Personal Training in Bahrain

The Princess speaks!!!!

Gosh, I just read this from the Arab Health Expo in Dubai email updates:

CONTEMPORARY society needs a patient-centred healthcare system that focuses equally on acute care and long-term care, and prioritizes preventive medicine, public health and research, HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, told chief executives from the world’s leading medical institutions in Dubai yesterday.

“Public health and preventive medicine have traditionally been viewed with less urgency than acute care, but clearly a reversal in planning emphasis in favour of preventive care will have to occur to deal with the emerging problems associated with rapid economic development,” she added.

This is really great to see that people are finally taking health into their own hands and realising that preventative medicine is for the future.

Funtional Medicine IS the medicine of the Future!

p.s. I Love my job!!!

What is Functional Medicine

aaaaarrgghhh! I can't believe it! I composed a beautiful blog on Functional Medicine and managed to lose it!! Here goes; second attempt!
The term Functional Medicine (FM) was coined in 1993 to describe the medicine of the future.
But what exactly is it?
As you may or may not know, traditional medicine runs lab tests that look for a disease process once it has been developed. For example; the liver. You are referred to a liver specialist who will send you in for laboratory assessments. As they already speculate you have a disease of this organ they will test for a particular enzyme that confirms liver malfunction. The lab tests only test what the specialist is looking for and at these later stages, it is usually a disease.
Functional Medicine takes giant steps back in the life of a patient and tests to see how well the organ is "functioning" prior to the onset of disease and therefore can be classified as a "Preventative medicine". It is not an emergency medicine.
How does this relate to so many of us today?
Unfortunately, modern day life is our own worst enemy; poor quality food, constant emotional and physical stress and environmental pollution. It is no wonder then that our bodies are struggling to keep up with the everyday demands, and as a result, are not functioning optimally. We go to the doctors and say: "I know that nothing serious is wrong with me, but I just don't feel well, I continually struggle with these ailments............"  Furthermore, our traditional doctors may prescribe a course of synthetic drugs that merely reduce and cover up the symptoms but don't attack the root cause of the symptoms in the first place.
This is where functional medicine can help. By taking a series of non invasive lab tests such as urine or saliva, we are able to determine which organ is not doing its job, which, if left untreated could lead to future disease. It tackles the root of the problem and improves the quality of life for so called "healthy people". (Being free from disease is not a factor in determining health). Furthermore, those persistent niggling ailments such as: fatigue, weight gain, PMS is actually your body's way of telling you that the organs are not working correctly and that something needs to be done.
The FM assessments are completely bespoke to the individual and as a consequence only the right dosage of natural supplementation and lifestyle changes can be prescribed for each patient. (No more guessing!) By bringing each organ back to its healthy working range ensures that individuals can enjoy vitality and a sense of health and wellbeing and greatly reduces the chance of a disease.
This description is taken from the Institute of Functional Medicine click here for their website
"Functional Medicine is a science based field of health care that is grounded in the following seven principles:
• Science based medicine that connects the emerging research base to clinical practice.
• Biochemical Individuality based on genetic and environmental uniqueness.
• Patient centered care rather than disease focused
• Dynamic balance of internal and external factors.
• Web like interconnections of physiological processes.
• Health as a positive vitality not merely the absence of disease.
• Promotion of organ reserve - health span.
In my practice, I use functional medicine as a way to eradicate common chronic low grade conditions and devise nutritional and lifestyle programmes to help my clients’ achieve optimum health.
Please note that this is not a quick fix and courses are very interactive and require a holistic approach to lifestyle and nutrition changes. It is a preventative and proactive procedure.
Examples of chronic low grade ailments that we can eradicate:
Depression, PMS, chronic fatigue, digestive complaints, stress, mood swings, weight gain, migraines, weight problems and many many more.
I shall be setting up the services online, so please sign up to the Blog for more information.

Back from Dubai

Well what a great weekend in Dubai! Wow hasn't it changed in 10 years, I did feel rather like a small fish in a big sea and can't say I saw any of the city. I think my best and lasting impression was the airport, as you got a real feel for how cosmopolitan the city continues to be. You got to experience the many nationalities as you walked the, what felt like, 3 miles to passport control. I was also very impressed with the efficiency of the Emararite passport officials and thought they looked presentably smart in their traditional dress. And WHAT an experience as you go through the exit doors to the outside! I can only imagine what it must be like in the height of the summer! Fortunately, I didn't get caught up in too much traffic as the trip to the Crowne Plaza on Sheik Zaiid Road only took about half an hour.

I thought the Well being show was a great success and thoroughly enjoyed attending Patrick Holford's lectures (world leading Nutritionist). The exhibitors ranged from the truly spiritual to energetic display of "Body Combat" on the main stage. I did think there would be more representatives of the fitness world and was expecting to meet some leading personal trainers for the region. ( note to self: must promote my fitness services at the Wellbeing 08 show).

I really got stuck into networking the second day and met some wonderful new colleagues of which some I can see as becoming future friends. There was a great atmosphere and the exhibitors worked SO hard and I have such admiration for their continued passion for their products for the duration of the 3 days. 

A special thanks and hello to the following;

• Steve and Julie from Conscious Connections for giving me an angel spray along with my aura cleansing which was very moving!
• Suzie Thomson from Quantum Alliance UK for her passion and drive for the fascinating software package. It was truly amazing what the programme can do and Suzie gave me a very informative in depth consultation.
• Ali Hadi from Planet Nutrition for spending the time discussing their nutrition products and giving me my first ear coning experience!
• Evelyn Brey for the introduction to Bioresonance therapy!
• Dr R Phillips from Synergy for setting up a practice allowing for therapy dealing with medicine and the mind. The future of medical practices I hope!
• Stuart and Tracey from Alliance Natural health products for the continued passion and energy for the whole of the event. Lovely to meet you both!
• Nils from Organic foods and Cafe, thank you for the early invitation to visit your store, next visit for sure I shall come over.
• Dr Hugo Verhoeven for a very interesting lecture on hormones.
• Brian Ward and his team at Club Stretch, sorry we didn't get to chat for longer Brian, but I did have a great talk with Henry's mother and I look forward to coming down to Club Stretch soon.
• The boys from Reebok: Mark and Steve. Great demonstrations by Steve on the core board, I think you represented the Fitness Industry really well.

So I hope to see some of you at the upcoming Arab health Expo which I have heard is the largest in the World! Keep updated with my blogs to find out how the next show went.

WELCOME...

Hi, I'm Samantha, I'm a Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach and I'm passionate about helping clients achieve optimum health .

This is my BLOG where I share my stories, opinions & health advice related to my International Health Coaching business and personal life as a British Expat in Bahrain.

I run a Phone Based Functional Medicine Practice   and help clients Worldwide alleviate common symptoms such as fatigue, hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders and depression.

Using a range of diagnostic lab tests to identify the root cause of your symptoms; I design personalised nutrition & supplementation programmes to help bring you back to optimal health.

I also work as a Personal Trainer  & Corrective Exercise Coach based in Bahrain.

If you would like to find out more about my approach, Sign Up for your complimentary chat.

About Samantha's business!!!

Core PTS early days

Samantha founded her healthy lifestyle coaching practice- "Core Pts" in April 2005 initially as a mobile business helping clients achieve their optimal physical shape through physical exercise. She successfully ran the UK business teaching group fitness at national and international health clubs. Namely, the popular, Les Mills programmes such as Body Combat, RPM, and Body Balance. In addition, she incorporated a busy personal training schedule working one on one with a number of clients of all ages and abilities in the privacy of their homes.

The Transition

It was Samantha’s continued learning through the CHEK Institute based in California that has inspired and changed the path of Core-PTS. It has evolved its physical training department to specialize in correcting postural imbalances, spinal pathologies and advanced training techniques. Continuing with the CHEK principles, who instill in their highly trained practitioners, that in order to find true health and wellbeing we must look at the body as a whole entity rather than separate units that work independently from each other. So by following this philosophy Core-PTS has evolved and continues to help clients achieve optimum health by incorporating not only physical training but nutritional and lifestyle coaching.

Core-PTS today

Samantha recently emigrated to the Middle East with her fiancé where she is now a Holistic Health Coach for a prominent royal family in Saudi Arabia. It is whilst she has been here that she has been able to devote her time helping and assisting her patients make the important lifestyle changes that bring about true health and vitality. In addition to her client’s success and as a result of her own personal journey (see below) she is now leading Core-PTS to become the No. 1 Online Functional Medicine Practice in the Gulf.

About Samantha

My own personal journey of health improvement to this day has been extremely instrumental in allowing me to help others begin their path to true health and happiness. I thank my mentors and colleagues who have nudged me in the right direction to follow my path of continued journey to optimum health. “The answers are all around us; it is when we are ready, that we choose to listen” (Anon)

Background

From an early age I trained as a competitive swimmer in Florida within a squad dedicated to the Junior Olympics. As a result, health and fitness has always been a part of my life. Having spent an exciting 8 years of my career working around the UK, Bahrain, and the US, I began my academic training in England with an Access to Sports Science diploma, and graduated with a BSc. (Hons) in Health Sciences. As an undergraduate I studied ways in which to promote healthy lifestyles, conducted research into the health choices made by males and females from different societies and paid particular interest to exercise and nutrition. I also interned as a Health Educator for the Sarasota County Government, Florida, USA and instructed over 1000 County employees; health promotion, exercise and healthy lifestyle recommendations.

I continued my professional training with the CHEK Institute and qualified as an Exercise Coach followed by the Holistic Lifestyle Coach level 1. This course was a turning point with regards to my personal health and is the route of Core-PTS principles.

My personal journey

Having traveled extensively throughout my childhood I had little idea that a parasite would be the culprit to 20 years of agonizing and life debilitating Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It was so severe, that it led me to suffer anxiety attacks and immense social restrictions. I was led to believe that it was just part of who I was and that I would have to “just learn to cope” with this debilitation. With a strong resilience, I continued leading, what I thought was, a healthy life. I was exercising extensively and eating healthy foods. However, I knew something wasn’t quite right as after following all the good advice of exercise and nutrition I still wasn’t able to maintain a healthy weight, had chronic sugar cravings, mood swings and was suffering from depression.

Little did I know that as a result of the continued and prolonged stress of the panic attacks, the parasite that had become part of my life; my body was trying to tell me that things weren’t right and that I was heading for a burn- out. With the thanks to the Biohealth (www.biodia.com) lab tests that I now incorporate into my practice, I found out exactly what was happening inside my body and how many of my systems were out of balance or not functioning correctly.

My life today

With a bespoke nutritional treatment programme, I have now eradicated the parasite, improved my GI tract, made vitally important life changes, become educated on the right eating plan for my unique biochemistry and lastly introduced and embraced spirituality as part of my continued mental health programme.

With my experience I can truly empathize and assist in your journey and I feel honored in being able to help as I know how hard it can be suffering on a continual daily basis.

Today I lead a very fulfilling, happy and rewarding life and continue to empower those who are ready to make the same life changes. Now I can finally appreciate that life is for living and is a very enjoyable continued work in progress.

 

The Dubai Wellbeing show

Wow, I believe in Fate, don't you?  The law of Attraction; what you believe in, you attract. I was getting excited about going to the ArabHealth Expo being held at the end of the month in Dubai, and with cross communications I now find out that the Wellbeing show is going on from the 18th-20th January. I'm really excited as it will be an opportunity to go and meet my colleagues and like minded people working in the region. It will also be an excellent opportunity to promote Corehealthonline, although I wish I had my website up and running to direct them to.  Nevermind! I'll use my newly found Blog as a contact!

It really is great to see that the Middle East is opening up to alternative health and attracting so many interesting international speakers who share the dream of achieving optimum health through natural means and encompassing a holistic approach. I feel there will be a health revolution in the not so distant future, where we unite as humans and say: "No more! the current health approaches are not working, we have to take more control of our own destiny and health". It is our job as Holistic Health Practitioners to guide the journey's of our clients; empowering and educating them to find their own health and happiness. Fortunately, the revolution has started and the Dubai Wellbeing Show presents alternative therapists from all across the globe providing new and ancient remedies to promote health and vitality. I Can't WAIT!

First timer..........

Well this is my first blog, so it will be interesting to see what I write. This is the start of the new year and I feel very excited about 2007. I recently watched the much talked about "The Secret" ( avaliable online) and as a result have put into use their visualisation techniques. I have found my dream villa which will be in one of the Gulf states ( not sure which one but Bahrain is looking favourable) and I shall be living with my future husband Robert and our two cats. The villa will aslo be the base for my new business venture. CorehealthOnline will be an online clinic helping people achieve optimum health. After my own personal journey of health, I am, as they say, living proof of the success. Having suffered with a chronic health condition for most of my youth, I have now achieved health and happiness. Through a series of non evasive laboratory assesments I was able to find out exactly how my body was suffering and as a result through a bespoke nutrition and supplementation programme I have allieviated all of my nagging symptoms. Now I can offer the same services to the public. It is not a "quick fix" protocol but with education and continued support I can help allieviate many common conditions such as fatigue, hormonal imbalances, digestive complaints and depression. For some it may be a short couple of weeks on a programme and for others it may take up to a year. The results have been life changing and I am now able to enjoy life to the fullest and encourage and educate those around me to do the same. Watch this space!

So apart from this turning out to be a plug for my new business, I have very much enjoyed blogging and will no doubt be blogging very soon.

ciao for now Samantha