January is probably the worst time to make resolutions. The winter months are all about conserving energy, rebuilding, taking things slow. We would do better taking our cues from nature here. You walk through a forest today and what do you see? Not much! All the trees and plants, creatures too, are hunkering down. Without this necessary recovery period, how would the woodland burst into spring?!
Whilst we should be taking it slow, it's hard not to be sucked into the 'new year, new you' marketing, and ultimately feel like a failure, when two weeks into the new year you haven't ticked all those boxes, and kept up with your to-do list which would have quite frankly, daunted an army.
This time of year, can make you prone to feelings of depression, lethargy and irritability. It is the time of year when we are most likely to suffer sleep issues, to overeat or eat poorly, and to isolate ourselves, finding it is too much effort to go out, meet people and socialise.
There are biological reasons why sometimes we feel low and lack energy during January, and understanding that feeling this way is a natural response to the season can help. Winter is a time to rebuild, recover and rest. Both your mind and body are set to help you do this.
Remember when we were all taking our daily one-hour lockdown walks? Didn't you always feel better for it? Okay, at the time it was the only thing we were allowed to do, which did make it more exciting, but there was good reason we were told to get outside and move... it is good for us!
Regular exercise reduces stress. It releases endorphins which give your body positive feelings of happiness. And the key is 'regular' and not 'intense'. A walk, gentle jog or yoga class is perfect.
Being cold makes you feel down. It is hard to concentrate or to stay positive when your body temperature drops.
Whilst fuel costs soar, you can stay warm with hot drinks and hot food. Wearing cosy warm clothes and shoes, and moving your body regularly will also help.
It is normal to crave hearty, carb-heavy foods at this time of year, but a balanced, healthy diet will boost your mood as well as giving you more energy.
Sugar crashes are unhealthy and cause tiredness. Make sure to balance your carbohydrates, such as pasta and potatoes, with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Healthy adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep per night, and new research suggests that humans may need more sleep during the dark winter months than they do during the summer. Reduce screen time in the evenings, have a hot drink before bed, or use lavender to aid a more peaceful rest.
Getting creative or learning a new skill is an ideal way to keep your mind active and ward off symptoms of depression in winter. It could be anything that takes your interest, the important thing is that you have something to look forward to and concentrate on.
Going out on a dark, wet and cold evening, isn't always appealing, but socialising is good for your mental health! Make an effort to keep in touch with people, and accept any invitations you get to social events, even if you only go for a little while. It'll do you good.
Start every day with a positive thought, and keep reminding yourself of it throughout the day too. Try to notice, and focus on the positive things taking place around you, no matter how small. Be grateful for a good night’s sleep, meeting your deadlines, or finding out your favourite TV show is back. Every time you have a moment of positivity, you draw your focus away from the negatives. Treasure the little and unexpected wins and celebrate all your achievements.
By: Tanja Williams
Creativity has a reputation that it needs be tied to something artistic. When we think of a creative person, we maybe imagine a painter, a sculptor or an author. Even in the dictionary, the official definition of the word creativity is: ‘the ability to produce original and unusual ideas, or to make something new or imaginative’.
However, creativity is so much more than this. Creativity enables us to solve problems more quickly, be more adaptable in changing situations, and it helps us develop as people.
Stressful situations, such as the current corona pandemic, can cause a mindset that doesn’t work well with creativity. So, how can we stay creative in difficult and uncertain times?
Writing
Documenting your thoughts, tasks and any other notes you have, will free up valuable space in your brain. Carrying a notebook with you can take the pressure of forgetting something away, because you can write down whatever you need to remember.
It certainly has helped me to stay creative over the last few months. Everything is consolidated in my notebook that I have with me all the time. It keeps my mind free and my anxiety at bay.
Learning
Studying a new subject or learning a new skill, will broaden your horizons and enable you to use different parts of your brain. You could learn a new language or teach yourself something crafty via YouTube. The possibilities are endless. Increasing our skill set also increases our confidence, which in turn can make us braver, and encourage us to step out of our comfort zone more often. This is the true birth-ground of creativity. Try it, it’ll be worth it.
Fresh air and going outside
Our brain needs oxygen to maintain a healthy function, to grow and to heal. A person that takes regular walks outside improves their brain function.
Usually it doesn’t do us any favours if we are mulling over things for too long. It closes us off from solutions that should come more naturally. A change of scenery can help us to get things into perspective and regain our creativity to get to the solution quicker.
Overall, being mindful, reflecting and documenting are fantastic way to start, and being creative, even in difficult and uncertain times. With the help of creativity we can face anything!
]]>By: Tanja Williams
The past few months have been pretty unique, don’t you think? The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted us all in one way or another.
It has been extremely uncertain, for some at times, even frightening, with an invisible danger that can’t be seen or heard hanging relentlessly over us. On the other hand it has provided us, across most of the world, with a moment of silence, an opportunity to rethink, review and reflect.
For most, it has taken some time to adjust. All our lives have changed from one day to the next and things that were an absolute given, all of a sudden became an impossibility. We couldn’t meet with friends, couldn’t do our jobs the way we always had, and we could not move around freely in the way we were used to. In other words, we had to change a great deal, in a very short space of time, and it really has been a mental challenge.
As that the world slowly opens up some restrictions, there will be new ways that we approach people, that we do exercise or study, amongst many other things. But how do we settle into the post-pandemic ‘new normal’?
These are our top 5 tips to stay content and ease into this new way of being, whatever that might look like:
Positive thinking
Sometimes (or frequently) easier said than done, but so rewarding. Don’t let negative thoughts define you or your actions. It has been a long struggle already, but please hang in there, it’ll be worth it! Try and take the positives out of the situation. Maybe make a list of whatever is better in your life since it has changed, back in the early part of this year, and you might realise that it hasn’t all been bad. I have on my list for example, little things such as I’m cooking a lot more with garlic now, which I absolutely love, and without disturbing too many people with an unpleasant smell! You might want to put on your list that your apartment has been decluttered, or that you have made friends with your neighbours, who you never knew before. Everything counts. Start your list today with a smile on your face and a steaming cup of coffee (or a chilled glass of wine) in front of you.
Mindfulness
We all know that feeling, that everything is just getting a bit too much. Please do not be afraid to close a door behind you for a moment and let the world turn a few minutes without you being present. Put on your favourite music, or sit in silence, whatever you need right in that moment. I love to put dancing music on full blast and just shake everything out of my body. It is incredibly therapeutic, especially if you know the lyrics and you sing along out of the top of your lungs. However, silence can be just what you need in this often loud and constantly available world. Don’t be scared to tell your loved ones that you need a minute with no disturbance. Take a break now and again, take a deep breath and find your way slowly back to the here and now.
Exercise
The value of regular exercise has been proven in countless studies, so I do not want to bore you with the obvious benefits for your health, both physically and mentally. During the strictest part of the lockdown, my running routes were the only time that I would spend in the fresh air, not having a garden and so not easily being able to just sit outside in the sun. Exercise also gives me the time to think about absolutely nothing, or come up with new ideas, it enables me to go through my day in my head and come up with something nice to cook for example. Just very small things, but that is exactly the point. Let your mind wander and let your body do the work for an hour a day. Over time your body will become stronger and your mind will become more relaxed. Men sana in corpore sano: A healthy mind lives in a healthy body.
Socialise
When we socialise we learn that we are not the only ones struggling with things. It is sometimes really important to listen to others to get an alternative and often healthy perspective on what’s concerning us. Friends are the family that we have chosen, and we tend to attract ‘our tribe’, one that we can learn from and share our thoughts and problems with. Socialising is such a good playground for your soul. Volunteering is also a great way to socialise, to do something useful, and give back to the community. Maybe you can find something that interests you, gives a little to someone else and enables you to make new friends along the way. Positive interaction like this, is like a massage for the soul.
Eat and drink well
There is a saying, ‘you are what you eat’ and it is so very true. When my mum asked me a few years back what she can change regarding her nourishment in order to lose a little weight, I only gave her three things to consider, and I think they will also take you a long way in the current circumstances:
I have a fortnightly fruit and veg box delivered and it’s great. It forces me to eat a certain amount of vegetables, but it also teaches me about local and seasonal produce. I find it really interesting. I’m now dreaming of a garden to grow my own fruit and veg.
The pandemic is far from over and we might have to keep adjusting, in one way or another, for an unpredictable amount of time. Please do not lose your positive spirit. Take it as an opportunity, and a way to grow…
And of course, take a break or exercise in some beautiful Buddha Pants. :)
]]>By: Molly Gould
Yoga is an amazing practice but with so many styles to choose from, it can be confusing to know which one to pick, especially if you’re a newbie.
The different styles of yoga vary in dynamics and intensity, so it’s a good idea to pick a practice based on your experience and fitness level. So, whether you know your asanas from your pranayama or you’re completely new to yoga, here’s a guide to a few of the different types of yoga so you can decide which style to try first.
Vinyasa
Vinyasa yoga is often fast-paced and each class will have a series of postures and poses that flow seamlessly from one to another. This style of yoga is great for building heat in the body and stretching into places that you didn’t know existed. The flow of the sequence is fun and exciting, and no two classes will be the same! It is recommend to take a Vinyasa class when you have a little experience in yoga, as the nature of the class means you move from one pose to the next quite quickly.
Hatha
Even though a lot of modern yoga styles could fall under the Hatha name, a typical Hatha yoga class will be slightly slower paced. You’ll focus on the alignment of the asanas (poses) and also incorporating the right kind of pranayama (breathing). A Hatha class would be great for beginners as it allows you the time to check in with your body and make any necessary adjustments to the poses you are in.
Yin
Yin is a slow and concentrated style of yoga. You could hold one pose for anything between one and five minutes. Beginners can by all means start with a yin practice and it is great if you’re looking for deep stretches and are wanting to discover different asanas and find out how they can help your practice grow.
Restorative
Think deep relaxation and slowing the pace right down. Restorative yoga is all about stretching into the body and over the course of an hour long practice, you may hardly move at all. It’s a totally different style from the others that made this list and if you want to feel into every part of the body and experience real nourishment in each asana, then this is the practice for you. If you struggle with mobility or want to calm the mind, turn to a restorative practice. It’s also a brilliant style to practice before you sleep or at the end of a busy week.
Those are four of the most popular yoga styles here in the UK. There’s so many amazing studios across the country and some great YouTube videos online too, if you fancy teaching yourself some asanas and flows. One last thing is to make sure you’re wearing comfortable and lightweight clothing when you practice to allow you to flow more freely and having a bottle of water to hand is a good idea too.
Namaste!
]]>It's a time of re-birth, so take a lesson from the world around us, and use Spring to launch a new version of you into the brightest and most productive time of the year!
Here are five ways you can make the most of Spring:
• Physically de-clutter
'Spring Clean' is a saying for a reason. It's the perfect time to clean out the old, to make way for the new. Consider parting with anything you haven't used or worn for the past 2 years. It's amazing how quickly your possessions accumulate and it's good practice to have a proper clear-out every year. Good condition items can go to the charity shops, but also check your local listings for donations that may be wanted at homeless centres, animal shelters etc. Most other items can be recycled, if not in your regular recycling, then at your local re-use and re-cycle centre
• Mentally and emotionally de-clutter
Let go of everything that is holding you back or weighing you down. Tackle these things one at a time, and if you can't walk away from something negative, try and decide on the most positive way of dealing with it. Make a step-by-step plan, and keep yourself committed to it. Knowing that you are making progress on these difficult to clear items, should really help
• Start a practice
Yoga, meditation or a daily walk can be enough to have a huge impact on your mental and physical health and wellbeing. It's time out from everything else, and time just for you. If this isn't your cup-of-tea, you could do worse than a chapter or two of a novel. Anything that is easy to implement and slows you down, grounding you for even just a few minutes a day, is time well spent
• Spend time outdoors
Lighter evening now the clocks have gone forward, invite more time outside. Take a walk around the park, watch the blossoms and leaves appearing, listen to the birds and watch nature come out of hibernation. If you don't have time to walk for walking's sake, then park further away from the office, walk with the kids to school, or get off the bus a few stops earlier. It's a great time to start working on your garden if you have one, it's great exercise as well as being very rewarding as you watch your efforts come to fruition. Maybe consider growing some fruit or veg, healthy, organic home grown produce cannot be beaten, and can encourage fussy eaters if your kids are that way inclined! If you don't have a garden, consider volunteering at a local project
• Take a trip
Get on the road, or make a plan to. Even a weekend away is worth doing at this time of year. Changing your physical surroundings can really help offer you space and clarity to focus on your mental and emotional wellbeing. Combining this with a catch up with family and/or friends, is sure to get your spring to a great start!
Whatever you decide to do, embrace this wonderful season!
]]>The Om Yoga Show ~ held at the beautiful Alexandra Palace in London ~ is Europe's largest yoga gathering. It offers three whole days of classes, workshops and lectures, as well as the best in yoga equipment, clothes, jewellery, nutrition, retreats and courses.
We shared a stand there for the weekend with Silverati Jewellery. In the main hall, right under the beautiful Rose Window was a wonderful place to be, in the middle of all the action. Here's what we got up to:
~ Free classes. There are hundreds of free classes across the weekend, most around half an hour in duration giving you the opportunity to try out lots of new things. I managed to squeeze in a quick flow class, but was really disappointed to miss Namasdre - Hip Hop Yoga! I love yoga for its calming, restorative qualities but I also have a passion for dance and embrace any opportunity to combine these things.
As we were on our stand most of the time, we didn't get to book in to any of the workshops, which come at an additional cost, but offer great value for a more in-depth class, with just a few participants. I'm definitely going to arrange cover so I can do some next time.
~ Ate! There is so much on offer, it's tough to know where to head when hunger strikes. There were the Big Juice guys keeping everyone fuelled-up, along with delicious Vegan and Vegetarian food in the adjacent MBS show. The in-house caterers at the venue were serving up good-quality coffee and breakfast/lunch items along with wood-fired pizza. And as if that wasn't enough, there were loads of stalls selling products with free samples to try. Our favourites were Conscious chocolate and Om Bar!
~ Met Goldie! Most people know Goldie as a Drum & Bass legend, but you might not know he is passionate about Yoga. He credits Yoga for creating a lot of positive changes in his life, and his brand Yogangster is his way of sharing his love of yoga around the world.
~ Shopped. This is the ideal place to stock up on everything for yoga, and some! We came away with lots of healthy snacks, as well as our favourite scented stones (Prince of Persia) from the beautiful Henna Den girls.
In addition to all this, tickets to the OM Yoga Show also provide entry into the Mind Body Soul Experience which takes place in the adjacent hall at the same time. Two shows for the price of one! The next Om Yoga Show takes place in Manchester 20-22 April 2018 and we'll be there, hope you will too.
I've been a huge fan of Buddha Pants for a while. Ever since I got my first pair at the Om Yoga Show in London in fact ~ they've hardly been off me since! When I came to add to my collection though, I was disappointed to find that my favourite pants were only available in the US. Postage costs can soon rack up if you buy regularly from abroad, plus of course, you've got to wait while they make their way across the Atlantic. And when you've treated yourself to something you are excited for, who wants to wait? So, what to do? Become the official UK distributor for my favourite harem pant brand of course!
So, why do I love these pants? Harem pants have always been a fun and funky way to stay comfy in style, but what makes Buddha Pants special? Well, they have pockets! Buddha Pants pack into their own pocket for wandering yogis and comfort-loving travellers. Pockets in harem pants are not common, yet so functional. When company founder Rachel Raab had the idea to combine the two, it just made sense!
Buddha Pants come in loads of fab prints as well as solid colours, have a relaxed roomy fit, and elastic cuffs and waistbands that allow for different styling. Dedicated to creating multi-functionality and comfort, Buddha Pants prove themselves as the “Pants that make you dance!”
And we are really excited to be bringing them to UK shores!
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