A new friend of mine from the Human Garage where I do Community Meet-Ups with inspired me to write about this. It was not particularly CHANGE she was talking about, but it doesn’t matter what you pick, it is about the inquiry within and giving it up to the universe. It goes for example like this: Ask 3 times: ‘Universe what does change smell like?’ Then wait 3 days for the answer – the universe will give/send you a sign. To some of us change brings feeling of anxiety up and for others excitement. So it is also about perception, because both of the feeling have the same energy level. What does LOVE sound like to you?
I don’t know what is more interesting to you to go into exploring more – Love or Change? Pick one. I would love to hear what you found out for yourself as you explore your senses. There is obviously no right or wrong – just a beautiful variety, like the colors of the rainbow.
I decided this is the last blog I wrote in this form. I feel the excitement of change and will do something different on this page đ
Lately I have been contemplating about space. Space within us, around us and all aspects of it. We use the word quite often like: making physical space – for oneself, others, things creating space – physically within oneself or in sense of time for others or things being in an other space mentally feeling space around oneself or within space between thoughts spacing out observing space need of personal space
I think the list can go on and is something worth exploring on and off the mat.
* * * What Does Space Mean Space, in its various forms, is more than emptiness – it is a dynamic entity that holds relationships, possibilities, and meaning. Whether external or internal, space shapes how we interact with the world and ourselves, making it a foundational aspect of existence.
The concept of “space” encompasses various meanings depending on context – ranging from the physical and tangible to the emotional and abstract. Here’s an exploration of its layers:
PERSONAL SPACE Personal space refers to the physical and psychological boundaries individuals maintain to feel secure, comfortable, and autonomous. * Physical Boundaries: The immediate area surrounding a person, often called their “bubble.” Varies across cultures, contexts, and relationships (e.g., intimate space, social space, public space). Protects privacy and provides comfort – violations can lead to discomfort or stress. Emotional Space: The mental boundaries that allow individuals to process feelings and maintain individuality in relationships. A need for alone time or solitude to recharge and reflect. Relational Dynamics: The negotiation of space in social settings, such as proximity in conversations or shared living arrangements. Respecting personal space fosters trust and mutual respect.
BEING IN SPACE This idea relates to the experience of occupying or existing in a specific environment, often emphasizing context and the nature of the space. * Physical Presence: Existing in a location, such as a room, park, or even the vastness of outer space. Involves sensory engagement – seeing, hearing, touching, and feeling the surroundings. Outer Space: A more expansive interpretation, referring to the universe beyond Earth. The experience of being in space involves awe, a sense of scale, and often a humbling perspective of humanityâs place in the cosmos. Symbolic Presence: Being in a space can imply participation or belonging, such as “being in a creative space” or “a safe space.” A state of engagement with the environment or community around oneself.
THE SPACE WITHIN This refers to the internal dimensions of a person – their thoughts, emotions, and spiritual essence. It often connects to introspection and self-awareness. * Mental Space: The capacity to think, imagine, and dream. A quiet, internal domain that allows for creativity, problem-solving, and personal growth. Emotional Space: The ability to process and hold emotions, whether they are one’s own or those of others. Creating space within oneself for empathy, compassion, or healing. Spiritual Space: The inner realm where one connects with a sense of purpose, meaning, or the divine. Often cultivated through practices like meditation, prayer, or reflection.
Monday 06.01. Personal Space Flow
Wednesday 08.01. Personal Space Flow
Thursday 09.01. Open Theme Yogis Choice
Friday 10.01. Personal Space Slow Flow
Monday 13.01. Space Within Flow
Wednesday 15.01. Space Within Blind Flow
Thursday 16.01. Open Theme Yogis Choice
Friday 17.01. Space Within Flow
Monday 20.01. Safe Space Slow Flow
Wednesday 22.01. Safe Space Flow
Thursday 23.01. Open Theme Yogis Choice
Friday 24.01. Safe Space Flow
Monday 27.01. Space – Time Flow
Wednesday 29.01. Space – Time Flow
Thursday 30.01. Open Theme Yogis Choice
Friday 31.01. Space – Time Slow Flow
I am grateful for the safe space we share where we can be our authentic selves đ
In the last two months I found myself not catching a breather with all that has been going on in my life. I know I am not the only one who has been hit right and left with daily tasks and other challenges. Even though I tried to stay true to myself, it was difficult at times not to get swept away by the craziness of the world as well as of the people close and around me.
This morning I received this poem above from a dear friend of mine and it reminded me of what this time of the year is about and it reflects how I have been feeling.
Here is the translation: “Stand still and don’t rush and look at the small, quiet light. Just have time for yourself to be completely carefree. Let your senses rest and have the courage to do nothing. Let this wind world turn and have the heart not to see it. Be human again and child again and feel how happy children are. Then you are separated from all haste on the way to Advent.”
* * *
Since I have been back home I felt I needed to find my own flow to keep up with things in my pace; not feeling pressured by what is going on around me, my own perfectionism and need to please.
Slowing down amidst the chaos is a radical act of self-kindness. It’s about recognizing that productivity and purpose don’t always align with constant motion. Instead of being swept up in the rush of “everything that should be done,” slowing down allows space to reconnect with what truly matters – your own flow, your authentic rhythm.
Finding your flow means tuning into the pace that lets you align action with intention. It’s not about ignoring responsibilities but about approaching them from a place of care, not pressure. When you honor this flow, you give yourself the gift of presence, allowing moments of peace to guide you instead of the relentless pull of urgency.
Being good to oneself in this process isn’t indulgent – it’s essential. It means listening to your needs, embracing rest without guilt, and creating a life that nourishes your spirit instead of draining it. Slowing down becomes a practice of resilience, a way to stay whole in a world that often demands fragments.
With all of this in mind it is easier to listen within and be good to myself and do what resonates with it.
The last years I was earlier with our intention setting, but it is never too late đ
Monday 09.12. Physical Intention Slow Flow
Wednesday 11.12. Physical Intention Flow
Thursday 12.12. Open Theme Yogis Choice
Friday 13.12. Physical Intention Flow
Monday 16.12. Emotional Intention Flow
Wednesday 18.12. Emotional Intention Flow
Thursday 19.12. Open Theme Yogis Choice
Friday 20.12. Emotional Intention Slow Flow
Monday 23.12. Mental Intention Flow
Wednesday 25.12. Mental Intention Slow Flow
Thursday 26.12. Open Theme Yogis Choice
Friday 27.12. Mental Intention Flow
Monday 30.12. Mental Intention Slow Flow
I am wishing you all a wonderful & peaceful Season filled with gratitude.
I was listening to the recording of David Whyte’s first Sunday of three about “A matter of life and death”. It strikes me interesting that I signed up for it before my mother died and now listening to it he talks about his mother’s death.
But what really hit home was what he said about innocence, not being naivety, but rather a deeper form of awareness.
That’s a beautiful way to put it. Innocence often gets confused with naivety, as if it implies an absence of experience or knowledge. But true innocence, in this deeper sense, is more about a conscious choice to see the world with an open heart and a sense of wonder, despite understanding its complexities. It’s a kind of awareness that allows for compassion and hope without denying the darker realities of life.
Innocence as awareness means that a person sees things as they are but chooses kindness and authenticity, embodying a purity of intention that isnât rooted in ignorance but in mindful optimism. It’s like choosing to stay grounded in what’s good and meaningful, even when confronted with what isn’t.
For me it is a whole new perspective that is gentle and powerful at the same time. If you still get a chance to sign up for this series, I can only recommend it. It is inspiring, thought provoking and beautiful.
Wednesday 13.11. Innocence Blind Flow
Thursday 14.11. Open Theme Yogis Choice
Friday 15.11. Innocence Flow
Monday 18.11. Innocence Flow
Wednesday 20.11 Innocence Flow
Thursday 21.11. Open Theme Yogis Choice
Friday 22.11. Innocence Slow Flow
Wednesday 27.11. TBA Flow
Thursday 28.11. Open Theme Yogis Choice
Friday 29.11. TBA Flow
I don’t know about you, but I choose to be innocent đ
I recently was invited to an online seminar from David Whyte again and was very intrigued by the title. As I was reading the introduction to this Sunday series you see below, I felt the urge to share it with you. I love how he expresses the journey to change.
* * * “A Matter of Life and Death is a title that allows me the excuse to work with all the things that are so important to us, but that often lie beneath the immobility of our every day habits and little addictions, waiting to be touched, brought to life and then brought out into a waiting world. One of the most difficult gifts a human being can give themselves is the self-permission to pursue a life they have intuited might be possible for themselves, but where they have not dared to grant themselves a real beginning.Â
With just a little courage, and with just a little willingness to die a tiny bit everyday from our present lives we can start to uncover the as yet hidden place from which we can begin. Underneath the constant busyness, the refusals to hear the call: underneath all of our often misplaced priorities, beyond the boredom that arises from our operating on automatic, each of us has a ground onto which we can step and from which we can step into a new adventure.
But no matter our grand designs or far-off goals, the ability to bring our gifts to light is often dependent on the subtle, everyday art and practice of saying hello and saying goodbye in the crucial, often life changing moments of our every day.” ~ David Whyte (Three Sundays in November) * * *
When I was writing all of this on Sunday 29.09., I didn’t know that I would be called the next day to be apart of a matter of life or death in my family. Nor did I have an idea what transformational experience this would bring to me. Further more I feel it will keep on changing and molding things in various parts of my life for the future. I can feel how sadness and joy is the same spectrum of energy and how my perspective changes it one way or the other. I am feeling deep gratitude.
Wednesday 02.10. Recording Flow
Friday 04.10. Recording Flow
Monday 07.10. TBA Flow
Wednesday 09.10. TBA Flow
Thursday 10.10. Open Theme Yogis Choice
Friday 11.10. TBA Slow Flow
Monday 14.10. TBA Flow
Wednesday 16.10. TBA Slow Flow
Thursday 17.10. Open Theme Yogis Choice
Friday 18.10 TBA Flow
Maybe this resonates with you as much as it does with me, and you will join also this promising November event đ
I always plan on having a day off to not do anything or just the things I feel like doing. But then there is something that I see that needs to be done or something comes up and that day “is taken from me again”. Of course all this comes back to setting boundaries for yourself, self-care, self-love, worthiness, …
I believe that is why it is easier to do nothing or to do what our heart desires when we go on vacation. There we are more likely to open up to new experiences, have other interactions and generally feeling more alive and inspired. Can we maybe have a little one or two day self-retreats in our home? Approaching it with the same mind-set like going on vacation without needing to pack? đ
I started recently to change my language when I talk to myself or to other people. Instead of saying ‘I have to’, ‘ I need to’, ‘I should’ and replace it with ‘I CHOOSE TO or ‘I DO IT WITH EASE’. For example, instead of saying “I have to go now “, I say “I choose to go now”. Try it, and see how that feels to you. For me it feels empowering and positive and takes some of the pressure away.
Some of you might be better in taking time for yourself than others. Here are some thoughts about it. I am sure that they are not new to you, but I think a good reminder.
The concept of “The Art Of Doing Nothing” is a profound and often challenging one, especially in a world that values productivity and constant activity. It’s about allowing yourself to simply be, without the need to do, accomplish, or achieve. However, many people find it difficult to truly relax without feeling guilty, restless, or pressured by the endless “to-dos” that linger in the back of their minds.
* * * Why Itâs Hard to Relax?
Cultural Conditioning Society often equates worth with productivity. From a young age, we’re taught to value hard work and achievement. This conditioning can make doing nothing feel like wasting time or being lazy.
Fear of Falling Behind The fast pace of modern life, especially with the influence of social media, creates a constant pressure to keep up with others. Whether itâs career achievements, personal milestones, or even leisure activities, thereâs a fear of missing out or not being enough.
Internalized Expectations Over time, external pressures can become internalized, turning into a constant mental checklist. Even in moments meant for rest, these “have-tos” and “need-tos” can intrude, making it difficult to fully unwind.
* * * Ways to Learn How to Embrace Doing Nothing
Mindfulness Practice Engaging in mindfulness can help train the mind to focus on the present moment without judgment. This can reduce the guilt and restlessness that often accompany inactivity. Practices like meditation, deep breathing, or simply being aware of your surroundings can anchor you in the now.
Reframing Rest Rest is not a reward for work well done; itâs a necessity for overall well-being. Just as our bodies need sleep to function, our minds need downtime to reset and recharge. Reframing rest as an essential part of a balanced life can help alleviate the guilt associated with doing nothing.
Setting Boundaries Itâs important to create boundaries around your time and energy. This might mean scheduling time to do nothing or setting limits on work and social obligations. By doing so, you give yourself permission to relax without the weight of external pressures.
Gentle Self-Compassion Treat yourself with kindness and understanding. Acknowledge that itâs okay to feel guilty or restless but remind yourself that you deserve moments of rest. Over time, this self-compassion can make it easier to let go of the need to constantly be doing something.
* * * Balancing Productivity and Rest
It’s important to find a balance that works for you. Some people might naturally lean towards being more active and productive, while others might find it easier to relax. The key is to listen to your body and mind, recognize when you need to slow down, and give yourself the grace to do so without guilt. After all, doing nothing can be just as valuable as doing something.
Monday 02.09. Three Breaths Flow
Wednesday 04.09. Feel & Align Slow Flow
Thursday 05.09. Open Theme Yogis Choice
Friday 06.09. Activating The Second Heart Flow
Monday 09.09. Back to the Basics Slow Flow
Wednesday 11.09. Back to the Basics Flow
Thursday 12.09. Open Theme Yogis Choice
Friday 13.09. Back to the Basics Flow
Monday 16.09. Magical 108 Meditative Flow
Wednesday 18.09. Adding-on Meditative Flow
Thursday 19.09. Open Theme Yogis Choice
Friday 20.09. 3-Breaths Slow Flow
Monday 23.09. Twisting with Ease Flow
Wednesday 25.09. Seated Basics Slow Flow
Thursday 26.09. Open Theme Yogis Choice
Friday 27.09. Applying the Basics Flow
Monday 30.09. Feel the Basics Slow Flow
Savasana in the end of each yoga class is a great opportunity to practice doing nothing. As Urs says in the end of his classes so beautifully :”Enjoy the time where you don’t have to do anything and no-one wants anything from you”!
This is my second year of been a member of an astro-website called Sirius Joy. Every year during this time starting in leo season you can take part in a journey – 40 days of self-love. I thought it was time to go down this road! I had no idea how difficult it is to determine within myself when is my heart talking and when my mind. Anyhow, I thought it is a practice we all benefit from. I have talked about it before, but maybe this time you find for yourself new impulses that resonate with you as you are not the same person as last time when I was offering to dive into self-love đ
* * * Throughout life, we juggle multiple relationships, often with family, friends, co-workers and romantic partners. One relationship we may neglect, however, is the one with ourselves.
Self-love can be defined as an appreciation of oneâs own worth or virtue. That includes accepting yourself as you are, prioritizing your needs, setting healthy boundaries and forgiving yourself when needed. Treating yourself with kindness and respect means taking time to take care of your overall well-being.
Honoring yourself is the first step in a lifelong journey to nurturing personal growth and learning to manage adversity. Self-love can be a challenge, but by prioritizing the practice, youâll start seeing resultsâincluding a number of health benefits. (go to full article – Forbes Health)
13 Steps to Achieving Total Self-Love
Even if you donât feel particularly powerful, think about how far youâve come, how youâve survived. Youâre here, right now, alive and powerful beyond your knowledge. And be patient with yourself. 1. Stop comparing yourself to others 2. Don’t worry about other’s opinions 3. Allow yourself to make mistakes 4. Remember your value doesn’t lie in how your body looks 5. Don’t be afraid to let go of toxic people 6. Process your fears 7. Trust yourself to make good decisions for yourself 8. Take every opportunity life presents create your own 9. Put yourself first 10. Feel pain und joy as fully as you can 11. Exercise boldness in public 12. See beauty in the simple things 13. Be kind to yourself
Self-love may not happen overnight. But with time, it will settle itself into your heart. Yes, you may struggle, but youâll look back on these moments and see how they were stepping stones on your journey to being the best you. (read more Healthline)
Lately I have found myself in the wave of emotions that come up when I keep on procrastinating tasks. I started to change my language from have to and need to into choose to. But this alone is not enough. Maybe you remember me talking about that 50% of the yoga practice is already done when you are on your mat?! đ
It is incredible how much resistance can come up or how many other to does come to mind to avoid what we have been procrastinating. And that even knowing how much better we feel afterwards or already while doing it! Is it really about overcoming our “inner pig dog” or is there more behind it?
I came across this great article you might enjoy as much as I did. (New York Times 2019)
If you are not up for reading the whole article here are a few of the interesting studies: Etymologically, âprocrastinationâ is derived from the Latin verb procrastinare â to put off until tomorrow. But itâs more than just voluntarily delaying. Procrastination is also derived from the ancient Greek word akrasia â doing something against our better judgment.
âProcrastination is an emotion regulation problem, not a time management problemâ Procrastination isnât a unique character flaw or a mysterious curse on your ability to manage time, but a way of coping with challenging emotions and negative moods induced by certain tasks â boredom, anxiety, insecurity, frustration, resentment, self-doubt and beyond.
âWe really werenât designed to think ahead into the further future because we needed to focus on providing for ourselves in the here and now,â Procrastination is a perfect example of present bias, our hard-wired tendency to prioritize short-term needs ahead of long-term ones. Dr. Hershfield’s research has shown that, on a neural level, we perceive our âfuture selvesâ more like strangers than as parts of ourselves. When we procrastinate, parts of our brains actually think that the tasks weâre putting off â and the accompanying negative feelings that await us on the other side â are somebody elseâs problem.
To make things worse, weâre even less able to make thoughtful, future-oriented decisions in the midst of stress. When faced with a task that makes us feel anxious or insecure, the amygdala â the âthreat detectorâ part of the brain â perceives that task as a genuine threat, in this case to our self-esteem or well-being. Even if we intellectually recognize that putting off the task will create more stress for ourselves in the future, our brains are still wired to be more concerned with removing the threat in the present. Researchers call this âamygdala hijack.â
âOur brains are always looking for relative rewards. If we have a habit loop around procrastination but we havenât found a better reward, our brain is just going to keep doing it over and over until we give it something better to doâ We must realize that, at its core, procrastination is about emotions, not productivity. The solution doesnât involve downloading a time management app or learning new strategies for self-control. It has to do with managing our emotions in a new way.
To rewire any habit, we have to give our brains the âBigger Better Offerâ or âB.B.O.â In the case of procrastination, we have to find a better reward than avoidance â one that can relieve our challenging feelings in the present moment without causing harm to our future selves. The difficulty with breaking the addiction to procrastination in particular is that there is an infinite number of potential substitute actions that would still be forms of procrastination, Dr. Brewer said. Thatâs why the solution must therefore be internal, and not dependent on anything but ourselves.
One option is to forgive yourself in the moments you procrastinate. Another tactic is the related practice of self-compassion, which is treating ourselves with kindness and understanding in the face of our mistakes and failures.
Healthier ways to manage the feelings that typically trigger procrastination
Cultivate curiosity If youâre feeling tempted to procrastinate, bring your attention to the sensations arising in your mind and body. What feelings are eliciting your temptation? Where do you feel them in your body? What do they remind you of? What happens to the thought of procrastinating as you observe it? Does it intensify? Dissipate? Cause other emotions to arise? How are the sensations in your body shifting as you continue to rest your awareness on them?
Consider the next action This is different than the age-old advice to break up a task youâre tempted to avoid into bite-sized chunks. According to Dr. Pychyl, focusing only on the ânext actionâ helps calm our nerves, and it allows for what Dr. Pychyl called âa layer of self-deception.â At the start of a given task, you can consider the next action as a mere possibility, as if you were method acting: âWhatâs the next action Iâd take on this if I were going to do it, even though Iâm not?â Maybe you would open your email. Or perhaps you would put the date at the top of your document. Donât wait to be in the mood to do a certain task. âMotivation follows action. Get started, and youâll find your motivation follows,â Dr. Pychyl said.
Make your temptations more inconvenient Itâs still easier to change our circumstances than ourselves, said Gretchen Rubin, author of âBetter Than Before: What I Learned About Making and Breaking Habits.â According to Ms. Rubin, we can take what we know about procrastination and âuse it to our advantageâ by placing obstacles between ourselves and our temptations to induce a certain degree of frustration or anxiety. If you compulsively check social media, delete those apps from your phone or âgive yourself a really complicated password with not just five digits, but 12,â Ms. Rubin said. By doing this, youâre adding friction to the procrastination cycle and making the reward value of your temptation less immediate.
Monday 01.07. Move with Ease Slow Flow
Wednesday 03.07. E-Motions Flow
Thursday 04.07. Open Theme Yogis Choice
Friday 05.07. Loving Kindness Flow
Monday 08.07. Commit to Yourself Flow
Wednesday 10.07. Sense to Receive Flow
Thursday 11.07. Open Theme Yogis Choice
Friday 12.07. Ground to Open Up Slow Flow
Monday 15.07. Consciously Connect Adding-on Flow
Wednesday 17.07. Bladder – Heart – Brain Organ Flow
Thursday 18.07. Open Theme Yogis Choice
Friday 19.07. Pelvis Awareness Flow
Monday 22.07. Let Love in Slow Flow
Wednesday 24.07. Enjoy the Journey Flow
Thursday 25.07. Open Theme Yogis Choice
Friday 26.07. Reconnect Flow
Monday 29.07. Giving ~ Receiving Flow
Wednesday 31.07. Midweek Detox Flow
Thank you for being so committed to your yoga practice and this global community đ
Love,
Nicole
2021 copyright nicoleohme
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