Your HealtH HuB
LOCAL
ISSUE ONE
Health, Wellness and Environmental news for Dacorum
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Creating change in your life my story
I recently met up with an inspiring lady called Sarah Jane Jones, to chat about her epic weight loss & health journey. Here Sarah Jane tells you her story in her own words:
Hi, my name is Sarah Jane and I am the mother of two grownup children based in Dacorum. Not many people have been on the roller coaster I have been on in life. I have achieved some remarkable things – my biggest was losing 25 stone. People often ask questions about my weight loss journey. I was a chubby child with a potbelly. I was bullied at school and over the years I grew up dreadfully unhappy in myself. I never knew who I was. As the years went by, I got bigger and bigger. I attempted to diet, but as quickly as I lost the weight, I gained it back again. I continued to yo-yo diet until I ended up so big, I struggled to get
Before
around. It was such a strain on my body, a real struggle, I even had to go through doors sideways whilst holding myself in. My weight issues were caused by several things – but that is a story for another day. A key turning point was a visit to our family Doctor. He had seen me grow up, and both my children come into the world. My son was very different from other children of his age (he was 3 at the time), the doctor explained that he is a very complex child. He said “I can tell you now, the services for his needs are not very good. They are overstretched already, and there will be more cuts to these services, the support for him is going to be very limited”. This proved to be true over the years. He commented on how I was a trendy mum, and how well I had done with him already. He then asked, “If you are not around, who will be there? Who will take him on? This child is going to need more support than the average child”. I looked at him and said there is no one I would trust him with. I had my children to raise and wanted to give them the life and the childhood I never had. At this time, I covered two chairs in the doctor’s room. I struggled to breathe and move around. The doctor weighed me. I stood on the scales and watched the needle carry on going round to its max. My last weigh-in was 30 stone, I was heavier than then. At this point I was so big; he couldn’t even weigh me properly to get the true reading. He then asked again, “If you’re not there for the kids, who would be? What kind of life will they have?” I remember walking out with the kids thinking I have got to do this for them if not for me. It was then I decided to cut myself off from
the negative people around me – the people who put me down and told me I would never amount to anything. I was regularly told I would always be fat and have nothing in life. For the first time, I realised that there was so much negativity in my life that needed to go. I quit my job, left my kid’s father, and embarked on my healing journey. I went through so much. I had no help from others, no surgery, no slimming clubs. I cut back on food, and as money was so tight, it made it a little easier. I dropped a massive amount of weight quickly. I learned to plan meals, incorporating healthy food and options into my day. Slowly I built the foundations of a healthy lifestyle, asking myself what does my body need to fuel it and repair itself? Back then there were no laptops or social media so it was down to me to research about healthy options. I educated myself on food, nutrition vitamins and minerals. I supplemented my diet with vitamins and minerals where I needed to. It got to the point where I could go to the gym four days a week. Giving up driving and walking everywhere, kept me active. I would drop the kids off at school and walk to the gym where I would do classes and swim. This was my life for a couple of years. With little money I walked to the gym come rain or sunshine, I visualised what I wanted to achieve, how I wanted to look and I believed I could do it. This is where I learned not to be a follower, but to do what was right for me. We can all be pulled off track easily with our everyday life so I built a lifestyle that was right for me. I found not telling people what I was doing and just doing it for
myself kept me on track. My goals were so much easier to achieve without negative people telling me what I couldn’t do and listening to other people’s opinions. I soon found myself sitting in training and seminars, building my knowledge, learning deeper aspects of the body. I would just go off at weekends to attend workshops and talks. This introduced me to the world of self-development. I learned new ways of thinking and new life skills that I could use in everyday life. I started to look at how I spoke to myself, creating positive thinking and being accountable for my actions and choices. We all hit struggles and brick walls in life – it’s a roller coaster that has challenges. It can be a struggle, and I had more than most. But I soon learned to brush myself down, look at what I needed to do to let go, and move on. Over the years I learned it was not just about the food we eat and how we think, it was how to work with the body as naturally as possible. I found many ways of doing this through a holistic approach, by stepping out of my comfort zone and trying new things.
I did not over complicate it, kept it simple, addressed one thing at a time and built a solid foundation that lead to a solid future. If you do the same thing, you get the same result. Do something different creating change creates a whole new way of things learning and possibilities. Over the years I have completed various training from reiki, energy healing, mediumship, licensed NLP (Neuro-linguistic programming) hypnosis, hypnotherapy, coaching to nutrition. Using a combination of these, and my experiences Inner Enlightenment was born. I now help other people, not just with weight loss but in many aspects of their life. We all have the power of Inner Enlightenment inside of us. It is about unlocking it and being free to be who we truly are, liberating us from a downward spiral, breaking down bad habits and the brick walls we come up against in life, growing and learning creating a healthier and positive life for you and your families. My children are now in their 20s. If I hadn’t taken that step out of my comfort zone and embarked on this journey I would not be here for them now, or gained the skills to help other people. www.innerenlightenment.co.uk
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ECO, did you know? 1 2 3 4 5
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Top 5 plastic bottle facts
16,000 plastic bottles are made in the world EVERY SECOND! 500 billion plastic bottles are made in the world EVERY YEAR! 20% of these are Coca-Cola bottles! 60,000 plastic bags are used globally every 3 seconds! By 2050, the plastic floating in our oceans will weigh more than the fish!
Hub Directory Ltd E: zandra@yourhealthhub.uk
Editor: Zandra Christie T: 07866 587117
Disclaimer: Your Health Hub Local (Hub Directory Ltd) have taken all content and stories featured in good faith and do not accept responsibility for any views, inaccurate or false information given. It is the readers responsibility to check the credentials of each company, individual, therapist or clinic featured before commencing any treatments, classes or taking any advice. We aim to provide Dacorum with community news, health and wellbeing information and stories, and have done so in good faith.
BERKHAMSTED | BOVINGDON | RICKMANSWORTH
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Mental health and wellbeing has seen a huge shift in recent years. We’re all encouraged to be more open about our feelings, but whilst we’ve come a long way to break the stigma, there is still a taboo around opening up and it’s safe to say we have a long way to go in supporting people with their mental health. The past 18 months have also brought their own pressures, the pandemic has certainly been challenging, and some people have found themselves in a position they’ve never had to face before; changing financial situations, redundancy, health anxiety and even loneliness from isolation. Mental health and wellbeing is quickly becoming a priority for businesses too. The Health and Safety Executive reported that in 2019/20, a staggering 17.9 million working days were lost due to stress, depression or anxiety, highlighting just how much of an impact poor mental health is having on our lives. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Public Health England (PHE) have recently
issued new draft guidance that urges organisations to offer training that equips managers with knowledge on mental health, to allow them to facilitate conversations with their employees that address any wellbeing concerns. National training provider, Learning Curve Group, delivers free, government funded training in mental health, and tens of thousands of people have already completed one of their mental health qualifications. With courses that focus on key themes including general mental health, mental health in the workplace, and mental health for children and young people. Anyone who wishes to sign up to a free mental health course through Learning Curve Group can enrol online at: www.lcgonline.co.uk/yourhealthhub. Courses can be studied online and completed in as little as three weeks. For more information, contact Andrea Rooney on: andrea.rooney@ learningcurvegroup.co.uk or call 01388 433 394.
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Your body keeps the score Sometimes our feelings of anxiety, not being motivated, procrastination, anger, insomnia, disassociated from the world… are not quite as they seem. By Soraya Allison. You may have heard of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) which has become a common phrase since the onset of COVID. But have you heard of Complex Trauma or C-PTSD? This is relational trauma from our early years, it occurs during a child’s development and where trauma is repeated or chronic. This exposure to trauma can impact a child’s emotional, psychological, social and physical development. Although, not all children will be affected in the same way. The range of symptoms are “complex” and often result in a loss of awareness of one’s emotional and physical self in the present moment.
I believe that all of us suffer from complex trauma to some degree or another, since it’s relational; primary caregivers, family, school etc. For some, the trauma is so severe that it has caused devastation. But there are also those, and I include myself in this, where the coping strategies are so good that they function well in the world and might never realise that trauma is evident. This is the trauma you don’t realise you have! Traumatised people chronically feel uncomfortable in their bodies, this sense of dis-ease can manifest as; addictions, disruptive relationships, over reactions to minor events or health problems. I think the COVID pandemic may have lifted the lid for some people as the strategies they would normally employ in order to bypass their feelings such as;
in focus... Yoga for Trauma overwork, drinking with friends, shopping malls, etc have not been available. Also the added stresses of either being alone or with family for months at a time, whilst at the same time having choice taken away from you and uncertainty over the future. Has potentially either caused buried trauma to arise or has caused trauma, since we have not been able to exercise fight or flight, how many of us have just become frozen with fear or become compliant. Trauma, researcher Bessel van
Aging well
in Dacorum
AGE UK Dacorum is a local independent charity. Their mission is simply to promote the well-being of over 50’s and their carers, covering Berkhamsted, Hemel Hempstead, Kings Langley, Markyate, Tring, and the surrounding villages. They do this by providing a wide range of services and activities. I met with Charlie from AGE UK Dacorum recently to have a chat about their work. I have a real affinity with what they are doing, I know only too well how quickly things can change within a family. What they offer is invaluable, and I know from personal experience that they make an enormous difference to many families, including my own. The services they offer are extensive, and range from Covid Bereavement support, carers support, dementia support to befriending. They also offer activities like walking football and netball and a flowers gardening club. For a full list of services and activities visit check out their website - https://www.ageuk.org.uk/ dacorum/ Of course, they cannot do what they do without donations or the time and support
of local businesses and volunteers. There are many ways you can help; Sponsor an event, display a collection tin, donate a raffle prize or service, donate items for use in their clubs, send employees to volunteer or even run a fundraiser? If you think you can help, they would be delighted to hear from you. Keep an eye on their website and social media pages for upcoming fundraisers like their popular Christmas Card sale, selling quality branded cards aimed at supporting the charity. Watch out for the stalls at Berkhamsted market Saturday 13th November, the Festival of Light on the 28th November, Tring’s Festival of Light on the 27th November and Chipperfield Village Hall Christmas Fair 5th December, We will be running a Community Christmas lunch for all ages at Berkhamsted town hall on Wednesday December 29th noon to 3pm. Tickets are £5 for adults and children go free. There will also be an Age UK Dacorum Carol service at St Peter’s Church Berkhamsted on 8th December 2021. If you can help, or wish to donate please do get in touch admin@ageukdacorum.org.uk or contact us by phone 01442 259049.
der Kolk explains, is not just an event that took place sometime in the past, it is also the imprint left by that experience on mind, brain and body. The traces can affect our capacity for joy and intimacy, even on our biology and immune system. Unwinding the patterns encoded by trauma require a “top down” approach through cognitive talk based therapy to understand the trauma from a mind perspective. BUT also a “bottom up” approach that aides the nervous system to self
regulate and to begin to tolerate emotions and sensations. Trauma Sensitive Yoga as an adjunct treatment allows participants to restore their connection of mind and body which is often compromised as a result of trauma. By focusing on the felt sense of the body to inform choice making, rather than external appearance of yoga shapes, the participant begins to cultivate a sense of agency, which is often compromised as a result of trauma. www.sorayayoga.co.uk
Age UK Dacorum and The Castle Choir present:
s a m t s Chri t r e c n o C A COMMUNITY
Congregational carols, celebrity readings and festive songs. In conjunction with:
Wednesday 8th December 2021 7:30pm-9:30pm Refreshments available during interval St Peter's Church, Berkhamsted, High Street, HP4 2AX TO BOOK TICKETS AND FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/dacorum/
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Hands up who may have been feeling a little wobbly or concerned about some of the following?
• The commute to work? • At the workplace e.g. lack of care over sanitising (e.g. inability to wash hands in hospitality settings or shops after contact with customers’ products, glasses, plates, etc) • People not maintaining physical distancing • Colleagues not sharing the same opinions we have and judging us for ours (ie vaccination, socialising etc) • Worries about the effectiveness of personal protective equipment (PPE) • Bringing the coronavirus home • Becoming ill or fear of death • Fear of redundancy, redeployment or refurloughed • Moral distress, threats to the individual’s purpose and sense of belonging • Changes in work role and practices, and concerns about not having the necessary skills • Impact on job performance • Dealing with changing work patterns/shifts, redeployment, loss of control over working routine or locations • Stress because of the effects of the pandemic on existing health conditions and disabilities (e.g. hearing impairment making communication in masks more challenging) • Concerns about childcare and other caring responsibilities in a changing environment • Leaving our animals at home • Being or feeling unable to challenge unfair or unsafe practices • Personal or household debts run up because of lockdown You’re not alone I promise! Granted this isn’t the cheeriest of lists but all these concerns
Taking the stress out of work are very, very common so much so that concerns about heading back to work have been such a concern for businesses that there has been a paper written by the British Psychological society to help businesses help their employees.
It is a psychologically informed approach called SHARE, developed for the guidance to help employers and employees deal with Covid-19 related anxiety and distress, as well as adapt and thrive in the new ways of working.
SHARE stands for: SAFE working: Assessing risk in the workplace HELP yourself and others: Communicating and meeting needs ADAPT to change: Diverse workplace situations and adjusting to the ‘new normal’ RELIEVE the pressure: Helping yourself and others to adapt and cope EVALUATE: Review the situation regularly to ensure ongoing success The paper is available at https://www.bps.org.uk/news-and-policy/addressinganxiety-return-work-following-covid-19-pandemic
What can we do to help ourselves? Sometimes we can try techniques to help with mild anxiety, here are 5 top tips which may be useful
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Be kind to yourself It’s ok to feel uncertain and distressed. This is an incredibly challenging time for everyone. Many of us have had to adjust to a new normal, which has involved spending most of the time in our homes, and the idea of now going to back to work can provoke anxiety as our brain is alerted to a new potential risk in front of us. So be kind to yourself and recognise that it is okay to feel like this. Also, don’t try to go from 1 to 100 on your first day back at work. Take baby steps until you start to get used to
everything once again, which can take some time to bed in. Keep things simple at first, so that you don’t become overwhelmed.
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Use your social scaffolding when needed I often train people in how to help others, one of those key points is to encourage other supports, (non-professional supports) so these supports I call our social scaffolding, our friends, family, community, neighbours, colleagues. Cheerleaders for want of a better word. Surround yourself by the people that make you feel empowered, encouraged, supported, and loved and things seem that little easier. Speak to them and be honest about any fears you have, or
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share what you have found that helps ease your anxiety a little, sharing little tips with each other can help 1) others know they are not alone and 2) new things to try.
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Speak to your employer When people worry, it is typically related to uncertainties or the unknown. Many people who are returning to work are worried about catching coronavirus when they do so or spreading the virus amongst family and friends if they become infected at work. At this moment in time, many employers are carrying out risk assessments and taking clear steps to make sure workspaces are safe. So, speak with your manager or employer and get as much information as you can about how the workspace will be adapted and how people will move around within it. Having all the appropriate information as well as answers to any questions you have can help to ease your worries about potential risks and dangers. If you are worried about commuting during busy times, would they consider a later start? Or an earlier finish. Can you work from home for a few days a week? Be honest with them about how you are feeling. Honesty breeds honesty.
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Maintain a daily routine A book I would highly recommend is The Comfort Book by Matt Haig. He has a wonderful page that says “Find a routine baggy enough to live in” I love that, as some days our routine doesn’t always fit our day, so if we have a baggy routine, we still have structure of some kind. At this time, when things appear to be constantly changing, try to maintain a (baggy) routine and as much positive structure to your day as you can. Scheduling in moments of happiness, breaks, and embracing the good things in our lives, can be a great boost as well as a welcome distraction from our anxieties. So during the hours when you’re not in work, or in the run-up to you returning to work, spend time doing
activities that you really enjoy, and make sure you try to make time to do them regularly.
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Try to learn some positive coping tactics When you start to feel incredibly anxious, you may find that your breath quickens, which causes your heart to beat faster, and leads to you feeling dizzy, disorientated and even more anxious than before. Learning a few breathing techniques, where you bring your attention to your breath during these moments, can help you to relax, focus and quieten your mind. Here is one breathing technique for you to try: • Breathe in for four seconds • Hold your breath for three seconds • Breathe out for six seconds Make sure that your stomach expands as you take in each breath so that your breathing is deep rather than shallow. You may also want to have a series of mantras or affirmations ready as another anxiety technique, as positive self-talk can help you to move past any negative and anxious thoughts you have about returning to work. When putting together these mantras, think about the negative things that you tell yourself, and make sure your mantras are the direct opposite to these. Some to think about including are: • I can do this • I can get through difficult times • It is okay to feel like this • This will not get the better of me This self-talk can help you to overcome your negative thoughts, and recognise your positives and strengths, all of which will help you as you return to work. If, of course, symptoms of anxiety are lasting more than 2 weeks and taking over our day to day lives, it may well be worth speaking to your GP as with more severe cases of anxiety, professional help will help you onto that road to recovery. Jo-Anna Sell KIND jo@kindmentalhealth.org www.kindmentalhealth.org Tel - 07849 407 150
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Beauty trends With the Winter fast approaching, what better trend to explore than ICE GLOBES? Ice globes are what you would expect them to be – hand-held (like lollipops) cooling globes that are used in facials. There are plenty of tutorials to be found on the internet if you have never heard of them before. Massaging your face with them will soothe redness, reduce puffiness and help reduce large pores. They improve circulation promoting better blood flow to the face hence increasing collagen and elastin production. The cold helps stimulate facial nerves and muscles, tightening your skin and helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines. There are many varieties available, mostly glass globes, but you can also get stainless steel ones. There are many reviews to be read, but an added bonus often mentioned is how good they are for easing tension and helping headaches. A great addition to any Christmas wish list.
Making wellness fun
for children
Do you remember your first day of school? As the world’s young children return to school, there’s uneasiness, and their mental wellness has suffered during this long pandemic. As a way to promote positive mental health and wellness, the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) created a special Children’s Moonshot Calendar to help educators teach children about the importance of wellness. Each month, this colorful hanging art will inspire students to make wellness a fun and important part of their daily lives. Teachers can use each month’s calendar focus as a springboard for curriculum conversations, coloring, songs,
and games to explore and embrace healthy habits from an early age. The nonprofit Global Wellness Institute’s goal is to immediately put these calendars in thousands of schools across the world. School has already started in some areas, so we urgently ask for your help. Thanks to the generosity of one of our donors, the GWI is placing 300 calendars in schools, but we have a waiting list of 315 classrooms with more schools requesting calendars every week. Will you give $20 or more today to help children practice wellness? Thank you for all the ways you support the GWI and wellness. Your gift, small or large, is much appreciated. We are SO excited! With your help, we can fill calendar orders for children’s classrooms all over the world. We have one link for all donations. Whenever someone makes a donation,
they can specify which school globally they’d like to send the calendars to, UK included: https://donatenow. networkforgood.org/childrensmoonshot-calendar. As a non-profit, we are seeking larger donations to fund larger batches of calendar production orders. If you know of passionate educators in the UK, we’d love to expand our reach. Our landing page hosts more of the public information we have available at this time: https:// globalwellnessinstitute.org/ wellness-moonshot/childrensmoonshot-calendar/
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Is your School a Modeshift STAR? Hertfordshire County Council’s vision is for pupils to actively travel to school by walking, scooting, or cycling. It has a brand-new suite of Road Safety initiatives on offer to assist pupils to learn Road Safety skills. They are encouraging schools to sign up to Modeshift STARS. Modeshift STARS is a national awards
scheme supported by The Department of Transport and recognises schools that have shown excellence in supporting cycling, walking, and other forms of sustainable travel. The scheme supports the development of school travel plans and rewards schools over five levels (Green, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum) for achieving a
Congratulations to The National STARS Primary School of the Year! Bishop Wood Church of England Junior School in Tring has won the prestigious honour of National STARS Primary School of the Year! Janet Reeve, teacher and Travel Plan Champion has been leading the school to be sustainable since 2015. With 95% of their pupils walking, cycling, or scooting to school they became one of only eight schools in the country that have achieved the new Platinum accreditation.
If your School is not already signed up, and would like it to be, get in touch with Active and Safer Travel Team – activeandsafertravel@hertfordshire. gov.uk
shift to sustainable modes of travel, The scheme is free of charge and full support is offered. E: activeandsafertravel@hertfordshire. gov.uk www.modeshiftstars.org The benefits of a School Travel Plan include: • Road safety and active travel education in school • Improved road safety around school and amongst the wider school/local community • The improved physical and mental health of pupils • A reduction in-car use, congestion, and poor driver/parking behaviour • Improved air quality around the school
20,161 pupils in Hertfordshire primary schools received Road Safety Education in the last academic year. 153 schools registered for Hertfordshire’s first digital Walk to School Week and Clean Air Day campaigns. These campaigns reached 42,896 pupils. Look out for our Be Bright Be Seen campaign launch in mid-October.
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The last 18 months have been hard on us all. Many of us have struggled, especially being cut off from society. As things slowly creep back to some kind of normal, there is no better time to consider joining a local interest group. Being sociable is important for our mental wellbeing, but something that is educational too? A win win. It is well documented that it’s just as Important to exercise your brain as well as your body and conversation and learning new things are known to do just this. I heard about the Local History Societies, which have groups across Dacorum. I met up with the Berkhamsted Local History & Museum Society’s Mary Casserley who tells me more… Berkhamsted Local History & Museum Society (BLHMS) is a friendly group. We meet Wednesday evenings 8-9pm in Berkhamsted Town Hall Sept-March) for a speaker evening. Visitors welcome £3. Membership for the year (7 talks) is
only £10. We hold a raffle and have a second hand book stall at these events. At our December talk we provide drinks/ nibbles as an opportunity to socialise. Members receive the annual Chronicle where we publish your local research. We run coach trip outings to historical places, such as Blenheim Palace and run the annual free Heritage Open Day tours around Berkhamsted. Our members also volunteer at Berkhamsted Castle visitors room where we meet and greet visitors from across the globe. New members will be warmly welcomed. See the full programme of events at www. berkhamsted-history.org.uk or phone Mary Casserley (Chairman) on 01442 824362. With such an abundance of history in Dacorum the Berkhamsted, Tring, Hemel Hempstead and Kings Langley societies would be delighted to share their knowledge with you.
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Pilates
for men?
Did you know that the New Zealand All Blacks, Australian Rugby League clubs, premier league footballers, the England Cricket Team and Olympic athletes to name but a few include Pilates as part of their injury recovery, fitness and well-being programmes? The best news of all for men is that you don’t have to be a sportsman, professional or otherwise to enjoy the benefits of Pilates. Fran Brown who has been teaching Pilates for 35 years, tells us that 25% of her
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Fact: Did you know that Pilates was originally designed by a man for men and women?!
classes are men. Based out of Berkhamsted, one of Fran’s regulars said: “I have been attending Frans Pilates classes for over 14 years starting with a men only class. These classes are designed for mixed abilities from beginners to advanced. Pilates has greatly improved my posture, core stability and keeping me pain free from a long term back problem”. Age and Fitness do not matter, watch out for Fran’s new classes at Carmenta in Berkhamsted coming soon.
Books by inspirational women Here’s a wonderful selection of books written by local & inspiring women to share with you. They all make wonderful gift ideas for loved ones or yourself of course.
Eat, Dance and Shine
Michele Kaye is a mum, grandmother, author of Eat, Dance, Shine and a lover of nature and wildlife. Her passion is to inspire and empower women to slow down the ageing process, feel better through good nutrition and joyous movement. As we age, it is vitally important to maintain flexibility and mobility as well as strength. Eat, Dance, Shine is an accessible book whether you read it cover to cover or open a page at random for ideas tips and inspiration to come alive, gain energy and push back the years. www.michelekaye.com instagram.com/eatdanceshine/ facebook.com/eatdanceshine
Aspire
“International best seller author” is a dream title for most but a wonderful reality for Annette O’Donnell. When her Art Academy business got shut down at start of the Covid lockdowns, Annette used the gift of time to focus her mindset and create new in her life Through expanding awareness and investing in self development - Annette manifested the opportunity to co-author a book called Aspire. This book brings inspiration, hope and healing to readers looking for their life purpose through challenge or adversity. www.annetteodonnell-global.com
Frazzled to Fabulous in 5 Minutes a Day
Happy Healthy Sober
Regain your calm, enjoy your kids and get more done. The essential book for frazzled mums that are fed up with feeling stressed, overwhelmed and exhausted. Discover the brilliantly simply way to stay calm, enjoy your kids more and get more done in just five minutes a day for 30 days. The tools in this book are tried and tested by hundreds of mums who lack time and the results include: a great relationship with your children; being productive with your time; abundant energy and creating ‘time out’ for yourself – without feeling guilty or undeserving. www. frazzledtofabulous.com facebook.com/TamaraDonnEFT instagram.com/tamaradonneft/
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Ditch the booze and take control of your life is a totally non-judgemental look at how we can be happier and healthier without alcohol. It’s SO ingrained in our culture but when we recognise that ‘Sobriety Rocks’ we can start to create a life we don’t need to escape from. Janey Lee Grace shares her personal story, give tips and ideas to ditch the booze and invites health and wellbeing experts, Doctors and practitioners to share chapters on their expertise. You can buy it at amazon https://amzn.to/3oTeTUh
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There’s hair all over the house, on my lapels and shoulders. Family are even commenting on it. But WHY?
Surely, I eat sensibly, I exercise, so what’s going on? There’s a huge industry around fixing hair loss. People will pay large sums to get transplants, serums, treatments and pills but rarely get the results that they crave. If you are in that category here is some goods news. There is a lifestyle fundamental you may be missing. Are you ready to do something very simple, very real and effective to help stem your hair loss and improve your general health? The suggestion may surprise you. Perhaps you eat your meals with the family, and are constantly getting up for second helpings, condiments or even to answer the phone or the door. You have prepared your meal with
Lotions and potions can be pricy, so Anna Dabare from Artemis Healing Herbs (a qualified herbalist and aromatherapist) has shared a couple of recipes for a hair rinse to help with hair loss:
Hair loss care, and now all you want is to settle down eat and watch a movie, read a book or play a game. Or perhaps you are having a social meal with friends. But HOW are you eating? Did you know that digestion begins in the mouth? Your saliva at meal times contains powerful enzymes that accomplish the first stage of food breakdown before and while food is swallowed. If you are distracted in any way, during a meal, that could interfere with the secretion of these enzymes and reduce the amount of chewing that you do. Chewing changes food into particles, and ensures that each one is coated with the necessary factors in your saliva for the next stage of the digestion process.
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I always recommend CHEW every mouthful of food 30 times or more, until you are almost drinking it! This makes all the nutrients you are eating optimally available to be used to nourish you. This will help feed your hair follicles and every cell in your body. In time you will notice that your digestion feels better, you are eating less and you feel more relaxed and positive. All small changes, part of which is hair regrowth. I offer consultations and small mindful eating digestion workshops - if you would like to explore this further please contact me.
Nettle and apple cider vinegar rinse (for dark hair only): simmer 8 tablespoons of nettle leaves and 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in 1 litre of water for 5 minutes; cool and strain; add 5 to 6 drops of rosemary or lavender essential oil, mix well and rinse damp hair with the mixture. The rinse keeps in the fridge for a couple of days.
Gabrielle Paras Richards 07788981977 gabrielle@holistic4health.com
anna.dabare@nexus-ms.co.uk 07738 415467
Rum and Lavender hair rinse: Mix 4 teaspoons of rum with 3 drops of lavender and 3 drops of rosemary essential oils, add 300 ml distilled water or 50/50 rose water and mix well and rinse damp hair. NOTE: Recipes are to be used at your own risk, Please ensure cooled before use, and check for any allergies. Do not ingest, for external use only.
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Carry on after chemo!
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“Get busy living or get busy dying” is a quote I live by every day. It sounds a bit dramatic, but I’ll explain….
Do you ever drive somewhere and realise when you arrived that you do not recall any of the journey? Find yourself surprised its Sunday evening again? Thinking about Christmas when you feel that Easter was only last week? Thank you to that glorious mundane treadmill of life we all walk on. Well, I want you to meet an incredibly inspiring lady who I hope will inspire you too.. Over to you Jennifer... My name is Jennifer Eglinton and in 2018 at the age of 50, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. In the two weeks waiting for the full diagnosis, I feared the
worst, so naturally I wrote a bucket list. Several mammograms, four biopsies, one MRI, one CT, one bone scan, breast surgery, six rounds of chemotherapy and twenty sessions of radiotherapy later, they tell me I am cancer free! But what about my bucket list? The cancer was gone, so surely, I didn’t need to bother just yet, surely the list could wait. Absolutely not! I’d felt like I had been given a second chance of life, so I was going to grab it with both hands. Up to now, I’d been a busy mum, a wife, and an IT consultant, I owed it to myself to have some me time.
So, where better to start my bucket list than at number 1. Could I throw the javelin again? I was pretty good at it at school. Though I didn’t know at the time of writing my list that my surgery would include removing lymph nodes from underneath my armpit. Would I have a weakness in my arm? There was only one way to find out. So, I called Watford Harriers, hesitantly told them I was 51. Phew, I felt accepted straight away and Matt Davies would be my coach. Two years later, I was asked if I wanted to compete in SAL (Senior Athletics League) for anyone over 17. A bit daunting at first but it turned out to be just fine.
Then came the VETS (Veterans) competition for anyone over 35 and to my surprise I came 1st. Never in my sporting life have I ever said it’s the taking part that counts (I’ve always played to win). But it really is now, as you’re competing against yourself for a personal best (PB). Results are recorded on a website called the Power of 10 so you can obtain a ranking for the whole of the UK according to your age group. I’m nowhere near as I good as
I once was but who cares, I’m loving it. So, when I say “Get busy living, or get busy dying” I really mean it. Life is short: do things that make you happy, try things you’ve always wanted to do and get busy living! www.watfordharriers.org.uk www.thepowerof10.info I simply love Jennifer’s bucket list idea, why wait to make one!? Your Health Hub Local will keep in touch and report on Jennifer’s bucket list progress.
Throw it away? No way! Open Door in Berkhamsted is pleased to launch the Open Door Repair Café!
Do you have something that needs fixing? Prefer to mend it than throw it away? The Open Door Repair Café will take place on the first Saturday of every month, 9:30-12:30, at Open Door. You’re invited to pop in with your broken things and let our
experts take a look – you can even enjoy a cuppa and a cake whilst you wait – either inside, or in our lovely garden. We ask for a voluntary donation in exchange for your repair, and any refreshments - all donations (after costs) will go towards the running of Open Door - your donations are really appreciated. We will have a range of expert repairers available each month, such as: • electronics • sewing and textiles • bicycles • jewellery • glassware Please do check the What’s on
page on our website (https:// www.opendoorberkhamsted. co.uk/repair-cafe.html) and social media for which experts will be there that month, or get in touch if you have a really specialist item to be repaired. We think Repair Cafes are a brilliant idea, not least because they reduce waste and CO2, but also because they bring the community together to share skills and help each other out. We can’t wait to see you and your broken items! Can you help? Do you have a talent for fixing electrical, electronic or mechanical items, garden
tools, bicycles, textiles, jewellery or clothing - or something else entirely? If so and you’d like to help at our monthly repair sessions, we’d love to hear from you. For more information and a friendly chat, please email Richard at berkorepaircafe@ gmail.com. Together we can help the environment and our community. We are also always looking for volunteers to help in our community café - either during Repair Café or our usual operation, Monday - Saturday 10:30-3:30 please email Iain.Manson@
opendoorberkhamsted.co.uk for more information. Open Door is a community and arts space on Berkhamsted high street where you can be active, creative and social, whatever your circumstances. We offer a wide range of activities, from workshops and exhibitions, to volunteering opportunities and other ways to make a difference. Or you can just come and have a cup of tea and a chat!
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A helping hand viking community fitness is about serving local communities in health and wellness. Along with the fridge, we also run fitness classes for an early intervention mental health day centre. Hemel Hempstead’s Community Fridge is a local project that is helping not only save food from landfill but helping many in these difficult times with providing extra food for bellies. The fridge and its volunteers collect food that is close to its best before date and which otherwise would go to landfill. Food that is still perfectly good to eat. The main focus is reducing the waste and emissions related to food waste, but it is clear the fridge is also playing a vital role in supplementing food needs for those experiencing food insecurity. Unlike food banks the fridge is here for everyone and anyone – no questions asked. Everyone who comes to collect a bag is doing their bit in helping to save the planet. The project is supported by fair share, hubbub, metro bank and Dacorum borough council and is run under the auspices of Viking Community Fitness. The fridge is always looking for new volunteers and food donations. We would love to be able to extend their reach by setting up other fridges in town. If this is something you can help with you can contact them either through their Facebook page or by email at vikingcommunityfitness@ gmail.com
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Ask me anything
Love Lisa x
Hi, my name is Lisa. I have recently divorced from my husband, I’m a full-time mum of a 7 and 4 year old (which is totally relentless). I’ve lost 70% of my business due to you know what and I’m juggling running the school PTA, teaching Pilates, being a mindset coach and Mindfulness workshops, writing books, AND learning Spanish, all whilst I singlehandedly keep a roof over our heads. I’m not telling you all of this because I want sympathy - quite the opposite - I feel like I am living the best life I have ever experienced!
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I’m happier, healthier, calmer, more energetic and productive than I ever thought possible and I’m accomplishing things I’ve dreamed of doing for years. I’m telling you this because had I not trained and learned everything I know about the mind, my story would have been very very different. I am lucky - my children are happy, my ex husband and I are a great team, I am doing what I love and I feel like I’ve uncovered a secret to it all. The best thing about it is that I get to share it with people and help them achieve the same - that is my dream and I’m living it! Love Lisa x Mindset Coach
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Your Health Hub LOCAL is very excited to offer you the opportunity to email Lisa, from “Love Lisa” your questions relating to anything you need help with. Perhaps you are feeling stuck with a particular aspect of life? Or Perhaps you have a sticky situation you need advice about? Whatever it may be – Lisa will give you her unique take on it. Email in complete confidence – info@yourhealthhub.uk. No names will be used.
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Swans protect the planet Young visitors were able to demonstrate how they were using the principles of the 5 ways to well-being, which is at the centre of what the Swan believes is integral to the work it does daily with its young members.
Active Dacorum is a Dacorum Borough Council initiative
The 5 ways to well-being entail 5 key principles, ranging from ‘Being Active,’ to help enhance your mood, ‘Keep Learning,’ by embracing new experiences and opportunities, ‘Giving,’ your time, words, attention or just being present in the moment, ‘Connecting,’ with people talking, listening and being part of someone’s story and finally ‘Taking Notice,’ and feeling the small things that make you happy. The Swan Youth Project took part in the Berkhamsted Big Green Week Event at the Civic Centre on 18th September 2021 to showcase the work being done at the Swan Centre surrounding these principles. As well as talking to
visitors about how we are supporting young members within the community, we made bug houses, paint brushes using natural material, visitors could also try foods and drinks made from food scraps. But most important of all, we encouraged young people to use their voice to inform others about how they can help protect our planet. What an amazing number of ideas we had, from planting more flowers for the bees to the simple action of
thrive
Run by the Community Partnerships Wellbeing Team, it is committed to ensuring that our residents and communities have opportunities to thrive, improve their mental and physical wellbeing and come together to build resilience. Active Dacorum focuses on wellbeing through sport, physical activity, arts and culture with a programme of events, activities and initiatives. Claire Foster leads on sport and physical activity working with the likes of Herts Sport Partnership and Dacorum Sports Network to offer opportunities to be more active in your local area. Annie Smith leads on arts and culture to deliver and promote creative and cultural opportunities in Dacorum. We have a variety of events for all ages such as the annual Your Town community 5k run, our Wellness Festival and Fun
Palace, as well as social prescribing courses supporting mental health. You can also check our YouTube channel for short online activities and videos. The team works in partnership with many local community groups and organisations to access funding and to support and deliver projects that will benefit the people of Dacorum and improve wellbeing. It also promotes new and existing activity across the borough through its social media pages, so to keep abreast of what is happening locally you can follow Active Dacorum on Twitter and Facebook. To find out all about Active Dacorum, its programme of events, community projects and initiatives and to follow its socials, visit www.dacorum.gov.uk/ ActiveDacorum . Alternatively, if you would like to get in touch, please email active@dacorum.gov.uk.
switching lights off when not in use. It was incredible to see young people talking about their experiences of being involved in Eco Teams in their schools and how they were doing things outside their school setting to make a difference. It was evident that young people were taking notice of the environment around them, giving up time to support causes that protect land from being
developed or the simple act of being active and enjoying the nature we have in and around Berkhamsted. The future belongs to the young people in our community and it was fantastic for the Swan Youth Team to see how they are helping protect the earth and using the principles of the 5 ways to well-being to positively impact their mental and physical health. Swan Youth Project Team 137-139 High Street, Berkhamsted, Herts, HP4 4HH
INNER ENLIGHTENMENT • Licensed Master NLP Practitioner & Hypnosis • Spritual & Wellbeing Coach and Mentor • Reiki – Energy Healer What people say about their sessions “Sarah-Jane has an amazing ability to connect with your body’s energies, easing any blocks, to allow a wonderful feeling of well-being replace the stresses and pains previously felt... I would highly recommend her treatment sessions to anyone suffering with the stresses of modern day life.”
“I recently had NLP and Hypnosis with Sarah-Jane. I don’t know what she did or how she did it - but a huge weight has been lifted - and weirdly try as I might I can’t make excuses anymore for not moving forward - a light has been switched on! When I left I said I felt taller - that evening a friend I hadn’t seen for a while said I looked different - she said you look taller. If you are stuck, procrastinate, or have self-limiting beliefs – book an appointment with Sarah-Jane today! AMAZING.”
Create change & bring balance in to your life Sarah-Jane | T: 07788 578029 E: sarahjane@innerenlightenment.co.uk | www.innerenlightenment.co.uk