Your immune system is you. It isn’t a separate organ, it is part of your whole being. It knows you, it works for you and with you. Processing and clearing virus’s, protecting you from harm. Helping to maintain a fully functioning immune system is vital for optimising your health. Food is your fuel, but it needs to right environment to be processed.

Here’s 9 steps to to maintain it

1. Sleep – Regular sleep patterns with healthy routines is where your body gets rested and it has time to rejuvenate. Your brain clears out toxins when you sleep. It has a unique way of reducing the size of your blood vessel in your brain, so lymphatic fluid has space to clean out waste while you sleep.
2. Sunlight -Daily sunlight increases your Vitamin D intake and helps you to feel better. Walking or sitting in dappled sunlight or tree bathing as the Japanese call it, increases serotonin (one of your feel good hormones)
3. Light exercise – 6 days a week do some stretches, walk, move. It doesn’t have to be too strenuous. Little and often is the key. Movement is good for your mind, body and soul.
4. Reduce stress – Calming your limbic and peripheral nervous system with massage and tapping techniques can actively reduce your stress. Increasing positive neural pathways, letting go of old limiting beliefs and past trauma can bring a better sense of well-being)
5. Stay hydrated – Drink at least 2 litres of water daily. To stay accountable, measure out in a jug or large water bottle and you can mark on the side the times you need to get to that measure)
6. Eat vegetables – A plant based diet, with some meat if you want, instead of a meat based with a few vegetables is a better balance. Aim for 5 handfuls of leafy greens. Eat a rainbow as the saying goes.
7. Avoid sugary food and alcohol – Sugar causes inflammation in your body and alcohol increases toxins, both lower your immune defence.
8. Take vitamin C – Boosting immune health is easy with vitamin C. Whenever you start with a cold, increase your dose. Vitamin C also enabled the body to absorb iron for red blood cell production too.
9. Have a probiotic – (Kombucha or Kafir) around 70% of your immune system is located in your gut, so having healthy gut microbes enables your body to produce the right balance of hormones, get nutrients from food, improve moods. There’s many ways to get hold of kombucha. It’s very easy to make it yourself. I’ll do a video soon on how to do it. Check Facebook groups for starter scobies, and kafir cultures can be bought from health food stores.

Adopt these practices and feel good you’re making a real difference to your immune health.

Karen Aitken

www.kasona.com.au

Don’t do New year resolutions!!! You don’t need a new year to make a change. Each day is a blank page, each hour or each breathe. If anyone hasn’t told you lately. Accept who you are. You’re deliciously you, you are good, you are perfect and you are enough.

I do truly honour and love myself, but I’ve wanted to get fit for sometime. There was a brief moment in time in my twenties and thirties I ran, went to the gym but I was still searching and ultimately not feeling satisfied with my results. What I did continue a regular practice of Pilates and then later Yoga. Adopting a weekly practice to “help” maintain my back was acceptable and manageable to me.

I now enter into a different area of my life where I’m ready to embrace change and challenge myself further. I’ve never been a fan of sweating or taking out my dangly earings for exercise, but I’m willing to compromise.

Due to much research I now am armed with the knowledge that strengthening and maintaining 3 key areas of our life creates a firm foundation for a happy life.

I know I have to maintain close relationships to assist my mental health. Connection is key, but did you know most of us spend 90% of our energy trying to fix or heal relationships with people we find difficult due to the fear of rejection or change and only 10% in the close “easy” relationships. When we flip that, lavish attention and love to the ones closest and acknowledge the difficulties with the challenging people in our lives, but only give it a small part of attention, we can breath easier and become happier.

Financial wealth is another area that requires attention and maintenance in order to feel full filled and reduce our stress, Since reading the Barefoot investor book by Scott Pape and maintaining the exercises and planning for the far, near and present, life in our house has become much more harmonious. There are further steps with clearing blockages and manifesting wealth that I’ve adopted too. Scott’s no nonsense and above anything, easy to follow steps help people to gain control of their financial situation. You don’t gain the control when you pay off all your debts, the moment you gain it is when you take the blinkers off, live within your means and “own that shit”, as Harley Quinn on Suicide squad says.

Physical health is also one of the three key strong legs. I eat well most of the time, I walk everyday and do yoga, but I also have a like and want for salt and vinegar chips (even writing it makes my mouth water) and wine. As life is in most part about balance, delayed gratification and thoughtful decisions we have to plot our way through.

So the decision was made on Monday 30th December 2019, I would do 30 minutes of exercise every day. In order to come to these decisions, we as humans need a few things to cement the idea in our minds. No human likes to be controlled, but we like to feel in control. To implement a new routine, we need a reason, a method and proof.

Throughout my life I’ve got lots of evidence that putting effort in ideas, doesn’t always bear the fruit I expected. I remember as a child I spent ages decorating a boiled egg for the primary school Easter competition. A beautiful brown chicken was born, with painted strips of paper for feathers and beak and cute little eyes. I proudly presented her in front of the whole school assembly, feeling sure I’d win. I’d put hours of effort in after all, so it was impossible to conceive the idea that I wouldn’t. But that wasn’t the case. A boy I really liked laughed and said it was stupid, as he showed his ET egg (all the rage as the film was just released). Everyone adored his effort and he got lots of votes to win. I was devastated, how come my efforts weren’t rewarded or at least recognised by my peers. When my Mum picked me up, she asked how it went and I could no longer hold it together and I don’t even think I brought my egg home. My pride was hurt and I vowed not to put too much effort into things, as I won’t succeed so my creativeness was halted, even though I enjoyed art and crafts. Instead I could have risen up and vowed to do better, create more amazing ideas and keep going. But I didn’t have the skills and people around me didn’t either to allow me to reflect on what happened and flip it to a learning and growing experience, instead of a waste of time and embarrassing one.

I’ve digressed from my reason, with the excuses I play in my head, of why not to exert effort, as the results could be painful. Well when we let go of the end result and trust the process, we can allow enjoyment and fun, so we’re more likely to carry on. My reason for committing to exercise is to feel my body moving, to enjoy breathing while I stretch or lift weights and enjoy feeling stronger. My reason isn’t to look like Elle McPhearson, I don’t want her body, I want mine. I can admire wonderful examples of our species, but I don’t want to be them, I want to be the best version of me, but enjoy it and not be destination driven. So the method I’ve decided on is 30 minutes per day of physical activity, starting with yoga stretches, hand and machine weights, resistance and building upto running.
My proof is built on research of reading, talking to people and ultimately knowing that 30 minutes is acceptable and maintainable to me. My friend has recently lost weight and changed her body shape by eating sensible portions and exercising 30 minutes per day. So that was the final proof that it works. By sharing this with my family and you, I’m keeping myself accountable. I welcome anyone asking me, how’s it going? I also welcome any comments on how amazing I look (well you gotta hope) and how much brighter and positive the changes are in me.
If you have a goal and need help clarifying your Reason, Method and Proof. please reach out and we’ll plot it out and make sense of it together. If you need an accountability buddy, I’m here too or can line you up with one.

There’s a saying my yoga teacher saying “Where effort and ease meet”. Take the effort up to where it meets ease. Listen to your body, it has a story and being present with it, will improve how you feel.

I was later dancing in the kitchen much to youngest teenager’s mirth. I could feel the tightness in my back and the odd twinge, but because I was enjoying myself, I could notice them, feel them and then move through them to let them go, so they didn’t bother me anymore. Push past your resistance, venture to the other side.

Know your worth, find your peace.

Much love

Karen

t: 0414 973394

w: www.kasona.com.au

Hey there Sunshine

It’s Christmasssss! Well almost, just a few more working days for most and many mince pies for others.

Just letting you know my opening times until the big man comes down the chimney. I’m working until Monday 23rd December, as I was arm wrestled by a fab client to show up to work a bit longer this year 🙂 and having teenagers, it’s not like they’re giddy with excitement and wanting to put out reindeer food everyday, so I thought why not. They’re quite nocturnal, so they’ll be getting up when I get home!

If you’re in need of a Christmas de-stress or want a Gift Voucher, I’m all yours. A few spots still available. I will then reopen the Thursday 2nd January. I’ll also be taking a week off in January. details to follow on that.

As I’ve only bought 1 present so far, yes ONE, I’ll be finishing it Christmas Eve no doubt, then put my feet up with a glass of Eggnog or two.

Recap closed 24/12/19 to 1/1/20, reopen 2/2/20 (which is a very satisfying date).

GIFT VOUCHERS

These can be bought online via the www.Kasona.com.au/Shop or clicking on this link here

You can also call in and pick up.

Vouchers can be bought for specific treatments, eg 60 minute Hot stones with remedial massage or for a certain value. The recipient can claim it against a massage or products. With the range of essential oils and diffusers on offer in store.

There’s a Sale on DoTerra essential oils until Christmas. All products at cost price. I have all the favourites, Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, OnGuard, Balance, Clove, EasyAir, Lavender Peace and more.

YOU’RE WORTH IT

Tis’ the season to be Jolly, aparantly.

Does the upcoming festivities fill you with JOY or DREAD?

Do you feel everyone around you is happy, and you’d like a bit of that?

Or is it the best time of year for you and you can’t wait to pull a cracker and play Charades with relatives you’ve not seen all year?

Whatever Christmas means to you, it’s largely based on your past experiences of it and the expectations of others (your programming) of what happens, with whom and where you spend it.

Make sure you carve out some time just for you. Family members and traditions are all well and good, but if it robs you of your peace, it’s quite emotionally costly to you. It’s your responibilty to top up your feel good savings account. Take those walks at the beach, read that book or socialise with whom you feel comfortable around to just be yourself.

Show Gratitude and Forgiveness to what was, Embrace what is, and look forward to what will be with Love and Understanding.

Remember, a moment of guilt, is better than deep seated resentment.

You are worthy and you are enough.

Peace.

Karen xx

There’s many different thoughts and ponderings of what the meaning of life is. According to Alan Wilson-Watts, The Culture of Counter-Culture: Edited Transcripts “The meaning of life is just to be alive. It is so plain and so obvious and so simple. And yet, everybody rushes around in a great panic as if it were necessary to achieve something beyond themselves.”

The Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy said – “42”.

I watched a very inspiring video with Gary Vaynerchuk talking about human creation, what life is and how it’s so important to show gratitude for everything, because it’s billions and billions to one that your cells formed to become human, so stop whingeing and wondering and start living. There was a lot more f’bombs and shouting, but that’s the gist of it. One of my favourite quotes of his is “A penguin cannot become a giraffe, so just be the best penguin you can be.” – Gary Vaynerchuk

But how do you be your best penguin and find your meaning of life? I talk to clients about their core values and really knowing and honouring them. One of my core values is my family connection. When we moved 10,000 miles to start a new life in Australia from Manchester, UK with our three young sons. We didn’t know what was ahead of us. We had nowhere to live, no jobs, no school, we hadn’t even set foot in Adelaide. People back home thought we were a mixture of brave and mad (mostly the latter).

So when we settled in and I started my business, I needed to feel that sense of home and connection, so the name KASONA was born. It’s an acronym of all our initials. Karen, Alex, Steve, Oscar, Nathan and our little daughter Anneka (who was born sleeping). I knew I had to make it work. So I had to reach out to new people, putting myself in uncomfortable situations of “selling” myself and my wares. And it’s become such an important and rewarding part of me. I love my clients. I love facilitating a change in how they feel about themselves and the world around them. I’ve met some incredible people along the way and being honoured to hear their stories.

Speaking of my meaning of life ….. It’s been an amazing week for the Aitken clan. After being here for 8 years, we have become Australian citizens. I got quite emotional reading my pledge, as the long journey to get to this point played from start to finish. From travelling around this great country in my twenties, almost coming back before we had children, but finding out I was pregnant, so three kids later we started the visa process and made it here almost exactly 16 years after I first arrived.

Never give up on your dreams, no matter how long they take. There’s been so many setbacks in our lives along the way, but once the pain and sadness eased, we have gained knowledge and understanding that we’ve used and grown from. If Plan A would have worked for my husband and I, we wouldn’t have this incredible family that we have or the life we have today. (We’re currently probably upto about Plan T.45) Everything happens for a reason, though you might not see it at the time.

 

Breathe and Believe.

Warm wishes
Karen
www.kasona.com.au
0414 973394

I’ve recently got into gardening. Not such a bold statement for a forty something year old, it is? It had to happen sometime.

I like how you make your garden personal. Somewhere to invite people over to socialise and celebrate your success. Or having people over to give advise on their knowledge (thanks Sue and Cathy).
As well as getting outside in the fresh air and sunshine, I enjoy how putting a little effort into a certain area can make a huge difference. But at times it can get a little overwhelming. Like remodeling a whole area, turning it from something that doesn’t serve me any more, into something new and useful. I find I get carried away with the “big picture”. Well I can’t do that, because I need to do that first, which really I should be doing that also, which blah blah blah. It just becomes too hard, so I retreat and go do something else like organise the cutlery drawer or binge on Netflix.

The subtle art of procrastination

This is how procrastination and avoidance works in your mind. It’s been brought to your conscious attention that you want to improve something or it’s not working anymore, like a relationship, your job or even your way of thinking. But to change it all at once, can be so scary that it’s easier to avoid and distract yourself, a temporary fix, like bitching about it to a friend, going around in circles, going shopping, gambling, drinking. Or one of those could be the issue that needs addressing, but the thought of giving it up fills you with dread. Who will I be without it?

Procrastinating doesn’t mean you’re lazy. You’re in protection mode of an unhealed part of yourself. There maybe a memory where you went all in and did that big thing, but carried forward a negative response, even a strange look from a care giver or an unkind word. All your effort and achievement is forgotten and just the “bad” feeling remains. Here’s a deeper explanation of procrastination

When we to look at the structure of the problem first. It has two equal sides in order for it to survive. It has good and bad benefits. For example, staying in a difficult relationship with a person or work situation, though it has feeling of being unsafe, it can have financial and security on the other side. It’s when the balance is tipped, that’s when it becomes more beneficial to take the big leap.

But how do you do it?

It’s important to first acknowledge that you’re in the exact place you’re supposed to be right now. Even if it’s a dire situation. If it’s your rock bottom, then you have a firm foundation to build on. You’re at the exact place. the weight, look and fitness you’re meant to be, the exact location, the exact moment in time to propel you into action.

Rome wasn’t built in a day

It’s also important to recognise great things are not built in a moment. They take time, effort and periods of being uncomfortable. When we’re in a world of pain, emotionally and physically, it’s so hard to muster the energy to put one foot in front of the other. So if facing this on your own seems too daunting, walk with someone on your journey, this can make all the difference. Learn to take one step at a time. Get very curious about where you are, what strengths and weaknesses you have and harness them and use them for your full advantage. Notice how others push your buttons, how you react to what’s around you.

Though you may feel it, you’re not alone

I’ve been lucky enough to work with so many people on their journey. I’ve had 10 year olds unable to sleep, worrying about everything. Young adults navigating their way through stressful situations and coming out with more knowledge than they knew they possessed.
Forty somethings who are unable to tread the path they have done for as long as they can remember, but been too scared to walk a different one. Knowing change is needed, but not knowing where to start.
I also had a lovely lady in her seventies, in constant pain in her body, but mostly in her back and shoulder. She was carrying around so much guilt and shame all her life, but when she spoke about it, she realised it wasn’t her guilt and shame, it was a belief system she’d learned from others and was so relieved and cried tears of relief and joy. I used mindfulness and tapping techniques, reiki energies and then finished with a massage, which relaxed and soothed her mind and muscles. She messaged me afterwards how much lighter she felt, not carrying around the burden on her shoulders, how her pain was almost non existent. Because she viewed the situation and held the memory differently, her mind and body weren’t reliving her past and wasn’t in her stress fight or flight mode. This was from just one session.

As I’ve said before, the most important step, isn’t not your first or your last on your journey, it’s your next. Will yours be a big leap or a baby step? Both are important and monumental.

Be bold, you beautiful soul.

Individual personal breakthrough mind & body matters sessions (for people that don’t do counselling) are available at Kasona.

Mindfulness, movement and meditation workshops are available soon. Watch this space.

Greetings

Karen

Contact me direct on 0414 973394 or email kasonamassage@gmail.com
www.kasona.com.au