Staying positive

Many of us hoped that the dawn of a new year would bring about change and maybe life would begin to slowly return to normal but it seems we all need to be patient for a little longer. It can be quite a challenge when the path ahead doesn’t seem clear and you feel like you have been patient forever. So we thought we’d share some of the things, aside from yoga of course, that have kept us positive, patient, strong and resilient. 

Walking in nature, the wilder the better, has helped to keep us grounded and calm. Absorbing the colours and sounds and observing the beauty that surrounds us. The best walks are when the phone is left at home and we can switch off for a while and immerse in the peace and silence. Satish Kumar’s book  ‘No Destination’ is an inspiring read on walking for walking.

We have loved harnessing our creativity with Julia Cameron’s book ‘The Artists Way’. It takes you on a journey to create and enjoy creating naturally and freely. We particularly enjoy the morning pages, a great tool to clear the mind and off load mental blocks and baggage. First thing in the morning fill two pages of your notebook with whatever flows from your pen. Great for lighting the fire with later and never to be re-read.

Meditation is a powerful tool to clear the mind and we have found that a regular practice can really help to alleviate stress and anxiety. The Sam Harris ‘Waking Up’ app is great if you are new to meditation and really encourages a regular practice. Many teachers are also offering online meditation. Dory Walker’s guided meditation class at 8pm each Thursday evening is a wonderful wind-down to aid a restful nights sleep.

More conscious breathing. Breath is vital and we can connect to it to lift our mood, calm the nervous system, focus the mind, sleep well. The benefits are endless. Make a daily ritual for connecting to your breath. We like to head outside barefoot first thing, feel the earth under our feet and breath. 

Cooking is a great way to nourish body and soul. We are enjoying creating some delicious dishes from ‘Fresh India’ by Meera Shodha and ‘Eat Green’ by Melissa Hemsley. Quiet times can also be a great opportunity for a cleanse. Our favourites are the juice cleanses from Purearth. 

Finding time to read is always rewarding. The escapism of a great novel as well as more time to deepen studies. Here are three books we have really enjoyed and would highly recommend. ‘The Famished Road’ by Ben Okri, ‘Braiding Sweetgrass’ by Robin Wall Kimmerer and ‘Entangled Life’ by Merlin Sheldrake.

Making plans. For us it feels important to keep positive and moving forward. To have things to look forward to, even if the plans change. We have earmarked a few retreats on our calendar and can’t wait to be gathering and sharing with others again, as soon as it is safe to do so.

Categorised in: Asana, Featured, Food & recipes, Health & wellness, Holidays & retreats, Meditation, Relaxation, Uncategorised, Well-being, Yoga