News + Reviews


September 2014 Newsletter

Posted in Newsletters

Hi everyone, hope you’ve had a great summer!

Firstly a quick flag up that I’m heading your way and will be running a workshop on Sunday 14th September, 1.30 – 4.30pm at the beautiful Indaba Yoga Studio, London NW1 6UA – a good one for newbies but also those experiencing resistance to their breath practice who’d like a booster session to get back on the wagon. Email info@breathguru.com for more details.

Plus I’ve got a few other things to tell you about: a fantastic workshop from Jack Elias; news from our chef, Rebecca; and the latest availability for Lanzarote Retreats. Read on!

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Client Feedback

Posted in Client testimonials

“The single most enriching journey of my life”

Naz, London

Client Feedback

Posted in Client testimonials

“Thank you for an extraordinary time…what a wonderful life! So much love and laughter…”

Susie B

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Posted in Blog

Breathe Here Now – a Huffington Post guest blog by Alan Dolan

Summer is definitely here and I sometimes just feel like lying down in the middle of the day and taking a breather. My favourite time of day is mid afternoon when the sun has past by in the highest point of the sky and the wind comes in off the sea to lighten the air. The air is fresh and the promise of a quiet, still evening is on the horizon so the atmosphere is perfect for a breathe and relaxation. My favourite spot is over looking the island of Graciosa.

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I go for a walk with my favourite strolling partner, Louis, my Spanish Water Dog and while he’s pottering by the shoreline I find a quiet place to breathe. Lying in the soft sand, feeling the warm wind on my skin and the cleansing salt air clear my lungs I practice the Conscious Breathing technique for a short time. Just 15 minutes really alters my state of mind and helps my body relax. After a busy morning of teaching the breath-work with guests on retreat and replying to a fair few emails, Skype calls and paying the odd bill, it’s good to just take some respite. You don’t need a beach or crystal clear sea air to practice this technique (but it helps!) but wherever you can find a clear and quiet time to breathe will see you switch on your parasympathetic nervous system, offering the body some rest and digest time.

We breathe over 20,000 times a day and often each inhale and exhale goes unnoticed. The way we breathe is as individual as our fingerprint and has an effect on all the systems of the body.

A shallow and quick breathing pattern can stimulate the ‘flight or fight’ system which makes the body feel anxious and stressed. Learning to breathe deeply and consciously can reverse this feeling allowing the body and mind to feel relaxed, grounded and more present.

Experiencing a deep breath into the abdomen is not only relaxing; it’s been scientifically proven to positively affect the heart, brain, digestive and immune system. Once the breath is moving in the abdomen, the upper lungs can be activated so eventually the breath is full, connected and active.

Abdominal or Chest breather, which one are you?

It’s really important before we learn any breathing technique to find out which type of breathing category we fall into. Although we all have a completely individual breathing pattern we normally fall into one of two categories.

How to find out?

It’s simple! Make sure you are sitting comfortable with the spine supported well. Place one hand on the lower belly (a couple of inches below the belly button) and the other on the upper chest (just below the collar bone). Take a long breath in and out. Notice which part of the body is moving in a more pronounced manner. Take another inhalation and exhalation to be sure. If the upper chests moves more this means you are an upper chest breather and obviously if the abdomen moves more you are a belly breather.

So, how to improve? Most of us tend to fall into the upper chest breather category and those of us who are belly breathers are rarely breathing deep enough so here’s a great way to connect with a deep belly breath.

Lay on your front with your head turned to one side. Take a deep breath in through the nose and feel the belly rise into the surface you are laying on. Imagine you are filling the belly like a balloon. Belly inflates on the inhalation and deflates on the exhalation. Allow the inhalation and exhale to be even in length. Repeat this ten times and with each breath make sure your attention is only with the belly breath. This may take a little practice if you haven’t done before. So keep practicing and the muscles will engage and the breath will naturally start moving the body in that area.

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Client Feedback

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“So much loveLOVElove and thankyouTHANKYOUthankyou for expert guidance and care, as always!”

Helen, London

Client Feedback

Posted in Client testimonials

“I don’t drink coffee or alcohol anymore and I practice every morning and every night… I feel wonderful!”

Donatella, Lake Lucerne, Italy

News Update: The Path of Love comes to the UK

Posted in Newsletters

Hi everyone, greetings from the Magic Island of Lanzarote

You know that my passion is how to create permanent positive change in as short a time as possible… and if I find great people or programmes then I’m happy to pay it forward. Well, I’m amazed and delighted to tell you that I’ve just had the most transformative week of my 51 years on the planet…

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Monday, June 2, 2014

Posted in Blog

The Path of Love comes to the UK

A message from Alan… “You know that my passion is how to create permanent positive change in as short a time as possible… and if I find great people or programmes then I’m happy to pay it forward. Well, I’m amazed and delighted to tell you that I’ve just had the most transformative week of my 51 years on the planet. I just did a process called The Path of Love in Germany. I have no words that can really do it justice. I can tell you that myself and the other participants experienced the most profound shifts at the deepest levels of our being and are left feeling absolutely reborn (Yup, I know that’s a big word but it’s the most accurate way to describe it.)

Seriously, I’ve been travelling all over the world for the last 25 years on the look out for transformational tools and this one is a world class show-stopper. Quick, effective and intensive it creates quantum change in all who participate.

Do not miss this. It’s exceptional as are the people who staff it. To be honest I’m kinda picky re: who I work with and I have to say I was blown away by the professionalism, love and support that I was shown during and after the programme.

And the best bit? It’s coming to the UK at the end of June!

See the banner below for the web link and then just click on the Union Jack on the homepage for details. There are also programmes in Greece in September and Brazil in January 2015 (I’ve signed up to staff on that one ;0)), plus many others around Europe and further afield.

You’re looking for change? You’ve found it. Get busy ;0)

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