April 2011 Newsletter

Welcome clients to my April 2011 newsletter.

If you don't want to receive these newsletters, please send me an email and I'll take you off my list.
Feel free to forward this email on to friends and family that you think may find it interesting.

LISMORE CLINICS UPDATE
Unfortunately, the set-up at Inner Sanctum on Wednesday afternoons didn't work for me so I am no longer available there.
However, Traditional Medicinals is proving to be a great option for me and for clients as it is on ground level, has loads of long-stay parking nearby and is staffed by friendly naturopaths and herbalists who can provide advice and lovely products for all sorts of ills and indulgences as well as having a great clinic room for me.
I am there every Tuesday from 9am till 5pm. It is best to book although if you are in the neighbourhood, just drop in and I'll see you if I am free.
Traditional Medicinals is located at 133 Keen street - next door to Best and Less - phone 6622 4099 for bookings.
I am still offering complementary foot treatments for all new clients so let all your Lismore friends know about me.

Of course my Ballina clients can still see me at my home at 858 River Drive, Empire Vale or at the clinic at Go Vita, Ballina Fair by appointment - call 6686 6117.


TIP OF THE MONTH - RESISTANCE TRAINING CAN KEEP YOU AND YOUR BONES STRONG
It's easy to get lazy as we age and think that a regular walk is all we need to keep fit. However, if we don't do any resistance work, our muscles shrink and lose strength. Then when we need them to lift something heavy or to run and catch a bus or stop us from falling, they can let us down. The same muscle fibres that help us with strength work also help us to balance so resistance work helps us keep our balance too - very important as we age. The other benefit from resistance work is stronger bones.
So, to sum up, resistance training can help us maintain strength and speed, keep our balance, avoid falls and broken bones. All good reasons to give it a go a couple of times per week. Have a chat to your local gym or health and fitness advisor to get some ideas of what sort of exercises are appropriate for your age and level of fitness.
Oh, and I forgot to mention, resistance training is great for weight loss - for those of you who are interested in that.


NEW FACEBOOK PAGE AVAILABLE

I have had a personal facebook page for a while now but have just started a business facebook page.
If you are a facebook fan, just type Carolyn Blackburn Bowen Therapy into the search window at the top of your facebook page then click Like to become a fan. I will try to put regular posts on the page - some of them lighthearted and some more serious as well as recommending other pages that you may find interesting.
Facebook isn't just for teenagers to arrange their next "rave" party but can be a great tool for business communication.
My facebook page also connects to my twitter account - I am under @Bowentweeter for all you tweeters out there.


BOOK REVIEW - THE CONCISE BOOK OF ACUPOINTS
My book of the month is "The Concise Book of Acupoints" by John R. Cross.
This time it's probably a bit too medical for most of you but I think it's interesting to read about other modalities that can have some connection with Bowen Therapy.
This book is for novices and bodyworkers who want to use acupoints in their practices.
Acupoints are the points on the body that respond to stimulation (either with a needle or with pressure) and that stimulation can bring about pain relief or some other benefit (such as improvements in function of bodily organs and systems).
Interestingly, many traditional Bowen moves are carried out across acupoints - Tom Bowen must have done a lot of work to find those areas that responded best to the moves.
As Bowen Therapy develops, knowledge of acupoints can be a valuable tool for creating new moves and treating clients and don't worry, I have no intention of learning acupuncture - I'm not a fan of needles!


LOWER BACK PAIN AND THE QUADRATUS LUMBORUM MUSCLE

If you click on the attachment, you will see a typical pain pattern associated with the Quadratus Lumborum (QL) muscle. The QL is located in the lower back along the spine but deep under the other layers of muscle that lie along the spine and connect around the torso to the abdominals.
The QL is a large muscle that we engage when we lift ourselves or heavy objects and it can become weak if we spend too much time lounging around in chairs.
It is the muscle that seems to be responsible for a large proportion of the lower back pain that I see each week in my clinic. Acute QL damage can be observed by the way a person walks and lifts themselves out of a chair. They will have to do it on an angle to reduce the extreme pain in their back.
As can be seen in the picture, QL problems can also refer pain to the Gluteous region, Sciatic area and Hamstrings. In fact, all those areas are related and have close interconnections. That's why when I treat QL, I usually also treat the Glutes, Sciatic area and Hamstrings.
Those of you who haven't been to see me for over 6 months will not have experienced my Bowen moves for QL because I hadn't learnt them then. I love the moves as they can give wonderful relief for clients suffering in that area.


MORE INFORMATION ON MY WEBSITE AND BLOG SITE
Prior newsletters are available and you can also check out updates and detailed articles on my blog site at http://bowentherapytips.blogspot.com/
If you would like to see more information about Bowen Therapy, you might like to check out my web page on the
Natural Therapy Pages at http://www.naturaltherapypages.com.au/therapist/25736
You can also follow me on facebook - Carolyn Blackburn Bowen Therapy and Twitter - @Bowentweeter

Best wishes to you and your families,

Carolyn.