Thursday, June 04, 2009
My yoga teacher, Trish Brown, sent me a beautiful email today saying it was raining in Canberra. How wonderful would it be if we could channel our rain here in Coffs Harbour down south. There would be enough water for all with what has fallen out of the skies in the last few months!

In her email were seven tips for bringing calm into your life. How I love calmness and a sense of ease. Loving life is an art. And art sometimes requires techniques and tools. To be honest, I love Dru Yoga for all the great qualities it brings into my life.

Trish forwarded these tips from our yoga centre in Wales.

"Reading the papers the other day, it seemed to me that everyone is trying to make us feel stressed, panicky or very worried. Whether it’s about swine fever, the recession or just the weather, everything seems to be bad news…

So we thought we’d collect some of our best ideas to help you remain calm and collected no matter that the economy or anyone around you is doing!

1. Meditation is the best thing we’ve found for touching some inner peace. Just 5 minutes is all it takes – ideally when you first wake up. Just sit up in bed and focus on your calm, long breath coming in and out of the nose.

2. Get enough sleep! Most of us make do with too little rest, which can make us irritable and less immune to stress. Try going to bed earlier and getting up earlier, making sure that you get around 8 hours if possible. You’ll feel the benefits of being well-rested. 

3. Have a retreat. It doesn’t need to be on a desert island, even staying at home will do. Some people I know put up a tent in the garden and take time to be with nature. Others have a fast from the media, phones and computers for 24 hours and take more time for yoga and reflection. Others take more time to nourish their bodies with especially healthy foods, massages and pampering. You deserve a break – even if it is at home!

4. Watch a free video from the Dru Online studio team, giving solutions to the stress which the credit crunch might bring.

5. If you’re feeling stressed, then do more physical exercise. We particularly recommend a brisk walk, a powerful Dru Yoga sequence or Dru Dance. Get your heart racing in a healthy way and the stress will melt away.

6. Make lists. Before you go to bed, prioritize what you need to achieve the next day, and write it down. That way, your mind will be free from worrying about it while you’re trying to sleep. Then review your list the next morning, and create an action plan.

7. Count your blessings. It may sound clichéd, but by focusing on the things that are going right, we can keep a better sense of perspective. You can be grateful for your health, your family, your active mind, the beauty of winter …

Take care of yourself, and have a good week! With warm wishes from all at Dru!

www.dru.com.au

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Having just finished my last yoga retreat for the year reminds me of the importance of taking time out to nurture ourselves. Spending time in the beautiful grounds of the retreat centre was very uplifting and relaxing. I am coming up for a busy wedding season over the next few months.

Currently, the Coffs Harbour spring teases us with warm days making it perfect for outdoor weddings. I was chatting with a couple this morning who are getting married in the Botanic Garden - a beautiful spot by the waterfall but at present they don't yet have a back up venue. After discussing the challenges and stresses that can come from not having a wet weather venue they have decided to find out if they can hold the ceremony at the reception venue if its wet.

Make sure you create a plan for your wedding week so you can relax and enjoy whatever unfolds. Planning ahead is a must. Organise a wet weather alternative, plan fun things to do, ensure you have the whole day prior the wedding to relax and chill out with friends and family who are arriving and, most importantly, delegate as much as possible.