Meditation and Mantras for Meditation.

Meditation has become a big part of my life. I feel better when I meditate. I make better discussions, I don't get as upset when things go belly up, and I laugh more.

I mix up the meditation styles I use, depending on the day and how I feel. I also play around with the time of day that I mediate and for how long.
I use mostly the Vipassana techniques for meditation but occasionally I throw in a heart mediation or a candle flame to focus on.

I find early morning the best between five and six am the best. I attempt two sessions a day with another around 4pm but this does not always work. If you can get it to happen it's really powerful to meditate twice in a day.

I sometimes used Mantras and here are some of my favourite.
I am capable, I know who I am and I'm enough.
I choose to be present in all that I do.
I know with time and effort I can achieve.
Each step is taking me to where I want to be
My perfect new path is already selected and will arrive at the right time. I'll be shown the steps to receive it.

Read this article in Yoga International

about meditations with mantras

Empowered by saying No

Saying No 
I'm seriously considering saying no to alcohol.
No to sugar.
No to processed food eg in a packet or tin
No to time commitments that are compromising 
No to things that make me feel uneasy or I just don't won't to do.
I'm inspired by this article,

This piece is part of a month-long Wanderlust and YOGANONYMOUS series about self-love.

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I was 21 years old when I was given my “dream job” at a prestigious travel magazine.

I’d been interning at the magazine for several months, living in D.C. and trying to adjust to the bustling, always “busy, busy, busy” energy of living in our political center. I wasn’t adjusting very well. I missed riding my bike around my old campus in Iowa City, taking creative writing classes at the Writers’ Workshop, and spending hours journaling in local cafes and my favorite park off Washington Street. Life in 

Iowa was slow, mostly blissful, and the way I lived felt creative and fulfilling.

So when I wandered into the editor-in-chief’s office for a random meeting he'd scheduled, I had no idea what to expect. He was a big, burly man who carried himself with a lot of confidence, and though I truly respected him, I also feared him. Frankly, he absolutely scared the shit out of me.
The minute he offered me the job I knew it was a "no" but instead I heard a resounding "yes" escaping my lips. I felt the effects physically—a pit in my stomach, sweaty palms, and a tidal wave of anxiety. My body said no but my mind argued.
“Four years in journalism school and you want to turn down National Geographic?”

Not happening.

So I took the job, moved all of my belongings from Iowa City to Washington, D.C., and, to be honest, I learned a lot. I learned what I love and what I don’t. I fell madly in love with yoga, blogs, and traveling during this time. All things that have well
served me since.

Saying “yes” when I really wanted to say “no” (or even shout it from the rooftops) is something I’ve done countless times. I’ve said "yes" when I felt "no"—to relationships, jobs, and even sometimes coffee dates.

At the turn of the new year my Instagram feed was full of intentions, affirmations, and saying a big, resounding YES to every adventure. But you know what my gut reaction was? NO. A big, fat no. That "no" was going to be my word this year and that I was going learn to love this word... Hard.

I’m approximately 37 days into 2016 and I’ve said "no" to a lot of things so far.

I’ve said no to Facebook and deleted my account. Why? I always felt utterly drained five minutes into it and couldn’t remember why I opened my computer in the first 

place.

I’ve said no to alcohol because at 32 hangovers hurt and I’m getting up to some really big, fulfilling shit this year.

I said no to teaching extra yoga classes to focus on coaching, writing, and digging into my own home practice.

I’ve said no to a few evenings with friends because I’ve just really needed to be at home and to feel grounded. And man, Netflix is so good lately.

How is saying "no" (something considered negative) actually self-love (something positive)? Well, when you say no to busyness, mindless scrolling, and complaining, what are you saying yes to?

No gets such a bad connotation, but in order to truly know what lights us up and our non-negotiables, we must, must, must (!) know what we don’t want. We can even feel our "yes" or "no" physically. Many people feel this energetically or often in their gut. Life coach Martha Beck refers to this as “shackles on, shackles off” and encourages people to move toward what feels like freedom. What feels shackle-free.

What we nurture through self-care and healthy boundaries is what grows, and honestly, saying "no" is healthy for you.

According to research from the University of California in San Francisco, the more
difficulty that you have saying no, the more likely you are to experience burnout, stress, and even depression.

So say "no" with gusto. Honor your boundaries and existing commitments and understand that it’s an offering of self care. 

More on Happiness

A friend was telling me about some happiness research that a leading sports clothing retailer had done and how useful she found their findings in planning for her up and coming Yoga Retreat.  I remembered a longitudinal study done by Harvard University, This study done over 75 years with males from all walks of life show "love"  to be the key to happiness, longevity and mental health and well being. 

Read more about it 

http://aplus.com/a/75-year-harvard-grant-study-happiness?

Another interesting article on happiness talks about the chemicals that can increase or produce levels of happiness. 
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-23924/the-brain-chemicals-that-make-you-happy-and-how-to-trigger-them.html?utm_source=mbg&utm_medium=email&utm_content=daily&utm_campaign=160227-the-brain-chemicals-that-make-you-happy-and-how-to-trigger-them

ASTEYA

Non Stealing 

The first limb of the eight limbs of yoga are the Yamas.

The Yamas are the moral,ethical and spiritual guidelines of a person aspiring to reach balance, health and well being leading to spiritual development. 

The third Yama is ASTEYA.

To practice ASTEYA we need to not take what is not ours, not taking more than we need, and by not taking credit for something we didn't do. We can steal from ourselves by neglecting a talent, or letting a lack of commitment stop us from practicing yoga. You can steal someone's time by being late, or their happiness or ideas. 

If you take something consider how you can give back, ensuring the appropriate energy or amount is returned or reciprocated. Every thing is interconnected. 
Energetically and karmically you create a major imbalance if you take and don't pay back. 

The Beatles "the love you take is equal to the love you make" 
*Build the worlds kindness reserves by giving more than you receive. 
                                                     
                                                            Mantra 
Summon the power of Lakshmi the goddess of light and abundance by chanting 
                                      Om shirim lakshmiye namaha

Happiness is Ice Cream and Home Made Blackberry Coulis

Today my partner and I took a drive down the Channel armed with large yoghurt buckets. The aim was to pick blackberries. We came home with bucket loads of berries, scratched arms and purple fingers. Oh but what bliss- spending time with a loved one outdoors, communing with nature, picking huge, plump, purple berries and eating lots too! Life doesn't get much better. 
Home to freeze the bulk of our mornings work for later use. Frozen in a single layer on a tray and later packed into plastic bags, seperate little frozen berries ready for a pie, crumble or muffins.  
The remainder I made into Coulis - A rich thick tangy sauce to pour over ice cream, pan cakes or to eat with yoghurt Yum Yum Yum! 

• 250g blackberries
  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  
• 50g golden caster sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• Method
• Put the blackberries and sugar into a small pan with 100ml/31⁄2fl oz water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 5 mins until the fruit is soft. Stir in the vanilla, remove and cool a little.

1. Tip the contents of the pan into a blender or food processor, and whizz to a purée, then strain through a sieve, rubbing it through with the back of a ladle or spoon. Serve warm or chilled. Keeps in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Why Do Indian Women Wear Toe Rings 

Wearing toe rings is not just the significance of married women but there is science behind it. Normally toe rings are worn on the second toe. A particular nerve from the second toe connects the uterus and passes to heart. Wearing a toe ring on this toe strengthens the uterus. It will keep it healthy by regulating the blood flow to it and menstrual cycle will be regularised. As Silver is a good conductor, it also absorbs polar energies from the earth and passes it to the body.

 Yoginis wear toe rings for this same reason, even woman who have been through menopause feel the benefits of the energy created. My toe rings and Mala beads are from Silver Nest in Mysore India. Visit my friend Meena and her beautiful silver shop for personalised Mala beads, toe rings and all thing Yogic.

In Search  of Happiness 

Buddhist  Mantra 

I have been saying this prayer or mantra every day for two years now and it has helped to change the way I view happiness.

May I find happiness and the root of all happiness ( repeated several times) 

May ( insert the names of loved ones) find happiness and the root of happiness ( repeat) 

May ( insert the names of close friends) find .........................

May ( name of someone you are indifferent to) ................

May ( name of someone you dislike, or who has been hurtful to you) ..........

May all sentient beings find happiness and the root of all happiness. 

Steps to Happiness! 
1) Lower your expectations
2) Learn to depend / trust yourself
3) Appreciate the simple things
4) Smile, even in a challenge
5) Be kind to others (including self)