breathwork

If you are feeling stressed or anxious, take a moment to try this.

Use the tip of your index finger to apply gentle but firm acupressure on YinTang, also known as “Acupunctures Chill Pill”, located between your eyebrows.

Close your eyes, and focus on making your breaths slow and deep whilst you maintain pressure on the point.

If you like visualisations, you can imagine white or golden light entering YinTang on the inbreath, and spreading through your body on the outbreath.

Aim for 10 breaths, although you might enjoy it so much you want to do it for longer!

You should feel calmer and more balanced afterwards.

The term astrology means knowledge of the stars. A skilled astrologer views the stars and planets as life forces that are experienced within each of us. We are not just influenced by hereditary factors and the environment, but also by the state of our solar system at the moment of birth.

The planets are regarded as basic life-forces, the tools we live by as well as the basis of our very substance. These planetary forces take on different forms, depending on their zodiacal position and on the way they relate to one another.

The aspects formed between the planets describe these relationships, the positions of the planets in relation to the place of birth tell us of their expression in the spheres of life depicted by the astrological houses.
By interpreting the roles of the planets and their qualities, the elements, signs and houses, astrology is able to present a complete and comprehensive picture of the person and their potential, based on the natal horoscope.

Just knowing your sun sign can give you a glimpse into your personality traits and how to use your strengths to your advantage.

Even though people have been helping control their body weight and boost their longevity by walking since the beginning of time, we first heard about intentionally walking to lose weight and fight off certain diseases around the 1990s.

Walking daily for health gained attention at this time when the Centers for Disease Control in partnership with the American College of Sports Medicine first recommended at least 30 minutes of “brisk walking” for all adults most days of the week. At the same time, the American Heart Association got on board with the “30 minutes of walking daily” message. The rest of the world followed suit.

Walking has since been considered the gold standard for meeting the guidelines of daily “moderate-intensity physical activity,” since it can be done by just about anyone, at any time, for no cost whatsoever.

6 Health Benefits of Walking

1. Helps You Maintain a Healthy Weight
2. Low-Impact and Easy on Joints
3. Good for Improving and Preserving Heart Health
4. Fights Depression And Improves Your Mood
5. Supports Bone Health Into Older Age
6. Can Be Done Anywhere and Doesn’t Require Equipment

So what are you waiting for? Slip on a comfy pair of shoes and get walking!

Whether you are looking for more peace or less stress in your life, meditation could be exactly what you need. For beginners, or people who are just learning about the amazing benefits meditation can provide for your mental clarity and well-being, however it can be frustrating at first.

When you first start meditating, you may experience a mix between waiting for something to happen and having your mind over flooded with thoughts; the practice of meditation can be a daunting task, and you may even feel overwhelmed by it at first –I know I have. That is why I have compiled this list of 20 tips to help get you in that perfect environment –inside and out –to begin to implement this sacred practice more regularly into your daily life.

1. Practice Makes Perfect, Make Time For Meditation Every Day

When you are first starting out, it is important to keep with it, you may not notice the benefits right away, but the more you practice the easier it will become to quiet the mind, and get into the state of relaxation and allow the clarity to come through. Even for just 5 minutes a day, this will guarantee you stay on track.

2. Start With The Breath

Begin every practice by breathing deeply, slowly inhaling and then exhaling and focusing solely on your breath.

3. Let Go Of Any & All Frustrations

It is completely natural and normal to feel frustrated while learning to meditate. Try not to hold onto these thoughts, and don’t try to stop them. Just let them float on by and go back to focusing on the breath.

4. Pick A Specific Room In Your House To Meditate

Try to pick a room in your house that is free from a lot of outside noise or distractions; preferably, pick a room with minimal electronics.

5. Set Up A Peaceful Space

Consider having dim or no lights and burning some candles. Burning a little bit of incense or diffusing some calming essential oils (such as lavender) can help your mind and body to feel relaxed and at ease.

6. Make Sure To Not Be Distracted

Let your family, friends or roommates know that you will be busy for the allotted amount of time and to not disrupt you, put your phone on silent.

7. Feel Your Body Parts

When you first begin, while focusing on the breath, consciously try to feel each body part, starting with your feet. Don’t actually physically touch the body parts just feel them. After you feel the feet, work your way up to the ankles, calves and so on. This is a great technique to put you in the zone.

8. Make The Commitment

Be committed to the practice. For the long haul, if you can’t find time to incorporate 5-10 minutes per day in your life for meditation, then you definitely have some big issues that need to be resolved.

9. Start Slowly

Begin by practicing meditation for just 5 minutes per day, you can even set a timer if you like, as you start to get the hang of it and feel more comfortable you can increase the time to as long as you feel you need to get into that deep relaxed state.

10. Read A Book On Meditation

To get even more tips for meditation, and to learn about some of the benefits and other simple tips grab a copy of my “I Just Can’t Meditate” eBook.

11. Check Out Some Guided Meditation CD’s Or Listen To Meditation Music

If you still have trouble clearing your mind sometimes, listening to a guided meditation CD can be excellent by giving you something to focus on and listen to so that the mind can just take in the instructions.

12. Practice Being “Present” Throughout The Day

During the day, while driving, working, eating lunch, cleaning or whatever, find a few moments of stillness in your day by quieting the mind and taking a few deep breaths.

13. Experiment With Different Positions

You can try the typical yogi, “lotus” position, sitting cross-legged with each foot on the opposite thigh, you can sit on a chair, with your palms facing up, you can lay down, whatever you like. As you get more comfortable, you will find a position that works best for you. When I first started, I loved to lay down, but I was finding the calmness I would feel would put me to sleep almost every time, soon I realised this position was too comfortable for me and it was better for me to sit up.

14. Experiment With Different Techniques

There are so many different ways to meditate, there are: breath techniques, guided meditations, transcendental meditation, binaural beats, rainforest sounds, etc. Experiment with what works best for you and what puts you into that state more effectively.

15. Let Go of Any & All Expectations

The benefits that you will receive from meditation will come in a variety of different ways. You may receive messages during your practice or even later in the day, you may have visions, you may have an out of body experience, or you may not. If all you get from meditation is 5 minutes a day of a clear head, than that is perfect in its own way and will be enough to relieve stress and bring peace into your life in a way that you may never thought was possible. Don’t get caught up with what others claim to have experienced, focus on yourself and remember you are doing this for yourself only. It is not a competition; remember there is no right or wrong way to meditate.

16. Consider Meditating In The Morning

Meditating in the morning can give you a clear head and set you up for a peaceful start to your day. It can help eliminate stress before it begins.

17. Use The Flicker Of A Candle As A focus Point

Staring at the flame of a candle can assist you with quieting the mind.

18. Set Your Intention Ahead Of Time

If you have a specific issue or decision you need to make and are having trouble finding the answer, set your intention for what you would like to receive during the meditation. Don’t expect to get a clear answer in the form of your own voice, but just pay attention to any feelings you may feel or signs that may possibly come afterwards. Sometimes the best way to solve a problem is to stop thinking about it and let the answer come to you.

19. Visualise Light Flowing Through Your Body

More specifically, if you feel that you have a specific chakra blocked, you can actually visualise white light coming from the sun and into your body, this can help to release the blockages. Intend to let go of any old emotional patterns, or vibrations and infuse yourself with the high vibration of the white light.

20. Have Gratitude For Your Practice

Even if you feel like you didn’t get much from the practice, don’t give up. Be grateful that you took the time to sit down and practice. The effects may not be obvious at first, but in time you will be glad you started.

It’s not often that we think about breathing. It happens automatically so we tend to take it for granted, and in an average day you can take between 17,000 and 23,000 breaths.

Most of us, almost all of the time, tend to take short, ineffective breaths, using only our upper chest. Trouble with this is that it doesn’t clear the excess carbon dioxide in our lungs and leaves us feeling tired. This type of breath is called chest breathing, as only your chest contracts and expands. This is the flight or fight breath and keeps your nervous system on edge.

Ideally, we should be having diaphragmatic breathing. This is where you take a full breath, so deep the diaphragm moves downwards, while your tummy moves out. This is the parasympathetic breath, when your body feels at rest.

So, is a quick and easy 10 minute sequence to regulate your breathing, which will help you calm down, realign and reset.

1. Even breaths

Sit comfortably. Either against a wall or on a chair. Relax your shoulders and neck. Take a yawn or two before you begin. Take a deep breath through your nose and a slow exhale through your nose. Do this a few times, focusing on slowing down your breath and listening to the sound it makes. Once you are settled, take a count of four breathing in, and a count of four breathing out. Do this for three minutes, which is about 30 rounds.

2. 1:2 ratio breath

As the breathing becomes more gentle, start to change the breath rate to inhaling for four, and exhaling for eight (both through your nose). Don’t rush this process. Go gently. If you find you are forcing or it feels too much, try breathing in for three and out for six. Try to find a count that allows you to stay calm but have a long exhale. Do this for two minutes, which is about 20 rounds.

3. 1:1:2

As you find yourself getting settled into a rhythm, begin this technique. Breathe in for four (all through the nose), hold your breath in for four and then exhale for eight. Again, if this feels too strong, in for three, hold for three, out for six. There should be no strain just a sense of focus on the breath. Do 20 rounds.

4. 1:1:1:1

Gently lie down, place a pillow underneath your knees and allow the body to spread out against the earth. Take your hands onto your belly so you can feel the movement of the diaphragm to ensure you are breathing diaphragmatic breaths. Allow the body to completely relax. For this exercise, breathe in for four, hold in for four, exhale for four, and hold the breath out for four. As before, if too strong, reduce the number but keep the breath even all the way through. Take 20 rounds just focusing on going gently and peacefully.

5. Take rest

Gradually allow your mind to drift and body to drop more, release the control of your breath. Allow the inhale and exhale to get softer and drift into savasana. Allowing yourself to simply let go.

These breathing exercises will not only give your energy a boost, but will also give you a wonderful sense of calm.