Seasons Greetings

Can you believe that Christmas is only a week away? This year has flown by so quickly that even the children are complaining that they don’t have enough time.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for supporting Body & Spine Align throughout the past year. My purpose is to bring health, healing and life balance to as many people as possible. With your help that dream is being realised. I hope I have made it easier for you to realise some of your dreams too.

Laughter is the Best Medicine

A curious cat takes a bath unexpectedly. Only a short Video. Hope you enjoy it.

The New VibroGym Studio

The main reason for moving to 78 Macrossan Avenue was to accommodate the VibroGym studio. There is a quaint garage in the back yard that is perfect for the Vibrogym studio. It has lots of natural light, a great view of the garden and chickens, high ceilings and air-conditioning for those stiflingly hot days. Not that we have had many so far. There is room for another Vibrogym machine when the need arises.

It is a great space so the transition has been a great success.

Every morning, as everyone finished their workout routine, we have a refreshing cup of tea made with superb quality teas supplied by a local company Tour De Tea. The all time favourites are Panjabi Chai, Genmaecha, Raspberry Vanilla Rooibos.

6 ways to stay fit this Christmas

Get outdoors

People who exercise outdoors are more likely to stick to a program. It can get hot, so early mornings and late afternoons are ideal for getting a bit of exercise outdoors.

Take the kids to the park with a Frisbee, kite or ball and get active with them.
Go bush with the dog and get some varied terrain. Nature always turns on a good show.
Try a bike ride. Brisbane has so many bike tracks now and many of them are picturesque
Get wet and paddle a bit. Swimming, paddling a canoe or raft can be a lot of fun

Drink Up

Yes you read right. Drink up… at least 2 litres of filtered water every day, especially if you are out and about. Marginal dehydration slows your metabolism. So by staying well hydrated you will be burning fat. Water also satisfies hunger pangs.

Have a large glass of water 20-30 minutes before eating.
Avoid drinking water with your meal as it dilutes the stomach acid and makes your digestion sluggish.
Adding the juice of ½ a lemon or lemon oil to your water will help detox your system and keep everything moving well, which helps weight loss. It is also much more refreshing than plain water.

Size Matters

Studies show that we are putting more on our plates each meal. This may be one reason we are becoming an obese nation. Size Does matter. Try using a smaller plate and smaller eating utensils to encourage you to eat smaller meals. For example, try a teaspoon for soup and desserts. They will make the pleasure and flavour of the treat last twice as long.

Keep Moving

When you are with friends and family, keep your body moving. Dancing, singing, clapping hands and even laughing will all burn calories and send happy thoughts to your brain that creates endorphins (the happy hormone). Endorphins help us stay young and healthy. And its loads more fun than sitting and listening to Uncle Bob’s jokes again.

Go for colour

We are very fortunate that we have such a large variety of foods to choose from. When you are roaming the buffet go for colourful food. Not the artificial coloured type. Colourful foods are full of antioxidants and essential vitamins and minerals that fight free radicals. Free radicals are created when we eat too much sugar, starch and alcohol. I know none of you will be doing that.

Pile your plate with green salads, bright fruits and vegetables. See how many colours your can eat in one meal. If you eat 80% colour you will be doing your metabolism a favour. Colourful food is usually rich in fibre too so it keeps you feeling satisfied for longer.

Supplement with good oils

Omega-3 essential fatty acids are known to reduce bad behaviour by 34% in prisoners. Amazing hey? Omega-3 oils reduce inflammation like gout, arthritis, asthma and eczema. All of which can play havoc with your fun at this time of year. It is also linked to reducing depression and stress and improving memory. So start now and get a good daily dose into you, your spouse and the children so you all have a happy holiday season.

Holiday Closure

This year I will be taking a longer break than usual over the Christmas period to catch up with friends and family from out of town. Therefore the practice will be closed from 6pm Friday 23^rd December until 6am Monday 9^th January 2012.

If you get into strife during that time please feel free to call 0429030111 and leave a message with my message service and I will return your call as soon as I am available. Many problems can be addressed over the phone.

The joy of giving and receiving

The tradition at this time of year is to give. We give our time as well as gifts.

We are a very affluent society and most of us have more than we need. This makes gift giving expensive and difficult.

If you would like to do something different and give a sustainable gift, you could consider giving a goat, duck, chicken or lamb through www.oxfamunwrapped.com.au. It costs $39.00 to give a sustainable gift to a village or family where it will be really appreciated.

Another option is www.kiva.org , an organization that allows people to lend money via the Internet to micro finance institutions and individuals to start profitable projects. It only costs $25 and the money gets repaid to you. It can then be reinvested in other projects that you like. You choose the person or project where your money is lent and you can watch the progress of their venture and repayment plan.

Stay Sun Safe

Even with the overcast weather it is easy to get sunburnt in summer in Australia. Be sensible and stay out of the midday sun. Limit your time of exposure and cover up. Hats and sunnies make life much more comfortable too.

Stay safe on the roads and I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year.