How often do we think about what we are grateful for, how often do we forget to say thanks to those we love for just being there or helping us in times of need, how often do we really show our gratitude to the people who we deal with everyday as we go about our daily business
At the moment I am overflowing with gratitude for the exceptional care that my mother has received since her fall on Sunday. All the NHS staff from the paramedic who was first on the scene, the ambulance officers, surgeons, doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and all the hospital ancillary staff have treated and cared for my mother with compassion and kindness and for that I send them all my heartfelt thanks.I am also grateful for the support and well wishes I have received from family and friends, for without them this journey would be just that little bit harder. It is only when something like a accident or an incident in your life that change your circumstances in a instant, that you are reminded about the things that we take for granted like being in good health, being able to put one foot in front of another, to be able to move freely pain free, I think it is very important to take time to give thanks for all your blessings, be thankful for your health, be thankful for your yoga practice that keeps your body and mind strong. So when you next step onto your yoga mat take a moment before you begin to truly appreciate the myriad of benefits that yoga brings to your life. Thank you everyone for being part of my life, for coming to my yoga classes, for reading my blog and for sharing your ideas and comments. I miss you all and hope to see you all again soon when my mum is up and mobile and ready to fly home. Miles of smiles Naomi
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8/13/2015 0 Comments Colour my dayHow is everyone getting along with the Flow and Glow Sun salutation, we are 12 days into the challenge and for those of you that have been practicing daily I am sure you are reaping the benefits.
As I move through my daily yoga practice I feel a real need to find calmness and a letting go of what is happening to me right now, Sun salutation, breath awareness, meditation and visualisation have been excellent in assisting me too cope with the changed circumstances that I now find myself in. My and my Mum's blissful and happy holiday plans have taken a tumble, literally Sadly my mum had the misfortune to slip and fall fracturing her left hip so she is now spending her holiday in a hospital bed under the care of the NHS sporting a brand new hip, I am spending my holiday organising her travel insurance, finding a care home for her rehabilitation, talking to airlines and changing flights, talking to doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and importantly spending time visiting my mum and making sure she is ok. I feel blessed that I have my yoga to fall back on, it has enabled to handle this whole situation in a calm and ordered manner. This mornings practice began looking out the window to see a cloud filled sky, that was dark and grey, I completed my daily salutes along with a few other asanas and I came to relaxation and savasana, and for some reason I felt a need to bring colour into my entire being, and I began to visualise all the colours of the rainbow. This resulted in a beautiful body awareness practice using the breath and visualisation. I have called this practice "Colour my day" Begin lying in savasana Bring your awareness to your natural breath, letting it be whatever it needs to be No force no strain, just you and your breath flowing as one with ease Relax with every in breath Release with every out breath Now become aware of your whole left side of your body Now with every in and out breath visualise the cooling colours of green and blue Filling the entire left side of your body Continue breathing these cool and calming colours Relax with every in breath release with every out breath After a few minutes bring your awareness to the whole right side of your body Now with every in and out breath visualise the warming colours red, orange and yellow Filling the entire right side of your body Continue breathing these heating and energising colours Relax with every in breath release with every out breath Now bring your awareness to your left side inhale cool and calming colours Now exhale warm and energising colours down the right side Now inhale healing violet up the centre of your body And exhale once more as you visualise a white light flowing all around your entire body Repeat inhaling warm colours up the right side of your body Exhale cooling colours down the left side of the body Inhale healing violet up the centre of the body And let go with a flowing white light all around your body Continue this for several more rounds Then visualise all the colours of the rainbow filling your entire body as you relax with every in breath and release with every out breath. Stay for as long as you wish, and the let the colours of the rainbow bring happiness, healing and clarity to your day. I believe that maybe rainbows appear too alert us that there is calm after the storm, reminding us that all is well again. Remember everyone wants happiness, nobody wants pain, but you can't have a rainbow without a little rain. Have a go at the practicing "Colour my Day" and leave a comment Miles of smiles Naomi 8/6/2015 1 Comment Greeting the rising sunSPhinxes at chiswick houseThis morning I am blessed to be gazing over the Thames river, watching the tidal flow gently meander back to its source, there is a pink hue in the sky as the sun announces the start to another new day, and I greet the sun with several rounds of Surya Namaskara (sun salutation)
Yesterday I spent a glorious afternoon strolling around the gardens and grounds of Chiswick house, amongst it's ancient woodlands, secret pathways, dazzling blooms and sweeping vistas I came across three sphinxes and I was instantly taken in by their commanding presence. There seemed to be a veil of stillness and silence which surrounded them and a protective energy that flowed from their uplifting hearts. You just don't expect to find such a wonderful thing in the heart of a busy city. Did you know the Sphinx in Gaza is aligned with rising sun each morning, and Egyptian rulers worshipped it as an aspect of the sun god calling it Hor-em-Aket meaning "Horus of the horizon" For those of you joining me in the Flow and Glow Sun Salutation challenge you may wish to swap cobra pose for Sphinx pose and open your uplifted hearts towards the rising sun as you welcome another new day. Miles of smiles Naomi 8/4/2015 0 Comments Saluting to peaceDay two of the Flow and glow Sun salutation challenge and I am flying across the world to see family and friends who I have not seen in a long while. My salutes today are dedicated to sending peace, serenity and kindness to myself, loved ones and the world.
After 11 hours of flying from Perth to Dubai and enduring the hustle and bustle of weaving in and out of travellers trying to find their way to their connecting flights, I definitely needed a dose of me time away from the crowds, so off I went to search for a quiet space to practice my daily sun salutations. I was blessed to stumble across this stunning water feature a spinning world globe and it reminded me I was in a airport surrounded by people from every corner of the world, different cultures, religions and beliefs all in one space at one time I thought it would be nice to include the mantra Om shanti shanti shanti, silently chanting this mantra at the completion of each round sending a message of peace and well wishes for safe travels to everyone. Om shanti is an invocation of peace, it can be used as a parting salutation as a way of sending one off with well wishes of peace i.e. may peace go with you. Om shanti shanti shanti can also be chanted to oneself as it is generally interpreted as finding threefold peace, peace in body, speech and mind i.e. peace in the entirety of ones being. Chanting a mantra as you flow gracefully through your sun salutations can develop a deeper awareness and connection with oneself and the universe. Miles of smiles and Om shanti to you all Naomi 8/3/2015 0 Comments Two trees standing tallAugust has arrived and for those who have taken up the Flow and Glow Sun salutation today is day one. Together we will flow together in the aim to complete 108 rounds over the next 4 weeks.
There is nothing more refreshing and invigorating than doing your salutes in the great outdoors. I was enjoying a walk with a dear friend around Lake Gwelup when we came across Two Trees standing tall, it was a perfect place to do a few rounds, I dedicated my practice to honouring and saluting friends, loved ones and Mother Nature and it inspired this the verse below. TWO TREES STANDING TALL Two trees standing tall I salute friends and loved ones Branches entwined Your love flows within Under your branches I salute love and light Afternoon rays dappled and soft Dancing with my flow As I stand upon your roots I salute growth and nourishment A bed of leaves soft under foot Flowing energy rising skyward I look beyond your canopy I salute the air we share I see a endless vast sky Prana flowing free I am refreshed and alive I salute the happiness Friends Loved ones Mother Nature Bring to my life By Naomi 1/8/2015 It is always nice to take a moment before you begin your salutes to think about who or what you are saluting it makes your practice just that little bit more special. Love to hear your comments and see your sun salutation selfies Miles of smiles Naomi |