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August 2020 August 2020

Letter to the Prime Minister
BOOSTING YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
Last month I included a letter from the leader of Dorset Council to the Prime
There are things we can all do to help ourselves, whatever the current state of our Minister which asked for help in managing our visitor numbers and assistance in
health. There has been much research in the last few decades to help us know other areas because of how stretched we were as an authority whilst assisting the
what can boost our immune system – so that even if we get viruses and illnesses, government response to the pandemic. Whilst we have had an
we are in a better position to fight them off. acknowledgement, we have not had any substantive response as yet.

One thing is to drink a lot of water and eat simple foods, with lots of vegetables in
our diet, and not too much sugar. This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t enjoy our
food – in fact, enjoying our food helps us get much more benefit from it ... so ‘a Update for shielded residents
little of what you fancy’, whether it’s chocolate, sugar or alcohol, is fine for the vast As of 6th July, guidance for shielded residents has changed and whilst this may
majority of people. But if you are regularly drinking so much that your body has to be good news it may be a cause of concern to others. Help remains available on
cope with hangovers, or eating more than your body needs, then it is not able to the Dorset for You website. Alternatively a help line is open from Monday to
do its job properly of letting you do what you want to do in your life. Saturday 9am to 6 pm 01305 221000
Another thing is exercise – and walking is just
about the best exercise for human beings. Most Leisure Centres
of us could walk more than we do. We are
fortunate to live in the countryside, where it The centres managed by Dorset Council welcomed back customers from
should be possible for us all to walk without Saturday 25 July. The news comes after the facilities closed in March due to
being too close to people, if that becomes COVID-19. Guidance published by the Government outlined measures that
necessary. There is a lot of research to show allowed indoor swimming pools and sports facilities to reopen.
that being in the fresh air, especially around
trees, or the sea, or water such as lakes and Social distancing measures
streams, really helps boost the immune system. will be in place in all the
centres, together with rigorous
Yoga helps make people healthier, and the cleaning regimes. Touch-
two most important things probably, in this respect, are the focus on breathing, points, such as door handles
and teaching people how to relax. If you can slow down your breathing a little, and railings, and all
breathing fuller and deeper, but (and this is crucial) without any strain, then your equipment will be cleaned
body benefits and your mind does too – you feel calmer and clearer. You can regularly and hand sanitising
combine this with some slow simple stretches, to give the lungs and organs more stations positioned around the
space – particularly important if you spend a lot of time sitting down. buildings. Centre employees
have received COVID-19
Relaxing consciously is so helpful because it is when we relax that the body can training to help them
repair itself: when we are fearful, the body-mind goes into the stress response – the understand and implement
opposite of the relaxation response which helps the immune system. Instead, the plans for the safety of
body and mind think they need to get ready to fight or to run away – so the body customers.
diverts resources from the organs which help the immune system, to the arms and
legs – great if you are being chased by a sabre-toothed tiger, not so helpful for Full details of activities available, opening times and booking and payment
combating many modern stressors. arrangements can be found on each centre’s webpage, Visit the Dorset Council
website to find the nearest centre and its opening hours.
So one of the most important things is to not give into fear and panic. When you
find yourself feeling anxious or fearful, try thinking instead of something that makes
you feel happy and strong and safe: do this often and it gradually will change Dorset Libraries
your thinking – and your health.
Dorset libraries will be offering an order and collect service from July. Following
Sarah Ryan, www.sarahryanyoga.co.uk

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