Freepost on Organic Clothing Weekend

 

Freepost on all orders this weekend 2nd June - 4th June 

Fabulous organic & sustainable tops and tees for all ages and styles . . . take a look at

https://wellnessclothing.teemill.com/

The Big Allotment Challenge ~ Part 2 as it develops and grows

 

And so the plot began to develop . . . and the story continues

After lots of hard work to dig over & manure the soil in readiness for growing & planting conditions we created a potager style structure to begin to plan our organic & companion planting around.

We planned to underplant our roses with garlic & plant a wide variety of herbs and lavenders along the borders to encourage bees and wildlife onto our plot.

Nearly everything on our little allotment patch we grew from seed following a biodynamic calendar plan of when to sow, prick our seedlings & plant out. 

Here's what our greenhouse started to look like . . .

Quite joyfully chanting to our seeds as they were being sown . . .

        Using Reiki energy flow on the seeds and watering process. . . 

                Working with love . . . and watching everything begin to grow & florish . . .

We still had little idea of what the upcoming challenges were going to be, so we just had lots of fun sowing & growing a wide variety of herbs, fruits, flowers, root vegetables, beans, onions and sooooo much more. 

Each week when we went down was exciting to see how it was beginning to manifest into a mini amazonian festival of plants.

Next part will show how it florished . . . gardening is so good for the soul.

www.mindbodywellbeing.co.uk 

 

The Big Allotment Challenge ~ Intro to the Plot

 10 years ago Edd and Harshani had applied to take part in the Big Allotment Challenge for the first series which was filmed in 2013 and broadcast on TV in 2014 on BBC2. The series was the brainchild of well known TV producer and journalist/author Daisy Goodwin. 

We were 1 of 9 couples all brought together with a passion for gardening to create our own allotment plots from scratch in the stunning setting and grounds of Mapledurham Manor House, on the outskirts of Reading.

Our secret location was incredible ~ originally it was called 'The Patch' before being re-named the Big Allotment Challenge for TV showing. 

   

Our first sight was filmed as we all came together and entered the Patch for the first time to discover our allocated plots, empty greenhouses and to begin to create our pre-planned allotment designs.

Our plot was very stony, weedy and was riddled with an old bed of artichokes ~ if you are a gardener you will know what that means . . . we were forever needing to dig these up as the roots kept producing no matter how deep we dug to get them out. So that was Edd's main mission that first weekend to dig over the plot and dig in extra manure which was an entire weekend mission on it's own ~ whilst Harshani started organising the greenhouse and began madly sowing seeds to get things going. 

Our brief was that everything had to be grown from seed and only very limited plants were allowed to be from plugs or tubers. We had pre-selected what varieties of veggies and flowers we were going to plant and that was what we then had to stick to. The only established plants we were allowed were potted Roses for one of the later challenges.
We had a plan to create a potager style of planting and we went with a YingYang design for our plot to be created around. We had a guide of what we needed to be planting, but no idea of what the up-coming challenges were going to be. 

It was late April, with a completely blank canvas and whilst others started planting things directly in the ground on their plots, Edd was passionate about getting the ground right before planting a thing. 

Our style for the series was planting Biodynamically. We had been following Biodynamic gardening at home for the last few years and that is what we brought to our patch. 
Biodynamic gardening means planting by the phases of the moon. From sowing seeds, pricking out seedlings, planting out  . . . everything was highly co-ordinated and managed by Harshani in harmony with this cycle. Biodynamic is mapped out in 4 categories of Root Days, Leaf Days, Flowers Days and Fruit Days. Harshani had a Biodynamic Calender which is detailed of what days and times of day that each of these can be sown/planted/potted on. We brought into our patch insect friendly, bee friendly plants, companion planting, mad eour own nettle feeds and use organic matter.

Time on the plot each week was limited and each couple were only allowed to be on their plots for 2 full days each week (or however you allocated that time between half days) ~ so time had to managed well for watering, planting, potting on according to this calender too. Our plot needed to be fully estabilished and ready for the competition to begin by June/July.

Gradually over the first few weeks of intensive gardening out patch began to arise. . . . 

   

The story will continue . . . 

www.mindbodywellbeing.co.uk

A Weekend Spent Bowling

 

A Weekend  Spent Bowling

Harshani and I have had a great weekend playing with Tibetan singing bowls.  

A selection of which we have had especially imported from Nepal by a friend of ours in time for our 'Singing Bowls PlayShop' Day at the Field of Healing in Bythorn, Cambridgeshire ~ on Sunday 4^th June. Full details & bookings for this day can be found at https://mindbodywellbeing.co.uk/classes-events/

Singing bowls have become very popular in recent times in the West. 
It is thought singing bowls (which can also be called healing bowls) can be traced back to Asia as early as 2000 BC.
They are said to have had many uses: as a cooking utensil; an offering bowl; for meditation purposes; relaxation; space cleansing, and also healing. A really good quality bowl, old or new, however has many ringing tones or overtones , so it’s thought unlikely a good quality bowl was used for cooking!

Harshani  and I have personally used Tibetan Singing Bowls for meditation  and sound healing for many years now, and find that they are unique in the way that that they stimulate and heal the mind and body in a very gentle yet powerful way.

Much myth and legend exists around Singing bowls, what was their original purpose? 
Is a new bowl better than an antique bowl?
My own view is that it is a matter of budget and personal belief, as some antique bowls are incredibly expensive and not always the genuine real deal, but have been made to look aged!

Of course it is possible  that some antique bowls have an added spiritual element and may have been originally made and used by Llamas in Tibet centuries ago. However, my personal view is that new bowls can sound just as good as an antique bowl and there is absolutely  nothing to stop you consecrating your own bowl for spiritual purposes any way.

Usually singing bowls are made of an alloy containing 7 different metals ~ connected to the 7 astrological planets. A good quality bowl creating a wide  range of sounds and overtones.
The seven metals are gold = Sun,  silver = Moon,  iron = Mars, tin = Jupiter , Lead = Saturn. The size, width, weight, color/ patina and composition of the bowl are all variables ~ which means that each bowl in itself  is unique and each bowl plays and sounds slightly differently. There are also many  regional differences in manufacture and decoration.

Find out more about Sound Therapy here www.mindbodywellbeing.co.uk

Best Wishes

Edwin

An Ocean of Sound

 An Ocean of Sound

Having experienced the benefits of a monochord bed treatment many years ago at the Dome Centre in Alcalili Spain, on my International Sound Therapy training course, I knew that when the opportunity arose I was going to add an Octave Monochord Sound Bed to my Sound Therapy practice.

It arrived late in 2022 and is now set up in my therapy room.

It is a delight to play and also experience and a pleasure to see the amazing effect it has on my clients.

The quality of the instrument is wonderful the range of sound and vibration it produces is unworldly. One of my clients describing it as an “ocean of sound” and “like being enveloped by a comforting vortex of vibration”.

It’s definitely an extremely relaxing and strangely re-charging experience both at the same time! 

An opportunity for a complete mental and physical re-boot.

Here is a little taster of the Sound Treatments which are available for all to benefit from

https://mindbodywellbeing.co.uk/sound-therapy/

Reiki ~ Energy Balancing ~ Self Care

 

Have you ever wondered in those moments of feeling out of sorts, out of sync, out of balance what you could do to help you feel back in harmony once more?

Sometimes in life, we just feel like we are not quite ourselves ~ more many different reasons . . . even the full moon and our natural life cycles can do that. 

It's good to know that we are energy & vibration ~ so we can learn to balance this in a natural way. 

There are many terms for this subtle energy ~ universal life force ~ Prana ~ Chi ~ Ki ~ Mana ~ spiritual energy. There are also many helpful subtle energy practices & methods that can also help bring this into harmony too e.g. Yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong & Reiki.

All of which are practices that you can learn & do yourself.

As a Yoga Teacher Trainer & Reiki Master Teacher, I have been priviledged to guide & support many students into discovering helpful techniques to return a sense of equilibrium, grounding & inner balance ~ mentally, physically, emotionally & spiritually. It is all about bringing balance to the fullness of your being, not simply your physical body, but understanding that we are so much more than that . . . and so much more than our minds can possibly perceive. We have a subtle energy body, an auric energy field & many planes of our existence. All needing care, balance & harmony to be able to bring us gently back into our flow . . . to begin to feel back on track.

Everyone can learn to work with subtle energy & Reiki practices are supportive ways that can easily be integrated into a daily practise of self care & wellbeing.

So whatever is going on in your life right now, maybe exploring the first level of Reiki healing ~ which is all about self care & Self -Reiki ~ teaching you how to ground, how to clear your energy field, how to connect with Ki energy & receive it's healing essence, how to balance your chakras, & to learn some helpful Reiki Meditation & breathing techniques that you can do every day. 

If you are new to Reiki, then I fully recommend that you receive a Reiki treatment first before beginning your self healing path, so you can explore if that feels right for you.

Reiki is natural. It's a deeply relaxing & restorative treatment ~ & wonderful that you can also learn how to do this for yourself too.

To discover more about Reiki Courses or Yoga please visit https://www.mindbodywellbeing.co.uk

Once we know how to bring ourselves back into harmony again, then the ability to change is in our hands 💗

Never think of giving something up ~ always look for what you will gain

 

So . . . how do you look at life?

Do you see what you can't have? . . . or . . . Do you see what you already have or have gained?

Even as we land on Shove Tuesday as Lent ~ we can explore what we have too much in-excess of and what we might make a conscious choice of 'Giving up for Lent' ~ whatever that might be . . . chocolate, alcohol, caffeine, smoking, meat, eggs. 

But it's good to look deeper into how even having a break away from something you always have (or sometimes habitually have too much of . . .) that concept alone is good for our mind, body & soul.

Review . . . Reflect . . . Reset . . .

A sense of appreciation of other things . . . enjoying more savoury and less sweets/chocolates . . . the ability to take stock of our food choices or lifestyle and make changes for the better. . . the ability to take a break and re-evaluate diet/lifestyle . . . the ability to be able to break any poor habits and re-gain our sense of inner control. 

There are so many gains and personal benefits that we will receive on making any changes in our lives, even if only for the 40 days of Lent . . . it all starts somewhere, and just like New Year for it's resolutions, Lent is another time to create positive change and have a fresh new approach.

So we invite you to make changes today, which may even benefit you for a lifetime or even just for 40 days out of your life. Small steps make big changes in the long run of life 👍

Look up through the tree of life and see what you may discover along the way.

www.mindbodywellbeing.co.uk

 

Saying Goodbye to 2022

         Saying Goodbye to 2022

As 2022 begins to draw to it's finale, it's always a good time to reflect upon what positives you can take from throughout the year. Everyday is different, every year is different . . . nothing stays the same.

It's helpful to review all the positive aspects, all the learnings, discoveries & challenges you have been able to overcome or draw strength from.

These become your foundation for flowing into the New Year.

Things we can now begin to put in practice, all we have learnt . . . to help us progress, develop & mature in new & different ways. 

So just let go of what you no longer need from 2022 and focus on what positive new steps will move you into the new 2023 ahead.

As you let go, then more space is created for fresh new thinsg to come instead.

Happy reflection, will inspire a Happy New Year

Many Blessings

Harshani & Edwin

www.mindbodywellbeing.co.uk

 

Stoptober Non-Smoking Support

For those of you who have chosen the Stoptober month of October 2014 as your time to Stop Smoking ~ then congratulations you are 1/4 of the way already there in readiness for National No Smoking Day!

 

Keep going!

 

Each and every smoke free day is a success . . . however big or small it might seem ~ remember that it is an achievement!

 

It is really positive reinforcement of being able to say "No" to each thought, craving or offering of a cigarette . . . and every time you do you should tell yourself "Well Done!" inside your head, to acknowledge it as a success.

We all need positive encouragement & reinforcement around change, to support more of it!

 Stopping smoking is a mindset, so create a strong supportive mindset that you can do it, you can keep going and become a non-smoker for yourself, for your family, for LIFE!

 

I encourage my client who come to see me for Hypnotherapy to Stop Smoking, to speak to as many ex-smokers that they know and discover how they did it . . . what was their biggest motivation . . . what helped them . . . what didn't help them . . . what advice and support can they give you . . . what benefits have they enjoyed since stopping smoking . . . all these thoughts and learnings may help you decide what it will be for you to mean that you can do it too!

 

* Have a clear strong motivation in your mind.

* Plan strategies of what you will do instead of smoking.

* Save up the money you would have spent, so you can see the result financially too.

* Have some sugar free mints to hand.

* Keep yourself busy.

* Notice the differences in health improvements to increase health motivation.

* Find other ways to relax ~ Tai Chi, Yoga, Meditation, Walking, Reading . . .

* Think of yourself as a non-smoker.

 

So with those in mind, may I wish every Stoptober participant every success and long may it continue throughout the rest of the year and beyond!

For Hypnotherapy support visit http://www.mindbodywellbeing.co.uk/Cognitive+Hypnotherapy-Kettering-Stopping+Smoking-22.php 

 

Gardening for the Soul

Last year my husband Edd and I had the greatest pleasure of taking part in The Big Allotment Challenge ~ which is being screened on BBC2 8.00pm on Tuesday 15th April.

We had an amazing 4 months of tending a brand new allotment, creating, designing and growing in our own special style, amongst the other 8 wonderful teams taking part.

What a journey indeed . . . both of us being very keen gardeners with our home patch, growing and turning our produce into wonderful tasty meals, chutneys, jams, jellys, vinegars etc etc ~ we rose too the challenge of creating an allotment from nothing . . . to a tight time scale.

Gardening is truly good for your soul . . . it get's you in tune with nature, the seasons and brings a deep sense of grounding on all levels of beingness.
Edd and I have planted by the phases of the moon, following Biodynamic Gardening calendars for around 5 years now, which is such a beautiful way of planting organically.
As a Cognitive Hypnotherapist, Reiki Master and Integral Yoga teacher I wholeheartedly encourage my clients and students to find their connection with nature to help them find a sense of balance in their lives. Gardening can help to reduce stress, anxiety and depression ~ supporting a deeper sense of wellbeing on all levels of being ~ physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
And what can be even nicer than nurturing plants, being outdoors and enjoying nature ~ but to then grow things you can eat and enjoy seasonally and organically, just as you'd like them to be.
You just can't beat the flavours and freshness of picking your own produce that you have tended throughout the year.

So enjoy the show and be inspired to grow something new yourselves too!
Whatever size garden, patio, allotment or even on a windowsill you can always grow something ~ whether flowers, herbs, fruits or veggies all can bring you such a deep sense of achievment having sown and grown it yourself.

Happy National Gardening Week . . .

Om Shanti

Harshani and Edd
x
www.mindbodywellbeing.co.uk

Does Change Have to be Scary?

What is it that causes us to fear things? 

Some people fear the unknown ~ which would also include 'Change' . . .

Others live in fear of the known. . .

Whilst some even, feel more comfortable with their present fears than the possibility of the fear of change . . . being different . . . thinking differently . . . feeling differently . . . and it can sometimes seem beyond belief that change can also be for the better!

So what makes us hang on tight to those old fears, beliefs & behaviours that are unhelpful and no longer support us (or even hold us back)?
As a Cognitive Hypnotherapist I often come across some clients who think they want change, but are also resistant to change. There is a saying that goes like this . . .

"If you keep on doing what you've always done, you'll keep ending up with what you've always had" 

So change is a huge part of the process, to embrace those changes however big or small they might be . . . and as I tell my clients ~ It's often the way that all those small differences add up to making an even bigger difference to you in your life and the changes you wish to make! 

Change happens everyday . . . it's part of nature . . . part of life . . . nothing stays the same.
So it's a good thing to learn about embracing change, and because nothing is permanent or forever it also means that problems & issues can change too. All it takes is an experienced guide and a willingness to step into the unknown . . . to venture forwards and start to imagine how you'd like to be . . . who you'd like to be . . . and take action around some of those changes that can begin to move you in the right direction.

So the only thing to fear really is yourself ~ and once you realise that it is only yourself holding you back, then change is in your hands and you can control it.

If you would like to know more about the change process, Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy, then contact me today and start 2014 as you mean to go on! A New Year and a New You too!

Best wishes
Harshani

www.mindbodywellbeing.co.uk

Kettering, Northants

World Vegan Day 1st November

In honor of World Vegan Day on Friday 1st November and my lovely Vegan student who is coming along to a Meditation evening that night ~ I am making Vegan Chocolate Brownies for everyone to share! I thought that cake baking would prove slightly challenging because of the non-egg factor but on the Vegan website I found an array of special Vegan recipes to have a choice of what to bake for everyone to enjoy.
http://www.national-awareness-days.com/world-vegan-day.html

So here's the recipe I found on the Vegan Society's website for all to enjoy:

Vegan Chocolate Brownies
75g Margarine
45g Cocoa Powder
75ml Soya Milk
200g Caster Sugar

160g Plain White Flour
2.5 tsp Baking Powder
20g Cocoa Powder
115g Caster Sugar
170ml Soya Milk
45ml Vegetable Oil
1 tsp Vanilla essence
(and my own addition of a handful of dried sour cherries to add a little texture)

1) Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees C (Gas Mark 4)
2) Combine the first four ingredients in a saucepan and gently bring to the boil, turn down & simmer for 1 minute, stirring well. The place the saucepan into a bowl of cold water & beat the sauce until it cools & thickens. Set aside.
3) Sieve flour, baking powder, cocoa & sugar into a large bowl. Mix the Soya Milk, Vegetable oil & vanilla essence together. Combine all of the flour mixture, soya milk mixture & sauce together ~ avoid over mixing.
4) Place in a greased & lined tin approx 10" x 8" & bake for 30 minutes.

(Recipe by Fairfoods www.fairfoods.org.uk )

If you try it out, please share your tastings . . . and maybe any other favorite Vegan cakes you make too!

Happy Healthy Vegan Month wished to all!

Harshani
www.mindbodywellbeing.co.uk

Finding Balance and Getting it Just Right

How good is your sense of balance?
Can you stand on one leg in a steady pose in a calm and comfortable manner?
How does being able to control your balance help you in your life?

All of these questions and more you can discover at my next Yoga Workshop Day which is centered purely around yoga balance postures (Asana's).  

Being balanced is not just a physical thing, where you can shift your weight from one leg to the other whilst maintaining steadiness ~ it's also about mental awareness, finding a focus point, developing your concentration, and quietening your mind and mental chitter chatter that goes on often unconsciously. The thing with the mind is, that it's mostly in those quiet contemplative, meditative moments when you realise just how much constant inner dialogue is going on. Learning to work through a standing physical balance helps concentrate the mind so keenly that the thoughts can eventually drop away more and more. Balances can bring about an incredible inner peace, whilst the body is strong and steady. When your mind is all over the place then your balance is likely to be wobbly and unsteady. So balanced mind = balanced body and that can flow into your life too!

Standing yoga balances can help strengthen your bone density; develop your core strength in your abdominals; help balance the left and right side of your brain; help develop your concentration skills and sharpen your mental focus (which aids studying, work, exams etc); increases the quality of patience and acceptance; and help you tackle some of life's natural obstacles in a more positive manner.

So if you want to discover the benefits of yoga balance postures then drop into your local yoga class or come and join Harshani in Islip, Northamptonshire on Saturday 19th October.
To find out more or book your place, please visit www.mindbodywellbeing.co.uk  

Hypnosis for Fear of Flying

This time of year is an exciting time for many, as we come into the holiday season.
Maybe you have already been away . . . maybe your booked holiday is coming soon . . . or maybe you are yet to book a last minute deal or go later in the year.

The big question really is . . . "Do you feel free to holiday where you like, or does the Fear of Flying stop you?"

As a Cognitive Hypnotherapist, I know only too well the debilitating experiences that have clouded many clients lives before coming to see me to overcome their phobias and fears around flying.
The fear of flying has many different aspects ~ for some it's the fear of being out of control, for others it's around the fear of heights, for others it's the fear of death or dying often linked to the "What if . . ." question, for example ~ what if something happened, the plane was hijacked, or exploded or crashed . . . etc etc.

As with all phobias, there will be specific triggers which start the thoughts, fears and phobic responses into play. These triggers will have often been sparked from an unconscious thought process from our childhood, whether connected to planes or flying or something else. It simply becomes a habitual behaviour and emotional response towards the source of your fear/phobia.

As with all phobias, phobic responses to flying are unique to each individual, and through the Cognitive Hypnotherapy approach the patterns can be changed, reframed and resolved in the ways that are right for you personally. Cognitive Hypnotherapy tailors hypnosis and positive psychology methods to each client, helping them move through their fears and phobias in a way that's just right for them.
Hypnosis techniques connected to overcoming phobias are powerful and supportive ways, which not only help you feel 'back in control', but also much more confident in yourself in many different situations. Fears simply hold us back and stop us from living our lives to the full. Resolving these fears, frees you up to enjoy being you and feel comfortable in yourself and your surroundings, wherever you are, whom ever you are with. . .
You can fly and feel free to enjoy flying too!
Contact Harshani at Mind Body Wellbeing in Islip, Kettering, Northamptonshire, for a confidential consultation, and start looking forward to that sense of freedom being yours, sooner than you once thought possible.

Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate!!!

Chocoholics everywhere love Easter time . . . all that chocolate everywhere . . . total indulgence . . . white chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate . . . Easter eggs in an array of shapes, colours, sizes and temptations.
And I must admit, that I too have times when I can easily allow myself to get hooked on chocolate if I let myself . . . because chocolate has that feel good quality . . . it makes you smile . . . it can lift any dull moment and make you feel better . . . instantly!

So what is it about chocolate that drew Charlie into the Chocolate factory . . . was it the smell of chocolate (you know that smell, you can think of it now . . . if you wanted too!) was it the taste (that melt in the mouth sensation) . . . or is it all about the happy hormones that release from chocolate which make it addictive and desireable.

Now, if you don't like chocolate and are really not bothered by the stuff, then great, you have no need to read any further . . . However for most others (and especially it seems to be more of a female thing) chocolate can have such a hold over you that you secretly eat it, or over-indulge, feel guilty about it, and have a weight problem because of it. Not the best outcomes for something as innocent as a little peice of chocolate. And there lies the problem, if only you could just have a little bit! It can be for some people that once the taste buds for chocolate have lit up, then it all has to be eaten . . . something inside saying . . . oh, just one more peice . . . only a little more . . . oh, there's only one left now, I shall have to eat it anyway ~ shame to waste it!
Does any of that resonate with you???

So my way of breaking those addictions is that every year, for the past 5 years I have given up chocolate for lent. None has passed my lips since Shrove Tuesday and I will re-convene if I choose to on Easter Sunday, along with the rest of the population. I don't stop eating chocolate for any specific religious reasons, I do it to make sure that I can! It's good to check that self discipline from time to time, and I fully endorse that you try it too ~ okay so you may have missed starting for lent this year, however you could start today and go up until Easter . . . or choose one month a year (say May or June ~ so you can focus on reducing those excess pounds for Summer)
Any craving or addiction really means that 'IT' (whether that's chocolate/alcohol/wine/cheese) is in control of you . . . and it's important that YOU can gain control of 'it' back.

You are in control if you can feel indifferent about something, something you can take or leave . . . content either way.
As a Cognitive Hypnotherapist, I'm all too aware of how the mind plays tricks on us, can torment us, says "Oh, go on . . . have it, no one will know unless you tell them . . . it's our secret!"
So I'm always amused when my mind starts doing that too, and the first non-chocolate week was probably the hardest. Everytime I opened the fridge, I would be drawn unconsciously to where I normally have chocolate and then notice that slight sinking feeling that came up inside me which said "There's none there!". Gradually those moments get less and less, as you re-affirm "No, I'm allowing myself to have a break right now." Friends round for dinner and my husband suggesting "Let's make a nice chocolate cake?"  . . . my reply being "Remember I'm doing lent, how do you fancy a lemon drizzle cake instead?" . . . because I know that once you get the taste again the spell breaks and it's chocolate time again, so if you're going to put yourself in control, you have to prove to your mind that you really mean it. What you find then, is after those first few tests, it gives up and let's you get on with your determination to prove you can do it. . . letting you be in control once more.

There are some great helpful techniques which I teach my weight loss clients to put them in control of their cravings. My last HypnoSlim weight loss group had a chocoholic turn away from it completely and has not bothered with it since! So to discover more about how it might be supportive for you too see ~ http://www.mindbodywellbeing.co.uk/Cognitive+Hypnotherapy-Kettering-Weight+Loss-26.php

Put yourself in control and have a healthy relationship with those Easter Eggs!
Happy Chocolate Free Easter!

     

The Healing Power of Sound

I've always felt that sound has an amazing effect on us all . . . it can change your mood from happy to sad, from grumpy to cheery, from depressed to up-beat . . . and visa-versa. Sound not only can effect mood but also emotions, thoughts and our physical responses to them as well.

When you think about your thoughts/feelings/moods make a conscious note to maybe the sounds around you, whether it's music you're listening to, or talking, or birds song, the sound of rain, or wind or loud industrial noises around you . . . all effect you both energetically and vibrationally.

Sound can be a healer and a harmer. I know which one I'd rather choose to follow . . . healing sounds are so powerful and incredibly re-balancing to our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual sense of self. My first experience of the positive effects of yogic chanting, was in an Integral Yoga class in Bournemouth, and even though at the time I thought it a bit weird (as most people do), I discovered an energy, a quality afterwards which had such a profound effect on my life ~ that now as an Integral Yoga Teacher I love to chant whenever and wherever I can, because it feels so wonderful.
Shortly after my first steps into mantra chanting I also very gratefully found myself lying down on the grass outside on a yoga retreat being bathed with the healing Gong vibration of a Sound Bath!
Wow, such an amazing experience to enjoy . . . being bathed in sound ~ and I highly recommend it.
Since then I have been fortunate to experience many through my wonderful Yoga friends and their giving of healing Sound Baths . . .

So if this has whetted your taste buds to be curious about Sound Baths and would like to experience one for yourself too then check out this link to our next Yoga Sound Bath Workshop day being held on 14th April in Kettering . . . you never know you might like chanting too!

http://www.mindbodywellbeing.co.uk/Cognitive+Hypnotherapy-Kettering-Personal+Development+Courses-46.php   

You never know we might see you there!
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
Harshani
Mind and Body Wellbeing

Educating the world

Today is World Spelling day . . .

Tomorrow is World Maths day . . .

and Thursday is World Science Day . . .

How great is that . . . education flowing the world over.
Check out this for your children to get involved in "World Education Games" part of a guinness book of records attempt for free and for fun!

And if you have number block, or spelling blocks you could explore the possibility of getting in contact with a Hypnotherapist to discover how left and right brain balancing can help you find it easier to recognize numbers and words and patterns within them, to improve this aspect in your life.

It's never too late to learn something new . . .  you're never too old to learn and change the habits of a lifetime. We learn new things everyday, so maybe at the end of the day you might look back and wonder what it was that you learnt today and more importantly how you can use it in the future . . .

Happy Learning,

Harshani Curbishley-Brown
www.mindbodywellbeing.co.uk

Increase Your Confidence

Confidence ~ What is it & how do we make More?

What is it that makes us all so different?
Some people seem to exude confidence. . . confidence in how they walk . . . confidence in how they talk . . . confidence in how they look . . . confidence in how they act. But they may not be confident in all areas of their lives?
Because sometimes even confidence has differences . . . often our lives get framed into different aspects . . . which I like to think of as our 'wheel of life':~
* Business/Career
* Relationships/Family
* Education/Personal Development
* Health/Fitness
* Finances/Wealth
* Spirituality
So you might be surprised to discover that even the most successfully confident person at work, may be lacking in confidence in their relationships or other areas in their 'wheel of life'. Sometimes people appear outwardly confident, but inside may have low self-esteem and don't feel good enough, or worthy enough.

Try this Confidence Building exercise :~

    Think of a role model . . . someone who oozes the right type of Confidence for you . . . whether it’s someone you know personally or someone famous who represents how you’d most like to be.

    Next write down all of their qualities that make them appear Confident to you ~ what is it about them that you like?

     Then close your eyes and imagine them in front of you and observe those qualities.

     Then imagine you could super-impose your head on their shoulders and see yourself taking on those qualities too

     Then see the whole of you as them and draw those positive qualities back inside yourself

     Take a few deep breaths embedding these qualities within yourself and imagine how you can use these more and more each and every day.

   Practise this daily to focus your unconscious mind on how you want to be ~ until it becomes just the way you are!

     For more practical ways to understand your inner confidence and how to strengthen it even more, then join me on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th March in Kettering, Northamptonshire, for a personal development course based around confidence and becoming the best you can be in your life. 

Let your imagination flow and be curious at where this weekend might take you . . . to what new possibilities and opportunities may lie ahead.

Go to my webpage about the course here to discover more ~

http://www.mindbodywellbeing.co.uk/Cognitive+Hypnotherapy-Kettering-Personal+Development+Courses-46.php 

Early bird booking discount for all bookings made before 22nd February!

Looking forward to seeing you there!

 

Harshani Curbishley-Brown, Cognitive Hypnotherapist & Life Coach www.mindbodywellbeing.co.uk

 

There's no such thing as a Failure!

Today's daily inspirational reading by Sri Swami Satchidananda in his book called "The Golden Present" :~

You Learn Even Faster

If you make mistakes it doesn't matter. Make mistakes and learn.
The best teachers are your own mistakes. You learn even faster by your mistakes.

Once I was at a conference with the great modern scientist Buckminster Fuller. He stood up and said, "Friends, forget about all the 'Do this.  Don't do that' business. Commit as many mistakes as possible, as soon as possible. You'll become great!"

It's true! Every failure is a stepping stone. Remember, though, that you can't use the same stone for each step. Every step should be on a new stone. That means you shouldn't keep on making the same mistakes. Learn well from each one. The problem with many people is that they commit the same mistake over and over. Even so, they will eventually learn from that mistake and move on.

Experience is the best teacher.

There is no such thing as a failure . . . everything comes to teach us something . . . to help us learn . . . progress . . . evolve . . . understand . . . and once you do, then you are moving into success.
Everything can ultimately lead us towards success, however big or small those steps might be.
Each new step on a new stone takes us forwards.

As a Cognitive Hypnotherapist and Yoga Teacher, my role is to be a guide and help shine the light of realisation for my clients and students, so they may find the right learning's for themselves to enable them to move on and be more in tune with themselves and find harmony with the world around them.
The stepping stones of change are there for us all, when we are ready to take those steps and learn from our experiences so we can become who we were born to be.

May today teach you what you need to learn and show you your next stepping stone to take you forwards. 

Kindest Wishes

Harshani
www.mindbodywellbeing.co.uk

Learning to Relax helps you Be at your very Best!

Stress . . . Busy . . . Work . . . Family . . . Friends . . . Un-well . . . Time . . . Pressure . . . Study . . .
We all live such busy lives in this day and age, often forgetting the importance to take some quality time-out every now and then to relax, de-stress and re-charge our batteries. Which is essential for us to function at our very best.
To maintain our health and wellbeing we need a good combination of physical exercise/activities, mental relaxation, balanced diet, fresh air for healthy oxygenation in our lungs, good quality sleep, time for ourselves, and that feel good factor of emotional wellbeing by keeping in good company of family, friends and loved ones.
You always know when things are starting to get on top of you, because you can begin to feel run-down, tired, irritable and become more prone to illness. How many times I hear of people who have just been so busy with work and deadlines etc, working themselves almost silly up until the moment that they know they are going to have some time off, perhaps planned holidays . . . and off they set, finally ready to have some well earnt time off . . . only to find themselves coming down with a cold or being un-well for part of their holiday time. It's like the body is finally given permission to rest and has decided it will make you rest and slow you down even more through sickness. Your body does need rest! Not just physically, but also mentally, emotionally and spiritually too. We are made up of energy ~ so to maintain our energy ~ we have to look after it.

As a Cognitive Hypnotherapist, Reiki Master therapist and Integral Yoga Teacher, I can fully appreciate that everyone ultimately needs time to rest, re-couperate and re-charge on a regular basis. I can sense the energy and dynamics of the majority of my Yoga students as they filter in for their weekly classes . . . their needs to stretch, breathe and then allow themselves to relax . . . gradually throughout the class seeing their energies change, re-align and let go of the things they no longer need . . . so by the time they lie down for the Yoga Nidra relaxation at the end they are in the right space and zone to drop into a deep and peaceful place.
For some people, Yoga is not for them, they need quick, fast, energetic activities ~ which is great, we are all different. But one thing I'm always mindful of is that ultimately we all need the same . . . the ability to relax and relax deeply is essential to us all (perhaps even more so for those who are fast paced souls).
So if you are wanting to discover just how beneficial learning to relax is for you, then I run monthly Deep Relaxation Evenings in Oundle, Northamptonshire. The first friday every month from 7pm - 8.30pm at the Joan Strong Hall, for £7 a session. Everyone is welcome, no experience is necessary, you will be guided through different layers of relaxation, meditation and pranayama (breathing techniques), so you can practise them at home too. All you need to bring is a yoga mat or something to lie down on, a cushion for seated comfort in meditation and pranayama breathing practises, and a warm blanket to put over you in the longer Yoga Nidra relaxation.

Learning to truly relax deeply takes time and practise, so each month, you'll find yourself being able to let go more and more, going deeper and deeper into the most relaxing place for you to rest the most. Relaxation makes you feel fit for life!

Some of the benefits of Relaxation are:
* Can help to alleviate the signs of stress
* Help us feel more emotionally settled and peaceful in ourselves
* Let go of un-needed worries or fears
* Release excess muscular tension
* Aids healing process
* Rests our heart and helps reduce High Blood Pressure
* Deepens our breathing, strengthening our lungs, aiding respiration
* Improves our sleep
* Improves our over-all health and wellbeing
plus much more . . .

For more details on coming along to the Deep Relaxation Evenings, then please go to my What's On page at  http://www.mindbodywellbeing.co.uk/Cognitive+Hypnotherapy-Kettering-Whats+On-5.php

I will look forward to welcoming you on Friday 1st February for your journey into peaceful relaxation.

Best wishes
Harshani
Mind & Body Wellbeing