Relaxation Sanctuary

Enjoying the outdoors to improve mental health

2011-12-21T03:43:00.000-08:00

Gardening, cycling or walking are outdoor activities good for your physical health and they can improve your mental health too.

"Research shows that those who are more active have a greater sense of wellbeing and have lower rates of depression and anxiety. Even simple activities like taking a stroll in the park, or doing some gentle outdoor exercise can have big benefits for our mental wellbeing." Mind website

If you are wondering what to outdoors and need some motivation try out the Activitiy picker from the Mind website.

Other tips:

Walk with a friend or family member

Take a camera to record what you see

Online Retreat with Pema Chödrön

2011-06-16T03:48:00.000-07:00

Pema Chödrön is embracing the 21st century and doing an online retreat 28 - 30 October 2011.

The retreat will cover:
How do we work skillfully with rough times?
How do we transform our lives during times of upheaval and unpredictability?
How do we broaden our tolerance for uneasiness?

These and related questions will be explored in detail by Pema Chödrön during this retreat—a rare opportunity to study and practice with the beloved teacher in real time.

Click here for more details.

When we’re going through a challenging period, Pema teaches, we all need to find ways to tap into our inherent strength and courage. When we access that brave heart within, answers to those hard questions arise on their own quite naturally.

Pema Chödrön’s message during this weekend retreat is as simple as it is bold: We can do it! And we can all do it beautifully.

Meditation changes the brain?

2010-08-18T03:20:00.000-07:00

Researchers in China and the USA have found that a short course of meditation can strengthen connections between the regions of the brain that regulate emotional responses. Brain scans were preformed before and after each meditation session.

Read more on the NHS website here.

Calm Mind Busy Body

2010-08-04T08:41:00.000-07:00

Calm Mind Busy Body is a brand new website to help you live a healthy lifestyle. The site includes tips on fitness, recipes and nutrition. Get exploring, watch the videos and get some inspiration to help you in your life. This site is one to watch so remember you heard about it here first.

The Calm Mind Busy Body Website

The Calm Mind Busy Body Youtube Channel

The Calm Mind Busy Body Facebook Page

NEWS: We have a new Facebook page

2010-07-15T15:43:00.000-07:00

We now have a Facebook page and you may be glad to know there will lots of new videos on the Relaxation Sanctuary Youtube channel.
Add yourself to the Facebook page so you don't miss out on anything.

A natural remedy to help with stress

2009-12-17T12:56:00.000-08:00

We all sometimes look to the quick fixes of mass produced medication / tablets to ease our stress or stress related problems. These methods are quick and easy but at what cost to our long term health? For this reason, more and more people are now turning to natural medicines that have been around for centuries.

Lavender oil is used as an antiseptic, to soothe minor cuts and burns, to calm and relax, for insomnia and to soothe headaches and migraines. Is it any wonder that Lavender is a popular natural remedy for stress and an aid to relaxation?

Anti-Stress – Calming and soothing effects help counteract stress hormones
Antidepressant – Lavender is a well-documented antidepressant essential oil.
Refreshing and Uplifting – Can help balance mood swings and PMS symptoms
Insomnia – A mild sedative effect for restless or anxious nights

You can can buy Lavender dried or as an oil, for example. For help sleeping, try a lavender pillow or room spray. Lavender oil is used in creams and combined with other essential oils in aromatherapy to help with various problems like insect bites or depression.

Enquire at your local health store for more details*

*A word about essential oils: All essential oils are highly concentrated, but very few are suitable for undiluted (neat) use on the skin. Dilute essential oils in carrier oils such; put a few drops in a cup of Epsom salts and dissolve in a bath tub of water or use drops in a diffuser, vaporizer or humidifier. Only the highest quality essential oils should be used. Please consult your health care professional with any questions or concerns about your natural health care program.

How do you like to relax?

2009-12-17T12:07:00.000-08:00

There are so many ways in which people relax. What is right for one person may not be right for another.

From researching, which involves a quick hand count of people i know, i received some common examples of ways in which people like to relax.

The following are some of the answers.

Massage
Meditation
Yoga
Hot deep bubble bath
Reading a book
Spending time with family pet
Watching a good film from the comfort of the sofa
Baking
Drawing & other Art projects
Country Walks

I am now curious, what are your favourite ways to relax and what would you recommend?

Why visulisation and relaxing are important tools for life

2009-12-16T14:20:00.000-08:00

Imagery and visualisation techniques are great tools to develop. They can help in everyday situations and be used for you to achieve your own goals or ambitions. The tools are often promoted by people who have been successful and achieved their own goals. You will find that even a person using the tools to just get through a normal day find them invaluable.

Here are some examples of when visualisation and imagery can be used:

Visualization when using relaxation and guiding techniques for meditation

Visualization of performance in a every day situation or a specific event

Visualization of result or outcome for any performance or presentation

Goal setting and overall achievement in a situation

When using visualisation techniques it is important to first get relaxed in a safe and comfortable environment in your mind. For example you may think of the beach, a forest, a room in a house, or a mountain top. Remember the choice is up to you and everyone has their own favourite places they want to be. You can be detailed or you can keep it simple.

The more detailed the visualisation the more effective it is likely to be. Focus on details that appeal to the senses like smells, touch, sound and sight.

Use a simple breathing technique to get your body into a relaxed state and then begin visualisations of your safe place.

If your visualisation exercise is to achieve a goal then start to imagine yourself in the situation and go through the steps of what would happen in your mind. Don't forget all the little details.

Practise the technique as much as possible and eventually incorporate it into your daily routine. Writing down your goals or ambitions is a great way to keep organised and remember why you are doing the techniques. Goals can be big or small.

I recommend having a beautiful notebook to record your goals along with writing down your feelings or anything else which may be a positive influence for you.

Remember to concentrate on what your ideal outcome is for using the visualisation tool. It may be to simply relax or it may be to practice for a work presentation. If you find yourself relaxed in your visualisation sessions then the real events will become easier and you have more potential to achieve your goals.

Good luck and keep aiming for what you want out of life.

Little steps in the right direction should eventually get you to where you want to go.

The Relaxation Sanctuary is now on Twitter

2009-08-26T15:38:00.000-07:00

Come follow us!

http://twitter.com/RelaxSanctuary

Mindful Mediatations

2009-07-15T03:58:00.001-07:00

I recently have been sharing what i have been studying with the friends from facebook, youtube, real life etc,.. It is always a bit daunting at first as you don't know how people will react.

I have come to realise there are so many of us with the same interests and way of thinking. As soon as you scratch the surface a wealth of interest, debate and sharing occurs.

My friend Sandra passed on this fantastic link which has some meditations you can download and lots of further information for you to read. I hope you find it as useful as i did.

Mindful Meditations

2 techniques for a making your life more meaningful

2009-07-10T14:50:00.000-07:00

I always get nervous when i post a new video on any of my youtube channels. You would think that the Relaxation Channel should be pretty easy channel to post to but its not.

I think the reason is i really want to give something really good with this channel and i want other people to be able to take what they may need from it with a positive attitude.

I wait nervously for criticism, i know it will come and i know it will only help me make the channel stronger and better. But, no one really can honestly say they like being criticised. I guess i love my little channel and its personal to me so it effects me more good or bad comment. That is the beauty of life that good or bad we are experiencing emotion that we can improve ourselves from receiving.

Anyway, what is the new video?

The video below is a chat about what i have been studying and the two techniques that are so simple to add to your daily life.

These techniques just give back some meaning to life and are used to help enjoy life.

They are my personal choice of technique that i get a lot out of. I hope you will benefit too. If you do that is great, if you don't think they will help you that is ok too.

Good Medicine - Pema Chodron

2009-07-03T03:44:00.001-07:00

See the full Pema Chodron teaching videos here on the beYOU.tv website

Pema Chodron Interviews

2009-07-03T02:36:00.000-07:00

Relaxation Sanctuary update

2009-06-27T04:17:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to do some new videos, podcasts and update my blog here for the last few months. As you will understand sometimes life just directs your focus to other areas. I have also had to cope with ups and downs that makes finding calm time impossible sometimes. I never feel right recording a relaxation video or podcast when i myself am not relaxed.

I hope to get some more information on this blog and some more videos. The positive comments i get left on the youtube site are really encouraging. Knowing i have helped someone in some way is very rewarding.

I am learning new techniques and finding a path of my own all the time. When i have more to share and pass on i will find the time.

Thanks for being patient.

Pema Chodron

2009-06-27T04:08:00.000-07:00

Anyone who wants to read a really great book for self help i recommend Pema Chodron. You can even listen to the audio book as your convenience. I was recommended the book, 'The wisdom of no escape'.

It is such a refreshing down to Earth approach to Buddhism teachings. You can take something new from each chapter each time you pick up the book to read it. I have read through the book a few times now and each time i seem to learn something extra that applies to my life.

I have just downloaded a audiobook from itunes so i can listen to it in the sunshine. You can find Pema Chodron books/audiobooks on Amazon and itunes. I have put a few of the book links on the right of this post for you to see.

Relaxation doesnt aid childbirth?

2009-05-28T11:31:00.000-07:00

Relaxation techniques offered to during Antenatal classes do not help in childbirth says new study.

Read full article here at the Telegraph website

Also here at Response source website

Listen to the Basic relaxation Tecnique on MP3

2009-04-14T09:17:00.001-07:00

To download go to the podcast site

See the YouTube video and subscribe to the channel here

If you would like to donate the Relaxation Sanctuary site for downoading a podcast, please do so here:

Thank you

New relaxation video

2009-04-13T16:09:00.000-07:00

The new relaxation video is nearly up on the Relaxation Sanctuary youtube page with basic relaxation technique leading to deep relaxation. This video should be used as a tool to relax and also teach yourself how to relax. Practise what the video has told you on yourself at times when convenient such as you lay in bed before sleeping.

The video will be made into a podcast too for download at a later date. Stay Tuned and don't forget to subscribe to the Relaxation Sanctuary.

Welcome to the Relaxation Sanctuary

2009-04-06T09:46:00.000-07:00

At last i have got my act together and put the channel on youtube which i have been planning to do for months.

The Relaxation Sanctuary is aimed to be a place where i can put some (hopefully) relaxing videos to help with all sorts of problems like stress, anxiety and insomnia.

I aim to use the channel as a platform so people can dip into videos whenever they choose and come back repeatedly.

The channel has come about due to all the comments from the relaxation video i put on youtube. I originally put one video up as a comedy and got complaints saying i should do a real relaxation video. I then months later did what the masses wanted and made a real basic relaxation video.

Comments flow in all the time from this video and it has over 9,000 views. I thought it was time to do a whole channel dedicated to relaxing and taking time out.

I don't pretend to be an expert but i know what has worked for other people in the past. This is all new and i am happy to learn along the way.

I hope you will enjoy the channel and it will benefit you in some way. Subscribe today and come back soon.