11/27/2015 0 Comments stay calm this christmasThe festive season is just around the corner, its at this time of the year when things become a little hectic, gift shopping, parties and the general busyness of Christmas preparations can drain our energy leaving us feeling stressed, tired and anxious. Our Yoga and meditation practice often takes a back seat leading up to Christmas and the new year. Why not try spontaneous me time, when it all gets to much just stop, sit and spend 5 or 10 minutes to breathe, as you breathe silently repeat the mantra (inhale I am calm exhale I relax) or visualise a calm peaceful place, these techniques are simple and can be enough to calm and settle the nerves when things overwhelm you.
If you can find a few minutes on your yoga mat keep it quick and effective. Do the poses that make you feel vibrant yet calm. Take time to connect inward, this is important, as during busy times we often forget to listen our bodies, so ask yourself “how am I feeling?”. “What does my body need?”, “What do I need to do, or not do. It is very tempting to reach for a sugary treat or a caffeine shot when you're facing what seems like a mountain of work, but the stimulant's effect could cause you to feel even more overwhelmed. Switch it out for hot water with lemon juice, which is thought to have a detoxifying effect on the body. Finally, if you take the time to firstly be present with yourself then you can give the greatest gift of attention to your loved ones. Miles of smiles Naomi
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11/10/2015 1 Comment AcceptanceLast week I received a surprise parcel from a very special friend, inside I found these three happy yoginis, they are not your average yoginis they are a reminder that yoga can be enjoyed by anyone, size doesn't matter, age or how we look is unimportant, what does matter is that we honour and accept our unique self as we are in any chosen moment. When we step onto our yoga mat it is a time to let go of self crictism, judgemental and negative thoughts about body image and our capabilities. We can let our yoga practice become our personal journey of self discovery, accepting and acknowledging what is true in our bodies and practicing from that place of truth and trusting that yoga can improve and transform us. I invite you to read this article from the Wellness magazine http://www.wellbeing.com.au/article/Features/Yoga/Yoga-for-self-acceptance_1279 then when you next attend a yoga class or step onto your yoga mat, I invite you to let go of expectations, say goodbye to your inner critic and enjoy a practice that comes from the heart that is filled with self love, self worth and self acceptance.
Miles of Smiles Naomi |