Happy November friends. As summer leaves us for autumn, we’re transitioning too. Nature leading the way with change. A reflective time for cooling down, wrapping up warm and looking ahead to what winter months will bring and brewing plans for 2017.

This year, I’ve been preparing to welcome it with a bit more warmth (I’m a summer girl at heart and love the heat and sun!) So, I’ve been focusing my summer energy on what makes me light up from the inside out: helping people draw again. (Especially those who hate being beginners and are convinced they can’t).

“When it comes to drawing and creativity, what’s your number 1 frustration?” Been throwing this question out far and wide and this answer was the one I got the most:

Drawing: “I suck at it. I can only draw stick figures and a stupid house with a chimney on a hill and it looks like a 6 year old did it. I just don’t think I have what it takes to draw. I’ve tried before and I’m no good. And I don’t like doing things I’m not good at. Some people just have it and some people don’t…and I don’t. I would love to be able to draw things, anything, and I just don’t think I’ll ever be able to learn.”

Creativity: “It’s feast or famine. I’m either on fire creatively and feel great about it, or I feel like I can’t possibly create anything and I feel completely stuck. There is no middle ground and that is frustrating to me because I feel like I can’t sustain it this way. I’m either in a dry spell or I’m overflowing. I wish I could have a way to remain a creative person even when my personal life is falling apart. I wish my emotions didn’t affect my creativity so much.”

Sound like you?

That’s why this photo has me smiling a mile wide. I’ve started a group drawing class in Tokyo – meet the beautiful Afrika Rose Drawing Family 2016!

We discussed how we felt about the blank page:
“I’m excited and nervous!”
“I used to draw when I was younger!”
“It’s been a long, long time!”
“I’m panicking!”

I get it. I also understand that big words like art and creativity can get in the way. It can be scary and intimidating when all the doubts come up and voices go off in your head. Simply looking at the blank page in front of you’s enough.

This is why thinking about these words as labels, ones that can be ripped right off, can be comforting. This is why my approach is different and why I’ve developed a comprehensive drawing tool kit that leaves no one behind.

Showing up to meet the page. After years and years. And WHAT a gift to see what happens. A gift to you. (tis the season after all!)

My reflections on our classes this year came out like this: “We open doors. And… find more doors. Our work is showing up to the blank page and giving it all we’ve got. And then we open another and keep on walking.” Here’s to ditching expectation for exploration.

Ever draws, DMK x Divya Marie Kato | When In Doubt, Draw | www.divyamariekato.com

The post November 2016 Partner Tips appeared first on FEW Japan.

This month, we discuss the benefits of massage but first, we’ll kick things off with some tips for a natural-looking spray tan from Elana Jade. Keep reading for more!

1.) Elana Jade: Pre-Tanning Tips

Before you have your spray tanning treatment (or give yourself a self tan at home), here are some tips on how to prepare your skin to help the tan apply more smoothly and last longer!

• Exfoliate from head to toe preferably the day before the spray tan. Paying particular attention to areas such as your knees, elbows and ankles by using Eco Tan’s Extreme Exfoliant Glove and Pink Himalayan Salt Scrub.
• Moisturize after exfoliation one day prior to the spray tan to prepare your skin.
• Shower on the day of your appointment, as close to your appointment as possible (try not to sweat after your shower) but not within 30 minutes. This is to ensure that your skin is clean, dry and rid of excess natural oils in the skin.
• Avoid using deodorant before your spray tan appointment as it will create a barrier to the spray tan’s absorption.
• Do not apply moisturizer prior to having a spray tan as it will hinder the absorption of the spray tan.
• Where possible, do not wax or have any other hair removal treatments at least 24 hours before your appointment so that there will be enough time for your pores to close (otherwise, you run the risk of a spotty tan). Also, by removing your hair after the tan, you will remove your new tan along with it.
• If you are planning to get a spray tan for an event and are also getting a pedicure and/or manicure, it is best to have your manicure/pedicure before your spray tan as your polish and gel may not last as long.
• If you tint your eyebrows, it is better to tint the day before or the day after your spray tan to avoid the tint interfering with your spray tan.

2.) Club 360: Beat Stress with Quality Massage

One of the best ways to combat stress is to incorporate regular massage sessions into our health maintenance routine. The Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami has demonstrated that massage significantly decreases levels of unhealthy stress hormones in the body. It’s the effect of these stress hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, that create the unhealthy symptoms listed above. Stress isn’t “all in your head,” but a series of chemical changes in the body. By reducing our levels of adrenaline and cortisol through regular massage, we can enjoy better sleep, suffer fewer bouts of cold, flu and muscle spasm, better control our junk food cravings and gain a more positive daily outlook.

The post September 2016 Partner Tips appeared first on FEW Japan.

This month Divya Marie Kato explains her concept of drawing for peace and Anne Good tells you how to stop monkeying around. Keep reading for more!

1.) Divya Marie Kato: Drawing for Peace

We’re approaching summer. And I’m only too aware of being halfway into the year. Six months have passed and it’s a reflective time. Not only in terms of our carefully laid plans. Or timing. In terms of news. News that breaks your heart. Pulls on your soul. We feel it collectively. We yearn for understanding. For healing. For peace. For love.

And so, as we prepare for the holidays, I want to share with you one way that helps. All you need is time. And a flower.

Drawing for Peace at Afrika Rose
Journey to the heart of a rose. Journey back to Source.

“Look at where you come from. How could you ever not be enough?”

Notes from my sketchbook. Went to meet the roses, at Afrika Rose, (http://afrikarose.com/) after hearing Megumi Hagiuda’s inspiring story at our recent FEW meeting on social entrepreneurship. Sat on a stool on the street and got to know them better by drawing. When asked about drawing, I replied:

“For peace. With so much happening in the world, it’s sometimes hard to find. We need more and more ways of cultivating inner peace, so when opening the door each day, we can take it out into the world.
Combat unconsciousness. Contribute to the collective.

So many ways to choose from. Drawing’s one way to peace. And connection. Flowers as teachers.
Each time we look, really look, we can remember where we came from. That we’re part of something so much bigger. When drawing, I recognise lines in the flower as the same lines found on my own body. It’s a true meeting. We look at each other till I don’t know where I end and they begin. And then there’s a stillness. Peace.”

And you can guess what happened next. We sat down to draw.

Megumi: “I haven’t drawn since the third grade!”

Peace. Presence. Purposeful Business. What’s the purpose? Love.

Always. In all of our many, many, rich, colourful, diverse ways. If we’re disconnected, it can’t come in. Got to keep plugging in. Plugging into nature. Each flower a constant reminder.

Loved every minute of time shared with Megumi and the roses. We relax. We laugh. We swap stories.

Megumi told me about her purpose and business model – a love business model – from the happy Kenyans who grow the roses, to the smiles of her customers in Tokyo. 80% of the employees in Kenya are women. Through the money they earn they now have clean, filtered water and a hospital. Every person who walks into her shop in Tokyo walks out with a smile. The roses speak for themselves. She takes some of her customers to Kenya every year.

“People call me a social entrepreneur, but I feel I’m just doing what I want to do. We often think about the product and the price. Not enough about the people who made it. In my opinion all companies should be social companies. Donation and circulation in the business are very different. Not making a donation to them. Making them a part of it.”

Incredible story. Importing fresh roses from Kenya every week. Founder & CEO, Megumi Hagiuda, went to Kenya in 2011 to help build schools. “Would it be sustainable to just donate?” She asked herself what was the best way. Her answer was to import roses to Japan, expand the market and create job opportunities in Kenya. She started Afrika Rosa in 2012 as soon as she came back from Kenya and after 3 years of online business, has opened a store in Hiroo, where Kenyan roses are available anytime, as well as flower arrangement classes and events. Stop by and say hello.

Retreats & Offers for FEW Members
For those of you who would like to find out more about drawing for peace and discovering something new, Part 1 of my online drawing course is free for immediate download for you to try out at home. Head over to www.divyamariekato.com for your free copy. Full course to be released soon, with a discount for FEW members, so make sure you’re signed up to join the group. Always happy to answer questions so do come find me after FEW meetings and let me know what you need and how I can help.

To work with me in person, come join exclusive retreats and workshops – run with my wonderful friend and business partner, Sarah Furuya, Coach, Clever Rebels & Curious Corporates. We’ve got workshops coming up: August 27 & 28 and our flagship retreat: October 1 & 2. Divya. An Artist. Sarah. A Life Coach. Together we offer you this invitation: to process your story, enjoy greater peace, discover your truest self and highest purpose, lose the weight of past experiences and rise up to the life you know you deserve. More info on the flier below with discounts for FEW members. Venues have been carefully chosen, with plans to treat you every step of the way, so places are limited. Please come find us at FEW meetings.

With Peace & Love.

Ever Draws,
DMK x

2.) Anne Good: Stop Monkeying Around!

Many years ago I read an article written by Harvard Business Review entitled “Who’s got the monkey?” It rang true to me at the time and since then I have used this article many, many times with clients. So, I thought I would share it with you.

What’s it all about?

You’re running down the corridor at work during a busy day. You are running from one meeting to another. A colleague stops you and says, “We’ve got a problem.” You assume you should get involved but can’t make an on-the-spot decision. You say, “Let me think about it.”

You’ve just allowed a “monkey” to leap from your colleague’s back to yours. Your colleague walks away with a smile on their face, as they don’t have to worry about that situation any more — they’ve given it to you to sort out.

Take on enough monkeys, and you won’t have time to handle your real job.

How to avoid accumulating monkeys?
Develop a response, for example, when a colleague tries to hand you a problem, clarify whether they should:

• Recommend and implement a solution of their own
• Take action then brief you immediately
• Act and report the outcome at a regular update

When you encourage others to handle their own monkeys, they acquire new skills — and you get the time to do your own job.

Read the full article HERE.

Keep all those monkeys that are not yours at bay . . .

3.) Elana Jade: 3 Summer Skincare Tips

Tip No.1: Simplify your makeup routine.
In the summer heat, your foundation will often “slide” on the surface of your skin creating a streaking appearance. I suggest sticking to the basics: mascara, lip balm, concealer and switch to a bronzing blush to show off your natural beauty this summer.

Tip No. 2: Beware of the sun.
Sun is the No. 1 cause of premature aging! It is important to use an organic sunscreen everyday, even if you will only be out for a little while driving. Most car drivers have more pigmentation on the right side of their face (assuming the drivers seat is on the right side of the car). Also make sure you don’t forget your ears, neck, chest, hands and forearms as they are often overlooked and are the first places to start showing aging. Wearing protective gear like a hat and sunglasses are very important also to keep away the harsh effects of the sun.

Tip No. 3: Use a toner right after cleansing your skin.
Toners help restore the pH balance to your skin, which makes your skin surface less susceptible to unwanted bacterial growth. This is a must for oilier skin types.

4.) Club 360: I’m Not Flexible Enough for Yoga!

Is something frequently said by those fearful of attending yoga. A phrase I hear often whenever I invite people to attend my yoga class. The phrase is often paralleled with “I’m too dirty to have a shower!” The logic is tenuous, but I believe comes from the fair place of fearing the unknown.

Lets face it, images of yoga characterized in the media can make yoga poses seem elitist and daunting. The most complex poses featured on the front of magazines, svelte young men and ladies turning themselves into a pretzel at a pristine beach setting. No wonder if feels like something unattainable. “That’s not me.” I hear you!

And again, in the yoga class itself, it’s all too easy to compare superficial flexibility with the next-door bodies on the yoga mat. That “Oh my god their head is touching the floor” feeling leaves us with a sense of inferiority about our own body.

But yoga is not this. Yoga demonstrates absolutely no judgment. Yoga is about you, and you personally. Yoga is a place one can let go of preconceived ideas about how the body should be, finding a level of acceptance in yourself. If anything, it’s a place where you can simply come and take a new breath of air, and come back to who you are. Start slowly; transformation will come with dedication over a long period of time.

I too started off as stiff as they come. Growing up in the concrete jungle of Hong Kong, I ran around on solid playgrounds, and competed along the Bowen Road running track through my formative growing years. I continued to run around University campus on icy grounds in the concrete city of Beijing. Forced by a friend into my first yoga class, age 22, I felt I had been glued together throughout my entire hip sockets. The irritation of being inflexible was overwhelming. Somehow, I decided to let yoga be the one place I stopped competing with others (and myself!) and I attempted again. Several more attempts turned into nine more years of yoga and some incredible changes of body and mind.

Whilst it’s frustrating to be unable to reach your toes, it takes willingness and certain strength of character to be open to getting there. It takes flexibility of mind to come and participate in the journey of yoga. Credit is due to those who simply show up, and face their inner battles on the mat.

Indeed, yoga postures make up the rewarding physical aspect of your 60 minute journey through a yoga class, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg. So, what else? Why do people keep coming back to the mat? You’ll have to start to find out!

Bex Plumbly
Certified Yoga Instructor RYT 200

The post July 2016 Partner Tips appeared first on FEW Japan.

This month Divya Marie Kato provides  a recap of her workshop at our recent Career Strategies Seminar, Furla Yoga shares some tips on to refresh your feet during a yoga break at work, and Sarah Furuya offers some tips for increasing curiosity and reducing judgement.

1.) Divya Marie Kato: Lose the Labels, Lose the Weight & Rise

Women Rising. A truly incredible day with incredible people. A big thank you for joining us and entering into all activities in the spirit of exploration. With curiosity and an open mind.

Thrilled to hear that many of you wanted more time to draw! I hope your “When in doubt, draw,” pencils and canvases are with you at home (gently calling your name!). Not gifts. An invitation.

Given with all my heart. The two, simple things that have served me so well. Because when you know about something SO good, you want to shout it from the rooftops!

So here’s to that very first line of yours. May it be the start of a great adventure.

I thought for this month’s offering, I’d run through the main takeaways from my presentation for you.

Our theme for CSS 2016 was “Women Rising” and I opened with the question:  “What prevents us from rising?”

The Weight
Where does this weight come from? We all have experiences that happen to us — the day-to-day ups and downs of being a human. These experiences get stored in our bodies as information. We often take it for granted that our bodies magically process our food — extracting required nutrients and expelling the rest. So, how do we go about processing the information too?

The Invitation
Here’s an invitation to try a way that will surprise you — and notice I said “will” and not “may!” Because of the very nature of the process putting you in a place, a space of not knowing. Putting you in the playground again. The Playground of Possibility.

Peel Off the Labels
“Who or what are you without your label, your name, your title, your qualification? And are you happy being that?” I invite you to peel off the name of the activity I’m talking about. To peel off the labels of good and bad. Of buzz words like “creativity.” Of big words like “art” (this is a BIG one, you may need to tug a little).

Let’s dive into the space of not knowing and leave the weight behind.

Connection
In the same way Ai Futaki, diver and Guinness World Record holder, took you back and invited you to reconnect with the ocean and water, so will I. I will take you back to our beginnings — to painting in caves, to carving into rock and to our essential nature, as creative beings — back to the roots of our development, to when your chubby, child fingers first clutched a crayon.

Warm-up Exercise
“What do you need to let go of to rise?” We’re under the surface — imagine what you need to let go of so you can reach the surface — now let go of that weight! On your paper: Take 2 minutes to write down all the things that are weighing you down — get the weight down and out of mind — e. g “I’m not creative . . . I can’t . . . I’m too . . . I’ve always been . . . I’m this . . . I’m that . . .”

Things to Notice When Drawing
Think: Not how to draw, but why draw — focus on the process, of engaging mind to hand connection. As you begin to make marks on the paper: Reflect on the organic lines you’re drawing — I always encourage people to begin drawing things from nature like flowers, leaves, trees, shells — notice how you can find similar lines in your own hand and contemplate your intrinsic connection with nature. Meditate on how you’re actively fostering connection to yourself and consider how often you make time to sit and see.

My offer to you: Enter the space of not knowing more often. To play and discover. Make it a practice. My invitation to you:  One back to yourself. To be with and better understand yourself, your experiences and your stories.

My 3-Step Process
Through a lifetime of sharing and practicing drawing, I’ve unearthed many discoveries and distilled them into a 3 step formula. This is how drawing can help us process our experiences:

Observation. Reflection. Expression.

1. Observation: Taking in the world around us.
2. Reflection: The inner work — taking time to transfer what we see onto paper and check in with ourselves. How do I feel?
3. Expression: The outer work — we have a way of translating our inner work out onto paper, to connect with others and show them. This is how I feel.

Rise Up, Women
I hope you’ll catch a glimpse of the more in you that is yet to come out. Once weight has been lifted and you’re allowed to play. Without the burden of expectation. The rest of you resting inside. Ready to help you rise.

FEW CSS 2016 Cornerstones

1. Knowledge: Stretching ourselves — thank you Jay Ponazecki! — aiming high and reaching to learn. How to process the weight of information that comes from our daily experiences.
2. Inspiration: Allowing ourselves time to play and explore. To be inspired by nature and by discoveries made in the space of not knowing.
3. Connection: To nature, to the bigger picture, to our place in that bigger picture, to ourselves and to others. Making time to be with ourselves, for inner reflection.

To see how this affects our connection with others so we don’t bring our weight to them. So we can help them rise, too.

2.) Furla Yoga: June Yoga Tip — Happy Feet!

Take a “yoga break” at work. On a break or under your desk, slip off your shoes and s-p-r-e-a-d your toes from side to side. Then, try spreading the sole of your foot w-i-d-e. After that, wiggle your toes and rotate your ankles to finish this 1-minute foot refresher. You’ll be surprised how good you feel all over!

3.) Sarah Furuya: Tips for Increasing Curiosity and Reducing Judgement

“Curiosity can’t lie, justification can.”

I was having lunch with a friend. A smart friend, currently in recruitment with three companies. She had decided to follow her gut, Her intuition. Her curiosity when making her decision. Because her instinct had previously been to use logic, weigh up the pros and cons, justify, judge and follow her should. The large, stable company. That would provide security and stability. That didn’t work out. Or the NPO that seemed like exactly the thing she’d been looking for but didn’t seem quite right somewhere in her gut. That didn’t work out. So this time round, she followed her intuition more. Listened to her gut. Followed her curiosity. I could hear it in her voice.

She lit up talking about the start-up and the job with no name yet. The risky choice perhaps. Her body language opened. Her voice rose. Her face smiled. There was the safer choice. The big stable company with a good name and an equally good package. But she talked about it like she was reading ingredients.

“Curiosity can’t lie. Justification can.”

Here are my tips for following curiosity:

1. Listen. Really listen. Listen to your body, your heartbeat and your intuition, your gut. Listen to others. Get quiet. Stop talking. Stop formulating your responses or agreeing and disagreeing in your head. And just let the information and offers land on you. Imagine them just entering you and landing. That’s all. It’s kind of uncomfortable, not having a whip-smart come back or a ready internal or external debate. But it’s interesting. Just noticing. Just learning . . .
2. Learn, don’t prove when listening. Try not to let your internal voice start judging as right or wrong. When we evaluate everything as right or wrong (unless you are in mortal danger) we look for evidence to prove that. We seek it out. Recently I was on the other side of facilitation on a three-day program in Dubai and I had to do everything in my power to switch off the facilitator and switch on the learner. I actually had to say to myself “learn” repeatedly when I felt myself judging or proving. “Learn, learn, learn. Let it land. Just let it land and let your intuition do the rest.” See it’s just information. Just opinion. Just offers. Just proposals. No danger (it may feel like danger if you’re not the best one, the right one). Just learning. Just staying curious . . .
3. Notice what gets you curious. Follow that. Move toward that. Be as curious as possible about everything. Any input. Not to prove or to respond or to justify but just to see what happens when you follow what turns you on. Without having to judge or prove or justify.

“Curiosity cannot lie. Justification can.”

The post June 2016 Partner Tips appeared first on FEW Japan.

This month Club 360, Elana Jade, Sarah Furuya and Divya Marie Kato share some tips to breaking up your day, the benefits of facial peels, how to ask for help and ways to relieve stress.

1.) Club 360: Desk-Fit 360 Part 3 – Hey! Break it up!

In the third installment of our five-part Desk-Fit 360 series, we discuss some important workplace habits.

Get up and move
Most of us are stuck at our desks for hours on end when, for the most part, we don’t need to be. Even in sedentary occupations, there are always opportunities to get up out of your chair, you just have to look for them. If you’re taking a phone call or simply reading a document or article that doesn’t require you to be sitting and typing, stand up! Even a few minutes out of every hour will reduce some of the stress on your body and increase circulation. Try to utilize other opportunities to move about, too. If you work in a large office, instead of sending internal emails to colleagues, go talk to them directly. If you’re conducting meetings with three or four people and don’t require much written material, why not have the meeting while walking!

Tidy workspace
Having a cluttered desk area makes it more difficult to achieve an ideal ergonomic set-up. It’s also likely to increase stress and decrease productivity. As mentioned in the previous issue, if you must use a notebook, try to use as small a notebook as possible to decrease the space between you and the keyboard.

Document holder
Spending long periods of time looking down at a paper document resting on the desk may be equally as harmful as looking down at a screen. All documents should be placed up on a document holder and kept as close to the monitor as possible.

Headsets
It wasn’t until I began practicing in Tokyo that I became aware of the condition “broker’s neck,” a cervical spine injury which occurs as a result of pinching the hand-set between ear and shoulder. Luckily, this practice seems to be decreasing as people are becoming aware of the trouble it can cause but if you’re someone who finds themselves doing this, please consider using a headset or open mic.

Hydration
The body needs water to perform basic functions necessary for survival and a lack of hydration may lead to decreased work performance. Try to consume at least 2 liters of water throughout your work-day. By keeping a 500 mL bottle on you, you have at least four reasons to get up and go to the water fountain.

General Exercise
If you’re reading this you no doubt already understand the importance of general exercise. Both the body and the mind are happier when moving well and often. Those who exercise regularly are less likely to take sick days and will have higher energy levels leading to better job performance. In terms of exercise modalities, there can be cases made for any type of exercise being the most advantageous for general health, weight loss or injury prevention. As far as lower back pain goes, research shows exercise is better than no exercise but all types are equally effective. The most important thing is to choose something you enjoy doing and are likely to stick with.

Sam Gilbert has been practicing as a physiotherapist and ergonomic consultant in Tokyo for 10 years. He is the co-founder and co-owner of Club 360 and holds a bachelor’s degree in Physiotherapy and a master’s degree in Exercise Science.

Club 360’s experienced physiotherapists are available to conduct ergonomic consultations and ergonomic seminars in both English and Japanese. For further information contact, info@club360.jp.

2.) Elana Jade: How Do Peels Work?

A lot of people know having a peel will exfoliate the skin, which improves the texture and tone, helps to clear acne and reduces fine lines. However, knowing how this is achieved is a little if a mystery.

There are multiple layers of the epidermis (the outer layer, what we can see) and dermis (inner layer of connective tissue, collagen and elastic fibers), which provide protection against external aggressors, prevent dehydration, maintain internal temperature and, of course, protect our insides!

The skin is made up of skin cells that go through a cycle from the inner layers to the outer. As they move along, they’re constantly changing and become filled with keratin (a protein that protects the cells). Eventually, when they reach the most outer layer, they become “dead cells.” Our skin forms a “glue” (microscopic fibers called tonofilaments) that surrounds these cells to hold them together. Over an approximate four to six-week rejuvenation cycle, the glue eventually breaks, allowing the dead cells to drop off the skin naturally, allowing newer cells to develop. By speeding up this process, we can give the skin a more youthful complexion, get rid of the bacteria in the skin more quickly and improve the tone and texture of the skin.

To read the full article, click HERE.

3.) Sarah Furuya: Clever Rebels Ask for Help (AKA Why I love Facebook and Community)

About a month ago I wanted to get 2,000 USD together quick. Really quick. Within a week. And I was going to Dubai the next day for a week.

So I hopped onto Facebook knowing that I know hundreds of smart, funny, insightful, creative and entrepreneurial, helpful and generous people. Also knowing that whatever answer I got would be useful to me, my Facebook friends and my clients. Because once I had options, I had choices.

The first quarter of 2016 was three months of “financial hygiene” for my business and me. These were my anchor words for the quarter. So impulse-investing in a 2,000 USD online program, was not on the agenda, even though I am a firm believer in investing in self development and it is my experience that it comes back multifold later down the line, “financial hygiene” is something different to investing and I was being true to my financial hygiene goal.

P.S. I decided not to invest in the end; I got a massive project at work which was actually worth more than this investment, but also meant I had to focus on the project, not the program. Still, it’s incredible what happens when you enter into inquiry and possibility (And was humble and confident enough to ask the question!).

I threw this question out on Facebook:

“I want to get 2,000 USD together by Wednesday so I can finally do Marie Forleo’s B-school this year. What should I do? What’s a quick and fun way to get $2,000 together? Whacky, creative, salty or practical ideas all welcome!”

So here it is – the answers that I received.

Super-practical solutions:

• Pawn your valuables
• Auction your collections
• Sell your gold jewelry for melt
• Dip into your stock portfolio
• Take out a bank loan
•  Bake up some brownies and muffins and sell them at the station or park
• Set up at a cafe with a sign and sell quickie English convo lessons at ¥1,000 for 10 minutes
• Sell other stuff
• Have a bake sale
• Convince one of the companies you work with to invest in you by paying a portion advance on your services (which then sparked my interest in asking one of my client companies to pay for the investment so long as I transferred my learning back into the company)
• A loan

People who know me really well — good for me, good for them:

• Group coaching day where you share you wisest wisdoms with a choice selection of lovely ladies who would all be willing to chip in — I’d be up for it and know others would  *SEF “Watch this space”
• Sell special advance vouchers for coaching sessions to be redeemed in the future with extra stuff thrown in
• Donation for on the spot fashion/life coaching advice (SEF — fashion?)
• Put together a self Mindmapping (r) how-to session; you can use the venue in my building for free — 10 people (SEF wait — WHAT? You’re offering your space for free??? Water falls from eyes at the generosity)
• Sarah, you could also do a group coaching webinar to raise cash quick

More questions:

• Is there a scholarship? (Otherwise I like [Name’s] idea)
• How did it go?

Suggestions from people who had already been through the program in which I wanted to invest:

• It’s good, but you might get just as much doing [alternative suggestion’s] program, or at least go through as affiliate. I wish I had known about the sweet deals when I did this years ago
• I think [another awesome entrepreneur] also has an affiliate program

Super-generous comments:

• I heard it’s a great program. Didn’t [name of mutual friend] do it? Pawning has indeed worked for me in the past — depends on what you have and what you are willing to part with.

In-jokes, based on coaching conversations:

• Jump off the cliff with speed (The other analogy doesn’t belong on Facebook) — email me at sarah@sarahfuruya.com to hear the other, somewhat salty analogy. Subject line “Salty Analogy”

Get with the Zeitgeist:

• Where is your “GoFundMe” page?

Encouragement (always welcome):

• Good luck! Sending fingers crossed your way

Pure Comedy:

• Dress up in your best cosplay and charge for photos at Harajuku Station
• *x-rated suggestion by my hilarious brother — still on Facebook if you’re interested . . .
• Straight down to the betting shop
• Free hugs

Wishful thinking:

• I wish I could manifest the money, too!
• If you figure it out, let us know! Ha! Good luck!

What do you find useful in here? How is it relevant to your life?

Not only that, but one peer, also a coach who has been through the program, actually called me to ask questions, offer advice and alternatives. For over half an hour. Amazing. I will not be doing the program this time round, but I have a treasure chest of ideas that I wanted to share with you.

We call this crowdsourcing. I call this community, conversation, invitation, humanity, friendship, generosity, sharing and getting involved. It’s pretty simple humaning at it’s best.

Ask for help, get help, allow other people to give you help.

Calling all Clever Rebels! I work with people who are transitioning, dreaming about a bigger better life, or a smaller simpler one, don’t know what to do, have taken on big executive roles, are leaving their jobs (I did this), are expats who want to engage or get back to work, head up organizations (I did this), are having the same recurring negative thoughts and limiting self beliefs that are holding them back over and over again or are having problems moving forward, even though they know they want to. I have a truth-seeking sensor that can hear your stories and offer alternative.

If you are interested in finding out more about how to work with me as a personal or professional life coach email info@sarahfuruya.com for your free fifteen! Big discounts for FEW members (I love FEW).

When we ask for what we need, the responses can be surprising in their generosity. It’s so simple. It’s how we humans survive and thrive.

“Everybody has stories, I want to hear yours.”

4.) Divya Marie Kato: Let’s Talk About Stress, Baby

Remember? No? The 90s. The Song. Salt-N-Pepa. “Let’s Talk About Sex.” Frankness. Beat breaking taboos (Who doesn’t like a bit of taboo breakage?).

So friends, come on, why not?  It’s Spring! Let’s talk about . . .

STRESS
Busybusybusybusybusysbusybusy . . . Ever tried typing this word repeatedly? Right hand “b,” “u,” left hand “s,” “y” busybusybusybusybusybusybusybusybusybusybusybusybusybusybusybusybusybusy . . .

Expectations? Pressure? Prejudice? All things bright and beautiful?

The Environment. The News. All this and more and . . . Never. Enough. Time.

At times, physical movement. At others, mental movement (and the “other” movement . . . well, that’s the pudding proof and no mistake).

THE EXCHANGE
I recently shared a wonderful exchange with Yoko Majima, our very own community lawyer. We talked about how we try to keep stress at bay. About having a peaceful mind. Grateful to Yoko for sharing what she did. It means a lot to me when people reach out with truth. Being open and honest about what they struggle with. It always hits home because it’s something I connect to. On a human level.

I struggle with stress too. It’s a word that comes up in conversations often. Sometimes scarily the norm.

Filing my taxes last week with Mori-san, our community tax accountant, the topic of stress came up again. Mori-san smiled. In a voice soft with warmth and crystal clear clarity, she told me how her only aim is to take as much stress out of taxes as possible. Fantastic. Her gift. Gratefully received by me and many others in our community.

“I think in today’s world, the number one reason to mediate is that we live in a world that has a lot of stress. People are constantly feeling time pressure, peer pressure, performance anxiety . . . What does this do? Physical and biological havoc…strokes..diseases..addictive behaviour…We now know that stress…emotional, psychological, physical…is the number one epidemic of our civilization” — Deepak Chopra speaking to Oprah Winfrey

(Haven’t tried their 21 Day Mediation? Try it out here — it’s free!)

THE CHOCOLATE BOX
The good news is that there are many ways to release stress. A veritable chocolate box of treats: meditation, hiking, coloring, sex (together or alone: yes!), yoga, dancing, gardening… From “woo woo” to buzz words, meditation and mindfulness are growing and attracting people from all walks of life. What I also disregarded as “woo woo” is now essential. For creating that small, still space. A place to connect to bigger and beyond. For peace of mind. For self love and knowing that I’m enough.  What does my practice look like?

PENCIL, MEET PAPER
“Once, when I was struggling with a book, I signed up for a drawing class, just to open up some other kind of creative channel within my mind. I can’t draw very well, but that didn’t matter; the important thing was that I was staying in communication with artistry at some level. I was fiddling with my own dials, trying to reach inspiration in any way possible. Eventually, after enough drawing, the writing began to flow again” — Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic

“Play is an antidote to stress, and this is key because stress, in addition to being an enemy of productivity, can actually shut down the creative, inquisitive, exploratory parts of our brain. You know how it feels: you’re stressed..suddenly everything starts going wrong…you can’t find your keys, you bump into things…I have seen play reverse these effects in my own children.  When they are stressed and things feel out of control, I have them draw.  When they do, the change is almost immediate.  The stress melts away and their ability to explore is regained” — Greg McKeown, Essentialism

It looks very much like this: Pencil and Paper. Worth so much more than their separate parts.

Drawing for Reflection. (inner) Drawing for Expression. (outer)

Drawing is how I process experiences and the thoughts and feelings that come with them.

I have witnessed this countless times. Sharing drawing. Watching people light up. Discover new things. Make changes.

“There’s something there that wasn’t there before…I’m much happier about how my life is going….I thought this was just an art class, it’s so much more!…one of the reasons for my big awakening”

I can’t wish you a stress-free Spring — I’m a realist and it doesn’t exist! — I can, however, wish you a happy Spring. And should things get too much, I hope this has inspired you to try drawing. With Spring springing all around, we’re spoiled for choice.

Pick up a pencil. Start and see. The flowers make the best teachers.

Look out for my drawing workshop with FEW coming up later this year. For more on the benefits of drawing, insider tips, free resources and sneak peeks from my forthcoming book, “When in doubt, draw”, make sure you’re signed up to my newsletter, which you can do over at divyamariekato.com.

Drawing. Done Differently. My soon-to-debut Online Drawing Course. More for you on this very soon!

For inquiries or to arrange a free consultation: info@divyamariekato.com

The post April 2016 Partner Tips appeared first on FEW Japan.

This month Club 360 offers some tips for setting up your workstation to ensure good posture, while Elana Jade offers six tips for a spring skin makeover.

1.) Club 360: Desk-Fit 360 Part 2 – Better check yourself before you wreck your health.

In part two, we discuss some basic guidelines for setting up your workstation.

If we take a historical view of ergonomics, as the use of computers has increased over the past three decades, the design of workplace furniture has not progressed to adapt to the change in demands. Computers have simply been placed on desks that had previously been used for written materials. As a result, the spatial relationships between the user and the computer components often puts the user in less-than-optimal postures.

Tip No. 1 – Laptop Use
Even worse is the current trend for many companies to have their employees work exclusively on laptop computers. Using a laptop makes it impossible to get into an optimal working position. Due to the height of the screen, the head is facing down, bringing the neck into a flexed position. This may potentially put excessive stress on the neck, because the keyboard and screen are in such close proximity and the screen will be either too close or the keyboard too far away. The issues associated with laptop use can be mitigated rather easily by hooking your laptop up to an external screen or using a laptop stand and external keyboard and mouse. These items are all relatively cheap and connect wirelessly making their integration into your office set-up a breeze.

Tip No. 2 – Monitor Height
The natural focus of our eyes, particularly at close proximity, is slightly downwards. This is why we generally recommend the screen height be at approximately eye level.

Let’s try a little experiment. Place your fingers at the top of your neck, right at the base of your skull. Now, without moving your head, look upwards. Do you feel something tighten up under your fingers? They are your sub-occipital muscles. If your monitor is too high you will be looking up either with your eyes or by tilting the head upwards. Both will create tension in these sub-occipital muscles and prolonged tension here may lead to tightening of these muscles, making it harder to keep your head in a neutral position. By the same token, if you are looking down at the monitor, the neck will be in a flexed position, potentially causing stress to the structures in the lower part of the neck.

Tip No. 3 – Monitor Distance and Position

The standard recommendation for monitor distance is one arm’s length away. If you are seated too far away from your monitor, you may consciously or subconsciously be leaning forwards slightly in order to see the screen. This can result in the head coming forward and increasing the stress on the joints and muscles of the neck.

Your monitor should also be located directly in front of you to avoid spending long periods of time rotating through the neck to look directly at the screen. It seems like common sense but I am shocked at how many people I see sitting at an angle to their monitor. Things become trickier when dealing with those who need to use two or more monitors at a time. For these people, we generally recommend sitting in front of the middle of the two monitors if using them both for equal amounts of time and if using one more than the other(s), face further towards the main monitor.

Tip No. 4 – Keyboard Setting

Let’s perform another quick experiment. Take one hand and grip the finger of the opposite hand (no we are not about to play a foul trick on ourselves). Keeping the wrist of the squeezing finger straight in all planes, squeeze the finger as hard as you can and note the strength. Next, bend the wrist up and squeeze then down and squeeze. Then move the hand in and squeeze, then out and squeeze. What you will notice is that the strength of the hand is significantly greater when the wrist is in a neutral position. It makes sense then if you are to be spending many hours typing, you want to do so in a position where the wrist is not having to work as hard. A position of wrist extension (bending the wrist back towards you) also puts pressure on the structures of the carpal tunnel, which may lead to a compressive neuropathy of the median nerve (one subset of “carpal tunnel syndrome” group of conditions). To achieve this, make sure the pegs on the bottom of the keyboard are set down. You may also need to use a pad or bolster underneath the wrists to keep them from being bent up. Those with wider shoulders may also wish to consider the use of a split keyboard to avoid the wrists being bent to the side whilst typing.

Tip No. 5 – Keyboard Position

The keyboard should be close enough that you can type with the elbows adjacent to the body. Try keeping your back in a neutral position and reaching out with the arms in front to type. It just doesn’t work. Inevitably the weight of the arms brings your body forwards and into more of a slumped posture.  For those who typically use a notepad, try to use as small a notepad as possible to keep the keyboard close to you.

As with the monitor, you want the center of the keyboard (between the G and H keys) to line up with the center of your body to, again, avoid any twisting through the body.

Sam Gilbert has been practicing as a physiotherapist and ergonomic consultant in Tokyo for 10 years. He is the co-founder and co-owner of Club 360 and holds a bachelor’s degree in Physiotherapy and a master’s degree in Exercise Science.

Club 360’s experienced physiotherapists are available to conduct ergonomic consultations and ergonomic seminars in both English and Japanese. For further information contact info@club360.jp.

2.) Elana Jade: Spring skin Maekover

Follow these 6 simple steps and step into Spring with your best face forward!

1. Cleansing, Toning, and Moisturizing Morning and Night: If your skin fitness regime has gone off track, it’s time to get back to it! Regular skin care is essential for healthy, beautiful skin.
2. Hydration: As always, hydration is the key to youthful, vital skin. Getting into the habit now of consuming eight or more glasses of good quality water a day will help your skin look fabulous come warmer days.
3. Exfoliation: Daily gentle exfoliation is essential to remove dull skin and rejuvenate new cell growth. This will bring out a healthy spring glow!
4. Consume EFAs: EFAs (essential fatty acids) are really important when in comes to keeping your skin in good condition. EFAs, as found in flax seeds, hemp seeds or deep water fish like salmon, provide essential nutrients for your skin. These nutrients are important to hydrate and plump up the skin.
5. Sunscreen: Although it might not be beach weather just yet, wearing sunscreen everyday is crucial to keeping your skin young and healthy. Some sun exposure is healthy, but too much will cause premature aging.
6. Get a Facial Overhaul: A thorough facial is the quickest way to rebound from dull winter skin. Treat your skin to a deep cleanse & steam to remove impurities; exfoliation for skin rejuvenation; and a hydrating- mask to plump up skin cells.

SPECIAL DEAL: Peeling Facial Course — For March and April, Elana Jade is offering this unique course for only ¥42,000 for 4 treatments. Contact Elana Jade at salon@elanajade.com or 03-6438-9895 for more details.

The post March 2016 Partner Tips appeared first on FEW Japan.

This month strategic partners Divya Marie Kato,  Club 360 and Elana Jade offer you some tips to help in both your personal and professional lives.

1.) Divya Marie Kato: Wonderful Website Workshop for Women

A big thank you to everyone who attended my website workshop on February 13, to Lumina for a beautiful venue and to Saya Matsumoto for her write-up of the event. Make sure you check it out for the main takeaways, a step-by-step guide and links to useful resources. Taking up the one-month challenge? If so, I’m looking forward to seeing your websites soon!  

B School
In the workshop, I talked about my No. 1 recommendation for anyone starting their women business — Marie Forleo’s B School. I completed this course last year and it has proved invaluable to my business. Enrolling now for 2016 — check it out today and sign up for the free training videos.

Drawing: Discounts for FEW members & Future Workshop
Dreamed. Drawn. Done. Get from dreaming to done and discover something new about yourself in the process. Drawing classes. Done differently.

Here’s what some of my clients had to say about the experience:

“I thought this was just an art class — it’s so much more!”
“I can’t believe it! I want to say thank you as I couldn’t have come to this point without your classes and drawing!”
“I would recommend your classes to anyone, because anyone can learn the techniques to draw.”
“If you are a beginner, Divya’s guidance will help you lose the fear of drawing.”
“Drawing — something I had always wanted to try. Actually, I was convinced I couldn’t draw at all! But somehow, step by step . . . I am much happier now about how my life is going!”
“Thanks a lot for being you in front of me . . . who was in search of myself at that time. You taught me not only about drawing but also about being my real self.”

Pencil and paper. So much more than their separate parts! So many stories now I’m writing a book about it all. To find out more about the book and to take advantage of big discounts for FEW members on drawing classes and services, head to divyamariekato.com. Drawing workshop TBC for later this year.  

Sign up for free training and email updates and get in touch for a free Skype consultation to ask me all you need to — I’ll be here: info@divyamariekato.com.

2.) Divya Marie Kato: Dreamed. Drawn. Done.

In an increasingly attention deprived time, thank you for taking the time to read this. 

Time. Limited. Valuable.
I appreciate you being here. 

“So this is Christmas…
No, no, no…
So this is February…
And what have we done?”

What’s this? February I see? How did you get here so fast? Feeling a little of this? Or am I speaking to the coolest of cucumbers?

For those of you who don’t know me or who have recently joined FEW, hello and welcome.  My name’s Divya and I’m an artist who specialises in drawing.  As a previous speaker and member of FEW, I’m grateful to be welcomed back this year as a partner and proud to contribute to a community that focuses on the empowerment of women. So much has changed since the first FEW meeting I stepped into. It was 2012. I had just left full time employment. Drawing got me from dreaming to done.

When in doubt, draw

There was a swelling in my chest when the new year started.
The excitement.
The visitors.
The parties.
Unplugging.
Merriment.
Mama over to stay.
So much food and love and wine and wonderful.
I was full.
Full to brimming.
And sensitive all over.
So I did what I always do. I sat down to draw.
Drawing to digest it all. Drawing to process the world.  The wild ride of human experience.
Our special events director, Helen Lewis, friend and fellow writer, likened this to breathing.
Experiences.
Every moment. Every day.
In. Out.
Drawing: Reflecting (in) Expressing (out)

Here’s what I drew. And here’s what I discovered. A chapter for my book. A word for the year.

As I sat down to draw this heirloom, I thought about the strongest feeling I had last year:

Shoulders of Giants

All those who have gone before us.
Being in the space of that place.
It feels big and spacious to me.
Humbling. Raw. Real.

My word for this year: GRACE
From a much bigger place. Bigger than self.
I’ll try to stand in that place more.
Mindfully more.
And when I stray, I’ll sit down to draw.
What do you sit down to do? To take you back to your place? To make sense of it all?

If you’re unsure and looking for a way to:

• Find a way forward
• Release stress
• Discover something new about yourself
• Make a change
• Integrate creativity into everyday life
• Get unstuck
• Express yourself
• Reflect and process experiences
• Spark new ideas
• Nurture community and collaboration 

I would be delighted to share drawing with you. An extra set of tools for life’s toolbox. 

“Creativity is the buzz word of our time. I demystify it and make it accessible. Less ‘airy fairy’; more nuts n’ bolts.”

DMK x

For the full write-up, including an excerpt from Divya’s book, “When in doubt, draw” and details on her services for 2016, click HERE.

FEW members can enjoy discounts on Divya’s services, the chance to win private classes, her creative services at events and the two free workshops she will be conducting this year: The Wonderful Website Workshop: Get Your Work Out There on February 13 and Drawing for Development: Discovery, Dreams & Getting to Done, later this year.

Email for a free consultation: info@divyamariekato.com

3.) Club 360: Desk-Fit 360 Part 1 – Take a seat.
The first of our five-part series on ergonomics and posture will discuss sitting position.

We generally encounter two basic suboptimal sitting postures:
The majority of people tend to sit with rounded backs and there are a number of different reasons why this occurs. Firstly, many of us sit on the area between the Ischial tuberosities (“sit” bones) and the coccyx (“tail” bone). With females, this habit likely originates from childhood where young girls tend to sit on the toilet with their pelvis rocked back in order to wee in the bowl. In men, the posture is more likely to do with tightness in the structures at the back of the hip, a lack of motor control, as well as a certain degree of laziness. Either way, sitting on this area of the pelvis puts the lower back in a rounded position (Fig. 1 – C). A rounded back may put pressure on structures at the back of the spine, including the intervertebral discs.

The other common sitting posture is most probably a result of the attempt to “sit up straight” as an overcorrection of the rounded posture due to pain (Fig. 1 – A). A person will arch their back in and in the process cause excessive muscle tension in the back muscles as well as compression in the facet joints of the spine.

Fig. 1

Ideally, when we sit, we want to sit in as neutral a position as possible (Fig. 2), maintaining the natural s-curve of the spine, and be able to do so without overly contracting the spinal muscles (Fig. 1 – B). Sitting on the correct area of the pelvis will help facilitate this. The sitting technique we will use is a “Sit bone sit.” As you sit down, reach around and pull back and up on the sit bones one side of the pelvis at a time. You should find now that you are sitting more on the front aspect of the sit bones with the weight more evenly distributed throughout the thighs. This will allow you to relax into the back of your chair without rounding the lower back and sit in neutral alignment without tensing the back muscles.

From here, reach up as high as you can with your arms to set the rest of the spine in a lengthened position then lower the hands and try to keep the spine in this rested position. Finally, look at the position of your knees; they should be at the same level. If one leg is further forward than the other, you may need to “scoot” this side of the pelvis back a little further.

Fig. 2

If possible you should attempt to perform the booty scoot every time you sit down so that you are starting off in an optimal sitting position.

You should also make sure your chair is at a height that allows the knees to be slightly lower than the height of the hips and the feet should be flat on the ground. More vertically challenged employees may want to consider the use of a footrest if their feet do not touch the ground.

Sam Gilbert has been practicing as a physiotherapist and ergonomic consultant in Tokyo for 10 years. He is the co-founder and co-owner of Club 360 and holds a bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy and a master’s degree in exercise science.

Club 360’s experienced physiotherapists are available to conduct ergonomic consultations and ergonomic seminars in both English and Japanese. For further information contact info@club360.jp.

4.) Elana Jade: Exercise & Healthy Skin

Exercise brings more oxygen and nutrients to the skin so that it is firmer and better nourished. It is also thought that regular exercise can help slow down the aging process.

Indeed, from reducing acne breakouts to fighting the signs of aging, health experts say regular exercise can play a big role in how young and how healthy your skin looks and feels.

Here are some of the major benefits of exercise for the skin:
· Increased circulation and delivery of nutrients to skin cells, removing potentially
damaging toxins. · Strength training can provide skin the optimum conditions for making collagen, the support fibers that help keep wrinkles and lines at bay and plumps your skin and gives your face the bloom of youth.
· Exercise decreases stress which is a major stimuli of acne and breakouts.
· Doctors say most aerobic exercise, such as walking or bicycling, also offer a “cleansing” effect on skin.

This helps remove toxins that assault the skin – like cigarette smoke, air pollution, even chemicals commonly found in grooming products such as hair spray, deodorant, and shower gels.

So for a healthy body inside and out, exercise is a must! For further information, please consult your skin care specialist!

The post February 2016 Partner Tips appeared first on FEW Japan.

This month Sarah Furuya offers some tips on how to turn your story around.

Sarah Furuya – Clever Rebels and Curious Corporates

This happened to me this week. This conversation played out in my head. It took about 30 seconds to unravel. I nearly unraveled. Luckily I have techniques to notice these spirals and I want to share those with you. Read on to find out and to see how you can work with me on planning your New Year.

I’m going to have a dry January.

And I could start drinking green juice every morning and detox too.  

Maybe I should stop eating meat again too.
I’ll go to yoga every morning.
Or run.
I’ll need a new juicer.
And have plenty of fresh fruit in.
What kind of juicer.
*Googles*
Woh, the one I want is expensive.
I also want a new bed. Bed or juicer.
Bed and juicer?
Yoga every morning sounds hard.
When can I join.
Maybe it should be Anytime Fitness instead.
I hate gyms.
Why would I go to a gym?
Are my yoga clothes in good condition?
I need new yoga clothes.
But if I want a juicer and a bed.
I should use my bread maker.
Or put it on Craigslist.
And running is free and you can do it anytime.
I’ll run instead.
But what about my business?
Will I have time to run?

I also want to write every morning.
I’ll need to get up at 6am to do that before work. Yes, this will be the new me.
I hate mornings though.
How can I do this?THIS. THIS.
What is this?

Does this every happen to you?
You go from deciding to have dry January <or insert any simple yet still challenging new year resolution here> to a stressful story running in your head where you’re-overspending, over-committing and setting yourself up for a failure.

Here. Is where you can turn your story around.
Your new year resolution; goal; objective; commitment will be much more achievable and sustainable.

– CHOOSE one simple thing to do. And set yourself up for success. Choose a word for the year. Just one, that will
– NOTICE when you are spiraling into committing to too much, even in your head.
– CUT things from your life. Decide on things you will remove, say no to or stop doing.
– PRACTICE saying no to things. Elegantly, classily and politely. But clearly, absolutely and non-negotiable.
– ASSESS how you can be successful. Discover what the smallest goal you could set is that will set you up for success, then give yourself a stretch goal, but always acknowledge when you have succeeded in a goal. No matter how small. This is motivating.
– RECALIBRATE in February. Give yourself the chance to review and if you are not winning at your new year resolution, change it. February is the new January.
– GIVE yourself permission to course-correct. Give up! And don’t set a goal at all! Why not?!
– LISTEN to your body, when you think of your goal does your body tighten up or do you feel anxiety?
– Go back to RECALIBRATE and GIVE yourself permission to do something that feels good, not matter how challenging.
If you feel any confusion about how to kick off 2016, or want to identify your resolutions, goals or objectives, and want someone to be accountable to, who can help you to identify goals that both look good and feel good, email info@sarahfuruya.com and organize a 15 minute free Skype chat with Sarah to talk about your goals, life goals and challenges you are facing.  Spaces are limited for January and Sarah’s assistant Laura will set you up with a slot.

Clever Rebels often have big dreams and are highly creative and ambitious. I can help you identify your dreams and the steps it will take to get there. Curious Corporates need support to present their ideas in the structure of their organizations. New price lists will be out in January and FEW members enjoy huge discounts on all coaching with me, Sarah Furuya at Clever Rebels.

The post January 2016 Partner Tips appeared first on FEW Japan.

This month our three health and fitness-related partners offer you important advice on staying healthy during the cold winter months while Sarah Furuya of Clever Rebels shares some tips for telling your story while listening to that voice in your head.

1) Furla Yoga -3 Minute Stress relief

During the holiday rush, take time for yourself. Tired after coming home from a day out? Try this little trick.

In your comfortable clothes, lie down in front of a wall or sofa, as close as you can. Put your legs straight up the wall, or drape your lower legs over the sofa. (If your legs bend when against the wall, scoot your hips away just a bit.) Let the hips rest on the floor, notice the width and length of your back, and surrender to gravity with eyes closed. Lie still for 3-5 minutes, focusing on the breath.  To get up, first roll to one side and lie still for a moment, quietly, before sitting up
. You’ll be refreshed and relaxed in no time!

Before coming to the studio, check the schedule page at www.yoga.furla.co.jp for holiday classes and closings. Enjoy your holiday season, and we look forward to seeing you at the studio soon!

2) Elana Jade – Avoid Dry Dull Skin This Winter

Since your skin turns extra dry and damaged during winter, you also age faster during this season. The dry air can make fine lines on the face and neck more visible, and leave the skin rough, dull and flaky. In more advanced cases, fish net-like cracks resembling the fine fracture lines of cracked porcelain can occur. Water alone (especially hot water) can actually worsen the effects of dry skin by removing the skins natural protective oils. Add soap to the mix and these natural hydrating oils can be significantly depleted, which can cause premature aging.

To avoid dry/ damaged skin this winter try the following:
-Apply a good quality non-chemical oil-based moisturizer right after bathing and avoid using soap
-Increase the humidity level in the air of your home and workplaces by using a humidifier.
-Eat foods high in healthy fats & oils such as avocado, nuts and fish.
-If possible, avoid medications such as anti-acne treatments as they can cause considerable facial dryness in any season.
-Don’t forget the sunscreen!

Contact Elana Jade salon for more details!
www.elanajade.com
salon@elanajade.com
03-6438-9895

3) Club 360: Health Tip. Bounce Back From Colds Quickly & Naturally
Before you head to your doctor for antibiotics, which can strip your body of good bacteria leaving you more vulnerable to illness, dry skin, and stomach problems, try these tips:
· Drinking plenty of water, juice, tea, clear soup or warm lemon water to loosen congestion and prevent dehydration.
· Eat a good amount of healthy, nutritious foods to boost your immune system.
· Stay warm and rested. You’ll be surprised what one day off work can do for your rebound potential. You can also try laying in a hot bath and breathing in the steam to de-clog your nasal passages.
· Gargle salty water. Add a half a teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water and gargle. It will relieve a sore, dry throat. Dispel germs quickly this winter and get the most out what this season has to offer like fresh mountain air and spending time with loved ones over the holidays!

Contact Club 360 for more details!
www.club360.jp
info@club360.jp
03-6434-9667

4) Sarah Furuya– Clever Rebels: Tips for Telling Your Story

Dear FEW members and community,

We wish you a very very happy season, however you celebrate it. And a happy new year!

“Everybody has stories. Stories can be as simple as a repeating thought. Like, I am self-sabotaging. Jane shouldn’t behave like that toward me. I could never be as successful as Joan. I don’t deserve it. My father makes me mad. People with money are greedy. Yuki is too pushy. Kana is too needy. People should recognise my efforts. People from Osaka are *fill in bank*. The British are so *Fill in blank*. I wish I hadn’t done *thing you did* in 1995. I’m a loser because I failed to get into medical school.These thoughts are generated by our own minds and may serve some useful purpose. They may also be self-limiting. But the can all be questioned with one simple question. Is it true?

For every thought you have, positive or negative, there is the possibility that that thought is not true. Imagine that? Imagine the possibility that a thought you have held for years may not be true? Or the freedom you may feel if you let go of that thought? Or changed it for another one? Or generated myriad alternative thoughts?

We get to choose how we tell our stories and questioning them, exploring them, and approaching them with an attitude of curiosity and exploration. Clever Rebels love this kind of exploration, this kind of possibility. They are curious and kind, especially to themselves. They are smart and rebellious and even like to rebel against their old thoughts and stories, take what’s good with them. Good for them and good for others. They are stylish and interesting as well as authentic and interested in others.

So when you tell a story. Or have a thought about something. Ask yourself. Is it true? Is there a way I could tell this story differently. And think.”How do I want to tell my story in 2016?”

I look forward to seeing you in 2016 at FEW meetings and Women’s Start-up Club.

Sarah and Laura at Clever Rebels.

The post December 2015 Partner Tips appeared first on FEW Japan.

In November, Anne Good from our strategic partner Eureka! offers you tips on how to manage your time!

Coaching quick tips

We are all working at a hundred miles and hour dealing with work, family and career choices, well it certainly feels that way, so what simple things can you adopt immediately to make space and, more importantly, time for yourself.

Managing your time is one of the most effective skills you can ever learn. Make a list of all the things that need doing – I know what your thinking – how can you make time in an already busy life to make a list! Well – changing your mindset will lead to more and effective use of your time.

Once the list has been made, the next step is to quickly go down the list and mark each item as follows:

A = items than need doing immediately or certainly within the next 24 hours
B = items that could be delegated to others – go on, you can do it!
C = items that can either be ignored or fitted into a planned schedule later in the week.

The most important thing is to be disciplined. Don’t get side tracked by e-mails, phone calls or Facebook.
So get a move on and claim back your life by putting some order into your schedule – remember, it’s as easy as A,B,C

SKYPE coaching – techworks!
Over the last eighteen months I have been using Skype more and more to work with my clients. This article lays out the benefits of using Internet technology to manage our busy 21st century lifestyles.

I love it, but what’s more important, so do my clients. You may have a very busy lifestyle and would simply like to have the chance of sharpening your mind, talking through a business issue or drawing up an action plan to change jobs or careers. But, how on earth can you fit in coaching – before or after work or during an all too short lunch break?

Well, you can. There is no more travelling to and from a face-to-face session at my office. You can sit in the comfort of your own home or office using Skype. The cost of the call is absolutely free and you immediately gain valuable time and money that otherwise would have been spent travelling to and from the meeting.

Here are some other benefits:

• You can still maintain your coaching support at a time that is convenient to you – even if you go on holiday or out of town on business.
• Optimum state of mind – by choosing your own environment to be coached from, you are automatically in a more receptive mind-set, so you can get better results.
• If you travel a lot on business you can call from your location when you really need to.
• You have complete control of the situation, which is great for creating increased confidence.
• Skype Coaching can fit into, even the busiest life style commitments.

What next? Drop me an e-mail to set up a convenient time for us to speak on Skype. In order to get the most out of the call, take a few minutes before the appointment time to relax so that we make the most of the session.

Make sure you have pen and paper for making important notes. Privacy is assured and the session commences for approximately one and a half hours.

You can have your own personal Eureka! moment starting today. It’s so simple!

Contact:
anne@eurekamoments.net
Skype name: eurekatokyo

The post November 2015 Partner Tips appeared first on FEW Japan.