SELFish

Giving ourselves permission

To rest

To heal

To accept treatment

In our busy fast paced world, I have noticed a change in my clients where there is a constant pull between having to do it all with a constraint of less time and then a knowing deep in the bones that there is a compromise to health and wellbeing. 

The need to be in reach of all those we report to and love, adds to the pressure of having no time. 

No time that is only ours. No time that we aren’t being productive. And no time to get anything done working from the highest tier downwards - the main priority being to make money to pay for a roof over our heads with food and education demands added on with family needs.

Exercise has become a as fast paced as our lifestyles, with HIT everything. HIT Pilates, HIT in and out gyms like F45 and Strong. Hikes. Crossfit. High Intensity. Everything.

This has further impact on our relationships. They become a fast exchange of lists - ‘how is mum/dad/sister doing’ or ‘what appointments do we have scheduled for kids’ or ‘lets schedule a date night’.

Moments of nothing, reading, leisurely walks and long meal preparation with sit down chats and laughs over food become less and less. Even a social event becomes a list of who’s coming, what are we cooking, what times, what time can we leave by as so and so has this the next day…

By the time anyone lies on my table, it is no wonder they are ready for a sleep.  Our first appointment for a face sculpt or lymphatic massage is usually spent snoring.  I love it when they say, I just dozed.  Hmmm, no you slept snoring for a good portion of our session.

By session two, after a deep rest (which induces deep REM sleep patterns - measured on fit watches by certain clients) in our first visit, we can slowly start to take notice of where we are tight, tender and congested. By session three, wellness starts to take shape in form of better sleep, consecutive thinking of ideas from formation to execution, better food choices and respective weight loss or reduction of fluid retention.  Following this as strength returns to the body and mind, I notice my clients making better personal boundary decisions in relationships, work hours and carving out time for themselves.

But this all starts from a decision that ultimately can only be made by you.  When I say self care, it means that no one can take that first action of self care except you. You can book the first massage, sauna, gym session. No one will do it for you.

And to do this, the first time might feel self-ISH.  Because we have to compromise - we need to give up time that would have been spent doing the other things that keep us in HIT. High Intensity. 

I hear adult ADHD and Peri Menopause as women’s highest disorders alongside digestion issues. IBS and Colitis.  All of these disorders for me, mean we need to slow down.  Slow the mind, slow our eating habits, and  work on detoxification of built up stress which show up in the body in all the above disorders which are mainly inflammation.  A system running too hot.

I had a great analogy today - a friend said to me that she thought that a car service was like a luxury spend like a massage. You topped up the water and oil once in a while and splashed out on a service when you felt a bit flush and a treat.  But like a service, a massage is an ongoing scheduled treatment that the body needs regularly (by a trained health professional, just like a trained mechanic).  Because when you don’t keep up with your servicing, the car doesn’t have a great shelf life.  (Credit - Rachel Davis, best story teller!)