The end of 2011 already, confirming my privately held belief that time goes faster following the running of the Melbourne Cup. (I don’t profess to know how this works…it just does.) Flew back from LA last week into a frenzied few days in clinic. This crazy weather is the cause of lots of nasty colds (California winter was sunny and warm!).
So what was I doing in LA?
I was in LA learning how to become a Buteyko Breathing practitioner. The course was led by a charismatic Irishman, Patrick McKeown… “I want ye to close ta mouth…” Patrick is a lovely man, very gentle and magnificently generous with his knowledge.
Konstantin Buteyko was a Russian doctor (mid-twentieth century) who believed that the cause of many maladies lay in what he termed ‘overbreathing’ – hyperventilation. Conditions as diverse as asthma, anxiety, high blood pressure, insomnia and hayfever respond to a REDUCTION in breathing. Totally against today’s standard thinking of taking big deep breaths. During the course in the Buteyko Breathing Method we were taught how to reduce breathing…and spent hours taping up our mouths and holding our noses. Sometimes at the same time. This shot is from one of the ‘untaped’ times.
Buteyko breathing focusses on reduced air volume. Mim checks out Chet’s form in the LA course
The reduced breathing results in increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the body, which in turn relaxes blood vessels and breathing passages, actually improving oxygen delivery to the tissues. Kind of counterintuitive, but it makes a whole lot of sense. It was a great bunch of students, including some really welcoming LA locals, who showed me around their ‘hood’, including the ubiquitous celebrity spotting.
I’d love to know what breath-based techniques you use, or whether you’ve already experienced Buteyko. Let me know your thoughts in the comments or over on Facebook.
This is my last post for 2011. I’ll be back in the new year with Buteyko and more. In the meantime, here’s a toast to you – may you have an enjoyable festive season, and good health in 2012!
Best,
MIM
PS – BWH Shop elves are still working… So if you’re in need of some last-minute Christmas shopping, check out the gifts and stocking stuffers here.
If you’d like to make an appointment for next year Make an appointment enquiry here. Find Bowral clinic address and hours here.
Update: Jan 2012
Buteyko course starting February in Sydney and Bowral.
In this members’ article, Mim Beim shares some tips to enjoy alcohol and mince pies while looking after your liver.
At the risk of being branded a party pooper, here are some ways to survive the party season with a clear head and a fetching waistline.
Party, party, party is an article from the Beaming with Health Community available only to members. Browse the Articles.
For many years, caffeine has had the reputation of being harmful to your health. However, recent studies show that a certain amount of caffeine is actually beneficial.
Caffeine is a naturally occurring substance found in coffee, tea, cocoa, mate and guarana. Recent studies have shown that small to moderate amounts of caffeine will increase alertness, mood, concentration, motivation, stamina and reduce fatigue. Bring me a cuppa NOW. The beneficial range is from 40 to 400mg caffeine daily. Larger amounts of caffeine can be problematic with symptoms including anxiety, restlessness, insomnia and irritability. Some people are very sensitive, and as little as one cup of tea or coffee can cause them to feel a bit jumpy.
The amount of caffeine in beverages varies significantly. For instance, a cup of instant coffee contains around 75mg of caffeine, whereas a strong espresso contains a whopping 200mg of caffeine per serve. Tea contains around 50mg of caffeine per cup. Green tea contains slightly less than this. This is surprising because green tea and black tea are made from the leaves of the same bush, Camelia sinsensis.
The explanation lies in a bit of caffeine chemistry. Caffeine is water soluble. The hotter the water, the more caffeine is released. Black tea is generally made with water temperature over 200ºC, whereas it is recommended to make green tea with water temperature no hotter than 170ºC. Another fact about caffeine is that it is one of the first compounds released from the tea leaf. If you want to reduce even further the amount of caffeine, pour a small amount of hot water over the leaves, strain, return leaves to the pot, then fill with hot water.
Caffeine, like all things in life, is best in moderation. But I have to say I love my Assam Dimakusi. Do you have a caffeine beverage you can’t live without? Or maybe you’ve come off caffeine and are loving the new you? Share it in the comments…
To order Bioceuticals products (including their magical Ultra Muscle-eze) phone 1300 650 455 and ask to set up a patient account. You then need to quote them my practitioner code of P06430-06. They will send you products directly. After this you can order from them online.
If you wish to buy Metagenics practitioner products you need to ring Metagenics on 1800 777 648 and ask to set up a patient account. They will then ask you for your practitioner’s number. This is 3245X.
body+soul - Ask the naturopath
Natural remedies can be very effective in reducing the symptoms of asthma and are safe to use in conjunction with drug therapy.
Download the PDF
Resveratrol is the latest nutrient to excite the natural therapies world.
A naturally occurring plant chemical, studies have shown that resveratrol extends lifespan. The mechanism appears to be the activation of an age-defying gene known as SIRT. It also reduces the formation of atherosclerotic plaques (a big part of heart disease), inhibits various tumour formation and delays the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Resveratrol is found in red grapes and wine especially cool climate varieties such as Pinot noir. In fact, it appears that resveratrol is the nutrient behind the ‘French Paradox’. Several years ago it was found that people who enjoyed a glass or two of red wine with their meals had a lower incidence of heart disease, even though their diet contained fatty foods. This effect became known as the French Paradox. Resveratrol is also found in peanuts, pistachios, pomegranates, and berries…although why bother to look further when you can enjoy all the resveratrol you need in a glass of delicious Domain Rogha Crois Pinot Noir? Learn more about the DRC Pinot Noir and other wines.
Did you know wine and tea share some health-giving properties?
Both provide antioxidants, and red grapes and wine contain resveratrol, which has been shown to have anti-ageing properties. No wonder then that I’ve made some new friends…
One of Canberra District’s premium wine brands, DRC specialises in cool climate grapes including pinot noir. With a Huon Hooke rating of 95 out of 100 the Domaine Rogha Crois 2009 Vintage Pinot Noir is really worth trying.
Read more from Mim about resveratrol here.
Experience and learn about this creative, contemporary and cutting edge vibrational medicine.
Pharmacists Katrina Corney and Maddi Parker have been successfully dispensing, prescribing and working with the Australian Bush Flower Essences in their daily pharmacy worlds for many years - they have now been inspired to specialize in BUSH FLOWER HEALING.
Katrina and Maddi will be offering a number of Flower Essence workshops to encourage others to take a fresh look at the benefits in today’s world of this traditional healing modality.
The fully accredited 16 hour College Course provides the opportunity and resources you need to potentially transform the lives of you, your family, friends, pets and patients. The course takes you on a journey through the human body via the chakras and teaches you about the qualities of each of the Flower Essences and how they can be best utilised in harmonising a range of emotional, physical and spiritual imbalances. No previous experience is necessary.
Lighter 3 hour Refresher courses on the Flower Essences will also be on offer.
Katrina and Maddi are available to give Flower Essence talks to local community groups and businesses hoping to let the wider community know more about these safe and effective healing tools. They look forward to providing these unique and sometimes surprising insights and welcome your feedback.
Please email them with any questions katrina@bushflowerhealing.com or maddi@bushflowerhealing.com
For more information, course schedules and bookings please visit www.bushflowerhealing.com
Two feline friends are in need of a home for up to 12 months.
Floozie and Popcorn have lived in Annandale, Sydney for the past 4 years, but their owner now needs to go overseas for a while.
Floozie is a nine year old, home loving Burmese with supermodel looks. She can sometimes be a skitty, scaredy cat who jumps at her own shadow, but is very loving and gives oodles of affection. She likes to spend time with you and will follow you room to room, head butting you to tell you when she needs a chin rub and flopping under your feet if a tummy tickle is required. She is a quiet cat who stays pretty close to home most of the time.
Popcorn is a handsome eight year old Burmilla who is more of a lover than a fighter, but who likes to roam the street. To give the lizards and cicadas a chance he wears a collar and bell and, like Floozie, stays home at night.
While he insists on completing a border patrol each morning and evening, make no mistake, this is a seriously sociable animal that will lick your bare toes if you stand still long enough and who demands several cuddles each day.
Jan, their owner, unexpectedly needs to visit her family overseas, perhaps for as long as 12 months and is looking for a foster home for her feline companions.
She will make sure that you are not out of pocket on food, any veterinary expenses etc, but she does need to find them a home from about 21 February 2011 which is very soon.
If you are a cat lover and you (or someone else you know) can help with one or both animals, please contact Jan asap on 0408 184 203.
Beaming with Health
