Eat Well

If you started the year with the intention to put yourself and your well being on your to-do list, then you are in the right place, especially if you are still feeling sluggish, overweight and tired from the Christmas and New Year excess. To help you get in the groove for a healthier happier 2012, we are kicking off the season with a series of posts looking at cleaning your insides by detoxing. In the previous post we looked at the seven benefits of going on a detox. Today, we look at three common mistakes you must avoid which can make or break your intentions to stick with your detox.

What Is A Detox?

As a child I remember my mother boiling up her home made version of senna pods and giving me and my brother spoonfuls of the concoction to drink every Christmas and Easter school holidays. As you can image, I hated it. The taste was bitter and as the mixture was a laxative it meant I couldn’t go out and play with my friends, just in case I got the runs and had to rush to the toilet. Yet despite our protestations and promises that we would eat our greens, mum insisted in giving us our regular “cleanse and wash-out” as she called it.

At the time, I didn’t appreciate the importance of this practice, and its only as I grew up and embraced more healthier ways of living I realise the value of a regular “cleanse and wash-out”

Nowadays, I call my mum’s cleanse and wash-out, a detox or mini cleanse! Yet the purpose is still the same – to give the body a chance to rest, heal, cleanse and eliminate the build up of toxins, stimulants, and waste matter in the body.

You are affected by the environment you live in; your senses are constantly exposed to toxins in the form of preservatives and pesticides used to produce your food, the make-up and skin care products you use filter through your pores and add to the build up of toxins naturally produced by the body as a result of digestion and respiration.

When Was Your Last Body MOT?

Your body is a marvellous piece of machinery, yet it is so easy to take the body for granted and not realise how important it is to give it a cleanse and service. You wash and condition your hair, cleanse your face, steam clean your oven, take your car in for a yearly MOT and regular service, yet when it comes to your inner body, it gets a poor service. When did you last have a whole body MOT?

Your Body Has An Inbuilt DIY Detox System

Your body has natural built in systems – the lymphatic system, your liver, kidneys and colon to cleanse itself from bacteria and pollution yet our senses are continually bombarded with noise, grim and dust from external factors which effect your body’s ability to effectively remove toxins and waste matters.

A detox gives your body a helping hand to remove toxins from your body, and gives your vital organs and digestive system a chance to rest and rejuvenate.

Problems With Detoxing

It sounds simple to do, yet all too often, I hear from my yoga students that they brought a three day home detox kit or decided to cleanse for a day yet after a few hours they gave up as they hadn’t expected to feel so unsupported, hungry, tired, and constantly craving food.

Three Mistakes To Avoid On A Detox

To avoid falling into this trap, here are three things you must do to prevent disappointment and help you stick to your detox programme.

Mistake #1

You Do Not Set Aside The Time To Detox.

Although eating is something you do every day, when you detox your relationship to food takes on a whole new meaning. To get the most out of your detox you require time and space to prepare your meals, to sit quietly, chew your food, sip your juices, meditate upon your relationship with food and explore what is going on inside your body and accompanying thoughts. All this takes time. And time is one thing you don’t have to spare.

Yoga Detox Helpful Solution

To successfully complete your detox, especially if you are new to the experience, you must set aside the time to fully focus and do your detox. This means doing your detox at a time when you are less likely to be disturbed at home and/or required to complete major projects at work. You may find it easier to do your detox over a long weekend when your children are away on a school trip or on a weekend sleep-over.

If you have a demanding job and your schedule is just too busy to squeeze in a detox, have you thought of participating in a long weekend or even week’s detox retreat or detox holiday? A couple of my yoga students go on regular yoga detox holidays as it gives them the space to go deeper into their yoga practice, rest and receive therapeutic bodywork treatments and nutritional advice and support throughout the whole programme. If you Google “Detox Retreats” or “Detox Holidays” you will get a list of what’s available. Don’t worry if you haven’t gone on a detox retreat and aren’t sure what to look for. I will cover that in a later post.

Mistake #2

You Don’t Know What To Eat And Do Not Stock Up In Advance To Do Your Detox.

Generally, when you detox you eat foods which are naturally healthy and wholesome. For some of you, especially, if this is your first detox, you may be unfamiliar with some of these foods and have no idea how to prepare them or what to look for. Also, if your regular diet consists of caffeine, highly processed sugary and fat-laden take-away foods it can be quite a shock to your system to suddenly have to cook and prepare foods in a different way.

Yoga Detox Helpful Solution

Take your time, if you are thinking you might go on a detox, spend a few extra minutes in your local whole food stores, talk with the store assistant, find out from them what foods are good to help you cleanse your body , how to cook them and you could even buy a few products which you normally don’t buy. For example if you have never tried herbal teas, buy a packet of peppermint herbal tea and try it out; fruits, buy a fruit you don’t usually eat, just to get the experience of eating something different.

And when you decide to start your detox, make sure you stock up on enough food so that you don’t have to rush out and buy something or worst, feel peckish and don’t have a suitable substitute on hand to snack on. A detox isn’t a punishment, it is simply another way to rest and nurture your body. Even if you are doing a one day detox, it is essential you have all the essential foods, juices, herbs and fruit you need to last you throughout the day. If you are not sure what foods are suitable to use to detox, again, don’t worry. I will cover that in a later post.

To avoid crashing out on your detox, make sure you stock up and have to hand all the ingredients you need to use before you start your detox. This includes any “pampering extras” such as a skin brush, candles, a journal, relaxation DVDs or visualisation cds.

You want to make your detox period as stress-free as possible. Popping out to your local supermarket to buy your next meal leaves you vulnerable to temptation and can destroy the peaceful vibe you are trying to create.

Mistake # 3

You Lack Support – Friends and Family Members Do Not Understand What You Are Doing.

It can be a lonely time being on a detox. Food and eating form a large part of your identity and cultural heritage. If you step out from your usual family/friends’ eating habits, you run the risk of ridicule and alienation from your family; for example, if your usual pattern is to have a cup of coffee and doughnut with your work colleagues at tea break, they may not understand when you say No thanks, I am drinking fennel tea and having an apple for my snack…

Yoga Detox Helpful Solution

Your family and friends love you and want to help you, but if you are still preparing their meals for them or eating with others who don’t follow your detox diet it is hard to maintain your motivation to detox.

To minimise this, take time to explain to your family what you are doing ….you are not on a starvation diet just eating more simply for a few days. If you can invite friends and loved ones to join you in your detox, that’s great, that way you can share your experiences and gain support from each other. Better still, go on a Yoga Detox holiday, that way you are guaranteed to be surrounded by people on a same vibe as you.

Final Thoughts

So, to prevent you falling off the wagon avoid starting your detox in the midst of a busy period at work, make sure you stock up with wholesome foods and enlist the support of friends or family to help you stay accountable and focused on your detox intentions. By following the above 3 helpful Yoga Detox Solutions you are more likely to stick with your detox programme. I can’t wait to hear your views about these mistakes.

And finally, what are your thoughts about detoxing..have you tried one yet failed to finish? I’d love to hear your experiences. Share your thoughts in the comment box below and remember to share the Twitter love:)

If you are thinking of how to shift the last few pounds in Christmas weight or you feel sluggish and tired and a detox is something you might consider, sign up to my newsletter or RSS feed to instantly receive the next update where we will be looking at what foods you should avoid when on a detox. All part of your healthier happier more Marvellous You 2012 plan!

Image with thanks Sergiu Bacioiu via flickrr

The post Yoga Detox – Do You Make These Three Common Mistakes When You Detox? appeared first on Yoga Inspires - Ntathu Allen.

Eat more greens...

Its official! 2012 is well and truly here. Don’t you agree there is something magical about a New Year? It feels like the first day of spring and there is a sense of buoyancy and expectation in the air. Like a feeling that “Ok, bring it on…?”…no one knows what is around the corner. Some say you create your own destiny through your past and present actions, others believe life is already pre-ordained and no matter what you do you can’t escape your destiny. Whatever you believe, as usual I say look after yourself, breathe, enjoy the journey, find the blessings in the madness, the stillness in the chaos.

And as this is the start of a New Year and yoga and healthy living is my “thing” I would like to share with you

12 Steps To A Healthier You In 2012

1. Eat more spinach and other dark green vegetables such as kale and pok choy to boost your calcium and strengthens bones, spinach is also bursting with other vital nutrients and vitamin which does wonders for your health. Think of Popeye and you will know what I mean.

2. Sleep more – as Benjamin Franklin’s said “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man’s healthy, wealthy and wise.”

3. Exercise more – instead of using the escalators at the tube stations, walk up them, go for a brisk walk during your lunch break or try this simple yoga routine at home.

4. Read more- reading is food for the mind and you can travel to Narnia or the Yellow Brick Road and still be home in time for dinner with your family.

5. Breathe more – tune in now and see how well you are breathing, if you don’t know how to breathe correctly check out this post.

6. Spend more time alone in silence and prayer – this is an ideal way to reconnect and remember the sacredness of life, here’s what prayer means to me and how I spend my Alone Time.

7. Hug more people – hugging is the elixir of life.

Drink more water...

8. Drink more water – your brain consists of 77-78% water, so it’s vital to nourish and hydrate your brain.

9. Laugh more – Laughter yoga is an excellent way to relieve stress and tension.

10. Cry more- let it all out, laugh till you cry or cry till you laugh. Either way crying is cleansing for the soul.

11. Forgive more – easy to say, hard to do…

12. Stretch more – when you feel stressed at work, take ten minutes and practice these simple Chair Yoga stretches at your workstation. You will feel lighter, refreshed and energised.

And if you want to discover more yoga exercises and relaxation techniques for a healthier, more peaceful 2012, buy my popular ebook A Woman’s Book Of Yoga -A Guide To Relax and Nourish Your Soul.

And now, can you think of anything else you can do to be healthier this year? I’d love to hear what you are doing to be healthier. Share your comments in the box below.

Take care and here’s to a wonderful healthy 2012 and beyond…

Remember to Tweet this post and share the love…

Thank you,

Images, via flickr-Eat more veg-BC Gov Photo & Drink more water-Cajie.

The post 12 Steps Towards A Healthier 2012 appeared first on Yoga Inspires - Ntathu Allen.

Jumping for Joy!

I am sooooo excited to be here, sitting down writing and communicating with you. I breathe deeply and Give Thanks, for your continued support and allowing me to be a part of your daily life.

Giving Thanks For 2012

Well, as you can see we are now in 2012. And together we are going to make this year the best year ever. Together we will create magic, find and discover our inner compass and use our intuition and inner wisdom and resources to breathe, be and become. Become healthier, more excited about feeling our best, feeling brighter, happier, glowing with vitality and just glad to be alive.

My Vision For 2012 and Beyond…

To breathe, to be and become

more passionate

more at peace with life

contented,

hopefully wiser and just

buzzing with the sheer joy of being alive and in the moment.

What’s Your Dreams And Aspirations For 2012?

You Are Not Alone

Whether you are going through a divorce, separation, mourning the loss of loved one, facing redundancy, bailiffs knocking on the door and your children clamouring for your attention, don’t worry, trust and believe in life, you will get better.

You will feel better you will make it through your hardship.

All you got to do is find a way to be grateful, see the blessing and rainbow in the storm.

Believe me, no matter how low, dark or dismal the day seems you will get through. It may take longer than you think, you may have to reach rock bottom and stay there all year but that’s ok. You will get through.

Through My Yoga Blogs

You will learn how to

use your breath, how to use your yoga practice to keep your energy and spirits alive, you will discover how to meditate and use the power of meditation to support your desire for inner peace and calm and best of all you will reclaim your soul; and have time to do the things you enjoy the most-spend fun time with family, pursue a prosperous career, gain financial security and achieve relief from suffering and pain..

Whatever you are going through, we are going to have fun, stretch, breathe and be…

Remember to Tweet this post and share the love and as always to Give Thanks

Take care and have a wonderful day. I’d love to know what you have lined up for 2012. Share your thoughts in the comment box below.

Thank You.

The post Get Ready To Make 2012 Your Best Year Yet! appeared first on Yoga Inspires - Ntathu Allen.

Are You Looking For Love?

Perhaps you already have a wide circle of friends, a fulfilling job and warm family ties, yet deep down you wonder what it would be like to have a Special Mate; Someone who you could come home to, after a challenging day at work and just sit quietly with each enjoying the moment.

As humans, we desire to belong, to be part of a family or community setting. This can take the form of a sports club, religious organisation, self-help group or even an on-line community. You may belong to different types of groups or organisations which reflect different aspects of your being and personal/professional interests. Within this matrix, you may feel happy, secure and accepted.

Do You Feel Like You Don’t Belong?

However, if, like many other people you do not belong, feel part of a group or family setting, what can you do to attract more love and happiness in your life?

Have you joined organisations in the past, attended work social functions or family gatherings, yet at the end of the day you still you feel alone and ache for that “someone special” to add sparkle to your life.

Here’s Seven Ways To Attract That Someone Special

If you are looking to attract more love into your life, but aren’t sure where to turn try adding the following seven steps to your daily routine.

1. Look after your health.

A strong body and a healthy mind are vital to ensure you function at your best. Find some kind of physical activity which you enjoy and stick with it. The benefits of exercise are known to help you feel better about your yourself. The more you exercise, the more oxygen is pumped around your body. This helps to energise and strengthen your body. The stronger you are, the more energy who have to do the things you enjoy. People will be attracted to your energy and sense of vitality.

2. Take time to care and nurture yourself.

Take regular informal “Me Time” breaks. For example, light a candle, add a few drops of your favourite essential oils to your bath, turn of the phone and chill-out; go for a walk in your local park or walk along a quiet tree-lined street in your neighbourhood. Breathe deeply as you walk. The colours of nature and the fresher air will add a natural bounce to your step. You will feel lighter and radiate a natural “happy aura”, which will attract like-minded people to you.

3. Smile and laugh often.

Share happy thoughts and jokes with others. Laughter instantly elevates your mood and makes your eyes sparkle. You will feel more at ease in yourself and not worry so much about trying to fit in. Everyone is attracted to a happy smile and friendly face.

4. Be open and honest with your feelings.

Learn to trust your instincts. If you feel unsure, unhappy about something or someone has upset you, be kind and let them know how you feel. That way, you clear the atmosphere and can move on.

5. Honor your personal space and enjoy your own company.

Sometimes, in an effort to be nice to others or feel accepted by them, you lose you own identity and engage in activities or conversations which don’t feel right for you. This type of activity drains and lowers your energy. When this happens, it is better for you to take pleasure in your own company and develop your own interests. In the long run, this makes you a nicer, more creative and interesting person to know.

6. Have a vision of how you want your life to be.

Maybe your present life or relationships isn’t what you seek. Don’t worry. The clearer you are about what it is you desire, the easier it is for you to seek advise and support from others who can help you make the changes you want in your life.

7. Love yourself and take time to get to know yourself

Congratulate yourself for taking the time to discover your inner thoughts and feelings. The more you know yourself, the easier it becomes for you to be comfortable and at ease with yourself. Your sense of self-acceptance and gratitude for your life will flow through you and touch all you meet.

So, How Was That?

I know it takes time, energy and effort to implement the above steps. I am always happy to lend-you-a-hand and support you in your desires. Just email me at ntathu@yogainspires.co.uk

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The more you practice the above seven simple steps, the easier it becomes for you to develop a greater sense of appreciation for your life and the relationships which exist already in your life.

The law of attraction and abundance is activated, your heart opens and you attract more love and joy into your life.

Try it and see! Let me know how you get on. I would love to share in your happiness.

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments box below.
Thank You

The post How To Attract More Love Into Your Life-7 Simple Steps appeared first on Yoga Inspires - Ntathu Allen.