Finding Your Calm Space: Meditating on the Natural World
Meditating on the natural world around us is a wonderful way to settle and calm the mind. I like to sit in a quiet corner of my garden to meditate…
Finding Your Calm Space: Walking Outdoors
Walking outdoors is a simple and accessible way to find calm. Walking has been my lifeline during the Coronavirus lockdown. In the early weeks of fear and tension, I escaped…
Finding Your Calm Space: Chanting and Singing
Chanting and singing are natural human ways of regulating our emotions. Singing, breathing and building community all belong together. The loss of shared singing and chanting is one of the…
Finding Your Calm Space: Ocean Breathing
Ocean breathing is a beautiful way to feel calm and relaxed. The Sound of Waves on a Beach I love the sound of waves on a beach. The gentle breath…
Finding Your Calm Space: Alternate Nostril Breathing
Alternate nostril breathing is a calming and balancing practice. Breathing through one nostril at a time is something we do naturally without realising. Students often arrive at a Yoga class…
Finding Your Calm Space: Belly Breathing
Belly breathing is calming, relaxing and good for your health. In yesterday’s blog I talked about becoming aware of the breath without trying to change it. Today we will focus…
Finding Your Calm Space: Breath Awareness is a Superpower
Breath awareness is a superpower. Humans have an exceptionally subtle ability to control and think about our own breathing. This goes alongside our highly developed speech skills[i]. By focusing on…
Finding Your Calm Space: Cool Water and Calm
Cool water and calm are best friends. We are mostly made of water. Water constitutes around sixty per cent of our bodies[i]. We count aquatic mammals like seals and whales…
Finding Your Calm Space: Calming Essential Oils
Calming essential oils are powerful. The remarkable properties of lavender, frankincense and many other distilled plant oils can hugely impact your mood and wellbeing. One day I burned my hand…
Finding Your Calm Space: Turning Yourself Upside Down
Turning yourself upside down is surprisingly calming. Any mention of handstands or headstands at a Yoga class used to make my stomach clench with worry. Like most people, I generally…