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Acorn Health Blog

What we love is great health...

...and we like to write about how we can all achieve better health, naturally. Sometimes tips on how you can DIY to better health and sometimes on the therapies that can make a difference to you, your health and wellbeing.
Thank you for reading, We hope you enjoy :)

5 Beginner-Friendly Yoga Poses

Workshops & Classes Posted by JadwigaPosted on Tue, March 12, 2024 12:26PM

by Connor Levai

Yoga serves as a pathway to self-discovery, connecting body, mind, and spirit. For beginners, embarking on a yoga journey can be both exhilarating and daunting. However, integrating grounding poses into your routine can alleviate any apprehension and foster stability and tranquillity. Grounding yoga poses anchor you to the present moment, fostering a sense of inner peace and steadiness.

Here are five beginner-friendly yoga poses perfect for cultivating grounding and centeredness:

  1. Tadasana (Mountain Pose): Tadasana, or Mountain Pose, forms the basis for numerous yoga postures. Stand tall with feet hip-width apart, firmly rooted into the ground. Engage your thighs, lift the chest, and roll the shoulders back and down. Inhale deeply as you extend your arms overhead, palms facing each other. Feel the earth’s energy coursing through your body. Hold the pose for several breaths, elongating the spine and grounding like a mountain.
  2. Virabhadrasana I (Warrior I Pose):Warrior I embodies strength and confidence while fostering grounding. Step one foot back at a 45-degree angle, ensuring the front knee aligns with the ankle. Ground through the outer edge of the back foot, connecting with the earth. Extend the arms overhead, palms facing each other, and gaze forward. With each breath, deepen the pose, embracing the stability and strength it provides.
  3. Balasana (Child’s Pose):Balasana, or Child’s Pose, induces relaxation and introspection. Begin by kneeling on the mat, big toes touching and knees wide apart. Sit back on your heels and fold forward, extending the arms in front or resting them alongside the body. Gently touch the forehead to the mat, surrendering to the earth’s support. Close the eyes, focus on the breath, and release tension, embracing the grounding sensation of the present moment.
  4. Vrksasana (Tree Pose):Tree Pose enhances concentration, stability, and rootedness. Start in Tadasana, shifting weight onto one foot and lifting the opposite foot to place the sole against the inner thigh or calf. Gaze at a focal point and bring the palms together at heart center. Feel the connection between foot and leg, grounding like the roots of a tree. With each breath, find balance and stability in the pose.
  5. Savasana (Corpse Pose):Savasana, the ultimate relaxation pose, integrates the benefits of practice and fosters complete groundedness. Lie flat on the back with legs extended and arms resting alongside the body, palms facing up. Close the eyes, allow the body to sink into the mat, and release tension. Embrace the support of the earth, grounding and nurturing. Stay in Savasana for a few minutes, surrendering to the stillness and serenity of the moment.

Incorporating these grounding yoga poses into your practice cultivates centeredness, stability, and connection to self and surroundings. Remember to listen to your body, breathe deeply, and approach each pose with mindfulness and intention. With dedication, you’ll cultivate a sense of groundedness extending beyond the mat and into every facet of life.

You can experience these exercises firsthand in my regular yoga class, held every Thursday evening at Acorn Natural Health Centre.

For inquiries or further information, feel free to reach out.



5 things you wanted to know about Reiki but were afraid to ask…

Therapies Posted by JadwigaPosted on Tue, February 27, 2024 02:14PM

Reiki, a Japanese form of hands-on energy healing, offers profound benefits for both physical and mental well-being. This ancient practice induces deep relaxation, allowing the body to release stress and tension while promoting healing and balance. Here’s a closer look at what Reiki entails and what you can expect from a session:

Understanding Reiki

Reiki works by clearing negative or blocked energy within the body, thus boosting energy levels and restoring harmony. Its benefits span a wide range of areas, including:

  • Promoting health and overall well-being
  • Managing pain effectively
  • Reducing stress and tension
  • Cultivating feelings of peace and serenity
  • Enhancing the effects of medical and complementary treatments
  • Alleviating side effects of conventional medical procedures like chemotherapy
  • Aiding in post-operative healing
  • Improving mental clarity and focus
  • Calming the mind and emotions, easing symptoms of depression and anxiety
  • Enhancing sleep quality
  • Soothing digestion
  • Strengthening self-esteem
  • Heightening self-awareness and intuition
  • Balancing emotions effectively

The Reiki Experience

During a Reiki session, clients often report experiencing sensations such as warmth, coolness, tingling, or pressure, as the energy flows through their body. The session typically involves lying fully clothed on a comfortable treatment bed, with soft music playing in the background to enhance relaxation. The practitioner will gently lay their hands on or slightly above different parts of the body, allowing the energy to flow where it is most needed.

What to Expect During a Session

Your first Reiki session begins with a brief consultation, where you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss any concerns. Then, you’ll be invited to relax on the treatment bed while the practitioner channels the healing energy. Afterward, you may be offered water to hydrate and reflect on your experience.

Belief and Reiki

It’s important to note that Reiki is not tied to any specific religion, although it has spiritual elements. Belief in Reiki is not a prerequisite for its effectiveness; however, being open and receptive to the experience can enhance its benefits.

In conclusion, Reiki offers a gentle yet powerful approach to healing and promoting overall well-being. Whether you’re seeking relief from physical discomfort or looking to find inner peace and balance, Reiki has much to offer. Consider trying a session to experience its transformative effects firsthand.

Find out more about Reiki treatment at Acorn


Do we need new year resolutions?

General Health & Wellbeing Posted by JadwigaPosted on Thu, December 28, 2023 10:59AM

by Dr Ranjana Mitra

And just like that, it’s 2024!

So we start another year with new hopes and dreams. For many this transition from the old to the new will be a much welcome one. If 2023 hasn’t been very kind to us, we are happy to put it to bed and start afresh; for others, it is a time to consolidate the gains from the previous year or look forward to exciting times – perhaps the birth of a baby, a promotion at work, or the start of a new relationship.

Wherever we are on the spectrum of endings and renewals, many of us seem to get caught up in the need to make resolutions for the year ahead. These are often things to which we have given a lot of thought/things we believe we have failed at/ things we believe will make our lives better and brighter. There is no shortage of ideas, with January being marked as the month for veganism (Veganuary), dry month, walk your dog month, festival of sleep, national hug day, national pie day….(I’m sure more ideas are being dreamt up as you read this!).  Do we need annual ‘markers’ to drink less, eat more vegetables, walk more? I would say not. Most of us set ourselves goals throughout the year – whether that be to lose weight, pay off our credit card bills sooner, or make more time to see family/friends. If we manage to achieve our goals it will not be because they were new year (or mid-July!) resolutions, but because we really believed in how much they matter to us. When we really want something, it is possible to carve out the time and energy to pursue it; and overcome the inevitable hurdles everyday life throws at us. 

So, if you don’t have a resolution for the new year, don’t worry. You will get around to making one when you are ready. More interestingly, you may find yourself energetically pursuing a goal at some point during the year, without recalling the day when you ‘resolved’ to do so. We are constantly achieving a lot more than we give ourselves credit for. Getting through everyday life without throwing in the towel is a huge achievement for many of us. For starters – working parents with young children – I take my hat off to you!

All of that said, there’s one thing we are pretty rubbish at. And that’s care and compassion for ourselves. Most of us are better at caring for others than we are at caring for ourselves. Indeed, the latter can feel a bit self-indulgent. But remember we can only be of service to others when we are firing on all cylinders. It’s perfectly okay to let a few balls drop, without being consumed by guilt. Let’s all take the time to look after our mental health. Our relationships with ourselves underpins every other relationship we have/will have in life; and will determine what we are able to pursue and achieve and enjoy in life.

With warm wishes for a year of caring and compassion – for your self!

Ranjana

Contact me for help with any relationship related issues. 



How Hypnotherapy Can Help Reduce or Eliminate Anxiety

General Health & Wellbeing, Therapies Posted by JadwigaPosted on Thu, September 28, 2023 10:48AM

Anxiety is a common and sometimes overwhelming feeling that many of us face in our daily lives. Whether it’s the stress of work, personal relationships, or life’s uncertainties, anxiety can creep in and disrupt our peace of mind. Fortunately, there’s a powerful tool called hypnotherapy that can help you take control of your anxiety and lead a more balanced life.

Understanding Anxiety:

Before diving into how hypnotherapy can assist with anxiety, let’s grasp what anxiety really is. Anxiety is essentially your body’s natural response to stress, a fight-or-flight mechanism that can help you in dangerous situations. However, when this response becomes chronic, it can lead to a range of physical and mental health issues.

How Does Hypnotherapy Work?

Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic technique that uses guided relaxation and focused attention to access your subconscious mind. Contrary to what you might have seen in movies, hypnotherapy is not about mind control; it’s about helping you gain more control over your own thoughts and behaviours.

Here’s how it can assist in reducing or eliminating anxiety:

1. Identifying Root Causes:

Hypnotherapy helps you delve into your subconscious to identify the root causes of your anxiety. Often, anxiety is linked to past traumas or unresolved issues that you may not even be consciously aware of. By addressing these underlying factors, you can start to heal and reduce anxiety’s grip on you.

2. Rewiring Negative Thought Patterns:

Anxiety often arises from negative thought patterns and beliefs. Hypnotherapy can help reprogram your subconscious mind, replacing those negative thoughts with positive ones. This process is known as cognitive restructuring and can be a powerful tool for combating anxiety.

3. Stress Reduction:

Through deep relaxation and visualization techniques, hypnotherapy can lower your overall stress levels. This reduction in stress is crucial for managing and ultimately reducing anxiety. When your body is in a relaxed state, it’s harder for anxiety to take hold.

4. Building Confidence and Self-Esteem:

Many people with anxiety struggle with self-doubt and low self-esteem. Hypnotherapy can boost your confidence and self-worth by implanting positive affirmations and self-assured beliefs in your subconscious mind.

5. Developing Coping Strategies:

Hypnotherapy equips you with effective coping strategies for managing anxiety. These strategies can include breathing exercises, self-hypnosis techniques, and mental imagery that can be employed in everyday situations when anxiety strikes.

6. Enhanced Mindfulness:

Hypnotherapy encourages mindfulness, which is the practice of staying present in the moment. This can help you detach from anxious thoughts about the future and ruminations about the past. By staying in the now, you can reduce anxiety’s grip on your mind.

7. Progressive Relaxation:

One of the most immediate benefits of hypnotherapy is the deep relaxation it induces. This state of relaxation can serve as a powerful antidote to the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as racing heart and shallow breathing.

In Conclusion:

Hypnotherapy is a versatile and effective tool for reducing or even eliminating anxiety. By accessing your subconscious mind and rewiring negative thought patterns, it can help you regain control over your mental and emotional state. It’s essential to work with a qualified and experienced hypnotherapist who can tailor the sessions to your specific needs.

If you’re tired of letting anxiety rule your life, consider giving hypnotherapy a try. It’s a safe and empowering way to take charge of your mental well-being and embark on a journey towards a more relaxed and anxiety-free existence. Remember, you have the power to transform your mind and overcome anxiety with the right guidance and techniques.

Would you like to find out if hypnotherapy could help you?

Book your FREE consultation


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