Think Healthy Act Healthy Be Healthy Networking Evening (EVENT)

By Yael Stark

 

Think Healthy Act Healthy Be Healthy 's Health Practitioners Networking Evening

 

 I never used to like networking events; I used to find them useless for two main reasons;

1- I loved getting into a deep conversation with one person at a time so I ended up speaking with a small number of people and it left me with the feeling of 'I missed out'..

2- More often than not people were 'puking' their sales pitch on me, I must have done it myself too,  and I ended up going home with a 'never again' feeling.

Both reasons were a huge barrier to effective networking.

I was very fortunate to come across a dear friend who taught me about networking and how to overcome those two challenges, now I thoroughly enjoy networking.

The major lesson that helped me enormously was the golden rule- 'temporarily suspend all thoughts of personal gain.'  Bottom line of this rule- your wishes are not to be considered while you are listening to what other people are saying.. Ask yourself what can I give that person? rather than what can I gain from that person?

When you apply it, and don't get me wrong, it is hard, especially when you are so passionate about what you do and know it can change so many lives, magic happens; people stay longer to say goodbye to you and are eager to hear more from you.. I was dumbstruck the first time it happened to me.

So why write about networking when we are a health group? Well, THAHBH group consists of two main subgroups- Health Seekers and Health Practitioners.

Remember the group's mission? " Our mission is twofold: to help Health Seekers- members who want to better their mental, emotional and physical health, make well informed choices and to connect between Health Practitioners, who are aligned with our core values and are following our guidelines, and Health Seeking members. "

The first step to was to create our Practitioners' List where Health Seekers can read about the practitioners; not only about their coaching background, but also about their vision and how they view the world. The health practitioners that are on the list, were already informed about the event, now it is your turn.

The second step was to create this blog...

The third step was to network...

We have been networking in the past at events and over dinners but this time is different; this is our first (hurray) networking event only for our THAHBH's Health Practitioners. The evening is designed so we can meet one other, know what each practitioner does and how we can support one other- it is all about collaboration really.

I will also be explaining about 2014 projects to help the practitioners get the word out and connect with our Health Seekers.

We are meeting on Friday 4/4 at the Royal Festival Hall at 18:30

No Eventbrite link.. Email thinkhealthyacthealthybhealthy@gmail.com if you wish to attend.

Free to attend.


See you all there :)
Yael


Yael Stark, entrepreneur, passionate about Health, Ethical Business and Education, created Think Healthy Act Healthy Be Healthy ( THAHBH ) community back in October 2011 with the aim to help people understand the connection between mental, emotional and physical health, which she was privileged to experience from the age of 7 throughout her journey.

EQ-101:Taking Control of Your Feelings and Emotions. (EVENT)

By Matt Perelstein

                          

 

                        Have you ever heard the term "Emotional Intelligence"?
 

When I first heard those words back in the late 90's, I jumped for joy! FINALLY, a clear, understandable, self-explanatory way to describe what we'd been teaching for many years... and which has been the bane of my existence! I was so emotionally clueless as a kid (painfully shy, anti-social, accident prone), that when I found out that I wasn't actually 'crazy', that I didn't have 'psychological disorders' (well, maybe a few), but really what I 'had' was a severe lack of Emotional Intelligence (EQ)!
 

(SIDE NOTE: It's called EQ, even tho' it should be EI. Why? 'cause EQ makes sense to people when distinguishing it from IQ. They often immediately understand the concept (esp. if you can point to the left-side of your head vs. the right side of your head... and that's what we need... to make it super-clear, super-simple, and super-practical.)
 

When I first took an EQ-based weekend workshop 27 years ago called Understanding Yourself and Others, I found that what was REALLY a mess inside of me was my Feelings. That was super GOOD NEWS to me because I found that I/we can LEARN how to deal with our feelings, how to identify, accept and manage our feelings (EQ), balance them with our thoughts (IQ) and then make more informed decisions on what to do, say and be. Now, I am no longer a 'victim' to my feelings.... they no longer own me, control me and manage me... I can understand, accept and manage them! That was wonderful news, to a lost, powerless guy!
 

1. Defining EQ (1990's)
First, we had to define the concepts... "what is eq" is googled over 2M times each month... so we'd know what we're talking about. It's about being Heart Smart, as well as Head Smart. It's about using our right-brain, as well as our left-brain. It's about giving a damn about ourselves, others and our environment. It's about knowing ourselves, and creating the best for ourselves, in a way that brings people closer and everyone wins!
 

Components of EQ, include:

• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness
• Relationship Skills
• Responsible Decision-Making

2. EQ Research and Results (2000's)
Since then, EQ has started to gain momentum. EQ results must be scientifically proven, evidence-based interventions with measurable, verifiable and reproducible results. Thus statistically accurate EQ assessment tools were created to 'prove' that EQ really works.

 

It all started for me, when I found that I/we can heal and replace so much of our fear, anger and sadness... so we can live freer, happier, more successful lives.
 

Then, we found that, although our schools have been IQ-focused, and EQ-resistant, by adding EQ skills training helps increase pro-social behaviours: attitude, cooperation, focus, kindness and empathy, while decreasing anti-social behaviours: fights, truancy, bullying, vandalism, weapons and drugs... and, shockingly, a huge 5-year meta-study of over 200 school districts that had adopted EQ found that the all-important test-scores even went up by over 11% (EQ can actually improve IQ!).
 

Next, we found that EQ is awesome for businesses and organizations -- customer service, teamwork, leadership, HR departments, employee engagement, even sales and marketing -- can all be improved with simple, inexpensive, intuitive EQ training and practice.
 

Now, EQ has been shown to help in a VAST array of human existence -- improving mental health, physical health, families, parenting, teaching, relationships, communications, etc. and reducing crime, addictions, violence, suicide, abuse and others... helping the good get better and diminishing the bad.
 

3. Putting EQ to Use / Competencies (2010's)
Now, we're working on making the EQ tools as practical and useful as possible. There are a powerful set of 8 measureable competencies that can be learned, and mastered, to dramatically improve our life experience.
 

Do you want to know more about you, to reach your greatest potential?
Got issues from your past that are effecting you today?

Want to be able to understand, manage and ENJOY you, and your life?

Learn EQ. It's free, it's natural, it's universal, it's unlimited, and it works! (and did I mention that it's free?! yeah, I know, I have money/deserving issues, but still... it's FREE... as much as we want, any time we want).

I contend that teaching our kids EQ/SEL is schools is the #1 best possible thing we can do for their future, and ours.
 

I contend that EQ can, and will, change, and maybe save, our world from hatred, violence, war and hunger.
 

I believe that EQ is a semi-magical aspect of life that we are just discovering, and enjoying.
 

I think we can reach our goal for the largest project ever attempted by man... to teach 1 Billion people EQ by the year 2039.
 

EQ for inner peace.
EQ for world peace.

EQRocks!

 

Matt, 27 years an EQ instructor, is in row 14 on the Practitioenrs' List

 

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Valentine's Day - Everyday?

By Robert Stephenson

When I was a little boy I used to wish it would be Christmas Day everyday! Having all the family around, hanging out with older cousin, eating lots of lovely food, and of course the presents. Everyday would be magical, or so I thought back then, and as I grew older I realised that doing the same thing everyday, no matter how fantastic, would eventually loose its magic…

 

And this Valentines day got me thinking about this, this idea of having a great day everyday, sharing gifts and cards and chocolates with your loved one, and once again I had that thought about doing it everyday, and once again I thought that the magic would also disappear with the routine.

Or would it!

What would happen if you kept the magic alive? What would happen if you found a way to make each day a great day, each day a day full of love and giving and sharing? 

 

As a coach I am always working with clients to create new possibilities, new ideas, to go beyond their comfort zone and think outside the box, in order to create the life they want, in order to make those dreams and goals a reality.

 

So what would happen if we thought outside of the box with Valentines Day, what would happen if we challenged ourselves to create Valentines Day everyday?

 

How about hiding cards for our partner in their bag before they go to work, or sending flowers randomly to their office or home. Lighting candles at dinner and dimming the lights, lovely music in the background. Or what if you came home early and cooked a wonderful dinner, so it’s all ready and waiting for when your partner arrived, with a bath already run full of oils and bubbles?

 

Now perhaps you already do this, or have had ideas like this in the past, and if you already do it, awesome, and if you’ve thought of it, that's great too. And I guess if you are not doing it, perhaps you might give it a go and see what happens, I wonder what might be holding you back?  See how creating a special moment in the day for your partner impacts your relationship.

 

I wonder how we would feel, being treated in this way, with all that love going on, wouldn't it be wonderfully awesome :-)

 

And now I begin to think yeah, I could do that, and perhaps you think the same, and I then wonder, well what are all those wonderful things that my partner likes? Perhaps like me you know some of them, but not all! So what to do, well why not have a conversation, have a sit down with a notebook and ask your partner .

 

I think we often don't ask because we feel that we 'should' know all the answers and if we don't then that means we are not a good enough partner...I disagree, I think that a great partner finds out what you want and then finds ways to surprise you with it.

 

So in my quest for Valentines Day everyday, I say get a notebook, have a conversation, then find ways to share the love everyday doing something, however small or large, that will bring a loving smile to your partners face. 

 

Give it a go, see how you get on, enjoy the sharing and I'll get back to you about my thoughts on having Christmas everyday :-)

 

And if you need any help in putting this together, organising your thinking, or finding your way forward, book an appointment with me at the clinic and let’s 

make it happen together.

Robert is a Creative NLP Coach & Hypnotherapist and is in row 6 on our Practitioners' List

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Food For Love

By Yael Stark                      

Here are some ingredients for the perfect Valentine's Day meal..
All fruit, vegetables and herbs listed have libido boost properties: 
Avocado; Asparagus; Celery; Beetroot;Fennel; Ginger; Cayenne Pepper; Basil; Pumpkin seeds; Dark chocolate; Watermelon; Strawberries; Pomegranate  
 
And here are three quick and simple dishes to prepare. I have created them out of the ingredients listed above; super healthy, delicious that will energise and increase your stamina: 

Starter:

Toasted seeded bread

Tomato

Basil,

Red onion

Chili

Drizzled with:

Olive oil

Lemon

Ginger

Cayenne pepper

Main course ( you could always add meat on the side):

Rocket

Beetroot

Alfalfa

Avocado

Asparagus

Pumpkin seeds

Drizzled with:

Olive oil

Garlic

Lemon

Dessert:

On a bed of basil leaves:

Watermelon

Strawberries

Pomegranate 

Dipped and drizzled with Chocolate sauce 

Chocolate:

Mix:

Cocoa powder

Virgin Coconut oil

  Honey 

Happy Valentine's Day! 

With Love

Yael  

To detox or not to detox?

By  Angelique Panagos      
        

There is a lot of hype around the word “detoxification” at the moment – should we, shouldn't we? Is it healthy or are we harming our bodies? These are all really valid questions and concerns. After all, our bodies are designed to detoxify. Every day we neutralise and eliminate toxins through organs such as our liver, lymphatic system, colon, kidney, lungs, and our largest organ, the skin. It’s one of our most basic automatic functions!

When it comes to our overall health, fitness, and general well-being, it’s important that we take the best possible care of ourselves so that we can have the best possible chance of a healthy, happy and prosperous life. Despite this however, many of us unfortunately make certain lifestyle decisions which directly and indirectly harm our health. Take diet for instance; worldwide obesity levels recently reached an all-time high, this alone should tell us that something is not right. People are eating and drinking way too much junk  “food like” products and not getting enough exercise. Other choices such as drinking excessive alcohol or smoking is also affecting our health, pumping our bodies full of additional toxins and other harmful chemicals. Truth be told, toxins and harmful chemicals are everywhere. They’re in the air we breathe, the foods we eat, and the beverages which we drink.

To help give your body a break from these chemicals and toxins, a detox can be beneficial. Many healing experts have confirmed that following a special guided cleansing programme can help our self-cleaning system and may help alleviate immune-deficiency diseases.

So why Detox?

Give your digestive system a well earned rest
Every single day, we eat foods which our digestive system has to break down and digest, before processing it and eliminating the waste products. If you had to work hard constantly every day, you’d soon become tired and would possibly even not be able to function. Just the same as you need a holiday your body needs a break too. Some of the most common symptoms of toxic build-up within the body are digestive complaints like bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhoea and acid reflux. By eliminating the additional toxins and heavy load caused by alcohol, sugar, smoking, processed food like products and fried foods you are reducing the amount your digestive system needs to do. Having instead nutrient rich, clean food you are lending a helping hand by ensuring your body has the right nutrients to cleanse by deactivating toxins or removing them.

Help flush toxins from your body
As the name suggests, the main benefits of a detox is to remove harmful toxins and chemicals from your body. These toxins, found in junk (food), pollution, and other sources too, are extremely dangerous and can potentially cause serious illnesses, especially when we take in toxins faster than they can be eliminated. They have the potential to poison you, or cause your cells to mutate and change their molecular structure, which could eventually lead to them becoming cancerous. Regular cleansing helps you fight off illness and disease as you flush these toxins from your body. This gives your body the space to rebuild healthy tissues and regain energy, lose weight, have radiant skin and strong hair and nails.

Strengthen your immune system
Another important benefit of a detox, even if your diet is good, is that it can help boost and restore your immune system. On a detox, you pump your body full of natural vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, all of which are proven to help strengthen the immune system and immune responses. As we know the stronger an immune system is, the less likely you are to become ill.

Stepping stone into healthy eating
A well designed cleansing and nourishing programme can be a stepping stone into a healthier “eating” way of life. Once you remove the toxins, break unhealthy eating habits, you can easily continue with a healthier way of eating all the time!
If you would like to know more have a look at my Cleanse and Nourish metabolic detox .

Nourishing well wishes,

Angelique.

Consult your doctor or health care practitioner for any health problems, before embarking on any new health regimes, using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications or food programmes.


Angelique Panagos, Nutritional Therapist in London 


Angelique has an immense passion for the healing power of food. “The food we eat affects every cell in the body, making the difference between feeling 'all right' and feeling 'great'!” As a devoted foodie and health enthusiast Angelique will inspire you to make the changes needed for you own health and vitality!
Angelique completed her training as a Nutritional Therapist at the renowned Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION) in London. Angelique is registered and regulated by the British Association for Applied Nutritional Therapy (BANT) and is a member of The Complimentary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC).

Angelique is in row 36 on our Practitioners' List

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The Liver In Harmony And Disease

By Lynn DeBuhr Johnson

The Five Elements system of the ancient Chinese serves as an aid for understanding the limitless correspondences that pervade every facet of life. The Five Elements is a diagnostic step toward unification of the person, including the internal organs, emotions, body parts, and environment, linking these with five dynamic categories that empower and control one another. The Five Elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water

The liver is a Wood-Element organ, and is perhaps the most congested of all organs in the modern person. Too much fat, chemicals, intoxicants, and denatured food all disrupt the hundreds of intricate biochemical processes of the liver. Traditional Chinese physiology tells us that the healthy liver establishes a smooth and soothing flow of energy through the whole person, in both body and mind. When the liver is harmonious, there is never stress or tension. People with vital livers are calm; they also have unerring judgment and can be naturally effective as leaders and decision-makers. When obstructed, stagnant, or overheated, the energy flow in the liver and throughout the body is hampered, resulting in myriad physical and emotional problems.
There are both emotional as well as physical symptoms of a liver imbalance. One of the first signs of liver disharmony is emotional difficulty related to anger: impatience, frustration, resentment, violence, belligerence, rudeness, edginess, arrogance, stubbornness, aggression, and an impulsive and/or explosive personality. When these emotions are repressed without an opportunity for transformation, they cause depression. Mood swings as well as emotional excesses in general are liver-related.

Numerous signs exist on a physical level, ranging from the superficial and subtle to the deeper and obvious. In order to recognize the signs and the imbalances they represent, let us now look at the most prevalent liver syndrome and the dietary principles for resolving it.

The most common syndrome of the liver is liver stagnation. Many liver conditions involve excess of one kind or another. The most frequent kind occurs when too much food is eaten – especially rich, greasy food – and the liver becomes swollen and sluggish in its attempt to circulate qi energy smoothly through the body. The qi then stagnates in the liver and is not properly distributed.

Since it is qi that guides the flow of fluids and nourishment, swelling occurs in certain areas of the body when the liver is swollen and its qi is stagnant. (Swelling is a sign of excess.) The most common locations of swelling are near the liver/gall bladder acupuncture meridians or other liver-related regions. The thyroid gland, for example, governs how fast fats are burned by the body, and it is often thought in Western physiology to be related to the liver. When the liver is stagnant, a lump may be felt in the throat, even though one cannot physically be found; when a goiter exists (an enlarged thyroid, visible as a swelling at the front of the neck), this is also a sign of a congested liver. The chest or abdomen may also become distended, or the breasts enlarged. Swellings or lumps can occur in the neck, groin, sides of the body, and the lateral portion of the thighs. In addition, accumulations such as tumors and cancerous growths are liver-related, although the mass itself is considered a form of pathogenic dampness which generally indicates spleen-pancreas imbalance.

The liver rules the tendons and eyes. When qi energy and fluid flows in the body are deficient, then the tendons are not “moistened” and can easily tear, become inflamed, or cause unusual contract or weakness in their related muscles. A common result of these conditions is an inflexible and rigid body.

Likewise, the eyes become inflamed, swollen, or pulled out of focus by the muscles that control them. Since the liver acupuncture meridian passes through and thereby influences the tissues surrounding the eyes, the eyes are directly affected by the liver in many ways. Cataracts, glaucoma, inflamed, red or dry eyes, night blindness, excessive tearing, near- or far-sightedness, and other visual abnormalities basically mirror the condition of the liver.

Many writers and therapists who teach vision correction suggest a dietary method that has proved beneficial for most Westerners at least partly because of its remedial effect on the liver. It includes primarily vegetarian food, with an emphasis on fresh raw vegetables and sprouts. One is advised to undereat and to take the last meal of the day in the afternoon. Eating moderate amounts of food and avoiding late meals allows the liver and gall bladder ample time to prepare for regeneration during their four-hour cycle of peak energy defined by the Chinese Clock – from 11:00 p.m. To 3:00 a.m.

From this perspective, the qi energy of raw food does stimulate the energy flow of a stagnant liver. In fact, the B vitamin known as folic acid is considered by some researchers as the quintessential nutrient in the correction of myopia. This vitamin is also the most heat-sensitive and so is available only in raw food; it is found in abundance in green leafy vegetables and all sprouts.

The liver stores and purifies the blood. The liver is said to be in charge of the storage of the blood, allowing more blood into circulation during periods of greater activity. While in storage, the blood is processed and purified. However, if the liver is stagnant, then blood purification may be inadequate, leading to the release of toxins through the skin. Impure blood is a cause of acne, eczema, carbuncles, boils, acidosis, and allergies; in addition, toxic blood feeds all degenerative conditions, including cancer and arthritis.

If the storage of blood malfunctions, the menses may be overabundant, irregular, scant, or lacking entirely. These last three can occur as a result of insufficient liver blood. Other signs of such a liver blood deficiency syndrome may include anemia, general bodily dryness, tendon/ligament/muscle spasms or numbness (blood lubricates and nourishes the tissues), pale fingernail beds and face, and spots in the visual field. In many problems with the liver, its blood and yin fluids in general are low and need to be enriched. The spleen-pancreas and kidneys also cause problems with the blood, its production, and the flow of menstrual blood.

Longstanding liver stagnancy wears down the system. Taxed with excess, an expanded liver continually struggles toward balance, and thus generates heat. In fact, most heat signs in people with a rich diet are related to liver excess. Liver heat symptoms are fueled by the overconsumption of intoxicants, fats, meats, cheese, and eggs. Even though these concentrated foods are not all warming, heat develops as they block the normal functioning of the liver, and this blocking/stagnating effect occurs most often when these foods predominate in the diet. Liver heat exhibits general heat signs (aversion to heat, red tongue with yellow coating, constipation, great desire for cold fluids), as well as those that are specific to the liver: inflamed eyes, anger, headaches )especially migraine), dizziness, and/or high blood pressure.

In order to reduce stagnancy or heat, the kidneys - “mother of the liver” - must produce extra yin fluids, which this case act as a coolant and decongestant. If the liver never rests from a state of congestion, neither do the kidneys rest, and eventually the kidney yin function weakens. A liver yin deficiency syndrome and the resulting minor heat signs develop as the yin of the liver diminishes and the kidneys strain to increase yin fluid production. Signs of such “deficiency heat” include any of the general deficient yin symptoms: fresh red tongue and cheeks, small but frequent thirst, hot palms and soles, and insomnia; when lack of yin specifically affects the liver, additional symptoms may include irritability, dry eyes, nervousness, and depression.

Sometimes (excess) heat and deficiency heat coexist in the liver, with signs of heat appearing in one area of the body, and deficiency heat appearing elsewhere. If this occurs, you need t use not only cooling foods but also those which support the capacity of the kidneys to produce yin fluids.


Resources:

Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine, Harriet Beinfield and Efrem Korngold. New York: Ballantine Books, 1992.

The Tao of Healthy Eating: Dietary Wisdom According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, Bob Flaws. Boulder, CO: Blue Poppy Press, 1998.


Lynn is a certified health coach who graduated from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She is also a macrobiotic chef and advised and coached many clients for years.


Lynn is in row 38 on our Practitioners' List

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