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Adapting to change

If 2020 was the year of cancelled plans and forced change, what does 2021 hold for us?

The risk of infection and prospect of lockdowns and border closures means uncertainty is our constant companion, at least for now.

We are not in total control of anything.  But being resilient and adaptable are qualities that have helped humans survive for centuries; these are the same qualities we need to navigate the changes forced on us over the past year.

Two maxims I use to view change in a more positive light are:  “Whatever happens I’ll be ok” and “What if this is the best thing that could have happened?” Read More…

Laughter is the best medicine

Recently there has been plenty of troubling events happening around us, both locally and worldwide.  Justifiably we are taking these events very seriously.  However, to balance this seriousness and to improve our physical and emotional health and well-being we need to remember to LAUGH!

A good giggle can lighten our mood, reduce anxiety, and help to release muscle tension, leaving us feeling more relaxed and buoyant.  One Korean study testing the effect of laughter therapy on patients in a long-term care hospital showed improved sleep and better general mood.

Laughing helps to increase circulation, lowers blood pressure, increases respiration and oxygen consumption which benefits cardiovascular health.

A hearty belly laugh tones your abs and burns calories.  Read More…

Twenty Seconds of Courage… can change your life

The adage that confidence only builds after you take action, not before, has underscored much of my life. I can think of situations where I lacked confidence and only after I stepped up and gave it a go, did I feel my confidence start to build.

Waiting for confidence and motivation to arrive, can mean you never begin working on that dream.

Many great business ideas die before they get started.  Healthy consideration of your next move is important for good decisions, but too much thinking and planning may actually mean you give in to fear and anxiety. Read More…

Yin/Yang

As we navigate life amidst the COVID-19 pandemic I like to remind myself of the Chinese energy concept of yin & yang.
The Yin/Yang symbol above is a pictorial representation of “chi”.  Chi can be defined as the circulating life force or energy inherent in all living things. This life force circulates in our bodies via a network of channels called meridians.  Yin and Yang are the two opposing but interrelated aspects of Chi.
Chi is always both yin AND yang not yin OR yang.
The black and white represents yin and yang. The sine curve represents the fluctuating nature of the balance of Yin/Yang energies that are always moving in dynamic equilibrium.  You will also notice there’s a seed of the opposite in each.  Chinese concept is that humans are a small replica of the universe and what is around us is also within us.
I see life in a similar way.  Read More…

Boost your Health and Well-being

Health is when every cell in your body is bouncing with joy.

 

 

Implementing regular habits to maintain good health and well-being goes hand-in-hand with boosting your immune system to build up resistance to, and fight off, a virus or infection.

Here are a few tips.

Read More…

But first…. Look after yourself!

Take time for regular self-care activitiesDuring the holiday season you’re out of your normal routine and it’s easy to put your self-care on the back-burner while you prioritise commitments to family and friends.  Then when you go back to work, you are so busy catching up on the work that has mounted up while you were away, you still neglect your self-care and it can be a while before you start to carve out time for things that benefit your well-being.

Why is self-care so important? Read More…

Eat A Rainbow

For the past couple of weeks I have been away, and even though I ate a reasonably ‘healthy’ diet, it wasn’t as high in vegetables and fruit as I’m used to.  Plus, I ate more bread and sugary items than is good for me.  The result: I felt sluggish and bloated, unmotivated to exercise and my mind felt foggy.

After a few days of eating whole plant foods almost exclusively, my mind feels much clearer and my energy has improved.

As I prepared dinner last night I was reminded of a dietary principle from my Kinesiology training: “eat a rainbow” – aim to have a rainbow on your plate at each meal. Foods that are red, yellow/orange, green, blue/purple and white.

An easy way to achieve this is to include a variety of whole plant foods,

By focusing on eating whole foods in a variety of colours you are consuming a broad range of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other plant-based nutrients.

Our western diet has become very high in ‘white’ foods.  We love our white potato and refined carbohydrates, consequently we have the health issues associated with consuming a diet with such a limited nutritional range.

Below are some of the benefits of “eating a rainbow”. Read More…

7 tips for staying active

 

I often have discussions with clients and friends about the challenges of staying active.  Injuries, work and family commitments get in the way of establishing a regular exercise regime for most of us.

I rarely feel like exercising when I wake up in the morning, but I generally feel happier and more energised afterwards.  The tips I’m sharing below is how I stay in the habit of exercising, whether I feel motivated or not. Read More…

The gift of receiving

A few years ago, I was having a tough time with some confronting personal issues. My mother asked who could help and support me. I told her that I had some great friends, but they had their own issues and I didn’t want to trouble them.

Mum went on to give me a new perspective…

“When you help someone, do you feel good?”

“Yes I do”

“Have you ever thought that when you don’t allow someone help you, you are denying them that good feeling,”

I now have a new attitude towards accepting help when it’s offered. I gratefully accept!

I have shared this story with many friends and clients over the years, because accepting help can be challenging for all.

If you have difficulty asking for or accepting help, it can be worthwhile to explore your beliefs about receiving help.

Is it a feeling of being unworthy? The person offering help has already decided you are worthy and deserving in their eyes.

Are you a perfectionist that sees yourself as a failure if you ask for help? Read More…

Dead Butt Syndrome

Get your butt into gear with Kinesiology!

… over the years I have worked with many people suffering with lower back and hip pain, frequently associated with weak gluteal (“butt”) muscles and tight or over-working hip flexors (the muscles that lift your thigh to move your leg forward).

This syndrome has been dubbed “dead butt syndrome” or gluteal amnesia by mainstream medicine and if these issues aren’t addressed, the chances of long-term relief from pain is unlikely.

Dead butt syndrome commonly occurs in people who sit for extended periods. The glutes aren’t designed to bear weight for long periods of time and blood flow is restricted when tissues are compressed in a seated position. The glute muscles then start to shut down or ‘fall asleep’ and lose the ability to work when needed.

These muscles should be incredibly powerful but when they aren’t working properly other smaller, weaker muscles are called on to do the job. This causes strain on those smaller muscles and associated joints.

The constant flexed position of sitting can also cause the muscles at the front of the hip to become tight. The glute muscles are then unable to move through a full range of motion, causing them to become weaker.

You may be surprised to know ‘dead butt syndrome’ is not exclusive to sedentary people. Read More…

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