Well Being and Self-Care

3 Simple Stress Relief Tips For Instant Calm

April 22, 2019 By Ntathu Allen Leave a Comment

Prayers and blessings Gentle Reader, for a happy peaceful day. Welcome new readers and I’m glad you are here! In today’s post I’d like to share 3 simple tips you can use straight away for stress relief and overwhelm so you feel stronger, calmer and more confident to deal with the stresses in life.

Have you ever felt as if life is spinning your wheels and situations spiralling out of control? How do you feel when this happens?

What do you do, to regain your sense of calm and inner balance? over the years, I have come to depend more and more on my “off the yoga mat” skills and exercises.

My daily yoga and meditation practice has become a living part of my life rather than something I teach and do to keep fit and healthy.

Here are three simple yoga techniques, you can use to release the stress and build up of tension and frustration you face from the barrage of demands on your time. [Read more…] about 3 Simple Stress Relief Tips For Instant Calm

Five Simple Solutions To Relieve Stress Quickly

April 11, 2019 By Ntathu Allen Leave a Comment

Everyone knows that too much stress isn’t good for you!

In today’s blog, we’ll look at five simple ways to relieve stress quickly!

According to The survey – commissioned by the Mental Health Foundation, 74% of UK adults have felt so stressed at some point over the last year they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope.

And, I am sure, like me, you know someone who is overwhelmed and struggling to cope.

Too much stress in your life causes havoc with your immune system, leading to feelings of overwhelm, brain-fog, confusion and fatigue.

With the constant demands on your time and energy from friends, work colleagues, and loved ones, much as you desire to live a simple happy life, there is little time for you to unwind, rest and relax.

In fact, if your life is like most of my yoga students, you wish there were more hours in the day, so you could fit everything in!

If you are tired of being tired, running on empty and exhausted, it is vital you find a way to manage the high levels of stress in your daily life.

Too much stress in your life can lead to critical health conditions as your body is over-stressed and struggles to regain balance and harmony.

Boost the Benefits of Yoga with Simple Self-Care Practices

March 29, 2019 By Ntathu Allen Leave a Comment

If you’re already practising yoga, you are most likely doing so out of love, and part of your everyday simple self -care practices for your physical and mental well-being.

The fluid movements of yoga like contracting and stretching, in addition to focusing on your breathing, are some of the most beneficial aspects of regular yoga practice.

These components of yoga allow for moments of mindfulness — an awareness of our thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations in the present moment.

Mindfulness and yoga are great forms of simple self-care.

But what is self-care and how can you implement it in your yoga practice?

Read on to discover the answers and delve into deeper insight on taking your yoga practice a step further. [Read more…] about Boost the Benefits of Yoga with Simple Self-Care Practices

10 Things I Am Most Grateful For In My Life

February 22, 2019 By Ntathu Allen Leave a Comment

What are you most grateful for?

In this post, I share ten things I am grateful for because it helps me stay focused on what’s good and positive in life.

The other day, I posted the following message on my Yoga Inspires with Ntathu Allen, Facebook Page

“What habits and daily rituals do you do to wake-up happy, stay engaged and empathetic.”

Can you imagine my joy in reading the range of comments – from evening prayers of gratitude, yoga, using crystals and journalling.

One of my friend’s commented she says ten things she is grateful for every morning.

I thought “10 things. Wow!! – that’s super cool.”

I say three things – but ten things!!!!

That’s like Level 3 of gratitude!

Inspired the following morning, I took my journal and wrote ten things I’m grateful for in my life.

And have been doing that every morning since.

And, it does take gratitude and appreciation to the next level.

Some mornings I struggle to think of ten things and have to pause, look around my room and remind myself of how much I have to give thanks for in my current situation.

If you’re inspired to do this practice and feel stuck, here is my list of 10 things I’m grateful for getting your creative juices flowing.

I am grateful for the early morning sounds of cocks crowing reminding me that it is a new day and I’m glad to be alive.
I am grateful for my box breathing exercise because it helps to strengthen my lungs.
I am grateful for my pelvic floor and my willingness to strengthen and nurture my core.
I am thankful for YouTube educational videos and tutorials I can watch which enhance my understanding of life.
I am thankful for my parent’s vibrant health because I’m inspired to be as healthy as them when I’m 85.
I am thankful for digital technology which helps me stay connected with friends and loved ones.
I am thankful for my early morning thoughts and journal practice because it helps to keep me aligned and connected.
I am thankful for my glasses and my eyesight because it means I can see clearly.
I am thankful for my breath and knowing how to breathe and meditate.
I am grateful I took steps to be self-employed and love what I do.

Take Aways…

Journalling and giving thanks are personal matters between you and your heart.

If you have a gratitude practice what difference does it make to your day?

If you haven’t got a regular gratitude practice, I encourage you to give it a go because it helps boost your energy.

You don’t need a fancy journal or anything fancy.

You can merely say aloud (or quietly to yourself) 3-10 things you are grateful for in your heart.

Look around your room, look out the window or go through your bookshelf and see what you could be grateful for right now.

Have a go and feel free to share your gratitude list with me because it will make my day.

Till next time, keep well and keep the flame of life alive in your heart.

Love and blessings for peace and justice.

Ntathu xxx

PS. I recorded this video about Why I started meditation, and I had great fun recording it.

PPS. If you are feeling a bit lonely, lost or unhappy, watch this video. It’s a short breathing practice to ground your energy and help you feel better.

PPPS! As you can see, I’m in love with recording and sharing videos, especially here in Grenada, when I am out with mum and dad on the beach!

Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash

Photo by Courtney Hedger on Unsplash

How to be Happy and Relax After A Busy Day

September 28, 2018 By Ntathu Allen Leave a Comment

Would you like to feel happy, and relax at the end of a busy day?

Life is tough. Finding time to be happy, unwind and relax after a demanding day can feel like a luxury.

And, dealing with the stressful pace of daily life, it is hard for you to find time to care for yourself.

Family commitments and social obligations tend to be your first priority. Making time for you – to have a spot of Me-Time seems like a luxury -especially after a tough workday.

In today’s blog, I share 5 easy activities you can do, after a busy day to unwind, relax and enjoy your evening time with your family.

Well, believe it or not, given the multitude of things you do, it is essential you find time during your day to care for and nurture yourself. If you keep on reacting to everyone else’s schedule and neglecting yourself, changes are by the end of the day you are ratty, snappy and grumpy…and struggle to relax and enjoy your evenings.

If this sounds like you, don’t worry.

Stress relief is on its way. In today’s blog, I share 5 easy activities you can do, after a busy day to be happy, unwind and relax.

Take a few minutes to sit down and read the following five fun tips. They are short and sweet and designed to support you feel happy and relax after a busy day.

Five Easy Tips To Be Happy and Relax After a Busy Day [Read more…] about How to be Happy and Relax After A Busy Day

3 Ways to Live in the Moment and be Happy

September 6, 2018 By Ntathu Allen Leave a Comment

The other day I read a quote by Thich Nhat Hanh:

“Waking up this morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. I vow to live fully in each moment and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion.”

Thích Nhat Hanh

How Often Do You Live Your Life Fully In Each Moment?

As I read Thich Nhat Hanh’s words, I wondered what can I do to live fully in each moment and look at all beings with eyes of compassion?

It sounds so simple “to live fully in each moment”, yet, if your day is anything like mine, I’m sure you spend vast amounts of your day distracted and dance around like butterflies in a spring flower meadow meandering from task to task.

How Compassionate Are You?

And as for being compassionate, the way I behaved towards my ex-husband was far from compassionate and when I am tired and stressed out, my daughters and close friends get the rough end of my frustration. Not nice.

The more I thought about Thich Nhat Hanh quote and observed my thoughts I realised just how judgemental I am and much as I aspire to be open, fair and loving to all, on one level I still hold grudges and feel hurt and upset by the way certain events have gone in my life.

Can you relate to these feelings? How easy is it to live in the moment?

When I’m out and about and see parents buy their children sweets at the checkout queue to keep them quiet or yell at their children for misbehaving, I forget I have done the same thing and cast negative judgement on their parenting skills.

If I see homeless people on the sidewalk or begging, part of me feels irritated and the thoughts “get up, get a job, sort your life out” flows through my mind.

Not very loving or compassionate at all!

If like most people you aspire to be kind, compassionate and wake up with a smile, what can you do to strengthen your “compassionate and happy” button and ‘live fully in each moment?’

When you, or me, are in this frame of mind, when we do feel happy, connected and in the flow, it is easy to experience happiness and from that state, it is easier to be compassionate, loving and live fully.

What can we do to maintain this state of being and live in the moment?

My Solution…Develop an Early Morning Routine.

From personal experience, my daily morning spiritual practice is probably the only time in my day when I am fully present, 1000000% engaged, living in the now and feel total compassion and love for all.

I treasure my alone time in the morning.

During the day, when I feel myself slipping away from this vibration I consciously pause, take a moment to calm my thoughts, refocus and remember the vibe I felt in the morning.

Once I’ve re-calibrated and reminded myself to be present and compassionate, my energy shifts, tension is lifted from my body and I can resume my daily activities and work from a more mindful perspective.

3 Ways To Wake Up and Live In the Moment

If waking up happy and being more compassionate to yourself and others is something that interests you, here are 3 of the daily spiritual practices I use to help me wake up with a smile and start the day on a positive and happy note.

1. Give Thanks When You Wake Up

One of the first things you can do when you wake up to start your day in a more compassionate way is to say a quiet prayer of thanks for waking up and being alive.
You don’t have to be religious to pray, all you need is a desire for inner peace, to be a better person and to give your best to all you meet.
For example, depending how I feel, I have a collection of prayers I like to use, sometimes I’ll say the Lord’s Prayer, other times, The Prayer of Jazeb , The Message by Sri Babaji is another favourite prayer I like to say ) and A Call For Guidance, taken from Opening to Spirit by Shola Arewa is my time much-loved daily prayer.

2. Breathe

After saying my daily prayer, I’ll do a few rounds of deep yogic breathing. This always helps to calm and steady my mind and puts me a meditative frame of mind, ready to get up and do my meditations.
A simple breathing practice you can do is to place one hand on your navel and the other hand on your chest and just focus on breathing softly and deeply in through your nose for a count of 5 and to breathe out, through your nose for a count of 5.
So that’s inhale 1…. 2….3….4….5 and then exhale 1….2….3….4….5. Do this for 3 – 5 cycles and you’ll feel instantly energised and happy.

3. Keep A Daily Journal

Writing your waking thoughts, dreams and aspirations in your journal is another spiritual practice which helps to ground your energy and prepares you to be more compassionate and mindful during the day.
Sometimes, as part of my daily journaling practice, I will write down the things I am grateful for in my life, other times I’ll hold my pen in my non-dominant hand, focus on my breath and just write whatever comes to mind.
This is an amazing way of accessing what’s going on under the surfaces and I’m always amazed at what comes through.
In fact, most of my prayers and poems are written using this method.

Closing Thoughts

If you desire to be happier and wake up like Thich Nhat Hanh… I vow to live fully in each moment and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion… saying a prayer, breathing and writing in your journal are three simple spiritual practices you can use which helps you wake up happy and strengthen your desire to be happy, live life now in the present and to be compassionate to others.

Over to You – Your Thoughts?

What habits and daily rituals do you do to wake up happy, stay engaged and empathetic?

Do you have a specific morning routine to help you start your day?

Do share your favourite activities because its may well help inspire someone to wake up in a happier mood.

Stay blessed

Ntathu

PS. If you found this article 3 Ways To Live in the Moment and be Happy useful, please share and forward to your friends via your fav social media site.

And if you are feeling inspired and interested in finding ways to get more pleasure and delight in your day, I invite you to start today and get your FREE guide Get More Energy: 7 Simple Stretches to Boost Your Energy. Click here now to get energised!

Please note. I originally wrote and guest published this article on FabAfter Fifty

17 Happy Bloggers Share Their Best Tips To Boost Your Energy and Feel Less Tired

July 30, 2018 By Ntathu Allen 6 Comments

Today as part of our Get More Energy series, I have a special kind of post for you: a round-up post where I share 17 best tips, from other bloggers, to help you stop feeling tired all the time and boost your energy.

If you are not familiar with the term “roundup posts”, let me give you a quick intro.

What Is A Roundup Post?

Basically, a roundup post “is a compilation of expert answers to a single question.”

I asked the experts their answer to my question, and their answers are all included in this blog post, which means you get to learn the best tips from 17 bloggers who I know, like and trust.

The beauty of this is you get to meet other bloggers and when you click on their name, you get taken to their websites and you can find out more about the work they do and how they can help you have less stress and more ease at home and at work.

What Question Did I Ask The Bloggers?

The question I asked the 17 bloggers is:

What is your best tip to stop feeling tired all the time?

I chose this question because it fits in nicely with our Get More Energy theme of looking at ways to help you feel less tired and have more energy to do the things you enjoy.

Who Are These 17 Bloggers?

First, you may be wondering, who are these bloggers, why should you listen to them!

Good question.

So, let me introduce you to the bloggers.

I have known the 17 bloggers for a number of years.

Some are past and present mentors and teachers, and others are friendships we have nurtured as we connect online or in person.

I trust their opinion.

I have followed these bloggers and have either worked with them, been in a Facebook group or done their courses.

I have seen them share and celebrate their wins and openly own their struggles – from poor health, financial ruin and relationship breakdown; so whatever they say, you know it comes from the hard school of knocks and worn with a badge of honour.

And I totally respect that in a person.

What Makes Them “Happy Bloggers”?

I call them “Happy Bloggers” because I am attracted to their vibe. [Read more…] about 17 Happy Bloggers Share Their Best Tips To Boost Your Energy and Feel Less Tired

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