Welcome to the new year

A new calendar year has always been linked with new starts and resetting of priorities, and the potential for a new version of you. However, the New Year isn’t meant to initiate huge character changes! It’s a time for you to reflect on your past year’s behaviour and aim to make positive lifestyle choices.

Exercising or adding movement into your day, eating and drinking sensibly will all help. Having treatments and discussing your wellness journey with our professional practitioners might also be a great first step, to help you reach whatever it is that you strive for. By setting small, attainable goals and making your resolutions realistic, there’s a greater chance that you will keep them throughout the year, incorporating healthy behaviours into your everyday life.

In the clinic we have been recruiting for front desk staff and I am delighted to welcome Ruth Philcox to our team. We will introduce you to her in due course.

Recently we held an open house for chiropractic students and will be looking to recruit some new graduates later in the year.

I am delighted to welcome Osian to the Durham House family. Arriving mid November, we are overjoyed for Felicity and Nick, and congratulate them on the safe arrival of their son.

Shortly we will say goodbye to Operations Manager Vic Williams who be leaving this position to pursue other ventures. We wish her well in her endeavours and thank her for the support she has given over the last 5 years.

So a new year brings changes and new challenges, but I am hopeful that 2022 will be a less tumultuous year! As always, none of this would be possible without the loyalty and support of our patients.

So thank you and I hope 2022 is a great year for you.

Galin

The Clinics
Chiropractic and massage therapy treatments continue in both clinics and do so with COVID safety and well-being in mind. As the work that we do is close contact, we will continue, until further notice, with the safety measures that we currently have in place with regards to masks, PPE and distancing in accordance with our professional associations' guidelines.

Massage Therapy
Our online booking system is open and you are able to book directly with the therapists. We have a number of practitioners qualified to work with pregnancy, deep oscillation therapy and MLD, as well as Scarwork, deep tissue work and gentle massage. Whatever your needs, we are sure we have a practitioner for you.

The Studio
From January prices for studio classes will be increasing a little, but still competitive with other studios.

A drop in price will increase to £14
A 5 class pass will be £65 with an 8 week duration - £13 per class
A 10 class pass will be £120 with a 3 month duration -£12 per class
A 20 class pass will be £200 with a 6 month duration -£10 per class

As you can see there are savings to be made by buying a larger class pass and getting to class more regularly.

Class numbers will stay at 8 for the time being allowing you plenty of room to practice your class and we will consider lifting this to 10 nearer to Easter - assuming no more restrictions.

Unless the Studio is forced to close due to Covid restrictions or any natural disasters, there will be no further extensions on current class passes from January. An admin fee of £15 will be charged if an extension is required - the extension will be for an additional 6 weeks only.

Our studio team have worked hard to bring you classes, when possible, despite restricted conditions over the last year and we really hope that 2022 is a year when things start to lift and settle further.

We look forward to seeing you in class with one of the team soon.

Please email our Studio Coordinator Sarah at thestudio@durhamhousechiropractic.co.uk if you have queries about your account.

2022 - Year 16 onwards

As our 15^th year at Durham House drew to a close, the burning question I posed myself was …. What’s next?

Over the 2020 summer I drew up a list of questions and then goals for myself and the business to help me focus on the future.

Covid was helpful in encouraging me take a step back and analyse my business as a whole. It was a weighty responsibility to manage a health care organisation with a team of employees and staff through a pandemic. Many changes were forced on us and some happened naturally and organically over the past 18 months. Being able to take some time to look at the bigger picture, I was able to notice needs and business demands that I would usually be too busy to see.

I was also able to ask myself questions such as: Am I happy with the business? Is it growing in the direction I want it to? Am I personally happy?

I love my job! I drive to work most days with a smile on my face, I pull into my clinic car park and feel happy to be starting my shift and excited to see which patients I have on my list for that day. The answer is, Yes, I am happy!

I would like to continue to develop my own personal growth. If I am not learning, challenging myself or building the business in some way I feel I am going backwards. My job is never dull because of all the changing variables, i.e. my patients, my staff, professional development courses which widen my perspective and give me new skills.

Qualifying as a STOTT Pilates instructor, gave me an insight into our studio and how I wanted to run it. I knew I wanted it to be a rehabilitation studio and not a fitness space.

It is new challenges and new qualifications that help me grow and push the business in different directions.

In 2022 I would like to focus more on my recent new venture as a lecturer/clinic tutor at Bournemouth AECC University. It is the largest chiropractic university course in Europe and it has been an honour to be accepted onto their team this year. I currently teach there one day a week and have hugely enjoyed the experience so far. I want to continue working with young, dynamic, soon-to-be chiropractors and encourage them to be the best they can be, to help develop and grow their careers and the chiropractic profession.

I significantly injured my own back last year. It was a lengthy and laborious process to rehabilitate myself out of the pain and injury. I will be writing a blog on my recovery next month and conducting a workshop to help others start to activating their core and become stronger in themselves, both physically and mentally post injury.

If Covid allows, I hope to travel more this year, spend time with the people I love, and most of all just be healthy, focused and calm in my life (who am I kidding!)

In tandem with those personal goals are my business goals:
Is the business growing in the direction I want it to? In what direction do I want to grow the business in the future?
The rules and Do's/Don’ts with regards to running my business were not something I was taught as I never attended business school. So, for the most part building my business has been an instinctive and organic process.

Over the past 15 years there have been a few catalyst moments, which at the time have been challenging for me.
Whilst I’ve tried to find solutions, it has usually resulted in the business reaching a plateau. My becoming pregnant, two mini recessions, the global pandemic! Accepting these moments, climbing these hurdles and adapting to new situations has been key to our survival.

The Coronavirus pandemic created a turning point for us, in that we were no longer able to serve some of our patients as we had previously. My main goal for Durham House has always been to be a viable and sustainable business, so we were required to re-evaluate our business model and focus on our core elements. We had to streamline which products and services we provide, which resulted in the business being more focused on chiropractic and massage treatments. I believe our studio rehabilitation facilities go hand in hand with these services and so I hope to develop this section of the business, increase workshops, information days and classes relevant to our patient needs.

As we begin 2022, these aspirations fill me with confidence, optimism, and excitement for the start of a new year.

There we have it, my business journey up to the present and my vision going forward. It’s been messy, surprising, challenging, and rewarding so far and if I’ve learned anything it’s that hard work, courage, and resilience- even when you can’t guarantee the outcome- are the foundations of making successful things happen. Slow and steady wins the long race.

More than anything, at whatever stage we have been, during the course of these past 15 years, the support and encouragement I have received from my staff and patients in the local community has been unwavering. The success of Durham House has been a team effort and will always continue to be so.

Thank you to all.

We have Facebook and Instagram accounts and post regularly to these sites.

Instagram:
@thestudiodurhamhouse

Facebook:
@durhamhousechiropractic
@thestudiodurhamhouse

Did you know we have a specific massage therapy web page? You can find information on the different therapies we offer.

http://www.durham-house-massage-therapy.co.uk or you can click on the link below to go straight to the site.

Why not treat yourself to a treatment or even buy as a gift - gift vouchers are available to purchase in both clinics.

For more information call:
Farnham: 01252 725 669
Fleet: 01252 622 050

or email
farnham@durhamhousechiropractic.co.uk
fleet@durhamhousechiropractic.co.uk

Low back pain

Poor posture, unbalanced tight and weak muscles, stress, overtraining and joint dysfunction are all possible causes of low back pain.

Frequently we see patients who may present with acute low back pain and sciatica. Sciatica refers to back pain caused by a problem with the sciatic nerve.

This is a large nerve that runs from the lower back down the back of each leg. When something injures or puts pressure on the sciatic nerve, it can cause pain in the lower back that spreads to the hip, buttocks and leg.

The most common symptom of sciatica is lower back pain that extends through the hip and buttock and down one leg. The pain usually affects only one leg and may get worse when you sit, cough or sneeze. The leg may also feel numb, weak or tingly at times.

The symptoms of sciatica tend to appear suddenly and can last for days or weeks.

Most people who get sciatica are between the ages of 30 and 50. Women may be more likely to develop the problem during pregnancy because of pressure on the sciatic nerve from the growing uterus and foetus. Other causes include a herniated or bulging disc and degenerative arthritis of the spine.

Follow the links to read articles on bulging discs and acute low back pain - Also exercises for low back pain.

Lymphoedema

Lymphoedema is a chronic inflammatory condition in which part of the lymphatic drainage system fails to work effectively.

It is estimated that almost 450,000 people in the UK have lymphoedema.

This means that it is more common than the combined number of people with Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone Disease, HIV and Parkinsons Disease.

Lymphoedema affects people of all ages including newborn babies.

Click on the link below to understand more on this condition courtesy of our specialist Julie Jarvis

Sleep has been proven time and time again to be one of the most important things you can do to help your brain and body function.

Sleep is even more vital when you’re stressed, anxious and overtired.

So, instead of worrying about not getting enough sleep, switch your mindset and start learning new ways to sleep easily. And get to know the science behind it along the way.

It’s normal to take 10 to 20 minutes to fall asleep once you climb into bed. But if it takes more time than that, you may need to improve your sleep hygiene.

Click the link below for some simple ways to fall asleep as fast as possible.

Also check out our article on Understanding Sleep Issues

Habits

A habit can be defined as an action you do frequently and automatically in response to something in your environment.

Habit formation is the process by which new behaviours become automatic. Someone who instinctively reaches for a cigarette after waking up has a habit. But so does the person who feels inclined to lace up her running shoes and hit the streets as soon as she gets home.

Old habits can be difficult to break, and healthy habits are often harder to develop than one would like. That's because the behavioural patterns we repeat most often are etched into our neural pathways. The good news is that, through repetition, it's possible to form—and maintain—new habits. And even long-time habits that are detrimental to one’s health and well-being can be shaken with enough determination and a smart approach.

To read our article on habits click on the link below.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation

The technique of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) was described by Edmund Jacobson in the 1930s published a book called Progressive Relaxation and is based upon his premise that mental calmness is a natural result of physical relaxation.

Interestingly, it helped popularise the world ‘relax.’

It identifies muscular tension as a result of anxious thoughts and so if you can find a way to reduce tension in the muscles you can lessen the impact of those anxious thoughts.

Progressive muscle relaxation is based upon the simple practice of tensing, or tightening, one muscle group at a time followed by a relaxation phase with release of the tension. By tensing and relaxing muscle, we can reduce stress and tension in the body and shift the mind’s focus away from distracting thoughts.

PMR is a deep relaxation technique that has been effectively used to control stress and anxiety, relieve insomnia, and reduce symptoms of certain types of chronic pain. Doctors have used PMR in combination with standard treatments for symptom relief in a number of conditions.

Progressive muscle relaxation can be learned by nearly anyone and requires only 10 to 20 minutes per day to practice.

Check out our link for how to practice Progressive Muscle Relaxation.

It will be no surprise to the millions of people who have just started their January healthy lifestyle plan that the most popular new year's resolution for Britons is to lose weight! The majority of new year's resolutions made involve making 2022 a healthier year. Losing weight is many people’s priority, followed very closely by getting fit and eating more healthily.

But it's important to remember that getting fit and healthy isn't something to only be focused on in January - a realistic change for your health is a resolution that you can sustain for longer than the first few weeks or months of the year.

We would all like a quick fix solution and would love to see those extra Christmas pounds gone quickly, but quick weight loss is not usually permanent weight loss and diets that have strict rules or severely restrict calories have been shown to be unsustainable options. Very low calorie diets lower metabolism so when a person goes back to eating normally, their slower metabolism will ultimately mean that they gain all their weight back and usually a bit more on top.

Many of us very often follow a pattern of eating unhealthily, gaining weight and then going on a diet. We lose the weight but then go back to eating the same old things and so the yo yo weight effect continues. As Einstein said “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” so perhaps it’s time for a new approach.

Forget the diet and concentrate on making small, sustainable changes to what you eat that will change your metabolism for the better. An eating plan which contains delicious foods made with whole grains, healthy fats and oils, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds and increased fruit and vegetables gives our bodies the nutrients that we need to function properly. As a result, many people find that energy improves, digestive symptoms resolve, their skin feels clearer, their eyes brighter and very importantly for many, those annoying extra pounds drop off at a sensible rate which means that they stay off.

Offer for January

New Client gift card
£10 towards your first treatment

For bookings please contact Sue directly on 07876 353 423.

Sue Masters MFHT
Certified Reflexologist and
Holistic Therapist

www.suemasters.co.uk

Instagram:
sue_masters_holistic_beauty

Facebook:
@suemastersholisticandbeauty

Studio Sylva will be coming to Durham House twice a month as of January 2022 - offering PhiBrows Microblading

PhiBrows is a manual, semi-permanent/ Microblading technique of hyper-realistic eyebrow drawing in which the shape of the eyebrows is calculated according to facial morphology. This technique is perfect for those who are looking to correct the aesthetic problems of their eyebrows while maintaining a natural look.

You can find more information about the treatment by clicking the link below or via the website
www.wearesylva.com/phibrows-microblading

Please note that you must be 18+ for these treatments.

PHIBROWS MICROBLADING - £300
This treatment is in two parts, your initial treatment followed by a top-up treatment 4-8 weeks later. Included in the price is a consultation, the treatment, 4-8 week top-up treatment, and aftercare bag and booklet. The initial appointment will take roughly between 120-150 minutes, and the 4-8 week top-up will take roughly between 60-120 minutes.

ANNUAL TOP-UP - £160
Annual top-ups must be between 12-18 months after receiving your full initial treatment (including your 4-8 week top-up). The appointment will take roughly 90 minutes.

ADDITIONAL TOP-UP - £50
Additional top-ups may be needed for those with problematic skin - for example those with very oily skin. If an additional session is needed it must happen within 3-9 months of initial treatment, any time after this it will be classed as an annual top-up. The appointment will take roughly 90 minutes.

Instagram - @we.are.sylva
Facebook - wearesylva

If you are interested in getting booked in or have any questions please get in touch with Ruby via email at wearesylva@gmail.com or call/text 07502211344.

Due to the limited slots available, appointments will be scheduled on a first come first serve basis.