Discover the healing power of Reiki

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By Sam Wilson

In a world of bustling with stress and chaos, Reiki emerges as a beacon of tranquility, offering solace and restoration to the body, mind and spirit. 

Reiki, originating from Japan, operates on the principle of channeling universal life force energy to promote holistic healing.Through gentle touch or hovering hands, a Reiki practitioner directs this energy to areas of imbalance within the recipient’s energy field, fostering relaxation, balance and self-healing. 

The benefits of a Reiki session induce deep relaxation, alleviating stress and anxiety, while promoting a sense of inner peace Additionally, Reiki accelerates the body’s natural healing processes, making it an effective complement to conventional medical treatments It can also enhance mental clarity and emotional stability, aiding in the release of negative emotions and promoting overall well-being. 

Reiki is non-invasive and suitable for people of all ages and health conditions Whether you seek relief from emotional turmoil, or simply desire a moment of profound relaxation, s Reiki session holds transformative potential for your holistic wellness journey 

If your curious as to how the nurturing touch of Reiki may support you, head on over to our Reiki page to schedule a free 10-minute discovery call with Sam.

Upgrade your operative system

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By Kim Le Tet

Take a look at your smart phone. Look through the apps. Are there any apps that you don’t use anymore? Games, social or photo apps that you loved 2 years ago but are now out-of-date? You’ve changed as a person, different interests, different stage in life, different wants.
 
So what do you do? You do a clean up of your phone apps. Uninstall the old stuff you don’t use anymore, install the latest, coolest, useful apps. Delete old files to make space for new and relevant ones.
 
You can do exactly that with your mind, your brain. Uninstall old programs that you inherited, or installed a long time ago, that no longer serves you, or worse, lags your system and holds you back.
 
Where did these programs come from?

Everyone will have different programs in their bio-computer system. A lot of these programs are inherited from our parents, school and society, our ‘Tribe’ (i.e. “You must have a University degree to have a good career”, “You should be married with kids by 30”, “You should supress your anger”). Some programs are self-learnt through experiences in childhood.
 
A lot of old programs can also pass from one generation to the next. Some are from societal expectations that may have been relevant hundreds of years ago but may be dysfunctional, even harmful now.
 
What can I do?

Clear and release them and replace them with a better suited and relevant program for you. When your operating system is running on the latest and beneficial programs, the bio-computer feels empowered, free and balanced, operating at its peak performance. You feel GREAT! You start operating at your highest potential.

 

Personally, these were a few of mine I’ve uninstalled over the years

· “I’m not good enough”, replaced with “I am enough”
 
·  “If I fail, its going to be so embarrassing”, replaced with “Failure is part of my success”
 
· “If I say no, they won’t like me”, replaced with “I am allowed to say No to others, and Yes to myself”
 
· “I don’t like criticism”, replaced with “Constructive feedback helps me grow”
 
Mindfulness practice and Kinesiology enables us to observe, identify and analyse (without judgement) what programs we have in our operating system. We have the choice to keep, modify or discard them, and replace them with more beneficial programs! 
 
If you’re ready to upgrade your operating system, I invite you to book in a 15 min Discovery call with me.
 
With love,
Kim

Kitchari Recipe

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Lucy Found

If you have heard about Āyurveda, you have likely heard about kitchari! Kitchari means two grains; commonly a mix of rice and mung beans. There are so many different recipes for kitchari and my personal favourite is this one from my teacher Dr. Vsant Lad.

Kitchari is both nourishing and a digestive aid, its light quality making kitchari a food used in mono diets and cleanses. Kitchari can be eaten any time however don’t just change out all meals for kitchari, āyurveda promotes moderation and wholeness as a pathway to rejuvenation. During a cleanse or panchakarma, kitchari is commonly used to kindle agni (digestive fire) and pacify dosha. If you are interested in an individualised āyurvedic cleanse, please book in to see Lucy for an Initial Consultation. Click here for bookings. 

Ingredients:
1/2 cup basmati rice 
1 cup moong dal (split yellow) 
6 cups water (half if using a pressure cooker)
1 inch ginger root, chopped or grated 
1/4 tsp. mineral salt
2 tsp. ghee 
1/2 tsp. coriander powder
1 tsp. cumin 
1/2 tsp. mustard seeds 
1/2 tsp. turmeric powder 
1 pinch asafoetida (hing) 
Handful of fresh chopped cilantro leaves 
1 and 1/2 cups assorted vegetables (optional)

Vegetables: zucchini, sweet potato, peas, carrot, asparagus, broccoli, pumpkin (1 or 2 vegetables is a good amount)

Method:
1. Wash rice and dal separately in at least 2 changes of water, leave to soak while spices and vegetables are prepared 
2. Sauté the mustard seeds cumin and ginger in the ghee until the mustard seeds  pop, then add the coriander powder, asafoetida, turmeric and cook for another minute 
3. Once the herbs have begun to release their aroma, add the chopped vegetables and saute for another minute or two
4. Drain the rice and lentils and add them to the pot, stirring though until all ingredients are combined
5. Add water and bring to the boil, then simmer covered until the lentils are soft (about 20 – 30 minutes)
6. Add the mineral salt and chopped fresh cilantro and serve with a squeeze of lime and cracked pepper.

Invest in a thermos so you can take your kitchari with you for lunch!

More Mindfulness in 2024

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Denise Howells

“Let us live deeply each moment in freedom, so time does not slip away meaninglessly.”

– Thich Nhat Hanh

For many people, the summer break is over. Families return to their routines, whilst others embark on new beginnings. There can be a sense of excitement as well as anticipation about the year ahead. For others it’s a struggle to settle into familiar patterns which can create a longing for change.
For some time, I have practiced Mindfulness techniques in a variety of ways with different teachers.

Then, late last year I attended to a longing to learn how to teach others about this simple and effective practice. Much of what I learnt complements the way I approach my work to help clients create the space to think and create the change they desire. Mindfulness is the practice of training the mind to be still; be awake to the moment and create the space for inspiration and direction. Just like when we build a fire, we need to create a space amongst the firewood for the fire to breathe and create energy. That’s what Mindfulness activities do; they create space.

In the busyness of the everyday we can become looped in thought. Zen master, Thich Nhat Hanh, writes in his book Present Moment, Wonderful Moment, “If we are thinking about the past or the future as we walk, we miss out on the wonder of life in the present moment.” As 2024 shapes up you may like to incorporate a Mindfulness practice into your day. It doesn’t have to be a timed sitting practice. You can begin by taking a few minutes to pause and breath before you
continue. No looking back or forward or chasing a solution, breathe and be still. Throughout this Mindfulness moment, your task is to keep focussing on your present experience.

Minds wander.
Tame your mind to do what you want it to do. Nature provides the perfect setting to bring your awareness into the present moment. Go outside to focus on your senses. What can you feel, hear, smell, see, taste? Is there a cool breeze? Or can you feel the warmth of the sun? Raindrops on your skin? What do you hear? Birdsong? Traffic? Wind in the trees? Can you smell anything? Are there clouds or stars above? What colours can you see? Are there any tastes present?
Overtime, with practice, the brain resets when we consistently pause. Start small, take a moment to bring yourself into the present.

Like to learn more? Email me your details at therapyenquiries@outlook.com and I will let you know when I run my first Introduction to Mindfulness course at Rebalance Wellness.

For now, go well and mindfully into your days.

Denise Howells
Individual & Relationship Counsellor

If you would like to work with Denise, click here for more information. 

Depression, methylation, kinesiology, and a long bit of string

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by Geoffrey bonwick

You push yourself hard. But aren’t really satisfied. It’s hard to find that “feeling good” space. You are competitive and understand the rules of the game, provided you play it a very particular way. But you are constantly flirting with depression. You think you might have an “addictive personality” whatever that might mean. And then there are those seasonal allergies.
 
You might very well be an under-methylator. But maybe let me introduce myself first; My name is Geoffrey. I have been a kinesiologist for 27 years and shiatsu therapist for 10. I teach a range of subjects both at the Australian Shiatsu College here in Melbourne and also with the Five Element Acupressure group in Victoria and interstate. I have specialized in the trauma space for many years, but also chronic emotional as well as physical conditions.
 
So, anyway, methylation. This much bandied around term refers to a neat little package of atoms, a “methyl group” being added to molecules, which might be enzymes or neurotransmitters or hormones, to kickstart processes. To make reactions happen, to switch these molecules on or off. In other words, they initiate a huge amount of functional activity in the body: they modulate our stress response, immune response, detoxification, and the delivery system for neurotransmitters and hormones. They also improve gene expression, how well our DNA is looked after and bookmarked, as well as accessed: which would otherwise be looking for a needle in the proverbial haystack.
 
1 in 5 people don’t have enough of these methyl donors. So, for example, take a neurotransmitter like dopamine which is part of a reward program. Not enough methyl groups: too little of that dopamine gets activated, and there is that lack of satisfaction in life. It’s hard for things to be good enough, including oneself. People with undermethylation will tend to keep pushing through, even though prone to nervousness, and needing repeated rituals and sometimes OCD-like behaviour to manage things.
 
From the classical Oriental and East Asian Five Element model, this is a particular expression of the Wood Element. In the following months we are going to explore this classical tradition. We will look at the four signals that show undermethylation, as well as the mental/emotional landscape already touched on. We will touch on genetics, epigenetics, the relevance or otherwise of being diagnosed with certain gene markers, and
intergenerational stress and trauma. We will examine Elemental dynamics that can create better support for and expression of this Wood Element. And we will look at where in
the picture kinesiology fits in.

If you would like to know more about under-methylation or Kinesiology in general, please feel free to contact Geoffrey to book an appointment ~ 0419 833 755
or  email:
 geoffreybonwick@gmail.com

What is “Qi”?

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A note from Rebecca Morrison

Hello Rebalance Wellness community.

Welcome to Spring! I hope you are all excited for some warmer weather ahead and
flowers beginning to bloom again, I know I am.

If we haven’t met already, my name is Rebecca and I have been at Rebalance Wellness for just over one month now, as a Chinese Medicine Practitioner. I enjoy treating a wide variety of conditions and am here if you need me.

In this newsletter, I’d like to talk a bit about “Qi”. This is an essential concept in Chinese Medicine that is worth mentioning and something that I refer to a lot in the clinic.
 
So, what is “Qi”?

In Chinese Medicine, Qi (pronounced “chee”) refers to the vital energy that flows through channels in our body called meridians. If you have ever had an acupuncture treatment before, you may have felt sensations including tingling, numbness, heaviness, warmth or a feeling of pressure as the needle is inserted into the skin. This is a good sign and means that Qi has arrived at the acupuncture point and is getting to “work”, also known as “De Qi”. Have you ever experienced a De Qi sensation before? When Qi flows freely, our body is said to be in a state of balance and harmony.

When there is a disruption to the flow of Qi however, imbalance can occur within the body and symptoms and signs may present as a result. In Chinese Medicine, we call this “Qi stagnation”.
 
What disrupts the flow of Qi?

Qi can become stagnant for many reasons, including stress, overwork, emotional
disturbances (e.g worry, anger, fear or grief), a poor diet, lack of exercise,
environmental factors such as weather conditions or exposure to toxins, or injury/trauma to the body.
 
What are some symptoms and signs of Qi stagnation?

Symptoms and signs of Qi not flowing properly could include things like pain or
discomfort, bloating, constipation, irritability, mood swings, fatigue, frequent sighing, period pain, irregular menstrual cycles, skin conditions, poor sleep, headaches, the list goes on.
 
How can I keep my Qi in flow?

The good news is that you can do a lot to promote Qi flow and harmony within the body. Regular exercise is a big one. As well eating healthy and nutritious foods, ensuring you are getting adequate sleep and rest, reducing stress levels (this could include things like listening to your favourite playlist, going for a walk, practicing yoga or qi gong, taking time to meditate etc) or booking in for a Chinese Medicine treatment or your favourite bodywork session.

Has reading this has raised any questions for you? If so, feel free to book in for a session and we can discuss further.

Wishing you all a great week ahead and I look forward to seeing you in clinic soon.
 
With warmth,
Rebecca

A message from our counsellor ~ Denise Howells

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My name is Denise Howells I am psychotherapist trained in Individual, Couple and Family work. I
moved to the Peninsulas a few years ago. I feel most fortunate to be working alongside the talented
and nurturing team at Rebalance Wellness clinic.
As this is my first contribution to the Rebalance blog, I decided to provide an overview and
insight into the way I work.

My work is a talking therapy. I create a safe and nurturing space for you
to explore your experiences and the feelings associated with those experiences. In the session, you
decide what you talk about. It can be a current situation that you want to explore or change, or
maybe it’s something that has been getting in the way of joyful living for some time.
Most often, people come to therapy because their current situation has become unbearable. In the
session we consider patterns of relating, external influences, family structures, loss and grief,
developmental stages and behaviours that no longer serve you. We explore ideas and insights, and
you decide on your way forward.


At times, it is difficult to understand what we feel and why we feel a certain way. Feelings are our
compass. They inform and guide us. Understanding and naming our feelings can help us
communicate with others. Knowing what triggers certain feelings, difficult or otherwise, helps us to
navigate our lives and relationships in a more defined way. In life we have a responsibility to know
and nurture ourselves well. The most important relationship you have is the one with yourself.
Couple work provides an opportunity to break unhealthy or outdated relational styles. Falling in love
can be easy. Sharing a life with someone brings an awareness of difference. Difference is healthy and
when accepted and used well it can help you both grow and develop to your full potential. For some
its many years before the struggles surface and by the time people reach the therapy room, both
parties are battle weary and hurting. In couple therapy you learn how to relate respectfully and how
to live alongside difference without destroying your connection.


Another aspect of my work is to support parents at all stages of the family life cycle. The role of a
parent is to nurture, guide and protect. Struggle often occurs with competing demands for time and
resources. I am a qualified facilitator for the Tuning in to Kids™ parenting programme. I bring this
knowledge into the therapy room to help parents to discover new ways of relating to and
understanding their children. I also work with blended families to find ways to accept new members
and to incorporate different rituals and routines into their newly family structure. Parenting is a
lifelong responsibility, even when children become adults and have their own lives, struggle and
relational conflict can cause distress. Therapy can help you set boundaries and remain respectfully
connected to your loved ones.


In all circumstances, my focus is to alleviate suffering and to help my clients relate well and feel
more connected to the people that matter.
Releasing yourself from an outdated relational style is life changing. Therapy is certainly not for
everyone and there are many ways to create change in your life. For some, the work is brief whilst
others choose a more long-term approach to create lasting and significant change. There is no script.
Each therapy is different.

A good enough therapy won’t take anything away from you. It provides the space for you to accept
what has gone before and find ways to live a more satisfying and fulfilling life with the knowledge
that life is random and imperfect.

If you’re curious about who you are and how you arrived where you’re at, maybe talking therapy is
for you?
For more information about my work, you can visit my website http://www.denisehowells.com.au or to
speak to me about an appointment, call me direct on 0401 995538.

Ayurveda + Digestion

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Lucy Found

Digestion is central to Āyurveda and my beloved teacher Dr. Vasant Lad would regularly say to us that you are only as healthy as your digestion! One of the most common things I see in the clinic is people thinking they have good digestion when they in fact, do not. Unless you are having one or two complete bowel movements in the morning upon waking, unprompted by food or coffee, then you have some room for improvement. We don’t love to talk about bowel movements but it is good to understand how to support the digestive system so that we can absorb and assimilate the nutrients from the food we eat. My two favourite go-to’s are Dry Roasted Fennel Seeds and CCF Tea.


Fennel Seeds:
I always keep some dry roasted fennel seeds on hand, and usually in my handbag! Fennel seeds are a wonderful digestive aid and a nice and gentle foray into Āyurveda for self healing. 

Take 1-2 tablespoons of fennel seeds and place onto a pan, heat over a low flame until you can smell the aroma begin to release. the seeds will become lightly toasted and crunchy. Taste a couple to check. You will need to mix them around with a wooden spoon and keep a close eye on them so they don’t burn. Set aside to cool and then store in an airtight container. Eat a pinch after meals, remembering to chew chew chew. 

CCF Tea:
CCF Tea is such a well-known and well-loved tea in the Ayurvedic community, and for good reason; this tea is calming to the digestive system while strengthening agni (digestive fire). CCF is Cumn, Coriander and Fennel seeds, mixed in equal proportions and steeped as a tea. I like to buy a pack of each (organic) and mix them together in a jar to store. When I am ready for a cup or if I’m making a thermos to take with me for the day I just steep a tablespoon or so for 5 minutes in boiling water, adjust to taste. Like the dry-roasted fennel seeds you can dry roast the CCF too, it gives a distinctly different flavour. Experiment and see how you like it best! This is best when consumed hot and before 5pm as it has a slight diuretic effect.
 
To find out more about the nourishing support of Āyurveda, click here to book a consultation with Lucy ~

Kinesiology and Mental Health

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Kim Le Tet

Kinesiology is all about balance. When it comes to mental health, we bring balance back by recognising the over-thinking, over-critical dysfunction of the mind.

In our Kinesiology time together, we use muscle testing to “talk” to the body and its energy field. This is also known as the innate wisdom of the body. My role is to facilitate, translate and help move any obstacles that are stopping you from feeling balanced, calm, complete and peaceful. We find the root cause of the issue and integrate it, release it and/or reprogram belief systems that no longer is serving us. The symptoms (I.e. feelings of anxiety, feeling stuck, lack of energy or motivation, pain etc) naturally goes away when the root cause is addressed. 

Here are 3 common causes to an imbalance in mental wellbeing and the Mindfulness practices to help you through challenging moments in life

1. Wanting to be ‘there’ and not here (stuck in the future). This is one of the main causes of prolonged stress. When one believes they will finally be happy or complete when they have this, complete that, achieve this, earn more money, buy that car, land that job, have that family etc. 

Progress and growth are natural and fulfilling, but any negative self-talk is not. Instead, it is futile and draining on your energy. It might sound like this
• “My house always has issues, once we buy our dream home, it will be perfect”
• “I don’t earn enough, it’s so frustrating. I need to land that promotion. I’ll be able to afford to buy <insert your choice> and I’ll finally be happy.”
• “The traffic is terrible! I need to get to _____ otherwise I’ll be late.”

Practice being aware of this dysfunctional mind-talk and that realise that the negative talk is unnecessary and does not actually help you. Breath and drop your awareness down from the thinking/conditioned mind, into the body. Ground into the present moment. Accept fully where you are and then make tangible plans to move forward towards your goal, without the unnecessary negative talk. 

2. Worry (stuck in the future)
I call these the rabbit-hole thoughts, once you follow the rabbit down one hole, you’ll get lost in the myriad of tunnels. This analogy represents how one worrying thought, can take you down infinite scenarios of what “could go wrong”. 

Again, these thoughts are not reality. They do not actually exist, except in your head. Let that sink in. “But what if one of these scenarios actually happens?”. But what if it doesn’t? Then you have just spent hours, days, weeks, possibly even months or more, worrying about a situation that may never happen. And all that precious time being stuck in the thoughts in your head, how much have you missed out on in the present moment? Did you notice your daughter kick that awesome goal and wanted to share that special moment with you? Did you realise your son needing comforting from a hard day at school? Did you realise that 20 minutes had gone by, and you were stuck in the thoughts of your mind?

Breathe, connect with your lower body, and choose not to follow the ‘rabbit’ down the hole. Every time you find yourself following the rabbit, breathe and connect with your body. This takes away the “charge” or pull that these thoughts have over you, eventually you will be able to watch them come and go in your mind like clouds in the sky. They will have no power over you. 

3. Holding onto the past (stuck in the past). 
When we are literally stuck in the past in our mind. We re-play on loop, scenarios of the story of the past, not realising that it no longer exists other than in our mind. We perpetuate the feelings of resentment, feelings of guilt, shame, fear, longing or anger towards a person, situation, or experience over and over again. These emotions become ‘stuck’ inside and overwhelm us when they get ‘triggered’. 

Again, awareness of the dysfunctional thought pattern is key. Then choose to live in the present moment. Consciously choose to release these old emotions by acknowledging them and then move them out. One way of moving them out is to write a letter, then bury or burn it. Journalling is also a wonderful practice to move the energy of thought from your mind, out onto the book. 

Talking from my own personal experience and those of spiritual teachers; The Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Eckhart Tolle – these practices work! The freedom, peace and clarity from this practice is worth it. 

These tips will help you in everyday moments, but sometimes we need help to get us going. Or some support to remind us to come back into the present moment.   

That’s what I’m here for, to support you on your journey. If this resonates with you, I invite you to book a complimentary ‘Discovery Call’ with me, where we can explore your goals towards mental health and overall well-being.

What Is Ayurveda?

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Health is balanced constitution, digestion, tissues, wastes, and bodily actions along with mind, soul, and senses that are blissful.
SUSHRUTA SAMHITA, SUTRASTHANA 15:41

Āyurveda is a whole and complete science that is indigenous to India, and the embodiment of Nature. Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद) comes from two Sanskrit words, ‘ayuh’ and ‘veda’ translating to ‘the science of life’. This ancient and time tested method of promoting wellbeing and longevity offers a holistic system that looks at how the five elements manifest within each of us individually and in the world around us.

Āyurveda utilises food and cooking, herbs and spices, lifestyle, traditional bodywork (such as abhyanga and shirodhara), yoga and pranayama to help relieve symptoms of imbalance, and to restore vitality to body and mind. By understanding that we are a reflection of Nature, and learning how we embody and express the five elements’ ether, air, fire, water and earth and their inherent qualities (gunas), Āyurveda provides practical tools that promote equilibrium and balance.

Āyurveda offers a way of seeing ourselves; mind, body and spirit in relationship with Nature and emphasising the importance of living in harmony with the changing seasons of our own lives as well as the environment around us. Āyurvedic remedies are often given as daily practices in diet and lifestyle choices that support strong digestion, good quality sleep and a feeling of vitality. 

Āyurveda sees all beings as unique and individual, no two are the same. Because of this each persons needs are also unique and individual, making Āyurveda unlike other systems of healing. To book your session with Lucy, click here.