Aprivé Wellness Blog
Physiotherapists Are The New Innovators Of The Wellness Industry
When you think about Physiotherapy, you probably imagine limping into a clinic with a sprained ankle, but recently more Physios, like me, are making their mark in the wellness industry. I spoke to Melissa Ingram, Physio and Wellness Consultant at the infamous Golden Door Health Retreat, Elysia, to learn more.
How is Physiotherapy Linked to Wellness?
As a Physio, we undergo two years of gruelling medical school along with cadaver dissection (not for everyone!) followed by two to three more years of full-time rotations in clinics and hospitals. After graduation, we spend a lot of time solving people's problems, helping them understand what’s wrong with them, and convincing patients to do their exercises.
Essentially, we work exactly like a wellness consultant; we assess, educate, inform, and promote habit change.
Thanks to extensive training, Physiotherapists are using their expert knowledge of human anatomy, biochemistry, mechanics and human motivation to enhance the wellness industry.
Physiotherapy & Wellness Expert Melissa Ingram
Like me, Melissa Ingram decided her patients needed a holistic approach to recovery, not simply clinical, so she joined Golden Door health retreat, Elysia, in the Hunter Valley, and hasn’t turned back.
On a daily basis, Melissa works with retreat guests who are on a mission to make themselves better, happier people. She blends her expertise as a Physio, wellness coach and exercise rehabilitation specialist to help them realise what factors may be holding them back; physical, emotional or habitual. After years in the role, Melissa continues to learn and be inspired by her guests:
“I now have a much clearer understanding of how formidable our brains are and how they allow (or prevent) us to live whole lives. This requires a more holistic approach than just traditional Physiotherapy or wellness alone.”
Wellness Meets Science
By blending the two schools of thought, from mindfulness and wellbeing to evidence-based science, Melissa gives people real, meaningful tools to make effective changes in their lives.
Rather than airy fairy wellbeing sessions, Physiotherapists in the wellness industry make wellness both fun and effective thanks to their extensive training and expert people skills.
So! Next time you’re looking for someone to help you live a happier, healthier life, look for a Physiotherapist, like Melissa or myself, who specialises in the wellness industry. You’ll be inspired, refreshed and have lots of laughs along the way while learning meaningful tools to enhance your life.
Yoghurt could make you happy, science says
Researchers have discovered a new gut-brain link, proving what you eat could make you happier.
When we’re feeling ‘hangry’ (hungry x angry) food can calm us and make us feel normal again. The reason is simple; eating restores our blood sugar levels and helps fuel our biochemical processes we use in everyday life.
What scientists didn’t know until recently though, is the delicate balance of microbes in your gut can determine your happiness.
Inside your gut is a hugely dynamic, varied ecosystem with thousands of bacteria and teeny tiny little organisms called microbes. These little guys have a symbiotic relationship with you, their host, and you live happily alongside one another. When the balance of microbes is off though, it could mean you have low levels of vital happiness-regulators and neurotransmitters like seratonin.
Did you know the highest concentration of seratonin is actually in your gut?
Probitics have been found to have effects on both seratonin levels and GABA levels, another powerful neurotransmitter.
In other words, yoghurt could make you happy!
One study says “These results provide the first evidence that the intake of probiotics may help reduce negative thoughts associated with sad mood. Probiotics supplementation warrants further research as a potential preventive strategy for depression.”
Not everyone’s convinced yet though. Almost all the studies exciting the science world are based on mice rather than humans, so there’s still a long way to go.
Could probiotics help fight depression?
But! Since the highest level of concentration of seratonin is in your gut rather than your brain, it makes sense that depression and anxiety can be treated by dietary changes, not just pharmaceutical intervention.
This natural approach could have hugely positive implications for everyday people suffering from mental disorders, and could even help you when you’re feeling a bit blue.
To understand more about how your gut health can affect your brain, check out this podcast by Radiolab http://www.radiolab.org/story/197242-gut-feelings/
Need more wellness inspo? Need help staying on track with your wellness goals? Join my April Wellness Challenge!
Aprivé Wellness Press Review
Read a new review of our retreats
Check out this new review of our last retreat by Jane Guy of Queenstown Life. I'm blushing with pride!
This blog post is the very best way to find out exactly what our retreats are all about, and how you'll feel on the day.
Here's a snippet:
Wanting to give people something incredible, Caitlin has shaped her retreats around wellness, food, movement, relaxation and goal setting. I find this bit incredibly difficult (can’t sit still long enough) so this was going to be a challenge. But I’m always up for a challenge so I gave it a go.
Starting the day, we met at Nugget Point Hotel, which is out of town in Arthur’s Point. A beautiful place with one of the most unexpected views in Queenstown. The perfect place to sit a while, gather your thoughts and enjoy a yoga/pilates fusion class to set us up for the day.
Photo: Queenstownlife
Photo: Queenstownlife
Photo: Queenstownlife
Photo: Queenstownlife
New Year, New You Wellness Retreat Recap
Queenstown Wellness Retreat
Our retreat last weekend was a huge success! This sold out event at Nugget Point Hotel and Spa blended yoga, Pilates, nutrition, meditation, goal setting and luxury relaxation for an inspiring day.
I was so humbled our guests had flown or driven to the event from all over the country! Women of all ages from Tauranga, Wanaka, Invercargill and locals from Queenstown joined together to learn tips on how to live better in 2016.
Yoga Pilates Fusion class
I pushed our guests with planks, some tricky core work and difficult balance in the yoga/Pilates fusion class. The retreat was all about starting fresh and achieving goals after all!
smoothies, nutrition & vegetarian treats
Berry smoothies followed, then our guests were treated to a nutritintion workshop by Michelle of Queenstown Nutrition. They learned how to make matcha smoothies bowls with organic Japanese matcha, a green tea powder with 137 times the antioxidants of green tea! I’m so grateful to Matcha Maiden from Melbourne for sending this superfood to us.
We also learned about the health benefits of fermented food, and tried sauerkraut by Be Nourished. The curry one was my favourite!
Talking about food made the ladies hungry, so it was time for lunch: lentil salad, mesculin and beetroot salad, pumpkin soup and a luxurious cheese board. Aprivé Wellness is all about balance, and treating our guests to a cheese board added a hint of luxury to the day, plus it stayed within our nutrition rule of 80:20. 80% of what you eat should be healthy, and 20% can be a bit naughty!
goal setting & meditation
I led the goal setting session where our guests used the WOOP technique to set an important goal for the year. They locked in their goals by writing them in beautiful 2016 diaries from The Collective Hub. The inspirational messages in their pages are sure to help all the guests stay on track this year.
Meditation on the grass overlooking the Shotover river was the perfect way to unwind and relax, with one of our guests who has a little baby at home falling asleep! She, and all our guests really needed a break, so after meditation they wandered up the sun kissed steps to the stunning Nugget point spa to enjoy the steam room, pool, sauna and hot tub.
Picking up their gift bags with products from Olive Skincare, Global Soap NZ, Matcha Maiden and Chia, each guest hugged me on their way out. I was so flattered with the kind words all the guests uttered as they left, and really hope each felt refreshed and empowered to achieve their goals for 2016.
don't miss your chance to attend our next retreat
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Queenstown Wellness Retreat
The Countdown is On
Only 3 days until out New Year, New You wellness retreat, and I’m getting so excited! We've still got 2 spots left - BOOK YOURS NOW!
What is this retreat about?
You know how hard it is to make, and stick to new years resolutions? This retreat was created to help my guests set real, achievable goals, plus give them strategies to help them achieve their dreams in 2016.
Starting with a Yoga Pilates fusion class overlooking the stunning Shotover River, guests will get stretchy while learning how to activate and work their cores. Then, they'll learn how to use real food (not starvation!) to cleanse their bodies in the Nutrition Workshop.
Goal Setting Retreat
We've never had goal setting at one of our retreats before, but since goals are such an important part of starting the new year, we had to include it! I’m hosting this session which uses techniques from WOOP; acknowledging what obstacles stand in your way, and devising strategies to overcome them.
The Collective Hub, an inspiring brand for entrepreneurs and dreamers, sent us gorgeous 2016 diaries for our guests. Jam-packed full of beautifully drawn motivational messages, these diaries are the perfect way to inspire our guests this year.
Meditation
Even if you’ve never tried meditation before, it’s such a good way to slow down and reset for the new year. We’ll be meditating outside, overlooking the stunning Shotovoer canyon, surrounded by wildflowers at Nugget Point Boutique Hotel.
I’m so incredibly excited for our retreat on Saturday and to meet all our lovely guests. I just can’t wait to help people live happier, healthier lives in 2016 with proven wellness strategies and a splash of luxury.
want to attend this retreat?
Accidentally Anxious Part 3
Is Coffee Bad for You?
Coffee is delicious. Sipping away on the dark, tantalizing beverage is alluring for the experience as much as the taste. Unfortunately, relying on coffee to combat your lack of sleep and keep you alert for your endless list of urgent tasks doesn’t help you get more done; it scrambles your brain, making you more distracted.
Caffeine fires up your nervous system. Your pituitary gland then thinks there’s some sort of emergency, so it releases hormones that tell your adrenal glands to produce adrenaline—your fight-or-flight hormone. Your body is primed to outrun a tiger or fight to the death; your blood pressure rises, your muscles get more blood and blood flow to the stomach slows. You’re raring to go, but you’re just sitting at your desk. The accumulation of adrenaline means your body is in a heightened state of anxiety, and your racing heart serves no purpose other than to leave you feeling wired.
Try This: One cup a day is fine—let’s not get too extreme! But instead of starting the day with a coffee, try a hot water or decaf. Then your daily coffee will feel like a treat rather than a necessity.
