The Thieves oil blend, spray, hand sanitiser and mouthwash are great for protection against air-borne bacteria. It is a powerful combination of clove, lemon, cinnamon, rosemary and eucalyptus radiata.
This is a powerful blend of Spruce, Cypress, and three types of Eucalyptus oils (E. globulus, E. radiata, and E. citriodora). It’s good for perking you up and also for an invigorating massage.
DiGize essential oil blend combines Tarragon, Ginger, Peppermint, Juniper, Lemongrass, Anise, Fennel and Patchouli oils. This can be used for stomach issues and food poisoning.
I take this for all year round energy support and immunity. It is a blend of superfruit juices and pure Orange, Yuzu, Lemon and Tangerine essential oils. Enjoy NingXia Red daily to energise, fortify and revitalise the body and support overall wellness from head to toe.
If you are interested in any of these products and want to access wholesale prices, get in touch and I can help you.
If you use my Young Living sponsor number: 1000181 you can become part of my YL family and I am your contact for questions and information.
I would love to help you improve your health and wellness with these amazing products!
If you need some inspiration for Christmas shopping with a focus on health and wellness, look no further! I have put together a list of some of my favourite products for you.
Water Filter
A good water filter is essential for good health! This one filters out all the nasties and then remineralises the water. Get it here.
Infrared Sauna Blanket
The benefits of a sauna in the convenience of your own home! These infrared sauna blankets are great for detoxing. It can help with stress, soothe muscles and improve sleep. Get it here.
Neck Heat Packs
Soothe sore muscles around the neck, shoulders and upper back with these wheat packs. They are handmade in Australia from all natural and organic materials. Get them here.
Microgreens Window Box
A unique and useful gift so you can harvest your own microgreens, year round from your windowsill! Microgreens are packed full of vital nutrients and make a tasty addition to meals. Get it here.
Toxin Free Tea
Did you know that tea can contain pesticides and teabags contain plastic? Switch to organic loose-leaf tea and use a stainless steel infuser. Get it here.
Biohackers Bundle
These science-backed wellness products are designed to enhance your sleep quality, boost productivity, and promote overall well-being. Block harmful blue light and emf radiation. Get it here.
Reusable Drink Bottles
Switch out toxic single use water bottles and coffee cups for safe, reusable versions! These are made from premium stainless steel and will not only help the planet, they will help your health! Get them here.
Non-Toxic Cookware
Ditch those toxic old non-stick pans and replace them with quality cookware that will last generations. Made in Australia from wrought iron , these are super safe to cook with and do not emit any toxins. Get them here.
Healthier Chocolate
When gifting chocolate, look for the very best quality, because we all need a treat! These Aussie made and owned chocolates are vegan, palm oil free, contain probiotics and are made with high quality, ethical, healthy ingredients. Get the gift box here.
I hope these wellness gift ideas have given you some inspiration for your Christmas shopping. Have a wonderful festive season!
Over the last two decades in clinic, I’ve seen a progressive deterioration in the overall posture and fitness of most children, unless they are into sport. The incidence of upper back and neck pain is increasing and many children have surprisingly limited range of motion in their necks.
They also often come with issues such as rounded shoulders, slumped posture and respiratory problems – do you think there might be a possible connection? Do you think the lungs can fully inflate and children can breathe easily if the head is down (constricting the throat and airway) and they are constantly slumped forward, crowding and compressing the lungs and organs in the trunk of the body?
It’s sad to see children with poor muscle tone from very little exercise, constantly playing computer games and not going outside to run and play. They come in with sore knees, hips, ankles and many are now flat footed. And while flat feet can be genetic, it can also be environmental.
These issues can often be resolved with quality body structural correction, but it is a concern that young bodies are so stiff and in pain. In the past, this only used to happen to the elderly or those who had been in accidents.
Some children rarely go outside these days in bare feet, but as a Reflexologist, I can tell you that our feet were designed to bend and flex naturally as we walk, jump, balance and climb over various natural surfaces. Little time outside doing a variety of physical activities means that key muscles are not being strengthened or stretched.
Exercising outside and exposure to fresh air, sunlight (getting natural vitamin D), all help to strengthen bones and joints, of everyone not just children. And especially if you’re battling pain or don’t want it back again.
How is your child’s posture? Could it do with some improvements?
As you may know, I was diagnosed with MS in my twenties and I overcame it with implementing a natural lifestyle and natural remedies. One of the key factors I credit to my recovery was eliminating diet soft drinks. What is the link between diet soft drinks and MS?
While I was researching how to heal, I came across Lady Cilento mentioning in her books the importance of a fresh food diet and staying away from sugar, soft drink etc. While I didn’t consume too much sugar, up to that point, I had been a big consumer of diet soft drinks. In those days consumers did not know of the potential dangers.
In high school it had become the ‘in thing’ to have a can of diet soft drink (or soda) for lunch, no food. Diet soft drinks were the new trendy beverages of choice in Australia at that time. So as teenage girls wanting to stay thin, we’d stand around in our lunch break (had no energy to do much else) slowly sipping our drink and chewing on the straws – we were so hungry!
My diet soft drink habit continued at university and was then supplemented with heavy coffee drinking, particularly at assignment and exam times. As well as overloading on saccharin, I had unknowingly become addicted to caffeine. Later when I finished university studies, I decided to wean myself off coffee even though it was then, and still now, totally socially acceptable to be a caffeine addict.
However going cold turkey was quite an unexpected and unpleasant experience.
I had excruciating migraines for three days and all over body aches, etc. Needless to say having gone through caffeine withdrawal once, I have a very healthy respect for its powerful addictive effects. I now mostly drink organic herbal teas or an occasional water-decaffeinated organic coffee and of course lots of filtered water.
But during that same period there was little information in Australia about the dangers of consuming artificial sweeteners and diet soft drinks, and so I continued to drink them until my MS diagnosis. However I then followed Lady Cilento’s writings and eliminated them completely from my diet.
Studies since then as noted in Sally Fallon’s book, Nourishing Traditions, have indicated that the sugar, artificial sweeteners and phosphoric acid, etc., in soft drinks can have a negative impact on bones and joints. Elaine Hollingsworth in Take Control of Your Health and Escape the Sickness Industry contends that artificial sweeteners are a major cause of MS. I strongly feel my recovery was greatly assisted by eliminating the consumption of diet soft drinks.
I had learned a lot from my research and had taken immediate action to have as many physical treatments I could manage and to clean up my diet plus supplementing with high quality vitamin C powder (with bioflavonoids). My focus and determination was very high and of course I was buoyed by a decrease in my MS symptoms from that first week of corrective treatments.
Do you notice any ill effects from drinking diet soft drinks and products with aspartame?
If you are looking for some healthy and holistic Mother’s Day gifts, I hope some of my favourite things will inspire you!
Goodness Me Subscription Box
I love my monthly box of healthy, nutritionist approved goodies! It’s a great chance to try out a range of products. Subscribe for monthly boxes or just get a one off! Great for the mums who are hard to buy for.
Gift Mum a luxury experience with this Mother’s Day Gift Box Set by Olieve. Set includes a hand cream, lip balm and body wash packaged inside a beautifully designed box set. No wrapping needed. 100% natural and made in Australia. Lavender and Rose Geranium scented.
Find relief and relaxation with this Acupressure Mat & Pillow. Each node connects with your back, neck and head with slight spiked like pressure to stimulate blood flow throughout the body. The result helps to relieve aches, pains and soreness. A gift idea to support a loved one!
Make your daily coffee trip a ritual experience with this Kim Wallace Ceramics, Dusk Takeaway Cup. Handcrafted in Noosa, Australia, this cup is made from Australian porcelain clay and speckled pink glaze. Comes with a non-toxic and BPA Free Silicone lid.
This bamboo makeup rounds holder is totally plastic free. Pair with Earths Tribe reusable cotton and hemp makeup rounds for a plastic free and reusable skincare routine.
For the plant-loving mums, this kit helps keep your houseplants happy and healthier without the guesswork. Delivered to you in a recyclable storage box, it’s everything mum needs to care for her plants through every season.
Absorb pure crystal energy in your very own crystal infused water.
Created to take with you everywhere you go for positively charged energy at work, home, yoga or when travelling. Glass bottle comes with protective sleeve & gift box.
A gorgeous hot or cold drink, this Sacred Love Rose Cacao Powder is designed to help soothe the mind, improve sleep and keep you feeling youthful. Perfect to add to smoothies, treats or as a latte. It’s organic, vegan and ethically sourced.
Gift the gift of wellness! I offer gift vouchers for all of my services – from Bowen Therapy to Reflexology or Hypnotherapy and Personal Breakthrough Sessions. Please email me to arrange.
The following lower back stretches may assist you with releasing tight muscles, improving flexibility and circulation in the back and legs which can then allow pressure to come off nerve pathways and pain levels to decrease.
If you have difficulty getting down and up off the floor, make sure you have a stool or chair (not on wheels) to assist you or someone nearby. When lying on the floor, you may need to cushion your spine by lying on a yoga mat or carpet. If needed you can use a small pillow or towel to support your head. If mobility is an issue, some of these stretches can be done on a firm bed or in a chair.
Starting out you might only be able to do one or two repetitions of a stretch, that’s fine. If you do these daily or even every second or third day, you’ll gradually build up to more repetitions and then you’ll be ready
Devoting full attention means no mobile phones or doing this while watching TV, etc. You want full focus on your body and what you are doing. Many people were injured initially by not being mindful or concentrating on what they were doing.
Breathe deeply as much as possible during these exercises. Belly or diaphragmatic breathing helps take your body out of ‘stress’ mode and will help you relax. Holding your breath too long may raise blood pressure.
Don’t do stretches cold. Warm up first by walking on the spot or doing gentle movement, having a warm shower or applying a heat pack on the problem area.
The following stretches and exercises are not for acute pain, recent accident or injury. See your doctor or health professional for advice in those cases. You can come back to these activities once you have moved past the emergency phase. And remember you do not have to do all of the following, choose which are relevant for you.
Floor (on Elbows): This gentle position can be a good way to start helping yourself at home. Lie flat on the floor on your stomach and relax your back. Once this position is comfortable, come up to lean and rest on your elbows (ideally directly under the shoulders). Relax in that position for a couple of minutes depending on your pain level. If resting on your elbows is too high at this stage, come down and rest your chin onto your hands. You can do this position several times during the day if you wish. To get up off the floor, consider tightening the stomach muscles to protect your lower back and move slowly.
Feet on Chair: Lie on your back on the floor and place your feet up onto a chair. Relax for up to ten minutes. Focus on breathing deeply and you have the option of slowly turning your head to one side, then the other, coming back to centre before relaxing. Hand option: palms up can help to open up the chest, shoulders and start to reverse round shouldered posture.
Floor Stretch: Lie on your back on the floor and gently stretch your arms above your head, breathing deeply. Stretch and elongate the body, from finger tips to toes. Slowly point and then flex the toes, gently relax.
Pelvic Tilts: Lie on your back, knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Stomach muscles tightened, gently curl your tailbone up and towards you, your lower back will tend to flatten on the floor. Hold for several seconds. Slowly lower your tailbone back to the floor and your spine to naturally curve. Continue for three to ten repetitions. These are small movements, gently rocking the tailbone.
Knee to Chest: Lie on your back on the floor and slowly bend your knees placing your feet flat on the floor. Adjust your hips and lower back so you feel comfortable. Gently stretch and lengthen your spine (from tailbone to the crown of your head) chin should be in a natural and neutral position. Bend one knee up to your chest and grab your knee/leg with two hands if possible. If that is too hard use a belt or towel. Hold the stretch as long as comfortable and then slowly release down onto the floor. When you start you may only be able to do the stretch for a couple of seconds, that’s OK. Remember to keep breathing. Bend the other knee towards your chest and repeat as above. If comfortable, you can repeat the stretch and alternate the knees. Option: you can also do this stretch with both knees together and hugging them into your chest. Option: if lower back or hip pain is not an issue, the resting or non-stretched leg can be fully extended to lie flat on the floor while the bent knee is brought to chest.
Lying Hamstring Stretch: Lie on your back, slowly bend your knees and place both feet flat on the floor. Adjust your hips and back for comfort. Bring one knee up towards your chest and grasp it with both hands. Slowly extend and straighten the knee so you can feel the stretch into the back of the leg. Hold your leg at the back of your thigh or you can use a band, belt or towel and hook it around the ball of your foot. Hold for 10–30 seconds. You can also flex the ankle slowly up and down while holding this position. Don’t forget to breathe! When you are ready to lower the leg, gently bend the knee first and then lower the leg to the floor. Repeat stretch with the other leg. Option: if it is too hard to get down onto the floor, you can do this seated in a chair or standing with foot elevated on a step.
Seated Hamstring Stretch: Seated on the floor, bend one knee and bring that foot near your body, keeping the knee as close to the floor as you can comfortably. Extend and straighten the other leg in front of you, foot flexed and toes up to the ceiling. Keeping your back as straight as possible, lean forward at the hips and toward the outstretched leg and foot. Use a band, belt or towel around the ball of the foot to hold the stretch (pointing the toes, lessens the stretch). Repeat stretch with the other leg. Sitting on a cushion or block to raise the hips may help with this stretch.
Floor Groin Stretch: Sit with feet facing each other and together, knees bent and comfortably low to the floor. The closer your feet to your body the more intense the stretch but work within your limits. Sitting on a cushion or block to raise the hips may help with this stretch. Option: can be done standing. Legs apart, bend one knee and lean to the side, to feel stretch in the other hip and groin.
Calf Stretch: May also assist with cramping and tight ankles. Standing a short distance away from a wall, gently lean forward and push against it with the leg you want to stretch behind you. Keep your heel of that back leg planted to the floor or as close as you can. You can adjust the angle of your foot by leaning further into the wall. The greater the angle of your ankle and foot, the more it stretches the lower leg.
Here’s my easy morning movement routine to get the body moving first thing.
The following exercises generally help with mobility, circulation, and lymphatic drainage and work the major muscle groups. They can be also done in the evening before bed to help release tension.
You don’t have to do all seven, you select the right exercises for you or ask your doctor or exercise health professional.
Watch the instructional video before starting the Super Seven Exercises!
1. Marching on the Spot: Start low impact, gently marching on the spot. It’s up to you how long and fast you march and how high you raise your feet. This can also be done between each exercise to keep moving.
2. Breathe and Shake: Stand with feet approximately hip width apart and knees slightly bent. Deep breath in and stretch your hands and arms up to the sky. As you exhale, shake out your hands above your head and then continue shaking them all the way down to your sides. Let your neck, shoulders, and hips and knees gently move and shake and move as they want. Do at least three times. Wonderful for your circulation and lymphatic system.
3. Side Steps: Start with small steps first to one side, then the other. As you warm up and get more fit you can make those steps bigger. When stronger and used to this activity, you may decide to bend your knees as you step out to the sides and use your arms.
4. Arm Swing: Start with feet shoulder width apart, shoulders relaxed and arms loosely by your side. Tighten your core or stomach muscles. Slowly turn to one side and let your arms flop and follow, then slowly turn to the other side. Gradually increase your speed of turning from side to side, letting the arms move and stay loose.
5. Shoulder Rotations and Side Neck Turns: Stand with feet apart. Stretch and lengthen through the spine (pull up through the back or crown of the head). Lift your shoulders gently up and then rotate backwards and bring shoulders down. Repeat and rotate backward up to ten times, then relax.
Relax, release and lower your shoulders, your head facing to the front. Slowly turn your head to one side towards the shoulder to your comfort level. Hold for three to ten seconds, and then slowly come back to centre. Repeat sequence with the other side. Ideally do this sequence at least three times.
6. Air punches: Standing balanced with feet apart, hands held up and closed into fists, punch upwards into the air above your head with one arm. Bring back to centre and then alternate with the other arm. You can also lower the arms and air punch directly to the front. May also help to relieve stress and over time extend the range of movement in the shoulders.
7. Air Squats or Chair Sit: Stand with your feet hip width apart, toes pointing slightly outward and tighten your stomach or core muscles. With a comfortably straight back and upright torso, your weight balanced on your heels, bend at the hips pushing your buttocks backwards and bending the knees like you are about to sit down. Lower to a comfortable and safe level for you, keeping your hips above knee level. Your knees over but not beyond your toes.
Return slowly to your starting position.If this is a new exercise for you, don’t go too deep too soon. Place a chair behind you and sit or squat down onto it. Aim to sit down and get up without using your arms, just the strength in your legs, hips and knees. Do squats slowly to your comfort level and build up the number gradually. If there is any discomfort, stop and seek professional guidance.
I would love to know how you go with the Morning Movement Routine. Let me know how it makes you feel!
Bowen Therapy continues to work after you have left the table. So what you do next is also important. Here are some things to consider for your Bowen Therapy after care.
You can enhance the effects of your Bowen Therapy session with the following advice:
Stay well hydrated. Drinking good quality water little and often will assist the healing work of Bowen Therapy and can assist in flushing out toxins.
Keep moving. Do not sit for long periods of time, get up and about and move around. I recommend moving every 30 minutes until bed time. Resting in bed and lying down is fine.
Let the Bowen do its work. Try to allow at least a week before another session or any other therapies or physical manipulation.
Go gently. Avoid strenuous movement and exercise for at least a couple of days after your treatment. Gentle, short walks are recommended.
Allow rest time. Some people may experience mild symptoms after their session as their body realigns and healing takes place.
Avoid extreme temperatures. Wait for 48 hours before applying hot or cold to your body. Hot showers, baths, saunas, heat packs or heat rubs and ice packs can interfere with the healing process. Magnets can also disrupt the process, so avoid bed underlays and body magnets.
Avoid crossing legs, knees, ankles or feet and carrying things unevenly for a few days. Retain good posture and alignment.
Please make a note of any differences in your pain, sleep, stress and emotions after your session to discuss at your next appointment.
I hope these Bowen Therapy after care tips help you get the most out of your Bowen session!
Want to try out Bowen? I am an Advanced Bowen Therapist with over 25 years experience helping people with pain and stress relief. I consult in Rockhampton.
