Wellbeing

If you experience anxiety or stress you may have been recommended to try meditation. But you may not be completely clear on why.

You might wonder how “sitting with your eyes closed and doing nothing” is meant to help you. But in truth, mindfulness meditation is much more than sitting quietly. It is the active training of the mind to increase situational and self-awareness. Meditation focuses our awareness on the present moment and helps us to accept and release thoughts without judgement. We don’t need to believe every thought that we have, and we can train our minds to be less attached and reactionary to a passing idea.

If you’ve seen an acupuncturist for anxiety or pain you’ve probably had a conversation about deep breathing and mindfulness meditation.

Here’s why: People that meditate are shown to have reduced stress hormones.

Cortisol is the stress hormone. Cortisol prompts inflammation in the body and where there in inflammation there is pain, and often anxiety.

Research suggests that mind and body practices, including meditation, reduces inflammation and helps to regulate the immune system.

People who meditate have reduced Cortisol because when they practice mindfulness their bodies experience the “relaxation response”. This relaxation response reduces the output of stress hormones and changes our brain wave patterns. In fact, it’s been found that regular meditators have a larger hypothalamus than non-meditators. Mindfulness literally changes the brain.

Does meditation help with anxiety?

Johns Hopkins University researchers found that 30 minutes of daily mindfulness meditation had similar antidepressant and anxiety reducing effects to commonly prescribed medications. Mediation is helpful for people in high pressure work roles too. Eight weeks of semi-regular mindfulness meditation was found to be effective in influencing the quality of life, job satisfaction and psychological symptoms of health care professionals.

Does meditation help with high blood pressure?

Results of a trial run in 2009 suggest that practicing meditation lowers the blood pressure of people at risk of developing high blood pressure. The findings of the same study also supported the use of meditation to manage psychological distress, anxiety, depression, anger & hostility, and general coping ability.

Does meditation help with cravings?

Meditation can even help you to quit smoking and stop overeating. Results of a 2013 brain imaging study suggest that mindful attention reduces the craving to smoke, and that it reduced activity in a craving-related region of the brain.

Essentially, you’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain. Meditate at home today. Just 20 minutes daily will be enough to benefit from the practice! You could sit or lie quietly alone and focus on your breath. Or you could try one of these free meditation podcast, click here to access them.

Written by:

* Goldstein CM, Josephson R, Xie S, et al. Current perspectives on the use of meditation to reduce blood pressure. International Journal of Hypertension. 2012;2012:578397.

* Nidich SI, Rainforth MV, Haaga DAF, et al. A randomized controlled trial on effects of the transcendental meditation program on blood pressure, psychological distress, and coping in young adults. American Journal of Hypertension. 2009;22(12):1326–1331.

* Rubia K. The neurobiology of meditation and its clinical effectiveness in psychiatric disorders. Biological Psychology. 2009;82(1):1–11.

* Goyal M, Singh S, Sibinga EM, et al. Meditation programs for psychological stress and well-being: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Internal Medicine. 2014;174(3):357–368.

* Tang Y-Y, Tang R, Posner MI. Brief meditation training induces smoking reduction. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2013;110(34):13971–13975.

Reiki healing

By Sue Wellwood

Reiki is a spiritual healing art with its roots coming from Japan. First developed in 1922 by Mikao Usui. Coming from the Japanese word (Rei) which means “Universal” and (Ki) which means Energy. Therefore Reiki can be defined as the Higher Intelligence Life Force that guides the creation and functioning of the universe.

Reiki & Energetic Healing tap into the universal life force that we are surrounded by. This is a gentle and balancing way to restore harmony within the body. This hands on healing generates life force that we all have around us. We are abundant with energy; it comes to us in many ways, through light, the sun, the wind, the breath.

These energies nourish the organs and cells of the body and support them. When out of balance or when the life force flow is disrupted, it causes the organs and tissues to block, this can stop the flow of blood and energy, which can cause pain in the body.

This life force is also responsive to thoughts and feelings. When we have negative thoughts and feelings they can attach to the energy fields and cause disruption in energy flow. Reiki helps heal the flow of the affected areas and gives a positive charge to the fields. It raises the vibration of the energy body and can cause negative energy to break apart and fall away.

Reiki is a simple and safe way to help balance and bring awareness of how the body feels. With regular Reiki one can begin to feel the difference in the self and may then like to look at lifestyle habits and conditions to make changes that are beneficial to their health.

Reiki can help ease depression, stress and anxiety, muscle tension, adrenal glands, emotional trauma; it works on all levels – physical, mental and emotional.

If you’d like to try Reiki to ease depression, muscle tension and restore balance to your body, contact us on 9486 5966 or click here to book online. You will receive a $20 discount if you mention this offer and have your appointment by the 12th of October 2018.

References:

1. Lee, W (2018): www.reiki.org

How does qigong for weight loss work?

by David Shepherd

To begin with qigong practice ultimately involves bringing equilibrium and harmony to the systems of the body. Its aim is to bring an out of balance body back into balance. In regards to obesity, in its range of degrees, solutions usually require a multi faceted approach to yield successful results.

Looking back at the life styles of our primitive ancestors, it is clearly evident that they lived very physically active lives, in a natural unadulterated world. They existed without any of the sedentary luxuries, over processed foods and recreational distractions that we have at our finger tips today.

This lifestyle most certainly kept our primitive ancestors lean, whereas obesity today has become more of an epidemic. The roll on effects of obesity, leads to the potential of developing diabetes, hypertension, heart attack, coronary heart disease, stroke, depression and infertility. In children risks include, insulin resistance, pediatric diabetes, depression, hypertension or developmental problems.

Our emotional state also is a contributing factor in relation to weight gain. Our bodies naturally produce hormones that are released to help cope with stressful situations in our life, such as jumping out the way of a bus. These hormones are effective at slowing down the systems of the body so as to conserve energy and protect us from threat but the side effect is that they slow metabolism and in turn store fat.

Today, however, many people are exposed to an out of context  and overbearing relationship with stress and anxiety, and this becomes very confusing for our flight and flight response, which leads to imbalance in our metabolism and resulting weight gain.

Qigong, through a range of postural movement and breathing techniques, slowly cultivates and forges the qi (vital energy) inside the body. In turn this promotes more efficient blood circulation. When qi flows effectively, this encourages correct blood flow along the veins and arteries. Therefore Qigong is an important facet in a management plan for weight loss

From my professional observations and first hand personal experience, a qigong student begins to learn how to profoundly relax. Their spirit becomes imbued with calmness and they develop a happy demeanor. They begin to develop greater stamina and lust for life as well as sleeping more soundly. This improved health internally natural reflects also externally to the outer body in clear eyes, a smiley disposition, clear skin, shiny hair and improved muscle tone.

All these health improvements through qigong, along with keeping a close eye on correct nutrition most definitely have a positive outcome on weight loss. The body is invigorated which gives rise to a boosted metabolism and a natural healthy appetite. The body is moving positively toward a renewed state of balance and harmony.

To join our Qi Gong classes, call us on 9486 5966 to inquire or book online here.

Written by:

an 8 week course to support you to understand your body better through yoga

YOGA BASICS

By focusing on the basics of Yoga alignment, you have greater awareness of your body, & have the capacity to practice Yoga safely, working with YOUR body’s ability at any given moment.

This course is suitable for the seasoned Yogi or a total beginner (including those of you who ‘think’ you are inflexible & can’t do yoga!).

Once you understand basic alignment, you can practice yoga anywhere & understand YOUR body’s ability.

Fiona has walked the yoga path for over 16 years, with yoga bestowing balance and flow in her life – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Fiona’s yoga experience embraces the traditions of Ashtanga, Hatha, and Yin … and Fiona is ever constantly evolving with continual education and study. From this experience, Fiona creates classes to fit her students’ levels and needs – from babies, kids, special needs, pre and post natal to adults of all ages … & levels!

Fiona looks forward to meeting you in her class.

When:  Saturdays 10:00AM – 11:00AM – June 13th to August 1st, 2015

Where:  Freedom Chinese Medicine

 261 Waterdale Road Ivanhoe VIC 3079

Cost:  * Drop In – $20 / $18 concession

  * Prepay 4 classes – $72 / $65 concession

  * Prepay all 8 sessions – $135 / $120 concession (no make up class)

Bookings essential

Reserve your space by contacting

Fiona at flow@flowwellness.co