You can improve your memory and mental health by simply switching your brain into ‘problem solving’ mode and challenging it with some activities, such as crosswords, Sudoku and memory games.

Brain training is also excellent for improving brain health and performance, one of our favourites is Lumosity.

Like most employees, these enzymes don’t like to be over-worked and work harder during short periods and with regular breaks.

So, for a healthier life, simply keep your enzymes happy by eating smaller meals, regularly.

Try snacking on fruit and nuts between meals to keep your blood sugar levels even and help you keep going throughout the day.

Apart from being an enjoyable and inspiring read, the main idea I took from the book is that less maybe more when it comes to footwear. Barefoot running is a growing trend that has helped me enormously and I can now run freely without any knee pain. Running barefoot or in shoes that have been developed with minimal cushioning such as Five Fingers, has completely changed the way I run. This new style with very little heel pressure on the ground may not be scientifically backed, but it just feels right and after all that’s how it was done before the invention of cushioned trainers. Here’s a picture of my new rather strange looking running shoes:

Stress really does have a lot to answer for. Not only can it affect you mentally, but it can also accelerate premature ageing by releasing free radicals into your body.

One type of stress is caused by the split between your ‘present’ self (the person you are right now) and your ‘projected’ self (the person you strive to be).

Stress is generated when you feel as though you haven’t reached “the next step” in your life.

Try not to put too much pressure on yourself and live in the present, looking after the person you are now.

Eckhart Tolle’s The Power Of Now is an excellent starting point to being in the present.

The aggression towards these good cells is fuelled by a poor diet, stress and everyday pollution.

However, you can defend the good cells, prevent premature ageing and also give your free radicals some anger management by simply being healthy and eating foods that are rich in free radical-fighting antioxidants, such a blueberries, almonds and broccoli.

We’re delighted that Headspace’s meditation guru Andy Puddicombe has written the following blog post explaining how you too can benefit from their easy to follow techniques.

The human brain is a seriously busy organ, processing more than one hundred million instructions per second. And it consists of an almost unbelievable 100 billion neurons – similar to the number of stars in our galaxy. It’s perhaps not surprising that the brain  produces enough energy to light a 25W lightbulb – but please don’t try this at home.

What with all this activity, it’s almost inevitable that we’re going to feel stressed and a little strung-out at times. Deadlines at work, digital overload, social commitments, financial responsibilities, relationships – and that’s before we even begin to look inside at the emotional and thought-filled roller-coaster that most of us ride through life.

Now if all this inner turmoil could actually be seen, there would be worldwide pandemonium. Of course, it’s now widely acknowledged that many stress related illnesses arise as a direct result of our over-active minds. But if it doesn’t manifest in illness, then what happens in the privacy of our own mind tends to go largely unseen by others.

Thank goodness for that, I hear you say! But sitting with all those thoughts, all those feelings, is no easy thing. Sometimes the thoughts appear endless, they just keep on coming. At other times everything feels fine and then, as soon as your head hits the pillow at night, the mind just goes off on one. Sound familiar? And as for the feelings, well, anything other then happiness is just plain wrong, right?

The fact of the matter is though, and this may well surprise you, that the primary thoughts and feelings which arise in the mind only account for a tiny fraction of the stress we experience in life. What accounts for the rest, is the way in which we relate to those thoughts and feelings – the secondary thoughts and feelings. Let’s be honest, when was the last time you felt relaxed about the fact that your thoughts were racing away at a million miles per hour? When was the last time you felt a sense of inner peace when you felt angry, lonely, depressed or worried? It’s hard not to resist these things.

It sounds obvious doesn’t it? And yet most people don’t do anything about it. If you wanted to learn how to paint, you’d go to an art class, right? If you wanted to learn about food, you’d go to a cookery class. And if you wanted to learn how to play tennis, you’d go and see a tennis coach. So who do you go and see if you want to learn how to train the mind?

Training the mind is just another way of saying ‘meditation’. I’m not talking about the shaven-headed, loincloth-wearing, sitting-on-top-of-a-mountain type of meditation here, but rather the type of meditation you can do at home, in your usual clothes, sat on a nice comfy chair. Contrary to popular opinion, it doesn’t have to involve incense, chanting and bell-ringing. And it can be done in as little as 10 minutes too – so the ‘I haven’t got time’ excuse sounds pretty flimsy on this one.

But don’t take my word for it. Scientists at prestigious medical schools such as Harvard, Duke and MIT, to name but a few, have shown repeatedly how meditation can be used to successfully address a wide range of stress related symptoms. This includes insomnia, anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, PMT, chronic pain, tension, fatigue, and so the list goes on. It’s also been shown to promote creativity, concentration and awareness.

You’ll be pleased to know though, that we’re very realistic at Headspace. We know that life is busy, time is precious and that there’s only room for so many things in a 24 hour day. But we also know that if you’re looking at this website, then there’s a pretty good chance you care about your health. And so you should.

So why not pay us a visit at www.getsomeheadspace.com, where you can sign up for a course of meditation completely free of charge, and join a growing community of people who are taking ten minutes out each day to get some headspace.

We very much look forward to seeing you there, 

Best wishes,

Andy

Bouncing – it’s so simple, yet so effective at improving health.

Not only is it fun, the shift in gravity also benefits every muscle and cell in your body, and boosts energy levels.

Use a mini trampoline as often as you can and bounce yourself to better health!

Fruit contains simple sugars, which don’t require much digesting and so do not hang around in the stomach.

Most other foods need to properly digest and will remain in the stomach for a while, until the digestive system has done its job.

Eating fruit during or after a meal can cause embarrassing results – as the fruit sugar remains in your stomach for longer, causing it to ferment and upset your digestion process.

Our advice is to try not to drink during meals. Your digestive system cleverly takes all the water it requires from the food you consume.

So drinking during meals will only disrupt and complicate the natural digestive process, flooding your digestive enzymes.

Keep it simple – for best results have a drink either half-an-hour before a meal or one hour after.

Think about it – you put all your energy into an activity and then afterwards you feel more energised.

How does that work?

Well, your blood flow and circulation is enhanced when you exercise. This delivers more oxygen to your cells, which in turn increases energy levels.

If you’re looking for aerobic benefits, we like cycling. For muscle toning, flexibility and relaxation we would recommend Yoga because it activates the endocrine system and normalises sluggish glands, making it an all-round energiser for your body.

Our friends at Bikram Yoga offer the hottest Yoga around, literally! Have a look at this video…