Steady Essentials

The Body Keeps the score

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 20:33:38 -0700

In the last quarter of 2024, I began a journey to learn about Somatic Body Works. Have you ever felt tension in your neck and shoulders, or in your body, that doesn't seem to go away? You brushed it off, or once in a while, you get a massage for relief. It felt good for a while, and then it returned. I thought that it was because of age that this was the norm. You what ... it is NOT !!!

Pain is a way of signalling the body that something is not sitting well and we should attend to it. Pushing it aside may not be beneficial, as we sometimes amplify it even more. So the other option is to investigate it to learn about it and respond to it.

I have since learnt that I have little awareness of my 'body sense' - sometimes unable to localise where the pain resides. Hence, I went to the hospital to get a scan and X-rays, crossing my fingers that I do not have any complications. I am glad with the medical consultation my health is good and I do not have any complications. So why then do I feel pain in some parts of my body - my lower lumbar, tension in my shoulders and neck.

Then I thought my muscle groups were weak, which might be causing these pains due to my poor posture and weak core. Thus, I started a stretching and mild exercise regimen. That helps, but these pains would still be there.

Could it be psychosomatic symptoms? Is exploring somatic bodywork the answer to finding relief? I was invited to a somatic work session—I tried the Tension and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) designed by Dr David Berceli. Through a guided provider, I engage in TRE.

TRE activated a tremor that travelled from my pelvic area and eventually moved along my spine, reaching my shoulders and neck. As I was in this controlled shaking, my muscles and spine began to move, twist and shake in a way that sent a deep release through the tense muscle group. After 30 minutes, I was asked to stop and rest. In a short time, I sense my body feeling warm,...Read More

Brain smart vs Brain stuck

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 23:19:41 -0700

Challenges for learners with impairment in their Executive Functions

Executive functions (EF) refers to the brains ability to control communication between various areas of the brain. EF manage how we organise, plan, adjust, how we initiate and carry out task in life.

Organization refers not only to how we manage our things ( papers, pack our bag, clean up our room) but also how we sort and store information and how we maintain these routines.

Individuals who have challenges in this aspect may experience

• Lack of awareness of assignments • Seem to loose things
• Messy room or bag
• Unable to manage school work

Time Management refers to how we generally understand, manage the temporal passage of time and space.

Individuals who have difficulties with time management may experience

Stuck vs Flexibility of mind

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 01:17:01 -0700

The ACC or Anterior Cinguate Cortex is found in a unique position in your brain. ACC connects both the emotional limbic sytem the the cognitive prefrontal cortex of your brain. It has been said that this region allows for flexibility of mind. Many situations in life demand flexibility of mind.

When the Cingulate system does not function properly, people has the tendency to get stuck on things - unable to shift their thinking to explore other options. There are observations that some people got stuck on a thought and rethink the same thought over and over again, like a broken recording. In other cases, negative behaviours or develop a tendency towards compulsion, for example the need to keep washing hands or the need to excessively check if the doors are lock. Other low level of ACC activity include excessive or senseless worrying, moodiness, irritability, a tendency to say no without first considering about the questions being asked. Do you know anyone like that?

Researchers has found that Serotonin can help as it is made from the essential amino acid called tryptophan. This amino acid enters the body through our intake of food sucha as nuts, eggs, turkey, salmon, tofu, cheese and red meat. However, it has also been discussed that the tryptophan found in food may be too low to make a differencce.

Studies on the effect of serotonin also examine the gut-brain connection. Scientists infers that gut microbiota might influence the nervous system and affect behaviours, mood and thinking.

Did you know that BrainMD supplements, designed by Dr Daniel Amen are developed based on solving the needs for a naturally brain-healthy life, but their ingredients, combinations, and dosages are always grounded in science. Each decision the product development team...Read More

NEUROVITE is for Body and Mind

Sun, 23 May 2021 01:41:51 -0700

The fact is that even when we are conscientious in our eating habits, we still fall short of the mark nutritionally. Today ...the food that we eat, are not always packed with all the nutrients that are essential for the effective working of our body.

Changes in the method of farming and chemicals added to the soil, the depletion of mineral dues to over farming are factors that we read about and watch over our television. Hybrid forms of food either by changing their colour, weight or how long they can last on the supermarket shelf should be a cause of our concern. Plus vitamins in certain produce are depleted by the time they are transported long distance for other countries to reach our local supermarkets.

Experts state that the need for supplements for disease prevention is so well documented that those who do not take at least the conservative doses of antoxidant are putting thier own health at risk. If we are on medication then more so we are to add supplements into our daily meals. What if you have a child who is so selective in their meals - do you think your child have the proper nutrient to support his or her growth?

Thankfully, these can be resolved with the help of supplements that are clinically researched and of high quality. Balance it off with sensible healthy eating, supplements supports and enhance our body and brain. BrainMD supplements are of highest quality ...

Brain MD Supplements are the only daily multivitamin created through the clinical experience of brain health expert Daniel G. Amen, MD

NeuroVite Plus combines more than 50 nutrients and plant extracts in their most active forms to give you whole body-mind nutrition in a way that drugstore multivitamins cannot do. It contains three of Dr. Amen's hand-selected proprietary high-nutrient blends:

Hey ! It's in the gut and it matters !

Sun, 23 May 2021 00:59:47 -0700

Clinical research found that probiotics that support healthy gut function can also support healthy brain function.

Did you know that your intestines hold trillions of bacterial cells that contribute to your health on an everyday basis? Our gastrointestinal (GI) tract or gut houses a diverse population of friendly bacteria (technically the gut microbiome) that are symbiotic with us, they support our health and wellbeing as we give them food and shelter. The two probiotics in ProBrainBiotics have been put through two double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials and were found to benefit healthy intestinal function, mood, and coping with occasional anxiety possibly related to stressful experiences.

To properly appreciate probiotics, it is crucial to understand that each probiotic species will typically have various strains (think of them as subspecies), each of which is meaningfully different from other strains in both genetic character and biological function. The strains used in ProBrainBiotics are the same as those that proved beneficial in the two double-blind clinical trials.^1,2

First Clinical Trial with Pro-Brain Probiotics

In a 2008 double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with healthy volunteers, gastrointestinal discomforts thought to be related to occasional stress were noticeably improved by a combination of Lactobacillus helveticus Strain R0052 and Bifidobacterium longum

When the switch is turned on - your sympathetic nervouse systems activate your fight or flight responses. When it is turned off - your parasympathetic nervous sytem restores the body to a state that makes you feel calm. This ability to successfully 'survive' to the changing enviornment relies on your ANS's ability to respond and recover.

It is noted also that people on the spectrum has ANS that are very dyregulated. That is why they feel overwhelmed very easily. Severe meltdowns over minor issues are often reported to me during my consultation time with caregivers. Can you imagine prolong state of dyregulation and its effects on the person? When one is OVER stress all the time and is unable to modulate - the entire system breaks down - our brain health suffer - the person suffer and those around the person also suffer.

In my course of work over three decades among people with disabilties - I am sadden to witness programs that pushes these people to function in a learning environment that constantly put them on the edge of high stress. While the child is...Read More

An intelligent Question

Wed, 19 May 2021 23:59:57 -0700

Ever have one of those moment when your child asked you a question and you dont know how to answer her? You marvelled at the amusing question. You think about it throughout the day ... it nags you as well as it entertains you and wouldnt go away.

I had a most wonderful time chatting with a Mum Mediator as she shared with me about this incident where her daughter asked her one of those question. I was so tickled by it that I asked her for permission to share it in my little blog.

It goes like this ... Kathy was reading a famous fairy tale story to Connie as part of their night bonding routine. It was the story of Cinderella, a familar story that Connie had heard it numerous time and yet she never gets tired of it.

And on that fateful night ... as Kathy reads and Connie listen ... a question pops up into her little thinking brain.

Mum : " Once upon a time a girl named Cinderella lived with her stepmother and two stepsisters ... one day, news came to town. The King and Queen were going to have a ball !" - Connie listened with wide eyes .

Mum continued " Cinderella said to herself if I could, I would go to the ball ... all of a sudden, in front of her was a fairy ! " Connie smiled and looks eagerly at mum.

Mum reads on " with a wave of her magic wand ... Cinderella was dressed in a beautiful blue gown. Her hair was set up high ... and another wave of the wand ... glass slippers and Poof ! a pumkin changed into her carriage, and mice changed into her horsemen ... magic was happening all around Cinderella ...

I imagine little Connie feeling thrilled and wanting to be like Cinderella at this point.

Mum goes on " BUT there is one thing you must know ... said the fairy Godmother to Cinderella .... All of this last only to midnight. Tonight at stroke of midnight, it will be over. EVERYTHING will go back to how it was...Read More

Deprived Sleep destroy brain cells!

Tue, 18 May 2021 21:58:14 -0700

Sleep is escaping our children in a world that is busy and moving all the time. One mother lamented to me that her 10 years old son only sleep less than 5 hours each night. This in turn affected her and her husband as they each takes turn to wake up in the early hours and trys to calm him down. It is a long process to put him back to sleep. The next day, this child is unable to wake up in time for school. Waking him up takes a tedious toll and he wakes up fussy and angry. Day after day, this goes on. I am sure you can empathise with this poor family. Everyone suffer.

Sleep make up one third to one quarter of our human lifespan. In the past many people thought that sleep was a passive activity. We think that our body and brain is still and shut down. However science is now telling us in fact it's the opposite, our brain perform different duties when we are at sleep mode. Sleep and brain health has long be estabished as a critical factor. Lack of sleep means to slow death of brain cells. Plus an increase flow of stress hormones that can complicate health.

Science tells us that our brain will switch between two mode : A) Rapid eye movement mode (REM) and B) Non - REM mode. In non REM mode our body goes into repair. I will write up more on REM sleep mode because if affects learning.

When REM mode is turned on, our brain waves reflect that our breathing rate increases, our body temperture changes, sometimes the body twitches, there is an increased in brain activity as though we are in a awake state. Our heart rate increases, there is more oxygen use by the brain, rapid eye movement occur and our body becomes still (temporary pralysis or atonia takes place) and we dream. This can happen around four or five times in a night. But why do we dream and what's the purpose of our brain dreaming? How does dreaming serves us?

Researchers has pointed out that in REM sleep, an important role in the development of the central...Read More

Brain Optimal Function

Mon, 17 May 2021 01:48:17 -0700

Memory - Focus - Mood - Vitality equates to a healthy balance brain !

The phrase use it or loose is TRUE ! Science has proven that our brain continue to make connections when we are learning something new. Novelty keeps the brain awake and ready. Remember how alive you feel when you and your family went for a holiday? That's your brain making new connections to new experiences !!!

Ever thought of how you and your child can feed your brain to keep it in the optimal state? When our brain becomes unhealthy, soon our whole being also becomes unhealthy. Your brain shapes your outlook of life.

STRESS plays a part in shaping our brain and it's experiences. While a little stress may be helpful ... to keep us on the move. Too much stress creates an imbalance in our brain and in return begin to affect our state.

Brain health compromises of several factors. In this short blog, I will list four arenas.

1. The biological arena - how the physical aspects of your brain and body function - What do you think of the saying " You are what you eat" ? - Are you happy with the type of food you give to your child? Have you consider if the food you allow, will benefit the growing brain? Inadequate nutrients affect the growing brain and may lower blood flow to the brain. The child appears dull or overly active.

Sleep is one very important issue for the growing brain. Is your child getting enough sleep? A preschooler should have at least 10 hours of sleep. An adult a minimum of 7 to 8 hours. Sleep allows the brain to repair itself and to reboot afresh the next day.

Exercise is the other important factor affect the brain. Exercise is a big booster to the growing brain. Hours infront of a digital device creates addiction that will be difficult to pry away. An addictive behaviour is a sign of an unhealthy brain.

2.The psychological arena - invest time in bonding with your child, build a healthy self image, body...Read More

Spark your child's Brain Cells

Mon, 17 May 2021 00:03:10 -0700

Essential vitamins and minerals for your child promote healthy growth, activity, learning and beahviour. Formulated by renowed clinical neuroscientist Daniel Amen, MD, in the form of delicious tables that are chewable.

This science based formulation provides generous amounts of nutriets for making energy to support brain maturation, promote good vision and healthy growth of mind and body.

All ingredients are selected with safety of your child's heath in mind. Other multi vitamins may be unsafe - check the ingredients carefully - some B12 contain cyanocobalamin, magnesium oxides and other oxides that are poorly absorbed and utlize by the body, or contain beta-carotence which is poorly converted to Vit A for the body. Others have titanum dioxide, artificial colorant and sugar !!! Do give these a MISS !!!

Kid's Neurovites formula has no artificial colouring, no artifical flavouring, egg free, diary free, gluten free, sugar free, corn free and soy free.

Click on the link and read up on all the supplement facts listed and make an infomed choice.

Click on the link to get a 15% discount !!! You are making a wise choice.