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

How can Sports Massage help Runners?
I may be biased but I believe sports massage should be part of every runner's training program. Sports massage offers runners three benefits
- Performance enhancement
- Injury Prevention
- Injury Rehabilitation
- Back and shoulder problems
- ITB syndrome
- Shin splints
- Achilles problems
- Plantar fasciitis

What can help period pain – Part 3?
While taking nutritional supplements suits some women, I know others don’t like taking tablets. So here are a couple of other ideas to assist you with your period pain. There is scientific evidence that from a trail of women who suffer from period pain that certain yoga poses e.g. cobra, cat and fish reduce both the intensity and duration of period pain. The cobra pose is where you lie on your front, with your hand underneath your shoulders and gently push yourself up bending your back as you come up. The cat pose is when you are on all fours and then round your spine like a cat. The fish pose is when you lie on your back, keep your pelvis and head on the floor and an arch your spine towards the ceiling. As an aromatherapist there are a variety of essential oils that you can use to help reduce the severity of period pain. Aromatherapists split period pain into two categories:
- Congestive dysmenorrhoea – where the pain starts a few days before the period and can cover the whole abdominal area.
- Spasmodic dysmenorrhoea which comes in spams of pain in the pelvis and/or lower back.

How to boost your Vitamin D levels?
Vitamin D is a steroid hormone as the body can manufacture it (via exposure to UVB radiation from sunlight) as well as absorb it from food. So in the dark winter months when safe sun exposure is impossible without going on holiday, your can become depleted in Vitamin D. (see signs). So I want to explain how can you boost your vitamin D levels? Probably the simplest way it to take a vitamin D supplement, I would recommend D3 as this is the most natural form of vitamin D. In addition vitamin D is found in the following foods.
- Sardines
- Wild caught Alaskan salmon
- Egg yolks
- Cheese
- Beef livers
- Butter
- Breakfast cereals fortified with vitamin D
- Yoghurt fortified with vitamin D

