Grrrr to Purrr

I’d like to start with a little story…

Let’s say you have been given a car. It may not be the model you want, it may have a few miles on the clock; but it runs fairly well...and its the only one you’ve got.

You drive the car every day. It takes the kids to school, you to work, to the gym, grocery store, theatre, weekend getaways. In short, YOU RELY ON IT.

One day you notice that the car isn’t running like it normally does. The engine purrr has changed to more of a grrr. There are rattles and creaks where none used to be. Nothing major has happened, the car is just struggling a bit. Without this car, you can’t get to work, school, gym, or anywhere else. YOU RELY ON IT.

So when the car doesn’t work well and you feel it struggling what do you do? I’m guessing that with something so vital to your daily needs, you take it in for a service. Why risk having the car break down?

Your body is like the car. It may not be the model you want, it may have a few miles on the clock, but it runs fairly well and it’s the only one you’ve got!

Your body looks after the kids, allows you to work, drive, shop, exercise and go on holiday. In short, YOU RELY ON IT.

I’m sure everyone has days where their body doesn’t work like it used to. Perhaps you feel more grrr than purrr, perhaps you ache in one particular spot all the time or an injury prevents you from exercising or picking up your children, you may have insomnia, poor circulation or stiff neck and shoulders. Nothing major has happened, you are just struggling a bit.

Now even though you rely on your body and it’s the only one you’ve got, I’m willing to bet that most of us just ignore the niggles and hope they will work themselves out. After all, we are all getting older and we can’t be running to the doctor with every little ache and pain.

This is where alternative, holistic therapies – like massage and homeopathy are beneficial. They help the ‘niggles’. They get rid of the grrr and bring back the purrr.

Why wait until something goes wrong with your body before getting it seen to? After all, you would take your car in for a service, why should your body be treated with less respect and care?

So don’t wait. Book in for a massage to get rid of the aches and pains and injuries. Book in for a homeopathic consultation to get rid of the depression, PMT, chronic cold and flu. Don’t wait. Your body RELIES ON IT!

Let Your Kids Be Sick

Children get sick. It's a part of childhood...an important part!

Sickness is the body's way of ridding it of infection. Although none of us likes being ill or watching our kids be ill; sickness is actually an important part of good health.

A body that produces a good fever is actually a body with a healthy constitution because it has the energy and strength to produce strong, fighting symptoms. People who are rarely ill but suffer with chronic colds, sniffles and coughs actually have a weaker constitution because their bodies aren't well enough to produce strong symptoms to clear out the infection or bug completely. 

When kids are feverish, so often it is tempting to reach right away for the Calpol, but a fever is killing off the germs- it's burning them off. I'm not saying a fever should never be treated and certainly it should be regularly monitored. but it's not always necessary to give medicine right away. The same goes for colds, sniffles, runny eyes, dry skin and earaches. 

There is a growing global concern over the ineffectiveness of antibiotics. Help your kids out by not over -treating them for minor things. Save the use of antibiotics for when they really need it! Fewer rounds of antibiotics will allow kids to develop natural immunity to illnesses and gain stronger constitutions in the process. 

So let your kids be sick! Be safe...monitor their symptoms...use common sense (and see a GP if necessary), but a little sickness can lead to better health. 

Be Well Again!

Desk Yoga

Stretch Your Neck
Drop your right ear towards your right shoulder, keeping your shoulder relaxed. At the same time, gently lengthen down into your left fingertips, stretching towards the floor. You will feel this neck stretch along the left side of your neck. Hold for five deep breaths, then repeat on the opposite side.

Release Your Shoulders

As you inhale, shrug your shoulders forwards and up towards your ears. Exhaling, roll    shoulders down into your back. Repeat the shoulder stretch five times, with big, slow circles to move through your full range of movement.

Open Your Chest
Slide forward on your seat so there is a bit of space between your back and the chair back. Stretch your arms out to the sides, then bend both elbows and place your palms together   behind your back, with your fingers pointing upwards. Alternately, if your palms don’t reach, take hold of opposite forearms behind your back. Relax your shoulders back and down, and hold your bottom ribs in. Take five deep breaths then release.

Spinal Twist to Stretch Your Back
Still sitting slightly forward on your chair, sit up straight and place your left hand on your right knee. As you exhale, twist to the right and place your right arm along the top of your chair back. Turn to look over your right shoulder. Hold for five breaths, then change sides.

Lengthen the Back of Your Legs
Move to the very front edge of your chair – so that you’re almost falling off the chair. Stretch your legs out so your heels are on the floor and gently push into your heels. Place your hands on your thighs. Inhale and lift your chest toward your chin, and exhaling, begin to slide your hands down the front of your legs. Take care to keep your chest lifted and back straight.

Open Up Your Side Waist
Sit back in your chair, with your left arm alongside your body, fingers pointing to the floor. Inhale and stretch your right arm up towards the ceiling. Exhale and reach gently to the left, feeling the stretch down the right side of your waist. Hold for five breaths, then change sides.

To Finish
You have almost finished your desk yoga. Hopefully, your tight, sore shoulders and stiff neck are feeling better and you’re feeling refreshed, energised, and just about ready to jump back into work. But before you do, complete your desk yoga session by leaving your desk! Get up and walk to the kitchen or water cooler. Fetch yourself a big glass of water and then return to your desk.

Arnica - The Most Practical Homeopathic Remedy

Arnica montana, the go-to remedy for trauma and shock, is a must in any medicine cabinet. It's such a practical remedy! It has so many applications and it's easy to use.

Here are a few of my favourite uses:

• Bumps & Bruises:  From adults to toddlers, we all get a little bashed up now and again. Arnica will reduce swelling.
• Breaks, Sprains & Muscle Strains:  Athletes would do well to keep Arnica in their gym bags in case of injury during training.
• Shock:  Arnica will help someone move through shock brought on by emotional or physical trauma.
• Post Flight Insomnia:  Long-haul flights are hard on the body. If you struggle to sleep after a flight and feel bruised and achy, Arnica could be what you need. 

These are all really practical uses. And unlike some remedies, Arnica is easy to get as it's available at many chemists and health food shops in Britain. 

Try it and get relief!