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Issue Number 16 - June 2002

In this months issue of "Naturally Happy"


How to feel great any day : Time honoured stress buster!

with the Academy of Tactile Kinetic Modalities

Georgia, an overworked junior account executive with a Brisbane based ad agency, spends her days rushing about on jobs for clients and the boss. To get back to sanity, she indulges herself in what she considers a necessity - a weekly massage. "I can stretch out in a quiet atmosphere," explains Georgia, " and with each stroke, the tension fades away. It is the best legal way to get the high feeling - from your own body's natural endorphins. I wouldnt miss it for the world."

In definitive terms, massage is described as the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body, the muscles, the ligaments and tendons, either to encourage the healing of specific injuries or to produce the general beneficial effects of relaxing muscular tension, stimulating blood circulation and improving the tone and strength of the skin and the muscles. But there is so much more to massage.

LEGITIMATE BUSINESS

In the last few years, massage has become very legitimate business indeed. More and more doctors are prescribing it as supplementary treatment for joint and muscle conditions, while some companies have even started providing regular rub-downs to relieve stress and boost productivity. Says Charles," Massage won't make problems disappear, but it will definitely put you in better condition to deal with them." Articles dealing with massage in magazines like Woman's Home Journal and Weight Watchers Magazine show that it has become an acceptable additive to other forms of body care. Whilst there is no specific documented scientific evidence, it is generally accepted that massage helps in the toning of the body. Consequently it is a great additional help in any weight reduction program, or just to keep the body firm and attractive.

TIME-HONOURED

The benefits were known to the ancient Chinese, Egyptian and Greek cultures. It is referred to in Chinese literature as early as 3000 BC Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine, prescribed it for his patients in 460 B C. A Swedish physician developed the techniques most widely used today in the 19th century STRESS Jill Newman, a Sydney real estate executive, manages time for a good massage at least once a month, either at home or in the office. "It helps me keep my body and head feeling right," she says. And when her therapist makes house calls, Newman's husband takes advantage, too. A busy executive himself, he, too, finds that massage eases stress.

HOW IT WORKS

A professional massage cannot actually cure physical ailments--or permanently eliminate stress--but it can produce some important benefits. "By stretching the muscles and manipulating the soft tissues around them, a massage therapist can ease spasms and tension and provide pain relief in the neck, say, or shoulder area," says Charles. Most people start scheduling massages because of specific aches or pains. Charles adds, "but they quickly get almost addicted to the overall sensation of well-being, the psychological benefit as well as the physical one." While some women prefer a female, there are many women who prefer to have a male therapist. Oddly enough, some men prefer a female therapist also, probably because of the "average" Australian male concerns about homosexuality. What is most important is not the sex of the therapist, but the professionalism and the level of skill displayed and the rapport you feel. A final word of advice: As you close your eyes, relax and block out the world, expect to feel just terrific at the end of the hour!

For a great introductory offer clickhere

Face Mapping : Skin analysis that really works!

with Absolute Skin and Body

The first, and most important, step in any skincare treatment is the analysis of your skin, which helps your skincare therapist design a skincare treatment thats personalized to your unique needs. Well, prepare yourself, and your skin, for even better results with every visit! We're now incorporating Dermalogicas new concept in skin analysis, Face Mapping, into every treatment, and our clients are already hooked.

This is how it works.

Rather than simply relying on her eyes, your skin care therapist will scrutinize your skin, inch-by-inch, using both a magnifying lamp and her sense of touch. You see, while visual clues can help to identify existing problems, deeper congestion can only be determined by actually touching the skin. Not only does this new method of analysis provide a much more accurate diagnosis of your skin concerns, it can actually help to detect them before they surface. Even better, you'll now leave Absolute Skin & Body Clinic with your personalized Face Map that will show you where your roblems were found, and what products to use on those specific zones. This way, you're only applying products to the parts of your face that need them, making your regimen both more results oriented and cost efficient. Your skincare therapist will also keep a copy of your Face Map so that together you can chart your progress. For a great introductory offer clickhere

Massage & Acupressure training: a winning combination!

with Brandon Raynor's School of Natural Therapies

Brandon Raynor's School of Natural Therapies offers 4 day intensives in Remedial, Deep Tissue and Acupressure massage combined together. We specialize in teaching people the essence of what it takes to become an outstanding massage therapist without all the unnecessary frills and technical jargon that makes up 75% of what you will learn at a bigger college.

Our courses are 98% hands on watching the teacher massage, doing massage yourself or receiving massage from another student. We teach people a strong form of deep tissue massage that can then be lightened to make a more gentle massage. We teach people to tailor make a massage to suit the client by teaching people to find the bands of tension or meridians that run in the body and teaching people to detect the level of tension in these meridians and then reduce them.

In this way we can teach you high quality massage much quicker, better and cheaper than most other schools where they tend to make you rote learn hundreds of Latin anatomical names that you will never use in practice and then break up the massage course into 20 or 30 different components that could be taught in one or two. They also tend to teach boring routines of massage rather than focusing the massage to suit the individual needs of the client.

Brandon Raynor, N.D., started his school because he saw a need for a school that taught what a person actually needs to practice as a massage therapist. The next course in Brisbane will be from July 15 to 18 and will be held in New Farm and will cost $695 . You will receive certificate upon completion that will entitle you to work in the field or set up your own business and obtain fully comprehensive professional indemnity insurance. The teacher for the Brisbane course will be Ray Cooper, who has had 25 years experience in the natural therapies industry and 15 years experience as a massage therapist and acupuncturist we also hold course regularly in the Gold Coast and around Australia.

Here is an example of what past students have thought of our course.

"I was unsure on what type of massage course I was getting myself into before I started but knew that if I didn't take some sort of plunge I will never find out. It took me only a couple of minutes to realize I was in the right place after hearing Brandon talk about the benefits of Remedial massage and I could relate most of the benefits to not only myself but to many others I know. I did the course in anticipation of starting my own business in massage not only at home but mobile as well. I now have started this business with a specially decorated massage room in my own home and I am also part of the training team at the Mount Barker football club. None of this I believe could have been achieved until I had undertaken the course Brandon has layed out. His team are very informative helpful and dedicated to teaching anyone who is willing to listen and learn .This would have to be the most important and full on course I have ever undertaken and yet the most enjoyable too ,Thank you Brandon, Rebecca and all you staff for this opportunity to become what I have always wanted to be." Frank Meerbach Mount Barker South Australia. For details on these courses please visit www.brandonraynor.com for more details or email us at [email protected] 1 800 987 987

 

Health Buzz: The latest news on all things good for you!

Brought to you by www.mindandbody.com.au


www.mindandbody.com.au

Heart scare for pain relievers

If you have a history of heart disease, kidney problems or high blood pressure, or you are over 65, taking common pain relievers such as ibuprofen may increase your risk of heart problems, according to an article published in the American Journal of Therapeutics. It seems non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen can affect the heart and kidneys, leading to heart failure and high blood pressure in people at risk.

But don't lose heart, because there is an option as effective as NSAIDs that's completely natural. The herb willow bark has been used as a pain remedy for thousands of years, and it's from this humble plant that aspirin was born, when scientists synthesised one of the plant's active compounds. We now know that it is the synergy between several active compounds in the herb that produces its therapeutic benefits. Recent clinical trials have shown that for sufferers of osteoarthritis, willow bark offers pain relief as effective as NSAIDs, but with a far superior safety profile than these drugs. Sufferers of headache and back pain may also find willow bark beneficial.

Bacteria linked to headache

Rapidly shaping as public health enemy number one, the bacteria Heliobacter pylori has been implicated in another crime against humanity. Revealed as the cause of gut ulcers (and potentially stomach cancer), heart disease and auto-immune conditions, the bacteria is now being blamed for migraines. Delegates at a recent infectious diseases conference in Italy heard that about 18 percent of migraine sufferers were infected with H. pylori and that treatment to kill the bacteria, followed up by lactobacillus supplements dramatically reduced the number and severity of migraines. The "friendly bacteria" lactobacillus creates an environment in the gut that discourages the return of the H. pylori and other harmful bacteria.

Sperm counts: zinc or swim?

Dutch researchers think they may have found an answer to diving sperm counts. A trial published in the March edition of the Fertility and Sterility journal showed folic acid and zinc supplements increased normal sperm count in subfertile men by 74%, and also helped fertile men boost their sperm count. The men were given 5mg of folic acid and 15mg of elemental zinc (66mg zinc sulfate) daily for 26 weeks.

Hearts beat better with fish oils

The tide of approval for fish oil supplements is again on the rise following results of a study reported in Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association. Italian researchers have discovered that 1000mg of omega 3 fish oils daily can dramatically reduce the risk of sudden death in people who survive a heart attack. It is believed that the fatty acids in fish oils help prevent episodes of arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeats. And with fish oils also helping the heart by lowering cholesterol levels, these supplements are likely to become an even more popular choice for the cardio-conscious.

www.mindandbody.com.au

 

Short and Sweet: Dried Fruit Pudding Cake

1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda 1/2 cup boiling water 1 cup chopped dried fruit 2 green apples (300g), unpeeled, chopped 250g Australian Light Cream Cheese 1/2 cup brown sugar 2 eggs, lightly beaten 3/4 cup Australian Milk 2 cups plain flour, sifted with 1 teaspoon cinamon 2 tablespoons each shredded coconut, rolled oats and sunflower seeds 30g Australian Unsalted Butter, melted 2 cups Australian Pouring Vanilla Custard, warmed


Method :
Method : Combine bicarbonate of soda and water and pour over fruits. Beat cream cheese, sugar and eggs until combined and smooth. Mix in milk, flour and fruit. Pour into a lined 23cm springform pan. Bake at 170°C for 20 minutes. Top with coconut mixture and butter. Bake for further 60-65 minutes. Serve with custard. ; **This recipe is suitable for lacto-ovo vegetarians who have adopted a vegetarian diet for health reasons. Nutritional Analysis per serve Serves : 12 Carbohydrates : 44 g Energy : 1260 kJ Calcium : 107 mg Protein : 8 g Iron : mg Fat : 11 g


 

Laughter is the best medicine!

A man was walking around a new town, looking for a place to eat, when he spotted a restaurant called "Anything You Want." A notice on the window read "We can fix any dish you ask for - if we don't have it, you will be paid $200." Thinking this was a pretty good deal, the man went in and sat down at a table. The waitress came over to take his order. He said, "I'll have roast elephant on rye bread, and hold the mayo." She snapped her gum, stuck her pencil back in her hair and walked into the kitchen. All of a sudden, the man heard screaming and yelling, pots and pans being thrown, and dishes breaking. The kitchen door slammed open as the owner came charging out. He put two one-hundred dollar bills on the table, and said "I can't believe it. I've been in business here for ten years, and this is the first time I've run out of rye bread!"

 

Quote of the month

"We go where our vision is"

Joseph Murphy


 

 

 

Polar Heart Rate Monitor pack up for grabs!

Congratulations to the winners of the Mediballs Giveaway last month. Over the next month we are giving away 4 Polar Beat Heart Rate Monitors valued at $109 each.

click here for more details

 

In the next issue of "Naturally Happy"

  • Brisbane's Gyms : The best in town!
  • Organic Produce: More popular than ever!
  • Health Buzz:The latest news on all things good for you!
  • Quit Smoking: once and for all!
  • Short and sweet!
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