Growing up with my older sister, I always felt like I was the child there was always ‘trouble’ with. Not in the sense of acting out or being a rebel, because I was (almost) an A+ student, but I always seemed to feel everything so deeply and spend a lot of time considering and going over things in my head – day in and day out.

Back then (in the 90’s) it was a lot more tabu to talk about mental health issues and, really, it wasn’t a topic that anyone really knew much about from the small town I grew up in or maybe even wanted to talk about.

My parents truly did their best with what they knew how to. But parts of me felt that as much as I ever tried to explain my pain and sorrow, neither of them really truly ever understood how it felt to be me. Little Anna on the outside, but with a pain twice as big as herself on the inside. I don’t blame them – being emotionally equipped and developed enough to deal with what I went through for years on end, surely isn’t an easy task.

When I got into my teenage-years it felt like I escaped my inner demons, thoughts and feelings for a few years. But they were only substituted with drinking, smoking, partying and searching for love in guys. Not your ideal scenario, but I was also a teenager coming into adulthood – well, in all honesty, I had to grow up when I was 8 pretty quickly to deal with a divorce and many other things that I won’t dive into because it’ll be too lengthy – so I was almost ‘excused’ to behave out a little bit, and I don’t think my parents ever questioned that too much.

Albeit, one time when I’d been partying into the morning and I was visiting my mum (I’d moved to Copenhagen by this point), she looked me in the eyes and said; “are you on drugs?” One thing that I never ever got into that was drugs. Thank God.

But partying and drinking had become a way of numbing my pain and myself to no existence. Whilst studying, trying to build a career, buying an apartment and being an adult – all at the age of 18 years old. I was drowning and I was drowning fast.

You see, what you don’t know from the above is that I was in a very non-serving relationship a few years before this. This along with a multitude of other family things and my mental health issues of depression got me to a point where I din’t want to live any longer.. And so, sadly, one day I decided that I didn’t when I was just 16 years old. And I’ll never forget that day or those following months. Luckily, I’m still here – and thanks for my mum and doctors I got another chance at life.

I’m skipping over the above because it doesn’t deserve more time or words than that. I don’t regret what I did back then, because I can stand outside of my own body now and look back at that poor little girl and still feel the pain she was in. I understand why she did the way she did. Because she didn’t feel like she had any other choice to escape it all. But, now I know that I do.

The above story is definitely part as to why I had my first ‘run-in’ with my true self. The reason why I moved to Australia in the first place. To me, Australia signified freedom and a new start to life. A place where I could potentially finally find and be myself without having to apologise to anyone for being who I was and to actually get a go at doing ‘life’ for the first time ever.

So, with 25 kg’s of luggage I set off towards the other side of the world, and for the first time in my life, it felt like I was heading in the right direction. Australia gave me hope and I for once felt truly alive. 

… I’m sorry I can’t give you the fairytale ending we all grow up to be taught and believe in, because that’s not how my life unfolded..

Australia is my home and I love it dearly. I’ve found my place in this physical world of where I want to grow roots (but never to deep to still stay free), but my almost 9 years here have been far from easy.

However, what moving to Australia catapulted me onto was my spiritual path and slowly wakening up to connecting with my true self.

I was diagnosed with depression when I was only 14 years old. I was put on anti-depressants when I was 16 years old. My entire life I’ve tried to numb myself from the calling that I have inside of me, but I never knew how to deal with. I will never discount the word Depression because feelings turned into emotions can become all-consuming and our ego will run with it til our days end, if we let it..

But, what I think us people who has or who still suffer from ‘depression’ is, are simply put ‘Ultra Fine Tuned Souls’ having a human experience in which the soul has taken residence in a physical shell where it’s still fighting the human ego from ruling instead of it’s natural born state of peace, love and joy.

I know wholeheartedly that I will always be a sensitive, all-consuming soul that feels everything so very deeply. What is up to me is whether I will let that work for me or against me – but the choice is completely up to myself.

When I take steps towards living a clean life full of fresh, organic produce, free-range animal products, natural supplements, little alcohol, self-care, exercise.. – I create a clear path of connection to my true self. It becomes untainted and strong and life becomes a little easier to deal with. It becomes less overwhelming and much more manageable – day by day.

I choose to show up every day, even though there are many days where I don’t feel like it. Trust me, my ego can always find an excuse to not get out of bed, to not train, to not eat healthy, to not be loving, to not be accepting.. And the list goes on.

But my practice, our practice, is to choose to continue to go against those thoughts and emotions, and choose to show up for ourselves every single day, so that we can continue to take steps towards finding true freedom within.

Anna xx

The post Mental Health Awareness Day – My Personal Story Through Light & Dark. appeared first on Anna Høgh Groth.

“I’m so busy”, “I can’t seem to shake this tiredness”, “my body is seriously aching, I don’t know what I’m doing wrong”, “why am I so sad and confused, I don’t get it”.. – Telltale signs of ‘BURN OUT’.

Have you, or maybe, are you currently, feeling like above? I AM! And actually, I have been feeling like that for a few weeks now.

I was laying in bed with Pash last night (at 9.15pm!), when I said to him with sadness in my voice: “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t keep waking up early, not getting enough sleep, feeling sore, feeling tired. My body is aching. My mind is always on. Whether it’s for friends, for you or for social media. I can’t keep doing this. I’m falling apart at the seems. I can’t keep doing these different schedules you and I have. We are always ON, and it’s tearing me up. I’m on the verge of burning out, and I can feel it coming. I need a break, and I need it soon..”

Yes, I do know they’re pretty heavy words, but that was the best way to describe how I felt last night about how my current-life situation is placed.. And, by no means is this anyone else’s fault than that of my own. I’m completely owning up to being a workaholic, a people-pleaser and a worrying stress-head.. Sometimes it feels like it’s in my DNA, and when I try to go against it, it’s a hard fought battle that leaves me exhausted.

One thing is feeling the burn-out on my body – that I can almost live with – but another is when I start to feel the burn-out mentally!

I’m not my normal bubbly, happy and positive self. Instead, I’ve found myself feeling a little lost in this world, searching for my purpose with a flashlight, sometimes sad and worrying (about my future), de-motivated and just wanting to hide away from it all..

I recognise these aren’t my usual feelings, and they’re not feelings that define me, still I’m questioning why they’re lingering within me, and what it is that I need to see and experience from them, that I still haven’t picked up on..

I’m somewhat lucky to be very in-tune with my body, and knowing what feelings (mentally & physically) are driving me towards a burn-out, but below are some signs of when a Burn Out could be in sight:

1. You’re constantly feeling tired whether you sleep for 6 hours or 10 hours – the feeling remains the same.
2. Your body is aching and having a hard time to recover from simple exercise & training.
3. You’re stiff and sore – especially around your shoulders, neck and upper back because you’re worrying and slouching.
4. You’re bloated, constipated & might have a poor digestive system caused by ongoing stress and increased cortisol levels.
5. Your vision is foggy, eyes are hurting and you’re having a hard time reading letters and words.
6. You’re sad (depressed), don’t feel like getting out of bed, want to hide from the world, and everything seems hard & too much effort.
7. You don’t feel like being social or talking to anyone.
8. You’re eating poorly and seeking comfort-foods or you’re not eating at all due to no appetite.
9. You’re agitated, angry and have a short fuse. You pick fights with the people you love and get annoyed when things don’t go your way.
10. Your skin might be breaking out with acne due to imbalanced hormonal levels.
11. Bruises, cuts, scratches or wounds on your body are taking forever to heal.
12. You get distracted very easily, and your mind seems to be in a constant cloud of fog.
13. You have no sex-drive and a low libido.
14. You worry excessively about the future and the past, instead of being in the moment.
15. You get very self-critical and question why you haven’t done more with your life.
16. You can’t concentrate on anything what so ever.

You might nod yes to all of the above, you might only nod yes to some of them. Burn out ranges in severity, and from my experience, you can have a mild (oncoming) burn-out or you can be suffering from a full-fledged, severe and very serious burn-out.

Whether you’re recognising these signs mildly or extremely, I urge you to take this seriously.

Stress, and the ongoing kind, to the body is a very serious matter, and not one we want to keep around.

There would be not point to this post, unless I’d give you some of my suggestions, and what I feel works for me, as to how you can combat a burn out.. But, you have to take action yourself if you want to get better.

1. Clear your calendar and take a week off (if you can!) – and if you can’t? Take a day off. Turn off your alarm-clock, sleep until you wake up and stay in bed all day long. Then sleep some more.
2. Cancel your training for the week. Give your body time to heal, and stop stress-induced exercise. As great as exercise is; when we’re already stressed and burned out, adding more stress to the body through exercise is not what we’re looking for.
3. Moving your body is still good, but do it through yin yoga, an ocean swim or a gentle walk in nature. Remember, we’re looking to calm our heart-rate and not getting it up.
4. Get off Social Media and be present. I know it’s hard, because I do it myself, but putting your phone and laptop away, instead of endlessly scrolling social media and letting your mind run off with what you should be doing, how you should be acting or the ancient practice of comparison. It’s just not going to help you in the long run. Sorry!
5. Up your nutritional-dense foods by eating more vegetables, fruits, grains, proteins and overall whole-foods, so that you can help repair your body from the inside. When we’re stressed, the body’s ability to ‘pick up’ the nutrients that goes into our body becomes harder, so we want to give it as much of the good stuff to dive into as possible.
6. Use relaxation techniques to help get rid of your aches and pains. Think relaxing massages, warm heat packs on a sore neck or back, meditation, foam-rolling, gentle stretching, infrared saunas & acupuncture. They all help serve a purpose to heal your mind & body.
7. Reach out to those closest to you and have a talk about how you feel. Sometimes, we bottle up so many emotions and thoughts in our own heads that we make matters worse. Getting some things off your chest, can really free up some internal space.
8. Get out and into nature. Spend time by the beach, dip your toes in the ocean, walk through the forest, sit by the river.. The human body resonates at the same frequency as Mother Earth, so taking your shoes off, walking bare-feet, and connecting with nature is more important than ever.
9. Spend time with animals if you can. They have a very calming effect on our nervous system, and has actually been proven to lower, not only our blood pressure, but also harmful stress hormones like cortisol and elevating beneficial ones like oxytocin which is linked to relaxation and happiness levels.

Burn out or continuous stress isn’t a natural state for our bodies to be in, so I do urge you to take it seriously if you’re feeling like you’re on the verge of collapsing.

We live in a day & age where we are spoilt for choice, but that isn’t always a good thing, in my opinion. Sometimes, all we need to do is go back to basics and start from there.

All my love and healing vibes, Anna xx

*Ps: I’m writing this from bed.

The post THE TELL-TALE SIGNS OF A BURNOUT & WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. appeared first on Anna Høgh Groth.

What I didn’t expect would be the enormous feedback and messages from girls and women telling me that they are going through the exact same thing which really took me by surprise!

What took me even more by surprise was what they told me:

1. ‘My doctor told me to go back on the pill otherwise I won’t ever have a regular period again. The pill will ‘kickstart’ my body’
2. ‘I haven’t had my period for 1, 2, 3, 4 even 5 years – is it normal? I don’t know what to do’.

I was lost for words when I actually read – black on white – from a women who’d been told by her GP that she needed to go back on birth-control in order to get her period back.. ARE YOU SERIOUS?!

I want to state this very clearly – I AM NOT A DOCTOR OR MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL – so the opinions and words are those of my own and only what I have tried on my own body, worked with my own team of professional & holistic doctors on..

“What do you think happens when you’re on the pill? The monthly cycle is the best text message from your body that your hormones are in-sync. Progesterone and estrogen in-balance? Check. Other hormones in-sync? Check. Hypothalamus sending the right signals? Check. Since you don’t experience a “real” period on the pill, you are missing the signs that everything is – or isn’t working correctly. Coming off the pill, your body is left in the dark. It has no idea what to do, and no one is telling it how to work or how to react.”

If you think that going on the pill to get your menstruation-cycle back to normal is a good idea,  I’d say, try something different. I personally don’t believe the way to solve a problem with our bodies, is to pump it full of drugs, hormones and medicines – do you?

I also want you to know that you’re not alone. I was baffled at how many woman are suffering from amenorrhea (no menstrual cycle). And yet; no one is talking about it?

I want you to know that it’s not normal for women to not have a menstrual cycle – so if you don’t have one, please do seek help and consultation from professionals – I always encourage you to see a holistic doctor or naturopath that’ll help you in the natural way, however the choice that you feel comfortable with, should be the one you go with.

My story:

I started on the pill when I was only 14 years old. I suppose my mum wanted me to be safe as I was sexually active from a young age. It also helped my acne (yay!).. And I got to skip my periods and never, ever have them (double-yay!).. So I thought..

Fast forward to when I was 22 years old and I stopped taking the pill all-together – why? I can’t tell you the exact reason, but I believe something in me started to become aware of my body and health (sort of) and gravitated towards living a more natural lifestyle.. I also became vegan after coming out of my treatment-cycle.. But then it took overhand.. And I found myself starting to battle disordered eating.

I was so anorexic and scared of eating, along with over-exercising, that I dropped to only 37kg’s. Do you think my body cares about producing enough hormones and sending signals to my brain for my body to menstruate and using up that small amount of energy, when my body is slowly starving do death? Yeah, I think not..

For a few years I didn’t think too much about it, because I was skinny (yay! read; NAY!), and I could fit into 12-year old kids-jeans (yay! Read; DOUBLE NAY!), but when I started my 26th year around the sun I started to seriously look at my body and wanting to overcome my eating disorder and be happy. I wanted my period back, I wanted my life back and I wanted to be able to have kids in the future – or at least have the choice myself to decide and not my body deciding for me.

So what did I do? Well, a lot of things. And I can’t tell you exactly what it was that triggered my menstrual cycle as I think it was a multitude of things, but I can give you a list of things I focused on:

PS: Always go see your GP and get checked up to see that there isn’t a medical reason to your absent menstrual cycle i.e. PCOS etc.

1. Gaining Weight:

It doesn’t matter how you’ll turn or twist it; the matter of the fact is that if you’re underweight, you will most likely not get your period, until you’re at a healthy weight again. Your body is far too busy trying to survive and use energy on making your heart beat and pump blood through your body.

When a person with anorexia or bulimia restricts or purges the food they eat, their body may become malnourished; this often results in significantly low levels of hormones necessary for menstruation, and stop menstruation altogether.

I’ve gained quite a bit of weight, and especially around my hips, thighs and tummy which definitely looks like I’m finally starting to become a woman (at the age of almost 29), possibly signalling to my body that I’m ready to have kids?

2. Eating Healthy:

Of course, with anorexia and bulimia comes that you must start to eat again. And not just anything. Focusing on healthy meals and natural whole foods are vital for our bodies to work properly and to produce the vitamins & minerals that our brains (and menstruations) need so badly.

I’ve focused on mainly a plant-based diet with additions of fish that my body can easily digest. I’ve also got digestive-issues, so meat and chicken is too harsh for my body to work through (this isn’t to say you can’t have it – but I love a vegetarian-based diet).

I also take a number of vitamins & minerals which I truly believe has helped to add that bit extra that my body can’t get from or won’t absorb from the food I eat. Read about that here.

3. Exercising:

I’ve heard some people say that you shouldn’t do strenuous or hard exercise when your period is lacking, which I completely understand, because sometimes we put our bodies under more stress which again inhibits our menstrual cycle even further.

However, I have been exercising (hard) and done numerous different exercise-forms like Pilates, HIIT, Circuit, Strength, Barre and Yoga. And its felt good on my body to move and get it going again. But it links back to the eating bit. In order to have the strength to move my body, I must eat. And when I started eating, I started being able to move. And by moving, I started producing more serotonin – that’s the happy-hormone – and by producing more happy-hormones, I started to be happier and more living of myself..

Do you see where I am going with this? It’s all intertwined, but I truly believe that moving your body (without starving it) because it’s healthy and you love it, can only help on the road to getting your menstrual-cycle back.

4. Acupuncture:

I’ve talked a lot about acupuncture before (read here) and how it’s been one of the tools that’ve helped me both mentally and physically.

Mitch (my friend and acupuncturist) has really helped with my stress and anxiety-levels which has been a huge factor in letting my body rest and give way to flowing freely again.

When our bodies are in a state of stress and anxiety 24/7, it leaves no room for the brain to function and focus on other parts of our bodies because it’s so busy protecting itself and dealing with the adrenalin in our bodies.

Laying down (at least) once a week with a few needles to help me de-stress has helped me tremendously and I can only recommend and praise acupuncture for all of its healing effects and benefits.

5. Stop Stressing:

I can’t stress this enough (pun intended), but you have to chill out! The constant worrying about, if and when your period will return is just causing more damage to your already stressed body. You’ve got to have patience – as hard as it may sound.

Take up a practice like meditation to help you de-stress and get your thoughts in check. Even take up things like knitting, walking, solving crosswords – whatever it is that takes you away from the constant thoughts regarding your body and its capabilities (or incapabilities) will work wonders for you.

If you’re a real stress-head look to natural remedies like essential oils & herbs that can help with stress & anxiety.

6. SLEEP:

I used to be the type of person that could survive on 5-6 hours of sleep.. I still can, but I’ve found that I function so much better (at a lower stress-level) if I get a full 8 hours of shut-eye every night.

If sleep is cut short, the body doesn’t have time to complete all of the phases needed for muscle repair, memory consolidation and release of hormones to regulate a multitude of bodyli functions and appetite. Then we wake up less prepared to concentrate, make decisions, or engage fully in work or other activities.

Sleep is there to help us rewind and relax after a long and stressful day where our bodies have gone through multiple stages of stress and a few fight or flight moments (no doubt).

Use the sleep. Honour it. Honour yourself and the rest you need in order to function.

7. Herb Up:

.. and by that, I mean – embrace Chinese Medicine and the wondrous world of medicinal herbs. I’m lucky that my friend and acupuncturist also works with Chinese Medicine, so it’s  a two-in-one when I go and see him.

Chinese Medicine and Medicinal Herbs is nothing to scoff at. The herbs (ground or fresh) are incredibly potent and strong – in flavour, smell and effect. And there are some real focused and targeted herbs that the ancient Chinese have used to treat the likes of infertility and amenorrhea.

Some good herbs that may help bring on menstruation include:

• Black Cohosh Root
• Dong Quai Root (promotes blood flow to the pelvis)
• Motherwort
• White Peony (helps to build blood and increase circulation to reproductive organs)

8. Be Kind To Yourself:

If there’s only one thing you do or take away from this article, then let it be this: BE KIND TO YOURSELF. Please…

Our un-kindness to ourselves promote eating disorders, depression, anxiety and so much more. It promotes no menstrual cycles, malnutrition and so much more. Just be kind..

Don’t waste your life feeling like you need to look like a Victoria’s Secret Model to matter or to look good, don’t waste your life saying no to dinner-invitations because you’re on a diet, don’t waste your life saying tomorrow I’ll make changes.. Make those changes today. Stop living your life the way you think you have to. And start enjoying life the way you WANT TO.

Love yourself. Be kind. Be modest. Be humble. Have patience.

Al of my love, Anna x

The post HOW I GOT MY PERIOD BACK.. appeared first on Anna Høgh Groth.

Can you nod yes to the above? And can you genuinely say, hand on your heart, that it hasn’t just been excuses upon excuses continually, that’s been the reason why you still haven’t tried yoga or incorporate it weekly into your exercise routine?

Or, maybe you’re a super keen yoga-bean that’s practising every-day but just want to delve further into the why of yoga?

Well, let’s take a look at my 8 Reasons Why Yoga Is Worth Doing.. Buckle up!

1. Yoga reduces stress and anxiety

The conscious link between the mind & body that we create when we practice yoga, uses a combination of physical poses, controlled breathing, and relaxation techniques that has been shown to lower blood pressure and heart rate, both of which help control our stress-levels and thus regulate our anxiety-levels, too.

2. Yoga can help with depression

Practicing yoga regularly, can help reduce symptoms of depression. In a study out of Alliant University in San Francisco, looked at the effects of Bikram yoga on a group of women between the ages of 25 and 45 found the following results: When these women practiced twice per week for two months, their depression symptoms decreased. “These studies suggest that yoga-based interventions have promise for depressed mood and that they are feasible for patients with chronic, treatment-resistant depression,” said Vollbehr.

3. Yoga can change your life

Do you feel like there’s more to life, than what you’re currently experiencing? That’s because there is.. Getting onto your mat and out of your head can be the highlight of your day. When we step onto our mats, and leave the world at the doorstep, the mat becomes your therapist, your sanctuary, your safe haven to find peace and quiet from all of the chaos and anxiety rattling around in your brain. Your yoga practice will soon begin to embody the life you never knew was simply waiting for you. Just take that step onto the mat; the hardest part is getting on to it, the easy part is when you arrive.

4. Yoga can help with weight loss and toning of the muscles

It’s a common misconception that yoga isn’t a type of exercise that will condition your muscles and help you become stronger. Yoga lowers levels of cortisol, the stress hormone that prompts your body to collect belly fat. By using natural body weight and resistance, the discipline also helps build lean muscle and creates definition. Practice hot yoga or vinyasa and you will quickly see how hard the body works during a class.

5. Yoga will help you detox

Yes, it’s true. Certain poses, especially those of twisting the spine, are great for our bodies and to help eliminate the toxins that will build up inside. Poses can help stimulate your circulatory, digestive, and lymphatic systems, helping you rid your body of build-up waste.

Poses for detoxification includes:

• Revolved Chair Pose
• Revolved Triangle Pose
• Plow Pose
• Headstand
• Supine Spinal Twist
• Seated Spinal Twist
• Revolved Side Angle Pose
• Revolved Half Moon
• Eye of The Needle

6. Yoga helps you find strength in your vulnerability

Many people like structure and predictability and consistency. Adversity can challenge all of these things. Yoga can push you in positive ways that address being strong, while still being vulnerable. The variety of poses calls for aspects of adapting to your body’s needs. This level of awareness you build through yoga training, is incredibly healthy and beneficial.

You may challenge your focus and endurance in given poses and throughout yoga training. This teaches you perseverance and focus on each and every breath, and believing in your progress with steady commitment. Adversity understandably brings pain, and this can make you shut down, or it can encourage you to be more open. Which do you choose?

7. Yoga will help you become more flexible

I know you’re thinking, that you won’t ever be able to do Pose x and definitely neither Pose xxx.. However, please try not to listen to your mean voice inside of you, that is only there to bring you down..
Inevitably, if you continue a steady yoga-practice, you will become more flexible with time. Yoga poses stretch your muscles and increase your range of motion, along with working your cardiovascular system, resulting in long, flexible and wide-range motion muscles and joints.

8.  Yoga helps you cultivate perspective and give thanks

The more adversity we experience, the more relatively calm we are about life experiences as they come forth. This is not to encourage desensitization but to emphasize with perspective, some very strong coping mechanisms. These coping mechanisms are a form of strength found through perspective.

This perspective leads to showing a lot of thanks for simplicity. As you go through your yoga practice, you will have a different perspective and appreciation for the practice after consistent commitment. There are times when the workout may be challenging, however you will feel great for pushing yourself. Your perspective changes from not knowing whether you can push through, to it being the best choice you could have ever made. Be patient. Stay simple.

Did you know the above about yoga, or is it already something you’ve incorporated into your life?

Love and light, Anna x

The post 8 Reasons Why Yoga Is Worth Doing.. appeared first on Anna Høgh Groth.

Or maybe, it was really the combination of acupuncture and the person I was introduced to who changed my life..

I’m talking about a man named Mitch Patience.

I was introduced to Mitch back in November of 2015 when one of my best friends, Ashley, dragged me along to try acupuncture. My very first time I was treated my Martine which runs the Acupuncture Collective in Bondi, but my second time was when I met Mitch and he treated me..

Right then and there, I felt connected to Mitch. I felt safe, supported, understood, and LOVED from a stranger I had just met. It’s something that is so hard to explain in words, but his energy just matched mine, and so did his good heart..

The best possible way I can describe Mitch is being a light-bearer with the most generous, selfless, loving heart you can ever imagine. I have never felt as safe as I do in his hands, and a beautiful friendship has flourished from this. I’ve always thought Mitch’s surname (Patience) was the perfect reflection of one of the biggest qualities I think he possesses – I have never been rushed, or felt like I was a burden – whether that has been a meltdown at 4pm in the afternoon , 11.30 at night or 6am in the morning.

Mitch has helped me, and continues to do so, on my journey to reaching and connecting with my higher self.
My main focus with Mitch is on acupuncture and kinesiology supplemented with Chinese Herbs.

Now, so many of you are on the same path, and intrigued and want to know more about these areas of acupuncture and kinesiology, so I did a little interview with Mitch Patience  so you can understand these holistic treatment options better, or perhaps even incorporate a few of those elements to your life, or even better, go see Mitch if you’re lucky enough to live in Sydney.

Enjoy – C xxx

1. Tell us about yourself? What do you ‘categorise’ yourself as?

I would describe myself as a wellness facilitator. I prefer to focus on wellness rather than illness. There are loads of amazing practitioners working with illness however its often about refining the body to be well – This does mean clearing dis-ease to create the wellness I think we all desire. A lot of people, including myself at times, just don’t know how good they really can feel when they are truly well. I feel that many people accept their current state of health as good, when it can be really amazing! Being a ‘facilitator’, this is about empowering people to take responsibility for their own health and putting themselves as their priority.

2. How did you get into this holistic approach to life and the wish to help others?

In some ways I was pretty lucky. I didn’t know any other way!

I remember my mum taking me to Chinese Medicine Doctors when I was maybe 4 and being given different concoctions for middle ear infections or whatever else was going on at the time. I never really went to doctors if I was ever a bit unwell. I think that most of the time, going to a doctor it’s probably not the best course of treatment.

Between this and my mum being a Chef when I was growing up, who also studied a whole range of alternate therapies from Iridology, Naturopathy and eventually Kinesiology, perhaps this sparked my love for alternate therapies, food and cooking. So after a short attempt at professional golf when I was 18 and 19, I studied massage and alternate spiritual healing and Transformational Kinesiology.
Finally I started my Chinese Medicine Degree in 2008, as I would say, to do something ‘mainstream’.

When I was young before I was crazy about golf, I loved to play in the kitchen, cooking or trying to make crazy things to see if they tasted good, but if asked, I wanted to be a Doctor. So I guess it was just always there from the beginning which was nurtured by having an alternate mother.

There is nothing better in my world (other than my Son’s smile and laugh) than to see the face of someone when their pain is gone instantly with a couple of needles, or when a client tells you for the first time in over 10 years, they haven’t had a migraine for a week! 

3. What is your philosophy? What do you believe in?

Maybe its the Libran in me, its all about creating balance. Thats what acupuncture is doing when we give a client needles.

This means everything in moderation, including moderation! For me, its about eating well 90% of the time, consciously having positive thoughts 90% of the time. Doing what you can, when you can and as much as you can.
Its about being conscious of making the effort to have that positive thought or having the apple instead of the donut. But not worrying about what you eat or how you feel sometimes.
Having a night off and eating out or having a few drinks is important. It also means that everyone feels down at times and thats ok, too.
Make the conscious choice to make the effort to do it differently as much as you can.

4. Can you give us a short explanation of what the treatments you offer entails and what they’re beneficial for?

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture is a natural and effective form of health care, dating back to China over 2000 years, it’s one of the oldest health care practices in the world. Acupuncture takes a wholistic approach to much deeper understanding of the normal function of the body and disease processes. Acupuncture focuses on the prevention of illness as much as on the treatment. 

When healthy, an abundant supply of qi (pronounced chee) or “life energy” flows through the body’s meridians (a network of invisible channels through the body). If the flow of qi in the meridians becomes blocked or there is an inadequate supply of qi, then the body fails to maintain harmony, balance and order, and disease or illness follows. This can result from stress, overwork, poor diet, disease pathogens, weather and environmental conditions, and other lifestyle factors and becomes evident to TCM practitioners through observable signs of bodily dysfunction. TCM practitioners look carefully for these signs of health and dysfunction, paying particular attention not only to the presenting signs and symptoms, but also to the medical history, general constitution, and the pulse and tongue.

An Acupuncture treatment involves the insertion of fine, sterile needles into points along the body’s meridians to clear energy blockages and encourage the normal flow of qi. Acupuncture is very gentle and generally painless.

Kinesiology

TK (Transformational Kinesiology) is a practical application of The Ageless Wisdom, the essence of all the spiritual traditions and is a profound healing modality. It is a method of specialised kinesiology developed since 1983 by international facilitators and researchers Grethe Fremming and Rolf Havsboel, founders of the Polaris International Institute in Denmark.

The purpose of Transformational Kinesiology is to facilitate a process which allows the individual to take responsibility for him/herself physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. This includes finding one’s true self and utilising the Soul power realised through expansion of consciousness. Most people want at a certain point in their life ‘to be who I am’. Transformational Kinesiology facilitates this process.

During a TK balance, the client and practitioner work in harmony with the Soul as it ‘speaks’ through muscle monitoring (Kinesilology) and subtle energies. Together we identify the goal that is most appropriate at that time and any blockages. Blockages such as limiting beliefs, negative programming or physical symptoms, which might be standing in the way of the goal fulfillment. A TK balance approximately lasts 1.5 hours and facilitates the clearing of hidden blockages that may be preventing the attainment of cherished dreams and goals. Clearing blocks and energy that undermine health or inhibit full alignment with the Soul’s purpose. Choosing from an extensive menu, the client then participates in a TK balance where, in the light of consciousness, limiting patterns and beliefs are replaced by deeper wisdom.

5. How can all of these treatments be combined to form a powerful approach to health – both mentally and physically?

As with my philosophy, the combination of these and other alternate medicine can create balance. Acupuncture and herbs will create balance the meridians which in turn can, from a TCM perspective balance out the internal organs. Research has shown that this can have many benefits from balancing hormones, reducing cortisol and adrenaline and more!
In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), its all about balancing Yin and Yang. When we can assist someone to create the Yin/Yang balance, the body functions well and at it’s prime. This then allows the “Shen” (or mind) a place to reside in the body (this is sometimes how we can see the mental distress some people may experience, we create a place for their mind to reside rather than off in the clouds with thoughts and emotions taking over).

I use Kinesiology to help remove the blocks to the life we want to live. When I feel really stuck with a situation or just cant move a thought process or emotion and unable to discover why on my own. We can re-write the sub-conscious soundtracks that drives our thoughts and emotions and being in situations we would prefer to change.

6. What is the biggest misconception about acupuncture, kinesiology and Chinese Medicine?

I think the biggest misconception a lot of people have with Acupuncture is just what it can be used for. That its only good for relaxation or for sore muscles. Whilst it is great for these, it can actually treat pretty much everything from colds and flu, stress and migraines all the way to the most serious of cancers. I have a client I have seen for over 12 months now with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. With the combination of western medicine and acupuncture and herbs, we have seen their health improve out of slight, including their blood cancer markers reduce from a staggering 6000 to now down to around 200. Its’ still too high but its significant results.
(Disclaimer: everyone is unique, and this is one case, please consult with your GP and specialists before starting any treatments if you are going through cancer)

7. Are these treatments for anyone?

Yes, everyone responds differently but if can be beneficial to everyone! Even if you think there is nothing needing support. According to TCM, there is probably less than 5% of people who are in absolute optimal health. There are obviously those that have conditions they would like to improve, the rest (the huge majority) are what would be classified as ‘sub-clinical’. This is where, like most people, they feel good most of the time, however there is greater health that can be achieved, more balance. This is where TCM is the best, at creating this deeper balance and perhaps preventing future dis-ease.

8. Can you give us some examples of what the treatments can help with?

The treatments really can help with anything and everything! Everyone will respond differently and will experience a differently feeling afterwards. A lot of the time you really don’t need to go to a doctor for yourself and your loved ones, especially kids. Acupuncture and kinesiology and alternate therapies can help with colds/flu, migraines, pain, muscular skeletal problems all the way to auto-immune disease and especially hormonal imbalance, menstruation difficulties and fertility.
I have a client who I have seen for over 2 years now. When he came to me he was having migraines almost every week which would last for 2-3 days – this had been going on for 10 years. He had tried everything western medicine could offer with almost no result other than slight pain relief when a migraine would hit. Within a month of starting his sessions with me, his migraines stopped and he hasn’t had a migraine since. He still has minor headaches which we’re still working on but he’s still over the moon with the results!

9. What do people need to be aware of?

The main thing to be aware of is finding a suitably qualified practitioner and finding someone that you resonate with. Having a great client – practitioner relationship is possibly one of the most important factors. The other side is having someone who really knows what they’re doing! This also includes dry needling! Some people can be ‘qualified’ in dry needling after a weekend course and then they can be inserting needles into people. It took me almost 5 years full time to complete my degree and be a qualified acupuncturist. Thousands of hours vs. 40 hours makes a huge difference!

10. But it’s so much more than just ‘being treated’, right? We have to want to get better and make a conscious effort before anything can happen, is that correct?

In my experience, yes. If you’re really not ready to be healthier for what ever reason, there is no amount of treatments that will be completely successful. It usually just means there might be more to learn from that situation or disharmony. On the other side, treatments can still help with the journey and help assist the person to be ready to make the shift.

11. Now, you and I have personally worked and continue to do so, on a lot of topics that I struggle with to enhance my self development, especially on the mental & emotional side, but if you could put down in words, could you share the top 5 tips you’d give to people around being mentally happy?

• The joy is in the journey
• It’s usually about consistency. A little each day. Like meditation, its better to do one little thing each day rather than doing something spiritual once a month.
• There’s no cookie cutter approach. Everyone is individual so the approach to their mental, emotional and physical health should be individual too. A good practitioner can help you build an individual health plan.
• Keep on keeping on
• Don’t beat yourself up if (when) you trip up occasionally. It will happen so learn from it for next time and this will bring growth

12. What do you think are the key things that ultimately hinders people in experiencing self enlightenment & happiness?

Two things – not trying and giving up!!

Start, there is no benefit in suffering in silence. The journey to happiness doesn’t have to be painful or difficult and certainly far more enjoyable than living with emotional, mental or physical disharmony.

It really is a journey and it can take years, its part of the journey of life, so make it the way of your life.

People also tend to give up when the going gets tough. This is the most important time to keep going! The Universe never gives you anything you cant handle so it’s important to remember you are strong enough! After the darkness comes the light, through the greatest struggles comes the greatest learnings and awakenings

13. How do ‘newbies’ start if they want to explore these fields and try this holistic approach to life and healing? Do you have an advice to a ‘first step’?

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results” – Albert Einstein.

It’s a little difficult as everyone is different. As when we’re diagnosing in Chinese Medicine, two people can present with a similar looking flu, however they’ll both possibly have very different treatments.

The important thing to remember is to make the change. Change something. Even if its just a small change like which hand you brush your teeth with or which hand you open the door with.

You can find Mitch’s contact details and read more about him on his website here – I urge to get in contact with Mitch if you’re in the surrounding area in Sydney, or if you’re somewhere else in Australia, try if Acupuncture is for you :)

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