I would like to welcome Pettina to the Seeds Of Health space. She is currently completing her Advanced Diploma of Naturopathy, Nutrition and Western Herbal Medicine - the same qualification I began on my travels around Australia back in 2007. Together we are going to be discussing all things health and myself imparting what I know with her to enhance her knowledge and only add to what she is already learning on her health journey. She will be assisting with aspects of the clinic and getting some packages together and learning the ins and outs of what happens both in and outside consultations - ordering, blogging, documenting, consultations, marketing, social media, accounting, etc. What hat doesn't a small business owner and entrepreneur wear? :)
Please understand that although Pettina is going to be sitting in on as many consultations as possible it is always completely your choice, as the client, as to whether you choose to allow her to sit in or not. There is no pressure.
Pettina - Student Naturopath
So here she is...I have to say a big thank you to Janelle first and foremost, I am so excited to have been taken under her wing in the chance to expand my knowledge in the health and wellbeing industry. I am in the exciting position of beginning my clinical hours with Janelle as a student Naturopath and to give you a bit of an idea, let me share a bit of background on me.
As so many Naturopath’s seem to find their interest in this industry, mine was piqued from illnesses in childhood, where I was forever going from doctor to doctor being treated for asthma. It was again in my early 20s after having lost my mother to cancer after a 6 month battle when I was 17, followed by a stressful relationship, that I again found doctors lacking in being able to treat my symptoms, let alone get to the cause… I just wasn’t getting better. With a sharp and open mind, I decided to take matters into my own hands, (with the help of some amazing Naturopaths of course) and my passion for health and wellbeing grew from there. Now fast forward, I have almost completed a triple advanced diploma in Naturopathy, Herbal Medicine and Nutrition and married into a family of coffee farmers, finding myself surrounded by 85,000 coffee trees in Mareeba.
I cannot overstate the power of Nutrition in helping me find my path to greater health and happiness. Having said that I also love all natural modalities, from the body work of massage, bowen therapy, reflexology, cranial sacral to energetic medicine of homeopathy, theta healing, flower remedies, and every modality in between. I look forward to having the opportunity of sharing with everyone my experiences as Janelle’s protégé. I am finding myself connecting again with Doterra essential oils as well, my first experience with them was when I was managing a day spa on the Gold Coast, and had a Doterra rep offer me an Aroma Touch experience. Afterwards I then knew for certain essential oils had a powerful presence in natural healing.
Janelle’s Nurturing 9 is powerful yet simplistic, inspiring healthy habits into our daily life. This week’s focus is on the breath. Lets all take a solid deep breath, appreciate the oxygen you’re breathing in for your organs and cells to utilise, feel the immediate de-stressing capacity it provides, purifying any toxic energy and filling us with simple life force. Yogis incorporate pranayama into their classes, teaching the power of breath control, uniting them with the flow of poses and movement. This practice helps us to switch on our parasympathetic nervous system, (the relax and digest system), altering the state of our nervous system. I know I, all too often, get caught up in my determination to achieve my set tasks for the day - make my little girls lunch, put the washing on, phone the insurance company, go to work (another set of tasks), plan and cook dinner, do the shopping, fold the washing, play with my daughter, etc, that before I know it, the day is finished and my nervous system has been on high alert all day. Slow, deep, rhythmic breathing allows us to be in the present moment, helps us to let go of overwhelming situations, and appreciate the little things in life. Best of all they can be done any time of the day, anywhere!
Deep breathing can also help circulate our lymphatic fluid. This is important because unlike the cardiovascular system that has the heart as a pump to circulate blood, lymph relies on movement and breath to ensure our lymphatic fluid reaches our lymphatic organs for filtration. Our lymphatic system is both our immune cells highway and sewage pipe. Cells excrete unwanted toxic metabolic waste into our lymph fluid, along with dead cells and other cellular debris. Without effective movement, breathing and lymph circulation our other vital bodily functions would quickly shut down, due to trapped proteins and excess fluid. Deep breathing, along with exercise, accelerates (up to 15 times) the normal rate in which our lymph can circulate and be filtered.
A deep breath should be felt within the abdominal area. Holding the breath for 4 counts, help oxygenate the blood, and then exhale twice as long as the inhale, to increase the elimination of toxins. This cycle of deep breathing enhances the health of our blood and activates our lymphatic system. So easy yet so effective, I love it! Here is a video Janelle has made on another breathing technique which is equally simple - Alternate nostril breathing - Nadi Shodhan. She will be posting more videos on YouTube so keep an eye out!
Pettina & Janelle x