Chilren's Clinic CPD Event

Bowen Therapy has long established itself for its ability to transform the lives of patients. One of the biggest draws to the technique is the versatility of the treatment – each session is tailored to the individual. Because of this, it is essential that therapists are constantly being refreshed and updated on methods of treatment.

On the 19^th and 20^th October 2013 at Dunchurch Park Hotel and Conference Centre in Warwickshire, the BTPA - Bowen Therapy Professional Association - are launching an event for both Bowen and non-Bowen therapists to broaden their understanding about the range of conditions which could be affecting children who visit the clinics. There is the option of one or both days and is a great opportunity to network with other therapists to increase your knowledge of children’s welfare.

The first day features a choice of two workshops; either
a seminar on pregnancy and birth designed to help take into account the processes from the baby’s point of view, or an Emm-Tech muscle management workshop. The former will be presented by both John Wilks and midwife Lina Clerke, who will work with the group to explore the physical ramifications of different birthing procedures, as well as looking into issues with fertility, conception and pregnancy. This day is exclusively for those already trained in Bowen Therapy. The Emm-Tech seminar is a short-course on releasing tension and tightness in eleven key muscles in the body. All of the techniques taught have shown exceptional effects on children and no previous Bowen experience is required. Both courses are priced at £90.   


The second day is open to both Bowen and non-Bowen therapists and consists of a timed agenda running from 9am until 5pm. Within this time-table, there will be the speakers including a paediatric consultant and a representative from social services. In the afternoon delegates can choose two out of the four workshops available. The cost of the day is £85 for BTPA members and £105 for non-BTPA members and the price includes lunch and refreshments throughout the day.

 

For further information on the itineraries/agenda and content of the event, please visit http://www.bowen-therapy.co/Bowen/kids-clinic-cpd-event.html

Are you aware of the ‘hidden nasties’ in your food?

Change4Life – the government’s public health programme – have launched a new campaign to expose the high levels of sugar, fat and salt in food.

 

The scheme, which aims to reduce obesity, increase activity and improve lifestyle, aired its new advertisement this week.

 

It shows a large wine glass full of fat, which supposedly represents the amount of fat in a pizza and also claims that there are 17 sugar cubes in a bottle of cola.

 

 

 

It is hoped that this very visual representation of the ‘hidden nasties’ will help people make better food choices.

 

Change4Life’s ethos is quite similar to that of KiddiChef in that we both want to create a well-balanced, healthy lifestyle.

 

KiddiChef’s meals contain only a varied selection of fresh, nutritious ingredients with no additives or preservatives.

 

However, we are not only about food, KiddiChef’s online community allows children and parents to feel part of fun, creative and inspiring hub.

 

Victoria Taylor, a dietician at the British Heart Foundation, welcomed the Change 4 Life campaign.

 

She said: "If we're to lessen the heavy burden of obesity, this campaign must provide the spark for a continued, joined-up approach to the promotion of healthy eating and physical activity across the UK."

 

 

We, at KiddiChef, hope that people take notice of the new campaign and bear it in mind when they are making food choices for themselves and their family.

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.

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.

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.