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Follow your heart Mindful Maya here! Sarah's let me take over her blog today and I'm super happy to share with you my first heart route! But first let me share a little bit about me... I was born on Valentine's day and my name means love in Nepali, my favourite snack is broccoli and I'm obsessed with chasing pigeons. People seem to think I'm a small bear or cat sometimes... but I'm sure I'm a Pomeranian dog. Location El Poblenou, Barcelona in Spain Heart route 1.64km Cycle your heart out One minute I'm chasing pigeons, sniffing grass and finding a good spot to roll around in, the next minute Sarah picks me up and puts me in some sort of flying bed. It's strange but kind of cosy cause she's put my favourite blanket inside. Not sure why she's put me here... Wow I'm super high up, I miss the floor let me outta here! Ok escape fail, she's harnessed me in... My fur feels sort of strange, it's like she's blow drying me after a shower, except it's nice and cool. So many humans keep staring at me, everything's moving around me so fast, Hold on a minute... I recognise it all, its my favourite walking route in Parc Diagonal! I recognise the smells and the trees, those purple flowers on the floor, this is the park full of dogs that always want to sniff me. Ok we’ve stopped, Sarah is giving me lots of hugs and doing that strange high pitch voice, the same as whenever I’ve peed on the grass or sit down. I think I’ve done something she likes as she’s just given me my FAVOURITE BONE! Nothing else matters right now, just me and my bone, the cool blow dryer on my fur. Sarah just told me we've rode a heart route, maybe that's why she called me Maya! I like this flying bed, I could get used to this. But for now I’ve got some serious chewing to do. Spread the love Would you like to create a heart route with your favourite human? I highly suggest checking out Sarah's top tips!
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13/2/2020 0 Comments Heart Route 37 in BarcelonaQuiet Love No need to sweep me off my feet Just a forehead kiss will do No need for extravagant jewellery Your hand holding mine will do No desire for a giant bouquet A plant that blooms will do No surprise luxury hotel A tent under the stars will do No fancy restaurant needed A heart-shaped ride will do No need for changing you Your quiet love will always do 26/11/2019 0 Comments Heart Route 35 in Altea, SpainBody still, Mind on fire The numbness spreads My legs gone dead If only I could move The tenacious fly That active gardener If only I had silence My familiar friends Worry and Fear Always around, but never welcome Body still, mind on fire Breathing interrupts Damn that feels good Stomach growing like a balloon Emotions join the stream Thoughts pass like clouds Even the ocean seems calmer Sitting cross legged Silence starts to spread Body still, flames reduced Mind at peace Follow your heart Before learning about mindfulness, my mind was like a chaotic snow globe, always shaking, my thoughts flying here, there and everywhere! I craved to have a vacation from my mind, and found life just so overwhelming all the time. After years of cycling my heart routes I slowly learnt that it was focusing on my breath and the sensations in my body that took me to a place of momentary calm. When I learnt that mindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment on purpose, it all started to make sense. Cycling my heart out had been my own meditation, and learning to combine it with seated meditation everyday enabled me to finally find a way to settle my snow globe thoughts. After taking an 8 week mindfulness course a few years ago in Barcelona, I decided to deepen my understanding and travel to the south of Spain to take a MBSR Teach Mindfulness course with Mindful Academy International. Cycle your heart out ... mindfully “The mind is like water. When it's turbulent, it's difficult to see. When it's calm, everything becomes clear.” Prasad Mahes Location Altea, close to Alicante in Spain Accommodation: Hotel Tossal Altea Bike Rental: Ashe bikes Heart Route Several different bike maps, two helpful bike assistants, and dozens of attempted heart routes, not one seemed to want to emerge. I was close to accepting no route could be found, and just enjoy cycling mindfully along the sea, but that's the beauty of letting go, seconds later Cecilia at Ashe bikes pointed at the map, she'd found it! It got me thinking about all the times I've longed for something, and never came close to reaching it, until I finally let go. Cycle your heart out The route represented the challenges along my teaching course, the doubts, the confusion. With the final part along the sea, peaceful, calm and full of joy. It will always remind me of the life changing course, the people I met, and all those I hope to help ride inwards. Highlights: -Parròquia de Nostra Senyora del Consol -Mirador Paseo Maritimo Spread the love I couldn't have completed this course had it not been for my teacher Kathy. Her years of experience and wisdom was truly inspiring to learn from. Grateful to my beautiful international group, it was such a joy to support and learn from one another. My top mindful tips for you: Meditation doesn't mean you always have to sit still, next time you ride your bike notice the following... How do your hands feel on the handlebars? How about your bum on the seat? Your feet as they rotate the pedals? How does the wind feel on your face? Try paying attention to the present instead of worrying about your to do list today, or your conversation with whoever yesterday. My thoughts won't stop, I can't sit cross legged, I don't have time, I'm too busy, I'll start tomorrow, I'm doing it all wrong! Sound familiar? The beauty of mindfulness is to practice kindness and compassion to ourselves, and that all those thoughts above are perfectly ok to feel. Thoughts won't stop? It's normal just observe them Can't cross your legs? Use a chair No time? Try 2 minutes Too busy? Take 3 deep breaths, Starting tomorrow? How about now Doing it wrong? No, you're not Click below for more tips on how to ride inwards heartfully!
25/8/2019 0 Comments Heart Route 34 in CopenhagenThe Danish Route to Happiness A sea of cycle lanes More bikes than cars A city in synch Hearts seem to link Boat-lined ports Picnics packed and ready Candy coloured streets Riding to the beach Help that lady off the bus Feed that hungry red squirrel And as the sun starts to set The best hasn't happened yet Replace phones with candles Share love not posts Eat together not alone You’ve discovered hygge in your home! Follow your heart
Cycling around Copenhagen had been on my bucket list for several years. I was curious to find out why Denmark won award after award for not only being a bicycle paradise, but also the world's happiest country. Luckily for me, my amazing friend Christina helped me find out why! Cycle Your Heart Out for… hygge Location - Copenhagen, Denmark Heart Route - 7.15km Cycle your heart out Highlights - Copenhagen Citadel - The Little mermaid statue - Gefion fountain - Guard change at Amalienborg - The new port of Copenhagen, Royal Danish Playhouse - Nyhavn - The Bridge street kitchen - Freetown Christiania - Picnic along the canal of Overgaden Oven Vandet overlooking the Torvegade bridge - Live music from Christianshavn boat rental & Café - Stadsgraven lake - The new bicycle bridge and along Vester Voldgade, - Tivoli - Equestrian statue of Christian IX - The Lego House at København, Stalk fountain - Kongens Nytorv. - Vandkunsten Sandwich Spread the love Grateful to Christina and her wonderful family for inviting me into their home and sharing the beauty of Denmark with me. The Little Book Of Lykke by Meik Wiking was waiting for me on the bedside table on my arrival. After cycling my heart out and reading this book, it was very clear to me why Denmark wins all these happiness awards! Spoiler alert... the front cover has a bicycle on! ;-) Thank you Earth For allowing me to cycle my heart out Year after year All over your beautiful body, For allowing me to heal my soul One heart route at a time Meet Natalie, an English teacher living in BarcelonaNatalie has wanted to get back into cycling since loosing her confidence a few years ago. Determined to loose the anxiety and fear she decided to cycle her heart out around Barcelona with me, and reignite her love of cycling! Follow your heart Cycle Your Heart Out for… confidence! Location I love this area of Barcelona for nature, and escaping from city life Heart Route A short 5km flat route along Barcelona's bicycle paths Cycle Your Heart Out I enjoyed the route because it went past some of my favourite places, Ciutadella park, the beach, and the pretty streets of Passeig de Picasso in El Born. I loved cycling next to the beach as it aways helps me to feel more relaxed. Although I felt anxious at moments I'm glad I continued as the rainbow and sunset at the end were definitely worth it! |
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