Cleanse
your Mind,Body & Soul
Get your mental mop and duster
out. It’s time to give your head an airing
Are you losing sleep over your ever-growing list of chores?
Are you sick of losing your temper in queues, and spending days filled
with anxiety? If so, you are probably suffering from brain overload and
it’s time to sort out what’s going on in your head. One of
the easiest ways to clutter up your mind is to put off tasks that have
to be done. They just sit in your head and niggle away so that you can
never quite concentrate on the task you are doing at the time. So, just
do whatever it is you need to do as soon as possible. That way, you can
get it out of your mind and focus on the next task
There are many ways to reduce stress and anxiety in our
lives. Spring is
a time to brush the cobwebs off our New Year’s resolutions and
kick-start our bodies and minds into shape. The trick to any new start
is realistic aims.
Worrying is a Waste of
Time,yet we all do it.
Ask yourself if you can actually change something by worrying about it.
If you can take positive action, then do it. Plan at least one activity
to look forward to each day – whether it’s a chat with a friend or go
out for the evening.
‘No’ doesn’t have to be negative.
If your habit is to say ‘Yes’ to everything and then drown under the
stress of it all, spring-cleaning your mind is all about learning to
take on less. Start by saying ‘No’ to someone at least once a day. Know
your limitations.
Your mind will often be
full of thoughts, which can sap your mental energy
if they build up too much. To avoid this, you
should try to be as organised as possible. There’s nothing more
infuriating than misplacing an item, so always put important items in
the same place.
If
your head is swimming with things to be done and you’re
getting
interrupted frequently, you’ll probably be getting nowhere and feel like
your mind is in overload. Interruptions can cause your productivity to
plummet, so try to avoid them.
Are you holding onto
negative feelings,It’s you and you alone who is in charge of
what goes through your mind. And yet, somehow, many of us allow
ourselves to become bogged down with all manner of negative thoughts. If
you go around thinking negative thoughts the whole time, then you’re
never going to be in a particularly good mood. So it’s best, whenever
possible, to let go of
them as
it will relieve your mind of excessive stress.
.
Can’t stop the static in your head,Some
people seem unable to give themselves a break – yet by working non- stop
they become more and more bogged down, so that eventually they can’t
think straight and end up making mistakes. Taking a few minutes away
from your current task or activity will help you clear your head and
come back more refreshed and with greater clarity and a clearer
vision. Sometimes it can be a case of missing the obvious. A solution to
a problem may be staring you in the face, yet you’re unable to see it –
and, typically, the more you wrestle with it, the more your mind gets
bogged down and cluttered with potentially unproductive thoughts.
Fix It.....! Change your Lifestyle....and Clear the
Clutter.........Clutter can build up around us
slowly over time, steadily compromising our ability to concentrate, be
creative, and get down to business. Re-evaluate the clutter in your
home: is it at a manageable level or is it getting in your way? Does it
interfere with your ability to relax, to sleep, or to work? Start to
reduce your clutter and see how much better you will feel mentally – you
will be surprised.
Rearrange Your Routine
–
If you are feeling bored
by your daily winter routine, consider shaking things up a bit this
spring to revitalise your energy levels and bring new excitement to your
daily activities. Get up a few hours earlier to go to the gym or join a
new social group.. Adding in some new activities
and changing your routine can help keep your mind alert and your energy
high.
Fix-Up
Your Health –
Everyone things that January
is the time to start a new weight loss program or join a gym, but really
the best time to join is March or April when meetings and gyms are less
crowded. Spring is a time of new beginning and new life, why not
breath
some new energy and health into your body by taking better vitamins,
getting more exercise, or eating better? A healthy body yields a healthy
(and productive) mind!
Cleanse Your Spirit –
Consider adding in some
meditation, yoga, or other calming exercise into your life to help you
cleanse your spirit and let go of negativity. Winter is always a time
of padding insulation (of the physical or emotional kind) around
ourselves; this spring, open your mind and your spirit with some type of
soulful activity.
Complementary
Therapies- If you are
looking for a natural way of lessening the risks
of the Mental/Emotional and Physical ailments and conditions,
Complementary Therapies
provide an alternative to stress relief. The individual treatment
you
receive will be determined by the type of stress you are feeling &
the effect it has on you. Generally speaking, All Complementary
Therapies work by stimulating the body to basically “heal itself”. The
stimulation releases ‘endorphins’ or ‘happy hormones’ which make you
feel much calmer and more relaxed. In addition you may also be treated
with an “immunity boost” which will help counteract the damage that the
effects of stress can have on you
.
Aromatherapyis the perfect antidote! It smells
great and makes us feel wonderful! Aromatherapy can help reduce nervous
anxiety, uplift your spirits, and increase the defenses of your immune
system -- preventing and minimising colds, flu, headaches, and other
common winter problems. Stress is implicated in most illnesses. is a
natural healing technique that can if assist the body in reducing
stress, increasing circulation, and re-balancing its systems
.
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Wake up,
wake up ........... A good night's sleep can make everything look
brighter. But if you're having trouble nodding off, try these tips to
help you sleep tight all night.
We've all been there. Listening to every
second slowly tick by, building into minutes and then hours and then all
of the sudden it's time to get up .........
Lack of sleep maybe due to Mental or Emotional anxiety or
from a physical tension such as Muscular aches and pains .
Stress can get too much and can
manifest its self in a number of ways...... your aim is to recognise and tackle the root causes of
stress in your life, then find ways of managing the pressures without
causing harm to your health
.
Sleep should be such a simple thing for us to get
enough of. Along with air and water it's the thing we need most as
humans. And for some it's like that. Easy. They're the people who can
fall asleep on the plane before it's even taken off or slumber through
the craziest of thunderstorms! But for the rest of us who have trouble
getting those valuable eight hours, here are some tips to help you get a
better nights sleep.
Complementary Therapies
........... Try soothing smells ...
There's no scientific
reason for why some smells seem to help people get to sleep,certain
aromas do seem to help when you're having trouble settling down for the
night. Lavender seems to be the favourite with seasoned insomniacs. Try a
few drops of the neat oil (available from most pharmacies) on your
pillow, or adding them to a warm bath before bedtime.
Once you stop focusing on the anxiety, you'll soon
fall asleep.
The use of essential oils (highly concentrated plant
extracts) in a carrier oil, specifically blended for an individual
person’s needs.You can apply it to the body through massage or
inhalation;working on both a physical and emotional level.
Aromatherapy
Massage and Indian Head Massageincorporates the use of
“trigger points” or localised areas of tenderness and tightness in our
neck, shoulders, and upper back that serve as red flags or reminders
that we are entering into a cycle of muscle tension due to stress. Your body gets your attention by sending signals of
pain and you recognise and respond to this warning sign by applying
pressure to specific areas, often without even being aware that you are
doing it.
Reflexology
is
a massage and pressure therapy applied to the feet or hands, it treats
the whole person and not just the symptoms helping the body return to
its natural state of ‘homeostasis’. Reflexology can improve energy
levels and promote a feeling of well-being. It also helps stress related
disorders such as tension , insomnia and feelings of
anxiety/depression.
Take a warming bath...
This
age-old helping-you-get-to-sleep remedy is particularly useful if you
suffer from cold hands and feet or you're getting on in life. Studies
have shown that hot baths before bedtime will definitely help to improve
your sleep, It's all down to the warmed-up blood making blood vessels
expand, which helps your muscles to relax
Go from dark to light...The ideal environment
for the best night's sleep is starting with complete darkness when you
want to fall asleep, and then coming into natural light as it's time to
get up.
Take more exercise... Yes, getting active,
really is the cure for all our modern ailments. Regular, moderate
exercise such as swimming or walking can help relieve the day's stresses
and strains ; try not to work out too close to bedtime or it may keep
you awake.
Breathe right...One way of relaxing is by
practising the correct type of breathing. Breathe in through your nose
and out through your mouth, nice and deep. Focus on each breath and
you'll find it starts to slow down, which slows down your heart rate
too, and you'll feel less wound-up about not being able to sleep.
Don't overindulge right before bedtime...Change
caffeine-laden drinks such as tea, coffee and cola for milky drinks or
herbal tea in the evening.. that's not all you should be cutting out if
you want to catch your zzzs. Too much food or alcohol late at night can
play havoc with sleep patterns. Alcohol may help you fall asleep
intially, but will interrupt your sleep during the night.
Buy the right bed ...
There's no right or
wrong bed. It's really about individual choice. memory foam
mattresses, They're a great compromise in the hard vs soft mattress
debate as they give a good level of support where it's needed but at the
same time, mould to the shape of your body, giving a very high level of
comfort.
And try these too...
Keep your alarm clock out of sight so you can't watch it
during the night.
Find
a herbal remedy that works for you.
Avoid eating bacon, cheese, ham, aubergines,
pepperoni, raspberries avocado, nuts, soy sauce and red wine too close
to bedtime. They all contain tyramine, which triggers the release of
norepinephrine - a brain stimulant.
Take the TV and computer out of the bedroom, as
both stimulate your mind too much. And try and avoid using both for at
least half an hour before you sleep.
Use indirect lighting, such as side lamps to
create an ambient mood in your room, rather than harsher, direct
lighting.
Whilst
every intention has been made to make this article accurate and
informative it is intended for general information only. The tips given
in this article are not intended as a substitute for the advice of your
doctor or a qualified medical practitioner. If you have any concerns
regarding your health you should seek the advice of your doctor
immediately.
To book a Complementary Therapy treatment; call Connect
Physical Health Centre on 0161 434 6664
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> January 2010
Time for a Health MOT ?
The
majority of New Year's resolutions revolve around health and fitness.
Good Health is something that most of us, myself included, take for
granted until we are forced to take stock. You never know what’s round
the corner, even if you're doing all you can to stay fit and healthy.
As we hit our forties
and fifties most of us will have made
some kind of health resolution, whether it's improving our diet or
giving up smoking – it is also the perfect time to undergo a few basic
health checks.....
Health check 1 -Your stomach. As
a guide, if your waist is more than 33in (women) and 37in (men) then
you are getting into the obese range. More than 40in across the belly
button is dangerously obese. For a more accurate guide, check your Body
Mass Index (BMI). To calculate this, simply divide your weight in kg by
your height. If the figure is between 25 and 29.9 you're overweight, if
it's over 30 then you are obese. GP Surgeries, Healthcentre's and
Pharmacy's can help you with this.
Get healthy;Half of
all women are overweight or obese compared with two-thirds of men. Obese
people of all ages are at risk of serious problems, including heart
disease and diabetes. The risk can be reduced by weight loss through
exercise. In some cases all it takes is a brisk 15-minute daily walk to
lift you right out of the high-risk group for heart disease.
Health
check 2- Your bowel.Look for changes in your bowel habits.
If you have constipation one minute, then diarrhoea and/or blood in your
stools, you must see your GP straight away.
Get
healthy;These may be symptoms of bowel cancer, the
second-biggest cancer killer in Britain. But the symptoms are often
indications of less sinister conditions, such as Crohn's disease,
irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, or piles. If you notice anything
wrong see your doctor as soon as possible.
Health
check 3- Your Blood Pressure.This is one check you'll have
to go to your GP or Pharmacist for. Have your blood pressure checked
every three years if you're under 40 and yearly if you're over. (At the
same time you could ask your doctor for a cholesterol test.)
Get healthy- Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a major cause of
heart disease. It blocks arteries and is a huge killer. Serious symptoms
include tunnel vision and blood in your urine. Men are three times more
likely to suffer from this under the age of 65 than women. A lot of
people mistake cardiac pain for indigestion. But if indigestion remedies
don't work or the pain comes on with exercise or you feel sick, it's
more likely to be your heart. Regular examinations for men and women and
essential checks for people aged over 40.
Go
for a Smear Test
- Most women should be going for
regular cervical smear tests. They are important because there's no
other way of knowing whether there are any changes to the cervix. Smear
tests detect abnormalities in the neck of the womb that could lead to
cancer. A smear test is not a test for cancer itself but a way of
spotting abnormal cells. Under the NHS's cervical screening programme,
women between 20 and 64 are called for smear tests every three to five
years.
Check your Breasts - Health experts
advise that women perform regular breast examinations, to understand how
they change over the menstrual cycle.
Being breast aware doesn't mean following a strict,
complicated routine. You simply need to be aware of changes in your
breasts and to consult your GP if you find anything unusual or are
worried. Remember that early detection greatly increases your chances of
surviving breast cancer. Get to know what your breasts look and feel
like normally. Do this by looking and feeling in the way that makes you
feel most comfortable - in the bath, shower, when dressing, standing or
lying down.
Men - be prostate aware-Monitor
how often you go to the toilet at night and whether you have trouble
passing water or have blood in your urine. This may be a sign that the
prostate is enlarged. If it is, it may be cancerous. Prostate cancer can
be detected with a simple prostate specific antigen (PSA) test at your
local surgery. Prostate cancer claims 10,000 men a year - four times as
many deaths as women with cervical cancer.
If
your health does take a knock, how do you find the best person to put
you back on the road of recovery - fast?As with most things, you should go see your doctor
and consult with him/her about any Orthodox Medicine treatment or
Alternative Methods you may be considering.
Complementary Therapies can help improve your
levels of fitness, energy and well being. A great addition for the New
Year! Mind and body are inseparable and our physical health is very
important for our overall sense of wellbeing. Our mental health can be
affected by our physical health and vice versa and this is why it is
vital that we take a holistic approach to recovery.
There are
many ways we can all promote and protect our physical and mental
health: Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Indian Head Massage(to name a few)
are wonderful treatments to boost your motivation and commitment for the
year ahead.
Whilst every intention has been made to
make this article accurate and informative it is intended for general
information only. The medical conditions in this article are not
intended as a substitute for the advice of your doctor or a qualified
medical practitioner. If you have any concerns regarding your health you
should seek the advice of your doctor immediately.
To book a
Complementary Therapy treatment; call Connect Physical Health Centre on
0161 434 6664
