WINTER HEALTH & WELLNESS PACKAGE

This month only take advantage of our 6 class yoga pass and 1 hour Naturopathic Consult for only $145 (save $31). Find out for yourself how to keep energized and healthy this winter.

Please call 8904 0202 to find out more information.

While Pilates may not offer the same spiritual or meditative benefits, its core-strengthening exercises can invigorate your yoga practice.

Sometimes, yogis tend to rely on their flexibility so much that they just let their muscles stretch rather than engaging and strengthening them. In fact, most yoga poses are “passive” core strengtheners. We are always told to engage our abs in every pose to work our core muscles. And the truth is, if you flip through the yoga books, there aren't many yoga poses that specifically target our abs and core muscles. Perhaps, only boat pose (navasana), double leg raises and their variations?

Hence, yogis are beginning to recognize that Pilates —an 85-year-old system of body conditioning designed by Joseph Pilates— as a rewarding complement to asana practice. While yoga involves either flowing quickly through the pose (vinyasa style) or holding the poses (hatha style), Pilates is a rhythmic practice of precise movements repeated five to 10 times for each exercise. This aims to engage and strengthen the transversus abdominis (the deepest layer of abs that wrap around the torso horizontally), the obliques, the lower back muscles, and the pelvic floor during complex movements . By doing so, you develop a strong, corset-like support system that protects your back from injury.

Yoga and Pilates are, of course, distinct practices. But it would be fun to infuse some Pilates techniques on your mat to enhance your yoga practice, and to balance the yin and yang in your practice.

Life Source offers two Pilates classes – Tuesday and Thursday from 1.00-2.00pm.

These are drop-in classes, no pre-booking required.

When energy and vitality is low, you  never feel as good as when you've got that extra bounce in your step. 

Low energy affects everything from your work to your play and everything in between including your health:

Work seems harder, emotional ups and downs effect you more, relationships can suffer, and niggling health problems that didn't really effect you much before can take root and start to become more serious. Some common examples are; Worsening allergic conditions, skin breakouts, frequent colds, difficulty conceiving, pain (including headaches, back pain and period pain) and weight gain or loss. If you are suffering from low energy it could be caused by a number of factors. 

The three step program with traditional Chinese medicine will: 

1. Identify the likely cause of the problem using traditional diagnosis
2. Use acupuncture and herbal medicine to rebalance your body and improve your energy and vitality, and 
3. Review your diet for optimum energy.

July Energy Boost Special - first consultation $50!

Book your appointment now to take advantage of the special.

FREE 15 minute Iridology Sessions!

Never had Iridology? Naturopath, Kerrin Booth , is offering free 15-minute iridology consultations at Life Source in North Sydney on Mondays and Fridays. Iridology is a great tool to help pinpoint the cause of health problems and to look for inherited tendencies to certain health issues. A great free introduction if you are new to Naturopathy.

If you are an existing Naturopathic client and I haven't looked at your irises, please ask me during your next consultation.

Kerrin Booth is a Naturopath with 17 years clinical experience. She is available at Life Source, North Sydney, phone (02) 8904 0202 to make an appointment.

It's that time of year when there is a change in the weather, and many different flus and viral infections circulating around home, the workplace and on public transport.

Having a good diet is particularly important for the health of your immune system. Naturopaths can tell you which foods are good to eat and which foods to avoid to enhance immune function. They can also recommend vitamin and mineral supplements and herbal medicines known to boost the immune system, and they can give you advice about which natural medicines to use if you do suffer from an infection. There are many herbs we use that have immune stimulating and anti-viral activities, which work brilliantly for any viral infection.

Of course, stress does play a role in reducing your immunity, and a Naturopath can give you some tools to help you to cope better with stress – physically, mentally and emotionally.

Kerrin Booth ND MATMS is a Naturopath with 16 years clinical experience. During July, one-hour Immune Boosting consultations are $60 (usually $80).

Please remember that herbal medicine has a lot to offer in the way of antibacterial, antiviral and immune stimulating herbs. They are very effective for acute bacterial and viral infections such as colds, flus, urinary tract infections, and there are many wonderful herbs for coughs that have expectorant and antibacterial actions. So please, before you head for the antibiotics, give me a call and I can make you up some herbs. Antibiotics are certainly called for in some cases, but should be considered as a last resort. Herbs are very effective in boosting the immune system and aren't hard on the liver, and don't wipe out the good bacteria in the gut. The sooner you call me the better – don't wait until it progresses into something nasty so that you really do have to take antibiotics. If you feel like you're coming down with something, or starting to get a sore throat, call me straight away and get onto the herbs.

Some immune boosting tips:

•  Take some liquid Echinacea.
•  Increase your intake of zinc and vitamin C
•  Don't forget the garlic! Two cloves a day – you can swallow whole if they are small enough, crush and take off the teaspoon with honey, or add at the end of cooking, just before serving.
•  Avoid sugar and dairy products.
•  Rest! Take that day off sooner rather than later and you will recover more quickly – your work colleagues will appreciate it too.
•  Gargle with salt water for a sore throat.

Kerrin Booth is a Naturopath with 17 years clinical experience. She is available at Life Source, North Sydney, phone (02) 8904 0202 to make an appointment. And at Cromer, Northern Beaches, phone 0404 060 459 to make an appointment.