Yes breathing” is very, very simple.  It can be done anywhere, anytime and only takes a minute or two of your time.  “Yes breathing” is all about giving you a potent healing tool so can feel there is something extremely beneficial you can do in times of stress and negativity.

“Yes breathing” is a way of giving yourself permission to say “yes, I’m OK”,   “yes, I trust” or “yes, I can get through this”.   You can read the 3 simple steps of “yes breathing”  a little further down the page.

8 vital reasons why “yes breathing” is so important to you:

1. Stretches time and gives you breathing space:

Breathing in and breathing out “yes” energy,  slows your breathing down, calms your thinking  and slows down time. You are cleverly giving your self some breathing space by creating a healthy distance between you and the situation.

Holding your breath and clenching your body only brings the stress and negativity closer to you.

2. Opens up the diaphragm and oxygenates your body:

The more oxygen you fill your body with, the healthier you are.  The more oxygen in your blood stream and cells,  the more efficient your immune system and the easier it is for your body to detox.  When your diaphragm is fully expanded (by breathing into your belly) more oxygen moves through your body and your organs get a healthy and gentle massage.

3. Helps you relax so you can think clearly:

One of the main aims of  “yes” breathing” is that you are saying to yourself “Yes, it’s OK to breath deeply” and “Yes, its OK, to let go on the exhale”.  By exhaling for twice as long as you normally would,  you are greatly supporting your body and mind into releasing and relaxing.

The more relaxed you are the clearer and calmer your thinking.

4. Calms your emotions:

“Yes breathing” relaxes an overstimulate nervous system which in turn calms your thinking and emotions.  It allows you to come back to your centre and respond to the situation from a more grounded, calmer, practical place.

5: Centres you.

When your energies are scattered, your thinking is scattered and you lose all sense of control.  You have given away your power.  By practicing a few rounds of “yes breathing” you are effectively calling back your scattered energies by breathing into your belly, which strengthens your centre and allows you to digest the situation from a calm grounded place.

6: Gives you a sense of feeling safe and OK

“Yes breathing” is all about giving you a potent healing tool so can feel there is something extremely beneficial you can do in times of stress and negativity.    It’s almost like breathing  a protective bubble of energy around you. It puts you back in charge and not your worrying, stressed out mind.

7: Allows you to trust in the flow of your life.

Breathing in “yes” energy allows you to trust in the flow of your life without getting too attached to the drama of it. It allows you to rise above the situation and remind yourself that there is also a bigger picture to life.  Things happen for a reason, even if you can’t see what they are at the time.

8: Conserves your energy:

Stress, worry and upset all consume huge amounts of your precious energy.  Practicing a few rounds of “Yes breathing” stops you from wasting lots of energy unnecessarily.

“You cannot make a mistake, you can only make a decision that will be your next best step” Neale Donald Walsch

How to practice “yes” breathing:

Two important keys to “yes breathing” is to inhale fully and deeply into your belly, and secondly to spend twice as long on your exhale.  A lengthy exhale sends a clear message to your body to unclench and let go, and in doing so allows you to release any stress and fear but most importantly, come back to your centre.

1:  Breath into through your nose and then down fully into upper lungs, middle lungs, side and back of your lungs and then down into your belly.

2:  As you inhale, breathe in the feeling of  “yes”.   “Yes, I am OK”  or “Yes, I trust”

3:  Lastly, breathe out through your nose, spending twice as long on your exhale than your inhale.  As you exhale say “Yes”.   You can add onto the yes by saying “Yes, I trust” or “Yes, I trust in the flow of my life” or “Yes, I’m OK”, or anything you like that is relevant to the situation you are in.

I personally feel there is no easier and safer “first step” to deal with life’s little challenges, than by bringing your awareness back into your breath.  This will in turn, allow you to adjust your thinking and breathe your energies and focus back into your centre - the only place you need to live from.

Please let me know what you think, as I personally have found “yes breathing” a very valuable tool in my life.

 “Slow down, be kind to yourself and you will find the next step” Mudita Institute 

Thanks so much for reading my article, Carole.

To see the latest books I’m reading, music I’m listening too and DVD’s I’m watching, this month, zip over to my blog, Rejuvenation Lounge.  You’ll find them in the right hand column. 

You are welcome to subscribe to my articles by email - It’s free: 

If you enjoyed this article  I’d really appreciate  a stumble:

More articles:

100 wise tips to feel better fast:

How to focus on one thing at a time:

Easy one minute daily detox rituals:

Teach yourself walking meditation:

12 great reasons to start alternate nostril breathing:

Editor Rejuvenation Lounge and facilitator of Women’s Rejuvenation Retreats

Rejuvenate Your Mind:

Humming is the funky new well-being ritual I’m really into at the moment.  It’s a soothing form of sound medicine, infusing your body with many therapeutic benefits.  It’s also an easy and fun way to enjoy a meditation practice.  Imagine filling your head with the vibration of a calming “humm” for one, two or even 5 minutes.  It’s bliss. Bliss that you can create inside your head and body within seconds.

 Photo byChris Corwin - Tibetan singing bowl:

12 Instant benefits of humming:

I’m trusting you’ll be impressed with the following 12 well-being benefits that I have gathered along my journey with humming.Enjoy.

1:  Grounds and brings you back to your centre.  I personally find it helps settle the feeling of being restless or scattered on the inside.

2:   Promotes clarity of thinking by refreshing your mind. You can physically feel the vibration of the “hum” clear out the cob webs.

3:  Has a very relaxing and soothing effect on your neck, face, head and shoulder muscles, which helps dissolve stress. Try it, you’ll be surprised.

4:  Humming reduces the number of thoughts that fill your head. When you are humming there is no room for over thinking.

5:  Humming puts a smile on your face. Well, it certainly does for me.

6:  Humming slows down your breathing rate significantly.  Dr. Kataria’s research shows, we normally breathe 15-17 times in a minute but with humming you can bring it down to 4-6 a minute which helps to slow down your heart rate and brings down your stress level.

7:  Helps dissolve unproductive thinking.  If you are having a bout of negativity, jump straight into a few rounds of “hmmmm” and notice a shift in your thinking.

8: Calms your nervous system as it activates the parasympathetic nervous system.

9:  Dr. Kataria firmly believes it helps those with insomnia or restless sleep patterns, and perfect for inducing a deep sleep without dreams (the best kind of sleep) .  I recently bought Dr.Kataria’s humming meditation CD and have been practicing it whilst lying in bed (before sleep) to the sounds of an Indian instrument called a tanpura. It’s divine.

10:  “Humming creates a wonderful circuit of energy in your body re-vitalizing its cells and charging its chakra’s”  as quoted by Deva Premal, who is well known for her chanting CD’s.

11: Improves sinusitis. The vibration helps shifts and clears pathways and blockages

12: Lowers blood pressure as proven by Dr. Kataria. 5 minutes of humming can reduce your blood pressure between 10 - 20 mmHg

How to practice a simple humming mediation:

1 - Find a quiet place, close your eyes, straighten your spine and neck, drop your shoulders - and relax. Gently touch your lips together so your hum can travel easily into your head, face and neck muscles. Relax your jaw.  Play some soft background music to enhance your experience.

2 - Take a deep slow breath in, and then create a “mmm” sound on your exhale, without opening your lips.  Continue to hum for the length of your exhale. You can make it musical but traditionally it’s more of a tone than a tune.

3 - Re-new breathe then continue.  It’s that simple.

Start with 1 minute and increase over time to 15 minutes.  One key point which is shared by many yogic and Tibetan wisdoms is the importance of sitting still for a few minutes after your humming meditation.

How to practice a humming bee meditation:

Yogic breathing techniques have a wonderful variation on the above which I guarantee, will deepen your experience with the simple hum.  In fact, I’m warning you right now many participants at my Womens Rejuvenation Retreats fall in love with this fun, easy style of meditation.

1 - Start by getting comfortable and relax your breathing.  Close your ears with your thumbs and gently rest your fingers over your closed eyes.

2 - Adjust the pressure of your fingers to feel as relaxed and comfortable as possible.

3 - Gently and deeply inhale, then make a “mmmm” sound for the length of your exhale. Repeat when it naturally feels OK to inhale again.

Covering your ears greatly intensifies and magnifies the sensation of the hum flowing through your head and body.

Thanks so much for reading my article, Carole.

To see the latest books I’m reading, music I’m listening too and DVD’s I’m watching, this month, zip over to my blog, Rejuvenation Lounge.  You’ll find them on the front page. 

You are welcome to subscribe to my articles by email - It’s free: 

If you enjoyed this article  I’d really appreciate  a stumble:

Additional notes:

I recently bought Dr.Kataria’s humming meditation CD which I personally love.  He uses the Indian instrument tanpura as background music, which is said to enhance your experience.  The first part of his CD is an explanation on the benefits of humming and the second part of the CD is just the sound of the tanpura being played.

More articles:

10 Awesome Confucius quotes to grab on the run:

Teach yourself walking meditation:

12 great reasons to start alternate nostril breathing:

Boost your energy now:

Editor Rejuvenation Lounge and facilitator of Women’s Rejuvenation Retreats:

Rejuvenate Your Body:

“Stop. Take a deep breath and feel your life” Cheryl Richardson

Are you tense and all knotted up?   Then, this article has been written just for you. Starting now, and for the next 3 minutes, as you slowly read through my written words, you will automatically be softening, relaxing and un-knotting your body - bit by bit, by bit.

Following is a lovely relaxation ritual that I personally enjoy most days.  You can do it anywhere, anytime and it’s perfect even if you don’t feel stressed, as  I guarantee you’ll always find some hidden tight, tense bits somewhere in your body.

Your 3 minute relaxation ritual:

Read  each of the following steps with your full awareness, slowly and thoughtfully.  Pause ever so slightly after each one, as you allow your body time to respond, let go, soften and relax.

As you direct your energy, breath and attention towards certain areas of your body you are greatly supporting the release of trapped stuck stressed energy.  Linger longer on any body bits that you feel are more knotted than others.  Above all, enjoy, as your body deserves this extra special attention and opportunity to relax.

 

1. Cheek muscles soften.  My cheek muscles are now softening
2. Forehead soften. My forehead is now softening
3. Tongue soften. My tongue is now softening
4. Eyes soften. My eyes are now softening
5. Lips soften.  My lips are now softening
6. Ears soften.  My ears are now softening
7. Jaw soften.  My jaw is now softening
8. Thoughts soften.  My thoughts are now softening.
9. Head soften.  My head is now softening
10. Neck soften.  My neck is now softening
11. Shoulders soften.  My shoulders are now effortlessly softening
12. Here’s a great opportunity for me to remind you to read extra slowly so your body is receiving maximum benefit
13. Fingers soften.  My fingers are now softening
14. Hands soften.  My hands are now softening
15. Wrists soften.  My wrists are now softening
16. Elbow soften.  My  elbow is now softening
17. Arms soften. My arms are now softening
18. Shoulders soften.  My shoulders are now softening
19. Collar bones soften.  My collar bones are now softening
20. Chest and ribs soften.  My chest and ribs are now softening
21. Stomach soften.  My stomach is now softening. This one is worth repeating
22. Hips soften.  My hips are now softening
23. Buttocks soften.  My buttocks are now softening.  This one is also worth repeating
24. Legs soften.  My legs are now softening
25. Knees soften.  My knees are now softening
26. Ankles soften.  My ankles are now softening
27. Feet soften.  My feet are now softening
28. Toes soften.  My toes are now softening
29. Body soften.  My body is now softening
30. I am soft and relaxed, enjoying the present moment.
31. Breathe in I am calm.  Breathing out I smile.

Thanks so much for reading my article, Carole.

Return anytime to the Rejuvenation Lounge or connect with me on facebook or twitter

You are very welcome to subscribe to my articles by email - It’s free:

More articles:

Attract more positive energy:

12 great reasons to start alternate nostril breathing:

14 funky ways to calm your nerves consistently:

10 meditation tips to grab on the run:

The yoga of eating: 

100 wise tips to feel better fast. 

Editor Rejuvenation Lounge and facilitator of Women’s Rejuvenation Retreats

Rejuvenate Your Soul:

I was lying in bed this morning when the thought, “you need to listen more” popped into my head.  For some reason this didn’t seem like an ordinary, everyday thought.  It had the feeling of being important, and quite special.  So, I allowed this thought to linger longer, giving it the opportunity to reveal itself.  The end result, after 5 minutes, was a list of not so obvious ways that I could be listening to my life.

Photo by Carolyn Coles:

I now plan to shift my listening focus to the more subtle sounds/messages that are happening in, and around me.   The majority of my listening attention will no longer be going to those sounds that yell, scream and demand my attention.

My first priority will be to truly listen to my children more closely, followed by listening to my body and my breath as much as I can.

Experience your life differently:

I do hope the list of suggestions below inspires you (even if its only for one day) to listen to things that you might not normally pay attention too.  Your thoughts and comments are always welcome.  Enjoy.

20 Inspiring Ways To Listen Differently To Your Life:

1: Listen to your life with your eyes closed

2: Listen to your words before you speak them

3: Listen to what you want - more of - in life

4: Listen to the sound of your breath, then relax it

5: Listen to your intuition. It’s always trying to grab your attention

6:  Listen to what your body needs, right now. Put your thumbs in your ears, cover your eyes with your fingers and then listen

7: Listen thankfully to the sounds of nature

8: Listen for the wisdom in your problems

9: Listen more, talk less

10: Listen to your thoughts in slow motion. Are they bringing you closer to your dreams or taking you further away?

11:  Listen to your life without the sound of technology and machines (no phone, TV, ipod etc)

12: Listen to silence

13:  Listen to your favourite music

14: Listen, really listen to your children, family and friends

15: Listen to how many sounds are actually happening around you right now

16: Listen to the calming sounds of the ocean by cupping your hands over your ears and turning your awareness inwards

17:  Listen to the sound of your favourite food cooking

18:  Listen to your heart - What is it saying?

19: Listen to the sound of your feet when walking

20:  Listen to the appreciation of your body after eating something healthy

Thanks so much for reading my article, Carole. Return anytime to the Rejuvenation Lounge or connect with me on facebook or twitter

Subscribe To My Articles By Email - It’s free:

More articles:

Teach yourself walking meditation:

11 rules for being human:

10 Confucius quotes to grab on the run

10 hugging tips to grab on the run:

12 great reasons to start alternate nostril breathing:

Editor Rejuvenation Lounge and facilitator of Women’s Rejuvenation Retreats:

Rejuvenate Your Body:

Everyone is talking about going green and being energy efficient with all things electrical in their homes, but what about you.  Are you being energy efficient with your own energy?  Do you conserve your energy wisely or do you carelessly (or unknowingly) give it away to draining people, places, foods, situations, habits or negative thinking?

 Photo by Hiromy:

Care for your  energy wisely:

This article is close to my heart.

It is through the many courses, workshops and books I studied over the past 20 years that I have deepened my appreciation, of my own precious life force energy.  I now make it a priority and part of everyday living to value my precious energy. I do my best to refuel it with care and spend it wisely.

Below are 10 situations which I am continuously doing my best to reduce, if not eliminate, from my life.  Yes, I still make mistakes but the simple habit of caring for my energy enables me to have more energy for the things that really matter to me in life.

I truly believe that once you start tuning into how you feel after any given situation or thought,  you’ll quickly discover where you are wasting your energy unnecessarily.

Avoid these top 10 energy stealers:

1: Tense breathing:

“The True Man breathes with his heels; the mass of men breathe with their throats” By Taoist philosopher Chuang Tzu

Tight, shallow, restricted breathing speeds up the use of energy. It overstimulates your nervous system, holds in tension and restricts a  healthy flow of oxygen to your organs and brain.  Soften your belly, smile and relax and lengthen your breath.

* 10 breathing rejuvenation ips to grab on the run:

2: Gossip - Other peoples business:

As Byron Katie says: ‘There are 3 types of  businesses, your business, other peoples business and gods business”

Don’t waste your precious energy (and time) on other people’s business. Listening too and/or reading gossip is equally toxic as spreading it. It adds absolutely no value to your life, at all.   It consumes your precious time, attention and can be extremely emotionally painful - again a huge energy drain.  Gossip is simply a waste of time and energy.

I remember Louise Hay sharing in one of her books, that whenever someone tries to invade her boundaries with gossip she simply replies, “Thank you but I choose not to hear this right now” and removes herself.

3: Worry:

“The reason why worry kills more people than work is that more people worry than work” R. Frost

Being proactive in catching yourself out when worrying, is a good place to start. Whilst I still worry (particularly as a mother), I know I am making progress.

My worry busting habit is to simply switch my focus onto my breath,  un-hunch my shoulders,  smile and repeat an affirmation.   “My life is simple and easy” 

* The antamony of an affirmation:

4: Holding in stress:

A tight, tense body holds in stress - it has hunched shoulders, is frowning, clenched jaw, pursed lips, tight stomach and clenched buttocks, just to name a few.

Send commands to your body parts now.  Cheeks soften.  Tongue soften. Forehead soften. Neck soften.  Jaw soften.  Eyes soften.  Keep repeating until your body part responds by softening.

* 12 great reasons to start alternate nostril breathing.

5: People and places:

There may be certain people that you are simply not energetically compatible with.  You know who they are. They leave you drained and exhausted every time.  You feel the friendship is one - sided, and mostly all about them.  As difficult as it may be, you may need to strengthen your boundaries and get very clear when, and how you let them into your lives - if at all.

The same applies to certain places.  For me it’s shopping centres. I’m find them incredibly draining.

6: Not accepting what is:

 “Don’t overtax yourself, it leads to loss of spirit” Lao Tzu

Resisting the present moment wastes time and energy, whether its a traffic jam, the phone ringing or an unexpected bill - it’s happened, and you can’t change it.

Put some breathing space between you and the problem by taking a few deep, calming breathes.  This also helps you see the bigger picture of things.

7: Your stuff - Life was not meant to be spent buying & looking after stuff.

Your stuff demands your time, attention and energy.  The less stuff you have to store, clean, insure, repair,  look after and worry about, the more energy you have to do what you love doing.  Excess stuff in the form of clutter is the most energy draining of all your things.

* Six excellent reasons to uncomplicate your life:

* 4 effective and fun clutter busting games:

8: Technology, TV and media:

Your distractions are not in charge. You are.

Distractions steel your precious energy and time.  TV, newspapers and the media, at times, can act like a poison in your life.  Any one of them can stress you out, exhaust you (you forget to go to bed), frustrate you, annoy you, upset you or change your mood in an instant. Use technology when needed but don’t caught up in its distractions.

9: Toxins:

Reducing the amount of chemicals and toxins used in your home, on your body and in your food will greatly help your body work more efficiently, and prevent energy being wasted on the elimination and detoxification process. Toxic chemicals can be either inhaled, ingested or absorbed through your skin.

* Happiness is going a little bit greener everyday:

* Detox your kitchen bench - 6 simple things you can do now:

10:  Rushing:

“How many times have we made a mistake that effected the rest of our life, simply because we made it, when we were moving too fast, at the effect of our stress, anger or fear” Marianne Williamson

Rushing simply wastes bucket loads of energy unnecessarily. When you rush you tend to make mistakes,  forget things, skip meals, overstimulate your nervous system, become prone to distractions and ultimately become unproductive. Rushing scatters your energy.

* 15 clever ways to slow yourself down when feeling rushed: 

Thanks so much for reading my article, Carole.

Return anytime to the Rejuvenation Lounge or connect with me on facebook or twitter

You are very welcome to subscribe to my articles by email - It’s free:

More articles:

14 funky ways to calm your nerves consistently:

10 meditation tips to grab on the run:

The yoga of eating: 

Attract more positive energy now:

Rest and unwind with a yoga eye pillow:

* 100 wise tips to feel better fast. 

Editor Rejuvenation Lounge and facilitator of Women’s Rejuvenation Retreats

Rejuvenate Your Home:

Clutter represents a build up of too much yin (stagnant/stale/dead) energy in your home, which in turn can lead to confusion, a depletion of energy or procrastination.  The interesting part is you don’t even need to see the clutter to be effected by it.

I know from my own personal experience, there is no easier way to change any problem or situation in life than by having a serious clutter clearing session.  It simply shifts energy - and then your life moves forward.

Photo by triplezero

Clear Your Thoughts by Clearing Your Clutter:

Last week I had the urge to empty my head.  My thinking had become a little foggy, fragmented and scattered.  So for the past 3 days I have been on a major clutter busting frenzy, and I mean a whole 3 full days. No corner was left untouched.

Whilst my home is not big, and there is certainly not much excess stuff - I was surprised at the amount of clutter I did find.

I clear clutter regularly, yet, surprise, surprise more clutter had appeared since the beginning of this year.  That’s life with three boys.

I emptied every cupboard, even if it had no clutter.  I’m a firm believer that uplifting and refreshing an empty space (by wiping out and infusing it with essential oils or incense) removes any stagnant energy that may have accumulated plus it makes your home feel lighter.

I am now officially back in love with all my draws, cupboards, rooms and hidden spaces  - and the foggy thinking has lifted.

Clearing Clutter Moves Your Life Forward:

To inspire you find your clutter clearing groove I’ve shared a few games below which I have used over the years.  It’s all a matter of finding an approach that works for you. My personal favourite is to pretend I’m about to move overseas.

Enjoy.

1: Pretend You Are Moving - Overseas:

Act as if something great is about to happen in your life. You’re moving overseas, interstate, moving home or about to live on a boat.

For those of you who have been reading my blog for a while now will know that at the beginning of last year I assumed the position that I was about to move overseas.  Yeah! After 2 months my home and life had never been so up to-date and organized.  It’s also worth mentioning that many great things started happening not long after.

You are welcome to read my guest post over at unclutter from July 2008.

2: Pick a Number between 1 and 10:

This is a great little game I learnt from space clearing expert Karen Kingston.   I’ve recommend her book Clear Your Clutter many times on this blog.

Simply choose a number between 1 - 10, write the number on a piece of paper, leave it somewhere obvious, and that’s the number of things you must clear from your home each day.

Trust me, this is actually quite a fun clutter game.

3: Start a daily 30 second clutter clearing habit:

Lack of time can no longer be your excuse for not clearing your clutter.   Anyone can spare 30 seconds to throw out at least one (and hopefully more) unwanted, unloved things from your home.

30 seconds requires virtually no energy, effort or thinking power.   This game is also perfect if you are feeling in total overwhelm at the very thought of clearing out your clutter.

To grow your 30 second clutter clearing muscle simply start with something easy like your clothes or a kitchen draw.  You then have 30 seconds to find one or two things that you no longer need.

To further boost your enthusiasm, here’s a fabulous super short video called  Weed out useless utensils by Peter Walsh

4:  Buy one thing then, throw two things out:

This game is easy and the rules very obvious.

If you buy one thing for your kitchen then make sure you throw out two things (from your kitchen) that you no longer need, that are broken, have missing lids, have expired etc.

If you buy a new pillow go through your linen closet and throw out two unwanted towels, sheets, pillow slips etc.

This is a great way to stop the build up of clutter with minimum of fuss.

* The emotional cost of clutter

* Simple solutions when you can’t shift your clutter

* Detox your home and feel brand new

Thanks so much for reading my article, Carole.

Return anytime to the Rejuvenation Lounge or connect with me on facebook or twitter

Subscribe To My Articles By Email - It’s free:

 If you enjoyed this article  I’d really appreciate  a stumble:

More articles:

Top 8 must know, Feng Shui success secrets:

Six excellent reasons to uncomplicate your life:

Attract more positive energy now: