Lee Avery, Author at A balanced body with Bowen

September 5, 2024 Blog

Alzheimer’s and Dementia

The figures are frightening;

According to Alzheimer's Society, there are currently an estimated 982,000 people in the UK living with dementia, and this number is expected to increase to 1.4 million by 2040. This is due to population growth and an aging population.

Here are some other facts about dementia in the UK:

Over 70,000 people in the UK have young onset dementia, which means symptoms developed before the age of 65.
Around 60% of people who receive homecare support have dementia.
The risk of Alzheimer's disease increases with age, affecting 1 in 14 people over the age of 65 and 1 in every 6 people over the age of 80.

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, affecting around six in every 10 people with dementia in the UK. Some people can have more than one type of dementia, for example, they might have Alzheimer’s as well as vascular dementia or dementia with Lewy bodies. This is often called ‘mixed dementia’.

As we age our brains naturally shrink a little and our thought processes slow down. However, in Alzheimer’s disease, changes that occur in the brain are different to the changes seen in normal ageing. These changes include the build-up of two proteins, called amyloid and tau. Although researchers don’t yet have a complete understanding of what triggers this, both proteins are involved in the development of Alzheimer’s. As the disease progresses, the protein build-up damages more and more brain cells. This damage affects how our brains work and leads to the symptoms of Alzheimer’s

Early symptoms of Alzheimer’s may include:

Repeating things.
Remembering faces, places, directions.
Misplacing items or putting them in unusual places.
Not communication clearly and forgetting what they are saying.
Becoming anxious, irritable, mood swings.
Losing self confidence and isolating themselves more.
Sleep patterns may change.
Carrying out everyday task like using the remote may become more difficult.
Balance may be compromised.
Swallowing may become more challenging.
Help with washing, dressing going to the toilet may be required.

Lifestyle

Your lifestyle can have a big impact on keeping your brain healthy and potentially lower your risk of Alzheimer’s.

1 Eat Healthily

Sometimes those are not foods that we expect to be healthy. I would always recommend eating foods that are as local as possible and preferably organic. I am currently reading a book by Dr David Perlmutter called “Grain Brain”. This is a fascinating read and will open your eyes to the way you view food. Also drink plenty of water.

2 Exercise Regularly

Taking part in an exercise we enjoy makes us feel better, it gets the body moving and helps reduce high blood sugar and high blood pressure. Keeping a healthy weight.

3 Reduce Stress

If you are feeling stressed on a regular basis, it is worth seeking therapy as stress can cause inflammation in the brain. Mindfulness, meditation, exercise, setting self-care time can all help alleviate stress.

4 Be Social

There are times when many of us need to be on our own to recharge our batteries and there is absolutely nothing wrong with this. If, however, it become the normal then it may lead to social anxiety or the inability to communicate. With the volume of different ways, we have of communication nowadays picking up a phone tends to be more of a luxury. Talking helps us to communicate and remember things. Cognitive impairment through lack of talking is linked to cognitive decline which is related to dementia and Alzheimer’s.

5 Stay mentally active

Do crossword puzzles, learn, read, do things which challenge the brain. It needs to be exercised too.

6 Sleep Well

Sleep is when the body and mind repair itself. Adopt a healthy bedtime routine and ensure you get adequate sleep.

7 Quit smoking, avoid excess alcohol and recreational drugs

The above three things are precursors for many physical ailments not just dementia.

September 5, 2024 Blog

Know Your Blood Pressure Numbers

Did you know that?

An estimated 1.28 billion adults aged 30–79 years worldwide have hypertension, most (two-thirds) living in low- and middle-income countries
An estimated 46% of adults with hypertension are unaware that they have the condition.
Less than half of adults (42%) with hypertension are diagnosed and treated.
Approximately 1 in 5 adults (21%) with hypertension have it under control.
Hypertension is a major cause of premature death worldwide.

These figures are taken from the “World Health Organisation”

What is a normal Blood Pressure Reading?

Blood pressure	Systolic (top number) mm Hg	Diastolic (bottom number) mm Hg
Low	Less than 90	Less than 60
Optimal	Less than 120	Less than 80
Normal	120–129	80–84
Normal to high	130–139	85–89
High	Greater than 140	Greater than 90

The above figures are taken from The Heart Research Institute. UK

Risk factors for High Blood Pressure are:

Poor diets.
Lack of exercise
Smoking
Excessive alcohol use
Being overweight
Poor Air Quality.

Symptoms

I would encourage everyone to either have their blood pressure taken regularly by a health professional or purchase a blood pressure reading machine that can be used at home. They are very easy to use and can be obtained from many outlets including “The British Heat Foundation"

Many people are unaware they have high blood pressure as they do not experience any symptoms, but the common ones are:

severe headaches
chest pain
dizziness
difficulty breathing
nausea
vomiting
blurred vision or other vision changes
anxiety
confusion
buzzing in the ears
nosebleeds
abnormal heart rhythm

Prevention

There are many things you can do to help reduce your blood pressure or maintain a normal one.

Eat Healthily
Exercise regularly – including strength building exercises.
Drink alcohol sensibly
Reduce stress
Ensure you have sufficient sleep.

There is a wealth of information on the “WHO”’s website

However if you have any questions or wish to implement any of these preventative measures but are struggling to do so, then please give me a call and I am more than happy to help you implement them.

July 11, 2024 Blog

Simplicity Day

Simplicity Day was founded in honour of Henry David Thoreau who was born on the 12^th July 1817 and was an advocate of living simply.

David Thoreau believed simplifying life involved reducing distractions to focus more on important things in life. A simple life requires personal reflection and awareness of all aspects of life to determine what is most important to you.

With so much going on in our lives how do we live simply? Allowing ourselves some time to ‘get away from it all’ is not easy but is important.

Some ideas for getting how to benefit from Simplicity Day are:

Pick up a book
Unplug from your devices. You will be surprised at how refreshing it can feel to not be constantly plugged into everyone else’s life.
Try Mindfulness or Meditation.
Have a relaxing therapy, such as Bowen Therapy, aromatherapy massage, reflexology, or hot stone massage – unfortunately this is not possible this year (owing to government guidelines but it is something to bear on mind for next year)
Go for a walk.
Try a relaxing form of exercise, such as yoga or Tai Chi

What’s good about National Simplicity Day

It’s an excuse to unwind

Our lives are constantly scheduled out between jobs, school, workouts, childcare, etc. We often forget how taxing it can be to always be moving from one thing to the next. Simplicity Day gives us a chance to put all of those elements of our lives on pause, even if it’s just mentally, and focus on the importance of the simple things.

It celebrates getting back to nature

For Thoreau, a big part of living simply was getting away from the distractions of everyday life by spending time in nature. That could be in the woods, by a lake, on a beach, you name it. Spending time in nature also happens to be one of those special, simple pleasures with an extra perk: it’s free!

It’s an ancient idea

Although Simplicity Day is celebrated in honour of Thoreau, the principles behind it go back way further than the nineteenth century and span across many different cultures. From the founders of the yoga practice to monks of both eastern and western traditions, many groups of people through the ages have banded around philosophies that emphasized simplifying your life in both mental and material ways.

There is more information about Simplicity Day on the Clarity website https://nationalsimplicityday.com/

July 3, 2024 Blog

July 7th is “Thank You” Day

In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.

It can improve our relationships. Partners can feel more appreciated when they are told thank you for doing something rather than it being taken for granted.
It can improve our physical health. Saying thank you lowers blood pressure, improves immunity and helps us sleep better as we are more content.
It is well researched that gratitude increases happiness, decreases depression as well as enhances empathy and reduces aggression. It is hard to be angry with someone when you are being thanked.
It improves our self-esteem and well-being of those we give thanks to as it is a positive effect for both.

So saying thank you is not simply a matter of being polite it has numerous side benefits too.

There is some interesting information written by UCL Health

May 5, 2024 Blog

Taster Sessions of Lymphatic Drainage and Bowen Therapy

Taster Sessions of Lymphatic Drainage and Bowen available at The Fairbourne Clinic in Newbury until the 31st May.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

November 16, 2023 Blog

Taster Sessions of Lymphatic Drainage and Bowen Therapy.

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

Call: 07710 722615

Bowen Technique in Finchampstead, Newbury, Bourne End & Reading.

Author: Lee Avery

Alzheimer’s and Dementia

September is "Awareness of Alzheimer's Month"

Symptoms and Lifestyle Choices

Alzheimer's and Dementia

Know Your Blood Pressure Numbers

Facts about High Blood Pressure

Risk factors, symptoms and how to prevent High Blood Pressure.

Know your Blood Pressure Numbers.

Simplicity Day

July 12th is Simplicity Day

July 7th is “Thank You” Day

Why Saying "Thank You" is good for us

The latest news at A Balanced Body with Bowen

Taster Sessions of Lymphatic Drainage and Bowen Therapy

25 minute Taster Sessions

All about Sciatica.

What is Sciatica?

Why does sitting for long periods of time cause sciatica?

Main causes and symptoms of Sciatica.

How to avoid Sciatica.

How Lymphatic Drainage boosts your immune system.

The importance of white blood cells and the lymphatic system.

How to avoid pain and stress during the holidays.

Why do I have pain during holidays especially Christmas.

How Can I Help?

lady with back pain

Taster Sessions of Lymphatic Drainage and Bowen Therapy.

25 minute Taster Sessions

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

Bowen Therapy is not a substitute for conventional medicine but compliments it.