Present Inspiration For a Yogi: Experiences
It’s coming to that time of year when we’re all thinking about gifts for family and friends
When it comes to present giving it can be really challenging to think of something that somebody needs or wants. So with this in mind, here are some gifts that I think are great for someone interested in yoga who is open to something a little bit different and hopefully creates some great memories.
Flotation Tank
A flotation tank is basically the ultimate form of relaxation. It can be a bit challenging the first time because you are essentially floating in very salty water inside a pod with the lights dimmed down! Sometimes it will have a bit of music at the start to help you relax and then as your session is beginning to end the music starts to build again down, as does the light, so you know that it's coming to an end.
I personally really love going to a flotation tank. I find it really relaxing and the time flies by. I know it can feel a bit weird being inside the pod but if it's your first time I'd recommend keeping the door open a bit to help you adjust to the new sensations. The staff at a flotation tank centre are also super helpful and great at offering plenty of tips for beginners. There are showers in each room, wash products, earplugs, and after there is always a quiet room with herbal teas and water ready & waiting for you post float.
Sound Bath
My second recommendation is a sound bath. This can be a really great novelty experience for someone and perhaps even a habit that they treat themselves to over time. I have had really great experiences of this at a local studio near me in London. In short, they host an evening of yoga nidra, a deep relaxation meditation where you don't have to do much other than just listen and lay there, followed by a gong bath. Having the sounds of the gong wash over you is really a wonderful experience and also incredibly relaxing. I would recommend people try this at least once because it's a really great way to switch off, not have your phone in hand, and be truly present in a really soothing, gentle way.
Music is the mediator between the life of the senses and the life of the spirit.
- Beethoven
Acupuncture
This may not be for everyone, but I do think that every once in a while it's great to treat yourself or gift someone a contribution towards an experience like this. I find acupuncture incredibly relaxing and re-energising. I usually follow the Chinese medicine version of it and leave feeling restored. Acupuncture works on your individual needs so it's quite a tailored process. I know some people aren't into needles, but if you have a good practitioner it's not something that you really notice or observe. I did it during pregnancy a little bit when it was available and postpartum as well and even prior to that it was always a good go-to option for me.
Cacao Ceremony
Another experience I would suggest for a Yogi or someone interested in alternative meditation techniques would be a cacao ceremony. These ceremonies are all about the whole practice of taking time to slowly observe. Usually, in a cacao ceremony, you might find some kirtan chanting or singing, normally beginning with just one person singing at first and then everyone singing together in a second-round so you don’t need to know the songs in advance and can pick up the words from the other singers.
You will also usually have a moment of setting an intention or a wish for yourself or others, or the ceremony may be centred around a particular theme for you to focus on. The cacao itself is usually very high-grade cacao that has been mixed together with spices or other ingredients, so it's in a really natural form and not like the usual hot chocolate that you'd get from your local coffee shop or a restaurant. You’ll find beauty in taking that time, of really having that moment and feeling your observation slowing down so you can fully tune into yourself and enjoy that moment, creating a really beautiful experience.
Ceremonial Cacao
A sacred plant medicine used for thousands of years to bring clarity to the mind, openness to the heart and joy to the body!
Ayurveda Session
The final experience is one that I've done many times over the years. I find that an Ayurveda session can be extremely helpful in today's world. We're always presented with all of these different diets or health plans or told “do this for this to happen or to feel this in your body” but one size does not fit all. I really believe that we're all individuals and that each of us has a different need. We are on different journeys and processes and although we all have a body, how we treat it and feed it needs to be tailored to what works best for you. In an Ayurveda session, they will ask you a whole host of questions to understand what's going on with you and how your body works. If it's an in person session, they will also take a reading of your pulse and look at your tongue, which is a great indicator of your health because your tongue can't really lie. It will show you where things are missing, if your body needs more of something, and also if you've got too much of something.
With that information, they can then recommend either different supplements to take, which will all be herbal, or perhaps suggest a change in your diet. They even take a look at how you're structuring your day for different tasks or exercises, which is really fascinating. I've always been blown away at how these really simple changes can have such an impact. Your body can change a little bit from season to season, and depending on where you are in your life can also be a factor in changes to your health so it's always good to have this awareness and check in and give yourself this little treat. You can find Ayurveda practitioners online or feel free to reach out to me and I can recommend a couple that I have used, many of which also do remote consultations.
Hopefully, these experience ideas will help create a more creative gift giving to friends and family who are interested in different experiences from a Yogi perspective.