Month: June 2021

World Wellbeing Week: Yoga Stretches with Charlie Taylor

Posted on by Monsoon

 

This World Wellbeing Week we spoke to Yoga Teacher, Charlie Taylor, to bring you a yoga workout made to clear your mind and help you relax with morning stretches. You can watch the video here via YouTube or on our Instagram page.

 

 

We also spoke to Charlie about why she loves yoga so much and asked for some top tips for beginners…

 

What made you want to start yoga and what made you fall in love with it?

I started doing yoga about 15 years ago, it was nothing fancy just short classes at my local virgin gym. Then I embarked on a Pilates and meditation retreat in France and it completely changed my life! I came back looking to find a Pilates class I could go to, as I’d really enjoyed it while away, but in trying to find that I happened to accidentally stumble upon Yin yoga. It was a style of yoga I’d never done before and it literally was what changed it all for me. I began taking private yin classes every week with a fantastic teacher, joined a local yoga studio and practiced all types of yoga every day. I absolutely loved how it made me feel, not just physically but also emotionally and mentally. It was literally medicine for me. From there I took on more yang styles and eventually decided I wanted to teach this full time as my job so I took off on training and haven’t looked back since ?? I love my job – I wouldn’t change it for the world.

 

For those starting out at yoga, do you have any top tips?

For those just starting out in yoga, I would say, try a few different things. There are lots of different styles of yoga out there and there are lots of different teachers that all bring something unique. Find what works for you, no one shoe fits all. Also to not get disheartened, or rush, or compare …all is coming if you give it time. Listen to your body and go with what feels right for you in that moment.

 

What is your favourite yoga position (if you can pick just one!)?

Oooh tough question but if I had to pick my fave pose it would probably have to be child’s pose. It’s such a nourishing pose, in both yin and yang styles.

 

Feeling inspired? We have your second session with Charlie waiting for you…

 

 

 

 

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World Wellbeing Week: Jude Daunt

Posted on by Monsoon

 

To mark the start of World Wellbeing Week, mindset coach Jude Daunt is talking us through how to positively change your mood on bad days. You can watch all her advice here via YouTube or on our Instagram page.

 

 

We also have Jude’s 10-minute morning motivation ritual in full below, to help you embrace your day.

 

1. POSITION

Find a chair or comfortable spot to sit up straight. Needs to be a relatively quiet area. Mums and Dads may need to escape to the bathroom in turns!

 

2. FOCUS ON YOUR BREATHING

Deep breaths in and out. You can use 345 breathing technique breathe in for 3 hold for 4 breathe out for 5. 1 MINUTE

 

3. FOCUS ON YOUR HEART

Put your hands on your heart. Feel its power and strength as you breathe into it. 30 SECONDS

 

4. PRACTICE GRATITUDE

Think of 5 things you’re really grateful for right now. This can be your child laughing, the bright sky, food in your fridge or an achievement you’re proud of. This can be in the past or current. 1 MINUTE

 

5. INNER STRENGTH

With deep breaths, fill your air with lungs and visualise a warm circle surrounding you (like the sun on your face). A healing warm circle, strengthening your thoughts and energy. As you take a long breath out, I want you to imagine you’re breathing out anxious thoughts and removing them from your thoughts. Do this and keep strengthening the warm positive thoughts and minimising the anxious ones. 1 MINUTE

 

6. GIVE

You should now feel stronger in your thoughts and your breaths and I want you to send this out to 5 people, friends, family, colleagues or someone you don’t even know. Visualise positive energy being sent out to them whilst you continue with the focussed breathing. 1 MINUTE AND 30 SECONDS

 

7. VISUALISE

This will be the ultimate springboard to support your goals. What are the things you want to achieve the most? What would it mean to get them? How would you feel? What would achieving them feel like? Use the power of your thoughts to imagine you have achieved them now. I personally pick 3 goals as it’s easier to think of 3 and be able to walk through the detail. Fully emerge yourself in these goals, the journey to them and how success will feel. 3 MINUTES

 

8. EMBRACING THE DAY

Start to bring in normal breathing whilst thinking about the day ahead. What is the thing you want to achieve today that tomorrow you will be grateful for? This can be as simple as being productive or practising patience and understanding. Go step into your day with purpose, energy and clarity. 1 MINUTE

 

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Half Term Activities with The Kids: Marlenka & Flo

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We collaborated with the endlessly inspiring @lefranks to give you some tips on how to spend your half-term (or any free weekend) with the kids. From magic wands to flower mobiles, you’ll find sweet things to keep them occupied! 

 

Ice cubes

 

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What you’ll need:

Flowers

Water

Ice moulds or any freezer-friendly containers

 

 

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How to:

On our walks, we picked different flowers, separated them into the ice moulds and poured water over them. Then we popped it all into the freezer and left it there for few hours.

When they were frozen solid, we removed them from the moulds.

It provided us with endless activities. We pretended we were in a restaurant and took turns to serve each other ‘flower food’. It’s a perfect activity for hot summer days.

 

Nature magic wands

 

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What you’ll need:

Stick

String

Ribbon

Flowers

Leaves

Tape

 

 

 

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How to:

We again went for a lovely walk around our neighbourhood and collected flowers.

We then bound them to the stick using string and tying a knot, so it held everything in place.

Florence then had an idea to use ribbon and wrap it around the stick to make it pretty.

We then used tape to keep it in place, but you can also use PVA glue or a glue gun. We then tied a long glittery ribbon to the top part of the wand so they could hang down like tassels.

Flo loved waving it around and casting spells with it! Her imagination ran wild with it. We really enjoyed this activity, and it was such an easy one too! 

 

Flower mobile

What you’ll need:

Long thick stick

Flowers

Leaves

Feathers

String scissors

 

 

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How to:

Make a hanging string by cutting string and tying each end to the stick with a double knot.

Then cut few smaller pieces of string (could be different lengths) and tie them along the stick.

Florence did most of the knots herself as she knows how to do them, but this could be a perfect opportunity if your little one needs a bit of practice.

Next, tie your flowers (or whatever you like or find) onto the pieces of string along the stick.

You can even tie ribbons in-between, so they hang down and blow beautifully in the wind.

We also attached flowers along the length of the stick.

This is such a wonderful and satisfying activity that everyone can get involved in and take turns.

 

 

Butterfly flower weaving

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What you’ll need:

Cardboard cut-out (we did a butterfly, but you can literally do anything you like!)

Pencil – to make holes.

Flowers

 

How to:

Cut out the cardboard to your desired shape. We went for a butterfly.

Using a pencil (or scissors) poke holes through the cardboard.

While you’re out and about, pick a variety of flowers and poke them through the holes.

This is such a wonderful and effortless activity that Florence really enjoys.

 

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