Albany naturopath says small, achievable changes are the key to better wellbeing

Wellbeing doesn’t have to be all or nothing, any small steps you can take to feel better are good for you according to Albany naturopath Conny Wehland.

“So many people are just scared to start, or it feels like an overwhelming task to take those first steps to take care of your health, but really it’s not an all-or-nothing situation,” she said.

“Budget can also be a big factor, and the same thing applies, you can start slow and implement small, consistent changes that will make a difference.

“Any small, achievable thing you can do that makes you feel better, whether that be diet, exercise, or anything else, you are doing something good for your body and your mind.”

Ms Wehland is the resident naturopath at the Albany Centre of Natural Therapies, and said she sees patients of all ages and in all phases of life and that getting to know a patient was integral to using natural therapies.

“Naturopaths work with people often on a deeper level, so looking at the whole picture of your life, your interests and hobbies and habits to try to understand the underlying causes of things,” she said.

“That’s why naturopathy can complement normal medicine so well.

“Many people will go to their doctor, and they receive advice for a specific health issue or something that’s bothering them, and naturopaths can add to that with our own treatments.

“We believe for the most part, if the body is given the best conditions, it will work hard to heal itself, we often find there are things we can recommend on top of medicine or treatment advice from doctors that will make your overall wellbeing better.

“Naturopathy is great for chronic conditions, where there may be multiple issues or impacts that the condition has on the body, and natural therapies can often be something to help ease pain or make life just a bit easier.”

Albany’s Holistic Healthcare Network, of which Ms Wehland is a committee member, is hosting a holistic health expo at Retravision Stadium on Saturday, aiming to introduce more people to the benefits of natural health.

The expo will be open from 9.30am until 3pm, and Ms Wehland said it’s the perfect opportunity to hear from experts and practitioners in a range of fields, and ask any questions on your mind about holistic health practices and their benefits.

“The expo is a great opportunity for the public to get lots of advice and have a lot of choice in what practices pique their interest,” Ms Wehland said.

“Some of our local practitioners are offering small sessions on the day for a lower fee, to give people a taste of what they do and how it works.”

There will be 14 presentations across the day from practitioners, scientists and field experts about a range of topics from body image and the rising prevalence of weight loss drugs, to nutrition and glucose monitoring.