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Recent Posts
- New Website Under Construction
- There’s Magic in the Tissue
- Allowing Hands
- Breaking Free
- Chicken or Egg?
- The Flintstones Meets The Alexander Technique
- Hurry Up as a Marketing Tool!
- Conscious Slobbing
- On Taking Space – Creativity and the Alexander Technique
- Working on Your Self!
- Embracing the Hermit
- And Breathe
- I Let My Neck be Free! Notes from a Tree Trunk…
- Inhibition and a Cup of Tea
- Anatomy of a Dandelion Seed
- The Magic Stop
- Heave Awa’ Chaps I’m No Dead Yet!’
- I let my neck be free
- Art, Heart, Earth – Horizontal and Vertical Directions
- Procrastination
- 6 Words that Changed my Life
- The Power of No!
- Don’t Throw the Baby Out With the Bath Water!
- The Problem with Posture
- Injury, The Pentagram and The Alexander Technique
- Be Calmed
- Retirement and the Alexander Technique
- Injury and The Alexander Technique
- The Encyclopaedia of Ease – W – Z
- The Encyclopaedia of Ease T-V
- The Encyclopaedia of Ease – S
- The Encyclopaedia of Ease – R
- The Encyclopaedia of Ease P-Q
- The Encyclopaedia of Ease – N-O
- The Encylopaedia of Ease – M
- The Encyclopaedia of Ease – L
- The Encylopaedia of Ease I – K
- The Encyclopaedia of Ease E – H
- The Encyclopaedia of Ease A – E
- I Like Myself!
- The Magic is Now!
- The Happiness of Grass
- No Room For Doubt!
- BALLS!
- Prayer to my Horse
- The Perfect Circle – A Lesson from Art History to Apply to Riding
- Disillusionment and Creativity
- Spaced Out!
- In Our Hands
- A Flicker of Light – Playing Horse and Rider
- Enjoy A Breather
- To Earth We Return
- Messages from Trees
- Is Your Head Screwed On Right?
- Once Upon a Time …
- You’ve Got It Already!
- How to get a sore neck!
- Enthusiasm
- Trust! A Door to Ease and Creativity…
- How to Be a Flop!
- Where’s Your Birdie?
- Please Your Self!
- Happy Hibernating
- Good Morning Here I Am …
- The Daily Ease
- Enough is Enough!
- The Opposite of Creativity is not Destruction, it’s Stagnation!
- Drinking Water with a Fork
- Stuff and Nonsense!
- Finding my Inner FUP IT!
- The Weird Wonderful World of Alexander Technique
- From Gratitude to Grrr-Attitude!
- Rampage of Appreciation – Training to be an Alexander Technique Teacher
- On Being Wiggly – part 2
- On Being Wiggly
- How do you make decisions?
- What is the Alexander Technique? 12 – 14 Year Olds Answer
- The Unbearable Lightness of Being a Horse
- ‘Planet Long Neck’ – A Visual Blog
- Why the Alexander Technique can be Likened to Farting!
- If You Want to Set a Goal Don’t Tell The Devil!
- Alexander’s Story (a truly terrible verse)
- Lean on Me
- Is it useful learning Alexander Technique at School and if so, why?
- Alexander Technique Drawings
- Hard Cheese!
- It’s all about the words …
- The Giraffe
- Why an Alexander Technique Colouring Book?
- The Daily Ease – A Walk in the Woods
- The Really Random Magic Show
- Ki – How I Discovered Alexander Technique
- Mind the Gap!
- Tongues!
- Humphrey!
- Alexander Technique Is Like Harry Potter World!
- ‘Doing Alexander Technique at School is Legendary!’
- 101 Life Lessons from my Dog
- 101 Life Lessons from My Dog – Part 2 (66 – 101)
- A Stitch In Time Saves Nine
- ‘It’s the Jeremy Kyle Show Miss!’
- Horse Ease – Geeks, Gals and Gee Gee’s
- The Naughty Step!
- STOPPING – The Most Magical Gift of All!
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Category Archives: Daily Ease
New Website Under Construction
My new look website is under construction. Formerly the Daily Ease this is now morphing into If Wishes Were Horses and is under construction. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions at info@ifwisheswerehorses.co.uk Or visit … Continue reading
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Breaking Free
Over the past eighteen months, due to injury, I’ve been neither teacher nor pupil. During lockdown I could have seized the opportunity to learn and teach online, but having appointments with my computer seemed a waste of an opportunity to … Continue reading
Posted in Daily Ease
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Chicken or Egg?
With lockdown I chose to allow myself to embrace the opportunity to switch off rather than zoom in. A conscious decision to see if allowing space and stopping really does allow balance and something extraordinary to happen, as we teach … Continue reading
Posted in Ache - ease, Awareness - ease, Cartoons, Daily Ease, Letting Go, Sketch Ease
Tagged alexander technique, Chicken Wisdom, Incubation, Isolation
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The Flintstones Meets The Alexander Technique
This is the best thing I’ve made for my garden – a place to lie in semi supine aka constructive rest. Made from reclaimed decking with slates as a place to rest my head. I have my wooden bed and … Continue reading
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Hurry Up as a Marketing Tool!
The command to ‘hurry up’ is used as a marketing tool. It creates anxiety and fear and is a pretty rotten way of manipulating people. Hurry up to buy or you will miss out on this amazing opportunity to have, … Continue reading
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Conscious Slobbing
I love a good turn of phrase and a friend came out with this one last week, slightly regretfully, in that he felt he hadn’t done enough during lockdown. ‘Thats brilliant! Conscious slobbing, I love it! That is enough. Thats … Continue reading
Posted in Ache - ease, Anatom-ease, Body Magic, Cartoons, Daily Ease, Letting Go, Semi Supine
Tagged alexander technique, constructive rest, letting go, semi supine
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On Taking Space – Creativity and the Alexander Technique
Nineteen Corvids by Kirsten Harris Continue reading
Working on Your Self!
In the Alexander Technique world we have an expression – learning to work on your self. It is an odd expression as it is more about doing less and non doing than work. It can mean noticing stuff such as thinking … Continue reading
Embracing the Hermit
Do we ever know where we are going? The world on the computer connecting for work or play, to teach or to learn, to party or to support, to fill time and stay busy, to fulfil roles and meet deadlines … Continue reading
And Breathe
About a month ago my 83 year old mother announced to me – ‘I’ve been listening to the news. If you can hold your breath for twenty minutes you don’t have the virus, and I can hold mine that long!’ … Continue reading
I Let My Neck be Free! Notes from a Tree Trunk…
Walking my dog Maisie yesterday I sat exhaustedly on the trunk of a fallen beech tree and put my hands on my head and prayed ‘what would you have me say, think or do next?’ To my amazement the breakdown … Continue reading
Posted in Ache - ease, Anatom-ease, Awareness - ease, Body Magic, Breathe, Daily Ease
Tagged alexander technique, Freedom, inspiration, Sore Neck
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Inhibition and a Cup of Tea
I am changing one small habit that drives me nuts and that is – not to use every cup in the house every day and end up with an unnecessary pile of washing up! One mouth, one mug! Dah! A … Continue reading
Anatomy of a Dandelion Seed
Seeds of Love by Kirsten Harris
Available as a print Continue reading
Posted in Audio Downloads, Body Magic, Cartoons, Constructive Rest, Daily Ease, Letting Go
Tagged change, letting go, Trust
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The Magic Stop
The Magic Stop by Kirsten Harris Continue reading
Posted in Body Magic, Breathe, Daily Ease, Habits, Horse Ease, Poise
Tagged alexander technique, Pausing, stopping
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Heave Awa’ Chaps I’m No Dead Yet!’
There’s a stone carved onto the entry of an ancient close in Edinburgh’s Royal Mile that says ‘Heave Awa Chaps I’m No Dead Yet.’ I used to see the stone every day. It made an impression. A 300 year old … Continue reading
Posted in Ache - ease, Anatom-ease, Daily Ease
Tagged alexander technique, fearlessness
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Art, Heart, Earth – Horizontal and Vertical Directions
I dreamt about Don Burton last night. Walter Carrington and some other teachers were there too. Don gave me an AT turn. It started seated, my head dropped forward onto a table in front. I was full of grief. He gently … Continue reading
Procrastination
I have been procrastinating! I know this because my beat-myself-up-with-a-great-big-mental-stick-you-lazy-useless-so-and-so ego was telling me so. Bad habit that particular form of self torture! The more the days of procrastination rolled by the more I started to notice that I was … Continue reading
Posted in Anatom-ease, Audio Downloads, Awareness - ease, Cartoons, Daily Ease
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6 Words that Changed my Life
I was standing at the sink this morning thinking that a happy life is found by converting perceived negatives into positives. Simple as that sounds it can sometimes be a big challenge to change one’s mind. It then struck me … Continue reading
Posted in Ache - ease, Cartoons, Children and Teenagers, Daily Ease, Dis-Ease, Habits
Tagged alexander technique
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The Power of No!
I teach my students a class which I call ‘The Power of No!’ I have taught it to children and riders to date. This blog is not a demo of the class which is a live class, but more an … Continue reading
Posted in Anatom-ease, Awareness - ease, Body Magic, Cartoons, Daily Ease, Habits, Sketch Ease
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Don’t Throw the Baby Out With the Bath Water!
Don’t Throw the Baby Out With the Bath Water! It’s a strange expression, but one I usually say to my students during their first lesson. The baby is The Alexander Technique. The bath water is the teacher! Teaching the Alexander … Continue reading
Posted in Cartoons, Daily Ease
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Injury, The Pentagram and The Alexander Technique
Points of Balance by Kirsten Harris Continue reading
Retirement and the Alexander Technique
How do you retire if you have been self employed all your life? Truth is I’ve never thought about retirement. Never ever! Artists don’t retire and neither do Alexander Technique teachers. They just get better at their job! I’ve never … Continue reading
Posted in Awareness - ease, Body Magic, Breathe, Daily Ease
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Injury and The Alexander Technique
Five months ago I tore the plantar plate on my 4th toe. The toe seems to be floating like a bit of seaweed. Oh joy! Frustrating as being lame is, I notice that I’m not suffering any aches and pains … Continue reading
The Encyclopaedia of Ease – W – Z
And lastly, W,X,Y,Z – and you may be asking why? I’m asking myself that too. Why have I spent two weeks writing an Encyclopaedia of Ease? I don’t really know, apart from the fact that I’ve enjoyed it and it’s … Continue reading
The Encyclopaedia of Ease T-V
T Trees, Trees Trees Trees Trees – Tree planting is a no brainer way to ease ourselves out of the mess we have got the planet into. We need to plant millions of them! They are the guardians. I am … Continue reading
The Encyclopaedia of Ease – S
The Encyclopaedia of Ease – Finding ease in everyday words for the fun of it, and because is ease is easier… Strategease – Not needing to have one, instead going with the flow and trusting your intuition. Succesease – Finding … Continue reading
The Encyclopaedia of Ease – R
The Encyclopaedia of Ease – finding ease in everyday words. Ease that you probably didn’t know was there. And now r… Roll your Rrrrrr’s in speech and movement. R R – or ah, or argh! Variations of Alexander Technique ‘whispered … Continue reading
The Encyclopaedia of Ease P-Q
The Encylopeadia of Ease – Messing about with words to find new ease meanings in everyday things, because ease is easier and who doesn’t want an easier life!? Today we are minding our P’s ‘n’ Q’s. There are all sorts … Continue reading
The Encyclopaedia of Ease – N-O
The Encyclopaedia of Ease – finding ease in existing words ‘psoas’ not to get bored! So now these two letters – N and O, very useful when used together for creating claritiease and boundarease. No is a small word, easy … Continue reading
The Encyclopaedia of Ease – L
The Encyclopaedia of Ease by Kirsten Harris – making up easy meanings for old words, because it seemed like a good idea at the time. Hope you enjoy my romp through the English language looking for ease….. Part 4 Welcome … Continue reading
Posted in Daily Ease
Tagged alexander technique, Alexander Technique cartoons, Ease, Kirsten Harris Art, semi supine
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The Encylopaedia of Ease I – K
I Idiocease – ‘Aha’ moments, when you realise you’ve been making things hard for yourself. Often accompanied by insights which cause the hand to be held to the forehead and the making of strange noises such as ‘Doh!’ Ignoramusease – … Continue reading
The Encyclopaedia of Ease E – H
Part 2 of the Encyclopaedia of Ease. My easy peasy lemon squeasy encyclopaedia for an easier life! Written for anyone who likes messing about with words, Alexander Technique, meditation, law of attraction, mindfulness, the power of the mind and all … Continue reading
Posted in Ache - ease, Anatom-ease, Awareness - ease, Cartoons, Daily Ease, Dis-Ease, Dog Ease, Horse Ease, Kid Ease, Love-Ease
Tagged alexander technique, Ease, Law of Attraction, Meditation, Mindfulness
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The Encyclopaedia of Ease A – E
Do you know your a, b, c’ease? Welcome to the Encyclopaedia of Ease… A Anatomease – An easier way to live in your body by knowing the bones and joints and having a clear understanding of how you co-ordinate and … Continue reading
The Magic is Now!
Every moment in every place in every country, every being has access to a portal to the magic kingdom (or magic queendom, if you prefer!) There is no other place in which to find magic apart from right here, or there, … Continue reading
The Happiness of Grass
I have been thinking a lot about grass! As you do! Under a powerful microscope grass looks like it is smiling. Grass is amazing stuff. Grass is happy and it sure has tenacity. No matter how trampled and muddy, parched … Continue reading
BALLS!
Balls! I am feeling frustrated! I recently broke my toe. I don’t know for sure as the NHS don’t X-ray toes (Fair enough!?) Since the injury I have been getting intermittent pins and needles in my arm. I KNOW this … Continue reading
Prayer to my Horse
PRAYER TO MY HORSE by Kirsten Harris My horse, I am honoured by your presence and stand in awe before your divine beauty May I be worthy of your trust May I have sensitive wisdom to understand your language, so … Continue reading
Posted in Cartoons, Daily Ease, Horse Ease, Poems, Sketch Ease
Tagged Alexander Technique and horses, Alexander Technique poem
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The Perfect Circle – A Lesson from Art History to Apply to Riding
Four Winds Medicine Wheel. Print available at www.kirstenharrisart.co.uk In his book Lives of the Artists, Georgio Vasari (1511 – 1574) recounts a story about the artist Giotto (1267 – 1337). He tells how the Pope was commissioning art and sent messengers … Continue reading
Disillusionment and Creativity
‘Seeing and Seeding’ Photograph by Kirsten Harris The etymology of the word illusion comes from the word luminare or lumen meaning to light up, too illuminate, to shine brightly. The words illusion and disillusionment are ones that I believe have … Continue reading
Spaced Out!
A few years ago a visitor to an open studio at my home said to me ‘ You are a successful artist!’ I was really startled. ‘How do you work that out?’ I asked. ‘You have space around you’ he … Continue reading
In Our Hands
(I shared this originally as a facebook post on my art page Kirsten Harris Art. I wanted to write something to go with the drawing and to write from my heart about horses. I thought I should post as a … Continue reading
A Flicker of Light – Playing Horse and Rider
The Magic Stop, Drawing by Kirsten Harris We were a group of horse women here in Scotland, just starting to play a teaching ‘game’ I call ‘Horse and Rider,’ when one of the participants said, ‘Yes, I can feel … Continue reading
Enjoy A Breather
I am interested in how language changes things. I have been thinking about this in relationship to resistance and time. I noticed recently a feeling of resistance to appointments. Instead of feeling flaky and dragging my heels, I have been wondering … Continue reading
Posted in Body Magic, Breathe, Breathe Easy, Breathing, Constructive Rest, Daily Ease, Habits, Semi Supine
Tagged alexander technique, Body Magic, Breathe, Breathing
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To Earth We Return
To Earth We Return by Kirsten Harris It takes a long time for a tree to grow, but only a short time to chop one down! A friend from India told me that in her culture when a tree … Continue reading
Posted in Audio Downloads, Body Magic, Breathe, Breathe Easy, Breathing, Cartoons, Daily Ease, Horse Ease, Horses
Tagged alexander technique, Horses, tree planting
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You’ve Got It Already!
‘Unhelpful Thinking Habits!’ Cartoon by Kirsten Harris Whatever this ‘thing’ is that Alexander Technique teachers get so passionate about and want to teach you – you’ve got it already! You know IT! This is the premise that I work … Continue reading
Posted in Ache - ease, Audio Downloads, Body Magic, Breathe, Cartoons, Daily Ease, Habits, Semi Supine
Tagged Alexander Technique lessons
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Trust! A Door to Ease and Creativity…
The Unused Door by Kirsten Harris Trust! How do you do that? I believe trust is one of the many skills that the Alexander Technique teaches. A life skill that is as precious as it can be potentially challenging … Continue reading
Posted in Daily Ease, Habits, Letting Go
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How to Be a Flop!
How To Be A Flop, Cartoon by Kirsten Harris Instead of a ‘how to be a success’ blog I thought I would write one about how to be a flop! Let’s take some pressure off and hopefully make life … Continue reading
Please Your Self!
Cartoon ‘Zoned and Boned’ by Kirsten Harris Please Your Self! ‘Oh just please your self!’ Have you ever had that said to you in anger or annoyance, or in judgement of your behaviour? Or perhaps you’ve said it … Continue reading
Posted in Body Magic, Daily Ease, Habits, Letting Go, Semi Supine
Tagged Habits, people pleaser, psycho physical
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Happy Hibernating
Polar Bears, Watercolour by Kirsten Harris ‘Winter, a time for hibernation.’ The familiar warm tones of David Attenborough’s voice over … an idea begins to form. Teaching Alexander Technique at school, as we approach the shortest day of the … Continue reading
The Daily Ease
I gave my blog the title The Daily Ease as a reminder to make time for a daily ease. What does a daily ease mean to you? lying down in consecutive rest aka semi supine going for a … Continue reading
The Opposite of Creativity is not Destruction, it’s Stagnation!
The opposite of creativity is not destruction, it’s stagnation. This thought came to me yesterday as helpful. Creativity is defined as the use of the imagination or original ideas to create something: inventiveness. Destruction is defined as … Continue reading
Posted in Alexander Books, Daily Ease, Habits
Tagged Alexander Technique Book, change, Creativity, Habits
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Stuff and Nonsense!
I am sorting out my wardrobe and discovering in the process that my favourite childhood book has morphed into ‘The Try On, The Bitch and The Wardrobe!’ My closet is bursting at the seams with fantasy versions of an … Continue reading
Posted in Anatom-ease, Body Magic, Constructive Rest, Daily Ease, Habits, Letting Go
Tagged alexander technique, decluttering, Habits, letting go
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Finding my Inner FUP IT!
Sometimes life is challenging to say the least. People behave in ways that surprise and bewilder … our bodies alter and falter …. loved ones die … loneliness and anxiety can descend upon us like a cloud… to name a … Continue reading
The Weird Wonderful World of Alexander Technique
‘Trust, The Gold Thread’ by Kirsten Harris Gold, Copper and Oil on Canvas, 100 x 150 cm I thought about calling this blog ‘Why the Alexander Technique is Weird’ or ‘Are Alexander Teachers Weirdos?’ Both titles make me smile! Before you … Continue reading
Rampage of Appreciation – Training to be an Alexander Technique Teacher
RAMPAGE OF APPRECIATION – TRAINING TO BE AN ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE TEACHER At the age of 24 the Alexander Technique changed my life! That first hands-on lesson with it’s gently encouraging profound words from my first teacher, Astrid Cox, are … Continue reading
On Being Wiggly – part 2
I’m wiggly You’re wiggly It’s wiggly! Thinking about what is wiggly and what is straight has really been influencing my relationship with the world around me and my thinking. I guess one of the great joys of teaching is … Continue reading
How do you make decisions?
How do you make decisions? Ever since I started working with the Alexander Technique as a stressed out ex art student, I realised that this technique is an amazing tool for decision making. It is a tool that I … Continue reading
Posted in Awareness - ease, Cartoons, Daily Ease
Tagged alexander technique, Decision making, Kirsten Harris Art
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What is the Alexander Technique? 12 – 14 Year Olds Answer
What is the Alexander Technique?’ 12 year olds ‘I wear glasses, it is a bit like that. I have to clean my glasses so I can see. If I do Alexander Technique it gets my body clearer.’ Marcello … Continue reading
If You Want to Set a Goal Don’t Tell The Devil!
New Years Day, Tinto Hill, South Lanarkshire, Scotland I was listening to the philosopher Alan Watts (1915 – 1973) on You Tube and he came out with a fantastic line that resonated for the new year – ‘If you … Continue reading
Posted in Anatom-ease, Daily Ease
Tagged Alan Watts, alexander technique, goal setting
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Lean on Me
‘Lean on me …. We all need somebody to lean on’ – A lyric! A truth? What happens if someone leans on you? Can you look after yourself? Or will that leaning push you over, cause you to crumple, … Continue reading
Posted in Audio Downloads, Body Magic, Daily Ease, Habits, Pain - Ease
Tagged alexander technique, psycho-physcial unity
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Is it useful learning Alexander Technique at School and if so, why?
Every now and then I check in with the school children I teach to find out what they are learning from Alexander Technique. Here are some answers from class – ‘It is useful learning Alexander Technique at school because … Continue reading
Alexander Technique Drawings
Page from The Daily Ease – A Walk in the Wood Colouring Book I have been slowly working away creating images that hopefully express Alexander Technique in a fun way. A task that I find exceedingly challenging, but very … Continue reading
Hard Cheese!
Hard Cheese! by Kirsten Harris Thirty three vertebrae Support the body through the day They’re your inner building bricks Stack them well, let’s not be thick! Disease, perhaps a lack of ease? A painful back and hips and … Continue reading
It’s all about the words …
I was showing my Alexander Technique colouring books to one of the teenagers I teach yesterday, who totally got what it was all about … ‘I get this’, she said ‘Those adults who do colouring to destress, actually need … Continue reading
Posted in Children and Teenagers, Daily Ease, Sketch Ease
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The Giraffe
The Giraffe by Kirsten Harris ‘You’re having a laugh’ said the baby giraffe ‘If you think I’m going up there! I’ve no head for heights, they give me a fright I don’t want to be tall, it’s not fair!’ … Continue reading
Why an Alexander Technique Colouring Book?
A few months ago I was speaking to a friend who was suffering from anxiety and suggested she buy a colouring book. It struck me how fabulous it would have been to have been able to give her an Alexander … Continue reading
Ki – How I Discovered Alexander Technique
Ki Here’s a girl, nick-name Ki Yup, a verse, all about me A teenager who slumped and slouched Growled and groaned, and then BIG OUCH! My back packed up, could take no more Age 24, in pain on the … Continue reading
Mind the Gap!
Mind the gap! What does that mean to you? I have been thinking about the gap, that space between one phase and another. A place to fall or a place to float? Actors call it ‘resting’ or ‘taking time … Continue reading
Tongues!
Tongue Tied by Kirsten Harris Here’s a funny little question That left unchecked will cause congestion Let me ask you, ‘Where’s your tongue?’ Clamped to mouth’s roof you’ll be high strung! It’s best to let your tongue go … Continue reading
Posted in Anatom-ease, Cartoons, Children and Teenagers, Daily Ease, Habits, Poems, Verse Ease
Tagged alexander technique, Alexander Technique at High School, Alexander Technique at school, alexander technique for children, children and alexander technique, children and teenagers, Habits, Life Lessons
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Humphrey!
I see with joy that a collage I made twenty odd years ago was in STAT news this month. Thank you Jamie, I love that you kept it so long! The quirky title – ‘Because she had always been interested … Continue reading
Alexander Technique Is Like Harry Potter World!
‘Forward and Up Witch’ Today at school one of the children announced – ‘Alexander Technique is fun! You’re like a teacher from Harry Potter world Miss! Alexander Technique is Magic.’ (Funny how an image of the fuzzy … Continue reading
‘Doing Alexander Technique at School is Legendary!’
‘Doing Alexander Technique at school is legendary and you’re a legend Miss!’ Or so I was informed by a seventeen year old at the high school where I teach Alexander Technique yesterday! ‘Oh, that sounds good! Is it? No-one has … Continue reading
101 Life Lessons from my Dog
101 Life Lessons from my Dog by Kirsten Harris 1. Have a good stretch and yawn first thing in the morning. It feels great. 2. If there is a human being about lie on your back and get … Continue reading
Posted in Cartoons, Daily Ease, Dog Ease
Tagged alexander technique, Dogs, Life Lessons
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101 Life Lessons from My Dog – Part 2 (66 – 101)
66. Dogs are keenly aware if something different is going to happen … Putting shoes on to go out is a very exciting life event! 67. Watching the behaviours of others is interesting and gives insight! Your dog is … Continue reading
Posted in Cartoons, Daily Ease, Dog Ease, Habits, Horse Ease
Tagged alexander technique, Dogs, Horses, Life Lessons
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A Stitch In Time Saves Nine
I found two Victorian carved shells in a junk shop on my trip to the beach this week. Messages from the past … The first, ‘A Stitch in Time Saves Nine’ … a granny expression, that made me think … Continue reading
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The Naughty Step!
I had to share this insight from a teenager ….. Yesterday, during a constructive rest session requested by one of the teenage boys at the high school where I teach Alexander Technique, 17 year old Harry quipped- … Continue reading
Posted in Back Ache - Ease, Body Magic, Breathe, Cartoons, Children and Teenagers, Constructive Rest, Daily Ease, Letting Go, Semi Supine, The Naughty Step
Tagged alexander technique, Alexander Technique at High School, Alexander Technique audio for Semi Supine, alexander technique for children, constructive rest, letting go, the naughty step
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STOPPING – The Most Magical Gift of All!
Do you know how to rest constructively? To stop, once a day, and give yourself the best gift of all? To simply, quickly and effectively LET GO for a short period of time, so that you can bounce back … Continue reading
Posted in Ache - ease, Back Ache - Ease, Body Magic, Daily Ease, Semi Supine
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The Daily Ease 2017 Alexander Technique Calendar
The Daily Ease 2017 Calendar A fun romp though the Alexander Technique – It is all there in the cartoons and verses, so will make a terrific teaching aid for anyone who would like a few visual … Continue reading
Posted in Cartoons, Daily Ease, Diagrams
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A Walk in the Woods
A walk in the woods Awakening the senses Stirring the imagination…. Carved onto a branch where wise owl patiently sits, are the words – ‘Thinking up is a cosmic skill, up up direct your mind Your light body … Continue reading
Posted in Cartoons, Children and Teenagers, Daily Ease, Walk Ease
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Game of Bones 2 – The Board Game
Game of Bones 2 – The Board Game Here are some insights about the spine, in a fun discussion with high school children (12 – 14 years) as to what an Alexander Technique board game, might … Continue reading
Posted in Anatom-ease, Children and Teenagers, Daily Ease
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Fancy That!
Fancy That! by Kirsten Harris ‘When I say ‘I’m tired!’ I feel rather flat But if I say ‘I’ve energy’ I do have! Fancy that!’ ‘Gently purring, resting easy Neck a free releasing muscle stream … Continue reading
Posted in Ache - ease, Back Ache - Ease, Body Magic, Daily Ease, Semi Supine
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Bone Up!
Bone Up! by Kirsten Harris ‘Bare bones of matter, skeleton insight – Spaced joints, mobile, long, supporting, freely upright! Strong ‘Architect’ designed skeleton, not a bony wrecked fright Haunted by creaking by day and by night! One … Continue reading
Game of Bones
Game of Bones by Kirsten Harris On my way to teach Alexander Technique to high school children this week I popped into an antique and curiosity shop where I happened upon one lone vertebra. Lumbar 4 to be precise. … Continue reading
Posted in Anatom-ease, Daily Ease, Kid Ease
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Semi Supine – Quite Simply Divine!
Semi Supine – Quite Simply Divine by Kirsten Harris Taking the time To lie in semi supine Is good for the spine And helps me feel fine 17 minutes of time On the floor is sublime Let go … Continue reading
Posted in Daily Ease, Letting Go, Poems, Semi Supine, Verse Ease
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The Giraffe
The Giraffe by Kirsten Harris Like us, giraffe have seven vertebrae in the neck. I find this fact fascinating. Graceful, long necked, elegant, beautiful, crazy giraffe – your design is much like mine. ‘You’re having a laugh,’ … Continue reading
Posted in Cartoons, Children and Teenagers, Daily Ease, Kid Ease, Poise, Verse Ease
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What’s Your Daily Ease?
The Daily Ease by Kirsten Harris What’s your daily ease? A little bit of semi supine, when you have a sore back or are feeling prickly like the little hedgehog… Spending time in the garden, contemplating how life grows … Continue reading
Mystical Creatures
The Unicorn by Kirsten Harris In Ancient Myth lived a beautiful Unicorn A fabulous horse with a pointing uni-horn What is the symbol of this mysterious feature? Forward and Up points the mystical creature! ************ My … Continue reading
65 Life Lessons from My Dog
65 Life Lessons from My Dog by Kirsten Harris 1. Have a good stretch and yawn first thing in the morning. It feels great. 2. If there is a human being about lie on your back and get your … Continue reading
Posted in Cartoons, Children and Teenagers, Daily Ease, Dog Ease, Horse Ease, Kid Ease, Sketch Ease
Tagged alexander technique, Dogs, Habits, Horses, Life Lessons
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I Feel Like I am Floating
Taking the time To lie in semi supine Is good for my spine And helps me feel fine 17 minutes of time On the floor is sublime Let go to align My bodies design Think into my … Continue reading
The Girl with Two Necks
I have two necks. No really I have, and so have you! No need to pat your under-chin and worry if you’re developing a wattle. I’m not being insulting! Me? Well maybe I do have little extra chin or two, … Continue reading
Posted in Ache - ease, Anatom-ease, Awareness - ease, Daily Ease
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How to be stressed!
HOW TO BE STRESSED! have an enormous to do list and let everything crowd your mind at once beat yourself up for having an enormous to do list and not know where to start stop breathing because … Continue reading
Posted in Daily Ease
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Spine Time
It is easy to have a thought about the curves of your spine as you read this. Is is long, free, bendy, mobile, flowing or slumped and C shaped?
Posted in Daily Ease
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Why is it so EASY….?
Here is an experiment for you to easily activate right now…. Ask yourself questions starting with – Why is it so easy…. Why is it so easy for my to be organised? Why is it so easy for me to … Continue reading
Posted in Daily Ease, Habits
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I feel like I am floating
A little ditty to share with anyone who has a sore back!
Posted in Daily Ease
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Try Mooing
Try Mooing I just did!.. Went for a walk with the dog, mooing! A really good grounding sound Made me smile Moo to anchor the voice into the body Moo to let go Moo to make yourself happy Moo to … Continue reading
Posted in Breathe, Breathe Easy, Cartoons, Daily Ease
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The Crooked Woman and Her Crooked Horse
“There was a crooked man, and he walked a crooked mile, He found a crooked sixpence against a crooked stile; He bought a crooked cat which caught a crooked mouse, And they all lived together in a little crooked house” … Continue reading
Dancing Spine
Let your spine dance today Get some loud music on, something that really makes you want to wiggle and wriggle and let you spine have some freedom It’s so good for all the multi faceted joints of your … Continue reading
Posted in Cartoons, Daily Ease
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The Zone
The Zone I know when I am in The Zone Letting go bone by bone Happy to be on my own Exploring realms of the great unknown Easing open muscle tone Unearthing my own safety zone Lengthening snake like … Continue reading
Posted in Cartoons, Daily Ease, Verse Ease
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Time for change
It’s time for Walter, my mini Shetland pony foal to be weaned. I am no expert, my first foal I could have done it suddenly – just take him away from his mum and deal with the screaming. Feel … Continue reading
Posted in Daily Ease, Horse Ease
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And some things are going to make you tense…
Somethings are just going to make you tense! Like contemplating how to wean my mini shetland foal so the vet can come with his emasculator to chop his nuts off! I am totally inexperienced at this, being the single ‘lady … Continue reading
Posted in Daily Ease, Horse Ease
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Permission to Stop
I took Maisie my crazy cockerpoo for a walk past the Stopping Permitted sign again today and couldn’t resit another lie down. Big blue skies, cold ground, whacky windmills! The weight of a surprised alert dog. A mad magic moment… … Continue reading
Posted in Daily Ease
Tagged alexander technique, letting go, relaxation, semi supine, stopping
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Don’t just slump there – Ease out!
Don’t just slump there – Ease out! Don’t just do something – Stop! If you are reading this you may well be slumping, crouched over your phone or computer Ease out a bit Lie down in semi supine for a … Continue reading
Stopping Permitted!
Stopping Permitted! You might think that it’s easy to stop! How difficult can it be to just lie down and stop for a few minutes. All those juicy benefits should make it most appealing… – a … Continue reading
Posted in Daily Ease, Dis-Ease
Tagged Alexander Technique audio for Semi Supine, CD, letting go, semi supine
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40 reasons teenagers say learning Alexander Technique at school is good.
I asked my high school students why they think having Alexander Technique lessons at school is a good idea. Here is what they said 1. helps sore backs 2. helps learn about body 3. fun 5. educational 6. social, … Continue reading
Magic Morning..7 easy morning rituals to set up an easier more flowing day before getting out of bed..
How to set up an easier more flowing day before getting out of bed… 1. MMMMMMMMMMMMorning. Start the day with a low hum….mmmmmmmmmmm! This will get your breathing open and easy and your body resonating with energy. . Great … Continue reading
7 Excellent reasons to treat yourself to an Alexander Technique media download today
7 Reasons to listen to my popular audio downloads – Body Magic and Breathe My two audio downloads have proved popular with my students as an aid learning the Alexander Technique. 7 reasons to treat yourself to a … Continue reading
Posted in Body Magic, Breathe, CD Downloads, Daily Ease
Tagged Alexander Technique audio for Semi Supine, CD downloads
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Semi-supine – As easy as falling off a log!
Semi-supine as easy as falling off a log! Just arrange your body, your skeleton, into this easy position and let gravity do the rest. Easy peasy… Taking 17 minutes out for you to just ease out….well that may be a … Continue reading
Posted in CD Downloads, Daily Ease
Tagged Alexander Technique audio for Semi Supine, back pain, letting go, semi supine
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Great diagrams of the skeleton and skull
Posted in Cartoons, Daily Ease, Diagrams
Tagged fun skeleton diagram, fun skull diagram
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12 – 18 year olds asked – What do you learn in Alexander Technique class? Amazing replies
I asked my 12 – 18 year old High School students what they thought they were learning in Alexander Technique classes. Here are there amazing replies. – Observation of self and others – Anatomy, functional, useful and practical – … Continue reading
Children talking about the Alexander Technique
Children talking about the Alexander Technique “The Alexander Technique eases you into the day be giving you the awareness of how to release your stressful thoughts.” Harmony – age 15 “The Alexander Technique eases your mind to … Continue reading
Children Being Profound about the Alexander Technique!
Children being profound about the Alexander Technique! “ I find it makes everything easier because there is less tension throughout my being. I get tense when I start thinking too much about being right as opposed to being free … Continue reading
Posted in Daily Ease, Kid Ease
Tagged Alexander Technique at school, children and teenagers
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Why is Alexander Technique not Compulsory at school, asks 12 year old boy!
This is a completely spontaneous comment from a 12 year old boy I teach at school at a high school in Edinburgh. “I think Alexander Technique should be compulsory at all schools because people need to be more aware of the way … Continue reading
Semi Supine… A daft poem by me!
Semi Supine by Kirsten Harris Taking time To lie in semi supine Is good for my spine And helps me feel fine 17 minutes of time On the floor is sublime Let go to align My bodies design Think into … Continue reading
Do it the Alexander Technique way – Ease the Day!
Would the Alexander Technique Version of seize the day be ease the day? To seize – to take hold of suddenly and forcibly – take forcible possession of – take eagerly and excitedly – affect suddenly and severely (seized … Continue reading
Posted in Daily Ease
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The Zen of Back Pain
That nagging unbearable back pain could well be your bodies way of saying ‘Oy boss, over here, pay me some attention! I need some space!’ What do we often do instead? We numb the pain out and forget to listen to it? … Continue reading
Posted in Daily Ease
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Good for the Old Body
‘I wish I had known semi-supine was good for the old body sooner!’ Body Magic audio link here
Kids quotes on Alexander Technique
When we let go we get more energy – Lola age 12 Semi supine uncrumples you – Mia age 14 If everyone did the Alexander Technique there would be no more wars because everyone would be controlled and … Continue reading
Letting Go
Letting go can be tricky! It takes courage and trust. Trust in the support of the universe we live in, that is planet earth and it’s beings on it’s daily and cosmic scale. Courage to reach a new and unknown destination. … Continue reading
Posted in Daily Ease
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Are You ‘Musterbating?’
Are you ‘musterbating’? I know I am! I must do this, I must do that! I must, must, must….cut the grass, wash up, earn money, be more fabulous, write a blog, build a platform, get fitter….fill in the blanks….. It’s … Continue reading
Posted in Daily Ease, Dis-Ease
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3 Easy Tips for Sitting at Your Computer
‘ 1. Are you off your rockers?! Like the skeleton in my sketch In other words are you sitting on your sitting bones? Sit on your hands for a moment and feel your sitting bones. These are bony rockers at … Continue reading
Posted in Cartoons, Daily Ease, Office Ease
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Full Stop!
The Art of Change – Stopping is a Good Place to Start! If we keep doing the same thing in the same way we will keep getting the same result! FM Alexander So how do we change … Continue reading
Posted in Audio Downloads, Body Magic, Daily Ease
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7 Reasons why resting on the floor is Good for You!
7 Reasons why resting on the floor is Good for You! By Kirsten Harris Resting on your back with your knees bent, hands on ribcage and your head resting on 2 or 3 paperback books gives maximum rest to … Continue reading
Posted in Daily Ease
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Human Being – Stop and Smell the Roses
Human Being or Human Doing? Have you spent any time today just being. Being present, being aware, being comfortable, being here? Have you stopped to smell the roses? To be or not to be? Human being or human doing?
Posted in Cartoons, Daily Ease
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Reaction Awareness
Alexander Technique – a way of becoming aware of our habitual reactions. How about creating an easier day by changing one reaction today? You might just change a negative situation into a positive one today, by simply changing the way you react. … Continue reading
Posted in Daily Ease, Dis-Ease
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Ease
What does ease mean to me? Freedom from worries or problems (I let my neck be free) Or ease in the way I think about my challenges (direction) Peace, peacefulness, tranquillity. composure, serenity, repose, restfulness, quiet, contentment, security, … Continue reading
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Sunday Rest
Sunday, traditionally a day of rest. What have you done today to rest your body? Laying on the floor in semi supine for fifteen minutes is constructive rest. Constructive – means having a beneficial purpose, helpful, encouraging, productive, practical, valuable, … Continue reading
Posted in Daily Ease
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Listen-in
Whatever your doing today, there is time to close your eyes for a moment, a minute, a bit and just listen. Listening…. Listen-in…. What do you hear? Might surprise you. Take time to close the lids and be hear! Here! … Continue reading
Posted in Daily Ease
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A little verse
Taking Time To Lie in Semi Supine Is Good for the Spine And Helps you feel Fine! (Check out my media downloads for semi supine on the home page)
Focus
If it’s not easy, can you change your focus? Can you let activities be focussed, yet easy? What does that mean? If trying too hard doesn’t work, A change of focus is perhaps not trying too hard. Doing a little … Continue reading
Posted in Daily Ease
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De-Tension
If only school detention had been like this! Detention Alexander Technique style!
Posted in Daily Ease
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Spine
Spine – amazing, bendy, flexible, wriggly, snake like, intelligent, dancing, mobile spine…. Core, road, trunk, brain stem, super highway… Support… Is your segmented spine wiggling through space today, or slumped, collapsed, tightened, held, fixed? Moving dancing spine….moving dancing brain! It’s a thought!
Posted in Daily Ease
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Jaw
Is my jaw tight? Am I gripping and grinding my teeth clenching my jaw, gnawing on a problem? It’s an incredibly strong muscle, masseter. the big jaw muscle, which can cause headaches, gripping on either side of your skull. Today can I … Continue reading
Posted in Daily Ease, Dis-Ease
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Pandiculate
Pandiculate! It means to stretch and yawn! Have you pandiculated today? An easy and satisfying way to energise and ease yourself!
Posted in Daily Ease
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Breathe Out x 3
3 slow smiling out breaths will free your breathing. Couldn’t be easier than that! Breathe Out…. allow the breath in Breathe out……slowly slowly slowly……. allow the breath in Breathe out….. gently sustained gentleness….. allow the breath in Breathe … Continue reading
Posted in Breathe, Daily Ease
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Easy Sunday
Are you having an Easy Sunday? Lie on the floor and put your legs up on the sofa and ease your lower back for the week ahead. 10 – 20 minutes. Enjoy! Easy Peasy!
Posted in Daily Ease
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Easy Creativity
Saturday, a day for easy creativity. No force, just flow. That’s flowing thinking, flowing body movement – allowing easy creativity. Go flow! Could be fast, could be slow. Easing through the emotional weather of the day as you create the … Continue reading
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Hang out in your shoulders!
Shoulder blades hang down your back and move freely over the rib cage. Don’t hang on, shouldering problems, hang out! Can you mentally hang out in your shoulder blades today?
Posted in Anatom-ease, Daily Ease, Dis-Ease
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Aching Muscles
Stop, stop, stop, lie down, think into that aching muscle. Especially when things ache we need to let go! But funny old human, we are more likely to try and run away from the pain, than pay attention to the … Continue reading
Posted in Daily Ease, Dis-Ease
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Time
Today, I notice thoughts like ‘Hurry Up’ or ‘There’s not Enough Time!’ and I let myself breathe and slow down. All I have is time, and there is plenty of it. Tic Toc Tic Toc In out Let go … Continue reading
Posted in Daily Ease
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Up, Up, Up
Absorb the forward momentum upwards through the spine. Up, up, up, and forward. Forward, forward, forward and up! Well that’s what I am thinking today. Enjoy UP UP!
Posted in Daily Ease
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Smiling Nose
Today’s little easy thought is ‘Smile with the tip of your nose’ ……and see what happens. Who knows what you will experience….. Enjoy!
Posted in Anatom-ease, Body Magic, Daily Ease
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Smile with your Ears!
Smile with your ears! It’s a thought. Makes mine feel more open, more receptive. Hearing the space between the sounds. Smiling ears, smiling listening Oh and listen to this – it helps the skull to balance on the head… … Continue reading
Posted in Body Magic, Daily Ease
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Smile with the Back of your Neck
Smile with the back of your neck! What the heck! Just a thought… It transformed me… and it feels good! Body Magic Download here
Posted in Anatom-ease, Body Magic, Daily Ease
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Falling asleep
Easing out of the day into sleep Falling symmetrically into the mattress Bone by bone Brain scanning the body Breathing out through each limb Falling with symmetry into the mystery.
Posted in Ache - ease, Anatom-ease, Body Magic, Cartoons, Daily Ease
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Spring Breath
Ahhhh…. another day on planet Earth So many wonderful sweet breaths to enjoy Bird song filled spring air flowing coolly into my body Warm air flowing out into the world, warmed by me Easy flow of breath through my springy … Continue reading
Posted in Breathe, Daily Ease
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I let my neck be free
I let my neck be free today. Liberation from self imposed tyranny. Free my neck! Free – Able to act or be done as one wishes, not under the control of another Free – able or permitted to take a … Continue reading
Posted in Daily Ease
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Soft Eyes, Smiling Eyes
Looking at the world today with soft eyes! I call it ‘Ahhhhhh kittens!’ eyes. The feeling of softness in the eyes when you look at something that wonderful. Eye See! My ‘I’ today is soft smiling eyes. Get the idea? … Continue reading
Posted in Anatom-ease, Body Magic, Daily Ease
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Breathe Breathe Breathe
Breathe, breathe, breathe! Out breathe, clearing out the past… In breathe, inspiration… and so it goes… ahhhhhh… Breathe Out! And smile….ahhhhhh…. the inspiration just floats in.
Posted in Daily Ease
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Speed Ease
Today, are you going at whirlwind speed? There is time to pause for a moment, a stop, to just consciously breathe! How many little mmmmmm, ahhhhh’s can you manage today? mmmmmm, I like it!
Posted in Daily Ease
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One Less Cup of Tea
Today, just a thought, how about I have one less cup of tea and go and lie down in semi supine for my refreshment instead!
Posted in Daily Ease
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Regeneration
Thinking about me is creative and regenerating! I think I will lie down today and regenerate! There is plenty of time for choosing restful regeneration amongst all my activity today! REGENERATION! What a great word! The Dictionary definition … Continue reading