Practice, practice, practice

I have just had the most amazing weekend, immersing myself in my greatest passion in life, yoga!  My Dad thinks I am crazy, that I choose to spend my spare time going to yoga classes, because isn’t teaching it enough?!  Well of course teaching yoga is very special, but so too is getting to a class and focusing on my own practice in a very different way to just practicing on my own at home.

Saturday, I began the morning with a short home yoga practice while Ewan took Elijah to his weekly swimming lesson, before teaching my Saturday morning class, all ladies this week, and the dedicated ones too, well those that weren’t recovering from the excesses of Liberation Day in any event!

And from there time to feed my baby before joining the restorative/pregnancy class at St Martin’s community centre as part of the health day to fundraise for the Sarah Groves Memorial Charity.  It was wonderful really, to just focus on my breath with gentle movement to restore energy to body, mind and soul.  Oh yes, how much we should all do this, at least once a week – I felt like I was floating my way to town with Elijah and Ewan for a visit to Costa afterwards. 

We went back again a few hours later so I could join the baby yoga class with Elijah.  We have started attending baby yoga again with Anita recently; sadly we had to stop when I went back to work.  This class was a little different but fun all the same, although with his teething and afternoon tiredness, Elijah was a little more fractious than usual and we ended up sitting and feeding in the end. 

Ewan, Elijah and I went down to the beach after then, Petit Bot for a high tide tea time swim.  We are trying to increase the time we spend in the sea and these day we have to take it in turns to go in so that someone is always on shore with Elijah – well it is more than that, generally Elijah has to be held.  Yes, despite all good intentions of not having him attached to us, he does exactly that.  While other babies will happily sit in their pushchairs, heck even be pushed in their pushchairs, Elijah likes to be held in our arms, or in the forward facing sling, so he can see what is going on.  He is a sticky beak! 

In any event down at the beach and in the sea we are now up to 2.5 minutes each, and now I know that that does not sound like a long time, but honestly, when you are in the sea, rough sea too, and on your own, well that is quite some time, but oh my gosh it does make you feel so very alive, cold to the bone and invigorated from the inside out! 

On Sunday I was fortunate to get to another yoga class, Hot Yoga this time at the Grande Mare.  A little reminiscent of Bikram and yet different, thankfully not so hot, and a little more forgiving!  Well saying that, my legs certainly know that they are alive this evening, invigorated indeed! And all this was finished off with a Reiki session, me giving, while my lovely boyfriend kindly entertained our beautiful little boy – I am blessed indeed.

I just LOVE practicing yoga, joining classes, helping to create that beautiful group energy, grounding, cleansing, energising, centring, just being present to the breath and to the body. Wow, it just helps to make me feel so much better about everything, there is so much more clarity, strength and inspiration.  Everyone should practice yoga, although I do appreciate that we all find our nirvana in different ways! 

It is all just marvellous; honestly it is, thank you to all the students who just brighten my days with their passion, dedication and commitment to yoga, let alone that beautiful group energy that lifts me three times a week.  Truly, teaching yoga has to be one of the best jobs in the world – not that it is a job, more of a privilege really. And also to get to classes with others too, such a privilege, I am so thankful for that opportunity. 

Happy practicing! 

With much love and gratitude. 

xx

 

Better again!

We are better.  Hooray.  I credit getting in the sea and taking Potter's herbal remedies. This stuff is just amazing, it really works!! It has been around since 1812 (I think), and is full of natural goodness, I will certainly be using this in the future (should it ever be needed).  As for the sea, well this is good for the soul as much as the sinuses, and it is getting warmer now too, honestly!

All this illness is interesting, as it does make you slow down a little, which is one of the reasons we get sick I guess, trying to do too much in the first place!! And it makes you take better care of yourself too. Anything really, to get rid of the blasted common cold!

So I am getting really excited about the release of Coldplay's new album.  I have been listening to an interview with Chris Martin, which has been really interesting, to gain a little more of an insight into the spirit of this man, who writes the lyrics to songs with such heart-felt honesty and talks of being broken. I agree with him though, we are all a bit broken. I believe that it is by being broken that we can really connect with the essence of the soul.

We are so much more than we ever truly realise.  And each challenge that we face (for there are many) has the potential not only to make us stronger, but to make us more connected with the true self, to tap into our innate wisdom and allow expression of the spirit. I am certainly learning to embrace the challenges, and accept them as part of the process.

It is difficult not to let the spirit shine when the weather is as beautiful as it has been the last few days, wow, not only have we managed to get in the sea, but we have gardened and walked and just enjoyed being outside.  Long may it continue, it is just so refreshing to feel human again and Elijah has all his energy and wants to be on his feet all the time - yes my arms are aching!

He started swimming lessons with Daddy this week and he starts yoga with Mummy and the lovely Anita tomorrow, Mummy is very excited about that! Life feels so vibrant at the moment with all the energy of new life, and summer on its way, it is all so very exciting.

So on that note, best get off to play x

A matter of perspective

It is all a matter of perspective. 

I thought we were doing quite badly on the sleep front, until Elijah got sick.  And then I realised that we were actually doing ok, before that is, because now we are really not doing so well.  and the funny thing is, because I have accepted it, because I know that is how it is going to be,  because he is poorly and I am his Mummy and therefore I will do all I can for him...well I slept for maybe 3 hours on and off last night and yet I feel ok.

Poor little monkey has some baby bronchitis thing, I am so disappointed as I stupidly thought that by exclusively breastfeeding he would be free of all horrible bugs, but alas not.  I even ate red meat tonight in the hope that the iron may boost his immune system.  Horrible to see him poorly, and to know that I can't make it better for him.  Although I have practiced Reiki on him.

In fact I managed to fit in a Reiki session yesterday, my first treatment on someone since the beginning of March.  How wonderful not only the quiet time focusing on one's breath and the movement of energy, but also the joy of the Reiki energy.  Just such a gift, really, I just love the feeling it provides, the clarity, the intuition, the resonance.  Hoorah for Reiki!

But I guess Elijah is on his path, like all of us, and while I channel Reiki to him, he has to go through his stuff, poor little monkey.  We bought him a high chair today, wooden of course, and a walker thing, as his legs do not stop moving, only that he is too big for it! And on that note why on earth do all those baby things have to be so plastic?!

As for my healing, finally I got to the bottom of what has been bothering me and it is what I initially thought, which means that the intuition is always best - such a relief as I find it very frustrating when you know something is not right and you think you know why, but you cannot prove it...

But that is what it is all about, listening and trusting and following and being open and timing...and we got there in the end and hopefully my little boy will heal quickly and the we can go and enjoy a long walk together...because it is so beautiful out there, Spring has sprung and nature is looking beautiful is beautiful, blue bells, all that wild garlic (have you noticed how much this year?!), campions, violets, so beautiful - all those late evenings too.

So I guess I am reminded how everything changes and how much I shall relish the sleepless nights for all the cuddle they provide and how there is a yin to every yang and a joy to every sorrow.  and for now I just hope my little boy gets better.

Much love

xxx

Hoorah for the full moon

What incredible weather we are experiencing here in Guernsey, such amazing Easter holidays for the children, not so for those of us in offices!!  Still the moon has also been an absolute delight, with a full on Tuesday in the early hours, which has been brightening our nights and pushing us along to be honest with ourselves - it is all about the balance!  I put my crystals outside to bathe in the moon's rays and energy, wow, they were sparkling the next day!

The good news is that there has been a healing. The combination of Reiki, acupuncture, homeopathy, nutrition, colonic irrigation, yoga and sea swimming seems to have worked their magic. It is funny how many times I have been here, in a position where I need to heal myself -  it is an empowering experience to heal holistically, and I feel more me than I have done since giving birth to Elijah - the give away is the food I eat, the colours I seek and the crystals I wear.

We managed to get to L'Eree for an hour after work on Tuesday, how wonderful to sit on the beach with our little man and take it in turn to dip in the sea.  We traipsed around the reservoir later that evening, so beautiful at the moment with all the bluebells and primroses.  We live on a very beautiful Island and I feel most blessed.

So Elijah is still waking many times in the night but I am more accepting of this.  It is what it is and it is not going to last forever. He is such a shining light in my life and I am embracing all the night time cuddles.

These are happy times, long may they last. Thank you to all who have helped me come through the other side.

Happy Easter everyone!

xxxxxx

Healing thyself

Well I would love to say that Elijah is sleeping through the night but alas not.  Just coming up to 5 months and he has cut his first tooth and is teething his way through the next.  So unfortunately the night's are still fairly active with him feeding every 1.5-2 hours, I guess he needs the milk to grow his teeth!!

Some days are better than others, in terms of my ability to function while sleep deprived, it really is incredible how much it affects how you feel.  I do have to check in with myself a little more than usual just to check if my behaviour/feeling is truly validated or merely an over-reaction due to increased sleep deprived sensitivity.

I have been on a bit of a healing mission of late too.  I have an unexplained skin condition, which warrants referral to a skin specialist and Elijah has developed eczema all over his little body.  My skin condition first appeared in January and since that time I have tried all sorts of herbal remedies to clear it but without any success.  Two months in and the doctor prescribed antibiotics, which I was happy to take having tried all other options, but even they did not have much impact and instead left me feeling even more tired than I had felt previously.

I have seen my homeopath and we have been working with a remedy, which works different levels, so that I must admit I am feeling more "me" than I have felt in a long time - I do love homeopathy, such a gentle and yet powerful approach to healing.  I have seen Sophie Shand too and undertaken  food insensitivity testing, which showed I am insensitive to lots of things at the moment - quite scary to realise that most of one's diet is actually causing the immune system some strife, and yikes, I am even insensitive to dark chocolate, my saviour after all these sleepless nights of late!!!

So my diet has changed too.  Heck I even took Sophie's advice and had my first colonic irrigation session.  Now this is an interesting experience!!  I had a number of internal Ayurvedic treatments (Basti) a number of years ago now while undertaking a 10-day Ayurvedic cleansing programme in Nepal, but this was an entirely different experience, which did indeed leave me feeling incredible energised and clean.  I guess there is a lot to be said in terms of how the state of the colon (large intestine) affects the state of our health.

Ewan and I have been getting in the sea quite a bit too. Our beloved Petit Bot is not quite such an easy going swimming beach - the storms brought in a ton of large stones which make high tide swimming a little more challenging than in the past.  We have started going to Saints too, although the walk is not so easy going with Elijah in the push chair, at least not on the way back up that hill!!    I read something recently about how water is such a great healer - you cry it, bathe in it or drink it, all of which are meant to help keep us healthy.

I received a massage from the lovely Hayley at the weekend, in exchange for yoga - I do love the bartering system!  As for the treatment well that was rather wonderful, not least to have the tension massaged out of one's body but also to chatter spiritually.  Nothing quite like a good natter with like minded friends to raise the spirit and make one feel connected and inspired on the path. 

In any event, despite all my efforts (I haven't touched any dark chocolate since I saw Sophie!) I still have the skin condition, which is perplexing my challenging my ability to heal myself.  I must admit there is a part of me that wonders whether a good week of sunshine, outdoor living and a good ten hours sleep each night may solve the problem.  Who knows.  Well I am just hoping that the skin specialist knows because this healing oneself holistically does come cheap, what with treatments and supplements and potions and wheat-free, dairy-free and organic wholefoods.

Still it is all rather interesting for I am learning lots and no doubt I will have to bow down to the wonders of modern medicine once again, it seems I am fated this way this year!!  I guess one just has to accept and embrace help in whatever form it presents itself, be that holistic, medical or whatever else.  It is all about balance after all - as I am constantly reminded.  Oh and patience of course!!

Love and light and much laughter on this beautiful sunny day!!

Emma x

Sleep deprivation is a killer!!

I am exhausted.  Yes, a combination of the energy expanded on the yoga & wellbeing retreat, iron deficiency, travelling and the constant sleep deprivation due to Elijah's teething, mean that I am a walking zombie!  It has been a hard day indeed and I do wonder how people cope when they have twins or numerous children and have to continue working. 

Having Elijah has certainly made me a little more aware and indeed much more compassionate to the many roles that a working mother must play, juggling child care with the demands of the working world and having any time for oneself.  Fortunately Elijah sleeps each morning so I am able to practice and maintain my spiritual sanity, or grounding, or whatever you call it, time out for myself on my mat in silence if I choose without anyone demanding anything of me, phew, simple pleasures in life again!!

We have just returned from a fabulous trip to visit our friends on their farm in Normandy.  This is always fatal for me as I have to slow down a few notches and a few more after that and then all I want to do is sleep because it all catches up.  Only that when you have a 4.5 month baby, you can't necessarily sleep when you choose!

There is something wonderfully grounding about being on a farm in the middle of nowhere, miles away from the hectic pace of life back home, with that wonderful Normandy light and the joy of being surrounded by nature, so much nature, and trees and birds and the moon and the sky and all those wonderful elements that connect you to the earth.  Most definitely a time to breathe, to absorb and to heal.  Oh what a wonderful way to live, I am in awe of the life Tessa and Carl have created for themselves and their two children, out of the rat race.

Back here we are building up to the springing forward of time and the lighter evenings to bring life back into outdoor evening living, hoorah for late evening walks and swims in the sea and gardening and all the stuff that gets missed during the cosy winter months.  There is something very healing about being a little bit more in touch with nature and I could do with a bit of that.  It is a reminder, as always that life is a balance and that everything comes to pass.

On that note, time for bed, sweet dreams, another night full of potential for sleep!!

Love and light

x

Spring Yoga & Wellbeing retreat on Herm

It is ridiculous really, for weeks I have been fretting about the annual yoga and well being retreat on Herm, and while I know that worrying achieves little (aside from exhausting you), that was all I seemed to be doing.  Totally unnecessary of course, for the weekend was amazing, albeit that I am completely biased!

This year we had record numbers, with ladies joining us from the UK and a couple from Jersey, so the arrival of the fog on Thursday, the day before the retreat, was really not welcomed.  It was a manic day, packing all that we may need for the weekend and I m just fortunate - and ever so thankful - that my Mum has been in control of everything!

It was an early start on Friday morning as Ewan, Elijah, Mum and I took the 8.15am boat to Herm with our two carloads of stuff, oh my gosh, and in the fog too, which didn't look like it would lift.  We were met in Herm by Sion and his team and were delighted to find the hotel all ready for us, bright and clean, and nice and warm too.

It is funny because each year there is a problem with travel, this year the Trident was having to leave earlier on the Sunday, that was fine, it was full moon after all, but I hadn't allowed myself to consider that it would be foggy.  And it certainly seemed foggy most of the day in Herm as we set up the yoga room ad delivered crystals and flowers to the guest's rooms and made the place look as lovely as possible before their arrival at 4.20pm.

So I was quite amazed therefore that everyone, except one lady from Guernsey, who was stuck in Gatwick, managed to make it to Herm.  Even more so that the Jersey couple made it for they had missed the 4pm Travel Trident departure time by a couple of minutes and amazingly (if you know anything about the Herm boat you will know this is really very amazing) the boat turned back to Guernsey and went to pick them up - thank you Travel Trident!

We met everyone off the boat before they headed off to their rooms to take their stuff and prepare for the first yoga class in the wonderful conservatory of the White House hotel with its fabulous views of the East coast of Guernsey - well usually it has views, of course it was too foggy that first night.  And to be honest I am not sure anyone would have appreciated a sunset that evening, the first class is always rather focused and serious as everyone settles into the weekend.

It was busy in the yoga room as the ladies who were offering treatments on the Saturday had come a day earlier and were joining the yoga.  Vicki was kindly helping me with adjusting, which was fantastic because not everyone is familiar with my style of teaching.  Everyone was up for it this year, very few injuries and great focus, and of course the option to do as much or as little as they liked.  For me that is really important, that everyone takes responsibility for their experience of the weekend by doing/being whatever feels right for them.

After a relaxing Yoga Nidra, the vegetarian evening meal was taken in the Mermaid, yummy food and great company.  It was an early bed time for many of us though, there is something about the peace and quite of Herm that encourages sleep - unless you are 17 weeks old and teething.  Oh yes, it was not a restful night for me and there was no risk of us missing the 7am swim, with our 5.30am start!

This year there were record numbers for the morning swim in the sea down at the harbour, a whole 8 of us turned up, Elijah was sleeping by this point in his carry cot and oblivious to the laughter and shrieks as we dipped our bodies in the freezing cold sea, what a wonderful way to be begin the morning and set us up for the action packed (for me at least) day ahead.

Tea and fruit was available in the lounge with the log fire burning from 7.30am, with the pranayama and meditation session beginning at 8am with views this time, albeit that our eyes were closed and awareness within.  This session as followed by the yoga asana class, a flowing one to help liberate the heart and energise for the day ahead.  Another great practice, a little more relaxed and jovial now as everyone settled into their practice.

A wonderful brunch followed the class, cooked vegetarian breakfast, porridge, fruit and tasty award winning muesli from Primrose's Kitchen on offer, yum, yum, yum!  And then it was time for people to do as they pleased, some had treatments - Reiki with me, holistic massage with Hayley Le Marquand or hot stone reflexology with Christine Shepherd - or a walk 'n' talk session with Michelle Johansen, others joined the run with J-P Macé - a record number this year, and others chilled out by the fire or went walking.

Lunch was at 1.30pm and by then the sun was shining so that many people sat outside eating their soup or salad in the courtyard of the Mermaid. I feel incredibly blessed that we were treated to such delightful weather as it really does make such a difference to people's experience of the retreat, a weekend on Herm with sunshine is a dream.

After lunch there were more treatments and the opportunity to join a walk at 2.30pm led by Leslie Bailey who is a Herm resident walking guide who has an incredible knowledge of the history of Herm as well as nature and foraging.  We are very grateful that she was able to lead the walk for us this year, which was well supported by the attendees.

We met again at 4.45pm for chanting, where we sat together with the afternoon sun streaming into the yoga room, chanting AUM, such a lovely sound, especially when we just went for it at the end, thank you everyone for joining me on this, I absolutely love chanting and don't get much of an opportunity to chant with others over here. There is so much power in chanting, you only have to think of the Vedas, the oldest known yogic texts, to appreciate the magnificence of this practice.

From chanting we moved to our evening practice, a gentle one beginning with pranayama and followed by lots of slow and soft movement, internalising awareness and yet at the same time appreciating the beautiful, so beautiful sunset taking place in front of where we practiced - we were indeed most blessed.  The session finished with a Yoga Nidra, to rest and restore before a final chant if Om and off for more food in the Mermaid.

It was a really lovely evening meal,  thank you so much to the chef and staff in the Mermaid for their efforts in producing tasty and nourishing vegetarian food, lots of brown rice and a chickpea and broccoli curry or gluten-free enchilada and a yummy roasted vegetable and seed dish, plus salad and fresh rye bread.  Desert followed with chocolate brownies with icecream and berry crumble with custard, or fresh fruit salad, we were indeed most spoilt!!!

It was another early evening for me and an even earlier morning with Elijah waking at 5.15am, but how wonderful to wake simply to the sound of the sea only metres from our room and the birds, nature, wonderful, and even a sunrise in the distance.  I don't believe you can put a price on this kind of experience.

Due to the full moon and resulting extreme tides, the boat back to Guernsey had to leave at 10am, earlier than planned, so the morning class began at 7.30am, with some more pranayama and silent meditation before moving straight into a very active and flowing class, everyone was up for it, so the energy was running high, it is so much fun to teach like this, and also to witness students moving out of their comfort zone and into new territory and equally holding back where necessary so that one way or another they are honouring the wisdom of their bodies.

And then that was that, another filling brunch in the Mermaid and we all trekked to Rosaire steps for the boat back home.  Some of the ladies were fortunate to see a seal, which just ended the trip perfectly for them.  The sun was still shining as the boat arrived in Guernsey, and it felt sad to me that I was saying goodbye to people so quickly, such a wonderful group of people and such an uplifting weekend, thank you so much to all of you who attended and supported so that we all shone brightly by the end.  Om shanti.

Needless to say we already have the retreat booked on Herm next year although that was the last thing on my mind yesterday afternoon as the tiredness caught up with me and I cuddled and played with Elijah having seen so little of him the day before.  He enjoyed his first retreat though and special time with Daddy and Gumpy, next year he gets to go on his first foreign retreat, as Beinspired runs a first retreat in Morocco, exciting times ahead!

With much gratitude.

xxx