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Spring Newsletter 2023
Updated automatically every 5 minutes

In this issue:

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The start of May brings Bank Holidays, a new King and the Celtic celebration of Beltane, marked by bonfires, maypoles and the celebration of the beginning of summer, half way between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice.  

This May brings a big change to Seven Jewels Therapies as well.  I’m delighted to announce that I will be starting a new full-time role as Centre Manager at the Horsham Olive Tree Cancer Support Centre from 9 May so Reiki appointments with me will now be by appointment at evenings and weekends - email me to book in!  This will be the last edition of the newsletter as I’ll no longer have time to produce it but I will still be posting on my facebook and instagram pages and you can find me there @sevenjewelstherapies

The next in my series on other complementary therapies features Bowen, a bodywork technique that applies precise movements to the muscles and connective tissues with an aim to reduce pain and improve mobility and posture.

There’s plenty going on in the community  - be sure to check out the local wellbeing services, including walks and workshops, and the popular Sussex Green Hub in Horsham on the last Saturday of every month, as well as the Women’s Circles, EFT, and singing offered by the Holistic Wellness Community (previously known as Crawley Mindfulness Centre).

 

Bowen Therapy

Developed by Australian masseur Thomas Ambrose Bowen (1916 – 82), the Bowen technique is a hands-on therapy that gently manipulates muscles and connective tissues (fascia) in order for the body to reset itself and restore alignment, particularly to the spine.   A relatively new therapy, Bowen was introduced to the UK in the 1990s.

What happens in a session?

During a treatment the therapist will hold and then stretch the muscles/fascia, using small, precise movements, which is believed to result in signals passing between the brain and muscle to restore balance.  The therapist will leave the room between moves to allow the healing process to take effect.

Who is it for?

Bowen is intended for use alongside medical diagnosis and treatment and may be suitable for people experiencing a diverse range of conditions, including in palliative care, because of its gentle nature.  It is used in efforts to reduce pain, increase mobility and improve posture.

Is it effective?

It appears that there is not a great deal of research that has been done to explore the efficacy of Bowen, although a 2001 UK pilot study (Carter, B.) of 20 participants with frozen shoulder concluded that the Bowen technique was effective in reducing pain intensity, increasing shoulder mobility and ability to perform daily activities, even for those with longstanding problems.

Choosing a practitioner

Like most complementary therapies, the practice of Bowen is not regulated.  You can find a practitioner who has joined an Accredited Register at cnhc.org.uk.  

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The Throat Chakra

I’m often asked about chakras during Reiki sessions.  Although chakras are not part of the original system of Reiki taught by Japanese founder Mikao Usui, and are in fact part of the Indian Hindu tradition, the concept of a wheel of energy in a particular location in the body can help us focus on a specific facet of healing.  In the fifth in this series of articles on the chakras, I focus on the throat chakra -  the fifth chakra.

Said to influence the ears, nose and throat and the thyroid and parathyroid glands, the fifth chakra is located in the base of the neck, at the throat.

The heart chakra is associated with the colour blue and the element of ether.   As one of the upper chakras - with the heart being the bridge between the three lower and three upper chakras - it is a tool for mindful expression of our thoughts and feelings through the gift of language.  Energetically there is a link between the throat and sacral chakras, with the throat being able to express the creativity and joy we build in balancing the sacral chakra, and the throat chakra also allows the love and compassion we cultivate in the heart to have expression in the words we choose.

The throat chakra is the seat of expression and active, compassionate listening.  A balanced throat chakra allows for effective communication between the heart and mind.

The throat chakra may be unbalanced through not feeling safe to express one’s thoughts and emotions or through a fear of not being heard, loved and accepted.   An unbalanced throat chakra can manifest as talking too much or too little, self-censorship, not listening to others, distracting oneself with noise, inability to tolerate silence, gossiping, lack of awareness of the impact of one’s words, and repressed emotions (the lump in the throat).

The throat chakra can be brought into alignment through loving spoken affirmations, and meditations on speaking our truth.  Music, singing, recitation, and chanting can help move energy through the throat chakra.  Sitting in circle with others can help us express in words what we are holding in our bodies and minds.   Learning some assertiveness phrases can help us express ourselves without fear.  Holding crystals such as lapis lazuli during relaxation can help to bring compassion and clarity to communication.

Helpful therapies might include talking therapy, music therapy and sound therapy, as well as Reiki of course!

Find my meditation for the throat chakra here:  

https://sevenjewelstherapies.co.uk/energy-body-resources

Find out more about the Women’s Circles and online singing class in May at Crawley’s Holistic Wellness Community here.

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Dementia Action Week  - 15 - 21 May

Each year the Alzheimer’s Society runs Dementia Action Week with the aim to increase awareness of disease that damages nerve cells in the brain, and its symptoms.

Nerve cells carry messages to different parts of the body and are part of the body’s neurological system.  The term “dementia” refers to a set of symptoms caused by different types of disease that affect memory, language, behaviour and problem-solving.  The symptoms are progressive, meaning they worsen over time.  Different types of dementia include Alzheimer’s Disease (the most common); vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and frontotemporal dementia, and there are other, rarer types.  Each type may be caused by different biological and environmental factors and everyone’s experience of dementia will be different.  There are 900,000 people in the UK with dementia.  Although typically dementia is more likely to onset after age 65, there are 42,000 people in the UK with early onset dementia.

Main symptoms

Some of the symptoms of dementia may be confused with normal signs of ageing.  It’s important to know the difference between occasional forgetfulness, absent-mindedness, loss of ability to focus and irritability and signs of dementia that include forgetting what you have just been told, finding it impossible to learn new tasks or plan ahead, having difficulties with language and following conversations, getting lost and feeling confused or upset in familiar environments.  Dementia is not a natural part of the ageing process.  If you have any concerns that you or someone else may be experiencing signs of dementia, you should get checked out by a GP who can refer you to a specialist.

Reducing risk factors

Most types of dementia are not inherited.  Risk factors for dementia include age, high blood pressure, alcohol consumption, smoking, physical inactivity and an unhealthy diet.

A diet low in red meat and sugar, and high in fruit, vegetables and grains is recommended.

Sticking to the recommended limit of 14 units of alcohol per week is advised, as well as spreading this consumption out over three or more days and having at least two alcohol-free days per week.   The less alcohol you drink, the better for your overall health.

Stopping smoking is also advised as smoking has a negative effect on the circulatory system which damages blood vessels in the brain, heart and lungs.  

Keeping physically and mentally active is thought to help reduce the risk of dementia.  Reading, playing card games, doing jigsaws, crosswords, learning a language, playing a musical instrument or any type of activity that engages the brain is recommended.

Find out more at the Alzheimer's Society

Living Well with Dementia - 15 May 10.30 - 1.30 Bridge Leisure Centre

If you have or are caring for someone with dementia then you can meet and find out more about the local organisations who can offer support at this community event.  Find out more at the Healthwatch West Sussex website here

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Sussex Green Hub

On the last Saturday of every month, between 10am and 4pm, join the Sussex Green Hub community at United Reformed Church, 45 Springfield Road, Horsham RH12 1PT.  Featuring the Horsham Repair Cafe, Horsham Community Fridge and Household Product Refill Shop, this is a chance to ask for advice and find solutions on a range of environmental topics like recycling and energy saving, and join workshops on a variety of topics.   There’s also a community cafe serving light refreshments.  Find out more here.

Your local wellbeing services

Crawley Wellbeing runs regular health walks.  Open to everyone, these walks are led by a qualified health walks leader, and are designed to be suitable for all levels of fitness, allowing for progression as fitness levels improve.  Details of the available walks in Tilgate Park, Tilgate Forest, Goffs Park and Worth Park can be found on the Events Page.

Crawley Wellbeing also provides online and phone services to support people with: smoking cessation, alcohol reduction, getting more active, mindful living, weight management, pre-diabetes, and workplace health. If you would like more information, please call them on 01293 585317 and leave a message, or email: wellbeing@crawley.gov.uk.

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Horsham Wellbeing

Horsham District Wellbeing’s Wellbeing Centre, where you can drop in for free wellbeing advice, information and support, has moved to Parkside, Chart Way, Horsham RH12 1RL.  Open weekdays 10am-4pm (Weds 1-4 pm), their  friendly staff and advisors are on hand to answer any questions you may have and tell you about the services on offer.  Visit the Wellbeing Centre’s website here.

Wellbeing Walks - free, family-friendly walks led by volunteers, these take place in North Heath, Broadbridge Heath,  Billinghurst, Steyning, Nuthurst, Knepp, central Horsham, Southwater, Thakeham, Cootham, Pease Pottage, West Grinstead and Arundel, to name a few!  Find out more about each location’s route and meeting place on the Wellbeing Centre’s website.

Horsham Psychology “Compassionate Horsham - Walk and Talk”

Psychologist Dr Tara Quinn-Cirillo from Horsham Psychology is supporting a Conversation Starter project as part of her Compassionate Horsham campaign, which aims to garner the kindness that exists in us and our neighbours to help strengthen the emotional wellbeing of our local community.  The project involves meet ups in local outdoor spaces to reduce social isolation and encourage people to get outside, walk and talk.  The events are held every Wednesday morning at 10am and Friday at 12 noon in the Human Nature Garden in Horsham park and there is a monthly Saturday walk at 2.00 pm, meeting at the Co-op in Lintot Square and walking to Southwater Country Park.   If you would like to join as a volunteer or as a participant, please contact Tara at drqc@icloud.com  Find out more about the Compassionate Horsham campaign and the Conversation Starter project here

This is just a taster of the many wellbeing events organised by Crawley and Horsham Councils.  Visit their websites or centres, and keep an eye on my social media pages, to find out the latest!

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If you’ve enjoyed a Reiki session with me, please leave a review on one or more of the following platforms - this will help me with my Google ranking and encourage potential clients to try it out.   Alternatively please send me a testimonial for me to feature on my website/social media.  I can keep this anonymous if you prefer.  Please note specific health conditions must not be mentioned owing to advertising restrictions applying to complementary therapy but you can talk about the general experience of the therapy and service and how it made you feel!

Thank you x

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