Clear the Fears – and do it anyway!

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By Larah Davis – Co Director of Ibiza Retreats

 

My amazing teacher, Louise Mita, is coming back to Ibiza next week.
And I am so, so happy.  When she is here, reactivating my tools of mental mastery and higher healing she helps me diffuse fears, worries and anxieties with love.
With awareness that all these feelings surface from a collective consciousness (well mostly!) under Louise’s guidance, not only do I remember to clear them, but together we turn these ripples of ‘clearing-through-the-fears’ outwards, to expand for the higher good, love, peace and solutions of planet-saving ideas, to surface within our society.
Having travelled off the White Island to Mexico and beyond this Winter, I was able to see the world beyond our “Ibiza-bubble” much more clearly.
I could see, feel and hear the different realities being experienced in other countries and cultures and how these can have a knock-on affect on one another.
I saw, felt and sensed a lot of fear – about what is happening to our planet, no – about what WE as a human-race (which is truly RACING!!!) is doing to our beautiful planet.
The oceans coughing up plastic onto beaches after storms, the excess seaweed (metres and metres of it) covering half of the caribbean sea and littering the Mexican beaches, due to warming-oceans and excess nitrates in the soils of Central America washing into the seas (Thank YOU farmers RACING to create MORE food which we mostly turn to refuse!)
And I have to admit, I felt a sense of fear. I felt shocked, afraid, of what the human race is doing, that it is out of control and hurting our planet – as much as ourselves.
BUT! As I have learned with my trainings with Louise – and which my heart already knew:
* Fear ignites Fear
* Love inspires Love
   AND
* Love CONQUERS Fear – physically, emotionally and energetically.
Founder of Integrative Quantum Medicine™, Louise Mita is an Internationally renowned Energy Master and Hawaiian Kahuna, who developed this simple-yet-powerful self-and-others healing technique after studying Chinese Medicine and higher schools of Martial Arts over decades, gleaning the master keys and pearls of wisdom that she simplified into the IQM™ system.
It fuses Quantum Theory (yep – that is the REALLY cool bit where mind-meets matter and you realise, through the exercises with her, that you DO have the power to change EVERYTHING – to BE anything and everything you wish to be AND that, actually, you ARE already flipping AMAZING!).  Anyhow – (I love this stuff so much, I get carried away) – it integrates Quantum Theory with Chinese Medicine and Western Anatomy and Physiology – giving you the keys to MASTER the ‘monkey mind’ when it feels sucked in and spiralled down by fear.
Louise hands you the tools, techniques, the KNOW-how and the energy infusions to optimise your wellbeing, health and happiness in DAILY LIFE.  And this helps me, tremendously, as I MINDFULLY observe emotional triggers about Brexit, about the schooling system, about Syria, about the rubbish on the beaches and the Cargo ships simply dumping loads of toxic garbage into the Ocean.
The MORE I direct my thoughts based on LOVE for myself, LOVE for my closer circles and world-community, LOVE for the ignorant, “RACING” humans, the more the energy, thoughts and actions around this soften.
This gives space for SOLUTIONS to arise.  
It is our children mostly, the next generation, who live in this LOVE state frequency and who, uninhibited by fears of “what others will think” express creatively their ideas, opinion and exquisite ideas for cleaning up our oceans, healing our rivers, delivering education programs and alternative farming solutions.
So let’s join together this year – to be, share and FEEL the power of love, for ourselves, each other and our planet.  
JOIN US!
For an incredible Integrative Quantum Medicine™ Immersion – Art of Stress Management & Art of Energy Parenting workshops on the 4th and 5th of  March – Followed by the IQM Level 1 and 2 trainings on March 7th and 8th then the 10th and 11th.
The training is hosted at our own stunning retreat venue in the North of Ibiza and we can build a retreat package for you around the workshop and training dates.
And if not…. invest in LOVE on retreat, in yoga, on the mat, on the meditation cushion – but mostly, please, in NATURE – where nature reflects back to us that ALL creation, all of it, this magical wonder around us, comes from a place of love.
Feel free to get in touch with me personally via Whatsapp if you would like to know more about these incredible workshops and trainings,
on 0034 670 248 292.
Have a beautiful day!
Love Larah x
susie howell yoga

My own Awakening and Re-birth into Motherhood

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By Susie Howell – Ibiza Retreat Co-Director
I hope you’re all enjoying a lovely, extended Easter Weekend?
Depending on your belief system, Easter is either the story of the crucifixion then resurrection of Christ, or it’s a Pagan Festival celebrating Spring in the Northern hemisphere OR it’s simply all about delicious chocolate eggs right?
But apart from those ideologies, for many of us it signifies the end of Winter and hibernation and the beginning of something new – of fresh new energies. It signifies an awakening and a re-birth – Or, in my case, an actual birth.
So this feels like a poignant and rather fitting time to talk about my experience of giving birth (not meaning details of the actual birth – don’t worry!) and how much it challenged me and therefore changed me.
It’s about my own re-birth into being a Mum and how I’ve had to break through old patterns and beliefs to embrace my new role of Motherhood.
When you have a baby – all your focus during your pregnancy is about the birth. This one event which you are preparing yourself for mentally, emotionally and physically. And then the birth bit happens (inevitably!) and you get through it and you’re like “wow that was intense! Phew, I’m glad that’s over”.
And then the reality dawns on you that this is actually where is all starts…
I woke up on the morning after I’d given birth and I immediately had the absolute realisation that I was not the same woman I’d been when I’d gone to sleep. It was a strange mix of emotions. I of course felt love and the desire to protect. But I also felt raw and incredibly over-whelmed.
I felt a huge sense of responsibility and I felt fear.
These challenging experiences, that we all encounter throughout life are triggers. And life is a rainbow full of challenging experiences, no matter who you are.
Whether it’s a birth, bereavement, break-up, break down (or as we like to call it a break THROUGH) or anything which, in turn, triggers the physical and emotional stress response in our nervous systems.
This is where the adrenaline and cortisol are released and your nervous system becomes over-activated to the point where the fight, flight or freeze response kicks-in.
This is exactly where I found myself in the midst of the joy… mixed with a heady concoction of hormones and sleep deprivation and I knew I had to dig deep.
I had to find some courage and strength and put a plan into place.
This is where I feel so much gratitude for the path I have chosen and all the teachers I have learnt from along the way through Ibiza Retreats.
With all the tools and techniques that we teach on retreat, it was now the time to walk my talk. And almost six months on, this is a daily practice which helps me stay grounded and to accept where I am each day – to be the best Mum I can be.
For me it was essential to create a daily ritual. A practise which was constant when all around me felt out of control.
On every single one of our retreats, we talk about the importance of cultivating this ritual. A ritual is a gentle commitment, a ritual is grounding and it has roots. Ritual is calming, nourishing and ritual is comforting. And it doesn’t have to be complicated.
Here are some suggestions which really helped me to find my ‘inner warrior’ and to embrace being a mama. You can adjust to suit your lifestyle, and to support you in whatever your own ‘re-birth’ role is…
– Build your altar. Create a space for yourself which feels safe and calm. Make it sensory – we suggest a scented candle of your favourite oils. Make it comfortable with cushions and a yoga mat for example. Make it inspiring with a favourite quote or coloured scarf to adorn it. When you wake every morning, go to your altar – even if it’s just for five minutes before you speak to anyone else or start your day. It might mean setting your alarm for five minutes earlier, but the benefits far outweigh the sacrifice of this.
– Drink tea! Take a herbal infusion with you (rather than caffeine as it’s a stimulant) to wake your system naturally
– Breathe! Take long deep breathes into your belly. Inhaling love, gratitude and positivity and exhaling anything which is not serving you including any negativity or negative thoughts or feelings.
Literally exhale and breathe them out of your system. Visualise waking up your entire being by focusing on breathing into each part of your body – beginning with your toes and working your way up to your ankles, knees, thighs, hands arms, spine, shoulders, neck, throat and face. This will help you to calm your thoughts and keep the monkey mind at bay.
– Move your body. Whether you are an experienced yoga practitioner or not, this practise is not about advanced postures, but about listening to your intuition (that quieter voice inside you) and shifting your energy.
With your eyes closed, move and stretch your body in the way that feels right. Of course you can transition into a full yoga practise here if you wish, but this is more about the subtleties. See if you can feel your way into the day and make space in your breath, your body and your mind to be in a place of response, rather than reaction.
– Set your intention (sankalpa) for the day – even if it’s a small intention. Keep it positive and keep it clear. For me, it was about my ability to be a good mother, so I made my intention to be kind with my thoughts about myself.
– Repeat a mantra! I used a  tapping technique. The Thymas gland is 7 centimetres under the hole at the base of the throat.
Tap “I love myself, I believe in myself, I trust myself, I am grateful to myself and I am courageous”. I added my personal mantra – “I am a wonderful mother”.
You tap this as many times as you need and it acts like a door into your subconscious until it becomes a true belief! It’s incredibly powerful.
For this tapping practise I have to say a heartfelt Thank You to our lovely Shamabala. Those of you who have been on retreat with us may well have had the pleasure of meeting this wonderful soul and her inspiring workshop on Meridean Energy Tapping.
And in the words of Rumi… ACCEPT. Each day will bring something new and each emotion will pass – just like the seasons.
“This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness, 
some momentary awareness comes 
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honourably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.”
– Jalaluddin Rumi
medititation

Gentle ‘Cocooning’ tips for Winter Solstice

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‘Cocoon yourself’ for Inner-peace this Festive Season

 

As the festive season approaches we, as humans of the world, of many denominations and faiths, ‘come together’ with our family and friends to celebrate, to re-connect and to spend time amongst our nearest and dearest.

While for many this can be a deeply enriching time of joyful reunions and comforting relaxation, into an environment of easy relationships, amongst those who know us best – and accept all of our faults and our foibles, sadly for others, it can be a more stressful time, where old ‘family wounds’ rear their heads and stress levels rise exponentially.

Wherever you sit in these scenarios of social gatherings in the festive period, it is important to still make time for some precious and private introspection – this will help you preserve your inner-peace and to maintain positive and centered energy, so that you can relate, in the ways that you WISH to respond as a conscious, compassionate adult – rather than to react, as you may have done as a teenager, to old painful or embarrassing “triggers”.

 

So this year – as you step forward, mindfully, into a higher, better state of “being” – here are 5 easy steps to ‘Cocoon’ yourself, to connect to your OWN self-care processes and inner-peace connection.

 

(1)  Begin each day with 5 minutes of quiet meditation or introspection: Watch your breathing move in and out of your body. Guide your breath to go deeper with each inhale, and to move more slowly out with each exhale.

 

**If you have children, before you arise, even 5 rounds of conscious belly breathing will ‘drop’ you from your head, to your heart, and by placing your hands below the navel you will direct the breath to your parasympathetic (rest/digest/create/eliminate) side of the autonomic nervous system.

 

(2)  Move your body! Shake off the energy charges that arise from emotional triggers by doing some indoor yoga, physically “shaking it out” or going for a walk in mother nature, who transmutes and transforms energy constantly.

 

(3)  Practice heart-to-heart connections and give yourself a ‘digital detox.’ Ration your phone and screen usage to instead honestly and openly ask people how they are.  In a time where “face-to-screen” time is so prevalent, feel how different this eye to eye contact feels, and how, with your heart-felt intention, it opens new pathways for more positive relationships and intra-familial relating.

 

(4)   Upload those photos later! Make “being” your practice – as a human BEING within your family or social space. You don’t need to be available to anyone other than who is with you right now. Pre-arrange a time for phone calls or video chats with other friends or family members who are not with you – determine to stick to it.

 

(5)  Choose or compose a mantra to maintain your Cocoon inner-peace state – enabling you at a cellular level, to constantly be in a place of regeneration and new possibilities. Now, lighting a candle, take 5 deep breaths and fill your heart with GRATITUDE. Then, repeat this mantra, or choose one of your own.

  • I am not alone….
  • I am grateful for this connection with the people around me… / the abundance all around me / for the delicious meal I am being served (or am serving!)
  • I am blessed….

Repeat this mantra five times, with a fuller breath each time…

 

And whenever you can – whenever you feel a moment of quietness, or MOST challenged by your surrounds,  think of those less fortunate than yourself; for those who are alone, for our elderly citizens who go through this festive period without seeing another living soul, for parents who can not provide their children with the wishes and dreams so many children hope for at this time of year.

 

Know that you are a unique and special human being, and that your compassion and understanding of the difficulties other people face mean that you are working towards your Life Purpose – being a conscious, compassionate and understanding human being who feels and empathises with those in less fortunate positions.

 

Without compassion, we are nothing. By practicing your “inner-peace Cocoon” amongst the ones you most love – yet who may also trigger you most emotionally – you have the perfect opportunity to put your compassion into action…

 

So lets spread the inner-peace through compassion…. And may your hearts glow bright!

 

ibiza retreats dawn

Setting springtime intentions at Ibiza Retreats

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The amazing spring sunshine in Ibiza is warming our hearts and minds, and we can feel excitement mounting as new spring energies invite us to “get going”, to become outdoors-active, to spring-clean and to creatively arise!  With the evenings getting longer, we turn towards the light, and it feels more important to spend some time preparing ourselves for the Summer and to cultivate balance in body, heart and mind. 

So how are you going to balance this new energy infusion?  How would you like to have the tools to ride the waves of new creative impulses, both personally AND professionally?

Here is a quick 5 step “spring energy assessment” to focus your wishes, intentions and actions into a simple-fun-for-life strategy:. 

(1) List YOUR top 5 intentions – or goals – for this spring-summer season, ensuring they are positively stated and in the present tense as if you are experiencing them right now.

i.e: “I am writing a blog about healthy eating and the way that it has changed my life.”

(2) Now write down the ENERGY benefits of each of these intentions/goals; what will be the benefits for you, your life, your loved ones and your family when you are creating / achieving all of these?

i.e.: ”From writing this blog I am feeling fulfilled and focussed, purposeful and I feel I am offering the world something with meaning. It is giving me more to talk about with friends and family and I am deepening my interest in nutrition and sharing my passion for this with all those around me, which I can see is inspiring them too.”

(3) Re-read the list – and place the one at the top that will GIVE YOU the most energy, and that will keep your batteries charged.

 i.e.: “I am taking 30 minutes every morning to walk/jog and do wild yoga stretches in the park” “this is giving me clarity, focus and energises me for the day, whilst being in nature gives me a feeling of being grounded, calm and in control.  I am less reactive and feel relaxed and able to surmount the challenges of the day. I am more patient with my children and kinder to myself.”

(4) Give each of these a colour and allocate the amount of time per DAY / WEEK you can realistically give to this – whether thinking about it, feeling it or taking action on it.

i.e. “Monday – 30 mins morning walk / 30 mins evening Blog research & writing whilst children are having bed-time story with daddy”

(5) Now COLOUR your diary with the days/dates/times when you will be giving your time & energy to these intentions and goals.  This engages your subconscious mind to “block” these times for your purpose. Take a step back and double-check this

The secret is to reflect each Sunday, before the week ahead begins and to double check, as you plan your YOU-time diary for the week ahead, that everything feels realistic and compelling. It should not feel stressful or overwhelming – if it does – do less, and “be” more.  Notice any patterns of self-pressure and keep doing less until you are on track to keep doing what your body-mind-heart desires. Remember – all of this is supposed to be FUN!

JOY is the highest energy vibration which feeds itself sustainably – so check in with how you feel when planning and progressing this springtime.  Be happy!

Enjoy holistic life and energy Coaching during our HARMONISE, NOURISH and GET GLOWING RETREATS. You can also book private sessions with Ibiza Retreats Founder and Co-Director Larah Davies via SKYPE. Email info@ibizaretreats.com for details. 

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3 Steps for empowering your LIGHT

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