Welcome back! 

Our last newsletter touched on Bowen Therapy for humans and our canine friends.  Today I’d like to look at the connection between the quality of our sleep and our subsequent energy levels.  Yes there really is a connection!

Maybe I’m being presumptuous but if we’re honest with ourselves most of us go to bed, sleep as best we can, then get up the next morning and go about our day. Some days we will wake and feel rested and ready to go. Other days we may get up and feel like we have barely slept and have to drag ourselves through the day physically or mentally or both.

“I am so tired but I just can’t sleep properly!”  If you are one of these people then continue to read and hopefully you will find the information below useful.

If you decide you would like to make an appointment to see if Bowen Therapy might assist you to relax and sleep better then call us for an appointment and receive 20% off.  

According to some of the latest research into how sleeps affects our body and mind, there is a significant connection to our well-being, ability to function and how well we sleep.

There are different stages of sleep but for today’s purpose I’d like to look at just two:

• Non REM (Rapid Eye Movement) – Deep Sleep 
• REM (Rapid Eye Movement) – Dream Sleep

 Non REM – Deep Sleep:

It is in this stage of sleep that the body has a chance to renew and repair. If we have a good sound sleep it helps the body produce more of its energy – carrying molecule called ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) which helps ‘fuel’ the body.  www.britannica.com/science/adenosine-triphosphate 

If we have restricted Non REM, that is not enough deep sleep, when we wake we feel less refreshed and ‘ready to go’ than someone who has had a sound deep sleep.

REM (Rapid Eye Movement) – Dream Sleep:

“How on earth is dream sleep important?” I can hear some of you ask!  Well it is equally important as Deep Sleep.  While the Deep Sleep helps restore our body, science suggests that REM (Dream Sleep) seems to help restore our mind. “Studies from Harvard Medical School and elsewhere, have found that REM sleep facilitates learning and memory.” …. “There is also emerging evidence that getting enough REM sleep may help preserve memory and cognitive function as you age.”

www.health.harvard.edu/promotions/harvard_health-publications/boostingyourenergy

How then, if good quality sleep is an issue, do we help improve our sleep?

Some things that might be considered:

• Firstly consult your doctor and discuss with them any issues you have with your sleep.
• Eat a healthy diet that includes fresh fruit, vegetables and protein?
• Drink enough water to help the brain and systems of the body function properly?
• Exercise –  meaning move, go for walks, gym, swim, if you are less mobile then, gentle stretches in a seated position? There are many options and local resources that may help.
• Relaxation / mediation to help quiet our mind.
• Australian Bush Flower Essences may assist with relaxing and sleep and the beauty with these is they don’t contraindicate with anything.
• Bowen Therapy may also assist in helping relax and reduce stress levels to help improve sleep. It is very common for people to comment that they relaxed so much they felt like they melted into the table during their Bowen Therapy session.

Remember: If you’d like to make an appointment for a Bowen Therapy session you will receive 20% off when you mention this newsletter.

I hope there are some helpful takeaways from this newsletter about the importance of good sound sleep along with some helpful hints to encourage and or facilitate restoring both body and mind with sound sleep. 

Live Well – Be Well!

Kind regards

Katrina ☺