Sign the Petition to Lift the Travel Ban on those with HIV

December 8, 2008 by kal  
Filed under Healthy Living

Ctrl Alt Shift is a social site dedicated to charity through action rather than donation. Their aim is simple – to give you a platform to change the world.

They are racing to get 50,000 people to join the Ctrl Alt Shift site. Each sign-up will be a protest against the 12 countries that ban people living with HIV from entering, including Russia, Saudi Arabia and South Korea.

Unbelievably, the US had the same ban until October this year. They’re now in the process of lifting it. It was only by people making their voice heard that this changed.

In the UK there are no travel restrictions against those with HIV. Have we turned into a nation of lepers as a result? Of course not. The ban doesn’t prevent the spread of infection, it just reinforces the stigma already faced by people living with HIV.

The biggest challenge with HIV is that there’s no cure. The second is stigma; not just from governments, but from our own communities. There are so many myths and stereotypes flying around that people living with HIV are driven underground. Would you admit to your mates that you had it? No, didn’t think so.

This is why people all over the world living with HIV have NOTHING TO DECLARE.

It is unjust and unacceptable in the 21st century for there to be such restrictions in place, violating people’s basic human rights.

What you can do to help? Well it’s easy:

1) Register at www.ctrlaltshift.co.uk and get involved!

2) Embed the Ctrl Alt Shift Widget to show your support for the campaign and encourage your peers to sign up.

In addition, by joining the Ctrl Alt Shift community you also get the quarterly magazine for free with interviews with the likes of Estelle, Sway and Sam Roddick. You can also submit your own articles and content to be part of the magazine, highlighting issues that concern you.

Key partners such as Vice Magazine and the British Film Institute (BFI) offer you the chance to get involved through creative competitions, with mentors such as Noel Clarke, Alexia Chung. Music partners include Young Knives, GoldieLocks, Mystery Jets and Boy Better Know.

Get involved! Be Creative! It’s your world - Take Control!

5 Simple Things That Will Keep You Mentally Fit

December 1, 2008 by kal  
Filed under Healthy Living

Sometimes it’s the simple things in life that can be the most effective. A panel of scientists has found that simple activities such as gardening or mending a bicycle can protect mental health and help people to lead more fulfilled and productive lives. Read more

Pelvic Floor Exercises for Men

November 14, 2008 by kal  
Filed under Exercises

The pelvic floor muscles are layers of muscle stretched like a hammock from the pubic bone at the front to the bottom of the backbone (coccyx). There are two openings through the pelvic floor - the anus (back passage) and the urethra (bladder outlet). The pelvic floor muscles support these two openings, but if they are weakened or not in good condition they cannot support the openings effectively. Pelvic floor muscle or Kegal exercises are done to help strengthen weak muscles around the bladder. When these muscles are weak, urine can leak from the bladder. Read more

Herbs To Help You Stop Smokin

October 14, 2008 by kal  
Filed under Healthy Living

One of the biggest problems when trying to stop smoking is that smokers become physically dependant on nicotine. Smoking affects the parts of the brain that relate to reward and pleasure. It increases the amount of the neurotransmitter, dopamine, and the nature of nicotine is that it creates a cycle of positive reinforcement within your brain that makes you want more. Scientists have found that when you withdraw from chronic nicotine use, it results in changes in these neural pleasure pathways. So when stopping, depression and anxiety are common side-effects.

There are a few herbs that have a traditional reputation for helping people stop smoking. These herbs exert varying effects that will make stopping easier. Most of them can be found in either dried bulk, capsule, or liquid extract form. Be sure to always follow the directions on the label for use. If using dried herbs, use them only to prepare tea, or tinctures, and never smoke them as a replacement for tobacco. Read more

10 Stretches to Relieve Back Pain

September 5, 2008 by kal  
Filed under Back Care

Here are ten simple stretches that you can do to help relieve back pain. Everyone can benefit from stretching the soft tissues - the muscles, ligaments and tendons - in the back, legs, buttock, and around the spine. The spinal column and its contiguous muscles, ligaments and tendons are all designed to move, and limitations in this motion can make back pain worse.

People with ongoing back pain may find it takes many weeks, or months of stretching to mobilize the spine and soft tissues, but will find that sustained relief of back pain will usually follow the increase in motion. Read more

33 Sunscreen Tips

July 23, 2008 by kal  
Filed under Healthy Living

33 Tips Sunscreen Tips and an explanation of what sunscreens are and how to use it. Sunscreens are important skin-care products used to prevent photoaging and skin cancer. Until recently it was believed that blocking UVB radiation and sunburn were the only measures needed to prevent sun damage. The SPF rating was developed to measure the ability of a sunscreen to block UVB radiation. Now we know that UVA radiation also contributes significantly to damaging the skin. These chemicals are used in sunscreens to absorb UVA radiation. Read more

Holistic Holidays

April 15, 2008 by kal  
Filed under Healthy Living

Holistic Holidays - Yoga and Pilates Holidays in southern Spain

We are launching a new healthy holiday service called Holistic Holidays. The holidays aim to provide plenty of Yoga and Pilates mixed in with the kind of relaxed, enjoyable holiday activities that you might enjoy on any holiday. The teachers are Emily Collins ( Yoga Alliance ) and Kay Hunter Saber ( Body Control Pilates and Physical Mind Institute, U.S.A ). They invite you to spend a week with them, working hard and playing hard! The holidays include six full days of yoga and pilates classes and hikes in the surrounding countryside which is over 4 hours of exercise a day.

There are currently two weeks available: 31st May - 7th June 2008 and 21st June - 28th June 2008.

The cost of the 1 week holiday, not including flights, or transfers is £600 to £650 (depending on room type).

Each days program will consist of breakfast on the terrace by the pool if you are staying at the villa, then a morning Yoga, or Pilates class. Freshly made juice between classes and a healthy lunch ( prepared by a fantastic Spanish chef ). You are then free after lunch to relax by the pool or explore all the delights of the Costa del Sol. The hikes are optional, so if you want to go to the beach, shops, or exploring in the afternoon, you have no pressure to rush back. Alternatively, after lunch you can stay by the pool or have a massage ( we will be able to offer body-workers to come to the villa ) and then join us on the hike before dining in any of the 30 restaurants that are all within 5 to10 minutes walk down into village.

The Daily Program

Breakfast at Villa Armonia.
Help yourself to a selection of fruits, yoghurts, cereals, juices, teas and coffees.

10am to 11.15   Pilates or Yoga

11.30  Freshly juiced vegetables/ fruit juices

12.15 to 1.30    Pilates or Yoga

2pm Lunch on the terrace at Villa Armonia.
All prepred by our Spanish chef, including soups, a selection of salads, quiches, tortillas and other healthy delights all using products sourced locally.

On site at masseur and therapists available between 3pm to 7pm.

6pm to 7/ 7.30pm  Early evening hikes around the surrounding countryside and estates.

You can read more information and make a booking a booking for this fantastic Holistic Yoga and Pilates Holiday in beautiful southern Spain at the web site Holistic-Holidays.net

7 Unusual Tips for a Healthy Heart

April 4, 2008 by kal  
Filed under Healthy Living

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Your heart is a precious organ, a source of life, vitality, and love. Keeping it healthy means taking care of your body, mind, and spirit. Eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, and avoiding cigarette smoke are obvious must-dos for staying vital. Here are some other smart and not-so-apparent tips to keep your heart beating strong. Read more

The Surprising Health Benefits of Epsom Salts

March 19, 2008 by kal  
Filed under Featured, Healthy Living, Stress Relief

Many of us are deficient in magnesium, and by simply soaking in a relaxing bath with magnesium-rich Epsom salt we can boost our levels of this important element. “Magnesium,” you might wonder, “what’s the big deal?” Find out the importance of magnesium and discover the many surprising health benefits of using Epsom salt in your bath. Read more

Pesticide Free Gardening

February 20, 2008 by kal  
Filed under Home and Garden

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One of the most common pesticides are Glyphosate and/or Roundup which is harmful to aquatic insects, have widely varying half-lives in soil, and have been associated with damage to the nervous system, reproductive system, respiratory system, and skin. Roundup usage is probably endangering the health of the person using it and damaging the very crops they are trying to protect. Although Roundup will most likely bind to the soil particles where it is applied and stay there for months or years, it can also migrate from those particles to adjacent soil or water, where it will damage seeds, worms, ladybugs, etc. Depending on your method of application, it may await you in your salad. In Monsanto’s own tests, Roundup was found on lettuce five months after it was applied. Read more

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