Ok, I’m almost laughing as I write. And this whole process of writing this blog post just shows me again how much I need this. Yes, my seemingly simple word for 2021 isn’t that simple for me! What’s my word and intention setting for this year you wonder? It’s simple – Simplify. Yes, that word …
When it comes to stretching I think most of us will agree that stretching the body comes to mind, or? But I find it’s equally important to stretch our mind. Therefore I’ll have a quick look at what stretching can do for both. Let’s have a look at the body first. Sadly a “good stretch” is …
Would you agree that summertime and Christmas are special times? There is certain buzz in both of them as both are filled with fun, joy and excitement. But they can as well bring tension, stress and exhaustion. For those living far away from family, summer holidays often mean going home or having family visiting. And …
Welcome NO-vember! No November blues this year! As we are coming towards the end of the year we more often than not start to feel worn out, exhausted and `off`. Well, at least I assume I am not alone out there feeling like that?! The past weeks have been dragging as I seem to have …
Often, and especially at Yoga, we talk about breathing patterns to calm us down, to help us to relax, to unwind. But we can use the breath to engerize, too. I tend to use it at times when I feel tired after a bad night sleep, struggling with jet lag or when I feel exhausted …
Life can be stressful and hectic and we easily lose track of time and what does us good! Add to that the pressure of “you should” – exercise, meditate, be mindful, relax, sleep, read, educate further – “at least every day for an x-amount” of time to succeed. Don`t we all already have enough pressure …
Summer holidays started or are about to start. And if you have younger kids you know that means (very) limited time for yourself, let alone sports. Whether with kids, your partner, friends or alone a fun way to keep active and to increase endurance and speed for everybody is the “beep test”. In short a …
Sometimes it is in the most smallest, most subtle things… I have to confess that I was doubtful when I heard that we were about to practice the “gentle smile” (half smile) during our Mindfulness training. I immediately had an image of a fake smile popping up. But I soon learned how wrong my perception …
Before I even start – do not get me wrong, we all have crappy days, times that pull us down, when all and everybody seems to be too much. And we are all entitled to feel like that at times. But often it seems to me that that is what we mainly do; seeing the …
We all know those moments when we feel upset, pressured, overwhelmed or uncomfortable. Especially in such situations we tend to become disconnected to what is actually happening around us. Here comes a little awareness exercise I got to know during my mindfulness course. It may come in helpful to be be more “there”, in the present moment, …
I recently came across the “flow mindfulness workbook” and one article got my immediate attention, it was about “a busy head” (written by Otje van der Lelij). Going deeper into why we do take everything that we have in our mind so seriously. Do you find yourself imagining the worst case scenario, a situation where …
Before you already cringe by just reading ‘mindfulness’ – replace it with ‘awareness’ and keep on reading! After all do we not all want to be more aware, in the moment, less stressed but calmer? My attention was recently drawn to a Mindfulness workshop, 2 hrs information on what it does for you and how you …
Want to be part of an interesting journey? Then come and join the 21 day Yoga Summit, starting Feb. 2nd! I am helping to spread the news! The Year 2017 is still young, the Chinese New Year is about to start, why not use this year to try something new or to dig deeper? …
I reached the point where I feel emotionally, mentally and physically drained. It is not that only bad things are happening, not at all, a lot of good stuff is going on but the exhaustion makes it difficult to enjoy and to see them at times. My mind seems to be in a constant overflow, …
Have you ever paid attention to how quickly we are categorizing people based on what they do as a profession, or on their lifestyle? Without any further or deeper thoughts we put a “stamp” on a person. Like “Oh he / she is XYZ that`s why…” And yes, surprisingly often that person even seems to fit …
In the summer when it got pretty hot here I posted a blog to “Stay hydrated”. That gave me a little bit of a base to start writing today`s blog which is an assignment for my studies. In short “write a personal blog post about beverages” – healthy beverages that help us to stay hydrated, I …
I just finished reading the book “Eat fat – get thin(*!) ” by Mark Hyman. An intriguing title – we are supposed to eat fat!? I do believe something is wrong with our way of looking at food – being told to eat and drink all the low to non-fat products! Thankfully I mainly lived …
Well, I sometimes ask that myself, and I took it as a privilege, honour – and a big step to overcome my own fears – by having been asked to be a first Member Profile for FEW (For Empowering Women) and to answer some questions about “How I got here”. “FEW in Japan is an exceptionally active and …
Summer holidays are coming to an end and when talking about them I can’t help but review a little on how they went. I will start with my outcome from this summer experience, my lesson learned so to say: While I strongly do believe that is important to take time for yourself and your things …
Often mudras are put into connection with Yoga, sitting in meditation. But it is more to them as they can as well help to bring more “meaning to our awareness and into our expressions” (Mudras of India, book) and help our body and mind to heal. I tend to use them at times when I …
At the moment “mindful” seems to be one of the buzzwords and a lot of truth lies behind this simple word. Especially in today’s environment, when everything and everybody is rushed and multitasked and nothing seems to be good enough. It is important to halt, to breathe, to be aware, to allow to feel both …
I know some people, and include myself here, who cringe when they hear the word meditation. Hearing that word doesn’t put us at ease, instead, it creates tension. This visual image of sitting in lotus pose or at least crossed legged for a long time. Peacefully, no moving nor thinking! “No way, not for me!” …
With temperatures rising it is even more important to stay hydrated! And while water is the best and easiest source of liquid, at times we may get tired of it and crave a different flavour. Don’t fear to spice it up with some fruits or vegetables or a mix of both! Add some lemon, …
Summer is here and many of us may have kids at home for a longer period of time. While it can be tiring at some point – where do they get all their energy from?! – it is as well a valuable time without having to bother about school stuff, long school days and a …
I came across this book as part of my current study course. And while we mostly tend to think about fats as the evil weight gaining ingredient, sugar is right up there, too. And not only for weight gain but many other negative impacts on our body. Having said that, this is not a blog …
I wrote about relaxation techniques like Visualisation – Relaxation and IRT – Instant Relaxation Technique. Two very different and powerful tools, and techniques I personally find less daunting and ‘scary’ than meditation. Today, let`s have a look into the Progressive Muscle Relaxation by Edmund Jacobsen. He developed this technique back in the 1920. It is a technique …
Is a happy life the ultimate goal? Over the passed weeks I somehow got into several discussion around the theme of “happiness and chasing a happy life”. And to be honest I do struggle with the wordings and the constant usage of “happy and happiness” these days. What does it mean and is that really …
Today just a quick ‘Food for Thought’ that I read in a Yoga book, but transferrable to all aspects of life! “Those of you who are really bad at Yoga, you’re in the right place. I hope everyone will allow themselves to be really crappy today, to walk away from being perfect. The real Yoga …
In one of my recent quick post on my At Ease Facebook page I asked you to go out and get inspired. I now want to go a bit deeper, what can inspiration give us and where and how can we get inspired? Let’s have a look into a few aspects for both areas: Inspiration will give …
In the ideal world we do have enough time and the space to relax, unwind and recharge our body and mind in length of time. Unfortunately we rarely have and take this time. Thankfully a `quick fix` like an instant relaxation will give us an energy boost, release stress and tension and help us to refocus. This …
We often speak of standing strong,proud and grounded. It sounds kind of easy, standing up, straight, both feed firmly on the ground, head up, chin straight. But there is standing and standing grounded! I love it when I stand grounded, not just when practising Yoga but as well in day to day situations. It is …
We do not need to venture far to find something good! Stand strong and tall like a tree! Yoga poses mainly relate back to nature and animals. If we start to not ‘just do’ the Asanas (poses), but look behind and feel them they can give us some advice and help us in our daily …
So much more than just standing. Not only did I recently appear on a photo looking anything else but 5 months pregnant (what I am not! Well, perhaps I can blame my shirt a bit, too?!) but I just noticed how “off” I looked, and felt. Yes I was tired and exhausted but wasn’t aware …
A lot is out there and being said about being mindful and whether you agree or disagree, it is important to cherrish the small things, to reconnect what is around us and to find joy in day to day things. So last night instead of just rushing into the dinner, bedtime routine and playing catch …
Five weeks ago we moved to the other side of the world. And while we do take is slow and easy tensions are building up and the stress factor can be high at times. Every move is hard and add three kids and a country you do not speak the language of into the mix …
Pain in the neck can be a pain in the neck! Especially when busy times are ahead, or during summer holidays when kids are at home, or when you planned a nice trip to just enjoy and relax! Any tension or stiffness creeping up in the neck won’t help to feel relaxed, joyful or at ease. So, …
Today is not only ‘midsommar’ – the Summer Solstice, where in some parts of the northern hemisphere the sunlight never disappears, no today is as well the worldwide 1st International Yoga Day! A “bid to unite the world in the name of the ancient Indian tradition”. So celebrate today, take the mat out and get into the move, …
One of my favourite parts in Yoga is the Sun Salutation; even if, or especially because, it is repeated in most classes. Its repetition gives a special flow and you can just let yourself sink into its sequence, relax, breathe and enjoy. It is a the sequence that covers most body parts. And depending on …
I came to Yoga during my first pregnancy. The first class I remember ever since. I was just beyond the 3 months mark and the class was a mixture with small bellies like me up to 9 months pregnant. And here I was going into a forward bent barely touching my knees – looking around …
Somehow running is one of those sports that lots of people do but most of them do not really seem to love. I put myself into the love-hate category. I have a standard running track where I run regularly with a running buggy, my son strapped into. And on days like today it somehow feels so …
The benefits of being active / doing sports are endless but let me share some of my general thoughts to start with: Helps to S ocialize Gives P ower Helps to fight O besity Helps to R elax and releases T ension and makes you S mile! All good reasons to keep on or …
Welcome to an area to find various thoughts, information and ideas on Yoga, Fitness and Wellbeing.