vranasm

How To Realign Your Hips

By Carole Fogarty

Editor Rejuvenation Lounge and facilitator of Women’s Rejuvenation Retreats:

 

 

Rejuvenate Your Soul: 

“Inspiration is my favourite feeling”

I thought it’s about time I share with you a little more about myself and what I do outside of writing this blog.   In case you don’ know, I also facilitate  Rest and Rejuvenation retreats in Ubud, Bali and I must say they are my absolute joy and passion.  Along with my blog and children of course.

 

As I’ve been receiving lots of enquiries lately for this years Balinese Retreat  (yeah!),  I felt it perfect timing to give you a sneak peak into what you can expect on any given day which includes daily massages (yes daily massages), meditation, gentle body movements and relaxation practices.  I’ve also added a little extra on how I prepare myself for each retreat.

 

 Photo by Ben Bieske:

 

 A few months prior to each retreat  I think of nothing else except -  How can I create an even more restful, and even more nurturing experience for all participants?  I prepare my energies, meditate on the retreat, journal about the retreat and generally open myself up so I can deliver exactly what is needed for all women.  My whole body, mind and soul is focused on creating a memorable retreat that leaves everyone with all the good feelings and energy levels they deserve.

 

 

A typical day:

 

Imagine, just for a moment you are booked for my next Rest and Rejuvenation Retreat.  For 5 days and 6 nights you simply put yourself first - 24 hours a day.  You’ll experience a continuous flow of nurturing to improve your energy levels, quieten your mind and strengthen your immune system.  Your five senses will be awakened and deeply nourished.

Your mantra for the Balinese Rest and Rejuvenation Retreat is “Its all about me”.

 

Mornings:

In the mornings I facilitate the rejuvenation circles and draw on both knowledge and intuition.  You’ll be treated to a series of restful practices, breathing techniques, different meditation styles and gentle body movements in the marble meditation/yoga room at our retreat venue.  A chair, yoga mat, yoga eye pillows and cushions are all used to insure each practice is deeply restful.

 

Middle of the day:

Most lunch times and early afternoons (with a few exceptions) are free time to do whatever you choose.  Most participants either, shop, sleep, read, go on an adventure or take a swim in the pool.  This time has been created to enjoy some alone time, if that is what is needed.

 

Afternoons:

Each afternoon we meet at 3.00 o’clock in the foyer of our retreat venue.  It’s time for pampering and extra special nurturing  with specialized hand selected massages and body treatments.  You’ll be driven to a different spa each day.  Each location has been carefully chosen to offer you, what I believe to be the most beneficial treatments to encourage rejuvenation, improve energy flow throughout the body, calm the mind and release blockages.

 

Early evening  Yoga Nidra:

I finish each day back in our marbled meditation/yoga room with one of the deepest forms of rest you can experience - yoga nidra.  In fact they say 30 minutes of yoga nidra is similar to 3 - 4 hours quality sleep.  This will allow your body and mind to integrate the energy practices and treatments for the day and to prepare you for a great nights sleep.

 

 Photo by Lululemon:

 

Evenings free:

Most evenings are free except for the first and last nights which are the welcome and closing dinners.

 

 

The next retreat on July 4th -9th  2010.    It was fully booked until last week, and a few places have now become available.   If you feel the Rest and Rejuvenation Retreat is exactly what you need please feel free to contact me.  Eight is our maximum number so I am able to give individual and personalized attention.  Hope you don’t mind me giving the retreat a little plug. Now back to more on the retreat.

 

 

Relaxation, meditation & gentle moving practices:

 

The morning rejuvenation circles are specifically designed to quieten your mind, soothe your nervous system, release tension, improve the quality of your breathing, relax your body, open up your meridians, balance your chakra’s, connect you more clearer to your intuition and repair your auric field.

My morning rejuvenation sessions are drawn from both knowledge and intuition, so the morning practices will vary from group to group.  Following are just a few of the practices that your body, mind and soul will be enjoying.

 

Breathing exercises:

Improve the quality of your breath with practices such as alternate nostril breathing,  full belly and yogic breathing.  Quality breathing greatly helps to detox your body, oxygenate your organs, release stress from your muscles, change your posture and calm your nervous system.

 

Sound medicine:

Chanting or repeating certain chakra sounds is fabulous to clear energy blocks and release tension from the body.  “Om” is a very healing sound that when chanted (particularly in a group) is amazingly nourishing.

* 12 instant benefits of humming daily:

 

Gentle body stretching:

We practice a few very gentle and calming yoga relaxation exercises to calm your adrenals, soften your thoughts and allow the body to let go and rest.  Exercises include legs up wall, child pose, supta baddha konasana  and chair yoga.  All are simple postures that are extremely beneficial to rest in.

 

 

Meditation:

There are many different styles of  meditation that I may use during the morning relaxation practices.  Humming meditation, walking meditation, crystal meditation, guided meditation, chakra meditation or relaxation meditation

* Teach yourself walking meditation:

 

Hand Mudras (Hand yoga):

Simply by holding your hands and the tips of your fingers in certain positions you create a circuit, that directs a flow  of energy to specific parts of your body and brain.  Hand mudra’s are used often to enhance a particular relaxation or meditation practices.

* Power at your finger tips with hand yoga.

 

Releasing ceremony:

I create a special crystal healing circle where each retreat participant is invited to lie down in the centre (one at a time) and release deep pockets of stuck energy and tension.  This is considered by many of the participants to be one of the highlights.

 

 

As additional support I may use  Australian bush flower essences, crystals, essential oils, along with individual reiki and angel oracle cards. I also dowse your aura and chakra’s for any imbalances.

 

 

 

Daily massage and specialized Ayurvedic treatments:

 

Much thought and care goes into hand selecting the very best body treatments in and around Ubud.  And not everyone will get the same massages at the same time.  There will be variations depending on your individual needs.

Tumeric body scrubs, papaya body wraps, sea salt scrub, sea weed body scrub, ayurvedic crown massage, chakra dhara, shirodara, mandi lulur and flower baths, just to name a few.  All you need to remember as a retreat participant is that you get a massage or body treatment every day.

 

 

One Auruvedic body treatment worth giving a special mention to is Chakra Dhara.  It is a new addition to our Rest and Rejuvenation retreats.  Warm herb oil is dripped onto each of your chakra points. It is an ancient oil ritual to balance energy flow, and purify the mind, body and spirit.  It removes toxins promotes circulation, increases flexibility and relieves pain and stiffness.

 

 

Hope this article helps shine a little insight into my retreats and what else happens in my life, other than writing the Rejuvenation Lounge.

 

 

To find out more about my Balinese Retreats please click here.

To find out more about my Queensland (Australian) Retreats please click here.

 

 

Thanks so much for reading my article, Carole.

Return anytime to the Rejuvenation Lounge 

 

You are welcome to subscribe to my articles by email - It’s free: 

 

If you felt this article was helpful a stumble would be appreciated.

 

 

More articles from the Rejuvenation Lounge:

12 instant benefits of humming daily:

A written guide to yoga nidra:

Shake off your afternoon slump

How to get your “Om” on

24 ways to give your body more attention:

 

 

February 4, 2010

 

Gaining extra weight is not much of a concern until we see some visible signs of that extra fat, like a double chin that makes one look more fat, more aged and sometimes even ugly and unattractive!

 

The most common reason of getting a double chin is obesity. When there is a complete lack of adequate exercise and improper diet, it causes the fat to increase. This fat gets stored into places like below the chin, which causes a double chin. Heredity is another major reason for a double chin. Just like other physical characteristics, double chin could also be inherited. But most of the time, it is associated with the excessive intake of fats. When the body loses its elasticity, the skin under the chin becomes loose and droops, which causes a double chin. But this cause is only valid in the case of older people. Surprisingly, wrong posture can also be one of the causes of a double chin. People generally tend to slump down during long hours of work. This can make the muscles in the front of the neck to become frail, and this can also cause a double chin.

 

The first way to get rid and also to prevent a double chin is to have a balanced diet and avoid foods having high amounts of calories, like junk food.

 

You cannot get rid of double chin naturally and you have to work at it, at least a bit! Double chin exercise is the best way to get rid of double chin. So, start moving if you want to lose unwanted face fat quickly. Do not wait until more fat piles up. Dedicate your time and effort to make that change:

 

Lie down straight with your hands and legs on the floor. Slowly bring down your chin to your chest and keep it pressed there for 2-3 seconds. Then take your head back as much as you can and repeat the same procedure at least 25 times. Stand upright and tilt your head backwards, slowly. Do not do it in a fast motion as it can cause a cramp. Tilt your head backwards, as much as possible, with your mouth closed. Hold it in the same position for about 10 seconds and slowly bring it in the front. Repeat this exercise at least 10 times a day. Stand comfortably and try to close your upper lip with your lower lip as far as possible. Stand in the same position for about 10 seconds and then relax. Repeat this exercise at least 10 times. Lie down on your back, keeping your hands and legs straight. Now slowly lift up the chin in the highest position possible. Do not lift your head. Hold this position for 2 seconds and then slowly bring your chin down. Repeat this exercise for about 25 times. Tap the lower part of the chin with the back of your hand for 10 seconds and make 10 repetitions of the same. Press the lower part of your chin with your thumb for 10 seconds. Make 10 repetitions of this as well.

 

In addition to special exercises, chin liposuction is one way to get rid of double chin fast, but this method is expensive as well as risky. These are some other ways to get rid of double chin without surgery. Sugar-free gum can reduce a double chin. Gum requires lots of chewing and this chewing keeps the facial muscles moving, which in turn avoids the concentration of fat. There are also many double chin lotions and gels said to be effective in reducing double chin.

 

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