Harnessing the energy of the full moon

Glancing up at the night sky and noticing a full moon allows you to take a moment and admire the true beauty of the universe. But this monthly event in the lunar calendar is much more than light in the sky. There are ancient theories that suggest a deep link between the lunar cycle, the moon’s energy and our emotions and spirituality. And there are simple rituals you can perform to harness the powerful energy of the full moon, which promote genuine self-reflection, setting new intentions and letting go of what no longer serves you.

A full moon is the lunar phase when we can see it fully illuminated. This occurs when it aligns with the sun on the opposite side of the Earth, so the moon’s full face is lit up by the sun’s rays.

As the full moon marks the completion of what is called the waxing cycle (growing with light), it can also be seen as the growth cycle of our own intentions. This is when the moon’s energy is said to be at its peak and offers a great time to reflect on what has or hasn’t come to fruition in your life just yet. It prepares us for the waning cycle (light shrinking), toward the phase of a new moon.

Fill your cup with a full moon ritual

Whether you’re familiar with the power of the moon or just starting to explore the practice, the benefits can be illuminating.

Many people experience feeling overly emotional and disconnected at the peak of the full moon phase. But by utilising the moon’s energy through a thoughtful ritual, you may be able to uncover underlying, or even unconscious reasons for these emotions. A ritual allows you to dismiss old stagnant energies and thought patterns and replace any darkness or negativity with bright energy. It also gives you the time to make space for the new things you’re inviting into your life.

Rituals can be simple and quick – just focus on the intention and commitment to being present.

Try these easy rituals to connect with yourself and the power of the full moon.

1. Cleanse your space – both mental and physical

Light and dark energy are both at a peak during the full moon, so it’s a great time to cleanse your space, body and mind – clearing out any energy you no longer want to hold onto. Consider a smudging ceremony by lighting sage or palo santo to cleanse your home or workspace. Take a relaxing bath or go for a swim in the ocean, or simply change your bed sheets and declutter your space to cleanse your soul. It could be the fresh start and clean slate you need this month. You can combine this with affirmations or meditation if that feels authentic to you.

2. Charge your crystals

Many people believe the full moon is the optimum time to charge and cleanse your crystals for healing. Here is a basic guide to cleansing your crystals during a full moon.

1. Take your crystals outside and lay them out somewhere where they can be bathed in moonlight. Don’t worry about cloudy nights – it’s not the light that cleanses, but the moon’s energy as it passes over.

2. Place them on a natural surface like the earth, your lawn or a wooden plate. You can also use a crystal grid or your windowsill.

3. Leave your crystals out overnight if you can and collect them in the morning.

This process recharges the natural properties of your crystals, but what about your own intentions? This is a good time to set some intentions on how you would like your crystals to support you for the month. Write them down or say them aloud – whatever feels right for you. Now give thanks and express gratitude, taking the opportunity to connect with your inner self and the natural world that surrounds you.

3. Letting go

There are a few ways you can release energy during a full moon. You could light a candle, take some time to meditate or quietly reflect. You can also write down anything you want to let go or move on from, then burn the paper (in a safe place) before returning the ashes to the earth. You can also dance it out. Move your body alone or with some friends and release any stagnant energy by getting into your body and feeling free enough to let things go.

4. Reflect on your to-do list

If you’re a list person, the full moon is a good time to reflect on both short and long-term goals. Honestly check-in with yourself on your progress. Are you any closer to completing them? If not, why? Be proactive and set yourself a plan for getting there. You may also notice that some of these goals no longer resonate with you. That is ok, and is what the full moon is all about. Let go or modify your goals and accept yourself as you are right now.

This time of the month is a reminder to check in with yourself regularly and spend some time gazing inward. It is important that we take the time for ourselves to promote our own spiritual, mental and physical health and happiness and welcome new, positive opportunities into our lives.

Changing up your yoga practice, lifestyle and props for Autumn

Whilst a regular daily routine is one of the keys to a more balanced, calm, productive and healthy lifestyle, we benefit from changing things up from season-to-season. We humans are animals, just like the birds and squirrels outside, and before we shifted to living domesticated indoor lives, we would have been deeply connected to the subtle changes from season-to-season, and adjusted our lives accordingly. Today however, we need to be a little more purposeful in living seasonally, and make more conscious decisions when it comes to changing how we live, what we eat, and the way we practice yoga throughout the year.

Think of your daily routine as your anchor point – perhaps you always drink a large glass of water when you wake up; maybe you always practice a few minutes of yoga in the morning. Maybe you always pause to eat lunch, or always take a moment to cultivate calmness when you arrive home with yoga nidra, or a few moments of meditation before bed. If you’ve found a daily routine that serves you well, keep that as your anchor, but allow the season to influence a change in how you go about your day. For the tips on changing up your yoga practice, props, lifestyle and foods as we move from Summer to Autumn, read on!

How to refresh your yoga practice

Summer and Autumn are two very different seasons in an energetic sense. Whilst summer is the peak of ‘yang’ energy in the year, Autumn sees us swiftly moving towards a distinctly more ‘yin’ feeling, and our practice benefits from mirroring this change. As Dallas Hartwig writes in the 4 Season Solution, Summer is very conducive to leading a ‘yang’ lifestyle, where we socialise more, stay up a little later, engage in lots of fun activities, and navigate the world in a more extroverted way. As you can imagine, living life in Summer mode can be tiring, so when Autumn arrives, it’s important to recognise this as a signal to slow down. Try changing your sun salutations to moon salutations, switch up one of your vigorous vinyasa flow classes for a slow and stretchy yin session, or give yourself more stillness by choosing meditation instead of a sweaty hot yoga class. Restorative yoga is one of the best choices we can make when choosing a yoga practice to support us through the ‘yin’ seasons of the year, and when we give ourselves this time to recover and restore, we’re more able to literally ‘spring’ back into action when the warmer months return.

How to make more mindful food choices

When we consume local, seasonal foods, we give our bodies the exact nutrients they need in that very moment. Take blackberries for example, which are ready to pick at the beginning of September; these delicious berries are full of antioxidants, which help our cells recover from the natural oxidative damage that happens when we’re exposed to lots of sunshine, stress or exercise during Summer. Blackberries are also very high in vitamin C, which helps boost the immune system in preparation for Autumn and Winter. As well as eating seasonally, we can turn to the wisdom of Ayurveda (yoga’s ‘sister science’ and an ancient health system) for guidance. Ayurveda reasons that Autumn is a season comprising more of the qualities of coldness, dryness in the form of drier air, irregularity in the changeable weather, and lightness in the way the plants and trees lose their leaves and pause their growth. When we’re exposed to too much of these cold, dry, irregular and light qualities, we can become imbalanced and unwell. Because of this, we benefit by bringing the opposite qualities of warmth, oiliness, heaviness and regularity into our lives. Try consuming more cooked foods, use coconut or sesame oil in cooking (and oil on your body too!), use ghee in recipes, enjoy warming spices like cinnamon and ginger, and ensure you’re eating regular meals at regular times – your digestive system will thank you!

How to upgrade your yoga props

Whilst Summer may have been all about grippy yoga mat towels, cork mats that work better the more you sweat, and eco yoga shorts, it’s time to introduce more cosiness to your practice as we head into Autumn, especially if you’re going to be practicing a different style of yoga such as yin or restorative. Try the Yogamatters Wellness Pilates mat, which is super cushiony at 8mm thick. For your restorative practice, use the Yogamatters Organic Relaxation Kit. To really relax your nervous system, a sandbag and lavender-scented eye pillow are wonderful additions, and well worth adding to your home yoga practice kit.

How to refresh your lifestyle and home décor

After the extroverted nature of Summer, Autumn invites us to rest and nest, and start living in a more introverted way that allows us to make deeper connections to friends and family. Instead of frolicking with acquaintances, Autumn is about strengthening the relationships we already have, and getting to know ourselves a little better. Is there a friend you haven’t seen in a while? A family member who would love you to call them? As opposed to the expansive energy of Summer, think of Autumn as a time to contract inwards a little more – wind up projects and resist making lots of new plans until the Spring. Focus on finishing tasks you’ve been working on throughout the year, and get yourself organised with The Positive Bullet Diary. A regular practice of journaling is a great way to allow your mind to process thoughts and emotions, and to wind down at the end of a long day, treat yourself to a bath with Epsom Salts.

Six simple ways to declutter your mind

From the desktop p.c., to the laptop, the smartphone and now ‘smart wearables,’ never before has information been so easily accessible. Social media, online messaging, email, streaming services, television, news… all help play a part in subjecting our brains to information overload.

According to a landmark study published in August 2018, people spend on average 24 hours a week online, with one in five spending as much as 40 hours a week online – for some, that’s an entire working week! We consume almost 90 times more information than we did in 1940. Little wonder, then, that we may feel a little frazzled at times.

How do you know if your mind is cluttered?

Do you find it hard to focus on one thing at a time, or that your mind is spinning? Do you struggle to concentrate and often feel restless? Are you easily distracted and feel that there is always somewhere else you should be, or something else you should be doing? Do you sometimes get to the end of the day feeling like you haven’t stopped, yet struggle to recall what you’ve done? If so, it’s likely that your mind could benefit from some decluttering.

What are the benefits of mentally decluttering?

Decluttering our physical space helps us to feel calmer and yes – joyful! The same goes for decluttering our mental space. Clearing out the clutter increases our ability to focus, enables us to concentrate for longer periods of time, and generally helps us to feel calmer.

How can we declutter our minds?

Since the availability and accessibility of information and stimulus (particularly the online aspects of it) is unlikely to decrease any time soon, the onus is on us to manage their impact on our lives. Here are our top 6 tips:

1. Schedule tech-free time

Decide on a cut off point in your day – perhaps 7 or 8pm – where you turn off your computer / put your laptop away, and switch your phone to silent – or better still – off. A great tip from Esther Ekhart is to turn off your wi-fi off at night and don’t turn it on again until the following morning after your breakfast or yoga / meditation practice. That way, even if you are tempted to grab your phone within the first 5 minutes of waking up (as 65% of all adults under 35 do), you won’t be drawn down the online rabbit hole.

Make ‘phone-free’ spaces such as the dinner table or bedroom so that there are at least a couple of times a day where you can be fully present. We also have a phone-free bathroom rule (with two teenagers in the house it’s a necessity!) and a ‘telephone hotel’ that our phones spend every night recharging their batteries in.

2. Connect with nature

Although the physical benefits of exercise are well-documented, taking a moment to truly connect with nature can have a profound effect on our overall sense of wellbeing. (And by ‘connecting’ I don’t mean charging around a forest, while listening to music or a podcast).

In a 2015 study, researchers found that people who had walked in nature showed lower activity in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region that is active when we find ourselves trapped in a repetitive loop of negative thought patterns. Even if it’s a few minutes spent feeling the fresh air on your skin, listening to the birds singing or watching the clouds drift by, nature can have a powerful effect on our mental state.

3. Stop multitasking

When life speeds up, we have a tendency to speed up too – as if spinning seven plates with half an eye on each will help us get more done. It won’t; some of them will get smashed. Even in our so-called downtime, we watch TV or a movie whilst simultaneously scrolling through our Instagram or Facebook feed.

In fact, what is known as ‘multi-tasking’ is more accurately described as ‘task-switching’ because the brain isn’t capable of focusing on two serious tasks at the same time. So try to focus on doing one thing at a time and do only that. Even if we’re browsing social media, it’s much easier to do it mindfully if we haven’t got half an eye on Netflix at the same time.

4. Practise mindfulness

Mindfulness is a practice where we give our undivided attention to whatever we are doing at a particular moment, aware of our thoughts and emotions but not reacting to or judging them.

It works a bit like this: if we choose to be totally absorbed and pay attention to what we’re doing (whether it’s skiing or mopping the floor), we actively choose to be more ‘alive’ in that moment and are more likely to enjoy what we’re doing. Practising mindfulness can also improve the efficiency of our minds, helping us get to the point of what we’re doing or thinking about, rather than allowing a cycle of constant worry to take over. If you’re new to this, try our Introduction to Mindfuless meditation

5. Scroll responsibly

The average person now spends a staggering four hours of their day on their mobile phone and though much of this is as a result of clever algorithms designed to take advantage of our ‘dopamine-driven’ desires, we can take back some control. The iphone has a setting which allows you to monitor how much time you’ve spent on apps. For Android, you can download an app (the irony) which does the same. 

Another simple tip I’ve found really helpful is to move apps that you use a lot off your home screen and ‘bury’ them in a harder-to-access folder. Better still, remove them altogether. However, perhaps the best thing I’ve done is to delete all notifications from my phone – that way, I can be more mindful of when and how often I check my messages – rather than at the behest of a tiny, red notification bell.

6. Embrace boredom

Research has shown that even just a few minutes of downtime can aid learning and helps us retain information. Not only this, but as the saying goes, a relaxed mind is a creative mind: Mental idle time may “foster a particular kind of productivity,” according to Jonathan Schooler, a professor of psychological and brain sciences at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He says overcoming impasses  often happen when people’s minds are free to roam.

In a society that values ‘busyness’ and ‘productivity,’ it can be difficult to give ourselves permission to pause, let alone stop for long enough to get (gasp) bored. Yet, not only is there evidence to suggest boredom sparks creativity, a greater capacity for insight and aids problem solving, but that it’s simply good for our mental health. It allows the body and mind simply to process life. If you cannot recall the last time you let yourself STOP, try this practice with EkhartYoga teacher, James Reeves, and embrace the life-changing magic of doing nothing.

How to cultivate kindness and compassion

Awakening your natural potential

I’ve recently published a playlist of meditation classes, which teach you how to develop kindness and compassion for yourself and others. I call this age-old meditation technique, ‘Awakening your Buddha Smile’, by which I mean, awakening your natural potential for kindness and compassion. It is one of your deepest potentials – the opportunity to receive with warmth and openness, whatever is here in this moment.

In developing kindness and friendliness, you don’t have to feel ‘good’ or friendly. A vital part of friendliness is that everything is welcome. So feeling ‘good’ when you practise a kindness meditation is not mandatory. If you do happen to be feeling good, fine – but also know that it’s okay to allow space for pain or hurt, or any other feeling that you may usually try to avoid. 

What we want to get in touch with is the universal kindness, the universal friendliness of non-judgmental awareness. The friendliness of life itself, that supports and welcomes you, right now, in this moment. Everything included, exactly as it is. It is the smile of the creation for its creation.

Meeting resistance

When there is resistance, don’t chase it away or think that it’s wrong or a hindrance to your meditation. Allow it to be there; it is valuable for you to also watch your resistance – especially your resistance to friendliness or compassion.  

Understand that at some level friendliness can feel uncomfortable or even painful. It might remind you of the lack of friendliness or compassion at a time when you desperately needed it. Or maybe you missed it as a child. Getting in touch with this can be very painful, but also healing. 

Kindness can make you feel uncomfortable, scared or even angry. Suppose you were told as a child that you “should” be kind – the implication being that you were not. This can be hurtful. Or perhaps someone who acted kindly towards you misused your trust?

It can also be threatening to look with kindness at things that we don’t like about ourselves. We often feel the need to be critical or harsh to ourselves when we do things that aren’t ‘good’ – like eating the entire chocolate bar, or binge-watching Netflix, etc. Looking with kindness towards those things might feel like we give in or agree. However, I invite you to try it. Kindness brings forth compassion. And compassion is healing.

Usually, we try to change things by looking at them with unfriendly and critical eyes. But this truly does not work. Be open to trying a different approach. Let yourself be surprised by what it can bring about! Include the things you don’t like in the friendly watching – these are probably the things that are in need of it the most.

Watching from a distance

During these meditations, I ask you to watch yourself with kindness from a distance. If you have never consciously done this before, it might sound strange. But it can be done and is, in fact, part of almost every spiritual training. 

We know how it is to be looked at by others – maybe, you may have often experienced being watched with ‘critical eyes’. Perhaps this even feels more ‘normal’ than to be looked at with kindness? This is why it is so important to learn to watch yourself with kind and friendly eyes; to stop the unconscious, critical ones that are so hurtful to us. To watch from the heart rather than from the mind; thus re-finding our ‘Buddha smile’. To unlock our potential to be at peace with life, with ourselves, even if we feel depressed, sad and inadequate. 

So don’t think there has to be a smile on your face all the time! Although, of course, it’s fine when there is one. The Buddha smile is in the air. The air that permeates everything. We only have to reconnect with it. 

5 myths about meditation

Would you like to meditate but you’re not sure if you’re able to do it? Are you afraid you’re too restless, unfocused or simply not the ‘meditating type’? Let’s dispel some of the most common myths about meditation so you can give it try and experience some of its benefits for yourself!

Myth 1. You have to be calm to meditate

Contrary to what you may have heard, you don’t need to feel calm before you meditate; all you need to do is sit down and observe what is there.

Perhaps you feel restless. Maybe you feel tense. You may even feel like breaking something. Or perhaps you feel happy and bubbly. All perfect!

Meditation is just about learning to be with all this jumpy stuff, not to avoid or fix it.

Myth 2. Meditating is about having no thoughts

Often people think meditation is about clearing your mind of thoughts. However, try ‘not thinking’ for a moment and see what happens…thoughts will come into your head, no matter what!

While it’s not possible to stop your thoughts, it is possible to learn not to invest in them so much. Notice them coming and going but simply let them pass through.

By focusing on the experience of this moment, you stop feeding your thoughts: you can’t concentrate on both at the same time. The more you practise this, the easier it gets to leave your thoughts alone.

Myth 3. Meditation is about controlling your emotions

Meditation is about getting to know your emotions, not about controlling them. Control is fear: fearing your own depth, your deep feelings.

In true meditation, you open up to how things are, not how you want them to be! So during meditation, every emotion is more than welcome to surface.

Myth 4. You have to sit crossed-legged to meditate

Lotus pose or sitting crossed-legged is not required for meditation. For me, meditation is not about form, it’s about awareness. You can meditate in a chair just as effectively if that works for you. Or sit up on cushions with your back against a wall if your back prefers it.

Myth 5. Meditation is difficult

It is only difficult if you have the wrong expectations. Like having to experience a deep inner stillness or a spiritual revelation. Let that go. Meditation is really about learning to embrace your messy, human nature…it is about getting to know yourself. You don’t need to change yourself to find out who you are! 

Structuring your week using ayurvedic principles

As you know, we are huge fans of Ayurveda, you don’t just eat Ayurveda you live Ayurveda. 

Did you know that different days of the week are governed by and embody the energy of different Doshas. By re-structuring our activities and eating to be in harmony with the Dosha and corresponding energy of different days of the week, we are able to live in more alignment to be more efficient and live with a greater sense of  grace and ease. Making small changes in our daily routines has the ability to completely change the flow of our lives.

As you read on you will see that how to generally structure your week to be in alignment with these energies.

Sunday

Sunday is governed by the Sun, therefore, this means that the Pitta Dosha dominates which encompasses energy, passion, and power. Take the opportunity to use this increased energy on Sundays to go for a run, a hike in nature or a strong yoga practice.

Pitta also governs our digestive fire, so making use of this to catch up with friends for Brunch or a picnic is also a nice way to enjoy this energy. As pitta is fire, try not to overload your body with foods and beverages that are hot in nature, so leave red meat, chilli, and alcohol for Saturdays instead.

Monday

Moon Monday, Monday is governed by the Moon which encompasses cooling, soothing and nourishing properties dominated by Kapha and Vata. Although in our society today Monday is seen as the day to rev up your energy and get things done, according to Ayurveda those actions are seen to be very harmful. Instead, take the initiative to incorporate some journalling when you wake, a stroll on your lunch break and a little extra time spent meditating in the evening.

Undertaking a yin yoga class is a wonderful way to embrace the moon energy on Mondays. Keeping this moon energy in mind, when it comes to your diet on Mondays it may help to stick to liquids via a smoothie for breakfast, soup for lunch, vegetable broth for dinner and lots of our juicy goodness in between.

Tuesday

Mars is said to govern Tuesdays, which embraces Pitta characteristics – fire, anger, and courage. Using this energy wisely, it’s a mighty fine day to commence one of our cleanse programs if we say so ourselves. On Tuesdays, we like to use this fire to work through more challenging projects that require a little more courage and stamina. When it comes to exercise, channel this fire into a spin class, some boxing or weight training.

Wednesday

Humpday is governed by the planet Mercury and is influenced by all three doshas, providing more balance and harmony. Wednesdays allow all that you have worked on the past two days to flow seamlessly, however, do not step back, keep working at a steady pace to reap the rewards. Take Wednesdays as a time to reflect on where you can improve going forward through the simple practice of journaling.

Thursday

Jupiter governs Thursday, where Kapha takes a stand to provide some much-needed grounding.  On Thursdays, try to incorporate some plyometrics, pilates or vinyasa yoga to keep your kapha in balance to avoid becoming stagnant and naturally heavy. In regards to food, you might like to eat a bit lighter – enjoy a little more juice today plus a wholesome salad.

Friday

Friday is governed by Venus which is influenced by Kapha and Vata. This means that Fridays are for creativity to stimulate all of your senses. This could look like wearing more colorful clothing, a walk in nature, mix up your look with bold lipstick and listening to music. Friday is a time to get creative, so if you have followed the principles that we have mentioned so far, you shouldn’t need to order pizza, wine, and a Netflix marathon.

Saturday

It’s the weekend, which calls for movement, passion projects, hobbies, and creativity. As Saturday is governed by Vata it provides the perfect opportunity to dive into all that defines you away from work. A balanced Saturday could look like a morning walk and breakfast with a friend, a ceramic class before lunch and a yin yoga class in the afternoon. It is really important that you don’t skip meals on Saturdays, as Vata requires a lot of grounding, so make sure you emphasise wholesome meals on Saturdays.