Reiki (Pronounced Ray-Key)
Some people of heard of it but not always completely sure what it is and how it may help.
It is an energy treatment that creates a space of stillness and balance, it is great for anyone going through an upheaval, upset or change in life’s circumstances.
Donna our therapist is a Reiki Master with 20 years experience.
The great thing is, unlike massage, you get to keep your clothes on and lay on a couch whilst Donna starts by placing her hands around your head and then continues with hand placements over the body (covering major organs like the Liver and Kidneys with respect and consent. Some people may experience a warming, supportive and nurturing feeling.
Our body’s are always doing their best for us even in times of illness and Reiki is an amazing, gentle and nurturing way of supporting the body’s innate ability to always try to balance and heal (homeostasis)
Donna is available Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and alternate Saturdays
Sessions are 60mins and cost £51
To book please text or whatsapp Donna on 07732406038 or Call the Centre 01394388234
Here’s a great article from one of our Acupuncturist’s Alison Fletcher practising here at the WCHC
Insomnia, which responds well to acupuncture, covers a number of sleeping problems including an inability to fall asleep easily, waking up during the night, restlessness, night-heat and sweats, waking early in the morning and dream-disturbed sleep. In Traditional Chinese Medicine the Mind is rooted in the Heart so, if we’re troubled, the Mind is not rooted properly and sleep will be affected, often producing many dreams. Night-time is Yin time when our bodies should be nourished and nurtured ready for the next day’s activities. If Yin or our cooling elements are depleted, nightsweats can occur. Before identifying a sleep problem make sure your inability to sleep soundly is not because of external causes such as the weather, drinking/smoking stimulants or temporary joint muscle pain; if you can rule out these causes do come for some acupuncture.
ALISON FLETCHER MBAcC (Practising over 20 years)
https://www.alisonfletcheracupuncture.co.uk/
I’m sure many of you now have squashes growing in the garden and with cooler temperatures heading our way I thought a Stew might be good. Tofu is used by many following a vegetarian diet and is great for anyone experiencing menopausal symptoms. Soya protein provides a source of plant oestrogens which can help women going through this stage of their life.
Vietnamese Squash, aubergine and Tofu stew
Serves 4
Sauce ingredients
Sunflower oil
1 onion sliced thinly
1/2tsp turmeric
2 tsp curry powder
½ tsp ground cinnamon
1 fresh red chilli
25g fresh ginger, grated
2 stalks lemon grass, using only the bulb, very finely chopped
Juice of ½ lime
2 dessertspoons soya or tamari sauce
1 ½ pints vegetable stock
3 dessert spoons cornflour
2 tsp brown sugar
Vegetables
275g firm tofu, cut into squares
1 butternut squash – half if large, cut into chunks
1 aubergine, cubed
½ red pepper deseeded and cut into long strips
250g white cabbage, cored and thinly sliced
Fresh coriander to garnish
Method
1. Preheat oven to 400F/200C/Gas mark 6. On a large baking tray or roasting dish place the tofu, squash and aubergine and drizzle with a little oil and a pinch of salt. Roast for about 20 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Remove from the oven.
2. Meanwhile start the sauce. In a large saucepan place a splash of oil and add the onion, spices, chilli, ginger and lemon grass. Cook until the onion is soft and translucent.
3. Add the lime juice, tamari, or soya sauce, sugar and stock. Bring gently to the boil.
4. In a small dish mix the corn flour with enough cold water to form a paste. When the sauce is boiling, pour in the corn starch stirring constantly, until thick and glossy. Add the red pepper.
5. In a frying pan add a splash of oil and stir fry the cabbage until tender.
6. Combine all the vegetables and tofu with the sauce and gently bring to the boil. Serve with a garnish of fresh coriander and accompany with noodles if desired.
Taken from new Food For Thought by Jane Noraika
Look what’s new at the WCHC……….. our therapist, Donna Walker from Aromatic Answers is providing Hot Stone Massage, have a read below and get in contact today!
Aromatic Answers
by Donna Walker
Melt your stress away
HOT STONE MASSAGE
Experience the bliss of a restorative hot stone massage. Soothe tense muscles, melt away stress, improve sleep, and boost your immunity. Treat yourself and feel renewed!
Ask at reception to book, call on 01394 388234 or contact Donna directly on 07732 406038
http://www.aromaticanswers.com
Our garden looking rather lovely today! Come and see us soon!
Up to 12 million people in the UK are affected by IBS causing discomfort and embarrassment at some time in their lives. More women seek help but it’s common in both sexes and often starts between 15 and 40 years old. Acupuncture has been found to be very effective in relieving the symptoms of IBS – bloating, swelling, bouts of diarrhoea and/or constipation and nausea. Acupuncture recognises how emotional stress can combine with physical factors to stagnate the body’s vital energy known as Qi. Treatments strengthen the digestive tract increasing motility by stimulating the nervous system and the vagus nerve. It can reduce anxiety, depression and alleviate stress. Dietary advice is also given. By treating the underlying cause rather than just the symptoms acupuncture can provide longer term relief for sufferers.
Alison Fletcher MBAcC (Practising over 20 years)
On the 29th of May it was World Digestive Health Day.
If you are someone who has experienced digestive problems you may have come across the LOW FODMAP diet.
FODMAPs are carbohydrates, found mainly in plant foods. Sometimes they are poorly absorbed by the small intestine and when fermented by bacteria can produce gas and cause bloating and cramping.
There are many different causes of poor digestive health but a low FODMAP diet can be beneficial in some cases.
Here is a recipe which is suitable for someone following a low FODMAP diet.
Frying Pan Spinach Souffle
From Riverford Organics
Serves 2
Ingredients
300g spinach, washed
4 eggs
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
75g grated cheddar
Sunflower or olive oil for frying
Salt and pepper
Method
Heat your oven to 210 degrees C/gas mark 6. Cook the spinach in a pan of boiling water for 1-2 minutes, until wilted. Drain and refresh in a bowl of cold water, then drain again. Wring it out with your hands to remove excess water, then roughly chop the leaves.
Separate the egg whites and yolks into 2 bowls. Whisk the egg whites until they form firm but soft peaks using an electric whisk. Lightly beat the egg yolks together. Add the spinach to the yolks, then add the nutmeg and three quarters of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
Take a spoonful of the egg white and stir it into the egg yolk mixture, then very gently fold in the rest. Pour 1 tablespoon of oil into a 21 – 23cm frying pan. Wipe the base and sides with kitchen paper to coat it. Heat the oil gently, then tip in the egg mix and tip the pan from side to side to coat it. Sprinkle over the remaining cheese.
Transfer the pan to the oven for 10 minutes, until the mixture has risen and is fluffy and slightly golden from the melted cheese on top. Cut in half or wedges to serve.
This article was provided by Nicky Seabrook.
It always surprises me when I hear people say to me: “Oh! I’m not flexible enough to do yoga!” As someone who has been practising and teaching yoga for over 30 years it’s the perception of yoga that I would most like to change!
Looking in magazines, on Instagram or TikTok, we see images of people in perfect yoga poses in amazing locations and looking relaxed. The images attract our attention and we wonder how we too could be like that. But what’s going on inside? How do these people, who are often models, feel? Have they really achieved a sense of perfect peace in front of the camera?
So here are three reasons why yoga could be for you and how it could make a difference to your daily life:
1 – Freedom of movement
The way we move changes over time. Our bodies tend to stiffen up and things we could do easily, like getting down to the floor (and back up again!), reaching for something we have dropped or simply going out for a walk may feel more difficult than it used to. Simple movements to free up the neck and shoulders, ease the hips and strengthen key areas of the body can make a difference and may help you to look and feel younger too. Chair yoga is becoming popular and means that the benefits of yoga are available to those who are less mobile. The poses are adapted and simplified and you can do them sitting in a chair.
2 – More energy
Have you noticed how you breathe? Sometimes tension in the body means that the breathing is restricted and a few simple changes to your posture and awareness of your breathing can help to restore a deeper breath. Finding ways to lengthen your breath helps to bring more oxygen into your lungs and this circulates round your body.
3 – Staying calm
Some people are experiencing a sense of uncertainty in life and may find it difficult to manage the feelings of anxiety this can cause. How can we feel centred and more in control? How can we control feelings of anxiety and re-programme some of these unwanted reactions? Building physical strength, finding a sense of balance and learning how to control our breath form the key building blocks for feeling better about life.
Why yoga?
Hatha yoga, which is the type of yoga I practise, has three elements – poses, breathing and relaxation and the real magic happens when you can bring all those elements together – a gentle posture, with quiet breathing and a feeling of being relaxed. And it’s surprising how easily you can achieve this in the one to one sessions I offer at the Woodbridge Complementary Health Centre!
Are these sessions suitable for everyone?
Each session is designed for you and I plan it so that there are things in the session which you can do straightaway and things which you can work towards. Over the years I’ve designed programmes for people in their later years who want to be active and play with their grandchildren, those with specific health problems, athletes who need to maintain a good balance between strength and flexibility, musicians who need good posture and stamina for performing, office workers who find that desk work is causing them neck, shoulder or back problems, runners who are aiming to take part in events and anyone who simply wants to feel better! And if you are an advanced yoga practitioner and there’s a particular posture you would like to achieve, come and see me!
How many sessions do I need?
You can come to me for just one session and I also offer 4, 6 and 8 week packages. The 6 week package is ideal to get you off to a good start with your yoga and you will see the benefits of having these regular sessions. A 4 week course works well for those returning to yoga or who know that they need some specific help (eg athletes, musicians, advanced yoga practitioners or help with breathing techniques). And if you have been thinking about yoga for some time and are now in a position to do something about it, 8 weeks is great and many of my regular clients book in blocks of 8 weeks so that they can continue to develop their practice. All sessions can be booked to work around your existing commitments so you won’t miss any of the sessions you pay for.
A bit about me
Yoga has been a part of my life since I was in my teens. It helped me build my confidence when I was young, it has supported me during some of the most stressful times in my life, especially when I had a full time career in the IT industry and family commitments. And now I’m lucky to be able to focus on my own yoga practice and sharing my knowledge with others, something I hope to do for many more years to come!
A free session
As part of my June promotion I’m offering a free half hour yoga session to newcomers so that you can meet me and experience the wonderful effects of yoga for yourself. Contact my lovely colleagues on reception by telephoning 01394 388234 or email on info@wchc.info to book your free session.
Many thanks
Izzy Ixer
- For Back Pain better to see your Osteopath sooner rather than later
- Take regular exercise – your Osteopath can say what is right for you
- Hours in one position can cause problems – avoid “computer hump”
- During repetitive tasks, vary your rhythm and take frequent breaks
- Adjust car seats and on long journeys take regular breaks to stretch
- Pace yourself with heavy work like gardening – do not risk a disc
- Watch childrens’ posture – they should not carry bags on one shoulder or spend too long at a computer without breaks
- During pregnancy, osteopathy can help your body adjust to changes
- Avoid strain when lifting, particularly when lifting small children and shopping
- Your bed could be part of the problem. Seek osteopathic advice on choosing a new one