Are you Feeling Resentful?

No doubt that all of us have felt resentment during our lives. Have you felt hurt by someone, or perhaps you have been the one to upset someone else and feel guilty about this?

When we have felt betrayed, hurt or done-wrong-by, it can be hard just to forgive and forget, accumulating to strong sensations of resentment. Resentment can then make us experience deep feelings of sadness, pain and anger. It can lead to lowered self-esteem and even make us feel unworthy. Over time, it can be very damaging - not just to ourselves but also to people around us.

Caroline Rushforth, an NLP Coach, points out in her latest article that, although it is human nature to mentally revisit upsetting experiences as a way of processing the experience, holding onto resentment is considered a way of punishing yourself or the other person. Carrying around feelings of resentment, you can hurting yourself, as it drains your resources. However, Caroline is adamant that it is entirely your own choice - it is your own internal processing system that determines how you feel about what others have said or done.

In her article, Caroline goes onto explain how we can deal with resentment and let go off it. Please read the full article attached below - and let all your resentment go!

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-6778/How-to-Let-Go-of-Resentment.html 

Beautiful Online Christmas Calendars

It's that time of the year again when adults and children alike are getting ready for another Christmas. It seems that for many, it is the run-up to Christmas that excites them more than Christmas itself. Buying presents for loved ones, decorating the tree, baking yummy foods... Christmas itself always seems to go by so fast!

Another lovely Christmas tradition that in particular children love is having an Advent or Christmas Calendar. It is the highlight of children's mornings during December to each day open a new window in the calendar and discover a new picture, saying or even a sweet. Nowadays, there are so many different kinds of calendars to choose from, from the funny ones to more spiritual ones, that there is bound to be a suitable one for all of us.

If you fancy trying out an online Christmas Calendar this year, here is an excellent link that gives you ten different ones to choose from and will be a splendid way to start each of your days during December:


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/30/online-advent-calendars_n_789288.html

'My First Book of Christmas Songs' by Bergerac

It is that time of the year again when all of my piano students start asking me to bring Christmas songs along to our lessons. Everyone has their favourite ones that they want to learn - yet, some arrangements can be tricky for beginner and lower intermediate learners.

Luckily I came across 'My First Book of Christmas Songs', by Bergerac. This book includes 20 well-known Christmas songs in easy piano arrangements, making them accessible to learners at any level. The songs are organized in order of difficulty and so the beginning of the book contains those that even beginners can play (such as 'an easy version of 'Silent Night') and the end of the book contains more elaborate versions of Christmas classics.

If you love Christmas songs, check out the book and dive into the wonderful world of Christmas music:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/First-Christmas-Songs-Dover-ebook/dp/B008TVLOY8

Online Yoga Communities - a growing trend

Over the past year, I have seen many online yoga communities spring up. Often such sites offer home practice advice, videos and other tips on how to improve your yoga practice or how to start one. They are great for busy people who cannot attend a regular yoga class or for anyone else looking for some sort of support and guidance for their yoga practice at home.

One such a yoga website and online yoga community launched recently is called Yoga Guardian. I have been following them for some weeks now and I can warmly recommend their home videos that are posted on their online forum once a week. They offers tips and advice that are easy to incorporate into your daily practice, whether this takes places as formal yoga practice or more as a philosophy that you apply to your life.

The site is suitable for beginners, as well as more advanced practitioners. One of the most attractive features of the site is that it emphasises how yoga is a way of life. In fact, as soon as you enter the site, you are taken to the calming world of yoga through peaceful music and beautiful photos.

Why not take a look at their site and also find them on Facebook? You never know, they might be the  yoga community that you have been looking for

http://www.yogaguardian.com/

https://www.facebook.com/YogaGuardian 

Get Yoga Stretching at the Stretch Studio in East London

Stretch, a new yoga studio located in London Fields in East London, has opened its doors. The studio is a friendly space for trying out yoga, deepening your practice or simply popping in for some relaxation.

The classes on offer range from dynamic yoga to pregnancy yoga, offering something for everyone. The class schedule has been designed to suit the needs of individuals with different daily timetables. All the teachers are excellently trained professionally and the staff are friendly.

Also, the drop in and class pass prices are on the more affordable side of the scale - so you have no excuse but to go and try yoga out if you don't live far from the area!

For more information, please see the studio's website:

http://www.stretchlondon.org/

  

Farmers' Markets in London

Although London is a huge cosmopolitan city, it is easy to find places for relaxation and for 'the village feeling'. The green parks and squares are such places and so are the little cobbled alleyways, with small old fashioned tea houses and book shops.

Another countryside-ish phenomenon that has sprang up across London over the past couple of years is Farmers' Markets. Such markets sell fresh veggies, fruit and baked goods from farmers themselves. You can also find homemade organic cheese and eggs from such markets. The markets often take place over the weekends on square, parking lots or any other wider spaces in residential areas.

To find the closet market to your house and for more specific information on products that are sold on the markets, see the link below:

http://www.lfm.org.uk/  

Amaia - Adorable Children's Clothes

Amaia, a children's clothes shop, opened its new branch close to where I live in London. I wandered in one day and couldn't help myself spending some time adoring their beautiful clothes. Each piece of clothing is unique and you can only imagine children looking stunning in such pretty clothes.

Not to worry if you don't live in London yet love the look of the clothes - although the shop has a couple of stores across London, they also sell their products online.

Take a look at their winter catalogue here:

http://www.amaiakids.co.uk/engine/shop/index.html

Time Out Magazine... Now a Freebie!

The historic Time Out magazine that lists happenings and events across London is now being given out for free! It is handed out on Tuesday mornings at tube stations, main railway stations and also some museums and galleries.

If you are not around such places on Tuesday mornings, you can also pick up a free copy from selected museums and galleries during the week. You can also order it to be sent to your home every week, and you only need to pay for the postage.

Have a look for more details in the link below - and have some deserved Time Out!

http://www.timeout.com/london/free-mag/

Cave Rescue... and Stories about it

Lucy Dawson has written many novels in her lifetime, yet the latest one somehow caught my attention. It tells a story about a girl who gets lost in an underwater cave and a cave rescue team needs to come and save her. The story is gripping and you literally want to finish the whole book at one sitting.

The book also got me thinking about the importance of operations such as cave divers. Take a look at this site for some inspiring stories - and also here is Lucy Dawson's website:

http://cro.org.uk/

http://www.lucydawsonbooks.co.uk/ 

All Things Liquorice

I'm kind of wishing now that I hadn't come across this online shop.... I am the biggest liquorice lover that you could possibly think of. Now, baring that in mind, imagine me finding an online shop that has dedicated itself for selling different types of liquorice from different countries - Heaven on Earth, as they say!

All Things Liquorice sells all types of liquorice from most European countries, New Zealand and the US. They ship all over the world too. If you have a liquorice graving but can't find the stuff in the local shops around where you live, head to this site and stock up on your goodies!

http://www.allthingsliquorice.co.uk/content/top/home.html  

New Personal Website

Dear Readers, I have a new personal website that brings you up to date information on all my ventures. The website has sections for my educational, music, charity and writing work.

This blog and other sites that I write to are linked to it so that everyone can happily see what is going on in my world!

The web address is:www.tiijarinta.com

A Totally Swedish Shop in London

Knowing that I won't be going to Finland for Christmas this year, I started missing some Scandinavian Christmas foods this weekend. The Finnish Church in London has a shop that sells all kinds of Finnish foods, but they are located a little far from where I live. Luckily, however, the Swedish Church is just around the corner from my house and they also have a shop!

I have been to the shop, Totally Swedish, a couple of times before, but never bought anything as I always felt that the prices were triple to those in Scandinavia. This weekend I decided to treat myself, though, to their Christmas goodies. I left the shop with a bag filled with ginger cookies, rye bread and lingonberry jam. I noticed that they sell ingredients for making all kinds of Christmas foods as well, so I will definitely pay them another visit closer to the Festive Season!

If you are in need of, or just curious about, Scandinavian foods, pay the Totally Swedish a visit -

http://www.totallyswedish.com/en/about  

'Poems of Essence: Life, Love & Pain' by Marie Skilling

I got in touch with an old friend from university earlier this year, because we both share a passion for yoga and have spent time in South Asia. Thanks to modern social networking sites, it is easy nowadays to connect with those who share interests with you. Another passion that we both have is writing, as I discovered whilst chatting to her about yoga. This friend has, in fact, recently published her first book of poetry. She also writes a regular blog and is working on other pieces of writing, in addition to doing photography work and teaching tantric yoga.

I was excited to order a copy of the poetry book titled 'Poems of Essence: Life, Love and Pain', and to discover what sort of poetry it held inside. I was taken to a world deeply touched by the essence of life, coloured with deep feelings of love and pain. What I enjoyed most about the book was the beautiful words used in delivering the essence of each poem, which all contained small stories, journeys and experiences from the author's life. The book is autobiographical and I am sure that it has taken much courage from the author to share her life journey with us through her poems.

I would like to share the links to the author's website and blog here where you can take a glimpse of her writing, as well as order a copy of her poetry book, should you feel like reading some beautiful poems about life:

http://marieskilling.com/

http://picouture.com/

Sundaes on a Sunday

Wondering down Brick Lane in East London yesterday, I recalled a lovely cafe in the end of the street. I had popped in earlier in the year after visiting the Columbia Road Flower Market around the corner. The cafe is called Benets and serves some of the best hot chocolate in town!

Benets started off as a one-off shop in Cambridge in the UK, with its specialty being different flavoured ice-creams. And these ice-creams are truly divine! They are the creamy Italian type, with flavours ranging from Snickers to Black Forest Berries. They also make delicious smoothies and sundaes out of these creamy pleasures, which without a doubt would be a delightful surprise for anyone's birthday. In addition to ice-cream, they serve sweet and savoury crepes and pancakes, as well as other dishes and hot drinks.

Having proved to be a popular cafe, Benets soon expanded to London and now has one shop in Brick Lane. They host events, exhibitions and gigs, and have a license to sell alcohol during the evenings.

You can find them on Facebook and be lured into popping in for a sundae or a glass of something warm:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Benets-brick-lane/332925613400545

Pearls to Wellness

Many of my friends have recently complained about feeling stressed out or tired, and wanting to do something about it. It feels that the modern lifestyle is wearing people down, with everyone running from place to place and having tons of things to do.

Most of us find out own ways of dealing with the pressures of modern life. Like for myself, yoga has always been a refuge and I cannot imagine my life with my yoga practice. Sometimes it is just a matter of time to figure out the most suitable and beneficial ways to counteract stress for yourself.

When you are on this journey to enhanced well-being, tips and suggestions from others may help a great deal. This is why I want to share with you the link to an excellent online wellness community that shares advice and ideas on how to live healthier and more fulfilling lives in the 21st century:

www.mindbodygreen.com