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Summer Camp for SEND Kids and Parents.
Over the summer, I grabbed the chance to provide qigong and visualisation classes for kids with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), with their mums. It was at their summer camp, over a few weeks, and they wanted to experience something different and relaxing, which is certainly what I do. When running exercise classes for…
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The Healing Power of Laughter.
Occasionally, we practise Laughter Yoga in our class, which always goes down really well. It combines voluntary laughter with yogic breathing (pranayama). Dr. Madan Kataria, a medical doctor in Mumbai, India developed it in 1995 based on the idea that laughter has both major physiological and psychological benefits, regardless of whether it’s real or simulated….
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Meditation and Mindfulness help realise a more balanced mind and body.
My introduction to Zen was while I was working in Tokyo some years ago, at the weekends I would take the early (4am ..) train out to Kamakura, where there are some beautiful Zen Buddhist monasteries, they begin their sessions (called “sesshins”) at 5am. I went there (to Hokoku-ji Temple) to learn the practice known…
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Being in Nature (e.g. the beauty of the Lake District).
One of my favourite places in the world is the Lake District in Cumbria, NW England (full disclosure: it’s where I grew up). I love exploring the fells and dales there, the air is always so fresh and clean and the scenery is always uplifting, I feel connected to nature there like nowhere else. Also,…
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The Biological Importance of Relaxation and Exercise for Carers.
It has long been felt that being a carer can affect one’s health and wellbeing due to chronic (long term) stress, even making one more susceptible to a range of conditions including cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, type-2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, certain cancers, gum disease, frailty and decline in bodily functions due to over-inflammation in the body….
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At the Royal Society of Medicine ..
This Tuesday (070524), I attended a set of lectures at the RSM (1 Wimpole Street, London, just off Oxford Street), where I am an Associate Member, I have been interested in medical research for many years now, so attending their lectures is always a major bonus for me; I am a member here due to…
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What is Self-Care?
Self-care is a broad and multifaceted concept encompassing a wide range of practices and activities aimed at promoting one’s own physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. It requires taking clear, deliberate steps to maintain one’s health and overall quality of life. Self-care is about recognising one’s needs and making choices, prioritising one’s well-being. It’s a…
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What is Cellular Ageing?
Cells in the human body undergo a process known as senescence, often called cellular ageing. Cellular ageing is a natural and complex process influenced by genetics, the environment, and lifestyle choices. It involves several key elements:- While cellular ageing is a natural part of life, it’s not uniform across all cell types. Some cells, such…
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Dr Schweitzer’s great observation.
World-renowned Doctor and Nobel Prize winner Dr. Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) once famously said:- “Patients carry their doctor inside. They come to us (physicians) not knowing that truth. We are at our best when we give the physician who resides within each patient a chance to go to work.”* Dr. Schweitzer’s emphasis on the inner physician within…
