Is it Fear or Truth Boundary

I hope this Blog finds you well.

Those of you who have been following me for a while know I am often discussing how important it is that we have a good relationship with ourSelf. That to know how we truly feel about things before communicating those feelings to others can be helpful in all relationships.

There seems to be so much talk about fear and overcoming fear, these days with busy lives, overfull schedules and "comparisonitis" it can leave us with a mixed feeling around what we are fearful of, what is the initial "uncomfortable" feeling of expanding into new growth and what a feeling of a personal boundary being challenged that our instinct is telling us (sometimes screaming at us) is not a good fit for us.

There have been many times in my life when fear jumped in front of me like the “boogeyman” and I learned to look it straight in the eye (mind you it didn’t happen overnight it took consistent practice!!) More importantly it took me to get to know "me," what were my true belief systems, what and why was I afraid to let the world see me. As I often share, most of these are learnt behaviours, outdated patterns that in this expanding consciousness we are being asked every moment to choose - "Do I keep this pattern because it is familiar and I know it, or is it time to leave it behind and allow myself to grow?"
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Can you relate?

​​The purpose of this topic is to invite you to enquire a little deeper within yourself, if you have that feeling in your gut that is a mix of fear, dread, uncertainty or down right scared. Sit with it, invite the feeling in a little closer so you can get to know how you truly feel about the situation. Really FEEL from where you are in your life now, this moment, not from an old pattern, or comparison from a past experience.

Sometimes you will know it is just a fear as you move into new areas of growth, into new territory of yourSelf. Sometimes it may be fear of failure, possible embarrassment, but the more you remember that you are your unique amazing Self, and that all you are doing is bringing him/her/they to the table, then how can you fail? ​​Give it your best, what more can be asked. The more you get to know youSelf the more you can identify when “comparisonitis is in the mind. Don't compare, don't let it hold you back, letting this go, will set you free to not only create, but live your dreams.

You can live knowing that you haven’t got all the answers, that life is here to be experienced and learned from, you might just find that sometimes you realise that the fear you felt, was actually a boundary of protection of your inner true core belief system. That your inner Self was guiding your actions to align more with your journey. When you have a good relationship with yourself and how you truly feel about things you may find that fear is not always the villain, that sometimes it is actually an ally that can nudge you (sometimes side swipe you!) back on your path.

So get to know fear in all its guises, remember it is malleable, sit with it, sit in your heart, free from judgment, really feel the emotion of where it is coming from and you will know and hear from deep inside you, when it is right and when it is down right alarm bells ringing to run!!

I hope you have enjoyed this topic, please be kind to yourself remembering that, we are here to experience life, not conquer it in one perfect leap.

Alli
x

Who Has Hold of the Remote Control in Your Life?

Welcome to this week’s offering.

Thank you to those who emailed requesting a clarity session to gain more tools on how to begin to change the behaviours or patterns you know you no longer wish to hold. It is an empowered feeling to know it is time to move them out.

The constant change we are seeing within ourselves and each other is a birthing of a freedom which is coming from within. We are being asked to choose to live from the present moment.

This brings me to ask the question this week “Have you ever thought how often the mind is in the fast forward or rewind button of life?” Going through so much of yesterday, last week or an event from years ago. Playing it over and over again in a loop of, conversations, scenarios or that good old sentence “Oh I wish I had said..…”

Or perhaps the mind is in the fast forward of - the possibilities, the what ifs, the I am not sure what will happen etc.

Yet, with the mind spending so much time in the fast forward or rewinds of life, it keeps us from the “play button” - of truly being present in the joy and now of our life. I am sure you are noticing how many people around the world are talking about mindfulness and how important it is, but how often are we given the tools to begin this process in becoming a reality in our everyday life?

This week I thought I would share some simple tools I teach within my clinic and program that can shift what perhaps is an unknown subconscious habit into an empowered change. Noticing “who has hold of the remote control in your life.”

The idea of the remote control, gives us a starting point, of becoming familiar with our mind's habits. We can all relate that if we were watching a movie and our partner, kids or friend had hold of the remote control and every time something good was about to happen they hit the fast forward or rewind button, it wouldn’t take too long until we became a little frustrated with them! Yet that is what our mind is doing in and with much of our lives.
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Once we are aware our mind is in the fast forward or rewind, we are empowered to create change. Why? Because who noticed? Who is the one who noticed the mind is somewhere else? Interesting isn’t it? Have you ever thought about "who" it is that notices the mind is busy, in the future or in the past? It is not the mind itself, it is the heart space, your essence, the true student of life. That's right, you are not your mind, as I have previously mentioned the mind is an instrument used to navigate life. Noticing the busy, somewhere else mind other than the present is an opportunity for a huge step towards change.

It is important to not become disheartened if you have to call your mind back to the present 100 times a day. The fact that you are noticing it has gone off wandering somewhere and have the ability to call it back is the game changer. Laugh, use simple sentences to your mind such as "oh no you don't get back here" or "No, I am not in yesterday, I choose to be here now." Make the sentences fun, laugh at the crazy place your mind wants to travel.

I recommended a few weeks ago to begin the practice of sitting with yourself for a few moments each day, notice how fast or erratic the thoughts are. The more you notice the mind is somewhere else and call it back to the now, the more you fine tune the instrument of the mind and learn how to direct it to regain health, enjoyment and calm in your life.
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In closing, empower yourself to remember, you and only you have the right to decide where you place your mind. Choose carefully where you allow your mind to spend its time.

If you would like more guidance or this concept explained in more detail feel free to email or book a free clarity session.​​

Take care, and enjoy your week ahead.

Alli

xxx

Redefine Through Empowered Choices

Welcome to this week’s offering.  Firstly thank you to everyone who applied for the “Spring into You” scholarships into my program. It was an incredible honour to speak with so many amazing women.  I will be contacting the three ladies who received the full scholarships in the next few days.  It will be an absolute privilege to walk beside them on their journeys of discovery and healing.

In the newsletters/blogs recently we have been discussing how many of us are aware that things are changing.  That we can no longer ignore the inner stirrings as we redefine and empower ourselves to create how we would like our lives to be and “spring cleaning” the clutter/demands/old patterns that are no longer aligned with us.

Many are realising that there are behaviours, patterns or beliefs that were not theirs to own, but rather an ancestral behaviour or belief system that have run their course and is now in our hands and hearts to evolve and heal past them.

It takes recognition to be aware of this, it takes courage to take the steps to evolve it.  I see you, I honour your courage, that you know within you is a power, a light so strong it deserves to shine.  Not because you wish to outshine another, to prove anything to anyone.  You feel your light wanting to dance in its freedom, to laugh, to be joyful to experience the sweetness of life.

We truly gain this when we free ourselves from the patterns that were never ours to own.  But first we must get to know who we are, what are our true beliefs, choices and what are learnt behaviours.

Consciousness is expanding and we are being supported more than ever to nurture responsibility in our actions and decisions.  Asking ourselves “Do I react from old patterns and past hurts or do I nurture my own communication skills with myself first and then I am able to communicate more clearly with others?”

How is this done?  By sitting with yourself each day, a few moments will begin the process, following your breath, feel your sacred heart space and your inner joy.  Each day gently inquire within, “Is what I am doing today and the choices I am choosing aligned to my joy?” It will not take too long until you begin to gain a clear perspective of who you are, and the things you wish to create in your world.  The result? - Absolute freedom, grace, joy and love.

Everyday we are given choices, it is in the clear communication within our own hearts and minds that we are able to create from an empowered place of love.  May you inspire yourself in every breath.

Alli

Spring Into You

I hope your last week has been kind.

Can you believe we are into Spring? (for our Southern hemisphere readers at least). I love the change of seasons, I feel it gives us the chance to modify the things we do, in Spring becoming more active after the slower pace of Winter.

May I ask, how have your 3 positive practices from the newsletter of weeks ago been going? Have you been able to start some self nurturing practices? I hope so, I believe that through self-nurturing we find our ability to feel centered. By applying my own mask first each day it enables me to feel grounded, clear and deeply focused on what is a priority in my life and what isn’t.

Life is forever unfolding isn’t it? Things are forever evolving and changing with life never on hold. It is always filled with surprises, some we love, some we’d rather not receive. Yet isn’t that why we are here, to do just that - experience life?

We are currently being asked to make choices that bring us closer to our core belief systems, letting go of what we no longer need in order to move closer to our hearts, living the truth of what we wish to create and share in our lives.

If we look at life like the adventure it is, it can help us lighten the load of expectation and “comparisonitis” that we and society can place upon ourselves. Why are we so hard on ourselves? We would be the first to support, cheer or tell someone we care about how amazing they are? That they can do it. Why do we not share that same belief in ourselves? Why aren’t we cheering ourselves on? Easy, because we were told it was egotistical to trust or back yourself. We had this belief distorted and buried deep within, some call it programming, some call it upbringing, patterning, it is known by many names. What we call it doesn’t matter, becoming free of it is life changing and what the rising consciousness is asking of us. Choose that which you wish to create and live every moment.

As part of the celebration for Spring, helping through sharing and nurturing and the 3rd birthday approaching for my international program The Transformation Project. I am sharing 3 free full scholarship entries into the program. This is my way of sharing back with the community that has supported me and the work I share for so many years. If you would like to know more or apply please go to the Contact page and tick the box and let me know in the message why you would like to be considered. It will be an honour to connect.

The essence of life is evolution, change, growth. As I experienced my own life and through my study it is always reflected to me how our greatest freedom lies in our ability to the “leave stories” of who we think we are behind, to understand that as nature, we are organic and forever changing and capable of creating and living the change we wish.

It is only our mind, emotions or past experiences that keep us in a pattern or in “constant looping” as I call it. I share the Spirit/Heart is the “true student of life” and the “Mind/Ego” the instrument. If we understand and know how to play the instrument well, we, in essence, are free and embrace living in the present. Easier said than done I know. But if you have a good road map with the right tools it is a natural evolution, it’s transformation. Yes, we can even be free from past trauma, conflicts and within the program we have proven this through the results the amazing members are creating and living for themselves.

If you have ever wanted to experience freedom from the inside out, why not apply and give yourself the tools to drop the outer coats/layers/beliefs that no longer serve you and truly let your light shine.

The world needs you to shine your unique Divinity with spark and spunk. May you have an inspirational week being your amazing Self.

Alli

xxx

New Day New Beginning

Welcome to this week’s blog.

Thank you to everyone who emailed me in response to last week’s newsletter/blog. Incredible stories from patients & students of how beginning the morning stillness has changed their entire life, mentally, emotionally & physically. It is humbling if anything I have shared has helped someone to align to their true essence. Seeing the transformation in others is my inspiration.

It is hard to hide the passion I feel in sharing the gifts that are the lifestyle of Yoga & Ayurveda. It is so relevant to our “modern lifestyle” where we have gained so much in technology, but perhaps at the cost of a simple, slower pace of life.

I believe the way we begin our day is how we set our day. I see my morning routine as the ingredients/colours I choose to create my day with. If my ingredients are congruent to that which I wish to experience & live then the result will flow. If it is in contradiction the day will feel jagged & uneasy.

A myth I would like to quash is that a morning routine needs to be complicated or contain a meditation cushion. Whilst for many including myself, a meditation cushion is a much loved sanctuary, for the majority of the people I speak to it is not part of their everyday existence. I share that I believe that to pause in the shower, empty the mind & to feel the running water on your skin, or pause whilst at the kitchen sink can be a meditative experience, a deeply connected space if the intent is true. To be mindful to the very moment you are experiencing & to connect to your breath. This is the essence of the heart connected lifestyle, mindful living, to tap into your inner sanctuary, despite the external environment.

I often share that to begin with, 5 minutes can be life changing. Some tips for beginning your day with connection…

1. If possible, rise before 6:30am, this helps us gain the momentum of the sunrise, the day & helps align to our circadian rhythms.
2. Upon rising spit, teeth clean & tongue scrap to remove toxins (click here for my information sheet)
3. Sip a glass of warm water prior to your morning coffee/tea, This will help to flush the toxins through the body.
4. Five mindful breaths or (3-5 minutes) wherever you choose to do (standing on grass, sitting on the edge of your bed, looking out a window, in the shower. In through the nose, out slowly through your mouth at first then in & out the nose. Acknowledge new day, new canvas to create your life.

If you welcome your day in this way it will not take long before you begin to feel the deeply centering benefits of its presence in your day. As a woman with a life where I am known by many roles I am aware that “balance” is unattainable, it is always moving, to “center” in ourselves where we are able to then create health boundaries & choices between our private & work life. The bridge of centering begins each day as we enter a new day.

I invite you to perhaps look at how you begin your day. Is it working for you? Does it give you the ingredients that you are looking for to create the day where you feel fulfilled & nourished. Yes, it is possible to feel this way each day.

If you would like to know any more tips or speak with me you are more than welcomed to reach out via the contact page.

May you inspire yourself this week.

Alli

Embracing Change Through Stillness

Welcome to this week’s offering. I hope the week of the full moon flowed by with grace.

As mentioned last week, we are currently in a time of great transitioning for many, including myself. When we are prepared to embrace change, we open ourselves up to some extraordinary energies. For myself as I lightly touched on last week, one of the things that has been a constant presence in my life since I was small was yoga. Although my formal training did not come until much later in life, Yoga’s presence let itself be a light feather touch of stability at major points in my life. Whether it was a breath, a book, or a philosophy it somehow used to find its way into my psyche when I needed it most, like a gift from the larger Universe when my mind had me only focusing on a small universe's existence.

Yoga and my practice/living of it is a great source of solace. Not just the asana (postures) but the entire philosophy and lifestyle. This is where I am my truest, organic Self, my clearest in life.

Over the coming months you may see within the work I share or within the topics of this newsletter a deeper delve into why it is such a gift to the way we live. One of the things I love sharing about Yoga is dismissing an often misunderstood aspect of it.

Practising Yoga doesn’t mean you have to be physically flexible, but it does mean becoming flexible about who you think you are.

Even over the last 18 months I personally have been asked to be flexible in my concepts of who and what I am. Which way I am prepared to bend in my life that feels open and free and which way feels restrictive and against my greater good.

It’s always my yoga that brings me to the center “home” that gives me clarity. So I thought sharing this with you as a newsletter may help some of our readers discover some hidden treasures within themselves.

How do we discover the hidden treasure of embracing change through stillness within?

Consistent, dedicated practice is important. It is one thing to want or crave stillness. It is another to place it in the importance of your daily routines. The vedas share with us constantly, how we begin our day is how we choose our day. I liken it to, how I begin my day is how I choose the colours I will “paint/create” my day with. How will I view the challenges as/or the gifts?

So in saying this if you are used to beginning your day with stillness I celebrate with you. If it is something you have wanted or wondered how to do, here are some easy but powerful tips to help….

Four easy steps to creating stillness/calm

* Choose the same time each day.
* Sit in the same place each day (doesn’t have to be crossed legged on the floor, just make sure you are comfortable and it is a dedicated space. Both the first two suggestions will help for your mind to begin to associate the time and space with rest/quiet.
* Create and have a relaxed feeling, do not place any pressure on yourself, there is no wrong or right, drop this concept as it will hold you captive in thought. The act of the practice itself, is all we are focusing on at first.

You don’t have to close your eyes, just breathe & notice you are doing it. Don’t approach the space, mat or chair with an expectation. It will make things harder for you. At first you may find you sit and 100’s of thoughts come to your mind, that is normal, it's ok You have stopped and so you will notice the flood of thoughts.

If you are new to “sitting with the stillness," have a journal with you, write down the thoughts, things to do, etc. Over the coming days this will begin to quieten as you know you will not forget to do anything you have written down.

“Consciously being conscious,” become aware of how the universe reflects itself uniquely as you.

What are the feelings, sensations, dialogue you are feeling and hearing?

* Finally, set an alarm if it helps you to not worry about time and being interrupted by the kids or running late for work. If it is 5 minutes, it will begin to make a difference.

At first sitting in stillness may seem uncomfortable, strange, even annoying, but I can assure you I have shared this strategy with more women, men and teenagers than I can remember and I can tell you, if you stay with it, it doesn’t take long until you feel the results for yourself.

That will become your greatest motivation. Feeling amazing, centered and with deep peace and the ability to take this into the actions of your day/life.

I hope sharing these small tips helps begin to break down any barriers you may have been holding with respect to Yoga or beginning a morning routine that encourages stability, centering and connection.

Remember the most important thing is to - Start.

I’d love to hear how your practice goes, how are the other positive things you have been implementing or if you need any extra tips, feel free to email me.

Take care
Alli

xxx

A Time of Change

I hope you are well & have been enjoying the supportive energies of the Lion’s Gate & the Full Moon.

My intent in life is to always live my life as truthfully & naturally as possible. In doing so whom & what I share is always evolving as I do. This week on the Lions Gate Portal of 8th August (Happy Birthday Em xxx.) we began to share something that I have wanted to let see the light of day for quite a while - “Sacred Space.”

My intent within what it is I share, has always been to help you to create & nurture a “sacred space” for “yourSelf” each day. One that encourages you to pause, feel nourished, calm & centered in your mind, body, breath, heart & inner wisdom.

I believe creating the daily pause for nourishment is not a luxury but an integral part of living life to its fullest. This is the true intent of Yoga & Ayurveda, inquiry of truth, to understand yourself on a deeper level & empower your daily choices to live in a natural and nourishing way for you. In doing so we gain a clear mindset & alleviate much of our suffering or uncertainty.

This ancient wisdom helps us to navigate the challenges of life with a clarity that empowers our choices & directions. Trusting who we are & that our inner wisdom, when listened to, will be the kindest most truthful “Counsel” we can find.

Those of you who know me a little better understand that I have a family, career & demands just like most people. I was blessed to study Yoga whilst my children were small, this changed my parenting, my relationship with others & most importantly my relationship with myself. Sacred Space is not a chore or another thing to “add'“ to your day, but becomes the very basis & powerful principle that enables me to face all that my daily life brings with calm, grace & joy.

Yoga & Ayurveda are precious jewels that are not confined to a mat or philosophy in books, they are a living, breathing abundant lifestyle. One that helps us let go of who we are not, whilst encouraging us to trust & live who we are (to drop the “comparisonitis”). That is not just about being physically flexible on a mat, but rather creating inner flexibility to navigate life, knowing which way you wish to “bend” in life that feels open & good & which way feels restrictive & containing.

Your life is yours to create & thrive. My prayer, that anything I share with you will help to nourish you deeply from the inside out.

I hope you enjoy this expanded direction for what I share with you.

May you have an inspirational week embracing this breath, this moment as it comes & flows.

Alli

xxx

Snippets of Nature

Welcome, I hope your week is flowing well.  Thank you for the emails. It is lovely to hear how many of you are taking the positive steps to empower you and your health.  Once momentum is gained it truly becomes easier each day.

We are all aware of how much is changing.  There are many challenges and gifts all around us.  That is the beauty of life isn’t it, that everything is always in constant change and growth. 

Nature reflects our true essence to us everyday in the way the day flows past.  Sun rises, moves across the sky, sets, etc.  Or plant a tree, vegetables, flowers, nurture and tend to them you watch them grow, produce and perhaps end their cycle.  Even with children their growth and development is easily seen.  Sometimes as adults we forget we too are always growing and changing even though the outer change may not be as quickly identified.

When we are able to look at nature and how change is natural, it supports and helps us move through times of challenge and change in our life a little easier. I find that when my life is a little hectic or I am feeling my cup overfull with demands, a walk outside, look up at the sky and a few breaths, I soon realise how I am connected to the bigger flow of life.  It helps to centre and calm my mind.

One of the everyday things I personally love to do and recommend to many patients/students is to walk outside and place bare feet on the grass.  The morning dew is especially beneficial for creating a feeling of calm and groundedness. If the grass is too cold first thing in the morning, later in the day will work just fine.  It helps us to feel the electromagnetic fields of the earth and has been practised and recommended within ancient philosophies and lifestyles for centuries.

The more we are able to pause for a few moments to connect with nature whether, a look out the window, walk in the sun, or notice the sound of a bird.  It seems to lift us from within.  But if our mind has us busy, overthinking and rushing to somewhere else, we miss it all.  Our nervous system becomes heightened and before we know it our bodies are tense, shoulders sore, and frustration has entered our minds.

You may think, of course, this is common sense.  My question is, how many times throughout your day do you practice it?  To know is one thing, to consistently practice is a life/health changer.

A little every day, through the day can make an incredible positive difference to your nervous system and more importantly the quality of your everyday life.  What small snippets of nature can you pause and invite into your day?  I’d love to hear.

Have a week that fills your heart.

Alli

xx

The Things we Perhaps do not Notice…

Welcome, I thought this week I would expand on a paragraph from last week’s newsletter which, by the emails, seemed to hit a chord with a few readers…

“Another I personally believe is, the diet that created and nurtured the dis-ease (fatigue, bloating, inflammation, soreness, tension) in the body can not be the same diet/lifestyle that removes it.  This is a big personal motivation.  If I do not feel free, light and energetic in my body, I know I am making the wrong choices.  I am never critical of myself but I am accountable.”

The reason I believe this (and I know I am not the only one to say it) is because not only have I seen it time and time again with patients but personally within my own health.  Even with my own personal journey we can sometimes believe what we are doing is good for us, healthy food or exercise choices but in reality some healthy foods can cause dis-harmony in the body as well.  It depends on the individual.

Within Vedic way, it is about moderation, variety and seasonal changes.  By living this way we encourage health, we ensure to not over stimulate or give the body the inner environment of too much of a particular food, mineral or inflammatory inducing histamines.

If you are unsure if what you are eating is causing gut issues, please reach out to a health professional who can help you look at your diet more closely.  If it is plain for you to see that you are making less than positive choices, see if you can reduce the amount of intake each day and that is a start.

We often do not see the little things which can add up to big problems within health.  That breakfast choice or the choice to skip a meal can all add to bloating, constipation, weight gain etc.

With small daily tweaks major health can begin.

One small step,  if you have not begun it previously is to upon waking go straight to the bathroom, spit, brush your teeth and scrape your tongue to remove the toxic build up whilst you slept (yes that is that furry feeling).  If you have never known about scraping your tongue please click this link and I will happily send you my information sheet Helpful Handouts.

It is good to desire health but it begins within our awareness and our daily choices.  I often say patients to think of your body the same way as your car, you know it needs maintenance, and so does your body.  What things do you do to check in and ensure all is running at it’s best.

Please do not begin to experience aches, pains, stiffness or bloating and just accept it.  Think outside the square, begin to notice what you feel is unwanted in the “house of your body” and begin to make the proactive choices to remove them.  You will not be disappointed once you begin to feel the incredible benefits and lightness from within.

You matter, and so does your health.  May your week and your health inspire you.

Alli

Keep Going you are Doing Great

Hello and welcome to this week’s Blog/newsletter.  Now deeper down the journey of change I am sure you are really gaining momentum from those small steps by now.  I hope you are feeling the motivation and lightness that change can bring.  

Thank you to everyone who is emailing and letting me know of your progress and positive vibes from the changes. (if you would like to email me or ask questions - admin@alligarison.com)

There are plenty of old sayings that remind us of why we may want change, things like “Old habits = Old results.” It is true, if you have more of the same input you are going to gain more of the same results.

Another I personally believe is, the diet that created and nurtured the dis-ease (fatigue, bloating, soreness, tension) in the body can not be the same diet/lifestyle that removes it.  This is a big personal motivation.  If I do not feel free, light and energetic in my body, I know I am making the wrong choices.  I am never critical of myself but I am accountable.

Unfortunately, society looks at age as the excuse that many find themselves feeling unwell, tired, stiff or anxious to name just a few.  When we scratch the surface, sit with ourselves and listen to our body and our inner dialogue we often become aware of the choices that are hindering health we long for.

Yes, it is true, as our bodies age we can have systems not running as efficiently as we’d like, but that comes down to what fuel and environment we are maintaining.

Positive influence and change begins with the awareness that you want change.  The rest is keeping motivation, consistency and open, honest dialogue with yourself.  As previously mentioned in other newsletters, sometimes we set the barre too high.  Other times we think everything else is more important.  But really what can be more important than your physical, mental and emotional health?  Often we do not realise how precious it is until it has been compromised or gone.  There’s a lot to be said for “prevention is better than cure.”

So stay motivated, you are worth it and imagine how much easier each week will become as you begin to feel lighter, healthier, happier and have more energy.  Whether the 3 things you chose were diet/lifestyle or mindset/emotionally related, keep going, you are doing great.  

If you need any extra support or motivation that is what I am here happy to walk beside you.  

Have a beautiful week, shining bright.

Alli

How was that First Step?

Welcome to this week’s Blog, how are you?  

If you read last weeks Blog, were you able to find the time to take that first step from last week’s newsletter?  Writing down the top 3 positive habits you would like to create in your everyday living.  I received some great emails, some of our readers chose things like -

*Lowering caffeine, sugar, pasta, bread.

*Others went for mindset/emotions like less self criticism.

*Some commented on how they liked the link last week to the goal -v- intention newsletter/blog from last year and rereading it helped them to face these three steps of change with more kindness to themselves.

*Others chose to begin or extend their breath/meditation/stillness time.

*It was also great to see that quite a few commented “more time for me doing nothing.”

What great positive steps to take.  Any positive step that will help you feel lighter, freer, clearer, empowered and confident is going to have a major ripple effect into other areas of your life.

No matter what you chose to do, if you chose 1, 2, or 3 things.  If you didn’t choose anything, it doesn’t matter.  Maybe this week you do.  What matters is that you know that if there is a voice inside your head wanting change, you are the one that can do it.  Don’t let the mind come up with 1,000 excuses.  Sit with yourself and ask yourself “How much do I really want positive change?  Do I really want it or am I just wishing it would happen without taking responsibility and putting any positive input in?”  

Often we can long for change but lack the motivation and consistency to create it.  That’s when I love chatting with people.  As often the heart knows the choices you want to make but the mind keeps coming up with a book of excuses as to why you can’t.

Please don’t be hard on yourself, but be accountable and responsible to yourself.  One great motivation is to write the three things down  (with a smiley face) and place them on the wall where you will see it each day, beside the bathroom mirror, near the kettle.  Then each day smile and know you can create the change by small steps, not huge superman/wonder woman leaps, but consistent steps.  Before you know it Spring/Autumn (depending where you are when you read this.) is here and you are already feeling motivated and have gained momentum.

Have an inspirational week and good luck with continuing to take those small steps that end up in a major journey of positive change.

Alli

One Step Forward is a Huge Step

Welcome.  The intention behind the newsletters/blogs is to share small snippets that may support you in your everyday health and life. Last week we discussed communication, making gentle changes, how is that going for you?  

When it comes to creating new habits we often focus on jumping “mountains of change'' in one leap.  Whilst this is great for superman, to the average person it may create feelings of frustration, overwhelm or thoughts of it “all being too hard” and so no change is made at all. With so much stimulation within life whether from demands, social media or  television, we often expect changes to appear instantly.

Now in July we are ⅓ of the way through winter (for our southern hemisphere readers, yay I hear you say, bring on the warm sunny days).  So let’s start to make some small steps now to support health in Spring.

Over the coming weeks I will be sharing different tips and ideas which can have great positive results in your health.

Begin the process by writing down the top 3 positive habits you would like to create in your everyday living.  I recommend choosing three realistic things.  It is great to want to jump those mountains of change, but don’t we climb a mountain one step at a time? Remember they are intentions not goals.  By making them realistic you will stick with it and make long-term change.

Some examples may be -

1. Stop and have 3 mindful breaths 4 times per day 

(set a alarm reminder on your phone if you keep forgetting)

2. Get out of bed 15 mins earlier to have some quiet “ME” time before work or the kids wake up.

3. Spend 10 minutes of an evening in silence with no stimulation prior to bed.

4. Going to bed at a regular time.

5. Lowering screen time.

6. Lowering sugar intake.

7. Lowering caffeine intake.

Any of the above are great ways to begin to create more health and a calmer mind in your world.  If you are lowering caffeine, start reducing slowly so you do not feel deprived or resentful of taking these things away.  A good method I share with patients is,  if you usually have a mug, reduce one of your drinks in the day to a cup size at first and then perhaps take one of the drinks out altogether.  

If you would like extra help or tips please feel free to reach out via this email.  Always happy and honoured to help.

What three things will you choose?  Let me know if you like.

Have a wonderful week ahead.

Alli

Listening to Ourselves & Communication with Others

Welcome, it appears our current thread of newsletters is hitting some notes with many of you and once again it is such an honour to receive your emails of thanks. Life certainly is having lots of transitions for many.  I am honoured everyday by helping others rediscover themSelves and in that rediscovery they heal and find an inner strength they didn’t realise they could tap into.

Often we lose sight of who we are, whether through conditioning of our upbringing, situations we have experienced, partners, peers, the list is endless of why we start to lose sight of what are our own belief systems and what aren’t. What are perhaps old belief systems that no longer serve us in our current life/situations.

As mentioned in last week’s newsletter we can get into a pattern of “trying to save” rather than listening.

Vedic Counselling, of which I am trained, is an ancient art of providing guidance and motivation to nurture and enable a person to re-discover themSelves. Gaining clarity in all aspects of themselves and life.  It focuses on helping the patient to understand and celebrate their uniqueness, promoting living in harmony with physical, mental and emotional Self.  

Once they connect deep in their true Self (away from conditioning, outdated beliefs or comparisonitis) they find a depth of strength, resilience, empowerment and freedom they could never have imagined existed.

Often we can not change situations in our life (although at times we may want to!) and so to change how we view the world, situations,  our reactions or words can be an absolute life changer.

I ask this week, what dialogue and patterns are you aware that you may have that are no longer relevant in your life?  Have you had transitions in your life recently where you know it is time for a change in the way you react or the language that you use when speaking with yourself or others.

I often share that the most important communication we have is with ourselves.  Often people become frustrated in relationships or situations when perhaps they have not been able to clearly communicate their feelings or needs.

Through understanding how we feel in situations, beliefs and creation in our life we are able to then speak with clear dialogue to others.
Begin by -

• Sitting with yourself every few days and asking yourself how you feel about situations you’ve recently been dealing with.

• Ensure you have clear communication with yourself, your feelings, desired outcomes  etc.

• Ask yourself, have you had the ability to clearly communicate this with others?

• Write down some ideas or sentences to help you to gain deeper clarity in the situations.

• This will help you to clearly verbalise  your thoughts and feelings to others.

These may seem simple strategies, but that is why they are powerful and work.  Ask yourself, in the last 6 months have you taken time each week to sit and ask yourself - “How do I speak with myself? Is it kind?”  Or perhaps ask “Have I taken time to sit and really notice how I feel or am I being heard in this situation?”  If you have not done this in the last 6 months imagine how clear your communication with yourself will become if you took up the practice.

Little tips that begin to create major positive changes in how you communicate, view and react in your life.

Have an amazing week.
Alli

Why to we Save Rather than Support & Nurture

Welcome to this weeks blog, how are you?

Wow didn’t last week hit a chord with some of you. I am glad that it helps and thank you for letting me know just how much.

Funny isn’t it, how we often keep putting ourselves, whether health, boundaries or down time last on the list. It had me thinking how I could possibly best serve and share with you this week.

Here is a small offering…

Often in my work I hear from people how tired they feel, exhausted from the constant demands of life and helping others.

We usually begin the dialogue through them expressing and me attentively listening. The wonderful thing is that once they have a safe space where they feel heard and able to share they begin to hear themselves on a deeper level. They start to notice how much energy and emotion they are expending on trying to “fix, save or change” other people or the situations they are in.

I have a saying I have said to myself for years, decades actually, “The only person I have the right to work on in this life is mySelf.”

Often we may feel we need to save others from their hurt, when often all they require is a safe space to share with someone who cares. When we feel we need to save, or change someone’s circumstances or hurt, it can set up a fear response in our nervous system and causes our adrenals to work overtime affecting hormones, influencing overthinking, nervous reactions leaving us feeling stressed, tired and hollow.

One of the things I suggest to do with patients is, next time someone you care about is hurting, hug them a little longer, and sit and listen, really listen to the words they are saying. Don’t in your mind be thinking of how to fix it for them, change it or make it better while they are talking. Just sit with them, really be present. They will feel how present with them you are.

Sometimes they just need to share, and in the sharing they feel heard and in that they find their strength. What you will find is that it will be more nurturing for you and the one you love. It will take less from you physically and emotionally. Best of all it will help your bond deepen as they truly feel you honour them in their rawness rather than attempting to make it go away.

I hope this newsletter helps you to maybe think about ways you may be spending much of your energy trying to change situations in your life or someone else’s. Situations that may be a transition, learning curve or a season playing out in someone's life. Hold space for them and for you. Love will give the greatest strength of all.

The best thing you can do, be you, be a great listener and share your love of compassion and understanding.

Have an inspiring week ahead.

Alli

Learning to Listen to Our Body…

Welcome to this week’s Blog.

Thank you, it was lovely to receive so many supportive emails of thanks for the content and gentle reminder that last week’s newsletter and blog nurtured.

It is strange how we often set up barriers and frustrations against our body’s “inability to cope” when in fact from a Vedic perspective our environment and our body - physical, mental, emotional - are all reflective of our everyday living. How we treat ourselves is how it is reflected back to us.

Those aches and pains are not there to annoy you, they are your body speaking to you, letting you know something isn’t quite right. Perhaps your toxicity levels are building causing your lymphatic system to be overloaded. Perhaps your emotions are not being dealt with causing you to tighten and expel more energy through your nervous system than you have in reserves. The list is endless of the things I could write here that perhaps may be causing you to experience aches, pains, anxiety or bloating.

So this week with continuing to support your deeper health I would like to discuss the “art of learning to listen to your body”. May I ask, how often do you sit with yourself, quiet, no external stimulation, learning to quieten the internal chat and just enquire how do I feel physically? How do I feel emotionally? Am I being true to my beliefs? Am I able to honestly communicate with myself how I feel?

In my role as a Vedic Counsellor and within my Program I often discuss the importance that clear communication with yourself being and the top of your list. If you do not know what your belief systems are, how your body is coping (or not), how to know whether you are tired and in need of rest. Or are you so used to pushing and “people pleasing” that you do not realise you are constantly pushing into depletion which is why your body aches, sleep is disturbed, digestion is poor and appetite is craving sugar?

All of these things are little snippets from your body to say “Hey we are not coping here are you listening?”

So my suggestion is this week, spend 2-3 minutes each day sitting with yourself and enquire within, how do I feel, questions like these might help to begin the inquiry.

Is feeling exhausted becoming my new normal?
Is skipping meals or eating on the run my usual way of eating?
Has falling into bed exhausted and waking up tired become acceptable?
Am I so wired that I only relax with a night's alcoholic drink?
Do I feel physically, mentally, and emotionally well?
Do I feel fulfilled and happy in my life?

All of these questions can help you to begin a dialogue for making small but consistent changes in your life. Life is here to be lived, enjoyed and celebrated. Don’t you deserve that?

If I can help in any way or you have any questions please reach out.

I believe in you, do you believe in yourself? Do you apply your own mask first? Or do you keep waiting for life to slow down, kids to be less demanding, workload to be easier? Perhaps that’s a question you need to really ask yourself? Why do you keep waiting to make proactive nurturing choices for yourself?

Be gentle with yourself, constant small steps in the direction of health. You will never regret looking after your health, but perhaps you might regret that you didn’t, once it’s gone.

Have a beautiful week ahead.

Alli

Prevention is Better than Cure…

Welcome to this week’s newsletter.  Well here in the southern hemisphere winter has certainly arrived.  I am sure you have all heard the topic heading "prevention is better than cure."  My question is how often do we practice it?  Remember my newsletter from a few weeks ago?  The Bank of Good Health?

What you may not be aware of is that promotion of prevention of dis-ease in the body truly is the Vedic way of living.  Ayurveda and Yoga both help us to keep our physical, mental and emotional bodies in clear states.  So I thought perhaps a few tips from the incredible "sister sciences" may help you in your immunity and health during winter.

Veda sees winter as "Kapha" month.  Meaning qualities of cold, damp, cool and moist are present.  We also understand the philosophy of "Like attracts Like."  Meaning, if you add more cold to something which is cold it gets colder.  Common sense right?  Well that is the funny thing we do not think of our gut, lungs and respiratory system in this way.  We often eat the same types of foods all year round and give little thought to the outer environment and temperature changes.

Immunity comes from the gut and keeping the environment healthy delivers optimal health.  Like goldilocks, we don’t want it too cold, or too hot, we want it like the three bear’s porridge, just right.  

So how do we do this for our optimal health?  Here are some tips to help.

·       Begin each upon morning with three deep exhalations to clear the lungs of stale air and ensure to wake the diaphragm.

·       Brush teeth on rising to remove toxic build up on the teeth.  (There are deeper levels available if you would like to know more please reach out via email admin@alligarison.com)

·       Eucalyptus steam inhalation (yes that good old practice) is wonderful for clearing and keeping our respiratory system in optimal health.

·       As we are in winter in the southern hemisphere, ensure to eat and drink warm nourishing foods to ensure a good temperature and environment in the gut and respiratory systems.

·       Avoid cold damp foods.  Occasionally are fine but if they are part of your everyday diet it is only a matter of time until too much cold, damp builds up and may assist deeper respiratory or immunity issues.  (For our Northern hemisphere friends it is opposite with you currently moving deeper into summer.)

·       Spend a few moments several times through your day to pause and take 3 mindful breaths in and out the nose.  We often forget to breathe well and this can build mucus in the system and may encourage disease.

·       Regular sleep.  Try as best to wake and sleep close to the same time each day.  Winter has shorter days to reflect a quieter pace, a time of nourishment, nurturing and rejuvenation.  Regular sleep is incredibly important for immunity and the body’s ability to heal.

These few suggestions are a way to begin to help you regain your health.  Prevention by the awareness of keeping the inner environment healthy. 

I will be chatting about some of these topics in upcoming Inner Light Podcasts so keep an eye out for them.

If you would like to know more or have any questions, you are always welcome to reach out for a complimentary clarity session via the website or email me.

Keep warm, well and have a great week.

Alli

The Language of Small Kids…

Thank you to everyone who has been reaching out for clarity sessions and sending emails of thanks for the topics I have been discussing. I never wish to bore anyone with my blogs, but rather begin those internal conversations that support positive change.

Life can reflect fast, demands, stimulation so much so that we can lose ourselves and our enjoyment in everyday life and the nourishment it can give.​​

The fact that you are reading this tells me you are over 18. So may I ask you, have you ever thought about kids of yesteryear?

Think back to the images of kids in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and so forth. What image comes to your mind?

I see a simpler slower paced world.

A carefree freedom.

As a Mother and Grandmother I really see the changes we are expecting from the children of today. The way they are dressed is even different. Now I am not saying there is right or wrong or better or worse. What I am doing here is hopefully drawing your attention to a blur in the line that we have created that we have not even realised has been done and is even there; the blur between adults and kids to kids becoming “little adults”.

Kids used to be kids, they were dressed as kids, given free time as kids, made a mess, got messy, didn’t know about schedules, time, rushing or restrictions, commitments (until they were older at least). They were lovingly “kicked outside in the yard” for a reason, to be free, use their imaginations with a stick, leaves, ants, a ball or a piece of elastic (showing my age here!)

The language we used towards kids was vastly different to that of these days. Some of the language has changed for the better, some for the worst. I believe kids, thank goodness, are no longer believed to be “seen not heard.” Whoever came up with that forgot what being a kid meant - kids want to be heard! They should be heard!

Kids used simple language and were spoken to in simple innocent ways. We sometimes forget that we may be speaking with our kids in terminology or language we use at work with colleagues/adults and then we may get frustrated when our kids don’t understand us, do what we asked or look at us weird.

With the technology advancement we expected the kids to change their vocabulary but that doesn’t necessarily mean they understand. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying kids aren’t smart. I believe the exact opposite and that is why I am sharing this with you.

We can learn so much from our children, their behaviour, their facial features as we talk to them. Ensure to look into the eyes of a young child as you are speaking with them, and you will see how much attention they are giving you. Listen to the language they use, or how they come up and touch you without saying anything, just a reassurance that you are there, that they are safe, that they are loved.

Kids ultimately live in the moment, in the NOW, unless we as adults teach them otherwise. It is funny if you think about it; how a child ultimately lives completely in the now, fascinated by a small ant walking across the concrete path and we are the ones rushing past telling them to “hurry up”. Then as adults, we spend much of our existence reading books, listening to podcasts or watching Youtube videos on how to live in the present moment! Crazy isn’t it?

We all know the saying that kids need love, kids need time. I also believe kids need to be allowed to be kids and in the current global situation be protected and nurtured to know life can be simple and beautiful and in the beautiful there is simple.

Kids are adults' greatest teachers if only we slow down enough to notice. Drop some schedules, give yourself some down time, let your mind slow and notice.

Have a great week and I hope you find your inner child this week and let them out for a play!

Alli

x

Peace Comes From Within.

I hope your week is great.

Thank you to the emails of thanks and support you send. My intention with the Blogs are not to tell but perhaps begin an inner conversation with yourself. Subjects and topics that can expand and open your inner communication and result in an increase of peace and health in everyday existence.

This week, the topic is "PEACE". The saying “Peace comes from Within” is nearly as old as time itself. There are many great master teachers who have been quoted as having said it. To me, it doesn’t matter who said it or when, what matters is that we embrace its message of truth.

So I ask, how often do we as a society look externally for peace?

We may look for it in relationships, health, finances, material objects, situations or environment. Yet if one truly grasps what this ancient teaching is saying, it is absolutely life changing.

If you are truly with peace within yourself, your circumstances, relationships, employment, environment and so forth will no longer challenge you as deeply. Yes, if you are experiencing hiccups in life you may have frustration or sorrow, but if you do, tapping into the peace within you gives you strength and the courage to get through it. If the phase of your life is a wondrous time, the peace within you creates even more nourishment and joy.

The faster paced our life is the more it will create a fast, overthinking, striving mind. This can cause a void between what you want and what you actually need to experience happiness and connect with inner peace. The mind starts see-sawing between expectations and “comparisonitis” which can leave us feeling deflated and overwhelmed.

If we look to the "environment of life" being calm to deliver us peace and happiness, we can become disappointed, stressed or disheartened when life is not always easy. We may forget who we truly are and get caught in the old patterns of who we think we need to be or to keep recreating our life from the "clay and patterns of our past." Patterns and behaviours which may not serve us well anymore.

Finding and anchoring in the breath and peace within each day creates an ability to connect and ground with the strength of who you are. A little like the old oak tree which has its roots firm in the earth has the ability to sway and move in the storm but will not break, it remains rock solid in itself.

Connection of grounding with inner peace nurtures clarity, a knowing of your true beliefs and boundaries that align with you. It promotes clear communication, compassion, empathy, kindness and gratitude for yourself first and then the ability to share it with others.

Getting to know you, you trust yourself more, gain inner peace and begin to live your uniqueness. T

That you are amazing, living life through learning, not to be so hard on yourself that you can’t have all the answers. If you are unsure how to connect and ground each day, look at the resources on the website or email me for personalised tips. That is why we are here, to help you reclaim your health on all levels.

So in the week ahead, may you continue this week to truly give yourself the time, care, kindness, compassion, quiet and grounding that you deserve.

Your Life,

Your Story…

Your Destiny through Choice and action, not Chance…

Shine Bright,

Alli

You are your Greatest Project

I trust your week is flowing well.

I am often asked about my own journey and why I am a huge advocate for women to practice daily self-care, breath and centering (grounding) each morning.  I thought this week I would share with you something I noticed in my earlier years of becoming a mother, in the hope it will help inspire you as a woman to ensure you do give to yourself each day.

The younger me found myself constantly questioning why other mothers and I would talk about not having enough time, lacking self-care, feeling exhausted, having that sense that we couldn’t keep up and we were going under and drowning in our daily demands. As though it was normal—as if being a mother/woman meant we should expect to feel exhausted, busy and get use to putting ourself last.

For some reason it never sat right with me.   

I clearly remember early on after the birth of my second child (my daughter now 27) I was so overwhelmed trying to keep everything going, breastfeeding, night feeds, toddler-mum, working-mum, house clean, the list was endless of what and who I was trying to be.  One day my Mum said to me, “You seem like you are too hard on yourself.”  WOW.

In that simple sentence she gave me a realisation and she gave me permission: Who was I trying to be? Whose standard was I trying to maintain?

After that day I quickly found myself making different choices.  They were small and at times challenging or inconsistent but they were choices of doing things a different way, of not being so hard on myself.  When I was consistent with the alignment inside myself, life flowed easier, I felt lighter in myself.  When I dropped the consistency it didn’t take long until I realised I was back in the “drowning, lost feeling”.

It wasn’t until I had my third child (my daughter, now 22) that I really found my rhythm.  When I wanted it badly enough I did have the ability to create time for myself. And when I didn’t have time, (here's a truth bomb) -  it was because of my own subconscious self-sabotage patterns. So I tried to stop self-sabotaging (which is easier said than done!!!) I stopped trying to people please everyone. I didn’t always succeed but I kept constant, I kept trying.  

Then my fourth child came along (my son who is now 19).  That was another game changer!  I was so busy loving being a Mum to four beautiful kids 10, 8, 3 and 0 that I forgot about me again.  I knew she was in there somewhere, on the backburner just waiting until the kids got older, until the school holidays came, or until I life slowed and I could make time to catch my breath.

“She” waited on and off for about 3 years. She was patient, she was kind some days and quite loud and overwhelmed others.  Then one day I heard her loud and clear, it was time to not have “her” on the backburner, but to place her front and centre stage.  For if I was her, and she was me, and we did this thing called "life" together I would be the best person and version I could be.  The best woman, wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and so forth - I would be my best version of me as a human.

So you see, that is why I am so passionate about asking “Why do women wait?”

• Why do women keep thinking a better time is coming around the corner?  

• Why do we think as a woman/mother/partner you put your personal growth, life, career and healing on hold while the kids are young or until the business is flowing better?

I can tell you loud and clear with four adult children, three grandchildren, extended family and a career life is NEVER on hold!!!  So take the time for you NOW, make the step forward, never think it is small or large, never think it is right or wrong.  Any mindful step towards caring for yourself is a step in the right direction…….movement.  That is what matters!

We are human, we are nature, nature grows, heals, transforms.  

As I say in my signature program The Transformation Project - YOU are your greatest Project! Why? 

Because you are here to live your greatest Self.

What steps in your life can you take to ensure you take time for you each day?  It doesn't have to be huge, start small work your way from there.  If you'd like help reach out to me.

Have an extraordinary week working with and on “your greatest project” - YOU and take my wise Mum's advice "Don't be so hard on yourself."

Alli

What is the Bank of Good Health

I wanted to start this week’s blog thanking you for the wonderful emails and messages I received thanking me for raising the importance of taking responsibility for the changes we wish to make in our life.  

I believe the topic I have chosen for this newsletter will help build on last week’s subject.  As I write this to you I find myself feeling a little tired and aware of just how big the last couple of years have been.  So I thought, why not chat to you about the Vedic way of understanding the “bank of good health.”

As an Vedic Practitioner (Practitioner of Ayurveda & Yoga)  I know all too well how important sustained good health is reflected by our daily choices.  The things we choose to think, our mindset, the foods we choose to consume, and how often we consume them and in what mental environment we do that.  It also depends on the actions we take; do we exercise, do we have down time or are we always stimulated and running on adrenaline?

The easiest way to share this with you is also the simplest analogy we can all relate to and it goes a little like this….

Have you ever had a loan?

If the answer is yes, great, if the answer is no, please imagine you have one.

You get given a line of credit (in this case it is your line of credit of good health).  

While you are young, it seems like you have SO MUCH to spend, and it almost even seems like you spend away and the balance doesn’t seem to even go down!  It is the perfect loan and you are not even being asked to make any payments as yet or give anything in return.

BUT as you get older the amount you spend becomes more evident, the reserves that seemed to easily replenish itself are now sluggish and sometimes not refilled at all.  We begin to see ourselves going into debt.

If we do not listen to the philosophy of being aware that our everyday actions have a huge impact on our health we will never truly take responsibility for our own health or the way we spend our good health until it is too late.

As we get older the “institution/bank” so to speak calls the loan back in.  If you have spent through overindulgence or ignorance of going into the constant overdraft of adrenaline, overthinking, poor eating habits, poor lifestyle habits which affect everything from hormone levels, cell regeneration to organ function, you will find it hard to pay the loan back and the body will reflect this in the form of dis-ease and fatigue.  You begin to see the “overspending” in the form of break-down within the body’s health.

My analogy above, hopefully helps you to realise that what I share with you about the simple things in life, breath, good food, rest, open communication and listening within yourself and with others, are not fantasies to think about doing in the future.  But are all things which are easily obtainable in the NOW.  They will reduce your spending on your health and better still give you outstanding interest/joy in your life.

I once heard a wise soul say - “human’s in their younger years spend their health to create wealth and in the older years spend all their wealth trying to regain their health!”

Food for thought - isn’t it.  I hope this newsletter helps you to realise how waiting until life gets easier or slower could be spending from your health.

Have a great week.

Alli