lizthomasyoga

Prana Poem 

| Liz Thomas

Prana is not only about the breath, it’s also about the environment in which we surround ourselves. Consider the food you eat, the people you share your time with, your relationship to plants and animals, the prioritising of your activities. 

The energy you gather and take into yourself nourishes your own life-force. Ask yourself how you can provide a fertile growing media for that seed within you that wants to emerge. 

What’s in your pod? 

Inhale intention

Exhale manifestation 


Namaste Liz 

 “The true expression of love is to make oneself and others more and more alive and to share prosperity together” Masahiro Oki 

Amazing Endorsement …. Thanks Mel

Image | | Liz Thomas

Melanie is a regular massage enthusiast, in the past 12months she had committed to a monthly massage.

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She is a super-busy, driven and intelligent woman who runs a business for people who help people, “Downsize Me” Heres what she had to say in her latest newsletter:

 “bet you’ve heard this one before – “I was going so well, and then I just fell off the wagon.” In fact, you’ve probably even said it.

 

That’s because the sad reality is, we are creatures of habit, and habits can be hard to stick to. 

Even a health and wellness coach can have trouble making healthy habits stick!

 

And while I’m pretty good most of the time, around 80% of the time, I definitely struggle to be consistent with a few habits, even though they are meaningful and beneficial for me.

 

But there’s one habit I’ve managed to stick to, and I want to share my secret weapon with you.

But first….

 

The Excuses Queen

I love a good massage and know logically why they’re SO good for me…but I always found excuses not to have regular massages.

 

  • I can’t afford it.
  • It’s too hard to go back to work afterwards.
  • It takes too much time out of my day.
  • I have to shower all the oil off when I get home.

 

You can see that, like most of us, I have barriers, competing priorities. 

This means I tend to defer ‘me-time’ during the week – and as a result, can end up frazzled.

 

Then something changed. 

Enter, Liz Thomas.

 

An Afternoon With Lovely Liz – The Relaxation Queen

Apart from being an artist and yoga teacher, Liz Thomas does great massage – a fully clothed style of massage called Thai Yoga massage (with a few other styles thrown in). 

The massage involves Liz moving me around during the session for stretch and mobility, plus working on different areas more intensely.

Liz’s massage ticks the normal massage boxes, but a bunch more.

 

  • The kinks get worked out of my neck, shoulder and back. 
  • No oil!
  • It’s easier for me to go back to work.
  • I feel like I am part of the solution, not just ‘getting treated’.
  • She works in a beautiful location.
  • I can be silent if I wish, otherwise we have great banter.
  • As a regular client, I get a discount. So I book in my next session when I’m there, to ensure my consistency.

 

Now, I am going every month and loving it.

 

You’ll notice that the Excuses Queen put money first.  

But when I become the Relaxation Queen, money is the last of my concerns. 

 

What created that shift??

 

The Surprisingly Simple Secret Weapon

 

I was talking to Liz the other day with in my most recent massage. We had a good banter about life, her paintings, yoga, philosophy, wellbeing and habits….and then what makes people come for yoga and massage, or not. 

 

And then I realised my secret to greater consistency in habits. 

 

It’s the relationship I have with the person.

 

It’s not just that I am accountable to Liz. I also like Liz a lot – I find her interesting, and it feels like we have a great connection. 

And there’s more.

And as we talked, I started saying to Liz that the session is about more than just massage for me. 

It’s downtime. 

Clarity time. 

Banter. 

Philosophy. 

Movement. 

Physical relief. 

Realisations. 

Inspiration. 

The feeling of achieving something each time, and walking away with an AHA moment. 

 

Massage with Liz is so much more than I imagined, and more than I’d gotten with any other massage.

 

The incredible value Liz offers far outweighs the cost….and it’s a powerful magnet to keep me coming back. 

 

There’s the added bonus of scheduling the next one in advance, at the time. Great for a structured girl like me.

 

What’s really interesting is that now I’m thinking about going to Liz’s yoga class. 

It’s something I know would be great…and maybe, just maybe, what Liz has to offer can help the Excuses Queen get past the BS and into consistency.”

Heres Melanies website if your interested in her work too : http://www.downsizeme.net.au/

 

Thankyou Mel, Namaste x

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Equinox: a time to balance

| Liz Thomas

The 23rd Sept is equal day and night hours, it is the equinox. A time to reflect on how we can bring balance to our lives.

Our yoga class gives us the opportunity to observe with total attention. This is something to aim for in all of life’s activities, however, in our yoga practice we can train for such concentration. You may have heard it referred to as ‘Mindfulness’, a concept from Buddism, embraced by western psychology, and gone totally mainstream.

At the Equinox you may become aware that you are more energetic or aware of the need to stop and smell the new blooms. A strong sense of what is needed for this balance maybe available if you listen.

Instead of making a judgement when observing your body or mind-heart or life force,  trying to discover why or how any imbalance has occurred, make a resolution to simply take action.

If possible try this yoga posture now. Eg Tadasana, Mountain pose: Stand with your feet under your hips, lift the toes and spread them, place them down. Bring your attention to the big toe ball, the little toe ball and the heel, the sides, inside and outside of the feet. Observe the other muscles that may support the function of the feet. Resolve to stand evenly on your feet and sway back, forward, side to side and activate muscles that ensure you feel the three arches of the feet.

Eg2 If your mind is distracted gently focus on the architecture of your body and your proprioception, where your body is in space. Your spinal alignment. Where your centre is. Weight evenly diatributed. Follow your breath, relax and use your dristi, your gentle gaze, to focus on the task at hand.


LISTEN BELOW FOR THIS GUIDED BREATHING AND VISUALISATION FOR BALANCE

Analoma Viloma

Balance Meditation

Bring attention to the spaces around you and release from the sensual experiences.

Three deep sighs and release attention from the breath and move to the body.

Alternate attention at each side of the body (from the extremities inward guided relaxation).

Rest at the heart centre, just observe the energy at the centre of the chest.

Release attention from the body and move to the place of thought, imagination &memory.

Come to present moment awareness.

Imagine you are perfectly still , balanced and serene floating in lake with a sand bottom, the sky reflecting a turquoise hue, …………… enveloped in the colour, light, buoyant and refreshed.

Allow your focus to move to any imbalance you have observed in your body, mind-heart or energy.

If and when you make such and observation, do not chase thoughts of explanation, although euphonies and realisations may spontaneously occur. Just observe without criticism, without judgement, perhaps being a little light-hearted about “Oh look how I do that?” being curious, “That’s interesting how I respond that way”.

From here you may like to enquire into how to allow balance to arise in your body, mind-heart, energy. “how can I take action to redress the imbalance??”

Once again do not chase an answer. It may come now, it may come later when you awareness returns to the place of asymmetry or imbalance in everyday life.

Trust that you have all the tools to know what action to take within you.

Just resolve now to take action when it is clear what action will be helpful.

Release and traces of this observation and enquiry into serene blue of that lake that surrounds you.

Rest now in silence.

AFFIRMATION: I AM LOVE

| Liz Thomas

  

In yoga we are fond of setting an intention for our practice and manifesting our desires. In Sanskrit it is known as sankalpa. Living a life of passion, from the heart brings contentment, satisfaction and peace into our personal life. This then ripples out into our environment and the world.

When completing the affirmation, or any sankalpa bringing the feelings associated with our desire is what gives it power. We make our desires manifest when we act as if has already happened! 

You can do this by bringing up a memory of feeling completely loved, or giving unconditional love. Then drop the association with that place or person that helped you experience love and just experience the LOVE. 

Namaste 

Liz 

Red Meat and Bitter greens

| Liz Thomas

Lean beef is a wonderful source of protein but so is kangaroo, lamb or goat. All of which would work perfectly with this salad. The yoga approach to meat consumption (we are not all vegetarians) is to eat small amounts of meat compared to our vegetable content on our plates. I eat red meat for iron and it makes me feel good. Of course its your yoga and you must do what is right for your body and philosophy.
Try growing your own bitter greens in the garden or in a pot on the balcony. The fresher you can get your greens the more nutrients they have, and the crunchier the salad.

IMG_0833.JPGIngredients
Marinade
1/2 brown onion
3 bay leaves
1-3 cloves garlic smashed
1 glass of red wine
6 peppercorns
2 tablespoons olive oil

1 eye fillet, kangaroo fillet/rump, lamb/goat backstrap marinated for at least 4hrs or overnight is preferable.
Enough Bitter greens or Mixed leaf salad to cover your platter abundantly: try using lots of colours and shapes for nutrient and visual variety eg. chickory, raddichio, sorrel, rocket (agrulia)
10 large basil leaves finely sliced
Balsamic vinegar, the best you can afford
Olive Oil

Method

1. Barbecue or pan fry meat till medium rare to rare. and crusty on the outside.
2. While its cooking dress leaves lightly with a little salt, vinegar and oil.
3. Rest meat for 10mins covered.
4. Slice meat finely and arrange over the leaves.
5. Pour juices over meat, a little drizzle more of balsamic and olive oil, salt, pepper and sprinkle with basil.

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Rosewater Spiced Rice Pudding

| Liz Thomas

A special treat on a stormy south coast day and an excellent way to use up some excess milk. This will stick to your ribs and warm the cockles of your heart (whatever that means). It smells divine and as you will see doesn’t need a lot of sweet additives to be delicious.
Rosewater Spiced Rice Pudding

Serves 4-6
Ingredients

Pudding
1 1/2 cups Aborio or shortgrain rice
3 cups milk
1 scraped vanilla pod or few drops of essense
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamon
1/4 ntmeg grated or half teaspoon ground
1 broken cinnamon/cassia stick or 1/2 teaspoon grond
1/4 cup rosewater
2 tablespoons Honey

Garnish
1/4 cup chopped pistachio
Lavender flowers or rose petals

Method

1. Simmer, as gently as possible, all pudding ingredients for 15mins till rice is cooked and milk absorbed. Keep an eye on it so it doesnt boil over or burn on the bottom, stir occassionally.
2. Remove cinnamon stick and vanilla pod, garnish with nuts and flowers serve immediately in summer and warm in winter.

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Namaste Liz

Quinoa Tabouli made gluten free and turned superfood

| Liz Thomas

In Australia, we may have got our taste for tabouli from the late night kebab shop after a night on the tiles, but its favour endures way past our extended adolescence.
The trick is to do all the chopping and then fridge it till your ready to eat and dress at the last minute.
This is a beautiful salad to eat with falafel (chickpea fritters) or grilled fish and meats, maybe with a little tahini sauce. Its so good for you with all the parsley and mint but the quinoa pumps up the nutrients with its complete amino acid profile.
Play around with the ingredient ratios, they are approximate and made to my taste. Enjoy getting it right for you.

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Ingredients

2 cups finely chopped parsley
1 cup finely chopped mint
1 cup spring onions finely sliced
1 cup tomatoes, seeds removed and finely diced
1 cup cooked quinoa, you cook it like rice with the absorption method. Boil two cups of water,add thrice rinsed quinoa, simmer on low for 10mins ,rinse again under cold water.Drain.Makes more than you need for this recipe, use leftovers in soup, patties or as a as rice substitute.
S&P
1 teaspoon of ground cumin
Drizzle of Olive oil and juice of half a lemon juice
Method

Combine and serve!

Make a tahini sauce for spooning over meat/falafel by mixing 1 tablespoon of lemon juice with one teaspoon of tahini in a small bowl with the back of a spoon, add salt and grated garlic if you wish. Thin with a few drops of water to your liking. mmmmmm
And before you ask can Yogis eat meat? Yes they can! Vegetarianism is a personal choice.
Namaste Liz

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