Sunday 19 November 2017

What is my passion? Why I do what I do?


My passion comes from looking at the bigger picture. What scares me most is looking around and seeing the direction our society is headed. I believe that people’s priorities have become distorted and so too have their ability to feel connected, joyful and TRULY and COMPLETELY happy. People think that in order to find happiness, success and acceptance in this world they must work themselves into the ground; often doing something they are not passionate about, often squashing many others on their way to make lots and lots of money. Only then will they feel fulfilled. In my opinion they are wrong.

We have forgotten what is really important and purposeful. Love and being with those we love, family and friends and even the ability to show love and kindness to strangers. Being true to ourselves and following our purpose, our passion and actually living a life where we do what makes us feel happy not what society tells us we should be doing.

My work comes from a broader perspective of wanting to help people tune in to themselves, be authentic and come from a place of wholeness, of love. Because I believe that when we strip away all the superficial crap we are carrying around in our minds, in our bodies, in each and every cells we will be able to access our true potential, our true selves. I feel like this is what has been lost and this is one reason our world is headed the way it is. If you are also afraid for the survival of our planet and mankind as a kind, caring people then stand with me to make a change. Its not easy, change never is especially when it causes you to stand out from the majority but it is necessary.

I refuse to be disheartened, I refuse to give up and let those leading us down a tunnel to darkness win. I also refuse to waste my time and energy fighting with those who do not want to listen. I choose to stand tall, stand strong and continue living the life I choose for myself and for my family. Sometime I look out at this world and think how can I make a difference, how can I help? Its just little old me against the big bad world. But you know what, I have to knock some sense back into myself. Because if everyone who wants to make a difference believed that too where would we be. We must stand tall together, in our own way every bit of difference that can be made is a step in the right direction. Being authentic means always coming from a place of goodness, of love. Because authentically that’s what us humans are, pure love, pure energy. We just have many big industries trying to squander that for their own agendas.

I am not trying to convince anyone of anything, force anyone to believe anything that they do not already. I am calling out to work with people who already get what I am saying. Who want a change for themselves, for their families and for this world. For people who already believe what I believe but just do not know how to make a change, what they can do to help. I am here to guide those of you who share my vision, my passion. I want to work WITH you to create a better world for us, for our children and many future generations to come.

I was asked an interesting question the other day about my opinion on bringing children into the world when we appear to be headed downhill. Do I really want my children to have to be a part of what is going on? My answer is simple. If all of us who see all that is wrong in the world, who want to make a change, an impact, stop having children then what hope does this world have. I refuse to give up hope and live a life as a victim, giving up on society and mankind as a whole. This beautiful planet, these beautiful souls- I will not give up. I will remain positive because I truly believe all hope is not lost. We are not yet at that point. We NEED to keep populating the earth with children raised by us with our belief systems in our environment. I believe that is one of the most powerful things we can do to help save the planet. If the only people having children are money hungry, planet-destroying individuals then there will be no hope for the planet. I believe it is my responsibility to have children and raise them in the way I believe to be best for their health, happiness and the wellbeing of the human race.

Values I need in my clients:
1.     They are responsible for their own health. I am there to support them and educate them but their health is their responsibility not mine. They need to do the work. They also are the only ones who know what their body needs. I will help them rid-themselves of all the crap both physically and emotionally blocking them from being in tune with their bodies and being able to listen to their bodies. The human body is an incredible thing. We have all the answers inside of ourselves, we just need to listen. This can take some time but once we get there the journey is endless joy. They are the only ones who can heal themselves and I take zero responsibility for how they treat their own body.
2.     I work with people who believe in making the planet a better place. People who already without me needing to convince them have an innate knowing that things need to change, that emotions are powerful, that the body is not just physical but also energetic, that chemicals are toxic, that organic is best, that there is more to us and the universe than the physical. I refuse to have to argue or convince, everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion but to truly be able to give fully to my clients they need to be on board with their belief system. No energy should be wasted in convincing. Educating yes but arguing no. Open mindedness is a must.
3.     Social conscious and environmental conscious is also a must. These are the type of people I can connect with. I need to really be able to connect with my clients to help facilitate their healing. They need to be doing their part to help the world. This may only come once they are feeling better within themselves but it must be within them to begin with. I want to help make a strong group of people who will do the right thing for mother earth and ALL its inhabitants.

How I will be living by my values and doing my bit to help the planet:
Chemical free living- not polluting the environment and myself
Environmental friendliness- recycling, no littering, chemical free
Humans- be kind and compassionate. Show love, smile at strangers, give everyone the benefit of the doubt, and see the good in everyone.
Positive vibes- give positive, loving, healing vibes out into the planet. Send loving energy out into the universe.
Myself- always work on being true to myself, connecting to my core, speaking my truth, nourishing my soul, coming from a place of open heartedness, non judgemental, practice self love and connecting to me/mother earth daily. Fuel my soul with things I love and bring me joy. Fill my body with goodness when it comes to what I ingest and put on my skin.
Work daily to release toxins and emotions that are toxic. Put in what’s good and get rid of what’s bad.
Be kind to myself. Its ok to not always be perfect. Listen to my body and give it what it needs.

The time has come to stop being afraid, to stop squashing our own power to make others feel good, to stop putting everyone else first, to stop being a victim, to stop living by old patterns and to start truly living our purpose. To start surrounding ourselves with like minded people, to start speaking our truth, to start putting ourselves first, to step into our own power, to create new patterns and to start living our soul purpose.

Life is precious, life is short and life must be cherished. No more time can be wasted living a life that was not designed for us.

Dionne xx

Tuesday 7 November 2017

Are you a highly sensitive individual?


Do you want to learn how to make this gift your superpower?

Rather than it becoming your destruction?

So I just got home from a run all elated. I had had an epiphany. While eating my lunch I read a very interesting article about “Highly Sensitive People” (HSP). During my run a light-bulb just turned on in my head. I am one of these people and so are all of my close friends. In fact that’s why I attract these types of friends, because we all have this one thing in common. We are all HSP. It really explained a lot to me about why I am surrounded by people who are so sensitive and act in a certain way.  I have these friends because we all GET each other. I often have wondered why people decide to offload all their worries and concerns on to me and now I get it. I always thought it was just because I am a very empathetic person but empathy is only one aspect of being a HSP, which all these people have been. They all knew I would understand and not judge.

Now if you can relate to this story I am about to share you may be a HSP too. I just got home from my run full of enthusiasm and excitement after my epiphany of why I am the way I am and why I attract the people I do and my purpose and ability to help others just like me. I sat down at the computer ready to get to work when my husband called. I began excitedly telling him about my thoughts when he was quick to shut me down (well this is how I felt anyway). My husband for anyone who knows him is a very witty person. He likes to make jokes in most (and very often inappropriate) circumstances. This is one of the things I love most about him as he can always make me laugh. However, this one time when I was sharing something meaningful to me I did not appreciate his joking remark. Suddenly all my excitement drained away and was replaced by disappointment. Disappointment that the person I seek approval from the most was not as excited as I was about my ideas. Now don’t get me wrong my husband is the most kind, generous person but not being a HSP like me he sometimes doesn’t realise the impact his comments have on my mood. I take everything to heart and can’t always differentiate between when he is joking and when he is being serious. And when I get hurt (which can happen quite easily) it takes a long time for this to shift, I cannot go just as quickly back to feeling elated. So it was actually quite ironic that while I had an epiphany that I am a HSP, I created this real live example for myself to share. Luckily for myself I have throughout my life been learning how to deal with this gift, even before I knew I had it. But when it comes to someone as close to me as my husband I find I still can get upset more easily than I do in relation to others.

I have seen sensitivity be the downfall of too many of my close friends. Stopping them from moving forward in the world, creating new relationships, connecting with people in their workplace and resulting in anxiety and depression. This can often occur when feelings are so strong and are not being dealt with in the most productive way possible.

But there are so many positive aspects to being a HSP and if used in the right way this sensitivity can actually become your super power! Channelling this super power can make you more successful and happier in this world than you have ever imagined.

Using your emotions for good and as a tool for success:
·      In your career: Choosing a helping career when having a strong sense of empathy and understanding is a trait that will help you succeed. Forming more meaningful connections with co-workers or clients.
·      Getting involved in a charity or having the drive to make a difference in this world.
·      Relationships: It helps you really understand how others feel, form more deep connections with others and allows you to know how to treat others.
·      Noticing beauty in the world. I don’t know about you but I feel like I definitely notice the beauty and wonder in the world more than most. When you are sensitive you not only feel more when it comes to humans but also animals and the environment and get touched by things on a deeper level.
·      Feeling positive emotions more strongly. One great thing about being sensitive is that you get to experience positive emotions such as love on a deeper level.
·       
A few ways to increase you experience of positive emotions and connectedness to yourself:
·      Music
·      Nature especially water
·       Exercise
·      Looking after your body with correct nutrition
·      Herbal remedies and flower essences
·      Mindfulness
·      Positive connections with others
·      Creative expression through art; music; writing; singing.

Ways to not let negative emotions overpower the positive:
·      Accept your negative feelings and don’t try and deny their existence
·      Allow them to be expressed though a positive medium such as writing
·      Cry once in a while to release
·      Talk to someone about your feelings (a professional if need be)
·      Practice meditation and relaxation techniques
·      Let others know how their actions make you feel eg. I had a conversation to my husband about the way his comment made me feel and what he can do (think before speaking) to help me not feel this way.
·      Rather than suppressing emotions accept them and let them pass, if you feel stuck then do one of the strategies that help increase positive emotions.

Since writing this article I have been doing a lot of emotional clearing and felt it important to express that being strong and confident within yourself is possible even while still maintaining your sensitivity. This will enable you to not be as affected by others as I was in the story written above. I have found that neuro-emotional technique (NET) and kinesiology have helped me clear some of my subconscious beliefs about not being good enough so that I not longer respond in such an emotional way. Along with that it is an everyday practice to stay connected to my core and be able to express my truth. Using this gift as a superpower is so powerful but it does require daily attention using the tools mentioned above.

No go be the magnificent sensitive souls you are and let it help you change the world! Because I don’t know about you but I believe the world definitely needs a bit more empathy, love and sensitivity.

Thursday 2 November 2017

Spirituality and happiness


Having a spiritual connection has actually been scientifically proven to make people happier.

Did you know this?

What are your beliefs?

Do you believe there is more to life that just the physical?

Do you believe in God?

Do you believe that we posses a spirit/soul?

I urge you to ask yourself these questions.

Spirituality is different for everyone. There is no right or wrong answer but simply believing, believing in something bigger than you is protective against depression.

I believe this is one aspect of ourselves so many of us are missing in our western society. We are so focused on the physical, material possessions and even our physical health. What about spiritual wellbeing? It’s a whole piece of the puzzle that we so often neglect. How can we feel whole when we are not looking after ourselves as a whole?

It is not enough to simply look after the physical, mental and emotional. The spiritual governs it all. It is our highest self and our most powerful tool.

You may be confused when it comes to spirituality. That’s ok. It’s not something that can be crystal clear in this empirical world. It’s not something that can be proven, it’s simply something that can be felt.

I have always had a strong sense of spirituality. My belief has never wavered but I certainly have been caught up in this physical world and been through times of neglect when it comes to my spiritual wellbeing. During these times I have definitely noticed that my physical and emotion self has been affected. As I was not as in tune with my self, my needs and my higher purpose, I began to neglect certain aspects of myself. I wasn’t eating the way that was best for my body
(I have always been a healthy eater but I have not always honoured my body, eating certain things as it gave me a high or to fit in and not be different). I wasn’t being true to myself, expressing how I felt and working on my emotional wellbeing. I was trying to be perfect, to fit in, be accepted by others, follow our societal model of school, to university to a 9-5 job. I had more to offer. I knew that much but I wanted to do what was right. What others told me was right. Be the perfect daughter, wife, and friend. Not the perfect version of myself for me. While in actual fact I could never be ‘perfect’ and at the same time was already ‘perfect’. This is as we are all perfect already.

Exactly as we are.

In all our perfect imperfection.

As human beings the best thing we can do for ourselves, our loved ones and our society is simply to be true to ourselves. Shine our light, share our story, to be unapologetically us.

We are all spiritual beings, we are all connected in a way that may not be able to be measured but certainly can be felt. If you just take the time to truly connect within yourself you will learn unimaginable things about what you have to offer in this lifetime, how you need to be showing up and who you truly are. You feel things more deeply than ever and experience your heart opening up like never before. You will begin to notice the opportunities that are there for you that you may have missed up until this point. You will discover that you have been living with your eyes closed.

See the magnificence.

Experience the magic.

Know that all is going exactly to plan.

You are exactly where you are supposed to be.

Life is full of excitement you just need to be open to noticing it.

Find a spiritual practice that works for you. Do it every day. EVERY DAY. You will notice the shift. You will never turn back. Coping with the physical world will become so much easier as life will flow with ease. Release the resistance. The answers are inside of you already. Let go and just be. Just be you.

Dionne xx

P.S. I am working on a very exciting new program for you. It will be delving deeper that any of the work I have done before. Lets work on all aspects of your health and wellbeing. The physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Lets uncover what has been holding you back from living the healthiest and happiest life possible.

P.P.S. Life is meant to be fun. If its not ask yourself what you need to be doing differently. It your life and its your choice how you live it.

Thursday 26 October 2017

I woke up with a sore throat... Want to see what I am doing about it?


Want to see what supplements I took this morning? 



I have a big weekend coming up with work tomorrow, a Halloween party tomorrow night and my workshop on Sunday. I simply cannot afford to get sick or lose my voice. That is why I am making sure to do everything I can to help my body heal and give my immune system any support I can.

This includes taking whatever supplements I have at home and eating foods that will support my body.

I will not take this lying down!

Well I suppose that is only part of the truth. I do believe that when our body shows us a symptom its not random. I believe there is ALWAYS a message behind it. Something that we have been doing that isn’t working, something emotional we are suppressing, something that we need to learn or simply that we need to give ourselves more TLC.

So this morning I did take it lying. I cancelled my morning plans and slept in. I felt I needed it and so I made the choice to do what I knew was right for me. Sure I had made plans, sure I was actually really disappointed to be cancelling them but I also knew that it was the right decision for me. I listened to my body and that was what I knew I had to do.

But I also feel its important to connect to what the message is. Why is my body run down and why is it specifically affecting my throat.

The throat is all about communication, owning your power, speaking your truth, and expressing yourself.

Although I may have caught something from one of the adorable kinder children I was working with on Wednesday, I believe that my sore throat has a lot to do with the fact that I have been focusing the last few months on owning my power and speaking my truth. Obviously there is still some resistance there hence my throat being an area of weakness (to be honest it has always been an area of weakness for me and communication and speaking my truth has also always been a challenge for me). I have always felt resistance at simply speaking what I believe and a great need to be liked. I am learning that those who are supposed to be in my life, the right people for my tribe will obviously like me regardless, especially when I speak my truth.

Life is a journey for each and every one of us and we all come across challenges. In order to move past them and not get stuck we must first identify what they are. Delve deep inside our heart where the message ALWAYS lies and simply listen. Our consciousness knows the answers; they are all there waiting for us.

We just need to listen.

For me I feel a shift and I believe that each time we are unwell or experience pain or suffering it is an opportunity for growth. We can either ignore the message and keep repeating the same mistakes, traveling away from our purpose. Which is pure love by the way. Or listen to what our body and soul is telling us, learn the lesson and move forward on our path towards alignment and wholeness.

It’s not always easy, but on the other hand it is always easy. Things flow with such ease when we follow our purpose, when we listen to our soul and move towards love rather than fear. If you are living a life by following fear you are not on the path to your highest good and greatest potential and you never will be.

Don’t let fear win.

Its love you need.

Its love we all need.

We are all love and we are all one.

It will flow.

Life will be easy if you simply move AWAY from fear and TOWARDS love.

When it comes to my journey I am choosing to check in and listen to what my body needs on a daily basis. I have learnt that it is not always linear in its progression. Sometimes you climb mountains and other times you slip and fall. But it is all about the journey, the experience and the lessons we learn along the way. You know you are on the right path if you are heading towards love, joy, wonder and happiness. If it feels good deep in your soul then simply keep going.

It’s that simple.

For true health and happiness all you need to do is make a choice. A choice about how you are going to live your life. Do it with conviction and make the commitment to yourself to live a life that is fulfilling for you. One that allows you to shine your light and come from a place of love.

P.S. Its only 2 days until my Joy workshop. If you have been living in a place of fear and are ready to move towards love then you must come join me. I will teach you how to release those feeling and beliefs that are no longer serving you so you can bring more joy into your life. Surround yourself with the frequency of joy every day and feel each and every cell in your body dance to the vibration of joy.

P.P.S. Never forget that it is your life and it is 100% your choice how you live it. Your experiences are 100% your choice. You simply need to listen.

Thursday 7 September 2017

My 3 day juice fast


I was very excited to try doing a juice fast. I have met several people who have done extended (7 days and more) juice fasts who have spoken to me about how amazing they felt-The clarity, the energy, the flat stomach. They all swear by them.

I have also been doing some research into the benefits of fasting and that we humans are designed to go through periods of fasting. It gives our digestive system a break so it can repair and heal and the latest study I read was about how your whole immune system can be rebuilt after fasting for just 3 days.

I love trying new things and experimenting on myself when it comes to health. I never feel comfortable recommending anything to my clients unless it is something I personally have tried. So I thought it cant hurt, I may as well give it a go. Worst case scenario I waste 3 days and maybe lose some weight.

After a big vegetable shop (my organic grocer sure did love me this week), and convincing my mum to join me on the adventure I was ready to begin.

Each day consisted of 5 juices. I had a template I was following but really just made up my own combos using the template as a guide. I also made sure to drink plenty of water and herbal teas. Lets just say I couldn’t venture too fat from the toilet for the 3 days. Lucky I chose a week where I didn’t have too much on.

The daily routine:

7.30am Glass of warm water with the juice of ½ lemon
8am breakfast juice
9am Green tea
10.30am morning tea juice
1pm Lunch juice
2pm Green tea
3.30pm afternoon tea juice
6.30pm Dinner juice
8pm Chamomile tea

To be honest it wasn’t as hard as I expected. After reading several blogs where people found it very challenging I was expecting the worst. I didn’t suffer from any extreme symptoms. My head was a bit groggy, especially the first day but it never developed into a headache. The second and third day I did have a bit of a stomach-ache but it certainly wasn’t present the whole time. I felt a bit hungry at times but the juices were so big and I felt so full of fluid that the hunger was short lived. I also expected to not sleep very well as in the past I have never slept well on an empty stomach but I was feeling quite exhausted and really had no trouble in the sleeping department. The chamomile tea and Epsom salt baths I was having before dinner probably aided too.

I think I felt the best on the second day, which may have been because I was busy and distracted that day. I felt quite energetic and positive. The third day I was feeling a little irritable but certainly not as bad as I expected.

What I found the most challenging was my thoughts. The fact that I couldn’t eat food meant that I was constantly thinking about it. Although I wasn’t that hungry, food was always on my mind. It certainly didn’t help that my husband decided to enjoy food that we don’t normally have at home and bring home a pizza for dinner. I think the mind games we play with ourselves are always our biggest challenges.

The other challenge was all the preparation. It took about half an hour to cut the veggies, make the juices and wash the juicer. Doing this 5 times a day became a bit tedious. By the third day I had simply had enough of the juicing!

I didn’t quite experience the huge positive effects others had spoken to me about but I think 3 days probably wasn’t long enough to really feel light, free and clear. It was just long enough to give my body a nice break and recharge. It will be interesting to see how I feel over the next few days but today I still feel a bit tired. I definitely do feel lighter in my stomach (I lost about 1.5kgs) and not as foggy in the head. I am truly glad I gave it a go, especially since it is spring. A little internal spring-cleaning J. I could see myself doing it again and possibly for even longer next time!

I certainly do advocate doing some for of detoxification at least once a year and think spring is the perfect time. The juice fast is just one of many ways to aid the body’s natural detoxification pathway which is so important in our society where we are constantly bombarded with toxins and pollutants.

If you would like more information on what type of detoxification might be best for you feel free to contact me.

I would also love to hear your juice fasting experiences!




Wednesday 21 June 2017

Boosting your immune system this winter naturally!



We are currently in the heart of winter. Daily we are experiencing frosty morning, dark nights and sniffles galore. It’s the time of year when people start to feel a bit down in the dumps, have lower energy and are much more prone to getting sick. I have detailed below my top 10 tips for kicking your immune systems butt this winter so you can avoid that annoying cold or flu. These tips will equally help keep you feeling more positive during these chilly months until the warm sun rays of spring appear.

1.     Keep hydrated! This is a big one. Often during winter we forget to drink enough water due to the cold weather. However, being inside in the heating can be very drying. Hydration is so important for pretty much every body function. It will make you feel more energetic and improve your immune function. Aim for at least 8 glasses of filtered water daily.
2.     Eat a well balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Fruit and vegetables contain so many essential vitamins and minerals to keep your body functioning properly. Vitamin C found in citrus fruit and berries is particularly important during these winter months. A balanced diet of 3 serves of vegetables and 2 serves of fruit daily will ensure you are obtaining adequate nutrition to stimulate your immune system so you can fight off any nasty viruses you come into contact with. Remember variety is key so aim to have a plate that looks like a rainbow with as many different coloured fruit and vegetables as possible.
3.     Sleep- In order to have a properly functioning immune system we need to have adequate rest. During sleep our bodies have the opportunity to rest and restore themselves. Different people require different amounts of sleep so I advise you to listen to your body. Make sure you are getting enough sleep and if you are having trouble falling asleep or waking during the night ask your health practitioner how they can help. Poor sleep is one reason people feel fatigued, sad or constantly have a low immune system.
4.     Get outside and absorb some sunlight or get on a vitamin D supplement. Vitamin D is one of the most important Vitamins for both the immune system and mood. It can be difficult to get enough Vitamin D during winter. Aim for 20 minutes direct sunlight mid morning or mid afternoon for best absorption. Increasing egg yolks, butter or ghee and fish can also help boost your vitamin D intake. If your blood test shows you are low in Vitamin D (as so many of us are) make sure to take a supplement throughout winter.
5.     Exercise! Exercise has been shown to be one of the best ways to boost your immune system as well as to boost mood. It can be hard getting motivated in these winter months but once you get moving you will certainly feel better. You can even exercise at home if it’s too cold and dark to go out. Check out some HIIT training videos on YouTube, pick up a skipping rope or do some jumping jacks. Anything that gets your heart pumping is great. Doing a class at the gym with friends is also a great way to increase your social interaction, which is so important for boosting mood. Aim for at least 20 minutes high intensity exercise three times a week.
6.     Use immune boosting herbs and spices such as onion, garlic, ginger and turmeric. Herbs and spices used in cooking are an excellent way to add immune boosting properties to your food. Check out my immune boosting quinoa recipe as an example: http://dionne-healthnaturally.blogspot.com.au/2017/06/immune-boosting-turmeric-quinoa.html
7.     Ensure adequate protein intake. Protein is so important as it is what your immune system is actually made up of. It also contains zinc, an important mineral for the immune system. Your neurotransmitters for positive mood are also made up of protein. To be fair amino acids from protein are the building blocks of our body so it is needed for all functions. Protein should be included in all meals and can be in the form of meat, eggs, fish, nuts, seeds, legumes and dairy.
8.     Drink herbal teas. This will first of all help with hydration, will keep you warm and you can choose certain teas that have immune boosting properties. Try green tea for its antioxidants, lemongrass and ginger tea or cinnamon tea for its warming and immune enhancing ability.
9.     Start your day with a glass of warm water and the juice of ½ a lemon (you can add a dash of honey too). This is a great way to add some vitamin C into your diet. It will also help with digestion so you can better absorb all your nutrients. Did you know that the majority of your immune system is found in your gut? Therefore, keeping your digestive system healthy will help you have a better functioning immune system.
10.  Practice relaxation daily. Stress is one of the biggest contributors to lowered immune function. We have all been there, after a stressful even when we can finally relax we get sick. Make sure you are listening to your body and treating it with love. Some of my favourite forms of relaxation include meditation, deep breathing, yoga, walking, a warm bath or using essential oils. Just 5 minutes a day can make all the difference :)

Immune Boosting Turmeric Quinoa

This recipe is great as it tastes delicious, is beautiful and yellow in colour and is amazing during winter to boost the immune system. Adding the black pepper and coconut oil will help with the absorption of the turmeric and all its amazing anti-inflammatory properties.

Ingredients: 
1 brown onion
1 clove garlic
2 teaspoons ginger
1 tablespoon turmeric
1 tablespoon coconut oil
2 large carrots
1 cup quinoa
1 ¾ cup vegetable or chicken stock (or water)
Salt and pepper to taste

Turmeric Quinoa

Method:

Finely slice or grate onion, garlic, ginger and carrots. Fry in a saucepan with the coconut oil until soft. Add the quinoa, turmeric and stock/water. Allow liquid to come to boil and then reduce heat to simmer fro about 20 minutes or until all the liquid has been absorbed. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy as an accompaniment to meat/fish/chicken/tofu and vegetables.

Tuesday 6 June 2017

The benefits of deep breathing for reducing stress, anxiety and so much more!


I often talk about the importance of deep breathing. How slowing down your breath and focusing on your breathing can have such a phenomenal affect on our overall health and well-being.

You may be thinking, we all breath all day, everyday so what exactly is the difference between regular breathing and deep breathing?

Most of us are shallow breathers. What does this mean? It means that when we breath we are actually only engaging 1/3 of our lungs. We breathing into the top/ chest section of our lungs rather than all the way down into our abdomen.
Now why is this bad? Well first of all our lungs are one of our organs of elimination and each time we breathe out we expel stale air and toxins. If we don’t breath all the way to the bottom of our lungs then there is stale air stagnating there that is never being expelled.
Also we are not flooding our body with as much oxygen as possible. The more oxygen we inhale, the more it can cleanse our blood and flood to our organs. This in turn helps all our organs function better, helps us with concentration and focus and is so beneficial for relaxation too.


Some of the benefits of deep breathing?
·       It makes you calmer and more relaxed.
·       Helps the body detoxify.
·       Can help relieve pain.
·       Boosts mood
·       Improves posture.
·       Stimulated the lymphatic system.
·       Increases cardiovascular system.
·       Gives you energy.
·       Improves digestion.
·       Strengthens major organs.
·       Helps regulate weight.
·       According to yogic philosophy it helps to extend your life, as it is believed that we are born with a certain number of breaths and once we have completed these breaths our time is up. So by slowing down your breathing you can extend your life.
If you want to improve any of the areas of your health listened above then I want you to try something. For the next week spend 4 minutes a day practicing deep breathing. Two minutes upon waking and 2 before going to sleep. No matter how busy your life is you have time for 2 minutes upon waking and 2 before you go to sleep. No excuses!

You can click on the link to watch my demonstration of how to take a proper deep breath: http://dionne-healthnaturally.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/deep-breathing-vlog.html

At the end of the week comment on how the deep breathing made you feel? Did you sleep any differently? Was your energy improved? Did you feel less anxious? Any other changes noticed?

I would love to hear how you found the experience. Continuing this ritual for 30 days will help you ingrain this type of breath into your daily life. Make it a daily habit :)