Did you know that you have a ‘wonder’ Hormone?

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Did you know that you have a ‘wonder’ hormone? It’s called Serotonin and I call it a wonder hormone because it has so many amazing and wonderful functions.

Serotonin is a chemical messenger that is produced by nerve cells in the brain and the intestines. It is a neurotransmitter that sends messages between cells. It is known as the happy hormone because it affects our mood and emotions.

As well as affecting our central nervous system, it influences our appetite and digestion. It also helps regulate our sleep-wake cycles, affects bone metabolism, cardiovascular and eye health, blood clotting, wound healing, memory, sexual desire and neurological disorders. Serotonin plays a vital role in most major organ systems, including the cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems.

Ninety percent of serotonin is produced in our gut and recent research shows that it is connected to the production of the gut microbiome. A decrease in the gut microbiome has also been linked to the incidence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Our gut microbiome consists of the millions of bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses, that in a healthy person, coexist peacefully. Our gut microbiome is involved in our overall health, in particular, our immune system.

As Serotonin regulates our mood, it’s often called our body’s natural “feel good” chemical. When serotonin is at normal levels, we feel more focused, emotionally stable, happier and calmer. So if Serotonin is indeed this wonder hormone, what can we do to increase it naturally?

Spending time outdoors with exposure to sunlight has shown to be beneficial for serotonin levels. Regular exercise also boosts production of Serotonin leading to a better mood and overall well being. A healthy balanced diet and regular sleep as well as meditation and Reflexology, have also been shown to help.

Did you know that you have a ‘wonder’ hormone? You certainly do. That’s why it’s so important to lead a healthy lifestyle. Diet, exercise, meditation and measures to reduce stress, such as Reflexology and massage, all affect our Serotonin level. So why not make some changes now and incorporate some healthy habits into your lifestyle. Your ‘wonder’ hormone will thank you for it.

With warmest wishes,

Judy xxx

Disclaimer: Please note that all information in this article is the opinion of the author and obtained through her research and knowledge and the above references. It is not meant to replace medical advice and a medical opinion should always be obtained for any health condition.

References: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5074899/; https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-05756-0#:~:text=Research%20shows%20that%20more%20than,can%20produce%20norepinephrine47%2C48. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232248#boosting-serotonin; https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22572-serotonin# Photo by Hudson Hintze on Unsplash. 

Do You find it easy to Declutter your Life?

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Do you find it easy to Declutter your life? Do you find it easy to let go of things that no longer serve you or do you hold on for dear life?

Many years ago, a Japanese lady called Marie Condo wrote a book called, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.” In it she recommended only keeping the things in your life that ‘spark joy.’ While her book was based on physical items, I believe it’s a great practice to apply in all areas of your life.

How many of us hold onto behaviours or beliefs that no longer serve us? We’re scared of change or letting go of what is comfortable, even if it’s not healthy for us. It’s too hard, we will be judged, what will our friends or family say, others may not approve. So we stay the same. Change is difficult. What if we fail? What if it’s a disaster? We tell ourselves so many stories that we convince ourselves that our current lives aren’t too bad. We may not be happy, but we are comfortable!

But what if we challenged this status quo? What if we began to look at our lives in a new way, letting go of the old and allowing some new energy to come in instead. This may involve physical or emotional things, but the result is the same. Each time you let go, even a little, you allow space for the ‘new’ to come in.

What if you let go of control, of needing to manage the people and events in your life? What if you created better boundaries around your time and availability and let go of the need to be the people pleaser? What if you decluttered jobs, friends, relationships that only bring you grief and anxiety? What if you asked for help instead of trying to do it all yourself? What if you said “No” to the things that don’t bring you happiness and ask instead, what ‘sparks joy’ in my life?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the Lungs and Large Intestine represent control and letting go. The lungs hold onto grief and how easily we ‘breathe’ through life. Whether we are holding on to someone or something or are unable to move on. The Large Bowel also represents letting go, not just of waste products but of ideas, thoughts and emotions that are toxic or hold us back. In Reflexology I always give extra attention to these areas for we all hold tension to some degree in the lungs and bowels.

The Lungs and Large Intestine are part of the Metal element in TCM and Autumn is the season of the Metal element. As we near the season of Autumn, it’s the perfect time to look at what we can let go of or declutter in our life.

Do you find it easy to Declutter? If not, look at what you are holding onto and the reasons why. Is it fear? So many of us hold onto life because of fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of change, fear of upsetting someone, fear of being judged or criticised.

But what if you began small? Just started with one thing. Perhaps saying ‘No’ to extra work or that job you have always said ‘yes’ to but resented. Perhaps declining an invitation because you needed some time to yourself. Perhaps asking for help around the house instead of feeling you need to do everything. Perhaps letting go of perfectionism. Perhaps eating more vegetables or removing one unhealthy food from your diet.

When you let go of the old, you allow more space and energy to come in to your life. You allow more joy and more of the things that light you up to enter in. You begin to live a more authentic life, on your terms.

Do you find it easy to Declutter? If so, that’s great. Keep it up. If not, take one step at a time. As you start to make change, you will find it becomes easier, and more sustainable change follows. You will also start to notice more joy and abundance creeping into your life.

As we move away from summer, think of the trees. They begin to shed their beautiful autumnal leaves without resistance, letting go of the old decaying remnants that no longer serve them. They know that more beauty and growth lie ahead in the months to come.

Warmest wishes,

Judy xxx

References: “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo, www.acupuncturepathways.com/news/2017 Photo by Our Bahcivancilar on Unsplash

Disclaimer: Please note that all information in this article is the opinion of the author and obtained through her research and knowledge and the above references. It is not meant to replace medical advice and a medical opinion should always be obtained for any health condition.

It’s almost Christmas time.

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It’s almost Christmas time and nearly the end of another year. 2020 has been a year like no other. We have never experienced so many months of uncertainly, fear, confusion and disruption to our normal lives. Are you just hanging out for it to be over or have you learnt any lessons from it? Were there any benefits to slowing down or was it just a nightmare for you?

I found it a very mixed year. At first I allowed the fear to enter and I became swamped by it. I watched the news every night, worried about closing my clinic, became anxious about catching the virus, feared being in lockdown and was concerned about a lack of income.

But slowly I realised that how I was living was no fun and not sustainable. I couldn’t control external circumstances, but I could change my attitude and how I was living my life. So firstly, I stopped watching the news! This not only reduced my fear levels and that of my family, but it freed up time that I usually spent just staring at a screen.

I signed up for lots of courses, some free and some paid. I worked a lot on my personal development and realised that I was missing the creative aspect of my life. I started to write …. and write…… and write and a book is slowly forming. I had always loved writing as a child but it had long been left behind, along with creative pursuits that were considered a waste of time. I returned to my photography and began painting the flowers that I had captured on my camera.

Suddenly I felt alive again.

I realised that these past few months in lockdown, although not welcome, were an opportunity to re-evaluate my life and find what was missing. I realised that freedom to be me, to explore my passions, needed to have priority. I realised that I could combine my love of Reflexology with my love of the arts and rather than being overwhelmed, I would actually find more peace and time for myself.

What has this year brought up for you? Have you found that you actually crave more freedom and space in your life or have you missed the fast pace of always being on the go? Have you discovered a new hobby or resurrected an old one? I know that many people have returned to gardening or commenced it for the first time. Time to use our hands and connect with nature always has its’ rewards.

Was this year particularly isolating for you? I was blessed to have family at home but I know that many didn’t and found it very hard. I hope that the new freedoms we are now experiencing, particularly here in Australia lead to healing on all levels.

It’s almost Christmas time and each year we buy a live Christmas tree, a precious tradition from my childhood. I love the vibrant green of the branches and the evocative scent of pine that wafts through the house and greets me on rising each morning. It is now up and decorated, ready to be enjoyed by us all.

I know that the clinic has been closed more months than it has been open this year, but I thank you all for your wonderful support and look forward to seeing your beautiful faces next year.

What will the New Year hold for you? I hope it brings with it a sense of hope and optimism and excitement for what is yet to come.

Whatever traditions you hold dear or whichever way you choose to spend this time of year, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

Warmest wishes,

Judy xxx

References: Photo by Chad Madden on Unsplash.

What is your most important relationship?

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What is your most important relationship? Is it the one you have with your partner or perhaps the relationship you have with your children or family?

I believe that the most important relationship we can have in our life, is the one we have with ourselves. Yes we may have an amazing marriage and the bond between a mother and child is very unique and precious, but the relationship we have with ourselves determines how we react to and treat all other relationships in our lives.

Many of us were brought up to be people pleasers. If we always said Yes to everyone, put everyone else’s needs before our own, we were given love and praise. It was considered selfish to put ourselves first. Taking on this role throughout our childhoods, meant we stayed happy and safe. So long as we kept up these roles, love and praise were guaranteed. We often grew up basing our self worth on our achievements and the consequent praise we received.

As an adult, it’s so easy to continue these patterns. We put our careers, our families and partners ahead of our own needs and usually only stop to re-evaluate this when we become ill or exhausted. Few of us stop to look at the relationship we have with ourselves.

So what do I mean by this? The relationship we have with ourselves is how we look at ourselves and how we treat ourselves. Can you honestly and openly say you love yourself? Do you really respect yourself and care for your own needs on a daily basis?

How do you then care for yourself? It’s the little things that add up to a great relationship with yourself, just as they do with the relationship you have with your partner and children. Do you respect yourself and how you speak to yourself? How do you allow others to speak to you? Are you always criticising yourself e.g. I’m too fat or too thin or I look tired or ugly etc? What foods are you putting into your body? Are you drinking enough water, exercising enough, having time out just for you?

These are all signs of self care and self respect. They are a vital part of establishing a healthy relationship with yourself. The more you care about yourself, the more you are able to be there to care for others. As you show respect for yourself and establish strong boundaries around how you want to be treated, the more others will do the same. Your children will learn what is acceptable behaviour and how they would like to be treated themselves. This also impacts your relationship with your partner and friends.

So have a look at your own life first. Tell yourself, ‘I love you’ on a regular basis. Treat your body with kindness in your thoughts and deeds. Take time out when you need it. Rest, drink lots of water, eat well and move your body. Have regular treatments such as Reflexology that nurture and heal your body.

Prioritise your own needs first!

Remember that when your cup is full, you are much better placed to be there for others. You only have one life. Live it to the fullest and be there for yourself.

After all, you deserve the very best.

Warmest wishes,

Judy xxx

If you would like help in prioritising You and setting clear boundaries, you can book in here.

 

References:  Photo by Carol Oliver – Unsplash

Disclaimer: Please note that all information in this article is the opinion of the author and obtained through her research and knowledge and the above references. It is not meant to replace medical advice and a medical opinion should always be obtained for any health condition.

How can you put Yourself first when you don’t have Time?

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We are constantly being told to put ourselves first.

We hear it all the time. “How about You? You matter. Think of your own needs.”

We are learning more and more about the importance of listening to our bodies and prioritising our needs, but how can we do this in an increasingly busy world.

How can we put ourselves first when we just don’t have time?

Many of us have been brought up to put others first. As children we are taught to be kind and generous, to think of others. It’s considered selfish to make us number one. This is helpful to some degree but I believe that children should first be taught respect for themselves, then for others. Of course, it’s important to consider the needs of others but we need to remember our own needs too. As we get older, we often lose sight of ourselves and our own needs and never consider that our needs must take priority.

Women in particular, grow up as the nurturers. If we are nice and play by the rules we won’t be considered mean or nasty or the dreaded “B” word. If we have children we continue to play the game. Children are vulnerable, especially when young and it’s normal to be there to meet their needs. However if we never show our children that we have needs too, they grow up thinking that they don’t count either. They never learn to put themselves first. Not a great role model for their future selves.

So how can we start prioritising Us?

The most important thing, I believe is to have a great relationship with yourself. How much do you love yourself? How much do you respect your wants and dreams? If you laugh at the thought of loving yourself, practise what Louise Hay calls ‘Mirror work.’ Every time you look in the mirror say to yourself, ‘I love you.’ This may feel silly at first but the more you say it, the more you will feel the emotion.

Be aware of your language towards yourself and don’t criticise. Be grateful for your gifts and talents and don’t compare yourself to others. We are all unique and we all have our unique zone of genius. Be kind to yourself and do things that light you up. Spend time with those you love and less time with those who drain or deplete you.

This is all very well, you may say, but how do I find the time?

I think that if you really care about your health both on a physical and emotional level, you consciously make the time. You prioritise You into every day and every week. This doesn’t have to be difficult. I know that meditation really calms me down and sets me up for the day, so I get up 20 minutes earlier every morning. If I have a really hectic day ahead, I may only spend 10 minutes meditating but I know that it’s really beneficial for me so I do it.

I try and walk in nature every day because it is great for my physical and mental health. I don’t do it in the mornings but try and do it at lunchtime when I can. If I miss out one day, I don’t beat myself up over it. Things don’t have to be perfect.

I also have regular reflexology and massage because this supports and nourishes me. I plan these treatments and put them in my diary.

So how can you make time for what you love? I think the best way to start is by writing down what is important to you. Then think of the ways you can include these things into your life. Get up 1o minutes earlier if this is doable for you or make sure you take a lunch break each day so you get some time out, or have some quiet time in the evenings. Book in appointments for things you enjoy on a regular basis. Let others, including your family know that this is your time.  They make like to take note and do the same for themselves.

We all have the same 24 hours and we can easily fill every minute being busy. The demands of work and family can be all consuming but if we don’t prioritise time for ourselves, we end up burnt out and exhausted. I know, because I did.

I now include things that I love and are important for my well being into my week. I prioritise ‘Me’ time because this nourishes my body and soul and the more I am fulfilled, the more I am available to be there for others. Being depleted doesn’t serve anyone!

So start to remember just how important you are to the world. Put time aside just for You in whatever way that you enjoy.

Make this a regular part of your day just as eating your meals or brushing your teeth is. The more you do it, the more it will become a part of your life.

And isn’t that the best way to live!

Warmest wishes,

Judy xxx

 

If Reflexology is on your list of prioritising You, give me a ring or email with any questions. I would love to hear from you.

Disclaimer: Please note that all information in this article is the opinion of the author and obtained through her research and knowledge and the above references. It is not meant to replace medical advice and a medical opinion should always be obtained for any health condition.

What’s your Secret weapon this Winter?

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What’s your Secret Weapon this Winter?                                                        Mine is Facial Reflexology.

Yes winter has arrived in Melbourne and it’s already made it’s presence felt. Cold frosty mornings have heralded in June and our heating seems to be on permanently.

Along with the start of winter, comes the usual cold and flu’s. Why is this so and why are we more prone to viruses at this time of year? One explanation is that people spend more time outside in summer. Whereas in winter, we tend to hibernate in warm environments where bugs flourish and these germs tend to recirculate around heated rooms.

Scientists believe that our internal body temperature drops after exposure to cold air. Consequently our immune response is weaker than when our body temperature is raised. Hence we can be more susceptible to viruses.

Viruses are thought to be around all the time but it’s during winter when people gather together in warm  conditions that the virus spreads. These are all scientific theories and no-one is entirely sure but it’s important to have some strategies for the colder weather.

Do you have a Secret Weapon? Many people swear by their intake of Vitamin C and Zinc, perhaps an immune boosting herb or even Olive Leaf extract. A healthy diet and regular exercise will also help boost your immune response.

I often use these tools too, but my favourite and most effective is regular Facial Reflexology. Facial reflexology works to balance the whole body. It increases circulation and nerve supply to nourish and innervate all cells.

It incorporate lymphatic drainage to remove toxins and any bugs that may be lurking around. It stimulates the immune system to balance the body and uses a range of nerve points that decrease inflammation, act as natural antibiotics and work directly on the spleen, thymus gland and immune boosting cells.

If you do happen to get a virus, Facial reflexology will help to shorten the duration of the infection.

So get your Secret Weapon out this winter and put it to good use. I’m certainly using mine!

To get you started, I have included a Facial Reflexology chart with nerve points you can work, to boost your immune system. You can work these points up to three times a day. If pregnant, don’t do any points until you have consulted a professional reflexologist.

Of course, a full treatment is preferable so if this sounds appealing, give me a ring.

Enjoy!

Warmest wishes,

Judy xxx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References: www.webmed.com/colds-and-flu, www.scientificamerica.com, Multireflexology Dien Chan by Patrick Aguilar Cassara and Anna Rosa Carrasco. Photo by Teddy Kelly on Unsplash.com

Disclaimer: Please note that all information in this article is the opinion of the author and obtained through her research and knowledge and the above references. It is not meant to replace medical advice and a medical opinion should always be obtained for any health condition.