An alternative way to do simple mindfulness (Part 2)
Following on from part 1, I want to introduce you to more ways to do simple mindfulness.
1. Tuning into sounds
The hum of a gan, tickeing of a cloack, the round of rain on the window, voices outside the room. Realing tuning in ot hte volume, pitch and noticing if there’s a rthythmic quality to the sound.
2. Experimenting with taste
Using a small pleasant tasting boiled sweet, chocolate melting int he mouth or taking a few sips of water. Noticing the flavour, physical sensations and returning the attention when it wanders.
3. Smell
Simply light a scented candle where your like the smell or inhale the sent of your favourite essential oil by placing a drop on a tissue.
4. Hold an object in your hands
A pebble, wooden bead pen, cup etc any everyday object. Focus your attention in to notice the temperature, the texture (roughness/smoothness), the shape and how it feels. Experiment with your eyes start with open and then notice the difference if you close your eyes.
Remember mindfulness is about training the mind, so you don’t need to use breath as your anchor be creative, be kind to yourself and start simple with 30 seconds and build up the time slowly and gradually – its a practice not a race!
Related Posts

Heel Pain Part 1 – Plantar Fasciitis
Recently a client asked me "is having heel pain first thing in the morning, just one of those things you have to put up with as you get older"?. What are the causes of Heel Pain? There are two major causes of heel pain, firstly a grumbling Achilles Tendon and secondly Plantar Fasciitis. This week I am going to focus on Plantar Fasciitis. Plantar Fasciitis is inflammation of the Plantar Fascia or the strong band of tissue on the sole of your foot that stretches from your heel to your toes that supports the arch of your foot and acts as a shock absorber when you walk. The usual site of the pain with Plantar Fasciitis is on the sole of the foot, see diagram below.
How can I tell if my heel pain is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar Fasciitis is characterised by the gradual onset of soreness and aching under the heel at its mid-point, which spreads forward along the inner side of the arch of the foot. The ache or pain is often for the first few steps when you get out of bed every morning or after sitting at your desk for a long period of time.
What causes Plantar Fasciitis
- Sedentary Lifestyles
- Being overweight
- Wearing shoes with too little arch support or cushioning
- Vigorous take off's, landings are fast turns during weight bearing sports.
- Wearing high heels too much.
- Excessive foot eversion (your weight is too much on the outside of your foot).
- Stand about 40 cm away from a wall and put both hands on the wall at shoulder height, feet slightly apart, with one foot in front of the other. Bend your front knee but keep your back knee straight and lean in towards the wall to stretch. You should feel your calf muscle tighten. Keep this position for several seconds, then relax. Do this about 10 times then switch to the other leg. Now repeat the same exercise for both legs but this time, bring your back foot forward slightly so that your back knee is also slightly bent. Lean against the wall as before, keep the position, relax and then repeat 10 times before switching to the other leg. Repeat this routine twice a day.
- Stand on the bottom step of some stairs with your legs slightly apart and with your heels just off the end of the step. Hold the stair rails for support. Lower your heels, keeping your knees straight. Again you should feel the stretch in your calves. Keep the position for 20-60 seconds, then relax. Repeat six times. Try to do this exercise twice a day.
- Sit on the floor with your legs out in front of you. Loop a towel around the ball of one of your feet. With your knee straight, pull your toes towards your nose. Hold the position for 30 seconds and repeat three times. Repeat the same exercise for the other foot. Try to do this once a day.
- Sit on a chair with your knees bent at right angles and your feet and heels flat on the floor. Lift your foot upwards, keeping your heel on the floor. Hold the position for a few seconds and then relax. Repeat about 10 times. Try to do this exercise five to six times a day.
- For this exercise you need an object such as a rolling pin or a drinks can. Whilst sitting in a chair, put the object under the arch of your foot. Roll the arch of your foot over the object in different directions. Perform this exercise for a few minutes for each foot at least twice a day. This exercise is best done without shoes on.

Having a ball?
Previously I have written my guide to foam rolling parts 1 & 2. Now I want to explore the uses for another self-massage tool, the spikey ball. I would recommend you use both a foam roller and a spikey ball the reason is that for some parts of the body it is easier to use a spikey ball, for example: Releasing the feet Stand on one leg use a chair or the wall for balance. Roll one foot at a time over the ball for a good few minutes. Include the heel, the outside edge and the instep. Push down stronger into any area to deepen the intensity. Do each foot separately. Between the shoulders A common area of tension with modern postural habits is between the shoulder blades. You can easily reach this area with a ball placed anywhere between the shoulder blades and move up and down against the wall. One tip to stop the ball dropping it to put it in a long sock or stocking, drap it over your shoulder and then hold it in your hand. Lower back - Under sacrum and glutes You can use the floor of resistance to press your weight into or when lying to let gravity give you a help in hand. Simply lie on the floor, bend your knees but keep your feet flat on the floor. Then place the ball underneath your sacrum – the large triangular bone that forms part of your pelvis. Now move just gently move your sacrum and glutes all over the ball. If it feels safe to do so your can bring your knees into your chest to add additional pressure. This will help release off your lower back.

This one if for my fellow women – sorry guys! Part 1
Around half of all women will get cystitis or some other unirary tract infection (UTI) at somepoint in their life. The female anatomy makes women more susceptible. Having had cystitis many years ago I can vouch for the pain. As some women are prone to suffer multiple episodes, I wanted to share some natural options to help them stop coming back. Cranberry Juice 300-500ml of unsweetened cranberry juice or 400mg of concentrated cranberry extract twice a day appears to be sucessful is preventing or reducing the number of urinary tract infections (UTI). However, there is limited evidence that cranberry can stop a UTI once you have it. Acupuncture Acupuncture was put to the test against sham acupuncture (the needles go into the wrong place or inserted in the wrong way) or no treatment for UTI prevention. After six months 85% of those who had genuine acupuncture sufferend no UTIs compared with 58% of those of the sham group and 36% of the untreated group. In another study UTI-prone women receiving acupuncture twice a week had half the rate of infections compared to those receiving no treatment. References https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27251185 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9612877 https://europepmc.org/abstract/med/12721123

