Health & Wellness
(& Self Respect)
This week I created a new web page on Health and Wellness specifically. One client told me he has Health & Wellness built into his employment contract. He asked if I could invoice his employer for a pack of 12 sessions. So, I’ve done that and made the facility available for others to access for their workplaces if desired – you can now purchase 4, 12 or 18 session packs.
On the new page I quoted the following lines from the well-known Vietnamese Buddhist, Thich Nhat Hanh:
“Our body should be treated with the utmost respect.
When we touch someone else’s body, we touch their mind and their soul.”
You are welcome to check out the page to explore the H & W concept as it relates to bodywork.
However, one aspect I wanted to expand on today relates to the first line in particular. Not only should others treat our body with respect, but so should we.
Often in this busy life we put ourselves second because of the demands of family, work, finances… But also we get lazy. It’s easier to relax with another glass of wine than to take that evening walk. Or to sleep in an hour longer when the pool or gym beckons. Or to eat too much of what we know is bad for us. Why do we disrespect our bodies, when we know better?
Cut yourself some slack though. Keep your sanity, do what you need to get through, then reset over the break and respect yourself more in 2024.
For a different perspective I’ll leave you with a quote from Candace Pert from her book, The Molecules of Emotion:
‘Aim for emotional wholeness. When you're upset or feeling sick, try to get to the bottom of your feelings. Figure out what's really eating you. Always tell the truth to yourself. Find appropriate, satisfying ways to express your emotions. And if such a prescription seems too challenging, seek professional help to feel better. I believe the alternative or complementary therapies are a form of professional help much less likely to do harm and more likely to do good than conventional approaches. They work by shifting our natural balance of internal chemicals around, so we can feel as good as possible. They are often particularly helpful for alleviation of the many chronic maladies that currently have no good medical solutions.
‘Consciously and lovingly acknowledge each family member before sleep. That is, say goodnight. Don't program your bodymind with images of death, destruction, and the bizarre before retiring. Translation: Never wind down with the nightly news. Instead, try a book, a relaxing hobby, a hot bath, or even light housework.
‘Last, but definitely not least, health is much more than the absence of illness. Live in an unselfish way that promotes a feeling of belonging, loving kindness, and forgiveness. Living like this promotes a state of spiritual bliss that truly helps to prevent illness. Wellness is trusting in the ability and desire of your bodymind to heal and improve itself given half a chance. Take responsibility for your own health and illness. Delete phrases like, "My doctor won't let me. or, "My doctor says I have [name of condition], and there is really nothing I can do” from your speech and thought patterns. Avoid unscientific beliefs about your need for medications and operations’.
Email Newsletter Hyperlinks
I’m no longer going to use hyperlinks in my email newsletters. However, I will use them for links within my website only, if you are reading from the website (as you are here).
As you may know hyperlinks are increasingly used in scam emails. Plus many email gateways are siphoning emails containing these links off to spam folders. So if you haven’t seen an email newsletter from me for a while, that may be the reason. From now on I’ll point you to web links either by describing them, or asking you to copy a url to your web browser. If you want to!
This will be my last newsletter until February - which is shaping up as a VERY exciting month! 😉
Media Corner
As Media Corner was using links to external websites, I’ve decided to discontinue it. However, you could go google Aretha singing R-E-S-P-E-C-T if you like!
Pro Bono Days
Ngaio - Tuesday 12 December
Upper Hutt - Wednesday 13 December
Please share my website, or this page, with anyone you know that may benefit. Or click on this link to book now.
With caring and kindness,
Rhys Dwyer
If you know anyone, from kids up who maybe struggling with body-held tension, energy levels, stress, anxiety, or choices, then please ask them to check me out. Bodywork and present moment awareness may just make a big difference.
Note that bodywork is always complimentary to prudent medical care.