Meditation

Meditation.

There are many types of meditation though it is not sure as to how many. Each offering a means to entering complete awareness, peace and understanding of your self, mentally, emotionally and physically. A way of turning our negatives into positives, our un-ease to ease and unhappiness to happiness. Reaching a meditative state is a disciplined achievement in which the practitioner can reach beyond the thinking mind, falling into a deep relaxing state of awareness. Different levels of meditation require different levels of consciousness to achieve different goals, the more self disciplined the individual, the deeper or the higher the state of consciousness. It is said that the higher the level reached, the more spiritually attuned one becomes. As mentioned earlier, there are different types of meditation practised to suit the need of the individual it all depends on what you wish to focus on the most or what your final goal is. It is always best to research on each type. Meditation is being recommended by some G.P's as an alternative to medicine because of its effectiveness in relieving stress and aiding relaxation. There are various ways in which to reach a meditative state, again it depends on what feels right for you. One way is to concentrate on an object, this is known as "Concentrative" meditation. Another method to use is to mindfully be aware, there is no need to select an image or background, anything that appears or what ever sounds you hear are all allowed, just listen, take it all in and analyse the effects, this is known as "mindfulness" meditation.


* Concentrative meditation to begin with make sure you are sitting comfortably preferably in an upright position, if you become too comfortable this encourages sleep which means you would not be meditating. Try to plan a time of the day when you are less likely to be disturbed by anyone, choosing a quiet room. Try to focus on an object, this can be a physical object of your choice as long as it catches your attention or something you can concentrate on freely, or you may just want to use your breathing techniques as a means of a focal point. The object of this technique is to keep your mind on the object, don’t worry if your mind wonders, just be aware and bring your attention back, try to look at the object in a positive light, this will make focusing easier. By concentration on that object you enter a meditative calmness, be aware of what is taking place. Concentrate on your breathing, because regulating your breathing is important as it speeds the meditative state of mind and body. As you practice with concentrative meditation more and more, the more beneficial for you, your concentration improves not just in meditation but in other areas of our lives also.


* Mindfulness meditation also known as "insight" and is quite different from Concentrative meditation. It is not necessary to concentrate on just one thing for a start, rather, anything and everything can wander freely through your mind, you can allow images and events from the day run freely in and out of your thoughts, even distracting noises are beneficial. Every sound you hear can be listened to intently and be analysed, try to recognise the noises and identify its source. Meditating in this way allows you to be fully aware of your surroundings. Mindfulness meditation is about embracing and appreciating everything in existence.

If you enjoyed this article and want to read more on this and other relaxation therapy techniques then please visit our relaxation therapy site

Massage therapy for all

The word 'massage' means 'friction or kneading' and originates from French massage. In Arabic terms it means 'massa', meaning 'to touch'. The method of massage has been used by different parts of the body, which are the fingers, elbows, hands, feet, forearms and the knees. There are many types of recognised massage techniques which all involves manipulating different regions of the body, which in turn involves relieving aches, pains, tensions, to Muscles, tendons, skin, joints and ligaments. Massage was introduced as a successful method of therapy because it has been clinically proven effective and there was also a high demand from clients. Massage practitioners use many different oils all of which containing their own aroma and ingredient. Some oils are mixed to create different aromas. Apricot kernel oil, rich in vitamin E and easily absorbs into the skin, this oil is also good used in Aromatherapy massage.

• 'Aromatherapy massage'. This method of massage works well because it involves aroma. The aroma sends messages to the brain, which in turn sends messages to the limbi’s system, this will lower the stress levels, relaxes the breathing and memory, slow down the heart rate, relaxes the digestive system and strengthens immunity.

• 'Swedish Massage therapy'. This is considered the most common form of massage, though is very effective. It is practised using kneading, circular movements and strokes, using a variety of massage oils.

• 'Reflexology' or sometimes known as 'Foot massage'. This method is very effective and is not just a simple foot massage; it involves the masseur applying pressure to different parts of the foot, which in turn affects different organs inside the body. For example. starting from head to lower back, The toes affect the head. The balls of the feet affect the heart and chest. The arches of the feet affect the Kidney, liver and pancreas. The heels affect the intestines and lower back. And is considered very relaxing.

• 'Pregnancy massage'. Pregnancy massage is becoming widely popular, it is also known as paternal massage. You have to be careful who you go to when you are pregnant, always make sure the massage practitioner has a certificate and experience in this paternal massage as they will know how to position you and know use the proper techniques. There are certain massage techniques that cannot be applied to a Pregnant woman. This method decreases swelling, reduces stress, relieves aches and pains also reduces depression and anxiety.

• 'Thai massage'. Originating from India, making it's way to Thailand later to become influenced by Chinese medicine. This method has more of an energising than other massage techniques; it involves the therapist hand, feet, knees and legs to manipulate your body into stretches that resemble Yoga moves. There isn't usually any oil used as the client is fully clothed and any session can last from 1 to2 hours. This method is great for improving joint movement, relaxing, improving the circulation, increasing flexibility, reducing stress and finely tuning the body and mind together.

• 'Hot stone massage'. This technique is used to balance the energy centres in the body and is done by using heated basalt stones, able to retain heat and rich in iron, each stone is soaked in water then heated until they have reached the right temperature. Placed on key parts of the body. This is good for tight muscles the heat penetrate deep into the source of the pain the effects from the stones are soothing. This method is used for improving circulation,relieving back pain, soothing Arthritis pains, helps to improve sleep patterns, relieves anxiety, stress and tension. And helps ease depression.

• 'Deep tissue massage' This is where a practitioner massages on muscles and other connective tissues. Because this technique is concentrating on muscular tissues clients have been known to feel a little stiffness after the therapy, this is normal and will pass. Deep tissue massage works by the practitioner applying direct deep pressure to areas that have been blocked of circulation which have been a result of pain and limited movement. The pressure is applied to the area across the grain of the muscles, relieving the blocked area. This method is good for parts of the body where there is Muscle tension, Problems with the posture, Repetitive strain injury, and limited mobility and for helping to heal old injuries.

• 'Reiki massage' This is not a massage in the sense as you know it. This involves the practitioner placing their hands in various positions covering the body. The idea is to be seated or lying on your back comfortably in a warm, soothing room. Using their hands,the practitioner will direct energy towards you in order to stimulate the natural energy field in your self to heal itself. Reiki goes directly to the cause of the problem rather than treat the symptoms; this method has been successful in treating physical and mental issues, relaxing, and stress relief.

• 'Indian head massage'. This method stimulates the blood flow in the scalp, which not only has a positive affect on the body but also promotes strong, healthy, reducing breakage and brittle hair. During the process, the client feels emotionally positive this is a result of the blood flowing freely; this effect is carried throughout the rest of the body. Indian head massage is good for relieving tension, stress, increased joint mobility, fatigue, flexible neck, insomnia, headaches, improves blood circulation, migraine and sinusitis and very relaxing.

If you wish to learn more, please visit our massage page

Positive thinking

You have the power to change your whole life simply by changing your old negative thoughts into positive thinking.

You have the power to improve your life Physically, Mentally, Spiritually and Emotionally, Use those powers at your will.

When you were a baby, you didn’t know how to control your emotions or thoughts, you didn't care, if you wanted feeding, you would tell your mum simply by crying. If you were happy, you would chuckle loudly and from the pit of your belly. What happened from when you were a baby to adulthood? simply put, your emotions and thoughts were quashed, you were told not to cry, only babies cried, not to laugh too loud, you may be making too much noise or annoying. you were brought up listening to your parents beliefs, their fears, their worries and before you know where you are, your own dreams, thoughts, fears and beliefs have become your parents and that of other influences around you. Always being told, you were not beautiful enough, not clever enough or not good enough, in the end you hear the same words repetitively that it becomes true to you. but it's not their fault, they too were brought up in exactly the same way as were their parents and their parents before them. You can break the link in this repetitive chain, you can take control of your own thoughts.

positive affirmations.

Positive affirmations are positive words or beliefs you can adopt as your own in order to create a positive outlook on life. What we think affects every cell in our bodies. Living in the now, leaving all past hurts and pains behind help you to look forward to happiness and success. The secret is letting go, just let go, this sounds easy to achieve, but it is possible for you to gain an inner peace with practise and persistence. It is fair to say that holding on to old hurts actually causes many illness's and diseases and when you think on it, how can old feelings help you in the now, they can't. You tried thinking about the pain and the negative thoughts and feelings that accompany them but it just doesn't work for you. When you wake in the morning, What are your first thoughts? Try to be aware of your first thought, if you think negative, don't worry or say that is wrong, instead consciously recognise and change it for a happy image. tell your self you are going to have a wonderful, prosperose day filled with success. Reprogram your thinking. If you believe it wont work then the universe will support your thoughts. Try it, what have you to lose? Positive thinking is the way forward.

If you think ugly, you will become ugly.

if you wish to read more on this subject, please visit our positive thinking website

Thank you

relaxation with water

Relaxing with water.

Even before birth we are about 95% water we are submerged in water in our mothers womb which protects us from harm and keeps us nourished, when we are born we are 70% water and if by coincidence, 70% of our plant is covered in water. It will come as no surprise to you that water is like a magnet to us, drawing us to its hypnotic therapeutic properties. when we see a lake, we want to swim in it, dip our toes in, throw a fishing line in, float a boat on it, dive in it, or just sit and become mesmerized by its enchantment. We hear water trickling from a stream, Many of us are drawn to its peaceful sound. The majority of us go on holiday and its by the sea side, or at a lodge by a lake, anything that involves water, many of us are there simply because it is natures way of soothing us. There are so many different techniques in which we can use water for relaxing, the most popular one would be to bath in hot bubbly water surrounded in a fusion of candle light whilst listening to some relaxing music, scented with just a few drops of essential oils, leaving a meditative state an easier option in which to enter.Taking a dip at the local swimming baths is another option, which is popular for people of all ages. Doesn't matter if you are swimming vigorously sticking to a targeted amount of lengths of the pool or taking life slower and pacing your self or just playing around, the benefits are the same, great for muscle toning, relieving stress and for overall enjoyment. One form of water relaxation therapy, which has to be one of the best ways of attaining deep relaxation, is the floatation tanks/centers/floatrooms. The water is salty which has healing properties, helping with arthritis and improving the condition of the skin. There is only 10 inches of water, because of the density, effortless floating is inevitable. Using a sensory deprivation treatment, this is a form of water therapy which enhances mind, body and spirit well being. Relaxing in your favourite armchair, the house is peaceful except for the gentle trickle coming from the fish tank. The fish are flitting in and out of the bubbles and the light shines brightly illuminating the colours. It is difficult not to become hypnotised by the water in the tank. This is another type of relaxation therapy which is visualization, having a beautiful vision is just as relaxing as getting involved with the physical side, it is a successful method in relieving stress.

Water therapy.

Water therapy is a method used to cleanse the body of unwanted toxins and waste, which causes many diseases. It is a daily routine Which proves to be efficient in greatly improving your health. There are many benefits following this technique everyday, they range from Weight loss, Relief from stress, Healthy glowing skin complexion, brighter sparkling eyes. Good for curing headaches, Arthritis, The heart, and would you believe, water retention. It flushes the kidneys, helps relieve, even cure water infections. In fact there isn’t a lot that water can’t cure, when you go to visit your GP, how many times have you heard him/her tell you to drink plenty of water? For many of us, we say yes and do nothing about it. The GP's Know of its benefits and healing powers, we just need to listen.

Water therapy method.

• On first waking before brushing your teeth, Drink 160ml, 1.5 litres of water, that’s roughly 4 to 6 glasses.

• Brush your teeth but try to refrain from drinking or eating anything for at least 45 minutes.

• If you are unable to drink the full quota in one go, give your self a break for 2/3 minutes then drink the rest.

• Filter,cool boiled water is acceptable if desired.

• The need to urinate within 2/3 hours is normal and shows signs of its benefits as it is flushing out your body.

• If you are constipated and follow this method, you will notice a difference in just one day

If you would like to read more in this subject then please visit our water relaxation page

cause and effects of stress

What causes stress ?

Stress starts from the way our bodies react to information sent to our brain via our senses. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year the brain receives information, which effects how we respond. What we hear, see, smell, taste and touch, all play an important part to our reactions to our growing and changing environment. Causes range from jobs, school, marriage, moving home, a death, driving, being bullied, money problems, watching violence, playing video games, even watching certain TV programmes can affect the way your body reacts.

We all suffer from the effects of stress physically and mentally

The effects of stress

All too often we are too busy getting on with our lives to even notice how stressed or wound up we have become, it's a sad fact that stress levels are left unchecked, which, in the end could lead to serious illness's or even an untimely death. We all suffer, from the young to the elderly and can be brought on by a variety of reasons. We can suffer with physical and mental illness's through stress. Not only can it affect our mood swings, stress can also lead to Hypertension and other breathing difficulty related illness's, many heart problems which covers everything from high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, artery blockage, heart attacks and strokes. Other areas affected are our digestive systems, Ulcers, bowel problems, many types of cancer, Muscular stiffness and arthritis, Headaches and migraine, lower our immune system which can leave us open to a wide variety of unwanted illness's.

If you wish to read more on this please visit our cause and effects of stress page.

Water relaxation

Relaxing with water.

Even before birth we are about 95% water we are submerged in water in our mothers womb which protects us from harm and keeps us nourished, when we are born we are 70% water and if by coincidence, 70% of our plant is covered in water. It will come as no surprise to you that water is like a magnet to us, drawing us to its hypnotic therapeutic properties. when we see a lake, we want to swim in it, dip our toes in, throw a fishing line in, float a boat on it, dive in it, or just sit and become mesmerized by its enchantment. We hear water trickling from a stream, Many of us are drawn to its peaceful sound. The majority of us go on holiday and its by the sea side, or at a lodge by a lake, anything that involves water, many of us are there simply because it is natures way of soothing us. There are so many different techniques in which we can use water for relaxing, the most popular one would be to bath in hot bubbly water surrounded in a fusion of candle light whilst listening to some relaxing music, scented with just a few drops of essential oils, leaving a meditative state an easier option in which to enter.Taking a dip at the local swimming baths is another option, which is popular for people of all ages. Doesn't matter if you are swimming vigorously sticking to a targeted amount of lengths of the pool or taking life slower and pacing your self or just playing around, the benefits are the same, great for muscle toning, relieving stress and for overall enjoyment. One form of water relaxation therapy, which has to be one of the best ways of attaining deep relaxation, is the floatation tanks/centers/floatrooms. The water is salty which has healing properties, helping with arthritis and improving the condition of the skin. There is only 10 inches of water, because of the density, effortless floating is inevitable. Using a sensory deprivation treatment, this is a form of water therapy which enhances mind, body and spirit well being. Relaxing in your favourite armchair, the house is peaceful except for the gentle trickle coming from the fish tank. The fish are flitting in and out of the bubbles and the light shines brightly illuminating the colours. It is difficult not to become hypnotised by the water in the tank. This is another type of relaxation therapy which is visualization, having a beautiful vision is just as relaxing as getting involved with the physical side, it is a successful method in relieving stress.

Water therapy.

Water therapy is a method used to cleanse the body of unwanted toxins and waste, which causes many diseases. It is a daily routine Which proves to be efficient in greatly improving your health. There are many benefits following this technique everyday, they range from Weight loss, Relief from stress, Healthy glowing skin complexion, brighter sparkling eyes. Good for curing headaches, Arthritis, The heart, and would you believe, water retention. It flushes the kidneys, helps relieve, even cure water infections. In fact there isn’t a lot that water can’t cure, when you go to visit your GP, how many times have you heard him/her tell you to drink plenty of water? For many of us, we say yes and do nothing about it. The GP's Know of its benefits and healing powers, we just need to listen.

Water therapy method.

• On first waking before brushing your teeth, Drink 160ml, 1.5 litres of water, that’s roughly 4 to 6 glasses.

• Brush your teeth but try to refrain from drinking or eating anything for at least 45 minutes.

• If you are unable to drink the full quota in one go, give your self a break for 2/3 minutes then drink the rest.

• Filter,cool boiled water is acceptable if desired.

• The need to urinate within 2/3 hours is normal and shows signs of its benefits as it is flushing out your body.

• If you are constipated and follow this method, you will notice a difference in just one day

If you would like to read more on this subject then please visit our water relaxation page.

Relaxation therapy

Hello and welcome to our Ateaze relaxation website. Our aim is to introduce techniques and tips for obtaining an inner peace you yearn for and to ease your tired aching bones and muscles from the everyday stress's and strains that hang around our necks like a heavy anchor, rendering us sluggish and unable to unwind day after day. We aim to introduce the powers and benefits of positive thinking, to the healing touch of massage and the meditative effects Yoga and Tai Chi can have on you. We hope you will find the content of some benefit to you in your plight to either eliminate or reduce stress from your life, making everyday activities become easier for you to enjoy. The fact that you have visited this page suggests you are looking for answers, our aim is to give you as much advice as possible which we hope you will be able to follow and use to your advantage.

Because of the rising popularity in today’s society to become faster and better than the next person, it is becoming increasingly difficult to unwind, as we investigate further we will discover just how important relaxing is to us and what could happen if we don't listen to what our bodies are telling us. Just as we listen to the needs of others, we should also make time for our own needs, you are important. The more we learn or practice relaxing, which there are many fun and interesting techniques to follow, the longer you live. some of the methods you can use to help reduce stress in your life can range from, yoga classes, either at home with or without others, or in a class environment if this helps. tai chi, which is a great way to release tensions, listening to CD's learning how to self-hypnosis, listening to relaxation instructors, breathing exercises, candle lit bathing, floatation tanks, visit a trained hypnotherapies, and massages, listening to running water, visualisation the list is goes on, the choice is yours whichever works for you, follow it. We will cover many aspects to help you to overcome stress, to get to know what your body is saying, the warning signs are evident, but we just don't have the time to listen. We can learn to change the way we look at life just be using the power of positive thought. By changing our diet, exercising properly, practising relaxation exercises, meditation. Becoming more aware of our ever changing surroundings and learning how to cope with them. there are a surprising amount of people who need help understanding the importance of and releasing the physical and mental tension that go hand in hand. There are methods of relaxation therapy techneques that date back some thousands of years with new develpoments still coming to light. Recent studies have shown that people are more likely to suffer with colds and secondary infections when they feel stressed.
If you would like to read more, please visit our relaxation thearapy page.

What is Yoga

Yoga can be practiced by anyone of any shape, age, gender and flexible abilities. There are different levels to suit the needs of the individual. Just like Tai Chi, many of the movements or postures formed in Yoga are named after animals. The word Yoga derives from the root yuj which also means to yoke or to join, or the Union of individual spirits. Considered a systematic art, which includes discipline-using techniques for the mastery of the bodily organism, to render it healthy. Yoga is an art that is defined as a cultural system for perfecting or finely tuning the human body and for its efficiency. Practicing Yoga can help eliminate diseases and defects of the body, mind and spirit, to achieve happiness, for creating a healthy mental balance, enabling intelligence, finding true inner peace. A sound level of overall health and psychological consolidation must be achieved before the deeper aspects of yoga can be accomplished. Practising Yoga on a regular basis can help to overcome total physical end mental relaxation at its simplest level. Yoga is union with all. Yoga is a practical aid, not a religion, and it's techniques may be practised by buddhists, christians, muslims, jews, hindus and atheists alike.
If you would like to read more please visit the yoga page

Yoga and Chakra.

What are chakras?

'Chakra' originates from a Sanskrit word which means 'wheel'. If you work with them you can see them as individual primary chakra's as a rotating vortex or a wheel of energy, each one relating to the others. The energy spinning inwards towards the center point of that charkra on the front of the body then spinning outwards from the back at the same point as the front. There are hundreds of secondary chakras located throughout the body otherwise known as meridians which are used for acupuncture but there are seven primary chakra points. Just for your information, the Kundalini is a coil of energy and is fixed at the base of the spinal column. There are references of the word in the old testament where there are clues of Moses using the practice and its effects, the burning of the bush is one metaphor.
There are numerous religious metaphors for the process as the serpent energy is raised to the head.

Where are the Chakras?

They start from the base of the spine, each with its own colour, in a line, moving up the spinal column up through and onto the head on the Kundalini.


Base chakra which is red found at the base of the spine. Is deeply rooted, its the grounding force allowing us to connect to the energies of the earth filling us with empowerment. The adrenal glands and anus are related to the root chakra, In order to function properly and effectively, the root chakra needs to be grounded, without this you are spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically clumsy. Grounding on a daily basis enhances effective functioning.
Root/Base chakra stones: Ruby and red coral.
Root/Base chakra foods: food rich in protein, Root vegetables and hot peppery spices.



Sacral chakra which is Orange found in the lower abdomen. when functioning correctly can help balance the yin-yang. This is where an individuals creativity side is centered, it is also primarily thought of as the center for the sexual energy. also connected to the sacral chakra are sexual energy in general, emotions, vitality, reproduction, and fertility, if you are having any difficulties with these areas, then this chakra needs to be unblocked, this can be achieved by physical transmission of rhythmic energy.
Sacral Chakra stones: Tigers eye, Garnet, Moonstone and carnelian.
Sacral Chakra foods: Nuts, Honey, spices such as Vanilla, Carob, Caraway seeds,
Sesame seeds, Cinnamon and sweet paprika. Sweet fruits such as coconuts, oranges, Mango's, Melons, and more.


Solar Plexus chakra which is yellow found in the naval area and is related to our self esteem. During puberty and the development of the ego is found here. This is where you delve into the self to find your inner balance and boundary point. from here you find who you are and how to control your thoughts, your inner understanding of the physical world. relating to the digestive system, the solar plexus chakra is associated with action, empowerment, assertiveness and the ego. The life force or chi is found here if not functioning correctly can lead you to feeling tired, with drawn and powerless.
Solar Plexus chakra stones: Citrine, jasper and Topaz.
Solar Plexus chakra foods: carbohydrate, whole foods.


Heart chakra which is Green or Pink found in the heart area, the heart chakra is viewed as the love centre of the energy system. also associated with
Fear,Love,Pain,Grief,Heartbreak and other emotions intensely felt in this energy center, this is where the art of positive thinking comes in to play, by loving the self and believing in the self is a healthy form of therapy to build on balancing the heart chakra it is the purest form of healing. Placed where the unconditional love is based, it is a creative and powerful energy often leading and guiding us through unsettled times, it is constantly there and only needs our attention in order to free us from our limitations and fears. always try not to judge, but understand and accept. always try to love instead of hate. As long as we maintain a positive and loving thinking pattern creates a safe happy space for our selves.
Heart chakra stones: Rose quartz and rhodonite.
Heart chakra foods: Vegetables which are leafy, peas, avocados, kiwi fruit, green peppers, green apples, green grapes, and broccoli.


Throat chakra which is sky Blue found in the throat area, the center of our voice, here we are able to express ourselves, the point of communications.
In order to maintain a healthy throat chakra we must express ourselves honestly and openly, by telling untruths or by deception to others only blocks the throat chakras by energetically polluting it, it not only violates the ears of the listener but also our own bodies and spirits are harmed. Laryngitis, strep throat and speech impediments are the cause of imbalance caused if we fail to express our true feelings or try to evade our true words.Tell the truth with out being harsh, try to be humble, open and receptive, when judgement impales your thought, try to look inside and find the truth, when we look inside for the truth, we trust our own intuitive.
Throat chakra stones:Aquamarine, Chrysocolla, Sapphire, Lapis, Sodalite, Lapis Lazuli, and blue topaz
Throat chakra foods: Blue cabbage, Blueberries and eggplant.



Brow/Third eye chakra which is Indigo found on the brow, also known as the third eye chakra, related to our mental calculations and thought process. through the third eye chakra,
we are able to assess our past experiences our life patterns putting them all into perspective. Through the third eye chakra we are able to separate fantasy from
reality enabling us to understand what we see physically and mentally. A receptive brow chakra that auric hues and other visual insights are intuited clairvoyant.
This chakra is related to inner vision, imagination and physical abilities also to the pituitary gland as is a link between the inner and outer world of our
being. When the brow chakra is not functioning correctly, there can be problems with headaches and eye tension.
Brow/Third eye chakra stones:Blue Obsidian, Celestine, Blue Tourmaline, Amethyst, Lavender Quartz, Garnet, and Lepidolite.
Brow/Third eye chakra foods: Grapes, brinjals and Asparagus.


Crown chakra which is Violet or White found on the top of the head, when functioning correctly this chakra allows the inner communication between the spiritual nature to
take place. once opened the crown chakra acts as a pathway for the universal life force to enter our bodies, travelling down into the other chakras. Often
considered as the lotus flower, its petals are seen as a spiritual awakening, The Crown chakra, like a bottomless well,is where intuitive knowledge is drawn from.
The crown chrakra is related to the pineal gland. When you are able to connect to the Christ consciousness is said that we are able to release all that is negative
which are born from old past negative influences. Our fear turns to courage, and guilt turns to acceptance.
Crown chakra stones: Golden Beryl, Howlite, Lavender Quartz, Amethyst, Ametrine, and Diamonds.
Crown chakra foods: Endives, Mushrooms, soy beans and olives.

I hope this has been of some use. to learn more about yoga please see our yoga book or listen to our yoga cd If your company wishes to learn yoga as a group then visit our corporate yoga page to learn more.

yoga and diet.

Yoga and Diet

Eating the right food to coincide with the other four principles of yoga is essential to a healthier body and lifestyle, a healthy diet compliments your yoga exercises, breathing, relaxation and meditation. It is important to eat a well balanced diet, you will notice the benefits by feeling fitter and quicker. Although yoga diet is not your average diet, you can lose weight eating healthier foods, if you don't wish to become a vegetarian, just following the basic yoga diet plan will make you that much fitter.

Fasting

Yoga diet is not always about what you eat, it's also about fasting also, this is a form of physical cleansing, purification. By fasting we are giving our digestive systems a chance to rest, on average, we make our digestive organs work three times a day, that is OK if the right foods are consumed but a rest is always good. Fasting helps our body to rest from over indulgence, also to free us from toxin. We must be careful on how to fast. simple guide lines must be taken.

• Always go one day at a time, this will give you a feel on how fasting can feel and how you cope with it, if you do one day at a time this makes going for longer periods in the future, you will adjust easier.
  

• If you are someone who eats three full meals a day and have a habit of snacking in between meals, then fasting will not be easy for you. maybe if you try eating one healthy meal a day with vegetables and grains for lunch and instead of snacking on food, drink fresh juices and water instead, not only will this be beneficial to your health, it will also make fasting one day at a time easier for when you are ready.
  

• There are different types of fasting, water, fruit juices or vegetable juices, when you have decided which one suits you best, stick to it, sip slowly, it is advisable to take around seven glasses a day whilst fasting.
  

• The idea of fasting is to try and proceed to increasing the amount of days in which to fast. some people can go for 5 days fasting but if you find it difficult, try snacking on days in between on light foods such as vegetables, soups, fruits or juices then fast the following day, eventually, your body will become adapted to fasting easier.
  

The right foods

• A proper yoga diet comprises of the following
• Wholemeal bread
• cereals
• Yogurt
• fresh fruit
• fresh veg
• pastas, potatoes and rice
• fruit juices
• milk
• seeds
• nuts and lintels
• cheese
• butter
• herbs
• honey
• wholemeal foods.

Despite beliefs and suspicions from meat eaters, vegetarians actually have a better balance diet than if they were meat eaters themselves. Everything a vegetarian eats has all the vital ingredients, not all vegetarian food is uninteresting, bland or dull. compared to meat eaters, vegetarians have a lower track record of heart diseases, cancer, kidney diseases and stroke, their Resistance to such diseases are stronger also, cases of obesity is lower in vegetarians than meat eaters.

I hope this has been of use to you. If you wish to know more please visit our web page on the yoga book or if you would like your company or a group to get involved with yoga then go see our corporate page. also have a look at the yoga CD

Yoga and relaxation.

Yoga and relaxation

Relaxation is one of the five main principles in Yoga and is as vital as the other four, when practiced properly the effects are rewarding. There are three areas in which to concentrate on becoming completely relaxed, I will go a little more into depth explaining their effects shortly. They are physical relaxation, mental relaxation and Spiritual relaxation, all are obtainable and very beneficial for a healthier, happier mind, body and spirit.

Many people have forgotten the importance of relaxing, it is natures way of recharging the bodies batteries. Watching T.V. or reading the News paper, drinking a cup of tea or hot chocolate maybe even listening to music, these are ways to relax physically but what about the mind? Is it racing with thoughts flitting in and out? When the mind is restless the body is unable to ease, free your thoughts to quiet the mind. Are you spiritually at ease? Like the mind, if your thoughts are unsettled or ugly, the body cannot obtain complete peace. To be truly relaxed you need to have the ability to practice all three areas.

Here are a few tips on how to practice towards better relaxation.

Physical relaxation: This exercise is known as the corpse pose. Lie on your back, steady your breathing, make it regular, slow and deep,imagine if you can a wave of relaxation starting off in the toes, imagine they are warm and heavy. Allow this feeling to slowly spread up and throughout the feet, ankles, the shins and into the knees. Let the sensation sink deep into the skin and further still into the bones. Allow the feeling to continue up into the thighs, hips waist and stomach, the lower half of your body should be feeling totally relaxed and heavy, this is good. Continue to spread this wave of relaxation up, around and throughout the upper part of the body, slowly, concentrating on your breathing, focusing on the body parts you want to relax. You may find that by the time you have reached your arms,
there is a sense of peaceful numbness in your lower half, this is what you want. Now allow your thoughts to concentrate on your right hand and arm, moving slowly up
and across the shoulders into the left hand and arm, feel the tingling in your fingers as they rest. Focus on the tension flowing away from your body as you continue to breath deep and slow, feel the warmth travel into your neck, your face, the back and finally onto the top of your head. feel your body as it lies safe on the ground. When you have finished you will not find any tension, you will be completely relaxed.

Mental relaxation: It is almost impossible to relax if your mental state is unstable or uneasy. The mind can become overloaded because of a variety of stimulants.
The mind when troubled, or worried can cause physical fatigue, by worrying we use a lot of energy, but it is not the kind of energy that results on relaxation, it is an energy that drains us, often leading to tension which uses more energy than physical work. It is important each day to set aside a little time to release tension, to allow the mind to unwind. In times of mental stress, try to concentrate on your breathing, breath slow and rhythmically just for several minutes, this breathing method will require conscious effort, but enable you to home in on your thought patterns to calm your busy mind, leading to an inner peace which coincides with the physical relaxation.

Spiritual relaxation: When I mention spiritual relaxation, I am referring to the inner self at ease, which is often followed by finely tuning physical and mental relaxation. To me, reaching a spiritual relaxation is realizing that true happiness comes from within, that you and you alone can bring peace to your soul through your own spiritual beliefs and feelings.

I hope this has been of some use to you.

You can find more about how to relaxation correctly for a healthier mind and body in the book "The Sivananda Yoga Training Manual". A comprehensive booklet outlining the five principles of yoga. You will find the Yoga book

If your workforce could do with healthier lifestyles you may consider Corporate Yoga for your workplace. Also take a look at the Yoga CD

Yoga and Exercise

Yoga and exercise.

The basics.

How easy is it to get started? Very, all you need is a positive attitude, loose fitting clothes, a willingness to open yourself to learning, to enlightenment. It is normally advisable to practice yoga on an empty stomach.

There are Yoga poses to partake in and they are as followed:

• Warm up Poses: This is a general warm up to loosen tight muscles, each level of yoga can offer different levels of warm ups.

• standing Poses: Again it all depends on what level yoga sessions you attend or practice, in general this covers hands to feet Pose, triangle Pose, sun salutation, Tree Pose, Stretch Pose, Warrior Pose and Stand spread leg forward fold.
  

• Seated Poses: These are exercises whilst seated, it is normal practice to use a yoga mat. The poses from this position again, according to the level you are on. Child Pose, Hero Pose, Spread leg forward fold, and seated forward bend.
  

• Supine Poses: This means exercise on your back, face up. Leg pulls, Leg raises, loctus Pose, Leg reclining Lunge and wind relieving Pose.

• Twist Poses: These exercises are wonderful for strengthening the back also for massaging the abdominal regions and improving the digestive system. The half spinal twist and sage twist.
  

• Back bends: These exercises are good for strengthening the arms, legs and abdomen and Offering flexibility in the spine.

• Inverted Postures,Balance Poses: These exercises are for increasing circulation, improving glandular system functioning, stimulating the brain and abdominal pressure relief. Plough, Headstand and Shoulder stand.
  

• Finishing Poses: These are as the title states, a relaxation for the end of a session.The final Corpse, The Corpse Pose or Savasana.
  

Yoga exercises are set in place to maintain a healthy mind as well as body, if you persevere with all the yoga pose the benefits are very rewarding, for mind, body and spirit. The beauty about Yoga practice is that you can practice at home or the office or any place you feel comfortable, it is always advisable not to exceed your limits, never go beyond your comfort zone unless you know what your are doing. You can book into a class where a professional Yoga teacher can offer you sound advice also teach you new techniques.

If you want to know more about yoga exercises and the other main principles then you may want to take a look at our yoga book. If you are looking towards
practicing corporate yoga and it's benefits then you may want to visit our corporate yoga page. Please take a look at our Yoga CD page

I hope this information has been of some use to you.

SEO and keyword/phrases

SEO and Keyword/Phrases

Keyword and/or keyword phrases are one of the most important Assets in the search engine optimisation business, it is important because it is what a prospective customer or visitor to your site may be looking for.

The keyword/phrase tool I find most effective which I use all the time is Google Adwords, it would be a good idea to create a google account, this will enable you access to this useful keyword tool. Once you have been granted access. Click on Advertising Programmes, next, click on Google Adwords, this will bring you to a page with a green bar, click on opportunities, about half way down on the next page on the left hand side you will come across the header 'Tools', click on Keyword Tool, this should bring you to the Keyword tool page.

There is a box in the centre of the page just below where it states 'Enter one keyword or phrase per line'. In that box type in your preferred keyword or keyphrase, if you are unaware of the differences between keyword and keyphrase search, 'keyword' is a single word search and a 'keyphrase' comprises of two words or more. Here's an example of what to do. In the box I typed the word 'jumprope' then pressed the 'Get keyword button', immediately below this button
there is a button titled 'Choose columns to be displayed', hit the down arrow symbol, in this incident I have opted for the 'Advertiser Competition' and also for 'The Local search volume'. The advertiser competition option lets you see the competition for how high or low the competition is for your chosen keyword/phrase, and the local search volume option gives you the figures as to how many searches were made on your keyword/phrase search.

When I hit the 'get keyword ideas' button the results show that the competition for the word 'jumprope' is pretty high this is indicated by a small oblong shaped box, the more blue, the higher the competition. Ideally you need the competition to be as low as possible in order to give you a better chance to get your website to the first page of the search engine. On the left, you will notice a list of additional keywords to be considered, it would be beneficial to you if you take a look, there are often some hidden gems just waiting to be found. For example 'wooden skipping rope' shows there is less competition and there are more people searching for that particular keyphrase.

I also like to use another solution for finding keyword/phrase traffic by opening another browser window, in the search engine I type in the desired keyword/phrase this is the Result, 1 - 10 of about 2,900,000 for jumprope. This is the figure of how many websites/people are using jumprope as their keyword. This is not especially good as there are only 480 Local searches. Try using another suggested keyword/phrase on the Adwords page. When investigation further, I came across the keyphrase , as mentioned earlier 'Wooden skipping rope' the results told another story, showing an 880 local search volume, the competition Results 1 - 10 of about 163,000 for wooden skipping rope. The difference is staggering and can make for a successful business if the website had 'wooden skipping rope' in the title.

The secret to finding the perfect keyword/phrase is to keep thinking of varied ways of phrasing or sometimes miss-spelling a word works well.

If you want to know more about SEO then please visit Oneklick

I hope this information has been of some use to you.

Meditation and yoga.

Yoga and meditation.


What is meditation?

Meditation derives from the latin words Mederi and meditari. Mederi meaning is to heal and meditari meaning is to think. Relaxation for the brain.

Meditation means awareness. meditation takes its form in many ways, being aware of your breathing, lying in darkness listening to rian falling, sitting outdoors listening to the birds, infact it can be anything that eases you, anything that does not distract your mind from the moment, it
occurs when you are only aware of the moment you feel free, when the mind is scatter free, true inner peace. Meditation is a way of life, it is not prayer.

Meditation has become popular in the modern world with a variety of people. Although there are many beneficial aspects in meditating, it still has to be properly understood.

In yoga, meditation is one of the 5 principles to a healthier being, it can be truely attained by going through several stages, your personal state of mind, your posture, and your breathing, what follows is the relaxation and then your mind and body moves into the advanced stages
of meditation. The advanced stages are deeper concentration, reflection, and total immersion. You don't have to be able to perfect one of these stages in order to move on to the next, effectively meditation works using all of the stages integrated. There are instructors who will concentrate on one stage rather than all, but whichever works for you, use it.


If you want to learn more about meditation or the 5 principles of yoga, then click on the yoga book link. You can buy "The sivinanda yoga training manual".
from the shiva yoga for all website. You may also be interested in taking a look at corporate yoga
Please take a look at our yoga CD page.

I hope this information has been of some use to you.

Yoga and breathing

What is Yoga Breathing?

Learning to breath correctly through Yoga breathing or scientifically speaking 'Pranayama' helps with breath control.
Properly used the respiratory system can exchange gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) ensuring an efficient energy system.

There are a number of exercises tailored to meet the needs of the body to maintain a healthy and vibrant life be it spiritually, physically, emotionally and mentally.

Breathing can be looked upon as the inner source of life and by monitoring our breathing habits makes us more aware of the connections between mind, body and spirit.

Our bodies go through a natural process, inhaling oxygen which charges our body with the necessary energy.
On exhaling the carbon dioxide takes away any toxins from within us, thus removing harmful poisons.

Because of the many stresses facing us each day through work, money and family pressures, we are not aware of our breathing patterns which at times of stress are shallow and short, denying our lungs the oxygen which can often lead to many serious illnesses, such as sleeping disorders and heart diseases.

Starving the body of it's oxygen can also lead to fatigue, when the body is restless
the mind is affected, therefore negative thought patterns seep in and of course this has a knock on effect, leading us back to stress and the inability to deal with it.

Why is it important to breath correctly?

Practising breathing exercises is one of the 5 main principles behind the art of yoga which was discovered in the early days by masters of yoga. They found that by practising the art of breathing properly feeds the body with the right amount of oxygen to cleanse the mind and body of toxins, of course there are other more important reasons to breath, as stated earlier, breathing is vital for keeping the body functioning correctly, and for carrying toxins away.

Oxygen is the provider of the vital nutrients, without it the efficient functioning of the brain and body would not work, without it we will die within minutes.

Blood in our bodies becomes purified when we practise our breathing, taking in extra oxygen speeds up the process which gives us more energy.

Below are a few facts about the effects of oxygen in our bodies.

• Breathing is the major requirement for energy.

• Breathing purifies the blood system and by doing so the whole body works effectively.

• The solar plexus is recharged with oxygen, by this I mean it recharges the batteries so to speak.

• Aging of the skin is slowed down.

How to breath properly.

As human beings it is a natural process for the body to take in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, but the majority of the time we are not aware of it. By not noticing we can easily slip into bad habits, such as poor body posture, poor diet or living with stress, all these factors can restrict the breathing, which is often the cause of ill health.

It's easy for me to sit here, preaching about how to breath properly, we have always breathed as we do, it's habitual and old habits are hard to break. But it can be altered with practise.

Yoga practises breathing as one of its 5 key principles, it helps to be seated in the correct posture also. Try this little exercise for your self,

If you have a clock in the same room as you, try to concentrate on the sound and rhythm, really listen to the pattern of the ticking. If you lose concentration, don't worry just keep trying and pay attention to the sound. Feel it ticking in your mind. The secret is to keep trying.
If you find concentrating on the ticking easy, then your breathing will have become deeper or longer, but if you could not concentrate, the breathing will become faster or shallow, if this happens keep trying, the more you practice the easier it becomes.

Try to breath through the nose, this is the first and correct rule for breathing. From an early age a lot of people breath through the mouth which could effect the development of the thyroid Gland development. The nose has a number of defence mechanisms, which purifies the air which we breath in, the mouth does not, breathing through the mouth allows for too much cold air, and impurities to enter the body.

The nose has for its first line of defence, hairs which trap dust particles or small insects, further in the nose, there is a mucus lined passage where the air is warmed and any fine dust is trapped here. The inner nose have glands fighting off the remainder of smaller particles, which slipped
through the other defences, this is where the glands which detect smell (olfactory organ), which warn us of poisonous gasses.

You can find more about how to breath correctly for a healthier mind and body in the book "The Sivananda Yoga Training Manual". A comprehensive booklet outlining the five principles of yoga.

The 5 principle keys can be found in the Yoga book found on the website which this link, you may want to take a look at the corporate yoga page. Please take a look at the Yoga CD page.

Corporate Yoga

Corporate Yoga.

Are you, your collegues, management, team leaders all suffering from work related stress?
When you sit at your desk, or in your office looking out at the rest of the team do you see energetic, positive people?

Are the staff happy, motivated, do they give 100% in their jobs?
Do you or the staff suffer from any of the following?

• Suffering from work related stress?
• Back pains, neck pains or headaches?
• Feeling lethargic or sluggish?
• overwhelmed by deadlines?
• Taking too many days off work sick?
• unable to keep your mind on the job because of a wandering mind?
• Get easily frustrated with your work, your colleagues, even your customers?

I bet you have answered yes to the majority of those questions. If you did, there is a solution, and the answer is Corporate yoga

What is Corporate yoga?

Put simply, it is yoga brought to you in your work place where everyone can join in, it promotes to well being, personal development and increased self esteem. You dont have to be super flexible to start training just willing to participate and allow the magic of Yoga to work through you.

Yoga can strengthen the immune system and the vital organs of the body, which means you will be able to fight off illness's that normaly keep you from your work.

Yoga balances the right and left sides of the brain, thus ensuring quicker problem solving, bigger, better ideas also an enthusiastic approach to your work.

Yoga teaches you how to breath properly, shows you how to use the full capasity of your lungs, taking in more oxygen which leads to better concentration eliminating depression low self esteem which increases levels of endorphins in the blood.

Regular Yoga training teaches you how to hold your posture properly reducing back and neck pains.

There are 5 principles to yoga, they are:

• Relaxation.
• exercise
• breathing
• Diet
  
• Positive thinking and meditation.
  

The 5 principles can all be found in "The sivananda yoga training manual" along with other written works. The yoga book is a handy way to learn about yoga. Please take a look at our Yoga CD page

I hope the imformation I have provided is of some use to you.

more later
JudeR