Focus On : Clare from my spa guide

Recently I met the amazing Clare Greig .. one of the owners/ creators of my spa guide, the ultimate independent directory of Australian spas. This is a brilliant website (and what a business to work in!) my spa guide provides spa seekers with a spa search tool, a place to write reviews, find spa deals, treatment guides and spa news.

Clare and I spoke about meditation, blogging and setting up a new business .. and I am thrilled that she was more than happy to be interviewed for this Focus On post.  I am also delighted to let you know that Clare invited me to write some guest posts for my spa guide .. which you can check out now on their website at http://www.myspaguide.com.au/ .. now over to Clare ...

Name: Clare Greig
Special Interest: Heath and Wellbeing
Email: clare@myspaguide.com.au
Website : www.myspaguide.com.au

Tell us about your thoughts on wellness
It is so easy to get caught up in our busy lives and miss the moments. Creating a lifestyle where we are truly ourselves and inspired by our surroundings and lifes natural gifts of nature, connecting with others, love and spirituality. I find this through music, taking time out, meditation, sleep, visiting day spas, exersise and laughter. With a good mix of the above ingredients we can be healthy, well and loving to others.

How long have you been practicing, or working in this area?
I have been working in magazine and website publishing for 10 years and decided I wanted to work for myself so that I could get a good balance of being a Mother and make my own rules. So my spa guide was the perfect opportunity to allow me to use my experience and create every Spa Seekers dream, a one-stop-shop, with a comprehensive guide to Australian spas, great articles and an easy-to-use spa search tool.

How did you ‘find’ meditation, and how long have you been practicing meditation?
Meditation did not come easy to me. When I first tried it the thought of sitting still for twenty minutes made me panic. I started with a 2 hour class across 10 weeks. Now after a few years of practice it is easy and effortless. I am probably the kind of person who needs it the most. I have a busy mind and a hectic lifestyle, I struggle to relax and I always want to achieve more. This means my body and mind never get to rest and recharge, aside from when I am sleeping. So meditation has taught me to slow down, rest and become still.

Do you have a regular practice – daily, weekly, other?  Ideally I practice daily but I get in and out of the habit. I meditated today!

What inspires you to keep meditating .. returning to your practice? After meditation I have more clarity, I laugh more, I’m more patient and forgiving.

Why meditate? A more light hearted and easy going me as a result. Since becoming a mother meditation has become even more important. It is harder to find the time but the need to reset my energy and be in the moment with my boy is vital!

Do you have a particular technique(s) that you have found most suitable for you?
Most of the time I need guided meditation at first but once I have softened I can enjoy silent meditation. I find my mind wanders and I have different techniques to bring it back eg. the breath and focussing on specific words like “calm” or “love”. I also like following light to areas I am feeling stressed and tense.

AM or PM? Luncthime when my little boy is sleeping

Chair, cushion, stool? I like a cushion on the floor.

Have you a dedicated space for your practice? Not really. In an ideal world I would meditate under a tree, could there be a better spot?

Have you attended a meditation retreat? No. Would like to try a health retreat that offers massage, meditation and hiking. Heaven!

Any favourite books/CDs/Resources that you might share with others? Yolanda Pettinato’s CD’s are great.

Any thoughts you might share with those who are new to meditation? Don’t have any expectations. There is always time to meditate, no matter how busy we are.

7 Random things about you?
I’m just shy of 6ft tall
Melbourne is my wonderful adopted City, England is my beautiful home
I prefer to play guitar than watch TV
I used to run a choir, singing with others is amazingly good for your welbeing
I grew up in the countryside and I want to return before I’m forty
Life doesn’t get much better than losing track of time at the beach
I had a baby Elephant at my wedding