Salsa dancing in Malta, at the Golden Sands: Radisson!

My favourite memory from June 2008's holiday to Malta: Salsa class. Yes I am the one in white :-) Dancing class at the Radisson, Golden Sands, Malta.
Sorry about the quality but was recorded on my hubby's mobile phone - fond memories.
We were on the way home from an evening out, and went to the bar, where I couldn't help myself but join in!

I told you so!

Read this. You'll see it is an article about the overspending and lack of saving in US. It was written in 2005, and shows the foundations we were laying for the current credit crisis.

There must be so so so many financial gurus out there right now saying "I told you so".

This article mentions "Find your 'latte factor'". Well I spend £2.60 a day and that is just the morning one (I sometimes get a p.m. one). SO that is a minimum of £55 a month. No more!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wrote in a previous blog about chest lurgy and how I was giving up dairy; well sadly, I cut back but didn't give up, but starting today, I now WILL!!! I promise!!

Root Chakra

http://virtualcircle.blogspot.com/2007/11/root-chakra.html

There is nothing more that I could add to the above great blog.

This is certainly the comprehensive overview of the root chakra: its attributes, and the things to look out for when yours is in excess or deficit.

Certainly food for thought.

xx

Crow Pose, the Root Chakra and the Credit Crunch

Hi Again, our society often tells us about problems but rarely offers the solutions, and when our society does do so, they are mainly solutions that put you to sleep:
- Go to the cinema and zone out, and forget about your problems.
- Go to the pub and get drunk and forget about your problems.
- Do long days at work and zone out and forget about your problems.
- Keep up with the Jones and go on holiday and forget about your problems.
- Have kids and forget about your problems.

Even the way we speak to each other is disempowering, i.e. "you'll be okay!", or "it'll be alright". I can count on one finger the amount of people who say, NO it will NOT be alright, you NEED to do something. Thankfully, the number of people who say that to me are on the increase and particularly lately. A change is a-coming. People ARE starting to see that things need to change. The tide is changing.

So, with it in mind that I told you that in these times of financial crisis, we need to balance our root chakras, I now have the responsibility to empower you by telling you one of the ways in which you can do so.

CROW POSE. Source of the photo and some of the text below: source.

Benefits of Kundalini Yoga Crow Pose:

Opens and clears the root chakra bestowing great sense of security, connectivity to nature, good health, fit body, proper perspective on diet, ample wealth and clear practical, down-to-earth thinking.
Balancing the root chakra also helps remove fears.

From: http://www.kundaliniyogablog.com/tags/1st-chakra-root/
we have the following quote:

People that do not have enough flow of energy through this chakra do not feel as though they are secure in the world, there daily life is a battle just to stay above water and they are typically on edge.

Well, how very appropriate, as at the moment we do need to feel secure in the world and do need to stay above water, so get out there and conquer via crow pose!

Bye for now...........

Financial Crisis - stay calm

I have just returned from 4 days in the West of Ireland, where I did not read a paper nor did I watch the news. So I thought I would see now what is happening in the world. In my mind, the best thing we could do for ourselves during these times, is to strengthen our root chakras. I was going to write about it here, but when I searched for an image, I came across this, and I think if you look at it for long enough, it will speak to you, and tell you how appropriate it would be now, to make sure your root chakra is intact. When all outside you becomes uncertain, go within. Picture can be found at:

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/root-chakra-catherine-g-mcelroy.html

When Googling financial crisis, first thing I stumble across, is with regards to unemployment.
Unemployment is at its highest level for 8 years. London has seen the biggest rise in the last quarter. People will consume less, which creates a downward spiral. We have to be strong to keep our cool during these times.

Second, is that India CEOs are taking up yoga to relieve stress and to help them withstand the financial crisis. To be honest, I think I will be more impressed when I hear that British CEOs are doing this, as we already know that Asia is enlightened :-)

I knew that 14th October was a full moon, as this day was also special for me. The day that I have been with my husband for 20 years.

But I just googled the full moon date and stumbled across a brilliant astrological website, with the following quote:
"This is a time to love yourself fiercely".

Read the whole astrological article as there are some poignant words in there, for the current times.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Well, as the work busy-ness starts to die down (not really, because now I just get busy with what wasn't being done while I was "busy")...
I now find I am equally busy in my evenigs (at least evenings are a thing that is starting to exist once again :-)...


So this week in summary is
Monday: Swim afer work. Ended up being a late one, as we smam for nearly an hour (at least 45 minutes), then jacuzzi, then steam room, then sauna, then shower.
Tuesday: work till 18:40 and then a mad mad dash to Oxford Street Debenhams (favourite shop) to buy a dress.
Wednesday: again a swim, followed by dinner at the Dorchester!
Thursday: Royal Bank of Scotland talk (will feedback once I have been to it) followed by a Casino Night (looking forward to it).
Friday: the mandatory teaching of my Kundalini Yoga class. The relaxing end to all my weeks.
Saturday: fly to Ireland.......!

So I have turned into one of those friends, who when asked to go out says "I can do a Thursday in 3 weeks time". Unfortunately, I have said that to 3 people, so probably I will have met all 3 by maybe January knowing me. And knowing my track record that might not even be 2009 either!

But as October is my "get a life!" month, maybe I could set myself a challenge and see all 3 of them in October. Now that would be something to be proud of.
Over and out for tonight.

Liska Life xxx

Interesting blog and great sketch of MBTs

As I had written about high heels below, I wanted to tie the problem to the solution, i.e. the problem = painful footwear, the solution = MBT.

So with that in mind, I just Googled (in images) "MBT" and came across the above sketch. The great thing with Google images is it also shows you the SOURCE of the image, which is the blog below. The image was part of a blog that was written in 2006; a highlight and quote from the blog is below. You will see it is the same message that MBT continues to communicate today, 2 years later. That we humans are NOT designed to work or walk, on hard flat surfaces. Hence MBT commissioning a serious piece of medical research entitled flat is bad.

Anyway, the link to the blog and a quote from it is below. Sadly, this interesting blogger appears to have last blogged in February 2008, so that is a shame, but I will read some more entries and see what other words of wisdom s/he offers.


http://www.visadiaries.com/wordpress/?m=200610
"People were not evolved for the hard, flat ground that on which we tread in our modern cemented and asphalted world, and it throws our alignment and skeletons out of whack. Hence, Massai Barefoot Technology to the rescue, which builds into the sole of shoe a mechanism to replicate walking on uneven ground, just like the Massai - who apparently have fantastic posture, and never get back problems".

My mission in October is to "get a life"

So, with that in mind, I am off to the West Coast of Ireland on 11th October, to celebrate my wedding anniversary. With all these long hours, my poor poor husband gets neglected.

So I will update this blog with some photos and some news after that, of course.

In February I went to Germany, only for a long weekend, then in June to Malta, and then in July to France, so now... Ireland. So that averages me out at roughly one break per quarter, which I think every hard working over-stressed Londoner needs.

Oh and in this vein of "getting a life" I am going to start praticing yoga again every day starting Saturday. So hopefully I will have some news on my progress about that for you too.

As I do want to lose weight online, i.e. plot my progress online, as I know it would really spur me on. So let's kick start that too, along with a long-awaited detox!

Liska Life - signing out for the second time.
xxx

Virgin Active

Well, I ended up going to Vigin Active twice in September - 3rd and 17th. At £110 a month (I am a member of a gorgeous CLASSIC CLUB) that means each visit cost me £55.

So October is NOT going to be like this - so on 2nd October, here I am already. And only prompted by my colleague saying let's go swimming after work. Those words were like SUCH music to my ears, that I said okay, I will find a way of buying a costume (I used to carry one in my bag every day in August but got out of the habit in September). So I rung Virgin Active and said "you know that area opposite reception that sells goggles, does it sell cossies?", to which they said "yeah, loads of them".

So I was all geared up and winding down my work ready for 5 p.m. (which I NEVER do, I am always at work late) and then my colleague announces she can no longer make it.

Anyhow as the cossies I have are from Marks & Spencer and more suited to Malta than the gym I decided to come anyway, and ended up spending £35 on a new sporty costume. And I loved the costume I chose, and really really enjoyed the pool. Me and my float (and my new costume of course) spent about an hour casually swimming up and down the slow lane. What a delight. Then the "icing on the cake" (my favourite phrase lately) was that I then went in the jaccuzzi, and then steam room and then sauna. Now....... I am at the Virgin Active computer writing this and am about to tuck into one of their salads, and have even bought a bar of Green & Blacks.

A different colleague today told me that I should start going to the gym again as I have a glow and a better energy around me when I do, so Candice, c'est moi, I am here and c'est bon!

Liska Life signing out. xxx

High Heels - High Costs - read on...

Okay - have to share. You can check my old posts and you will see I have told you all about the Shoe Diet - first blogger to do so :-)

You were all snoozing, and you know what happens then; you snooze, you lose.

Anyhow, for those who need to be told upfront about things that are affecting their health, it is splashed - yes, splashed no less - across at the last count: 6 of today's papers (I started writing this before midnight, so I mean 1st October).

One quote to whet your appetite is:

Emma Supple, consultant podiatrist for the MBT Academy, said: "While we all love our high heels, wearing them for prolonged periods is bad news for our health and our wallets."

But the headline that was catching the interest of the public and journalists alike, and mentioned on today's GMTV was: "Corns account for 12% of high heel injuries, and with treatment costing £800 a time, this costs the nation £2.9 million per annum".

And I (Liska) haven't had hard skin since I started wearing MBTs, so it saves me a fortune; only luxury is having the toes painted every now and again, which is so much more luxuious than seeing white dust everywhere as you scrub off hard (unnecessary skin) -YUK!

The press association.

SKY NEWS CARRYING THE STORY NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click here

The Telegraph carries the story.

The Independent carries the story.

Perfect Shoe Diet text from Emma:
Foot expert Emma Supple told Daily Mail: "We need to mix and match our choice of footwear to allow our bodies time to recover. Heaven forbid that we ban heels from our wardrobes but we want to balance out our heel wearing days, protect our bodies from future damage and avoid injuries."

Channel 4!

Virgin Media also!

Chest LURGY!

So, I still have the bunged up chest which was a result of two things.
(1) long hours and stress at work last week; and
(2) the fact that to keep going I had a latte in the morning and a cappuccino every afternoon.

I have learned my lesson the hard way, that too much dairy clogs up my chest & I did have a nagging voice in my head last week .... and ignored it.

SO what happens, the clogged up chest results.


SO NO MORE expensive coffees for this young lady!

I know I haven't listened to my own advice, but to anyone out there who has more sense, read up on the following:
http://www.milksucks.com/ and
http://notmilk.com/
and
http://www.nomilk.com/

Get well to me, get well to me..............

Sick :-(

Hi All

Well, I don't normally get sick, as those of you who know me know. But after a hard stressful week at work, I slept all day yesterday, and have the rumblings of a chest infection today, so I am keeping myself hydrated and wrapped up warm, in an attempt to make sure that I can be at work tomorrow. So I have purchased the all important lemons and honey etc... And will certainly be having an early night.

I am delighted that X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing are back on our screens and we have a treat Saturday and Sunday as they are both on again tonight. Strictly with the Results Show and X Factor with the second half of boot camp. The standard of both shows seems much raised this year. But us old fans were even watching when that was not the case, so now it is simply icing on the cake.

Bye for now, as I go back to hide under my blanket.

Liska x

Global-Law.com

Hi

Well, I have to let you know about something that is "coming soon". Global-Law.com
Will be the first live online legal advice service in the world. All I can say is, you heard it here first.

Check out www.global-law.com after November 2008 - and don't forget the hyphen.

When we need legal advice we don't want to line the pockets of legal beagles, we want to spend our money economically in a 21st century way. After all, we can do just about everything else online, why not law.

Stand up for your right to be able to access legal advice quickly and cheaply.

See you in the future :-)

In Folkestone

Hello All,

I am now in Folkestone. Beer in one hand, chinese in the other :-)

Yes I know it doesn't meet with my wellbeing side of things, but everyone needs a Saturday night sometimes, especially after the stress of this week.

Anyway I am going to do a 40 day detox soon, along with a 40 day sadhana. Can't wait.
I am going to try and be brave and log my weight loss online, as I think doing it publicly will be the only thing that will motivate me to stick to it :-)

What else can I say; well, the weather was lovely today considering it is the 20th September, but where was that non-existent Summer of ours.

I guess, at least this year, I have been to Germany in February for my birthday, to Malta in June, to France for the Yoga Festival in July and hopefully somewhere in October for our anniversary.

Anyway, over and out, as I have been on this computer far too long.

Liska

Final thoughts of the day

Hello, I am very glad that it is the weekend - what a week!

Well I am off to Folkestone for the weekend, so looking forward to a well-deserved rest.

Only things I want to post on here today:
a mention of Meet Joe Black, as it is a great movie and just today, I said to our Bookkeeper, there is nothing as certain as "death and taxes" and it made me think fondly of the movie - must watch it again soon. Best thing ever is the song in there: "somewhere over the rainbow".........

Other thing I am loving at the moment, is Martin Lewis's advice.
Go to http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/

His advice has helped me a few times.
To watch him speaking at the London School of Economics watch this:
Martin Lewis, Good Debt, Bad Debt

Keep high heels for special occassions!

Yyyyyyyeeeaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh
Age Concern loves MBTs toooooo.
Click on Age Concern above, to read more and hear how:
1 in 10 ladies in the US are wearing them!

Pink pink and more pink

As much as I know I need to write about something other than MBT on this page, I am still in a pink mood. I suppose it is better than being in the red (current credit crunch) or being yellow (fever) or green (envy) or blue (movie) or red (anger).......

But today, when I thought about a pink image to post, the first thing that sprung (forgive the pun) to mind, was M walk pink.......... oh dear............

I am addicted to my MBTs. I love my MBTs.

Pink flowers

Don't know what has happened

to me but this blog is becoming

very very pink and I like it.

A flower a day will keep the

Doctor away................... :-)

Bosses!

You know the phrase "seek your own counsel". I am going to have to....

I work in HR and my boss just called me a muppet....

I will write a grievance to myself and then sit myself down for a grievance hearing

and see how far I get

:-)

Health health health

This post comes from the foyer of Virgin Active - thank God.... .phew... what a day.

Just worked out I haven't been to the gym since 3rd September - that must improve forthwith! 

It is so nice to unwind in the steamroom and sauna after work - oh joy.  Can't recommend it highly enough.

Nothing to report other than the above, so now homeward bound.......

Yours sincerely, Liska Life :-)