 Health Tip • Leg Up The Wall Pose
Relax, restore and rejuvenate! This simple yet very therapeutic leg inversion benefits the whole body, releases stress and relaxes the mind. Practicing this position is an easy way to destress and increase blood and lymphatic circulation while restoring the body's energy. It provides excellent relief and counterbalance for sitting or standing all day as well as recovery from exercise and sports activities. Practiced regularly this ancient yoga pose is said grant you longevity and make you feel younger!
Instructions:
| • take a yoga bolster or stack a couple thick blankets or towels |
| • create a support approximately 15cm high |
| • place your support about 8 cm away from a wall |
| • scoot your hips as close as you can to a wall, lie on your side and curl your knees to your chest |
| • roll yourself onto your back, placing your hips and low back evenly onto your support |
| • relax your back, shoulder blades and head onto the floor |
| • straighten your legs up the wall, keeping them relatively firm and make yourself comfortable |
| • to adjust your hips or the support, bend your knees, press your feet into the wall, lift your hips and reposition |
| • rest your arms on your belly, or stretch them palm up out to the sides below or above your shoulders |
| • take a few deep breaths then continue with gentle breathing into the lower abdomen |
| • for added restoration place an eye bag over your eyes |
| • relax all your muscles and let yourself rest. Enjoy staying in this position anywhere from 5-20 minutes |
| • to come out of the position bend your knees and gently roll to your side |
| • lie on your side and rest allowing the blood flow to equalize before slowly come up to sitting |
Benefits:
| • relieves tired, achy, swollen or cramped legs and feet |
| • drains fluids from the legs |
| • increases blood and lymph circulation |
| • gently stretches the legs and back of neck |
| • relieves mild backache |
| • calms the mind and relieves anxiety and irritability |
| • may improve conditions such as oedema, sleeplessness, digestive & urinary disorders, varicose & spider veins |
back to top
 Shibashi Qigong • Next Course starts 2 May
This 7 week course offers a complete set of 18 gracefully flowing Qigong movements. The course includes a manual, wall charts and a great DVD. This is the perfect course if you wish to learn Qigong and would like to be able to practice it at home in your own time. It is easy to learn, easy to practice yet very effective ... a meditation in motion. Spaces are limited and booking is essential.
Read more about Shibashi Qigong ...
May 2 to June 13 • Monday evenings • 5:30 - 7:15 pm • 7 week course
"Learning and practicing Shibashi has been a deep and transformational experience for me. It has helped me to connect with my body and energy in a profound, yet simple way. I feel softer in my movements, with more of my core life force energy accessible throughout the day. After practicing Shibashi it is like my body is humming in a lovely deep silence. I value the grace and clarity Mandana brought to the teachings each week and the practical way the movements were introduced so I could practice them at home and slowly build up to the whole sequence which I now practice most days. Thankyou and look forward to more practice sessions ..." Rebecca B.
back to top
Staying Well in Autumn • with Chinese Medicine
 As we shift seasons from summer to autumn we are more prone to invasion by viral and bacterial colds and flu. This susceptibility is enhanced by the erratic movement of the weather from hotter days to cooler days and back again, and by our daily movements into air-conditioning to the hotter air outside, then from heated rooms to the cooler air outside. In Chinese Medicine theory the change of seasons is a common time to become ill with pathogenic factors, classically expressed as a Wind-Cold attack or a Wind-Heat attack. By keeping our body’s temperature as even as possible we can aid in the prevention of being susceptible to these conditions. Keeping your neck covered and protected from wind, and this includes the breeze from fans, air-conditioning and heaters, is essential to help protect us.
Usually by now we would be experiencing the nice cooler weather of a traditional autumn, however this season has been slow to get started. The longer heat that we have been experiencing, coupled with the humidity increases the internal heat and dampness of our bodies internal landscape. This can make us more irascible or short tempered and more fatigued, and leaving us at stronger risk of exposure to a Wind Heat, or Wind Damp Heat attack. Avoiding too much hot natured foods such as chili, too much garlic, ginger or cinnamon, and avoiding damp natured foods such as too much dairy, processed foods, sugar, coffee & alcohol all helps increase your protection.
Of course other diet and lifestyle factors can also aid. These include maintaining good hydration with good quality filtered water; washing your hands regularly especially after contact with people who are sick and before eating; maintaining healthy levels of vitamin D either from 20-40 minutes of sunlight or via supplements (see previous newsletter for details); covering your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze; having a healthy diet including lots of fresh fruit and lightly steamed or cooked vegetables; and maintaining a healthy level of low impact exercise, of course ensuring that you keep your neck covered if it is windy and changing out of sweaty clothing as soon as practical after exercising.
Danielle O'Reilly • Practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine
back to top
Product Focus • Pitta Patta - New Organic Skincare for Babies & Children
We are pleased to introduce Pitta Patta, certified organic skincare for babies, children and the whole family, a local business run by two sisters. Pitta Patta’s range consists of a Shampoo & Bodywash, Bubble Bath, Liquid Soap, Moisturising Lotion, Chest Stick and Barrier Cream which contain herbs, essential oils and essences that are gentle and healing to young and old skin alike. The range is designed with baby young skin in mind, but is also used by adults who want baby young skin!
 Alex Field, founder of Pitta Patta, is a Naturopath, Doula and mother of two. While running her Naturopathic practice Alex used to treat children and adults with skin problems, including sensitive skin, eczema and psoriasis. She noticed how the cream mixes with organic and natural ingredients she made up for people had fantastic results on soothing and calming problem skin, as well as hydrating and nourishing normal skin types. This was the birth of Pitta Patta.
Pitta Patta uses certified organic and natural ingredients that are beneficial to supporting healthy skin. For example the Barrier Cream uses Mango Butter that has the powerful ability to heal skin and a herbal blend of Calendula, Comfrey and Marshmallow, that soothes and calms the skin. The Moisturising Lotion contains Shea Nut Butter and a synergistic blend of Chamomile and Lavender essential oils.
Pitta Patta products DO NOT contain, sls’s, parabens, synthetic fragrances, colorants or harsh detergents, because these ingredients are known skin and eye irritants and they do not provide any healing, nourishing benefits to the skin in the way natural ingredients can.
The Chest Stick is a revolutionary product that rolls onto a child’s upper chest and back witout creating a mess. It contains Eucalyptus essential oil in an olive oil base. The stick helps to ease the congestion that is associated with coughs and colds.
The Shampoo & Bodywash, Bubble Bath and Liquid Soap all use mild cleansing ingredients that leave the skin feeling clean, but not dry. Only a small amount is needed to do the job and they all contain essential oils that are scientifically proven to help the skin.
The little bit of magic that is in all the products is the gem essences and essential oils which nurture and support the heart and soul of children, through a modality known as ‘vibrational healing’. Vibrational healing has been used for thousands of years throughout the world as a method of healing which recognises that everything in the universe has a distinct vibration. Forms of vibrational healing that have become commonplace in modern society include acupuncture, homeopathy, reiki, flower and gem essences. A child’s healthy vibration is influenced by a multitude of physical, mental and emotional stimuli they are exposed to. Every emotion that a child feels, each thought they have, every smell and every sound carries its own vibration. Certain vibrations are good for children, such as a soothing, loving voice or a hug from someone they adore, while other vibrations can be less nourishing such as an harsh sounding voice. Pitta Patta provides your child with nurturing vibrations on a daily basis.
Pitta Patta products are resaonably priced and affordable for everyday use with prices ranging from only $13 to $15.
Endorsed by Midwives:
"As a midwife I have come across numerous products for babies. When it came to having my own child, I chose Pitta Patta’s Everyday Elly Range, because they really work and they are natural. It’s a fantastic range that I am very proud to endorse." Debbie Rhodes, Registered Midwife BSc(Hons)
back to top
Seasonal Recipe • Sweet Potato Mash with Orange
| 1 kg unpeeled sweet potatoes |
| 1 Tbsp macadamia, coconut or avocado oil |
| 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt |
| 1 teaspoon of grated fresh ginger |
| 1 teaspoon of orange zest |
| pinch of cracked black pepper |
| 1/2 teaspon of cinnamon (optional) |
| 2 Tbsp of fresh orange juice |
Scrub sweet potatoes with veggie brush and place on baking tray or foil. Bake at 200 degrees for 45 mins or until very tender. Peel sweet potatoes when cooled down enough to handle. Combine with remaining ingredients in a bowl and mash until well blended. Serve hot and garnish with thinly sliced, peeled orange slices.
Recipe courtesy of Sahaja from The Great Life www.thegreatlife.com.au
Sahaja has been teaching Macrobiotic/Wholefoods cooking in Perth for 16 years and is a
Macrobiotic Counselor/Educator and Accredited Journey Practitioner.
back to top
If you wish to automatically receive our quarterly newsletter, click here to subscribe.
If you no longer wish to receive our quarterly newsletter, click here to unsubscribe. |
