Page 43 - Natural Health (February 2020)

SELF

ring finger) and place them directly on the oil, fish oil, or algae oil for vegans, fresh
knot in the muscle or the spot that is the unroasted nuts, ground flaxseeds, chia seeds
most painful. Breathe in and out. On the and coldwater fish like salmon, sardines
out breath begin to press into the knot using and trout. For more information, visit
slow circular movements. You can use a lisaromanovacoaching@gmail.com or
similar technique for the neck, working find her on instagram @lisaromanova
your way all the way up to the base of the
skull and out towards the ear. For more 6 TRY LAUGHTER YOGA
information, visit beata.website “It’s easier to move our body than it is to
It’s easier to change our mind once we have a thought,”
4 ANOINT WITH PURE OILS says Laughter Yoga master Lotte Mikkelsen,
move our body “Anointing the body with pure oil is a “so the simple act of simulating laughter, as
than it is to huge part of ayurvedic philosophy,” says we do in Laughter Yoga, starts changing the
ayurvedic medicine practitioner, Sonja way we feel, and we become more resourceful
change our Shah-Williams. “Sesame oil, known as in coping with life’s ups and downs. Our
mind once we the Queen of ayurvedic oils, balances all regular breathing tends to be shallow and
three doshas, reduces tension, penetrates leaves our lungs full of old air with an excess
have a thought deep into the tissues, is anti-inflammatory of carbon dioxide and toxins. When we laugh,
and improves blood circulation. Try my we exchange air deeper into our lungs and
two blends containing sesame oil: Anala increase the net-supply of oxygen we circulate
Morning improves focus. It contains to our organs and our brain. In turn, we feel
essential attar of rose, which pacifies more refreshed, motivated, alert and alive.”
Sadhaka Pitta in the brain. This subtype In Laughter Yoga, playful laughter
of Pitta Dosha is responsible for feelings, exercises are interspersed with breathing
and because rose oil cools a heated mind, it exercises to get those giggles flowing. 20
improves focus and clarity. It also contains minutes of laughter is enough time to
frankincense oil, which calms tension and reap the physiological benefits. To find
nourishes all the tissues. Anala Evening a Laughter Yoga class near you, visit
contains amongst others, jasmine oil, laughteryoga.co.uk
which relieves stress, tension, headaches,
and depression, as well as balancing all 7 SLEEP YOURSELF SHARP
three doshas, and French lavender, which “Just one bad night’s sleep affects our
is renowned for its stress-relieving and mood, concentration and alertness,” says
calming abilities. For more information, sleep advisor Lisa Artis, “while long-term
visit anala.co.uk sleep deprivation has far more serious
consequences such as high blood pressure,
5 DON’T FORGO FAT heart disease, diabetes and stroke. During
“To feel at its best and to function properly good restorative sleep we grow, make
your diet. To find out more, head our body needs about 20-30 percent of sense of our day and detox. A good night’s
to fionalawsonnutrition.com daily calories to come from healthy fats,” sleep plays a significant role in healing
says functional health coach Lisa Irving. and repairing the heart and blood vessels.
3 MASSAGE YOURSELF “We need healthy fats to be able to absorb It also gives the immune system and the
“Muscles can only work well when they are fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Fats cardiovascular system a rest and allows
not overly tense,” says massage and healing are also important for the development other organs to be restored. We sleep in
expert Beata Aleksandrowicz. “As the and function of the brain and retina, cycles (around four to five a night) and
temperature drops, this causes our muscles they maintain healthy cell membranes, within each cycle we go through four
to contract which creates extra tension in provide cushioning and insulation to our stages of sleep. However when we wake
the body.” Try Beata’s simple self-massage internal organs, and play an important in the night, or we don’t sleep enough,
technique for the neck and shoulders. Sit role in hormone synthesis. Fatty acids we disrupt the natural sleep rhythm and
comfortably with a straight back, hands on (long chains of lipid-carboxylic acid it may mean you do not reach the most
your lap and feet touching the floor. Close found in fats and oils) work as signalling restorative, deeper phases of sleep.”
your eyes and take five deep breaths. On molecules and can decrease or increase Try adopting a simple bedtime routine
the out breath relax the tension. Then place oxidative stress in the body. That’s why a to help ease into sleep; this could include
the palms of your hands on both sides of correct combination of essential Omega- a bath, de-cluttering your sleep space,
the shoulders, kneading and squeezing the 3s, Omega-6s and Omega-9s is critical for applying handcream or listening to
muscles between the fingers and the palm. our health. Sources of healthy fats include: soothing music. For more information,
Next, use three fingers, (index, middle and extra virgin olive oil, butter, ghee, coconut visit sleepcouncil.org.uk

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