Sep 30, 2014 | Detox & Wellness
The brain has been a remarkably mysterious entity until relatively recent times… One of the amazing discoveries was through the work of Roger Sperry, a Nobel Prize winning neurologist, who confirmed that each of the two hemispheres of the brain have very different functions.
There is a theory that most of us are dominant on one side… Did you know that the true secret of combining our intellect with our creative potential is the ability to operate from both sides of the brain? Even if we are naturally skilled and base our expression on one side, it is possible to develop and utilise the other – the proof of which is found in the fact that we actually need to utilise both sides of our brain in just about everything that we do! Studies of peak performers have found that the greatest geniuses are able to function on both sides of the brain almost simultaneously, and what better examples than Leonardo Da Vinci and Albert Einstein.
Want to be the next celebrated intellect of modern times? You would know that it is as important to exercise our brains into peak performance as it is to exercise our bodies to ensure physical strength.
If you operate mainly from the right hemisphere, engaging in Sudoku, jigsaw puzzles or crosswords will activate your left side. Another way to engage it is to approach problems differently – if you are usually spontaneous and become overwhelmed by the magnitude of solving issues, change your response. Try to sit, write a list, and methodically work out a solution step-by-step.
And for those who consider themselves left-brained? Engaging the right may seem a little harebrained! Try having a bi-lateral conversation – pick up a pen and use your right hand (even if you are left handed) and write a question, next switch your pen to your left hand (which is controlled by the right brain) and right the answer to your questions. Sometimes this exercise can be really surprising, as the answers that come about are not your usual impulse! Another way is to try to move differently, take a few steps forward and notice which leg and corresponding arm moves first, now repeat the exercise, but switch sides! For an easier right-hemisphere task, engage in artistic pursuits, such as doodling, singing or even dancing.
The key is regular exercise, and of course mindfulness. These techniques are all part of our Santosa detox experience in Phuket, where we teach our retreat guests all about unlocking their potential in body, mind and spirit– and in the sunny island paradise of Phuket, we believe that anything is possible!
Sep 28, 2014 | Detox & Wellness
“Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.” – Zig Ziglar
Be Grateful
Being grateful is a wonderful state of being, and one which is intrinsically linked to being happy. Countless studies have shown that being grateful and having a positive life, is deeply intertwined. Having gratitude allows us to see the world through rose tinted glasses or find the silver lining in any situation. True gratitude occurs even when life isn’t going our way. Choosing to see the positives and be grateful for them overturns feeling of regret, disappointment, frustration and even trauma.
The secret is having the aptitude to dig deep when we enter into life’s darkest moments, and realising that even when things seem hopeless, there is always plenty to be thankful for in our lives. All of our Santosa retreat guests are encouraged to carry out a session on gratitude when they are with us – and the reason is, it sets the tone for a positive day and a good attitude makes detox so much more comfortable!
Do you want to experience more gratitude in your life, but can’t quite figure out how to change your perspective? Take a look at 8 common characteristic of grateful people, and alter your mindset today to open up the gateway to positivity!
1. Grateful people understand that happiness comes from within. They do not base the satisfaction of their lives on preconceived ideas or conditions. You will not hear a grateful person say “if this occurs then I will be happy” or “if this person did this, then I would be so much happier.” Happy people accept that change is the only certainty in life, and they do not resist it, nor try to alter what cannot be shifted. Grateful people do not try to change others, they see the positive traits instead.
2. Grateful people know that life is about light and shade. They don’t wallow in the darkness, and see it as a part of normal life and an essential ingredient to appreciating the sunny side of life! Grateful people are thankful for the times when life throws them a curveball, because they understand that learning from mistakes is an important part of the evolution of self!
3. Grateful people do not believe that their life owes them. They know that life can be unfair, but the level to which it affects our happiness is based upon the work they put into changing their own circumstances. Grateful people know that positivity takes work, and they take an active interest in protecting their own happiness.
4. Grateful people don’t sweat the small stuff. They know that tomorrow isn’t just a brand new day, it is a brand new start where the past doesn’t matter, and the future is theirs to create. They look at big setbacks with a clear and balanced perspective. Happy people retain hope, because of this they do not get bitter, resentful or jaded.
5. Grateful people do not hold grudges. They understand that energy spent hanging onto anger and resentment, means less time for positivity, enthusiasm and motivation. Instead, grateful people forgive. It is all down to expectation – when others do not behave as we had hoped for, when they make choices that would not have been our own. In understanding and forgiving behavioral patterns, grateful people are also able to set boundaries and limit interactions without any bitterness in order to protect their own happiness. (refer to point 2)
6. Grateful people are not victims. They remove themselves from people and situations that are negative and do not dwell on past injustices. Happiness is attributable to ‘clean thinking,’ grateful people have the ability to separate fact from perception, separating their emotions in order to see things from a rational and objective standpoint.
7. Grateful people are not rigid. Being flexible is the opposite of being stubborn. Stubborn people stunt their personal growth, because they cling onto old ways of thinking and behavioral patterns – but when life is constantly changing, we need to learn to change with it in order to be happy and give others the right to change their minds. Rather than being a square peg in a round hole, grateful people are like plasticine, they have the agility to fit their thinking around any space.
8. Grateful people define their lives by the realisation of their dreams, not by their setbacks. A grateful mindset will not allow excessive negative self-talk, nor get stuck in past perceived failures or regrets. A grateful mind knows that being down on yourself is a waste of time. When a grateful person recognises that they may be taking a trip into a dark place, they take positive action to create a psychological shift.
Why don’t you begin your day like our beautiful detox guests do in sunny Phuket? Write down a list of ten things that you are grateful for, to set the intention for a positive and happy day!
Sep 26, 2014 | Detox & Wellness
IBS symptoms are incredibly painful, and are largely caused by ill-performing digestive function, which eventually means that we are unable to absorb nutrients effectively, and low energy, over-eating and insulin resistance can result.
A Lesson on Digestion
It starts the minute we put something in our mouths. The key is to chew slowly, around 30 to 50 times before we even swallow. Cutting out the work of the rest of your digestive system can be a cure alone for IBS sufferers. Another way to aid in digestion is to avoid drinking beverages at meal times and to ensure that when you eat you are sitting down and actually concentrating on the meal! Others drink bitter tea before eating, which stimulated the secretion of stomach acid and digestive enzymes – if you are going to do this, then around 15 minutes before meal time is optimal.
Carminative herbs can also be helpful. A small cup of strong peppermint tea after meals, especially if you have a warm or hot metabolism, can be effective. If you tend to run on the cooler side, try ginger tea.
To determine which foods your body accepts as nutritious and which may be difficult to digest, try an elimination diet. The idea is to eat and monitor your consumption for two to four weeks, avoiding any impediments to digestion – namely, coffee, caffeine, corn, dairy, eggs, peanuts red meat, shellfish, soy, tomatoes and wheat. Gradually re-introduce a food per day to see whether your body reacts to it. Usually these foods are the main source of intolerances. The reactions to look out for are, changes in your bowel function, skin or mood. Whatever causes negative reaction should be eliminated immediately.
Another way to really help your IBS symptoms is to take part in a cleansing or purifying program. This is absolutely essential in order to clear the colon, and ensure that a good foundation is set for your health and wellness journey to begin.
And what better place to do it than at Santosa Detox Center in Phuket where we specialise in cleansing programs.
Sep 23, 2014 | Detox & Wellness
The labels on modern cosmetics promise wrinkle free skin, radiance from within, a youthful glow… but at what cost? The industry is so unregulated that it has become impossible to believe the claims that manufacturers make about their products. A word such as “natural” can mean many things. Even “organic” is not as it seems. To us, ‘organic’ means certified organic ingredients, but did you know that a company can use this claim if there are only 70% certified organic ingredients in the product? That means that the remaining 30% could be made up of very nasty toxins! When you consider that your skin absorbs 60% of what you put on it, this is an alarming fact!
How To Avoid These Toxins?
The only thing that we can do to protect ourselves is keep an eye on the list of ingredients used… And to assist, we have provided a list, which we use religiously in our Detox Center in Phuket, according to Gillian Deacon’s 2011 book There’s Lead in Your Lipstick: Toxins in Our Everyday Body Care and How to Avoid Them.
- Coal Tar: A known carcinogen banned in the EU, but still used in North America. Used in dry skin treatments, anti-lice and anti-dandruff shampoos, also listed as a colour plus number, i.e. FD&C Red No. 6.
- DEA/TEA/MEA: Suspected carcinogens used as emulsifiers and foaming agents for shampoos, body washes, soaps.
- Ethoxylated surfactants and 1,4-dioxane: Never listed because it’s a by-product made from adding carcinogenic ethylene oxide to make other chemicals less harsh. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has found 1,4-dioxane in 57 percent of baby washes in the U.S. Avoid any ingredients containing the letters “eth.”
- Formaldehyde: Probable carcinogen and irritant found in nail products, hair dye, fake eyelash adhesives, shampoos. Banned in the EU.
- Fragrance/Parfum: A catchall for hidden chemicals, such as phthalates. Fragrance is connected to headaches, dizziness, asthma, and allergies.
- Hydroquinone: Used for lightening skin. Banned in the UK, rated most toxic on the EWG’s Skin Deep database, and linked to cancer and reproductive toxicity.
- Lead: Known carcinogen found in lipstick and hair dye, but never listed because it’s a contaminant, not an ingredient.
- Mercury: Known allergen that impairs brain development. Found in mascara and some eyedrops.
- Mineral oil: By-product of petroleum that’s used in baby oil, moisturisers, styling gels. It creates a film that impairs the skin’s ability to release toxins.
- Oxybenzone: Active ingredient in chemical sunscreens that accumulates in fatty tissues and is linked to allergies, hormone disruption, cellular damage, low birth weight.
- Parabens: Used as preservatives, found in many products. Linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity.
- Paraphenylenediamine (PPD): Used in hair products and dyes, but toxic to skin and immune system.
- Phthalates: Plasticisers banned in the EU and California in children’s toys, but present in many fragrances, perfumes, deodorants, lotions. Linked to endocrine disruption, liver/kidney/lung damage, cancer.
- Placental extract: Used in some skin and hair products, but linked to endocrine disruption.
Sep 22, 2014 | Detox & Wellness
We have spoken about cortisol in a number of posts – but here is a quick refresher…
What is Cortisol?
Cortisol is one of the hormones released when we become stressed. Adrenaline and Cortisol help us to respond to situations with strength, pace, mental agility and clarity of thought. In small doses, both are very beneficial! The modern lifestyle and our ability to cope has greatly enhanced levels of stress over the years though, so now, we are releasing large quantities of hormones, and cortisol is mucking up the fine equilibrium between all of the others. Why? Because in order to create cortisol, we need pragnenalone, however, pragnenolone is already responsible for our sex hormones – estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, etc. When we rob from it too often, we create a serious imbalance. When leptin starts to get affected, then our metabolism suffers – weight gain occurs, particularly around the abdomen.
To make things even more complex, when we severely restrict calories during dieting, or take part in high intensity exercise – adrenal stress occurs. That’s right – the body treats physical stress in the same manner as emotional trauma, and we produce cortisol to deal with this too! We easily fall into a nasty cycle here – excess cortisol leads to fatty liver cells, and when this occurs – we have insulin resistance and estrogen dominance to contend with as well.
How To Reduce Cortisol?
Everything is starting to look very bleak now, isn’t it! Well, we do have one suggestion. To reduce the dangerous impact of cortisol on the liver and our overall health, one of the best ways to curb the excess levels is to detox. The emotional impact of slowing down, relaxing, taking rest and partaking in proven detox reduction methods, such as meditation and yoga helps to completely alter your mind and spirit. At Santosa we offer all this giving you the chance to carry your detox in Phuket with the help of our professionals.
The physical aspect is also of greatimportance! Clearing the liver helps to reduce the fatty liver cells which cortisol are proven to promote, and when the liver is purified, we are able to work on fat loss and our hormonal equilibrium again. Without a clean liver, these things are absolutely impossible.
The benefits that you can expect when your cortisol is reduced? Weight loss, lower blood pressure, an end to carbohydrate and sugar cravings, decreased mood swings, higher energy levels and of course, decreased feelings of stress!
Sep 21, 2014 | Detox & Wellness
It is scientifically proven that sufferers of ongoing stress or anxiety end up with physical manifestations of their mental disorders, in symptoms such as weight gain, high blood pressure, low energy, insomnia and a greater incidence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer.
This alone is proof that the mind carries an incredible power over our physical selves, and can be manifested either positively or negatively to influence our physical form.
Studies done on Tibetan monks have shown that their brain wave patterns and the structure of grey matter in the brain itself, is actually pliable, and regular practice of meditation seems to entirely change the way in which the brain works, and indeed have profound positive impacts on physical health.
How to connect Body, Mind and Spirit
Yoga, as we spoke about in a previous post this week, is another of the self-discovery practices, bringing about internal awareness and activating our consciousness. Many of those who practice yoga at advanced levels, are actually able to change their physical states – lowering their heart rate through breathing practice and changing their temperatures with precision based on intent. We all have these magical abilities, but many of us ignore them and treat only the symptoms of our inner distress, rather than the root cause.
How can you become more aware of your body and help to eliminate illness and disease? Firstly, live a clean and simple life. Dulling our senses through over-indulgence, tobacco, alcohol or medications means that we are unable to listen to the signals that our body tries to send to our mind, in order to self-heal. Once we are following a more pure path, simply sitting and being still, focusing on the breath, is an incredibly awakening experience that can create profound shifts.
It is simple to do – sit cross legged on the ground, and shut your eyes. Deeply breathing in and out, focus on the sensations in the different areas of your body. Relax and simply be aware of the messages that your body is trying to tell your mind. It is so simple, but the reconnection that occurs is so profound. Too often we wait until we have serious problems before we try to correct anything on a physical level. This is a very negative way of being, and we could potentially avoid serious disease and discomfort, if we only spent a few minutes a day learning to reconnect the basis of our being – the body, mind and spirit.
At Santosa in Phuket we practice what we preach every day and invite you to come, not only to learn how to reconnect with your body, mind and spirit but to practice it in different classes we offer.
