The Essential Armoury

30/09/2025

28/09/2025

💨🎶 Do you hum???

Breath is the foundation of movement, recovery, and calm. How you breathe can impact everything from pain levels to muscle function and nervous system regulation. And that’s where a humming breath comes in.

Humming is a a surprisingly easy way to enhance your breath, boost your recovery and bring some calm into your day. Here are my favourite ways that the simple act of humming can help to support our health:

🔹 Stimulates the vagus nerve, which is the longest cranial nerve in the body. It runs from your brainstem, through the face, neck, chest, and abdomen, and is part of the parasympathetic nervous system. Since this is the part of our nervous system that regulates "rest, digest and heal" mechanisms, it's pretty cool that vibration of the vagus nerve from humming can positively affect heart rate, breathing, digestion, inflammation, mood and pain regulation.

🔹 Boosts nitric oxide levels in the nasal passages...up to 15x more than normal breathing! That boost enhances circulation, especially in the head, neck, and respiratory tract. Better circulation means more efficient oxygen delivery to tissues, which supports cellular repair, reduces fatigue, and improves muscle function. And that all creates a healthier environment for healing.

🎵 Small sound, big impact.

Image Credit to the relevant owner (unknown)

21/09/2025

🌟NEW OFFERING 🌟

Recently I attended a course that allows me to bring something very different to my clients. I am excited to advise that I will now be offering Pellowah energy healing sessions.

Pellowah is a high-frequency energy healing technique that influences the aura and works on the mind and spirit. In this sense, healing takes place from the top down. By healing our mind and spirit, the rest of us (e.g. our physical body) typically comes into balance.

Pellowah healings are non-contact and can sometimes seem more subtle than other forms of healing (e.g. Reiki which tends to be rather earthy and physical). The sessions nevertheless can create incredibly powerful and long lasting results.

Key Characteristics

* Pellowah works on the auric field, clearing energetic blockages and realigning meridians to restore the flow of energy for overall well-being.

* Facilitates a consciousness shift, helping individuals gain new perspectives, make better choices, and access their true potential from within.

* A hands-off healing modality that does not involve physical touch. The energy works at a subtle level, influencing the auric field and consciousness rather than the physical body. ��

* Encourages transformation from the inside out, helping individuals build on their existing frameworks rather than breaking them down, leading to a lasting sense of well-being.

Pellowah Healing Technique© is a recognised modality with IICT – a professional association for Therapists.

Sessions can be conducted in person or remotely.

Please note that no rebates are available for Pellowah sessions.

For enquiries, please email TheEssentialArmoury@gmail.com or call 0494 037 554

Bookings are also now available online at www.TheEssentialArmoury.com.au

20/09/2025

🕊️ International Day of Peace | September 21

Peace isn't just the absence of conflict. It's a state of balance in mind, body, and spirit. In the clinic, I see how inner tension often mirrors the stress of the world around us.

Today is a reminder to pause, breathe, and choose compassion, for ourselves and others. We may not be able to change the entire world, but if we can improve our own sense of peace and share that with those around us. Just imagine the wider impact we can have collectively.

Let’s be part of creating peace, starting from within. ✨🫶

Here is a link to some free mindfulness resources
https://www.freemindfulness.org/download

Drop us a comment👇and let us know your favourite ways to drop into a space of inner peace and calm.

15/09/2025

Do you struggle to stick to rehab and exercise plans even though you know you should?

You’re not alone!

It’s a common challenge and one that has inspired countless self help books.
While external advice and expert tips can be a great starting point, truly lasting change comes from something deeper: a shift in mindset and self awareness.

One book that really brings this to life is Dr. Rangan Chatterjee’s 'Make Change That Lasts'. It’s a practical read that helps you tune into what actually works for YOU, instead of blindly following a plan.

What really stood out?
Understanding that your barriers may not just be physical. They’re often emotional, psychological, or even existential. Dr. Chatterjee calls these “invisible reliances”. We lean on these hidden dependencies to feel safe or in control.

Here are a few common ones:

🔸 Needing to be perfect ... “If I can’t do the full workout, why bother?”
🔸 Fear of discomfort ... “Pain = danger, I better stop.”
🔸 Craving to be liked ...“I don’t want to disappoint [...].”
🔸 Attachment to busyness ... “I don't have time for stretching, I’m swamped.”
🔸 Clinging to the past ... “I’ve always had a weak back. Nothing helps.”

🧠 If you’re looking to create a big shift and set yourself up for lasting change, it doesn't start with muscles or mobility, it starts with mindset.

💡 Stop the search for the “perfect plan” and simply start to take imperfect action.

www.TheEssentialArmoury.com.au

11/09/2025

💛 R U OK? Day 💛

Let's take it one step further. Today I want to challenge you.

Contemplate for me. When was the last time that you really slowed down enough to stop and ask yourself "RUOK"?

In my work as a physio, I treat sore backs, tight shoulders, and stiff joints, but often, what’s beneath the surface is just as important. Stress, anxiety, and emotional strain show up in the body too. I'm blessed to be able to weave these conversations into my consults on a regular basis and link people in with extra supports.

Rarely do I see a client who comes in early with an ailment. In fact, I often hear the catch cry that "I just suddenly got old" or that "the pain just appeared".

But over a few sessions, while I'm working on those aches and pains, we get a chance to talk. And to listen. We chat about daily routines, life stressors and the signals our body may give us. And more often than not, it becomes clear that your body was trying to talk to you for some time before you finally heard it.

Seldom are the aches and pains simply an issue with the physical body. Yes, the physical body has its contributions, sometimes significant ones. But there are almost always layers, from the mental, emotional and spiritual bodies, that contribution to the manifestation of physical symptoms.

This RUOK? Day I'd like to encourage you to check in on your WHOLE body. I'm going to share a practice that I do most mornings before I get out of bed.

Just lay there and focus on your physical body. Check for aches, pains, stiffness and niggles. Then ask your body what it needs from you today...and listen for an answer. Run. Swim. Stretch (where?). Drink Water. Wriggle and move somewhere that feels tight and stuck. Listen and get curious.

Then do the same process for you mental body, then your emotional body and finally, your spiritual body.

What is it that the parts and the whole of your body needs from you today?

Breathe? Connection? Solitude? Yoga? Blueberries? Journalling? Rest? Movement?

I find this incredibly powerful as a daily practice. And even more so when I'm feeling "off" and out of sync. It's also a great opportunity to register if my body needs help from someone else to get back on track...before it derails.

The more you listen, the more you hear.

Let me know in the comments if you try this practice. Or perhaps you have another practice for checking in on your entire body that you'd like to share?

If your body is asking for help, I'd love to be part of the healing process.

Bookings: www.theessentialarmoury.com.au

07/09/2025

Today, on World Physiotherapy Day, I’m taking a moment to reflect on how truly grateful I am to do the work that I love every day.

Being a physiotherapist isn’t just a job. It’s a passion. Every day I turn up to work (and plenty when I’m not at work too) I'm incredibly lucky to be able to support people on their wellness journey, whether that’s recovering from injury, managing pain, or simply learning to move with more confidence and ease.

What I love most?
✨ Helping clients feel heard and empowered
✨ Watching people rediscover trust in their bodies
✨ Celebrating the small wins that lead to big transformations

This year's theme is about the role of physiotherapy and physical activity in healthy ageing. But truly, every person who walks through my door has a story, a goal, and a reason to keep moving forward. And I’m honoured to be part of that process.

To all my clients, thank you for trusting me with your care.

To my fellow physios, thank you for making this profession so inspiring.

💪 Here’s to movement, healing, and the power of physiotherapy.

03/09/2025

Women's Health Week - Day 3

❤️ Ladies, don’t ignore your heart. Did you know that heart disease is one of the leading causes of death for women? Symptoms are often overlooked or misdiagnosed, as it doesn’t always look like chest pain. Fatigue, breathlessness, or jaw pain can also be signs.

🩺 Prioritise your heart health:
✔️ Get regular heart checks
✔️ Know your blood pressure & cholesterol
✔️ Talk to your doctor about your risk factors

Stay heart-strong with movement:

🏃‍♀️ Walk 30 mins most days

🧘‍♀️ Try yoga or Pilates for low-impact strength

🚶‍♀️ Take the stairs, stretch often, keep moving!

Your heart works hard for you so be sure to show it some love. ❤️

02/09/2025

Happy birthday to our national flag 😍🇦🇺

02/09/2025

Women's Health Week - Day 2

🌺 Today’s topic is all about arming yourself with the right knowledge and tools to help you have confident and informed conversations around your health and wellness.

🌺 When attending appointments, make some notes to take with you. Yep a diary if it helps you to track symptoms and don't be afraid to share it. And make sure you mention the weird things, sometimes they're actually the greatest clues!

🌺 There's nothing more empowering than being in charge of your own wellness.
It's your journey, so take control and take the lead!

01/09/2025

Women's Health Week - Day 1

Understanding what’s normal for your body starts with regular health checks.

Prioritise your health by staying up to date and by being familiar with what is normal for your own body. Take time (regularly) to slow down, check in and listen to your body. That way you're more likely to notice when things are changing.

If you have niggling aches and pains that you’d like to check in and have assessed, then I’d love to help. There’s so much power in listening to our body and prioritising our own wellness when our issues are more minor. It allows us to get back to “normal” with greater ease and grace.

Now might be a good time to check in with your diary and see when your last had screenings for bowel health, breast health and cervical screening too.

www.theessentialarmoury.com.au

31/08/2025

1st - 5th September is Women's Health Week.

This year the theme is "say yes to you" to help women prioritise their health and wellbeing. Prioritising women's health has wide reaching implications for families, communities, and society at large.

🌿 Many women carry multiple roles, which often leads to them putting their own needs last. But when women are encouraged to prioritise themselves, they’re better able to care for others without sacrificing their own wellbeing.

🌿 Women’s bodies and health experiences are biologically and hormonally distinct from men’s. By encouraging women to prioritise their health, we can help close the gap in early diagnosis and access to tailored care.

🌿 When women are empowered with knowledge and support to care for their health proactively (not just reactively) we can improve outcomes with chronic illness, reproductive health, metabolic function and mental health.

❤️ Healthy Women = Healthier Communities

It’s time to flip the script: self-care isn’t a luxury, it’s an ESSENTIAL foundation.