The importance and benefits of Massage Therapy

  What is mindfulness and what are the benefits of practicing it? We live in a busy modern world and our days are often spent trying to juggle various commitments such as family and work and so it is little wonder that it can be difficult to find the time to slow down and become fully present without feeling distracted by various external stimuli. Developing the process of mindfulness means to become fully present in the current moment without interpretation or judgement. This can be a real art in itself as so many of us live our lives either dwelling on emotions felt from the past or looking into the future which means that becoming fully focussed on the present is not always possible . Have you ever been talking to a friend on the phone whilst you are doing something else at the same time or watching television whilst eating a meal? In both of these examples your attention is distracted which prevents you from connecting to the present moment. Mindfulness is a form of knowing ...

  4 conscious breathing techniques to improve health and wellbeing Breathing is something we all do naturally but were you aware that changing the way you breathe so it is done in a more conscious way can adjust the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps to reduce the release of cortisol and other stress hormones which in turn help to slow down our heart rate, improve digestion and lower blood pressure promoting a sense of calm and wellness in the mind and body. On average we may take around 16 breaths per minute, therefore becoming more aware of the way we breathe can be hugely beneficial to our health, wellness and how we perform in our everyday lives. Conscious breathing can be done anywhere at any time, but for best results sit, stand or lay down in a quiet space whilst performing the following 4 breathing techniques . Belly breath (diaphragmatic breathing) The belly breath encourages us to breathe more deeply, ideally so we can fill our lungs to full capacity as most of t...

  6 mudras to encourage the optimal flow of healing in the body and improve wellbeing, hold each position for as long as is comfortable. Namaste mudra To harmonize and connect with the higher self and to show respect and gratitude too others Press both palms together, fingers pointing upwards, letting thumbs gently rest together. Take elbows out to the sides and hold position around the chest area. Divine connection mudra Expression of oneness with the universe and allows a deeper connection with ourselves Touch tip of first finger with the tip of the thumb on the same hand. Keep rest of fingers extended in a relaxed manner can also repeat mudra with the other hand at the same time. Energy balancing mudra Balances and cleanses energy, removes toxins and enhances inner harmony within the body and mind. Touch thumb to tips of the middle and ring finger and extend other fingers gently repeat on the other hand if you wish. Energy charging mudra Stimulates energy a...

  What are Mudras and how can they help create energy in the body? A mudra is a symbolic or ritual pose which originates from the Indian Vedic culture and in sanskrit means gesture, some mudras involve the whole body but most are performed by bringing the hand and fingers together to form a specific pattern which when occurs can release energy within the body. So how do mudras work? Our body is an  incredibly intricate communication device, if the brain needs to communicate a message for us to take action it will do so by transmitting nerve impulses which then allow neurones to communicate with each other, information to be processed and the relevant action taken. Our hands carry motor and sensory mechanisms and by performing mudras we are able to send messages back to the brain allowing the body to open up the relevant energy centres including the chakras and allow energy to flow at an optimal level. Mudras are most commonly performed during yoga or meditation sitting c...

  How the colours we associate ourselves with can affect every aspect of our wellbeing The world we live in is alight with colour but were you aware of the effects different colours could have on your mental, physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing?   The use of colour therapy can helps us to understand the positives and benefits of the use of colour within our lives. So what are some of the ways we can use colour for effect? The most obvious is through the clothes we wear, how often do you give a lot of thought as to the outfit you choose on a daily basis and yet subconsciously depending on our moods we will be drawn to wear certain colours to reflect how we are feeling, this of course will also depend on the accessories we choose, another example is when decorating your home do you think about how the colours you choose will make your home feel either warm and cosy or cold?   Many women dye their hair depending on how they feel within themselves or if they have ...

    The significance of the chakras : Crown (Sahasrara) Position: 7 th located at crown of head Colour: purple or white     Organs and glands associated : pineal gland, upper brain Crystals and stones : apaphylite, amethyst, purple fluorite, selenite Planets:   Uranus Chakra mantra: Aum Direction of spin : counter clockwise    Element: thought   Affirmations:   ‘I choose to let go of all control so I can see my life path more clearly’, I surrender my ego and choose to let things come to me as they are meant to’, ‘I trust in the divine energies to guide me to my chosen life path’, ‘Everything that happens to me is for a reason to develop my spiritual self’ Governing attributes: higher self, cosmic forces, divine consciousness The crown chakra or Sahasrara as it is known in Sanskrit is the final main energy centre located at the top of the head and operates at the highest vibration. It is our connection to the spirit world...

  The significance of the chakras : Third Eye (Ajna) Position: 6 th located between eyebrows Colour: indigo or purple     Organs and glands associated : brain, central nervous system and pituitary gland Crystals and stones :      Azurite, amethyst, sodalite, lapis lazuli    Planets:   Jupiter Chakra mantra: Ksham or Om     Direction of spin : clockwise    Element: light   Affirmations:   ‘I focus to open up my psychic abilities so I can see and understand others better’, ‘   I manifest only positive changes into my life’, ‘ I choose to focus only on good vibrations and thoughts’, ‘I am willing to open my third eye to get a clearer perception of the world I live in’ Governing attributes: meditative, intuition, physic abilities, intuition, self-knowledge, insight The third eye chakra or Ajna as it is known in Sanskrit is a feminine chakra, it is connected to gaining knowledge, intuition and phys...