The more we make the choice to discard patterns, behaviours, ideals and beliefs that no longer serve us, the more our body works with us to release those held energies in our body, allowing the space for us to express and live from our true essence, which ultimately brings us much joy.

In this article we would also like to offer further support for the “Silly Season” – many of you have shared over the years being affected by it.

The choices we can make at this time of year such as over indulging with food, alcohol, late nights or emotions can all be clearly felt in our bodies. This often leads us to arriving at the end of the year feeling tired, exhausted and in regret. At this point, it is valuable to pause and ask – Is this a reflection of what we would like this festive season to be? Is this in line with the way we are and now live with ourselves and others?

Life is not linear:  we all know that how we end the year will inevitably be the quality in which we enter the new year. Every choice we make is with us until not chosen anymore.

Included below is an article we wanted to share from our fellow Nutritionist and Health practitioner Kathy Byrne offering simple, sensible and wise tips on Dealing with the “Silly Season”. You may also want to revisit our past article Christmas With Connection.

Wishing you all a joy filled festive season and end of year as we complete this current cycle and embrace the new year ahead. We look forward to sharing more with you in 2018.

As our gift to you this year we have another FREE 17 minute audio gentle yoga practise you may like to practice on your own environment over the holiday season.  In this new audio, the session starts lying on your side and finishes on your back.

If you are still looking for ideas of present for a loved one, one of our vouchers could well be the perfect gift. For further information, please visit Gift Voucher page.

Alexandra Plane and Donna Nolan offer Esoteric therapies, Massage therapies, Yoga/Yoga Therapy and Meditation at their clinics in Balmain, Cammeray and Balgowlah. Contact them for enquiries or bookings.

The post Welcoming the Festive Season appeared first on Yoga & Healing | Therapies Massage Exercise Corporate Wellbeing | Sydney, Balmain & Northern Rivers.

December can be a tricky time for many, school finishing, work being busy as we try to get it all done by the end of the year, festivities with Christmas parties, catching up with friends and family, the extra spending, perhaps later nights than usual, eating and drinking more.

What we are emphasising with our clients this month is the importance of honouring yourself throughout December. It is easy to get lost in the busyness of December, the fun activities and the social gatherings, but unless we hold our connection with ourselves, continue to listen to our body and honour what it is that we feel, we can easily get affected or exhausted by it all and then we miss the enjoyment of what December has to offer.

Take stock and remember that the choices we make today are going to have a direct impact on how we feel the next day and the next day. True health and wellbeing is being aware of how we are with ourselves all of the time – including December. Don’t drop the ball, just because it’s December. Have fun but without losing your connection to you.

Some tips to take with you throughout December

• Try not to do too much in any given week or weekend. Space out your social gatherings so that you are not having too many late nights.
• Watch and discern what you eat at parties and social gatherings. We can easily overeat at this time of year.
• Drink plenty of water, keep hydrated.
• Socialising is fun, but still give yourself time just for you.
• Don’t try and fit it all in by the end of the year. Nothing is going anywhere and it will all still be there next year.
• Be aware of what momentum you are in, if a raciness or busyness sneaks in, stop, pause and breathe gently. Come back to your body.
• Don’t drop those things that support you such as exercise, Gentle Breath Meditation, a good rhythm with sleep, eating well.

We wish you a joy-filled December and festive season and look forward to catching up with you in 2017. With love, Donna and Alexandra

Alexandra Plane and Donna Nolan offer Yoga/Yoga Therapy, Meditation, Esoteric Healing, Connective Tissue Therapy and Massage at their clinics in Balmain and Cammeray. Contact them for enquiries or bookings.

The post Christmas with Connection  appeared first on Yoga & Healing | Therapies Massage Exercise Corporate Wellbeing | Sydney, Balmain & Northern Rivers.

December is upon us and once again doesn’t it feel like it has come around quickly?

As we enter into the end of year festive holiday season, it is a great opportunity to pause and reflect on the choices (our lifestyle choices and all others) we have made throughout the year and how all those choices have affected the quality of year we have had, where we are at and how our bodies are feeling.

One of the biggest realisations that we have had this year is the power and joy of self-appreciation, and how when we cultivate self-appreciation in our life – not so much for what we do or achieve, but rather for who we are, what we bring, our qualities, commitments and values – how this grows and opens up a flood gate of appreciation not only for ourselves but for others, all the small things in our lives and the world around us.

We personally have embarked upon a program where we have buddied up and shared via text message with each other twice daily something that we appreciate about ourselves. It can be something as simple as appreciating the quality in which we choose to walk or put ourselves to bed, to allowing more space in our day to simply be or our growing ability to refuse engaging in self-sabotaging activities or thoughts. Our daily appreciation can be anything that we truly value and appreciate about ourselves.

We have been committed and doing this daily for over a month and there has been much beauty in the unfolding nature of this program. It is very simple and offers much richness and rewards in opening up appreciation of yourself and then to others. The key was to do it consistently and daily so that self-appreciation naturally becomes your new normal.

It seems that numerous studies have been conducted on the benefits of appreciation including around brain functioning, corporate efficiency and as a health tool. What we have learnt from our little experimentation is

1. Self-appreciation is not about being positive nor is a mental construct, rather it is a sensation that is felt in the body

2. The importance to actually express, voice out to someone our self-appreciation

3. There is always something to appreciate about ourselves each and every single day even on the days when we are feeling a bit down and out

4. When we appreciate ourselves, we then automatically appreciate others and our lives more

5. It is heart opening and it felt deeply supportive to our health and wellbeing to appreciate ourselves and others on a consistent basis

You may want to experiment with giving yourself and all in your life this gift of appreciation in December and feel the difference in how you see yourself and others. A great way to end this year and prepare you for the new cycle that lays ahead as we approach 2016.

Alexandra Plane and Donna Nolan offer Yoga, Meditation, Cancer Support sessions and Esoteric Healing at their clinic in Balmain  Northern Beaches (Balgowlah) and Cammeray. Contact them for enquiries or bookings.

You may also like to read Donna’s blog Appreciation – A Pathway to Love

The post The Gift of Self-Appreciation appeared first on Yoga & Healing | Therapies Massage Exercise Corporate Wellbeing | Sydney, Balmain & Northern Rivers.

It’s that time of year again – the “silly season”, and hasn’t it crept up?

If this time of the year usually leaves you feeling a little “out of sorts”, maybe it is time to re-imprint it this year holding your awareness, love and inner connection.

Here are our top 5 tips to support you through the festive season

1. Consider if you are overbooking yourself with social activities and work. 

Remember the world won’t fall apart if you don’t see all of your friends before Christmas. They will still be there next year! Make it about quality not quantity.

2. Develop an awareness of how much you eat and drink. 

With lots of parties and social gatherings, you may be tempted to overindulge. Remember how it feels in your body when you do over eat or drink and gently remind yourself that moderation is the key.

3. Give your body the sleep and rest it needs.

It can be tempting to spend more nights out socialising, but it is worth trying to space these out and not have too many late nights. Remember the quality of our sleep directly affects how we feel throughout the day. Is a late night worth feeling not so good for an entire day or even a few?

4. Feel into any set ideas that you may have around Christmas

– the way you think it should be and ponder, could there by another more supportive way to spend the season and celebrations? As an example, if having a big family lunch causes anxiety and stress because of the preparations, perhaps plan to go out to lunch with the family this year or for all to bring a plate to share.

5. Make this time of the year first and foremost about connection and love.

Our connection with others can truly only come when we hold a deep honouring connection with ourselves. An ongoing awareness of our morning and evening rhythms support us in our connection.

By Donna Nolan and Alexandra Plane. Contact Us

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