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1 | 12 Dec em Issue b e r 2 0 17
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Get away on a retreat with a mindfulness and well-being charity
Wind down with calming films reccomended by Moonglade
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The word moonglade mindfulness enterprise which is defined as "the bright offers wellbeing retreats. We reflection of moonlight also have a number of n gl a d o o on a body of water," other features that each m which is an image relate to the theme we think perfectly of mindfulness and encapsulates our wellbeing. Below is goal of shining a an introduction to the light on calm. In our team responsible for first issue, we speak to putting moonglade Benjamin Land, the man together, along with our behind 'Wellbeing 1st' a new own tips for staying calm.
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“Ratio breathing really helps. Inhale slowly counting to three then exhale fast counting to nine.”
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I love to play a game called Journey. It’s gentle and the music is very relaxing to listen to.”
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“I like to switch off from online from time to time. I find going for a walk without my phone can be really helpful.”
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“Make time to spend with people in the evening. Chill and chat with them to switch off work mode.”
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Meet the Moonglade Team
Creating Calm
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It is important to take time out of your day to relax, especially if you are feeling anxious. Here are some ideas to help you chill out after a long or stressful day.
Taking time out of your day to read is really important. Instead of watching TV or a film, read a chapter of a book before bed. It will help calm down your body so that you can sleep well.
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Lighting a candle can be very therapeutic. Find a scent which you find relaxing and light it in the evening. Certain oils and scents can be very calming. You could get candles with the scent of: Lavender, Camomile, Lilac or Sandal wood. If these don’t tickle your fancy then any candle will still omit relaxing vibes.
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It is amazing what fond memories and positive sayings can do. Take an old mason jar and fill it with your best memories, words or sayings that you find lift you up. Pick out one each day or just if you ever need a pick me up and take a few moments to take it in.
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A recent business graduate and well-being entrepreneur spills his knowledge about how you can use yoga for your mind
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oga is the exercise which more and more people are taking up, but not just for its physical benefits. Research states the practice is known to boost mental wellbeing. Yoga is a Hindu spiritual discipline which is seen as a form of “self-love” and an exercise for the mind as much as the body. Evidence suggests regular yoga practice is beneficial for people who suffer from depression and stress. One man who can often be found doing the downward dog each morning or attending yoga classes is the
entrepreneur behind the mental health retreat centre, Wellbeing 1st. Benjamin Land graduated with a first in Business Management from Cardiff University earlier this year. He wanted to use his degree to pursue the support network. Wellbeing 1st is being set up as a nonprofit social enterprise which offers nourishing relaxation activities, including yoga, to target mental health issues.
Tune in, wind down
Ironically Ben first discovered yoga while living amongst the hustle and bustle of Florida’s international city, Miami. He started doing yoga to improve his flexibility but soon discovered how it could benefit the mind too. “I always felt much calmer after doing a yoga class,” he said. It enables you to tune into your body and focus your attention which enables your mind to calm down, he explains. Ben claims the exercise was designed for meditation. “Yoga is a practice. It’s not just for exercise,” he says.
Be mindful anywhere
From being a former assistant manager in a busy high street coffee shop to an airline cabin crew member, Ben is only too familiar with the feeling of stress. He also 4 Benjamin finds Child’s Pose (top, left) Meditating (top, right) and Downward-Facing Dog (bottom) the best poses for relaxation.
YOURSELF understands how yoga can help release it. Ben recommends sufferers of anxiety or depression attend yoga classes because it is a great tool for de-stressing and an opening into the world of mindfulness. He suggests doing one yoga class per week initially and then building up. “I appreciate that often has a cost attached to it but once you feel comfortable with the postures there’s lots of videos on YouTube,” Ben says. “What’s fantastic about mindfulness is that you can do it anywhere and at any time.
Yoga is a practice. It’s not just for exercise. “Before I came into this building I took a few deep breaths,” he added, “it took me 10 seconds.” Mindfulness is a method of being present in the moment using techniques such as meditation, breathing and yoga. It has been shown to reduce anxiety by 58%, depression by 57%, and stress by 40%.
@Wellbeing1stWales
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Benjamin often practices the Tree Pose, also known as the Vrksasana, to encourage mindfulness.
Start posing
Ben’s top yoga poses to encourage mindfulness are child’s pose as “it’s very calming and soothing”, corpse pose as it is “just feeling the ground support you” and warrior one. We need to create a space for ourselves first before we can give to others, Ben added. “I think people need to understand that we’re not machines and at this time of year, especially, everyone is busy thinking about Christmas.” “It’s not about being good,” he added, “it’s self-
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Take a moment The Samye Foundation Wales offers a range of courses to promote mindfulness
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The Samye Foundation is a mindfulness and well-being chairty with a centre nestled in Canton, Cardiff. The charity offers a range of courses suitable for all ages. Yoga teachers, massage therapists and reflexology teachers practice in the centre to offer a variety of beneficial mindfulness training courses for health and well-being. You can try an introductory course for free to get a taster of what’s on offer to make sure it suits you. Administrator Jon Evans said a lot of the courses take place in the evening, but they hope to hold more sessions during the day in future.
Our goal is teaching and promoting mindfulness,� says Jon Evans
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MOONGLADE RECOMMENDS...
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ften the best antidote to the stresses of everyday life is to sit with your favourite cushion and immerse yourself in another world. At Moonglade we believe that cinema is at its best when it offers comfort or allows you to forget your own problems for an hour or two. So, for this section we wanted to recommend some films that can help you truly unwind but which also have a certain comforting, life-affirming quality to them.
1. 20th Century Women The most recent film out of our recommendations, having had it’s UK release at the start of 2017, follows the story of teenager Jamie and his relationship with his mother in 1970's California. Character driven rather than focusing heavily on plot, it has a patient, meandering pace, is always engaging and is often lifeaffirming. It is a film that you will want to watch again as soon as the credits role and is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime.
2. Song of the Sea There’is certainly an emotional heft to this animated film, which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2014, but its handled with such warmth and a real sense of magic. A beautiful tale with sublime visuals and a calming soundtrack, it follows the story of Ben, a ten year old boy who discovers that his sister is a selkie (a mythical creature from Irish folklore) and joins her on a quest to free a band of faerie creatures. Also, there are some very cute seals. Available to stream on Amazon Prime.
3. Chef Directed by and starring Jon Favreau, this is a film that sees a man find joy in his life after a potentially humiliating episode. It follows the story of a chef, played by Favreau, who quits his job at a high pressure restaurant and starts a food truck business, reconnecting with his exwife and young son in the process. A true feel-good movie full of immensely likeable characters and with some great songs featured in the soundtrack. It is currently available to stream on Netflix.
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We share apps, advice and activities to help you remain calm and look after your well-being
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Headspace aims to do just that, create space in your head. Co-founded by Andy Puddicombe the meditation app helps you to be at ease with your thoughts through one-off singles and on-going packs. Whether you are student at a university or young professional WhatsUp? is your personal safeguarding, well being and mental health support app. Download from www. TheWhatsUpApp.com Aloe is the ultimate app for creating ‘me time’. It supplies gentle self-care reminders throughout your day by encouraging positive habits to support your emotional, mental and physical health. All apps are available to download from the Apple and Google Play store.
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Unwind with this relaxing wordsearch Breathe Calm Candle Chill Colour Hyrate Meditate Positivity Puzzle Read Run Stressball Tea Unwind Walk Yoga
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