What are Mala beads and how to use them? Mala beads are a set of beads on a string. A lot of people wear them around their neck or some will wear them on their wrist. However you do not need to be religious to use Mala beads. You can use Mala beads to stay... Continue Reading →
Festivals, fasts and celebrations all connect with the Full Moon. It is of huge significance to many cultures.
Everyone experiences music differently, depending on associations in their life and what they find soothing or not.
The Flower Of Life symbol is a geometric form that turns up in Sacred Geometry. The flower of life is an ancient symbol in many cultures.
You may have seen prayer flags on your travels or in photos. They are often placed outside temples, in the high mountains, across bridges, buildings and trees. What is the significance of these prayer flags? What do they mean?
Lughnasa is an Irish word meaning the month of August In modern Irish it is spelled Lúnasa. It celebrated on August 1st, it marks half way between the Summer and Autumn equinox. Lughnasa is the beginning of the harvest season.
This slow moving, floor based session will improve your flexibility, mobility and body mind connection. This practice can be used as a moving meditation and it works with our meridian energy channels. Feel freer and more relaxed!
The Celtic Calendar was and is still used by the Celts - in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. Like any Calendar - it divided up the year into natural cycles. The Celtic Calendar Wheel is based on the connection the Celts had to the Earth. It is dictated by the seasons, the darkness and the light.
Bealtaine is an Irish word meaning the month of May. It celebrated on May 1st, at the end of the darkest half of the year, becomes the lighter half of the year and ushers in the beginning of the harvest season
You are mostly water. All your cells contain water. Every cell works better when hydrated, whether it's a brain cell, calf cell or a digestive cell.
How fit do I need to be to do Machu Picchu? There are many ways to approach Machu Picchu by trek. Earth's Edge have an exciting & challenging itinerary to Machu Picchu via it's sister city Choquequirao. Choquequirao is a stunning hidden that doesn't get any where near the numbers that Machu Picchu experiences. That's what... Continue Reading →
Imbolc marks the beginning of Spring in the Celtic Wheel of the year. It is also called St. Brigid's day. Lá Feile Bríde. Imbolc falls on February 1st. Imbolc (i mbolg- modern Irish) means- in the belly - referring to lambing season, when ewes are pregnant. Imbolc falls roughly half way between the Winter Solstice... Continue Reading →
What is self care? Often people can see self care as being selfish so they don't allow themselves the luxury of it - but it's not a luxury - it makes sense. If you are caring for others in your life in whatever way- mother, father, aunt, uncle, guardian, sister, brother, taking care of those... Continue Reading →
Savasana is the integration phase from all the physical work you have done in practice- to skip it means that you don't receive the benefits of adaptation and integration from your physical work. So if you want to get the most from your workout - you are simply not doing that by skipping Savasana!
An tSamhain or Samhain is an Irish word (pronounced sow - wen) meaning the summers end. It marks on the Celtic Calendar the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. It was and is celebrated to welcome in the dark part of the year when the days shorten in light. Celebrated across... Continue Reading →
What is your Ikigai? What is your reason for being?
Concentrate on all the bad things in your life and that's what you see. Concentrate on all the good things in life and ..... you know where I'm going...
What are the elements? The traditional elements of Air, Fire, Water and Earth.To have balance in your life a connection with these elements will see you on the right track. How do you connect with them?
For many people the idea of meditation might be a way for them to relax and destress. They're right. The trouble is there are also many ideas around meditation that might prevent people from starting in the first place or to give up because it's another thing that they "can't do" or don't have time for Here are some common meditation misconceptions debunked - it may help you reevaluate your current practice or encourage you to start your meditation practice!
There are 8 limbs to a full Yoga practice. Each limb is a complete discipline and a life long journey of learning. The 8 limbs are; Yama, Niyama, Ãsana, Prãnayãma, Pratyãhãra, Dhãrana, Dhyãna and Samadhi. In this article we'll look at Samadhi. Samadhi is often translated like Dhãrana as focus or concentration or like Dhyãna as contemplation and... Continue Reading →
There are 8 limbs to a full Yoga practice. Each limb is a complete discipline and a life long journey of learning. The 8 limbs are; Yama, Niyama, Ãsana, Prãnayãma, Pratyãhãra, Dhãrana, Dhyãna and Samadhi. In this article we'll look at Dhyãna. Dhyãna means contemplation, reflection, to see, to look, to show, meditation. In Dhãrana the focus... Continue Reading →
There are 8 limbs to a full Yoga practice. Each limb is a complete discipline and a life long journey of learning. The 8 limbs are; Yama, Niyama, Ãsana, Prãnayãma, Pratyãhãra, Dhãrana, Dhyãna and Samadhi. In this article we'll look at Dhãrana. In Pratyãhãra when the mind is fully withdrawn from external distractions, you can choose a... Continue Reading →
There are 8 limbs to a full Yoga practice. Each limb is a complete discipline and a life long journey of learning. The 8 limbs are; Yama, Niyama, Ãsana, Prãnayãma, Pratyãhãra, Dhãrana, Dhyãna and Samadhi. In this article we'll look at Pratyãhãra. Each limb of Yoga prepares you for the next one. The Pratyãhãra practice helps to settle... Continue Reading →
There are 8 limbs to a full Yoga practice. Each limb is a complete discipline and a life long journey of learning. The 8 limbs are; Yama, Niyama, Ãsana, Prãnayãma, Pratyãhãra, Dhãrana, Dhyãna and Samadhi. In this article we'll look at Prãnãyãma. The word Prãnãyãma consists of two parts. Prãna and ãyãma. Ãyama means to stretch or... Continue Reading →
While it is good to strive to improve and master a pose, the Yoga is happening on the inside -when you notice your habits and judgements to the obstacles that the pose presents to you. Once you master a pose - there is always another one to challenge you.
The Niyamas are guide lines for ethical living through Discipline.
The Yamas are guide lines for ethical living
There are 8 limbs to a full Yoga practice. Each limb prepares you for the next one. They are all a life path of learning and practice. To have a full Yoga practice all 8 limbs will be incorporated into your life.
You need both Yin and Yang in your life to create balance but it also depends on what other activities you have going on in your life. Too much Yang will lead you out of balance. Too much Yin will also lead you out of balance.
Yin and Yang co exist, they move, they temper each other to create balance.
The Crown Chakra relates to consciousness as pure awareness.
Looking after your immune system is high on all of our priorities right now as the country and world begins opening up restrictions. Your body has already been on high alert since early in the year and in the next few weeks and months it will be tested as you begin interacting with more people.
With social distancing in place never will a smile mean so much and if you are wearing a mask, Smile with your eyes!
Be gentle, move slowly and stay within your limitations, it's not about how far you go it's about the intention to move gently and open up softly. None of these exercises should cause you any pain, if so please stop. Listen to your body. what does it need today?
If you maintain a posture regularly, your body will get better at holding this position to support what you do. This means that if you are sitting for your job, your body adapts to this need to sit for long periods. However, this can also lead to soreness and stiffness when you then get up from your desk or get out of the car you've been driving. You might sit again on the way home on public transport or in the car and then you sit to eat and as you relax at home. Your body as a consequence is trapped in the same movement pattern everyday.
The Third Eye Chakra is known as the brow Chakra or Third Eye Centre.
During these difficult times, there is a human cost, an economic cost and many other costs. Within that though there is a light. The compassion of humanity is here. The heart beat of family, friends and community. Not all superheroes 🦸♀️🦸♂️ wear capes. Everyone is playing their part to get through this. Our doctors, nurses,... Continue Reading →
Happy St Patrick’s Day everyone. I’ve always been proud to be Irish 🇮🇪 for many reasons. Not least being immensely proud in the way that for every international tragedy we have always given our support, in whatever way we could to help people to find food, shelter, clothes or medication after the tsunami, earthquake or... Continue Reading →
If you can do nothing else over the coming weeks ... Be Kind
The Throat Chakra is related to self expression, creativity
Altitude Sickness Everest Base Camp Everest Base Camp is one of the top treks in the world. The question of Altitude sickness tends to come up on any expedition to Everest Base Camp. Rightly so - people are curious - Will it happen to me? Will I be ok? There are many things that you’re... Continue Reading →
The Heart Chakra is related to love..
Non-essential items that will make your Kilimanjaro expedition better. So you’ve followed the gear list, you know exactly what you’re going to wear on summit night, you’ve got clothing, hydration & tent systems organised….. What next? These are some suggestions - that may get you thinking Insulation for your tube on your hydration system- it... Continue Reading →
The Solar Plexus Chakra rules our personal power, self confidence, willpower, and autonomy as well as our metabolism.
Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga are both floor based Yoga practices that use props. If you looked in the window at people doing these practices, they might look very similar. However, the feelings that the person experiencing the practice would be very different. All types of Yoga will have some similarities. Yang Yoga practices (... Continue Reading →
The Sacral Chakra is related to the element water, and to emotions and sexuality.
The Root Chakra forms our foundation.
In order to analyse yoga postures from the perspective of aesthetic versus Functional alignment. I would first like to identify what each means. Aesthetic alignment is based on how a pose looks - in the mirror, to the student or teacher. They are often initiated at the distal areas of the body - for example... Continue Reading →
What happens on trek - stays on trek!!!
Traditional ways that meditation is taught would be classed as a yang approach to meditation. Yang methods direct the meditator to have a particular focus in their meditation and to return to that effort, whenever the mind wanders. 4 commonly taught meditation instructions include; Focusing on the breath - e.g. at the point of entry... Continue Reading →
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