In all of my yoga classes in York starting in January I’m going to be introducing you to some simple but effective meditation techniques. There are so many ways to meditate, you can do it in many different positions, you can use different senses and objects to meditate on - we’re going to explore all of this.

So here as a little aperitif is a simple energy boosting meditation - I thought you might need at this time of year! Have a go and see how you find it. Of course any questions just let me know. And I hope you can join me in my yoga classes from January to explore meditation techniques more.

Meditation, About yoga, breathingSusan BradleyDecember 31, 2018yoga york, yoga class, york yoga, meditation, mindfulness, self-careComment

Practicing Loving Kindness - for pregnancy and motherhood

The Art of Loving kindness for pregnancy and motherhood

"In modern life we have become so busy with our daily affairs and thoughts, that we have forgotten this essential art of taking time to converse with our hearts….If we are still, and listen deeply, for even a moment, we will know if we are following a path with heart… " Jack Kornfield, A Path with Heart

In my 'Self-Care Sunday' Facebook live video this week I introduced the practice of loving kindness (if you missed it catch it here https://www.facebook.com/yogaformodernlife%20/videos/1369281359787198/). I also shared it in one of my pregnancy yoga classes which is a just the most lovely way to connect with your unborn baby. It's such a beautiful practice and I really wanted to write a blog post to share it with as many people as possible and tell you more about it...

Meditation, self-careSusan BradleyJune 9, 2017pregnancy, mindfulness, meditationComment

The Hygge - Yoga - Mindfulness connection

Hygge has been brought to us by the Scandinavians, and it’s specifically a Danish concept. The Danes are amongst the happiest nations on the planet, so they must be doing something right! Featured for a while now in the press in interiors and lifestyle magazines, it perhaps brings to mind snuggly woollen blankets, copious soft cushions, and an abundance of candles (the Danes burn more candles per head of population than any other country in Europe apparently).But it’s far more than an uber fashionable fad for fans of Scandinavian design or Scandi noir tv series, it’s actually a part of Danish culture that really puts self-kindness, presence, and space for yourself at its heart, just like yoga and mindfulness does. The similarities are hugely striking.

mindfulness, Hygge, About yogaSusan BradleyFebruary 5, 2017hygge, mindfulness, slow sundayComment

How to be mindful at your desk

“The workplace is constantly demanding and distracting, making it a challenge to remain mindful. Staying centred and focused without being frazzled by the mental noisiness that crowds into a typical workday can be hard, but is important.” Says Dr. Deepak Chopra, co-author of “You Are the Universe: Discovering Your Cosmic Self and Why It Matters” and founder of the Jiyo app.

Here are six small ideas to help you keep mindful during the working day:

mindfulnessSusan BradleyJanuary 29, 2017mindfulness, mindful monday, workplace, breatheComment

mindful monday - festive glitter jar

Create a mindful glitter jar

The glitter jar represents the mind settling. It's a great afternoon activity that your kids can keep coming back to as a mindfulness practice.

A snow globe or glitter jar is one of the most powerful visual metaphors for the connection between thoughts, feelings and behaviours. It illustrates how mindfulness - the cultivation of stillness in the face of swirling chaos of life - affects us. The jar is like our mind, and each colour of glitter represents something different in our mind.

Find out more about how to make and use one here...

mindfulnessSusan BradleyDecember 12, 2016mindful monday, mindfulness, calming, childrenComment

Mindful Monday - week three

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” Pablo Picasso

The wonderful thing about doodling is that it is a whole brain activity - spontaneous, at times unconscious, self-soothing, satisfying, exploratory, memory-enhancing, and mindful. In essence, doodling (and drawing and painting and making things in general) can be a self-regulating experience as well as a pleasurable road map of thoughts and ideas.

mindfulnessSusan BradleyOctober 31, 2016doodle, mindful monday, mindfulnessComment

Mindful Monday - week two

Another monday morning, another Mindful Monday! For this weeks creative mindfulness practice you'll need a pen or pencil, and just five to ten minutes. Perfect for a lovely mindful tea break. Another monday morning, another Mindful Monday! For this weeks creative mindfulness practice you'll need a pen or pencil, and just five to ten minutes. Perfect for a lovely mindful tea break.

mindfulnessSusan BradleyOctober 24, 2016mindful monday, mindfulnessComment

Mindful Monday - week one!

So as promised, Mondays are going to be mindful for the next 8 weeks. I'm going to create for you a little creative mindful practice to do each Monday.

But first things first - what is mindfulness? Here's a nice simple definition:
"Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgementally." Jon Kabat-Zinn
Ultimately I like to think of it as being in and enjoying the present moment. Something most of use could do with doing more often.

mindfulnessSusan BradleyOctober 17, 2016mindfulness, mindful monday Comment

3 Mindful Things to Do to Start Your Day

How we wake up in the morning has a fundamental impact on how the rest of the day unfolds. There are a few things we can integrate into our morning routine that can have an immediate impact in supporting us in being more mindful, self-compassionate, connected, and resilient throughout the day.

Set your judgments aside and try these out over the next week as an experiment…allow your experience to be your guide.

mindfulnessSusan BradleyAugust 22, 2016mindfulness, natureComment