Rejuvenating Food

Consuming nuts has many health benefits unless you are unfortunate to have intolerances to one variety or all types of nuts. Nuts for most people however, are a wonderful source of vitamins and minerals, natural oils and a great source of protein.

More recent research has shown that eating nuts can lower cholesterol levels and even reduce the chances of coronary heart disease. The omega-fats that are in walnuts for instance may protect you against irregular rhythms of the heart.

Nuts are wonderfully nutritious as long as you can avoid the trap of eating the heavily salted or salted and fried varieties. According to one well regarded source, as little as two ounces of nuts per week is all that is required to lower the heart disease risk.

Almonds have always had a high listing in Ayurvedic science, used to normalise blood lipids, they are useful in stabilising blood sugar levels. Almonds are a rich source of calcium too so that they are ideal for helping strengthen bones and teeth.

Ayurvedic practitioners often recommend that almonds be blanched and peeled before using as their skins may be slightly toxic.

Others however, recommend roasting or eating them raw.

We are very fortunate to have Macadamia nuts growing so prolifically in Summerland. Macadamia nuts are packed with goodness, contain no cholesterol and are also naturally low in sodium. They can be eaten raw or dry roasted without salt and are high in protein.

Pecans are another wonder locally grown nut and are a great source of vitamin E as well as other minerals and have anti-oxidant benefits. They are considered high on the list for containing neurological well being properties.

The anti-oxidising properties of Peanuts too have been said to help prevent cancer as well as viral and fungal infections. They are also rich in monounsaturated fats.

Brazil nuts are a rich source of selenium which is said to have a mood stabilising effect and helps to slow the aging process.

Pistachio nuts are an excellent source of minerals. They are high in copper, phosphorous, magnesium and also vitamin B6.

Walnuts are high in vitamin E and they are also a rich source of other minerals, anti oxidant properties and a good source of omega 3 fatty acids.

All in all you can see the message is pretty clear. As long as you don’t have a nut intolerance, nuts are a highly nutritious natural food source.

A recipe to finish off with.....

Enjoy your nuts!

Macadamia and Banana Lassies

Take half a cup of macadamia nuts, two bananas, a cup of good plain yogurt and a large tablespoon of honey. Place in a blender with half a cup of filtered water or organic milk and blend. Serves 4.

Namaste
Annushka

We live in a wonderful part of the world.

Summerland NSW is a haven compared to so many densely populated places in the world that often suffer from toxic overload, uncontrolled noise pollution and environmental devastation.

Yet people can develop no matter where they live, either a happy or sad disposition. There are those who seem to take on a positive outlook on life wherever they are and things seem to nearly always turn out well. On the opposite camp are those whose consistently negative outlook impacts in ways that make things rarely work well. Most of us however, generally tend to fluctuate somewhere between both with our emotions and feelings tending to dictate our moods, our attitudes and the ultimate outcomes.

Problems are always going to exist and present as part of life. In certain circumstances the ability to rise up over what seem unsurmountable hurdles appears to be nothing short of incredulous. There are also times when life feels heavy and sad in response to a sad event and this is part of the life-death journey. To experience both happiness and sadness in our lives is normal. However, how we tackle, face or shift our thinking when things simply don't go our way or we feel defeated, frustrated or even bored, can have great bearing on the events that evolve. Negative emotions can culminate and explode to the detriment of many lives not just our own.

Take for example the situation of an angry person who does not control this negative emotion. It can lead to violence and dreadful loss. Yet this same person can experience the anger, recognise what has triggered it and do something to shift the energy so as not to be harmful either to themselves or others. This takes a far more courageous effort and may mean the willingness to learn new skills, adapt, keep an open mind and be prepared to accept change. By becoming effectively more aware of how we are reacting in all of our daily circumstances, our thoughts, our feelings and emotions; can foster the realisation that we can and do choose how we respond.

Krishnamurti, an Indian philosophical and spiritual leader, wrote on the nature of the mind, meditation, human relationships as well as positive relationships in society. He once said "You are the world."

To finish up this article, here is another of his quotes which seems to reflect the whole point of Words of Wisdom. He wrote the following:-

"In oneself lays the whole world and if you know how to look and learn, then the door is there and the key is in your hand. Nobody on earth can give you either the key or the door to open except yourself."

Namaste

Annushka

A Beautiful Day......... Workshops for Wellbeing with Annushka

11:00am – 4:00pm : Sunday 3rd of June

Imagine a lovely day out with a close friend, partner or just for you to share within in a small group of others (maximum 10/ minimum 4) the experience of a Yoga Nurturing Day.

Find out more and book here.

Breathe, Stretch and Move into Balance and Harmony.

People often decide to become vegetarians without really considering proper dietary needs.

Why in fact live a lifestyle as a vegetarian?

There are reasons for and against and ultimately it is a choice and one that should be at least considered as an option. There are those born into families that are vegetarian for cultural, religious, health or other reasons and equally, those from meat eating generations who have not known any other diet. To complicate the matter, there are also different kinds of vegetarian diets. Ultimately it may be even be a spiritual perspective that one personally needs to address in today's world.

If we look at types of vegetarianism, there are

ovo-vegetarians, (Don't eat meat but eat eggs)

pescatarians, (don't eat meat but eat fish)

lacto-vegetarians, (Don't eat meat but have dairy products)

lacto-ovo-vegetarians (don't eat meat or fish but have eggs and dairy),

semi-vegetarians (don't eat meat when it suits)

vegans, (no meat, dairy, fish or eggs) and perhaps other variants.

Some good reasons for becoming a vegetarian are: -

1. Non-violence: there are thousands upon thousands of animals killed for food consumption in our world every minute. Many of them suffer sometimes dreadfully.

2. Health: most of the meat that services people in western countries is also often from animals that are fed hormones. Animal foods are higher in saturated fats. Plants do not contain cholesterol. Meat eating has been linked with many diseases as it is slow to digest.

3. Environmental: many rainforests have been destroyed for grazing cattle and the burning of forests to allow for more grazing, contributes greatly to green-house gases.

4. Compassion: through the destruction of rainforests, roughly 1,000 species a year become extinct. Huge amounts of grain, soybeans, and corn that is produced to feed animals could instead be feeding starving human beings.

Climate and geographical location can also make a huge difference to your choice of diet. If you are an Eskimo for instance, living in freezing conditions where nothing grows it is not likely you would survive as a vegetarian. Traditionally Eskimos were reliant on killing animals for food. Also when travelling to other places, you may have to go without eating if you pertain solely to a strict vegetarian diet. Generally, people have followed the tradition of eating meat or not eating meat from their parents, grandparents-generations. Religion and lifestyle can have a lot to do with it. However, our world now faces new environmental dilemmas that never existed previously.

For a traditional Indian Hindu, diet promoted a peaceful, loving attitude. You will not find meat on the menu but you will find a lacto-vegetarian diet that includes milk and yogurt as well as garbanzo beans, lots of vegetables, fruit and Channa Dahl. On the other hand, if you visit many less traditional Indian families today, you will find meat included regularly. Even in places like Bali with a 93% Hindu population, you will encounter popular ceremonies with roasted pork as the highlight.

If we look at the Buddhist diet it is mainly vegetarian, however Buddhist monks and nuns in some circumstances, depend on alms food. This can be sometimes coarse, delicious or unpalatable yet accepted with gratitude and even eaten with a regard for it as medicine. They are forbidden from asking for the food that they like and as a result, they receive what other people may eat - often meat. Kindness to human beings, never killing animals and taking a vegetarian diet as much as possible would be the case for most Buddhists.

What do we choose for our kids and are we willing to change?

This is a big question. When watching television, most cooking programs include meat recipes. If you are inclined to visit your local hotel or in fact most of your local restaurants or cafe's, there will be mostly meals based around a meat or fish dish. You might even feel uncomfortable about asking for vegetarian meals and standing out from the crowd. If you want a fast food meal, there are rarely fast food vegetarian venues.

The ultimate choice when it really boils down to it may lie with you.

One can argue against supporting a meat industry that is destructive on many levels or choose to eat meat simply because it is socially more acceptable. How does one justify eating habits?

How do these choices impact on us personally and as a whole? These are some of the important questions that need to be asked.

When we know that eating meat encourages cruelty and death to millions of animals yet willingly turn a blind eye, what are we teaching our children? It seems that ignorance, indifference, pride, hypocrisy and even stubbornness comes into the equation.

If we truly stop to consider some of the spiritual aspects of life and death on this earth and not just the economic, social, religious or cultural then one comes to one's own conclusion. One way or another.

Food for thought.......Annushka

Download Ratatouille Recipe by Clicking Here

How often do you stop to notice how you are breathing?

Of course when we have stopped breathing completely, we've stopped living. Yet how we breathe can mean the difference between living with a sense of enjoyment and peace and struggling to survive. And did you know that the type of breathing you do can be affected by your state of mind. Alternately, your state of mind can determine your breathing patterns. Breathing can be a laboured and heavy endeavour, shallow and fast, a gasping for every breath or an even, gentle and rhythmic dance.

The Vietnamese monk, Thich Nhat Hanh tells us that "breathing is to be alive and to be alive is a wonderful thing." This is so true when we are healthy, calm and able to control our breathing and our minds. Unfortunately, when we are unable to enjoy breathing properly due to illness, accidents, imposed conditions or the in final stage of life, it is without doubt very challenging to say the least. Yet many of us who do have the chance to live with well oxygenated lungs and good respiration, simply choose to ignore this life-enhancing aspect.

Most of us are fully aware that smoking in all of its guises i.e. cigarettes, dope, etc is bad for you.

However, it isn't until it is too late that many face the sad realities of fighting to breathe on a contraption in a hospital bed.

Although it isn't only smoking that creates respiratory problems it is at least possible to put an end to this form of addictive self-harm. It requires strong will power and only you can make the choice to change but you can do it and it could be the most self-empowering thing you will ever do in life. Giving up isn't easy. It takes courage, determination, a sense of responsibility, a certain servitude and faith.

At the end of this article is a list of tips and suggestions to help quit. Not all of them may be what you expect to read but if you realise the greater potential that this change could mean, you won't want to ever go back to it.

This article is not just for smokers.

Whether a smoker or someone wanting to find out how to improve breathing let's make a start tomorrow morning.

The idea is to spend one day studying the changes in your breathing and making a quick note of them throughout one entire day.

Start with waking up. Notice how you feel, what your breath is like and how you are breathing. Then when it is time you either leave for work or set out to do something in the morning, notice again your breathing and what might be going through your mind at the time.

Next, take note at around mid-day, then about 2pm, then 5:00 pm and just before going to bed.

Simply jot down how you are breathing whether it is shaky, heavy, calm and equal, fast, shallow, edgy, difficult, easy etc. Also note down how you are feeling, worried, anxious, relaxed, happy, upset etc.

Try to also notice what is going on in your head at the time.

After your day of noting down the changes in breathing, you will be more conscious of what is happening with your respiration throughout the day. This is a great start because now you can start to implement some strategies to break away from restrictive old patterns. No one can breathe for you. If you think about it like this, it is actually quite powerful.

The following is a useful breathing technique to help you deepen your breath and works to expand your awareness as well as being deeply relaxing. Loosen any tight clothing around your neck and waist and slip off your shoes.

Before starting The Belly Breathing exercise you may need to check with your physician first particularly if you have high or low blood pressure, a hernia or a heart condition.

Red Balloon Belly Breathing (Diaphragmatic Breathing)

This is a wonderful technique that you can easily utilise when you are feeling fatigued, low in energy, a bit agitated, upset or the need to de-stress. To set the scene for a longer relaxation, you might like to burn some incense or aroma therapy oil and put some very soft calming music on in the background. If at work with only a few minutes to spare, sit in a chair with your back straight and feet on the ground. Chin lightly tucked in and shoulders back and down. Place your hands on your belly.

If at home, lie down on your back with your head supported by a flat pillow and knees supported by a rolled blanket underneath them. Heels should still touch the floor. Place your hands comfortably on your tummy. A light cover in the cooler months may help you relax as your body temperature drops after a while. Make sure you are comfortable to begin with. Feel into your body where you are holding any tension. It may help to tense and release and then let go first.

Close your eyes and focus within.

Visualise a large red balloon inside your belly that you are going to inflate with your inhalation and deflate with your exhalation. To do this, you draw your breath in to your throat from your nasal passages and start to fill your balloon with air. With each inhalation and each exhalation, focus on making a slight hissing or gentle rasping sound in your throat. This is called Ujjayi breathing and is a form of Pranayama Breathing Technique used in Yoga. You continue to make this sound in your throat as you inhale slowly and deeply expanding your balloon and exhale slowly and fully deflating your balloon.

Try to really visualise or feel the large red balloon as you count 8-10 breaths expanding with your full, deep and slow inhalation then as you exhale count 8-10 exhaling slow breaths. Inhale and exhale completely each time. Slowly and deeply. You might like to gently draw your tummy towards the spine on the final part of the exhalation. Continue with full Belly Breathing Technique for 3-5 minutes then allow your breath to return to normal and lie there a while longer feeling the sense of release that follows.

Stop Smoking Tips and Suggestions

• Try listening to your breath at various times throughout the day. Become aware of your thoughts and how they can influence your breathing. Anxiety produces shallow breathing, anger can create a chaotic breath, yawning may be an indication of not enough oxygen and improper breathing.

• Take the unnerving reality check of visiting a lung cancer ward in a hospital. Vow to change your life while you still can.

• Realise that breathing is a gift. Your lungs and respiratory track and whole body are your temple. Respect and honour your body and have loving thoughts about yourself. Resist self-criticism.

• Keep a log book of very time you go to smoke and write down what was your thinking at the time. This can help you to focus on your life as a blessing not a distraction.

• Ahimsa means in ancient Sanskrit, non violence. Continuing to self-harm via smoking even if you think it is because you like doing it, it make you feel relaxed or happy at the time, you are still doing harm to not only yourself but also those around you and the environment.

• Each time you resist smoking try to resist substitution with food and drink, instead, feel a deep sense of gratitude towards your improved powers of resistance. Love who you are and what you are now doing to improve your body. It takes courage, patience with yourself and a change of attitude.

• If you fail at times, be compassionate with yourself. Do not berate yourself over it just keep going with genuine good intention to change and you will succeed.

• Find other healthy activities to embrace and get on to the path for improved well being.

Namaste

Annushka

Things I have discovered through Yoga

What I have discovered through my own practice, teaching, studying and seeking, is that there are significant healing components that work on different levels.

When there is an imbalance in life it is usually projected via our bodies and affects us all in different ways. Sometimes it comes in the guise of a physical illness or a physical demise that we first notice.

We may realise that something is not right.

It is good to keep this in mind because when the physical body is holding a lot of tension or stress it will take effect on our minds.

Likewise, if we overload with mental worry we risk the body re-acting discordantly.

According to yogic understanding, our whole being is made up of more than just what we see in our physical appearance. Our emotions, thoughts and energy extend through what are referred to as subtle bodies; in other words, what we are really made up of is a vibrating energy force.

Yoga not only works on the physical but also our energetic selves.

Yoga can shift energies so as to open up blockages and assist healing.

Intentionally, yoga unifies and brings the body and mind back to a state of equanimity; balance and harmony.
Yoga mindfulness can help us change our own inner environments, to accept more of the outside conditions or states that create turmoil.

We can at least be more aware of them.

Meditation, Pranayama and the deeper relaxation states of Yoga Nidra, Visualisation strategies and other techniques stem from this wonderful and ancient system.

Lennox Head Yoga new classes starting for those who live around Lennox Head or keep it in mind in case you are visit sometime in the future. I'll be running some workshops, to be announced in the near future too.

The next Laughing Buddha Retreat starts this Sunday at Dolphin Bay Ballina.

Four Day Yoga Retreat in Summerland on the Far North Coast of NSW!

Just $495!

Retreat dates: 15-18 | April 24-27 | April 8-11 | May 20-23 May

Summerland Circle of Kindness

Any single day can present a foray of choices that each of us has to decide upon. Choices come in many guises and can be simple or difficult. Some choices may affect only us but some choices in life affect many. Each day presents choices sometimes even when we think we don’t have a choice. We make decisions even when we are unaware of it. For example we may choose to get up or stay in bed, choose what to wear, eat for breakfast etc. Too often we go about doing things routinely or without awareness. Yet choices are made from moment to moment throughout a single day and can make a difference not only to your own sense of wellbeing but also affect others.

“No act of kindness, however small is ever wasted” _ Aesop.

The act of smiling at others from the heart can make a difference to someone’s day. Yet  in shops and other service centres where you would expect friendly service, we can be met by an attitude of indifference. Without being aware of it, the recipient is left feeling undervalued as a human being and negative energy then tends to spread. If someone is already down, it can be detrimental.

In contrast, a friendly, warm greeting can have the opposite effect. It can help to sustain, nurture and comfort. You can even choose not to allow the indifferent attitude of someone else to affect you. If you are aware of it, you might even make a bigger effort yourself to be kind.

Think of it this way.....

You can choose today to look at life through a pair of unique eyes. Your inner eye especially.

When you wake up, try taking 5 slow deep and long breaths and watch your chest rising with amazement. The sheer act of breathing is a miracle.

As you wash your face, smile warmly at yourself. You don’t need to see your reflection to know you are a beautiful being.

When you get dressed, tell yourself how fortunate you are to have such lovely clothes to choose from. Look at your clothes and things you put on with appreciation and feel in awe of the way they are created, their colours, textures and patterns. It’s easier to choose to be judgemental and believe nothing is good enough.
When you make breakfast or sit down to eat, feel blessed and in return send a kind thought out to all the people involved in getting this food to your table, the farmers, producers, manufacturers etc.

When something or someone makes you feel frustrated, choose not to let it. Breathe and smile inwardly. When you can do this you know you are doing well. Continue on through the day like this seeing everything and everyone as unique, wondrous and part of your life.
Of course it isn’t as easy as it sounds and it isn’t always good to bury your emotions or repress feelings but there is an appropriate way of dealing with them for the sake of yourself as well as others.  Remember that most of the time you do have choices and making the right ones eventually come full circle.
Henry Matisse, the French painter once said “There are always flowers for those who want to see them.”

Annushka

A Royal Surprise!

For this weeks’ Summerland newsletter’s Life Style section, I am including a recipe that is too easy. For Banana lovers like me, the raw variety just released from its ripe pyjama jacket is still unbeatable but when in the mood for a little bit of nurturing this is pure comfort food. I’ve called it Sultan’s Breakfast because it is fit for a King being rich in colour and texture and feels somewhat special when served.

Bananas are rich in food value and surprisingly rich in Potassium and Vitamin C. They are great for energy and fibre and an excellent ant-acid food as they eliminate bacteria from the stomach that cause ulcers and increase probiotic bacteria. Bananas also help to improve the calcium absorption of your body helping to build stronger bones and as they have a fast gastrointestinal transit, the threat of colon cancer may be decreased.

Thoughts aside, simply enjoy!

Sultan’s Breakfast

(serving for two)

Ingredients: 2 ripe bananas, a tablespoonful of Ghee, palm sugar, cinnamon, Sour cream.

Fry the golden coloured ghee in a flat frypan and when sizzling  add the bananas, sliced lengthways. Toss when cooked through ( 2 -3 minutes) and brown lightly on other side.Sprinkle generously with palm sugar and cinnamon and serve on  wholegrain Toast with Sunflower seeds with a good dollop of sour cream. Voila!

To you this week From Annushka

Summerland Lifestyle

It is a beautiful Summerland afternoon and as I sit beneath the Frangipani tree's expansive branches, I become aware of its subtle yet intoxicating perfume. Something lightly lands on my head and then comes to rest in my lap. One of the flowers has fallen from up high and as I trace its outline with my fingers, I recall the sensation of touching a baby's skin. The tangible association evokes within me a loving sense of joy.

I then start to carefully notice each petal in detail, how they overlap and join so cleverly at the centre and the perfection of each curve, arranged to geometrical precision. At the inner core, the petals are submerged in a deep rich, honey-yellow hue that turns to lemon as the petals extend outwards into light pink shades and tips of dark cerise.

I hold the flower in the palm of my right hand which rests in my left and as I close my eyes, my breath begins to deepen, lengthen and slow down. I am sitting perfectly still under the branches of an elder; the tree has been here for at least 15 years. My feet are well grounded and my spine is long, rising up and out of my pelvis like the flower's stem which flows up to my head. In the quietude of mind I slowly become one with the flower in my hand. Each inhalation and each exhalation feel so complete, so deep and calm.

The flowers' scent encapsulates my totality so that respiration becomes imbibed in Frangipani essence; Frangipani life-force energy. The flower and I are now one and the tree and I are one and the garden too. A deep gratitude enters my heart and I as sit there I feel deeply and utterly at peace.

Eventually, when I feel the moment is right, I open my eyes slowly and sit there a little while longer just contemplating the flower in my hand. I think about how the energy is there one day and gone the next as the flower starts to brown and wither away. I think about how we are all a bit like flowers. And I think about how wonderful it is to be alive right now.

Namaste

Annushka

Ultimate Food Connection; Stomach to Heart or Hard to Stomach

Whether celebrating a special occasion, meeting up with family, friends or those you may not even know yet; the sharing of food often makes for a warm social connection. The essence of any heart warming occasion usually includes something nice to eat. It may present an opportunity to engage with others informally or formally, from the most basic bread and wine to theatrical interpretations that encompass a sense of passion, fire imagination and convey appreciation. Eating however, can also be linked to our emotions.

Most of us have at sometime or other experienced Friday night treaties after the working week with a large bowl of ice-cream, take away pizza or for women, perhaps, more serious chocolate encounters at a certain time of the month. On the other hand you might think of a delectable meal you once enjoyed somewhere in the past and find yourself suddenly salivating at the very thought, reliving every mouthful. Psychological or physiological, food can have negative or positive associations.

Nothing is worse however, than feeling guilty when it comes to eating. This can lead to demoralising kinds of secretive binges that violate self-control and may procure a sense of self-hate; far more damaging.

In a world that constantly sees food in television programmes on every channel and every other media outlet, multi-billion dollar marketing industries often dictate what consumers buy, eat and how they prepare their meals.  It becomes evidently more difficult to avoid the trappings of over-consumption. And ludicrously, opposing this extreme of over-indulgence is the emphasis on a stereotyped body idyll; as in slim and youthful. It is a real balancing act.

Whereas, images come to mind of happy times sharing delicious foods; remembering that mouth watering foods can be healthy too, it ultimately boils down to making the right choices. This process however, is often hindered by not only advertising but even the layout of supermarket aisles and the demise of small fruit and vegetable outlets.

On a brighter note here in Summerland, we do have local producers and wonderful local markets. Together they hold the key to a treasure trove of fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh eggs and honey. These small market garden gardeners and other fresh food farmers need to survive. They provide us with healthy options and also the opportunity to educate our children about how food comes onto their plates, encouraging healthy attitudes towards food. This might not seem necessary yet a recent research program discovered that the majority of primary aged children thought yoghurt grew on trees.

It isn’t easy to avoid being pulled in all directions when it comes to food. The overwhelming food selections on supermarket shelves and the media can be confronting, confusing and disempowering. Don’t allow down emotions to dictate too much. Eat a healthy diet of fresh energising foods which make you feel more alive. Become aware of how you eat, what you eat, where you eat and who you eat with and this can be a way of making mealtime more enjoyable and better for everyone.

Bon appetite!

Annushka

There are many things that come along in life to question our abilities and strengths and Yoga is no different in this way. For me personally, Yoga is a way of life but I also have other roles to perform that are challenging in one way or another. I am sure this is the case for all of us. Being a mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend etc is enough to challenge one at times let alone work commitments and dealing with those unexpected blows that strike out of the blue.

Sometimes I have people come to me for classes or Private Sessions because they need help and would like more personal time than a shared yoga class can offer. Sometimes they require help with a physical problem; sometimes it's emotional, sometimes mental and sometimes all three in one.

I try to draw on all of my strengths, accumulated knowledge, experience and heartfelt wisdom in these instances to give them what I feel may be of help. More often than not, I try to assist them to re-activate their own of sense of personal power. We all have inner strength that needs to be re-instated daily and to touch base with our inner selves, allow time to connect with our source of divine; however, you may perceive this.

When we are injured in some way, whether physically, emotionally or mentally, we tend to lose our sense of self, become more insular and feel more easily threatened. Whether it is the result of an injury, disability, a build up of pressure over time, the result of a bad decision, or the result of a traumatic event; injurious states of mind or body can lead to feelings of despair, anxiety, depression or hatred of self and/or others.

Meditation is a wonderful Yoga discipline that helps people reconnect within and essentially self-heal. I see it as Mind Yoga and it has been certainly one of the most beneficial, supportive personal aides I have known. Don't be confused however, in thinking that Meditation is all peace and hippie flowers, an escape from reality or that it makes you feel blissed out all of the time. This is not what it is about at all. In fact I have been practising meditation for years and there have been times when I have burst into tears or become aware of negative feelings that have surfaced. Becoming aware however, are the key words.

Meditation for me is a blessing because it makes me face the truth and guides me through. Quietening the mind is not easy but you get better at finding silence between the thoughts and as your mind slows down with the breath, you learn to deal with your own reality, accept things as they really are and find peace. There are times when yes it can bring a blissful state and that is amazing too but there are other times where the act of just sitting, quietening the mind and watching with the breath is simply reward enough.

If you've given up on Meditation or never tried it, I suggest you give it a real chance. Don't expect anything to begin with and be prepared for days in which your mind doesn't tune in or out. Just continue to do it. If you do it at the same time everyday it really helps.

Meditation is a bit like learning to drive. You have to believe you can do it. A teacher can direct you but you have to go it alone. You learn in increments, you need to concentrate and you get better at it with experience.

Namaste Annushka