Energy Vampires this Christmas

Beware the Energy Vampires! They sneak into your space and suck the life out of you with their moaning, groaning and negativity. They get their kicks from raising their own emotions by being angry, annoyed, rushing about with no care for others, shouting at motorists, and telling you what everyone else should be doing. They listen only to respond with what they think to be the 'only' solution. They demand your time, your attention and obedience, otherwise they sulk.

Often disguised as friends they say they have your interests at heart but truly it's their own agenda they are serving.

Some people just leave you exhausted with all the heightened emotion around them, usually because their lives are so dam dull unless they are trying to 'fix' someone else or rule the country.

We can't avoid some of them at Christmas but where you can do. If not don't get sucked in to their world, smile and agree and then say nothing. It's worth a try.

My Best Friend Since I was 4 Angie

Take stock of those in your life who make you feel good when you spend time together, the friends you laugh with, those you trust to cry with, those who give you space, energy and time to be who you really are, with no demands.

Christmas is already filled with heightened emotions to have a 'good time' . How can you create a pocket of time to spend with those who fill you with good energy and calm? Those memories can carry you through the darker days.

Have a wonderful week

Jeannette

Making Changes in 2013

As we hurtle towards another year end, many will be looking beyond Christmas madness to how you want life to be different next year. It seems daft that at work we are always future planning and yet in our personal lives beyond booking the annual holidays, we let life 'happen' to us.

How True is This?

I got sucked onto X-Factor once again this year and reflected this morning that for some their lives will never be the same again. But for others they will have been given the opportunity to change but will not have the courage to take the leap of faith.

What do you need to change? What are the advantages and disadvantages of making the change?

Without doing anything at all just think on a scale of 1-10 think how much you really want to make a change? Then think on a scale of 1-10 how much you actually fear the change?

Being able to talk to someone who is not involved in your life can help you make the tough decisions easier. Reducing fear by creating an action plan and being held accountable is empowering.

Book a free chat with me at the Warr Physiotherapy & Well-being Clinic to find out how we can work together 0118 9782409

Stress and Back Pain

Stress and Back Pain

There are studies being carried out about the link between emotional state and back pain. But at the clinic we don't need to spend any money on that-we KNOW that the more stressed you are the more likely it is that you will suffer acute muscle tightness. Start to become aware of how tense your body is around the shoulders and neck when you drive at high speed or down county lanes that twist and turn. Be aware of how your upper body responds to having to work on the computer for a lengthy period of time. I notice constantly how I hunch over the keys and have to make myself sit properly. And I know all this stuff!

Working to deadlines, rushing from one place to another juggling, chores or kids (not literally I hope) can place huge stress on your body and you might find yourself saying how hard you find it to relax and you ache all over. This is the body tensing up and getting filled with adrenaline. This can lead to an acute injury or chronic pain. In the severest of cases you find yourself with an injury or pain requiring professional treatment.

Any time you would like a some advice or a second opinion call the clinic and ask for a Free chat with one of my Chartered Physiotherapists. They will be happy to advise you and reassure you where necessary. Why not take advantage of this during Back Care Awareness Week?

 Wokingham 0118 978 2409

A few more tips for preventing back pain on the web site 

http://www.warrclinic.co.uk/index.php?p=1/130/0

With warmest wishes for a good month

Jeannette Warr 

Back Pain - How's Yours?

Back In the Future

Back Care Awareness Week 8th- 12^th October 2012

Do you have a laptop computer, a tablet or a smartphone? Probably you have all three and use them constantly. Do you sit on the sofa or in an armchair and use your tablet whilst watching TV? Do you hold your phone to your ear whilst you type or something? Do you sit at a desk for extended periods without getting up?

If you answered 'yes' to most then you will inevitably be one of the 4 out of 5 people who suffer with back and/or neck pain at some point. Now that's good for me and my Physiotherapists, but not so great for you!

The technology revolution particularly in the last 20 years, has changed the way our bodies are expected to move dramatically. My youngest daughter sits on the sofa sideways with her legs up, with the TV at an angle across the room, her laptop on her thighs and her phone often clamped to her ear. Then complains of back pain! Does this sound familiar?

Our head weighs about 12lbs. Just imagine hanging 6 bags of sugar around your neck and moving around without pain for any period of time. Yet that is exactly what you do if you use a tablet or laptop on your lap. Your head bends forward at an unnatural angle to look at the screen. Try it now, just move your head to that angle and then straighten up. Feel how different that is as your neck fully supports your head as opposed to 'hanging on to it'.

Click on the link to take you to some easy prevention tips

http://www.warrclinic.co.uk/index.php?p=1/130/0

Take care of your back this month 

Jeannette

Can You Make Your Health Worse?

If I ask you is there some thing that you can do to make your health significantly worse you'd laugh and say of course. You'd think I was a bit mad wouldn't you? So what is the one thing you can do that will be the opposite of that?

Shall I tell you? Will it be walk more, drink more water, write your journal, listen to my hypnotherapy tracks, throw out the junk food in your cupboard, get a regular massage? All the usual stuff I bang on about?

No, none of these, the one big thing, is (fan fare please); Stop Making Excuses.

There I've said it. What rubbish do you tell yourself to stop you from being healthier that you are now? It always amazes me how many people say “I didn't have time” Yet they have sat on the sofa watching TV for 3 hours most nights. Get your 'butts' out the door and enjoy the autumn leaves. Notice how the nights shorten and the cooling temperatures, the colours changing.

Walking reduce your risk of heart disease and lowers blood pressure for up to 4 hours after a 30 minute walk. Lots of runners come into the clinic (please continue) But there is rarely an injury caused by walking.

Walking releases the 'happy' hormones and numerous studies show the beneficial effects on depression. Walking in a shopping centrer is not the same so get outdoors. If you need to mull over a problem or come up with an idea it's amazing how taking time out to move your body will generate a new perceptive and often you will come up with a solution to that problem.  

Have great month

Jeannette Warr

Clinic: 0118 978 2409

www.warrclinic.co.uk

July Random Healthy Actions For Staying Well

July Top Actions for Staying Young & Healthy

1. Laugh at least once a day. When was the last time you had a good old belly laugh? Even when I am on my own I listen to funny programmes or read an article that makes me chuckle.
2. Give out good energy. Practice smiling at everyone you meet, even if you don't feel like it, you will feel better I promise. Remember the old saying “if you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours”
3. Stay fully engaged. This is tough to do and vitally important. When you speak on the phone, do you find yourself doing other 'stuff' too? Unless it's a really annoying call centre (in which case I have other tips!) decide to listen with all your attention. Give that person your emotional presence as you would wish them to do with you.
4. Plan your food especially for those times when you know eating healthily will be a challenge. Freeze ahead to take the stress out of those times. My colleagues are often commenting how nice my soup or risotto smells as they eat a takeaway sandwich.
5. Employ an expert. Heres the sales pitch! Pain makes you feel old!! Either find an expert to diagnose, treat and help you prevent re-occurrence or use an expert for preventative measures. My physio's and other therapists often have clients who come regularly to stay supple and mobile or to prepare for events. I see clients who use me as a sounding board to offload stress and find solutions to seemingly insurmountable problems.

Give your Family Presence not Presents

Father’s Day approaches and will you be browsing through the selection reading the words to find one that reflects your relationship with your father? Or if you are a father will you read the words and hope that your off-spring think those things of you? One that struck me today was “Anyone can be a Father, but it takes effort to be a Dad”

Studies time and again tell us that the one thing children want above anything else is their parents’ time. Do you give your attention to your child when then they are being naughty and then ignore them and get on with your own ‘stuff’ when they are behaving? Think about it?

Would they perhaps behave better more of the time if you gave them your full attention on a regular basis? What’s stopping you, the computer, your work, the television? Will these things give you a hug at night? Are you really too busy to take your kids out on a play date or to spend 10 minutes reading to them as they go to sleep?

Practice being present- engaging with your family energetically and enthusiastically.  You know when you are with someone whether they are fully present with you or if their mind in wandering. You know when someone at the other end of the phone is doing something else and not really listening. Don’t just give you family your physical presence; give them your emotional presence.

It can be tough at first but I promise you it will be worth it when you get a card that tells you what a fantastic, caring, loving Dad you are and how much they love you now and always.

back to Warr Clinic www.warrclinic.co.uk

World Book Night 2012 How I live Now- Meg Rosoff

 Giving away is fun

Oh heck, I thought when I saw the book I was to give away! A book aimed at teenage girls. . Great!  My daughters are both grown up so can’t give away in the playground as I would years ago. So where do I go to give this away? I rehearsed what I would say on the dog walk as I didn’t want anyone to think I was giving away weird religious texts or knowing teenagers quite well dumping it in the nearest bin (or floor).

Pouring with rain here I decided that the street was not a great plan so I popped into the station where the school children descend at 2.45pm and asked the supervisor if it was OK. He was thrilled and took a copy for his granddaughter and then the hoards arrived. Within minutes, 10 to be precise I had given all away. Smiles and thank you’s. One suspicious “did you write this?” (I wish I had!) and all done. Teenage girls, teenage boys(who have sisters apparently) , two foreign students, and two to network rail staff for relatives.

So from being nervous to having a ball, I wish I had 200 to give away as the response gave me a buzz too.

So I'm glad I didn't have the easy option which would have been an adult book to give away in the clinic. Giving is a wonderful thing to do and getting out of your comfort zone always expands your mental experiences.

Physio tips when Gardening

The garden looks lovely as I write with the daffodils out and the grass starting to grow again after its winter break. Many will be thinking of getting out there and starting to tidy up. Before you get too carried away and have to be carried away because you’ve hurt your back, take a few moments to prepare to prevent this happening.

Do a few minutes walking around the garden just to warm up the muscles and some very simple stretches. Shoulder rolls are a goodie and some gentle side to side bends. Make sure you have loose fitting clothing and your footwear is appropriate. I often garden in flip flops but this is really dam stupid when using a fork. So don’t do what I do. If you are putting canes in to support plants then wear some glasses as there are a huge amount of injuries caused by people poking their eyes out as they lean over a cane. Ouch!

To avoid a visit to the clinic do take notice and put into action the following things;

·         Use a kneeling mat or a low stool to avoid too much bending over

·         Don’t over reach-go to the plant or weed

·         Limit your digging or forking over the soil to very short time at first until your body gets used to the extra effort

·         Use long handled tools where possible and have a tool belt for small tools

·         Make use of lighter weight wheelbarrow and weeding boxes with wheels

·         Work at a bench if you can

·         As you get older you may want to think about garden redesigns to raise beds and paying someone to put down gravel etc to stop the weeds

·         Be mindful of your body, if you check in every few moments  with how your body is feeling you may well prevent some serious injury