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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 Reunion Scrabble Night Time Golden milk by my side Loved ones competing to win Reminiscing, laughing Silence outside Just the odd passing car Content, cosy, happy Surrounded by family Soaked in love Follow your heart: A heart route to celebrate my long awaited family reunion! Location: Loughton, a cute ancient village in Milton Keynes England, and the city where I first gave birth to Cycle Your Heart Out over a decade ago! It's also one of my favourite areas in the city to find some peace and walk the dog. Heart Route: It was thanks to my amazing sister's that we managed to come up with this short but beautiful 4.78km ride in Loughton! The route is also part of the 12km Millennium cycle route around Milton Keynes, a quiet picturesque ride that takes you past the river Ouzel, the Grand Union Canal, ancient villages and the famous concrete cows! Cycle Your Heart Out: Meet my mum, she hadn't rode a bike in ages, and had pretty much lost all confidence. She would stop and walk the bike to cross a small road, avoid adjusting the seat to the correct height in case she fell off, and rode the same speed as someone walking. But little by little with the help of me and my sister, her confidence bloomed as we rode along peaceful paths, canals and lakes. No rush, nowhere to be, just us and our bikes. We stopped to pick freshly fallen plums, pick juicy blackberries, and to simply admire the horses. The more we rode, the more her fear faded and her smile grew! We celebrated our ride with some delicious Victoria sponge cake and tea at the Grumpy Cook. If you have someone you love who is a little hesitant to get back on their bike, here are 2 tips from my mum that helped her get over her fear of cycling: 1. Walk and cycle... Like when you start running, you walk/jog/build up a few mins at a time... 2. Avoid cycling on hills or in bad weather until more confident Spread the love: To help spread the love around Milton Keynes I gifted a copy of my new book to the wonderful Alchemise Yoga Studio in Newport Pagnell. Ran by the lovely Wendy, it was thanks to her amazing classes that I first fell in love with yoga over a decade ago. Thanks Nicole for reading my poems in your relaxing cello classes. "Building community, bringing art from the heart, a perfect offering. Thank you so much for bringing your wonderful poetry into the world and sharing your book with us!" - Wendy Loughlan - Founder of Alchemise Yoga Studio The Route to Friendship Sometimes in life you’ll visit somewhere and fall in love Destined to return That place for me was Brighton It stole my heart not once, but twice Recently made fuller Thanks to the beauty of Friendship Sometimes it’s weeks Months Years Time passes and not a word exchanged between you Yet put together in the same room The stories The memories Retold as if they’d occurred last year Jobs, partners, cities, may have all changed But some friendships remain the same Unable to budge for anyone Not even time Follow your heart
I dedicate this heart route to my friends Jimmy & Kieron, and their wedding coming soon! It was also an amazing opportunity to be able to reunite again with old friends, and dance our hearts out to Britney Spears at Gay pride!! Cycle your heart out... the route to friendship Location Brighton, England I first fell in love with this city about 7 years ago after visiting a friend. The minute I left the train station it was as if I'd arrived home. The warmness of the people, the charm of the North Laines, the endless choice of veggie restaurants, and then of course the cycling! Riding along the coast, the scent of fish and chips in the air, and views of scattered of deck chairs. Coming back here after so long, all those feelings remained. Heart route 4.73km route Cycle your heart out Highlights: Bike rental: Brighton Beach Bikes Brighton Palace Pier Brighton West Pier Brighton Beach Royal Pavilion North Laine Bazaar The White Rabbit pub Iydea Vegetarian Kitchen Spread the love Thanks so much to Mark and Mel at Brighton Beach Bikes for advising me on how hilly Brighton is, and helping me create my heart route! My amazing friends, for making a ton of new beautiful memories together! If you would like to create your own heart route click here to learn my top 5 steps! 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 I was recently contacted by the Milton Keynes Council to help create a fun Valentines heart shaped cycled route. I'd just moved to Barcelona so although I wasn't able to join them, I was more than happy to plan the route! Location Milton Keynes, England Heart route A nice and easy 3.56 mile ride for all the family, riding around Willen Lake and Campbell Park Check out the map here! Cycle Your Heart Out Over 30 cyclists joined in to cycle their hearts out with loved ones, and make use of the fantastic bike paths that Milton Keynes has to offer! The amazing Breeze and Sky ride leaders Ana, Karen Colette and Kevin did a fantastic job in organising and leading the ride, and made sure everyone had a great time!  Spread the love Thanks to the Milton Keynes Council, British Cycling, The Parks Trust and Roy Pinks cycles for making the event possible! Deputy Mayor Brian White was there to help draw the prize winners, and collect the British Cycling jersey on behalf of Mayor Cllr Catriona Morris, who couldn't be there on the day. Congratulations Maurice Barnes for winning the gold bike service from Roy Pinks, and runners up Adam Coleburt and Karen Kodish for winning my handmade Cycle Your Heart Out Pendant. Creative Breeze champion Ana also brought along her handmade Breeze Bear to donate to the Mayor. Would you like to create your own heart route? Click below to find out more! 18/12/2012 0 Comments Cycle Your Heart Out this Christmas!Follow your heart This Christmas me and fellow Breeze leader Ana Jojic decided to celebrate the festive season with a sunny Breeze ride around Milton Keynes, followed by some cake at the Chain Reaction bicycle festival. Location Milton Keynes, England Heart route 4 miles click here for route Cycle your heart out The heart route took us from the Theatre district to sheep filled Campbell Park, past the canal and on to Willen Lake for some fantastic views of the Milton Keynes skyline. The surprisingly warm weather made it feel almost like autumn! Homemade cake and coffee at the Chain Reaction bicycle festival was the perfect place to finish our ride. A cool under cover market of locally hand made goods, sold from bicycles, hosted by MK Festival Fringe! Spread the love Thanks so much to all the ladies that joined the ride, and to Ana for helping to it with me! Congratulations to Maja Dunn for winning the prize draw for my handmade Cycle Your Heart Out 'Freedom' Pendant! Ana also makes these cute personalised bear's on bikes, check them out below!  |
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