Drink more of the clear stuff! (And I don't mean vodka)

This is a question I always ask clients during a consultation as a lot of the time, what is ailing them, can be attributed, albeit partly, to the fact they aren't drinking enough water.

2 interesting facts;

1. The body is roughly 70% water
2. The brain can be made up of around 90% water!!!

If you feel thirsty, drink, as you are already showing the initial signs of dehydration.  The amount we each require varies from person to person, but if your pee isn't mostly clear, you need to increase your water intake.  If you don't like the taste of plain water add a slice of orange,lemon or lime, try some fresh mint leaves or even watermelon.  Avoid fruit cordials which are loaded with unhealthy sugars, chemicals and what have you.

10 benefits of drinking more water;

• Increased energy, relief from tiredness, increases your focus & concentration
• promotes weightloss - removes fat by products, fills you up so you eat less, raises the metabolism, and water has 0 calories
• flushes out toxins - removes waste through sweat and urine, reduces risk of developing kidney stones
• improves the skin, moisturises underlying tissues, softens the appearance of wrinkles
• aids digestion - keeps you regular and helps the absorption of nutrients
• gives your immune system a boost - drink water and you are less likely to get ill.  Reduces the risk of developing the flu and some forms of cancer
• a natural headache remedy - relieve & prevent headaches which can be caused by the onset of dehydration
• prevents cramping - correct hydration keeps joints lubricated and muscles more supple
• mood enhancer - when the body is working well, you feel great too!!
• Save ££££'s - it's 'free', cheaper than fizzy drinks, and no fat compared to your cholesterol filled latte

Make the change today and see the difference tomorrow

Skin Health for men

"Wow, I really feel pampered after that"

That was the positive reaction, the other day, from a first time male client to his facial treatment which his girlfriend had bought him for his birthday.

Once considered to be a treat reserved solely for the female of the species, male facial treatments, in the celebrity age and an image conscious world, are now very popular, with men now demanding a piece of the facial therapy action.

Addressing everything from razor burn, dry, flaky areas, breakouts, oiliness, a facial treatment will not only leave you feeling and looking healthier but can restore confidence in your appearance and help minimise the signs of ageing. In addition, through the manipulation of underlying facial tissues, stress held in the face is released, toxins are removed and muscles are released of unwelcome tension.

Neal's Yard Facial for Men;  Using organic, natural products that nourish & rebalance the skin, this treatment includes cleanse, exfoliation, masque, tone and moisturize to restore the health of your skin.  Included is a relaxing massage of the upper body & face to reduce tension and stress. 50 minutes £40

Deep Tissue Facial Conditioning;  targeting the lower levels of the skin, this treatment painlessly treats an array of facial conditions;dry, oily, problem, mature, each treatment is tailored to YOUR needs, to revitalize, and rejuvenate your face from the inside out.  The use of Hi-Frequency technology encourages the body's own collagen to replicate more efficiently, softening the appearance of fine lines, increased circulation improves tone and removes toxins from the face that can make a skin look dull and unhealthy.  Comedone extraction optional. Depending on skin type, treatment time is up to 60 minutes £40

A facial treatment could be just what you need to restore your skin to its former glory.  Please feel free to contact me at synergy_therapies@icloud.com, on twitter @synergymichael or mobile 07794084666

And as for that male client who was impressed with his treatment?  He rebooked for next month.

Curing your tension headache

We can all get them, and many of us do, and sometimes we are not able to get ourselves booked in for a massage or similar treatment to ease/release the tension & stress held in our bodies.

Below are a few simple solutions to get you through your day should a tension headache strike;

• BREATHING OUT TENSION;  breathe slowly & deeply in through your nose and out through the mouth, taking deep, even breaths.  Repeat 3 times

• SOOTHING DARKNESS;  Place your elbows shoulder width apart, on a table.  Slightly lean forward so that your hands support the weight of the head.  Find the most comfortable position.  Place your hands over your eyes to create total darkness.

• HEAD HOLD;  Cradle your head on your hands so that the heels of your hands are resting on your temples and your fingers meet at the top of your head.  Exert as much pressure with your hands as feels comfortable. Hold for a minute.  Move your hands a little further back & repeat the hold.

• SCALP LIFT;  Interlock your fingers & slowly press the palms of your hands inward against your scalp so that the skin starts to move between your fingers.  Move to another position and repeat as often as you like.

• MASSAGING THE TEMPLES;  Place your hands against your temples.  With the heel of your hands or tips of fingers, make at least 10 circular movements, clockwise and anticlockwise.  Keep fingers on the skin and move it against the underlying soft tissue to soften & relax the muscles.

• EYE CIRCLING;  Use 1 or 2 finger tips to stroke from the centre of the brow, along the eyebrows and around the tops of your cheeks, forming large circles around the eyes. Use only very light pressure so as not to drag the delicate skin around the eyes.

• SCALP DESTRESSING;  Press firmly with 1 or 2 finger tips on the soft tissue either side of the cervical vertebrae at the back of your neck.  Start at the base and work up, holding for a few seconds before moving up the back of the neck.  Move along the base of the skull.  Move up, over the skull, around the ears to the temples, using pressure that is comfortable for you.

In some respects, many of the examples here form the basis of an Indian Head Massage, except you are working on yourself.  Mix and match these techniques to see what works for you.  A 30 minute Indian head Treatment with me is £25 

Fatless Sugarless Cake

Here is a recipe, given to me by my 103 yr old grandfather, for a healthy cake. It must be doing something right for him as he's still as fit as a fiddle!

6oz plain or brown flour
3 tsp baking powder
2oz ground almonds
2 tsp mixed spice
1lb mixed fruit
4oz dates & 4oz apricots
Rind of 1 orange
1/2 pint water
juice of one orange
1 egg (optional)

• Soak all the fruit in all the liquid overnight
• Add all the dry ingredients
• Bake in a 2lb loaf tin for approx 1.5 hours at 160c covering for the last half an hour

Simples.  I admit I haven't had chance to try this so please let me know how you get on at synergy_therapies@icloud.com