Monday 25 January 2016

Eating your vitamins and minerals

Image result for fruit and veg

Eating your vitamins and minerals

The best way to get a good amount of vitamins into your body is to eat fresh food. At this time of year it is so tempting to reach for high fat and sugar processed foods to feel full and comforted, but with a high prevalence of virus' flying around we need to arm ourselves against poor health. I make a massive bowl of fruit salad at the start of the week and by Wednesday need to re do because the family have snacked on it and taken tubs to school and work. Roast veggies with lashings of olive oil and garlic with whatever herbs take your fancy to present a bright and appealing accompaniment to meats or rice. it can be a bit of a drag to cook from fresh, but unless you have someone on the autistic spectrum at home (like us!!) trying dishes is fun.
Our youngest is the only family member using packaged vitamins and that's because of his eating issues due to having Aspergers syndrome. We have never 'pandered' to his needs and keep trying different foods with him, but when he refuses to eat a main meal for three or four days and I refuse to give him biscuits etc we rely on him getting the minimum from his supplements, until I serve a meal he will eat.
When I go into an office I love to support the company in providing basic advice on eating well to live happier healthier lives.

Monday 18 January 2016

It's cold outside

The weather has finally turned seasonal and we are all scrambling around for warm coats and scarves.   I have to admit to not being a lover of cold, wet British winters, but can see the benefits of a walk on a crisp sunny day. Too many people seem to have a cough or cold right now, including me. I have not had anything other than a slight snivel for a good few years and was shocked when a thickly cough failed to depart after being blitzed with eucalyptus, cinnamon and lemon steam. It has been a week and I have fought hard, even bringing out thyme and ginger (I am not at all fond of them) but finally I am able to spend more than an hour without coughing.
This week I will be in offices in Southampton to deliver massage at work and have a few clients needing de stressing at home. Final massage for one of my regulars today for a few months as she heads South for the winter. She will be swimming and strolling along the WA coastline soon and I have to admit a pang of jealousy.

Tuesday 12 January 2016

go for a walk




Not many people can afford to have a daily massage and I have not yet met the employer prepared to pay for a 15 minute seated acupressure massage every day at work (I'm still searching!) So between the massages a great way to keep body and spirit in order is to go for a walk.

A walk in the fresh air is amazing for anyone ready to take the first step.
The benefits of this simple form of exercise are enormous.
Anyone with legs in working order can grab a pair of trainers and head out the front for of their home or office for a 20 minute stride out.
We are so very fortunate in Hampshire with the many and varied places to engage with nature that not to go for a walk is a waste of a day.
With every step taken;
a little bit of fat gets burned to power your stroll
your glutes get stronger and tighter - a big need in the office worker
the body absorbs the right things from the food you have eaten - take a lunch break walk after eating
It makes you smile
You hold your head up and open your chest
walkers can feel their minds reigniting on getting back into the office
you will see something beautiful, like the trees in my photo, or a dancing plastic bag in mayfield Park Southampton
many more benefits can be found when you start to stride.
If during a walk I find a stretch of grass/sand/rock/mud that looks untainted by dogs I will take off my shoes and socks and continue barefoot. Once you start walking barefoot you will want to bare those toes at any opportunity.




Wednesday 6 January 2016

Thank you Mayflower theatre

From my family and clients with additional needs I would like to thank the Mayflower theatre in Southampton for their relaxed performance of Aladdin over the festive period. Everyone had the most fantastic time.
well done and keep them coming mayflower

My website

good morning.
I am going to try to get a link into my website to enable this blog to be viewed there. Until I have managed to swap my therapist head to a tech one I will simply promote my site here.
The website to help those in Hampshire UK get great massages at work


This morning I have received another huge number of emails and Facebook pages telling me to get going on my 'detox', 'cleansing', 'juicing' diet. Nothing you eat acts as a cleanser or detoxifies the body. Juicing is a great way to get fluid, sugar and some nutrients from fruit and veg in, but I would prefer to eat a fruit salad or have a spicy stir fry with veg. That way your digestive system has a job to do, you get the pleasure of feeding and the maximum amount of vitamins and minerals from your meal, not to mention the fibre!

I'm finished with my advice on the whole detox thing for 2016.

January is a busy time of year for accountants and clients have booked in to get massages towards the end go the month for those working hard to get the accounts in. Some of the firms are putting in huge numbers of hours sorting through and preparing the accounts and a 15 minute seated acupressure massage seems to be well received by the accountants.