Even birds do it

Watch this video to hear this bird snore…..

All of us snore occasionally (men 2x more than women) although we do not wish to admit it.  Chronic snoring may increase your risk of certain health conditions and it is worse when you are tired, leading to a vicious cycle of disrupted or light sleep resulting in being even more tired the next day.  Frequent snoring and pauses in breathing or sleep apnea are associated with a greater likelihood of depression, decreased cognitive functioning, sleepiness during the day and greater risks of accidents .

Snoring occurs when air can’t flow easily through your nose or mouth due to relaxed throat tissue (or your tongue) vibrating on each breath.  Usually the snorer is oblivious. Some receivers tolerate it, some self-regulate with noise reducing headsets, cover their heads with a pillow or sleep in a different bedroom. Few tolerate it.  This is why prior to each gong bath I suggest that if you know you are likely to snore, to please lie on your side, otherwise I’ll be nudging your foot.

There are a number of tools, devices and apps available to help you monitor your sleep cycles to improve your sleep hygiene.  Regular gong baths are extremely effective. Our study last year of executives receiving gong baths for 20 min once a week for 12 weeks resulted in 100% improvement in sleep; 83% decrease in perceived stress and 73% improvement in overall wellbeing. 

For the next few weeks I will briefly introduce aspects of sleep hygiene in our Thursday evening gong sessions. I look forward to seeing you soon. 

Back to Basics

Every day begins with an act of courage and hope beginning with getting out of bed. Mason Cooley

One takes for granted the simple act of rolling over and getting out of bed in the morning. On Sunday I was completely paralyzed with pain and that very act became an heroic exercise resulting in a call to 999. Forty eight hours later, x-rays in hand, MRI completed, pain killers administered,  I was discharged with a diagnosis of herniated disc and told to continue doing what I normally do but be more careful.

The pain of today is the reason for gratitude of tomorrow. Adebaya Olalekon

I have a renewed appreciation for the simple things. Waking up, my breath, a warm bed, my cats by my side, a roof over my head, my health.

I have learned over a period of time to be almost unconsciously grateful--as a child is--for a sunny day, blue water, flowers in a vase, a tree turning red. Only a few evolved people are born to feel gratitude as naturally as they breathe, without even thinking. Most of us come to it step by painful step, to discover that gratitude is a form of acceptance.  Faith Baldwin