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