Tá Lá na Máithreacha ar an Domhnach! Agus mar sin beidh mé ag caint ar mháithreacha agus aireachas sa bhlag seo! Chomh maith leis sin, tá mo chead chúrsa eile do dhaoine fásta le tosú i ndiaidh na Cásca agus b’fhéidir go mbeidh suim ag cuid de na máithreacha sin ann. Just Relax for Adults is ainm don chúrsa mar beimid ag ligint ár scíth, ag tógáil sosa agus ag suigh linn féin ar feadh uaire an chloig in aghaidh na seachtaine. Sa bhlag seo tá mé ag iarraidh labhairt faoin maitheas a dhéanann cleachtadh aireachais do mháithreacha agus faoin éifeacht maith a bhíonn aige ar an teaghlach ar fad.

Mother’s Day on Sunday and I have started advertising my next adult mindfulness course. This course is called Just Relax for Adults as relaxing, resting and sitting with ourselves is a lot of what we will be doing so for this blog I want to talk a little about the benefits of mindfulness for mothers and how taking time out for yourself.

Tá sé ríthábhachtach go dtugann muid aire dúinn féin, ní rud é gur féidir leat neamhaird a dhéanamh air ar feadh rófhada agus mar sin, má tá aon mháithreacha amuigh ansin ag mothú ciontach toisc go siad ag smaoineamh ar rud éigin a dhéanamh dóibh féin, beidh ort neamhaird a dhéanamh ar an mothúchán sin. Más duine agus máthair níos séimhe thú déanfaidh sé maitheas don chlann ar fad! Mar a thuigfidh tú ar ball.   

Self-care is essential, not a luxury, so anyone feeling any mum-guilt needs to push it aside because you practicing mindfulness, self-care and relaxation can actually benefit your whole family.

Toisc go mbímse ag obair le páistí agus máithreacha go minic cloisim go leor cainte ó na máithreacha sin faoin a bheith ag mothú ciontach. Mothaíonn siad ciontach toisc go bhfuil faitíos orthu go ndúirt siad nó go ndearna siad rud éigin mícheart, bíonn siad buartha go bhfuil na páistí ag cailliúint amach ar am lena gcairde, tá eagla orthu nach bhfuil an bia a chuireann siad ar fáil maith go leor, nó go bhfuil siad ar scáileáin rófhada...agus leanann sé ar aghaidh. Nuair a smaoiníonn tú go bhfuil seo ar fad in intinn máithreacha cheana féin, luíonn sé le ciall go mbeadh siad ag mothú ciontach agus iad ag iarraidh ama leo féin, ar mhaithe leo féin.

Mum-guilt is something I’ve heard every mother talk about in my classes. They feel guilty that they may have said or done the wrong thing, they worry that their child is missing out on essential developmental and social activities, they worry if they are providing the most nutritional food, or the amount of screen time their child consumes. The list goes on. All of this guilt and worry that that mothers are experiencing means that it is no surprise that when it comes to taking time out for themselves so many experience the mum guilt all over again.

Dúirt dalta a bhí i mo chúrsa deireanach do dhaoine fásta gur mhothaigh sí ciontach gach seachtain nuair a bhí uirthi a hiníon a fhágáil lena athair agus í ag teacht chugainn don chúrsa. Mhothaigh sí go dona agus í ag iarraidh rud éigin a dhéanamh dí féin nuair a bhí sé ‘de cheart’ aici a bheith lena hiníon. 

A student in my adult Cultivating Inner Kindness course told me this week that every time she has to leave her daughter with her dad in order for her to attend my course, she feels guilty. She feels bad for doing something for herself when she ‘should’ be with her daughter. 

Lean an dalta céanna ar aghaidh ag teacht go dtí na ranganna, in ainneoin an mothúchán seo agus bheartaigh sí teacht go dtí an cúrsa ar an gcéad lá mar thuig sí go ndéanfadh sé maitheas di féin agus dá hiníon dá má rud é go raibh sí féin ag cleachtadh aireachais. Thuig sí go gcruthóidh sé atmaisféar níos síochánta ina hintinn féin agus mar sin go mbeadh atmaisféar níos síochánta sa teach dá hiníon. Ach níl an tuiscint sin ag gach duine agus sin an fáth go bhfuil mise anseo daoibh!  

The student continued coming to the classes and even signed up in the first place because she knows that her practicing mindfulness creates a calmer, more peaceful mind for herself and then in turn she is able to provide a calmer atmosphere for her daughter to live in. However, not everyone is aware of this so I’m here to help you! 

Laghdaíonn cleachtadh aireachais strus agus buaireamh. Cruthaíonn sé atmaisféar síochánta agus socair istigh ionat féin. Le linn an chleachtaidh, bogann muid ár n-aird amach as ár gcloigeann gnóthach agus isteach sa cholainn. Tugann muid aird dár gcosa, ár lámha agus go dtí an anáil. Níl tú in ann a bheith ag smaoineamh ar rudaí difriúla má tá d’aird ar do cholainn agus ar an méid atá ag tarlú istigh ionat féin ag an nóiméad sin. Tá fianaise ann a léiríonn má tá duine amháin sa teach ag cleachtadh aireachais airíonn gach duine eile sa teach difir.

Mindfulness helps to relieve stress and anxiety and it creates a sense of peace and calm as we move our attention out of our ever-busy mind and into our physical body. It has been proven that if one person in the household practices mindfulness that it benefits everyone in the household.

Agus tú airdeallach ar do cholainn agus an bealach go n-airíonn sé tosaíonn tú ag tabhairt faoi deara go dtagann na smaointe chugat ar aon nós. Le linn an chleachtaidh táimid ag iarraidh fios a bheith againn go bhfuil na smaointe ann ach níl muid ag iarraidh ligint dóibh smacht a bheith acu orainn. Tarlaíonn sé rómhinic dúinn ar fad go mbíonn muid ag smaoineamh ar rud éigin agus ní a fhios againn conas ar tháinig muid ar an ábhar sin. Más féidir linn ár smaointe a aithint ciallaíonn sé sin gur féidir linn seasamh siar uathu agus breáthú orthu agus le cleachtadh agus le himeacht ama beidh tú in ann an cleachtadh sin a thabhairt amach sa saol agus beidh sé níos fusa duit seasamh siar agus smaoineamh ar do fhreagra in ionad an chéad rud a thagann chugat a rá. Bíonn muid ag iarraidh tuigmháil nach ionann ár smaointe agus an fhirinne.    

Mindfulness and meditation teaches us to become aware of our thoughts so that our thoughts do not have control over us. All too often we find ourselves thinking about something and we don’t even know how we got onto that subject. A mindfulness practice helps us to gain control of our thoughts. As we learn to step back from our thoughts we can become aware of how we think and what we think. This in turn results in us being able to step back from situations as they arise in our life, we can step back and assess what to say and do. We learn to respond and not to react. 

Samhlaigh anois gur máthair thú atá ag mothú síochánta agus séimh istigh i do cholainn agus d’intinn féin. An dóigh leat go mbeidh éifeacht ar an síocháin sin ar do chlann?

Now, imagine that you are a mother who feels a sense of peace and calm in your body and mind. How do you think that peace would affect your family? 

Creideann go leor daoine go bhfuil go leor oibre i gceist leis an aireachas a chleachtadh. Síleann siad go gcaithfidh siad rud sa bhreis a dheanamh le go mbeidh cleachtadh acu ach tá mise anseo le hinsint duit nach bhfuil sin fíor!

A lot of people think that to practice mindfulness you have to put work into it. It can be thought of as something else to add to an already full to-do list but I am here to tell you that that doesn’t have to be the case! 

Táimid ar fad an-ghnóthach cheana féin agus níl aon rud eile uainn sa saol le rudaí a dhéanamh níos gnóthaí! Agus leis an smaoineamh sin, le haireachas a chleachtadh ní gá duit ach a bheith airdeallach ar an méid atá tú ag déanamh cheana féin. An tseachtain seo caite labhair mé ar an gcaoi gur féidir leat suigh nó a bheith má tá tú ag iarraidh suigh síos go ciúin in áit éigin leis an aireachas a chleachtadh. Bhí mé ag déanamh tagartha do chleachtadh ar leith; nuair atá am ar leith agat le gur féidir leat suigh síos agus a bheith ciúin. Muna bhfuil am mar sin agat is féidir leat aireachas a chleachtadh ag úsáid rudaí a dhéanann tú cheana féin.

We are all already really busy, we don’t need to add anything else to our lists and so that is how we can practice mindfulness. We can use something we already do and simply bring a mindful awareness to it and voila! We have a mindfulness practice! Last week I spoke about how to sit or lie when you are practicing mindfulness but that blog referred to a seated meditation practice, if that is what you have time to do or what you want to do but sitting in quiet meditation is not the only way to practice mindfulness.

Mar shampla, is féidir leat cleachtadh aireachais a dhéanamh as do bhricfeasta. Bí airdeallach ar an mbia a roghnaíonn tú le hithe, bí airdeallach ar an mbealach go ndéanann tú an bia sin réidh agus mothaigh an bia sin i do bhéal, an blas, conas a mothaíonn sé agus tú críochnaithe. An ólann tú aon rud? An bhfuil an rud sin té nó fuar, cén boladh atá aige.

For example you can practice mindfulness when you are having your breakfast. You can become aware of your food choices, the colours of your food, what you do in order to prepare it, how does your food taste? Do you drink anything? What does your drink of taste look like, taste like, smell like?

Agus sin do chleachtadh aireachais. Ní gá duit rud mór casta a dhéanamh as, coinnigh go simplí é agus beidh sé i bhfad níos fusa duit!

And that is your mindfulness practice. Please don’t make it more complicated then that, because it is not complicated! Mindfulness is simply the practice of bring awareness to what we are doing so if you bring that awareness to whatever you are doing then you are practicing mindfulness. Simple.

Ag leanúint ar aghaidh ó bhlag na seachtaine seo caite tá mé ag iarraidh labhairt ar an mbealach le suigh nó le luigh agus tú ag cleachtadh aireachais. Tá go leor amuigh ansin nach aontóidh liom ach mo thuairim féin air ná bí compordach. Má dhéanann tú iarracht suigh nó luigh ar bhealach atá míchompordach beidh an cleachtadh ar fad dírithe ar do mhíchompord.

Continuing on from last week’s blog a little bit, I want to talk about how to sit or lie or just generally be when you are meditating. There are lots of people out there who will disagree with me but my thoughts on it are very simple; be comfortable. If you try to force yourself to sit or lie some why that is uncomfortable for you the whole practice will become about your uncomfort. That is all that you will be able to think about or notice.

Rinne mé traenáil leis an eagraíocht Breathworks. Bíonn siad agus mé ag múineadh cúrsaí do dhaoine atá faoi strus agus daoine atá ag maireachtáil le pian. Toisc go mbíonn na rannpháirtithe sa darna cineál ranga i bpian deir muid leo iad féin a dhéanamh compordach agus is mar sin a bhím an t-aon rud a bheidh tú ag smaoineamh air.

I did my mindfulness training with the English organisation, Breathworks. They and I teach mindfulness courses for people suffering from chronic stress and chronic pain. Because the participants for the pain course are already in pain, we tell them to make themselves comfortable and I personally extend that sentiment to all of my class participants.

Má luíonn tú síos bíonn an buaireamh ann go dtitfidh tú i do chodail agus beidh an seans sin ann cinnte ach mas rud é gur sin an t-aon bhealach compordach atá agat le bheith ar feadh tréimhse aireachais luigh síos! Le do thoil! Má cheapann daoine go gcaithfidh siad a bheith ar bhealach ar leith nach bhfuil compordach dóibh is lú seans ann go leanfaidh siad leis an gcleachtadh.
If you lie down when you meditate there is the fear that you will fall asleep but if that is the only position you can comfortably sit in for a meditation session then by all means go ahead! If people think the only way to meditate is to sit in a certain position that is uncomfortable for them they there is a high chance the will not return to meditation. I would rather they are comfortable so they may choose to continue to practice.

Go bunúsach, bí compordach, cuir blaincéad ort má tá seans go n-éiríodh tú fuar, múch an fón nó fiú an fhuaim ar an bhfón agus déan iarracht a bheith in áit chiúin, rud go d’fhéadfaidh a bheith deacair faoi láthair le gach duine sa bhaile ach is fiú an iarracht a dhéanamh agus b’fhéidir iarraidh ar dhaoine a bheith beagán níos ciúine duit ar feadh tréimhse gairid.

Basically, be comfortable. If you think you’ll get cold use a blanket, turn off your phone or at least the sound on your phone and try to find somewhere quiet. This however may be a challenge due to everyone being at home but maybe you could ask your household to keep the noise down and if not, try to use the sounds. Can you hear the sounds going on around you and not react, just hear them and not make up a story about them? Let me know how that goes for you!

Le go mbeidh slat tomhais agat, bím féin i mo shuigh ar mo leaba nó ar an talamh agus cuirim mo dhroim in aghaidh balla le mé a choinneal díreach agus cuirim mo chosa díreach amach os mo chomhair. Sin an bealach is fearr domsa ach go bunúsach, níl bealach ar leith níos fearr ná bealach eile, déan an rud a oibríonn duitse agus beidh tú i gceart!

To give you an idea, when I meditate I sit on the bed or on the floor and I lean my back against the wall. I put my feet straight out in front of me and I always use a blanket because I tend to get cold. This is a way that works for me; I am comfortable and I am warm. Find a way that works for you and stick with that.

Má tá tuilleadh moltaí nó eolas ag éinne nó má tá stiúir uait i do chleachtadh aireachais tosóidh mo chéad chúrsa aireachais eile ar an Déardaoin, 8 Aibreán. Bígí i dteagmháil liom más suim leat é a phlé. 

If anyone is looking for more information or advice or if you’re looking for some guidance on your meditation practice I will be starting another adult mindfulness class on Thursday, 8th April so let me know if you want to have a chat about it!

Dúirt duine éigin liom le déanaí “níl mé ag déanamh é i gceart é ach tá mé ag baint tairbhe as” agus an rud is coitianta a chloisim i ndiaidh na habairte sin ná “Tá mé go fóill ag smaoineamh go leor le linn an aireachais agus mar sin tá mé á dhéanamh mícheart”.

Someone said to me recently “I don’t think I’m doing it properly but I’m still enjoying it” and the most common next sentence I hear is “I’m still thinking so I’m doing it wrong.”

Níl muid in ann ár smaointe a stopadh. Tá sé dodhéanta. Ní fiú duit triail a bhaint as mar cur amú ama a bheidh ann agus le linn seisiúin aireachais ní sin an aidhm atá againn. Ní drochrudaí iad na smaointe a bhíonn againn. Is iontach an rud é an smaointeoireacht. Gan na smaointe a bhíonn againn ní bheadh muid san áit atáimid mar chine daonna. D’úsáid muid an cuid dár inchinn a bhíonn ag smaoineamh le tithe a thógáil, le bia a bhailiú agus é a chócaireacht. Gan an prefrontal cortex inár inchinn bheadh muid mar moncaithe go fóill.

We can’t stop our thoughts. It’s impossible so there’s no point in trying, you’d be wasting your time. But stopping our thoughts isn’t the aim of mindfulness. Our thoughts are not bad. Without our prefrontal cortex which sits on the top of our brains at the front of our heads we wouldn’t be where we are today as humans. It is thanks to our thoughts that we can build houses, cars, roads, how we are able to adapt to our environments and change as we need to, whether that means we are no longer monkeys or whether we have to adapt to living with a virus that is threatening our populations.

Tarlaíonn fadhbanna len ár smaointe nuair nach bhfuil muid in ann na smaointe a stopadh. Le linn an chúrsa 10 lá ciúnais a rinne mé, a chur tús le m’aisteoir mar mhúinteoir aireachais agus suaimhnis dúirt siad linn go rialta go raibh muid ag iarraidh smacht a fháil ar ár smaointe mar go dtí go bhfuil smacht againn ar na smaointe beidh smacht acu orainn. Sampla d’am go bhfuil smacht ag mo smaointe ormsa ná nuair a dhúisím le linn na hoíche agus níl mé in ann titim ar ais i mo chodail toisc go bhfuil mé ag smaoineamh. Tosaím ag smaoineamh ar mo mháthair agus a breithlá, ansin smaoiním ar an Nollag agus go raibh sé aisteach de bharr Covid agus go mbeidh sé níos aistí arís an bhliain seo chugainn mar tabharfaidh mé faoi deara níos mó nach raibh m’uncail ann. Ansin tosaím ag smaoineamh ar shochraid m’uncail agus na comhráite deireanacha a bhí againn agus ansin tá mé ag smaoineamh ar Aoife agus sochraid Aoife agus ar aghaidh agus ar aghaidh agus ar aghaidh. Go dtí go bhfuil mé feargach liom féin toisc go bhfuil an locht orm féin nach bhfuil mé in ann codail agus mé ag smaoineamh an méid seo.

Problems occur with our thoughts when we cannot stop them. During my 10 days of silence course that catapulted me into the world of teaching mindfulness they spoke to us about gaining control of our minds so that our minds don’t have control of us. An example of a time that my mind has control over me is when I wake up in the middle of the night and I then can’t fall back to sleep. It will start with me thinking of my mum and her birthday, I’ll then think of Christmas and how it was a bit weird because of Covid but next year might be even more weird when it will feel even more evident that my uncle isn’t with us. I might then start thinking about my uncle’s funeral and the last conversations I had with him. Then I’m thinking about Aoife who past away just before Michael and what was the last thing I said to her and on and on and on until I’m angry with myself for still being awake and it’s all my own fault because I kept thinking.

An aithníonn éinne againn an nós sin? Ar tharla sé duitse riamh? Tarlaíonn sé domsa fiú agus mé i ndiaidh blianta d’aireachas a chleachtadh. Sula ndearna mé an cúrsa 10 lá sin bhí seachtain mhaith codalta agam agus mé ag codail go maith dhá oíche, anois is droch-seachtain é más rud é go bhfuil dhá oíche de dhroch-chodail agam, mar sin tá feabhas tagtha ar rudaí ach tarlaíonn sé go fóill, faraor! Mar sin, más rud é go bhfuil tú nua ag cleachtadh aireachais nó má tá cleachtadh seanbhunaithe agat má tá go leor leor smaointe agat an t-am ar fad agus ní ciallaíonn na smaointe sin go bhfuil tú á dhéanamh mícheart.

Can anyone identify with this? Has this happened to you? Although I have a regular meditation practice and I have for at least 3 years now it still happens to me. That being said, before I did the 10 day retreat I had a good week if I had two good night’s sleep in a week, now if I have two bad night’s sleep in a week it’s a bad week, so it’s an improvement. But whether you are a new meditator or a dab hand at meditating and have been doing it for years you will still have lots of thoughts all the time and this does not mean you are “doing it wrong”.

Le linn seisiúin aireachais an rud atá tú ag iarraidh a dhéanamh le do smaointe ná iad a aithint. Ní stopfaidh tú iad agus níl tú ag iarraidh iad a stopadh ach le cleachtadh beidh tú in ann seasamh siar uathu agus iad a fheiceáil agus gan a bheith ceangailte leo agus gan iad a aithint. Is maith liom an íomhá den abhainn a úsáid; samhlaigh go bhfuil tú i do shuigh in aice le habhainn agus tá tú ag iarraidh fanacht ar bhruach na habhann. In ionad uisce a bheith san abhainn seo, do smaointe atá ann. Má fhanann tú ar an mbruach tá tú in ann na smaointe a fheiceáil, ligeann tú dóibh teacht isteach, aithníonn tú go bhfuil siad ann agus imíonn tú leo gan tú féin ag cruthú scéil nó aon rud thart orthu. Gach uair go bhfeiceann tú smaoineamh agus imíonn tú leis ie tosaíonn tú ag smaoineamh agus imíonn tú go domhain éigin eile, nuair a aithníonn tú sin tagann tú ar ais chugat féin agus ar ais go bruach na habhainn. An cleachtadh atá i gceist le haireachas ná an teacht ar ais sin. Caithfidh tú cleachtadh a dhéanamh ar teacht ar ais chugat féin, ar ais go dtí an anáil nó ar ais go dtí na mothúcháin atá agat san am i láthair.

When you are meditating, what you are trying to do with your thoughts it to recgonise them as thoughts and to step back from them without getting caught up with them or believing them completely. I like to use the image of a river. Imagine you are sitting on a riverbank

Tá siúl agam go luíonn sé sin ar fad le ciall agus go dtuigeann sibh céard atá i gceist agam. Má tá ceist ar bith eile agat cuir scéal chugam agus tar ar ais an tseachtain seo chugainn nuair a labhróidh mé faoin gcaoi gur ‘ceart’ duit a bheith i do shuigh nó i do luigh agus tú ag cleachtadh aireachais.

I hope that all makes sense, if anyone has any questions please don't hesitate to contact me. Next week I'm going to talk a little about the 'right' way to sit or lie when you  mediate, or is there a right way...? You'll just have to come back to find out!

Tá an Earrach buailte linn, faoi deara thiar thall! Agus tá mé ag siúl go mór leis na laethanta níos faide agus dóchas a aireachtáil! Dóchas go dtiocfaidh deireadh leis an dianghlasáil go luath...

It’s Spring! Finally! I’m really looking forward to longer days and hope! Hope that these lockdowns will end soon...

An tseachtain seo tá mé ag iarraidh leanúint ar aghaidh ó bhlag na seachtaine seo caite. Tabharfaidh mé cur síos daoibh ar an darna cuid den rang Relax Kids. Is sa chuid seo den rang go dtosaíonn muid ag ciúnú síos agus ag socrú síos le bheith réidh le luigh síos agus scíth a ligint agus muid ag éisteacht le ceol agus scéalta beaga gearra.

This week I want to continue on from last week’s blog talking about the Relax Kids classes and what they entail. So this week we’ll talk about the second half of the classes. This half is where we start to relax and wind down, getting ready to lie down and relax while listening to music and some beautiful Relax Kids visualisations.

Síntí/Stretches

D’fhag mé ag na cluichí sibh an tseachtain seo caite agus an chéad chuid eile den rang ná síntí. Déanann muid síntí atá cosúil le síntí a dhéantar ag ranganna ióga. Cabhraíonn na síntí le teannas a scaoileadh amach as an gcolainn. Choinníonn muid an-chuid teannais sa cholainn agus fanfaidh sé ann muna scaoileann muid amach é. Úsáideann muid an anáil le linn an chuid seo den rang freisin agus bíonn deis ag na páistí cártaí a phiocadh le fáil amach céard é an chéad síneadh eile a dhéanfaimid.

I left ye at the games and play last week so we’ll continue on from there which during a class would mean we would move onto the stretch step. We do some simple yoga-type stretches during this part of the class to release tension our body holds. Using the breath we move in different ways in each pose and the children have a chance to pick cards and tell us what pose they want to do as well. I love interactive classes because it means the families get to tell me what they want to do and it’s more craic for me!

Úsáid do lámha/Feel

I ndiaidh na síntí, úsáideann muid ár lámha ar a chéile agus orainn féin. Labhraíonn muid faoin gcnaipe suaimhnis atá ionann ar fad agus déanann muid cácaí agus píotsa ar a chéile. Bíonn muid ag smaoineamh ar na rudaí gur maith linn a dhéanamh le linn an chuid seo den rang freisin. Labhraíonn muid agus bíonn muid ag tarraingt pictiúir de na rudaí deasa a rinne muid ar an lá sin.

After stretches we move into self and peer massage which is my favourite step to do with families. I love watching families help each other relax and quieten down while they give each other a gentle massage. We pretend to make pizzas and cakes on each others backs (with permission of course!) and we also talk about things we enjoy doing and we draw pictures of good things that have happened to us and for us during that day.

Anáil/Breath

An darna chéim dheireanach sa rang ná anáil. Is céim ann féin é cé go mbíonn muid ag úsáid an anáil le linn an ranga. Le linn an chéime seo, bíonn muid ag déanamh cleasanna beaga gur féidir linn a dhéanamh agus a úsáid ag am ar bith agus in áit ar bith. Bíonn go leor craice againn freisin ag úsáid ainmhí leis an anáil a chleachtadh chomh maith!

Our second last step is breath and while breath has it’s own full step, we use our breath to help calm our minds and bodies throughout the whole class. during this class we teach tips and tricks to help make the breath more accessible. We do different activities that are really simple and can be done at any point during the night or day. And of course, we have the craic with it by adding animal breathing and some loud noises into the mix!

Luigh síos/Relax

Agus ansin, ag deireadh an ranga luíonn gach duine síos pé bealach agus pé áit atá compordach dóibh agus éisteann muid le ceol agus bím féin ag caint ar an gcolainn agus an caoi atá sé ag mothú. Is breá liom an cuid seo den rang a dhéanamh agus an teaghlach ar fad le chéile agus iad sa bhaile mar chiallaíonn sé go gcruthaíonn siad spás agus áit sa teach go bhfuil siad in ann aireachas a chleachtadh. Chomh maith leis sin, má fheiceann na páistí go bhfuil na tuismitheoirí á dhéanamh freisin beidh níos mó measa acu air agus tá níos mó seans ann go mbeidh suim acu é a dhéanamh. Is rud álainn é más féidir leat aireachas a chleachtadh le do pháistí nó le do phairtnéir. 

And each classes finishes with the families lying on their bed, the floor, couch or whatever it is they have around them that is comfortable. We listen to some beautiful, relaxing music and I read out some Relax Kids visualations while the whole family lie quietly together listening. I love this part of the class particularly when it is the whole family doing it. It’s such a beautiful practice to get into and it creates a calming, relaxing atmosphere in the house.

Más suim leat féin a bheith linn don chéad chúrsa seo den bhliain, ranganna uair an chloig ar feadh sé seachtain a bheidh ann agus tá na sonraí ar fad ar fáil anseo. Má tá tuilleadh ceisteanna agat faoin gcúrsa ba bhreá liom labhairt leat faoi. Cuir ríomhphost go solasrelaxation@gmail.com agus socróidh muid am atá feiliúnach don bheirt againn! Tá mé ar bís le tosú!

So, if you want to join me for this Relax Kids six week course check out all of the information here and if you would like to have a chat about the course please let me know by emailing solasrelaxation@gmail.com. I can’t wait to get started!

An tseachtain seo, d’fhogair mé mo chéad cúrsa teaghlaigh don bhliain. Cúrsa Relax Kids a bheidh ann. Le linn gach rang Relax Kids téann muid trí seacht gcéim ina iomláine. Idir seo agus tús an chúrsa, ar an gCéadaoin, 3 Márta tabharfaidh mé cur síos duit anseo ar na céimeanna sin. Beidh an cúrsa ar siúl ar feadh 6 seachtain ag 4.30in gach Céadaoin agus tá sé feiliúnach don chlann ar fad, ach go háirithe páistí ag aois bunscoile ach bainfidh na páistí níos sine agus níos óige sult as píosaí éagsula de na ranganna.  

This week I launched my first family Relax Kids course of the year. Every class of a Relax Kids course includes seven steps. I am going to use this blog for the next few weeks to explain exactly what those steps are and what happens during each Relax Kids class. The course I will be running will be a 6-week course starting on Wednesday, 3rd March at 4.30pm and it is suitable for all families, particularly families with primary-aged children but older and younger children will enjoy different parts of the class. each course is completely tailored to the needs of the participants so everyone is welcome! And as it is an online class you can be located anywhere as well!

Tosaíonn muid gach rang le trí anáil domhain, isteach tríd an srón agus amach tríd an bhéal. Cabhraíonn an anáil seo linn féin a shuaimhniú agus a shocrú síos le go mbeidh muid réidh le tabhairt faoi rudaí nua. Iarraim ar gach duine na lámha a chur ar a mbolg aon am go ndéanann muid anáil domhain leis an anáil a mhealladh síos go dtí an bolg. Go minic nuair a thógann muid anáil bíonn sé gearr agus éadomhain agus má táimid ag iarraidh na anála a úsáid leis na intinn a chiúine caithfimid é a mhoilliú síos agus ligint den aer isteach sa bholg.

Every class starts with three deep breaths in and slowly out. Focusing on the breath and the use of the breath is a great way to calm the busy mind and it is the perfect way to start anything new or different. After taking three breaths with their hands on their belly the participants are ready for whatever new thing we will be doing! I always ask children and adults alike to have their hands on their belly during the deep breaths as it encourages the breath to elongate and to reach as far down as their belly. We so often have shallow, short breaths but when we focus on the breath and can make it longer and deeper we are automatically quietening our minds as we are taking the attention away from our thoughts and into our bodies.

Nuair atá sin déanta againn agus nuair a thuigeann gach duine céard a tharlóidh sa rang, seasann muid ar fad suas agus tosaíonn muid ag bogadh. Critheann muid amach ár gcolainn agus ag léimt thart agus ag fáil réidh le uair an chloig spraoi agus craic! Ansin imríonn muid cluichí; iarraim ar na páistí ligint orthu féin gur ainmhí éagsula iad. Is breá liom féin an eilifint a dhéanamh agus moncaí, capall agus coinín. Uaireanta iarraim ar na gasúir insint dúinn faoin ainmhí is fearr leo agus déanann muid sin chomh maith!

When this is done and when everyone understands exactly what will be happening during the class, we stand up and we start moving. We shake out our arms and legs and our bodies to release tension and to warm ourselves up to get started. Then we play some games. The games have had to change a little due to the online aspect of the classes now but they’re always a lot of fun! One of my favourite games is to pretend to be different animals; I love doing the elephant and the monkey and the rabbit and sometimes the children will tell me what animals they love and we’ll give them a go too!

Dár ndóigh, bhí ar na cluichí athrú beagán agus muid anois ar líne ach fós féin bíonn go leor spraoi againn. Deirim ráitis agus bíonn ar na páistí léimt chun tosaigh má tá sé fíor agus léimt siar muna bhfuil sé. Tá réalta beaga agam le focail orthu agus feiceann na páistí iad agus ansin bainim ceann nó dhó agus caithfidh siad smaoinigh ar céard a bhí ann roimhe sin.

Another game is that I say a statement and if it’s true the children and their parents jump forward and if it’s false the jump backwards, I also love getting everyone to make some noise or playing memory games.

Sprioc ollmhór atá agam le linn gach rang teaghlaigh ná go mbainfidh na páistí sult as agus le linn an chéad chuid den rang déanann muid go leor leor rudaí le go mbeidh am maith acu! Beidh an cúrsa seo ar siúl ar Zoom agus tá an t-eolas ar fad ar fáil anseo.

One of the main aims of every family class I teach is that the children have fun and the first part of the class is all about fun and jumping around and doing whatever we need to to get moving. All of the information on this upcoming course is available here.

Le tuilleadh eolais a fháil ar Relax Kids agus na táirgí álainn ar fad a chuireann siad ar fáil cuir scéal chugamsa ar solasrelaxation@gmail.com nó téigh go suíomh Relax Kids anseo. Freisin, beidh mé ar ais arís ar an Luan ag 6in ar mo leathanach Facebook anseo le píosa aireachais eile ón leabhar The Wishing Star. I mBéarla a bheidh sé ach má tá píosa aireachais uait i nGaeilge bígí i dteagmháil liom agus beidh mé in ann rud éigin a dhéanamh duit. Agus déan cinnte go dtagann tú ar ais an tseachtain seo chugainn le fáil amach céard a tharlaíonn le linn an darna cuid den rang!

Relax Kids have so many beautiful products and packs they provide for parents and children. You can always contact me on solasrelaxation@gmail.com if you have any question or you could go to the Relax Kids website here. I will be live on my Facebook page Solas Relaxation agus Relax Kids on Monday evening at 6pm (GMT) reading from one of the beautiful Relax Kids books, The Wishing Star and make sure to come back here next week to find out what the next steps in a Relax Kids class are.

Bíodh deireadh seachtaine álainn agaibh ar fad agus má tá ceist ar leith agaibh maidir le rudaí suaimhneacha nó aireachais bígí i dteagmháil liom!

Have a beautiful weekend, whatever it is you get up to and if you have any mindfulness or relaxation questions please send me a message xx

Grá mór,
Katie

Thosaigh mé mo chéad cúrsa aireachais don bhliain aréir agus bhí bean ann a bhí ag labhairt linn faoin obairscoile atá sí ag déanamh lena hiníon. Dúirt sí go raibh sí ag streachailt go mór leis agus nach raibh sí féin ná an iníon ag fáil mórán as. Ar deireadh dúirt sí go raibh sí le beagán dó a dhéanamh amach anseo agus é a fhágáil aige sin. “Ag pointe éigin caithfidh mé a admháil gur leor an méid atá mé ag deanamh,” a dúirt sí agus bhí mé thar a bheith sásta sin a chloisteáil!

I started my first adult mindfulness course of the year last night and one of the participants was talking about the homeschooling she has been doing with her daughter. She said that she has been really struggling with it over the past few weeks and neither she or her daughter are getting much out of it.
“At some point I just have to accept that the amount I’m doing is enough and that’s that,” she said and I was so delighted to hear that!

Tá go leor leor brú ar thuismitheoirí faoi láthair le hobairscoile a dhéanamh lena bpáistí féin agus mar sin tá an caidreamh idir an páiste agus an tuismitheoir ag athrú; tá an tuismitheoir ag iarraidh a bheith mar múinteoir agus tuismitheoir ag aon am amháin agus níl sé sin éasca agus do roinnt agaibh, níl sé indéanta!

There is so much pressure on parents at the minute with the schools sending work home for them to do with their children. This new teacher/parent/child dynamic is a new and challenging one, on top of the challenge of surviving through a pandemic!

Mar sin, mholfainn daoibh ar fad atá ina tuismitheoir, an brú a bhaint duit féin. Ní gá duit tú féin agus na gasúir a mharú ag iarraidh obair scoile a dhéanamh. Is leor an méid atá tú ag déanamh, fiú más rud é go bhfuil tú díreach in ann na páistí a bheatha agus sin é. Is leor sin.

So I would advise all and every parent reading this to take the pressure off yourself. It’s not going to kill the kids or you for the homeschooling to not be done or for you to take a break from it. Whatever you are doing, let that be enough! Even if today all you have managed to do is feed the kids, that is ok.  

Agus más féidir leat, moladh eile a bheadh agam ná an teach a fhágáil le haer úr agus beagán aclaíochta a fháil. Déan iarracht é a dhéanamh uair sa lá ar a laghad.  

And my next piece of advice would be to leave the house to get some fresh air and some exercise. Try to do this at least once a day.

Le linn an geimhridh bíonn sé an-éasca fanacht istigh. Bíonn an aimsir fuar agus fliuch agus bíonn sé dorcha níos mó ná go mbíonn sé geal! Ach, go háirithe i mbliana, mholfainn duit an teach a fhágáil ar a laghad uair sa lá. Déanaim féin an-iarracht dul amach ag siúl gach lá, ní théim rófhada gach lá ach mothaím i bhfad níos fearr i ndiaidh. Cuireann an aclaíocht an fhuil agus an fuinneamh ag bogadh thart ar an gcolainn agus nuair atá vitimín D nádúrtha ar fáil is ceart dúinn é a fháil an méid is mó is gur féidir linn!

During the winter months it can be easy to stay inside; it’s cold and wet outside and it’s dark more then it’s bright so inside is so much more inviting! But this year, more then previous years it is more important the ever to make sure you’re getting fresh air every day and whenever you do see the sun try to get out and get some of that natural vitamin D!

Bhuel! B’in an tseachtain is faide dá raibh ann! Níor shíl mé go mbainfidh muid an Aoine amach choíche! Níor thuig mé go hiomlán an fáth go raibh sé ag mothú chomh fada sin go dtí gur luaigh duine éigin an ghealach dorcha dom. Bhí fuinneamh na gealaí dorcha linn an tseachtain seo agus is am é sin le machnamh a dhéanamh, le bheith níos ciúine agus smaoineamh ar na rudaí gur mhaith linn tarraingt isteach chugainn sa chéad coicís eile roimh an ghealach lán. Mar sin, ag an am sin den mhí is féidir leis an bhfuinneamh aireachtáil níos troime agus má chuireann muid stád na doimhne le Covid, na scéalta faoi na hárais máithreacha agus leanaí anseo in Éirinn agus na scéalta ar fad ag teacht chugainn ó na Stáit Aontaithe ní haon iontas é go bhfuil an fuinneamh trom!

Well! That was the longest week on record! I didn’t know if we would ever get to Friday! I didn’t fully understand why it was feeling so long until someone mentioned the new moon. We have been in new moon energy this week and typically that means we feel more inclined to retreat, to meditate and contemplate. Therefore, at this time of the month the energy can feel heavier and with everything that is happening in the world at the minute it’s not very surprising that things feel heavier.

Leis sin ar fad tá mé ag iarraidh cúpla rud beag a mholadh duit le cabhrú leis an bhfuinneamh trom seo atáimid ar fad ag mothú!

And with that all in mind I want to give you a few tips of little things that could help you and your family right now.

An chéad mholadh atá agam ná gan a bheith ag breáthú ar an nuacht barraíocht. Ach ansin, céard is barraíocht ann...bhuel, an rud a dhéanaim féin ná ní éistim leis céad rud ar maidin. Má dhéanann tú sin ní chruthóidh tú ach droch-spíon don lá ar fad. Ní athróidh an nuacht mórán le linn an lae, mar sin is leor breathnú ar fhigiúirí (más maith leat ach cinnte níl gá!) faoi dhó sa lá. Pé nuacht gur gá duit foghlaim gheobhaidh tú é, luath nó mall ach ní fiú duit drochthús a chur le do lá nó droch-deireadh ach an oiread!

The first thing I would advise and that NEEDS to be said repeatedly is to ask you to stop watching and listening to the news so much. Starting the day listening to the news is only going to start your day off badly because there is so rarely good news at the minute! There is no need for you to spend the day watching figures or listening to the headlines, if there is something you really need to hear you’ll hear it and you won’t have to go looking for it.

Tá mé i ndiaidh labhairt agus scríobh neart faoin gcéad mholadh eile ach sin toisc go gcreidim go hiomlán ann agus b’in leabhar buíochais. Mholfainn do gach duine ar domhain leabhar buíochais a bheith acu agus trí rud a scríobh istigh ann gach oíche sula dtéann siad a luigh. Athróidh sé na smaointe a bheidh agat agus tú ag dul a chodail agus beidh tú ag smaoineamh ar na rudaí maithe a tharla an lá sin in ionad a bheith ag smaoineamh ar na drochrudaí.

I have written and spoken about this next tip a lot before but that is because it can change your life and that tip is to have a gratitude journal. I would recommend that you write at least three things on it every night. They don’t have to be big things just small simple things that you are glad to have in your life. Doing this before bed completely changes your mindset to be aware of the positive things that have happened during the day as you go to sleep, instead of focusing on the negative which is something we all do so well!

Ansin, mholfainn duit a bheith i dteagmháil le daoine taobh amuigh de do theach féin. Anseo in Éirinn níl cead againn buaileadh le cairde ach leis an teicneolaíocht ar fad atá againn tá go leor bealaí eile ann le fanacht i dteagmháil le daoine agus mholfainn duit sin a dhéanamh, go minic. Go minic bíonn muid sáite inár scéal agus saol féin agus déanann muid dearmad go bhfuil rudaí eile ann, má labhraíonn muid le daoine eile cuirfidh sin i gcuimhne duit go bhfuil daoine eile amuigh ansin agus nach bhfuil muid go hiomlán linn féin.

And finally, I would suggest that you stay in contact with people outside your home. With all the Covid restrictions a lot of us are being told to not meet people outside our household but that doesn’t mean you can’t stay in touch via video and phone calls. Talking to someone that is outside our house and that has other things going on is a reminder for us that we are not alone. This difficult situation is effecting everyone in different ways and when we aren’t meeting other people we can sometimes forget that.

Agus muna leanann sibh mo leathanach Facebook Solas Relaxation agus Relax Kids go fóill, mholfainn daoibh sin a dhéanamh mar gach Luan ag 6in beidh mé agus tá mé ag léamh amach píosa álainn aireachais ó na leabhair atá ag Relax Kids AGUS tá Relax Kids ag tabhairt moltaí do thuismitheoirí gach lá ó Luan go hAoine do rudaí deasa suaimhneacha gur féidir libh a dhéanamh leis na páistí nó díreach duit féin agus tá mé ag roinnt na moltaí sin freisin.

And if you are not following my Facebook page Solas Relaxation agus Relax Kids I would recommend that you do because every Monday at 6pm I will be doing a live video reading one of the beautiful meditations that are in the Relax Kids books and I am also sharing affirmations and tips that Relax Kids HQ has put together to support families during these strange, challenging times.

Bliain úr mhaith do mo chuid léitheoirí ar fad! Cé go n-airíonn an bhliain seo an-cosúil leis an mbliain seo caite... drochthús don bhliain atá ann le dianghlasáil uimhir a trí agus uimhreacha Covid19 níos airde anseo in Éirinn ná a bhí siad riamh roimhe! Ach sin uilig ráite, bhí an aimsir go hálainn ó thús na bliana, tá sé fuar go maith ach beagnach gach lá anseo i nGaillimh ó gur tháinig mé ar ais ó Bhaile Átha Cliath tá an ghrian amuigh agus chonaic mé pictiúir álainn de sléibhte, páirceanna agus bóithre clúdaithe i mbrath sneachta. Tá mé féin go pearsanta ag tógáil an dea-aimsir seo mar chomhartha maith. Níor thosaigh an bhliain rómhaith ó thaobh na paindéime ach tá rudaí deasa go fóill le feiceáil agus le braith, ach b’fhéidir go bhfuil sé níos deacra duit teacht orthu.

Happy new year to you all! Even if this year feels an awful lot like last year....we’ve definitely had a grim start to the year here in Ireland with our Covid cases higher then they have ever been and the whole country in Lockdown 3 BUT with all that being said, the weather since the beginning of the year has been beautiful! The sun has been shining here in Galway since I got back from Dublin and I have seen beautiful pictures from other parts of the country of snow covered fields and mountains so I am taking that as a good sign! With regards the pandemic and Covid the year hasn’t started out too well but there is still plenty of beauty to be found around us all!

Tá mé bródúil go maith faoi láthair toisc gur féidir liom rudaí maithe a aimsiú agus a fheiceáil. Ó gur chaill mé Aoife, mo chara agus Michael, m’uncail bhí an saol i bhfad níos deacra agus is ar éigean go raibh mé ag tabhairt faoi rud ar bith, gan trácht ar rudaí maithe a fheiceáil thar timpeall orm. Sin ráite, níor thosaigh an tseachtain seo, an chéad tseachtain den bhliain ró-mhaith.

And I am really proud of myself for being able to see that beauty! Since Aoife and Michael have died life has been really difficult and I was struggling to get up in the morning let alone to see anything good in the day. But for this first week of the new year I have definitely found lots of beauty around me. BUT I did also struggle this week.

Tháinig mé ar ais go Gaillimh ar an Satharn le go mbeidh mé in ann socrú isteach i gceart sula dtosóinn ar an obair ach bhí mé in ísle brí ceart. Bhí mé ag teacht ar ais go teach folamh agus fios agam nach bhfeicfinn éinne ach i ndiaidh píosa ióga agus codail maith mhothaigh mé níos fearr.

I came back to Galway on Saturday so I would be able to get back into work on Monday after settling back into things here but Saturday evening was tough; I was feeling really down and I couldn’t even pinpoint what had gotten me down (lockdown, January, bereavement; there was just so much to choose from...) but after some yoga and a good night’s rest I started to feel better.

Maidin Luain agus d’éirigh mé go luath le tabhairt faoin lá ach ní raibh mórán fuinnimh agam aon rud a dhéanamh. Tharla an rud céanna maidin Dé Máirt agus ar an gCéadaoin agus mar sin, bheartaigh mé gach éirí go luath ar an Déardaoin – ní fiú é nuair nach bhfuil fuinneamh agam cibé! Agus rinne mé an rud céanna inniu agus tá mé chomh sásta liom féin! Bhí mé ag cur brú orm féin nuair nach fiú é! Bhí liosta agam de na rudaí go raibh orm a dhéanamh agus tá mé á dhéanamh agus ag fáil beagán níos mó codalta ag an am céanna!

So on Monday morning I got up early because that’s what you ‘should’ do when you’re back at work and I didn’t have much energy or interest in anything. The same thing happened on Tuesday and Wednesday and finally by Wednesday I was starting to learn my lesson so I gave myself a lie in on Thursday and felt much better about the day and had much more energy so I did the same thing this morning and I generally feel so much better!

Tá mé ag tosú dúshláin 5 lá saor in aisce i mo ghrúpa Facebook an tseachtain seo chugainn agus an téama atá thart air ná cineáltas! Agus is léir go bhfuil an cur i gcuimhne ag teastáil uaim féin! Más spéis leat a bheith páirteach sa dúshlán ní mór duit ach ballraíocht a ghlacadh sa ghrúpa anseo.

Next week I’m running a FREE 5 Day Challenge in my Facebook group Cultivating Inner Happiness and kindness is our theme and I obviously needed to give myself some of that kindness already! If you’d like to join us all you have to do is join the group here and it would be great to have you with us!

Freisin, beagán tacaíochta a thabhairt do theaghlaigh atá ag streachailt anois leis an scoileanna a bheith dúnta in athuair, gach trathnóna Luain ag 6in beidh mé ag léamh píosa aireachais ó na leabhair Relax Kids. Mairfidh na seisiúin thart ar 15 nóiméad agus beidh siad feiliúnach do dhaoine fásta agus daoine óga. Tosóidh mé an Luan seo ag 6in ag an nasc seo agus bheadh sé iontach cuid agaibh a bheith liom!

Also, to give some support to families during our next round of school closures, every Monday evening at 6pm GMT I will be reading a relaxation meditation from one of the Relax Kids books live on my Facebook page Solas Relaxation agus Relax Kids. The session will take about 15 minutes and is suitable for all ages! My plan is to make this a Monday evening, weekly event until schools open again so hopefully some of ye could join me!

Agus an rud deireanach atá ag teacht aníos ná mo chúrsa aireachais do dhaoine fásta. Beidh an téama cineáltas againn freisin; sin cineáltas dúinn féin agus do dhaoine eile. Tosóidh sé ar an Déardaoin, 21 Eanáir ag 7.30in. bronntanas álainn duit féin atá ann; uair sa tseachtain go hiomlán duit féin, ar mhaithe leat féin ach feicfidh tú buntáistí do na daoine atá thar timpeall ort freisin mar beidh tú ag labhairt leo agus ag teacht chucu ó áit atá níos réchúiseach agus suaimhneach. Tá an t-eolas ar fad ar fáil anseo nó cuir scéal chugam ag solasrelaxation@gmail.com.

And the final thing I have coming up is my mindfulness course for adults. This six week course will also be focusing on kindness; Cultivating Inner Kindness which will involve being kind to ourselves which in turn will be reflected in our relationships with others. We will be starting on Thursday, 21 January and it is a beautiful gift to yourself and to those around you who will notice a change in you and you will be coming into your interactions with them from a calmer place. All of the information is available here and if you have any questions or would like to have a chat with me just send me an email at solasrelaxation@gmail.com.

Idir an dá linn, bíodh seachtain deas agus sábhálta agaibh ar fad agus bí cineálta leat féin agus leo siúd atá thart ort!

And in the meantime, have a beautiful, safe week! And don’t forget to show yourself and those around you the kindness you all deserve xx

Rinne mé glan dearmad blag nua a chur amach an Aoine seo caite agus léiriú maith é sin ar an saol anois. Dúirt mé le duine éigin an tseachtain seo caite go raibh mí na Nollag níos ciúine dom i mbliana ó thaobh oibre de. Dúirt sí ‘Tá sin deas. Is féidir leat rudaí a thógáil go réidh.’ Níor thóg m go réidh é. Agus níos measa fós, níor thuig mé go raibh mé chomh ghnóthach sin fiú! Agus mar sin chuaigh an blag seo díreach amach as mo chloigeann an Aoine seo caite.

I completely forgot about this blog last Friday which I think is a good description of where my head is these days. I told someone this past week that work has been quieter for me this month and she said ‘that’s great! You can take things easy.’ I haven’t been taking things easy and worse still, I wasn’t even aware of how busy I was! So this blog went completely out of my head as I tried to put together something that made sense for my latest college assignment.

Tá cuid mhór daoine i ndiaidh a rá liom go bhfuil siad réidh do shos na Nollag anois agus tá mise ar aon intinn leo! Bhí bliain chrua agus fhada againn agus tá mé ag siúl go mór le rudaí a thógáil go réidh, faoi dheara!

I have heard loads of people talking about being ready for the Christmas break already and I am with them! It is been a tough, long year and I am so looking forward to taking things easy, at last!

Feicim go leor daoine ag caint air na spriocanna atá siad ag iarraidh a bhaint amach roimh deireadh na bliana seo agus mise san áit atá mé, tá siad ag cur isteach go mór orm. Tá mé ag iarraidh deireadh na bliana a bhaint amach chomh sciobtha is gur féidir liom le go mbeidh sos ceart agam. Tá mé ag iarraidh aclaíochta a dhéanamh (rud nach bhfuil mé ag déanamh faoi láthair), tá mé ag iarraidh bia ceart a thabhairt dom féin (rud atá mé ag déanamh beagán níos fearr ná an aclaíocht) agus tá mé ag iarraidh na rudaí atá sa dialann cheana féin a dhéanamh chomh maith agus gur féidir liom (rud atá mé ag déanamh go réasúnta maith) agus sin é; sin iad na spriocanna atá agam agus fanfaidh siad chomh simplí sin! Níl mé in ann d’aon rud eile! Agus is ar éigean go bhfuil mé in ann don mhéid sin!

I have seen loads of people talking about goals they want to achieve by the end of the year and because of where my head is right now, it’s really pissing me off. I want to get to the end of the year as soon as I can while doing a little exercise, eating relatively well and doing what is already on my calendar. I am achieving some of these things right now but I think even if I semi managed them I would be pretty proud!

Pé áit atá tusa; ag iarraidh cuid mhór a chríochnú nó le cuid mhór atá le críochnú roimh deireadh na bliana nó réidh don sos agus i ndiaidh é a thógáil go luath; lig de sin a bheith ann duit. Lig de sin a bheith ceart go leor. Níl rud ar bith cearr le pé áit atá tú.

Wherever you are right now; wanting or needing to get lots of things done and finished before year end or just making it through see if you can let that me OK. Can you just let yourself be where you are, without criticising yourself or judging yourself?

Ní bheidh blag eile uaim idir seo agus...am éigin i mí Eanáir. Níl mé ag iarraidh geallúint a thabhairt maidir le ham a bheidh mé ar ais ach má tá tú ag iarraidh fanacht i dteagmháil liom beidh mé ar fáil ar mo leathanach Facebook Solas Relaxation agus Relax Kids agus beidh rudaí beaga, deasa ag dul ar aghaidh i mo ghrúpa Facebook anseo.  

I will not be posting here again until sometime in January. I don’t want to commit to a date so I’m just going to see when it happens, but I will definitely be back. And if you want to still hear from me over the Christmas and New Year period I will be still on my Facebook page Solas Relaxation agus Relax Kids and I will also be posting little gems and treats in my Facebook group here.

Idir seo agus sin, bíodh Nollaig shona agus shábhálta agaibh ar fad xx

Between now and then, have a beautiful, safe and calm Christmas xx