LEARN TO MEDITATE...

Meditation can be a super powerful experience and journey. It can also be quite challenging - sitting for long periods of time, trying to connect to your breath and stay in the present moment. But here we can explore only holding meditation for a few moments. Meditation doesn't have to be a long, 'hard' challenge. You can meditate throughout your day, whilst cooking, whilst walking the dog, whilst painting and decorating, whilst making a cup of tea (see below!) Learn to witness and explore these everyday 'tasks' and turn them into mini meditations simply by connecting to your breath. When we connect to our breath, we connect our body and our mind as union, which is yoga. And using our breath as a tool steers our mind away from the stories it constantly generates throughout the day whilst we are doing this 'mundane tasks' and allows us to be in the present moment. This is an experience. This is self care. This is love. This is being present.

ENJOY A CUP OF TEA...

Being British is what we do best. And that inlcudes tea!

It can be any of your favourite comfort drinks - mint tea, ginger and lemon infusion, classic British tea, or a luxury hot chocolate with all the whipped cream and mashmellows you can fit into you mug! Whatever your drink, take the time to enjoy and absorb the experience. Yes, drinking tea can and should be an experience. See the hot milk as you pour it into your mug. Watch the coco powder mix and swirl into the milk and change colour. Hear the sound of the whipping cream and textures it creates as it oozes out of the nozzle. See and smile watching the pillows of mashmellows nestle into the cream. Or, if it's tea, witness the tea leaves swirl around in the bag as the hot water pours over it. Notice the steam and the smell that is generated. Ask yourself - how does this make you feel? Was is your reaction to the tea without you even taking your first sip? Wrap your hands around the mug and feel the warmth. This is an experience. This is self care. This is love. This is being present.

GO FOR A RUN (OR WALK). . .

Allowing yourself time for yourself, without guilt can be hard. There are always a million-and-one-things-to-do. If you feel guilty taking a time out for meditation, then perhaps you find your meditation out on the open road whilst you're running? Next time you put on your favourite pair of running shoes, don't just run because you want to burn off the pizza and red wine you had the night before. Instead, shift focus, and run because it is your meditation. Run with the connection to your breath, the connection to the ground beneath your feet, the connection with the air brushing against your face or the smell in the air. It's all these little things that we surround our physical self with that brings us back into the present moment and brings us into our version of meditation. Or, if running isn't your thing, a nice long country walk. No phone in hand to distract you. Just you, in the open air, taking it all in, being in the present moment. This is an experience. This is self care. This is love. This is being present.

TIME TO JOURNAL

Have you every journaled? Or written a diary? I'll be honest with you, when I first started doing this in my yoga teacher training I thought it was a load of rubbish! I used to think 'I'm not the kinda girl who keeps a diary' or 'this journal malarky isn't for me'. . .but when I finished my teacher training I still continued to journal. Why? Because I found it a really theraputic way of closing my day. You can journal morning, noon, or night, or even all three. Some find it helpful in the morning to set them up for the day. But for me, I find it a calming way to close my day - reflecting on the day I just had, acknowledging at least 3 things I'm thankful for in my day, along with intention setting for myself and my loved ones. This is an experience. This is self care. This is love. This is being present.

ROLL OUT YOUR MAT. . .

And last but not least. . .roll out your mat!

As mentioned above, yoga is the union of mind and body. Yoga isn't just a form of exercise. Yes, it keeps you flexible and mobile, strong and fit. But so does a lot of other fitness activities. What sets yoga apart from everything else is that constant reminder from our teacher to connect to our breath and in turn, connect to our mind and our soul. It allows us to come out of our heads when on the mat - instead of planning our 6 year olds birthday party, or reflecting on the rude work email sent by a colleague, or the argument we had with our friend or sister. All of that drifts away when we are in union with our mind, body and soul. So this is your reminder to roll out your mat - if only for 20 minutes. After all, this is an experience. This is self care. This is love. This is being present.