World Water Day

Today is World Water Day and, although the age-old ‘8 glasses a day’ theory may be a myth, water is very important to both lifelong health and top physical performance.

 

 

 

Water is essential to your body's temperature regulation, keeping it cool through perspiration. It flushes out toxins and wastes and is a major component of blood which carries nutrients and oxygen to and from all cells.

Water provides a moist environment for all body tissues. According to Dr. Michael Colgan if you dehydrate a muscle by only 3%, you will lose 10% contractile strength and 8% of your speed.

It is advised that you drink at least 5 glasses of still water each day and, if you have ever had a Bowen treatment you will know that water is especially essential before and after a treatment.

Before commencing treatment, the therapist may request you drink water due to the technique requiring fully hydrated cells and tissues.

Following a treatment, a common reaction can be headaches - this is due to dehydration.

 

Also, after your treatment, the body starts to increase blood supply to nerve endings which, in turn, affects the movement of lymph around the body. The effective functioning of these systems is entirely reliant on water and on average the recommendation is that everyone should drink at least two litres of water per day.

Water should be taken is small quantities in order to avoid excessive increase in urination, therefore have small, regular sips over the day.

World Kidney Day

Today is World Kidney Day; established in 2006 to raise awareness of the importance of our kidneys to our health and quality of life.

We can live quite well with only one kidney and some people live a healthy life even though born with one missing.

Most people are born with two bean-shaped kidneys, each one about the size of an adult fist. The kidneys are located at both sides of your backbone, just under the rib cage or above the small of your back. They are protected from injury by a large padding of fat, your lower ribs and several muscles

Kidneys are an extremely sophisticated, waste disposal system, which sorts non-recyclable waste from recyclable waste, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, while also cleaning your blood. They act like a filter to make sure the right amount of wastes and fluids are removed.

 

  

Every hour your blood supply circulates through the kidneys about 12 times. Each day your kidneys process around 200 litres of blood, with around 1 to 2 litres of waste leaving the body as urine.

 

Massaging can be a beneficial, natural treatment that can support the whole body to remove wastes, toxins and debris that build up in tight muscles. As a result of massaging the kidney area, some will feel that they will often find themselves visiting the bathroom more often. This is due to the fluids in the muscles getting pushed into the lymphatic system, which then gets filtered and excreted via the urinary system.

 

Although The Bowen Technique is not a conventional ‘massage’, it requires light touches at precise points on the body and is done through light clothing or skin. It is a drug free, complementary therapy and a gentle approach that can help body to equilibrium.. Rather than 'making' the body change, Bowen 'asks' the body to recognise the ailment and make the changes it requires.

 

During the 30-60 minute treatment, the Bowen practitioner makes small, rolling movements over muscles, tendons, ligaments and soft tissue at precise points on the body, using only the amount of pressure appropriate for that individual.

 

 

 

 

No hard-tissue manipulation or force is needed or used.

 

Between each set of moves, the body is allowed to rest for a few minutes, to allow it to absorb the information it has received and initiate the healing process.

 

If you would like to try Bowen, find a qualified Bowen practitioner near to you by visiting the Bowen website or calling 0844 561 7173.

 

 

 

One for the ladies... Period.

Today is International Women’s Day, so we thought we’d do a blog just for us girls.

We all know the feeling; the bloating, the oily skin, tender breasts, the mood swings and, of course, the infamous cramps… it’s period time.

Period pain, medically known as dysmenorrhoea, is caused by contractions in the uterus. The blood vessels in the muscle wall are compressed by the contractions, which cut off blood supply to the womb, starving it of oxygen and adding to the discomfort.

There are generally two types of dysmenorrhoea; that that is caused by a specific underlying condition such as endometriosis, and the more common primary dysmenorrhoea, which affects nine out of 10 women, which has no specific cause. It is generally worst in the first few years after starting your period, with symptoms tending to improve with age or after childbirth.

However, this isn’t always the case and many women find painkillers can’t mask the unbearable pain.

The Bowen Technique is a natural, drug-free, non-invasive, complementary therapy that can help the physical and emotional side-effects of periods without the side-effects of painkillers.

Rather than 'making' the body change, Bowen 'asks' the body to recognise the ailment and make the changes it requires.

One client said: “My heavy period meant I was iron deficient and consequently suffered with dizzy spells.

“With Jen’s treatment my periods went back to normal along with my iron levels and I haven’t suffered since the treatment.”

During the 30-60 minute treatment, the Bowen practitioner makes small, rolling movements over muscles, tendons, ligaments and soft tissue at precise points on the body, using only the amount of pressure appropriate for that individual.

No hard-tissue manipulation or force is needed or used.

Between each set of moves, the body is allowed to rest for a few minutes, allowing it to absorb the information it has received and initiate the healing process.

Bowen can help the physical complaints of menstrual cramps; however it is an extremely relaxing experience that can have many emotional and stress-relieving benefits too.

Another client said: “I had often heard my friend speak of lovely Bowen sessions but had little understanding of it, until I read it would help with menstrual pain and fertility.

“I was fairly open minded to the treatment and I found that my body was very receptive to Bowen, as after 3 sessions I found that my menstrual pain had significantly reduced.

“During some months I had no pain at all and this has continued during the 2+ years I have been receiving treatment.

“The whole experience has done wonders for my mental well-being and I would not be without my monthly Bowen sessions.”

 

If you suffer with menstrual pains and are interested in how Bowen Therapy can help you visit the website to find a Bowen therapist near you or call 0844 561 7173.