We often think of our health in purely physical terms, but as a Reflexologist, I have a strong view that health also has a mental or psychological dimension. Having a strong belief in our ability to manifest our desires and the means to manage our thoughts can have a dynamic and very significant effect on our mental and physical health. I have a saying on my wall which reads: "There is a difference between wishing for a thing and being ready to receive it. No one is ready for a thing until he believes he can acquire it.” I’m not sure where it came from or who said it, but I do think that our beliefs have a vital impact on our results. Does your belief support you desires and aspirations? Do you really believe that it will all happen for you some day or do you think it will never happen for you? Go inside yourself for a moment and ask yourself just how strongly you believe that you will be able to achieve your dreams and goals Give yourself a score of 1 – 10 where, 1 = not very strongly at all and 10 = 100% certainty. If your score is less than 10 then you need to work on your belief. To create a strong belief you need three things: 1. To know that it is POSSIBLE to achieve your objective 2. To know that you are ABLE to achieve your objective 3. To know that you DESERVE to achieve your objective Know it’s possible Everything is POSSIBLE, but you must feel that it is possible for you, at this moment. You cannot prove a negative, therefore you can never prove that you are incapable of anything, you can only say that you have not achieved it YET. Do not be too quick to decide what is impossible. Know you are able Avoid putting limitations on what you think is possible. Do you have an age beyond which you think something will be impossible? Do you think you are less likely than friends your age to be able to achieve your golas? These beliefs are arbitrary judgements you have made about yourself and they are just as likely to be WRONG as they are to be right. Banish them, completely, NOW. Keep an open mind. Be positive in your thinking. And open yourself up to the abundant possibilities on offer. Know you deserve it Do you deserve to realise all your dreams and aspirations? If you don’t feel you deserve it, why not? Do you have a belief system that says: things need to be difficult to have value; or you never get what you really want; or everyone is better and more deserving than you; or bad things happen to good people? If your health would benefit from a boost why not try a Reflexology session, because if you don't give it a try, you'll never know what benefits you may get from the treatment. If you'd like to know more about Reflexology click here.
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If you'd like to conceive, I'd ask you to look at all the highs and lows of your fertility journey. I know you'd do anything to get pregnant, so I'd like you to ask yourself ... are you trying too hard? Trying might not be a useful thing to do, in fact it may actually hinder all your best efforts, because trying is about : endeavour, difficulty, becoming annoyed – or so the dictionary says. Trying is all about chasing after your dream rather than waiting to receive it. Trying is all about forcing your heart's desire into being rather than allowing it to materialise in it's own good time. Trying is about control rather than being in a state of flow. Are you chasing your dream of having a baby rather than being ready to receive with open arms? May I suggest that this might not be the best strategy. And here’s why ... Imaging you were to go fishing. If you were to go fishing, you’d pack your kit – everything you need to land that prizewinning fish. You’d pick the perfect spot where you know the fish are likely to be. You’d set your bait and cast your line and then you’d sit back and relax and wait for the fish to bite. And while you’re waiting for the fish to bite you’d likely just enjoy being out in the fresh air, in the peace and quiet, giving yourself time to settle and release, and letting your worries and cares wash away. What you wouldn’t do is: jump into the car with no equipment. Then stop at any old spot without checking first to find out how the fishing was. And race into the water fully clothed, trying to catch the fish with your bare hands! That would just be ridiculous, wouldn't it? The very act of “trying”, creates a level of stress that is more likely to take you away from what you want instead of closer to it. You effectively create obstacles that wouldn’t otherwise exist as a consequence of your desire to increase your chances of getting pregnant. You begin to get in your own way! Can I just say that again, "You begin to get in your own way"! This is not always an easy concept to process when your sole goal in life is to get pregnant, so please give it some thought. May I suggest that you might choose to let go, stop "trying", chill and just wait for the fish to bite. And if you need some help with your fertility journey, check out how Fertility Reflexology could help. If you want more tips like this, you’ll find them in the Free Baby Making Mindset Club, just go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/1422257428013810/ The International Stress Management Association launched their 2008 National Stress Awareness Day with their top ten stress busters:
Pick one items from the list and put it into practice and see how well it works for you. Or you could come for a relaxing Reflexology or Indian Head Massage and let someone else take the strain for a change. Just call Doris on 07724 197627 to book your appointment. And remember there's a special JULY OFFER: £10 off your first treatment - but only if you book in July (appointments can be scheduled for August). If you've never tried Reflexology and don't know what it is, here's a brief rundown:
What is Reflexology?
How does Reflexology work? Reflexology uses finger pressure on the feet to relax and re-balance the whole person in mind, body and emotion. It works on the principle that various parts of the feet relate to corresponding parts of the body and that by working on the feet the Reflexologist can create a balancing effect. The finger pressure on the feet is firm, so it should not feel tickly. Who can benefit from Reflexology? Anyone can benefit from Reflexology: from newborn babies to those receiving end of life care, and anyone in between, but it is particularly beneficial for anyone who is experiencing ill-health and in particular those suffering from stress or stress related illnesses. There may however be times when it is not appropriate to provide a treatment, so if you're not sure, do ask. Reflexologists often specialise in particular areas, such as: fertility, pregnancy, babies, children, ageing well, pain relief, sleep, stress, cancer care, and end of life care. What happens in a Reflexology treatment? The Reflexologist will take a few moments to gather information about the client's condition (it tends to take a bit longer for the first treatment), and then the client is made comfortable, lying on a special chair or massage table. It's possible to chat during the treatment, but it's more relaxing to just close your eyes and enjoy the experience. It's not uncommon for clients to drift off into a light doze. How will I feel after a treatment? Well, everyone is different, but generally clients will feel deeply relaxed after a treatment. Clients often report having had a good night's sleep and a boost in their energy levels after a treatment. Really the only way to know is to give the treatment a try. There have been some positive research projects carried out with reflexology; however, as yet, there is not a large enough body of evidence to make clinical claims of effectiveness. With ever increasing levels of stress in everyday life, it is important for people to take more responsibility for their own healthcare needs. Reflexology may be one of the ways to mitigate the stresses of modern life. Reflexology should not be used as an alternative to seeking medical advice. The only way to know if Reflexology will be beneficial for you is to give it a try. If you're ever feeling stressed or a bit out of sorts, think about having a Reflexology treatment to get you onto more of an even keel. To make the decision easier, I offer £5 off your first treatment. This applies to everyone, so you don't need a special voucher or ticket, it is just automatically applied when you pay for your treatment. For July, I'm offering an extra £5 off to all new clients. That means you get £10 off your first treatment if you book in July. But this offer only applies to July 2014, so don't delay, book your treatment today by calling Doris on 07724 197627, or email [email protected]. We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. - Albert Einstein Do you have problems that you just can't seem to solve? Are there issues in your life that seem constant, regardless of how hard you try to overcome them? Do you feel you stuck in a rut, getting nowhere fast? The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting a different outcome. I mean really, wouldn’t you need to be mad to think that somehow, magically, one time, if you keep doing the same thing, you’re going to get a different outcome? So if you want to get a different outcome, you need to do something different. If you want to feel differently you need to think or act differently. But what do you need to do? Well perhaps you already know... have you've been saying to yourself – “If I just did A, B or C it would help me to X, Y or Z”, so for example –
But how to you stop getting anxious, look after yourself better and do something new? It’s not always easy. I'm a great believer in the path of least resistance. Why put huge amounts of effort into overcoming resistance when you can just go round it with no effort at all. It's not about being lazy (well not much!), it's about being sensible and efficient - why make things hard for yourself if you don't need to. And that's one of the reasons I love Reflexology! Reflexology is a physical approach that can impact on mental and emotional states. Our mind, body and emotions are not separate entities, they're all part of us and if one part is out of balance, all of us is out of balance. So, Reflexology is not just for those wishing physical benefits (although it's great at providing that), it's for anyone who feels an imbalance in mind, body or emotion. For example, if you are going through a challenging time emotionally, and all the talking about it has taken you nowhere, perhaps a relaxing Reflexology treatment will allow you to feel more in tune with yourself and less anxious, angry, fearful, or whatever other emotions are implicit in your situation. And if you feel less anxious, angry, fearful, etc you will respond in a different way and your problem will appear in a different light to you. So, if thinking about something causes you to feel a certain way, then changing the way you feel can cause you to change the way you think. No effort, no resistance, no problem (or at least less of a problem). And with Reflexology, you just sit back and let someone else take the strain. So, if you're making things hard for yourself, give yourself a break and if you haven't tried it before, give Reflexology a chance. To book an appointment, contact me (Doris) on 07724 197627. It can sometimes feel that staying healthy and ageing well can be an uphill struggle. There seem to be so many conflicting ideas about what we should and shouldn't eat, which is the best diet to follow, how much or little exercise we should get and what type of exercise is best. There's plenty of advice on what supplements and special healthy products we should be including in our diet and which health and fitness guru to follow - because different ones seem to pop up all the time, with new ideas and products. Of course, much of this is designed to relieve us of our hard earned cash, so what is the best way to stay healthy or even improve your health? I've developed a list of easy actions to take which cumulatively with benefit your health and well-being. Most cost nothing and there's a fairly heavy emphasis on reducing stress ... Belly breathing - Take a long slow breath in through your nose. Push the air down into your tummy, almost down to your waist. Let it out again slowly. This deep breathing oxygenates your blood, feeding the body cells; it reduces muscle tension and blood pressure; it clears out stale air from the lungs and opens the airways. If you are under severe pressure, you can't do anything more effective to calm yourself down than taking a series of long slow breaths. Exercise - Stress produces chemicals which, if they are not naturally neutralized are stored in the body to create a toxic effect. Exercise is a great way to release these chemicals. The key thing is not to overdo it. Work at 70% of your capacity in order that you don't tire yourself out. Give yourself a day off to rest your body. Do something you enjoy, it doesn't have to be difficult: a brisk walk in the country surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature will both tone the body and calm the mind. Take more water - Often our fluid intake can affect our energy levels. Water helps rehydrate the body and it feeds the brain (water helps to conduct all those electrical connections). If you are dehydrated your system functions less efficiently. Water helps the kidneys to function more efficiently and that helps with the removal of waste within the body. Touch therapies - You don't have to do it all yourself: give yourself a break and let someone else take the strain. Try Reflexology, Indian Head Massage, or any other touch therapy that takes your fancy. It's amazing how relaxing and re-balancing it can be. Eat well- Our bodies are very intelligent and if you listen, your body will tell you what it needs. Basically if you aim to reduce: sugar, salt, fat, additives, caffeine and alcohol; eat a wide variety of foods, eat lots of fruit and veg and some fibre, you'll probably be eating well. You can help digestion and absorption of food if you eat slowly, savouring your food as you eat and eating regular meals will help keep blood sugar levels balanced. A few small moves towards less processed food and you will find that your food gives you energy rather than robbing you of energy. Relax - Relaxation is nature's antidote to stress. Fifteen minutes every day should be enough to keep you in balance. Relaxation is about being rather than doing and we all need time just to be - ourselves. Relaxation allows the mind and body a bit of quiet time to connect with each other. Posture - Good posture supports good breathing and reduces muscle tension. For a good seated posture: have your feet flat on the floot (legs and ankles uncrossed), thighs parallel to the floor, kneed away from the edge of the seat. Your back should be well supported, shoulders relaxed and down, head resting comfortably on the neck. Don't sit in any position for too long at one time or the muscles will tense up. Let go - At the end of each day, take time out to let go all the tensions, feelings and emotions collected during the day. Today is challenge enough without carrying some of yesterday's baggage too! Often it's the negative things which we carry with us - how often do you wake up with a warm glow because of what happened yesterday? Probably not as often as you waken feeling fed-up and low because of what happened yesterday. And letting go is much easier than you'd expect, all you have to do is stop thinking about what it was that was making you feel bad. U-time - Make time for yourself. It's not selfish, rather it's a matter of self-preservation and it will help those around you: if you are happy in yourself, and with yourself and your life, you will have much more to offer friends, family and colleagues. Sleep well - This is a matter of quality as much as quantity. Everyone needs a different amount of sleep, what's important is that you wake up feeling refreshed and with enough energy to get you though the day. If you have difficulty sleeping, avoid alcohol, coffee and food last thing at night and make a point of letting go any worries, problems or niggles before you go to bed. If you have sleep problems, it helps to establish a bedtime routine. If you'd like help with relaxing or sleep problems, why not try some Reflexology or Indian Head Massage. To find out more contact Doris on 07724 197627. Special Offer available until 31 May 2014 at the end of this blog... Over the past few months I've had a number of clients who have come to Reflexology for the first time and I've been absolutely delighted by their response to the treatment. I've been a reflexologist for the past 16 years and although I try not to take it for granted, I do sometimes forget just how amazing Reflexology is. So, it's wonderful to have clients who remind me just how blessed I am to be able to practice such a gentle, yet powerful treatment. One of the biggest surprises, for clients new to Reflexology, is just how relaxing it is: someone recently said they'd never been so relaxed in their life. Well if that's not a recommendation, I don't know what is! For me, I love the fact that clients can get really, really relaxed without having to do a thing. And that sense of relaxation can create a powerful healing space. We spend so much of our time and energy - physical and psychic - out in the world trying to get results, or cope with the results of the efforts of others, that we often forget to come back to ourselves. It's a bit like going out in the morning, but forgetting to come home at night. I often wonder if that's why Yoga and Meditation seem to be increasing in popularity at the moment. Einstein's 3rd Law of Motion says that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction (I'm sure I've not got that exactly right, but the meaning's there). The more stressful life becomes, the bigger the demand for a space of stresslessness (OK, so it's not a word, but it does look relaxing, don't you think)? Therapies like Reflexology have never been more popular and I think it's because they give clients an opportunity to relax, to be still and to take stock. Our bodies are amazing healing machines which, with the right fuel, maintenance and recovery strategies, will keep going strong. The relaxed feeling that Reflexology can create offers a healing space in which the body can re-calibrate, re-balance and repair. So, Reflexology is fabulous for keeping you healthy! But Reflexology can also help you recover better health. Relaxation may help reduce inflammation in the body and that can have a beneficial effect on many conditions, such as IBS or arthritis. It also has a positive impact on the hormone system by reducing the production of stress chemicals and hormones in the body. And, for me, one of the most significant effects of the relaxing effect of Reflexology is that it helps to develop awareness in the client of the distinction between tense and relaxed - for without awareness, nothing can change. Some of the biggest "Ah Ha" moments in my Reflexology practice have been with clients who seemed to me to be stressed, but didn't feel themselves to be stressed. By the end of the treatment they felt relaxed and were then able to recognise how high their stress levels had actually been. Relaxation also helps with pain management, so painful conditions can often be helped through Reflexology - and there is research to support this. So, if you've never tried Reflexology before, why not give it a go, because you'll never really know what you're missing until you try it out for yourself. And to put my money where my mouth is, I'm going to give a £5 discount to all new clients who book before 31 May 2014 - just call me (Doris), on 07724 197627 and quote Blog when you book your appointment. Looking forward to meeting you. It's April tomorrow and summer is not too far away (hopefully), so now is the time to pay attention to your feet and give them some TLC after a winter tucked away in socks and heavy shoes. A few weeks of preening and pampering will bring them back to soft supple loveliness and here's how: Help For Your Heels If your heels to are cracked and dry, soak your feet in warm water then buff your heels with a pumice stone. Dry your feet thoroughly, and rub on some cider vinegar before moisturising with vitamin E and jojoba cream (or whatever cream you have handy). You’ll need to do this regularly for the best results. For Tip Top Toes Remove nail polish regularly because your toes need to have a chance to breathe. Avoid Wet Sweaty Feet In Summer Sprinkle some talcum powder (or specially formulated foot powder) in your shoes during the warmer weather to help keep them dry and slip free. Revive Tired Feet Give your feet a quick pick-me-up. First dunk them in cold water for around 30 seconds, followed by steeping them in warm water for around 3 minutes. Finish by wrapping both feel in a towel and lying with feet elevated for 20 minutes. This will improve the circulation in feet and legs. Moisturise Your Feet Use up extra body lotion by smoothing on the feet, or if you want to make your own use one tablespoon of malt vinegar and 5oz of plain yogurt. Leave the mix on your feet for 5 minutes before rinsing off. Easy Exfoliation Take a trip to the beach, get of your socks and shoes and walk: the sand will exfoliate your feet naturally and leave them feeling much smoother than a pumice stone. A little attention now and your feel with be soft and looking lovely, just ready to show off in your summer sandals. And of course, if you really want to pamper your feet and the rest of your body, you could also book in for a treatment of Reflexology! |
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