Quick Energizers

Are you feeling a bit tired, restless or out of sorts, stressed out with no time? Here are some quick fix suggestions.

1. Stand with your legs slightly apart and bring your hands up over your head hugging your ears. Clap the hands 8 times so the entire surface of the palms are firmly struck. Then bend forward and strike the ground with the palms 8 times. Repeat for a minute or so. Clapping massages the brain.
2. Cross Crawls -  Standing, raise the left leg to the chest while raising the right arm straight up. Then alternate arms and legs, co-ordinating with a powerful breath for 1-2 minutes. This exercise helps balance left and right hemispheres of the brain.
3. For your Nervous System - Stand or sit, look at the tip of your nose. Extend arms out straight to both sides, keep them straight with no bend in elbows and turn the palms down. Criss-cross them in front of you, horizontally, alternating over and under, while chanting Har continuously with the tip of the tongue each time the arms cross. Continue for 3-11 minutes. Works on your ability to 'Do' and gets rid of your 'junk'. Chanting Har stimulates the meridians in the upper palate and sound and mantra have a powerful positive effect on the glands.
4. Right Nostril Breathing. Block off the left nostril with the left thumb, and inhale and exhale long and deep through the right nostril. To end inhale through both nostrils, holding the breath 10 or more seconds, then exhale. Sit calmly and enjoy the energy for a few moments.
5. Stand Tall and raise hands over head and shake the entire body for 1-2 minutes. Works on the nervous system
6. Sit down on the floor and stretch your legs out straight. Reach for your toes, and stretch your nose to your knees. Continue for 2 minutes - this helps boost your energy

Having trouble sleeping?

If you want to Get Up, Set Up and Keep Up, it really starts the night before.  If you go to bed late or you have trouble sleeping you won't want to get up.  Here are some tips to wind down in the evening.

1.  Stop watching television or other activities later in the evening and spend a few minutes writing a list of things you want to do the next day.

2.  Avoid over eating, drinking caffeine or having sugar in the evening.  It is helpful to have some protein before bed.

3.  Drink a glass of water (don't go to bed thirsty)

4.  Give your feet a massage with Almond or your favourite Oil.  The feet have 72,000 nerve endings so by massaging your feet you're soothing your nervous system and organs.

5.  You might try sleeping on your right side, this allows the left nostril to be more dominant during sleep which brings in calm energy.  Check your posture, if you are sleeping on your side you can put a pillow between your knees, this takes pressure off your lower back. 

6.  Keep your room dark.  If you are exposed to light between 1.00am and 3.00am your melatonin levels decrease and your biorhythms are thrown off balance.

7.  Use Lavender Oil - put a few drops on your pillow.

8.  Train your subconscious by practicing setting your mental clock when to wake up - (best to have a back up plan to start though)

9.  Try Left Nostril Breathing before bed for a few minutes.  Block off the right nostril with your right thumb and breath in and out through the Left Nostril. 

10.  Try this meditation for 11 minutes to help alleviate the days stress.  Click here for Meditation

New Zealand Adventure Tour

Do you like having your hotels and itinerary booked, but still want to have lots of free time?  Here is a tour that does just that.  In Auckland you can visit the America's Cup Village, perhaps take a Harbour Cruise, or go bungy jumping from the Auckland Harbour Bridge.  While in Rotorua, visit the Polynesian Spa or go Zorbing, enjoy a Hangi Feast or scenic helicopter tour.  In Christchurch you could get up close to the Penguins at the Antartic Centre or take a day trip to Akaroa.  Experience a Haka Show in Queenstown, or enjoy a wine tour and  the thrill of a a ride on the Shotover Jet.  So much to do!
Click here for more info:

Hiking across England

Have you ever wanted to hike across a country?  The Wainwright route of England's Coast to Coast walk is listed as one of the top 10 walks in the world.  Mountain Travel/Sobek have 3 departures in July, August and September this year.  You will walk through remote charming villages, traverse three national parks, walk through woods, across rivers, stopping along the way to visit castles, quaint villages and pubs!  There is also vehicle support if you want to take a rest from walking.  The 16 day tour is fully escorted and you will stay in cozy family run Inns steeped in English Country Charm.  For more information click here

Oyster Inn - Waiheke Island

Best of the Best:  Oyster Inn on Auckland's Waiheke Island just named on Travel & Leisure's 2013 IT list as best new hotel.
http://www.theoysterinn.co.nz/