Promote your Wellness by reducing stress!

Plan ahead!

Did you know? 75-90% of human health disorders is related to the activation of stress system!! (Liu, Want & Jiang, 2017)
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The festive season is just around the corner! Somehow it can be a rather stressful 'holiday' season, too. It is also a time for a reflection looking back this year, what we have achieved and looking into a new year… Just like planning for the festive season's activities, it’s good to have a health (physical & mental) plan so that we can manage life easier! Have you thought of your monthly & weekly health plan by any chance? 
It is well-established by many clinical studies that stress is associated with the body losing its ability to regulate the inflammatory response and elevate inflammatory activity (Slavich & Irwin, 2014). 75-90% of human health disorders is related to the activation of stress system (Liu, Want & Jiang, 2017). It affects neuroendocrine; “stress hormone” release and suppresses the immune system (Liu, Want & Jiang, 2017; Quan & Banks, 2007). The imbalance of immune system and stress induced inflammation can lead to chronic low-grade inflammation resulting in various chronic illness such as cardiovascular diseases including hypertension and atherosclerosis, metabolic diseases e.g. diabetes, obesity, psychotic and neurodegenerative disorders such as depression, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, as well as various cancer (Liu, Want & Jiang, 2017; Slavich & Irwin, 2014). Of course inflammation is multifactorial and genetic predisposition, age and life style can also influence (Liu, Want & Jiang, 2017), however what if we can do something about reducing stress, would that help our health? 

Reflexology is one of the top complementary medicine in the UK (McCullough et al, 2014) though it looks to be it is not as widely utilised in Australia as yet. Although scientific evidence is still catching up with anecdotal evidence backed up with a long history (many centuries) of practice, a systematic review concluded “a number of factors are at work, both of a physiological and psychological nature and that reflexology is what it attests to be, a treatment that seeks to enhance and harmonise the mind, body, and spirit” (McCullough et al, 2014). Another systematic review stated: Reflexology is effective for general well-being maintenance, treatment of chronic diseases and stress (Embong et al, 2015).
As you know well, reflexology is like having an induced meditation & a full body maintenance while parts of your body (foot or face) are worked on in the safe space. Such a delicious profound deep healing moment... After your treatment, you will feel relaxed, energised and centred... Remember that blissful feelings?! 

Now is a great opportunity to plan your year, your month and your week! Make a start, bring on some professional support for your team and commit to it! Create your health routine and structure your week, that is vital to a centred, balanced and successful everyday life! It can all start with maintaining our health by reducing stress!
Please take care of yourself by making sure to have a time for yourself everyday no matter how little & plan your treatment sessions for your health including self-reflexology! If we wish to be kind to others, own self is a good place to start with. 

May your holiday season be blessed with happiness, love and health. Also sending you much love and healing to those who are grieving too. Warmest blessings with much gratitude...

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