TC245: 5 Tips for Soul-Care

In this episode of the Transformation Cafe podcast, host Robin Masiewicz and regulars Jamie and Gloria discuss tips for nurturing our self (little "s") and our Self (big "S"). Robin refers to this work as Soul Care.Our Higher Self will communicate with us in various ways: through intuition, hunches, sudden unexpected life changes, etc. We may or may not choose to listen or act on those communications.5 Tips for Soul CareBreath work - The breath is our anchor. Practices such as Qigong (http://transformation-cafe.com/tc220/) and Yoga (http://transformation-cafe.com/tc219/)combine breath work with movement, and are highly recommended. We recently featured an interview with Kiyomi Kagiyama (http://transformation-cafe.com/tc220/), Qigong instructor and artist, and Lauren Rovira (http://transformation-cafe.com/tc221/), yoga teacher and owner of Source Studio in Riverside, California. We've included links to a couple of breathing meditations in the Resources section below if you'd like to practice on your own.Movement - Recently we featured Dr. Ted Pena (http://transformation-cafe.com/tc233/) in a discussion if the benefits of movement for your physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. Movement can be combined with your mindfulness practice to enhance harmony between mind, body, and spirit. Walking, dancing, or even simple stretches will help keep your body flexible and improve your balance and mobility.Spending time in Nature - Make time every day to connect with nature. Go outside, sink your bare feet in the grass, put your palms on a tree, take a look at the sky, and just breath it all in. Take outdoor walks or hikes as often as possible. Create an herb garden. Play in the sand or make mud pies with the little ones. If you want to bring nature indoors than fresh houseplants and flowers are a great way to go. You can even keep a jar of sea shells, acorns, or pine cones on your desk to remind you of the outdoors.(http://transformation-cafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/woman-relaxing-in-leaves-sm.jpg)Journaling - Recording your innermost thoughts, hopes, fears, and desires through writing is a form of self-expression that leads to all-around better understanding. You don't have to worry about what to write, just write whatever comes into your mind and allow yourself to explore your thoughts and feelings. You can write on paper (my preference) or type it out, whichever you prefer, but we recommend making it a daily practice to write at least a page a day. In The Artist's Way (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1585421464/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1585421464&linkCode=as2&tag=transfcafe-20&linkId=PAFPDBOFQ5CBBVC5)(http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=transfcafe-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1585421464), author Julia Cameron three handwritten pages or 750 words every morning.Tea Time - Brewing a cup of your favorite herbal tea and sitting down to enjoy each sip can help you feel less stressed-out. Chamomile is one of the most consumed teas behind black tea, and helps to relieve stress due to its soothing and mildly sedative effect. Mint is also popular - peppermint soothes the digestive tract and is helpful for heartburn and nausea. Other tea drinks such as Chai, an Indian drink made from boiled milk, black tea, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, fennel, clove and black pepper are also popular and good for your digestion and immune system. Studies (http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/94/2/601.abstract?sid=c3d63130-3cc4-47e1-9441-ac56483087f1)have shown the numerous health benefits of drinking green tea, although if you are trying to relax you might want to get the kind without caffeine.(http://transformation-cafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/woman-with-tea-200x300.jpg)To order tea online, check out our friend Louise Carruth's Little Candle Tea Company (http://littlecandletea.com/). Resources:Breathing Meditation