SALT: THE MIRACLE MINERAL

Salt has a very bad reputation, but it has the most amazing benefits.  Our bodies are 75% water, salty water, similar to seawater.  Over- consumption of salt is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, so current guidelines recommend we keep our salt intake to less than 6g per day – about a [...]

THE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL & MENTAL BENEFITS OF MEDITATION

Historical evidence puts meditation at 5,000 years old, but almost certainly it is older.  It seems that it was originally used to reach a  higher spiritual level and has had religious overtones throughout history.  This is unfortunate as many people have thus been alienated: I was refused the use of a church hall for my [...]

AVOID SWINE FLU

By Sheila Armstrong (www.kentmagnets.com – Saving the world with magnets & chocolate!)   H1NI VIRUS (SWINE FLU).  THIS IS FROM A DOCTOR.        The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it’s almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. [...]

PILATES: SUPPORT FOR THE UNSTABLE SPINE

For years I thought I had a stiff back.  I lived with low level back ache and referred aches and pains through my legs, occasionally seeing the physio if the symptoms became acute, usually after exertion of some kind: continuous bending and twisting to pick up leaves, lifting boxes and twisting when we moved house.  Generally, I’m [...]

DEALING WITH AN UNSTABLE/HYPERMOBILE SPINE

Hypermobility and an unstable spine need to be stabilised by strengthening the supporting muscles to prevent injuries and pain such as sciatica.  In the previous article I explained the role of the spinal stabilisers: discs, ligaments and muscles.  This article aims to discover the reasons for the instability, the symptoms and the treatment.  Causes  A [...]

HYPERMOBILITY & THE UNSTABLE SPINE

It wasn’t until I started teaching Pilates and yoga that I came across hypermobility.  In the days of high impact aerobics, step, legs/bums/tums, gym and sports, the opposite was far more likely.  People would leave my classes before the final stretch because they found it boring!  But being too mobile is just as much of [...]

PILATES: NEUTRAL POSITION & THORACIC BREATHING

The first things you learn when you enrol on a Pilates course are:- how to find your neutral position, where your core muscles are and how to engage them, thoracic/lateral breathing and pelvic/shoulder stability.  You need this knowledge to make your practise safe and effective. Now with so many Pilates video clips popping up all over [...]

AVOID DEPRESSION: FOOD AFFECTS YOUR MOOD

Much is written about the negative effects of a poor diet on your health, but what about the havoc it can wreak on your mind?  Over the past decade, mums have been frantically force feeding their children fish oils as Omega 3 is related to mood and concentration.  Ironically, I’ve seen them washed down with [...]

THE PROBLEM WITH OBESITY

Most of us are concerned about our weight from time to time, especially after Christmas or holidays when we may have over-indulged and taken very little exercise.  This is perfectly normal: I doubt that there are many people whose weight doesn’t fluctuate by some degree. For some people though, it is much more of a [...]