New Year, New Perspective: How to Nourish not Neglect your body“80% of New Year Resolutions fail by the second week of February” Wow. That's a BIG number... Social fitness app ‘Strava’ have taken research one step further in predicting 19th January 2020 specifically to be what they have dubbed ‘Quitters Day’ – The date that more resolutions fall by the wayside than any other based on analysis of workout trends around the world last year and the fall off activity on that date. Interesting stuff. I am all for intention setting, dreaming big, and manifesting magic into you life… But are the days of the old restriction based new year's resolutions past? Incorporating healthier choices and being more active if you feel that serves you is great, especially if your health and wellbeing may have taken a backseat over the festive season - However, what we may need is a perspective change. What happens if we replace the restrictive: ‘My resolution is to stop eating chocolate’ (for example) with a more positive: ‘I can’t wait to enjoy more nutritious, healthy, home cooked food and feel good!’? Ways to Nourish not Neglect Set out time for youIn our busy ‘on-the-go’ lives it can often be hard to find the time for us. So let’s be realistic. Let’s start with 10 minutes every day, or if that’s not manageable, 20 mins every other day, 30mins a week - whatever works for you. Writing down intentions in a diary, post-it, or phone (alert/reminders are great for this) makes it way more likely that you’ll actually do that thing. 1.2-1.4 more likely to successfully accomplish goals to be precise - Neuroscience says so! i.e ‘today I’m going to take 30 minutes of me-time with a beautiful relaxing hot bath.’ And if you’re struggling with getting started on this, then I highly recommend The 5 Minute Journal (think journaling for busy people!) As it says - it only takes 5 minutes a day - and in my opinion a life-changing and magical way to start and end your end with gratitude (and no I’m not being paid to say that, or any of this for that matter, I just genuinely love and recommend it to everyone!) Find a sacred spaceThis doesn’t have to be an elaborate space. Maybe it’s your yoga mat. Maybe it’s your garden. Maybe you have a special corner of your house where you love to relax / read / watch the world go by. Wherever feels like a space for you - however big or small. Cleansing your sacred space with incense, essential oils, home-grown sage, or crystals can be a beautiful way to create a protective barrier around your space, to heighten the senses and really tune in. Mindful movementIt’s January. You’ve no doubt been bombarded with a hoard of guilt inducing ‘get back to the gym you lazy so and so’ style ads already. Now, if the gym’s your thing and makes you feel good, then that’s awesome :) However, personally, I’ve found that pushing myself to get up at 5am when it’s cold and dark outside to get to the gym before work can feel great on day one, but ultimately then feels like a chore and completely the opposite by day three or four: No fun. No fun at all. For me, the ‘no pain no gain mentality’ is something that is quite far fetched from the daily norm, so then undertaking the new ‘hitting it hard’ regime at a time seasonally in which we’re designed to hibernate is something that seems massively difficult. Thus typically failing and feeling rubbish. If like me you find much more enjoyment and success in a more holistic approach to being active, why not start to plan in a more gentle, nourishing hatha yoga practice or two into your week? There's a whole wealth of apps & online yoga out there nowadays.. why not check out a few short and sweet practices with me on my Hazel Lily Yoga YouTube channel to get started? If you’re looking to support even more local independent teachers, then I highly recommend ‘Yoga with Anita’ for some lovely accessible at home yoga practices. Sample some of her yoga videos from 1min-1 hour. If you’re in Barry Vale of Glamorgan, prefer a class setting, and would like to try a full 60 or 75 minute hatha yoga class, then you're invited to experience ‘Yoga Me-Time’ today my friend! Breathe consciouslyIt might sound simple but breathing is important. Breathing consciously and mindfully - even more important. There is a big emphasis on breath work ‘pranayama’ in traditional yoga and for good reason. Studies have proven the importance of breathing deeply and fully, using all parts of our breathing capacity - the lower abdominal, mid chest, and upper lobes, bringing with it many benefits. In “slowing down our breathing, calming our mind, and practising focused awareness and meditation we start to activate our parasympathetic nervous system. This reverses the action of our stress response” comments Dr Cath Jenkins in ‘How does Yoga Work?’ In daily life we will encounter stressful situations. Unfortunately these cannot be avoided! However, how we deal with these situations is key. Using deep, slow, mindful breaths to calm ourselves is a simple yet highly effective tool that we can take with us wherever we go. Rest. Relax. RefuelJanuary is notoriously a bit of a dreary month after all the christmas festivities and much merriment. Let’s remember that it’s still winter - A time our bodies need to rest, relax, and refuel in these darker colder months where we have little of the sun's natural prana on our side. A time to be kind, nurture, and nourish your body, mind & soul with goodness. If you’re body is crying out for a little extra rest, try and honour that. Eating seasonally, locally, and ethically has great benefits (for our wellbeing and our planet) so maybe start by making one change to our weekly/monthly habits that help both. Perhaps shopping at your local fruit and veg shop for local organic produce once a month and see how you go? … A few tips to help nourish and in turn feel blissful. But remember be kind. Let’s not put pressure on ourselves to do all of the things all at once (unless you want to of course)As my great, wise yoga teachers say “Do your best, and leave the rest!” :) So, how about seeing in the new year with ease and a new kinder perspective. Whether or not you have resolutions, goals, dreams, or nourishing inspiration for the year ahead let’s take the first step to being kind and blissfully feed our mind, body, and soul - rather than neglecting with the restrictions and the ‘I will nots’. And why not start today? The time is now my friend! Let’s join together, wherever we may be, and carve out just 10 minutes for ourselves… On that note, I’m now going to take a break, put the kettle on, enjoy a cuppa and light my new gorgeous Bare Co. wild mint soy candle whilst reflecting on my nourishing intentions for the weeks ahead of me. Let me know how you’re choosing to nourish your body today in the comments below...
New Years Blessings my beautiful friends! Namaste, Hazel xx
2 Comments
22/2/2020 02:40:36 pm
Hazel,
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Hazel
24/2/2020 09:25:29 am
Thank you so much for reading and commenting Sue! I'm glad you've enjoyed and found some of the tips helpful :) Lovely for you to take the time to say so 🙏
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