September / October 2011 - East Sussex

Published by Haywood Media

Sept/Oct 2011

www.wellbeingmagazine.co.uk

Informative l

inspiring

DIABETES Addicted to

enlightening

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Osteopathy: Not just for backs

Sugar

Depression:

The Black Dog

WIN:

Salsa Dancing Lessons & Yoga DVD

snoring

ASK THE EXPERT NUTRITION

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FITNESS

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HEALTH

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TRAVEL

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COMPETITIONS

www.wellbeingmagazine.co.uk

CONTENTS Inside this issue...Sept/Oct 2011

Wellbeing Magazine HEAD OFFICE

Haywood Media 2 The Hall, Turners Green Road Wadhurst, East Sussex TN5 6TR

Tel: 0800 881 5375

www.haywoodmedia.co.uk

Rachel Branson

News LOCAL NEWS News from your area ...

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Features

NUTRITION Diabetes..............................................

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GARDENING Grow your own Salads.......................

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LOCAL BUSINESS SHOWCASE Seahaven Acupuncture Clinic.............

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ASK THE EXPERT Snoring..............................................

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FITNESS Vitality through Biodanza....................

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INSIDE STORY Colonic Hydrotherapy.........................

THERAPY Energy for Life ..................................

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DEPRESSION The Black Dog.................................

Johnathon Martin

West & Central London Publisher jam@wellbeingmagazine.com

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OSTEOPATHY Not just for backs...........................

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POWER OF POSTURE Alexander Technique.......................

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WORDS OF WISDOM Julia Armstrong...............................

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HEALTH Energy of Yoga................................

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Hannah Rosalie

East Sussex Publisher hannah@wellbeingmagazine.com

Caroleann Block

East Kent Publisher caroleann@wellbeingmagazine.com

Richard Branson

Website richard@wellbeingmagazine.com

Associate Travel Editors Frances Barnes & Nick Hordern

Contributors

Kate Arnold Pat Crawford Nigel Glee Alex Leith Charlotte Watt Martin Usbourne l

Regulars

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24 40 Therapy Rooms 46 Diary & What’s On HEALTH Energy in Yoga................................26

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Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor its editorial contributors can accept liability to any party loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause.

We are unable to check claims made by advertisers are legal and truthful and that all products and services are safe, Wellbeing does not accept any liability in relation to advertisements placed.

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Publishing Director / Editor rachel@wellbeingmagazine.com

© Wellbeing Magazine 2011

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited.

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L O C A L

NEWS

Wellbeing news from around your area...

Welcome

TO WELLBEING MAGAZINE! Welcome to a bumper edition of Wellbeing, more pages, more copies and more local practitioners featured than ever before. If you’re looking for inspiration, look no further!

With every edition that’s printed I am always amazed at the amount of activity going on in East Sussex. Just look through the ‘What’s On’ section at the back of the magazine, which now spans two pages!

The magazine is, as always, available online at www.wellbeingmagazine.co.uk/eastsussex PLUS loads more news and info constantly updated.

Autumn is upon us. Falling leaves, misty mornings, mushrooms. A favourite time of year in many ways, not just for the abundance of berries to be collected from the hedgerows, but also for the change. It’s one of the reasons I love living in this country, we do changing seasons very well. But this year is different for me because I’m expecting a baby in October, and what more of a change could I hope for. Thank you for all the support and good wishes from our regular contributors. See you in the New Year!

The magazine will still continue as normal, but in my absence please contact Rachel@wellbeingmagazine.co.uk or phone 0800 8815375

Wishing you health and happiness!

Hannah

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East Sussex Publisher

Just What EvEry Body NEEds Brand New from Swiss skincare Arbonne!

Arbonne have recently launched their new range of products, Arbonne Essentials. Take a look at these:

Digestion Support Mild flavoured powder providing prebiotics, probiotics and enzymes to help support optimal digestive health.

Super Chews for Kids & Teens A delicious, cherry flavoured chew that is an excellent source of 17 essential vitamins and minerals. Vitamins and minerals are essential for normal, physical and mental development.

Includes 300 mg of calcium, which contributes to the maintenance of normal bones and teeth.

Sue Lewis Independent Consultant 07879 075 817 suelewis14@tiscali.co.uk www.arbonnesouthern. myarbonne.co.uk

Wellbeingnews

GOOD FOOD COOKERY WORKSHOPS Teaching you how to cook simple and utterly delicious healthy food.

Local nutritionists Nicki Edgell and Kirsten Chick are running inspirational cookery workshops with a difference. They teach you how to cook simple and utterly delicious healthy food. If you lack confidence or skills in the kitchen, want to be healthy but don’t know what to cook, find mealtimes stressful or need some healthy snack ideas, then this is the workshop for you. You will cook seasonal dishes to eat at lunch and make mouthwatering snacks and treats to eat in the afternoon. All recipes are gluten-free and sugarfree, with vegan options, and because they are qualified nutritionists you

will get plenty of their expert knowledge thrown in throughout the day.

Next workshop: Saturday 15th Oct 2011 at Hove Park School, Brighton. £45 for morning or afternoon only or £80 for all day (includes tasters , lunch and recipes).

Book a place by phone or email: Nicki: 07786 405366 or nicki@ nutritionandhealing.co.uk Kirsten: 07968 137246 or info@naturalrecipes. co.uk

“Great cookery course - very inspiring, and quick, healthy, easy to make recipes”

DuE tO POPulaR DEmanD! New September date for ‘Lose Weight For Good’ session.

Together Therapy has just announced the next date for these popular sessions.

Held only once per quarter and limited to just six people, these sessions get booked up very quickly. If you want to understand why you eat for emotional reasons, why the main three diets will always fail you long term, and experience a full weight loss hypnotherapy session.

Get booked on www.together-therapy.co.uk

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bodytalk

fit for the 21st century

BodyTalk produces accumulative subtle, and sometimes dramatic, differences in health...

“Personally, I’ve benefited from increased self-esteem and confidence, and a greater motivation to live my life. All sorts of health niggles and issues have evaporated.”

Sarah Corin If you’re ‘stuck’, or experiencing aches, pains & stress, BodyTalk restores the body to equilibrium in the priority and at the pace your innate wisdom is ready to deal with issues. The practitioner’s techniques reach the root cause – the 90% of the problem not necessarily apparent in your symptoms - to achieve effective and lasting results. There are no diagnoses, pills or remedies; BodyTalk gently and safely removes

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Win a pet astrology book! the internal barriers and releases the blockages that have built up over a lifetime of experiences, so that you function as nature intended. Originally drawing on chiropractic, acupuncture and reiki, other practitioners are drawn to BodyTalk because it integrates effectively with any other system. Its effectiveness is understood by the latest researchers in quantum physics. Sarah Corin, Certified BodyTalk Practitioner (IBA), practices in Hastings and Eastbourne. For free talks and taster sessions (£10) see: www.wellbeingevents. co.uk, www.sarahcorin.co.uk, 07967 211059 or Info@ sarahcorin.co.uk

Author, Fiona Celeste, is offering Wellbeing Readers the chance to win a copy of her popular book ‘Sun Signs for K9s’. All you need to do is answer the following question: Sadly, we’ve had the longest day of the year, the summer solstice, but when is the winter solstice?

Email your answer to info@celestialpaws.co.uk. Three lucky winnerswill be picked at random after the closing date of 31st September 2011. Celestial Paws specialises in astrology for pets. Pets are loyal, loving and a part of the family. Like us, they too have their own individual characteristics. Celestial paws can offer you a personality profile for your pet allowing you to more fully understand the behaviour and characteristics of your pet. This new and exciting book about canine Sun Signs can help you to gain valuable insight into the world of your dog. It contains the twelve zodiacal signs and is intended to be a concise yet light hearted guide to your dog’s behaviour and characteristics. The book is also illustrated with some delightful cartoons provided by Jim Barker.

For more information visit www.celestialpaws.co.uk.

Wellbeingnews celebrating...

30 YEARS Of HEAlTH AND WEllbEINg!

This October, the Brighton Natural Health Centre (BNHC) celebrates 30 years at the forefront of the city’s vibrant holistic health scene. Founded in the early 80s by members of the Infinity Foods Co-op to show others the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, BNHC nestles in the midst of the city’s eclectic North Laine.

In the three decades since BNHC was set up, public awareness of holistic lifestyles has expanded massively, especially in Brighton. A recent study for Sky Travel investigating the 15 healthiest UK cities ranked the city right at the top, ahead of Bristol and London. One of the many benefits of the Brighton’s healthy lifestyle is that residents enjoy access to twice as many yoga venues as those in other cities.

So how to choose? As a charity, BNHC’s independent, non-profit status makes it unique in the Brighton landscape, if not further afield. From the very beginning it has set the highest standards in choosing the very best teachers. This September, for example, Manju Jois, son of Astanga Yoga’s founder Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, will offer a week of dedicated teaching for the fourth year running. And it’s certainly not all about yoga - with over 20 types of class on offer every week, from hula hooping to pilates, astanga to tai chi and qigong, BNHC offers choice, affordability and independence right in the heart of Brighton. So why not find out for yourself? In celebration of their 30th birthday the Centre is hosting an Open Day on 22 October which will offer talks, demos, tasters and the opportunity to ask teachers about their particular classes. Why not drop in and try out something new right on your doorstep.

Brighton Natural Health Centre 27 Regent Street Brighton BN1 1UL www.bnhc.co.uk 01273 600 010

The Vital Impact YOU Can Have on M.E, CFS & Fibromyaglia

Are you a practitioner? Can we send our clients to you? Come & find out more www.busypractitionerssecrets.com

g n i h t e m o s Got

? e r a h s o t

SERENITY HAVE MOVED!

Hair and Beauty rooms ‘Serenity’ have now moved to Hastings Old Town.

‘Serenity’ have now moved from their old premises in St Leonards to expand into their new larger space in Hastings Old Town.

Business founder Julie would like to thank all her regular customers for their support and encouragement, and Wellbeing Magazine would like to wish Julie every success with her growing business.

Read more about Julie’s story at www. wellbeingmagazine. co.uk, (just type ‘serenity’ in the search bar) or visit her page on the Wellbeing Directory www.wellbeingdirectory. co.uk, 46/47 High Street, Hastings, TN34 7EN, 01424 444946, serenityhairbeauty @ hotmail.co.uk

Would you like to be featured in Wellbeing Magazine?

Join Wellbeing Magazine and promote your classes, events, news or special offers here for FREE. Find out how to get published by emailing: hannah@wellbeingmagazine.co.uk or call 0800 8815375.

Wellbeing 7 7 Wellbeing

Addicted to

SUGAR Words:Kate Arnold

Most people I see in my clinic have Type 2 diabetes and are on Metformin. Often, with a strict diet regime, some patients can get off Metformin and get their diabetes under control with diet and exercise. This only happens however if the diabetes is mild as Metformin is used to help control blood sugar levels in people with NIDDM (non-insulin dependent diabetes.)

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a result of problems with the pancreatic hormone insulin. Insulin controls the amount of glucose in the blood and the rate at which glucose is absorbed into the cells. The cells need glucose to produce energy. In those with diabetes glucose builds up in the bloodstream instead of being taken into and used by the cells,

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leading to hyperglycemia (high levels of glucose in the blood).

Eventually hyperglycemia can lead to heart disease, perpiheral and autonomic neuropathy (nerve damage) and diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease).

The two main types are: Type 1 or insulin-dependent diabetes, which is usually seen in young people and Type 2 diabetes by

far the most common form of diabetes affecting 90-95% of diabetes suffers. Many people have Type 2 and are completely unaware of it. This type usually begins in later years, although unfortunately it is now becoming more common in young people.

Risk factors for developing Type 2 are: diet, weight, race, age, lack of exercise and heredity factors.

Wellbeing diabetes

There are other rarer forms of diabetes, such as gestational (or pregnancy) diabetes, which usually disappears after the birth.

If you get gestational diabetes, you have an increased risk of developing one of the main types of diabetes later in life.

There are currently 2.3 million people with diabetes in the UK. However, it’s estimated that more than half a million people have the condition but are totally unaware. The last 30 years has seen a threefold increase in the number of cases of childhood diabetes.Obesity levels have also risen and this has led to Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to diet, being seen for the first time in young people in Europe and America

The Problem with Sugar

It’s thought Type 2 diabetes is related to factors associated with a Western lifestyle, since it’s most common in people who are overweight and who don’t get enough exercise. People with type 2 diabetes often cannot perceive sweet tastes.

This abnormality may play an important role in how individuals with diabetes perceive the taste of their food and also in how well they comply with the dietary aspects of treatment. Because our society is addicted to sugar this distorted taste perception is very common among the population in general.

The following test can detect an impaired ability to taste a sweet substance.Do not consume

coffee, tea, sugary drinks or sweets for one hour before the test. Fill 7 identical glasses with 8 ounces of water each and label the glasses as having no sugar, ¼ tsp sugar, ½ tsp sugar, 1 tsp sugar, 1 ½ tsps sugar, 2 and 3 tsps of sugar. Label the glasses and ask someone else to rearrange the order and hide the labels. Take a straw and sip from each glass and write down the amount of sugar you think it contains. Between sips rinse your mouth out with water.

Healthy people generally notice a sweet taste when a tsp or less is added to 8 ounces of water.

By contrast people with adult on set diabetes usually do not notice the sweetness until 1 ½ to 2 tsps of sugar have been added to the water.

If you would like advice on which supplements to take, please contact me on 01323 737814. katearnoldnutrition.co.uk

The Importance of Diet Nutrition, as always, plays a key part in preventing diabetes and controlling the symptoms, if you do have it. The following tips may help in balancing your blood sugar in Type 2 diabetes: Try to maintain a GI or GL diet, enabling the blood sugar to stabilise throughout the day. The glycaemic index is the measure of the power of food to raise blood sugar after being eaten.

For weight loss and balanced blood sugar, you should aim to eat foods that are low GI or medium GI and avoid foods that are high GI. Always combine protein and carbohydrate foods together, which will enable a slower release of sugar into the bloodstream.

All foods that raise blood sugar too quickly should be avoided.

So called healthy dried fruit, like apricots raisins etc raise the blood sugar too quickly. If it gets too confusing, it may be worth getting a simple book with a GI index of low GI foods that are safe too eat.

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SUPPLEMENTS Please do not self medicate!

Seek professional advice.

s p i t s ’ e Kat

1. Eat oats for breakfast and snack on rough oat cakes. Oats contain a powerful anti-diabetic nutrient called betaglucan. Try a bowl of porridge in the morning with berries, pears or apples, every other day.

2. Avoid saturated fat (pork, cheese etc) and simple sugars (honey, glucose, maple syrup etc).

3. Eat little and often (every 3 hours is a good goal) and check blood sugar levels regularly, or as directed by your GP. 4. Cut out coffee, tea, fizzy drinks, alcohol, cigarettes, chocolate, processed foods, white flour, white pasta, white bread etc.

5. Sprinkle half a teaspoon of cinnamon on your food daily (contains a polyphenol called MHCP which mimics insulin).

6. Other foods with antidiabetic qualities include: buckwheat,

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7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

green tea, cherries, plums, apples, berries, chickpeas, lentils, oats, pears and plums.

Unless in a “hypo” situation, avoid very sweet fruits like dates, bananas, raisins, melon and dried fruit.

Drink 1.5 litres of preferably pure filtered water, throughout the day.

Remember that people with type 2 can often not perceive sweet tastes(see above test).

Exercise every day for at least 30 minutes.

A personal choice issue.

The so-called diabetic foods for Type 2 diabetes are not necessarily healthy, so be careful of your food choices.

Follow a low fat/high fibre diet, including plenty of raw fruits and vegetables.

This reduces the need for insulin and lowers the level of fats in the blood.

Fibre also helps to reduce blood sugar surges.

Chromium - 400mcg daily This improves insulin’s efficiency which lowers blood sugar levels.

Do not self medicate and get professional guidance. Do not use in type 1 diabetes.

Aged Kyolic Garlic - 100300mg daily. This helps decrease and stabilize blood sugar, enhances immunity and improves circulation.

Vitamin B - 25mg daily complex - improves the metabolism of glucose and is important for circulation and the prevention of atherosclerosis. Do not take more than 50mg daily as certain B vitamins can inactivate insulin.

Zinc - 15-20mg daily - a deficiency has been associated with diabetes.

Magnesium - 200mg daily - this is important for enzyme systems and ph balance. It protects against artery spasm in arteriosclerosis and increases energy levels. Low readings are often found in people with diabetes and are associated with the complications of eye disease.

Psyllium - a good source of soluble fibre which helps stabilise blood sugar. Take ½ tbsp in water at night.

For more details call Kate Arnold on 01323 737814

The symptoms of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes include: •

increased thirst, and drinking a lot of fluids • passing a lot of urine • being tired for no reason • weight loss • genital itching or repeated bouts of thrush • slow healing of wounds • blurred vision In type 1 diabetes, symptoms typically develop over a few weeks and quickly become very obvious.

In type 2, symptoms can develop more slowly, over a period of months. Some people with type 2 diabetes have very mild symptoms, which they believe have other causes. A few people may have no symptoms at all.

THE COMPLICATIONS OF DIABETES Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are different diseases in cause, in effect and in treatment but the same long-term complications can arise in both types of the condition. The complications affect:

The eyes Diabetes can affect the blood vessels at the back of the eye [retinopathy] and this can lead to visual impairment or blindness.

Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the working population.

The heart and vascular system Diabetes can affect the heart and the vascular system making people more susceptible to heart disease and stroke. It can also cause blood clots in the vessels in the legs which may result in amputation.

Amputations are 50-80 times higher in people with diabetes than the general population.

Kidney damage Diabetes can affect the kidneys resulting in damage or kidney failure [nephropathy].

Nerve damage Diabetes may cause nerve damage [neuropathy]. The most common form of nerve damage is in the extremities leading to pain or loss of sensation in the feet and ulceration of the legs. Again this can lead to amputation.

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Wellbeing gardening

GET INSPIRED

s e v a e l d sala

GROW TO IMPROVE YOUR WELLBEING Words Pat Crawford, for Hadlow College

Who would have thought that bottling, freezing and drying would be back on the kitchen agenda? But these were commonplace skills - before wide selections of frozen goods were available. Later of course, the global market resulted in practically every type of fruit and vegetable being available fresh on retail shelves all year round.

T

he resurgence of interest in these traditional skills is sometimes attributed to the economic downturn – and no doubt this is responsible for its acceleration.

In fact, the revival of these long-practised ways of preserving food coincided with renewed interest in ‘grow-your-own’ and the surpluses that sometimes result.

Harvesting This is the time of year when keen kitchen gardeners are busy harvesting the fruits – and vegetables - of their labours. Inevitably there will be some excesses – and there is little point in risking boring the family’s palate for the sake of using up what’s available. The good news is that foods frozen at their peak are more nutritious than ‘fresh’ produce which has hung around for several days!

And fruit and vegetables that don’t freeze well can be used to make preserves and chutneys.

The benefits of salad crops were recognised in John Evelyn’s book Acetaria (published 1699, last reprinted 1982). Leaves, roots, stalks and flower petals were included in his sallet – and his salad dressing will be remarkably familiar to modern-day cooks: ‘Oyl-Olive, Vinegar . . . Limon or Juice of Orange… some Slices of Horse-Radish….and a little Salt’.

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Salad-making was upgraded to more of an art form by the French who came to London to escape the French Revolution and, by mid-nineteenth century, salads and dressings were being taken seriously and remain so today.

Green leaves used in salads are rich in nutrients and contain Vitamin A and C, beta-carotene, calcium, folate, fibre and phytonutrients. Naturally low in calories, they do not contain cholesterol. The phytonutrients, compounds that provide protection for plants, can act as antioxidants which are known to help to prevent diseases such as cancer and heart disease.

Autumn Salads There is no reason not to go on enjoying fresh salad leaves well into the autumn – maybe even later if the days are light and warm and night frosts hold off. Suttons produce a leaf mixture that can be sown up to October outdoors – and, under glass or on the windowsill, it can even be sown throughout the winter. Two other big benefits, the leaves will be ready to eat in just three weeks - and one sowing can produce up to three crops!

In some cities (London being the supreme example) where so many apartments and flats are without a garden - and thousands of houses are restricted to tiny courtyards - windowsill gardening has really taken off. In fact, it is being carried to dizzy heights – literally – with systems of ‘vertical growing’ that are resulting in amazingly diverse crops.

Suttons provide concise – and so, so simple – instructions on the backs of packets of their Leaf Salad Winter Mix. ‘Sow thinly into pots or trays of quality moist compost, covering seed lightly with compost. Place on a sunny windowsill and maintain moisture. Harvest by ‘tipping’ when the leaves are 12-15cm (5-6”) tall. Sow little and often for tasty young leaves.

Alternatively, sow in outdoor Hadlow container or border soil.’ a wide ra offers It’s all in a leaf nge of c areer (includin g degree what could be easier ) and recreatio nal cours than that? hor ticult es for urists an d garden includin ers, g Medic HADLOW, graded ‘Outinal Hor Telepho ticulture n . e: 0500 standing’ and one of the 551434 fo r in formatio UK’s premier colleges. n.

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showcase

Local business

THIS MONTH... Seahaven Acupuncture Clinic & Herbal Dispensary What do they offer?

On-site dispensing of herbal prescriptions, acupuncture treatment (including cosmetic and ear acupuncture) and neuromuscular taping in Newhaven. They

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naturopathic advice all under one roof, it removes the need for patients to make multiple appointments or pay multiple consultation fees.

If you decide to start a course of treatment, you will be looked after by the clinic rather than by an individual practitioner

Chinese herbalist and acupuncturist Martin Powell and acupuncturist and naturopath Jane Sefton PhD, the Seahaven Acupuncture Clinic and Herbal Dispensary specialises in providing integrative treatment for acute and chronic illnesses. Unsure of what

By combining acupuncture, herbs and naturopathic advice all under one roof, it removes the need for patients to make multiple appointments or pay multiple consultation fees.

What makes them different?

and have access to both Martin’s and Jane’s expertise for a single fee with seamless integration of different therapies to deliver the best therapeutic outcome.

By combining acupuncture, herbs and

Established by

Tell us more…

treatment is best for you or whether a particular treatment may be beneficial? They offer free initial advice sessions and will be happy to give you their honest assessment of the best course of action and likely treatment

READER OFFER

also stock a wide range of Western herbs and supplements and offer treatment for acute and chronic illnesses.

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}

outcome based on over 20 years’ therapeutic experience.

Where are they?

Located in Newhaven Enterprise Centre, the clinic is open from 9-5 Monday-Friday and 9-1 on Saturday. There is plenty of free parking and the clinic is only 5 minutes walk from bus routes or 10 minutes from Newhaven Town Station.

“Do come in and have a chat with us, or call us on 01273 917888 to discuss what we can do.” www.seahavenherbs.co.uk

off

20%

all treatments and products at Seahaven Herbal Dispensary

*offer valid until 31st Sept. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.

Ayuwhat...?

Are you aware of the healing power of Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is one of the great gifts from the spiritual teachers of ancient India.

It is accepted as the oldest scientific medical system still in use and it treats people as a whole, respecting the combination of body, mind and spirit.

Words: Michaela augustin

day will help to understand the limitations and special powers at particular days. this Yoga is strong and flows from one asana into the other without a break and will increase strength and endurance.

You will become very aware about your body parts and functions and the relation to your own sign.

Vata (The Wind element) is mostly responsible for the function of the motor and sensory system and degenerative diseases like arthritis, spondylosis, or pains like back pain, headache or insomnia, nervous tensions, exhaustion and fear.

Pitta (The Fire element)

ayurveda offers simple, effective and practical principles of preventive medicine along with wholesome dietary and stress relieving treatments. ayurveda believes that any ailment starts with an imbalance of the five elements (space, air, fire, earth and water) which constitute the human being, and therefore it aims to balance them. Food is seen as medicine and whatever you consume has a direct impact on your body and mind.

60% of ayurveda aims to prevent diseases through dietary advice.

is responsible for all metabolic actions like good digestion and for all kinds of internal and external inflammations, like peptic ulcer, gastritis, skin diseases, and also for feelings like anger, hate and jealousy.

AyurvedA explAined

Kapha (The Earth element)

sometimes just small adjustments in diet and simple kitchen herbs can influence conditions such as, crohn’s disease, colitis, iBs, candida, skin allergies and inflammations, acne, eczema, psoriasis,insomnia, depression, amnesia, stress, fear, anxiety, headaches, weight problems, fatigue, thyroid problems, muscular and bone related pains, joints and back pain using Kerala medicated oils and herbs and Marma point (similar to acupressure points) on the body.

Why AyurvedA? the three doshas or bodily functions (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) are responsible for your constitution. they make up your physical and mental character. they are responsible for specific diseases we develop, for our habits, behaviors, cravings and emotions. ayurveda gives you the key to understand these functions and to balance them.

AyurvedA & yogA ayurveda and Yoga go hand in hand and i enjoy working with people offering spiritual and bodily awareness in a playful way and believe that learning and personal transformation can be fun. like the creation of my own Yoga style called Zodiac Yoga incorporating the astrological system to develop awareness to the function of the organs and glands, the different systems (circulatory, nervous and hormonal) and the mind. Working with the planetary system increases the understanding of certain mood swings or physical complaints which change during the moon phases and astrological signs. Knowing about the tides of the body, the different parts and organs involved each

creates stability and structure, and at the same time can be the cause of phlegm and blocks in the body, resulting for example in sinusitis, congestions in the chest like asthma, bronchitis, common colds and obesity.

Michaela augustin dipayu, Bsc, aPa is a highly qualified Yoga teacher and ayurvedic practitioner who has been practising for 11 years having qualified in india and united Kingdom. she also has diplomas in: homeopathy, chinese traditional medicine, Western diet and nutrition. Yoga retreats are held in india, uK and greece they incorporate the foundation of ayurveda, diet advice, yoga sessions, meditation and playtime.

Micha 07794 323780. For further information about ayurvedic treatments, yoga and retreats: www.scienceoflife. co.uk.

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Back Care Awareness Week October 2011

Almost 90% of teachers suffer with back pain. Bending over low tables and sitting on children’s chairs certainly don’t help.

This month the Charity BackCare is focusing on school children and their teachers. BackCare believe young backs are being affected by heavy schoolbags and badlydesigned chairs, while thousands of primary school teachers are suffering in silence from back problems. Every year back pain affects half of the population!

How can we look after our backs a little better?

Sit Up: Keep your low back supported when sitting and your feet flat on the floor. When you’re

relaxing on the sofa in the evening don’t curl your legs underneath you, as it will twist your spine.

into the habit of taking a brisk walk once or twice a day if you can.

Sleep Comfortably:

Pain is a warning sign. If something is hurting you, don’t just carry on. Get someone to lend you a hand instead of pushing your body too far.

Sleeping on your back is best for your spine. If you really want to sleep on your side, then put a pillow between your knees and try not to twist into the recovery position.

Never sleep on your front because it twists your neck and low back.

Keep Moving: Keeping fit and active is a must! A 20 minute walk is much better for your back than a 20 minute sit down. Try to get

Listen to your body:

De-stress & be happy: Get plenty of exercise, eat healthily and sleep like a queen. Invest in a relaxing massage to reduce muscular tension!

Depression and fatigue (which can be a real risk this time of year) are linked with episodes of low back

pain.

Great news for Wellbeing readers. If you’re suffering with a muscle, joint or trapped nerve type problem then this October, Lushington Chiropractic has agreed to waiving the normal new consultation fee of £49 in exchange for a donation to Dr Barnardo’s Children’s Charity. This is only

available for Wellbeing readers.

Call Lushington Chiropractic on 01323 722499. You must book in advance and bring your Wellbeing Magazine with you.

Natural, organic, vegetable based skincare range available on the NHS An increasing number of people are looking for alternative ways of treating their skin, especially if there is a problem like eczema or psoriasis. Steroid creams and greasy emollients don’t have to be the answer.

Elena’s Nature Collection is a totally unique range of skincare products which control and calm the severity of any skin ‘problem’ by using natural, organic vegetable based ingredients. When these ingredients are used in the correct quantities they create astounding results. Created by Elena Schalburg, a dermatology

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nurse who wanted to make a difference to peoples’ skin worldwide, it began 25 years ago at Queen Victoria Hospital, where she tried her first cream on her burns patients (with their consent) and saw amazing results. 25 years later sixteen of her products are available on the NHS via G.P’s.

Approximately 59% of

clients at Elena’s Nature Collection now receive their products via the NHS. The company has grown from customer feedback and over the past 25 years has successfully helped thousands of people affected by eczema, psoriasis, burns, scars, acne rosacea, urticaria, cradle cap, spots, chicken pox scarring, itchy

veins. Ultimately makes a difference to anyone’s skin. A noticeable radiance! Call now for an information pack, free of charge for Wellbeing Readers.

Helpline: 01435 882092/884090, elena@ elenascollection. co.uk, www. elenasnaturecollection. co.uk

Wellbeing 17

Looking to grow your busines

s?

It’s not easy at the best of times, but with the right support and tools you can do it!

That’s why Wellbeing Magazine offers support and tools specifically for therapists and practitoners of alternative and complementary therapies.

We know marketing is way down your to-do list. We know you’d rather be helping people get better than sorting out your advertising. We know what works, so let us do what we’re good and so you can get on with what your good at.

Our marketing packages start at just £15 a month and include editorial and adverts in the magazine, free design, directory listings and unlimited editorial online. Excellent value, excellent service, get in touch today! hannah@wellbeingmagazine.co.uk 0800 8815375 www.wellbeingmagazine.co.uk/east-sussex

18 Wellbeing

As the new-age world seems pre-occupied with ascension, 2012 and You tube predictions, let there be a place to sit, a space of Home, a touching base with the deepest truth of the self.

This infernal fear of the mind is tearing us this way and that at the moment, projecting a believed reality upon the world stage, which then manifests causing disharmony on all levels of our delicate nature.

It’s time to go within.

The Earth is birthing a

NewNew birth earth WORDS: TARA LOVE PERRY

higher state of being for herself and all her children Now. This Be-earthing wants to be gentle; holy; blissful. We must awaken to our inner-sense, the oneness, and the highest truth of this conscious matter of Mother earth in us. It’s time we innately, devotedly, trust our own Knowing, in body, waters, heart and soul, and allow total surrender, beyond

thought, beyond our perceptions, into what actually IS. Clear out old conditioning of the soul.

See with new eyes, hear with fresh ears and feel what is actually Real. To receive spiritual midwifery through this birthing process, a guiding, loving hand that knows the way through this most ancient initiation and rite of passage from one world

to another is an invaluable gift to give oneself. For tools, techniques, and a safe space in which to birth, or to develop your becoming one of these loving, guiding hands to help those who come after you, contact Tara love Perry via www.liveinlight. co.uk, ‘Live In Light’ facebook page, or 07919 463243

WIN Salsa dancing lessons

and a Discovery Foods hamper!

Enter at wellbeingmagazine.co.uk/competitions Join Discovery in Jubilee Square, Brighton, on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th September 2011 (10.30am – 6.00pm) for a funfilled fiesta of food and family entertainment in celebration of Mexican Independence day.

Following the success of last year’s event, entry is FREE – so come down and witness Jubliee Square transform into a place packed with piñatas, face painters and a themed photo booth complete with a tasty range of fantastic Mexican flavours, Discovery style! From the perfect fajita – succulent chicken or

vegetables wrapped in a soft flour tortilla, topped with guacamole, salsa and soured cream, to tasty beef tacos garnished with a variety of mouth-watering toppings – we guarantee there will be something for everyone. As if that wasn’t enough, Strictly Come Dancing winners Darren & Lilia Kopylova, will be hosting a group salsa lesson at 11.15am on Saturday for those with itchy feet and for those who’d rather kick back and watch, the duo will be performing an exciting Latin show dance to put the party in full swing!

To support Discovery’s celebration of Mexican Independence Day,

Wellbeing Magazine is offering one lucky reader and a friend the chance to win salsa dancing lessons AND a Discovery hamper full of great tasting Mexican products containing everything you need to create your own fiesta at home!

For more inspiration, and great tasting recipes, visit Discovery Foods at www.discovery.co.uk

Wellbeing 19

A wardrobe full of clothes... nothing to wear?

I’m going out for Sunday lunch, a family occasion I’ve been looking forward to. I’ve showered and I’m pulling things from my wardrobe, half trying them on, deciding they’re not right and flinging them on the bed. 20 minutes later I’m revisiting in desperation the first thing I pulled out. It’s a neutral blouse that goes with everything, except the skirt I have settled on. I’m hot and bothered now, my hair still needs drying, most of my wardrobe is on the bed. I panic, throw on a faded black jersey dress and leave the house feeling annoyed.

I get home late that evening, scoop all my clothes off the bed onto my bedside chair (where they will probably remain for the next week) and decide to do something I have been mulling over for a while. I decide to enlist the help a Clutter Clearer. Her name is Suzanna and she has particular specialty in clearing out wardrobes. I call her in the morning and she books me in later that week.

It’s with some nervous excitement that I anticipate her arrival, after all wardrobes are very personal places. I needn’t have worried as Suzanna puts me instantly at ease. She begins by organizing all my clothes in colour order. “The colours we wear have an enormous impact on our wellbeing” explains Suzanna who goes on to ask me which colours energise me and which ones ‘deflate’ me. I point out my old favourites, pinks and reds and oranges, and decide the browns and greys, although I like the idea of them, actually lower my mood.

I was surprised at how much black and brown I had in there. “Only some people can truly wear black” explains Suzanna. I can tell by her tone I’m not one of them. Suzanna believes that everything in our lives has an energy attached to it and that includes our clothes, “they attract energy from everyone we come into contact with,” she explains. Be it positive or negative, our clothes become clogged with other people’s energy and ordinary washing does not shift this. Suzanna starts checking the energy of some of my more popular items

20 Wellbeing Wellbeing 20

on a scale from 1 to 10, and explains that anything less than 5 needs to go. I’m horrified as she hones in on a faded navy top that goes with everything. I protest, but deep down know that I don’t actually wear it all that much and resolve to replace it with something much nicer. We move into the darker reaches of my wardrobe, the last few hangers of expensive outfits – never worn – just waiting for their special occasion. I’m pretty sure a few won’t fit, but I’m reluctant to own up to this in case they have to go too. They were far too expensive and must remain in my wardrobe regardless. Suzanna questions my thinking on this and I have nothing. ‘They will be depleting your energy as out of sight is not out of mind,’ she reasons. “There is always that invisible attachment that weighs you down mentally, physically and emotionally. Your clothes make you feel beautiful and if they haven’t been worn for six months...let them go!”

Suzanna eases my distress by labeling up some bin bags. One for charity shops, one for eBay and one for textile recycling. As the first of the very expensive,

secretly outgrown dresses is flung into the eBay pile I feel a weight is lifted. It had memories attached to it I hadn’t even acknowledged, and it now felt I was letting go of these too. An hour later, knee deep in bin bags, with a huge grin on my face we look to tackle the last remaining shelf.

I lead, and Suzanna’s input is minimal as I really know what I’m doing now. We both laugh at a brown T-shirt with a hair dye stain on one shoulder that I’d forgotten I even owned.

Suzanna’s parting advice was to keep all clothes in good condition so that we always feel and look good in clothes that suit us, clothes that energise us and show the respect and value we have for ourselves. I can’t believe where the time has gone, my wardrobe is emptier, but suddenly there are outfits to wear, and lots of them. I’m amazed! I don’t really feel I need to replace that faded navy top after all, but a shopping trip might just be the excuse I need to wear all my lovely clothes full of positive energy.

Suzanna is offering Wellbeing readers a FREE 1 hour consultation with every clear-out booking for Sept, Oct and Nov in 2011.

s t r e p x e e h t k s A

Last month we offered to put your health-related questions to our panel of experts. It’s been tricky selecting just one question, but we’ve chosen one which I’m sure affects most of us at some point...snoring!

Q

My partner snores so loudly it’s impossible for me to sleep. He has already tried various things: a clip to wear in his nose, a disolvable patch to put in his throat, various sprays and pastilles. None have worked, poor man.

It is getting us down. Any advice and natural products to try would be much appreciated. Wellbeing reader, Brighton

A

Stopping snoring is not only good for better sleep but it is also good for reducing the risk of sleep apnoea, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and accidents that are caused by day time fatigue. People often say, “But I can’t control my breathing when I am asleep, so how can I stop snoring?”

The short answer to this is that the way you breathe when you are awake affects the way that you breathe when you are asleep. If you change your breathing while you are awake then you can stop snoring. The Buteyko Method trains you to do just this and in two clinical trials it has been proven to reduce the amount of air a person breathes by 31%. There is a strong link between snoring, a blocked nose and mouth-breathing, which is why almost every conventional treatment involves getting you to shut your mouth and breathe through your nose. Well guess what? You used to breathe like this when you were younger, and in 99% of cases there is absolutely no reason why you cannot do this again, without any gadget, device or machine. You just have to change your breathing back to a healthy level. Michael Lingard BSc DO BIBH Buteyko Practitioner www.buteykokent.co.uk

Find out more..

.

Why not pop along to a free Buteyko talk in Lewes, Brighton or Hove |See ‘what’s on’ listings at the back of the magazine or call Martha on 07853 854 705 | martha@ learnbuteyko.com | www.learnbuteyko.co.uk Are you struggling with a niggling health issue? Send us your question and if you’re featured in the next edition we’ll send you some lovely freebies including a rather fine recipe book. Send your question to asktheexperts@wellbeingmagazine.com. Sadly, we can’t reply to all emails personally. As with all health concerns, please seek advice

from your GP in the first instance.

Wellbeing21 21 Wellbeing

SPOTlight

As the Autumn approaches do you feel like it is time to finally do something about losing weight and becoming healthier? We catch up with local weight-loss coach Julie Ritchie and talk to her about Zumba, weight-loss and her brand new website redsirens.co.uk

I have always been interested in health and fitness and have been qualified as a Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer for over 10 years. I lived in London for 7 of those years and I took a job managing a community nutrition project. It was mainly desk based with long hours and over the years I began piling on the pounds and became overweight.

I made a decision last year to leave London and

move back to the East Sussex countryside, (having completed an Msc in Weight Management) to follow my dream of having my own fitness business. I lost the excess weight and set up my business Shine Weight Management and Fitness

Services.

My new website www.redsirens. co.uk is aimed at women of all ages, and is all about Health and Wellbeing.

It contains information on weight loss, nutrition, wellbeing, relationships, dating plus much more. There are lots of FREE resources and links to other helpful websites. Plus you can find out more about my services. SHINE Weight Management and Fitness Services aims to help people

to make lifestyle changes that mean they can lose weight whilst still living their normal life.

I offer one to one weight loss coaching, Personal Training and advice on nutrition and exercise, I can also do telephone coaching.

I recently qualified to teach Zumba which is a Latin inspired dance, fitness class.

Anyone can join in and my attendees love it because it is so much fun it doesn’t feel like exercise. My classes are based mainly in the Hailsham area. For more information on any of my services get in touch or have a look at the website www.redsirens.co.uk

STEM SESSIONS: First session takes place in Hastings A new venture was launched this month by Liz Jeffries of MovingU4ward, using her expertise as an Alexander Technique teacher, this venture is called ‘Stem Sessions’.

These sessions are for everyone who would like to improve the way they walk and alleviate pain. Whether you are a bad back sufferer or have arthritis, your health will benefit from ‘Stem Sessions’.

Based on the principle of a flower heavy in bloom and needing support from the stem, your head needs support from your body – your stem! Each Stem Session is in two parts,

22 Wellbeing

the first is indoor, where Alexander Technique is explained, demonstrated and taught. The second part is a practical session walking along the seafront with touch and guidance from Liz.If you would like to know more and come along to join in a ‘Stem Session’ please contact Liz for details and dates.

Stem Sessions will be taking place in Hastings,

Bexhill and Eastbourne.

Call 01424 863778 or 07929 725156, Or you can e-mail Liz on mail@ lizjeffries.co.uk MovingU4ward

Wellbeinginterview

Vitality Regulation thRough Biodanza ... Wellbeing Magazine talks to Helen Thatcher about this unique form of movement Words: Hannah Rosalie

Rolando Toro, an anthropologist and psychologist in Chile, developed Biodanza, movement through guided dances with the focus on the enjoyment of being in the present moment. He was interested in discovering how we bring more balanced vitality into our life. A class typically includes high-energy exercises and opportunities to relax deeply. Helen Thatcher, who practices in Brighton,

B

explains more...

iodanza understands vitality as the sensation of feeling alive and includes the ability to regulate our energy levels. When we feel vital we are connected in a healthy way to our own body and our environment. With this sense of “aliveness” we have an impetus to engage fully with life, we feel enthusiasm and joy. When the body is in a vital state of being the body functions well and we are in a state of health, we also have the possibility of feeling great!

How can we achieve this?

There are particular exercises in Biodanza that help us to regulate our own energy. For example, we use music with strong rhythm, and adjust the volume during the dance. We invite participants to continually dance, and keep connection the rhythm, whilst riding the waves of intensity; expressing more or less energy in feedback with the volume and their body’s natural vitality. We are practising relaxing, without collapsing!

The benefits of this impact into our life as we learn to listen to the needs of our body and rest when necessary in order to nourish and nurture ourselves.

What people are saying…

“Whatever has been going on for me, after some Biodanza I am always in a more peaceful place.”

Paul, Hove.

“I have found the Biodanza physically energising, mentally stimulating, spiritually inspiring, an all round enjoyable experience.” alexandRa, PeaceHaven.

Where’s my nearest class?

Mondays 1-3pm Hanover - Julia Hancock.

Fridays 7.30-9pm Hove - Helen Thatcher.

Your first Biodanza class is FREE – so come and try!

Then it’s £10 per class. www.heartnova.com for more details.

How does Biodanza regulate vitality?

In Biodanza we speak about being in “feedback” with our body. Being in feedback means becoming aware of how we feel in any moment, and responding practically and with care to our own needs. In this way we are able to learn to rest when needed, rather than to push ourselves towards “burn out”. When we learn to rest in life, we naturally take care of replenishing our own energy.

Wellbeing Wellbeing 23 23

INSIDE

story Words: Alex leith, ViVA leWes

“You look so nervous,” smiles Jilly, sitting opposite me in her little clinic. “Don’t worry, there’s absolutely nothing to feel nervous about.” It’s just gone 2pm and I’ve been nervous all day. I’ve never had colonic irrigation before. There’s a little bed in the room where it’s to happen, and some tubey equipment. A pink glass Buddha transmits calmness from the top of a dainty chest of drawers. “Is it going to be embarrassing’ I’m thinking. “Is it going to be...messy?’

s

he’s good at putting me at my ease, with a little spiel, and a run-through of name-and-address type questions. Colonic irrigation has been going since ancient egyptian times, i’m told. Your colon gets jammed up with faecal matter, gas, mucus and toxic substances, which stop digestion from working properly. this can lead to all sorts of problems. if you clear the tubes, these problems can disappear. it’s good for people with irritable bowel syndrome, obviously, constipation, and frequent diarrhea. it can also help people with other problems, too. Me, M.s. arthritis, psoriasis, thrush, you name it. she even gets referrals from people’s dentists: a bunged up colon, it appears, can give you

24 Wellbeing

toothache. she hands me a little tunic that open at the back and asks me to go into a toilet cubicle to put it on and take my trousers and underpants off. When i return, she asks me to get onto the bed, and lie on my side, knees bent, facing the wall. she puts on some gentle music: the irish singer enya. “don’t worry, this won’t hurt,” she says, and inserts the smoothed end of a tube into my rectum. An odd sensation, it must be said, but she’s right, not a painful one.

A colonic involves the gentle introduction of water into your colon. “it’ll feel a little cold at first before you get used to it,” she says, as i feel a jet of cold liquid going up the wrong way. then it doesn’t feel cold anymore. she massages my stomach muscles a bit and i feel myself emptying out. she encourages me to look at the tube, which is transparent, and i can see faecal matter travelling down. “i don’t normally get people to look, but since you’re a journalist.” she says. “that stuff’s been there quite some time.” the treatment lasts about 45 minutes. What has at first seemed an alien sensation starts feeling quite good. the body, i guess, has developed pleasure signals to encourage you to dump your waste, and this sensation is drawn out over a longer time than normal. At one point she introduces a herbal laxative into my colon, and i can almost immediately feel the loosening effect it has. she repeatedly massages my stomach, sometimes with her hands, sometimes with a plastic tool, to help the process along. she lets me know five minutes before the treatment is over that it’s coming to an end. she gently pulls out the tube, and gives me some tissue paper ‘just in case’. she tells me she’s going to leave the room for a while, while i get dressed. that i might need to use the toilet. i don’t, actually. i get off the bed, which looks as pristine as when i got onto it. she was right, there was nothing to be nervous about. it’s not been embarrassing, and it’s not been messy. i dress, and after a while, Jilly comes back in. “how do you feel?” she asks. how do i feel? i feel about a stone lighter, is the answer. i also feel strangely elated, and... can this be possible? i feel younger. “i feel liberated,” i say. And i mean it as much in the spiritual as the physical sense.

Sussex Colonics, 01273 477030, www.sussexcolonics.co.uk

Wellbeing 25

ENERGYin Yoga words: Charlotte Watts

Y

oga poses can often be viewed on first impressions as simply a form of exercise, but in yoga philosophy, these are one on the eight-fold path to moving towards Samadhi or at its most simple, ultimate connection. Sounds a little highfalutin when you’re feeling a stretch on the backs of your legs?

Well, part of the reason for yoga postures – asanas – is to help facilitate the right energy balance, distribution and exchange in the body. As we open, release and unwind areas of tension, energy can more easily move around without blockages.

At first this can feel pretty intense as we rediscover parts of ourselves that have been shut down; release can bring strong tingling nerve sensations but also shifts and waves of emotions buried or forgotten. As poor postural habits change with long-term practise, we can feel strong energetic effects from overly contracted or stretched muscle slowly moving back to their natural alignment.

It helps in yoga practise and teaching to view tension released from the bottom of the body and rise upwards and out. Looking at the positions of the chakras (energy ‘wheels’ or centres) in the body can be a focus for awareness of energy and release. The chakras are often depicted as wheels or flowers gathering at positions up

26 Wellbeing

the spine where energy or the life-force prana is focussed. They represent more gross, experiential energies from the root at the base of the spine to the more subtle, conscious at the top of the head.

Focusing on five of the seven of the chakra positions here can help us observe the effect that breathing and yoga postures have on our bodies. This can help us breathe into areas around tension, making space and ensuring we don’t practise with any force: Muladhara - Root Chakra (red): corresponding to the pelvic floor, this is the are we link to experience, feeling and the base energies at the opposite end of the spectrum to the thinking, analytical brain. In the modern world, we can be disconnected from feeling rather than thinking and tensions in shoulders, chest and diaphragm can prevent us from breathing right down into the tailbone to connect with our root. Focussing back down to this are can help relieve pressure and stress in the brain.

ment for breath. Western tendencies can be to either completely let go or grip the abdominal muscles too strongly in an attempt to look thin. Connection with this area is related to supporting functions of the adrenal glands, digestion and pancreas, all of which can become imbalanced with stress.

Manipura - Solar Plexus Chakra (yellow): seated in the belly or navel area, where we focus breathing in yoga. We look to create soft but strong support in the belly in all postures to protect the lower back, whilst still allowing move-

Anahata - Heart Chakra (green): in Eastern philosophies, it is the heart not the brain that is the centre of the self. Much sitting on chairs, in front of computers and slouching on sofas can shut down the chest area and leave us less

able to fully breathe. Low energy in this area is associated spiritually with not nourishing oneself and heart meditations on loving kindness (metta bhavana) to ourselves – and others - can help with feelings of healing and reducing stress hormones.

Vishuddha - Throat Chakra (blue): this is the area that represents communication and also represents growth through clear expression. This is where the thyroid gland sits, which governs physical growth and metabolism in the body and can be quickly affected by stress. When we release tension up from the body, it can feel stuck in the throat and jaw, so it can help in yoga and daily life to release the face, open the jaw wide and swallow to help move

through anything stuck. You might feel this is particularly relevant if you struggle to express yourself or that you have left things unsaid.

Ajna - Third Eye Chakra (indigo): situated between the eyebrows, this is referred to as the ‘third eye’, named thousands of years before anatomical knowledge of this position of the pineal gland. This produces the hormone melatonin, responsible for our sleep-wake cycles and also signals to the adrenals to react to any perceived stress, be it real danger or psycho-social stress or thoughts and emotions. We can observe stress in this area from a frown, a muscular action that informs the body something amiss is going on. Staying soft between the eyebrows helps to soothe the brain

and using this as a focal point for meditation or in restorative poses, not only connects with our intuition, but also actively increases blood circulation to the pineal gland.

A simple breathing exercise is to visualise the in-breath rising up from tailbone to crown of the head, noticing each of these points along the way and then back down with the exhalation.

Charlotte recommends the Chranket to cover you in relaxation mode and reflect the colours of the chakras, www.reflotherapies.co.uk Charlotte practises as a Nutritional Therapist and Yoga Teacher in Brighton – see www. charlottewattshealth.com/yoga and www.de-stressyourlife.com

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WORDS: HANNAH ROSALIE

Energy

“Bridging the gap between conventional medicine and complementary therapies simply requires an open mind.”

Nigel Glee, Energy for Life practitioner and trainer.

T

oday I meet a hairdresser and we get chatting, as you do, but within minutes I realise this is no ordinary hairdresser.

Jackie Mannell was born in London and raised in the South East of England. As an only child she was very close to her mother, who sadly developed diabetes in her early twenties. Keen to enhance her wellbeing, the family immersed themselves in a healthy lifestyle, and Jackie soon became aware of the influence we can have on our own wellbeing.

Jackie started her own

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successful hairdressing salon and beauty consultancy in Sussex, but increasingly felt her role expand to that of a kind of therapist, as her clients felt comfortable to enough to open up and chat problems through with her.

“It did help them enormously, I got an amazing uplifting feeling when this happened, and my clients would say as they left, ‘thank you I feel so much better,’ and they would leave smiling” explains Jackie. Over time this led her to open her own mind to the possibility of re-training and offering

Life

for

therapy sessions more formally.

Five years ago, Jackie read an article on a gentleman that had Crohns disease for many years, doctors could only help so far, so he turned to alternative healing.

Incredibly he is now cured.

“He practices Energy for Life, and it was through him that I did my training,” explains Jackie “and I now practice Energy for Life, in my salon in Battle.”

Jackie is clearly passionate about her new role as a therapist, and I’m intrigued as to what exactly energy for life is.

“I support people’s health through their illness” she

explains, “there is no separation between our bodies and our emotions.

The Energy for Life healing process enables all of us to reconnect back to the essence of who we are, whilst simultaneously experiencing an accelerated healing journey with tranquility and inner peace. After an initial consultation, I gently lay my hands on the clients body, and to relaxing music I am guided where to move them.”

Jackie offers 1hr treatment sessions for £40.00. Hours: Wed-Fri 9.303.00, Sat 9.00-5pm. Unit 5, Old Brewery Yard, Battle, TN33 OAF, 01424 775075.

Is it time to change

something in your life?

And If so, hoW do you mAke chAnges hAppen eAsIly?

W

e often find it difficult to make changes in our lives, and sometimes a planned change comes with some form of anxiety that prevents you from effectively moving forward.

This feeling may be a genuine fear or just simply that there are negative beliefs associated with those changes.

So what sort of changes are we talking about?

Well, just about anything that creates some form of uncomfortable feeling and not just the difficult things we have to deal with in our busy lives, it can and often does include the nice things we would like to do such as going on holiday, changing jobs, having a meaningful relationship, good health and wellbeing and finding happiness, to name but a few.

This uncomfortable feeling, that we often call anxiety, may also include other symptoms including insomnia, depression, feeling sick, lack of motivation, low self esteem or other health issues. In fact, lists of symptoms associated with anxiety are almost endless.

So can I change something in my life without this uncomfortable feeling?

Yes you can and having the right support is often all that you need. This may come from friends or relatives or from the many varying forms of therapy now easily available.

Caroline of the Eastbourne and Uckfield Hypnotherapy Practice says: “Over the years we have helped many people to deal with all sorts of issues.

Some people come to lose weight, deal with a phobia or maybe give up smoking, others come to deal with unwanted feelings or emotions and many clients often ask us to help them to improve their personal, working or even their sporting lives.

Recently, we have seen an increase in the number of clients struggling with the effects of stress and anxiety. Clients are telling us that life seems to have got so much more complicated and they feel under an increasing amount of pressure.

Remember however, that anxiety affects us all and is part of a natural process that keeps us safe and aware of the environment around us and everyone feels anxious from time to time and this is perfectly normal. This feeling can be relatively mild with the effect of taking away some of the enjoyment we get from something in our life, but there are, however, times when it builds up, often

over years and these feelings can become overwhelming, occur more frequently than expected or may even surface suddenly, as experienced in a panic or anxiety attack.

Medication is the answer for some, but more and more people are now using modern hypnotherapy techniques, it is a natural process that has no side effects and helps people of all ages, including children gain back their control and effectively deal with those unwanted feelings.�

I would like to change something, what do I do next?

First step is to come along and have a private one to one chat with one of our therapists. A free, no obligation consultation where we can discuss, in confidence, all of the things you would like to change and how we can help you to make those changes happen.

We also have a number of planned open days where you can come along and see how the clinic works. Details are available on our website. www.eastbourne-hypnotherapy.com.

01323 762844.

Wellbeing Wellbeing 29 29

30 Wellbeing

EXPERIENCING THE

BLACK DOG Words Martin Usbourne

Author and Photographer, Martin Usbourne shares his experience of depression and how his medication, friends and his little dog, named Moose, have inspired him to publish his first book, ‘My Name is Moose’ I’m not sure if what I have experienced at my lowest points is clear-cut depression.

More often its been a swirling mix of anxiety and obsessiveness (laced with OCD) and those violent negative thoughts that launch themselves at the jugular ‘you’re a disaster, everything will go wrong, what’s the point anyway’.

These words seem so clichéd but when they appear in my head at 5am they look terribly impressive and original.

I twist over and pull the duvet tighter. It doesn’t.

When the rare moment comes that I sink into a pure depression, a feeling of deep blue, it’s a relative respite from the madness –

like listening to a long low note as opposed to a cacophony of instruments trying to be heard over each other.

Fruitful life I take anti-depressants.

I’ve taken them since my early twenties and now in my late thirties I realize I will do so for the rest of my life. Flouxetine 20mg 2 x daily down the hatch with a swig of water. The other day I calculate that I’ve ingested more that my entire body weight in those things. But I’ve long got over beating myself up about it.

They help enormously and on the whole I live a very fruitful life as a photographer and writer only slipping

low a few times a year when I’m lucky enough to have friends and family that can help push me onwards. In those moments I feel am walking through a huge vat of emotional treacle.

Moose I also have a dog called Moose. A mini schnauzer who loves broccoli and whose hair is too long. I throw a stick out ahead, hang on to the lead and he drags me forward through that emotional treacle too. Out to the park we go, to do the simple things –walk, breathe, laugh at him chasing squirrels, pick up poo in bags. Ha! I love the simplicity he brings to life: sleeping when he needs to sleep, running when he wants to run, being happy when is happy, lying in his bed with one eye open watching me pace around the

flat when he is more pensive. He greets me when I open the door with a huge leap and lick.

I’ve done the therapy and meditation and flotation tanks and healing magnets and wheat free pancakes and morning headstands whilst chanting mysterious mantras. I’ve read the self-help books and drunk the special herbal teas. Call me old fashioned but none seem to work as well as 40mg of pills bolstered with a walk in the park with Moose.

Inspiration The more I’ve become accustomed to my depression the more I have used it in my photography and writing. There’s lots of nutrients in the dark goo at the bottom of our minds, as long as you are not too scared to delve into it. Last

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year I did a series of photographs of dogs in cars all shot at night that was totally inspired by that terrible feeling of aloneness and fear that is attendant to depression. They did very well, being shown in galleries around the world, I think in the most part because they came from somewhere very deep and true.

Clearly dogs are my muse. I find them so expressive, honest and simple. I have also written and photographed a small photography book about depression but told through the eyes of Moose my dog.

Hopefully its funny and quirky. Its’ called

32 Wellbeing

MY NAME IS MOOSE and its about how he doesn’t understand why his master seems so sad and decides that he must find the ‘black dog’ that is causing all the trouble. I wrote it after experiencing a down turn in my commissions and the effects of the recession and realizing how immune dogs were from all the human worries – after all there are still plenty of sticks in the park and air to breathe. But I wanted the story to be light and playful. I’m now working on a new book, it’s a self-help parody but written

by Moose, with tips on finding happiness

from a dog’s point of view (i.e. ‘Love thy neighbour’ is written next to a photo of Moose sniffing a dog’s bum, etc. etc.)

I feel somewhat proud to have suffered from depression. It’s added a dimension to my life that has been undoubtedly painful but also enlightening.

I have traveled places that people who have not experience depression could never go. I’ve gone to the deserts, the frozen lakes, the windy mountains, I’ve seen into deep craters and felt the hot lava flows of the soul. And although those places are wild, dangerous and scary,

they also have a stark beauty.

And I have a deep connection with other’s that have weathered that route: as though we are tired travelers that meet in a small hut at the edge of the mountain to compare notes. If you are reading this and you recognize my words I don’t know you at all… but I do know you. Me and Moose wish you love.

£9.99 ISBN 9781843406266

Q

What inspired you to start Yurtopia?

I had some friends who lived in a network of yurts and I practiced yoga there with them and spent time there so fell in love with yurts and ended up buying a second hand one for my garden. Spending time in a yurt is real escapism and I love the feeling of only the canvas separating you from the breeze, sunlight and the natural sounds and smells of nature, something that a building deprives us of.

Spending time in and around my yurt calms my mind and lets me breathe again.

I soon realized what a perfect place it was for massage and other treatments that compliment it.

Q

What were you doing before?

I worked in an office but yearned to have a place to live and work all to do all the things I love like growing

my own veg - I love being outside, and I’m so lucky to have finally realized my dream.

Holistic entrepreneur

Q

start ups aren’t easy, but this month Wellbeing

What do you offer? I offer holistic massage therapy which is tailor made to suit a person’s needs whether they want it to de-stress, for aches and pains like back pain or for ongoing treatment after an accident or operation, for circulation and detox or for that special treat and power of touch that so many of us are missing.

In a tough economic climate, new business Magazine talks to local massage therapist Debbie Cobb, about her unique business and how it’s going from strength to strength.

IntervIeW: HannaH rosalIe

Debbie runs Yurtopia, which started from humble roots at the bottom of her garden.

Q

What’s next for Yurtopia? I hope I will be lucky enough to turn Yurtopia into a retreat that people can either visit for an hour or stay for a week. I have many contacts who can offer various therapies and personal physical training. I’m a born coordinator and whatever the visitor requires I will do my best to arrange even if its a map to the pub across the fields!

We plan to embark on this next year with more yurts!

Q

Where are your yurts from? From Woodland Yurts in Cornwall, they use

sustainable ash from local woodlands and their craftsmanship is second to none. My yurt stays up most of the year. It is heated in winter by a woodburning stove and therefore clients can experience the unusual warmth that a yurt provides even in thick snow.

Q

Where are you based?

In Westfield, East Sussex, nestled away from the road in 20 acres of countryside, pastures and woodland with a stream running

through. We have sheep and a horse, all rescue animals – all different and all named now!

Emma the Horse was badly treated so we give her lots of TLC. The sheep are a motley crew who love the odd treat and are very happy in the paddock.

“A massage treatments start from only £30 and the location is a unique and relaxing experience, my clients rarely want to leave!”

Contact Debbie on 07969 949984 www. yurtopiatherapies.co.uk

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While osteopathy is commonly used to treat back or neck problems, it can also help with other pains, such as tension headaches, repetitive strain injury (RSI) or postural imbalance.

NOT JUST FOR BACKS...

Wellbeing talks to British Osteopathic Association member Hector Wells, (www. hectorwells.co.uk) who is based in Banbury, Oxfordshire about how an osteopath could help with other problems.

What is osteopathy?

Osteopathy is a form of medical treatment which treats muscularskeletal pains or injuries – put simply, anything connected with muscles, joints, bones, ligaments, tendons or nerves.

Muscular-skeletal disorders can be acute (i.e having a rapid onset with extreme symptoms) or chronic (long-lasting). The pain can also be localised in one area, or widespread.

What can it be used to treat?

Osteopathy is most commonly used to treat back and neck pain, because this is where muscle and joint tension tends to build up, but it works for many other kinds of muscle and joint disorders such as tension headaches, repetitive strain injury (RSI) and postural imbalance.

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What is a tension headache?

Tension headaches are commonly(most) often caused by muscle tension around the head and neck. One model believes (theory says) that a major cause of tension headaches and migraine is teeth clenching which creates (causes) a contraction of the temporalis muscle in the upper jaw and compression of the skull where it is attached. Around half of all patients with tension headaches also cite stress or hunger as a factor.

How can an osteopath help?

First you should check with a GP that your headache has no pathological cause. An osteopath will be able to trace if the source of the tension is elsewhere in the body (such as in the neck, abdomen (stomach), pelvis or even diaphragm) and whether it is acting as a pain conductor. The osteopath will then gently manipulate the area to try and loosen it and relieve the tension.

What is repetitive strain injury (RSI)?

Occupational overuse syndrome (sometimes referred to as repetitive strain injury) occurs when you repeatedly use a particular part of the body, which then becomes painful when you repeat the same action. It is often associated with pain in the wrist from using a computer mouse or pain in the thumbs as a result of gaming. The best way to alleviate the symptoms is to stop the activity all together and rest the aggravated area.

How can an osteopath help?

An osteopath will ask you about your medical history and then may ask you to do a series of movements (eg looking over your shoulder, looking up and down etc) in order to diagnose the source of the problem. It may be that the source of the

Here’s a quick test you can do to check if you have posture imbalances.

Stand barefoot on a hard, level floor and relax your hands by your sides while breathing from your abdomen.

Now close your eyes and pay attention to where your weight distribution is located on your feet. Ask yourself : Is there more weight on your left or right foot?

Does the weight put pressure on the inside or the outside of your feet? problem is nothing to do with your hands but somewhere else, such as your neck. Stretching and gentle manipulation will then help to relieve the tension.

What is postural imbalance?

Muscles which are consistently being shortened (or tightened) or over stretched from their correct alignment can lead to a constant tug-of-war between your muscles which are called postural distortion patterns.

How can an osteopath help?

An osteopath will be able to identify and manipulate the areas which are the source of the pain and so relieve the tension. They can also give you advice on how to improve your sitting and standing postures in order to reduce your symptoms and help to strengthen core muscles.

Are you standing on your heels or on the balls of your feet?

If you’re like 99% of the population, you will probably notice that your weight distribution is slightly uneven and that your body is not completely aligned. This is not a problem until things get too stiff to compensate to physical stresses.

Get ‘The Glow’ with Pregnancy Yoga Flow and Postnatal Recovery – a new DVD by Brigid Godwin for Pregnancy and beyond Yoga in pregnancy has been popularised in recent years by celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow and Giselle Bundchen and is known to be a wonderful way to stay fit and healthy during pregnancy. There are many places offering specialist yoga classes for expectant mums but if you can’t get to a class or would prefer to practice in the privacy of your own home then this new DVD is an absolute must.

Featuring: Pregnancy Yoga Flow, Birth Prep and Postnatal Yoga.

Pregnancy Yoga Flow & Postnatal Recovery is priced at £14.99 and is available online from www.unityyoga.co.uk

TO WIN A DVD visit our competition pages at wellbeingmagazine.co.uk/ competitions

About the BOA The British Osteopathy Association (BOA) (www.osteopathy.org) has more information about how to keep your muscles and joints healthy and also how to find an osteopath near you. They have produced a FREE mobile phone app called “Osteopathy, relief from back, neck and joint problems” for Android and iPhones which is available to download from the Android market (https://market. android.com ) or the Apple App Store (www.apple.com/uk/ iPhone ).

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A cAse of mind, And spirit in healing the body

Words: John Hirst

Anne came to see me in October last year with a request for help with reducing her fears about undergoing kidney dialysis. This treatment was envisaged as being necessary for her within a few months as her kidney function had been declining steadily.

A

nne had been treated for many years with lithium for bipolar disorder and this had damaged her kidneys significantly. She had been told that the damage was irreversible and that dialysis leading possibly to transplant surgery was inevitable. The only route for her own kidney function was downhill. I began working with Anne’s fears using a mindfulness approach based on the work on Eckhart Tolle. She responded very quickly to these ideas and over the next few months she transformed her outlook on life, healed emotional wounds that had previously been very painful and came to feel very different about her existence on a day to day basis. Just before Christmas I suggested to her that reiki might be beneficial for her kidney functioning and I began treating her regularly. Anne’s kidney function is measured regularly at the hospital and at first there was no noticeable effect, but the other day when she came for her treatment she was elated. Her kidney function had improved by two percentage points from the previous measurement.

Now that the impossible has happened she no longer sees dialysis and surgery as inevitable.

John is the hypnotherapist and reiki master at the Eastbourne Clinic of Natural Medicine. 01323 734664 www.eastbournenaturalhealth.co.uk

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The of Words: Carolyn Nicholls, Head of Training, Brighton Alexander Technique College

BEFORE

power posture

The way we use our bodies, our habits of walking, sitting and going about our daily life are all influenced by our chosen posture.

Most people think simple when they think about posture. Concepts such as stand up straight, or sit properly. If only it were so simple.

Posture is a subtle business, more to do with habitual thought patterns influencing muscle action than anything else.

In other words, posture is an internal matter, not an external shape,

Wellbeingtraining

Compare these two photos.

In the top photo, the man’s posture is very poor. His neck is dragged forward by an invisible muscle pull that runs all the way down the front of his body into the legs. This pull is a tension that also compresses internal organs and can make for poor digestion after all if you squash your digestion with your own poor muscle habits you can expect complaints.

In addition his legs are very stiff with clenched ankles and feet.

“Posture is an internal matter, not an external shape”

AFTER

A profound way you can change posture and gain all the associated benefits is to experience the Alexander Technique. At the Brighton Alexander Technique College, we are experts on the subtleties of posture, voice, and body use.

In the second photo, you can see most of these issues are resolved. Not only is his head poised freely on the neck, but his back has lengthened and there is a whole look of lightness and ease about him, even the legs are less braced. To produce these kinds of changes

Have you ever had back pain? Or neck problems, shoulder ache, breathing problems, digestive issues or suffered from stress. Do you know what is common to all of them? The title might have given you a clue, yes it’s posture. in someone takes skill.

If you’d like to consider training to do this amazing postural magic, we offer taster courses as well as the full training course. It takes three years to learn these in depth skills, but you have them for life. www.alexander-techniquecollege.com | 01273 562595.

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Our journey through life can challenging.

To simply keep going and take the next step when all seems lost can feel so hard at times, but by getting up each

Words of

time you fall you will succeed in finding

Wisdom

From Julia Armstrong, therapist, coach and healer.

your way in your own life for sure.

Often, when we think everything is lost, this is the point in the rain storm when the rainbow is about to appear, holding within its bright colours the promise of new possibilities; the pot of gold is revealed from behind the dark rain clouds. Holding your centre and continuing to take the next step towards being your true self is all that is required. You will find how to be happy in your own skin. Each one of us makes a difference, so working to be whole and

true to ourselves is well worth doing. Within each of us, there is a small voice of calm, watching all the time. Even if you are living ‘off kilter’ and not taking care of yourself, this part of us knows and observes us at all times. Self awareness is simply waking up and living from this part. It is really listening to your heart which is always speaking to you, even if quietly at times. Listen to your intuition and resist living by outdated scripts that you perhaps learnt you were

little and no longer apply.

Being yourself is a gift to yourself and to everyone you encounter for it gives them permission to be themselves too. We teach best by example. I am in the job of healing and teaching others to be whole, so all that is really important is that I do my own work. It is vital that I clean and clear the mirror so that you can see your reflection clearly and learn how to be all that you can be.

Julia is a therapist, coach and healer. Julia has also been running all her life, and helping others find happiness and fulfillment in their lives for almost as long. The lessons she learns in seeking to master her running allow better understanding to master her life and to help her teach others to follow their path, listen to their voice and be true to themselves, fulfill their human potential and reach for their destiny! www.juliaarmstrong.com

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Therapy ROOMS

Welcome to the Therapy Rooms, where you will find solutions and ideas to support your health and wellbeing. We encourage you to contact our clinics and therapists to find out how, they can help you to improve your health, fitness and knowledge. Enjoy and be inspired.

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Wellbeing clinics & treatments

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Wellbeing clinics & treatments

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Wellbeing clinics & treatments

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£40 (earlybird £35)/Nick Neter/Tina Doherty www. eastborneshiatsu.co.uk 15th 6pm-7.30pm Breathe Yourself to Better Health with The Buteyko Method!

St Bridgets Hawkhurst FREE 01580 752852 www. buteykokent.co.uk 18th 9.30am-6pm. Horse Energy Human Energy: A workshop for all bodymind teachers and practitioners.

Kent. £80. nicola@ bodywisdom.org.uk 11.30-12.30pm | extra hour after regular Sunday 9-10.30am all-levels Yoga drop-in class | Brighton Natural Health Centre | £6 on top of £8 class fee | drop-in or call Charlotte 07776137390 |www. charlottewattshealth.com/ yoga 19th New Pilates courses begin and specialist pilates classes for pregnancy Natural Fitness Centre Eastbourne 01323 732024 www.naturalfitnesscentre. co.uk 24th Shamanic Workshop Natural Fitness Centre Eastbourne 01323 732024 www.naturalfitnesscentre. co.uk 3-5pm FREE Buteyko talk in Brighton | 07853 854 705 | www.learnbuteyko.co.uk 25th 3.30-5.30pm, Voicecircle workshop, an afternoon of chanting, deepen your connection to your voice. The Yoga-Life Studio, The Enterprise Centre, Eastbourne, £10/£8 conc., 07976 016 103.

10.30-4pm allwomanshow nikken sleep solutions stand and nutritional advice fontwell race course chichester children under 12 free with paying adult edgell 01273230947 or 07786405366 www. nutritionandhealing.co.uk 28th 7-9pm FREE Buteyko talk in Lewes |Equilibrium Complementary Health Centre |16 Station Street Lewes | BN7 2DB 07853 854 705 | www. learnbuteyko.co.uk & October 26th, 9.3011.30am, The Alternative Networking Group, The Yoga-Life Studio, £10, Tel: 07812 052742 yogaeastbourne.com

October

8th 3-5pm FREE Buteyko talk in Hove | Revitalise, BN3 2EB | 07853 854 705 | www.learnbuteyko.co.uk 2-5pm | De-Stress Yoga Workshops – relax and heal, make space and breathe deeply | Brighton Natural Health Centre | £25 (£20 conc) | Call 01273 600010 to book | www.charlottewattshealth. com/yoga 9am-2pm Walk In Shiatsu Clinic/ Natural Fitness Centre/ Eastbourne Donations from £10Nick Neter www. eastborneshiatsu.co.uk 10th Ten days of workshops/tasters/offers to celebrate our 10th birthday Natural Fitness Centre Eastbourne 01323 732024

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www.naturalfitnesscentre. co.uk

11th Alexander Teacher

Training Foundation | Thinking of a career change? 10.00am-12.30pm | £15.00 | All welcome | www.alexander-techniquecollege.com 14th 10am | BodyTalk Public Talk with Demonstration, followed by taster sessions | The Wellington Centre, Hastings | £10 taster sessions | 07967 211059 | www. sarahcorin.co.uk 15th 10am-4.30pm good food cookery workshop gluten & sugar free simple delicious recipes hove park school 38 nevill road brighton £80 nicki edgell 01273230947 or 07786405366 www. goodfoodcookery.co.uk 17th - 21st Buteyko Workshop in Hove, Oct | (Mon, Weds, Fri 7-9pm & Tues 8-10pm) |Equilibrium Complementary Health Centre, 16 Station Street Lewes BN7 2DB. (5 x 2hour sessions, 3 weeks follow up & reunion) 07853 854 705 | martha@learnbuteyko.com | www.learnbuteyko.co.uk 18th Alexander Teacher Training Foundation | Thinking of a career change? Experience training first hand.

10.00am-12.30pm | £15.00 | All welcome | www. alexander-techniquecollege.com 20th 8pm the moon inside you documentary

film exploring cultural taboo of menstruation Zu Studios 7 phoenix place lewes £6 01273230947 or 07786405366 www. wholewoman.co.uk

23rd | 11.30-12.30pm |

extra hour after regular Sunday 9-10.30am alllevels Yoga drop-in class | Brighton Natural Health Centre | £6 on top of £8 class fee | drop-in or call Charlotte 07776137390 |www.charlottewattshealth. com/yoga 25th 3.30-5.30pm, Voicecircle workshop, an afternoon of chanting, deepen your connection to your voice. The Yoga-Life Studio, The Enterprise Centre, Eastbourne, £10/£8 conc., 07976 016 103.

26th, 9.30-11.30am, The Alternative Networking Group, meet with likeminded individuals in the wellbeing industry to share leads, ideas and contacts. The Yoga-Life Studio, £10, 07812 052742, yogaeastbourne.com 29th 12.30-3.30pm | Alexander Technique Workshop with Mark Claireaux | Brighton Natural Health Centre Brighton | £25 | 01273 600010 | www.bnhc.co.uk

OCTOBER - MARCH 7-8-9 / 10am-5pm / LIVE IN LIGHT Foundation Course - Psychic development, new-birth, Quickening Consciousness / Brighton / £1200 / Tara 07919 463243 / www.liveinlight.co.uk

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