13 December 2013

Christmas gift ideas from MG Hypnosis and The Putney Clinic


Weight loss workshop

Saturday 11 January 2014, 1pm – 4.30pm  




Want to lose weight permanently and effectively?  Here are 5 reasons why you should attend:


  • Successful proven results in long term weight loss
  • Learn how you can eat to sustain appetite and energy levels and lose the cravings
  • Discover solutions to stop over eating and take effective control of emotional eating
  • Receive a body composition analysis and learn what foods affect  your ability to maintain a stable weight
  • Experience a 40 minute relaxation and confidence boosting  session using positive affirmations to achieve your goals, look better and feel better


 

Cost £95


You will be given handouts, a free CD on relaxation and confidence, and a personalized nutritional health assessment (10% discount when booked and paid before Christmas)

Booking is essential as spaces are limited. Please call reception on 020 8789 3881 to book your place or send an email to info@putneyclinic.co.uk.

15 November 2013

Self-help for people with Season Affective Disorder

For people with Seasonal Affective Disorder, autumn and winter can be a challenging time. However, by introducing some simple lifestyle changes, sufferers may notice a significant improvement in their symptoms.

  • Try to get as much natural sunlight as possible. Even a brief lunchtime walk can be beneficial.
  • Make your work and home environments as light and airy as possible.
  • Sit near to windows when you are indoors.
  • Take plenty of regular exercise, particularly outdoors and in daylight, if possible.
  • Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
  • If possible, avoid stressful situations and take steps to manage stress.
  • Talk to your family and friends about SAD so that they understand why your mood changes during the winter. This will enable them to help and support you more effectively.

13 November 2013

How to have a stress-free Christmas

Tips on staying chilled


It might be shopping, family, cooking, cleaning the house, kids on holiday or travel, something is bound to make you feel stressed. Remember, it is not the event that creates the stress – it is the thoughts about the event which result in feeling good or bad. So to prepare for the season the following tips will help.

Shopping:
  • Make a list of the people you need to buy a present for Christmas
  • Have a budget
  • Get family members to help with ideas and shopping
  • KIS – Keep it simple (i.e. SnappySnaps has a 3 for the price of 2 during November on personalized items. It looks good, it is a good price, and the recipient will love it. I got one for every member of my family and I know they will love it. You can put different pictures on different items, and the staff are so helpful)

Family:
Love them or hate them, they are family. You can not change them, so don't waste your energy trying. What you can do is choose not to get wound up this year. Repeat after me: "I will care a whole lot more about a whole lot less". When your mother says to you: "Dear, are you sure your want a second helping" or such like; stop, take a deep breath and think to yourself, "I am calm and chilled".

Cooking:

  • If you don't enjoy it, get the family members who do involved. Ask friends and family coming to bring something; the dessert, an appetiser, a bottle of sparkle. They would bring something anyway, so ask for what you want. It will help them and you at the same time. Again KIS. It does not have to be a huge traditional meal. You can create your own traditional meal.
  • Use M&S or John Lewis and order some simple starters. Not too expensive and it takes the pressure off of you.
  • If you are cooking, ask the others to do the cleaning up. It is only fair.


Cleaning up:

  • Ask in advance for help from the family. Set a date and time and ask everyone to have a power hour to clean their area and the family room or kitchen. Put on good motivating music and blitz the place.
  • Same for after the event... Get your family to help clean up.


Kids on holiday:
You know it is coming and if you need cover arrange it now with other friends with children. Trade off or get them involved in a project or lesson. Plan now so you have it off your mind. Ask you children for ideas as well.

Travel:

  • Plan again when to pack, what, and make a list. MAKE LISTS! It helps you to stay organized and you can see your progress at the same time.
  • You can't control the weather, delayed planes or tired kids and spouses. You can once again choose to get stressed and frustrated or be laid back and chilled. So be prepared. Have activities to do, write out Christmas cards, do your life wheel for 2014, answer emails, tweet, read a good book, the list is endless. To get upset once again just wastes your energy and ruins your holiday.


Hope these ideas help all of you have a wonderful holiday season… ho, ho, ho!

11 November 2013

The benefits of exercise in people with depression

Regular exercise is known to have significant benefits for people with mental health problems such as depression. Exercise can help you to recover from depression and it can also prevent depression from occurring in the first place.

If you have never exercised before, or you are returning to exercise after a long time off, visit your GP for a health check-up and advice about how much activity you should do.

Read more: (NHS Choices) Exercise for depression


Recommended reading:

09 November 2013

10 ways to beat the winter blues


When the sun is shining, people tend to feel happier and more energetic. Conversely, when it is dark and gloomy, people tend to lack energy and feel less sociable. The amount of sunlight that you get can affect your mood, appetite, energy levels and sex drive. If this sounds familiar, you may have a milder form of SAD called winter blues (people with SAD have more severe depressive symptoms).

10 tips to help combat the winter blues


Keep active
Research has shown that a daily one-hour walk, in the middle of the day, could be as helpful as light treatment for coping with the winter blues.

Get outside
Go outdoors in natural daylight as much as possible, especially at midday and on brighter days. Inside your home, choose pale colours that reflect light from outside, and sit near windows whenever you can.

Keep warm
If your symptoms are so bad that you can't live a normal life, seek help from your GP. Being cold makes you more depressed. It has also been shown that staying warm can reduce the winter blues by half. Keep warm with hot drinks and hot food. Wear warm clothes and shoes and aim to keep your home between 18C and 21C (or 64F and 70F degrees).

Eat healthily
A healthy diet will boost your mood, give you more energy and stop you putting on weight over winter. Balance your craving for carbohydrates, such as pasta and potatoes, with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and vitamin D supplements. Good food sources of vitamin D include oily fish and eggs.

See the light
Light therapy can be effective in up to 85% of diagnosed cases. One way to get light therapy at home in winter is to sit in front of a light box for up to two hours a day. Light boxes give out very bright light that is at least 10 times stronger than ordinary home and office lighting. They are not available on the NHS and cost around £100 or more.

Take up a new hobby
Keeping your mind active with a new interest seems to ward off symptoms of SAD. It could be anything, such as playing bridge, singing, knitting, joining a gym, keeping a journal or writing a blog. The important thing is that you have something to look forward to and concentrate on.

See your friends and family
It has been shown that socialising is good for your mental health and helps ward off the winter blues. Make an effort to keep in touch with people you care about and accept any invitations you get to social events, even if you only go for a little while. It will really help to lift your spirits.

Talk it through
Talking treatments such as counselling, psychotherapy or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help you cope with symptoms. See your GP for information on what is available locally on the NHS and privately.

Join a support group
Think about joining a support group. Sharing your experience with others who know what it's like to have SAD is very therapeutic and can make your symptoms more bearable. SADA is the UK's only registered charity dedicated to seasonal affective disorder. It costs £12 (£7 for concessions) to join and you'll receive an information pack, regular newsletters, discounts on products such as light boxes and contacts for telephone support.

Seek help
If your symptoms are so bad that you can't live a normal life, see your GP for medical help.

Source NHS Choices: Beating the winter blues

08 November 2013

SAD: Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal Affective Disorder, commonly referred to as SAD, is a type of depression that, as its name suggests, follows a seasonal pattern. The episodes of depression tend to occur at the same time each year, which - in most cases - occurs during the winter.

It is thought that SAD affects around 2 million people in the UK and more than 12 million people across Northern Europe. It can affect people of any age, including children. The symptoms are most likely to appear in people aged between 18 and 30.

In people with milder depressive symptoms, the condition is often referred to as "winter blues".

Causes


The exact cause of SAD is not fully understood at present. However, it is believed to be tied to a reduced exposure to sunlight during the autumn and winter months. Research has shown that sunlight can affect some of the brain's chemicals and hormones, but - at present - it is not clear what this effect is. One theory is that light stimulates a part of the brain called the hypothalamus which controls mood, appetite and sleep, which can affect how you feel.

In SAD sufferers, the combination of a lack of sunlight and a problem with certain brain chemicals prevents the hypothalamus working from properly. The lack of light is thought to affect the production of the melatonin and serotonin, as well as affecting the body's internal clock (circadian rhythm), which regulates important biological processes throughout the day.

Symptoms


As with other types of depression, two of the main symptoms of SAD are mood swings and a generalised sensation of apathy. Other symptoms include a noticeable decrease in activity and sleeping more. The condition is, at times, called 'winter depression', due to the fact that it is at that time of year when symptoms typically manifest themselves and are more severe.

Often the onset of symptoms will start in autumn, as the days start to get shorter, and are most critical from December to February. In  the majority of cases, the symptoms of SAD start to diminish in spring, before eventually disappearing.

Other symptoms include:

  • Feeling irritable
  • Feelings of despair
  • Feelings of guilt and worthlessness
  • Low self-esteem
  • Indecisiveness
  • Tearfulness
  • Feeling stressed or anxious
  • A reduced sex drive
  • Being less active than normal
  • Feeling tired and sleep more than normal (hypersomnia)
  • Feeling lethargic (lack energy)
  • Finding it difficult to concentrate
  • Having an increased appetite and eating more than usual (hyperphagia)


Treatment


There are several types of treatment for Season Affective Disorder, amongst which the most common are: cognitive behavioural therapy; counselling and psychodynamic psychotherapy; the use of antidepressants, and - quite frequently - light therapy. If you present any of the symptoms described, visit your GP, who will be able to discern what the best form of treatment is for you. Although the condition can, at times, make day-to-day activities difficult, it can be overcome with the correct treatment.

Source: NHS choices: Seasonal Affective Disorder

07 November 2013

What is important in your life?

If I ask a client, "What is important to you in your life?", I get automatic answers. Then if you ask again, "What specifically about each answer is so important to you?", then I start to hear what their values and beliefs are. It is like the old joke with Ms. Universe, "I want world peace", but when you get down to it, it is the safety they value for themselves, not world peace.

Writing down what you think is important to you in your life right now and then break it down more with "why".  You will begin to understand more how you are moving your life forward and why.  It is so vital you follow your true goals because you will go farther in with your drive and be happier doing it.

In another 6 months time, do it again.  The list will change as you change and discover your true passions in life.  And we should change as we grow as individuals and our life circumstances grow.

Have fun with learning about your true passions and focus on how to achieve them.  Life is an adventure and we are the explorers.

That's all folks.

How to fall asleep

Do you have trouble falling asleep at night? Then the following few tips should help you drift off to sleep. I am not talking about having a regular routine, using lavender under your pillow, or having a warm bath before going to bed. This is about when you are in bed and your mind starts to wander.

With your eyes closed do one of the following:

  1. Think of all the places you found sleep came quickly (childhood bed, holiday, on a train journey being rocked back and forth like a baby).
  2. Count backwards from 300 and if you mix up a number start again.
  3. Imagine you are looking at a fireplace and watching all the colours within the flame.  Notice the gentle reflection of the glow of the fire in the room and how it makes you feel.  Then focus on the fire again until you "feel" tired and imagine reclining back and closing your eyes.  (This deepens your relaxation).
  4. Write down your worries and put them in a drawer so they can sleep for the night and you can decide in the morning if you still want to wake up those worries or let them sleep forever in the drawer.
  5. Tighten and release all the muscles in your body starting at your feet up to your head.  Going up your whole body slowly.  Then when you get to the top, start again at the feet (not squeezing and releasing) but this time imagine each muscle is relaxing even further to the point like you "feel" you can't even move a leg or an arm.
  6. Imagine or focus on doing something so boring you want to go to sleep instead i.e. driving down an endless straight road.
  7. Think of 10 things you are thankful for in your life and then say a mantra, "I easily and quickly fall into sleep".

Sleep well!

22 October 2013

Stress busters and mood lifters

As the winter nights close in, fight back with these stress busters and mood lifters. Stay happy all winter long!
  • Keep magnesium levels up. Magnesium is a natural tranquilliser (Brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds) or get Bach's rescue remedy from Boots
  • Make lists: things seems worse in our heads, use a calendar...
  • Have a guilt free bath (oils and candles). You happy = everyone happy
  • Learn to breathe
  • Go for a walk and do other regular exercise like yoga/Pilates
  • Get a massage or acupuncture
  • Learn to meditate and use visualisation techniques
  • Listen to music or a relaxation CD
  • Self-talk... Say positive statements... Well done!
  • Plan for your future but LIVE in the moment. 99.9% of the time we worry about things that might go wrong. So fee the fear and do it anyway!

Learn self-hypnosis and discomfort control


05 October 2013

My goals for the end of 2013

One of my goals for the end of 2013 is to watch less TV and be active in finishing projects (like the dreaded organisation of my pictures for the last 5 years into photo albums – almost finished). Anyway, I am making progress and getting more things done without feeling like I am not having down time. My projects are all things I want to do and I set time limits so I don’t feel like it is a chore. TV is great for information and to have a break, but the 3 to 4 hours from meal to bed (even in the background is too much).

Other things I am doing with my "power hours" is looking into classes of interest, listening to Italian tapes, giving the dog a final walk (more than just around the block), face-timing friends, updating my daughters monthly journal, cleaning out clutter by area (scary out-of-date medicines in the bathroom cupboard and out-of-date cans of soup "I was going to try"– eek), getting clothes ready for the next day, getting birthday cards/presents ready for the upcoming month. They might sound like small projects or tasks, but the time-saving feel good factor is outstanding. Try it and you will see. I am also learning about juicing – more in the next newsletter about this and how it can help with weight loss and sports enhancement.

What can you achieve by 2014?

Okay, now we are back to some point of normalcy as the kids are back to school and everyone has returned from their holidays and the tubes are packed full again. So, what can you think of to inspire you to finish off this year with achieving something great!? Let's get thinking.

Start a new or change your exercise routine - maybe try a Zumba or kickboxing class to get some of those other muscles moving. Studies have shown that a mixture of exercise is much more effective than just running, biking or swimming. Or sign up for your first race, which is very inspiring!

Take a 30 day challenge - either eat healthier, cut out one item of food you know is really bad for you, have a alcohol free month, drink one less high street coffee and put the money into saving up for a treat, drink more water, bring your lunch to work, try more fruit/veg...

Take a class - learn a language, cooking class, dancing, computers or learn self-hypnosis to help you achieve your goals.

Set a 3 month goal to achieve by New Year! Clear out your clothes, paint a room, organize your files, recycle old books/junk (or sell it on line), research a new career.

It doesn't matter what it is but without goals - you have no where to go and nothing to achieve. Goals help us stay focused and they create action, which in turn causes motivation and momentum. We feel great when we can tick off out accomplishments. It builds our self esteem and makes us set higher goals. You have nothing to loose and so much to gain. Enjoy your success.

04 October 2013

Stoptober – Join the campaign! Why?

Within 20 minutes of your last cigarette: 

  • Blood Pressure drops to normal
  • You smell better and so do your clothes
  • Pulse rate drops to normal
  • Body temperature of hands and feet return to normal


Within 8 hours:

  • Carbon monoxide level in the blood drops to normal
  • Oxygen level in blood increases to normal


Within 24 hours:

  • Chance of heart attack decreases


Within 48 hours: 

  • Nerve endings start re-growing
  • Ability to smell and taste things is enhanced


Within 72 hours: 

  • Bronchial tubes relax making breathing easier


Within 2 weeks to 3 months: 

  • Circulation improves
  • Walking becomes easier
  • Lung function increases by up to 30%
  • Look better – feel better


Within 1 – 9 months:

  • Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath decreases
  • Lung cilia regrow, increasing ability to handle mucus, clean lungs
  • Body's overall energy increases


Within 5 years:

  • Lung cancer death rate for average smokier almost halves


Within 10 years: 

  • Lung cancer death rate down to almost that of a non-smoker
  • Pre-cancerous cells are replaced
  • Other cancer risks decrease


ALL BENEFITS ARE LOST WHEN YOU START SMOKING AGAIN!

02 October 2013

November stress management class is now set for the 14th


Learn Stress Management and Self–Hypnosis


When: November 14th between 6:00pm – 8:00pm.

Where: The Putney Clinic, 2nd floor, 266 Upper Richmond Road, London SW15 6TQ

Why:  We can all use some stress reduction techniques. (see below for details)  You will learn how to relax your mind and body. You will love it!

Who is this for?  Executives, new and experienced parents, new career starters, young adults, anyone facing stress or challenges in their lives.  Whatever you do, you can feel better physically and mentally.

Call us to book on 07931 547414.

The aim:  To learn how to take even more effective control of your emotional and physical well-being by learning stress reduction techniques and self-hypnosis to use during your day.

What will you learn and how can it help you?  
We will teach you how to use self-hypnosis. You'll leave with a powerful tool to use in your daily life.  We anticipate that the techniques you learn will help in many other areas of your life.  Just to mention a few:
  • Reduce reoccurring physical symptoms of stress in your body (i.e. shoulders, neck, and back pain. Also IBS, headaches, and anxiety attacks).
  • Increase motivation and goal setting.
  • Stopping old unwanted habits.
  • Building self-confidence and increase self-esteem.
  • Presenting and public speaking.
  • Learning a useful life long skill... and more. 

The cost: The fee for this event is just £55.00 for 2 hours paid before the start of the class by bank transfer, cheque or cash on the day before the class begins. All notes and a free CD will be supplied.

It will be a positive, fun, relaxing and informative event.

The Putney Clinic of Physical Therapy Free Open day



They are holding a *free open advice day* at the clinic on Saturday, 12 October (10am - 3pm) with a number of free talks and demonstrations. The focus of the day will be on back and neck pain. You must book if you would like to attend, please call them on 020 8789 3881 or send an email to info@putneyclinic.co.uk.

01 July 2013

NEWSPIRIT08 Marygrace Anderson



You always hate to see yourself on film or listen to your voice on a recording machine...but I actually like it.

Hope you enjoy it.

Marygrace

27 June 2013

Got something weighing on your mind?

Here we go again!  Which means it is that time of year again when most of us think about losing weight.  Did you know that 95% of dieters regain the weight they have lost?  Worse than that, in the UK obesity has almost become the number one cause for premature death.  It is a fact that 25% of women and 20% of men in the UK are now classified as obese. The symptoms range from low energy levels and breathlessness to serious conditions such as high blood sugar, high cholesterol, thyroid and hormone problems, and extra strain on the heart.  

So what is the solution?  To make a permanent life style change with the help of hypnotherapy. How you think effects everything you do and you can learn new ways to use your mind that will let you change easily and comfortably.  Together we will discover the reasons behind your eating habits and use several techniques to help change that thinking once and for all.  I can help you find the motivation you need to lose weight, exercise, and feel good about yourself and your body again.  Inside and out!

Stop and think about the ordinary - How to have a super positive day

Just think about your routine.  Now think about your routine which does nothing to motivate you.  AND NOW think about what you can do to change it.  Let us become detectives for a day and see what drains us and what might made a huge difference to how we start our day.

So, how can we do this.  We start by breaking the normal pattern.  Wake up 30 minutes earlier and have either a power hour (or power half hour), or do simple floor exercises or yoga, or sit down and plan out your day exactly as you would like it to be.  Follow the rule of TAB Think Act Be.  If there is something in your daily routine that drains you - change it.  Clear your desk, or rearrange it.  Get rid of the stuff which just clutters your space.  Eat a different breakfast, different lunch - go for a walk, or leave work on time.

Do not accept anything negative for a day.  When people ask "how are you", just answer "terrific!", and see how you feel just saying that word.  Don't let negative people drain your energy - if they want to be miserable, that is their choice.  You stick to making your day different, fun, interesting and exciting.  Think of 3 things you can do that will make tomorrow even better.  And before you go to sleep remind yourself. "well done for having such a great day" and think of 10 things you are grateful for in you life and then drift off to sleep with a smile on your face.






18 June 2013

Well done Dutchess of Cambridge for choosing hypnobirthing

It is so wonderful for Kate to raise the profile for hypnobirthing. It is such a natural process to give birth so why not make the whole process natural?

I am sure you have all read the reports and know why it is a great way to have a baby but just to remind you of the benefits:

Benefits of Hypnobirthing

  • Manage any discomfort through powerful breathing techniques
  • Reduces fear, tension and discomfort and thus naturally increase discomfort threshold
  • Learn relaxation techniques that will help your body to work the way it is designed to
  • Learn how to put yourself in control of your birth - rather than blindly turning your birthing experience over to your doctor or midwife
  • Less medication and chemical anaesthesia is needed as muscles thin and open easily
  • Hypnosis shortens the first stage of delivery by approximately 3 – 4 hours for mothers delivery their babies. For subsequent deliveries, it is not unusual for them to be as quick as 60-120 minutes long
  • Learn visualization techniques that can help your body to do what it wants to do
  • Allow your mind and body to work together in harmony
  • Experience the pleasures of birth rather than the negative experiences you may have heard from others
  • Release worries and concerns you may have about birth
  • Enables mother to go into “hypnotic relaxation” if unable to sleep between feeds
  • Raises resistance to fatigue during delivery thus minimizing maternal exhaustion
  • Encourages the production of milk
  • Decreases “post natal blues” and speed recovery
  • Use the endorphin release to increase your body's natural anaesthetic – a much safer option than relying on pharmaceuticals and other drugs

05 June 2013

How to retrain your eating habits

We were brought up with a history of eating habits passed down from generation to generation. Some of those traditions we now know are not beneficial to our bodies or minds. Having the usual Sunday roast has loads of fat-based unhealthy items; you know the ones. Fast food restaurants - we learned - have almost our whole daily calorie allowance in one meal! Bread and dairy can be a drain on how our bodies process those foods robbing us of our energy. Plus, the old "eat everything on your plate" mantra added unwanted weight to our bodies.

So if you want to eat better and lose weight, become educated and change the old though pattern. Read any current nutritional book and they will all tell you the same thing. You have heard it before but until you "do it", you will never appreciate the benefits. You will feel better, look better and lose weight from learning more about modern nutritional guidelines. You can set a new healthy eating tradition for your future generations.

If you need help with changing your thought pattern, see Marygrace at MG Hypnosis. If you need help with learning about nutrition, see Fleur Borrelli, the nutritional specialist at The Putney Clinic. If you need a personal trainer, I recommend Carrie Hogan or Martin Watkins. Email marygrace@mghypnosis.co.uk for contact details.

Hypnosis and exam anxiety

Please help your children prepare for their exams by following the steps below:

  1. Get them to do deep breathing 6 times before they start to study and, before they start their exam, do it again. It only takes a minute!
  2. Visualize themselves taking the exams and feeling relaxed and passing.
  3. Encourage them, but remind them that at the end of the day, no matter how they do, they are still loved for their hard work and life goes on. It is just a grade and we have millions of successful entrepreneurs and famous world figures who didn't do well on an exam but succeeded in life. The grade does not reflect how good they are as individuals.
  4. Take regular breaks and do some exercise during their day.
  5. Eat well and drink water.
  6. Make sure they study in a pleasant, comfortable place, and sitting in posture friendly chair.
  7. Remind them they have a choice to go into the exam stressed out or feeling positive and confident.
  8. Let them know it is normal to be a little "nervous about their exam", but it is better to use the word "excited about their exam" – much more positive.

Happy revising!

Sports and Hypnosis

Athletes are great clients because they are used to working hard, pushing themselves, and setting personal goals. They also want to perform well so their motivation for success is very high. Helping a sports client achieve their goal is one of the most rewarding outcomes I have ever had.

Sports psychology is becoming increasingly more popular in all fields of athletics. Using various hypnotherapy techniques, it can be extremely effective in helping sports people get over past failures, utilizing their past achievements, and create an award winning mind set for competitions and training.

It's easy to train your body physically but adding the mental training can enhance your development as an athlete.

We tailor your session to meet your specific needs, whether that is competition preparation, motivation and goal setting, anxiety management or creating the athletic performance mindset.

We look forward to working with you and helping you achieve your dream.

29 May 2013

Image Consultant for Colour me Beautiful

I met this woman who totally understands how to stay positive and feel great. It should be part of everyone's goal to look good and feel good - along with eating well and exercise.

Angela Weyers is an Image Consultant based in Ealing, West London. She firmly believes that when we look good, we feel great! Through her consultations on colour, style and make-up, she shows you how to work with your own colouring, body shape and personality to look your very best. Her confidence-boosting sessions are fun and informative and aimed at anyone, any age and any size! See her website for all the details.

"Ever thought you would like to have a colour analysis? Colour analysis will show you your most flattering colours for clothes and make-up! Wearing the wrong colours can drain you, make you look older, tired, ill. But wearing the right colours will make you glow! Knowing your most flattering colours will save you time and money whilst shopping (no more mistakes!)" 
Contact me, Angela Weyers, for details! 
Tel: 0208 997 2123
Email: angela@mystylistlondon.com
Website: www.mystylistlondon.com

Hanen More Than Words Parent Course being offered

Please see link below about a course being offered at Children's Therapies.  Hanen "More Than Words" Parent Course which is a great practical program for parents to help communicate with their children.

This course is suitable for young children (under 5 years of age) who are demonstrating difficulties in areas of early social interaction, communication and play skills.  Specifically, if you have children who are 'query' ASD than this is the right parent group for them but it would also benefit parents of any child demonstrating difficulties in areas of interaction and play (e.g. cerebral palsy, downs syndrome etc).

Check out more information on the website:

http://www.childrenstherapies.co.uk/hanen-more-than-words-course-for-parents-of-under-5s-with-social-communication-difficulties-and-asd

It will be small groups of families as the purpose of the group is also to meet other parents in similar situations to share experiences and ideas etc.  Both parents (or a friend / grandparent etc) are welcome to attend the group sessions.

Group sessions will also be delivered flexibly as it is not a strict weekly program so all families needs / preferences will be accounted for.  Hence, the group may run from June until December depending on parents needs / availability.

A free orientation session to interested parents in June 2013 so call now.

30 April 2013

Kids and Controlling Anger

There are lots of great therapies to help kids control and understand how to control anger and frustration.  Play therapy, drama therapy and using their imaginations.

One of the techniques is to imagine anger as an animal (wild animals work better - like a lion or tiger).  Then see themselves being calm, relaxed and in control.  A time when they felt really happy about something they did or achieved.  Then have them think of iron cage with strong bars and tell the tiger to go into the cage.   Then think of a situation or person who made you feel angry and imagine getting the tiger in a strong cage with a strong lock, and they are the only person who has the key.  Right away the tiger is calm and protected and in control.  Watch it like a movie and see how quickly the anger can come under control.  When you feel calm and in control of yourself and your emotions, you feel happier.  It is simple but effective.  Good for adults too.


Age and Vitality by Fleur Borrelli Nutritionist

Longevity is all about the maximum age we can possibly live to. Potentially we can live to be a hundred and thirty years old - this has been calculated by the number of times the cells in our body can possibly divide. Cell division is all about our cells reproducing and repairing themselves. Jeanne Calment, the French supercentenarian with the longest confirmed lifespan in history, nearly made it. She died at 
a hundred and twenty-two years old having outlived both her daughter and her grandson. 
Here are some of her secrets that are supported by science: • Learn to be more stress tolerant through meditation and exercise • Be as active as you can • Eat only when you are hungry and eat well • Have a glass of red wine each day • Use olive oil

22 April 2013

Next Stress Management Class 16th May 2013 6-8:00pm

Learn Stress Management and Self – Hypnosis



Feeling stressed!? Want help? Come to this event and it will improve your life. You will learn how to take effective control of your emotional and physical well-being by learning stress reduction techniques and self-hypnosis.You'll leave with powerful skills to use in your daily life. We anticipate that the techniques you learn will help in other areas of your life, such as:
  • Reduce reoccurring physical symptoms of stress in your body (i.e. shoulders, neck, and back pain. Also IBS, headaches, and anxiety attacks)
  • Increase motivation and goal setting
  • Stopping old unwanted habits
  • Building self-confidence and increase self-esteem
Marygrace Anderson, an expert in stress reduction, and is an experienced professional in the area of hypnotherapy, psychotherapy & life coaching. She covers a variety of issues for children and works with business professionals, parents and seniors. She advises companies on employee well-being and also helps professional athletes improve their performance. Marygrace states, "I love empowering people to live better lives and am passionate about my work".

When:  Thursday 16th May from 6:00 – 8:00pm

Where: The Putney Clinic, 2nd floor, 266 Upper Richmond Road, London SW15 6TQ Booking essential as limited spaces. Call 0208 789 3881 to book.

Fees: This seminar is just £45.00. You will be given handouts and free CD.

“Clive Lathey, Director of the Putney Clinic, suggested I see Marygrace. I put it off for months, and then after our session, I kicked myself as I felt so much more relaxed.” JP

02 April 2013

Motivation

If you can't get motivation after reading any of my previous blogs, you simply just have to take the JFDI approach and take action!  Action leads to motivation as you can see the results after a short period of time.

If you want to lose weight, go for an hour power walk ever day.  In one weeks time you will notice it.

If you want to get press, spend an hour a day on your marketing and it will generate leads and clients.

If you are stuck on paperwork, do one power hour of cleaning and filing a day and it will be gone before you know it.

You get the idea.

Just take massive action every day and you will get to your goal.


New yoga and pilates classes at The Putney Clinic of Physical Therapy

If you are looking to start a new exercise campaign to shake off winter excesses, why not try one of our classes. We have classes suitable for all levels and our new ‘core boot-camp’ looks set to be popular. This class, taught by Stephen, will focus on the core muscles needed to keep the back healthy and you may even discover your six pack. 


Timetable


Here is a list of all classes currently available at the Clinic:

New class Introduction to Ashtanga yoga
Starts: Saturday 6th April
Time: 8:45am
Teacher: Cherie
Cost: £84 (6-week course)

Saturday prenatal yoga
Time: 10am
Teacher: Cherie

New class Pilates Beginners / Remedial
Starts: Saturday 6 April
Time: 11:15am
Teacher: Erica
Cost: £84 (6-week course)

New class Pilates level 1-2 intermediate
Start: Saturday 6 April
Time: 12:15pm
Teacher: Liz
Cost: £84 (6-week course)

Pilates
Starts: Monday 8 April
Time: 7pm 
Teacher: Laurent
Cost: £84 (6-week course)

Ashtanga yoga (Mysore)
Starts: Tuesday 9 April
Time: 9:30am
Teacher: Cherie
Cost: £84 ( 6-week course)

New class Core boot camp
Work all the stabilising muscle groups and maybe even find your six pack.
Starts: Tuesday 9 April
Time: 7pm
Teacher: Stephen
Cost: £84 (6-week course)

Baby massage
Starts: Wednesday 10 April
Time: 11am 
Teacher: Hajni
Cost: £84 (6-week course)

Wednesday prenatal yoga
Time: 7pm 
Teacher: Diane 

Mum and baby yoga
Starts: Thursday 11 April
Time: 10:30am
Teacher: Diane
Cost: £84 ( 6-week course)

Postnatal Pilates
Physiotherapist led Pilates class with Katie. Also open to prenatal women.
Starts: Thursday 11 April
Time: 2.30pm
Teacher: Katie 
Cost: £84 (6-week course)

New class Ashtanga led
Starts: Friday 12 April
Time: 9am
Teacher: Cherie 
Cost: £84 (6-week course) 


About the courses


Please note that all classes are subject to numbers. To ensure that your class runs, please sign up for your desired course before it starts.

All courses run for 6 weeks, unless otherwise stated. If you miss a class due to illness, work commitments or other reasons, you may attend another class in the same week (subject to availability).

Prenatal yoga classes are itemised separately under the yoga mama class pass system.

For full information about the yoga, Pilates and massage courses currently offered by yoga mama,consult the timetable.

15 March 2013

Group and corporate training




Employers and employees are now conscious of the importance of being pro-active and maintaining the health of their staff. Group sessions are a cost-effective way of helping both parties achieve this goal. We know the most common condition is stress; causing a wide variety of issues. Stress can lead to a whole range of mental and physical problems if not treated. We can help reduce stress with various relaxation and empowering (self-motivation) techniques, which can be done during, and repeated after, the session at the person’s will.

No matter the size of the company, the employee is still the most valuable asset. There are budgets for employee training and welfare programmes, which are not covered by insurance. This includes assistance with smoking cessation, stress management, emotional conditions, public speaking, goal setting, motivation and team building.

The benefits of group sessions


Group sessions are cost effective. Fees can be negotiated depending on number attending (minimum 5 to 500 persons).

Group sessions are flexible. They can be held at your premises during or after working hours.

Group sessions are still “personalized” and the result will be based on the person’s individual empowering life experiences of success. It is a relaxing yet energizing experience.

Group sessions are team building. Everyone is in the same situation and can enjoy the experience as if they are getting a one-on-one session.

14 March 2013

Stress management workshop: 11 April (6 -8pm)

Learn Stress Management and Self – Hypnosis



Feeling stressed!?  Want help?  Come to this event and it will improve your life. You will learn how to take effective control of your emotional and physical well-being by learning stress reduction techniques and self-hypnosis.

You'll leave with powerful skills to use in your daily life.  We anticipate that the techniques you learn will help in other areas of your life, such as:

  • Reduce reoccurring physical symptoms of stress in your body (i.e. shoulders, neck and back pain. Also IBS, headaches, and anxiety attacks).
  • Increase motivation and goal setting.
  • Stopping old unwanted habits.
  • Building self-confidence and increase self-esteem.


Marygrace Anderson, an expert in stress reduction, and is an experienced professional in the area of hypnotherapy, psychotherapy & life coaching.  She covers a variety of issues for children and works with business professionals, parents and seniors.  She advises companies on employee well-being and also helps professional athletes improve their performance.  Marygrace states, “I love empowering people to live better lives and am passionate about my work”.

When:  11th April from 6:00 – 8:00pm

Where: The Putney Clinic of Physical Therapy, 2nd floor, 266 Upper Richmond Road, London SW15 6TQ. Booking essential as limited spaces. Call 0208 789 3881 to book.

Fees: This seminar is just £45. You will be given handouts and free CD.

"Clive Lathey, Director of the Putney Clinic, suggested I see Marygrace. I put it off for months, and then after our session, I kicked myself as I felt so much more relaxed".
JP

11 March 2013

How to get your motivation back


Sometimes we get stuck and can't seem to get started again. We lose motivation and keep putting things off, and at the same time, feeling guilty for not taking action. So follow these steps to get yourself started again (and I promise it will only take 30 minutes max):


  • Write down your values and what is important to you and why
  • Next, do a life wheel and choose the bottom 3 or 4 areas you want or need to work on
  • Then take a diary and plan in how you are going to get those goals accomplished. For example, if your personal space is a mess, book in days and times to clear it out; this could take 2 hours or 2 days. If it’s health, book in the days you will exercise and what else can do (eat healthier, cut down on alcohol, sign up for a charity walk)

The wheel of life

Finding balance in your life


When life is busy, or all your energy is focused on a special project, it's all too easy to find yourself "off balance", not paying enough attention to important areas of your life. While you need to have drive and focus if you're going to get things done, taking this too far can lead to frustration and intense stress. That's when it's time to take a "helicopter view" of your life, so that you can bring things back into balance.

This is where the Wheel of Life (or Life Wheel) can help.  It helps you consider each area of your life in turn and assess what's off balance. And so, it helps you identify areas that need more attention.



The Wheel of Life is powerful because it gives you a vivid visual representation of the way your life is currently, compared with the way you'd ideally like it to be. It is called the "Wheel of Life" because each area of your life is mapped on a circle, like the spoke of a wheel (career, health, relationship, personal space, finances, social life, fun, spiritual, etc...).



  1. Start by brainstorming the 6 to 8 dimensions of your life that are important for you. Different approaches to this are:
    The roles you play in life: husband/wife, father/mother, manager, colleague, team member, sports player, community leader, or friend.
    Areas of life that are important to you: artistic expression, positive attitude, career, education, family, friends, financial freedom, physical challenge, pleasure, or public service.
    Your own combination of these (or different) things: reflecting the things that are your priorities in life.
  2. Write down these dimensions down on the Wheel of Life diagram, one on each spoke of the life wheel. 
  3. This approach assumes that you will be happy and fulfilled if you can find the right balance of attention for each of these dimensions. And different areas of your life will need different levels of attention at different times. So the next step is to assess the amount of attention you're currently devoting to each area.
  4. Consider each dimension in turn, and on a scale of 0 (low) to 5 (high), write down the amount of attention you're devoting to that area of your life. Mark each score on the appropriate spoke of you Life Wheel.
  5. Now join up the marks around the circle. Does you life wheel looked and feel balanced? 
  6. Next it's time to consider your ideal level in each area of your life. A balanced life does not mean getting 5 in each life area: some areas need more attention and focus than others at any time. And inevitably you will need to make choices and compromises, as your time and energy are not in unlimited supply! 
  7. So the question is, what would the ideal level of attention be for you each life area?
  8. Plot the "ideal" scores around your life wheel too.
  9. Now you have a visual representation of your current life balance and your ideal life balance. What are the gaps? These are the areas of your life that need attention. 
  10. And remember that gaps can go both ways. There are almost certainly areas that are not getting as much attention as you'd like. However there may also be areas where you're putting in more effort than you'd ideally like. These areas are sapping energy and enthusiasm that may better be directed elsewhere.
  11. Once you have identified the areas that need attention, it's time to plan the actions needed to work on regaining balance. Starting with the neglected areas, what things do you need to start doing to regain balance? In the areas that currently sap your energy and time, what can you STOP doing or re-prioritise or delegate to someone else? Make a commitment to these actions by writing them down. 
Tip:
You can use the Wheel of Life as preparation for goal setting or coaching. It helps identified the area you want to work on and is a great way of visualizing your current and desired life. Once you are working on improving your life balance, it's also a useful tool for monitoring your life balance as it changes over time.

The Wheel of Life is a great tool to help you improve your life balance. It helps you quickly and graphically identify the areas in your life to which you want to devote more energy, and helps you understand where you might want to cut back.

The challenge now is to transform this knowledge and desire for a more balanced life into a positive program of action.