Showing posts with label Mindful. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mindful. Show all posts
Sunday, July 29, 2018
9:19 PM
Top 5 Essential Oils
I don’t know about you guys but the last week has been a
whirlwind of a ride for me. This Moon was intense. Six planets in retrograde, a
total Full Moon Eclipse, Mars making a big appearance and large Geomagnetic
storms taking place left our energy levels at an all new high, and boy did I feel
it. Not only did I notice it within
myself but I was well aware of how it was affecting others around me without
them even realising it. I was incredibly mindful of how to conduct myself
throughout this Super Moon period and required many moments sitting solo to
ensure I centered myself and attempted to level my own energy as it began to
heighten.
As a primary school teacher there are a few things that we
must prepare ourselves for, these include; Wind, Rain and the Moon, (Fellow
educators ya’ll know exactly what I’m talking about). You see any one of these
three things can set that school community off like a house on fire. Things get
real wild. Of the three, a Full Moon tends to be the predominant cause of
anything out of the ordinary. “Is it a full moon because Johnny’s eating dirt
again…” There is no denying it the Full moon super-charges our energy and we
tend to feel askew. I was once told that
even the police force recognises the pull it has on society and in fact roster
more officers on over a full moon period. To be fair that may be one of those
stories that start with ‘it happened to a friend of a friend of mine’, but hey,
I ain’t questioning it.
So how did I survive this more powerful Super Moon event?
Well after smudging the place, bathing in Epson salts, lighting every candle in
the house, meditating and ensuring my salt lamp was on at all times I ultimately
turned to my essential oils. Oils are my saviour. I’m pretty new to the whole
essential oil scene but there is definitely no going back. I can’t get enough
of them and the benefits they have on me are incredible. I use oils for a
variety of reasons depending on what I need. I even use them in my classroom to
which the kids love and always ask for. I have my best friend to thank for introducing
me to the world of oils. In fact, she helped create this article on our pick of
top essential oils. So here it is. The oils I turn to daily and how they helped
me through this crazy period.
1. The anxiety set from Courtney and the babes- @courtneyandthebabes
This is a new brand of oils I have recently stumbled across
and my number one pick. I absolutely love these oils. The ladies at Courtney
and the babes have developed a beautiful range of roll on essential oils. The
three I have tried, (so far) are meditation, chill pill and sleep. I purchased
chill pill and sleep as an anxiety pack and they by far are the best investment
I’ve ever made. I have never been a great sleeper. I’m a REM sleep kinda girl
and wake to the sound of a pin dropping on the carpet. I began using these two
only 2 weeks ago and my sleeping patterns have changed immensely. Every night I
roll my sleep oil on as directed on the soles of my feet and base of my neck. I
also roll it onto my wrists as I sleep with my hands around my face and just
love the smell. I have not slept this soundly in such a long time. If you haven’t
already check them out.
Chill Pill
Ingredients-
Frankincense- Relieves
chronic stress and anxiety, reduces pain and inflammation and boost immunity.
Blue chamomile-
Supports healthy joint function, promotes relaxation and restful sleep.
Clary sage- Fights
depression, prevents infection, rich in antioxidants, stimulates sexual
desires, regulated menstruation, lowers blood pressure and an anti-inflammatory.
Bergamot-
Cleansing, an antidepressant and digestive support.
Marjoram- Rectifies hormonal imbalances, reduces blood pressure,
promotes restful sleep and sound mind, relieves pain.
Lavender- Reduce
anxiety and emotional stress, improve brain function, improve sleep, powerful
antioxidants and relieves pain.
Eucalyptus- Anti-inflammatory
and antibacterial support
Deep Sleep
Ingredients-
Lavender- See
above
Cedar wood- Reduces
inflammation, prevents infections, relieves spasms, supports menstruation,
excellent for eczema.
Juniper berry-
Cleanses and purifies air and produce a calming and grounding effect
Vetiver- Uplifting, soothing, healing and protective properties, boosts energy levels, soothes feelings of anxiety and nervousness, increases libido and treats insomnia. Has been used to treat symptoms of ADHD and ADD.
Marjoram- See
above
Roman chamomile- Fights Anxiety and
Depression, Serves as a Natural Allergy Reliever, Helps Alleviate PMS Symptoms,
Reduces Symptoms of Insomnia, Boosts Skin Health, Supports Digestive Health and
Promotes Heart Health.
2. Believe from the Young living range- @younglivingeo
This brand is one of our favourite brands of oils and the
pre-blend ‘believe’ is our number 2 essential oil must have. This blend encourages feelings of strength and
brings emotional balance to you. When you need grounding this oil is the one to
turn to as it releases and alleviates one of negative feelings. Feelings of
despair and inadequacy are removed and a higher level of awareness is enabled.
I recently held an adult mindfulness session and had this burning in my diffuser.
The space immediately calmed and everyone who had participated asked at the end
what the oil was as they couldn’t get enough of it. Get around this blend
people.
Believe Ingredients-
Idaho Balsam Fir-
Prevents infection, relieves pain, detoxifies the body, improves respiratory
functions and increases the metabolisim.
Coriander- Stimulates Hormone Secretion, purifies the blood, improves digestion and treats spasms
Bergamot- One of the best essential oils for depression and helps to alleviate
stress and anxiety, prevents and fights infections, helps lower
blood pressure, helps to lower cholesterol, fights respiratory conditions and alleviates
pain
Frankincense- See
above
Idaho Blue Spruce- Reduce
muscle pain, reduce nerve pain, high in d-limonene which is anti-cancerous, natural
antiviral and antibacterial properties, releasing emotional blocks and healing
pineal glands.
Ylang Ylang- Has antiseptic, antispasmodic, sedative and
antidepressant properties. Promotes positive effect on immune health, blood
flow and emotions.
Geranium- Balances
hormones, relieves stress, reduces depression, minimizes inflammation, improves
circulation, alleviates the effects of menopause, improves dental health and reduces
blood pressure.
3. Heart and Soul from the Springfield range
This blend has been made to soothe and balance your heart and soul and is an ideal combination for meditation. In fact, I am burning this blend as we speak. It is a fantastic blend of oils that is not only great for burning but can also be added to creams to moisturise skin as it possess great skin benefits.
Heart and Soul
Ingredients-
Ho leaf- Helps
lift emotions, calms the mind and is deeply nourishing for skin.
Cedarwood- See
above.
Rose Geranium- Overall
skin benefits.
Frankincense- See
above
Orange- An antidepressant
4. Peace and Calming, again from the Young Living range
I told you this range was one of our favourites! This is one
of the besties picks she puts this one on when she’s wanting to calm her
environment. It also enables focus and a positive mental outlook.
Peace and Calming
Ingredients-
Tangerine- Improves mental fortitude, relieves pain, purifies
the blood, improves digestion, relieves spasms and provides energy.
Orange- See above
Ylang Ylang- See
above
Patchouli- Relieves depression, soothes inflammation, used as an aphrodisiac, stimulates
blood circulation, sedates hypersensitivity, acts as tonic
Blue tansy- Creates a positive atmosphere
5. Frankincense from Young Living range
Although this has made number 5 on the list it is still one
of my favourite scents ever. I love the benefits it provides, particularly for
children. Again, being a teacher, I live and breathe the overly-anxious world
children are experiencing. The world that everyone hears all over the media. It’s
a very difficult position to be in because all you want to do is take their
worries from them and just let them live their young little lives. I burn this
scent in my diffuser in the classroom and my kids absolutely love it. I call it
our focus scent. It makes a big difference in the classroom as it supports
positive emotional regulation by reducing anxiety and stress. Burning it
provides triggers for the brain that aids in the overall brain health and
increasing the memory. It also relieves pains such as headaches and nausea,
something I am constantly hearing from 8 year olds. It’s last benefit, great
for getting to sleep.
So there you have it. Our top 5 essential oils. Try them out
and let me know what you think. You won’t regret it. X
Monday, July 9, 2018
5:13 PM
Mind full or Mindful? What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness, the new buzz on the streets. We are seeing it
everywhere. It’s the new black, the new man bun, the new smashed avo. This new
trend is sweeping the nation.
So what exactly is Mindfulness? Well if you googled it you
would get:
But what does that even mean?
My understanding:
Focussing our direct attention on what is happening now.
Ways in which we can do this:
- breathe mindfully
- use mindful observation
- even think mindfully.
It’s waking up in the morning and noticing the smell of a freshly ground coffee. It’s walking down the street and observing the cute little dandelions lining the path. It’s allowing particular thoughts and feelings to occur and acknowledging them without judgement.
Basically, we see life through the eyes of curiosity. We let our inner child break free, no inhibitions. Think about it. Kids notice and question everything with innocence. They are inquisitive and aren't afraid of this. Our attention is often so focused elsewhere; like old memories, fantasies, plans or worries. We rarely live right now in the moment and have a tendency to be on autopilot. How many times have you driven somewhere and arrived at your destination without realising how you even got there. Once? Twice? Multiple times? That, unfortunately, is how we drive our lives. We are missing out on actually living.
So mindfulness. The old practice that yogi’s all over the world have been trying to get us to embark on for many years. Deriving from the historical teachings of Buddha and his journey to Nirvana.
The end of suffering. When I first read that I could not believe how much that resonated with me. I never thought of how much I caused myself to suffer without even realising that it was me doing it to myself. I don’t know about you but I was the antonym of nirvana. You know those memes that pop up in the Instagram feed talking about your anxieties in the middle of the night, the ones that say things like-
Those memes were literally me and I'm gonna guess that those memes are also you.
So with that lets get to the science of mindfulness. Side note: how funny are we as creatures that we need science to prove to us that something is good for us. We couldn't just listen to the yogi's and trust in what they were saying.
The science behind mindfulness is incredible. The evidence has proven that it has the ability to enhance our overall psychological well-being. It has the ability to:
Mindfulness
ˈmʌɪn(d)f(ʊ)lnəs/
noun
- 1.the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something."their mindfulness of the wider cinematic tradition"
- 2.a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.
But what does that even mean?
My understanding:
Focussing our direct attention on what is happening now.
Ways in which we can do this:
- breathe mindfully
- use mindful observation
- even think mindfully.
It’s waking up in the morning and noticing the smell of a freshly ground coffee. It’s walking down the street and observing the cute little dandelions lining the path. It’s allowing particular thoughts and feelings to occur and acknowledging them without judgement.
Basically, we see life through the eyes of curiosity. We let our inner child break free, no inhibitions. Think about it. Kids notice and question everything with innocence. They are inquisitive and aren't afraid of this. Our attention is often so focused elsewhere; like old memories, fantasies, plans or worries. We rarely live right now in the moment and have a tendency to be on autopilot. How many times have you driven somewhere and arrived at your destination without realising how you even got there. Once? Twice? Multiple times? That, unfortunately, is how we drive our lives. We are missing out on actually living.
So mindfulness. The old practice that yogi’s all over the world have been trying to get us to embark on for many years. Deriving from the historical teachings of Buddha and his journey to Nirvana.
Nirvana
nɪəˈvɑːnə/
noun
noun: nirvana
- (in Buddhism) a transcendent state in which there is neither suffering, desire, nor sense of self, and the subject is released from the effects of karma and the cycle of death and rebirth. It represents the final goal of Buddhism.
The end of suffering. When I first read that I could not believe how much that resonated with me. I never thought of how much I caused myself to suffer without even realising that it was me doing it to myself. I don’t know about you but I was the antonym of nirvana. You know those memes that pop up in the Instagram feed talking about your anxieties in the middle of the night, the ones that say things like-
Those memes were literally me and I'm gonna guess that those memes are also you.
So with that lets get to the science of mindfulness. Side note: how funny are we as creatures that we need science to prove to us that something is good for us. We couldn't just listen to the yogi's and trust in what they were saying.
The science behind mindfulness is incredible. The evidence has proven that it has the ability to enhance our overall psychological well-being. It has the ability to:
- Decrease of stress
- Decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety
- Strengthen the immune system
- Improve sleep
- Enhance concentration and memory
- Increase self-awareness
- Develop confidence
- Develop resilience
- Support emotional regulation
You see when we build skills of mindfulness we enable
ourselves to access avenues of creativity, flexibility and lateral thinking
which allow us to manage challenging situations more rationally. Mindfulness
mediation actually reduces the size of the Amygdala, (remember the Smoke Alarm
part of our brain I discussed in my earlier article), enabling us to use our
frontal lobes more readily and essentially meaning we bounce back from
situations easier and possess a more positive and holistic outlook on life. When we are mindful we allow our thoughts and feelings not to be labelled as good or bad and we don’t seek out or avoid those particular emotions. We accept them and act almost as a witness to them as we observe in a nonjudgmental manner.
Now don’t get me wrong being mindful is not as easy as you think. If you’re like me and have spent many years building up those networks within the brain of worrying then your busy brain will be challenged. Our thoughts, feelings, values don't automatically make a switch. For me it is a practise, leading to a practice. Meditating is a beginning step for me on my journey of mindfulness. I find it difficult to meditate solo. I can't just lay in the silence of my bedroom and start focusing on my breathing. I still, after a couple of years, need the candles and diffusers, the calming music and the gentle guidance of someone talking me through it. I attend guided meditations, listen to them on YouTube or on particular mindfulness apps. If you’ve never meditated before than do me a favour. Find somewhere nearby that you can attend for a ‘relaxation session’. They are around. Put yourself first. Schedule some much needed 'me' time' into your busy life. That, I feel, is the first step to making a change from mind full to mindful.
Now don’t get me wrong being mindful is not as easy as you think. If you’re like me and have spent many years building up those networks within the brain of worrying then your busy brain will be challenged. Our thoughts, feelings, values don't automatically make a switch. For me it is a practise, leading to a practice. Meditating is a beginning step for me on my journey of mindfulness. I find it difficult to meditate solo. I can't just lay in the silence of my bedroom and start focusing on my breathing. I still, after a couple of years, need the candles and diffusers, the calming music and the gentle guidance of someone talking me through it. I attend guided meditations, listen to them on YouTube or on particular mindfulness apps. If you’ve never meditated before than do me a favour. Find somewhere nearby that you can attend for a ‘relaxation session’. They are around. Put yourself first. Schedule some much needed 'me' time' into your busy life. That, I feel, is the first step to making a change from mind full to mindful.
