“One must be able to let things happen” C.G. Jung 

I’m having lots of wearing all white days lately.  Intuitively sensing I’m in need of a little colour healing to re-balance and nourish the many energy systems flowing through my body as well as clear a few unwanted vibes around me.

White whispers ever so quietly (to my busy thoughts) words like pause, slow, breathe, release.  I pay attention to my body when wearing white.  Interesting!! I remember more often to adjust my breath, posture and thoughts as needed. White asks me to smile more often too.  I do!

 Whites’ energy soaks through my skin  and down into my nervous system cooling and calming internal agitation.

When wearing all white I get a sense of being more grounded in my being, less likely to get pulled off centre from the million and one external influences tugging at my attention.

White simply feels like my protective guardian angel warding off all things negative.

The colour white seems to have a wisdom and intelligence all of its own.  I am in awe of its cleverness. I’m totally fascinated with how it can subtly effect my mood, emotions and energy levels.

So, with that in my mind I thought I’d ask the fabulous Patty Kikos a well known yoga pracitioner and energy healer about the colour white and why it’s recommend when practicing Kundalini yoga.

 Patty Kikos:

In Kundalini yoga, we often wear white as it is a colour that contains the whole colour spectrum and is therefore said to expand our aura.

In a class many years ago, some of the fellow students and I were lamenting on how difficult it was to keep white clothes looking crisp and clean.  My teacher responded by saying that this was actually her favourite thing about wearing white.

It’s a constant reminder that our soul needs to be maintained in order to stay clear, and one of the best ways to do this, is with a daily meditation practice.

Patty is from Sydney, Australia and teaches Kundalini Yoga regularly. She is also a marriage celebrant.  

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Peace, love and renewed energy, Carole

Know you are always welcome to email me

healthylivinglounge ( @ ) gmail.com

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You can also grab your daily rejuvenation tip by clicking here

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Or you may feel drawn to joining me at a Deep Rest retreat in Italy or Bali. Click here for all the relaxing details.

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“Calm and clear your energies by wearing all white. It has a profound effect on the bodies energy systems”.

There is something deeply soothing and profoundly nourishing when you experience a warm oil self massage.  I love them.  So I’m writing this post as a reminder just how therapeutic and nurturing this simple self care ritual is. Note to self.  Do more often!

The warm oil speaks kindly to my nervous system.  I can feel my body relax and let go with each gentle stroke or circular motion around the joints.  The intimacy of self massage is the gift of connecting with my body, noticing my body, listening to my body, feeling into the energy of my body and profoundly supporting it’s health and well being.

Effortlessly as I glide the warm oil over my skin, bones and joints I appreciate the unseen therapeutic processes taking place – improved circulation – increased suppleness – calmer emotions and the drawing out of toxins.

The great news is my Ayurvedic practitioner Kester from Mudita Institute at Byron Bay (Australia) has kindly created a wonderful video (shown below) that talks you through the whole self massage process in around 6 minutes.  I know many of you will love this video and appreciate the professional thorough explanation. Had to share.

Visual instructions for self massage:

Written instructions for self massage:

Here’s Mudita Institutes written instructions for practising the beautiful self care ritual of a warm oil self massage (known as self abhyanga)

Oil massage improves circulation and suppleness of the body, expels toxins and calms the mind, which aids restful sleep.

It also nourishes and tones all the tissues and channels of the body thereby improving their integrity and resistance to disease.

Abhyanga or oil massage should always be performed with warm oil as this increases the absorption of the oil and so its therapeutic effect. It also prevents congestion of the channels from occurring.

IMPORTANT:

Do not massage during fever, indigestion, diarrhoea, cough or cold or on a full stomach.

Start by warming 1/2 a cup of oil by placing the oil bottle in a mug of boiled water and massage the entire body.

Feet and Legs:

Massage the feet including the soles, and the joints of the toes using small circles.

With a wringing motion of both hands work the ankle joint and the knee.

Massage with long strokes from the ankle to the knee, then from the knee to the hip joint.

Back and Hips:

Beginning at the coccyx, massage up the sacrum (base of the spine), out across the ileac crest and lower back.

Massage up the spine and out across the back in broad strokes and far as your reach allows.

Abdomen and Chest:

Apply oil to the abdomen in a gentle circular motion. Begin at the navel in a clockwise direction and slowly widen the circles.

Massage up over the sternum and out across the chest, flanks and collar bone to the shoulder joint (women should finish with a decreasing spiral motion around the breast).

Arms:

Work the hands and arms in a similar fashion to the feet and legs, paying particular attention to the joints.

Head:

Pour 2-3 tablespoons of warm oil onto the crown and massage outward into the scalp. Pay special attention to the temples, area behind the ears and base of the skull. Massage ears from the top, along the rim to the lobes.

Relax in a warm place for 5-10 minutes after your massage before taking a warm shower.
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Peace, love and chocolate, Carole

Know you are always welcome to email me

healthylivinglounge ( @ ) gmail.com

On a personal note I’m about to facilitate another Deep Rest retreat in Tuscany, Italy.   Looking forward to sharing some photo’s with you over at facebook.

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

You can also grab your daily rejuvenation tip by clicking here

Or zip back over to the Rejuvenation Lounge‘s blog

Or you may feel drawn to joining me at a Deep Rest retreat in Italy or Bali. Click here for all the relaxing details.

_________________________________

Subscribe to “Retreats With Carole” newsletter and be the first to know about new dates, specialized retreats, relaxation alchemy and more.

Click here to find out more about Carole’s deep rest retreats in Italy and Bali for 2013 and 2014.

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“By sitting and mindfully breathing for 10 minutes a day, in as little as eight weeks you strengthen the part of the pre-frontal cortex involved in generating positive feelings and diminish the part that generates negative ones”. Richard Davidson, PhD.

“Nourish the belly” is a deliciously helpful therapeutic restorative yoga pose for those feeling vulnerable to life, anxious, hold stress in the tummy (that’s me) or simply can’t slow down the excessive worry and over thinking.

By resting on the front of the body its cocoons your belly snugly against the earth helping you feel safe and supported by life again. Your heart and belly are protected. You connect more intimately to your breath and the internal energy channels flowing up and down the front of your body.  You notice your body with more awareness from the inside and listen patiently to its quiet requests.

* Keep your awareness and breath on the front of your body (stomach, abdomen, heart, ribs).

* After a few exhales you’ll start with soft effortlessness, gently releasing blocked energy and tightness trapped in the front of your body.  It’s automatic, natural and a very organic process – no matter how restless or agitated you may be feeling initially.

* Simply trust and let your belly flop to its hearts content into the mat, rug or floor.

In essence you are giving your belly and organs the space they deserve and need to function optimally and receive more blood, prana and oxygen flow. It’s a win, win.

Please know with the release of internal clenching also magically comes the “letting go” of new and old worries attached to that clenching.  The more layers of blocked energy you release with each exhale the more fragments of unnecessary worry you’re able to dissolve from your energy fields.

In day to day life you may not even be aware you are “clenching on” and “sucking it in” until you actually lay down and feel into the front of your body.  ”Nourish the belly” can be a very  simple yet surprisingly revealing and worthwhile restorative yoga posture to change how you feel and the way in which you flow through life.

Why not choose to let go a little bit internally each day.  Sounds like a plan to me!

Quiet the mind:

Another therapeutic layer to “nourish the belly” pose is the incredible – and I mean incredible calming effect it has on the mind.

This is particularly true when practised for at least 10 minutes (re-read the opening quote)

When gentle pressure is applied downwards across the skin on your forehead – a profound soothing and deeply peaceful feeling flows through your entire body.  Quite magical really.

It’s very similar to the “sacred cave”a quiet mind ritual I wrote about last year where your forehead rests on the top of a lengthwise yoga bolster.

Of course if you don’t have the luxury of laying down you can simply fold your arms on the table in front of you, relax your shoulders and breath into your belly.  Still deeply calming for the mind.

How to lay on your belly:

1. Lay on a blanket or yoga mat face down

2. Gently wiggle making sure your body is evenly laying down.  You’re not favouring the left or right side.

3. How wide your legs are and whether the toes are pointing inwards or outwards really depends on how your body is feeling on the day.  Try with legs a little wider than your hips with toes pointing in and see how that feels.

The rule is do what feels most comfortable.  There should be no strain.  The aim is to lay effortlessly

4. Fold your arms and rest your forehead comfortably on your hands.  You may have to wiggle your head and arms a little to find the most comfortable spot.

5. Its important to relax your shoulders, neck muscles, jaw, teeth (for all those teeth grinders out there) and tongue.  Always relax your tongue, it’s profoundly relaxing.

6. With soft awareness on the front of your body, follow your breath, creating spaciousness on the inhale and releasing on the exhale. Repeat.

7. If you mind is wandering you might like to repeat a repeat a mantra – something like “I feel safe and supported” or “I trust in the flow of my life”

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Did this post resonate? You might like to read:

* Three arrivals

* 12 ways to release muscle tension on the spot

* Smile into your organs

* A quiet mind ritual

* Alternate nostril breathing

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Peace, love and chocolate, Carole

Know you are always welcome to email me

healthylivinglounge ( @ ) gmail.com

I’ve also started to add more Deep Rest and Rejuvenation retreats dates for 2014.  Most of my 2013 retreats are booked out.  Click here to read more.

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

You can also grab your daily rejuvenation tip by clicking here

You can zip back over to the Rejuvenation Lounge‘s blog

Or you may feel drawn to join me at one of my Deep Rest retreats in Italy or Bali. Click here to find out more.

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If you are keen to reduce or totally stop your sugar intake then you’ll love Sarah Wilson’s book.  She’s quite sugar for real.

Simply click here to learn more about her e-book, printed book or 8 week course.

“To lose our connection with the body is to become spiritually homeless.  Without an anchor we float aimlessly, battered by the winds and waves of life”  Anodea Judith

Make no mistake dance is medicine. And can be used as a tool to unwind our lives. Intuitive dance passionately shakes up any stuckness and confusion, ignites our spirit and reconnects us to flow again.

I always feel truly alive, connected to every cell in my body and an overwhelming feeling of expansive love when I close my eyes, surrender the inhibitions and allow my body to flow to its own exquisite intuitive movement.

No structure or specific steps.  Absolutely no thinking or worrying about looking good.  Plain simple un-planned dancing.  An unguarded willingness to become vulnerable to the moment and trust the body to organically and naturally untangle knots, energy blocks, confused emotions and stress.

As Gabrielle Roth says “There is a dance that only you know how to do”

Dance is even greater medicine when coupled with fabulous music.  Fast, slow, pop, 70′s or even classical – there’s no right nor wrong.  Trust your gut.

Intuitive dance smashes stress, dissolves anxiety, revitalizes your energy channels, shifts moods leaving you smiling brightly from the inside. Hallelujah!

I’ve proven the “dance is medicine” theory many times in life.  Last week at Sunday Dance in Ubud, Bali my intuitive dancing spectacularly cleared  a niggling sore left shoulder. Bravo!

You can click here to check  out the class I often go too when in Ubud.

Now is always a great time to dance.

Sometimes restorative yoga or therapeutic breathing don’t quite take the desired edge off anxiety, stress or feeling overwhelmed.  There are simply times when a good fast strong walk in fresh air is needed or as the image  suggests Hard Times Require Furious Dancing which by the way, is the cover and name of a book.  Great name isn’t it!

This year I feel very much drawn towards exploring the healing medicine of dance more as a tool for unwinding our lives.  Intuitive Chakra Dance is something that’s catching my eye at the moment.

Have you done it?  Let me know.

Solution to your problem:

A while back I wrote a post called Solution to your problem.   I feel it’s perfect to share the wise words and very heart of this post with you again.

It’s a quote from the fabulous Gabrielle Roth.  Hopefully it resonates with you as it did me.  Enjoy.

“In many shamanic societies if you came to a medicine person complaining of being disheartened, dispirited, or depressed they would ask one of four questions.

When did you stop dancing?

When did you stop singing?

When did you stop being enchanted by stories?

When did you stop finding comfort in the sweet territory of silence?

Where we have stopped dancing, singing, being enchanted by stories, or finding comfort in silence is where we have experienced the loss of soul.

Dancing, singing, storytelling, and silence are the four universal healing salves”

—Gabrielle Roth,

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Peace, love and chocolate, Carole

Know you are always welcome to email me

healthylivinglounge ( @ ) gmail.com

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Subscribe via email or rss feed and receive Carole’s weekly posts

You can also grab Carole’s daily rejuvenation prompts by clicking here

Or Click here to zoom back over to Rejuvenation’s Lounge front page

Or click here for “Retreats With Carole”

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Join Carole at one of her Deep Rest or Specialty  retreats:

Carole’s retreats include deliciously gentle restorative yoga, therapeutic breathing practices, intuitively guided meditations and other profound relaxing, nurturing and healing rituals.

Everyone is very welcome. Perfect for anyone, any age.

Please click here for all the rejuvenating details.

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What’s beside my bed at the moment:

I can’t begin to explain how fabulous this book is.  Yoga for Emotional Balance by Bo Forbes clinical psychologist and yoga teacher.

Bo has combined her years of clinical psychology practice with yoga therapy and restorative yoga  to offer simple practices to help with stress, fatigued body and mind, anxiety and depression.

Bo talks extensively about the mind/body connection and shares lots of case studies which she has gathered over 7 years explaining how effective gentle restorative yoga postures and therapeutic breathing is in stabilizing our emotions.

If you want to be a little less reactive to the world around you then this is the book for you. xx Carole.

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“Get quiet often.  It helps you stay profoundly connected to yourself”

Yoga eye pillows are incredibly therapeutic to your emotional well being and nervous system.  Time out for your eyes = a more relaxed version of you. Yeah!

Eyes deal with constant visual stimulation from the moment they open in the morning. Often resulting in strain, tension, fatigue or screen overload.  The gentle pressure on the eyes balls from the weight of the pillow coaxes your eyes to rest, sink calmly back into the head and relax.

Soon you’ll be losing the frown, releasing pressure from your temples and feel a subtle “letting go” wash over your face, head, ears and then down your neck and shoulders.  Bliss!

Eye pillows are simply the perfect companion for the beautiful quiet practice of restorative yoga.   They help you pause and disconnect from the excessive stimulation and demands of the outside world.

Yoga eye pillows talents extend beyond the eyes:

* As wrist rest when using your computer mouse.

* Snuggling into the palms of your hands when surrendering in relaxation pose. This is a must try if you haven’t experienced it before. I personally love the silk covered eye pillows to calm any tensions in the palms of my hands.

* Nuzzled quietly into the middle of your chest when resting in supported child pose. A beautiful feeling if you’re having a vulnerable moment.

Alchemy of an eye pillow:

Simple fact – anything your skin feels and perceives gives your body a whole different neurological experience.

The induced darkness from the eye pillow helps your eyes disconnect and relax. You begin to connect to the third eye – your inner sight.  Your awareness has shifted. Away from the mind and away from the outside world. You are now connecting and feeling into your body – your inner world.

Gentle pressure on the eye balls encourage the body’s pulse and heart rate to lower.  It  also stimulates the vagus nerve.  An important wandering nerve in your body that triggers relaxation. You are now giving your body a chance to repair, heal and rejuvenate itself.

Your breath also positively effects the vagus nerve – mostly on the exhalation (Dr Fred Muench, clinical psychologist). Simple.  Spend longer on your exhale and move closer to a state of relaxation.

Gently drawing the skin of your forehead (frontalis muscle which lifts your eye brows) down when placing your eye pillow on is incredibly soothing to your nervous system.

Breathe into your belly to relax your diaphragm and you’ll be stimulating the vagus nerve to relax your body even more deeply.

Eye pillow + belly breathing = one relaxed body.

Make a yoga eye pillow:

If you are feeling the creative vibe then you’ll be thrilled to know I found a great site by the gorgeous  Hanri, Yoga Teacher based in Oxforshire, England.  Her web site is called Yoga with Hanri.

Not that I’m a sewer these days but for those of you who are I thought you would appreciate Hanri’s tutorial on making your own yoga eye pillow.  Her greyhound Banjo also seems to be a lover of eye pillows.

You can click here to read her tutorial.

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Stay In bed “letting go” ritual:

It only takes 2 minutes.

To help you “let go” of your day – place a yoga eye pillow over your eyes.

Breathe into your belly then picture, sense or feel all that no longer serves who you are today simply melt away from your body with each exhale.

Repeat.

Then repeat again.

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As I write this article I’m heading off to Ubud, Bali to facilitate another Rejuvenation Retreat. Joy!  As I’ll be immersed in the retreat there’s a good chance I won’t have the time to write another post for a few weeks. I look forward to sharing whatever inspiration is filling me up at the time.

Know you are always welcome to email me

healthylivinglounge ( @ ) gmail.com

Peace, love and chocolate, Carole

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Subscribe via email or rss feed and receive Carole’s weekly posts

You can also grab Carole’s daily rejuvenation prompts by clicking here

Or Click here to zoom back over to Rejuvenation’s Lounge front page

Or click here for “Retreats With Carole”

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“With the gift of listening comes the gift of healing” Catherine de Hueck Doherty

All human beings deserve to be heard from a respectful, compassionate and non judgemental space.  However, listening attentively (with an empty mind minus the internal criticism, dialogue or distractions) is easier said than done.

To listen well is to let go of the mind.  To listen well with empathy is to listen from the heart.  We can learn so much about ourselves simply by being willing to observe our listening habits.

As my one word mantra for the year is “connect” my inner gaze is gently focused on the lost art of listening at the moment.

I’m observing the effectiveness of my listening habits with a desire to connect more meaningfully and authentically to the world around me. I’ve discovered the more stressed or rushed I feel the poorer my listening skills.

I kinda like the idea that being more relaxed makes us better listeners!!

So with that in mind thought I’d share a simple ritual I picked up about 4 years ago from my restorative yoga teacher Judith Lasater.

If you’ve been following Rejuvenation Lounge for a while now you’ll probably remember me talking about this profound little habit/ ritual a few years ago. It’s simple.  It’s fabulous.  It’s worth repeating.

You might even like to take a moment now and tune in with your own inner gaze and quietly observe your listening habits. What do you do or don’t do when listening.  This simple practice alone can be potentially life changing  - if you want it to be of course.

Imagine what life would be like if you listened to the world around you with a deeper listening presence.

I’m sure you’ll discover new things about yourself (as I most certainly did) simply by noticing your listening habits.

A simple ritual for listening:

When someone is speaking simply clasp your hands together. It acknowledges you are present and prepares your body and mind for authentic listening.

By clasping your hands you help shift the energy out of your head and down into the palms of your hands. You’ve energetically made a conscious choice to become more present when listening.  It’s a beautiful thing.

Next …..

No answering  in your head

No interrupting with something more important about yourself to add

No finishing their words

No dismissing their words with weird facial expressions

No multi-tasking

No checking out

No face in screen and nodding pretending to hear them

No looking around – thinking when are they going to stop talking

… Simply listen in quiet stillness and with compassion

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Peace, love and chocolate, Carole

Know you are always welcome to email me

healthylivinglounge ( @ ) gmail.com

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Subscribe via email or rss feed and receive Carole’s weekly posts

You can also grab Carole’s daily rejuvenation prompts by clicking here

Or Click here to zoom back over to Rejuvenation’s Lounge front page

Or click here for “Retreats With Carole”

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You might like to read:

This is an awesome book if you are keen to practice more moments of mindfulness in your life. Present Moment Wonderful Moment by Thich Nhat Hanh. Simple versus you can repeat when sweeping the floor, washing the dishes or drinking tea such as:  “This cup of tea in my two hands, mindfulness held perfectly.  My mind and body dwell in the very here and now.”

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Join Carole at one of her rejuvenation or specialized retreats:

Carole’s retreats include deliciously gentle restorative yoga, therapeutic breathing practices, intuitively guided meditations and other profound nurturing rituals.

Everyone is very welcome. Perfect for anyone, any age.

Please click here for all the rejuvenating details.

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“It’s important to nurture the larger vision of who you are”

Many of us draw on excessive masculine energy to move through our day.  Over time an internal imbalance occurs between the feminine and masculine aspects of ourselves. Perhaps this is true for you.

Our feminine energy begins to weaken leaving us feeling empty, hollow and/or disconnected on the inside.  A faint sense lingers in the back of the mind – something is missing.

Somehow along the way we’ve decided to place excessive amounts of focus and importance on the outside world.  The house,  job, cars, money, gadgets, power, winning, trinkets, consumption, the story.  A sad split of energy occurs between our mind and physical body. Our feminine self over time slowly dissolves.

We lose the ability to rest and digest life. Receive prana and nourish our deserving body.

More imbalances occur.

Pausing, reflecting and nurturing  become lost parts of ourselves – distant memories.  If only we had the time.

Vital feminine (shakti) energy channels flowing through our body become slowly weakened, blocked or starved.

We forget about our connection to the mother earth and all her balancing and healing rhythms and cycles.  Nature exists for a reason. We are intimately connected to her.

Intuition becomes a stranger. The thinking mind dominates. We ignore our inner gaze.

We forget to lead life from our bellies. The home of our shakti.  Our feminine, passionate, creative, nurturing self. We no longer love our bellies. We clench our bellies.  Holding it all in. Blocking a feminine energy channel. We often send bad thoughts to our belly. Our belly then carries that hurt.

Exhaustion, emptiness, fatigue and stress are now daily visitors.  There is imbalance in our chakra’s.

It has now become screamingly clear to me there is a timely need for us all (particularly women) to restore balance back to our feminine energy channels and back into our lives.

So, if you get a sense you are in need of reclaiming health and flow back to your feminine energy channels I’ve share a few of my favourite rituals to help you get started.  They are simple, not time consuming and are offered to your wise feminine self as a sign of good faith that your new journey can begin today with one small breath and one small step.

I’m trusting one or more will resonate with you. Trigger a whisper of truth. Perhaps even awaken a distance memory from the ancients to you.

I would love to hear back from you.  Your personal story, experiences or simply to say hello.  Carole – healthylivinglounge (at) gmail.com

This is a year where we can start receiving vital energy/prana/chi on a whole new level.

Practices for restoring feminine balance:

Know there’s the perfect time for doing and an equally perfect time for receiving within the same 24 hours.

Know there’s also a subtle difference between doing a restorative yoga pose and actually receiving it’s goodness.

1.   Shakti belly breathing.

If you do nothing else, do this pose. I can’t begin to tell you how incredibly nourishing and nurturing it is. It  helps me connect to the energy and wisdom swirling around in my belly. My ‘gut” feelings. I always get a sense of being refueled as I breathe intentionally into my belly.  That’s what receiving feels like.

Before you begin give your belly permission to receive.  Relaxing your belly is the first must-do step.

Now bring  the soles of your feet together.  Gently let your legs flop out to the side  (resting on cushions, blankets or bolsters if you need too).  Rest hands wherever it feels right for the day.  Above your head or down by your side, palms facing up.

Place your awareness and breath on your base chakra (the perineum area) and belly.

Breath in through your base chakra drawing the breath up and into your belly. Simply follow your breath as it enters and leaves your body from the base chakra.   Feel the gentle movement of energy between your belly and the base chakra.

I usually practice for around 5 minutes each morning.

2. Squat:

Nature certainly didn’t intend for us to sit in chairs all day long.

Squatting helps bring our awareness and breath to our base chakra, legs and feet.  It’s very grounding. Anchoring us into the earth’s energy.

A simple practice while relaxing in a squat is to inhale vital life force energy – up from the ground – through your feet and legs, gently nourishing the base chakra as it flows through up into your belly.  Feel your belly swell and fill like a balloon with each inhale.

A beautiful nature exchange of energy takes places when we firmly root our feet into the earth’s replenishing energies.  It may feel familiar and comforting.

A simple squatting pose will help lengthen your spine, strengthen and improve flexibility in your hips, thighs, knees and ankles.

3.  Full moon breathing ritual:

The energy of the full moon is infused with a very cooling, calming and feminine energy. It helps us re-connect to the natural rhythms of nature so we in turn can be more in-tune with our own internal bodily rhythms. It will help us pause and receive more often.

The next full moon is the 27th January, 2013 (Australia) 26th January (America/Canada) 27th January (Paris – London).  Enjoy the ‘Full Moon Breathing Ritual” up to 3 nights after the full moon.

* Inhale the full moon  in through your left shoulder and down into the left side of your body.  Continue until you get a feeling that your feminine, receiving side is a little more spacious and flowing.  Then shift your awareness to the right side of your body.

* Inhale the cooling rays of the full moon in through your right shoulder and down into the whole right side of your body.   Each inhale  has a cooling and calming effect on any excess masculine, pushing or forceful energies. Continue alternating between the left and right side of your body until you feel an evenness of energy flowing between the left and right sides of your body.

Nurture The Feminine Paris Retreat October 5-9 2013:

Swelling from the energy I’m connecting with at the moment I believe now is the perfect time to launch an extra special retreat specifically for rejuvenating the feminine energy channels and create a deeper connection to your inner true self.

Paris the city of lights and love is the location which I feel very much drawn too for this special retreat.

Nurture The Feminine Paris Retreat is open for six women only.

We will gather for 5 days in Paris on the new moon in October 2013.  An energy of new beginnings and moving forward.

There we will enjoy 3-4 hours of daily nurturing restorative yoga and breathing practices aligned solely for replenishing the feminine energy channels in your body.

In addition the retreat will be layered with forest breathing and base chakra practices in the beautiful gardens of Buttes Chaumont (masterpiece of Baron Haussmann) as we soak up the energy of nature that oozes inspiration, creativity, guidance and healing.

Other moments will include a  Hamman (Turkish bath ritual) and “gommage”.

We will connecting with the element water on this retreat and the very reason we’ll be staying on the trendy Canal St.Martin with your room overlooking the canal.

If you feel drawn to this retreat  (I’m not sure if I will offer it again) please email me and I’ll be happy to include your name on the list as I’m still finalizing details and costings.

Peace, love and belly breathing, Carole

My email is healthylivinglounge@gmail.com

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Subscribe via email or rss feed and receive Carole’s weekly posts

You can also grab Carole’s daily rejuvenation prompts on facebook by  clicking here

Or Click here to zoom back over to Rejuvenation’s Lounge front page

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Join Carole at one of her rejuvenation or specialized retreats:

Carole’s retreats include deliciously gentle restorative yoga, therapeutic breathing practices, intuitively guided meditations and other profound nurturing rituals.

Everyone is very welcome. Perfect for anyone, any age.

Please click here for all the rejuvenating details.

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You might like to read:

If you connected with the above post then I know you will love reading Maya Tiwari’s book A Woman’s Book of Ayurvedic Healing.

Her knowledge of the feminine shakti is exceptional and I feel blessed to have been to her workshops.  She has spent her life supporting women’s health, aligning periods to the new moon and sharing kind caring rituals with life changing results.

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Thanks to yogamama uk for main picture in this blog post

“If you don’t want it then why think about it” Carole

What’s your faithful one word mantra that will anchor you into the energy you are keen to flow with in 2013?  One word in essence that could change your life or be your life saver.

It’s about finding one word – just for you – the real you. Your very own “power word” which you carry silently but confidently with you wherever you go for the next 12 months.

A one word mantra that you know in your belly and feel in your heart will change your life. Perhaps forever? Your own personal medicine in the form of a word.

Write it on a piece of paper.  Carry it with you in your wallet.  That way it’s never far from your intuitive energy field.

My one word mantra is connect for 2013:

After my full moon release and meditation last night it became very clear my faithful one word mantra for 2013 will be “connect”. Last year it was “gentle”.

Connect will be my loyal companion in 2013. Never far from my awareness. The more I notice this word, chant this word or write this word down the more I will witness its rippling effects.

My inner voice seems keen for me to “plug in” more deeply – into my life. Connecting with and not shying away from, stepping back from or playing it too safe.

I get a sense that when I connect more meaningful I will notice more of my life.  The small, the unseen and the subtle precious moments. I also suspect I’ll become more intimately connected to myself and the universe.

If you are interested here’s my personal notes that I journaled after the word “connect” chose me:

When I connect meaningfully I notice my precious breath

When I connect meaningful to this moment, I am grounded, more centred and plugged in.  I am at the right place at the right time.

When I connect to my body I truly listen to what she has to say

When I connect meaningfully to my inner truth I honor my own unique path in life

When I connect meaningfully to others I really listen with my full kind awareness

When I connect meaningfully to the moment I’ll be focused on one thing at a time.

When I connect meaningfully to the moment I won’t be easily distracted.

When I connect meaningfully I notice detail.  I notice beyond.

When I connect more meaningfully to nature, I hear her wise words and feel her balancing presence. I allow myself to linger.

When I connect meaningfully to my intuitive guidance I won’t miss signs along the way.

When I connect meaningfully to another human being I’ll look into their eyes.

When I connect meaningfully to my energy levels I’ll know when I need to pause and when I need to be in motion.

When I connect meaningfully to the universal energy I let go of my fears, let go of my worries, let go of my insecurities and allow my life to flow effortlessly. I trust.

I’d love it if you shared your one word mantra for 2013.  Can’t wait to hear what they are.

____________________

Peace, love and chocolate, Carole

Know you are always welcome to email me.

My email is healthylivinglounge@gmail.com

____________________

Subscribe via email or rss feed and receive Carole’s weekly posts

You can also grab Carole’s daily rejuvenation prompt by clicking here

Or Click here to zoom back over to Rejuvenation’s Lounge front page

____________________

I can’t begin to explain how fabulous this book is.  Yoga for Emotional Balance by Bo Forbes clinical psychologist and yoga teacher.

Bo has combined her years of clinical psychology practice with yoga therapy and restorative yoga  to offer simple practices to help with stress, fatigued body and mind, anxiety and depression.

Bo talks extensively about the mind/body connection and shares lots of case studies which she has gathered over 7 years explaining how effective gentle restorative yoga postures and therapeutic breathing is in stabilizing our emotions.

If you want to be a little less reactive to the world around you then this is the book for you. Carole.

____________________

Join Carole at one of her rejuvenation or specialized retreats:

Carole’s retreats include deliciously gentle restorative yoga, therapeutic breathing practices, intuitively guided meditations and other profound nurturing rituals.

Everyone is very welcome. Perfect for anyone, any age.

Please click here for all the rejuvenating details.

___________________

Click here to find out more about Carole’s deep rest retreats in Italy and Bali for 2013.

____________________

“Letting go is not the loss of anything, it creates space to discover who you really are”

I love rituals.  They anchor me into my intentions and have a magical way of leaving me feel connected to something greater than myself.

Interestingly, as the year comes to an end one of my rituals won’t be writing down a list of goals.  I get a sense they would only get in the way. I prefer to lead life from my belly.  My intuitive guidance.  My mind can’t possibly know all the answers.  There has to a be a bigger energy at play.  Plus what’s the point of having a goal if my intuition decides to pull me into another direction.  I trust in the process and flow of divine guidance interlaced with my intuitive instincts and actions.  My life then has a magical way of  unfolding organically and effortlessly in front of me (well nearly always if my mind doesn’t get in the way).

Intentional rest and letting go:

So my preferred ritual for the end of the year is a restorative yoga “letting go and integration” practice ( pictured below) which I’ll be doing for one hour a day for 7 days over the holidays.  Yep, laying on my yoga mat in relaxation pose with a few props and focusing on nothing but my breath.  Easy in theory, sometimes a little tricky in practice.

The higher purpose to digest, integrate and let go of whatever no longer serves who I am today on all levels – physically – emotionally – intellectually.

The best part, I don’t even need to know what it is I’m letting go of or integrating.

I trust totally my body  knows what it needs to do when I give it my therapeutic breath, time and the space for intentional rest and permission to let go.

My focus is simple.  Breathe continuously into my body, past the collar bones and allow my breath to penetrate deeply into my organs, muscles and cells.  Moving the breath intuitively to wherever it needs to flow.  Breath by breath I feel subtle releases from my body as I’m able to relax, let go and sink even more deeply into my yoga mat.

When I breath into the tensions I’ll be letting go of stuck emotions.

When I breath into the restless energy I’ll be letting go of passed agitations.

When I breath into the racing thoughts I’ll be letting go of the past and future worries.

When I breath into my belly I’ll be letting go of anxiety

When I breath into my liver I’ll be dissolving residual anger

When I breath into my kidneys I’ll be dissolving lingering fears

Being still and focused only on your breath and body has profound and beautiful consequences. I’d so love it if you could join me and share you’re experience.  I’m starting today – right now in fact.

** If one hour a day is too much then please, please, please do a minimum of 20 minutes a day.  This will have life changing effects on your neurological and physiological energy systems over time.**

Props that may help:

Know there is no right nor wrong way to do this.  The key is for your body to feel safe, warm and comfortable laying on your yoga mat by using blankets, cushions, yoga bolsters, books, eye pillows, towels or whatever works for your body on that day. It may change each day. What felt comfortable yesterday may not feel comfortable today. Ask your body.

You might like to:

1. Add a yoga eye pillow (or folded towel) across your eyes. I find this incredibly relaxing for my eyes and mind.  Plus it reduces eye stimulation from a brightly lit room. Important.

2. Support your neck and head well.  Wiggle your head so you have length at the back of your neck.  Add an extra blanket under your head if needed.  Chin should tilt slightly towards the heart but not too much as to close or bunch the throat.

3. Super important to keep warm so cover yourself in a blanket.  You will get cooler.

4. Roll a blanket/bolster/towel under your knees if you feel any discomfort in your lower back.  You can even place a rolled blanket under you ankles if that feels right for you.

5. A single folded towel or blanket under your hands, wrists and lower part of your arm is divine. Elbow should be slightly lower than wrist.  This subtle adjustment can help deepen the relaxation experience. I love it.

6. A yoga eye pillow gently resting in the palms of each of your hands is simple yet magical.

Here’s a few other articles which you might find helpful:

A quiet mind ritual – Your breath as medicine – The language of restorative yoga – 12 great reasons to start alternate nostril breathing – Smile into your organs

Meditation timer app:

If your worried about the time then I can happily recommend the Insight Timer meditation app which I personally love and will be using for my letting go ritual.  One of the features which I find extremely useful is the option to journal or jot down a few words after your relaxation/meditation.  Perfect for those memorable aha! moments.

If you’d like to find out more  here’s the link to an article I wrote earlier this year.

* My favourite meditation app

____________________

Peace, love and chocolate, Carole

Know you are always welcome to email me.

My email is healthylivinglounge@gmail.com

____________________

Click here to find out more about Carole’s deep rest retreats in Italy and Bali for 2013.

____________________

Subscribe via email or rss feed and receive Carole’s weekly posts

You can also grab Carole’s daily rejuvenation prompt by clicking here

Or Click here to zoom back over to Rejuvenation’s Lounge front page

____________________

I can’t begin to explain how fabulous this book is.  Yoga for Emotional Balance by Bo Forbes clinical psychologist and yoga teacher.

Bo has combined her years of clinical psychology practice with yoga therapy and restorative yoga  to offer simple practices to help with stress, fatigued body and mind, anxiety and depression.

Bo talks extensively about the mind/body connection and shares lots of case studies which she has gathered over 7 years explaining how effective gentle restorative yoga postures and therapeutic breathing is in stabilizing our emotions.

If you want to be a little less reactive to the world around you then this is the book for you. Carole.

____________________

Join Carole at one of her rejuvenation or specialized retreats:

Carole’s retreats include deliciously gentle restorative yoga, therapeutic breathing practices, intuitively guided meditations and other profound nurturing rituals.

Everyone is very welcome. Perfect for anyone, any age.

Please click here for all the rejuvenating details.

___________________

“Just breathe.  You’ve got this”

Now is always a great time to pause ……. and come back to your centre.

Particularly if you are feeling scattered or rushed around this time of the year.

Pause.

Place your hands in prayer pose.

Tilt your head softly towards your heart.

Close your eyes.

Breathe deeply into your belly.

Repeat the following prayer.

“May I be filled with love and kindness”

“May I be at peace”

“May I be well”

“May I be happy”

Sometimes simple is all that is needed.

A simple moment in time to pause.

A simple moment to remember to breathe.

A simple moment to let it all go on the exhale.

A simple moment to come back to your centre.

Sending you all my heart felt blessings as our precious year comes to an end and a new one is about to begin.

I am deeply grateful you are in my life.

Peace, love and chocolate, Carole

____________________

Know you are always welcome  to email me anytime.

My email is healthylivinglounge@gmail.com

____________________

Subscribe via email or rss feed and receive Carole’s weekly posts

You can also grab Carole’s daily rejuvenation prompt by clicking here

Or Click here to zoom back over to Rejuvenation’s Lounge front page

____________________

Join Carole at one of her rejuvenation or specialized retreats:

Carole’s retreats include deliciously gentle restorative yoga, therapeutic breathing practices, intuitively guided meditations and other profound nurturing rituals.

Everyone is very welcome. Perfect for anyone, any age.

Please click here for all the rejuvenating details.

___________________

“Words carry energy that soak into your aura creating an energy imprint. Your cells start to receive these words and so does the universe. Magic happens”

Mostly daily I share a few words in the form of rejuvenation prompts/tips on my blog and over at Rejuvenation Lounge’s facebook page.

They are not careless random words written to impress.  They are words I feel deep within me.  Words that resonate.

The daily rejuvenation prompts come to me (mostly) on my daily walk or during meditation.

They are not my words.

They come from a higher place.  I pause, I listen and I am grateful.

The rejuvenation prompts can be hugely popular or not.  It doesn’t matter.  What matters is they connect to at least one person and make a difference.

So as the year comes to a close I’d like to share with you the most loved and popular prompts/tips for 2012.  They are in no particular order.

Please read them gently.  Notice how your body responds.

I’m trusting there will be one or more that jumps out at you today.  Write it down. Absorb it. Feel into it. Put it on your bathroom mirror or under your pillow.  Let the words take you on a journey.

Enjoy my friends and if you have the time I’d really love to know what your favourite rejuvenation prompts are.

Bless.

20 awesome rejuvenation prompts from 2012:

1.

Many of us draw on excessive masculine energy to move through our day. Over time an internal imbalance occurs between the feminine (left side of the body) and masculine (right side).

Our feminine energy becomes weak, depleted. We lose our ability to nourish ourselves and access our feminine intuition. A disconnection has begun.

Know the … “Full Moon Is Precise Medicine” …. to restore and replenish your feminine essence.

Walk outside at night inhaling the cooling, calming and feminine energy of the full moon – in through the left side of your body and then the right. Alternating.

Finish each inhale in your belly. The resting place for your feminine essence. Feel your belly swell and fill.

________

2.

Feeling stressed?

Notice your breath. There’s nothing else you need to do.

Awareness on your breath, subtly moves energy off the situation and back into your deserving body.

________

3.

Let it all go.

Stop squinting, lose the frown, drop and relax your shoulders, release tension in your jaw, un-clench the palms of your hands and then inhale deeply.

Wow, now doesn’t that feel better?

_____

4.

A mantra said in your head stays in your head.

However, a mantra gracefully inhaled into your lungs and received peacefully in your belly, is a mantra energetically infused into your being.

You and the mantra have become one. Bless!

_____

5.

You simply know when there’s an energy imbalance in any relationship.

You may feel or sense living a restricted version of yourself as you deny your own unique personal truth, not to mention the consequences of giving away your own personal power.

Definition of Codependency by Joan Boreysenko “Making yourself smaller than you are in order to fit into some one else’s dysfunctional life. Staying in any system where you are not free to be your authentic self.”

________

6.

Yes! Smile into your organs!

Taoists believe holding a smile on your face and directing the energy it contains inwards towards your organs and inner body, is the key to good health and longevity.

Smile into your stomach, feel the smile soak deep into your belly dissolving old and new anxiety with each delicate inhale and exhale. Your stomach gracefully opens up with a soft new calm spaciousness.

________

7.

Forcing or controlling situations simply blocks support from the universe.

Drop your shoulders, un-clench your muscles, let go with a forceful exhale and trust in the divine flow of your life.

Allow the unknown to unfold before you.

__________

8.

Live life lightly.

Continue to release stuff, people and situations that weigh heavy on your shoulders.

________

9.

Un-complicate everything.

You know your soul is craving simplicity.

________

10.

Believe in divine timing.

Then you can relax.

________

11.

Step back, push less, accept what is and go with the flow more.

Trust in the unique flow of your life.

________

12.

An invisible thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place or circumstances.  The thread may stretch or tangle but it will never break.  May you be open to each thread that comes into your life and weave them into a beautiful journey.

“The red string of fate” Japanese and Chinese folklore.

________

13.

Explore the idea that finding out who you are is more important than fitting in.

Don’t live a restricted version of yourself.

________

14.

Today might be the day you choose a different response to a difficult situation.

The results may surprise you.

________

15.

Stop doing things you know deep down inside aren’t good for you.

If the place, thought, situation, habit or person drains your energy then do something about it.

________

16.

Worry is often held in the body by clenching.

Release the side effects of worry by un-clenching your buttocks, stomach, jaw and shoulders.

Feel the release.

________

17.

Invite more sacred energy into your home. It helps you connect to something greater than yourself.

You’ll soon notice worries and fears not so overwhelming as you get a sense of being supported by universal energies.

Light a candle, burn essentials oils, listen to sacred music, pray, meditate, burn a stick of temple incense and feel a softer, gentler energy fill your home.

________

18.

Letting go is not the loss of anything.

It creates the space so you can discover who you really are.

________

19.

Honestly, if you don’t want it then stop thinking about it.

________

20.

Notice if you are pushing or forcing a situation.

Perhaps you are unintentionally blocking support from the universe.

____________________

Peace, love and chocolate, Carole

Know you are always welcome  to email me anytime.

My email is healthylivinglounge@gmail.com

____________________

Subscribe via email or rss feed and receive Carole’s weekly posts

You can also grab Carole’s daily rejuvenation prompt by clicking here

Or Click here to zoom back over to Rejuvenation’s Lounge front page

Or click here for Rejuvenation Lounge’s facebook page.

____________________

Join Carole at one of her rejuvenation or specialized retreats:

Carole’s retreats include deliciously gentle restorative yoga, therapeutic breathing practices, intuitively guided meditations and other profound nurturing rituals.

Everyone is very welcome. Perfect for anyone, any age.

Please click here for all the rejuvenating details.

___________________

“Protect yourself from negative vibes. Carry a piece of black tourmaline with you.  It’s a potent crystal that creates a shielding effect.”

I came across the wonderful image below on facebook.  I smiled wildly.

How fabulously perfect for this time of the year.  There are no mistakes. Diving timing is everything.

My first thought.  I must, must, must share it with you. And so I am. Ta! Dah!

It reminded me of a great Louise Hay affirmation from her power thought cards …  ”I always have choice”

It’s one of my all time favourites.

So if you are feeling a little drained, frazzled or worse for wear lately perhaps you’ve unintentionally been absorbing negative vibes. It can happen.

My suggestion – come back to your centre and sit in the “Energy of Choice”. It’s a courageous and passionate energy that offers you endless possibilities in this precise precious moment.

Know you always have choice to protect your self energetically before entering any potentially toxic, depleting or harmful environments.  Even walking into a busy shopping centre may be extremely depleting for you.  It is for me.

Choose to protect your personal space daily – before you get out of bed – before you leave home – before you walk into the office – before you travel.

So with this fabulously inspiring image as the guiding force to the new glowing,  I’m ain’t taking that on board look –   I’ve shared a few ways you can put yourself in a bubble of protection.  Of course you may already have your own super fabulous ritual for protection and perhaps this post is simply a timely reminder for you.

Jingle bells!

Put yourself in a bubble:

1. Apply one drop of the essential oil “Vetiver” onto your solar plexus each morning. It helps us from taking on too much of other people’s “junk”.

2. Find a crystal bracelet that’s a combination of black tourmaline and labradroite – alternately a carry a piece of both crystals.  The dual effect of black tourmaline and labradroite is awesome.

3. Tap into an energy greater than yourself. Intentionally connect with and call on the protective forces of  angels, guides, god, goddess or the universe.

Get a sense, feel or picture of a beautiful white/golden light.  Inhale the golden light deep into your body.  Feel it fill and then expand outwards from your physical body creating a shielding effect.

4. Words in the form of mantra’s or affirmations create a strong mental shield and soak into the energy of your aura creating a protective energy imprint.

“I am always safe and protected”

“My aura is strong and healthy”

5. Chant a Buddhist prayer

“May I be filled with loving kindness”

May I be well”

“May I be peaceful and at ease”

“May I be happy”

6. Get grounded. When you are not grounded your energies become scattered leaving you open to external influences.  Breathe into your heels.  Massage your feet. Jump up and down.  Squat.  Walk in nature.

* You might like to read 12 ways to strengthen your aura

____________________

Peace, love and chocolate, Carole

Know you are always welcome  to email me anytime.

My email is healthylivinglounge@gmail.com

____________________

Subscribe via email or rss feed and receive Carole’s weekly posts

You can also grab Carole’s daily rejuvenation prompt by clicking here

Or Click here to zoom back over to Rejuvenation’s Lounge front page

____________________

What I’m loving at the moment:

Keen to eat less sugar over Christmas?  Then do it!

*Christmas brunch  *Traditional with a twist

Please click here to check it out:

_________________________________

Deep Rest retreat Tuscany, Italy May 2013:

If you feel drawn to joining Carole in Italy for 7 days of deeply restful restorative yoga, meditation and walking in the hills of Tuscany now is a great time to secure your spot.

There are 4 spots currently available.

Click here for more information.

___________________

“Explore the idea that finding out who you are is more important than fitting in. Don’t live a restricted version of yourself”

Solutions need not be complicated, requiring excessive amounts of extra hard thinking.  I love the notion – answers can and do arrive effortlessly.  With minimum fuss or confusion when given spaciousness.

With these thoughts in mind I felt you would connect with the following wise words, a quotation of sorts from the late Gabrielle Roth (1941 – 2012).

An incredibly inspirational author and electric dancer, teacher with a passion for shamanism and movement.

As you read the following extract (and I recommend you read it slowly a few times, inhaling it deeply into your belly)  you’ll probably get a sense of her wise words skipping the mind and speaking directly and passionately to your soul.

For me there was an instant sense of the familiar and knowing.  My soul replied “yes” this is so true.

Be open to creative avenues in solving life’s big and little problems by inviting more joyful space into your life via dance, singing, stories and silence.

Enjoy!

Ask yourself four questions:

“In many shamanic societies

if you came to a medicine person complaining of being disheartened, dispirited, or depressed they would ask one of four questions.

When did you stop dancing?

When did you stop singing?

When did you stop being enchanted by stories?

When did you stop finding comfort in the sweet territory of silence?

Where we have stopped dancing, singing, being enchanted by stories, or finding comfort in silence is where we have experienced the loss of soul.

Dancing, singing, storytelling, and silence are the four universal healing salves”

—Gabrielle Roth,

 

Peace, love and chocolate, Carole

Know you are always welcome  to email me anytime.

My email is healthylivinglounge@gmail.com

____________________

Subscribe via email or rss feed and receive Carole’s weekly posts

You can also grab Carole’s daily rejuvenation tip by clicking here

Or Click here to zoom back over to Rejuvenation’s Lounge front page

____________________

On my bedside table:

I love dance.  I love movement.  There is a freedom which comes from wildly moving your body.  You clear away the cobs, smash stagnant energy and invite so much more life force into your body it’s ridiculous.

Dance truly is medicine for the soul.

I have a sense that my inspirations and creativity next year will be all about dance. It’s calling me, circling me.  How exciting. Ecstatic dance, chakra dance, hula hoop dance and the five elements dance. Gabrielle Roth’s book Maps to Ecstasy: The Healing Power of Movement is my first book into this journey.  xx Carole
_________________________________

Deep Rest Retreat in Tuscany, Italy:

If you feel drawn to joining me in Italy for 6 days and 7 nights of deeply restful restorative yoga, peaceful meditation, therapeutic breathing and gentle walking in the hills of Tuscany now is a great time to secure your spot.

Click here for more information.

___________________

Thank you to idlehearts for the photo

“Sure it’s important to relax your body but it’s also vital to relax your life”

When nothing is flowing – do nothing! Your soul is craving space to be heard.  Besides, going around in circles creates more going around in circles.

The answer (to whatever your question) may be as simple as taking an unplanned day. Who would have thought!!

You’ll know, without a hint of hesitation if an “unplanned day” is the perfect “reset button” you need right now.   Let go of all the “doing” and simply “be” for a while without a purpose. Open your front door and go wherever your feet take you. One step at a time.

As your day unfolds allow yourself to be lost in the slowness of every moment.

And slowly but surely you’ll  - release your tight grip on life – loosen any stuckness – call back your scattered energies – clear away the cob webs – drift gently back to your centre – refresh a repetitive mind – shift your mood and replenish your spirit.

Give your beautiful busy life some much needed breathing space –  go forward and flow  to wherever your intuitive guidance takes you.

Imagine the endless joyful unknown possibilities, clues and guidance that may unfold before you.  Magic is waiting.

Take an “unplanned” moment:

Ok, so the thought of an unplanned day is way too much.  Why not start with an  ”unplanned” moment?

My recent unplanned moment was a beautiful open eyed meditation with a palm leaf. Perhaps 20 or 30 minutes in total. I allowed myself to soak into her essence.  And soon I discovered I had much to learn from a seemingly simple leaf that I had so often ignored.

Nature is incredibly wise and generous when we bring slowness to the moment.  I learnt about trusting deeply, staying strong yet incredibly flexible with each gust of wind. Worry and fear did not exist as I understood I could shine brightly always, never losing my colour. I left feeling patient, calm and complete.  Bliss.

You might also like to read:

* The gift of noticing –  When I think or speak the word notice with care, a whole new expanded awareness appears right before my very eyes.

* Trust the flow – Don’t worry plan or over think.  Trust the flow.

* Shiva linga hand mudra – Brings the nervous system into balance

Hope you found this post helpful in some small way and please know you are always welcome  to email me anytime for a chat or ask a question.

My email is healthylivinglounge@gmail.com

Peace, love and chocolate, Carole

_________________________________

Still a few places available for my retreat in Italy May 2013:

Bali February and July 2013 are booked out.

If you were thinking of joining me in Italy for 7 days of deeply restful restorative yoga, meditation and walking in the hills of Tuscany now is a great time to secure your spot.

There are 4 spots currently available.

Click here for more information.

___________________

Subscribe via email or rss feed and receive Carole’s weekly posts

You can also grab Carole’s daily rejuvenation tip by clicking here

Or Click here to zoom back over to Rejuvenation’s Lounge front page

____________________

On my bedside table:

Each individual card holds a strong healing energy.

I have been working with these cards for around 6 months now and am incredibly in awe of the energetic effect they have on my whole being.

I often sleep with one card under my pillow each night.  Click here for Liquid Crystal Oracle Cards

____________________

Photo by tejvanphoto’s

“When nothing is flowing. Do nothing. Your soul is craving space to be heard” Carole

Restorative yoga is an internal practice with significant capacity to balance the nervous system and our emotional health.

There is a magnificent subtle communication constantly taking place when you surrender deeply in restorative yoga.  A welcomed gentle internal dialogue occurs between your yoga bolster, blankets, blocks and eye pillow to the neurological and physiological systems of your body.

All props, while motionless and seemingly passive in their appearance are continually encouraging and coaxing – ever so gently – your muscles, your skin, your organs, your mind and beyond to soften, let go and relax even more deeply.  You subtly feel or sense layers between your skin and bones.Your body responds effortlessly as it intuitively knows what to do when given the space to profoundly relax.

Amazingly restorative yoga and it’s seemingly random use of props – blankets, bolsters etc- are incredibly balancing, healing and deeply replenishing to the energy systems in your body.  Your digestive, immune and nervous systems benefit enormously.

Each piece of physical support from the props has a clear and distinct purpose.  They are carefully placed on, under, over and around your body to achieve their higher purpose – profound deep rest which then flows into profound deep healing.

I so love the fact that anyone, any age with absolutely no yoga experience can enjoy restorative yoga’s, replenishing and rejuvenating qualities – it’s especially great for illness and injuries as well as exhaustion and emotional upset.

It’s for all these reasons restorative yoga is a vital and deeply important part at all my Rejuvenation Retreats in Italy and Bali.

In case you were wondering,  the picture above is of me (Carole) at a 4 day intensive, a few months back with my restorative yoga teacher Judith Lasater visiting Australia from California. I again feel blessed to have been on another intensive with Judith.

If you’ve never experienced Restorative Yoga please, please, do try it.  You can start by grabbing Judith Lasaters book Relax and Renew -  or see if there’s a class in your area.

Alternately you could always enjoy a whole 5 days of restorative yoga at one of my retreats. Now, that would be such fun!

Release fatigue, counteract slouching and uplift your mood:

Laying with head, shoulders and spine along a bolster – bottom on the floor – and souls of the feet touching and legs opening out to the sides (as shown in picture below)  is one of my favourite restorative yoga postures.  I find the benefits can change from day to day depending on how my body is travelling and where I’m needing to let go and release.

Some days I have my legs straight out in front, other days crossed or souls of feet together.

Here’s a few of the benefits I’ve personally experienced.

* Gently stretches the diaphragm creating the space for  a much deeper inhale. A tight tense diaphragm will restrict your breath and of course oxygen intake along with tensing the brain.

* Gives space to organs so they can receive a healthier blood and oxygen flow.  When slouching the front of the body sinks inwards, squishing the liver, stomach and other organs,  restricting blood flow and effecting your organs efficiency.

* Helps in the letting go of anxiety or stress being held in the front of the body.  Opening the chest and heart helps uplift your mood, let go of what’s weighing heavy on our shoulders and generally feel more open and spacious.

*  Supports your digestion.  Lifting and raising the stomach area stimulates the digestive system.

*  Opens your heart chakra stimulating more joyful feelings.  When we round our shoulders we also tend to protect our hearts and perhaps unintentionally suppress or hold in feelings that weigh heavy on our heart.  Opening the heart chakra encourages us to breath into the front of the body – release what needs to be released.

* Helps dissolve tiredness and fatigue. When the body surrenders to the weight of the bolster and the breath moves more deeply into the body – exhaustion and tensions start to dissolve. Remember to breath in spaciousness on the inhale and release and let go on the exhale.

* Releases tension in your shoulders and neck. A gently opening happens as the arms fall off the sides of the bolster helping to release tightness in the upper part of the body.  The longer you stay in this posture the more spaciousness is created.

Deepen your experience to the above pose by adding more props:

To encourage your body to release and let go even more deeply (using the above posture as a starting point) you could easily add:

* yoga eye pillow

* Blanket under your head if your neck felt too open or extended.  It’s important that the chin is always slightly lower than the forehead so as not to stimulate the thinking.

* Blankets under each hand and wrist – necessary if your wrists are lifting off the ground.

* Rolled blankets/cushions under each thigh if the stretch on the hips is too strong.

* If you shoulders or upper chest hurts in anyway you could easily use a few single folded blankets instead of a bolster so you don’t have as much height.  Alternately place blankets or cushions under your arms giving them height until the strain or pressure is relieved from your shoulders.

* Most importantly always listen to your body.  It knows.

You might also like to read:

* A quiet mind – another great use for your yoga bolster

* Being still for 15 minutes a day can change your life – the importance of resting and digesting your day

* Rest is not a weakness it’s essential – crocodile pose – one of my favourites for calming a restless body

Hope you enjoyed this post and please know, you are welcome to email me anytime for a chat or to ask a question.  I’ll do my best to help.

My email is healthylivinglounge@gmail.com

Peace, love and chocolate, Carole

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On my bedside table:

Judith Lasater has been teaching restorative yoga for over 20 years.  Her book is a great place to start learning oreven fine tune your Restorative Yoga postures.  It covers postures for headaches, menopause, stress, back pain, pregnancy and more.  I so love this book-  Relax and Renew: Restful Yoga for Stressful Times.

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Subscribe via email or rss feed and receive Carole’s weekly posts

You can also grab Carole’s daily rejuvenation tip by clicking here

Or Click here to zoom back over to Rejuvenation’s Lounge front page

_________________________________

I Quit Sugar Cookbook:

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

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“Don’t worry, plan or over think.  Trust there is divine timing for everything. I trust”

Trust is a one word mantra that works miracles.  Trust pushes the negativity and noise out of your head.

I happen to believe (passionately) repeating “I trust” encourages us to let go of  the doubt, excess worry, need to control, push, force, shove or cling overly tightly to specific outcomes.

Trust is a healing word.  Helping us feel safe again.

Willingly carrying away our worries as it soothes our nervous system.

Trust (when repeated often) therapeutically offers a new way of flowing through life gently hinting that we don’t need to know all the answers right now.  And perhaps – just perhaps – all the over thinking and forcing in the world isn’t going to move things along any faster. Trust the process and divine timing.

“I trust” is a kind nurturing mantra.  Gently nudging us to let go of the story and trust in an energy greater than ourselves.  Helping us welcome and sit patiently with the awkwardness of the unknown, gradually persuading us to sink into a feeling of being more content with what is – or is not happening.   Above all else it’s trusting in the rhythms and cycles of nature, life and the universe.

Notice how your body willingly responds when repeating “I trust” over and over again.  It’s really quite magical.

For me, my shoulders start to release and drop, inhale naturally relaxes and deepens as I exhale with a releasing sigh!  I begin to feel a little different.

My body starts to surrender releasing clenching and tension. The mind gradually lets go.

The pressure I placed on myself has been released. I’m now viewing life from a more balanced place.

“I trust” has been a remarkably loyal friend for many years now.  I’m sure I repeat it often to myself each day without even knowing.  It has an ability to bring a slowness to how I’m feeling on the inside.   And, that my friends is a beautiful feeling.

It doesn’t mean I become passive about situations.  I’m still in motion.  However my motion is more relaxed and flowing – not harsh agitated and forceful.  There’s a difference.

Trust Manifesto:

I’ve been collecting and creating for many years affirmations and statements on the word ‘trust”.   Thought you might be curious as to some of my favourites so I’ve shared them below.

Fingers crossed that one or more resonates with you and offers the perfect inspiration or at the very least a moment of comfort. Enjoy beautiful friends as life is all about sharing.

1. Give yourself permission to trust. Know its safe to trust.

2. TRUST you don’t need to know all the answers  right now.

3.  Trust. You can breathe deeply into any worrying thought or situation. Soon things will start to dissolve and shift with the spaciousness you give it.

4.  Trust in the 3 taps theory.  If you’ve heard or read about something or someone three times, then trust the universe is trying to get your attention.

5. Your ability to profoundly relax is in direction proportion to TRUST DEEPLY in your unique flow in life.

6. Don’t worry, plan or over think. Trust there is divine timing for everything.  Simply hold the space in the palm of your hands in complete knowing.

7. Words, silent or spoken have an energy flowing through them.  Your words create and therefore matter.  Repeating the word “I trust” will trigger a positive chain reaction.

8. If you are pushing or forcing a situation perhaps you are unintentionally blocking support from the universe. Trust.

9. Trust. Stop forcing things to go your way.  It interrupts the flow of a magical life.

10.  When nothing is working.  Do nothing.  It creates the space for flow to happen again.  Trust.

11. Just for today stop, step back, let go of the re-hashing and over analzying of stuff.   Breath space into your thoughts. Trust everything will be OK.

12. Welcome the unknown. Simply Trust.

Peace, love and chocolate, Carole

Email me anytime:  healthylivinglounge(at)gmail.com

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On my bedside table:

Yep, I’m a huge passionate lover of the healing, therapeutic magic of Restorative Yoga.  Judith Lasater is my teacher and her book is a great place to learn some life changing Restorative Yoga postures. Highly recommend –  Relax and Renew: Restful Yoga for Stressful Times by Judith Lasater.

___________________

Subscribe via email or rss feed and receive Carole’s weekly posts

You can also grab Carole’s daily rejuvenation tip by clicking here

Or Click here to zoom back over to Rejuvenation’s Lounge front page

_________________________________

I Quit Sugar Cookbook:

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

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“A quiet mind helps strengthen the immune, digestive and nervous systems whilst being open to insight and wisdom” Carole Fogarty

This is my gift to you.

I have seriously fallen deeply madly in love with a delicious Restorative Yoga posture. It never fails to fill me with oodles of calm gentleness and a quiet mind – even if I’m feeling  scattered or overwhelmed from living excessively in my head.

Sacred Cave is my “go to” place when life is verging on super crazy busy.   It allows me to let go ….. and just be ….. for as long as it takes to feel more settled on the inside.  Sacred cave is the deserving name I’ve given this awesome relaxing restorative yoga posture.

I discovered this restorative yoga posture only recently at a 4 day intensive with my restorative yoga teacher Judith Lassater from California. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect for me.

Please, please do try it.  I promise you won’t be disappointed.

It’s effortless in essence – pure simplicity – yet communicates deeply to your whole body, mind and soul. I can not begin to explain how profoundly therapeutic and blissed out I feel even after only 5 minutes.

Besides, if it can relax my 14 year old son (pictured left) then it can relax anyone.

Calming qualities of the sacred cave:

Read the following slowly and really feel into the energy of the words.

All words have been intentionally chosen.

As you welcome the deeper wisdom of the words your body will intuitively receive the therapeutic benefits of this posture even more profoundly.

* The delicate tilting forward of the head encourages the mind to let go and surrender. Bowing in honour of  your body.

* The soft acupressure on your forehead, gently moves the skin downwards (towards your nose) triggering your parasympathetic nervous system. The relaxation response is triggered.

* With your head feeling absolutely safe and supported (by the yoga bolster) you  begin to notice a release from your facial muscles, tongue, jaw, neck and shoulders with each passive exhale. The letting go has begun.

*  Next is a softening of your upper back as you allow it to round slightly as the relaxation process gracefully deepens. You now breath calmly into your back. The other half of your respiratory system.

*  The relaxation felt in your neck and shoulders now flows down into your arms, through your palms reaching the tips of your fingers.  Your hands and wrists can finally deeply rest.

* Your awareness gradually shifts to your belly.  You allow it surrender, un-clench and flop. There’s no need to hold on anymore. It’s safe to sink – even more deeply into your body. Your belly feels relieved. It can now receive your inhales more fully.

Rest comfortably:

Look at the picture above and do whatever you need to do to get comfortable and feel supported 100% by the bolster.  There will be a magical balancing point where the head rests on the bolster without any worry of the bolster giving way. Place a blanket under your bottom if you need too.  If that’s too uncomfortable then perhaps you’d prefer to sit on another bolster or a few cushions.

You might also prefer to have your legs straight out in front of you instead of crossed.  The choice is yours.  You may have to wiggle around a little until you’ve found a comfortable resting position.

When you feel comfortable cover yourself with a blanket.

Create the cave feeling – giving darkness to quieten your senses and nourish your nervous system.

Personally, I feel the weight and softness of the blanket is crucial as it greatly deepens the relaxation experience.  It’s a bit like Goldie locks and the three bears.  Not too heavy and not too light.  Just the right weight to feel nurtured.

Most times I rest my hands in my lap, sometimes I feel drawn to hold them in prayer pose over my heart, a hand mudra or other times rest them on the floor.  Do what feels right for you on the day.

With your body now comfortable you can drift off to your happy place, rest is silence, listen to the Flower Duet (I’m listening to it now as I write), repeat a mantra or simply follow your breath.

Stay until you feel a sense of relief.

Alternate  if you don’t have yoga bolster:

It’s easy.  You can get exactly the same effect with a chair and a few cushions or blankets.

Place 2, 3, 4 or more cushions on top of a chair so you can comfortably rest your forehead on the cushions without any neck or shoulder strain.  Your body position should look much the same as if you had a yoga bolster for your forehead to rest on.

It’s that simple.

Enjoy.

In case you were wondering I buy my yoga bolsters from Yoga King as I live in Australia. They are organic cotton and filled with kapok.

If you don’t live in Australia I’m sure if you google yoga bolsters lots of options will come up in your area . If in doubt about quality best to ask your local yoga studio.

Peace, love and chocolate, Carole

Email me anytime:  healthylivinglounge@gmail.com

____________________

What I’m reading at the moment:

As the Chinese say the breath is one thousand times more important than medicine.  Improving the quality of your breathing can hugely improve the quality of your health and life. I personally think this is one of the best books on breathing and why I re-read it often. The Breathing Book by Donna Fahrini

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Subscribe via email or rss feed and receive Carole’s weekly posts

You can also grab Carole’s daily rejuvenation tip by clicking here

Or Click here to zoom back over to Rejuvenation’s Lounge front page

_________________________________

Retreats with Carole – Italy and Bali.

Relaxing restorative yoga. Therapeutic breathing.  Simple meditation.

Join Carole in Bali or Italy for a week of profound deep rest.  Using the gentle support from blankets, yoga bolsters, blocks and eye pillows restorative yoga gently encourages the body to let go, release and sink deeply into a state of blissful deep, deep rest.

Whilst being in this deeply restful state you effortlessly release tensions, strengthen your immune system, deeply nourish your nervous system, calm the mind and improve digestive and organ function.

Click here to read more about Carole’s Rest and Rejuvenation Retreats.

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“It only takes a second to shift your gaze from tight and hard to soft and relaxed”  Carole

I’ve recently returned from facilitating another Rejuvenation Retreat in Ubud, Bali.  And yet again, I’m filled with new learnings, appreciations and understandings about myself, nature and the world we live in.

The divine energy of Ubud never fails to wrap its arms around me with softness, gentleness and a penetrating depth of nurturing that is difficult to explain.  It is something you profoundly feel on the inside.

Time is irrelevant, worries dissolve, excessive talking becomes unnecessary and before too long you slip into a state of being.

Being with myself.

Being with my meal and the tastes filling my mouth.

Being amazed at the insect crawling across my  leg.

Being in silence with a friend.

Simple being in expanded awareness (disconnected from thoughts) and in awe and appreciation of the beauty surrounding me in all directions – rice fields – statues – divine door ways – perfect flowers and nature.

Soon the body relaxes the mind lets go and gradually I notice where I’ve been holding on in my body.  The big aha! moment this trip was the tightness and tension being held in my eye balls.  And of course I realize with tight hard stressed eye balls comes forehead tension, agitated thinking and a tightening of the tongue and jaw (for me).

So, if your eyes have been working overtime like mine you may appreciate the simple relaxing effect on your whole body when you soften your eyes and surrender any sharp concentrated stressed focus.

Shift to a soft eye gaze:

Place gentle awareness on your eye balls, (close them if that feels better) and breath a relaxing breath into your eyes.  Feel them gradually release and let go with each inhale.

Notice how almost instantly your shoulders start to drop, the tension in your temples and forehead begins to un-clench and a softer feeling flows over your whole face.  It’s really quite magical.

Open eyed meditation (soft eyes):

I found myself often drifting off into a soft open eyed meditation many times this trip.  The photo above is a view I meditated on with soft eyes for around 15 minutes.  There was no purpose.  Only soft eye gazing and connecting more intimately with the gentle activity and energy in the rice fields.

Know there is a deeply soothing and incredibly profound healing  effect on your nervous system when you gaze without a purpose into nature.  Trees – flowers – clouds – grass.  Ah! the serenity of it all.

Here’s to soft peaceful eyes for each and everyone of you. Amen!

Peace, love and chocolate, Carole

Please know you know you can email me anytime.  Happy to have a chat:  healthylivinglounge(at)gmail.com

____________________

What I’m reading at the moment:

As the Chinese say the breath is one thousand times more important than medicine.  Improving the quality of your breathing can hugely improve the quality of your health and life. I personally think this is one of the best books on breathing and why I re-read it often. The Breathing Book by Donna Fahrini

___________________

Subscribe via email or rss feed and receive Carole’s weekly posts

You can also grab Carole’s daily rejuvenation tip by clicking here

Or Click here to zoom back over to Rejuvenation’s Lounge front page

_________________________________

Retreats with Carole:

Relaxing restorative yoga.  Therapeutic breathing.  Simple meditation.

Join Carole in Bali or Italy for a week of profound deep rest.  Using the gentle support from blankets, yoga bolsters, blocks and eye pillows restorative yoga gently encourages the body to let go, release and sink deeply into a state of blissful deep, deep rest.

Whilst being in this deeply restful state you effortlessly release tensions, strengthen your immune system, deeply nourish your nervous system, calm the mind and improve digestive and organ function.

Click here to read more about Carole’s Rest and Rejuvenation Retreats.

___________________

“Don’t worry plan or over think. Trust there is divine timing for everything.  Simply hold the space in your open palms with complete knowing”

Your hands tell a story.  Clenched and closed hands are a sign of stress and tension in the body and mind. It may also suggest a problem with letting go, moving on and trusting in the unique flow of your life.  Relax your hands, open your palms and release the tight hold you have on “over controlling or forcing” life’s outcomes.

There is something wonderfully humbling when I open my hands out in front of me, palms facing up.  It instantly puts me in a different mind space.  I let go. I feel more relaxed.  I get a sense that everything will be OK. And, above all else feel profoundly connected to something greater than myself.

Opening my hands energetically and symbolically has beautiful consequences.

It physically shows my willingness to surrender any internal urgencies I have.

At the same time energetically encouraging me to release the need to push/control/manipulate life’s little outcomes.

Open palms in front of me brings me back to my heart (getting me out of my head) reminding me that” forcing life” simply blocks support from the universe.

So with that in mind here’s my simple two minute hand relaxation ritual come meditation that I happen to believe has the potential to change your life.  It has mine.

It’s part of my current morning practice along with sprinklings of it throughout my day.  Quite simply it takes me to a place where I can let go and trust in the flow of my life.  Now that has to be a great thing.

Fingers crossed you get the same sense of release and satisfaction with it as I do.  Let me know what you think.

Open palm relaxation ritual:

“Your ability to profoundly relax is in direct proportion to trusting deeply the unique flow of your life”.

1: Open your hands in front of you, palms facing up. Relax them.  Notice the effect this has on the rest of your body. Other parts of you start un-clenching as you release your grip on life. Your jaw un-clenches, shoulders drop, stomach relaxes and buttocks un-clench.

2: Welcome the unknown.  Invite new inspiration, new beginnings, new understanding and new adventures into the palms of your open, spacious, relaxed  hands.

3: Intimately feel the pulsating energy that now swirls in ever increasing circles in the palms of your hands.

4: Sense you are connecting to something greater than yourself.  A feeling of being supported.

5: The more open and spacious your hands the more open and spacious your thoughts, body and life becomes.  Your hands have created the space for support and inspiration to flow your way. You are now connected to the pulse, rythum and heart beat of the universe.

Trusting it brings a little pocket of peace into your day as it often does for me.

Peace, love and chocolate, Carole Fogarty

Email me anytime:  healthylivinglounge(at)gmail.com

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What I’m reading at the moment:

I first read You Can Create An Exceptional Life
about a year ago and recently had the urge to read it again.

It never ceases to amaze me when you read a book for a second time how much extra wisdom you pick up.  Louise Hay is awesome.

___________________

Subscribe via email or rss feed and receive Carole’s weekly posts

You can also grab Carole’s daily rejuvenation tip by clicking here

Or Click here to zoom back over to Rejuvenation’s Lounge front page

_________________________________

Retreats with Carole:

Join Carole in Bali or Italy for a week of very therapeutic Restorative Yoga, mindful breathing and simple meditation.

Restorative yoga is the perfect antidote for busy, stressed, exhausted, depleted or feeling disconnected from yourself.

Using the gentle support from blankets, yoga bolsters, blocks and eye pillows restorative yoga profoundly encourages the body to let go, release and sink deeply into a state of blissful deep, deep rest. True healing, connection and rejuvenation can now begin.

Whilst being in this deeply restful state you effortlessly release tensions, strengthen your immune system, deeply nourish your nervous system, calm the mind and improve digestive and organ function.

You can Click here to read more about Carole’s Rest and Rejuvenation Retreats.

___________________

“I’m here noticing.  The little things.  The steam as I sip my chai tea.  I’m feel more whole and full. It’s a beautiful thing!” Me, myself and I

I came across a word that in its written and spoken form looks unassuming and quite frankly plain.  Yet surprisingly, when I think or speak it with care, a whole new expanded awareness appears right before my very eyes.  It encourages me to pause.  Coaxes me to linger longer. To see the unseen.  Feel the subtle energies surrounding me. The word my friends is notice. It has the distinct feeling of being a complete sentence in itself. Notice.

It doesn’t tell you what to notice but without a doubt when you start focusing on it you do start noticing more.  You can’t help but slow down and pay closer attention. Quite effortlessly you start noticing things/sensations/connections which you normally may have otherwise missed.

The word notice recently grabbed the attention of my intuitive self when reading an article by Jesse Jacobs from the Samovar Tea Lounge. I felt an instant connection.

As the days passed I kept thinking of the word notice and came to appreciate that simply by holding this word in my thoughts my awareness expanded naturally. I automatically became more mindful and felt a deeper connection to myself and life. It’s a beautiful thing.

So now I’m sharing it with you.  Trusting that if it resonated with me it may well speak to you. Fingers crossed.  Below are a few ideas I’ve tossed around that you may care to notice more.

Notice the little things:

1.  Notice the steam wafting from your tea. It’s seductive and meditative.

2. Notice the breath of your children or partner. Rather than seeing them – notice the beat of their heart or sound of their breath.

3.  Notice if you keep thinking of a friend you haven’t seen for a while. Ring them.

4.  Notice the emotion you are cooking into your food. I happen to believe there’s more to the look, smell and nutrional value of a meal. Our meals also hold emotions.  A meal cooked with love without doubt tastes divinely better. So next time you are cooking a meal – notice your emotions.

5.  Notice the colour of your clothes. Notice with a slowness as you choose your clothes – are the colours you are reaching for, energetically what your body is needing today.

6. Notice how you move. I do this often.  Am I walking or sitting with comfort and ease?  Am I rushing my body carelessly, restricting my breath or am I mindfully breathing into my belly, willing to accept the here and now?

7.  Notice the next animal you see. Animals can be subtle messengers on your life’s journey.  Notice the butterfly, crow or owl and connect with the message they are sending you.

8. Notice the chatter inside your head. If you notice your thoughts you can change them – if you need too.

9.  Notice how you hold your body. Is your body open, relaxed and spacious or tight, closed and blocked.  I’ve said a million times before – lose the frown, part the lips, release the jaw and drop your shoulders.  Notice your body more often.

10.  Notice if you keep hearing about a book. There’s a good chance you need to read that book.

11.  Notice those feelings. Intuition is a powerful and very helpful force that arises usually in the pit of the stomach.  Take time to notice what your intuitive self is trying to tell you.

12.  Notice what’s around you. Notice what you are seeing, feeling and sensing – in this moment – right here and now – can be the most amazing gift of all.

13.  Notice the feather on the footpath: I learnt many years ago from a North American Indian Grandfather that when you find a feather on the foot path in front of you, it’s a sign you are on the right track.  Notice feathers.

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What I’m loving at the moment:

The Miracle of Mindfulness oozes gentleness.  When you hold it you feel gentle when you read it you feel gentle. Lots of lovely simple examples on how to be more mindful in the everyday doingness of life.

The Miracle of Mindfulness: - An introduction to the Practice of Meditation by Thich Nhat Hanh

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Love it if you subscribed via email or rss feed for my weekly posts

You can also grab your daily rejuvenation tip by clicking here

Or zip back over to Rejuvenation Lounge’s home page by clicking here

_________________________________

Rest and Rejuvenation Retreats, Bali:

It’s all about the practice of intentional rest, gentle yoga, mindful breathing, hand mudra’s, daily body treatments and meditation for a calmer, healthier and happier you.

Please click here for all the relaxing details.  Retreat dates for 2013 are now listed

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