“Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves–slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. Live the actual moment. Only this moment is life.” Thich Nhat Hanh “The best way to capture moments is to pay attention. This is how we cultivate mindfulness. Mindfulness means being awake. It means knowing what you are doing.” Jon Kabat-Zinn “The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a…
It’s all about the love this time of the year. Whether it’s for your partner, pet, best friend, or just yourself, it always feels good to sink in to that lovin’ feeling. There’s an amazing meditation that is a great way to tap into that open heart space. It’s called Metta Bhavana, and it translates to “loving kindness”. There are a couple of stages, but the great thing is that you can do it anywhere! Stage 1 : For Yourself….
Go for a tech-free walk. Spend some time in nature without any technology on your body. See how it feels to go even just 15 minutes without a phone to reach for! Enjoy daily tasks. Be aware when you’re doing things like brushing your teeth, making dinner, putting on the wash. Let yourself experience the task, rather than just hurrying to finish it. Have a long chat with a friend. Spend some time with someone and be present. Be a…
Try out this breathing technique that can help you to relax and reduce stress and anxiety. You can do it anywhere, anytime. This technique can not only ease the mind and body, but it may even re-energise your system, helping you to feel refreshed and enlivened. It’s called the 4-7-8 breath. Sit, stand, or even lay on your back and maintain an upright spine. Close your mouth and breathe in through your nose for the count of 4. Hold your…
Release expectation. One of the best things about yoga is that there are no goals. I know, this might sound like a crazy concept, but it’s true! There is actually no need to ever have a goal in your yoga practice. You can, if you find it beneficial, but the whole point of yoga is to be aware. Being aware can happen at any level, on any day, during any kind of practice. Being aware and being compassionate with yourself,…
”Yoga is the perfect opportunity to be curious about who you are.” ~ Jason Crandell “Yoga takes you into the present moment, the only place where life exists.” ~ Unknown ”Be at least as interested in what goes on inside you as what happens outside. If you get the inside right, the outside will fall into place.” ~ Eckhart Tolle “Yoga is not just repetition of a few postures — it is more about the exploration and discovery of the…
1 – Be Kind. In the yogic tradition, being kind (a.k.a. ahimsa) is the first of the cardinal virtues. Being kind is something that we often think we understand, but it can be easily missed in practice. For instance, being kind isn’t just about being nice to other people. It’s about being nice to ourselves. How often do we give ourselves a much harder time than we’d give others? This year, make a point to be loving and understanding in…
During this time of the year, I often have students asking me how they can keep up a practice over the holidays. Some might find it hard to get the motivation, while others might not have the time. Whatever your plans are for the holidays, there are a few helpful things to remember when keeping up your yoga. You don’t have to prepare. Sometimes “planning” for your own yoga practice means setting a space, getting a mat, putting on the…
Whether the end of the year for you means planning and preparing for celebrations, or if it’s simply a time to wind things down, it’s always good to check your to-do list and see where you can add mindful practices. Be present. If a lot of your energy is focused on purchasing presents, take time to Be Present too. Reach out. Whichever way you spend your winter months, it’s always a good time at the turning of the year to…
We hear the word “mindfulness” all the time these days. For some people it’s a daily practice, and for others it’s on the to-do list. Here are a few beginner’s tips to remember when it comes to mindfulness: Start small. Sometimes all it takes to be mindful is to direct your attention from something big towards something small. The next time you’re consuming information, whether it be from a screen, or a tv, or anything else that feeds information to…
