Thinking about detoxing after the holiday spurge? Many people are and some people have even completed their first detox of 2011 by now! If you are new to detoxing here are a few tips to keep in mind: 1. Be prepared. Make sure to have in the house anything you need for the detox before you start. Supply of fresh fruit, juices etc if your detox is a juice detox 2. Keep it simple Only detox what you need to. You may not need to go on an elaborate full scale detox. If it is too severe and you don't see it through it is only likely to discourage you. Maybe all you need is an alcohol or sugar detox, so prepare for this and set a reasonable time limiit. A few days may be enough to already give you the boost you need. 3. Set reachable goals. As above, keep it short, sharp and effective. A detox is meant to make you feel good, not to be a punishment for you. 4. Plan to repeat your mini-detox at regular intervals so that they become an easy and pleasurable part of your routine. This way toxins won't have such a chance to build up in your system and subsequent detoxes won't seem so severe. 5. Expect some side effects such as feeling a bit fatigued, headaches (if you are detoxing from caffeine), etc and be prepared to get plenty of rest and to drink plenty of water to help flush out toxins from your system. Detoxing is really simple when you put your mind to it. You don't need to buy lots of books, equipment or exotic herbs and supplements unless you have very specific detox goals in mind. Best of luck and happy detoxing in 2011! If you have a medical issue please consult with a medical professional. This blog is informational only and is not intended for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for professional medical advice.
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As a species we diet for many reasons; for improved athletic performance, for spiritual insight, for medical reasons. Perhaps the two most popular reason are for general health and to look better. Unfortunately for so many of us this is a one step forward and two steps back journey that leaves us feeling discouraged and negative about the whole issue of trying to control our diet.
There is a secret however, that will make any diet successful and without which no diet will ever succeed. The secret is very simple and this is to bring mindfulness to every meal. Mindfulness is a Buddhist concept meaning awareness, consciousness or bringing your whole self to any experience. It is the same as the state of mind achieved in true yoga. With the right attitude of watchfulness your diet will automatically become more healthy and you will begin to eat more in harmony with your bodies true needs. You will begin to enjoy food more and have a healthier more joyful relationship to nourishing food rather than cycles of abandoned guilty pleasure followed just guilt with no pleasure at all! No diet however good on paper will work without this healthy attitude and unhealthy diets cannot exist in the presence of this kind of mindfulness and yogic thought. Christmas is the perfect time to begin this kind of diet. All the temptations are there so it is impossible to begin any other kind of diet this time of year. Try the yogic, mindful diet and you will see that not only can you begin your healthy diet right away, but you will begin to gain even more pleasure from your Holiday festive foods! Best Wishes from Liam B. I heard the most interesting report today on Newstalk regarding new evidence suggesting that Aspirin can be effective in preventing cancer related to inflammatory bowel conditions such as Crohn's disease. Professor Dermot Kelleher of the Institute of Molecular Medicine in Trinity College Dublin was interviewed and apparently the research is of the highest quality with every indication that this simple, every day medicine may well be prescribed to patients suffering from these conditions.
As an acupuncturist my first thought is that there may be a role to play for therapies such as acupuncture and electro-acupuncture in this kind of preventative medicine. There is no research as yet that I am aware of that has been carried out on this and the research on Aspirin is itself very recent, however, bearing in mind the well known anti-inflammatory effect of acupuncture would it be impossible that regular acupuncture treatments could also have a preventative effect on this kind of cancer? If this were the case then of course it would bring with it the inherent advantages of acupuncture therapy including the absence of side-effects that may be a risk even with something as benign and every day as aspirin. In addition to this acupuncture treatments, whatever the main aim of treatment, will tend to give an overall health and well-being effect including boosting the immune system thus preventing colds, flus etc. With holistic therapy one tends to get general health benefits regardless of the targeted condition. It is common knowledge that despite centuries of investigation that there is
no known cure for the common cold. Warm drinks, chicken soup and stay in be d, wait it out etc are all common pieces of advice. What research has shown however is that the common cold is a virus. You may not necessarily be 'catching' a cold from someone else, so much as being weakened enough or run down enough for an existing virus to temporarily gain the upper hand. Acupuncture is the treatment par excellence for this kind of condition. Care ful selection of points by a qualified practitioner will allow your immune system to regain the upper hand and to shake off the annoying symptoms of the common cold. Usually only a few points are needed and the effect can be quite dramatic. A point or two on the Large Intestine, Lung and Stomach channel s are usually enough and already your symptoms of stuffy nose, chills, fever, etc will begin to abate. For more info don't hesitate to contact me at liam@therapyandyoga.com Take care, stay warm and enjoy the thaw (if it is thawing wherever you are!) In recent years, particularly since the MBT revolution and the popularity of power walking, many companies have begun to claim that the design of their trainer will actually tone up your legs, buns/glutes just be wearing them while walking. The claim by Reeboks Easytone trainer has been refuted by the ASA but this doesn't take away from the fact that so many people are still looking for a way to get that extra burn in those particular areas. I love my MBTs, although I haven't really used them in a while and I can't say anything one way or the other about the Reebok Easytone, however, what I do know is that certain yoga and Pilates exercises are super effective for targeting these areas. Particularly in these snowbound days when a power walk really isn't an option.
So which poses are best to tone up the glutes in particular? Well, most variations of the Locust pose will do this. Lying face down, lift and stretch your legs away behind you and hold for 3 to 10 breaths. You can do one leg at a time if you want. Chair pose or Awkward Pose are two more which strengthen legs and tone glutes. Pilates Leg Pull Prone with leg lifts is also a powerful strengthener for the glutes. Of course the best way to learn these exercises is from a trained and qualified instructor and every new exercise regime should be discussed with your health practitioner. Enjoy the snow and don't forget to tone up and burn those glutes the holistic way! This is a very common complaint both for people coming to yoga / pilates classes and for acupuncture / massage therapy. Stress is so often held in the shoulders as a protective response to stress and over months and years can lead to chronic upper back pain.
Thankfully this is very easy to remedy and to prevent. Acupuncture and Tuina massage work with or without a combination of relaxing cupping therapy is not only an effective way of relieving this kind of stress but is also a very rlaxing and enjoyable treatment. But what happen after therapy? If you go back to your old habits then over time the same chronic pain will begin to develop. With a few simple yoga stretches and Pilates movements this can be easily avoided. Yoga Eagle pose is the most effective to target that tight area between the shoulder blades. Add to this a Pilates spine stretch and the effects can be miraculous in preventing future pain. Both these simple exercises can be done sitting in a chair or even in the driving seat if your car is (fully) stopped in traffic. If you have time at home to do a short 5 to 15 minute routine with some additional simple exercises (Swan dive, Spine Twist, Cat Pose, Dolphin Pose) then not only will the results on the upper back be better but your mood will also lift, you will breathe better and sleep better. If you would like to discuss this or a similar issue, please don't hesitate to contact us on 086 408 2428 or info@therapyandyoga.com If you have a medical issue please consult with a medical professional. This blog is informational only and is not intended for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for professional medical advice. A sensation of burning in the eyes can have several causes both from a western medical and from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective and the two diagnoses may or may not be related.
In Chinese medicine the Liver is said to be associated with the eyes and therefore any condition affecting the them may be an indicator of a disturbance in the energy of this organ. Energy is said to rise from the Liver into the eyes causing them to burn, itch, become red, or feel gritty and dry. This rising of energy may be caused by excessive anger or frustration, perhaps repeated over an extended period, or may be alcohol or food related. It may also occur as a result of illness in the western anatomical equivalent of the energy system described by the term Liver in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Treatment for this kind of symptom is relatively simple in Chinese medicine and involves the use of acupuncture points on the body to draw energy down from the eyes, to calm and 'smooth' Liver energy and to strengthen other organs or energy systems that have been affected by Liver energy. Clearing heat may also be involved if there are heat symptoms. Calming mood and addressing emotional issues through acupuncture may also be involved. If you would like to discuss this or a similar issue, please don't hesitate to contact us on 086 408 2428 or info@therapyandyoga.com If you have a medical issue please consult with a medical professional. This blog is informational only and is not intended for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for professional medical advice. It is definitely cold and flu weather again. Most people who regularly have acupuncture or who practice yoga will experience far less of these annoying symptoms. People training with Joe Pilates were also famous for being particularly resistant to colds and flus. So what's the secret?
Acupuncture stimulates a response from your bodies immune system, thereby strengthening it. The tiny pin-prick which you hardly feel is nevertheless registered by your bodies immune system, fortifying it in cold and damp weather. Pilates and yoga work with movement of the body, thereby causing the flow of lymph around the body and giving you an immune system boost. Yoga particularly, because of the inverted postures has a particularly beneficial effect. For more info, don't hesitate to contact me at liam@therapyandyoga.com Liam B. Hi All,
October is nearly upon us and with it one of the finest and most enjoyable parts of the year! To celebrate October, and to add a little warmth to new classes beginning in this charming month, if you sign up for any group class of yoga for October, you are invited to attend the new Monday or Tuesday class absolutely free for the entire month. Additionally, if you elect to sign up for one of the new classes you can bring a friend along, absolutely free, for the entire month! Prices for the new classes are the same - Eur 50 per calender month or Eur 15 drop-in. And don't forget that a new series of Pilates classes in Wicklow (Kilbride / Ananta Yoga Studio) and in Gorey will begin from November, so if you are interested in learning more just send me a quick txt, email or give me a call on 086 408 2428. Class Timetable / http://www.therapyandyoga.com/timetable.html From Monday October 4th will be starting a new Hatha class at the beautiful Ananta Yoga Studio, just off the N11 at Kilbride Co. Wicklow. The Studio is brand new, really gorgeous, only opened this year and is really becoming popular with its great selection of teachers and excellent cafe (the Romany Stone) just downstairs. My class will be 6.30 to 7.45pm each Monday with prices as in Arklow and Gorey.
Check out the studio at www.anantayogastudio.com and email me at liam@therapyandyoga.com or call 086 408 2428 if you would like to join the class. Will also be teaching Pilates here from November on. |
AuthorLiam Byrne, Yoga & Pilates Instructor, Acupuncturist, Physical Therapist, Sports Massage Therapist, Archives
January 2016
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