Let's get 2021 off to a flying start! 

Welcome to our latest newsletter

Happy New Year from everyone at The Heeler Centre and we hope you had a wonderful Christmas break.

Now we've got 2020 out the way, it's time to look forward to a fresh start in 2021.

Obviously, it won't be that fresh a start as we're currently in lockdown (again!). But the good news is that, as a clinical facility providing medical care and with our continued COVID-19 protocols in place, we're able to remain open for treatments.

Scroll to the foot of this email for a full list of therapists able to treat at the moment (of course, this is all subject to change at the last minute).

In this January issue of The Heeler Centre newsletter, we look to New Year's resolutions. January is usually one of our busiest for treating injuries as people start getting active, preparing to run marathons or hitting the gym. We're absolutely sure last years' endless lockdowns will make for some very different resolutions in 2021.

One Heeler Centre patient is training to solo swim the channel for charity and we feature her in this newsletter, alongside advice and help on how to stay healthy in body and mind during January.

Are you challenging yourself this year? If so, let us know what you're up to and how we can support you making 2021 a lot better than 2020!

Stay safe,

The Heeler Centre Team

New Year, New You? No Excuses.

Just because COVID has (again) shut gyms and sports centres doesn't mean you can't commit to improving your physical health and wellbeing.

In other words, no gyms doesn't mean you can't start making the right steps towards feeling better. If anything, the COVID situation has made it even more important for us to look after ourselves. You can absolutely do it, even with all the restriction of lockdown. Here are a few ideas how:

Hire a personal trainer

If you want to outsource your motivation to a professional, there are some great local personal trainers who offer online sessions. Here are some of our favourites:

Peter Bullivant 
Email: pbullytraining@gmail.com
Insta: @pbully_training
07500729671

Kathryn Meadows pilates
Email: kathryn@lovemovementsussex.com
Instagram: motherofallmovement
Facebook: The Movement Garage

George Hayward 
Email: georgehaywardpt@gmail.com
Instagram: georgehaywardpt
Facebook: GEA Fitness

It seems people will do anything to break out of lockdown boredom, especially when it comes to exercise. But some people take it to another level!

One of our patients, Annie Shotton, is training for the adventure of a lifetime, swimming the English Channel. This is even more impressive as, by day, she's a super-busy children's nurse at the Royal Alexandria Hospital in Brighton. And she's doing it all in the name of charity. Here's what she's up to in her own words:

"I’m Annie, I’m 38, wife to Dan, mum to three gorgeous kids and for the past 14 years, I have been a children’s nurse at the Royal Alex in Brighton. I absolutely love my job and this year, although it has been very strange and harder in a lot of ways, is no different. 

"In 2021 I am swimming the Channel because... I am crazy! No, not because I’m crazy, although that may be a bit true, but because I love adventures, I want to inspire people to live fully and I want to fundraise for our wonderful hospital! 

"As you can imagine this is a bit of a mission (I have already swum back from the Windfarm in 2019 and swam Lake Windermere this summer!) and not one that I can complete alone! I am so thankful for the team of people – the amazing Jade included – who are supporting me already! My family, friends, work colleagues, personal trainer, swim coaches, sports therapist, boat crew, the hospital’s charity team and the list goes on...

"But I would love you to join me on this adventure too so that together we can raise as much money as possible for the Royal Alex, to support the brilliant NHS workers and enable even better care provision for children and families in their time of need."

What a hero Annie is! We're supporting her all the way in her epic swim and we'll provide updates in this newsletter and on our social media. If you want to follow Annie, you can do so at her blog here: https://channelswimmingmum.net/ 

To follow Annie's fundraising journey and to donate to this brilliant cause, here's her JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/channelswimmingmum

The results of the raffle are in. And we raised a ton of cash for Mind

Good ideas for coping with lockdown over winter

The first lockdown back in March coincided with beautiful weather. This time, we get winter. As if winter wasn't hard enough, the double-whammy of short days, freezing temperatures and a lockdown we're all a bit fed up which means more people than ever are facing a mental health crisis.

Above, we mentioned mental health charity, Mind and it offers some helpful advice on how to cope over winter. Here's what Mind suggests:

1) Find ways to connect with others and share experiences
Even if you can't get out to meet others, there are still many ways to connect remotely. If you've given up on Zoom, try the old-fashioned phone. It's still possible to watch TV shows together or enjoy movies at the same time on the other end of the line. Also, there are so many communities online that you can join who offer support and a chance to talk when you need it.

2) Adapt your routine for winter
Changing your usual routine may help overcome anxious thoughts from doing the same thing, day-in, day-out. More importantly, focus on what you can change rather than worry about those elements you can't. Taking up a new hobby, cooking or learning new skills can add a different focus to your days.

3) Get as much natural light as possible
It may be easier said than done with the days so short, but any time outside in natural light will help lighten mood and improve sleep. Even better is getting into nature when you can. If you have a park or recreation ground nearby use this for some light exercise. Even if you don't have greenery nearby, even the sight of nature from a window has been proven to help mood. Try to spend more of your time in rooms with the most natural light.

4) Explore ways of passing the time
Keeping your mind stimulated is a really good way of productively using the extra time we spend indoors during winter. There is a long list on the Mind website but you can listen to audiobooks, borrow books as most libraries are still open with click and collect services or learn an instrument - there are online services that let you hire instruments.

5) Look after your physical health
It goes without saying that making sure your physical health isn't neglected is really important. Despite being kept within our four walls, try to find ways to stay active indoors as well as being mindful of your diet. Keep drinking plenty of water and don't forget to make use of your daily exercise allowance outdoors - even if it's for a short walk.

6) Limit your news and information
It's amazing with so little going on how much news is being pushed at us left, right and centre. It's enough to make us anxious and fearful - and get caught up in "doom-scrolling" on our phones. It's a really good idea to consciously take a break from news and information or limit it to fewer, but more reliable sources - for example, the evening TV news or one of the major media websites.

For the full range of advice from Mind, check out the website here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/

Remember, The Heeler Centre is here to support you with any mental health issues. Our counsellors are available for appointments. Simply call our reception team and we'll speak with you in confidence and discretion to arrange an appointment.

Who is available to treat?

Clinic protocols

• Pre-arranged appointments only… please call or book online.
• Please wear a mask when arriving at the clinic and when in rthe eception area – we have masks to help yourselves to if you don't have one with you.
• We are temperature checking all patients on arrival to the clinic.
• Hand sanitise or wash hands on entering the clinic.
• Please arrive exactly on your appointment time to reduce time spent in reception waiting areas. 
• Please aim to maintain the 2m social distancing measure where possible.
• If possible, please pay contactless up to £45.
• As of 24th September, it was a legal requirement for the clinic to help with track and trace...you’ll be asked for permission to be able to use your details that we have stored should we need to contact you. 
• Our patients are not obliged to but we are required to provide an NHS QR track and trace code to scan using the NHS app.