July/August 2011 West Kent Wellbeing Magazine by Haywood Media

Published by Haywood Media

July/August 2011

www.wellbeingmagazine.co.uk

Informative l

inspiring

YOGA Mind, Mood

enlightening

BUSINESS:

Barefoot Doctor & Inspired Entrepreneur

& Emotion

THERAPIES:

photoVoyage

TRAVEL

Brittany Spas

guide to

HAPPINESS

NUTRITION

FITNESS

HEALTH

TRAVEL

COMPETITIONS

www.wellbeingmagazine.co.uk

CONTENTS

Inside this issue...July/August 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

News

Publishing Director / Editor

LOCAL NEWS News from your area ...

Features

PHOTOVOYAGE See yourself for the first time...........

BUSINESS OF TAO Barefoot Doctor on business...............

AYURVEDIC APPROACH Childhood imbalances......................

GARDENING Grow your own Calendula...................

ANNUAL LEAVE How are you going to use yours?.....

TREE HUGGING Improves your health..........................

TRIED & TESTED For you and your family...................

IMMUNITY Boosting summer immunity................

INSPIRED ENTREPRENEUR Beat your resistence.......................

jam@wellbeingmagazine.com

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Hannah Rosalie

East Sussex Publisher

Tel: 01273 475402

hannah@wellbeingmagazine.com

Caroleann Block

East Kent Publisher

Tel: 01303 241134

caroleann@wellbeingmagazine.com

Richard Branson

Website richard@wellbeingmagazine.com

Associate Travel Editors

Regulars

Frances Barnes & Nick Hordern

16 34 Book reviews 35 Therapy Rooms RELAXING BREAK In Austria............................................18 BRITTANY SPAS Something to sing about.....................

Johnathon Martin

West & Central London Publisher

Tel: 020 8987 0137

CRYSTALS How might they help you?...................

Tel: 0800 881 5375

rachel@wellbeingmagazine.com

YOGA Mind, mood & emotion...................

NUTRITION Supplements........................................

Rachel Branson

THE LAUNDERETTE GURU Out of the Darkness..........................

Contributors

Kate Arnold Pat Crawford Nick Williams Wendy Rosenfeldt Charlotte Watt l

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.

ÂŠ Wellbeing Magazine 2011

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

Wellbeing 3

LOCAL

NEWS

Wellbeing news from around your area...

Welcome TO WELLBEING MAGAZINE!

his edition has been affectionately labelled as ‘the happiness edition’. True happiness implies happiness beyond circumstance and environment. Making a resolution to health, wealth and happiness and not just relying on luck and the direction of the wind.

Included in this edition are features on HAPPINESS from Alexandra Watson and Dr Mark Atkinson. We also have features from Barefoot Doctor and The Inspired Entrepreneur. As the magazine continues to grow we now find ourselves in West & Central London with the publisher, Johnathon Martin connecting with some of the biggest names in personal development, health and wellbeing. we hope you continue to enjoy the West Kent edition and if you find yourself wanting a printed edition delivered to your door then please join our ever grwoing number of subscribers by going to the magazine at wellbeingmagazine.co.uk/ subscribe and ensure you never miss a copy. Give a copy to a friend or refer them to our website to see the online edition We hope you LOVE this edition of the magazine and look forward to seeing you again in September / October when we will be celebrating our 5th anniversary. Enjoy & be inspired

Rachel 4 Wellbeing

Tunbridge Wells 10K Run and 1K Fun Run Sun 18th Sept Runs start and end at Lower Cricket Ground, Tunbridge Wells. Start time 10am. The 10K is a challenging but scenic course through some of the most beautiful countryside in the area. The 1K Fun Run is open to children, Mums, Dads, Grandparents etc and is a lot less exhausting! Sponsored by Savills and supported by Esporta. New for 2011 – Pantomime Horse Race! All proceeds to Hospice in the Weald. For entry fees and further information call 01892 820508

Forest Garden Foods Open Day July 17, from 2pm to 4:30pm South Farm Lane, Langton green, Tunbridge Wells forestgardenfoods.co.uk Phone: 07775814815 There will be: Tours of the forest garden A bee talk and hive demonstration - traditional as well as natural bee keeping. A chance to meet the piglets, ducks, geese, hens, turkeys Children’s seed sowing workshop, BBQ, Produce for sale, pony rides, birds of prey demonstration ttwells.ning.com/

Kyle

i l l a i V

Wellbeing news

OUR CONVERSATION WITH

Vitality Coach, Independent Wellness Researcher, Natural and Raw Food Consultant, Peak Performance Language Coach (how language effects our wellbeing), Speaker, Writer and Philosopher (one who LOVES Wisdom). Having met and spoken with Kyle several times I knew he had strong interest, knowledge and expertise in the areas of vitality, water & Tao. I was also aware that he was popping up frequently at ‘wellbeing events’ around town including the forth coming ‘Truth Matters Exhibition’ and ‘Vitality Longevity & Genius Conference’ in November. Kyle seems to be a guy worth listening to when it comes to wellbeing.

Q. What does the word ‘wellbeing’ mean to you? It implies all encompassing’ness and expresses the whole cosmology. I hear ‘wheel being’. A whole set of systems, like spokes that in unity support the wheel of life. The principles of wellbeing provide the law and order that creates and maintains the universe. Therefore to achieve wellbeing it’s important to address all areas of human life. Q. In your valid opinion, how does one best achieve wellbeing? Water is absolutely critical. The quality of water governs the quality or success of biology. Historically the world’s healthiest civilizations were in regions where they had particularly high quality water. The quality of water affects the wellbeing of the plants, animals and humans, the entire bio-system. Long-term health is directly related to the quality of the water you drink and ideally you

Words: Johnathon Martin

want to be drinking real spring water. You can either purchase this (in places like my website) or as a second choice, you can get a simple home distillation unit and make your own pure water. Basically with drinking water, and contrary to popular assumption, you want minimum minerals and maximum hydrogen ions. This is the formula for greatest hydration. Bruce Lee in ‘Enter The Dragon’ said, “Don’t concentrate on the finger, or you will miss all the heavenly glory.” When it comes to wellbeing, it’s best, instead of being fixated on one or two systems, to develop a cosmological understanding. Not slices of the cake, but the whole cake. Look at the big picture always. Look into the whole system. Explore all aspects of your life and develop an understanding as to how you fit into the universal system of being Everything we do has an effect. Be selective with your energy, make

sure that what you do in life makes you strong, vital and well, as opposed to weak, nervous and irritated. Q. Tell us a little about your events. I bring people together who appreciate a bird’s eye view of wellbeing. Vitality enthusiasts who are into a broad, balanced approach to thriving and accessing their full potential. The first successful Truth Matters exhibition, which has just passed, is set to return in November 11th. I’m doing a ‘skin workshop’ in Mayfair on 25th July and have a 100% success rate in healing skin conditions. We’re expecting over 1,000 people at the World Launch of ‘Vitality Longevity & Genius Conference’ on November 4th and invite readers of your fantastic magazine to visit www. vitalitylongevitygenius. com and enter the code WELLBEING for exclusive discounts. For further information on Kyle please visit www. kylevialli.com

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LOCAL

NEWS

Last year I felt frankly that the exhibition had taken a dip. Whether it was my mood or whether it had taken a dip from its usual high standards I don’t know. So this year I was delighted to attend along with 20,000 other visitors a really interesting, inspiring & even transformative event.

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Talking to Mel, The MBS CEO, afterwards he explained that the ultimate purpose of Mind Body Spirit events is to give people ‘a shift’ He said, ‘by all means buy a product to take home & have fun with friends whilst you’re here but we want our events to be experiential, positive

and to offer people a gateway experience towards their own life journey’. The exhibition ran over six days in Victoria. During that time visitors were treated to 76 workshops from holistic giants such as Barefoot Doctor, Robert Holden, Laura Day, Nick Williams, Carolina Shola Arewa, Gordon Smith, Diana Cooper & many more. Wow, so many informing, inspiring & enlightening leaders of humanity all at one event. The seemingly friendly, positive intentioned & open minded audience also got to witness 96 live acts. There were also 120 exhibitors all offering interesting products & services. The Hay House & Nutri Centre stalls in particular ran like large, well established high street shops. Whatever you were looking for in the world of personal development, health, wealth, happiness & spirituality you would have found it in Victoria during those 6 days. The next Mind Body Spirit London Festival starts 11/11/11 visit mindbodyspirit. co.uk.

FANTASTIC MR FOX COMES TO BEDGEBURY

ive open-air theatre returns to Bedgebury National Pinetum this summer. On Tuesday 30th August, the award-winning Illyria Theatre Company will be presenting an ingenious staging of Roald Dahl’s children’s classic Fantastic Mr Fox in Bedgebury’s picturesque Walled Garden. “This is our third year of open air theatre.” Says Cath Weeks, Bedgebury’s Learning & Interpretation Manager. “Fantastic Mr Fox is a show that all ages can

Wellbeing news

BRIDGING THE GAP

enjoy and promises to be a highlight of the summer holidays. Everyone can bring rugs or fold-up chairs and settle down to watch a fun show in a peaceful and atmospheric setting.” The show starts at 2.30pm and runs for one and a half hours, with a 20 minute interval. Refreshments are available and picnickers are welcome. There is easy parking close by. Tickets priced at £8 for children and £12 for adults are on sale through the Forestry Commission Box Office on 03000 680400 or from the Bedgebury Visitor Centre. www.forestry.gov.uk/ bedgebury

New counselling service aimed at bridging the gap between private practice and NHS waiting lists Kent Counselling is a team of qualified counsellors and psychotherapists who have recently opened new consulting rooms in the Holly Bush Lane area of Sevenoaks. Part of Kent Counselling’s service is to offer a

subsidised option in order to bridge the gap between private practice fees and long NHS waiting lists. They make counselling accessible to those members of the local community who could otherwise not afford regular therapy. The counselling team have specialist areas of expertise between them, each having experience in

working with adults, young people or couples. The children and young person’s service is headed by Debbie Owen who has 10 years of experience working in primary and secondary education services as a psychotherapist and consultant. Tanya Wright’s background is in women’s emotional wellbeing and those who have experienced abuse. Tanya also works for a GP surgery and Kent’s leading rape crisis service. Tony Wright is an experienced couple counsellor having trained with the Relate Institute. He is also an accredited coach and mentor with specialist interest in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Collectively, Kent Counselling offers a complete and confidential therapeutic service. kentcounselling.com

Influential Gardens of the English Landscape Movement Come to Hadlow College on Tuesday 8 November at 7.30pm, Pym Hall, to enjoy a lecture on the influential gardens of the English Landscape Movement. Delivered by Horticulture lecturer Stephen Harmer, the cost, inclusive of tea and coffee and a mince pie is £6, with a reduced fee of £5 for Broadview Garden Club members and students.

Stephen will look at the three main styles of the English Landscape Movement: Augustan, Serpentine and Picturesque. He will examine how the English Landscape Movement developed from the Renaissance and Baroque garden styles and then spread throughout Europe to the extent of influencing fashion away from the Baroqyue gardens in France.

Tickets can be obtained from Broadview Garden Centre or by sending an SAE to Pat Crawford at Hadlow College, Tonbridge Road, Hadlow, Kent TN11 0AL, enclosing a cheque made payable to Hadlow College. Telephone 01732 853211. Part of the proceeds will be given to the charity CHYPS, Charity no. 1121561.

Wellbeing 7

o t e d i u G s ’ e t a K

SUPPLEMENTS Words: Kate Arnold

re supplements really a waste of time and money? Is there a real need for them in 21st century living? With the threat of many being banned in the coming years, should it be under the control of our GP to prescribe vitamins or should our health be in our own hands? Should we be allowed to choose?

Balanced Diet The phrase you don’t need vitamins if you eat a “balanced diet” really grates on my nerves! As many people don’t have a clue what a real balanced diet is, essentially it’s a meaningless concept. As long as you’re not eating burgers and chips every day, you’ll be fine? Everything in moderation? To a certain degree, that last comment is correct. However, in the twelve years I’ve been doing this job, I see people on a daily basis who are eating appalling diets which not only may be making them ill but may be exacerbating the symptoms of their illness in the first place. Together with the fact that misjudged media hype means people may well be eating things they believe to be good for them but are actually a waste of time and money.

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Diseases from lack of vitamins Scurvy. If we think of vitamins on a basic level, most people know that we cannot make Vitamin C, and have to obtain it from food. We also know that lack of Vitamin C can give us scurvy - that’s why limes and lemons were bought on ships in the 1700s. Scurvy leads to the formation of spots on the skin, spongy gums, and bleeding from the mucous membranes. The spots are most abundant on the thighs and legs, and a person with the ailment looks pale, feels depressed, and is partially immobilized. In advanced scurvy there are open, suppurating wounds and loss of teeth. However, it was not until 1747 that James Lind formally proved that scurvy could be treated and prevented by supplementing the diet with citrus fruit. James Cook succeeded in circumnavigating the world (1768-71) without losing a single man to scurvy. Beriberi (meaning I cannot, I cannot in Sinhalese) is caused by a lack of thiamine (vitamin B1). Thiamine occurs naturally in unrefined cereals and fresh foods, particularly whole grain bread, fresh meat, legumes, green vegetables, fruit and milk.

Beriberi is therefore common in people whose diet excludes these particular types of nutrition e.g. as a result of famine. Beriberi may be found in people whose diet consists mainly of polished white rice, which is very low in thiamine because the thiamine-bearing husk has been removed. It can also be seen in chronic alcoholics with an inadequate diet (WernickeKorsakoff syndrome), as well as being a rare side effect of gastric bypass surgery. If a baby is mainly fed on the milk of a mother who suffers from thiamine deficiency, then that child may develop beriberi as well. The disease was often found in Asian countries (especially in the 19th century and before), due to those countries’ reliance on white rice as a staple food. Is this relevant today? In the western world no one could have scurvy, or beriberi could they? Well, I have heard and seen incidences of mild scurvy in young adults. Thankfully not with beriberi, although I have however seen many people with mild B vitamin deficiencies which can lead to: split lips, cracks at the corners of the mouth, photosensitivity, anxiety, palpitations, mental health

issues, etc. B12 anemias, I believe, are on the increase as many women have given up red meat and offal, as fashion and trends change. In these situations I think it’s vital to supplement until the diet is sorted out.

How many vitamins should I be taking? I often see patients bringing in rucksacks of vitamins and empty them out on my desk - my maximum to date was 47 pots of vitamins and herbs. This does concern me and often happens when people self prescribe or have been told by a friend that it will help a certain condition. People often ask me what I take on a daily basis. Some are surprised when I say nothing for several months. However, at the moment, I’m taking probiotics and vitamin B complex. That’s because I know my body and at the moment I know they are supporting me. It’s important to know exactly what you need, get any defiencies tested, and know the reason why you are taking them. On average (and this does vary hugely) about 4 or 5 supplements a day is plenty if your diet is really good. However it is entirely dependent on the individual and their needs, no two people are the same.

What vitamins can I get tested? The vitamin and mineral tests you can get from your GP are: iron, ferritin, calcium, zinc, Vitamin B12, magnesium, Vitamin D and folate. Nutritional tests (done at specialist labs)

include: Red cell magnesium, Essential Fatty Acids, CoQ10, B complex, chromium and all the vitamins and minerals. I don’t particularly want to get political or controversial but it’s vital that we are allowed to use vitamins and minerals ourselves without intervention from the government. It’s difficult to estimate how many people take responsibility for their own health and take a daily vitamin and mineral supplement. On the whole, no harm is done and there are more side effects from pharmaceutical drugs than there are vitamins. Sadly it is the occasional story hitting the news that can cause scaremongering. It is however of vital importance that you do not self-prescribe - it could be doing you more harm than good. Often, you might be taking too much of a supplement which could be interacting with other medications you are on, which could have an impact on your health or, more frustratingly, you could be taking not enough and wonder why it’s not working and wasting a lot of money in the bargain. There are deficiency symptoms of all the major vitamins and minerals, particularly so with magnesium, calcium, vitamin B, chromium, iron and B12. Below are some of the major deficiency symptoms of some vitamins and minerals (if you read this and have some of the symptoms, please dont panic and self medicate as there are other causes as well!) I offer a half hour tailored made service for £30. This will assess your individual needs. Call me on 01323 737814.

Deficiency symptoms of all the major vitamins and minerals Calcium Brittle Nails, Delusions, Depression, Hypertension, Insomnia, Irritability, Limb Numbness, Muscle Cramps, Nervousness, Osteomalacia Osteoporosis, Palpitations, Pins and Needles, Periodontal Disease

Pantothenic Acid -Vitamin B5 Alopecia, Burning feet, Depression, Faintness, Fatigue, Hypotension, Muscle spasms, Nervousness, Tachycardia, Weakness

Zinc Acne, Anorexia, Brittle nails, Depression, Fatigue, Growth impairment, Impaired wound healing, Paranoia, White spots on the nails, Memory impairment

Folic Acid Anaemia, Apathy, Digestive disturbances, Fatigue, Headaches, Memory impairment

Iron Anaemia, Brittle nails, Confusion, Depression, Dizziness, Palpitations, Fatigue, Inflamed tongue

Magnesium Anxiety, Confusion, Depression, Hypotension, Irritability, Muscle pains, Nervousness, Tachycardia, Weakness

Niacin - Vitamin B3 Confusion, Depression, Dermatitis, Diarrhoea, Fatigue Indigestion, Skin inflammation

Wellbeing 9

r o t c o D t Barefoo

THE TAO OF BUSINESS

I am essentially a holy man in modern form and what I provide are many types of ladders to the transcendent realm, in a lifelong bid to promote collective evolution of human consciousness.

Taoist Tradition This involves packaging it into distinct products – books, online courses, video material, music, events and so on – and bringing these effectively to market. And though Barefoot Doctor is essentially a job descriptor, meaning ‘humble healer’, (based on the ancient Taoist tradition for wandering mendicants who traveled about the countryside helping people be well and happy), it necessarily became a brand – the ship in which all the products sail along. However because what I’m bringing to market is all based on the Taoist template and because what I share I share as the tried and tested fruits of my personal practice in the Taoist way, I naturally market my goods and run my brand according to Taoist principles. Now I’m in no way advocating that you should do the same, as it’s not necessarily the fastest way to material success, however if

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what I tell you here does inspire you and you find yourself following similar lines, you’ll no doubt find, as have I, that it brings you the most unimaginable measure of satisfaction and joy all round. The whole point of doing anything on the material plane, according to this system, is to enjoy dancing with the invisible yet ubiquitous background presence (or Tao) informing this whole show. The actual achievements themselves are merely the baubles and bangles, not the substance of the prize itself. Reframing in this way, each day becomes a joy rather than a struggle, because no matter what you achieve or don’t you’ve felt the presence of the Tao. Ironically by identifying yourself thus, it seems to trigger a hugely benign flow of events and opportunities in your direction that take your business where you wanted it to go all the while anyway.

Relax & Flow Understanding the inevitable cycling of yin and yang (contractive phases followed by expansive phases, back again and so on), you stop grasping at the excitement of the easy times, or at the anxieties of the difficult times – both phases are merely wonderful opportunities to witness the Tao in different shades and hues. This helps you relax and flow more freely, which in turn causes you to make more original, creative decisions in your planning and conception of new ideas for products.

Then understanding how the energy you transmit returns to you multiplied, you naturally gravitate towards generosity and fairness when dealing with employees, partners, suppliers or customers, and though occasionally you’ll get rolled by unscrupulous bounders, mostly this enlightened, ethical, loving approach will cause the world to be generous with you in return. Above all however, you offer quality rather than going for sensationalism, you offer originality rather than going for copying others, and you imbue every offering with all the love in your heart, because ultimately your purpose is to be of service by contributing great things to the world, as this rather than egocentrically serving yourself, is what gives your own life the degree of meaning, direction and value required to make it all feel worthwhile – and paradoxically causes far more wealth and success to flow your way over the long run anyway. But as I say, I’m not suggesting this is a path you can adapt for your own purposes – it requires a huge level of derring do, let-go, surrender and courage, inevitably takes you on a proper roller-coaster, and often leaves you wondering if you aren’t plain touched in the head, but if you do choose to follow it, the rewards are so huge and incredible, enjoyable and magnificent, you ultimately won’t regret a single moment of it. In fact, what a ride – I love it and hope perhaps I’ve inspired you with it too.

GET INSPIRED

a l u d n e l Ca

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

Calendula – more commonly known as Marigold – enjoys a long history of healing for both the mind and the body. Native to Ancient Egypt, the Greeks drank an infusion of Marigold to relieve sleeplessness - and what today we call ‘stress’! Regarded as a symbol of good luck, it is believed to have first been brought to Britain by the Romans and was one of the earliest plants to be cultivated. During the Medieval period, a belief existed that merely looking upon the Marigold flower would benefit the eyesight – and also ‘draw out evil humours from the head’! Used as a dye, Marigold is also sometimes used as a food colourant to replace saffron (for many years it was one of the most-used colourants for cheese). The powerful chemicals that make the Marigolds such a useful plant are contained

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in the petals and so it is the flower heads that are used medically. The petals of the Marigold can be used to brighten up a salad – and who knows what benefits might be derived? Today’s herbalists make extensive use of this so-easy-to-grow flower - although it is probably best known for its ability to promote healing of wounds and as an antiseptic. Other properties the Marigold is claimed to bestow include treatment of bee and wasp stings, analgesic, antiinflammatory, astringent, diuretic and antispasmodic. It is also said to be useful as a ‘tonic’. Whilst the claim that our eyesight will improve as a result of merely looking at Marigolds hardly stands up to scrutiny, there is no doubt that sight of the glowing orange and yellow flowers lifts the spirits. Many insects avoid Marigolds because they dislike the smell – (the pungent odour can hardly be described as a ‘scent’ as in

the Rose!) This makes the Marigold a good ‘companion plant’ that can help to protect other nearby plants. Some organic gardeners use the Marigold to make an insect repellant spray to help protect sitting-out areas in the garden. (However, the smell of the ‘common’ Marigold to which this text refers is nowhere near as strong as that of the French marigold.) Marigolds can be sown directly into the ground - they also look good grown in earthenware pots – and they mix especially well with pots of Nasturtiums. Both are so..so..so easy to grow – and it’s not too late to plant seeds this year! (But hurry!) Because Marigolds are so failure-proof - Nasturtiums too - they are ideal seeds to encourage young children to garden. The profusion of flowers produced by a small number of seeds will be a fitting reward for a young gardener. Marigolds like well-drained soil

TREE HUGGING improves health

Hadlow a wide ra offers nge of c areer (includin g degree ) and recreatio nal cours hor ticult es for urists an d garden includin ers, g Medic inal Hor Telepho ti c u lt ure. ne: 050 0 for inform 551434 ation.

and a sunny position. Remove weeds, dig over and then rake to achieve a fine, crumbly texture (known as ‘tilth’). Scatter the seeds - or place them on the surface. Cover with a fine layer of soil. Water very gently. The same process can be used for sowing into pots and tubs. The seedlings can be thinned out as necessary and replanted elsewhere. Continue to water during dry periods – but sparingly. Don’t allow the children to become too generous with the watering can and so cause the soil to water-log! Dead-head as necessary in order to keep the plants looking attractive and they will go on flowering right through to early frosts. Note: Marigolds are so good at self-seeding, their ‘annual’ status is sometimes overlooked! Hadlow’s fees relating to RHS courses have undergone a substantial reduction since last year!

ree hugging, that much maligned hippy generation idea, has now been shown to have scientific validity after all. Contrary to popular belief touching a tree does make you healthier. In Blinded by Science, the author Matthew Silverstone, proves scientifically that trees improve the symptoms of depression, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), concentration levels, reaction times and even alleviate headaches. In fact you don’t even have to touch the tree to get better, just being within its vicinity has the same effect. How, you might ask is this possible? Silverstone explains how simple the process is by taking the readers on a journey of discovery. By introducing the idea that everything vibrates combined with the unique properties of water, it becomes clear that plants and trees communicate to each other using vibrations. The trees being large emit the biggest vibrations. These vibrations are then picked up by the water content in our blood which cause biological changes to occur. These changes take place instantly. These ideas are backed up throughout the book by hundreds of different scientific studies to provide overwhelming proof that tree hugging after all is not such a crazy idea. Blinded by science is a fascintating book, once you start reading you won’t want to put it down and it will have you pondering why you never knew these things before. To purchase your copy and to join the debate visit www.blindedbyscience.co.uk

Wellbeing 13

BOOSTING SUMMER IMMUNITY

Words: Nigel Denby, Registered Dietician

fter all the planning, researching and the saving it’s finally here - your summer break! Your holiday is really important to you, so don’t take chances and have your trip ruined by illness. This Summer 60 million journeys will be made abroad by British holidaymakers, and up to 50% of those will have their fun interrupted by stomach upsets and illness (1). With a little know how and some planning ahead you could avoid being one of them by making sure your immune system is in tip top shape. As well as getting your beach body ready for your holiday, this year, try my three week immunity boosting plan to make sure you stay healthy on the inside too.

The simple three week, three step plan to boosting holiday health Week 1 Start increasing your intake of foods rich in zinc and beta carotene. Your body can store these nutrients so it’s a good idea to build up your reserve a few weeks before you set off. Foods containing zinc include shell fish, oysters, red meats and whole grains- swap your usual lunchtime sandwich for a crayfish and rocket sandwich on whole grain bread Beta carotene is found in orange and yellow vegetables. Sweet potatoes are a good source and make a great alternative to regular baked potatoes or try them mashed with butternut squash or carrots. Start taking a daily probiotic. Actimel contains a unique combination of probiotic bacteria which have been researched for over 15 years and target you body’s natural defences. Take a 15 minute walk at lunch time- this will help relieve the stress from the morning and give your cardiovascular system some exercise. Try to take 30 minutes “you” time this week. Do something you find really relaxing.

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Week 2 Start to increase your intake of garlic, have garlicky pasta sauces, garlic bread or even garlic soup at least 2-3 times a week. If you’re worried about smelly breath chew some raw parsley after eating garlic. Step up your exercise by another 15 minutes now- extra walking, using the stairs or even dancing round the house to three of your favourite tracks gets you up to your 30 minute daily target. Eat foods rich in Thiamine (vitamin B1) every day. Thiamine deters insects from biting, it’s thought the vitamin gives your body an odour which only the insects can sense and makes you an unappealing victim. Thiamine is found in whole grains, pulses, liver, eggs and dairy products as well as yeast extracts. Its scrambled eggs on wholegrain toast with marmite this week for breakfast.

Week 3 It’s the final countdown to your holiday and as well as keeping up your tips from weeks 1 and 2 there are some last minute things you can still do to help boost your immunity. Eat plenty of food rich in vitamin C; your body can’t store vitamin C so it’s important you keep eating these foods while you are away. Citrus fruits and their juices and tomatoes are all good sources. Make a list of all the things you need to pack for your trip- this will help manage your pre holiday stress- each time you feel anxious look at your list to remind yourself everything is under control. If you are going to an exotic location pack a fruit peeler, some antiseptic hand wipes and some reusable ice cubes for drinks. If you are prone to cold sores when you’re in the sun make sure you take a lip balm with at least a SPF 30 to use while you are away. Get some insect repellent wipes or spray which contain DEET, insects hate it! Even consider a mosquito net to hang over your bed at night.

Wellbeing immunity

What can you do to boost your immune system?

While you are away The most important thing to do now is relax and enjoy yourself but if you are worried about water sanitation, make sure you follow these tips: • • • • • •

Ask for drinks without ice Only drink water from sealed bottles Use bottled water when cleaning teeth Avoid salads and raw vegetables Avoid fruit unless you have peeled it your self Avoid ice lollies and ice cream

You don’t need to do anything radical to help boost your immunity, and to make it even easier, we’ve put together a simple 3 week plan with the easiest, most effective ways to give your immune system a helping hand.

Eat well

Get active

Chill out

The foods you eat and drink can have a direct effect on your body’s ability to ward off infections:

We all know that keeping active is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, its also great for keeping your immunity in shape.

Diets which are rich in vitamin C, beta carotene, zinc can boost your body’s ability to fight off hostile bugs.

Exercise strengthens your: Cardio vascular system Respiratory system Nervous system by helping to relieve stress. Being active also helps you sleep better so your body can rest and repair itself naturally.

We all feel stress from time to time, and a certain amount can be healthy. But too much stress takes a toll on your immune system. Busy lives, juggling work, family, friends and home can all get a bit too much. Taking extra exercise can help but so too can some “you” time:

Taking a daily probiotic which targets the body’s natural defences is a great, simple step towards increasing the healthy bacteria in your gut. These bacteria play an important role in immunity. The humble garlic clove contains a compound called Allicin which is thought to help you fight off a whole range of infections.

Did you know that just an extra 30 minutes brisk activity every day is enough for most people to feel a benefit? Brisk activity includes walking, cycling or even 30 minutes of extra household chores like gardening, house work or washing the car.

• • •

A soak in the bath Reading a good book Listening to relaxing music

Regular treats like a massage, manicure or a facial can also really help you wind down, switch off and relax. Taking time out, even for just a few minutes is a good step towards looking after your immune system.

Wellbeing 15

CRYSTALS

HOW MIGHT THEY HELP YOU?

Crystals are one of the most natural things in the world to help bring your body into balance. Crystals contain a host of minerals such as potassium, manganese, boron, calcium, iron, and apatite (apatite is one of the minerals found in our bones and teeth). Iron crystals are in our blood and if you looked under a microscope at the skeletal make up of animals and humans you’d find they’re crystalline in structure, so working with crystals is drawing on the energy already within us. Many of us take mineral supplements, and in their purest form some are extracted from crystals/minerals that have been growing deep in the earth for millions of years. When our energy fields become depleted through illness, stress or emotional upheaval using specific crystals can help bring your energy field back into balance quite quickly. Some of the illnesses crystals have helped are often physical illness which have deeply rooted emotional causes, therefore things such as asthma, colitis, depression, insomnia and sciatica, often respond well to crystal therapy.

Amethyst Many people are attracted to its wonderful purple colour which looks lovely as a piece of jewellery. But did you know that it can often help with migraine and

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insomnia? It has also been used for thousands of years as one of the gems worn by priests in their ceremonial robes.

Precious Gems Rubies, emeralds and sapphires are shown as a sign of great wealth and are highly prized for their appearance, but they also have healing properties - a sapphire works to encourage all healing processes through the mental decision to get well. It lessens pain, lowers fevers and can be particularly helpful in dealing with intestinal and nervous illnesses. In ancient mythology a sapphire was regarded as the stone of Saturn in all the old cultures of Europe and India. To them it represented the Heavens, the sphere of the angels, fidelity and friendship.

Quartz The most stable of all crystals, energy-wise, is clear Quartz. It’s very hard, quite light and very difficult to dissolve in water

Words: Caroleann Block

or decompose. It’s formed by atoms of oxygen and silicon dioxide sharing electrons which bond together under massively high temperatures to produce a stable molecule; atoms vibrating at a very stable frequency. Because of these properties clear Quartz crystals are used in many manufacturing industries which require this stability as it emits this strongly even in very minute pieces such as a silicon chip. A watch, navigational instruments, microwaves, computers, mobile phones all rely on clear Quartz chips for precise functioning. In a ‘healing’ capacity clear Quartz is known as the ‘master healer’. Its uses are powerful and varied and no crystal therapist is without several different types in their ‘toolbox’. Crystals in some shape or form are around us everywhere. You can harness their power easily and effectively. Knowing how to put them to good use is a delight to learn and an experience that lasts a lifetime. Caroleann Block is a crystal therapy practitioner and teacher. She is often an invited speaker for organisations and Associations. She holds beginners, intermediate and advanced crystal workshops in Kent and South London and is a tutor for the International Association of Crystal Healing Therapists-a school recommended by Judy Hall in her book ‘Crystal Bible 2’. :www.crystalsforhealing.co.uk.

5 Rhythms Movement Meditiation The Five Rhythms Movement Meditation is a dynamic, healing art and dance practice developed by Gabrielle Roth from New York in 1960’s. The 5 Rhythms in Name are flowing staccato chaos lyrical and stillness. These rhythms are energy in motion that we learn to embody through dance and movement. Each one has a different feel and dynamic, drawing out expression from the body in an authentic and organic way. Music relates to each rhythm to guide and catalyze you into deep movement meditation. Why we dance this practice is to unlock held in and repressed energy that frees us to be more

genuine. The 5 Rhythms is a spiritual practice that promotes well-being and personal transformation. It is a dance practice that challenges our self consciousness, the discipline is to focus and give attention to the our body’s instinctive expression, we become the choreographer in spontaneous, freestyle movement, no steps to learn, no-one to imitate, you discover your originality and own uniqueness. Everything we are becomes a dance which transforms stuck and held emotion into moving art. If we are feeling frustrated, or irritable, sad, mad, or bad, it can all be moved releasing into inspired and creative energy. The

shadow and the light of who we are become poetry in motion, our talking head becomes more still and we are left feeling grounded, more relaxed. In today’s stressful world we need this practice to let go of overload, to reconnect with ourselves in a meaningful way that is real and to connect to others in this way also. There is no dogma in the dance, it is where we find common ground, it is a practice that is inclusive of age, gender, religion, shape and size, all you need is to be is yourself and move! Emma Leech –Teacher of 5 Rhythms To find a class near you go to www.emmadance.co.uk or www.gabrielleroth.com

Wellbeing 17

a i r t s Au

A RELAXING BREAK TO

As my plane glided across the Austrian skies, I gazed down at clusters of villages imprinted into the snow. I was travelling to Innsbruck, in the west of Austria, to sample the delights of the Wiesenhof hotel and spa. Based in a small mountain community overlooking Innsbruck, the hotel is run by Johannes Entner and his wife, the third generation to look after guests in this beautiful community. I meet Johannes at the airport and he drove me to the resort, roughly 35 minutes in the car. It is nestled in a small village with a population of just 580 people. I asked Johannes if there are any bears in the wilderness around the mountains. “No bears,” he said casually. “Just the occasional wolf.” Every year we make promises to go to the gym and live a healthier lifestyle. But after a promising start to the year we cave in to our strongest impulses and worm our way back into old habits. So I looked for a better way to detox, to overcome the stress of the 9-5 cycle. And it looks like I found it in Innsbruck. The Wiesenhof’s spa treatments are designed around Tyrolean shale oil, native to the area and produced from the limestone-like rocks in the surrounding mountains. The rocks

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are exposed to an intense heat over a long period of time, during which the oil forms. The oil is then refined several times to ensure purity before being bottled and used in the spa. At the spa, I am treated to a massage using the glossy shale oil. I explained any problem areas to the staff (I suffer a sore neck and back quite often; slouching at my desk, I imagine) and they tailor a programme around me during my stay. Next, a special herbal bath is run for me to help improve circulation around and to the heart. I am led into a private room with stunning views across the mountains - the rooms in the hotel and spa feel so intimate and cosy, yet with breathtaking sights to behold. The Picadilly line and my commute to work seem so distant as frothy, scented bubbles fill the air, sending my head spinning in a fragrant daze. Tossed in the bath – deep and studded with aqua jets - are delicate strips of a sweet wood. I feel like an ingredient in the most warming soup as I let the jets pummel my muscles and ease any tension. Later, I am told the wood comes from a special tree that grows almost exclusively in this region. The English name for it is ‘Swiss Pine’, although it is

Words: Chris Mandle

not a member of the pine family at all. One of the spa’s treatments on offer is the ‘Soft Pack Bed’ - I find myself covered in wet hay before being wrapped in linen sheets and suspended over a bed. My body is heated to 43 degrees as muscle problems and the spinal area are targeted. All the treatments are excellent at melting away any cause of illcomfort, but they do so in a relaxing, gentle way; perfect for anyone who comes away from physiotherapy with more bruises then when they started. When not enjoying the tailored treatments at the Wiesenhof, there are a variety of saunas and steam rooms to enjoy. Admittedly, the 90 degrees ‘Bee-House Sauna’ was a bit intense for my liking - five gasps and I had to leave - but the milder rooms are a great way to open your pores and banish impurities. If you’re already planning your next relaxing break why not make the trip to Austria. for more information email info@wiesenhof.or visit wiesenhof.at/ or

Discovering true happiness Words Dr Mark Atkinson

Happiness – we all want to be happy – but it turns out that despite most of us enjoying a much higher quality of life and greater wealth than 50 years ago, over the same period our happiness levels haven’t risen at all. So why is this? In a nutshell it’s because our happiness has very little to do with our life circumstances – researchers estimate that this counts for less than 10% of our happiness. Getting a rise in pay, buying the latest iphone or finding a new partner may temporarily boost our mood, but the effect soon wears off – I’m sure you already know this! It turns out that the master key to true happiness is much less to do with what we have and much more to do with our way of being in the world. True happiness, which I describe as a deep sense of well-being, inner peace and vitality that is with you most of the time in most circumstances, arises spontaneously and naturally when we shift from an egocentric to true-Self centric way of being in the world.

Ego versus True Self The ego is simply who we think we are – it’s a web of beliefs, assumptions, expectations, and desires that is rooted in fear, control and resistance. Anytime we are caught up in the content of our awareness (thoughts and emotions) or resisting reality we are caught up in ego and asleep to deeper nature – the true Self. The true Self is our true nature and source of intuitive guidance and true happiness. When we live in alignment with our true Self life feels and flows so much better

Discovering True Happiness In my book True Happiness I outline in detail a complete blueprint for making this shift to a true-Self centric way of being – to discovering True Happiness. One of the first steps to true happiness is this: Stop believing everything that you think

One of the most common causes of stress and unhappiness is living in your head and taking seriously the ‘stories’ that your head creates. Most of what we think simply isn’t true and has no bearing on reality. A simple and quick way to disengage any stressful story that your head is making up is to notice the negative thought, for example ‘there’s no way I can get this done in time’– then say that stressful thought out loud (or silently in your head) very slowly – leaving a few seconds gap between each word. Breathe slowly and repeat two to three times, notice how it starts to open up a sense of inner spaciousness and balance. You can also use this tool to free yourself from any negative belief you have about yourself. Dr Mark Atkinson is a medical doctor and internationallyrenowned authority in emotional health and human potential development. He is the founder of the Academy of Human Potential, developer of human potential coaching and author of True Happiness – your complete guide to emotional health. For details of Dr Atkinson’s training courses and workshops visit www.drmarkatkinson.com

Wellbeing 19

BRTTTANY SPAS

SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT Words Frances Barnes Confidently, arms outstretched, I thrust myself away from the poolside into the water, expecting the rest of me to follow. Seconds later legs and feet were flailing in the air at ear level and I was bobbing about near certain to collide with fellow bathers. Yes, you guessed it. I was in a thalasso pool – and no ordinary one at that. I was in Brittany, birthplace of Thalassotherapy, where heated seawater and marine minerals are combined to produce wonderfully relaxing and beneficial health programmes in state-of-the art Spas. So mainstream are thalassos in France that they are frequently prescribed by doctors as relaxation or detox “cures”. Before forgetting the super buoyancy of thalasso pools, I’d been gazing through the wide-paned windows of the Miramar Crouesty’s Oceanic pool while underwater jets pummelled neck, back and thighs. Ahead of me was the resort’s Le Fogeo beach at the heart of the beautiful Gulf de Morbihan, described as the loveliest bay in the world and located in the Brittany’s temperate south. Occasionally I lounged like a Caesar on the “bubble bench” an underwater banquette, and let the magic 37 degree waters and massage jets do their work. Ever since the first Thalassotherapy centre opened in Roscoff over a hundred years ago, Bretons have exported their beloved brainchild to coastal resorts all over France and beyond. “Coastal” because strict rules govern the provenance of thalassos; they must be no further than half a mile from the sea;

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seawater used in treatments must be pure and fresh (not stored) and be heated to specified temperatures. More rules apply to seaweeds and marine wraps used in programmes. The Miramar Crouesty, a floating palace among thalassos, more than ticked all boxes. Set in a seawater lake and shaped like a graceful ocean liner it has a panoramic rooftop swimming pool, ground level thalasso centre with luxurious treatment rooms, and, sumptuous balconied suites as “cabins.” Two restaurants are the domain of Chef Yves Toublanc, where buffets,a la carte and delicious “Dietique”menus (not more than 300 calories) are served. The resort fashionably at the cutting edge of thalasso, is constantly developing advanced facilities, such as its new Hammam, complete with changing lights and cold fountain, and “airbed” treatment baths, where guests float while enjoying detox seaweed wraps. Equally state-of-the-art and newly opened is the inland Domaine de Cice-Blossac, just 10 miles from Rennes in the village of Bruz. Part of a glamorous 280 acre onwater golf and Spa complex, it is beautifully developed amid slow moving waterways and magnificent woodlands that recall a New England

Mirimar Crouesty Resort landscape. Luxurious suites are housed in wood-clad buildings set on stilts, and even have smart kitchens to add a self-catering option to the resort’s excellent restaurant. The Cice Blossac’s Spa’s elegant minimalism has an oriental flavour. Treatments include massages, wraps and detox programmes, with revitalising Ayurvedic “modelage” and “après-golf” relaxing combinations of Hammam and aromatherapy. Special day and weekend packages are available, including use of the golf course, with “Beginners Golf” proving popular. Versatile function rooms are also on offer at the resort. Rennes, ancient capital of Brittany, was almost entirely rebuilt on Paris lines after a drunken carpenter set fire to almost the whole city in 1720 – only the Palais de Justice an original survivor. Today, this university city offers a chic mix of shopping, restaurants and sightseeing. Not

NICK HORDERN GETS UP TO PAR AT THE ALLIANCE PORNIC RESORT HOTEL & THALASSOTHERAPY

Domaine de Cice-Blossac to be missed is the Food Market and the Rue de Nemours where you can sample local cheeses and the famous “galettes” and biscuits, almost as close to Breton hearts as their world famous Crepes. Impressions of Brittany’s ancient Celtic heritage abound, from Standing Stone monuments to bilingual traffic signs. Nearly 1m speak Breton, a language close to Cornish or Welsh, and each August the Inter-Celtic music Festival at Lorient is an annual highlight. “Welcome to the end of the World” reads the Tourist Office brochure at Pointe de Raz, literally translating the region’s

far western corner, “Finistere.” Here spectacular cliffs, jagged coastlines and terrifying currents combine in an iconic Brittany image. Daily the changing tides reveal and then cover an archipelago of rocky islands, on which, far out to sea and battered by the ocean, perch lighthouses of Breton stone. The first of these took over 12 years to build in conditions of highest danger, back in the 1800s. It eloquently sums up the courage and gritty determination of Bretons who have kept their culture, language and Celtic traditions in place. “End of the world?” I don’t think so.

Mirimar Crouesty Resort Thalasso & Spa, Port du Crouesty t. (+33)2 97 53 49 00 e. reservations@mirimarcrouesty.com Rooms (Euros): Single 124E, Suites 252E, Spa/Thalasso Packages from 88-150 Euros Domaine de Cice-Blossac, Bruz t. (+33)2 99 52 76 76 e. resa@domainedecice.com Rooms (Euros): Single from 89 E; weekends 75E;

The invitation was to follow an 18-hole round Alliance of golf by spending 2 Pornic days being cosseted in Resort the nearby Alliance Pornic Resort Hotel & Thalassotherapy It was like scoring a hole in one! Located in a protected creek south of Brittany, this fabulous resort in the Loire-Atlantique, offers many facilities to its guests, such as a sea-view restaurant and panoramic bar among other features of this 121-room beach hotel and spa. The fitness area includes a heated seawater swimming pool (30oC), heated seawater bath (33oC), and an aquatic trail of Jacuzzi, jets streams, cascade of showers, swan necks, bubble baths, bubble beds, steam rooms, sauna, fitness and gym room. Pornic was already coveted by the Vikings, protected in the Xth-century by a fortress, to become one the residence of Gilles de Rais, the “Blue Beard Chateau” during the Middle Ages. In the 21st-century the vicissitudes of the past centuries seem a world apart from your balcony overlooking the Atlantic.

see domainedecice.com for exceptional packages Brittany Tourism www.brittanytourism.com Agence Departementale du Tourisme du Finistere t. (+33)2 98 76 24 77 www.finisteretourisme.com Comite Departemental du Tourisme du Morbihan t.(+33)2 97 54 62 97 www.morbihan.com Alliance Pornic Resort Thalasso & Spa. Pornic t.(+33)2 40 82 91 75 e. info.resa@thalassopornic,com

Wellbeing 21

The Launderette Guru Words: Steve Taylor

Although I researched and wrote it over the last three years, my new book Out of the Darkness (Hay House) really began about 15 years ago. I was living in a shared flat in Manchester, and one day my flatmate came home in a state of excitement, telling me, ‘You’ve got to meet the guy who runs the local launderette – he’s a really spiritual guy, like a guru!’ Intrigued, I took my next load of washing there, and as soon as I was walked through the door I realised this wasn’t an ordinary launderette. It was painted bright, attractive colours, and there were inspirational quotes pinned to the wall. And I quickly realised that the tall, white-haired man who was busy emptying one of the machines wasn’t an ordinary launderette manager. Soon after we started chatting Tony – as he introduced himself – told me about the dramatic

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transformation he’d been through several years earlier, when he almost died of a heart attack. Until that time he’d been a successful businessman who devoted his life to making money. As he says now, ‘I was just going through the motions, not really living.’ When he had his heart attack at the age of 52 it was like waking up out of a dream. ‘It may sound ridiculous but it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me,’ he told me. ‘It made me realise that the only important thing in life is not to be successful or wealthy, but to be happy…I feel like I’m living in a multi-coloured world compared to a black and white one. The world is an amazingly beautiful place if you look it at properly.’ I realised that Tony had experienced a permanent spiritual awakening, as a result of his encounter with death. Shortly after meeting

Tony, I saw a TV interview with the playwright Dennis Potter, when he was dying of cancer. Potter remarked that, although he was dying, he felt happier and more at peace with the world than ever before. As he said during the interview, ‘We forget that life can only be defined in the present tense. It is is is. And it is now only… That nowness becomes so vivid to me that in a perverse sort of way I’m serene. I can celebrate life’ As for Tony, Dennis Potter’s imminent death had brought about a psychological transformation, a shift to a higher state of consciousness. I wanted to understand why death had this liberating effect, and over the years I encountered several people who had similar experiences as a result of undergoing intense turmoil, such as severe depression or serious illness, bereavement, disability, reaching ‘rock

bottom’ through alcoholism, and so on. And then, four years ago, I had a similar experience myself, when I was ill in hospital. I had a little known illness called quinsy, which led to a serious bacterial infection. But after the initial anxiety and frustration passed away, I was filled with a strange sense of inner peace and well-being. Shortly after this, I decided to research the topic more thoroughly, and sought out as many people as I could who had undergone ‘transformation through suffering.’ In the end I interviewed over 30 people, and the interviews were the raw material of Out of the Darkness. At that point, I decided to make contact with Tony again, but found that his launderette was no longer there. No one had any idea what had happened to him. He must be quite elderly now, in his late 70s, but if anyone is reading this and recognises him, please get in contact with me. I want to thank him for helping to give birth to my book all those years ago. Steve Taylor is the author of several best-selling books on psychology and spirituality, including Making Time, Waking From Sleep and his new book Out of the Darkness (Hay House). www.stevenmtaylor.com

HAPPINESS & other life mysteries Words Alexander Watson

ou have to know what happiness is for you before you can have it. Otherwise you spend many fruitless and frustrating years searching for it in all the wrong places. It’s like going clothes shopping with plenty of money to spend but with only a vague idea of what you want to buy. Now this may sound like fun, but you can spend all day visiting every single store. You try on many different items, but nothing seems right, so you give up and go home. Or worse, because you really want to get something, you end up panicbuying. It is only when you get home do you admit that what you bought really doesn’t suit you at all. This is a metaphor for how we sometimes approach happiness. We may be ready and willing, but do we actually know what we are looking for? And how many times in our lives has our eagerness to be happy made us buy into the wrong thing? Being vague about happiness equates to a waste of your time and money, so you need to get clear.

Many women have romantic ideas about happiness. We often believe that one day someone will come and save us from all this madness. Worse still, some believe that true happiness doesn’t exist at all and is just an ideal. And there are some who believe happiness is one of life’s mysteries, a rare and fragile prize. Finally, some have what I call a ‘lottery mentality.’ They treat happiness as something to be won. They live their lives waiting and hoping it will be their turn soon, only if they are lucky enough. The moral of all this is that many people leave their happiness to chance or to someone else, instead of creating it for themselves. The truth is, happiness can only be created by ourselves.

Ask yourself the following: What are my true feelings about happiness?

Make a list of all the things that make you happy in life. These can be big or small. Include as many of them as you can. Making a simple list of what makes you happy gives you the opportunity to really think about your feelings. Just doing this exercise can make you feel happy. Make a decision about your possibility of success in being able to create a happy and fulfilling life before you start. Choose to have an easy experience and be resolute about it. Forget about how things have been in the past. Take the opportunity to arm yourself with a firm decision that you will be very happy and then go all out to prove yourself right. Making positive choices is vital to your happiness so start making them now. Choose to be successful at creating happiness no matter what. www.AlexandraWatson.com alex@alexandrawatson.com

Do I think becoming truly happy is possible?

Wellbeing 23

photoVoyage Seeing yourself for the first time Words: Louise Street

Pictured: Louise Street, Photographed by Penny Millar

I’d been in counselling for a while following the death of my mother and it was becoming clearer that my poor self-acceptance was an issue so when I came across photoVoyage in a Magazine I thought it maybe a way of getting to see my looks in a more positive light but it’s actually had an even greater impact than that. A year on I now feel eager to sharing my story in the hope it helps someone else like me.

What is photoVoyage The 90 minute photoVoyage starts with a photo shoot in natural light and comfortable surroundings. Penny then chats with you in a relaxed way while she is shooting, then downloads the photos straight onto her computer. We both look at them together selecting the most significant images – the ones that show different facets, and that help define who you are and where you want to go, one of which will say “Here I am - This is me” For so long my negative self-image was trapped inside my mind and often reared it’s inhibiting effects especially in times of insecurity so photoVoyage felt a positive thing to do. I was apprehensive to say the least

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as I’d done nothing like this before and didn’t really know where it would lead. Penny was instantly reassuring and encouraging and so the session began. Indeed even after the first photos I still felt apprehensive but with Penny’s direction and relaxed manner I soon got into the flow of the photo shoot – a series of photos taken as I was chatting about interests and my life, catching the ‘wider me’ not just the usual ‘smile at the camera’ pose. At the time I found it very hard to look at the photos, many seemed to show an ugly person and I couldn’t identify with those that showed a more confident me. With Penny’s help though, I was able to acknowledge aspects that I could start to be comfortable with rather than in a critical way, now there was the possibility to see the serene and happy me. We chose a handful of pictures to have as a new, more positive image for my mind to call upon. It was left to me to then see what other family and friends thought of the photos. I did show my husband who thought they were lovely and how typical the ones of me smiling were. I didn’t feel able to show anyone else I was still too embarrassed!

Counselling continued and helped me discover, among other things, that I don’t need to justify or hide who I am: my looks, my thoughts, my feelings, my experiences. It’s okay to just ‘be me’. Since the initial session with Penny, I’ve kept several images in my mind to recall at times when I’ve been tempted to return to a more negative view of myself. Then the other day I took another look at all the pictures. What a surprise! I could actually spend time looking at them without intense criticism or anxiety. I was able to group them into five categories: insecure, thoughtful, expressive, confident and happy, accepting now that these were all aspects of me – not fearing or rejecting some aspects as I had done in the past. What a change! It’s as though the effect of the ‘new’ images were having a chance to spread through to every cell in my body. Day to day I’ve noticed the changes in many areas of my life. I can now look in a mirror without excessive anxiety or criticism. I can see my skin colour without feeling inferior. I can even be more spontaneous in my behaviour without being dominated by the fear of rejection. I am free to be me. Penny Millar is a photographer, facilitator and accredited coach Tel: 01825 723840 www.photovoyage.co.uk.

Wellbeing 25

Yoga

Mind, Mood and Emotional Health Through

hen going to a yoga class it is all too easy to simply get caught up in what this can do for us physically, without considering the mental, emotional and psychological benefits. In fact one of the first tenets of yoga as written in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - the foundation of all modern yoga – is the intention to balance and settle the mind. This is a tough call in our highly stimulated 21st century lives – we are used to constant input, from light, sound, TV, traffic….. To protect ourselves we often put up barriers, shut down channels and create personas to cope with these demands. All this avoidance of being still and continually distracted by external stimuli can have the effect of exhausting us physically and mentally. We can feel that we have to just keep going and be expected to cope with what are very challenging circumstances for our brains. Personally I began yoga as a form of emotional release. At a time in my life when I was riddled with anxiety, depression and insomnia, I felt the need to learn to live in the present, as I was ricocheting between angst about the past and worry about the future. I don’t think I was this aware at the time though - I may have phrased it as ‘helping me

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Words: Charlotte Watt

cope with stress’, ‘opening up my body’ or to ‘giving me more strength’. But through learning to breathe more freely, let go and listen to my body’s needs I found that my mind became less chatty and I began to find some space and peace. Anyone who has decided to come to a yoga class has very possibly recognised the need for emotional release on some level, even if they don’t articulate it as such. Instinctively we know that opening the body and breathing freely can only help us mentally. Letting go of emotional baggage is a continual process that demands time and practise; we can learn to more quickly tune into that as we become more adept at breathing, meditating and practising yoga postures (asanas) in a calm and easy manner. This can feel quite difficult, even uncomfortable at first and bring up strong feelings – from anxiety, to irritation and even the release of anger as we move stagnant stuff outwards. This is powerful stuff. In the area of emotional release it is important to note that we are not just referring to ‘bad’ emotions here – this is not a judgement call. Like stress, emotions just ‘are’, it is how they affect us or how we react to them where problems lie. Holding onto even the most benign emotions, such as

unhealthy love or attachment can damage and limit us. Yoga looks to allow all of our emotions to exist, but helps us simply observe them and watch them go, just part of the natural ebb and flow of our selves. The true source of anxieties, depressive cycles and fears often lies in what we can or can’t control and to what extent we try to control this. Many of our conditioned habits, negative coping patterns and excessive behaviour patterns are built to large proportions, resulting in reliance on alcohol, sugar, shopping, TV, anger, anything to feel some sense of control. Practising yoga with awareness and subtlety can offer us a break from this vicious cycle and an opportunity for acceptance of what we cannot affect. Allowing ourselves to breathe freely is the antidote to all of these demands. Yoga is one of the few activities that if practised mindfully, can actively engage the calming branch of the nervous system. Then by fully releasing the out breath we can bring the body down from the

Find emotional space in a yoga class: •

• stress of ‘doing’, slowing heart rate, breathing and releasing muscles. If the body is calm the mind will follow and you can feel some respite from the constant chatter - a welcome relief in a busy and sometimes overwhelming world.

Don’t worry about what the person next to you is doing – yoga is non-competitive and is really doesn’t matter how far you can bend. Yoga is an internal practice and we can use any distraction to avoid being with ourselves. You’ll see that you can ‘progress’ in poses most when you switch off your brain and simply stop trying. In this way you allow your body to open and your ‘doing brain’ can have a rest. Being content where you are is an important part of the practise.

•

Whenever you feel tension arising or find a pose challenging, take a deeper inhalation to signal a deeper releasing out breath and then follow as many as these as your body needs to settle your mind. ‘Be here now’ – stay focussed and attentive, every breath counts and is an opportunity to let go of stuff that doesn’t serve you well.

Charlotte practises as a Nutritional Therapist and Yoga Teacher in Brighton – see www. charlottewattshealth.com/yoga and www.vajrasatiyoga.co.uk

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AN AYURVEDIC APPROACH TO CHILDHOOD IMBALANCES Words: Wendy Rosenfeldt Teething For babies getting their first teeth is often accompanied by a snotty nose, red checks, sore gums and loose bowels. While some children hardly seem to notice it, others become distressed when their teeth are coming through. Ayurveda understands that the act of teeth cutting through the gums aggravates Pitta dosha resulting in Pitta imbalances such as inflammation, excess heat, diarrhoea and even fevers. In reaction to the sharp, heat exhibited by these Pitta symptoms, the body produces excess Kapha to soothe Pitta’s heat. Babies tend to have runny noses and dribble more around this time. Balancing Pitta is the first step to making teething more comfortable for your child. Cooling fruit such as watermelon, pears and grapes can soothe the discomfort of inflamed gums. If the child has a few teeth already, a cold apple peeled or grated can be very satisfying and pacifying to chew on. Reduce Pitta increasing food such as pineapple, tomatoes, oranges and food with colouring or preservatives. Water play, cool baths and being in nature not only helps to take your child’s awareness from their discomfort but these soothing activities also help reduce Pitta’s fire.

Fevers Children with a predominance of Pitta in their nature are more prone to childhood fevers. To help manage

a fever general Pitta pacification is the key. Cool baths, cooling food such as watermelon, sucking ice and applying ghee on the soles of the feet can reduce internal heat and make your child more comfortable. The ghee draws out the heat through the feet and can help your feverish child to sleep more easily. Ghee is made by clarifying unsalted butter by removing the milk solids and is best homemade. Pitta tea drunk at room temperature and Pitta pacifying aromas can also help to soothe a child with a fever.

Nappy rash, dry or irritated skin Vata predominant children tend to have drier skin, Pitta types have fair, reddish or freckly skin and Kapha natured children tend towards lustrous, thick, olive skin. All skin types can benefit from the soothing touch of massage. An Ayurvedic oil massage called Abhyanga promotes softness and lustre of the skin, lubricates the muscles and joints and reduces bacterial infection on the skin. For babies warm almond oil is best while most toddlers and older children are best suited to sesame oil. A daily oil massage has been found to promote endurance and immunity while a number of studies have also connected Abhyanga with increased weight gain and responsiveness in new borns. The warm, heavy qualities of the oil pacify Vata helping babies and children to settle and sleep better.

Sesame oil is great for most types of skin however if there is excess heat or irritation, almond or olive oil is a better option. For localised conditions of extreme irritation coconut oil or ghee can be applied topically as these oils are cooling in nature. Ghee and coconut oil can be used to soothe nappy rash or skin that has been over exposed by the sun. Dry Vata skin soaks up the nourishing effect of the oil while sensitive Pitta skin requires smaller amounts or it can get congested. Kapha skin is predominantly moist by nature so smaller amounts of oil are best. Other than ghee and coconut oil, oils are best cured first as it makes them is more easily absorbed by the skin. This can be down by heating them on a low temp to the boiling point of water. To test put a couple of drops of water in with the oil and when they pop, the oil is cured and can be stored for up to a month ready to use. Foods that can aggravate skin problems include fish, tomatoes, oranges, pineapple, cheese, chilli, onion, preservatives and food colouring. Filtered water and fresh juices are good for purifying the skin. Leafy greens and bitter tastes balance Pitta and are good for stimulating the function of the liver. The liver and skin are closely connected; when the liver is struggling to process impurities or heavy foods, the skin will often take over.

Wendy Rosenfeldt is a Maharishi Vedic Health Educator, Maharishi Ayur-veda (R) Consultant and teacher of Transcendental Meditation. Wendy gives personal Ayurvedic consultations and runs seminars in all areas of Maharishi Ayurveda specializing in women’s and children’s health. www.wendyrosenfeldt.com

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Wellbeing health

Are you running on empty? Words Patricia Tashiro It does not take long to realise when we are running on empty. Physically, we become tired. And emotionally, we become edgy and irritable. When we put these two together, the smallest things can set us off. Physical fatigue is easy to address; we simply need to give the body a rest. But often, we do not do this. We keep driving ourselves until only vapours are left in the tank. Why do we do this? Because we are trying to do good in order to feel good. We are looking for some kind of a return, whether it is appreciation or regard, so we can fill ourselves up and feel better. And so, we keep doing and doing and doing. When we look to fill ourselves up from the outside, two things can happen. One, we can get what we want. I used to think this was a good thing. But in studying with Gizi Pruthi, a teacher of Raja Yoga Meditation and co-ordinator for the Brahma Kumaris in Kensington, I have come to believe that getting what you want does not always help us, in fact, it often hurts us. It ends up making us dependent on receiving from others to be happy.

Ironically, the real secret to happiness is not getting what you want. It sounds counter intuitive, but it is true. When we do not get what we want, we become edgy, irritable and even angry. We do not like this feeling, and so when we have had enough, we stop looking for others to fill us up and start looking within to see how we can fill ourselves up. How can we fill ourselves up? • Care for your body, by giving it enough rest, exercise and good nourishment to keep it running well. • Be kind to yourself. Make time for reflection and consciously generate good positive thoughts about yourself and others. • Cultivate gratitude, by looking for things for which to be thankful every day. • Write in a journal regularly, to begin to get to know yourself. Ask yourself why you are feeling drained and then make adjustments in your life. • Find a meditation practice based on fullness of mind, not emptying the mind.

When we do this, we start to realise our own innate goodness. Soon, we begin demanding less of others and more of ourselves. This allows our relationships to improve, because we are not putting a burden on others to maintain our happiness. And then we will find that we stop doing as a means to fill ourselves. We will feel good and then do good, with no desire to receive appreciation or regard in return. Once we can do this, we will not run on empty anymore, because we have learned the greatest gift, which is how to fill the self.

Patricia Tashiro is the author of An Angel Whispered, an inspiring guide on happiness due out in August 2011. She studies with the Brahma Kumaris in Kensington bkwsu.org/uk/kensington.

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How are you going to use your annual leave? Words: Alex Brounger

or most of us annual leave or holiday time is a precious commodity that cannot be wasted. Time away from work is essential and never more so than at the moment when stress levels are at an all time high as we struggle through difficult economic conditions. Increased working hours and the possibility of redundancy have added to our already busy schedules. All too often we stagger to the finish line which represents a break from work and the start of a holiday in the sun. Plans to spend time lying on a beach sipping Sangria whilst reading the latest best seller are then realised. And who can be blamed for craving that escape from reality even if it is only for a week? Tempting though a holiday of this nature may be, is it really the best way to relax and regenerate tired minds and bodies? Often a holiday like this, whilst on the surface seems like a week or two

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of heaven, leaves us returning to our jobs and normal lives with nothing changed. We head back to work with a heavy heart, bulging waist lines, increased cholesterol, a struggling liver, foggy minds and a sinking feeling that is appropriately described as post holiday blues. The stagger to the next finish line begins, as we realise we are no better prepared or equipped to deal with the stresses and strains of our current reality as we were before we left. There is an alternative: Retreats come in many different guises these days and many are a wonderful opportunity to truly refresh and re-invigorate yourself. Many retreats offer a unique balance of exercise, relaxation and learning that will enable you to return to work with a truly revitalized mind and body, allowing you to leave behind the stresses and strains of the last few months and create a different approach to those that lie ahead.

A good retreat will allow you to return to the work place with a fresh mind, thinking more clearly, and with a fitter, leaner body that is ready to help you cope. It will motivate you to continue living a better balanced lifestyle doing the right things to remain efficient and effective and prevent stress from ruling your life over the months that follow. Perhaps it is time to ask yourself a couple of questions: What do I really want to get from my holiday time this year? Do I want to opt out of reality for a while or do I want to experience something that will help make reality a much nicer place to be? The right retreat could be the thing that makes the next twelve months a year of success rather than a year of anxiety and stress. Alex Brounger; Managing Director of EQ. 0843 289 1675 alex@eqretreats.co.uk www.eqretreats.co.uk

visualise calories in and calories out, seeing how many steps I was taking a day helped me to see areas that I could improve on my daily activity, just by taking a short walk each day. It helps you calculate your calorie consumption which can be a real eye opener for those who think that all those little snacks in a day don’t count! If you have struggled to lose weight or have a fitness and weight control goal then this little gadget may just be for you. www.kiperformance.co.uk

Measure it and monitor it Put your diet failures behind you and let Ki Fit unlock the mystery of your metabolism. Your metabolism is the key: understand it, measure it and monitor it, minute by minute and day by day. Very easy to use and helped me

Wellbeing products Design for Life™ is a personal workbook providing all the tools you need to make positive changes in your life. Designed like a diary, it helps you record your daily thoughts and ideas as well as giving you coaching tools and tips for focussing on the life you want to create. Whether you are new to personal development or already have some goals in place this is a great self help guide that helps you identify what you really want out of life, set your goals, understand how to take control and lets you work at your own pace. www.designforlife.co.uk

Tried & tested Wellbeing new products for you and your family... One of your five-a-day

A tasty, savoury snack bar that’s made with diced and roasted vegetables for 3 great-tasting flavours, has 99 calories a bar, is 100% natural, gluten and wheat free, suitable for vegetarians and counts as one of your five a day! The chewy baked snack bars, which have just launched in health stores for the first time, come in

three great tasting flavours: Sweet Roasted Vegetable, Tomato Pizza and Thai Sweetcorn. Fresh from the fridge it made a great alternative to the usual fruit bars for a mid morning snack and my little girl loved them too! www.veatable.co.uk. To buy ask at your local health store or visit www.garlandsorganic.co.uk

5 DVD’s to Giveaway

Loves Kitchen is out on DVD 11 July courtesy of 2020 Films. A wonderful British romantic comedy that will warm your heart and your appetitite. Rob Haley (Dougray Scott), a talented chef and restauranteur in London who is grief stricken after losing his wife in a car accident. As his life begins to spiral out of control, he loses his magic touch in the kitchen. After a terrible review from a food critic, old friend and world-famous chef Gordon Ramsey pays his a visit, inspiring him to take control and reclaim the life he once had. For a chance to win one of the 5 DVDs visit wellbeingmagazine.co.uk/competitions Closing date: 31.07.11

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Over the last few months the wellbeing team has been busy doing our tried & tested here are just some of the places and products we can recommend to you. Fizzy Milk Jelly www.fizzymilkjelly.com Yoga Team www.yoga-team.co.uk

C Yoga www.cyoga.co.uk

This company send a yoga teacher to your home or office & provide excellent tuition at your convenience. We had an Ashtanga class with Nathalie & it was great.

A yoga class with ‘This is Enlightenment’ author Catherine Foroughi. Catherine’s teaching seems to be about awareness & acceptance of now ie/ proper yoga. The class was held on a sunny afternoon in Hyde Park & it doesn’t get much better than that.

Dr Bronners Soap www.drbronner.com A whole range of fantastic, natural, organic, soaps. Supported by celebrities & helping you to wash with a clean conscience.

Orba Face Lift www.orbaoriginals.com Natural skin firming gel. As well as moisturising your skin this gel also gives you a lift & a pull resulting in a younger, healthier appearance.

Aloe Health and Wellbeing aloehealthandwellbeing@ gmail.con A selection of health and beauty products based on the finest quality aloe vera. These products clean & support the system helping you to look good & feel great. There’s also an exciting business opportunity for those looking for full or part time opportunities.

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Point Space www.earthspa.co.uk Our first ever acupuncture treatment ever. Ka Hang gave us treatment for overall wellbeing. The experience oddly enough was very relaxing & left us feeling a surge of peaceful energy. Earthspa is a beautiful spa in Belgravia & Ka Hang can treat you for the removal of wrinkles & more serious health conditions.

Antara Spa, The Chelsea Club - thechelseaclub.com So you don’t need to be into football to visit Stamford Bridge. Colette’s ayurvedic massage was exceptional & this stylish club caters for the wellbeing needs of local residents.

Want help getting organized? These worksheets have been skilfully designed to help you get on top of things, in all areas of life.

Energetix Magnetic Jewellery andreasjdemetriades@ gmail.com Beautiful jewellery that boosts wellbeing. For further info please read the online article at wellbeingmagazine.co.uk/.london.

Moo Free Chocolate moofreechocolates.com Diary free chocolate that tastes better than the real thing. The whole family LOVED these.

Feeding Your Imagination feeding-your-imagination.co.uk Organic, therapeutic & fairtrade chocolate masterpieces brought to you by celebrity chef Paul Da-Costa-Greaves. Chocolate that’s good for you, now there’s a thing …

The Power Yoga Company www.thepoweryogaco.com Honestly I’ve been to hundreds of yoga classes over the last 18 years & this has to be one of my favourites ever. Hard-core sweaty yoga with cool tunes & inspiring guidance from the teacher. Get down to Fulham now!

BEAT YOUR RESISTANCE and honour your creative impulses Words: Nick Williams We all have the capacity to be truly inspired, creative and successful and love the work we do. Yet one of the major reasons most of us don’t fulfil our potential is not lack of talent and intelligence, but that we don’t follow through on what we are inspired to do. We are caught by what I have come to call resistance. Do you know what you want to be doing and is in your heart to be doing, and yet you know you still procrastinate? Do you know you are playing a much smaller game than you could do? Do you sense there is a brilliance in you that you resist expressing? Do you feel there is someone you were born to be and you have trouble being that person? Then you are already familiar with resistance. Resistance is the way that most of us, often unconsciously, create inertia, stop ourselves and even undermine ourselves.

Procrastination is one of the most obvious ways we resist, but otherwise strategies include: being a perpetual student, planning but not executing, neglecting our own talent, keeping ourselves busy and distracted, having addictions, rationalising away ideas, keeping yourself isolated and unsupported and just keep talking yourself out of your ideas. We often don’t quite realise what we are doing. The first step in beating resistance is bringing the process into our conscious awareness and realising how resistance already operates in our life. All resistance has its roots in fear, even though it can seem very sensible – what are we really afraid of? We are obviously afraid of things like failure,

looking stupid or even being ostracised, but I think there is a deeper level to resistance. We are afraid of our own brilliance and our own capacity for success. We are afraid to show up and really stand out and be as amazing as we are.

Resistance is a secondary force – a response rather than a primary force. All resistance, I believe, is your ego’s petty response to some beautiful and creative impulse from your own soul. It is the ego’s reaction to your heart’s desire to do something beautiful, generous and loving in this world. So what beautiful impulse within you are you squashing? How do you beat your resistance? Make yourself accountable to others and get yourself support and encouragement and break your isolation. Do everything you can with what you have rather than believe you need to be or know more. Stop waiting to be ready, and take baby steps instead and you’ll grown in confidence and ability as you go. Finally and most importantly, choose to be of service to Life and make something greater than your fear and doubts. I truly believe that when you learn to beat your resistance, you are more successful and fulfilled, and the world is blessed by your gifts and happiness. Far from being selfish, beating your resistance is an incredibly generous act. So, please beat your resistance so you can give us what you’ve got – we need you!

Nick Williams www.inspired-entrepreneur.com, /www.facebook.com/entrepreneurclub

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Wellbeing books HAPPINESS NOW Timeless Wisdom for Feeling Good Fast Robert Holden PHD ISBN 978-1-84850-170-6 How often do you find yourself using phrases: “This is all too good to be true” or “All good things come to an end”? It is all too common a belief that in order to be happy you must earn, deserve, work and pay for it. Today is for well-behaved hardship, martyrdom and quiet desperation. Well according to Robert Holden this is the wrong way to look at Happiness - particularly your own happiness. Happiness Now! is a complete A to Z of how to lead a life of lasting happiness, going deeper into the causes of unhappiness and how we can overcome limiting beliefs we have about ourselves and our life that hold us back from lasting joy.

£10.99

£8.99

Book

reviews

What have you read lately?

To purchase these books see www.wellbeingmagazine.co.uk/reviews/books

WHAT IF? The Challenge of Self-Realization Eldon Taylor ISBN 978-1-84850-336-6 What is you woke tomorrow with amnesia - no memory of who you are, what you like and £12.99 dislike: would you be the same person? What If? helps to make sense of the theory behind attempts to control our thinking. It uses everyday situations and guides you through numerous thought experiments, to peel back the layers and reveal the undetected dissonance in much of your thinking, beliefs, desires and choices. A transformational experience!

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£12.99

OUT OF THE DARKNESS Steve Taylor ISBN 978-1-84850-254-3 Can personal tragedy have a positive after effects? Can a horrif experience result in a sudden ‘awakening; to the meaning of life and the beauty of the world? Out of the Darkness tells the story of more than 30 people who have undergone permanenet psychological rebirth after intense trauma and turmoil in their lives. From suffering terrible injuries to developing life threatening diseases, these peple have all shifted into a state of appreciation, connection and wellbeing.

THE FEEL GOOD FACTOR Patrick Holford ISBN 978-0-7499-5316-4 Do you suffer from low mood, a lack of motivation or depression. If so this book will help you transform the way you feel and renew your enthusiasm for life. Patrick Holford lets you in on the secret of how to feel good naturally - without resorting to antidepressants or other prescription drugs. patrickholford.com/feelgoodcheck

Therapy

Wellbeing clinics & treatments

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.

Wellbeing

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Wellbeing clinics & treatments

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