Learning about Cranial Sacral Therapy

I was asked to escort Giles to Worcester a few weeks ago and observe his course on cranial osteopathic techniques. As a complementary therapist and a teacher myself I was keen to learn what cranial sacral therapy is all about and how it is done.

It was really facinating to watch how an osteopath prepares him/herself to treat and how they assess which movements to perform. I learnt a lot about the anatomy of the skull and the many ways in which it can be compressed and cause a range of problems.

This is a truly remarkable therapy, so gentle and yet so powerful with the results it can provide. I look forward to Giles developing this course for therapists like me!

Bronwyn Ward

Vertical Reflex Therapy

Our reflexologist, Anne Brunton, is now an appointed tutor of Vertical Reflex Therapy (VRT); as a tutor, Anne will be involved in teaching the VRT techniques to qualified reflexologists across the country. 

Vertical Reflex Therapy is a versatile and acclaimed award-winning technique, developed by Lynne Booth.   VRT is a very brief reflexology treatment on the weight-bearing feet (or hands) and is now used extensively by reflexologists to enhance their classical reflexology treatments.  As it enables shorter treatments, it can be used to great effect with children, elderly people, in sports clinics and the workplace.  It can also be combined very effectively with other treatments such as physiotherapy and osteopathy.  Exceptional results may be obtained, often in a few minutes. 

As well as achieving really good results with sports injuries and mobility problems, Anne has also found the VRT techniques invaluable in helping with sub-fertility issues – several of her clients, who were waiting for IVF, have conceived quickly after using VRT endocrine techniques in combination with either Bowen or classical reflexology....or maybe, its just something in the Chandos Clinic water?!

Links:

For more information about Vertical Reflex Therapy, and how it may help you or your family and friends, see www.boothvrt.com.  

You can also contact our reflexologist, Anne Brunton, for more information on 0777 157 5837

Focus on Back

Focus on Back – by Bronwyn ward


Since prevention is by far the best way to look after your back this winter, here are a few tips to keep yourself healthy and pain-free:



A strong back is a happy back

It's never too late to strengthen your back muscles, and this will go a long way towards preventing back injuries and aches and pains. The key lies in strengthening your core muscles. Your practitioner can advise what type of exercise would best suit you.



Good mood = good back

Along with physical stress, mental and emotional stress also adds to the strain on your back. Make time to look after your mind as well as your body. Breathe deeply; take a few minutes out of your busy day to take a few slow deep breaths to increase oxygen to the brain. Try to do something fun and relaxing every day.



Don’t stiffen up

When sitting for long periods of time, get up and move about, get a glass of water and roll your shoulders. When standing for long stretches, shift your weight from foot to foot.



Snowy hazards

Be mindful of slippery steps, footpaths, parking lots, and drives. Wear appropriate footwear that has a rough sole with enough tread to help prevent slips and falls. When shovelling snow, bend from the knees, not the waist. Get help if you aren't in top shape, listen to your body and work within your limits.

Happy Food

Fresh from this month's newsletter, a mood bosting recipie from our Complementary Therapist Bronwyn...

Eat ‘happy foods’ this winter high in Omega 3, B vitamins and amino-acids. Try this mackerel salad for your lunchbox which ticks all the boxes:




200g wholemeal couscous (provides dietary fibre)

3 oranges – two peeled and sliced, one juiced (Contains inositol which has been linked to regulating serotonin and insulin)

2 Tbsp white wine vinegar (good for digestion and may improve uptake of nutrients)

1 Tbsp manuka honey (High in antioxidants and a good boost for the immune system)

2 Tbsp sesame seeds (High in calcium and amino-acid threonine which has been linked to reducing depression)

150g smoked mackerel (High in Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid or GABA which may provide mood-elevating effects by blocking feelings of anxiety and stress)

Small bag of watercress or rocket (High is stress busting B vitamins and iron)



Cook the couscous as per instructions on packet. Whisk juice, vinegar, honey and sesame seeds to make dressing. Combine all ingredients to make a healthy happy salad.



(Alternatively, a small bar of dark chocolate with chilli could raise serotonin and provide antioxidants for fighting off the winter nasties)

Cancel the January Detox

If you read any newspapers or magazines, you'll know that January seems to be all about dieting or detoxing. Since the start of the year I've been asking my patients if they've made any new year's resolutions for 2013. I've been pleased to hear that most people are much too sensible to set themselves up for failure. Where resolutions have been made, they've been realistic, moderate, and made with a view to gradually upping the challenges as appropriate through the year.


For those who do want to make dietary changes for health, but are not inspired to change behaviour in the winter months while it's still cold, dark and wet, a good preparatory step might be to stay indoors and do some reading.

Here are a couple of books which lay out the science and evidence of what seems to work best for weight loss, and why lots of the traditional advice from medical dieticians is just wrong. Gary Taubes' “Why We Get Fat And What To Do About It” and Robert Lustig's “Fat Chance: The Bitter Truth About Sugar” both cover similar ground, and will be food for thought for anyone still thinking along the lines of the food pyramid, or the low-fat diets prevalent over the last couple of decades.

Mala Balani

Teaching in Finland

I have just returned form Finland teaching a course on Specific Tissue Correction Technique.


This is a very gentle manipulation therapy which I have developed over the last 25 years. It has proved non-traumatic and successful for many patients. It was great to share these techniques with my Finish group of students, many of them have been studying with me for several years.

The weather was a bit severe for us Brits! Minus 20 degrees with wonderful clear skies night and day giving a typical northern glow to the atmosphere. If you are interested in our education courses Log on to Integrated Osteopathic Studies.   Giles Cleghorn   Follow me on Twitter Like us on Facebook www.chandosclinic.co.uk  

Happy New Year

Happy New year evenyone! We're all back to work fighting fit. We're all quite sad to have lost Alex Prince to exploring the big wide world but wish him all the best.