In the News
emWave2 by HeartMath – £179 inc VAT and Free Shipping
Combining the best of the emWave PSR and emWave Desktop – on the go or at your computer.
This week we have launched the all new emWave2 bio-feedback system.The emWave2 combines the portability of the PSR with the Desktop’s real-time heart rhythm graphs and dynamic coherence level display. emWave2 maintains the same portability but by connecting to live display on a computer, it also provides users with a real-time graphic display. The emWave2 is a portable and convenient way to train your physiological response to stress, balance emotions, and improve performance.Used just a few minutes a day, this simple‐to‐use technology helps you transform feelings of anger, anxiety or frustration into more peace, ease and clarity. As you practice on the go or at your computer you increase your coherence baseline and your ability to take charge of your emotional reactions. Health, performance and quality of life improve.
Available rom our eStore – Click here
HeartMath – a well-kept secret
Awarding winning sports columnist for the Independent on Sunday, Alan Hubbard writes about Beyond the Barriers Director Anna Hemmings MBE and the power of HeartMath.
In his blog for Inside the Games Alan discusses the highlights of Anna’s canoeing career but most importantly gets to the heart of the matter when he sheds light on Anna’s ‘revolutionary project’ that is HeartMath. This is a set of tools and techniques that are based on 20 years of research and backed up by science that allow athletes to access a high performance state often known as the zone. The HeartMath institute in California have identified a psycho-physiological state in which interactions between the heart, brain and nervous system become synchronised. In this state the brain is functioning at its most efficient, which allows for greater clarity of thought, quicker reactions, better co-ordination, improved decision-making and as a result better confidence and concentration leading to optimal performance.
Hubbard goes on to discuss the various sportsmen and the different sports that are adopting Heartmath as well as the success stories from other walks of life.
To read the full article click here
Would all those who want better health please stand up.
Are you or your boss constantly worried about precious time spent away from the desk by employees taking trips to the water cooler, getting up to chat to colleagues or popping to the lavatory?
Research published today shows that getting up from your desk regularly is essential in keeping your heart healthy and even losing weight. At a time when worker wellbeing and business efficiency are both in the spotlight, it shows the two are not mutually exclusive.
The study highlights the adverse affects of prolonged sitting, and shows that those who took more screen breaks had lower cholesterol levels. Regular breaks not only help employees to lift their pulses but also relieve stress and improve concentration. As discussed in detail in our article, employees cardiovascular health is closely linked to their psychological wellbeing, and both have a significant impact on the health and wealth of their organisation.
Although it’s still important to schedule more prolonged exercise such as running, walking or swimming into your day, introducing even the most mild and informal form of exercise into your working day can be a step towards a healthier and happier lifestyle.
For the full report, click here.
Golf With Your Heart! – Peter Fox
New Research at the Institute of HeartMath Indicates The Yips Are a Result of Your Heart, Not Your Head. Peter Fox discusses the benefits of the powerful HeartMath techniques for managing your emotional game in golf.
Full article - Click here
HeartMath for Golf – ‘Chokeproof’ your game
This Golf Digest article looks at how top golfers are discovering how learning to control their heart rhythms lets them replace fear and frustration with emotions that boost performance. Laird Small, Pebble Beach’s top teacher discusses the benefits of using HeartMath techniques in Golf.
Full article – Click here
Beyond the Barriers HeartMath Training for Golf – Click here
Time out: Are you working all day without a break?
Survey reveals one in four doesn’t even take a lunch break.
The BBC reports that out of 3,000 people surveyed by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists, half go to work when they feel ill or stressed, and a third work through most of their lunch break. Staff shortages and a heavy workload were cited as the primary cause of employees skipping breaks as well as stress and anxiety at work.
In the strained economic climate it is easy to feel that the pressure is really on, but worker wellbeing has never been more important. Taking time out of your working day to relax your mind and body will help to reduce stress levels, make you feel happier and improve your performance at work. Sitting behind the desk for 8 hours non-stop really is a false economy.
Having regular breaks can also improve your physical health, as it gives you the chance to boost your energy levels by having a healthy snack. Getting out of your seat can reduce back pain, one of the most common reasons for long-term sickness leave in the UK.
Why not take the time to read a book, go for a brisk walk or call a friend?
In this article, Dr Dorian Dugmore explains how to make the most of a short break with a relaxation exercise that takes just 7 minutes. It helps to reduce your blood pressure and restore your sense of perspective in the middle of a stressful day.
For the full article from the BBC click here.
No sports; just games? Can gaming technology really give us a workout in front of the TV?
Microsoft’s new physical interaction game Kinect (for the Xbox 360) may be on the leading edge of console technology, but is it any closer to getting a nation of couch potatoes fit and active than it’s predecessor, the Wii Fit? The Guardian sent one of their reporters to try it out.
First, Kinect has a heart rate monitor, so you can see for yourself whether you really are getting a work out and you can’t be fooled into thinking that that game of virtual ping-pong is easily as hard as your usual 45 minute run. Second, the infra-red sensors track 48 points on your body, allowing it to monitor your technique, posture and movements more accurately. And third, there are now games to how you develop sport specific fitness and skills, such as mountain biking and dance, which, the reporter insists, definately work up a sweat.
On the other hand, a computer is never going to be as knowledgable and helpful as real life instructor or coach. You’ll certainly be missing out on some of the many psychological benefits of exercise - such as socialising and fresh air – if you choose to do your workout without setting foot out your front door. And what’s to stop you switching back over to “Call of Duty” when it all gets a little bit taxing?
For those who have previously been alergic to exercie, it’s a hop, skip and jump in the right direction, but you really cannot beat a jog around the park on a sunny day or a real-life kick around with your mates.
Read the Guardian report here.
Women’s Heart Health: Don’t Become One of the Statistics
The BBC reports today that women with demanding careers are 40% more likely to experience cardiovascualr disease, and have an 88% greater risk of having a heart attack.
But there are ways to ensure that doesn’t have to be you, and managing or preventing ”job strain”, a form of psychological stress, is just one of them.
In our “Top Tips” section, we suggest some simple lifestyle changes to manage stress and some pointers to help you get the most out of cardio exercise.
This article, by Dr L Dorian Dugmore, explores how indroducing running into your lifestyle can combat stress and protect your heart.
Read the BBC’s full article on the effects of a tough working lifestyle on your heart by clicking here.
Employers waking up to the cost of a tired workforce
Ever been so exhausted that you’ve taken a sick day from work? A report in the Daily Mail today claims that sleep-deprived workers are costing British businesses £1.6bn per year in sick leave.
Beyond the Barriers understands how difficult it can be to get out of bed on a dark winter’s morning after a hard day’s work – but all that can be avoided with a healthy lifestyle and the right work/life balance.
The report also reveals that almost a quarter of worn out workers are less productive and less satisfied with their jobs. Getting enough sleep is just one step towards ensuring you are prepared to perform.
25 Things You Need to Know for a Healthy Life
The Observer Health Supplement has published its comprehensive guide to keeping your mind, body and spirit on an even keel. It’s packed with simple, no-sweat tips to observe in your everyday life that will help you become healthier and happier.
Despite the sub-headings reading like Baz Luhrmann’s catchy 1998 single “Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)”, this very readable compilation of simple lifestyle pointers is spot-on. Some of them you will already be doing (“Work on your tan” – check!), while some will require a minimal amount of effort (“Ring your mum”), but all can have a positive impact on your work and social life.
You’ll almost feel happier just reading it.
Smoking can lead to psychological as well as physical health problems.
It’s well known that lighting up increases your chance of heart disease, respiritory illness and even arthritis, but new research has revealed that it can also lead to mental illnesses such as depression and stress.
Researchers at the University of Cardiff have paired up with anti-tobacco charity Ash Wales to investigate the links between smoking and mental health problems. What the figures do not show, however, is whether turning to – and even addiction to – tobacco is a result of a persons inability to cope with mental pressures and stresses rather than the other way around.
The findings also highlight how smokers are more likely to binge drink and have a poor diet than non-smokers and those who have kicked the habit. Does one unhealthy behaviour lead to the other, or are all these lifestyle choices just symptomatic of people who are not mindful of their health? Either way, it’s clear that in order to look after your mental wellbeing, you need to start by paying attention to your physical wellbeing .
See the full article in The Guardian
Sleep deprived? Is work affecting your sleep and ultimately your performance?
Nearly three-quarters of Britons regularly struggle to sleep because of work worries, a survey has found.
The ironic thing is, that the more we worry about work the more cortisol we will produce (corisol is produced when we are worried/stressed) and it inhibits the production of melatonin and seratonin (which calms us and helps promote sleep) therefore the less we will sleep. The less we sleep, the less we recover and the poorer we perform in work. Bit of a vicious circle! But if you can get the recovery bit right, you give yourself every chance of accessing your mental and physical potential and delivering excellence.
See excellent article from the Daily Mail
See our top tips to relax at the end of a stressful day