Author: Lee Avery

February 25, 2024 Blog

Taster Sessions of Lymphatic Drainage and Bowen Therapy

25 minute Taster Sessions

Taster Sessions of Lymphatic Drainage and Bowen available at The Wellness Centre in Bracknell and The Fairbourne Clinic  in Newbury until the 17th March.

These mini treatments are a brilliant way to find out how these therapies can help you with many conditions such as:

  • Low energy/fatigue.
  • Brain Fog.
  • Unexplained aches and pains.
  • Sinus problems.
  • Recurring colds.
  • Gut issues.
  • Joint Stiffness.
  • Headaches.
  • Swelling in the fingers/ankles.
  • Bloating/water retention.
  • Constipation
  • Injuries.
  • Heightened allergies.
  • Overactive immune response.
  • Breast swelling and tenderness.
  • Swollen Glands.

They are 25 minutes and priced at £25.00. To book please call me on 07710722615 or email info@abalancedbodywithbowen.co.uk

January 25, 2024 Blog

All about Sciatica.

What is Sciatica?

Our sciatic nerve is the largest and longest in our bodies. It originates in our lower spine, branches into our pelvis. Then travels via our buttocks through our legs and into our feet.

Sciatic pain occurs when we put pressure on or damage our sciatic nerve. This can cause pain to our lumbar spine including bulging disc, joint inflammation and wear and tear. Degeneration of the spine can also cause this irritation.

 

Why does sitting for long periods of time cause sciatica?

According to a study from National Health and Nutrition Examinations Surveys, 70% of people spend six hours or more sitting down each day.

When we are standing and moving our body weight is more evenly distributed. When we sit all our upper body weight rests on our lower back. This can cause compression throughout the spinal column, putting additional pressure against our nerve roots. This can end up trapping or pinching the sciatic nerve causing pain. When we have pain, we shift our bodies to avoid the pain thus causing further complications as we then compensate on the other side causing more misalignment. Sciatic type pain originates in the lower back and then as it becomes worse travels down to the hip joints, glutes and back of the leg to the foot.

Main causes and symptoms of Sciatica.

The main causes of sciatica include:

  • Prolonged sitting
  • Wearing high heels
  • Bone spurs
  • Herniated discs
  • Pinched nerves

At higher risk of developing sciatica are people with desk jobs (as they sit for excessive periods of time).

Heavy lifting as often we will twist to one side, putting unequal pressure on that side.

Carrying heavy items in your back pocket.

Most Common Symptoms of Sciatica.

  • Lower back pain, usually one-sided.
  • Pain in your glutes and down one or both legs.
  • Heightened pain during a sneeze or cough.
  • Numbness.
  • Tingling or burning sensations down through the leg.
  • Hip pain.
  • Muscle weakness.

How to avoid Sciatica.

How to avoid Sciatica.

  • Maintain correct posture when standing, walking and sitting.
  • Don't smoke.
  • Maintain a healthy body weight.
  • Practice safe lifting techniques. When lifting, bend the knees and keep your back straight. By doing this, the strain is taken by the hips and legs, not the back. Hold the object close to the body. The further away from the body the object is, the more stress is put onto the lower back.
  • Undertake exercise that maintains aerobic fitness and strength and flexibility in the abdominal and spinal muscles.
  • Ensure that your back is well supported when seated.
  • Use chairs that provide good back support and are designed to provide a good seating posture.
  • A lumber roll or contoured cushion can help to provide lower back support.
  • Avoid carrying a wallet in your back pocket.Avoid having a computer setup where you must twist to one side all the time.
  • Do regular gentle stretches.
  • Have Bowen Therapy.
  • Find out how Bowen Therapy helps sciatica.
January 11, 2024 Blog

How Lymphatic Drainage boosts your immune system.

The importance of white blood cells and the lymphatic system.

Starting in our bone marrow are white blood cells.

Our bodies constantly need to make more white blood cells as they only have a short life span of two to three day. There are different types, but their aim is to fight infection. They make their way to the lymphatic system and lymphatic organs where they mature and prepare to be activated.

Our lymphatic systems help protect our bodies against infection. They do this by producing white blood cells called lymphocytes whose aim is to rid our bodies of disease-causing-microorganisms.

Macrophages are white blood cells that kill bacteria and consume dead cells and debris. Lymphocytes are throughout our bodies. It is within the lymphatic system that macrophages are most likely to encounter the foreign microorganisms. So, having a healthy lymphatic system will help protect us against those germs that are so prevalent this time of year.

December 29, 2023 Blog

How to avoid pain and stress during the holidays.

Why do I have pain during holidays especially Christmas.

Some common reasons and how to combat them are:

Change in Temperature.

  • Cold weather can affect any part of the body, especially if you have stiff joints or muscles.

Wear layers of light clothing and remove them as you need to.

Ensure your back is totally covered and that it is not exposed to the cold when bending over.

Lack of Exercise

  • We tend to be sitting around a lot more visiting friends and family.
  • We generally spend more time eating which again we are sitting for.
  • We are out of routine so often even that daily walk often doesn’t happen.

Move - go for a short or long walk.

Get up and move around the house more often rather than sitting for hours in one position.

Don't slump in a poor position for a long time. Stand up, sit down and shake like a dog then you are breaking those bad posture patterns which can help to alleviate pain.

Stress

  • Holidays often cause stress, both physically and emotionally.
  • Some people spend a lot of time driving from one place to another.
  • We may have to make conversation with people that we would prefer not to.
  • We are generally out of routine and overall, the body and mind reacts well to some sort of basic routine.
  • Sleeping patterns tend to change during holidays.
  • Our choices of food tend to be poor with too much sugar an. often additional alcohol intake.

If you are driving for long periods or frequently, ensure you take breaks during the drive or take a brief walk before arriving and immediately sitting down.

Plan not to spend too long sitting with people that you struggle with, perhaps suggest going for a walk or playing a game so it takes the onus off the conversation.

Sleep is a challenging one as for many people it is nice to break with the routine of daily getting up time.

Ensure that you get adequate good quality sleep time and as you return to work, gradually start slipping back into your normal routine, so it is not such a shock to the system.

Drink plenty of water and move to alleviate the effects of too much alcohol and rich food

How Can I Help?

It is important that if you are experiencing soreness, digestive or emotional problems that you look to remedy it as soon as possible.  Generally, it won’t simply go away. The body will be inflamed and if you have tried all of the above and pain persists or you feel out of sorts with yourself, I would recommend you contact me.

Lymphatic Drainage is excellent for removing toxins from the body, helping to get rid of that excessive food, drink and removing inflammation from any pain.

Bowen Therapy helps with any alignment issues that have been caused by poor posture over the period.

My Talking Therapies cover a wide range (such as EFT, EMDR+. Psychotherapy, NLP Positive Psychology, and the Behavioural Model) to help you deal with emotional problems, stress, addictions, and phobias that you are experiencing.

Lack of self-esteem is common in many people and sometimes spending additional time with people over holidays that you would choose not to can make you judge yourself harshly and leave you feeling drained and with brain fog.

We all have unique talents and respond differently to people and situations. I would like to be able to help you find your true self so that you can live a fulfilling life. Emotional issues also frequently give rise to pain in the body.

lady with back pain

November 16, 2023 Blog

Taster Sessions of Lymphatic Drainage and Bowen Therapy.

25 minute Taster Sessions

Taster Sessions of Lymphatic Drainage and Bowen available at Theale Wellbeing Centre, The Wellness Centre and The Fairbourne Clinic  until the 15th December.

These mini treatments are a brilliant way to find out how these therapies can help you with many conditions such as:

  • Low energy/fatigue.
  • Brain Fog.
  • Unexplained aches and pains.
  • Sinus problems.
  • Recurring colds.
  • Gut issues.
  • Joint Stiffness.
  • Headaches.
  • Swelling in the fingers/ankles.
  • Bloating/water retention.
  • Constipation
  • Injuries.
  • Heightened allergies.
  • Overactive immune response.
  • Breast swelling and tenderness.
  • Swollen Glands.

They are 25 minutes and priced at £25.00. To book please call me on 07710722615 or email info@abalancedbodywithbowen.co.uk

Taster Sessions at The Fairbourne Clinic, Newbury, Theale Wellbeing Centre and The Wellness Centre

October 18, 2023 Blog

Menopause Symptoms and how to help yourself.

Bowen Treatment for Menopause
Menopause

World Menopause Day 18th October 2023.

Today is World Menopause Day

Menopause and perimenopause symptoms can have a big impact on your daily life, including relationships, social life, family life and work.

Some common symptoms are:

  • Mood swings.
  • Hot Flushes.
  • Brain Fog.
  • Difficulty in sleeping.
  • Palpitations.
  • Headaches and migraines.
  • Muscle aches and joint pains.

To find out more about how you can help yourself please click here.

My clients have received great benefit from Bowen Therapy sessions and this was a lovely testimonial I received:

The perfect storm of home working during the pandemic, being laid off and going through the menopause had left Claire Moore feeling stressed, before a Christmas gift introduced her to award winning Bowen Therapist Lee Avery and transformed her life. Claire takes up the story:

“I was extremely stressed. I’d been working from home throughout lockdown and then when we returned to the office, they laid off everyone; then I started a job that I just didn’t like. My mental health was suffering, plus I’m going through the menopause and honestly, I was like an emotional wreck.

“My brother swears by Lee, he’s already a client and together with our Mum, they decided to treat me at Christmas and paid for me to see her.

“It was like someone understood and was actually listening and I just talked and talked and emptied out lots of baggage that I've been carrying around. Lee helped me to see what I was worried about is really not worth worrying about. I kinda knew that, but I needed someone to tell me that isn't family doesn't know me and doesn't know the situation… Yeah, I don't know where I'd be if I hadn't seen me. Now, I’m just so happy, it feels like my head is screwed on the right way.

“That first session, after I’d talked and talked, Lee offered me the choice to keep talking or to try therapy. I felt like I had said what I needed to say and got on the couch. It is very gentle, like a very gentle massage and she works on pressure points, and I just meditated. I just drifted off into a calm place. Afterwards, it was like I could still feel her, feel her working on me. I don't know how! That first session I definitely felt lighter when I left, more settled in myself, and not overwhelmed by my life.

“It always helped, so I just keep rebooking now when I need a boost. Initially though, I was seeing Lee every two weeks. I remember one week she asked why I was in a job I didn’t like. Now, she was right, but I hadn’t even mentioned my job. It was that obvious. I left my job, put my CV online and applied for three jobs and got three offers. Now I had the motivation and confidence to talk to anyone.

“When I come out from seeing Lee, I feel like I'm on top of the world. Obviously, there are days you have life issues going on. But honestly, often I come out and Oh my God, I feel really good. And then the next day, I can still feel it. I'm still upbeat and my best self.

“My Mum goes now and my daughter too. Lee is just so good at listening and asking the right questions. She got information from me that I wasn’t willing to share with anyone. I felt so comfortable, so I am happy to put my faith in her.

“I recommend to all my friends obviously, and they’ve seen the change in me. Also, as many are a similar age to me, they also have menopause issues and for me, the menopause aggravated other issues and made it a lot worse. Now, by seeing her at a certain time, it helps be stay balanced throughout the month.

“Lee is fantastic, just fantastic. Before, I was going to the doctors and hospitals for years and I would never get any resolution like I've had with Lee. Sometimes, the doctors, they don't have the time for you and menopause issues change month to month, what medication they put you on and all the time your moods differ and go up or down. Now, Lee just straightens me back out. I don't know what she does. Everything's right again.

“I have told my friends it feels like magic!”

C Moore April 2022

 

 

 

 

Everyone is individual; and some ladies will sail through he menopause, however others struggle and Bowen therapy has really helped to reduce these symptoms. To find out more please visit

October 12, 2023 Blog

Arthritis

Arthritis Pain

What is Arthritis?

According to the NHS on the 3rd March 2023, around 10 million people in the UK have arthritis. It affects people of all ages, including children.

Arthritis is a common condition that causes pain and inflammation in a joint.

Arthritis is an inflammatory joint disorder, which affects the tissues around the joints, and other connective tissues, causing joint pain and stiffness and difficulty in movement. There are more than 100 types of arthritis exists, but the most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

There is a "You Tube" clip on arthritis here.

The two most common types of arthritis.

Types of arthritis

There are many types of arthritis but the two common ones are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Osteoarthritis occurs when the smooth cartilage joint surface wears out. Osteoarthritis usually begins in an isolated joint such as a knee.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which means that the immune system malfunctions and attacks the body instead of intruders and is more commonly found in fingers.

How do I know if I have osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis?

RA is symmetrical, where a patient feels symptoms in the same spot on both sides of the body, often in the joints in the feet and hands. Osteoarthritis, in contrast, begins in an isolated joint, often in the knee, fingers, hands, spine and hips. While both sides may hurt, one side is more painful.

To find out more about the less common types of arthritis, it is worth taking at look at  The Centers for disease control and prevention  website.

The different symptoms between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Signs of Osteoarthritis

Symptoms

  • Pain. Affected joints might hurt during or after movement.
  • Stiffness. Joint stiffness might be most noticeable upon awakening or after being inactive.
  • Tenderness. Your joint might feel tender when you apply light pressure to or near it.
  • Loss of flexibility. ...
  • Grating sensation. ...
  • Bone spurs. ...
  • Swelling.

Signs of RA

  • Pain or aching in more than one joint.
  • Stiffness in more than one joint.
  • Tenderness and swelling in more than one joint.
  • The same symptoms on both sides of the body (such as in both hands or both knees)
  • Weight loss.
  • Fever.
  • Fatigue or tiredness.
  • Weakness.

How to help yourself.

How to help yourself if you have arthritis.

Balanced diet: Include anti-inflammatory foods like green leafy vegetables, berries, nuts, legumes, ginger, and fibre in your diet,

Nutrient intake: Vitamin D and calcium are important for our joint’s health, make sure of sufficient intakes.

Weight check: Always check your BMI, excess body weight stresses your joints.

Regular physical activity: Low-impact exercises like swimming, walking, and cycling reduces joint stress. You can also go for yoga and meditation to promote muscle relaxation.

Quit smoking: Smoking is not only harmful for your lungs but also for your joints and musculoskeletal health.

Water: Arthritis is an inflammation within the body and by drinking water and moving regularly you reduce the inflammation

Therapy: Lymphatic Drainage, Bowen Therapy, gentle massages, acupuncture have all been shown to reduce arthritic pain.

How does Bowen Therapy help arthritis?

Bowen Therapy promotes healing and reduces inflammation in joints by activating the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system helps in drainage of toxic material and thus Bowen Therapy can help with the reduction of inflammation and swelling.

When we are in pain, we often compensate for example if you have arthritis in your right knee, we will tend to walk more heavily on the left side. This can cause complications on the other side of the body as it is being used in an awkward position. With Bowen therapy I address any alignment issues that arthritis is causing.

How would a Lymphatic Drainage Treatment help arthritis?

Arthritis is an inflammation in the lymphatic system. Stimulating the lymphatic vasculature by using Lymphatic drainage alleviates inflammation, reduces edema , epidermal thickening and inflammatory infiltration. Lymphatic drainage therefore reduces the number of inflammatory cells which reduces pain. If the lymphatic system is not functioning correctly inflammation and pain will increase.

If you are unsure which therapy to choose, please do contact me, I am more than happy to discuss the options and it is possible to offer a combination of the two therapies, should it be of benefit.

October 10, 2023 Blog

Mental Health- recognising the signs and helping yourself.

Bowen for Mental Health

Mental Health Awareness

The global mental health crisis is a major issue facing the world today. The numbers are staggering.  Mental illness affects an estimated 950 million people worldwide and is the leading cause of disability across all age groups. In addition, mental health issues are the leading cause of suicide, accounting for over 800,000 deaths per year.

In recent years there is a clear increase in levels of stress and anxiety, as well as a rise in mental health disorders. The crisis is further complicated by the fact that there is a lack of access to mental health services in many parts of the world, and that stigma and discrimination towards those with mental illness is still prevalent.

In March 2023, the Mental Health Foundation worked with Opinium to conduct an online survey of 6,000 UK adults aged 18+ to look at anxiety in the UK population, its causes, and popular coping mechanisms.

Nearly three-quarters of the population (73%) had felt anxious at least sometimes in the previous two weeks, with one in five people (20%) anxious most or all of the time.

  • Some groups of people are more likely to be affected by anxiety than others. Nearly all young people (18 to 24 years) in our research (86%) had felt anxious in the previous two weeks. For over half (58%), this had stopped them undertaking day-to-day activities. Other groups more likely to report feeling anxious were:
    • Single parents (89%)
    • LGBTQ+ people (89%)
    • Carers (84%)
    • 18 to 34-year-olds (86%)
    • People from a minority ethnic community (84%)
    • People with a long-term physical health condition (LTC) (82%)

Possible Symptoms of Mental Health Problems

Common signs of mental illness in adults and adolescents can include the following:

  • Excessive worrying or fear
  • Feeling excessively sad or low
  • Confused thinking or problems concentrating and learning
  • Extreme mood changes, including uncontrollable “highs” or feelings of euphoria
  • Prolonged or strong feelings of irritability or anger
  • Avoiding friends and social activities
  • Difficulties understanding or relating to other people
  • Changes in sleeping habits or feeling tired and low energy
  • Changes in eating habits such as increased hunger or lack of appetite
  • Changes in sex drive
  • Overuse of substances like alcohol or drugs
  • Multiple physical ailments without obvious causes (such as headaches, stomach aches, vague and ongoing “aches and pains”)
  • Thinking about suicide
  • Inability to carry out daily activities or handle daily problems and stress

Symptoms in children may include the following:

  • Changes in school performance
  • Excessive worry or anxiety, for instance fighting to avoid bed or school
  • Hyperactive behavior
  • Frequent nightmares
  • Frequent disobedience or aggression
  • Frequent temper tantrums

How to avoid mental health issues.

  • Talk about your feelings.
  • Ensure you have a good night's sleep.
  • Eat healthily.
  • Stay active.
  • Practice mindfulness, - be engaged and present in the moment.
  • Keep in touch with friends.
  • Work on relationships by caring for others and letting go of any grudges.
  • Get closer to nature.
  • Avoid or cut down on alcohol.

If you feel you are struggling, reach out to a professional or talk to your doctor. You are always welcome to call me. 

There are also many charities which offer help: 

MIND  and Samaritans  being two of them.

 

 

 

October 2, 2023 Blog

Anxiety in Children

Anxiety in Children

Anxiety in Children and Young People

I am treating many more children for anxiety since the Covid pandemic. Although anxiety and uncertainty are part of growing up as children face different experiences and challenges. The number of children I am seeing who are struggling to go to school, experiencing eating disorders and unable to cope on a day-to-day basis is frightening.

Signs of anxiety in Children

  • Changes in appetite or sleep habits
  • Irritability or moodiness
  • Difficulty concentrating in school or declining grades
  • Complaining of physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomach aches, with no medical cause
  • Avoidance of certain situations or activities, such as going to school or social events
  • Excessive worry or fear about everyday events or activities
  • Panic attacks or extreme feelings of fear or dread

Tips for helping children suffering with anxiety are:

  • Create a safe, quiet space for the child to talk to you.
  • Encourage them to talk to you, then acknowledge, validate their feelings and listen to them. Don’t ask them to “just relax”!
  • Encourage Healthy Habits, sleep, good nutrition and exercise all help with anxiety.
  • Let the child know you are there to support them and to help them find resources and coping strategies to manage their anxiety.
  • Identify triggers, breathing techniques, yoga, keeping a journal, having relaxing therapies such as Bowen all help to calm anxiety.
  • Being around animals for some children can really help
  • Talk to their teachers and advise them of any potential triggers at school.
  • Seek professional help.

Remember to be kind to yourself.

Often the reasons for your children's anxiety are out of your control. It's important to be kind to yourself, focus on your own wellbeing and where you can make a difference.

September 8, 2023 Blog

The Power of Positive Thinking

Positive Thinking

September 13th is “Positive Thinking Day”. This was founded in 2003 by an American Entrepreneur to celebrate the benefits of Positive Thinking.

What is Positive Thinking

Positive thinking doesn't mean that you ignore facts or logic or force yourself to have only positive emotions. That’s not realistic. Life is full of challenges; it is how we look at those challenges that makes the difference.

Positive thinking means that you look at the challenge you are facing and look beyond it, looking at how you can change or deal with it rather than enabling it to consume you.

A positive thinker will assume best intentions and interpret actions in a favourable way rather than assuming the worst. How we talk to ourselves is so important. If you normally do look at the worst-case scenario, believe me you can change. Therapy can really help, and the more we practise positive thoughts the easier it becomes. When you practise positive self-talk regularly your brain forms new ways of thinking. There are many therapies available to help you get started, if you would like to find out more, please do call me. Being mindful of your thoughts and having compassion for yourself can also change negative thoughts.

Positive Thinking affects your overall Health.

  • There is a lower risk of depression.
  • A reduced chance of heart attacks and heart disease.
  • Boosts your immune system.
  • A stable mood rather than mood swings.
  • Able to adapt to change better.

Having a positive attitude can take practice. If you struggle with positive thinking, changing how you talk to yourself, takes time and practice, but it is well worth it in the end. There will be times when you slip into negative thoughts, but notice them and ask yourself some questions such as:

  • Is this really true? Could there be a different explanation, Have I interpreted it correctly?
  • Is this helpful? Does this interpretation help me get through this moment and/or give me ideas to solve the problem.
  • Is it kind to both me and other people?

Questioning negative thoughts allows you to change your thought patterns and have a positive mindset.

How to start thinking positively.

Be grateful.  It doesn’t have to be a big thing. It may be some-body holding a door open for you or smiling and saying good morning. It’s a great idea to do a gratitude journal, where you write at least one thing you are grateful for in that day in a book at the end of the day.

Ensure you get a good night’s sleep. It is when the body recharges and being tired can make you feel irritable which often leads to negative thoughts.

Accept the situation. If you find yourself in a negative situation, reframe it. For example, if your train is late. There is nothing you can do to change the situation, so perhaps talk to the other people waiting, read a book, listen to a podcast, use that extra time wisely rather than getting grumpy about the train being late.

Laughter is so important. Find humour in your daily life. It helps to reduced stress, heart rate and certainly makes you feel better.

If you notice that you have negative thoughts and are struggling to change them, please call me.