India Head Massage... Less Known yet Very Effective

A friend of mine is doing a course in Indian head massage and needed case-study participants for her course report. I was very eager to volunteer, because I had heard of the massage many times before yet never quite knew what it was like. I was simply curious to experience it myself and I am glad that I did!

Now that I have had three sessions of it, I can truly recommend this type of massage to anyone, but in particular to those who suffer from headaches, migraines and sinusitis. The massage is also excellent for anyone looking for some relaxation and for releasing stress, as well as for improving the quality of sleep. I have problems with sinusitis often, as well as with headaches, for which the massage was ideal.

Indian head massage originates form India, as you might have guessed. In Asia, the massage is only done in the head and neck, but in the West, it has been mixed with Western style massage and been extended to shoulders and the upper body. This is what makes it particularly appealing to us here in the West who spend a lot of time sitting on the desk and in other mundane tasks.

From the link www.bodytissue.com/library/massage-therapy-articles/indian-head-massage, one can find more specific information on the massage... But below is a list of benefits that have been associated with the massage - isn't the list long enough for you to want to give it a try?

Physical Benefits

Significant improvement noticed with:

• Migraine and headaches
• Sinusitis
• Stress related disorders
• Insomnia and disturbed sleep
• Temporor – Mandibular Joint tension (TMJ)
• Suppleness and flexibility to head, neck and shoulders
• Increase of oxygen and glucose supply to the brain
• Scalp stimulation increasing blood circulation,  promoting healthy hair
• Increases cerebral spinal fluid circulation
• Improves muscle tone
• Calms the respiratory system, helping asthma

Mental Benefits

Indian Head Massage promotes:

• A sense of calmness, peace and tranquillity
• Release from anxiety, stress and mental stain
• Relief from depression
• High levels of concentration
• Clearer thinking and focus
• Relaxation
• Sound sleep and relief from nightmares
• Renewed energy
• Aids memory
• Chakra balancing and energetic healing

  

Blandfords - the Ideal Place for Breakfast or Authentic Italian Food in London

Blandfords is a restaurant & cafe located in Marylebone in central London. It used to be a traditional English cafe specialising in traditional English breakfasts. They still have probably the best full English breakfast on their menu, but they are nowadays run by a group of Italians and therefore also offer the best pizzas (the Napoli style for only a £5!), Italian sweets and coffees in town. 

I popped into the cafe with my friend yesterday. Their hot chocolate was heavenly, made with real Italian chocolate and served in a pretty mug with marshmallows floating on top. The staff there were very friendly and welcoming. The cafe is decorated with old-style posters and there was music from the 60s and 70s playing in the background. It is one of those places that one would always go to for the entire afternoon, to chillax and read a book over a hot cup of something delicious! 

And even better yet, the prices are lower than at any chain coffee shops and the homemade-style food is much more affordable and satisfying than in most high street restaurants. 

http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/directory/1150/23867.php

Meditation and Mindfulness

If you ever wondered what being mindful means, or if you are not sure of the distinction and the inter-relationship between meditation and mindfulness, read the latest post on Goop (blog hosted by Gwyneth Paltrow).

You can find an interview there with a meditation teacher who explains the mentioned concepts in a clear and simple way. You will also find short youtube clips there with guided meditations, in case you ever fancied giving meditation a try but never got round to it....

http://goop.com/journal/be/198/change?utm_source=goop+issue&utm_campaign=05fe8191ae-Goop_Issue_198_25_11_2012&utm_medium=email

Health Benefits of Yoga

Having practiced yoga for many years, I am the first one to shout out about its health benefits, both for the body and the mind. Many people are still skeptical of this though, not seeing yoga as 'proper exercise'. But that exactly is the beauty of it - it is it's own complete system that integrates the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of our being. Once engaged in on a regular basis, great benefits for the whole being can be recorded.

If you have thought of trying yoga out and wondered whether it is worth it, have a read of this short article and I am sure that all the health benefits listed there will make you want to give it a try:

www.theschooloflife.com/blog/2012/10/yoga-strong-medicine/ 

Going Back to the Roots... Orthodoxy

Three out of four of my grandparents are (and were) Orthodox Christians. Yet, I grew up in a more atheist household since neither of parents were religious and rather held their own views of such issues. This is why I didn't learn much about Orthodox religion and still as an adult was not too sure of the differences between the Orthodox traditions and other branches of Christianity.

About two percent of Finnish citizens consider themselves Orthodox. The roots of the religion lie on the side of Russia, from where the Russian Orthodox Church initially took a foothold in Finland when refugees fled the area of Karelia during the turbulent times of the World Wars. In 1923, the Finnish Orthodox Church was established. The church has always had a strong presence in the country - an example of this is the centre of Helsinki where you have the Lutheran Church in the spot centre of the city and, then right next to it, the Orthodox Cathedral.

What normally distinguishes the outlook of an Orthodox Church from those of other branches of Christianity is that these churches are much more decorated. They are painted more colourfully both inside and outside, with onion-shaped towers rising with golden rims rising from the roof. Inside, you can see colourful paintings of Saints and Archangels, as well as golden decorations. This is a stark contrast to the Lutheran tradition, for example, that generally keeps its churches very plain.

Recently, I visited the Russian Orthodox Church in central London. I was curious to go and see how it looks and was surprised to find out that it looked more Lutheran than Orthodox with its plainer outlook. It was interesting to see the difference compared to the Finnish Orthodox Church. Perhaps this is another cultural aspect of religion worth looking more into... It again raises the question of how far religion and culture are inter-mingled.

The Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral in the centre of Helsinki

Crowdfunding - Excellent Way for Fundraising Small Amounts

I had previously heard about Crowd Funding, but I only really got the gist of it recently when a colleague mentioned it and reminded me of its existence. The Crowdfunder is a website that is run by the University of Exeter and its aim is to fund small projects (generally up to £500 but it can be larger amounts) in the UK. The projects can range from individual artists wanting to have enough money for successful art projects to supporting the harvesting of olives in Palestine.

The Crowdfunder works in a way that UK residents can post their projects online and then potential funders (e.g. business or well-off individuals) looking into investing in worthy projects can search the database and pick their fundees. Once the set fundraising target has been achieved, the website takes 5% commission in order to be able to keep functioning.

A website definitely worth keeping in mind and looking into when thinking of funding a small-scale project:

www.crowdfunder.co.uk

'Just Another Manic Mum-Day' by Mink Elliott

Looking for something light to read in my local library, I started browsing through the new arrivals in 'The Light Reads' section. At the moment, I work with and for young mothers and so the title 'Just Another Manic Mum-Day' caught my eye. The humourous back cover of the book and the colourful front cover made me borrow it and I am glad that I did, as it turned out to be one of the funniest books that I have read in a long time!

Mink Elliott is an author who has spent extensive time both in the UK and in Australia. She has a witty writing style that suits equally well female and male young adults and adults. Her firs novel 'The Pissed-off Parents Club' has been a best -seller in many countries.

Here is a link for finding out more about Mink Elliott and her books:

http://minkelliott.com/