I've been very lucky over the last few years to have been able to give Indian Head Massage treatments to young people. On every occasion, I have been struck by the positive impact that the therapy has had on the young person, in terms of their posture and general feeling of relaxation. Often we see teenagers hunched over their school desks or slouched at their PCs, so it is very important what we take a conscious move as parents and therapists to encourage good posture and self awareness of health at an early age. I ran a workshop at the International Forum for Child Welfare in 2008 when it came to Cardiff and was very pleased to be able to attend a presentation by a Carmarthenshire voluntary sector organisation, offering massage to school children (www.cycaonline.org/holistic-therapies). You can find out more about Massage in Schools here: www.misa.org.uk. When I first started providing therapies for children, I did some web research to find out what other services ere available in the locality. I stumbled upon Clover House in Bristol (http://www.cloverhouse.org/index.php) which is a holistic therapy centre for children. I am hoping to make links with the Centre and visit soon, to see what they do. I have worked in children's services both in health and local government for many years and am acutely aware of the issues around parental consent, child protection and Safeguarding. So I feel confident that with parental / guardian's consent and parents/guardians in attendance that giving these therapies is a positive move. I am also a magistrate, so I have been CRB and police checked for different roles at different times.

Today is the Winter Solstice, Winter Equinox or Yule and it's one of the oldest winter celebrations in the world. Technically, it's occurs exactly when the earth's axial tilt is farthest away from the sun at its maximum of 23° 26'! It is known as the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere and the summer solstice in the southern hemisphere due to the seasonal differences.

Many cultures celebrate various combinations of the winter and summer solstices, the equinoxes, and the midpoints between them, leading to various holidays arising around these events. For the December solstice, Christmas is the most popular holiday to have arisen. In addition Yalda, Saturnalis, Katachun, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Yule are also celebrated around this time

Yule is a Pagan celebration and was celebrated in Britain long before Christianity arrived. The Celtic Druids would celebrate Yule by burning a log during the long dark, short days to conquer the darkness. Bonfires were lit in the fields, and crops and trees were wassailed with toasts of spiced cider.

In modern times Christian all over the world celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas, which falls on December 25. However, it is believed that this date was chosen to offset pagan celebrations of Saturnalia and Natalis Invicti. Some believe that celebrating the birth of the “true light of the world” was set in synchronisation with the December solstice because from that point onwards, the days began to have more daylight in the northern hemisphere. Wishing you all a happy Yule!

It's day 7 of my hideous cold and I can say it is only marginally better! I can't remember having a cold that has lasted this long, been so lingering and debilitating before! Usually 5 days and I'm back in work and back to normal. Not only do I have a cold, but I've lost my voice too, have lost my sense of smell and have lost my sense of taste. What a pain!! As a complementary therapist, I'm really ... disappointed that the cold bug has got me, even though I eat lots of fruit and veg., drink lots of water and get plenty of sleep! It's time I found a new therapist near our new home, someone to help me keep the bugs at bay! if you're feeling under the weather or can feel a cold heading your way, come for some reflexology to help your body fit of the bugs and viruses and heal itself. Reflexology points of ...focus

* Head/Sinuses: To help decongest the head and sinuses.
* Lungs/Bronchial Tubes: To help break up congestion
* Spleen & Thymus :o help with immunity

And now, I'm off for an orange, plenty of Vitamin C required!!