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  1. Is Demand the new buzz word?

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    I was loading some new videos into our 'On Demand' collection and it got me thinking.  Demand sounds, to me, verging on aggressive!  For example, I demand that you give me a refund for these faulty goods or I demand that you answer me and so forth....

    So that led me to substituting some other words for demand.  Here are some of them I considered and some from the thesaurus:- command, ask, stipulate, order, dictate, desire, require  ..... and the most obvious REQUEST.  Of course some of these words do not fit the situation, for me request is the closest.  Yet it is not the ideal message.  On request sounds slow, it sounds like you're starting up a process and someone at the other end has to action it for you, whereas ON DEMAND impresses that the power is with you to draw down a video to watch at any time, no waiting, no one else involved just click and collect so to speak.  So at the end of the day On Demand is the right choice in this case as it has become a recognised phrase.  But if you are in an enviroment where you are subjected to aggressive language at home or in the workplace then your inner peace is being contaminated.

    thinking

    Then I started thinking about the way we use words (again sorry if I'm boring you, it's just a thing I have).  These days the politeness seems to be giving way for personal power and control.   We're all busy empowering and positioning ourselves that we have lost some compassion along the way. We all seem to be staking our position whether outright and up front or under cover and fake. We want everything instantly, when we say and we don't really want to wait around for someone else to do their thing.  I suppose this is one of the side effets from the benefits we get from technological advances where we are more and more self-sufficient with our laptops and mobile phones.  Where in the past we had to be patient whilst waiting for a specialist to process something for us, duplicate, sub contract etc., now we get annoyed with technology if it is making us wait for a few extra minutes as it's running slow and by that I don't mean extending the wait to days or weeks.  It's always fairly instant.

    And with all the extra knowledge we need  to fit into the modern work stream then we can sometimes get overloaded.  We don't always have the time to word things politely, we may start to be more abrupt as nothing except what is inside our heads is important to us.  You could find it referred to as stress which comes with bad temper.  We don't have time to consider others and the effect our words may be having on them.

    As a hypnotherapist working with words all the time I can tell you that the words you choose to use do have an impact, create an initial impression.  Self talk most definitely included.

    Considering the way you word things is very important if you want to offer a caring attitude to others and this is especially relevant with your children and with teenagers going through  confusing changes.  Changes that you have to adjust to as well.  But beware if you're not genuine the fakeness shows.

    And talking of instant gratification, I suppose we should be grateful but something has to give and one of the things that seems to be giving is cooking your own food.  It is now normal to grab a quick meal so normal that it has a name 'fast food'.  What we put into ourselves is one of the most important things we can consider that includes food, drink and words via thoughts. 

    Life is too fast to worry about that though we just rush on.

    COVID has slowed us down and many people are looking at simplifying their lives and slowing down to appreciate the pace of life.  Yipee is all I can say.  Good on yer!

    Just in case you're wondering our  on demand classes are accessed through membership  see more on the website.  We have a range of activities on and off line to introduce some calm and space into your week.  Take a look at the website and whats on for more info.

    Stay calm and carry on but watch your words.

    Andrea Lowe Hypnotherapist and trainer at Mind and Body

  2. Walk a little more

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    walkingThe country is on an economy drive.  There are fears that a rise in petrol costs is on it's way and the knock on hits almost everything eventually.

    One way to help with this would be to walk more.  Not only is it good for your pocket - also good for your health.  A brisk 20 min walk every day could help to save your life.  Why not make a pact now to save your petrol costs and walk a little more. 

    Walking also helps you to learn to breath more efficiently and increase the oxygen intake into your system.  This gradually builds up until you begin to feel the fitness within.

    I know that some have to drive to work and that walking takes a lot longer.  Planning can incorporate the time consuming walk into your regime and the time you gain on this earth may be well worth it to you.

    Here is a calculator to see how much your petrol is costing you and how much it would cost if the price went up.

    Petrol Calculator Widget created by Confused.com

    Let us know how you have got on in your walk more and save petrol/money - your experiences could be an inspiration to others:
    Some ideas for walking more:

    • If you work too far away to walk or riding a bike is not good then just park further away and make it a longer walk into work from your car.
    • Work out how much you are saving by walking and put the money away - plan what you are going to spend it on.
    • Make sure you walk out at lunch time even if it is only around the block.
    • Incorporate a step counter into your routine and see if your steps are increasing as time goes by.
    • Encourage your friends and family to also walk a little more.
    • Form a lunchtime walking group with some of your colleague at work
    • Take your family for a walk in the evenings.

    Please add any ideas you may have for helping with the walking blitz.

  3. 5 Tips for recovering from Cancer

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    5 Tips to Care for Yourself While Recovering from Cancer

     

    Being diagnosed with cancer is one of the most difficult trials a person can experience. The most important thing to know is that you’re not alone. In fact, Cancer Research UK holds that “there are more than 360,000 new cancer cases in the UK every year.”

     

    Though this is likely the most difficult time in your life to focus on yourself, it’s also when it becomes more important than ever. Fostering your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health can improve your quality of life during treatment and aid your recovery. If you’ve recently been given a cancer diagnosis, consider the following five tips to help yourself through the process.

     

    1. Reduce the pain safely

     

    There’s no getting around it — when it comes to cancer and the treatments involved, the pain is real. Obviously, you want to mitigate pain as much as you can, but it’s essential to do so safely. Over-prescription and abuse of pain medications is a severe problem, so be sure to double-check with your doctor about your prescribed amount, never take more than you are prescribed, and stop taking your medications if you ever start to feel uncomfortable or overly sedated.

     

    It’s also worth exploring alternative methods of pain relief. For instance, acupuncture, medicinal plants, and yoga can be helpful in pain management. Hypnotherapy and self-hypnosis have also shown great promise, and might make it easier for you to cope with unpleasant feelings, both physical and emotional. As a supplemental self-therapy, look into CBD oil, which contains cannabinoids to help your body function without causing any psychoactive effects. Research shows that CBD oil can relieve treatment-related symptoms such as anxiety, chronic pain and nausea. The 2019 guide from Remedy Review provides details about some of the top CBD oils on the market.

     

    2. Practice basic self-care

     

    When it comes to self-care, the three most essential factors are diet, exercise and sleep. Treatment will naturally affect how you practice these, but it’s critical that you take care of yourself the best you can during this time because it can help you feel better. Try to eat well by avoiding processed foods, refined sugars and saturated fats. Try to maintain an exercise routine — walking, swimming and yoga are options to consider. Sleep is just as important. Restlessness is common among people with cancer, so try different things for your bedtime routine, and talk to your doctor for additional recommendations.

     

    3. Stay social

     

    Cancer is not something anyone should go through alone. While it can help to have someone with you at treatments, it’s also important to be around people for reasons unrelated to cancer. If you did certain social activities before your diagnosis, try to maintain them as well as you can. Going to movie night or dining out with your friends can help get your mind off cancer and bring a sense of normalcy to your life. Also, going to church functions or taking yoga classes are great ways to foster your spiritual life.

     

    4. Find a hobby

     

    Along with doing activities with other people, it can help to have a hobby that brings you joy. Did you used to enjoy crafts as a kid? Pick it up again and see if your interest is rekindled. Have you always wanted to write but never got around to it? Start a blog and share your story with others. Anything you can do that helps you step away from your daily stresses can be beneficial.

     

    5. Join a support group

     

    Finally, one of the best things you can do for your recovery is to join a support group. These groups can provide a place to share your experiences and get advice for everyday life from people who are either going through the same thing or have been through it before. Many people find that support groups reduce stress and anxiety, as well as improve mood and self-esteem.

     

    If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, it’s important that you give your overall health and well-being some attention. Use pain medication safely and explore alternative treatments. Try to eat well, exercise and sleep, and don’t give up your social life. Lastly, discover a fun hobby to do, and look into support groups. Taking care of yourself will help you maintain a higher quality of life as you navigate this tough time.

     

    Photo Credit: Pixabay

     

     

    Scott Sanders

  4. Lounge Music - the future?

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    guitar
     
    Are Parlour music evening the thing of the future? They certainly are in Australia  as people are getting fed up with paying wage packet prices to see their fav. bands - Initimate events are now the main attraction.
    The benefits of an intimate lounge/parlour type event is that you are close up and friendly  getting the full impact of the performance. Watching from a tiered arena is one step better than a BIG tv screen. Admittedly you won't get Cold Play or U2 performing in a lounge but they all started somewhere. When you've been priviledged to see a band in it's formative years it's always thrilling to reflect back during their success.  

    After all what is live  music all about?  It's not about watching someone famous, it's about listening to some serious talent and letting the vibrations get into your soul.  Being close enough to feel almost at one with them as they perform and listen to their often very personal stories behind some of the music they have chosen to share with you for the evening.

    Andrea Lowe,  Zen Lounge

  5. Do Virus's Get on Your Nerves!

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    Do Virus's Get on Your Nerves!

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    Many people are suffering with the effects of virus again this winter whether it be the identifiable flu virus or any number of other nasty little virus that get into our system at some time and prove difficult to shake off. Sometimes a virus can recur again and again even as frequently as once every month or so and it is often difficult to know why we are feeling down, fatigued, lacking in vitality and suffering a number of bolt-on symptoms like gastrointestinal upset, headaches and unexplained body pain. A friend of mine was once bitten by a mosquito in Portugal whilst on holiday and her GP told her she had a virus probably passed on by the insect that adversely affected her for 2-3 years. Years later she still believed that the same virus can return when she is stressed or run down.

    The bad news is that antibiotics don't help but the good news is that we can create a better environment in our bodies to deter these little critters and at least keep them at bay for longer. One of the problems with the virus as with some microbes is that they can hide in the nerve endings when they are under attack from our own immune combat antiboties. These little friendly soldiers in our blood stream do a good job but at times when we are particularly tired or under stress we make less and the virus pops out again reaking havoc with our well being. Also when under additional stress our inflammatory levels can increase adding to our discomfort.When we are under stress and fatigued the virus creeps out of the nerve ending and starts their little negative romp again in your body. It's strange also how the virus seesm to attack weak areas in your body...so if you have a perennial problem with a tooth you can experience tooth ache...or if you suspect you have "arthritis" in you neck, your knee, you back etc then you may experiece pain in those places.

    It is also worth noting that recent research has discovered that the virus can be responsible for an increase in bodily inflammation and we now know that inflammation is the sub clinical cause for a number of degenerative illness that can catch up with us in later life such as cancer, cardio vascular disease and others.

    So start creating an environment in your body that will deter the virus. Try and keep to a diet with plenty of fresh produce such as fruits and vegetables. Have these raw whenever you can for better effect. We know that other nurtrients can ward off the virus such as garlic (if you don't like the taste or smell try an odourless tab) and make sure you have enough vitamin C and B in your diet.

    It can also be useful to move towards an anit inflammatory diet even if only for one week per month by ensuring you have plenty of whole grain as well as the raw foods and fresh produce...in addition take one of the useful anti-inflammatoy supplements such as tumeric or one that is more effective for YOU.

    In tandem with this be sure to have plenty of anioxidants in your diet to combat the effects of any inflammation that gets through that can damage your cells. There are antioxidants in good fresh produce and raw foods but you can also top up with other nutrients...the thing is your need to have a number in the diet as individual antioxidants target different parts of the body...one useful mineral antioxidant is zinc, a good all rounder and also good for the immune system... there are others too....if you think you might be zinc deficient and there is a lot less zinc in foods now due to soil deficiencies then you can have a FREE zince test at the Mind and Body Centre by arrangement...it takes less than 5 minutes and is non-invasive requiring only a spoonful of water containing zinc tester which is swirled around the moth for ten seconds and either swallowed or spit out. This will give you an indication of your zinc levels.

    Barry Todd

     

  6. Reflexology yourself

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    Self Reflexology
    feet
     
    If you have never experienced a reflexology therapy you don't know what you are missing. Reflexology relaxes you right from the top of your head to the tip of your toes. However, it is more than that. Working on the energy channels running through the body a reflexology massage is able to relieve and address blockages and even pain. To put your feet into the trusted hands of a reflexologist is an out of this world experience. However, if you cannot manage it you can always do it for yourself it's not as relaxing but can still ease painful areas and address conditions in the body.
     
    Here's how.
     
    All you need is a little oil or cream That can be simply a good quality body cream or even hand cream.
     
    First massage a little of the cream into your hands.
     
    Hand Massage
     
    With left palm facing up, place the the thumb of your right hand on the top of your right hand near the write below the little finger. Support your left hand with the fingers of your right hand. Press your thumb down and forward, lifting up and coming back again (a bit like rolling pin movements over pastry). Continue with this movement until your progress forward to the base knuckle of your little finger. Repeat starting at the base and moving up to the knuckle of each finger in turn including the thumb. Finally make circular movements with the right thumb over the left palm.. Press thumb into palm, one inch below the middle finger of the left hand and hold for a moment. Repeat this entire procedure on the right hand.
     
    With back of hand facing up:- Slide right thumb between each knuckle on left hand, down to wrist and stop. Repeat on the right hand, using the left thumb.
     
    Keeping the back uppermost over and working from below the nail on each finger in turn, use the same movement as you push and progress down the fingers to the base of the fingers and thums on each hand in turn
     
    Press right thumb into side of left thumb, starting from the end of the thumb, moving down to the wrist, pressing again after each advance. Stop at wrist and then work on side of right thumb in the same way, using the left thumb.
     
    Foot Massage
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    Using a similar action to the hand massage technique you will need to lift your foot up on to your thigh bending the knee, so make sure you are sitting comfortably. First give the foot a good all over massage then with the movement described above work on each individual toe manipulating the neck of the toe also. Then start working across the bottom of the foot from the toes to the heel. Work around the ankles and manipulate your ankle to give some movement, on the top of the foot run between the toes with the gradual pushing movement all the way up to the ankle and finish with an massage of the entire foot. Make sure you get to every part of the foot and particularly the sides of the foot and ankle. As you are in a crouched position you will need to time each foot and don't plan to spend to long as you may end up needing a body massage to compensate for your awkward posture. Little and often is the key to self reflexolgy whereas going to a reflexologist you can just relax and spend 45 mins in their hands.
     
     
    Follow this link for a free reflexology foot and hand chart that will tell you which part of your feet and hand relate to the various parts of your body. Or try this link for an interactive funky map of the feet and hands