Bowen therapist takes her healing hands to Bosnia

Bowen Therapist Louise Harris is taking her healing hands to Saravejo to help victims of war and disaster. Next Year, Louise is going out to Bosnia with the Healing Hands Network, who take holistic approaches to healing, helping clients from the Association of Concentration Camp Victims, the Association of Civil War Victims and the Centre for Torture Victims.

Members of the Healing Hands Network are qualified and experienced therapists, offering a range of treatments including massage, reflexology, aromatherapy, reiki and other mainstream complementary therapies.

 

 

Louise said: “I was dubious when Julie Farmer, a fellow Bowen Therapist friend of mine, asked me if I would consider volunteering with her in Bosnia. 
“She came armed with facts and figures about the charity Healing Hands Network and the work they were doing to help the people of Sarajevo, and she had lots of stories about the cruelty and hardship they had faced. 
“It didn’t take a lot of persuading and she only told me two stories before I said ‘OK, OK!  Yes!’.”

Louise is due to leave in July 2013 and needs £750 to fund the trip.  Julie and Louise have been fundraising by selling cupcakes and holding a Christmas Fair.

Louise said: “The one thing that is really clear from everyone is that, despite their hardship, the people we will be helping are extremely grateful and gracious. 
“I am sure that it will be a privilege to meet and help people who have really known true suffering and an experience we will never forget.”

Louise has already had many offers of help for charity events and some donations but if you would like to contribute, visit Louise and Julie’s charity.

The Balding Handbook: mourning the death of your hair

Drawing on his own hair loss experience, David Frank Stern has used Kübler-Ross’ ‘five stages of grief’ to create The Balding Handbook.

This is a self-help book with a difference, it describes the balding process through Kübler-Ross’ five stages of mourning; Denial & Isolation, Anger & Rage, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance.

Although David is in a better place now, his painful hair loss journey is a familiar one.

Stage One – Denial and Isolation. Within this section, David delicately discusses topics like ‘the bald man’s crack’, AKA baseball caps, yet also tackles harder head-wear like fedoras, sombreros and Indian headdresses. David claims that if you own more than six hats or spend more than five minutes rearranging your hair into any combover-type style, you may be in denial.

Stage Two – Anger & Rage. There’s no doubt that the balding man will often need an outlet for his fury. Stern provides some cathartic exercises to help with this, like defacing your bald ancestors’ graves or ripping the heads off Ken dolls, which surprisingly verge on the comedic side.

Stage Three – Bargaining. By stage three, balding brothers are looking to a higher power, begging god to give them their hair back. In this stage, Stern takes his suffering brothers through the entire sales process.

Stage Four – Depression. By now, you’ve realised that your hair loss is permanent and a feeling of hopelessness overwhelms you. However, Stern lets you know where to turn for words of comfort. He also encourages you to seek recovery by finding other bald brothers.

Stage Five – Acceptance. Your journey ends with a renewed sense of energy and purpose. Stern offers tips on writing obituaries and reinforces the fact that there is power in numbers.

The book is available to buy from www.thebaldinghandbook.com

HIS Hair on BBC3 documentary

Who saw HIS Hair featured on BBC3’s ‘I Want to Change my Body’?

Aired on Monday, the programme focussed on young people aged between 16-25 who were going to extreme lengths in order to feel happier with themselves.

 

Jamie, a 25-year-old professional dancer from Blackpool, started losing his hair when he was 18 and was unhappy with his receding hair line. He spent hours styling it in the morning and found that it was holding him back in the dance world.

   

Jamie decided to opt for MHT® in order to feel more confident and develop his career.

 

In the documentary, you see Jamie attend his consultation with HIS co-founder Ian Watson at HIS Hair’s Harley Street clinic. Fellow co-founder Ranbir Rai-Watson performed Jamie’s treatments in Manchester and Paris to fit in with his schedule.

Watching the treatment in progress, you can see the huge difference it makes to Jamie’s look. He is shocked but loves the change.

By the end of his two treatments and touch-up treatment, Jamie’s new look is in full swing.

 

Since having MHT®, Jamie’s confidence has improved enormously and he has been offered a new job in the US and the Caribbean.

We are so happy that our treatment has done so much for Jamie’s self esteem and we wish him the best if luck.

You can catch ‘I Want to Change my Body’ on BBC iPlayer here.

Stop the cries of infant colic

It is thought that colic affects around 1 in 5 babies. Colic is the medical term for excessive, frequent crying in a baby who appears to be otherwise healthy and well fed. It is a poorly understood yet common condition, and can be very strenuous for parents coping with new-born babies.

It generally disappears when the child is around 4-6 months old, but can last for up to a year.

There is currently no known cause or cure for colic, which makes it all the more frustrating for parents.

There are some techniques that may help, such as bathing your baby in a warm bath and preventing your baby from swallowing air by sitting them upright during feeding.

Another technique worth trying is Bowen. Bowen is a drug-free, non-invasive complementary therapy. With primarily fingers and thumbs, 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 used and 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.

Bowen prides itself on being able to trigger the body’s own healing systems. Rather than 'making' the body change, Bowen 'asks' the body to recognise and make the changes it requires.

One mother that used Bowen for her daughter’s colic said: “Grace used to scream in pain, clench her fists, bring her knees to her chest and become rigid.

“She would cry every evening from around 8pm until midnight or after.

“After two sessions of Bowen she became so much more relaxed.

“The touch involved in Bowen was so gentle, but effective. The therapy has enabled Grace’s personality to shine through the tears. I would recommend Bowen to any parent whose baby is suffering from severe colic.”

If your child suffers from colic and are interested in how Bowen Therapy can help, visit the website to find a Bowen therapist near you or call 0844 561 7173.

Blogger’s documentation of her hair loss during chemotherapy makes the prospect of losing hair a much less daunting experience

This week, blogger and Breast Cancer sufferer, Laura Price, documented her hair loss experience during chemotherapy in her latest blog for The Huffington Post. The blog sees Price not only share her hair loss experience with photographic documentation, showing that it is not such a daunting thing to go through as would first seem, but she does so with wit and humour, her light hearted approach showing that hair loss cannot crush the human spirit, and that it is something that should be embraced, not feared.

As well as making light of the sensitive situation, stating ‘you save a fortune on shampoo and conditioner,’ Price gives a real, straight-forward picture of what hair loss meant for her, stating ‘Being bald hasn't exactly been the best thing to ever happen to me, but it certainly is liberating.’ While Price doesn't deny the fact that losing her hair was an unwanted obstacle to battle with, she notes that it should not be seen as a negative thing, but as something wholly liberating, if approached with a bit of humour and imagination.

Her advice on ‘How to lose your hair in 10 easy steps (ideally during chemotherapy)’ gives those going through the same process a guide to taking charge of their hair loss and not letting it beat them, with pieces of advice such as ‘ask a friendly local hairdresser to create a pixie crop,’ ‘Return to local hairdresser for full Sinead shave’ and ‘Don a wig and adopt an alter ego accordingly’ that will help people to overcome the thought of losing their hair.  

Price’s light advice gives those about to embark upon a similar experience, whether through chemotherapy or other means, some light relief, and shows that losing your hair is not as daunting as it would initially seem if you embrace the process and inject a bit of fun and humour. 

Make Fish the Dish of the Day: Fish Keeps Asthma Symptoms at Bay!

A new study carried out in Rotterdam has found that introducing fish into your child’s diet between the ages of 6 months- 1 year can help in reducing the risk of developing asthma later on in life.

The study assessed the medical records of 7210 children, along side their early fish consumption levels, and found that 40-45% of the children who were not introduced to fish until after the age of 1 had developed symptoms of asthma, compared to 30% of children who consumed fish between the ages of 6 months and 1 year.

The study concludes that introducing fish into your child’s diet during this window of opportunity can reduce the risks of developing asthma by around 36%.

It was also found that the benefits of fish to children’s health was not dependant on the amount of fish consumed, meaning that introducing even a little fish into your child’s diet during this time will give them a better chance of staving off asthma.

Jessica Kiefte-De Jong, lead author of the study, states ‘introduction to fish between 6 and 12 months- but no fish consumption afterward- is associated with a lower prevalence of wheezing.’

It is believed that these health benefits are a result of certain fatty acids that fish contains that can help to protect the body against the symptoms of asthma.

Paediatrician T. Bernard Kinane comments that these results are not surprising, stating that they ‘make reasonable sense because that’s when the immune system is getting educated.’

Even though the benefits of fish in the protection against asthma only appear to fall between the ages of 6-12 months, this does not mean that fish should not be included in your child’s diet at any age.

Fish have many other health benefits, the fact that they are a great source of protein and are high in Omega-3 fatty acids helping greatly in growth and organ health, as well as being a “brain food” for a healthy mind.

BTPA's tribute to Bill Tarmey

Bill Tarmey, who played Coronation Street’s Jack Duckworth for over 25 years, sadly passed away last Friday.

Aged 71, Bill died at his home in Tenerife after years of ill-health.

He regularly used Bowen therapy to ease intense pain in his shoulders, arms and hips.

He had tried all the conventional treatments for his pain and was “desperate to find an answer.”

He didn't want any more surgery, but he was willing to try anything else.

We went to see Bowen therapist Hadden Todd and, by his third visit, Bowen had achieved wonders. "The difference for me was enormous, really enormous," said Bill.

He continued with Bowen for many years and even recommended it to anyone who was experiencing pain. "The point is, Bowen is so gentle in comparison to other hands-on treatments: no one is going to throw you around the room by your legs – so at the very least it can't do any harm."

"I say give it a go before there's any talk of surgery or other more drastic treatment. Try Bowen … and like me, you may get one heck of a surprise."

We were so sad to hear that Bill lost his battle with ill-health, but we are glad that he found some relief in Bowen.

He will be missed.

HIS Hair Manchester Open Day!

They’ve done Birmingham; They've done London… so it’s time to take on Manchester.

Following the huge success of the Harley Street open day last month, HIS are now taking their services up north, holding another open day, this time at their Manchester clinic.

You’ll have a chance to speak to the experts and see a live demo of award-winning celebrity hairdresser, Daniel Johnson, getting an MHT^® touch-up. Daniel is the man that styles the likes of Wayne Rooney, Mario Banotelli, Joleon Lescott  and Ashley Young, so whether you’re a red or blue man - come and get  first-hand experience of MHT^® and the results it can offer.

You’ll also get an opportunity to meet past clients and go for a free drop-in consultation on the day. It is recommended that you book a consultation time beforehand by emailing info@hishairclinic.com.

One past client that attended the Harley Street open day said “It was a pleasure for me to come up and spend some time with potential HIS clients considering the treatment and to share my own experience.

I know first hand that this is a massive decision to make and this kind of opportunity to meet former clients and to discuss common issues in an open, friendly environment was not available when I was first looking into HIS as a solution for myself.

Although I was only able to stay for a couple of hours, aside from English I met guys from Spain, Sweden and France all searching for a solution.”

The event will take place on Thursday 15^th November 2012 from 12noon to 7pm; there will be refreshments on the day.

RSVP by sending an email with your name and contact number to info@hishairclinic.com to give them an indication for catering and staffing.

For more information on the open day, you can call HIS Hair Clinic on 0845 604 4618.

()HIS Hair Manchester Clinic: 61 Oxford Street, Oxford Place, Manchester, M1 6EQ.

Willy Wonka of the Art World Set to Change How Children View Healthy Food!

You would be forgiven for thinking, on first glance, that Carl Warner’s creations were just mystical, intricate landscapes; however, look a bit closer and you’ll get a tasty surprise!

The Willy Wonka of the art world’s latest venture of Foodscapes, a series of landscape photographs created entirely out of food, are to be published in his new book,  ‘A world of food,’ and are set to explore food in a fun and creative way.

Warner’s aim for his latest Foodscape project is to get children interested in healthy food options, as opposed to just wanting a plate of chips or a cake. Warner states ‘I use my work as a vehicle to get kids to think about what they are eating.’ Warner’s landscapes certainly do this, his pasta and cucumber trees, chilli pepper scorpion and banana hot-air balloon, complete with melon fruit basket, giving a whole new fun and creative meaning to healthy food choices.

Warner has said that he wants to change the face of healthy food with his images, making them more engaging and appetising, tempting children to pick fruit and veg at meal times over a less healthy option: ‘…make Asparagus become a rocket or turrets on a castle and it makes it much more engaging for them.’

Through Warner’s images, it is no longer a ‘yucky’ plate of broccoli in front of your child at the dinner table, but an enchanted, creepy forest that they can’t wait to explore. Seeing food in a more imaginative and engaging way at meal time, as opposed to ‘boring greens’, will encourage children to want to choose these healthy food options more, and in turn lead to a happy, healthy future generation.

National Stress Awareness Day

Women between the ages of 25 and 34 are said to be the most stressed.

Today is National Stress Awareness Day and, according to a survey carried out by Kalms, climbing the career ladder, being a parent, paying the mortgage and trying to maintain a social life all trigger higher stress levels in women aged 25-34.

The study also concluded that, over a year, the average Brit gets stressed 208 times and men and women tend to worry about different things.

Neil Shah, Director of the Stress Management Society said: “Women worry more about bills and finances, and juggling their time, but men are more concerned about working long hours and debt.”

The Bowen Technique is a natural, drug-free, non-invasive, complementary therapy that can help combat stress.

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.

Bowen is known for its soothing qualities for physical complaints; however it is an extremely relaxing experience that can have many emotional benefits too.

One client said: “It is exactly what I needed at a time when stress in my life has been at a peak and for quite some time now. The results I am experiencing are beyond my expectations, as I find old injuries are eased out and movement in my neck, jaw, legs releasing into some kind of freedom for spontaneity such as I felt in my mid-20's.”

Read the rest of the client’s testimonial here.

If you are stressed, or are caring for somebody is, 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.

Bear Grylls claims Bowen is “vital support”

Bear Grylls, the valiant adventurer and TV presenter, was one of the guests on Saturday night’s Jonathan Ross show.

Bear was promoting his new book – A Survival Guide for Life, and also spoke a little about the kind of things he does to keep himself in shape and healthy. We know one thing that helps Bear when he returns from his worldwide exploits – and that’s Bowen.

Bear appeared alongside Kylie Minogue, Russell Howard and Muse

Bear has regular treatments with Sussexbased Bowen therapist Sarah Yearsley, and now regards these as an essential part of his preparation and recovery. “Bowen has helped keep my body together despite the continual bashing it takes,” he explains: “It’s a vital support in putting right a whole range of new aches and pains, making sure that old injuries don’t cause me problems, and helping me fight stress and fatigue.”

Rather than 'making' the body change, Bowen 'asks' the body to recognise and make the changes it requires. With primarily fingers and thumbs, 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.

On his Channel 4 show, Born Survivor, Bear performed freefall parachute jumps into extreme terrain -- including landing in trees, glaciers, and sand dunes -- back flips from a helicopter into a lake, abseiling down sheer cliffs and a range of other acrobatic activities.

He has also been under great stress from the many different environments -- including jungle, desert, mountains in winter and summer, open sea -- and has had to tolerate extreme heat, cold, dehydration and fatigue. He usually has only a few days to recover from each episode, while the pressure is increased still further by a very demanding travel schedule.

So it’s fair to say that Bear’s body has taken a thrashing. And this is not aided by niggling old injuries like a broken back from a parachuting accident and a bad foot injury from a motorcycle accident.

Bear learned about Bowen therapy from his wife Shara, who herself contacted therapist Sarah Yearsley after hearing about its positive effects in treating chronic back pain.

The specific conditions Sarah has helped Bear to overcome include a rotated pelvis, tight and shallow breathing, a strained calf muscle, extreme exhaustion and stress, and a toe injury.

“Bear provides a perfect illustration of the amazing versatility of Bowen,” she comments; “It helps him across a full range of conditions – not only alleviating pain but boosting his immune system and helping minimise fatigue. Of course, he isn’t a typical patient, but most of his problems are no different from those I treat in people with normal lifestyles.”

Read Bear Grylls’ Bowen testimonial in full here

If you are interested in how Bowen Therapy can help you, visit the website, or call 0844 561 7173.

Bowen at the Mind London Parks Half Marathon

On 7^th October, the mental health charity Mind attended London Parks half marathon.

A few Bowen practitioners went along to the event to offer drained runners some Bowen treatment to relieve their tired soles.

Mind offers information and advice, training programmes, grants and services. They want to make it possible for people who experience mental health problems to live full lives, and play their full part in society.

Mind runs off public donations, which is why they hold runs up and down the country throughout the year.

At this particular run, participants were happy to see Bowen practitioners.

One Bowen practitioner that was there, Rebeccah Steele, said: “It made such a difference having 2 massage tables as the inclination of most of the runners was to head for a massage table.

“So as it was very busy and we had a good number of Bowen therapists on hand, we also started using the ordinary chairs to offer the mini tasters.

“I must say I had a couple of people who were quite sceptical that sitting straddled on a chair for Bowen would help relieve their hurting muscles.

“So they were pleasantly surprised that they felt much better after 10 minutes.

“One person commented mid-way through the session that it was amazing that the pain and discomfort they had been feeling had more or less gone!

“This was what so inspiring for us to know and that we as Bowen therapists were on hand and able to help with relief from the pain and discomfort they were feeling.

“I also had comments of 'I feel much calmer' which was also good to hear.”

See footage of the race and interviews with runners from 1Extra and Glamour Magazine here

Back Care Awareness Week

Today kicks off Back Care Awareness Week, and this year the theme is 'Builder's Back Pain'.

From our previous blog, you’ll know that Bowen practitioners help many people who have developed problems from their work, including builders and their backs.

The week will focus on the back problems builders encounter as well as the stresses and strains on construction workers, as the building industry has the highest rate of back related injuries.

The aim of the week long event, which is organised by BackCare, the charity for healthier backs, is to raise awareness of the problems back pain can cause, as well as prevention and treatments.

While we might all know the best way to pick up boxes safely, we tend not to think about the effect every day tasks like picking up shopping or children's toys have on our backs.

It's thought that 4 out of every 5 adults will experience back pain at some point in their life.

Bowen Therapy is a natural, drug-free, non-invasive, complementary therapy that has had some marvellous results with back-pain sufferers.

A national study, carried out by The Bowen Therapy Professional Association (BTPA) in the summer of 2006, showed that 95 per cent of back pain sufferers experienced either complete relief or a marked improvement, after a series of no more than three Bowen treatments.

As it prides itself on being able to trigger the body’s own healing systems, there would be less nasty side-effects from heavy painkillers.

Rather than 'making' the body change, Bowen 'asks' the body to recognise and make the changes it requires. With primarily fingers and thumbs, 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 suffer from back pain and are interested in how Bowen Therapy can help you, visit the website or call 0844 561 7173.

Bowen for every profession

Many people that visit Bowen therapists come to ease a problem caused by work. Even the least physical of jobs can cause ailments that Bowen is ready to relieve.


Teachers:Tomorrow is World Teacher’s Day so if you’re a Sir or Miss, perhaps treat yourself to some Bowen for your stress levels, back pain or RSI from writing on that board.

Hairdressers: Teachers aren’t the only ones prone to RSI, many hairdressers suffer with elbow/shoulder pain from trimming people’s tresses and back complaints from being on their feet all day.

Nurses:Nurses are also renowned for running about the wards all day, so could perhaps use a Bowen treatment for plantar fasciitis or other foot problems.

Policemen:Plantar fasciitis, aka ‘policemen’s heel’, is also a common affliction for cops on the beat – hence the nickname – as is back pain and stress.

Builders:Back pain is rife among builders too, due to the jobs physicality. General joint and muscular pain that builders endure could be treated with Bowen.

Office: Working in an office is one of the less physical jobs, but can still affect you physically. Slouching over your desk gives you bad posture which causes back and shoulder pain. Also, staring at a computer screen all day can cause headaches which could be eased with Bowen.

Night-workers: Getting in at 7am after a night shift and trying to sleep whilst the rest of the world is just getting started can be very difficult and frustrating. Fatigue and sleep-trouble are two other problems that Bowen can help.

Do you fit into any of the categories above? Or do any of the complaints sound familiar? If you are interested in how Bowen Therapy can help you, visit the website to find a Bowen therapist near you or call 0844 561 7173.

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