Health and Wellbeing
The yoga teacher on a mission to bust industry myths
A Halifax-based yoga teacher has launched a new campaign to encourage more people to give yoga a try. Adele Wills, owner of Adeles Yoga, introduced the ‘Keeping it Real’ campaign this month to bust myths traditionally associated with the practice of yoga, as well as celebrate the many benefits it can bring.
Adele’s Yoga : Keeping it Real
One myth that the campaign seeks to tackle is that yoga is only suitable for the fit and flexible. By showcasing the real people that practice yoga, the campaign hopes to show that yoga can be done by all shapes, sizes and abilities, encouraging more people to give it a go as a result.
Adele Wills said:
“So often, the yoga we see in the media just isn’t true to real life. Usually, you’ll see a stick-thin girl with their legs wrapped behind their head. The pose she’s doing probably makes your muscles ache just looking at her. With these types of images all over the media, is there any wonder so many of us feel that yoga isn’t for us?
But that’s not even close to what real yoga is – and it’s certainly not exclusively for people that look like they’ve just stepped off the pages of a fashion magazine. Real yoga is for everybody and every body. It welcomes us, just as we are – wobbly bits, bad days and all. Through my ‘Keeping It Real’ campaign, I really want to break down those barriers and encourage more people to give yoga a try.”
The campaign also strives to bust myths about what yoga actually is and how it can be easily incorporated into everyday life. To support this, Adele will release weekly ‘Mindful Minute’ videos on her YouTube channel. These 60 second self-care practices can be done anywhere, anytime.
Adele said:
“When I first talk to people about yoga, they assume it is just complex poses and strange chanting. Of course, you can choose to bring that into your practice if that works for you, but real yoga is actually much simpler than that. Yoga is mindfulness, yoga is three deep breaths, yoga is self-care. In fact, anything you do with attention to how you feel is yoga.
My ‘Mindful Minute’ videos have been designed as a quick wellbeing boost to help deal with the stresses that we all experience as real people. I really hope people will give them a watch to see that yoga really is for everybody and doesn’t just happen on the mat.”
Alongside the videos, Adele will also be offering a series of free taster sessions over the next few months where new students can come along, find out more about yoga and give the basics a try alongside others who might be new to yoga too.
To find out more about upcoming taster sessions, watch yoga videos or learn more about the campaign, visit: www.adelesyoga.com/keeping-it-real
I’ve Tested for HIV, Have You?
The Brunswick Centre have launched this campaign, running throughout February to raise awareness of the facts around HIV and challenge many of the myths.
Visit the campaign page here
- 1 in 20 people living with HIV are unaware they have it. People can live with HIV for a long time without any symptoms.
- In 2020, 42% of people diagnosed with HIV in England were diagnosed late, this correlates to poorer long-term health outcomes.
- HIV medication (antiretroviral treatment, or ART) works by reducing the amount of the virus in the blood to undetectable levels. This means the levels of HIV are so low that the virus cannot be passed on. This is called having an undetectable viral load or being undetectable.
Much more information is available on The Brunswick Centre website and will be shared on social media across February. This includes members of the community and well-known faces sharing the key message ‘I’ve Tested For HIV, Have You?’.
The centre is hosting HIV testing at locations across the region throughout February and has details on where to get tested at any time on the website.
You can support the campaign in many ways:
- Visit the campaign page
- Share on your social channels
- Send a video saying, ‘I’ve Tested for HIV, Have You?’ (Email information in the campaign page or send via WhatsApp to 07599 471 369)
Join the Healthy Minds Forum Re-launch & Membership Workshop! Feb 21
Come and co-design our membership offer as we re-launch the Healthy Minds Forum!The Healthy Minds Forum is a shared space to discuss issues that matter to you in mental health, to listen, collaborate, and look at what we can do to improve the wellbeing of our communities together.We are very excited to now be able to re-launch the Healthy Minds Forum and look forward to 2023 being a year where we re-build the ethos of this platform!
Tuesday 21 February, 1.30 – 3.30pmAt: Orange Box, 1 Blackledge, Halifax, HX1 1AFThe building is wheelchair accessible and the venue is on the ground floor with disabled toilets available. Venue website: www.orangeboxhalifax.orgRefreshments provided!This first meeting will include:
- A workshop for people involved in Healthy Minds to co-design our membership offer.
- Deciding together on the future of our Forum, what topics you want to explore and how we can make our space accessible to everyone in the Healthy Minds community.
To book to attend, please fill out the booking form here, or contact Georgia:Event contact:georgia@healthymindscalderdale.co.ukWhatsapp: 07541690128Call our main line: 01422 345154
Macmillan Grants to help with the extra cost of living with cancer
A cancer diagnosis has a huge financial burden, with many people facing extra and often unexpected costs. For example, people living with cancer face higher energy bills as they go through treatment as it’s harder to keep warm, and there is often additional costs associated with getting to and from appointments.
The cost of living has reached its highest level in decades and many people living with cancer are really worried about the spiralling costs of energy bills, food prices, rail fares and fuel. This is on top of the expected financial and emotional pressures of a cancer diagnosis.
Macmillan Grants are a one-off payment of £350 to help with the extra costs that living with cancer can bring.
They can be used to help with things like:
- energy bills
- home adaptions
- cost of travel to and from hospital
- any extra costs you might have because of cancer.
You can call Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00 and talk to the Welfare Rights team about Macmillan Grants. You can speak with the Welfare Rights team:
• Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm
• Saturday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm
Criteria
Both of the following must also apply:
• You have no more than £6,000 in savings for a household of one person or no more than £8,000 for a household of two or more people.
• You have a weekly income of no more than £323 per week for a household of one person or no more than £442 per week for a household of two or more people.
We do not count Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Attendance Allowance (AA) when we work out your weekly income.
Please contact Macmillan Cancer Support if you have any questions
Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00
Rastrick Pole-to-Pole New Challenge for a New Year!
Following the success of the Rastrick Around the World Challenge, we are delighted to announce that we have an exciting new challenge planned for the new year! Once again we will be asking the residents of Rastrick to move their way around the globe in the Rastrick Pole-to-Pole Challenge!
All details can be found on the link below.
https://active.calderdale.gov.uk/blog/rastrick-pole-pole-challenge
The Pole-to-Pole Challenge is shaping up to be our most ambitious challenge yet and will involve two teams competing against each other in a race to be crowned Pole-to-Pole champions!
Beginning on the 3rd of January 2023, one team will set off (virtually) from the North pole and aim to reach the South pole, while the other will set off from the South, heading North.
Anyone is welcome to join at any stage of the challenge!
Did you know? You can record your progress with The Space @ Field Lane!
Each week, the distance travelled will be updated, with a visual provided to see who is on course to reach the opposite pole first. It’s envisaged it could take anywhere between 6-12 weeks for both teams to reach their poles and complete the challenge.
To find out more, including how to join and several helpful links to improve your fitness, no matter your level, visit the Rastrick Pole-to-Pole challenge page!
Be on the lookout for symptoms of ‘Scarlet Fever’ in children
Parents and carers in West Yorkshire asked to be on the lookout for symptoms of Group A streptococcus, or ‘Strep A’, in children (commonly called scarlet fever)
For more information on scarlet fever please visit the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/scarlet-fever/
Parents and carers in West Yorkshire are being asked to be on the lookout for symptoms of Group A Streptococcus, or ‘GAS’, in children (more commonly known as scarlet fever). Symptoms include sore throat, headache, fever and a fine, pinkish or red body rash. On darker skin the rash can be more difficult to detect visually. It will have a sandpapery feel when you rub your hand over a child’s skin.
Parents and carers who identify these symptoms should contact NHS 111 online, call NHS 111 or their GP because early treatment with oral antibiotics is important to reduce the risk of complications, such as pneumonia or a bloodstream infection.
If your child has scarlet fever keep them at home until at least 24 hours after the start of antibiotic treatment to avoid spreading the infection to others.
Parents and carers are advised to call 999 or go to A&E only if your child is having noisy or difficulty breathing, there are pauses in your child’s breathing, your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue and/or your child is floppy, drowsy and or will not wake up.
The UK Health Security Agency advises that Group A streptococcus (GAS) is a common bacteria, which lots of people carry in their throats and on their skin. It doesn’t always result in illness. However, it does cause several infections, some mild and some more serious. Whilst infections are still uncommon, there has been an increase in cases this year, particularly in children under 10.
For more information on scarlet fever please visit the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/scarlet-fever/
Together in Motion from Curious Motion
Welcome to the latest news bulletin from Curious Motion. Find words of inspiration and look what they have in store for the winter months. Join them in new ventures or take part in their popular recurring sessions, such as Rhythm and Brews!
Read the Latest from Curious Motion
Curious Motion CIC
Hebden Bridge, Calderdale HX7 7BY
United Kingdom
Carers Rights Day Event November 25 with Making Space
The event is taking place on Friday 25th November 10am-12.30pm at Brighouse Central Methodist Church. The event is a market place information and advice session and our theme is planning for the future.
We will have stalls from solicitors, funeral directors, home care providers, gateway to care and much more.
Carers can access both refreshments and a warm lunch on the day.
Carers do not need to book.
We would also welcome professionals to attend.
For more information please contact the Carers Wellbeing Service on 01422 363101
New fellows sought to help improve population health in West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership’s Improving Population Health Fellowship is back for a second year, and is looking for more fellows to help make a positive difference.
If you want to find out more, we are hosting two events on 8 and 23 November from 2pm to 3:30pm. Contact verity.phillips3@nhs.net and caroline.andrews16@nhs.net for an invitation.
You can also visit our website for more information.
The Improving Population Health Fellowship, which is part of West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership (WY HCP) expands on the successful first year of the Health Equity Fellowship, launched in 2021. The Health Equity Fellowship saw 33 fellows from health and care sectors carry out projects aimed at tackling health inequalities, including projects targeting children’s health, mentoring people and self-managing diabetes.
We are now looking for a total of 70 fellows across four different areas of the Improving Population Health Fellowship:
- Health Equity: 30 fellows
- Adversity Trauma and Resilience: 30 fellows
- Suicide Prevention: five fellows
- Climate Change: five fellows
Dr Sohail Abbas, Deputy Medical Director, NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and Chair of the Health Inequalities Network, for WY HCP said: “We are delighted to launch year two of our fellowship now even bigger than before. If you are passionate about making a real difference to our local communities this could be the programme for you. That might be about tackling health inequalities, addressing barriers that people affected by trauma can experience when accessing services, protecting our environment or helping to prevent suicide.”
Being a fellow involves working on a project relevant to your fellowship theme and delivering it in your workplace, or by joining a system-wide initiative across West Yorkshire. Fellows will need to dedicate a day each week to carry out the fellowship training (mainly delivered virtually) and the project work.
The Fellowship will run from March 2023 to March 2024. We welcome applications from all health and care sectors, including community and voluntary colleagues across West Yorkshire.
Robin Tuddenham, Place Lead for Calderdale and joint Chair of the Improving Population Health Programme Board said: “The fellowship is designed to attract applicants that are representative of the communities we serve. Last year we saw some fantastic projects being delivered and, in some cases, expanded to other areas helping to create more equitable health and care systems and reduce health inequalities. This year we look forward to welcoming 70 more fellows with new ideas, tactics and perspectives to pioneer change and meet our ambitions.”
Applications are open from 7 November and close on 9 December. To apply all you need to do is complete a statement of interest. The Fellowship is open to all primary, secondary, community and voluntary sector colleagues across West Yorkshire irrespective of current job role, grade or profession.
Aziz-ur Rehman, a Health Equity Fellow from year one, said: “This is the first time I have been valued for my overall knowledge around the wider health agenda and I felt totally comfortable with every aspect of the fellowship. It is certainly not there to trip you up but to nurture what you have and make it usef
UKHSA warns parents not to miss children’s vaccinations
The following is an excerpt. Find full press release here :
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is urging parents and guardians to ensure their children are up to date with all their routine childhood immunisations including polio and measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations. This comes as new data shows vaccination coverage for young children fell last year for virtually all programmes.
Vaccination rates have fallen over several years and additional disruption caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, beginning in March 2020, is likely to have caused some of the decreases in vaccine coverage seen in 2020 to 2021 and 2021 to 2022 compared to earlier years.
It is important vaccination coverage is recovered as soon as possible to levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) of 95% for all childhood immunisation programmes to help prevent the spread of avoidable serious – and sometimes deadly – diseases such as measles and polio.
Since the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1968 it is estimated that 20 million measles cases and 4,500 deaths have been prevented in the UK.
Measles is highly contagious so even a small decline in MMR uptake can lead to a rise in cases. Since international travel has resumed closer to pre-pandemic levels, it is more likely that measles will be brought in from countries that have higher levels of the disease and cause outbreaks.
Measles can lead to complications such as ear infections, pneumonia, and inflammation of the brain which require hospitalisation and on rare occasions can lead to long term disability or death.
The NHS is running a MMR catch-up campaign so some parents may be contacted directly.
Calderdale Lower Valley blog 