Relax into your authentic self.....

No thought, no trying, no “efforting” can bring about awareness. It just is, when we allow it to be.

‘Being’ isn’t a mental concept, but a state. It isn’t something we have to try to do.

Being is our essential self spontaneously and quite naturally expressing itself. Hence fulfilment and ultimately inner peace, is the flow of our inner fullness into every aspect of our day.

When we are aware and present, we also naturally become relaxed and calm. 

Allow yourself to relax into your authentic state.

Insights from Michael Brown’s Alchemy of the Heart

Those Lazy Days of Summer........

As we head into the summer holidays, it is very easy to get so booked up with days out, play dates, outings and trips that we end up going back to school/work in September for a rest! While it’s fun to have lots of activities to do over the holidays, make sure you schedule in some ‘Lazy Days’ too! Lazy Days are where you stay in your PJs or casual clothes all day and just chill out together as a family. Make it a day where there is no TV or computer games, so you can spend time together just lazing in the garden, playing games, reading, listening to music. 

It’s really important that children learn that it’s ok to just ‘BE’ sometimes, they don’t have to constantly be ‘doing’ something. You may get initial resistance but you’ll be amazed at how quickly children can find ways to amuse themselves without the electronic devices, and while they are lost in their own little world, you can enjoy some relaxation time too! If it seems too difficult to manage a whole day like that, start with 1 hour – where it is clear that everyone is to amuse themselves and just have some chill out time. If your children are still very young, then use their nap time to give yourself some quality relaxation time, don’t use it to do a million chores – the world won’t stop spinning if you leave the washing or the dishes for later or tomorrow. It may not be practical to do this every day, but make sure that at least once a week you hide the ‘to do list’ and prioritise yourself, having quality relaxation time for you and your family!

Those lazy days of summer are here…….enjoy them (whatever the weather!) x

Make time for yourself!

It's the smartest parenting tip you'll ever get: Make time for yourself!

Doing things you enjoy, whether getting your nails polished or reading a chapter of a delicious novel, actually makes you a better mum because it replenishes the well your kids are always drawing from. Otherwise, you'll be so tapped out you'll have nothing to give, which is bad news for everybody.

Here are 9 easy ways..... x

Say “yes” to the Present Moment......

Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Always say “yes” to the present moment. What could be more futile, more insane, than to create inner resistance to something that already is? What could be more insane than to oppose life itself, which is now and always now? Surrender to what is. Say “yes” to life — and see how life suddenly starts working for you rather than against you.                - Eckhart Tolle

For fast-acting relief, try slowing down.....

5 Reasons to Slow Down Your Life Today, and How to Do It.

See this great blog post from PositivityBlog  - 5 Reasons to Slow Down Your Life Today, and How to Do It.

Relax and Enjoy x

5 simple rules to be happy and relaxed........

Free your heart from hatred. 

Free your mind from worries. 

Live simply. 

Give more. 

Expect less.

TOMORROW - Relaxation Class

You deserve some 'Me' time!

If you live near Fleet in Hampshire, read on......if you live further a field, please follow this Mellow Mums blog or Facebook page for lots of lovely relaxation tips!

TOMORROW - enjoy a wonderfully evening putting yourself first and learn some great relaxation techniques to benefit all the family.

The class includes some relaxation tips, gentle movement and stretching, breathing exercises and ends with a fabulous guided deep relaxation.

Suitable for all ages and abilities!

Please wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat, or similar, to sit on. Please also bring a shawl or blanket and a bottle of water.

Can you think of a more beneficial way to spend an evening?

NEXT CLASS:
Date: Tomorrow - Thursday 14th July
Where: Memorial Hall, Sandy Lane, Church Crookham GU52 8LD
Time: 8pm - 9:30pm
Cost: £7.00

Classes will then be once a month from September.

To reserve a place please contact Katharine via this page, or by email: mellowmums1@gmail.com or by phone 07929 919035

'Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.'

'Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.' a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

I love this quote. 

When we get all flustered, we need to remember to take a deep breath and be patient. What is meant to be will be. Stressing ourselves out in the interim won't change this. Choose the Mellow path..... x

12 Happiness Enhancing Activites

Mellow Mums are Happy mums! 

Have a look at the list below of 12 Happiness Enhancing Activities from the book 'The How of Happiness' by Sonja Lyubomirsky and pick 3 or 4 that you can really relate to. Try to incorporate them into your daily life to increase your happiness levels!

Practicing gratitude and positive thinking:

(1) Express gratitude - this one is huge! Thinking about all the things we are grateful for, shifts our perception of life and we start focusing on the positive.

(2) Cultivate optimism - the glass IS half full!

(3) Avoid overthinking- stop over analyzing things and let them go.  What will be will be.

Investing in Social Connections:

(4) Practice acts of kindness - try and do a random act of kindness every day, it works even better if you don't tell anyone you did it!

(5) Nurture social relationships- although it's good to have 'me' time, make sure you make time in your diary to spend time with positive friends too.

Managing Stress, Hardship, and Trauma:

(6) Develop Strategies for Coping - by developing coping skills, we can keep our anxiety to a minimum. The key is to have those skills in place before they are needed. Determine what things in your life are stressful and be prepared for them.


(7) Learn to forgive- if you don't, it's you that comes off worse, as the negativity eats away at you. It's not always easy to forget, but try to forgive (including forgiving yourself for things), the sense of release will allow you to feel much calmer.

Living in the Present:

(8) Increase Flow experiences - those moments when you are completely and totally absorbed in an activity and as such, everything else is forgotten.

(9) Savour life’s joys - by being present in the moment we notice so many more of life's small joys, that otherwise would have passed us by. Savour them.

(10) Commit to goals - you'll feel an amazing sense of achievement when you reach them!

Taking care of body and soul:

(11) Practice spirituality - spirituality means different things to different people, but I think just having that senses of being part of something greater, gives much more depth and meaning to life, things have a sense of purpose and having a sense of purpose makes one feel happier.

(12) Take care of body through -

• Meditation - going inwards and becoming centred gets to you a place where you can respond much more effectively to what life throws at you.

• Physical activity - has a long lasting effect on happiness levels

• Acting like a happy person. Fake it till you make it! You're brain doesn't know the difference and will release the happy hormones anyway!

Wishing you much happiness! x

Feeling a bit frazzled?

Have a wonderful bubble bath with some essential oils – the ones you choose can make all the difference to your mood…..

Bubble Bath – use a natural or organic bubble bath that isn’t full of nasty chemicals, which stress the body out. I like the Faith in Nature, Green People and Earth Friendly Baby brands, all easily available online and most good health stores stock them. Local mums can find them at Organically Speaking in Hartley Wintney and Food for Thought in Guildford – both fab stores!

Essential Oils –

For Relaxation :  Add 5 drops of Lavender to a teaspoon of milk or cream – most decadent - can’t be beaten! You could also add a drop of Clary Sage to help you sleep.

To De-stress:  2 drops of Lavender

2 drops of Mandarin

2 drops of Orange

2 drops of Ylang-ylang

There are many websites detailing other wonderful oil blends, experiment with what works best for you.

Oils can be purchased online or from stores like Neal’s Yard  (Local Mums – they have a store in Guildford). Try to buy organic oils where possible.

If the kids are playing up, add some oils to their baths too, to help chill them out. Half the quantities for under 12’s. As with all essential oils seek professional advice if you are pregnant.

For some lovely family bonding time, all jump in the bath together and enjoy the fun bubbles and relaxing aromas!

Relax and Enjoy the weekend fellow Mummies! Let me know how you enjoy your bubbles! x

One Conscious Breath

It can be very hard to remain calm and relaxed when you come up against someone who is very closed minded. That’s where taking just 5-10 seconds, to take one conscious deep breath really helps, as it allows you to step back from the situation, become present, and then you are able to ‘respond’ rather than ‘react’ to the person – much more constructive. Your place of power is here in the now!