December News and offers

HO HO HO and here we are at the end of another busy year.   I hope you are all  going to be getting some

well deserved rest over the Christmas break and get a chance to recharge you batteries and take a deep breath.  I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my amazing staff for everything they have done this year – they are the heart and soul of Revive and they look after you our clients so beautifully every day.   I would also like to thank all of our wonderful clients for being part of our Revive family  - for sharing the ups and downs with us and for creating what is a community that cares.

Every year presents us with new challenges and this year has been without a doubt full of them!  We have survived all of the challenges of 2017 with as much grace and humor as we could and will be celebrating the closing of this year and the hope that a new year brings.  I wish sincerely that you and your loved ones have a peace filled break and that 2018 brings much health and happiness.  Looking forward to continueing the journey with you all next year!

Jules  x

Do holidays make you sick?

For most of us holidays and time off are a time to recharge our batteries and chill out. For some people though, as soon as they stop work and try to relax they get ill.

Are you one of those people lying on a golden beach, blue waves lapping at your feet with a splitting headache? Or have you missed Christmas lunch as you are in bed with flu?

People who are never sick in their working week come down with headaches  colds, sickness or fevers as soon as they leave the everyday stresses and strains behind.

This is known as "leisure sickness", a phrase first coined by a psychologist in the Netherlands.

Ad Vingerhoets, said that people suffering from leisure sickness typically had a stressful job and they simply couldn’t switch off, which triggered a whole host of symptoms.

His research found headache and migraine were the most common ailments for weekend sufferers, followed by fatigue and muscle pain.  During holidays, they often had cold and flu -like symptoms.

Professor of organisational psychology at the University of Lancaster, Cary Cooper, says leisure sickness usually happens to people in really pressurised jobs.  "Your immune system is stimulated by the pressure, so when you have deadlines your body knows you can’t get ill. When you take a break your immune system just thinks - no more pressure. I can get sick now."

When you stop working he says: "It’s like a fuse, with your brain telling your body it can switch off, so you get a cold or a headache."

Stress counsellor and lifestyle expert Liz Tucker totally agrees with the phenomenon of leisure sickness.

"It is absolutely a biological process. When you are busy at work, your body just needs to get things done so it overrides everything else."It’s when you stop that the problems start.

The problem with holidays is they can trigger migraines as they involve disregarding your normal rhythm and routine. You may travel to a different time zone, miss meals and become dehydrated by air travel which can all kick-start a migraine. His advice is to try to stick to your usual pattern of behaviour, even on holidays and at weekends. Get up at the same time, have meals at the same time and if it’s a holiday try to get a daytime flight.

Lessen the stress of holidays with these tips and hints:

1. Book early  - make your travel plans early to get cheaper deals and more flexible times
2. Get digital – make sure you have plenty of entertainment loaded on your tablet, smartphone or laptop.  Make sure you have earphones for listening in vicinity of others.
3. Travel light – invest in some light weigh luggage and choose light easy to pack clothes – only pack what you need to reduce any risk of excess baggage fees and the stress associated with repacking bags at the airport.
4. Accept the situation and plan ahead  - crowded planes, bad weather, harassed staff and unexpected delays are all beyond your control.  Assume you are likely to encounter them and recognise you can’t change them.  Instead, focus on your reactions to these stressors.  Form a mental plan for remaining calm and dealing with these stressful events.  When flying, make sure you are organised before going through security. 
5. Give yourself enough time:  whatever your mode of travel, allow yourself more time than you can possibly imagine you will need. Allow adequate time for unexpected delays to help prevent anxiety and stress
6. Others are stressed too:  holiday travelcan be hecti for everyone involved.  Take deep breaths, put a smile on your face and stay positive.  Getting away from everyday routines and surroundings is especially hard on children. Include them in the trip planning and favourit small toys, books and other familiar items.  Remember that getting upset with airport staff doesn’t help as much as calm kind words and un upbeat attitude.
7. Stay healthy:  being sick while away from home only worsens holiday stress.  Wash your hands often and carry antibacterial gel to ward off germs. 

Salvos Christmas appeal.

Once again this year we will be collecting toys and food for the Salvos Christmas appeal.  We will be dropping all donations to the Salvos by the 18^th December so if you’d like to contribute please bring your unwrapped toys or food to the studio and place under our tree.  We have gift tags this year for you to nominate who you gift is for – eg girl aged 2 – 4yrs

Ideas for donations will be posted on the posters around the studio.  Food items should be non-perishable and not wrapped.  Christmas cakes are a great idea.

Christmas Holiday Travel

So many of us love to travel at this time of year, however long periods sitting can have a huge impact on our bodies.  It’s so important for us to plan how we are going to manage our travel, whether it is in air, road or sea, here are some helpful tips

What to remember to take with you on holidays

• Wearing compression socks while travelling can help reduce swelling associated with travel and decrease risk of DVTs
• Bring your spiky ball! Glute release while you’re sitting can help relieve some of the general stiffness that can happen with long hours sitting.
• Staying hydrated. Even though you aren’t moving as much or being as physical when you’re travelling it is important to keep the water up, especially on these hot days, it can take more out of you then you then.
• Planning healthy snacks. Revive staff are going crazy for dried broad beans at the moment for a high protein snack to keep you fuller for longer.
• Remember some comfy travelling shoes
• Regular stretching and gentle exercise is so important to keep the body moving while travelling

Ideas for exercises to do on planes:

1. Walking in the isle
2. bilateral calf raises x15
3. mini squats x15
4. Single leg balance aiming for 20sec each leg
5. Marching on spot 20x
6. Calf stretch hold for 20sec
7. Side bending x 6 each side
8. Mid back rotations x6 each way
9. Knee and bottom squeeze
10. Seated foot pumps repeatedly x20

Avoiding Pain at the Beach

The last thing we want whilst relaxing at the beach are any annoying aches & pains. Here are some tips to prevent any unwanted niggles:

• Avoid lying on your stomach propped on your elbows with your head in your hands – this places a lot of pressure on your neck & thoracic spine which can lead to some neck pain & stiffness. Try lying on your back with a towel under your head, knees bent and feet flat on the sand – the best way for you and your neck to relax!
• Get yourself a beach chair – optimal for some beach reading, views of the ocean and avoiding back/neck pain from lying on the sand.
• Move around and walk along the beach – avoid sitting or lying for too long and go for a short beach walk. Your joints will love you for it!

• Fit some stretches in at the start and end of the day – our legs can get tight and achey from walking on the soft sand at the beach. Calf, quadriceps & hamstring stretches are good ones to keep up with over your holiday.

Here’s another stretch you can do with your beach towel - don’t just use it to lie on when soaking up your vitamin D quota for the year. Roll up your trusty towel into a cylindrical shape and place it on the floor. Lie back over it with the towel running perpendicular to your body and between your shoulder blades. Support your head with your hands and let your elbows relax out to the sides. Keep your knees bent and bottom down on the floor. Take 10 deep breaths in and out. Target 3 different spots in the mid back region, taking 10 deep breaths at each. A good one to stretch out your spine after a long day at the beach.

Enjoy your beach time and most importantly remember to sun safe – slip, slop, slap! 

DECEMBER PACKS AND SPECIALS

January Kick start pack

(For new class clients)

Intro session mat/reformer

(5 mat and 5 reformer classes )

5 yoga classes

1 massage (non claimable)

$385 (save $226)

Pilates rebalance pack

(for clients new to Equipment Pilates )

Initial assessment with a physio and personalized program

2 one on one’s

3 groups

1 massage

$440 (save $142)

Pilates/yoga top up class pack

(For existing class clients)

5 mat classes

5 reformer classes

5 yoga classes

2 one hour massages

$415 (save $136)

Massage pack

4 ond hour

massages

for the price of 3

$ 294

(save $98)

HYDROTHERAPY SERVICES ARE UP AND RUNNING!

            Our new joint venture with Get Set Go at the Gap is going well.  We are building numbers in our hydrotherapy groups and will be creating more classes as numbers continue to grow. 

Our introductory offer of $65 (half price)  for your initial assessment is valid until the 31^st December so don’t wait it you are considering starting hydro with us.

We have also commenced an AQUA PREGNANCY class on Wednesdays at 7.15  - 8 am with Anne.  We have a lot of interest in this class  - call us on 3366 0500 for more information.