The Star: November 19, 2020

The Star Thursday November 19 2020
ADVERTISEMENT
How Marvel Health screening can
reveal the causes of chronic tiredness
The Whole-body health screening
and monitoring performed at Marvel
Health can reveal the underlying
causes of chronic tiredness.
Several health problems are
associated with tiredness.
Chronic inflammation of the gut is
a well-known cause of chronic fatigue
syndrome. Microbes such as Candida,
as well as food allergies and food
additive sensitivities, are some of the
causes of chronic inflammation of the
gut which impacts food digestion and
nutrient absorption leading to nutrient
deficiencies.
Some nutrients such as Iron,
Vitamin B12, Chromium and
Selenium are crucial for generating
energy in the body.
Iron and Vitamin B12 are needed to
produce haemoglobin, the red pigment
in blood that carries oxygen to tissues.
Oxygen is also essential for generating
energy, and a reduced oxygen supply
to the tissues can cause chronic
tiredness.
Diseases that impact breathing, such
as asthma and chronic allergies, can
cause chronic tiredness.
Hormonal imbalances such as
reduced thyroid function and adrenal
insufficiencies are recognised causes
of tiredness and chronic fatigue
syndrome.
The Marvel Health Scan examines all
the organs and tissues in the body and
uses advanced algorithms to determine
the likely diseases that may be present.
It screens the body for some of
the underlying causes of chronic
inflammation and chronic tiredness,
including harmful microbes (bacteria,
fungi, worms), food allergies
and nutrient deficiencies. It can
determine the rate of inflammation
and degeneration of the thyroid and
adrenal glands and other organs, to
reveal their state of health and level of
activity.
The scan performs a detailed
examination of the whole body and
generates a comprehensive and indepth
report of a person’s state of
health.
Our doctors and specialists study the
report from the scan and guide you
in ways to support the healing of the
body.
32
OUR PEOPLE
SKILLS: Young Highland dancers go through their routine at the Hororata
Highland Games, an event that has boosted the profile of the pursuit.
‘I’m always there to be
called upon if needed’
• From page 30
How much time should
you spend on Highland
dancing weekly in order to
master it?
You would have one or
two lessons a week with
your private teacher and
go to a society class for
the piped practice on a
Saturday morning during
the winter. You should
really practice every day.
What attributes do you
need to impress judges
like yourself?
You’ve got to have good
timing, good technique.
Generally, there’s an overall
pattern you have to achieve.
This is where the history of
the dance comes in.
Are the children aware
of the historical context
of Highland dancing? Do
you drum that into them?
I don’t know if it always
get taught. The history
of the dance is very
important, especially the
Seann Triubhas. That
was when the Scots were
defeated by the English and
were told they could no
longer wear the kilt unless
they were in the armed
forces. The Seann Triubhas
depicts the happiness they
felt when they were once
again allowed to wear the
kilt.
Which is the hardest
dance to learn?
The Highland fling. It’s
the first dance they learn
and there’s a lot of pressure
on their little legs. To
turn your knees out and
understand the time count
and everything.
At what age can you
start Highland dancing?
About five. Some
children start younger but
you’ve got to be able to
count to 16. The Highland
fling puts a lot of pressure
on one leg at a time. There’s
four counts on one leg and
then four counts on the
other. That’s quite a lot of
springing on one leg for a
little kid.
Talk up the selling
points of Highland
dancing?
It’s good for posture,
they carry themselves well.
I also find they’re very
respectful. I think it’s the
discipline of Highland
dancing. They also need a
certain determination to
achieve what’s required.
Where and when are the
major Highland Games in
New Zealand?
There’s Waipu on January
1, then there’s Turakina
(Wellington) at the end
of January. Hastings is at
Easter and then there’s
Hororata (November).
Hororata would probably
be one of the biggest in the
southern hemisphere.
You had an eye
operation recently but
were you still able to take
in the Hororata Highland
Games weren’t you?
I helped organise the
Highland dancing. We had
93 dancers out there (on
November 7). At the games
most of our dance pipers
were involved in pipe bands
they couldn’t commit to
playing for the Highland
dancing so we had to use
iPod music.
Have the now decadeold
Hororata Highland
Games been beneficial in
terms of dancing’s profile?
It’s good exposure to
the general public. A lot
of people bring their little
kids along, they watch
the dancing for quite a
while and think: ‘I wonder
where you have to go to
learn that?’. You’ve only
got to go on the website for
the Piping and Dancing
Association of New
Zealand and you’ll get all
the names of teachers in
your area.
Are you still focused on
teaching?
I’m there to relieve if any
of the young ones can’t
come in to teach. You’ve
got to make room for
young ones. I’m always
there to be called upon if
needed.
Have you seen
Highland dancing in
Scotland?
Yes, and I was quite
surprised by the lack of
promotional material
for Highland dancing.
Mind you, that was in
2008. When I was in the
pubs they’d occasionally
have a Highland dancer
come out and perform
and they weren’t of a very
high calibre. We’ve had
the Canadian dancers out
here in Christchurch one
year, they were absolutely
beautiful.
How do you see the
future of Highland
dancing in New Zealand?
I think it’s positive but
we have to keep getting
it out there in the public
eye. You’ve got to keep
promoting it otherwise
they’ll go and do
something else.
Your service to
Highland dancing has
been recognised in recent
years hasn’t it?
I was made a Member of
the New Zealand Order of
Merit in 2008 for services
to Scottish stuff. They
called it the Scottish arts.
In June I was made a life
member of the Highland
dancing section of the
Caledonian Society (www.
canterburycaledonian.org.
nz). It’s nice, I do appreciate
the recognition.
Does a love of the pipes
and drums go hand in
hand with Highland
dancing?
I do like pipe band
music. I do a programme,
I’ve been doing it for 15
years, on Plains FM 96.9.
It’s a Scottish session. I go
in there and pre-record it
about once a month.