[Physical]

There has been a great deal of discussion in the last few years regarding the presence of toxins in our lives. This is a concept that has been fuelled by effective marketing campaigns advising consumers that they must invest in certain products in order to help eliminate toxins from their bodies.

The idea of ‘going on a detox’ in order to reduce the harm felt from toxins is certainly a great way to sell products, such as pills, powders and juices, but is there really any benefit to the body of doing so?

Before we answer this question, let’s start from the beginning!

What Are Toxins

When people talk about toxins they are generally referring to an organism that is considered to be harmful to the body. There are several types of toxins in existence and many of them can be quite detrimental to our health in different ways.

Many toxins can be found inside of the human body and are actually produced there by the body itself. These internal toxins are by-products of essential human functions and can often be processed and eradicated by the body itself with no problem! It is only when something goes wrong and these toxins begin to build up that a health issue can start to arise.

We are also regularly exposed to external toxins that can make their way into our bodies through ingestion or absorption. Across the media spectrum today there is much focus on the amount of toxins in our food, but it is important to remember that this is not the only source! The unfortunate reality is that there are actually toxins in almost everything, from the water that you drink to the everyday items that you come into contact with, such as tins, plastics and paints.

How to Beat Toxins

It may surprise you that avoiding stress is actually a great way to help combat toxins – both internal and external! When you are stressed out you become much more prone to anxiety and depression, and also more likely to eat unhealthy foods – which then invites toxins into the body.

Alcohol and cigarettes are two serious sources of toxins that it is possible to choose to avoid. The toxins in alcohol deplete your nutrient stores and make it harder for the body to hold onto the B vitamins it needs for both your metabolism and your memory*. When it comes to smoking, cigarette smoke contains incredibly harmful toxins that are now known to cause a wide range of illnesses and diseases.

There are other things that you can aim to avoid in order to limit your exposure to toxins. For example food that comes from cans, or anything that is processed is better off avoided. Consuming organic fruits and vegetables, as well as other organic produce, will help you to reduce the amount of toxins in your diet.

Clean Living

Although it simply isn’t possible to avoid toxins on every level, you can choose to steer clear of some of the worst offenders. This can help to improve your lifestyle and support how well your body responds to toxins.

Finding ways to shop that don’t involve harmful plastics or processed, packaged foods can be challenging – but it can also be fun! A great way to get started is to evaluate the products that you buy and the foods that you consume, and then to determine which of these things may contain harmful toxins. You can then slowly work to find substitutes for these things one by one as you work to reduce the toxins you have in your home!

This is a huge topic and one that we will delve further into soon, so visit us again to find out additional ways that you can combat toxins to enjoy better health!

[Spiritual]

At PAMA London we believe that the energy centres in the body, also known as chakras, have a great deal of influence over how well our minds and bodies are able to work in sync. When the chakras are clear and energy is able to flow through these energy centres as it should, then peace and harmony is much more likely to be present and persistent.

The word ‘chakra’ is of Sanskrit origin and translates to ‘wheel’. There are seven chakras in the body and it is important to consciously work to balance them. This can be achieved with a variety of techniques and tools and is best worked on in an ongoing way. For example, you can balance the chakras with coloured clothing and this is something you can click here to read more about!

The Root Chakra

The root chakra is also often referred to as the first chakra and is located at the base of the spine. The connection between Mother Earth and the body and mind is deeply guided by the root chakra.

When your energy is flowing without inhibition through the root chakra then you become better able and more inclined to honour your roots. This means that you can develop a greater appreciation of your family, and those people who support you in all aspects of your life. It is important to remember that your definition of family can differ from the norm, and this does not necessarily have to be concerned with those you are biologically related to.

With a well functioning root chakra you are likely to feel in control of your financial independence and have a justified sense of security. You will feel grounded and understand that you have the power to guide your life in the direction that you wish it to go in.

Balancing the Root Chakra

As we discussed in our previous article on balancing the chakras with coloured clothing, the root chakra is most closely connected to the colour red. If you feel that your root chakra has become blocked or unbalanced then surrounding yourself with the colour red can be helpful.

In addition to wearing red coloured clothing you can also surround yourself with this colour in other respects, such as consciously including red foods more prominently in your diet. For example, opt for red apples, strawberries, red grapes, cherries, pomegranates, tomatoes and red peppers.

Aim to eat at least one of these foods every day and do so in a mindful way. Focus your attention solely on the act of eating this particular food and meditate on the connected concepts that you believe are out of balance because of your root chakra.

Healing of the root chakra can also be encouraged by finding ways to physically become more connected to the earth. For example, a regular yoga practice can be extremely beneficial – especially if you take your practice outside into nature! Practicing yoga not only helps you to ground yourself in a physical way, but also helps your mind to become more grounded in a very healing way. Furthermore, a large number of yoga poses are fantastic for opening up your lower spine and allowing energy to flow with greater abundance through this part of your body.

Next Monday we will be taking a closer look at the sacral chakra. So, visit us again soon to learn how you can balance this chakra to enhance your sexuality, sensuality and creativity!

[Spiritual]

Meditation can be a powerful tool to understand the world, ourselves and the problems that we can often allow to interfere with the way we live our everyday lives. Meditation can enhance feelings of relaxation and peace, as well as helping to give the mind the time it needs to process the thoughts and experiences that present themselves during each day.

Meditation can be extremely helpful when it comes to supporting the mind through the challenges that are common for all of us, but it can also be an effective way to deal with more serious problems, such as addiction.

What is an Addiction?

When we hear the word ‘addiction’ we most commonly connect this to things like alcohol and controlled substances, such as illegal drugs or pharmaceutical medications. However, an addiction can really be anything that has a certain degree of control over your life.

For example, if you can’t even begin to imagine starting your day without your cup of coffee then you could determine that you have a caffeine addiction. Smoking cigarettes is another common addiction and one that we have increasingly learnt over the years can cause a great deal of harm!

Many people may display addictive dietary behaviours, and this can lead them to continuously make unhealthy choices in regards to the food that they eat, as well as the amount of food that put on their plate!

There is much discussion and debate surrounding the reasons that addictions can develop. However, one thing that is generally agreed upon is that addiction can often be connected to one or more ongoing emotional problems.

How Meditation Can Help

When it comes to any addiction, whether it be food, drugs, sex, video games or anything else, the first step to overcoming this issue is to try to establish the root cause of the problem. This means that it is key to discover how and when this issue began to present Itself.

The addiction may have developed as a response to feelings of anxiety or fear about a completely unrelated issue. This can happen as we as people can often find it easier to develop coping mechanisms to our problems, as opposed to trying to actually dealing with the issue itself.

Meditation gives you the time you need to spend with yourself reflecting on the past, contemplating the present and focusing on building a better future. Meditation also encourages you to really consider the origin of that which you are struggling with, and to conceive productive and rational responses to these thoughts.

Meditation and Mindfulness

When you engage in a regular meditation practice you will begin to notice that you become more mindful in other areas of you life. Mindfulness can be incredibly helpful when dealing with addiction. This is because when you embrace mindfulness every day you will become more aware of the reasons for your behaviour and the driving force behind each of your choices.

A life lived in a mindful way is a life full of conscious actions and kind decisions. When you truly consider the reasons for your actions, you are much more likely to make positive choices.

The process of getting an addiction under control in order to overcome it can be a long and complicated journey. It is also of course unique to everyone and no two people will go through the exact same experience. However, meditation is a tool that can provide some benefit to everyone who takes the time to embrace, experiment and enjoy it! Click here to read more about meditation and how you can get started!

[Physical]

There is much debate over whether yoga is an activity that can contribute to effective weight loss or not – with strong arguments on both sides of the discussion.

On the one hand, some people believe that because yoga is not a fast paced physical activity it can therefore not be considered a serious weight loss tool. This follows the belief that you must be directly burning calories at a serious rate in order to lose weight.

On the other hand, it can be argued that practicing yoga is a great way to build muscle, tone the body and strengthen the mind – all of which can then contribute to weight maintenance and weight loss.

This misconception of a yoga class predominantly consisting of stretching and seated meditation is perhaps the reason that many people feel that yoga is not an effective way to lose weight. However, if you have ever taken part in a class then you will know that this is not the case!

Yoga requires a commitment to developing both your physical and mental strength, and as this happens your stamina, flexibility and focus will improve also.

The Physical

Yoga consists of hundreds of different asanas, all of which have varying physical benefits. Although it is true to say that some of these poses are more concerned with flexibility than they are with physical strength, this is certainly not true of all of the poses! As you work to hold each pose for longer periods of time you will be building your overall strength and increasing your muscle mass.

As you continue to burn fat and replace it with muscle, you will naturally lose weight and you will also burn more calories when you are not directly engaging in exercise. This is because muscle tissue burns more calories than fat does.

Although the benefits of this can be felt with the majority of different yoga types, you may want to go for a more physically demanding variety to enhance your results and get the most out of your session. Vinyasa Flow, Power Yoga and Bikram Yoga are thought to be the best choices when it comes to yoga for weight loss. This is largely due to their intense pace and challenging poses.

The Mental

When it comes to how yoga can benefit you emotionally to support weight loss, you have to consider the reasons that you are not currently reaching your weight loss goals. Do you make unhealthy, emotionally charged food choices? Are you currently lacking the motivation to lead an active lifestyle? Perhaps you are simply stuck in a fitness rut and need to refresh your mindset to find your focus?

One of the most amazing things about yoga is how it encourages you to look inside of yourself, and to better understand your choices, your thought processes and your understanding of the self. When this begins to happens you will likely develop a greater understanding and appreciation of how you can care for yourself.

This process will often lead people to make more positive choices in terms of their self-care, their lifestyle, their diet and other connected concepts. Recognising negative habits and distancing yourself from them will soon follow, and this can be beneficial for both overall health and reaching desired weight loss goals.

Yoga For Weight Loss

Deciding to embrace yoga as a new part of your workout routine can be an exciting way to mix things up. As well as supporting and boosting your weight loss efforts, yoga can also benefit both your body and mind in other ways, such as keeping your mood up!

[Physical]

At PAMA London we are advocates of living a life that eases the impact felt by the planet from those who inhabit it. There are several ways that we can all do this on an individual level and we believe that we are doing our bit by creating eco-friendly sustainable clothing!

If you are ready to take a look at your own household habits and lifestyle to determine how you can make positive changes for both you and the planet, then we have addressed two common problems here and provided ideas to help you get started!

Put the Plastic Down

Plastic is an undeniable disaster when it comes to the environment. The majority of plastic is made from petroleum or non-renewable natural gases*. The process of extracting these gases is known to be quite energy intensive and also damaging to the eco-system. Furthermore, the manufacturing process is a massive source of pollution – to land, air and water!

In the United Kingdom alone, we consume more than five million tonnes of plastic each year. It has been estimated that only 24% of this plastic actually gets recycled, meaning that 3.8 million tonnes of plastic ends up in landfills every year.

So, how can you ditch the plastic and stop contributing to this problem?

Recycling all relevant plastics is a good place to start but you can also work to eliminate this product from your shopping list entirely. Take a re-usable bag with you every time you leave the house so that if you do buy something you don’t have to purchase a plastic bag to carry it home in. The average person uses 425 plastic bags every single year* and you can easily get this number down to zero by taking your own with you!

You can also choose not to buy products that are wrapped or contained in plastic – such as water in plastic bottles or pre-packaged foods. Shopping for whole foods and fresh fruit and vegetables at the market is a great way to avoid doing so, as well as taking your own re-usable water bottle with you everywhere you go!

Cut the Chemicals Out

It is a scary fact that a massive amount of companies do not list all of the ingredients contained within their cleaning products. The sad reality is that there are simply no rules or regulations demanding that they do so, and this can lead to unwanted and harmful nasties in your home!

Fortunately, you can easily make your own cleaning products with simple to source things that you more than likely already have in your house!

White wine vinegar and baking soda are two of the most powerful ingredients when it comes to cleaning your home. Let’s take a closer look at these two things!

By simple mixing white wine vinegar with an equal amount of water you can effortlessly create a cleaning solution that works for most surfaces. For tougher stains you may try warming the solution slightly and leaving it on the surface for upwards of ten minutes before you wipe it off. The acidic properties of white wine vinegar are the reason that it is so effective at cleaning.

Baking soda is also fantastic for cleaning and strikes a balance between acidic and alkaline. This means that not only is it great for clearing up stains, but also that it can wok to neutralise odours. There are so many incredible uses for baking soda and you can click here to read 51 of them!

Ease Your Impact

By incorporating one or more of the ideas mentioned in this article you can begin to ease your impact on the planet and also potentially improve your own health and wellbeing! This is especially the case when it comes to limiting the amount of chemicals, and therefore toxins, that you bring into your home!