Sue Adlam - My first amazing guest blogger

Sue Adlam is one of those amazing ladies I'm in contact with via the net. She has been very supportive of my business from the beginning. She kindly agreed to be my first guest blogger. As you can see she had an interesting career so far:-

"I am a Complementary Therapist, qualified in Aromatherapy, Holistic and Indian Head Massage. A member of and insured with the FHT – The Federation of Holistic Therapists. Based in West Wiltshire with my husband and my daughter, I am passionate about organic food, farming and pretty much everything else that is organic and truly natural!

Previously a primary teacher, I decided that it was time to take a different direction after spending the early years of my daughter’s life as a full time mum. So looking for something that fitted around her, as teaching was no longer an option, in October 2011 I commenced my training as an Aromatherapist. I then became an independent consultant with NYR Organic in February 2012 as I had used the products for years and couldn’t resist the idea of discount. I quickly realised how well these two things fitted together and have built quite a large business with NYRO – which is now supporting the growth of my therapy business as customers become clients and vice versa!

In July 2013, desperate to start working as a therapist, I gained a diploma in Indian Head Massage and started working at Warminster Osteopathic Clinic. In August 2014 I received a distinction in Aromatherapy & Holistic Massage through the Bristol School for Holistic Therapies. I am very excited about setting up my home clinic, the launch of which is imminent as all I have to do I make a blind for the window! Also looking forward to adding some more therapies and further developing my skills with CPD over the coming months. I am planning to add aromatherapy massage in pregnancy and take some advanced aromatherapy training for pregnancy , more therapeutic massage techniques such as releasing the back, hip and neck, holistic facials and Thai foot massage. In order to become the best Aromatherapist I can possibly be, I’ve just booked a two day advanced certificate seminar in June “Essential Oil Chemistry & Pharmacology", delivered by Robert Tisserand at Gabriel Mojay’s Institute in Regent’s Park, London and I am very excited about that indeed! I absolutely love essential oils and very interested in observing how these wonderful chemicals can aid in all kinds of health conditions and are even being researched for their support in antibiotic resistance.

I am now a Team leader with Neal’s Yard Remedies Organic, mentoring and coaching a fabulous team of like-minded people who are passionate about holistic health and well-being, promoting the use of ethical, non-toxic, truly natural, soil association certified organic skincare, supplements, natural remedies & high quality essential oils. I love the ethos and ethical nature of the way in which Neal’s Yard Remedies conducts their business and wish other companies would follow suit as the world would be in a much better state if that were the case.

I am passionate about complementary therapies and natural remedies and have found throughout my life there have been many occasions where I have found relief from conditions which have been resolved with a holistic approach to wellness. Many of us live highly stressful lives and it is my aim to support others who would like to explore the complementary approach to health and wellbeing. The effects of long term stress can cause many other mental and physical health problems and so many of us are afflicted with the ill effects of stress – unable to relax, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, high blood pressure, digestive problems, panic attacks, reduction of immunity and all number of other conditions. Aromatherapy massage has helped me to relax and I have found so many things which I have been able to treat without turning to medicines. Athletes foot for example has plagued me for years and now I have found a blend of oils which works within hours to relieve the itching and soreness. Recently I discovered that my chickens had feather lice and found that I could use essential oils for this too! Now the coop smells of lavender and thyme most days instead of the more obvious smell associated with chickens!"    https://sueadlamtherapies.wordpress.com/blog-2/.

To sleep or not sleep, that is the question

To sleep or not to sleep, that is the question.

Do you suffer from this? Are you tossing & turning in bed all hours of the night? Does it take you ages to drop off? Do you wake-up early hours? Over the years I've had some of these problems. They were acute when I was busy at home with a young family & trying to juggle a job & all my other commitments. I found out over the years that the key to feeling refreshed and relaxed is to have a regular pattern of sleep, rather than worry about the number of hours of sleep you get. Forget the old urban myth that everyone needs 8 hours of sleep! Everyone is different & the hours that you need may well be different from the hours that someone else needs. If you go to bed before you're really tired, and then sleep badly, you'll tend to stay in bed later in the morning, which will affect the next night's sleep, and so on. The 'knock-on' effects can be devastating & will affect your lifestyle & health. The following steps can help you establish a good sleep pattern & routine:-

Establishing a routine

• ONLY Go to bed only when you feel tired enough to sleep. If you always take a long time to get to sleep, delay going to bed until the time when you normally fall asleep, and get up at your usual time. This should mean you spend less time in bed, but more of it asleep, and your sleep pattern should improve but it may be gradual so don't get anxious if you don't get immediate results.

• Set the alarm at the same time each morning. Don't sleep in late to make-up for a bad night. This will only make it harder to sleep the following night. You may need to follow this programme for several weeks, to establish a regular pattern. Also, wake up as soon as you hear the alarm and don't be tempted to stay asleep; however lightly. 

• Don't watch television or use your computer in bed. These are what the brain considers waking activities. Restrict them strictly to your waking hours. Be firm with yourself and don't be tempted to just check that last minute email/Facebook update. Your 'status updates' can wait; your family & friends can wait for those crucial pictures/comments from you until the morning.  Be less nosey! Make a list if you have to and do it the next day. You may like to keep a notepad by the bed. I found this particularly helpful when I was teaching or doing an event or organising an article such as this one! If anything cropped up before I fell asleep then I just wrote it down for 'tomorrow' and not 'today'. I also told myself that I was in bed & couldn't do anything about it there & then. It just had to wait...  Be firm with yourself & soon this habit can be a lifesaver.

• If you don't fall asleep within 20 minutes, get up and go to relax & unwind in another room. If you don't have any other rooms to do this you then the corridor on a comfortable chair will do. Make this space as far away from the bed/bedroom as possible. Do something soothing, such as reading an amusing story, listening to music, self-massage or relaxation stretches until you're tired enough to go back to bed. Repeat this process, if you are awake for long periods.

• Avoid taking a nap during the day. But if you are really overtired, taking a short nap after lunch can be beneficial; sometimes sleep promotes sleep. Try to make the naps short ones; 30 minutes maximum. Set the alarm before your nap & wake up when the alarm goes off & don't stay in bed for another 10 minutes.

• Complementary therapies such as massage   or   Bowen  may be useful to help you to sleep. Many clients have reported that they have slept well after such treatments. Rosemary Barber, from Broadland Bowen, is an experienced Bowen practitioner. According to her Bowen's great to help you get to sleep: “People usually sleep well after treatment”.  Rosemary is a considerate person & passionate about her therapy.

Whatever you do, good luck & sleep well.