Hanging for health

To quote David Balle, what is instinctive is natural and finding harmony with ourselves brings a sense of well being. And what better way to start than getting back to some primal movements, such as hanging and the deep squat two natural resting positions for the human. Straight arm hanging is not only good for a bit of fun but a serious practice that can bring you and your shoulder back from the brink of de-evolution which we as a society are currently at odds with. If you have had shoulder dislocation, OA, instability or pathology of the shoulder or are seriously ill you should not attempt this. However If you can lift your shoulder above the horizon it is safe for you to commit some time to this practice. Where you can look forward to the “roomy-ness” i.e.; remodelling and reshaping of the shoulder joint created by hanging and overcome some aliments you have been unwantedly hanging onto (J, M, Kirsch). Ido Portal states feel the stain and not the pain while in this position and John, M, Kirsch points out not to be in a hurry to progress with this exercise and keep it up for all time. Therefore we have an opportunity to slowly bring about a profound change to your body-mind creating a better expression of self and who knows what will happen then. But until then keep it loose and enjoy the freedom provided by a nice hanging . This is not my idea, therefore I give thanks to all the gorillas, gibbons, orang-utans, chimpanzees, children and all those involved in movement culture for inspiring this hanging practice. If you have any other questions you should speak to your chiropractor or osteopath about whether hanging is right for you. You can also see our Facebook page for lots of pictures

Well Adjusted Ladies - Recipes!

This is one of our families favourite, quick and easy raw recipes It is taken from Douglas McNish, head chef of Toronto’s Raw Aura organic and raw food restaurant Doug says: I use this paté to roll in nori with red pepper, avocado, cucumber, and romaine lettuce to make raw sushi for my restaurant, but it’s equally good on a bagel instead of cream cheese, or as a healthy protein addition to any salad. It’s really delicious. Gingered sunflower seed pate 3 cups sunflower seeds, soaked for 30 minutes 2 to 3 ribs of celery, roughly cut 1 tbsp dry dill (or 1/4 cup freshly cut dill weed) 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 2 tbsp fresh ginger 2 to 3 cloves garlic 1 tsp sea salt 1/4 cup fresh flat leaf parsley 1. Using a food processor, add in the garlic, lemon juice, dill, ginger, celery, and salt. Blend until no chunks remain. Scrape down the sides of the machine, add in the 2. Add in the sunflower seeds, and run the machine until a smooth paté has formed. parsley, and blend until smooth. Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary. follow Doug on Twitter: @VeganChefDoug. Read more: http://www.blisstree.com/2010/09/29/food/sunflower-seed-pate-originalvegan-recipe-from-raw-chef-douglas-mcnish/#ixzz2YaLDFpuw Broad bean and mint fritters Adapted from Riverford • 300g broad beans (podded weight) • 125g self-raising flour • 2 eggs • 7 tbsp. soya cream or oatly cream (original recipe used 2 tbsp. crème fraiche and 5 tbsp. milk but I wanted to minimise the dairy content!) • 200g tangy, crumbly cheese • 2 tbsp chopped mint leaves • sea salt & freshly ground black pepper • 1 tbsp melted butter • extra butter & oil for frying Method 1. Cook the podded beans in a pan of boiling water for 3 mins, then drain and refresh in cold water. 2. Peel off the outer skins and discard, leaving the bright green inner bean. In a large bowl, combine the flour and eggs, then add the soya or oatly cream 3. Whisk together and season well. 4. Gently stir in the cheese, beans, mint and melted butter. 5. Melt a little oil and butter in a large frying pan. 6. Add spoonfuls of the mixture in batches, cooking each fritter over a medium heat for 2-3 mins on each side, until golden brown and cooked through. Raw chocolate tart My sister in law sent me this recipe so I'm not sure where the original came from. However you will find different versions of this online. You can use just the filling to roll delicious healthy truffles (My daughter Amber calls them ruffles) It is not an exact science so experiment, I often use dark chocolate and honey in the mixture for the filling / ruffles if that is what I have to hand Ingredients For the base • 300g pecans or almonds • 1 tsp pink Himalayan salt, or any other good-quality salt • 200g medjool dates For the filling • 4 medium sized ripe avocados • 150g virgin coconut oil • 2 vanilla pods, seeds only • 200g raw cacao powder • Pinch of salt • 300g coconut blossom sugar or agave nectar to taste Method 1. In a food processor, blend the pecans or almonds (if possible, soak them for around 6 hours and then dehydrate them first. The soaking releases the enzyme inhibitors and makes them easier to digest.) Add the salt and medjool dates and blend until you have a ‘dough’, or until the mix forms a ball. 2. Press this mixture into the bottom of a mould. Cover in cling film and leave to harden in the freezer until you are ready to pour on the filling. I like to use a silicone mould. They are freezer safe and easy to get the tart out once it has set. 3. For the filling, blend everything together until smooth, then pour onto the base. 4. Set in the freezer for 1 hour, then it should be firm enough to slice up. Top with fresh berries, edible flowers, a dusting of cacao powder- whatever takes your fancy and looks pretty! I will post the recipe for the Sunflower seed and olive balls tomorrow...

Starting New

Starting something new allows us to choose to reset knowing that with each choice we learn, grow, and move forward. There are times in our lives that lend themselves to starting something new. The beginning of a new year, finishing school, leaving a job, or changing homes—these all are times that turn our minds to fresh starts. Their advantage is that they bring with them the energy of that event, creating a tide of change around them that we can ride to our next shoreline. But we can choose to start anew anytime. In any moment we can decide that a bad day or a relationship that’s gotten off on the wrong foot can be started again. It is a mental shift that allows us to clean the slate and approach anything with fresh eyes, and we can make that choice at any time. Starting new is most powerful when we focus our attention to what we are choosing to create. Giving all of our attention to the unwanted aspects of our lives allows what we resist to persist. We need to remember to leave enough room in the process of new beginnings to be kind to ourselves, because it takes time to become accustomed to anything new, no matter how much we like it. There is no need to get down on ourselves if we don’t reach our new goals instantly. Instead, we acknowledge the forward motion and choose to reset and start again, knowing that with each choice we learn, grow, and move forward. Making the choice to start anew has its own energy—it’s a promise made to you. The forward momentum creates a sort of vacuum behind it, pulling toward you all you need to help you continue moving in your chosen direction. Once the journey has begun, it may take unexpected turns, but it never really ends. Like cycles in nature, there are periods of obvious growth and periods of dormancy that signal a time of waiting for the right moment to burst forth. Each time we choose to start anew we dedicate ourselves to becoming the best we are able to be. If you want to learn, improve and move your health to the next level call County Chiropractic Exeter (01392) 208 496.

Using The Power Self-Determination

Our lives are defined by the decisions we make each day. When we choose one option over another, whether we are selecting a restaurant, choosing your chiropractor, or considering a cross-country move, we shape our lives. The decision-making process can be empowering, allowing us to enjoy the benefits of self-determination. Yet it can also be a source of anxiety because decisions force us to face the possibility of dissatisfaction and inner conflict. As a result, many of us opt to avoid making decisions by allowing others to make them for us. We consequently turn our power over to spouses, relatives, friends, and colleagues, granting them the stewardship of our lives that is ours by right. Though the decisions we must make are often difficult, we grow more self-sufficient and secure each time we trust ourselves enough to choose. Ultimately, only you can know how the options before you will impact your daily life and your long-term well-being. Within you lies the power to competently weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each selection. Even if you feel incapable of making a decision, your inner wisdom and your intuitive mind will give you sound counsel if you have faith in yourself. Try to come to your own conclusions before seeking the guidance of others, and even then, treat their suggestions as supplementary information rather than votes to be tallied. Before making your choice, release your fear of wrong decisions. Perceived mistakes can lead you down wonderful and unexpected paths that expose you to life-changing insights. If you can let go of the notion that certain choices are utterly right while others are entirely wrong, you will be less tempted to invite others to take the reigns of your destiny. When your choices are your own, you will be more likely to accept and be satisfied with the outcome of those choices. Your decisions will be a pure reflection of your desires, your creativity, your awareness, and your power. Since you understand that you must live with and take responsibility for your decisions, you will likely exercise great care when coming to conclusions. As you learn to make informed and autonomous choices, you will gain the freedom to consciously direct the flow of your life without interference.

The Ripple Effect

Your thoughts and actions are like stones dropped into still waters causing ripples to spread as they move outward. In a world of six billion people, it’s easy to believe that the only way to initiate profound transformation is to take extreme action. Each of us, however, carries within us the capacity to change the world in small ways for better or worse. Everything we do and think affects the people in our lives, and their reactions in turn affect others. As the effect of a seemingly insignificant word passes from person to person, its impact grows and can become a source of great joy, inspiration, anxiety, or pain. Your thoughts and actions are like stones dropped into still waters, causing ripples to spread and expand as they move outward. The impact you have on the world is greater than you could ever imagine, and the choices you make can have far-reaching consequences. You can use the ripple effect to make a positive difference and spread waves of kindness that will wash over the world. Should the opportunity arise, the recipient of a good deed will likely feel compelled to do a good deed for someone else. Someone feeling the effects of negative energy will be more likely to pass on that negative energy. One act of charity, one thoughtful deed, or even one positive thought can pass from individual to individual, snowballing until it becomes a group movement or the ray of hope that saves someone’s life. Every transformation, just like every ripple, has a point of origin. You must believe in your ability to be that point of origin if you want to use the ripples you create to spread goodness. Consider the effect of your thoughts and actions, and try to act graciously as much as possible. A smile directed at a stranger, a compliment given to a friend, an attitude of laughter, or a thoughtful gesture can send ripples that spread among your loved ones and associates, out into your community, and finally throughout the world. You have the power to touch the lives of everyone you come into contact with and everyone those people come into contact with. The momentum of your influence will grow as your ripples moves onward and outward. One of those ripples could become a tidal wave of positivity.

Running Away versus Moving Forward

Running Away versus Moving Forward Make sure you aren’t running away from your problems, always moving towards something. There are times when change—moving to a new city or a new home, or changing careers—is the right thing at the right time. But there are also times when the urge for change is really just a desire to run away from problems that need to be faced rather than avoided. These are the kinds of problems that recur in our lives. For example, issues with co-workers that seem to arise at every job we take, or repeatedly getting into unhealthy relationships. A move might temporarily distract us, and even cure the problem for a time, simply by taking us out of the situation in which the problem fully manifested itself. However, the problem will eventually appear again in our new situation. One way to make sure you aren’t running away from your problems is to notice whether you are moving towards something that is exciting in its own right, as opposed to something that is appealing only because it is not where you are now. For example, if you are leaving a city because you feel you can’t afford it, you could be reinforcing poverty consciousness, and you might find that you are unable to make ends meet in your new city as well. It would ultimately be less of an effort to stay where you are and look more deeply into your beliefs about money. You may discover that as you address these issues, you are able to make more money simply by changing your mindset. You may still decide to move, but it will be an act with a positive intention behind it and not an escape, which could make all the difference. Any pain involved in facing our issues is well worth the effort in the end. When we face our problems instead of avoiding them, we free our energy and transform ourselves from people who run away into people who move enthusiastically forward.

Chiropractic Love

Keep Healthy Choices in Mind, when you plan your Valentine "It is HEALTH that is real worth and not pieces of Gold and Silver" - Mahatma Gandhi Without health, nothing else is important, material possessions, careers and social standing all become insignificant. Does your Valentine ........ Seem tired all the time? Often complain of feeling worn out or over stressed? Slouch or have a 'tilted' or 'hunched-over' posture? Suffer from chronic back or neck pain? Take painkillers (including over-the counter versions)? Struggles to exercise on a regular basis? Worry that they not eating a nutritious diet or taking the right supplements? Suffer from frequent headaches If you have answered Yes to any of these questions then why don't you consider giving the special person in your life this Valentine's Day a Chiropractic Health Check with us and start them on the road to a wellness-orientated lifestyle. Chiropractors are trained professionals who realise the difference simple healthy lifestyle modifications can have on a person's health. As well as assessing your spinal health and providing Chiropractic care they can also give advice on exercise, nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices that can help you live a healthy lifestyle full of love and vitality. Say I Love You this Valentine's Day with Chiropractic!