According to the Law of Attraction and other spiritual philosophies appreciation (or love) is your natural state of being and who you really are in your deepest essence. In a state of appreciation you recognise and feel your oneness with all of life, and see its perfection and beauty.

Not only is appreciation the highest feeling emotion but appreciation also exerts a tangible, measurable impact on the outside environment. When you choose to appreciate, solutions and opportunities open to you. It is like looking at a particular scene from one level and then going up in a lift and viewing it again, and it appears entirely different. In a state of appreciation you also elicit improved reactions from the people and the world around you.

Another great benefit of practising appreciation is that you become aware of the good you already have in your life. With a consistent attitude of appreciation you will very quickly see more positive things flowing into your life and you will feel happier.

Life is full of opportunities to find things to appreciate if you are looking for them and focusing on them. It is extremely beneficial to practice appreciative thoughts about yourself, the people in your life, your home- and everything else in your experience. It is important to note that your true power lies in becoming one who practices appreciative thoughts about others, not one who looks to be given appreciative compliments.

To practice appreciation I recommend you keep a book or journal where you can write things that you appreciate. Before going to sleep every night try to spend 10-15 minutes writing down all of the good things that happened during your day, including things that you might consider big and little.  You can even look for the good in situations you may have considered ‘negative’: this will transform your experience of them.

What really makes a big difference with learning this new way of thinking is doing it regularly, ideally on a daily basis as you will get incrementally closer and closer to the essence of what you want and how you want to feel.

At the workshop ‘Living the Law of Attraction’ at Evolve on the 24^th March from 2.00pm – 5.00pm, Tracy Friend will be sharing simple and transformative processes including ‘appreciation’ which will assist you in enjoying your life more and in deliberately creating the life you want.

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• yoga london

Although yoga has been used for therapeutic purposes for thousands of years, it is only in the last few years that Yoga Therapy has emerged as a practice in itself.  A greater number of health care workers are beginning to use yoga techniques in their treatments and more people than ever before are considering trying it to heal various ailments, or as a complimentary therapy to other treatment they are receiving for persisting chronic conditions.

 Some of the common ailments that Yoga Therapy can assist in healing are:

•  Digestive problems such as constipation or IBS.
• Hormone-related conditions like diabetes, obesity and thyroid issues.
• Mind and emotional concerns e.g anxiety, stress, insomnia and depression.
• Women’s health issues such as PMS, infertility, menopause and heavy periods.
• Respiratory problems including sinusitis, bronchitis and asthma.
• Muscle, bone and joint pains- arthritis, back pain, fatigue, sciatica and fibromyalgia etc.

Rather than following one style of yoga, Yoga Therapy often takes inspiration from all branches and the sessions are individually tailored on a one-to-one basis as we are all different in terms of health concerns and healing.  After an initial consultation to assess the focus of your problem, your Yoga Therapist will cater for your specific health problems and you will be taught a bespoke regime of postures, breathing exercises, meditation and relaxation techniques dependent on the therapist’s observations of your needs during an hour or 90 minute session.

Yoga helps the healing process with its unique integration of the body and mind, with the addition of the spiritual element.  In focusing on both physical and psychological levels, the practice of Yoga Therapy can help those facing health challenges manage their conditions and reduce any symptoms; but also restore balance, vitality and improve attitude.  This method of positive thinking has long been known to aid healing.

The great thing about this method of healing is that no prior knowledge of yoga is required- your highly qualified and experienced yoga therapist will guide and support you for as long as you need and enable you to self-practice at home.  You can come back for as many follow up sessions as you like which will allow the therapist to see how you are progressing and make any necessary changes to your regime.  The knowledge you will learn will be invaluable for the rest of your life!

To gain a deeper insight into the Yoga Therapy sessions run by the Evolve Wellness Centre and learn more about the specialist Yoga Therapists, check out the following link:

http://evolvewellnesscentre.com/yoga/specialised-classes/yoga-therapy

Or call 020 7581 4090 for more information.

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Getting adequate and restful sleep is key to our wellbeing and helps the body rejuvenate following periods of mental or physical duress. It has been previously found that chronic sleep loss, may contribute to health problems such as weight gain, high blood pressure, and an impaired immune system (Harvard Health Publications, 2006). It is key therefore, to find ways to help maintain healthy sleep and waking patterns to avoid putting the body under unnecessary stress.

Sleep disorders and sleep problems in adults are common complaint in modern society, stress levels and the demands of every day life are at times unavoidable, leaving the body unable to wind down t the end of the day. Without time to rejuvenate, we can end up in a vicious cycle of heightened stress levels and yet more sleepless nights.  Anxiety and over thinking can often accompany difficulty in sleeping and more often than not present as a dual condition in sleeping disorders. It could be argued that the emotional and functional aspects are separate issues but it is undeniable that continued lack of sleep, will eventually affect our emotional wellbeing.

Both Acupuncture and Tui Na massage can be great tools for helping relax the nervous system and improve sleep patterns. Both forms of treatment work to restore the flow of blood and oxygen to tight and tired muscles. They also assist the smooth function of internal organs, such as the digestive and respiratory system. Both these contribute to maintaining healthy sleeping patterns and play a key a part in the body’s response to stress levels.

 Problems Sleeping at Night?

In Chinese medicine, pulse and tongue diagnosis and the study of superficial meridians or channels of the body help to ascertain the root cause of a person’s mental or physical restlessness. This can vary a great deal from person to person and treatments are tailored to address each individual’s needs. A series of treatments of Acupuncture or Tui Na, or a combination of both, can assist the body to re-establish its natural circadian rhythm and help sooth an over stimulated nervous system.  The best time to receive treatment is ideally at the end of the day when the body is naturally starting to wind down and prepare for sleep.

If you are interested in having treatment for sleep disorders and or related stress or anxiety   please enquire through Evolve Wellness Centre or contact me direct on 07506 153 503.  www.lseacupuncture.co.uk

Further research:

There have been a number of research articles carried out to establish whether there is a link between Acupuncture and melatonin secretion. If you are interested in reading one please click on the link below:

http://psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleid=101847

Sleeping Tips and Techniques to Get More ZZZZs

Here are a couple of tips to help prepare the body for a good night’s sleep:

1)   Whilst lying down place your hand either side of your rib cage and breathe in deeply through your nose. Feel your ribs expand to their maximum. Pause for two seconds and allow the breath to release slowly through your nose expel the breath from your lungs completely. Pause again for a second and breathe in slow through your nose filling your lungs to capacity pause for two seconds and out again through your nose. Keep your hands placed either side of your rib cage throughout. Repeat the inward and outward breath sequence as described five times.

2)   Then place your thumb between your eyebrows and stroke with medium pressure very slowly up to your hairline. Repeat this action from brow to hairline five times. Continue again with the breathing sequence and then the brow strokes. Do both these cycles at least five times.

Sweet dreamzzzzzzzzzZZ!

References:
Havard Health Education http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/importance_of_sleep_and_health (sourced online: 6.2.12).

Warren Spence, D. Kayumov.L, Chen. A,  Lowe. A, Jain.U, Katzman. M. A, Shen.J, Perelman.B, Shapiro.C.M, (2004). Acupuncture Increases Nocturnal Melatonin Secretion and Reduces Insomnia and Anxiety: A Preliminary Report. The Journal of Neuropsychiatry Neurosciences 16:19–28

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It’s well-known that yoga has numerous health benefits and is often recommended for physical ailments such as back pain, but it’s interesting to delve into the use of the ancient technique to improve mental well-being and provide a healthy outlook on life.

Recent research in the United States found that three sessions of gentle yoga a week can help combat depressionas it boosts levels of a chemical in the brain which is essential for a relaxed mind.  In 2010, scientists at the Boston University School of Medicine found that the levels of the amino acid GABA are significantly higher in people that carry out yoga than those who do the equivalent of a similarly strenuous exercise, for example walking.  This chemical is essential for the function of brain and central nervous system and promotes a state of calm within the body.

Low levels of GABA are associated with various anxiety disorders, and depression.  This would suggest then that there is more to the way in which yoga makes us feel happy and relaxed than simply releasing endorphins as other exercise does.In this blog post, we will look specifically into yoga as an effective and enjoyable method of stress relief.

Stress is a common occurrence in today’s society; factors such as the recent credit crunch and job market on top of raising a family, relationships, studies etc. can take a toll on all of us.  Our bodies and minds are not designed to handle long periods of stress- which can manifest itself in hypertension, insomnia, skin problems, asthma, ulcers, and as previously mentioned; anxiety and depression.

Yoga provides good results for stress management

-It physically releases stress tension by the stretching and twisting into different postures (referred to as ‘Asanas’ in yoga) and unwinding knots in the back and neck muscles etc. which may be causing the body to feel tight.

-The physical exercise releases endorphins, natural hormones in the body which create a feeling of well-being.

-Yoga breathing techniques (known as ‘Pranayamas’) make a person take deeper breaths which fill the bloodstream with more oxygen and control blood pressure, but also being aware of your control over breathing is a very effective tool in combating stress.

-Pranayamas and Asanas, together the ‘language of the body’ help us get to know our innermost being, and control over ourselves through learning to control our body.  Practising yoga will help realise there is an inter-connection between mind, body and spirit which in turn helps to maintain balance in daily life.

-Yoga clears the mind: Our minds are constantly racing from one thought to another and tiring themselves out in the process!  The concentration used in yoga for Asanas and Pranayamas gives the brain a well-deserved break, and puts all other worries and thoughts to the side.

-Yogic philosophy also plays an important role in achieving a more optimistic outlook.  Regular practising of yoga can change the way in which a person views the world and their attitude towards achieving goals and success rather than failure.  Asanas and Pranayamas impart positive thinking.

-Ending each yoga session relaxing with the ‘savasana’ or corpse pose might feel like an enforced relaxation at first but eventually becomes a total release for both body and mind, transitioning you back into the world refreshed and ready to go!

A few key yoga postures, or asanas, for relieving stress are ‘savasana’ (corpse pose) as mentioned above, ‘balasana’ (child’s pose), ‘makarasana’ (crocodile pose) and ‘vrikshasana’ (tree pose).  Take a breather next time you feel stressed out and see how much of a difference yoga makes to your mood!

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We are constantly being bombarded by news articles on how hard it is to get pregnant the older we get, and unfortunately there is some truth in this, however we can actually do a lot ourselves to improve our chances of conception by simply adjusting some lifestyle habits and cutting certain things out of our diet/life.

I meet couples all the time who are looking for help because they are desperate to fall pregnant and they often say they wish they had thought about preparing their bodies sooner, if only they had known that they could do something about it themselves.

I find time and time again that stress is the number one block to falling pregnant. So if you have been under prolonged stress your body will automatically divert its energy to those organs of the body which are needed to cope with the stress and unfortunately your reproductive organs will move to the bottom of your body’s priority list making your chances of conception fall to an all time low.

Herbert Benson, MD, identified the reverse of the body’s stress response, which he called the ‘relaxation response’¹.  He found that undertaking relaxation techniques can bring about many beneficial changes in the body including a lower heart rate, slower breathing, reduced muscle tension and positive changes in brain waves. Homeopathy recognises that in order to effectively treat fertility issues, it is important to treat any underlying emotional stresses.  So when I am working with couples to help them conceive naturally I work with them to manage their stress and adjust their life to maximise their chances of falling pregnant naturally.

So if you are looking to try for a baby next week, next month, next year or even in five years time then my workshop is for you.  You will leave with a greater understanding of how to optimize your chances of falling pregnant.  I’ll give you all the tools you need to balance your hormones and most importantly understand your most fertile times of the month. We will do a quiz so that you can see the areas that ‘YOU’ most need to focus on.  We’ll also look at dietary advice, simple lifestlyle adjustments, the best supplements on the market as well as natural remedies.  So if you’re feeling frustrated that you are finding something difficult that others seem to find so easy don’t worry as I’ll give you some simple strategies that you can start putting into place straight away so you’ll fall pregnant when you want to before you know it!

To book a place on my workshop on Monday 13^th February at 6.30pm please call The Evolve Wellness centre on 0207 581 4090 (£10 per place subject to availability)

¹Benson, H., 1975. The Relaxation Response. New York: Morrow.

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Recent statistics show that the average adult uses around nine personal care products a day (this figure will greatly increase if you wear makeup), items that we take for granted such as the shower gel or our nightly moisturiser.  According to the same research, this means that we are taking in a daily dose of approximately 126 chemicals by their absorption in our skin, or even eating them in the case of lipsticks!  Shocking statistics for those of us who like to take care of ourselves.

Although EU laws are in place to regulate the industry, some types of product do not have to list all of their component ingredients and some argue that the levels of toxic chemicals in them are too low to cause harm.  So are you aware of the harmful Chemicals in Cosmetics? But how are we to know if they will affect us in the future?  It falls on us then as the consumer to be more wary of what we are choosing by reading the labels on our products to ensure they are the safest choice for ourselves and our families.  Listed below are some commonly used chemicals in cosmetics and their possible effects:

SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCES: Most skincare products and cosmetics contain these although they may only be listed as ‘fragrance’.  They can cause headaches, rashes, skin irritations or even depression and anxiety if they contain hydrocarbons like styrene, phenol and formaldehyde.

SODIUM LAURYL/LAURETH SULFATE (SLS):  This substance holds water and oil together causing cleansing products and soaps to foam.  It has been known to cause skin irritations and even corneal damage to eyes, but perhaps more worrying is that it can produce carcinogens (cancer-causing) when mixed with other chemicals in the body.  Look out for this one in shampoos, toothpastes, bubble baths etc.

METHYL, PROPYL, BUTYL AND ETHYL PARABENS:  These preservatives are used to extend the shelf life of most beauty products, but have been known to cause allergic reactions and more seriously they can be carcinogenic.  Commonly found in makeup, hair products and shaving foam etc.

OXYBENZONE/OCTYL METHOXYCINNAMATE:  These chemical sunscreens found in moisturisers and sun lotions have been shown to disrupt endocrine (hormone related) activity.  Choose products with titanium dioxide or zinc dioxide as safer alternatives.

PETROLATUM:  Often used in lip balms as it is cheap, this substance prevents skin from taking in oxygen and releasing toxins.  Aggravates acne in some people.

TALC (MAGNESIUM SILICATE):  This mineral absorbs moisture so it is regularly used in makeup and body powder.   Previously linked to ovarian and lung cancer,  talc can cause pneumonia and vomiting and is non-biodegradable.

DEA/MEA/TEA:  Linked strongly to liver and kidney cancer, these chemicals are found in shampoos and cleansers etc.

One last point to bear in mind, not all products branded as ‘natural’ are what they claim to be!A number of chemically adapted ingredients are still deemed natural in some beauty products, just because they haven’t been made in a laboratory.  Be your own judge- go for products with ingredients you understand such as extracts of flowers and herbs, minerals, natural oils etc.      Products with Ecocert, Soil Association or Organic Food Federation logos are a good sign as they contain a high percentage of organic ingredients.

If you are feeling overwhelmed at the thought of changing your whole beauty routine or worrying about cost, don’t be!  Perhaps change one product that seems reasonable to replace and over time you will begin to choose others carefully when required.  The market for natural products is growing fast so you can shop around for what suits you.  Try products from Barefoot Botanicals, Weleda and Dr Hauschka, all readily available on the high street!

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If you’re reading this post, the chances are that you are familiar with yoga, or keen to try it for the first time.  For the latter, don’t be nervous if the word ‘yoga’ conjures up images in your mind of long-limbed individuals bending in all sorts of positions!  The good thing about this ancient practice is that it’s suitable for most people due to it being a non-strenuous, but highly effective form of exercise.

The best way to describe yoga is a practice that connects the body, breathing and the mind to energise the whole person.  Although no one knows exactly how long ago it first began, stone carvings depicting figures in yoga positions have been found in Indus Valley archaeological sites dating back over 5000 years.  It is thought that yoga then went over to the United States as early as the 1800s, being brought over by a Swami and then passed down from teacher to student over generations.  It remained relatively unknown until the swinging 1960s when American youth culture was strongly influenced by eastern traditions.

Since then, as more and more people have become aware of the countless benefits that yoga provides, it is even recommended by doctors to treat certain conditions and for stress management.   There are numerous types of yoga, the most popular ones you may have heard of being Hatha, Ashtanga, Bikram and Kundalini.

So why take up yoga?  Well the benefits are so extensive with physical, mental and spiritual effects on the body I don’t know where to begin!  Here are my top 10 reasons for welcoming yoga into your life…

1- Relief of aches and pains

Regular yoga exercise has been proven to reduce types of back and muscle pain, and by increasing your flexibility, strength and improving your posture, you can also prevent it in the future.

2- Builds up body strength

You may think that yoga is simply for relaxing and stretching, but as it uses all of the body’s muscles from head to toe, it will in turn support your skeletal system.  You will notice this in positions like the Tree Pose, where you will learn to support the weight of your body in new ways.

3- Weight loss

Certain types of yoga, for example Power Yoga, can have a cardio effect which encourages fat burning.  In addition, yoga can aid digestion and lower cortisol levels in the body reducing food cravings.  Actress Naomi Watts praises yoga for helping to lose her weight after pregnancy, and many celebrities such as Desperate Housewives beauty Eva Longoria and singer Jennifer Lopez rave that it helps maintain their Hollywood figures.

4- De-stress!

In yoga you will be introduced to meditation and breathing techniques which will help you to disengage from your thoughts and calm the mind.

5-Improves flexibility

When you first begin, don’t worry if you are not even able to touch your toes!  As you progress, yoga poses will enable you to lengthen the muscles and ligaments of your body

6- Immune booster

Through relaxation, the nervous system of the body can tell the immune system to calm down or be stimulated depending on the situation.  Why not see if you can fight off that winter cold?

7- Lowers blood pressure

Studies show that yoga reduces blood pressure, (hypertension) by bringing down the heart rate and eliminating stress which is also a factor.

 8- Improved memory and concentration

Yoga improves the blood circulation to the brain meaning that it will function better, and meditation will also increase your mind’s focus.

9- Sleep better!

The breathing and meditation techniques that you will learn in yoga help to de-clutter the mind, especially useful if your insomnia is stress-related.  The gentle physical exercise that yoga provides will also aid your night’s sleep.

10- Overall sense of peace!

This covers every aspect of yoga, mind, body and spirit; and is something you will no doubt feel when you begin your yoga journey.

Here at Evolve Wellness our philosophy to health is as follows:

Great Health and Well Being = Yoga + Meditation + Stress Relief + Good Nutrition

So now you know the reasons why the art of yoga continues to gain popularity, why not start the New Year off with a healthy body and mind and give it a try?

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• Yoga in London : Discover Your Personal Journey to Inner and Outer Transformation

Your Yoga Journey and It\’s Benefits

By Nicole Miller, evolve wellness centre

Looking back, I would never have imagined that I would one day teach yoga. Despite external appearances, I often feel quite the opposite of the tranquil, compassionate and knowing individual one would expect a yoga teacher to be. Despite the irony, I suppose I have come to believe that life is a series of situations put in place to facilitate growth towards our own unique higher purpose. While the process of transformation that life has lay out for us can feel like endless frustration, disappointment and misery, if we choose to let go with its dynamic flow, the glimmers of Truth, accomplishment and inner peace are priceless in comparison.

My greatest wisdom has come from what we might call mundane life itself. Therefore I would like to share my experiences upon my journey which have led me to where I am today.

From an early age it was evident that I had an inherent love and connection to movement, which was nourished and encouraged by my families own passion for the arts. I was also fortunate to travel, and move all around the world, experiencing the diversity of many distant lands in the east as well as the west before the age of nine.

While the opportunities for learning were great, my sense of home was never truly established. As I changed schools, and continuously tried to develop new friendships I became increasingly aware of my inability to ‘fit in’.

Despite this inner conflict, I had the discipline of ballet to turn to. Alongside my natural ability and enjoyment of dance, was a hidden desire to cohere to something. Ballet’s strict ideals gave me a sense of stability and structure, like a set of instructions on how to be.

The problem I soon faced with this ‘instruction manual’, was that my parts where different to what I perceived to be necessary to create the final masterpiece. To amend my apparent shortcomings, my life took shape as an external performance. On and off stage I painstakingly tried to emulate strength, poise, and grace on the outside, while feeling empty, alone and worthless on the inside. While I desperately needed inner reflection and nourishment, I continued to look to gain wholeness and happiness from something outside of myself.

Setting foot in my first yoga class with the intention to build my endurance, strength, flexibility, and lean outer appearance, I immediately fell in love with the physical asana practice. Slowly but surely, my practice evolved as my highly strung competitive nature; dead set on performing every pose to its ultimate extreme, started to soften to the various affirmations and invited intentions my teachers offered. Without realising it, yoga became a sanctuary of peace, away from my hectic life of precision, and demanded excellence. Yoga took me as I was, unconditionally, and so I too developed an interest in knowing ‘it’.

What started off as a journal of quotes grew into my journey through recommended books, workshops and alternative yoga practices. By studying the various philosophies which perfumed my daily life off of the mat, the perceptions I had of my created reality shifted.

The passion I once had for ballet had become futile. I had disconnected from the qualities of freeness and exuberance that dance originally offered. While I observed many of my young dance students enthralled by the joy of moving, I also watched many beautiful girls disparage themselves as they became tangled in the quest of illusive perfection.

My part-time job as a personal trainer which I originally chose to take me out of the dance world bubble was simply an exchanged physical discipline with the same shortcomings. I wanted to support myself and others on the path to overall health and happiness, which I now recognised was far beyond physical fitness, performance or a six-pack.

My personal metamorphosis called for a radical change. Within a year new circumstances were set in motion. With my life packed in two over-weight suitcases and one carry-on, I left my old life behind with a one way ticket to London, followed by a months’ stay in India at the Sivananda ashram in Uttarkashi.

When I had decided to study yoga in India I had the naive belief that after living as a yogi in an ashram for one month, surely all of my questions would be answered, all of my problems would have solutions and I would know exactly what to do with the rest of my life. I was of course terribly disappointed when arriving back from my retreat to find I had accumulated even more questions and uncertainties! I was an un-enlightened yoga teacher, in a foreign country! Who would possibly want to learn from me?

While I settled into a basic job to pay the bills, I was hesitant to start teaching. The yoga I had come to know and love in the States was very different from the traditional techniques I was instructed to follow in India. I battled between the knowledge I acquired, and had come to think of as ‘truth’, and what my heart had connected to in the beginnings of my practice. I searched out various teachers and yoga studios in the city for answers, looking for someone to tell me the ‘right’ way to teach. Despite being inspired by many wonderful teachers, none of their unique styles seemed to fit!

Through the trials and tribulations of my life long search to fit, to be right and to cohere, in the end it boiled down to my desire for Truth. I began to realise this Truth wasn’t to be found in scriptures, books or some saintly, enlightened person, but through direct personal experience.

My intention as a teacher is to be a supportive guide in the opening of every students growing curiosity to their own mysteries which lead to harmony in their daily lives.

I facilitate this internal exploration through techniques which develop one’s ability to inhabiting the body. By observing mental thoughts, emotions and physical sensations with poise and continuity throughout the asana practice, one begins to witness patterns of reactions. One’s yoga practice is a metaphor of one’s life. What comes up on the mat is a direct reflection of what happens off of the mat.

In my opinion, the deeper we move into our practice, the sharper our ability to witness alternative options in the way we go about living our lives. We come to see that everything we have ever hoped and dreamed for is within us, waiting to be revealed, if we develop enough faith and courage to let go of the old, despite the un-knowing of the new.
On a physical level, my classes are set to light music, to inspire ones sense of rhythm.  Each class slowly unfolds through a combination of simple yet focused movements to clear the build up of tension, and to gain stability from the core. Continuous concentration on the expansion of breath supports the development of breadth, length and most importantly an organic exploration of one’s unique mobility.

Once rooted in one’s centre, the class naturally evolves into a playful dance of various sequences which open opportunities to meet new or more challenging poses, as well as to promote presence from fluctuating moment to moment. Advanced asanas are intrinsically built up through class, giving each individual the option to find what level they choose to work at on any particular day.

I believe every yoga student is their own greatest teacher, and encourage practitioners of all levels to listen to their own natural rhythm, to let go of what the practice is ‘supposed’ to be, and begin to develop an awareness of what is right for them.

As a teacher, I believe the most important concept to portray about yoga is that it isn’t just a physical practice for ‘bendy people’, nor is it a pain free miracle cure, that magically takes away the ‘bad’ stuff in life, while increasing the ‘good’. Like alchemy, it is a catalyst of transformation. If we are brave enough to put all of ourselves into the practice, (Yes, that means observing what we perceive to be ‘good’, ‘bad’, and the downright ‘ugly’ aspects of our being), we begin to recognise all human qualities as gifts which offer us an abundance of life lessons and experiential wisdom. Furthermore, the expanded sense of compassion and openness we develop towards ourselves directly impacts how we receive and treat others.

In my opinion, yoga awakens the archetypal dancer within all of us, who spontaneously shifts, sways, spins and leaps between the polarities of life. Just as a dancer needs stability to contain flexibility, and fluid grace to counteract firm power, yoga teaches us that we need our weaknesses in order to bring rise to our strengths.

While yoga and Vipassana meditation continues to nourish my journey towards peace and selfless service, my interest in coming to know the ‘Self’ has brought me to the study of Integrative Transpersonal psychotherapy, where my perceptions of life and how I teach are progressively continuing to be reshaped and transformed.

Through sharing the little flickers of Truth I awaken to on my own journey of exploration, I hope to inspire all of my students to begin and continue upon their own path towards peace, harmony, compassionate love and ultimate liberation.

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Ayurveda

Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word meaning the ‘Science of Life’ with its roots in the ancient scriptures of the Vedas; this science is dates back to over 5000 years. True balance is only possible when we take a holistic approach to the individual and take into account the physical, mental, emotional and environmental factors and treat the root cause of any illness.

The key focus of Ayurveda is to assess and rebalance the doshas back in harmony with our natural constitution. Each person has a unique make-up of the tri-doshas (our bodily humours), Vata (ether + air), Pitta (fire + water) and Kapha (water + earth), which work together to maintain regular physical and mental functions, when in balance they sustain a healthy life. However when one or more dosha is imbalanced, caused by various factors such as weather change, unhealthy diet, inappropriate lifestyle and emotional disturbances it gives rise to various health conditions. This could be anything from disturbed sleep, allergies and irritable bowels to diabetes, arthritis and obesity.

Heard of the term ‘you are what you eat’? A fundamental concept in Ayurveda addresses what and how we ‘digest’. Agni is the fire within our body, primarily our digestive fire (jathara-agni). In a healthy state, agni allows for good digestion, assimilation, elimination, circulation, nourishment, healthy tissue formation, good complexion, strong immunity and intelligence. However, when agni is weak, toxic material (ama) starts to accumulate and lodges itself where there is a weakness in the body, again giving rise to various ailments.

Ayurvedic therapy starts with a full health assessment followed by customised detoxification and rejuvenation programmes using herbs, diet, exercise, yoga, massage, and meditative interventions to restore each persons dynamic state of balance.

Ayurvedic practitioner Geeta Vara brings to you the unique ability to translate the ancient Indian wisdom of the ayurveda into a modern Western context.
Geeta offers consultations and ayurvedic treatments focused on both preventative and curative wellness, placing importance on the link between health and the digestive system for improved immunity and energy levels. 

With over 15 years experience in Swedish massage and Western nutrition, she offers a holistic approach to her consultations as well as provide energy-based treatments rather than something purely mechanical.

For more information please visit: www.geetavara.co.uk

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Why the gong indeed. I suppose 2004/5 was a pivotal time.  A drummer/percussionist since my teens, I had also been involved in exploring electronic sound synthesis as far back as the mid-70s when the likes of the Mini Moog and ARP were still quite a novelty. By the turn of the millennium, I was happily ensconced in my studio making music entirely in the digital domain.

Then something quite interesting happened. Life changing, as it turned out. I was invited to spend some time in Sri Lanka, where some friends ran a yoga/meditation retreat deep in the jungle. What musical instrument could I take? With no electricity it was no place for modern electronics so I opted for a little wooden tongue drum, which makes a beautifully mellow sound when struck with small mallets.  I wasn’t practising yoga at that point but one of the yoga teachers there invited me to play in her class.  The little drum proved a real inspiration for the students as the rhythms reverberated through the through the wooden floor, helping them to remain centred and to better hold their postures as the practice unfolded.

And then there was the bird song. Awakening early in my jungle hut I was entranced by the dawn chorus  – an amazing natural cacophony of harmonic dissonance that I would later record and incorporate into my music compositions, blending electronics with Buddhist chant, shamanic poetry and other sounds of nature – waves breaking on the Brighton sea shore being a particular favourite.

Gong Healing

I made several trips to Sri Lanka during this period, culminating in an awe inspiring visit early in 2005 when, over the course of a few days, I played my tongue drum at dawn on the summit of the holy mountain of Sri Pada – and in the Japanese peace pagoda at the mountain’s foot for the head monk (who would each day RUN up the 2,240 metre peak to bless the pilgrims who’d trudged to the top).  Then in an audience with the chief of the Veddhas – the original inhabitants of Sri Lanka. And culminating in a truly humbling encounter with child survivors of the Boxing Day 2004 tsunami on the east coast of the island. Playing that little drum in front of more than hundred 3 to 14 year olds – most, if not all, had lost family members in that dreadful disaster – then have them all join in with anything at hand. And on the beach that had brought them so much anguish …

Gong Baths and Meditation

On my return to England I was in culture shock –  obese kids sitting outside the Churchill shopping centre in Brighton munching on their McDonald’s hamburgers is my abiding memory of that time. So, in pretty short order, I took up yoga, gave up smoking, changed my diet, and … bought my first gong. Soon after I found myself at Gaunts House, a retreat centre in Dorset, for Gong Camp, a gathering of sound healers and musicians, where I met my teacher to be Don Conreaux, the world’s foremost authority on the gong, and experienced my first gong bath. I was hooked!  Don was due to hold a ten day gong study retreat in England in the summer of 2006. It was cancelled for one reason or another and the next one was in November of that year in .. the Patagonian Andes. So I went. And that’s when my life really changed as I was gradually immersed in the mysteries of the gong. High in the mountains with 20 or so other devotees I began to explore this extraordinary instrument, in transformational use since the dawn of the Bronze Age more than 5,000 years ago.

In my next blog (is this a blog? I never really thought of myself as a blogger!) perhaps I’ll discuss the wonders of the all night gong puja, the best gong bath I ever experienced, and my adventures a while back in the Black Mountains in Wales, recording a gong concert CD for Don Conreaux using only battery power.

Gordon Coxon spent the early part of his musical career working with such luminaries as the mime artist Lindsay Kemp, the Velvet Underground’s John Cale and punk star Toyah Wilcox. He later ran an improvising electronic jazz combo, the Space Cadets, and, more recently, began composing and recording music incorporating the sounds of nature, notably birdsong, along with devotional material such as Shamanic poetry and Buddhist chant.

Gordon was drawn to the gong several years ago through a deepening involvement in yoga and meditation and it has since become his main sphere of interest. He studies with Grand Gong Master Don Conreaux – the world’s foremost authority on the gong – and offers gong baths regularly in group sessions and on a one-to-one basis in Brighton and London. He currently employs a beautiful 32 inch Paiste symphonic gong, a 28 inch Chinese wind gong, temple cymbals and chimes.

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