Recommended Reading
This list is filled with valuable information to support and broaden your wellness knowledge and journey. Many of these resources can be found on Youtube or Audible. This opens the opportunity to listen while cleaning, driving, knitting, stretching, exercising etc. The information helps you to understand more deeply how our services work. Knowing the science can help your mind surrender. and or engage with the process for even better results, and helps to provide a vocabulary to discuss what you've experienced. (Discussion is an important part of knowledge integration for many people. It is a learning style.) Some of the science of these ancient practices is still being understood and studied such as brainwaves, vibration, epigenetics and how the brain is involved in healing. There is room here for mystery and being comfortable with enjoying the benefits of the experience without clear answers as to how and why it has worked.
-
Breathe, James Nester.
James shares many interesting stories from his research and travels exploring breathing and the evolution of humans. He discusses the science behind breathing through the nose and shares his experience of blocking off his nose so he could only breath through his mouth for 10 days. Lots of food for thought. His research journey lead him to view ancient skulls brimming with healthy teeth and a broad pallet, brings into question why so many people now experience tooth decay and moths too small to fit a full set of teeth. He further connects poor breathing habits with heart diseases.
You can find 'Breathe' at your local bookstore or here on Amazon https://amzn.to/3MAQxNG
-
To be continued soon...
Becomming Supernatural, Dr Joe Dispensa
Dr Joe's books are filled with science and stories of profound change from meditation. You will often hear me refer to some of the studies, facts or benefits during conversation. The brainwave studies describe the experience of dropping into an altered state of consciousness achieved in a breathwork or meditation session. I've found that once I understood that my experience of 'dropping in' had scientific explanations, that other people experiencesd the same kind of thing and that there are hormonal and chamical changes toccuring in the body at these times that allow healing.
Becoming Supernatural was published in ...and lays out the experience of change that occurs as you may have felt in a session.
The Placebo Effect is also a profound book published in also describing the benefits. I find both totally inspiring as a meditator and breathworker and also as a facilitator of these life changing experiences. I've long been a believer in the power of the mind. This was once a humble beginning where I believed that if I wanted something enough then I could make it happen - of course I wasnt asking a lot back then. But running a sprint, if I believed the win was mine nothing would stop me. If I believed someone else was a better runner than me, equally, that would be true. Dr Joe shares a story about a man recieving a drug believed to be a cure for his cancer. The doctor talked it telling how good it would be for him. He was 'cured' for some time before he heard on the news the drug had been withdrawn from the market. He relapsed. Now I don't think you can just wave a few affirmations around in the air and instantly believe something. On the contrary. You have to really believe it in every cell of your body. So the more facts you know, the more science, research and stories you can absorb to understand the benefits of any practice, then the more that practice (of medication) will be of benefit to you. Delving in to the science gives me a sense of grounding, a sense of physical. presence that the light, floaty, out of body experience is way more than a figment of my imagination and truely has profound healing benefits. It has helped me understand how Breathwork and Meditation have helped me improve my health. and wellbeing, physically, emotionally, mentally and financially. And then help me understand how to get more!
You can find these books in your local stores or have them delivered by Amazon with this handy link. https://amzn.to/3SCPZuz
Breathe by Dan Brule
What is the best yoga mat?
I'm often asked 'what is the best yoga mat? And it's a great question with a range of answers to reflect your values and desires. Some mats are made of rather toxic concoctions that will take over 1000 years to beak down in land fill. Sure, you may not like to imagine your mat going in the bin any time soon but can you imagine handing it down for generations? Perhaps if you become enlightened on the mat it can be preserved in a sacred Breathwork shrine in your lounge room for your followers and fans to file through and visit. (I'm imagining your family going about their day having breakfast, getting ready for school or work, playing with the pets, brushing their teeth etc as hundreds of strangers file on through to gaze upon your magical mystical mat.
Yoga is a sanscrit word meaning you yoke, join or connect. Like Breathwork, yoga is a form of Meditation where practice by practice, you connect more and accept more all the many different aspects of your personality, moods, body, mind and soul. This deeper internal connection ripples into your outer world as you become more accepting, less judgemental and feel less separate to others, to the planet and to the universe itself. So it makes sense to choose right from the start, a mat that considers Earth as a friend rather than a place to dump stuff.
Earth friendly yoga mats can be made from grasses such as Jute which are then backed with rubber (which comes from trees) for grip.
I've used these mats in my classes for many years and found them durable and grippy enough with one rough side and a smooth side. We use the rough, more grippy side for yoga. For Breathwork or Meditation where grip is not required you may prefer the softer, smoother slightly slippery side. These mats have a nice natural smell, are chemical free and even vegan friendly.
It is possible to find Jute mats in a city near you.
You can find quality jute mats here at this link on Amazon.
Cork mats are popular and come in a range of sizes, thicknesses colours and even printed images. I prefer a minimalist approach to a mat as there is more than enough beauty in the etheric experience of a good session to sooth my soul, enliven my heart and occupy my senses.
Thicker mats can be helpful on hard floors, are larger and bulkier than the thin ones. This can be something to consider for storage or if you walk to classes or go camping with the mat.
Good quality cork mats may be found at stores in your area or use this link to choose a mat to have delivered.
Thin, light weight cork mat:
Thick, supportive luxury mat:
