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Written by Monica Linford
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Tuesday, 25 January 2011 08:10 |
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In the last 8 weeks I have watched a dear and treasured friend completely turn his life around. A very long executive career and the breakdown of a 18 year marriage four years ago had resulted in a loss of confidence, weight gain and some concerning health issues.
 He suffered debilitating depression - often the result of grief and loss and the sense of having lost control of our lives. Heavy rich food and red wine were used as solace for a very emotionally challenging period. His sleep patterns were fragmented and failed to nourish and rejuvenate. He also slept every night with the mobile phone parked right next him on the bedside table (more about that later!) for the alarm clock facility it provided. He woke up every morning feeling drained and tired, unable to concentrate with barely enough energy to last the daily distance. A state diagnosed today as TATT syndrome – “tired all the time”. I could see that he was completely overwhelmed by his life situation and responsibilities.
I also observed he was eating enormous amounts of food, using strong black coffee to boost flagging energy levels, diving into cakes, desserts and any other treat on offer to “feel good”. It was the classic emotional eating pattern.
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Written by Monica Linford
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Tuesday, 14 December 2010 12:12 |
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On Thursday I gave my presentation “Wellness At Work In Your Life” at the Women in Leadership Forum at the Land Service Group, Department of Transport here in Adelaide, South Australia.
One of the things I highlighted was Chinese medicine’s perspective on exercise. Each organ partnership is relying on you to do a certain type of movement every day. Eastern practices teach that exercise should not feel hard or difficult and its primary purpose is to stimulate energy (qi) in all of your organs, aid detoxification, re-balance the circulation of blood and chi and increase energy levels overall.
Today we have so many excuses about not having time to exercise. I gave a brief demonstration of how simply you can begin contributing to your own wellbeing everyday very easily with virtually no effort, no stress.
In simple terms here are the movements your organs would like you to do everyday:
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Written by Monica Linford
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Monday, 18 October 2010 05:22 |
On Wednesday I was invited to present at the Australian Education Union’s Wellbeing Day, here in Adelaide, South Australia.
My topic was “The Power of Relaxation”. I offered an “East meets West” conversation about the consequences of stress. From a traditional Chinese medicine perspective repeated episodes of stress over a long period severely depletes our vital life energy or chi. The consequences of depleted chi and an imbalance of the yin and yang energies is a compromised immune system, injury, accidents, illness, early aging and volatile emotions.
Only when we are deeply relaxed does the body have an opportunity to heal and do our emotions become calm and balanced. Stress is a state, not an illness. When you are aware you are feeling stressed stop whatever you are doing check your breathing. Breathe to de-stress and BE in the moment. The advice from the East is that the least number of breaths you take per minute the calmer your mind will be. A calm mind promotes a healthy relaxed body and strong immune system.
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 13 September 2010 03:36 |
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Even though it has been there for over two years, I have only just discovered a great organic food café here in Adelaide called “Wild Thyme”. Located on Melbourne Street, North Adelaide it also includes an organic food store. I highly recommend it. They cater for all preferences - vegetarian, vegan and gluten free. The coffee is excellent too. Best feature for me are the quotes written all over the walls.
How’s this for a vision/mission statement?...
“We love happy hens, contented cows. We support busy earth worms, local suppliers and fair trade. We are passionate about organic food, a great earth and all things that bring us closer to nature”.
On the opposite wall among others is “As for butter versus margarine, I trust cows more than Chemists”.
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