Put your PASSION into action this springtime…

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Many of our wonderful clients come to retreat with us in Ibiza to reconnect with their passions, their purpose and their life force energy.   So here is some self-Life-Coaching to empower you, wherever you are in the world.  Here are some simple and easy techniques to support you to channel your energy positively this springtime and reap the rewards all year.  How? Start by asking yourself honestly:

* Are you doing what you really love? Are you loving what you do?

* Do you spring out of bed each Monday morning full of the juice of life… inspired and ready to embrace new opportunities…   Or…

* Are you feeling kind of “blue”, lacking motivation, or simply confused about what you are really here for? What your purpose is? Or how and where to invest your time and energy to be successful, healthy and happy?

When you are doing what you really love – whether that’s being a parent to your children, growing your business or sewing new creative seeds – energy flows freely.   When you are putting your passion into your action (and following your dreams) you are sure to succeed more easily. It really is that simple: do what you feel passionate about.  Why?   Lets look at the word itself – and passion’s intrinsic meaning:

Passion = Pass I On  = passing on the BEST of yourself

Passion = Pass ION = passing on your ENERGY

Live your Passion = the keys:

(1) Watch the children:  Have you ever noticed how little children are simply full of energy?  They are fully immersed in the moment – in whatever it is that they are doing…. in the experience.

(2) Do what feels good! Choose to follow your joy & set your spirit free: Children follow their joy and do what feels good (rather than what they are being told they have to do).  And your spirit, your free spirit is essentially this same inner-child: you are in touch with your free spirit when you are feeling full of love for life, have that sense of “Karpe die” and want to “seize the day”.  This is when you are “in the moment”, spontaneously flowing from experience to experience and are feeling the joy, happiness that comes from being connected to this same source energy that connects us all, that gives this feeling of pure love, pleasure and ease.

(3) Rediscover what you are most passionate about (and delegate more responsibilities): If you have forgotten what you are passionate about or are feeling low or listless or unclear about how to focus and channel your energy this year, reconnect with your inner-child by doing something to purely HAVE FUN this spring-time.  Without any goals, or required results…  notice what you love doing, what brings you good feelings… purely from the experience.  How can you bring this into your life? How can you create your week to create more time for what brings you true pleasure?  How can you share and delegate your responsibilities differently?

Give it a go – have more FUN – lighten-up and be childlike and innocent in your appreciation of life – even for one week – and we guarantee that you will then spend your spring & summer feeling fulfilled with plenty of that same limitless energy for life that allows your happiness to flow freely.

Naturally healing – rosemary tea

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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

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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

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“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? 

Tailormade Retreats

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Join us for tailormade retreats in beautiful Ibiza to ensure your engine is purring like a lion and that you feel ready and inspired… to embrace all that 2014 has to offer.  Priced according to your wellbeing wishes and budget needs… they can include:

* Holistic Life Coaching, NLP & MET as mechanics for the mind and emotions

* Learn from Ibiza’s finest Yoga teachers & holistic fitness technicians to enhance your physical wellbeing

* Receive bodywork & hands-on healing with massages, reiki and cranio-sacral rebalancing – we work with a world-class team of specialists to soothe a tired soul.

Or pamper and purify with holistic beauty treatments that also lift your spirits – leaving you looking and feeling amazing on the outside and within.

Rest your head in blissful retreat accommodations...  from stunning ancient fincas and tranquil villas to rustic bed & breakfasts = homes-with-a-heart or luxuriate in the comforts of Ibiza’s finest agroturismos.

1* Book an MOT for body, mind & spirit – a tailor-made retreat that encompasses holistic TLC plus yoga, pilates, personal training and lovely Life Coaching with NLP to support you in supporting yourself…. and making some tweaks to your lifestyle – or possibly even greater transformative changes, that will bring you greater health and happiness.

2* Prefer a Pure Yoga package? with some extra treatments & therapies by the pool

3* Rest & Rejuvenate – with total holistic pampering, lie-back and receive

And all in the beautiful, magical, environment of our gorgeous white island of Ibiza and Ibiza Retreats mind-body-spirit concierge service to ensure that you can enjoy the best beaches, sunsets and “need to knows” to give you a glow that lasts.