07Dec 2014 by Barbara 6 Comments
THE MANY BENEFITS OF MASSAGE

THE MANY BENEFITS OF MASSAGE

Backs, Health, Wellness
I am a huge fan of massage -- it's one of the most pleasant things one's body can experience. It's safe, effective, and decidedly good for you, with only positive side-effects. Those who know me have probably heard me say that massage is one of the three "musts" for a happy back and optimal musculoskeletal health, along with exercise, of course, and spinal manipulation and bodywork such as chiropractic or osteopathy. I am often surprised how many people I meet who have never had a massage in their life -- folks, you have no idea how much you're missing out! So, to introduce massage to those of you who would like to give it a go, I interviewed Siobhan Balfour, a massage therapist based in Southampton, about the benefits of …
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21Oct 2013 by Barbara No Comments

A STROKE OF INSIGHT INTO HOW MEDITATION WORKS

Health, Video
Yesterday I spoke to my friend about one of the most fascinating talks I have heard about the human brain.  So this link is for Peggi, and the rest of you, too, because I think everyone should see it. This is an amazing story of a neuro-anatomist who experiences a stroke and shares her experience -- terrifying and beautiful at the same time -- and subsequent painstaking recovery.  One thing that particularly caught my attention in her talk was her experience of "nirvana." I think she has provided a scientific explanation of how it can actually happen. Her left part of the brain, responsible for one's sense of self, for maintaining a border between us and the outside world, suffered the hemorrhage, letting her right hemisphere take over...and she felt…
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01Oct 2013 by Barbara No Comments

THE MOST IMPORTANT SKILLS FOR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH

Health, Wellness
Hello lovely people. Before you rush on, just pause for a moment and observe this great body you've got. Are you sitting well? Are your legs crossed? Lower back round? Shoulders hunching forward? Head hanging heavy off the stem of your spine like the Giant Russian sunflower in late August? Now, I will bet anything that as you read this, you have changed your posture. Have you sat up straighter and uncrossed your legs? If you have, fantastic. And all it took can be summed up in one little but important word: AWARENESS. I brought your attention to the right place, and you automatically did the rest. Having a high level of awareness, whether it be of our physical bodies or of our mental processes, is a type of skill.…
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