COVID-19 and Lockdown have meant that most people are spending significantly more time in front of a screen for work, pleasure and even to socialise. Balancing screen based sedentary activities with physical exercise is crucial for our physical and mental health; so how do we make sure that is happening. Going out for a good … Continue reading Short Bursts of Vigorous Exercise
Support your body in the face of COVID-19
There are a number of things you can do to support your body in the face of COVID-19. Making sure you have a balanced diet, are getting enough sleep and daily exercise are the fundamentals we all need to keep our bodies healthy and strong. That should be the first thing we all focus on, … Continue reading Support your body in the face of COVID-19
COVID-19 Special Measures
Please take the time to read the COVID-19 Special Measures outlined below (also displayed in the clinic lobby). It is important to keep things in perspective by remembering that as many as 80% of people that get COVID-19 are expected to have very mild symptoms or be asymptomatic. Having said that, the other 20% can … Continue reading COVID-19 Special Measures
Osteopathy Is For Life…
Osteopaths are very well known for treating things like Lower Back Pain. But, as I am sure many of you will know, Osteopathy is about much more than just getting us out of pain. At times, that is exactly what patients are looking for; someone to help them out of pain, and yes osteopaths are … Continue reading Osteopathy Is For Life…
A Walk A Day Keeps The Osteopath Away
Our bodies, and in particular the muscles in our bodies, are toned up to do what we normally do. So the classic problem happens when after doing very little all winter we decide to do the whole garden in one go in the spring. Our muscles are just not ready for that level of activity, … Continue reading A Walk A Day Keeps The Osteopath Away
Health, with a capital “H”.
I have just been away on one of my regular post graduate osteopathy courses, and Health, with a capital "H", was at the heart of what we were looking at. By using the term Heath with a capital "H", as opposed to heath with a small "h", we are referring to our fundamental relationship with … Continue reading Health, with a capital “H”.
The Art and Science of Osteopathy
Osteopathy, like many other disciplines, is at its best both a Science and an Art. The Science in Osteopathy is the study and understanding of Human Anatomy (the nuts and bolts of the body), Physiology (how the nuts and bolts work and what they do), and Pathology (what happens when the nuts and bolts don't … Continue reading The Art and Science of Osteopathy
Rhythm and Routine
Rhythm and routine is something that I think is at the very core of health, but can be misunderstood and have bad connotations for some people. I am talking here about daily rhythms and routines like meal times and bed times, but also the inherent rhythm in the movement of walking, swimming or cycling, as … Continue reading Rhythm and Routine
Freedom for your feet?
I have always encouraged patients to wear shoes that are wide and shaped like your foot. Narrow and pointy shoes prevent the foot from working properly and I feel contribute to local foot problems (like Bunions, and Norton's Neuroma). Narrow shoes also have an impact further up the body on knees, hips, lower back and … Continue reading Freedom for your feet?
Ergonomics Driving
Driving is often an issue for people with back problems, and part of that is just the nature of the beast. Being fixed in one position for long periods of time without a break is not great at the best of times, then add onto that poor design and position of the pedals that may … Continue reading Ergonomics Driving
Lying Posture- Neutral Pelvis
I have so far in these articles talked about the neutral posture sitting and standing (which you can read on my website blog if you have missed). Here I will talk about the neutral posture lying, and in particular what the pelvis is doing. I often ask patients to lye down for either 20 minutes … Continue reading Lying Posture- Neutral Pelvis
Should my baby/child be sleeping with a pillow?
Babies don't need pillows to sleep with. The only time it may be useful for a baby to sleep with a pillow is if they have a very flat/asymmetric back of the head. In that case a very small flat baby pillow can be helpful to soften the lie on the flat bit and minimize … Continue reading Should my baby/child be sleeping with a pillow?
How Many Pillows Should I Sleep With?
The answer to this question depends on what position you normally sleep in. Most people tend to sleep on their side, so we will start with that scenario. If you sleep lying on your side, you need enough pillow so that the head is roughly in line with the spine. The pillow is there to … Continue reading How Many Pillows Should I Sleep With?
Films About Vipassana Meditation
There are a number of films you can watch at the Dhamma Films webpage (use the arrows, right and left of the image on the above weblink, to choose the film you want to watch). These range from short inspiring introductions to Vipassana Meditation, to full feature documentaries; DOING TIME DOING VIPASSANA- This is my all time … Continue reading Films About Vipassana Meditation
Standing Posture; Neutral
This is another exercise I often get patients to do at home between treatments. It is very good at re-setting our standing posture to 'Neutral', when used on a daily basis. Standing upright, look down at your feet. Most people's feet are slightly turned out; if so turn them to 12 o'clock, and if anything … Continue reading Standing Posture; Neutral
Managing Acute Lower Back Pain
Below is a copy of the information sheet I give out to patients with acute lower back pain. It is especially designed for people with prolapsed disks, but the general do's and don'ts are just as helpful for other types of lower back problems as well as musculosceletal problems in other areas of the body … Continue reading Managing Acute Lower Back Pain
Sitting Posture and Ergonomic Stools
A topic that comes up quite allot in clinic is posture sitting at a desk. My favourite thing to sit on at a desk is a stool. In my opinion a stool is better than a chair because you are less tempted to role back off your sitting bones into a slouch as you get … Continue reading Sitting Posture and Ergonomic Stools
Meditation Courses for Children
There are meditation courses especially designed and run for children. These are taught over the course of a weekend, and are run at the meditation centre in Herefordshire (called Dhamma Dipa), as well as in other sites around the UK. The courses are separated into 8-12 year old, and 12-18 year old age groups. They … Continue reading Meditation Courses for Children
Mini Anapana Discourse
Vipassana meditation is taught in the form of 10 day courses. You can find out more by reading my post on Vipassana Meditation or by visiting the Dhamma Dipa website. There is a short discourse that SN Goenka made for people who for whatever reason feel they can't take the time to do a full 10 … Continue reading Mini Anapana Discourse
Vipassana Meditation
Vipassana meditation was the original technique of self purification taught by Gotama the Buddha in India around 500 BC. It is currently taught in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin and SN Goenka, in the UK at the Herefordshire meditation centre -known as Dhamma Dipa, and at the Suffolk Centre- known as Dhamma Sukhakāri … Continue reading Vipassana Meditation
Nuno Bento 