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Meet Colette, we met back in 2013 working as British Cycling Breeze ride leaders. Ten years later I invited her on a heart-shaped route to help her ride inwards and get clarity on her 2023 intentions! Step 1: Follow your heart First we sat on a sun filled bench and took some gentle mindful breaths to help settle into our bodies. We then searched for any 'punctures' using my NEW wheel of life activity sheet (see below). This led to Colette realising her tyre was a little flat around community, and just how much she wanted to pump it up. Ironically I had the same sort of puncture! We then listened to my heartful ride meditation and had a pleasant conversation (in our heads) with our ideal self. It's a lovely way to start your ride as it really helps to reinforce your intention, or sometimes shed light on things you may have been previously unaware of. INNER RIDE QUESTION Looking at the wheel of life, can you notice any punctures in your life? What area needs pumping up the most? If you need some help getting clarity, listen to my Heartful Ride Meditation on Insight Timer or download it here. "I love what you are doing and how you're creating a greener and sustainable way of living. I enjoyed our day and found that creating my own affirmations really helped me to focus and move forward. I feel more able to make clearer decisions for myself now, thank you"! Step 2: Location Furzton lake in Milton Keynes, England. A beautiful lake surrounded by swans, ducks… and dinosaurs! It's also part of the route 51 cycle network that leads you all the way to Oxford. INNER RIDE QUESTION: Where would you like to cycle your heart out? Once you've chosen your country and place, take some time to collect physical maps / online maps. If your route is in the UK, try looking on the Sustrans website for advice on bicycle friendly paths in your chosen area. Step 3: Create your heart route I first made this 2.7 mile route when I started riding heart routes as part of my morning routine. I found it was a great way to start the day and help reinforce your intentions. After over 11 years in 10 countries of making heart routes, I can honestly say that the Milton Keynes redway maps are the best to use when it comes to finding heart routes! INNER RIDE QUESTION: Need help with your heart route? Here are my top 3 tip:
Remember your heart routes don't need to be perfect, because neither is life! Step 4: Cycle Your Heart Out Before we rode I suggested Colette write down a short affirmation about how she wishes her community to be. Repeating this to yourself before your route is such a powerful way to bring your intention to life. Always write it in the present as if it's already true, for example: "I have a loving supportive community and I feel like I belong" Once we had set off we then tuned into our 5 senses as it's such a simple way to ground yourself and enjoy the present moment. As we rode we soaked in the sounds of the chatty ducks, views of the sun bouncing off the lake, the cold sensation of the winter air on our cheeks, the smell of the half naked trees, and the taste of coffee on our lips. Here were some of the highlights along the route: Dinosaur Valley for scary crazy golf Sul Lago Restaurant one of the best places for pizza in Milton Keynes! Tattenhoe Valley for traffic free peaceful cycling and walking trails INNER RIDE QUESTION: How about you? Do you have an affirmation you'd like to write down and repeat along your route? Try practicing the 5 senses activity and see how it makes you feel, look for 5 things you can see, 4 things you can hear, 3 things you can touch, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste. Step 5: Spread the love After the route we practiced my 'Heartful world' meditation (coming soon) which is based on the well known loving kindness meditation. This is one of my favourite practices as it's all about sending compassion to those you love, strangers, those you find difficult, and every living being. Sharing your route with loved ones and your community is a beautiful way to spread the loving energy that you created on your route, and a great way to bring your ride affirmation to life! Colette lives in Houghton Regis and is hoping to grow her community around here and central Bedfordshire in England. Here are 5 ways you can expand your community today:
INNER RIDE QUESTION: Have you created your heart route? Awesome! Now choose 3 loved ones or communities you'd like to share it with to inspire them too! Are you also wanting to grow your community? What 3 baby steps can you do today to help? Now available on Audible!
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The Screenshot It started a few years ago A screenshot to capture the special moment I've lost count now, it's become the norm And it's only sunk in recently The realisation that I’ll never be able to take a last-minute coffee Pop over for dinner Or enjoy a long comforting hug The realisation that our future children will never grow up playing together Multiple countries, all spread out around the world I’ve slowly had to accept the fact that my family may never agree on one country to settle However, with acceptance comes comfort Maybe we all have different destinies Life has a unique plan for us all So here I am, on my way to make my Cambridge heart route My mum and sister by my side Their faces not on a phone, but right here, next to me What I once took for granted, I now cherish with every inch of my being To be with them, and not through a screen, is the best birthday gift No longer a screenshot But here side by side Follow your heart
This July I was grateful to finally celebrate my birthday again with my beautiful mum and sister, and I knew exactly how I wanted us to spend it! Location Cambridge, England Bike hire: Rutland Cycling and Cambridge Bike Tours Heart route We arrived in Cambridge with the rain to greet us, so decided to take shelter and relax at the cosy Senate bistro and bar. After sipping our coffees and gazing at the map for several minutes, a heart shaped route slowly began to appear! Cycle your heart out Highlights: Inner Space Kings College River Cam Trinity College The Anchor Pub Jesus Green Midsummer common Spread the love Grateful to my beautiful mum and sister for giving me a birthday I'll never forget! Would you like to create your own heart route with your family? Click below to watch my 5 part video series. Follow your heart After getting a taste for cycling in the city on my East London route, I decided to explore one of my favourite parks, and search for some squirrels! Location London's Hyde Park, England Heart route 5.42km Cycle your heart out This little heart route is perfect for anyone looking for a nice gentle traffic-free ride in London. The only thing you need to look out for is the squirrels! Spread the love Don't have a bike? Or maybe you don't fancy riding your bike into central London? Then pick up a hire bike like I did in the park. Click here for my tips on how to create your own heart route! 28/10/2012 0 Comments Cycle your heart out Tour and DrawFollow Your Heart To celebrate the lovely art initiative The Big Draw, my sister Helen and life long friend Josephine decided hop on our bikes for a heart shaped 'tour and draw'! Location East London Heart Route 7km all flat Cycle Your Heart Out You can join in if you want! Cycle a heart shaped route around your area and stop in 4 different spots. Spend a maximum of 15 minutes drawing whatever catches your eye! Spread the love For some great drawing tips check out World Sketching Tour Luís Simões ! Click here for my top tips on creating your own heart route Congratulations to Sustrans worker Clare Dowling for completing a fantastic heart shaped cycle route in her hometown! Follow your heart I work for Sustainable transport charity Sustrans and we enable people to travel by foot, bike or public transport for everyday journeys. I am very passionate about my work, and when I saw this Cycle Your Heart Out challenge, I knew it was for me! I love where I live, it's a very green and tree-filled town with gorgeous local parks and a great network of cycling routes. I use cycling and walking as my main forms of transport around the local area, and in addition often cycle just for fun or exercise too. Cycle your heart out for ... Bracknell! Location Bracknell, England Heart route 4.5 miles Cycle your heart out I really enjoyed my little ride today around my local area, starting and finishing where I live. I passed gorgeous autumnal trees, dew-covered spider webs, foggy fields, cats on high walls and children playing in the park, cutting through the estates on cycle routes and pootling down traffic calmed streets. A good way to spend 30 minutes of my day! Spread the love Thank you so much Clare for sharing your story, I love your photos! Clare is also a photographer in her spare time and you can check out her beautiful photos on her website here. If you've been inspired by Clare's story and want to create your own heart shaped route, click here for my top tips! Follow your heart Sisters Davina (10yrs) and Damaris (7yrs) decided they wanted to cycle their hearts out and help raise money for their favourite children's charity, World Vision. Location Great Linford, Milton Keynes in England Cycle your heart out After sticking their heart map to their bike, they were off! Highlights of the route: "When we met mum, dad, our aunt and uncle at the rocks, smelling BBQS, overtaking our friend Nell, and being showered in the rain." Spread the love To Donate £10 text CYHO50 to 70070 or visit their Just Giving page "If you want to make your own heart route it's easy, fun and you'll enjoy yourselves! "- Davina Click here for my tips of creating your own heart route! |
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