Naturally healing – rosemary tea

/in , ,

Did you know that Ibiza is full of more than 250 varieties of healing herbs?  (source – Chris Dews@Green Heart Ibiza organisation).

One of which is the wonderful, aromatic and purifying rosemary.  A queen of rejuvenation for the senses, she offers you a delicious and revitalising “brew”.  Simply simmer in hot water (after washing off the dust!) and add slices of fresh lemon for zing with a dollop of natural local honey for those with a sweet tooth (or to ward off a sore throat).  Found growing wild all over our white island, Rosemary has many beautiful benefits including:

* Improve memory

* Full of anti-oxidants – which neutralise free-radicals (particles that can harm our cells)

* Long-term tea-dosages can decrease thrombosis (great for all you winter-jet-setters)

* Supports nervous & circulatory systems

* Purifies and tones the organs

So get that tea ready… what are you waiting for?  If you live here in Ibiza…. it may be growing right outside your door!   And ask us about the natural herbs of Ibiza workshop happening on 22nd November!

MIndfulness techniques for healthy headspace

/in , ,

Learn to create healthy headspace with Mindfulness moments (& rush-hour calm) – anytime – anywhere this winter-time.

Do you have to travel to get to work on a daily basis?

Are you a life-juggling parent with a “nursery” or “school drop” that often feels like a commute ?

Would you like to feel a greater-sense of inner-calm amidst the demands and diversions of modern life?

Twice daily commuting journeys, whether by car, bus, rail, tube or – even – on foot, can overwhelm our nervous systems due to the amount of people, external stimulation and (often unwanted) energies you come in contact with.    The “rush hours” literally, place a huge amount of pressure on the mental and nervous system to rush to “get there on time” – so why not transform this time out amongst the daily chaos of modern life… into time for you to turn in  and tune in.

How? By practicing the art of mindfulness, you will release the stress of traveling, whilst honing a state of inner and outer zen – through being centered, connected and calm.

Mindfulness is “big” right now as high-flying executives and life-juggling career mothers realise the benefits of being able to focus the over-active modern mind with purpose, in order to become more present and calm.   When you are present, the mind is not worrying about future events, nor dwelling on discomfort from the past, it is settled in the now and everything “feels fine”.    Mindfulness is being increasingly recognized in scientific circles as being a vital pathway to psychological health, superb for stress-reduction and…. due to the calming effects on the nervous system (which enables the whole organism to function much better) for the prevention of chronic diseases too.

John Kabat-Zinn is a famous mindfulness meditation teacher and founder of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program the University of Massachusetts Medical Centrer.

“Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way;
On purpose,
in the present moment, and 
non- judgmentally.”

Tune in to this video for further info here! 

Whether you are commuting to work daily by train, car or on foot, make the most of these, often potentially stressful times, by downloading mindfulness apps to your iphone, or ipod.

We love: this headspace app for iphones – (click there)

Prefer to go natural?  One of the 8 limbs of yoga: “Dharana” is the concentration of the mind on one point or stimulus.  So you see, Mindfulness has been practiced for thousands of years – way before apple came along.

Even without a good app or down load (check out John Kabat-Zinn’s website) you can focus your mind and practice mindfulness even when walking – or sitting in a traffic jam.   Look at ONE thing and notice 10 details.  Select one sound out of the cacophony of city-living auricular infusions and tune in to it.   Consciously sip your morning tea and focus all your attention on the taste, the warmth, the texture of it.

Explore and enjoy the healthy headspace and happy body-mind benefits that this conscious mindfulness practice brings!

Strength-building Inner-fire yoga practice

/in , ,

“The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.” ~ Ferdinand Foch

The element of fire cleanses and purifies – it offers us the chance to let go and start again. Fire also symbolises passion and creation. Yet fires with huge, powerful flames can burn big and bright, but ultimately they burn themselves out. Sometimes leaving destruction in their wake.
So how can we ignite a spark which builds into gentle flames and constant glowing embers; allowing us to reap the benefits of our fire?
Here are a couple of suggestions which work for us! Enjoy! 
The practise:
Lion’s Breath – Find the appropriate position for you body – you can be seated or even in a position such as downward dog. Take a few grounding breaths, focusing on what you’d like to move through. As you’re ready, take a deep inhalation through the nose and as you exhale through the mouth, stick out the tongue, open the mouth and eyes wide and let any sound that comes with the breath escape as well. Tip: Try doing thee first thing in the morning or if you feel ‘stuck’ in any way during your practise or your day!
Sun Salutations – Try your normal style – but do 3 rounds to warm-up the body quickly. And then to really get that fire going, hold each posture for 1 minute. This practise really gives you a chance to invoke that internal fire through your legs and core! Breath long and deep and again, if you feel stuck, literally PUMP the breath from your lungs! Focus on release and letting go of anything which you wish to leave behind on your yoga mat. Tip: Try inserting some strong fire poses such as ‘chair’ pose (utkatasana) or Warrior 1 (Vira 1 as shown above) into your 1 in hold poses.
And why not try lighting a candle to evoke fire energy whilst you practise? 

Tanit, the mythology behind the fertility…

/in

With its African, Phoenician, Arab and Catalonian heritage, Ibiza has always been know as a great centre of mystery and healing, dedicated to Tanit – the great African goddess. There are many traces of this dedication all over the island…  It is said Tanit brings life, fertility, purification, healing, breath and magnetic flow – and also death and resurrection. She was of the stars, and the Romans called Her Juno Celeste. And this can hardly be argued when the island is so rich in olive groves, vineyards, almonds, figs, orange and lemon groves and seas abundant with fish. In fact, the rich green pine forests them (and the island namesake which means ‘land of the pines’.

The city of Evissa itself came about when red-tinted water appeared one day and flowed to a hill. The people took this as a sign from Tanit, the water Her sacred menstrual flow, and they built Eivissa on that hill. The essence and spirit of the Goddess were believed to dwell in the waters, and omens for the future were spoken by underground springs, that miraculously sprang forth from the womb of Mother Earth. The new city was born with Her blessing.

Tanit is the mother of the waters in all its forms, and there are many wells and fountains with medicinal waters on Ibiza. There was singing and dancing by the fountains and outlets of rivers at certain times of the year. There are many sources of water in the pine-covered hills.  The singing and dancing continues…. from the parties and the clubs to the sacred and healing dances, like within Walk in Beauty retreat, being held here in Ibiza this Easter.  Explore the mythology and feel the rhythms of Tanit and her empowering goddess energies.

 

 

 

5 step self-lymph massage

/in

The lymphatic system is one of the key parts of the immune system. If you feel congested it may be because you have some extra lymphatic fluid in the head.

So… do you want to upper-cut the cold season?! Get rid of head-aches from congestion, dizzyness, vertigo and all the side symptoms with having a cold.

Here is an easy 5 step self-lymph massage you can do on yourself to get this fluid down out of your head!

1. To start we will find the VENUS ANGLE wich is the primary place where all the lymphatic fluids drains back into the body. It’s located between the sternocleidomastoid muscle and in a small divit where the clavicle is. Take your ring fnger and put it in the inside of the collar bone on each side. Lightly start to pum towards the heart once every 2 seconds about 50 times.

2. Take the flat partof your finger and palms on either side of the neck and hold on and pull down allong the angle of the sternocleidomastoid muscle towards the heart once every 2 seconds about 50 times.

3. Cup your hands, put your fingers and the top part of your palm on the back of your neck and pull down gently every 2 seconds about 50 to 100 times.

4. Put your hands in the live long and prosporous symbol (shaped your fingers like V with your thumb out), surround your ear between your middle finger and ring finger on both sides and pull down lightly towards the bottom of the cheak every 2 seconds 50 to 100 times.

5. Do steps 3-2-1 again.

Now you have pumped your fluids from the surface of the skin and drained your head and neck!!

Do this as many times as necessary and please share this with your family and loved ones.

contact us  to book a Lymphatic drainage massage- 1hour for just €70!