This is Kerry Harvey, aged 24 and living with metastatic Pancreatic Cancer. In the UK this week, Pancreatic Cancer Action grabbed attention with a series of terrifying ads featuring her and others with the same diagnosis. Spokespersons from breast cancer organisations were horrified that anyone would wish for breast cancer, or compare different forms of cancer this way. Breakthrough Breast Cancer chief Chris Askew fumed, "I've yet to meet a man or woman with breast cancer who would consider … [Read more...] about I wish I had breast cancer
Health
Feel your perfect body?
A mirror is a useful thing. Driving a car - it stops you reversing into the garage door. Brushing your hair – it helps cover the bald patch. Bomb squad – it shows what lies on the other side of the door. A scale too is a useful thing. Measuring exact quantities of sugar for chocolate fudge. Selling correct quantities of said fudge at the school fete. But how useful are these tools for feedback on your body? Weight and image The two external measures by which every Tom, Dick and Harriet … [Read more...] about Feel your perfect body?
The Amazing Alternative Route to (swiftly) Healing a (severely) Broken Ankle
Yoga and meditation has for centuries proved its amazing contribution to healing - physically, mentally and spiritually. Here is the story of a PE women who experienced this first hand. Lynne Cooper is an amazing woman. I gathered this from brief interactions with her over the first few months I got to know her while she was practicing yoga at my studio. When she left to go on her yearly trip abroad, I never imagined that she would come back being anything other than revitalized and rested. … [Read more...] about The Amazing Alternative Route to (swiftly) Healing a (severely) Broken Ankle
How to get your carbohydrate, protein and fat ratios just right
When you consider the fact that each and every one of us has different metabolic requirements it makes good sense to learn what ratios of macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins and fats) your body requires, in order to maintain good weight and health. Before you can get to this point though, you'll need to know what make up these macronutrients, as well as the best quality to chose. So, to help, I'm going to break it down for you... Carbohydrates Grains: As much as possible, avoid … [Read more...] about How to get your carbohydrate, protein and fat ratios just right
How to easily strengthen your core
In our practice we repeatedly hear clients talk about wanting to strengthen their ‘core’. While most people understand why they’d want to improve this area, there appears to be huge confusion around exactly how to do this. The anatomy The inner unit (core) is actually comprised of four main muscle groups and these muscles work in unison, to provide a powerful stabilising system for the torso. Your abdominal cavity is filled with organs and needs to be supported by other structures. … [Read more...] about How to easily strengthen your core
My Controlling Nature – and how I intend to release It
In yoga – you should never TRY to be more flexible. It is completely counterproductive. Achieving flexibility comes with letting go – NOT trying/controlling. Trying causes you to tense up. It means you’re holding on inside– thinking that by working and trying so hard – you control the outcome. It’s the furthest thing from the truth…. ever. You will never get more flexible by controlling how your muscles work. You need to let go for flexibility to kick in. I repeat – you need to let go…. The … [Read more...] about My Controlling Nature – and how I intend to release It
Yoga beats a New Years Resolutions
As we enter the last week of January, 93% of people who have made new years resolutions would have abandoned them. In fact – most of the 93% would have abandoned their resolutions after just one week. It has me wondering if some of us still even remember what our resolutions were. There is an inexhaustible pile of literature out there about how to set better, more realistic and achievable new years resolutions and this article is not one of them. While I believe its good to want to change … [Read more...] about Yoga beats a New Years Resolutions
The difference between Healthy, Organic and Natural
In order to achieve outstanding energy and long-lasting vitality you must feed yourself foods that the body and brain recognise as food. In other words, foods that provide the building blocks your body requires for sustaining life. Unfortunately, food companies looking to promote their products frequently use misleading terms, confusing the general public. Below, we take a look at the most common of these terms and what to look out for when making a 'safe' purchase. Healthy This is a term … [Read more...] about The difference between Healthy, Organic and Natural
The 80:20 rule – Diet vs Exercise
Some time ago, I was asked to look at the topic of fad diets; in particular, the Dukan Diet was mentioned (I'd never even heard of it!). If you stop and think about it - as a species, we've lost the plot when someone else has to tell us what, when and how much to eat! As humans, we have an innate ability to tell what's right/wrong for us, food-wise, but we've been so conditioned, over the years/decades that we can no longer tune in to this instinctive ability. In order to attain ideal health … [Read more...] about The 80:20 rule – Diet vs Exercise
Being “Right” is Far Inferior to Being Connected
I’ve always said that one of the most valuable lesson from travelling is beginning to understand that there really is space for (many) more than one way of thinking, doing and being. What one culture accepts as paramount for survival, is completely irrelevant in another – rendering our ideas of what we ‘have to do’, ‘have to have’ or how we ‘have to be’ completely subjective and open for scrutiny. There are very few of our absolute beliefs that – if we let them go – will have us DIE. We hold … [Read more...] about Being “Right” is Far Inferior to Being Connected
One for the men
It's time to talk about prostate cancer....including family risk and the importance of what we eat. A recent study from Scandinavia estimated that prostate cancer is the most strongly inherited form of cancer, followed by testicular cancer and only after that, breast cancer. This can be proved by studying two types of twins: non-identical twins who have the same genetic relationship as brothers, and identical twins who came from the same egg and share the same genes. The genetic … [Read more...] about One for the men
Death by Chocolate is not a goal
We all have the best of intentions when it comes to setting new resolutions, but often the reason these resolutions don't stick is because we're trying to change a habit overnight. For sustainable, realistic changes, these habits should be overcome gradually and consistently. First establish your goals, for example, becoming physically active, eating more healthfully, dealing better with stress etc. Don't set these goals because someone else says you should. Your goals should be … [Read more...] about Death by Chocolate is not a goal
Is a sense of purpose good for our health?
Perhaps it's just about getting older, but as each year goes by, I feel less inclined to make New Year resolutions - too conscious of the many that have come in with a bang like a firework display only to fade into a whisper of smoke before the first week of January is gone. However, some interesting recent research suggests that living a more resolved and purposeful life can make a measurable difference to our health. Tom Jacobs of Pacific Standard Magazine (www.psmag.com, 29/7/2013) … [Read more...] about Is a sense of purpose good for our health?
Wellness Trends to Pay Attention to in 2014
In 2013 Port Elizabeth was found to be one of the healthier cities in South Africa. In 2014 I would love to see some trends take us from health to overall wellness, incorporating physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. Because we’re worth it. Here are my thoughts on which wellness trends we need to be aware of: 1. Juicing, and particularly Green Juice, (or blending) is not just for cleansing You don’t have to wait for your body to be dead beat and sick before you start … [Read more...] about Wellness Trends to Pay Attention to in 2014
What happened after insulin took sugar to the Principal’s office?
Ok, so you're in the Spar, picking up a loaf of bread and as you're paying, you spy a Lunch Bar and decide it'll keep you going 'till dinner's ready (you're famished and frankly, can't see how you'll survive the next 90 minutes without some form of sustenance). Within a short time of eating your Lunch Bar, the carbohydrates in it - the chocolate, wafer biscuit, crisped rice, sugar, glucose syrup, rice flour, dextrose and invert sugar syrup (does she happen to have a Lunch Bar wrapper in … [Read more...] about What happened after insulin took sugar to the Principal’s office?
