Give mind, body and soul an MOT at the Chaim Centre, 10a Station Parade, Willesden NW2 (020 8452 0900)

Ring now and ask for a 20 per cent discount on all treatments.

The Chaim Centre is not a spa. Nor is it a medical clinic. But chances are whatever your ailment or symptoms, a therapy there might be just what you need. So unassuming is the entrance to this little wellbeing wonder opposite Willesden Green train station, chances are you have walked or driven right past the secret to you a better you.

Not wanting to sound a total hypochondriac but don’t we all have something about our health we’d not only like to improve? And, even better find out what’s making us tick out of time. Who hasn’t logged on for a consultation with Dr Google and punched in a few key symptoms and next thing you’re in a World Wide Web waiting room with patients telling you that their great aunt died of the same size verucca, or that the slight sniffle you have is the first signs of buggy creek virus aka Chikungunya; next thing you’re in a chat room with someone in Idaho suggesting you get read your last rites. So: Don’t. Do. It.

Our advice instead is to go straight to the Centre for Complementary Health and Integrated Medicine’s website. Peruse the list of treatments, or give them a ring about which therapist might be best for you to see.

Abdominal therapy
Acupuncture
Alexander technique
Antenatal yoga
Aromatherapy
Aromatic hot stone massage
Ayurvedic herbal facial
Ayurvedic massage
Baby yoga
Body alignment technique
Bowen technique
Chinese herbal medicine
Chiropody/podiatry
Chiropractic including the McTimoney method
Counselling
Cranial osteopathy
Craniosacral therapy
Ear acupuncture

Emotional freedom techniques
Facial rejuvenation massage
Flower remedies
Herbalism
Holistic & Swedish massage
Homeopathy
Hypnotherapy
Indian head massage
Iridology
Kinesiology
Manual lymphatic drainage
Naturopathy
Nutrition

Osteopathy
Pilates
Pregnancy massage
Reflexology
Reiki
Shiatsu
Sports massage
Thai massage
Yoga


All too often when we’re not feeling well,
we trot off to our GP, have a whinge at the (chances are) locum and then the (overworked, most likely) doctor prints off a one-size-fits-all prescription. There’s too much focus on short-term curative medicine rather than helping tackle the real causes. You never know, a chat to a naturopath or iridologist could be what you need?

Look into my eyes…
Thanks to a taster session with Yvonne Davies (ND, Dip Herbs, Dip Irid Naturopathy, Herbal Medicine, Iridology), she gazed into my eyes and in seconds rattled off things about me I thought only I knew. In short, the main thing is pancreas isn’t working properly, which explains a lot of things…

This inspired me to look at my diet, fitness and lifestyle: and thanks to the Detox Kitchen and personal trainer Maciej Gross of Locomotive (blog posts to follow, naturally) I hope not to be bothering Google or the NHS, during a whinge-free 2012. Stay tuned.


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Beat the blues with Brent Samaritans

by Juliet on January 23, 2012

Happy Blue Monday. Chances are you need cheering: today is supposedly the most miserable day of the year. The next holidays are ages off, we’re still broke from Christmas, we’ve failed to keep our new year’s resolutions. Park Life prescribes these spirit-lifters…

Feeling depressed? Ring Samaritans’ helpline for emotional support. Someone is on the end of a phone to help anyone feeling distressed or struggling to cope, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Contact the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, or email jo@samaritans.org, or text 07725 90 90 90.

Have a clear-out! Much of the money Brent Samaritans needs to maintain the service is raised by the Samaritans charity shop in Willesden. Why not spend an afternoon doing a long overdue cupboard tidy and donate unwanted Christmas presents or high-quality goods from nearly-new clothing to electrical goods?

Hit this bargain-hunter’s paradise Picking up fashion accessories, much-needed homewares or DVDs for a snip not only feels good but does good. Retail therapy, indeed. The added bonus is you get to say hello to manager Denis or assistant manager Cathy or one of their hard-working team of volunteers.

Becomes a volunteer The charity relies on volunteers to provide their listening service and staff the shop – to find out how you can help, or to enquire about the training provided to make you a helpliner, ring 020 8961 7633.

Audio-visual Prozac And finally, for an instant serotonin-stimulater: crank up the volume for a dose of Blue Monday by New Order.


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A) Brent Samaritans is at 1 Leopold Road, Harlesden NW10
B) Samaritans charity shop is at 11 Walm Lane, Willesden NW2 (020 8830 0034)

Brent Samaritans is a registered charity number 252048

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Kensal Flea returns to Paradise by Way of Kensal Green on Saturday 24 March

January 22, 2012

Entry £1 donation to charities Trekstock and Animal Mayhew Home; 11.30am–5.30pm. RSVP on Facebook.  

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The Choir Crasher

January 16, 2012

The siren-like Kensal Review Choir is luring all sorts of would-be local chanteurs, such as Bruce Traynor,  from their hiding places… I came out of the closet last year. And the shower… and the car… and all those other places where I secretly sang (howled) to myself. Yes, last year I went loud and proud [...]

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South Africa gets support from the ladies of Kensal

January 8, 2012

Exactly two years ago this week, Park Life was born: our first ever blog post called out for bras for the Sustainability Institute. Here, Alix Wilton Regan remembers her trip to South Africa to explore the eco-village project which our Lexi Cinema in Kensal Rise supports, which inspired the campaign… ‘I paid a visit to [...]

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Kensal Rise vs Queens Park: the Jerk off

January 3, 2012

Our favourite local Caribbean restaurant Island on the Rise on Station Terrace, NW10 (020 8969 0405) lures in our Cornershop Cuisine columnist, fresh from a Barbados trip ‘What? Queens Park now has a Caribbean restaurant?’ you cry. Actually, no. That’s Queens Park, Barbados where my winter getaway offered an easy headline and the opportunity to cross-check [...]

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Jamie and Louise Graham’s home decor resolutions

December 30, 2011

With the couple who are at the helm of Graham & Green nearly our Kensal Green neighbours, we thought we’d share their six steps to sprucing up your home in the new year… From moving your artworks around to freshening up your soft furnishings, here’s how to give your pad a boost with their top [...]

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Merry Christmas! Happy new year!

December 23, 2011

2011 was busy in the Kensals and Queen’s Park, and we enjoyed sharing snapshots from our mighty neighbourhood… Here’s hoping 2012 is a great year for you. As Park Life is just a hobby, it is impossible to run as many posts as we could or we’d like but please do share your news and [...]

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Christmas present lust list #10: Iris

December 19, 2011

Annie Pollett, owner of Iris boutique in Queen’s Park tells us what she thinks you might like under your trees this weekend… Party dresses ‘Two winners from Vanessa Bruno: one in scarlet-red chiffon, £292, and the other black with a gold thread print, £315: a super-flattering shape that ties at the waist. Both dresses will [...]

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Personalised photo gifts from Bags of Love

December 15, 2011

Bags of Love produces hundreds of high-quality photo gifts daily, shipping them off to happy customers, from newlyweds to footballers’ wives, around the land. Thanks to a super-efficient online service it all happens faster than you can say ‘Smile, please!’ Fran Rodriguez and Chris Childs started the business from their Creighton Road family home, less [...]

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