Self Care
Welcome to the Temple Self Care Programme.
Why Self Care?
The signs are all around us of negative influences detrimental to our health
- Chronic disease (of the heart, lungs and metabolism) is the major, and fastest growing, cause of death and disability worldwide.
- Social and environmental factors are major contributors to chronic disease, for example changes in lifestyle associated with the modernisation and increased commercial focus of our economies and societies, and changes in diet associated with the industrialisation of food production and distribution
The good news is that 40% of the determinants of health are within our control and a further 20% determined by how our societies are arranged. Only 30% of the influence is biological and 10% in the hands of our doctors.
All of the statistical trends indicate a poor prognosis for our future health unless we take a determined stand on our own behalf.
Why Spa ?
The Temple Self Care Programme is the product of 15 years experience in looking after spa guests. Over the years, in looking after thousands of guests and listening to their requirements, we have asked ourselves what is the essence of the rejuvenating experience they have at the spa, and can that be taken home and applied in everyday living.
We believe it can, and the answer may be shockingly simple. The elements that contribute to the pleasure and sense of wellbeing enjoyed on a spa visit, are no different from the elements that contribute to pleasure and a sense of wellbeing in life.
Why Temple ?
Temple Country Retreat & Spa has been offering a programme of relaxation since 1992, and some of our first guests have been returning loyally every year since. For them coming to the spa facilitates a state of deep relaxation that restores mind-body equilibrium and the natural capacity to function effectively and joyfully in daily living.
We believe the attraction of the spa lies in finding support to make the most of everyday opportunities – our own resources and the resources and opportunities around us.
The Temple Self Care Programme
The spa experience offers an integrated approach to health, addressing the physical, psychological, social, environmental and transcendental components as seamlessly interacting elements of a greater whole.
The tenets of the Temple Self Care Programme may be very simply summarised as “Move, Eat, Sleep & Connect (Smile) ”
M-ove
We've been gifted with a body evolved for independent motion.
Movement is an expression of our nature, of what we are.
Movement is an integral component of physiological functioning.
The processing of our food, its absorption, distribution, integration and excretion all involve movement. The communication of information critical to homeostatic self regulation is mediated via movement, eg circulation of hormones, transmission of nervous signals, detection of chemical balances. These inner motions are facilitated by the movement of the limbs & body in physical activity.
Absence of movement leads to sluggishness and stagnation, inefficiency in the body's functioning and a predisposition to disease.
E-at
For healthy functioning we need to be adequately nourished, by eating quality foodstuffs - not adulterated by any contaminants - that supply energy and nutrients, can be readily digested and pass comfortably through the gut
S-leep
All animals sleep. Activity and exertion deplete reserves and resources and stretch operational capacities. Sleep and rest restore reserves, facilitate repair and allow operations to be re-balanced. The need for sleep also suggests that we might be wiser and more economical in the use of our resources whilst awake.
Allow your sleeping and resting receive a similar level of attention as you apply to your activities. Practice resting consciously, ie whilst awake. The body responds to your attention and the permission and intention implicit in it.
C-onnect (& Smile)
Communicative interaction – (1) within our own world (our inner dialogue), (2) with the world around us, of which we're a part, and (3) with the world of our origin, wherever that may be – supports our individual functioning. A smile is a measure of a positive supportive relationship … supporting ourselves by smiling to ourselves, supporting each other with a mutual smile of empathic recognition, smiling within the larger frame of how we perceive the world to be …
Evidence Based
The four tenets of the Temple Self Care Programme correspond to principles of pro-active health management established by
- the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Harvard,
- the Dean Ornish Lifestyle Modification Programme
- strategies recommended by the Mayo Clinic
- University of Massachusetts Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program
To benefit from the Temple Self Care Programme simply take part in any of our full day or residential programmes, and let us know your interest when you're booking or on arrival.
Wellness Programmes at Temple |
