Complementary Therapies

New Year means a new start for many people – the start of a clean page in the book of life coupled with a myriad of promises to self to be better at looking after oneself.

I know, we are all guilty of this and most of us are equally guilty at not keeping those well meant promises for longer than just a few days (or in some cases it does manage to get to a few weeks before the enthusiasm peters out)

So, why not go about this in a way that makes it easier to keep those promises.  If we did not throw ourselves into the new way with such a ‘gung ho’ attitude and instead just gently eased ourselves into it and slowly made it a part of our regular routine it would be far easier to keep it going and to actually enjoy it.

I mean come on now – we start by going to the gym and go maybe 3 or 4 times a week which for most folk really is not a reasonable long term thing.  If however, we committed to going once or maybe twice if times permits and not only that commit to going on the same day at the same time so that it does become a routine.  Surely this is far easier to maintain?

Having been a therapist for almost 20 years I see this in clients year in and year out.  I see it in them as they try to lose weight, get fit and even to look after themselves by having a regular massage or reflexology session just once a month.

I see having a treatment once a month not as a luxury where people are seen to be ‘treating’ themselves but I see it as an essential part of body, mind and spirit maintenance.  this is very valuable time where the outside world is put to one side albeit just for an hour.  The muscles are given the opportunity to relax and stretch, the body is given time to regroup and rebalance, and most importantly the subconcious mind is given the opportunity to come through and be heard as the incessantly chattering concious mind is stilled and quietened.

Complementary therapies are often given a bad press (usually by people who have absolutely no idea what they are talking about any way), but look at it this way.  If you are ill and your Dr prescribes you a drug then this may work or it may not work (you try it and see and you may even get a few nasty unwanted side effects as an extra thrown in), same goes for complementary therapies.  They all work but not for everyone and for everything.  You have to find which works best for you and discount the rest.  Come on now you have got a huge choice from reflexology to reiki to hot stones massage …..

The best form of investment in yourself is not new clothes or a new bag but by spending on your ‘whole’ wellbeing to keep you body mind and spirit in tip top balance and form.