Author: Zeenat Ahmed-Peto

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My Yoga Challenge

I first started learning yoga around ten years ago. Not in a big way, just on my own with a dvd. Even though I did not realise it at the time, I made progress slowly and was becoming more flexible over the months. Having arthritis and being flexible just don’t go together; it’s as though one part of me craves to be able to bend and stretch with ease and grace, but the other part just wants to be very still – usually to avoid causing further strain or pain. For anyone who is interested in reading more about living with a chronic illness, I would urge you to read The Spoon Theory, by Christina Miserandino, which my friend Little Miss Delicious shared on her blog. In the article, Christina uses an analogy to explain what it’s like to live every day, constrained by an illness. As much as I like to focus on my wellness, when things are bad, I do get a little down.

Fortunately after a few months of feeling very tired from being in lots of pain, my consultant has reassessed my medication and now I am now somewhat back on track. Hallelujah! That means I have had more energy this last week to dedicate to the things I love – my blog, my relaxation classes, coaching, teaching and thinking up new challenges for myself! So my new challenge is that I am going to dedicate 20 minutes of my day, every day to yoga and to regaining some of that energy and flexibility. 

I will let you know how I get on 🙂

Tree is my favourite pose at the momentShown above: Yoga Pretzels: 50 Fun Yoga Activities for Kids and Grownups by Tara Guber, Leah Kalish and Sophie Fatus

I would love to hear from anyone with arthritis who could share some yoga tips with me. Or anyone who teaches yoga and can give me any advice. Thanks in advance!

As always, feel free to comment, send me an email or chat on Facebook or Twitter. And if you’re feeling kind, subscribe to more updates!

 

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Self Coaching Tip – Spend Time in Nature

This is one of the easiest ways I have learnt to relax. 

I often find that when I get engrossed in my work I can find myself sitting in my seat for hours. This is not good for me! Luckily (sort of?) my body does not respond well to hours of sitting still, so I naturally want to move around. I also find that my brain functions better when I have been out for some fresh air. I recognise this when I start to think in a loop or I feel ‘stuck’.

Going for a walk outdoors is a great way to shift your state by moving your physiology – the stretching, movement, breathing and use of large muscles brings oxygen into the system and allows you to have a different perspective on something you might be working on. 

I recently read that it is great to be able to take on the habits of smokers, without actually smoking – deep breathing and frequent breaks outside. Try it yourself and notice what difference it makes to your productivity.

In NLP terms, this is known as a ‘break state’ – where you change your physiology/environment in order to alter (and improve) how you feel. It is also a great way to reset your stress levels and refresh your body and mind!

I was luck enough to spend time on the beach over Easter, reading and snoozing 🙂

Being in Nature – This does not have to mean a weekend away, (although of course those are wonderful too) – it can be as simple as taking a break from your computer screen and walking outside for ten minutes.

 

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Self Coaching Tip: How To Declutter

Creating a beautiful environment in my home increases my overall sense of well-being, and helps me feel more productive and happy. The physical space around me helps keep the mental space inside feeling calmer too. Here are some tips to help you keep on top of the clutter!

It’s that time of year again when I put away my summer clothes (sobs) and get out my winter woolies. This is just one of the steps I take regularly to keep my home clutter-free. I have now got it down to a fine art. I find that I know where everything is, I get to use more of my things (like my clothes or kitchen appliances) and I can keep my home environment feeling more spacious. My living space isn’t large, so I use these steps to make the best of what I have. Here are some tips which might be useful:

1. Keep Regular

Decluttering or having a clear up/ clear out needs to be a regular process. For me, thinking about it as a process rather than an event, means I don’t let myself get into huge piles of mess anymore – I deal with mess as it occurs. On the other hand, I don’t let the worry of being eternally tidy create more stress either! I just do little bits of tidying up as I go along – and if there is some mess left behind, I deal with it the next time I feel like it.

2. Start small 

I start with one space. I say to myself ‘Today I am going to tidy up this box/shelf/drawer/wardrobe/table-top.’ What I usually find once I get started, is that I actually quite enjoy it and it doesn’t seem like such a chore after all. As another way to help me do it and not procrastinate, I sometimes do this (boring) job before I do something ‘fun’. Finally I sometimes set the alarm on my phone to add a little time pressure to the mix! By tackling one drawer per day, I get through the overall task in no time.

3. Box it up 

Thank goodness for Ikea who in my mind invented the concept of ‘a place for everything and everything in its place’. Over the years I have moved lots of items into boxes which would have otherwise remained homeless. I’m talking about things which could look untidy if they were just left on a shelf – like computer cables, phone chargers (which seem to multiply!) and the like. Once the items are sorted into clearly labelled boxes, they can be put onto a shelving unit which means they are organised, accessible and tidy.

Bathroom storageStorage for extra blanket

Storage for bedtime reading Magazine racks are great for organising papers

Making the most of unusable space above shelving units

4. Find Alternative Homes

I recently bought a shopper trolley to help me lug around my resources for my Relax Kids lessons. I loved it as soon as I used it, but then had the problem of where to store it! I looked all around the house and found a suitable slot where it can slide in and still be accessible. Sometimes shoving more ‘stuff’ into the loft or similar areas is just not practical. Look around your home and don’t be afraid to rearrange your belongings to find better storage solutions.

5. Designate Clutter-free Areas

I have now got to the stage where my dining table is always clear (unless I am eating at it), with only a few regular items left on the table, like a bunch of flowers or candles. Even if it can only be one space, designate certain clutter-free zones and apply the tips above to maintain them that way. I found that one zone led to two and so on, and now my living space is much more clutter-free.

6. Donate to Charity 

I made a rule at the beginning of the year that if I bought something new, at least one old thing would go into the charity box. In order to reduce waste and unnecessary buying – I ask myself ‘do I use it?’, ‘do I like it?’ and ‘do I still want to keep it?’. If there are more ticks than crosses, it stays. Otherwise it goes!

Here is a previous post on de-cluttering tips for your wardrobe.

As ever, if you like this post, please do share it on Facebook or Twitter or leave me a comment. And if you want to make me smile, one guaranteed way to do that is to subscribe to this blog by popping your email in the box. Thank you! 🙂

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Life is in the Details

 I am currently looking to move house in the near future and although I am excited at the prospect of a new abode, I will be sad to leave. So in order to enjoy every last moment here, I have been paying more attention to the details in this little place that I have called home. 

Collection of random things in my kitchen including the mask I made for a party last Christmas

A Mucha print, picked up from Columbia Road market for a fiver

 

 

Bathroom mermaid

Retro phone and photos of Amsterdam

Seahorse mirror mosaic My home is a complete haven for me and it is a place where I can express my creatvity and enjoy the beauty in the little details around me.

Dansette record palyer

Collection of mini boxes in display table

How have you created a space for yourself in your home? Does it reflect who you are?

I’d love to hear your thoughts about this – please leave me a comment below or through the contact form – or connect on Facebook or Twitter 🙂

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Happy Halloween!


 For this year’s festive jollity to mark Halloween, I watched the 1930 film Frankenstein, played by Boris Karloff atEnfield’s Dugdale Centre. It was showing as part of a double bill with The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) on afterwards, but in fact I only stayed to watch the first film. I find it hard to sit still for any length of time as it is, and so this decision had nothing to do wth the film, or the set up, or the staff etc – more that I decided to quit while I was ahead and had thoroughly enjoyed the first (and original) film. I felt really happy to be able to walk there (dressed in full Halloween garb) and to be able to do something cheap (£4.00 for both films!), and support my local town centre (which has seen some pretty horrific stuff during the riots this August). And obviously to enjoy a real classic, which I have never actually seen before. Finally to find out that Boris himself (born William Henry Pratt) was brought up in Enfield!   

Boris Karloff as Frankenstein

Happy Halloween!

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Victorian Pub Architecture

 Last weekend I found myself in the city on a quiet Sunday afternoon and there I spotted this beautiful Victorian pub. Inside Manchester United were thrashing Chelsea on the big screen, but I was really taken with the original features which have been preserved and shown off well by the landlord. The frontage is adorned with imposing bowed windows

The mosaic floor is beautifully preserved

The Hope is on Cowcross Street, Farringdon, EC1M6BH

I just love stumbling upon amazing architecture like this, and I feel so lucky to live in London surrounded by all of this history! You can read my previous post about the beautful mosaic floors at The Hackney Empire here.

 

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Lemon Posset and Brandy Snap biscuits!

A few weeks ago my husband and I made a really lovely dessert for friends who were coming over for dinner – Lemon Posset served with Brandy Snap biscuits – Mmmm..! I am not much of a baker or maker of sweet things so I am always truly impressed when someone makes a dessert from scratch. As you will find out, my Brandy Snap biscuits a). contain no alcohol and b). were not supposed to look the way they do in the picture above! I don’t have a very sweet tooth , but my husband on the other hand does love a dessert after dinner, and he was determined to get the possets prepared the night before the party while I was out.

This is the recipe he used for the Lemon Posset:

Ingredients:

  • 600 ml double cream
  • 140 g caster sugar
  • 2 large lemons, juice and grated zest
  • vanilla seeds

Method:

1. Put the double cream in a large pan with the sugar. Bring slowly to the boil and simmer for 3 minutes. Take it off the heat, add the lemon juice and zest and whisk well. 

2. Pour into 6 ramekins and refrigerate for 2-3 hours. Sprinkle with the pared lemon zest before serving with strawberries.

He actually poured the mixture straight into coffee cups to set in the fridge overnight (covered with lots of cling film).

My Brandy Snap recipe, taken from The Telegraph’s food and drink section

Ingredients:

  • 45g/1.5oz butter
  • 45g/1.5oz caster sugar
  • 2 tbsp golden syrup
  • 45g/1.5oz plain flour
  • half tsp ground ginger
  • A little lemon zest
  • 1 tsp brandy (optional)

Method:

Preheat oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4. Line two baking trays with silicone paper. In a saucepan place butter, sugar and syrup. Heat until the mixture has turned runny and is well mixed. Sift flour and ginger before adding to your mixture, along with the (brandy and) lemon zest.

Dollop on to the baking trays. Bake for five minutes until the snaps have started to turn a darker brown. Remove by rolling on to wooden spoon handles. Leave until they start to set. Remove spoon handles with care. Cool on a rack. 

I actually ended up pouring the mixture into silicone cake moulds as they kept sticking to the various incorrect types of paper I used, but they were delicious as star-shaped biscuits all the same!

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Banksy-style Street Art and Art Galleries

Marilyn Monroe with angel’s wings This is a quick post as I wanted to share this beautiful Bansky (or Bansky-style) street stencil which I spotted on Upper Street in Islington. I love spotting street art like this and always try to take a photo of it, when I see it. It reminds me that art should be every-day occurances and for everyone, not just for the few. Maybe this is why I love statues and sculptures so much.

I had actually been to the Estoric Gallery earlier in the day, which is a small gallery I had never been to before. It was just the right size for me. I find that I get sensory overload if I look at too much stuff at once, because I just find it a lot to absorb. So visiting a gallery like this is always preferable to me than a huge one (although you could go back more than once!). It also made me think of the Tate Modern which has this great sign above it:

I love the fact that it has this huge sign on the building which can be seen from the Millennium Bridge – it hopefully encourages more people to visit it.

View of The Tate Modern, from The Millennium Bridge

Here are some shots of the New River where I went for a walk yesterday, after a visit to the Estoric Collection which is a small gallery housing Italian art.

The New River Walk is an oasis of calm in the centre of London

Nature conservation is a high priority here

How often do you visit art galleries? Does art feature in your life on a regular basis? What are your views on street art? I’d love to hear what you think. You can leave me a comment below or connect on Facebook or Twitter.

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EFT – Emotional Freedom Technique

I am about to embark on another journey of discovery and learning, in EFT or tapping as it is commonly known. This is something which I have been playing with for a couple of years now and I have finally found the time to embark on the training.

I like the idea that as a therapist I will be able to help an individual articulate positive verbal messages (which in time will help change thought patterns) and through tapping with the fingers on different points on the body will help to release negative emotions which have become trapped in the system. I am sure I will be able to explain more clearly once I have begun my training. I am also looking forward to releasing the negative energy which is currently trapped in my body (and is manifesting itself in the form of pain). 

I feel at the moment as though I have so much to learn and to do! The challenge for me currently is to be still and quiet – which I have introduced into my daily routine through some form of meditation, yoga or Tai Chi (however minimal) everyday. Quite often it involves listening to a Relax Kids CD whilst I fall asleep! (Yes, they are designed for children, but I love them!)

I will keep you updated with my progress – both in helping myself and in becoming accredited to be able to help others.

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Glass half full?

You know the expression – ‘is the glass half full or half empty?’ – a common idiom meaning to discover whether a person views an event or events with an optimistic or pessimistic point of view. It implies that your answer shows a leaning towards one way of thinking, and perhaps indicate how you view things generally in life. I would argue that in NLP terms, our words shape our thoughts and vice versa so if we say negative words, we believe negative thoughts (which could also be described as negative energy) and the programming we have had since we were children often just repeats a pattern of learnt behaviour.

So if we can learn a behaviour, we can un-learn a behaviour – or to start with, a pattern of speaking. If we change the way we speak about ourselves, for example, we can change the way we think about ourselves and ultimately feel about ourselves.

 Amazing, isn’t it? So next time you think ‘oh I am so rubbish at this’, or ‘this always happens’ – stop and check yourself.

What happens if you change the words you are saying? Is the glass really half full or is it the way you are choosing to perceive it?