A variety of techniques can help our nervous system back into balance. The relaxation response is one of the simplest because it works like a braking system to brings our body and mind back into a state of equilibrium.
Category archives: Lifestyle and General Health
Stress, part 2 – Lifestyle tips
I mentioned in part 1 that there is no universal stress reduction strategy and effective stress management requires a multidisciplinary approach. What a great about both these statements is that it gives you choice
Stress, part 1 How it affects your body
Pressure and stress are omnipresent; touching every aspect of our everyday life, affecting our body, thoughts, our feelings, and our behaviours too. Interestingly, although most people believe that all stress is harmful, it has some essential benefits.
Understanding Coeliac Disease: What You Need to Know
Coeliac disease is a lifelong autoimmune condition triggered by a reaction to gluten. It’s surprisingly common, affecting 1 in 100 people, but many are living with the condition undiagnosed.
Touch, the silent language of compassion, communication, and connection.
Welcome to 2019! I wanted the first entry of this new year to be about something significant, meaningful and potentially life-changing, so let’s talk about the benefits of touch. Touch is our first sense to develop and the first language we learn; while in the womb, foetuses touch their face to learn about themselves. As […]
Anaemia
Do you struggle to get through the day? Or get breathless, sluggish and weak doing everyday activities? These could be signs of anaemia. Anaemia leads to poor circulation of oxygen around the body and sometimes causes complications, although it’s rare, anaemia that remains untreated can even become deadly.
Seasonal Affective Disorder, winter depression, explained
Are you dreading the long cold dark evenings ahead now that the clocks have changed? Do you want to hibernate and overeat? If yes, you might be at risk of winter depression. Living in the northern hemisphere means the change of seasons can profoundly affect some people; low mood, craving carbohydrates, or simply wanting to hibernate through […]
Walking, are you getting the real benefits?
I was recounting a story in one of my classes recently about a man complaining about his struggle to find a parking space after a stressful drive to his “lovely health club”, where he jumped on a treadmill and walked for 30 minutes before driving home! Mmm, I know his part of the metropolis is […]
Headaches and pain explained
Approximately 50% of UK adults will have a headache each year, most of these are not dangerous, but they can debilitate and sometimes be a challenge to describe; the pain may be generalised involving the whole head or affect one part of the face, head or eye. Symptoms can vary from sharp and throbbing to […]
Feet, friend or foe?
Our feet are one of the hardest working parts of the body and under constant stress. It’s easy to take them for granted, they hang around at the end of our legs, trying to adapt to being jammed into a pretty but often ill-fitting shoe or being smothered inside socks and trainers. They may take […]
Teeth grinding and jaw clenching.
Nearly 30% of people experience teeth grinding and jaw clenching which is medically called bruxism. Almost 10% of those that grind do it so severely that their teeth are reduced to small stumps. Bruxism affects all ages groups, children to adults, causing severe tooth damage, jaw disorders, and headaches.
Not just the “Kiss of Time” Understanding Arthritis and its Impact
Have you ever felt an unexpected ache in your joints and wondered if it’s just age catching up with you—or is it something more like Arthritis?
Your brain on anxiety
Here is a link to a great little film by Dr John Kenworthy on how our brain reacts and the body responds to anxiety and stress. It’s technical in parts but explains how and why we behave the way we do in perceived stressful situations. With this understanding, you can manage your stress response symptoms […]
Breathe to relax, the health benefits of deep breathing
Slow deep breathing is a simple, yet powerful, relaxation technique to quiet the mind. It’s easy to learn and can be practised almost anywhere and provides a quick way to get your stress levels in check.
Herniated spinal disc explained
A herniated spinal disc is the most common cause many painful conditions, when this happens, the natural cushion between the vertebra of the spine is damaged or ruptured, causing the spinal disc to push out into areas usually occupied by nerves. Note; other terms for a herniated disc include; a slipped, ruptured, bulging or, protruding disc. […]
Health affects of stress
Stress is a part of everyday life; it can affect our body, our thoughts, feelings, and our behaviour. It’s impossible to avoid some significant life events, bereavement, divorce, family illness, redundancy even parenthood. Stress can induce a flight or fight response in the body, producing hormones to increase heart rate, make us breathe faster and […]
Sleep Advice & Tips
Good quality sleep is essential for our wellbeing, protecting our physical and mental health. Humans have evolved to be active during the day and sleep at night, but modern life means that’s not always possible. Lots of people suffer poor sleep; New parents, shift and night workers. Everyone, from children to older adults, can benefit […]
Breathing for Stress Management.
Stress is necessary for life; It helps us learn, meet deadlines, be creative, and is essential for our sheer survival. Stress is only harmful when it becomes overwhelming and interrupts the healthy state of equilibrium that our nervous system needs to remain in balance.
Snap crackle & pop! What do noisy joints mean?
Do your shoulders creak? Knees pop? Does your neck crack? Or maybe you hear clicking noises in your ankles, wrists, or hips when you move? Joints can produce an impressive range of sounds—some weird, some wonderful, and occasionally, quite loud!