New promo images/messages

After what seems an age, I've finally worked out how to use a basic image editing programme (I am not that much of a tech type to be honest).  The results are included below; hope you like them, constructive criticism welcomed.  Each one is getting better with practice.

Muscle pain & anxiety

Over doing it at the gym, bad posture, illness, DOMS are all causes of muscular pain and tension that my clients seem to readily know about, but when you ask them about their stress levels, over half I would say cannot make the link between their levels of stress and feelings of anxiousness until I have talked them through it.

Clients can complain of being achey and tired for no reason; they aren't sick, they don't really exercise, the doctor has said there is nothing wrong but still they feel like they've been ran over by a bus, so it must be something quite serious, so they get more stressed & anxious and on and on it goes.  As I've mentioned in previous posts, our mind has a great tendency to mirror itself in our bodies and vice versa.  This is all results in a huge accumulation of tension both physically and psychologically.

What I see with such clients is a reluctance to make a connection, how can something that you can't see affect your physical well being?  I explain that, yes this massage will relax you and ease your tense muscles in the short term, unless you tackle the root cause ie your stress/anxiety no amount of massage is going to see you rid of your tension/pain/discomfort long term.  In the past I used to see former clients in the street and they'd tell me firstly that they didn't think massage worked for them as they still felt like they had tense muscles afterwards, then give me a long list of "calamities" and dramas in their life that had stressed them out etc.

For anxious & stressed clients, massage can a short term solution, by offering an opportunity to dull the overactive mind for an hour, release tension in muscles and regular treatments can only benefit the body but it cannot be a miracle cure that one visit will sort out.  The only way to treat symptoms of anxiety, whether it is a sore body or an obsessive mind, is to treat the cause of the symptoms, the condition whether by having therapy, seeing a gp and talking about the anxiety that is proving so troublesome, seeking help and finding the power & strength to overcome it.  

Contact Michael on 07794084666 to discuss having a treatment or if you have anxieties about having one in general. He will be happy to chat with you and work with you to achieve a solution.

1 way to explain alcoholism

Most of us love a drink from time to time, or a glass or 2 at night before bedtime while others only have a tipple when they go out socially.  Then there are individuals who drink greater quantities than this, and over time this can become a problem and an addiction.  As a kid, I remember having a crafty swig from a bottle of woodpecker cider as I liked the bubbles but I think at that age i was oblivious to what alcohol was.  Also, my mum would occasionally allow me a sip of her Dubonnet, or whiskey or Martini if we were out.

I was about 17/18 when I started drinking socially on a regular basis.  Since then I have varied from being a heavy drinker to being a tea totaller.  Twice in my life alcohol has been a problem.  Some 11 years ago, after a series of alcoholic blackouts where I became quite violent, my partner laid me an ultimatum to seek help.  I paid one visit to Alcoholics Anonymous; it scared me into being sober for months and have never had a violent episode since.  Last year I noticed myself losing control again and sought help from a local organisation, Last Orders, who helped me achieve a balance and clarity over what i was drinking and how it was making me feel and act and seek the reasons to these feelings.  Today, I still drink most days, but unlike before I am aware of the fact and can stop myself before it gets out of hand and I start down the road to being unable to remember anything of the night before.

Whilst at Last Orders, I was given an insightful article on some scientific evidence that had been unearthed that medically highlighted changes in the brain of alcoholics.   The research was done by Andrew Eisenhauer and was based on the writings of a Dr David L Ohlms in "The disease concept of alcoholism".  I have shortened it down somewhat but it makes interesting reading.

Research into alcoholism by the medical community has been ongoing for years by an intriguing discovery was made by accident.  A Texan scientist researching cancer in humans, Virginia Davis, used human brains to assist her work, namely discovered deceased alcoholics on the city's streets.  From dissecting the brains she found a substance commonly associated with the use of heroin in the brain tissue, THIQ(tetrahydroisoquinoline).  Knowing that the bulk of these alcoholics would not have the cash to buy booze & drugs she decided to investigate further.

QUICK BIOLOGY LESSON!

A normal adult processes alcohol at one unit per hour. Alcohol converted into  subtance called Acetaldehyde, which is usually removed by the body naturally by converting it into acetic acid(vinegar), then carbon dioxide then water. So we breathe it out, and pee it away! This also happens in an alcoholic too....sort of.

Virginia Davis discovered that in an alcoholic, a small amount of Acetaldehyde remains in the body where it goes to the brain and over time is converted into THIQ. This does not happen to the occasional social drinker.  THIQ has been found to be highly addictive.  During WW2, it was used as a painkiller, hoping it would be less addictive than morphine; they were wrong.  

Experiments using rats, who naturally avoid alcohol, were injected with THIQ, and given a weak solution of vodka & water. These rats drank the alcohol solution rather than plain water.  A similar study using monkeys, produced similar results.  Once in the brain THIQ does not break down or go away, so 7 years after the experiment, the deceased monkeys brains were examined, and yes, the THIQ was there.

Studies have shown too that looking at an alcoholics family tree usually reveals a history of drinking, a predispostion to it, an abnormality in body chemistry to produce THIQ.

No one intends to become an alcoholic or produce THIQ when they start drinking nor do we know which of us has this internal blueprint to become one.  It is a process that gradually builds over time, as each drink slowly means a tiny amount of the addictive THIQ is formed and builds up within the brain.  At some point the influence of THIQ takes control and social drinker slowly moves to an alcoholic based personality.  Once this line has been crossed, the alcoholic is as addicted to drink as a drug addict is to heroin, cocaine etc, all from a perfectly legal substance in a society that readily promotes alcohol use.  

Interesting stuff, eh?  Again there are numerous factors associated with alcoholism, but I did found this very informative and wanted to share with you all.

MB

What can we do to slow down ageing?

Mechanisms of ageing(and what can be done to slow it down.)

As much as we all try to deny it (and I am one of them), the ageing of the body,its organs and functions is an unavoidable fact of life.  Knowledge of its effects becomes all the more apparent as each year passes and as age life expectancy increases, will become more widespread and visible to the public consciousness.

The normal ageing of body tissue is a natural, physiological, progressive and irreversible process.  No matter how much botox you pump into yourself to remain looking younger, the inside of the body, if opened up is still going to look like an old person! This is due to 

• Genetic Factors; our genes determine how fast we will age, our lifespan (the maximum age so far is 120 years).  
• Free Radicals; Unstable molecules which carry an electric ion are present briefly at the end of a chemical reaction within cells in the body.  They stick to, and damage proteins, cellular membranes and genetic material.  This process accelerates ageing if there are too many free radicals in the body.
• Other factors include immunity to disease, hormonal reductions within the body, diet, exercise, smoking,  environment( exposure to sunlight) are examined as causes of the variable speed of ageing.

Without dwelling too much on the physical and psychological effects that present themselves too (hardening of the arteries, blood pressure, thinning of the skin, digestion problems, loss of memory/dementia, depression, anxiety) ageing reads as a long list of negatives waiting round the corner to mug us and run away with our youth and vitality.

I think we need to start taking note of what many older people are currently doing in their later years, and that is not taking it lying down and continuing to enjoy their life rather than just accepting their lot, giving up and dying.  


Many seniors enjoy full active lives, and this keeps them busy & occupied which in turn keeps them healthy and energised.  Trying new things, travelling, taking up new hobbies and interests all add  to the value of their lives and keeps the brain active, reducing the speed of degeneration.  There are so many activities for Active Seniors out there now, it is not a bleak desert paving the way to Deathsville as was faced previously by earlier generations.   I have many clients well into their 60's, 70's and 80's who are so active I am shocked at what they get up to; parachuting, travelling the world, learning to ride a motorbike and these are just the ladies!  


They are also aware of taking care of their bodies;  They themselves take care of the inside, yet come to me to take care of the outside be it massage of achy bones and muscles after an evening of jitter bugging at age 75, or a collagen facial to plump out the skin and increase cellular regeneration to soften the appearance of fine lines.  These clients are not stupid;they know they wont look like a teenager after an hour treatment but the mental boost they get makes them feel younger and gives them an energy that is very infectious.  Of course, the younger you start in taking care of yourself, the effects of ageing can be lessened, masked however you want to phrase it.  The key is you are never too old to try something new or go somewhere different.  


Massages begin from £25, facials from £26, treat an older person in your life for some TLC, they'll love you for it.  0779 408 4666

NG2 Studio

I thought it time I posted a few pics showing the new workspace at my home. Located on the first floor, next year we are hoping to have a balcony/sun terrace to walk out onto.  The room, when time allows will get a few pictures put up and a some other fixtures & fittings to complement the colours & decor.

The room is a very quiet and relaxing space.  I can offer massage treatments here with the exception of Chair Massage but a similar Indian Head Treatment is available.  I also offer Spray Tan treatments here too.  I can treat clients here Monday to Wednesday day time, and Monday to Friday evenings up to 8pm. 

Here is a link to google maps showing whereabouts I am; https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

As at Little London, payments are cash/cheques only.

Hope to see you soon.

My fat loss story

As those of you who follow me on Facebook or Twitter(@synergymichael if you are interested), the last 6 months have seen me shed almost 12kg of unwanted flab!  I'm now being asked on a regular basis how I did it and what what my secret is, and I'm embarrassed really cos to be honest,on the surface, I haven't done that much different.  Now I am finding my  loss is inspiring others, which is great, but apart from a few little tweaks here and there to my diet, I'm still basically eating foods I've always liked, and having a glass or 2 of wine in an evening and still achieving my goals.

So what prompted me to start losing the weight?  As someone who has always attended some gym or fitness club since the early 90's, I was of the mindset that I could eat what I liked cos I trained hard, so I must burn it all off. 

Over the years, yes I have gone up a few sizes in jeans, but you know I'm fit, I go to fitness classes, I must be building muscle. Friends & colleagues compliment you on how good you are looking cos you work out and eat fairly sensibly so the fact that I don't like seeing my body in tight clothing any more is not an admission of getting bigger, but a realisation that I'm getting older and dressing more age appropriate. Yes, my tummy does wobble a little bit and I don't like looking at myself in the mirror and I've bought a pair of Gok slimming pants for men, still does not mean I have a problem.  I was well and truly in denial. My other half even says that I need to lose a few pounds which I take as a personal attack. What does he know, he doesn't even train that often, I do, and I'm ok.  

What set my mind off that I was fighting a losing battle with the flab came after the International Fitness Convention at Blackpool in March.  All those fab looking fit people everywhere, me with my fleece on covering up my stomach despite it being a scorcher of a weekend, not because I was fat, but I had my business details on the back!  I saw a picture of myself taken with some friends, and the first thing I thought to myself was "FFS! You are a fat bastard!" Not as in huge but so unlike how I thought I was looking in my head.

Me on the left with friends at IFS March 2012. 

What happened then was a few weeks of "I'll start making a difference on Monday", Sunday would arrive the following week, "Oh tomorrow, for sure" etc etc.  A dear friend then put me onto a free app for my phone called myfitnesspal, which allowed you to monitor your exercise, food & drink intake, and stay below an agreed amount of calories.  Being slightly sceptical at the best of times, I downloaded it and thought I'd give it a try for a few days.  It has a bit of social media attached to it as well so would fit in with my Facebook/Twitter routine.  I have used it everyday since without fail; it has changed the way I view food, what I'm putting in, how I exercise etc.  The weight began to gradually come off, 1-2 lbs a week, I was amazed but thought it wouldn't last.  As the weeks progressed, others started to notice a distinct change in my shape which spurred me on.  I began to alter the way I exercised, and take on board nutritional advice from experts on twitter and whom I know personally such as Rachel Holmes and her clean eating/Kick start Fat Loss programme & introducing short high intensity workouts into my gym stuff on top of the other classes I was doing.  No longer was I downing loads of toast and low fat cereals for breakfast, I was, for example, having a chicken omelette.  Lunch- bye bye a good old fashioned plate of fish fingers or fish cakes, I was tuna steaks and veg.  I binned all the low fat/low sugar/fat free foods after watching a series of programmes on BBC2 due to the hidden sugars/chemicals etc in them. These programmes were both enlightening & frightening.  I have virtually given up bread as well as my all time fave baked beans, just to reduce the constant bloating I was experiencing. My incidences of attacks of IBS have reduced too.

So here I am, in October, 25lbs lighter, 5 inches off my waist, wearing clothes that have been sat idly in the loft for the best part of 10 years, feeling much better about myself (yes I think some of my anxiety issues were due in part to my weight but refused to admit to them as I couldn't look at myself).  A health check last month, told me I am at an ideal weight for my height & build and age, my risk of heart disease, diabetes etc is almost negligible and that I was fitter than I was 14 years ago!  This got me to thinking, how bad would it have been if i hadn't had that photo taken months before and kept my head buried in the sand!  Still, moving forward, I intend to continue with the app, the cleaner eating, the training more sensibly;I wish to lose another 8-10lbs for myself and prove that I can do it, not because I have to.  I put another one of my sources of anxiety and confidence bashers to bed this week;  Because i subconsciously knew I was bigger than I liked, I would never venture into the gym swimming pool.  10 years passed of paying for it and not using it.  6 years had passed since I'd swam anywhere, the last being at my cousins' pool in Memphis in 2006, and that had been a struggle to take my kit off in the Tennessee heat for fear of having to look at myself or anyone else having to also.

Here we are again at Big One North, September 2012

With the legendary Rachel Holmes after another 2 classes at Virginactive Nottingham

  

Several Mondays ago I finally did it, I went swimming in the gym pool.  I cycled for ages trying to talk myself out of it, trunks under my shorts, as I feared ridicule from others or self loathing from myself. To say my legs were wobbly when I eventually got in to change is a fair assessment of the torture I was putting myself through.  But I did it, and felt a rush of emotion that is hard to describe without welling up again, but a sense of achievement let's say.  I even did it in a pair of such skimpy speedos so part of my head was thinking positively somewhere.  30 lengths completed and out.  I'm now make it a weekly thing, as to quote the book, "I faced the fear and did it anyway". 

See, told you nothing earth shattering was the cause of my new shape, its been a journey of self rediscovery if I'm honest in some respects, and what has worked for me might not work for someone else.  I think I've learnt not to give up, persevere and be strong, and through sheer bloodymindedness you can achieve your goal, be it weight loss or anything else.  Don't beat yourself up if you have a cheat day and then think all your hard work is wasted, it's not.  Just get back on it the next day.  I was told to regularly have a blow out and eat what you want for 24 hours; your body, so used to being sensible that this shock of to the system encourages it to work harder.  I was dubious at first, not wanting to put the pounds back on and I'd levelled out and not lost for 3 weeks, but I had the huge tray of chips and kebab meat and when I weighed myself the following week, I'd lost 3 pounds!! So that's hat I do, every 2 weeks, I eat what I like for 24 hours.  Funny thing is now, my stomach has shrunk so much, I can't eat as much of it anyway :)

Don't be disheartened, small steps, be sensible and persevere, and you can achieve those goals.

Treatment Menu Spring 2013

Below is a copy of my most current treatment menu.  You will notice that a * next to a particular choice is available at my NG2 address too though I do not offer facial treatments here.

*denotes available at NG2

GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE; PLEASE ASK MICHAEL FOR MORE DETAILS

*PREGNANCY MASSAGE

Massage in pregnancy is a great way to ease out physical aches & pains, as well as soothing stress & anxiety.  When your back aches, your legs are swollen & sore; this may be just the treatment for you.  Lying on your side, you can choose from an upper body massage or a full body massage, you decide.

Upper Body; 40mins £25

Full Body; 60mins £35

(After the first trimester, providing no under lying medical conditions e.g. eclampsia)

*BODY MASSAGE

Ease away muscle tension; address those aches & pains with a firm, deep tissue massage with Therapeutic Vibration Massage which penetrates deeper into muscle fibres for an even more effective result. Blended essential oils are used to relax the mind and heal the body, allowing stress to slip away.  

Therapeutic Vibration Massage may also aid in body detoxification and weightloss as part of a balanced diet and exercise programme.

Regular massage is an ideal way of avoiding injuries caused from sports, over exertion or after a period of inactivity.

*EXPRESS MASSAGE 30MINS £15

For time & budget conscious clients; choose from Back, Indian Head (seated), and Foot.

*FULL BODY MASSAGE 75MINS £38

Using a fusion of massage techniques to ease away tension & discomfort within the body; Legs, arms, glutes (remain covered), back, feet, scalp is treated.

*BACK MASSAGE 45MINS £26

Michael’s most popular massage;A highly therapeutic treatment to choose if you are prone to stiffness, tight shoulders, lower back pain etc.  Michael uses deep pressure to achieve results which is why this has become a firm favourite amongst fitness professionals. If you want to feel like you’ve had a massage rather than a gentle light stroke over your muscles, this is the treatment for you! Try it for yourself today.

*LEG MASSAGE 45MINS £26

To ease tightness in the lower limbs, as an aid to injury recovery, or as an injury prevention method

*ABDOMINAL MASSAGE 35mins £20

Gently rebalances the digestive tract, easing problems associated with constipation and bloating.

SKINCARE

Using wherever possible natural skin products that do not contain damaging alcohol or parabens

A good skincare routine is essential to maintain skin health & prevent premature ageing.

Suitable for both sexes, everyone can now look great on the outside and feel fantastic inside.

Facials include steam cleanse and extraction by request

SO SIMPLE FACIAL 50MINS £30

Skin maintenance made easy; ideal way to refresh & rebalance the complexion.  Includes relaxing facial massage. For all skin types.

COLLAGEN FIRMING GEL FACIAL

50MINS £30

Using plant derived collagen, this anti-ageing facial firms the skin, softens the appearance of fine lines, leaving your skin wonderfully soft. All skin types

REHYDRATING FACIAL

50MINS £30

For dry, stressed skin.  Boosts hydration levels in facial tissues.  Includes facial massage

DEEP CLEANSE FACIAL/BACIAL

50MINS £30

All skin types but especially oily, blemished, teenage skin.  Impurities are removed, bacteria are diminished, oil levels are rebalanced, blemishes are soothed, leaving the skin looking and feeling happier. Great for razor burn too.

NB: This treatment also available to treat blemished shoulders & backs. (Bacial)

*ROSE & FRANKINCENSE FACIAL MASSAGE

35MINS £15

A relaxing and rejuvenating stand alone facial massage, Michael uses a subtle blend of oils to help you switch off & find an inner peace. Areas treated incl arms, shoulders, décolleté, neck & face.  Muscles are conditioned, firmed and toned, skin feels softer, and your complexion is enhanced as the natural balance of oils is restored. The massage is also a great way to lower stress levels which can also affect the appearance of the skin.

All skin types, especially mature.

*LASH/BROW TINT AND TIDY

Tints £10 up to 30mins

Brow tidy £8(with tint £16)

*HOPI EAR CANDLES

50MINS £15 at Little London, £10 at NG2 whilst stocks last

This treatment can help ease the symptoms of excessive ear wax, sinus problems, glue ear, snoring, tinnitus etc. A great way to rebalance ear pressure after flying, swimming or prolonged exposure to loud music.  Concludes with a facial massage to drain, release & remove toxins.

Corporate & Home Wellness parties also catered for.  Please ask for details on which treatments can be offered

TO BOOK, CALL MICHAEL ON;

0779 408 4666

Cancellations; at least 24hrs notice is required; failure to do so will incur a fee of £10 or 50% of the price of the treatment missed, whichever is the greater.

Email me at; synergy-therapies@gmx.co.uk

*More treatments available online at;

www.michaelbondholistics.webs.com

 Follow me on social media sites

Facebook.com/michaelsynergy

 @synergymichael

 michaelsynergy.blogspot.com