Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 172 i WellBeing

I started this job with the intention to never leave. What could possibly be better, I thought, than helping to synthesise empirical research and traditional wisdom and presenting it in a tactile, accessible format to an expanding circle of smart people to encourage them and their loved ones to thrive? As it turns out, not much — at least, not for me. Five years on, however, and I’m sad to say that this issue will be my last. I am immensely proud to have worked with the wonderful, wise and progressive WellBeing team to put out into the world an ever-evolving work of depth and beauty that nourishes others. It’s been a privilege. It seems that now, more than ever, we need to prioritise caring for ourselves, other living beings…

Sweet caffeine In a recent study, one group of subjects sampled decaffeinated coffee with 200 milligrams of caffeine added in a laboratory setting, making a strong cup of coffee. The stimulant was added to make that group’s coffee consistent with real-life amounts of caffeine found in a strong espresso. The other group drank just decaffeinated coffee. Both groups had sugar added to the coffee. The subjects were then asked to rate the sweetness of the coffee and those who drank the caffeinated brew rated it as less sweet. Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors, which promote relaxation and sleepiness, hence coffee makes you more alert. The effect on taste occurs because, in addition, suppressing adenosine receptors decreases your ability to taste sweetness, which may make you desire it more. This might explain…

Also known as Queen of the Meadow, meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) is a perennial herb in the rose family. A native of Europe and the Middle East, it has creamy-white flowers with a strong, sweet smell and grows in damp areas and wet woods. As the whole plant is aromatic, it was used in ancient times as a strewing herb (before the advent of air fresheners) to give rooms a pleasant fragrance. It has also been frequently used to flavour many ferments such as wines, beers, meads and vinegars, as well as being added to stewed fruit and jams, giving a subtle almond flavour and aroma. The flowers are often used in potpourri. Meadowsweet has been found in Bronze Age graves with people and animals and, in Welsh mythology, Gwydion and…

How did the Refugee Yoga Project come to life in Australia? During my time living in London, I worked with the Hackney Yoga Project (now called Ourmala), which was hosting weekly yoga classes for asylum-seeking and refugee women. I felt inspired by the impact the yoga classes were having. When I returned to Australia, I was interested in being a part of a similar program but wasn’t able to find one. I worked with the Vasudhara Foundation to develop a two-month pilot program here, offering weekly yoga classes to refugee and asylum-seeking women through five organisations that work with refugees. Based on successful feedback and attendance, the Refugee Yoga Project was born. We formed a partnership with STARTTS (NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors)…

Summer. What’s not to love? The salt, sand and sun-bleached, lazy days to soak it all in. Yet not everyone experiences summer that way. For some, summer inflames, is drying and brings irritability, impatience and sunburn. Then there’s the lethargy... Pure essential oils can help set you up for a summer of sensual delights. This soothing list of summer scents will help cool you off and energise, nourish and prepare for you for the weeks ahead. The essentials Essential oils are pure essences extracted from different parts of fruits, trees, flowers and stems. Pure essential oils are those that have no additives at all — no fillers, extenders, synthetic materials... the only ingredient is the essential oil. For your health, it’s important to avoid cheap, synthetic oils and look for…

Imagine being covered by a large filter so that part of your immediate experience is completely blocked from your awareness while other parts are exaggerated or highlighted by the filter. It may sound a bit like something from a science-fiction novel, but this is precisely how we experience reality every day of our lives. The negative core beliefs you may have about yourself, such as “I’m unworthy” or “the world is an unsafe place”, distort your reality. The more unconscious and intense your negative core beliefs, the more this filter distorts your experience. The more self-aware you are, the better able you are to discern the truth of a situation. Your negative core beliefs, otherwise thought of as emotional wounds or triggers, act as filters to how you experience and…

Have you ever had a feeling in your bones that you just knew a person or a situation wasn’t quite right, or felt an overwhelming impulse to take a certain direction in life that just felt meant to be? We humans are naturally very intuitive creatures. We have great clarity. We have longings and desires to follow dreams. We know what we want to achieve, what we want to do, what kind of lives we want to live. But the thing is, a lot of the time, we don’t listen to the inner voice. In hindsight, when I look at particular paths I’ve taken or decisions I’ve made that in the end were not true to myself, I realise there was a part of me that knew all along. There…

Aries In 2018, the planets Saturn and Pluto beam a spotlight on your vocational goals, which keep developing until April 2020. Your mind is alive with possibilities for investment and enterprise from the alignment of Mars with expansive Jupiter on January 7. In late March, and April, thorough preparation is the key, pushed forward by the Aries New Moon of April 16. Since Aries Time features a retrograde (backwards) communications cycle, followed by ruler Mars going “retro”, from June 27 to August 28, nothing should be rushed. Change-agent Uranus leaves Aries, making helpful, earthy links with Saturn through August and September. Your career cycle becomes more fruitful, boosted by a Full Moon in Aries on September 25. The feminine powers of receptivity and sustenance support you, offering tools that transform…

For the third night in a week, Maryanne was woken by her son Jonas crying out in the dead of night. Her usually active, bright and bubbly eight-year-old was complaining of recurrent pain in his leg muscles that seemed to go on for hours. But, by morning, the pain had vanished. What Jonas was experiencing was growing pains, a mysterious phenomenon of real but essentially harmless muscular pain that occurs in up to 30 per cent of young children. Kids who suffer growing pains report experiencing anything from a niggling ache to a deep, throbbing sensation, which may also be accompanied by a hot burning feeling. The pains are usually localised in the calf muscles, ankles, behind the knees and in the thighs, but they can also occur elsewhere. Researcher…

As the world’s driest inhabited continent, Australia has frequently experienced issues with water. Often, it’s extremes that are involved, whether floods or, most commonly, a state of drought. Between 2001 and 2009, what’s known as the Millennium Drought particularly affected the south-eastern quarter of Australia. Today, parts of western Queensland are currently suffering their most severe drought in decades. Australia’s management of water involves balancing competing demands from nature, farming and both industrial and domestic use. While regulation of water largely occurs at state level, an overarching commonwealth approach is also needed. The National Water Initiative, launched in 2004, is a reform agenda focused on organisational improvements. Water was formerly administered by the National Water Commission, a body that was controversially abolished in 2015 under the Abbott Government, with its…

“This moment right now is the youngest we’ll be for the rest of our lives. How we live now is important.” There are two types of happiness. There’s hedonic happiness, fun but fleeting, the kind that comes from buying a new dress or winning a raffle. And then there’s eudaimonic happiness, the deep contentment that comes with living in accordance with your true nature, feeling fulfilled and enjoying both selfacceptance and personal growth. Travel and holidays, it has to be said, usually result in the hedonic variation. But, in the cultural Japanese city of Kyoto, I found you can actually experience both. At the ancient Shunkoin Temple, deputy head priest Taka Kawakami tells me why: it’s because so many acts in everyday life here are wreathed in a meditative gesture…

DVDs Ali’s Wedding Directed by JEFFREY WALKER Starring OSAMAH SAMI, HELANA SAWIRES, DON HANY Chicken People Directed by NICOLE LUCAS HAIMES Starring BRIAN KNOX, BRIAN CARAKER, SHARI MCCULLOUGH Aussie multi-culti comedy has been a chancy genre so far, ranging from the sentimentality of the 1966 migrant movie They’re a Weird Mob to the rambunctious vulgarity of TV’s Fat Pizza and its ilk. That’s part of the reason Ali’s Wedding is such a nice surprise; in fact, it just might be the funniest, sweetest rom-com you’ll see all year. At its simplest, it’s also a movie about immigrants, based on Osamah Sami’s own story — slightly embroidered, one suspects, for comedy effect. He stars as Ali (or Charlie), the son of a Muslim cleric (Don Hany) who flees Ba’athist persecution in…

Brush for Change Meet Brush for Change, the eco-friendly toothbrush that gives back. For each fourpack of toothbrushes you purchase, two toothbrushes and AU$2 will be donated to charity. You can help make a difference in more ways than one. RRP AU$21.95, including postage and handling. W: brushforchange.com.au Burt’s Bees Burt’s Bees has been offering distinctive earth-friendly, natural health and beauty care products for 30 years. From a beekeeper’s backyard in Maine to the leading edge of the beauty industry, Burt’s Bees knows natural skincare, lip care and lip colour from head to toe. No parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, SLS or animal testing are involved in the creation of Burt’s Bees’ products. W: burtsbees.com.au Hand ResQ Infused with the scent of rose geranium essential oil, this sophisticated, non-greasy hand lotion contains…

LEE HOLMES runs Supercharged Food and recently released her newest book, Fast Your Way to Wellness. Visit her blog at superchargedfood.com for more cooking inspiration, recipes and tips. It’s time to embrace the feeling of sun-kissed skin and ocean swims and get into the spirit of summer. Nothing makes me more excited about sunny days than the thought of eating cooling foods such as ice-cream. Yes, you read that correctly: the nutritionist just said ice-cream. Summer is a wonderful time for dessert and ice-cream lovers alike. Whether you’re trying to slim down for bikini season or just trying to eat healthily, dessert doesn’t need to be your downfall. After all, you can’t escape ice-cream in summer, so you may as well embrace it! Let’s talk about ice-cream. Ice-cream is there for…

KAREN GOLDRICK is a holistic veterinarian at All Natural Vet Care, Russell Lea, Sydney. T: +61 2 9712 5844 W: naturalvet.com.au They may have days when their appetite is low and belly gurgly; when they eat and regurgitate grass and mucus on your carpet. You are what you eat and this is also true of our pets. But if their gastrointestinal tract is not working well, no matter what they eat, they won’t be able to digest and absorb their food with its energy, protein, fats, vitamins, minerals and water. Many of our pets suffer from chronic lowgrade gut disease. You may see intermittent vomiting or hair balls, bowel movements that vary from constipation to soft and unformed or mucus-covered stools. They may have days when their appetite is low and…

KAREN BRIDGMAN is a holistic practitioner at Australian Biologics, Sydney, and Pymble Grove Health Centre, Gordon. Clinically, many people in Australia react to the consumption of wheat but are not coeliac. This seems more an intolerance than an allergic response. A previously lively and energetic five-yearold boy was brought in to see us by his mother. AJ was fully vaccinated and had just started preschool ahead of school next year. While he had been happy, full of energy and sleeping well, AJ’s mother had noticed his slowly declining health over the past year, the initial symptom being occasional leg weakness. He was diagnosed with asthma at age two and occasionally is prescribed children’s Flixotide. His asthma only occurs when he has a cold and presents more as a wheeze than mucosal,…

Whether you’re a newly qualified health coach or a health and wellness professional wanting to set yourself apart from the pack, your career journey should be a life-changing and positive experience, for you as well as your clients. Yet, even with the thousands of students who complete a coaching qualification in Australia every year and the countless options available for study, many qualified coaches in the health and wellbeing space still report lacking business success. Wellineux’s Thrive Co-Lab [Collaboratory] is a tried-and-tested, structured program that has been designed to support coaches, health professionals, yoga instructors and workshop facilitators in sharing their unique knowledge and inspiration with as many people as possible. For many coaches, the 1:1 model may prove sufficient to sustain their business, but others may be looking to…

Creative vegies Some information about carbohydrates, at last! I grew up on bread and, although it is often used as a staple, it’s great to hear such carbohydrates are overrated. I loved Pete Evans’ piece on low-carb living (issue #170); it included great ideas about how to use vegetables to bulk up food. It's also great to find innovative ways to serve them such as cauliflower rice and zucchini noodles. I rejoiced to see a story that takes an average diet and, with a little imagination and lots of common sense, transforms it for the better. Ange Bunner Splendid serendipity It’s probably not the admission you want to hear but I subscribed to your magazine by accident, having meant to order EatWell. What a serendipitous error. I have loved the…

Perfect mannequins For this study, subjects were surveyed about their level of “appearance self-esteem”. They then evaluated clothing such as bikinis and dresses on a series of store mannequins. People who reported lower self-esteem were more likely to have a negative reaction to clothing on a mannequin than those with higher self-esteem. Interestingly, when researchers reduced a mannequin’s beauty by marking the face, removing the hair or removing the head entirely, consumers with negative views of their own bodies liked the clothes more. The researchers speculate that this might be because the mannequin no longer reflected society’s high beauty standards. Additionally, when researchers boosted subjects’ body image through positive affirmations before seeing the mannequins, their negative perceptions of the products diminished. It’s a reminder to the fashion industry but also…

As members of the squash family (sometimes referred to as “winter squash”), pumpkins (Cucurbita pepo) are thought to have originated in North America. The oldest evidence of pumpkin seeds, found in Mexico, dated from 7000–5500 BCE. Pumpkins are not actually a vegetable but are more accurately a type of botanical berry or pepo. The word “pumpkin” derives from the Greek pepon, which translates to “large melon”. The giant pumpkins (Cucurbita maxima) grown in South America can exceed one tonne in weight. While mainly orange, pumpkins can also be white, deep yellow or dark green. Today, pumpkins are grown everywhere in the world except Antarctica — for human food, animal food or for commercial or ornamental uses. Nutritional value The colour of pumpkin comes from the orange carotenoid pigments, including alpha-…

Ryan Stafford Age: 11 T: +61 405 277 612 (Ryan’s mother, Angela Stafford) W: splatteringsart.com.au The artworks that I create, especially my eagles, were inspired by what I interpret as my totem. They also show what I love about nature. I like to either show a flow of colour or display the animal down to its finest detail. This is to exhibit either a rush of life or to show how even the smallest things make up such beautiful animals. I like to switch between mediums, including watercolour, graphite and coloured pencil. This means I can sometimes do fine detail and, other times, I can create looser work with flicks and splatters of paint. This particular eagle was painted as a present for my auntie and uncle. Some of my…

We all love to exercise outdoors when the sun is shining. Exercise enhances oxygen flow to the skin, flushes out impurities from its surface and promotes production of oil, the skin’s natural moisturiser. For good health, we need natural sunlight in winter to prevent depression and activate vitamin D, which increases bone density. Some research even shows that sunlight has a protective effect against hypertension and some autoimmune diseases. But there’s a downside for outdoor exercise enthusiasts such as runners, cyclists, hikers, swimmers and boaters: unless they’re very careful, they also experience a higher incidence of skin damage and skin cancers because of the extra hours they spend in the sun. In addition, over-exercising may suppress your immune system, making you more prone to the damaging effects of the sun.…

A sense of belonging is critical to your wellbeing and personal safety. Epicurus, the ancient Greek philosopher wrongly celebrated for being a bon vivant and gastronome, was actually a man of simple tastes. Like all of us, he sought the key to happiness — and may have indeed found it. He believed the three major platforms to creating a happy life were to nurture deeply held friendships, to always examine the life you lead and to enjoy personal freedom through self-sufficiency. Reducing happiness to a formula may be a simplistic approach but, nearly 2500 years on, these teachings may be the most cutting-edge self-help advice yet. The happiness formula Like Epicurus, other philosophers for thousands of years have beseeched us not to embark on the vain pursuit of happiness but…

Ayurveda is an ancient medical tradition native to India that’s thought to be more than 5000 years old. Ayurveda, which translates from Sanskrit to “the science of life”, is a system of natural medicine that promotes a healthy mind and body through achieving balance in life using diet, herbs, meditation, yoga and breathing exercises. By bringing balance to the mind and body, Ayurveda also brings balance and good health to the skin. What is dosha? In Ayurveda, people are categorised into three basic types called doshas, which comprise vata, pitta and kapha. These types are based on the five elements that make up the universe: air, space, fire, earth and water. Vata is mostly air and space, while pitta is fire and water, and kapha is mainly earth and water.…

There’s nothing like an end-ofyear celebration, especially one that looks after every part of you: heart, soul, body, mind and health. Whether it’s baking gifts for the neighbours or getting the kids to help with glazing the ham, I love Christmas because it brings people together over food. And this year, more than ever, I feel passionate about the fact that, in this topsy-turvy world, we all need to be doing whatever we can to nourish ourselves and our loved ones. That’s why I think ditching those traditional ingredients usually associated with the silly season (think refined sugars and carbohydrates) and replacing them with nutrient-dense alternatives is one of the best things you can do to maintain optimal health. We all know what we put inside our bodies has a…

The horizon is seared with a terracotta sunset as we fly into Karratha, portal to the Pilbara. Here, at the far north-western edge of Western Australia, the Indian Ocean laps sparkling at the coastline. Trailing inland into the Great Sandy Desert, the Pilbara region spans a breathtaking 507,896 square kilometres, encompassing three national parks, deep gorges, green rivers, mesmerising mountain ranges and vast desert plains. Sheer remoteness alone (Karratha lies 1538km from Perth) makes visiting the region unforgettable while staggering history adds to the spell. As you peer down from the plane at the tiny oasis of town lights surrounded by leagues of dark, undulating land, there’s the sense of arriving at the end of the known world and the beginning of a heart-stopping adventure. Women’s circles Beneath a full…

When to go March is cherry blossom time and everywhere is booked out months in advance, so you may have to stay in nearby Osaka — only half an hour on the bullet train. The city is also popular in autumn when it’s resplendent in red and gold maple leaves. Winter is quiet and there are good accommodation deals available plus some plum blossom in February. May is also quiet with lots of greenery and reasonable temperatures. Summer is very hot. Where to stay Try a traditional Japanese ryokan with tatami mats, futons and even your own little sento bath. Be prepared for Japanesestyle breakfast, though, with fish, rice, egg and noodles. What to take Shoes that are easy to slip on and off. You’ll be asked to remove your…

Be warned: the following recipes are not raw, they’re not vegan and they’re not even all free of gluten, sugar or refined carbs. How, we hear you exclaim, can they be healthy?! Good nutrition, you see, isn’t necessarily determined by what diet is trending or what philosophy of life you adhere to or even what health guidelines extol. A sizeable part of eating well involves consuming a wide array of minimally processed, nutritious, in-season foods that don’t just taste good but also leave your mind and body feeling good once you eat them. Importantly, it involves neither stressing out while eating your food nor stressing out about it. Isn’t life already stressful enough? The husband and wife duo behind Mr & Mrs Wilkinson’s How it is at Home, chef Matt…

Give yourself the gift of a retreat Start the New Year with a retreat at Byron Yoga Centre. Choose an eight-, five- or three-day program. The affordable packages include delicious vegetarian meals and a flexible program of yoga classes, wellness sessions and massage treatments. Enjoy time to relax by the heated mineral pool, head to the beach or explore beautiful Byron Bay. W: byronyoga.com Lifestream Aloe Vera Juice For optimal digestion, Lifestream Aloe Vera Juice soothes the lining of the stomach and intestines to support smooth and natural digestion. Made from 99.7 per cent premium-quality clean-tasting aloe, it supports the immune system and helps maintain the health of intestinal bacteria. RRP AU$19.95 for 500mL. W: lifestream.co.nz International Yoga Teachers Association The primary activity of the International Yoga Teachers Association (IYTA)…

ALEXX STUART is an educator passionate in the space she calls “living a low-tox life”. Through her speaking, workshops, e-courses and online community, she helps people make the best new choices for themselves, their families and the planet. W: lowtoxlife.com There’s a lot of stress these days as parents feel less and less able to provide their children with food education and are confused about how to help them broaden their food tastes. We don’t just have to teach manners now; we have to teach detective skills, additive meanings, food marketing tactics, distinguishing real from fake, all while the food industry turns up the volume on convenience, with food in squeeze pouches and bars so our children “don’t have to think about it” and parents “don’t have to worry”. The thing…

JAN MCLEOD is a highly respected coach, mentor, speaker and consultant, and a specialist in the areas of high performance, wellbeing, nutrition and change strategy in the workplace. W: thecapacity equation.com.au, madforhealth.com.au The holiday season is traditionally the period when many of us take time out from work to reflect on the year that has been, to make sense of what we’ve achieved and to plan and contemplate the year ahead. As part of this process, I would like to offer you a new approach to thinking about wellness for 2018, one that will help you to better understand how to achieve and sustain true wellness. Intuitive wellness asks you to focus initially on raising your understanding as to the “why” of your choices. Turning the to-do list on its head…

CHRISTINE BROADBENT is a consulting astrologer and teacher with 30 years’ experience who offers workshops and personal readings in Australia and NZ. E: christine@astrologyspot.com.au T: +61 402 664 101 or +64 214 10126. Workshops in Sydney: Feb 4 & 25, 2018. Capricorn Now back in Capricorn, Saturn tightens its hold on 2018. Your most important birthday in years is happening now, notably for Decemberborn Goats. January has extra Venus treats, most potent Jan 4–10. Mercury in Capricorn boosts clever ideas and problem-solving Jan 13–25. Capricorn New Moon, Jan 17, begins your year in earnest; practical goals take precedence. Beware bad financial moves Jan 30, Feb 4 & 11–14; by Feb 22, things shift and your intuitive self helps out. Pisces Earthy January 2018 needs plenty of Watersign energy to also be…

I was just standing there, minding my own business employing what I thought was a carelessly attractive stance, when one daughter piped up, “Dad, just do it!” I was momentarily thrown because, to the best of my knowledge, I wasn’t meant to be doing anything at that moment other than enjoying my coffee and observing the ocean waves curling their indolent way to shore. “Do what?” I asked, somewhat vaguely. “Listen to your clothes,” she enlightened with a smile. It took a moment but then I realised my T-shirt was emblazoned with the manufacturer’s “just do it” slogan across my chest. Although I usually do defer to the innate wisdom of my children, I had to take issue with the prospect of a life lived by clothing slogan. After all,…

Encourage at least one person a day. Even a genuine compliment to a stranger at the supermarket on their outfit or style makes a huge difference to them. We’re so used to negativity so be the positive voice. After all, everyone is human. @rosebrio1 I feel very connected to others and the earth because I have a strong daily practice that allows me to live consciously and stay true to my intuition. To build connection on a deeper level, you must first connect with yourself. Go within daily, sit with your thoughts, process them and connect with nature. Becoming more aware of your intuition leads you to becoming more mindful and aware of your surroundings. Practise active listening when you are around others and, when you communicate, allow people to…

Ship exhaust makes storms For this study, researchers looked at the locations of 1.5 billion lightning strikes from 2005 to 2016 and found nearly twice as many lightning strikes, on average, over major routes that ships take across the northern Indian Ocean, through the Strait of Malacca and into the South China Sea, compared to adjacent areas of the ocean that have similar climates. Lightning is a measure of storm intensity. Aerosols from ship exhaust allow smaller droplets of water to travel higher into the atmosphere and more of them reach the freezing line, so creating more ice, which creates more lightning. Storm clouds become electrified when ice particles collide with each other and with unfrozen droplets in the cloud. Lightning is the atmosphere’s way of neutralising that built-up electric…

Every morning for the past month, I’ve been inhaling love, security and joy and exhaling love, security and joy. I plop myself down on a meditation cushion, post-yoga and precoffee, look at an amateur illustration of a tree and focus on these three feelings, which are associated with something I’d like in my life. I hold the feelings with me at the close of each meditation then I pre-emptively thank the universe and say, “This or something better manifests in the highest or best way.” As far as rituals go, this manifestation meditation is a fairly nice one to start the day with. Not only does it put me in a positive frame of mind, the follow-up step is a proactive, practical one: to write down an action step for…

No one can deny Tracey Spicer has guts. If you were one of the 1.5 million viewers who watched her in her nowfamous TEDx talk in 2013 ceremoniously remove all her makeup, kick off her high heels and strip off the tight-fitting suit she was expected to wear throughout her career, you’d know she has courage. When Spicer finds something she believes in, she’ll back herself all the way. But for anyone who knows her 30-year history in the media, and in particular her fight for women’s rights to return to work and — shock, horror — the TV screen after motherhood, the removal of her clothes on stage to highlight the pressure women feel to look and behave a certain way would come as no surprise. Spicer has been…

“We are what we repeatedly do.” ~ Aristotle When you think about rituals, what comes to mind? Chanting, peace offerings to exotic gods, weddings, full moon celebrations? Many of us think of something connected to religion. While this is true, rituals go beyond prayers and ceremonies. They are more present in our everyday lives than we may have noticed and it’s our ritualistic nature that nurtures our wellbeing. We often overlook rituals and take them for granted simply because we do them mindlessly. Rituals are, however, incredibly powerful when performed on purpose. They allow us to experience everyday life with a deeper meaning and enjoyment. Water is just water until you choose to drink it every morning, warm and infused with lemon; with every sip, silently and gratefully considering how…

Again and again, fad diets have been proved unsuccessful. Diets focus on calorie restriction and the elimination of certain foods and generally do not take into account the dieter’s ability to exercise self-control or regulate their eating behaviour. Many popular weightloss programs offer coaching and support networks; however, once the goal weight has been achieved and the program concludes, the individual must continue unsupported. Cultivating self-compassion and applying mindfulness to your eating habits can provide a much greater chance of maintaining a healthy weight. Mindfulness involves increasing awareness of the current moment and observing without judgment. When applied to eating, it involves paying attention to what you eat and how you eat it. In essence, this means being aware of both your inner cues and outer environment and how they…

OLIEVE & OLIE Olieve & Olie has taken things to the next level with a beautiful range of olive oil body products. Handmade on the stunning Mornington Peninsula, the range includes body moisturisers, bar soaps, salt scrubs and lip balms. Each product has been handcrafted from the highest-quality ingredients, so you can expect an experience rather than just a product. Right down to the award-winning packaging, Olieve & Olie is passionate about producing high-quality natural skincare. Using Australian extra-virgin olive oil from the company’s old grove in Northern Victoria, all products are completely natural and free from palm oil. Olieve & Olie won the Body, Bath & Fragrance GALA Award in 2016 for Massage Bar, and was runner-up in 2017 for the Soothing Foot Bar. W: olieveandolie.com.au BURT’S BEES Burt’s…

Your body’s muscular system is an important network of soft, elastic tissue. From larger muscles such as the quadriceps in your thighs to smaller muscles including the orbicularis oris in your lips, your muscles have many functions. They: •Generate movement. Muscles move by contracting and relaxing. When they contract, they shorten and push together, making the muscle look bulkier. When they relax, the fibres move apart and the muscle lengthens and thins. Many muscles are attached to your skeletal framework and help to move your bones and limbs. In some areas of the body, their contractions also ensure the movement or nourishment of important bodily fluids. •Stabilise your joints. The fibres of skeletal muscle are held together by sheaths of connective tissue. •Affect metabolism and body temperature. When they are…

Computer and video games have earned a bad rap over the course of the industry’s growth. From its beginning in the early 1970s to the multibillion-dollar industry it is today, gaming has been described as mindless and a waste of time that leads to bad outcomes for physical and mental wellbeing. The emergence of casual, mobile and social gaming has quickly displaced these opinions by opening the doors to larger audiences and receiving the embrace of nearly everyone — individuals and families, businesses and corporations, kids, teenagers and adults — while permeating every field of human activity, from work to home. As the impact of gaming grows, it’s now seen as an essential part of popular culture and, as such, poses questions about cultural change, not least our perception of…

Stay The Ranges, Karratha: awardwinning self-contained serviced apartments 1.5km from town, free Wi-Fi, pool and on-site gourmet cafe. therangeskarratha.com.au Karijini Eco Retreat offers deluxe eco tents, dorm-style cabins and campsites within Karijini National Park. karijiniecoretreat.com.au Getting there Qantas and Virgin Airlines offer connecting flights to Karratha from all capital cities of Australia. Getting around A 4WD is recommended to explore the national parks. Thrifty Car Hire in Karratha offers a variety of 4WD and SUV vehicles and more. More things to do Discovery Cruising offers whale watching, diving, sunset cruises, overnight camping at an island and more. discoverycruising.com.au Deep Gorge on the Burrup Peninsula is the site of the largest and oldest collection of Aboriginal rock art in the world. Join a bush tucker, rock art or overnight tour with the…

A.Vogel Herbamare A.Vogel Herbamare is a herbal seasoning salt prepared from a combination of 12 fresh, organically grown herbs and vegetables made according to the original formula of the famous Swiss naturopath Alfred Vogel. The fresh ingredients are combined with natural sea salt and allowed to steep for up to 12 months. W: avogel.com.au HoneyLife Manuka Honey Manuka honey is one of nature’s finest superfoods. HoneyLife uses only raw unrefined honey without heat or chemical processes and each batch is university laboratory tested for MGO value. HoneyLife’s range of bee products promote many immune-boosting attributes. All Australian sourced, made and owned. W: honeylife.com.au Planet Organic Green Lemon Mint Tea Summer’s here so enjoy Planet Organic’s Green Lemon Mint, either hot or chilled with a slice of lemon. This herbal tea…

CARLA OATES is a natural beauty expert and the author of Feeding Your Skin. When you feel happy and content, you exude a radiance and beauty that no amount of cosmetics can match. You also tend not to sweat the small stuff so much. So how can you get more of this beauty elixir, happiness? People often think that the acquisition of certain things will make them happier. But Harvard psychologist and author of The New York Times bestseller Stumbling On Happiness, Dan Gilbert, says our brains constantly misjudge what really makes us happy. Studies have in fact shown it’s the little things that make the biggest difference to how you feel and function. Being happy takes discipline and daily effort. If you do the work, though, you reap the rewards.…

JACKIE FRENCH is the author of The Chook Book (Aird Books). Her oldest chook, Gertie, is now 17. Although Gertie’s sisters have all long since fallen off the perch, Gertie still lays extremely large brown eggs most days of the year. Get in touch with Jackie via facebook.com/jackiefrenchauthor, twitter.com/jackie_french and instagram.com/jackie_french Humans have been part of the rhythms of the earth for most of their existence. It is only lately that we lost our way. He was a 12-year-old English boy in France when the Germans invaded. His parents were interned. Their house was occupied by troops. He and his sister moved into the stables. The girl went from house to house, begging for vegetable seeds and cuttings to plant. A German soldier gave the boy a pregnant rabbit to breed…

DR MICHAEL ELSTEIN is a Sydney-based anti-ageing physician and writer. He is the author of three books, including his latest, The Wellness Guide to Preventing the Diseases of Ageing. He has also designed the app The Diet Guide to Ageing Prevention. Nicotinamide riboside ... has been shown to revitalise ageing mice. In March 2017 in Los Angeles, movie stars, influential luminaries and pioneers in the field of longevity medicine assembled in the house of Norman Lear, an American TV writer and producer famous for such 1970s sitcoms as All in the Family and Maude, to commence the National Academy of Medicine’s Grand Challenge in Healthy Longevity. This will award $25 million to anyone who uncovers substantial insights into the prevention and reversal of ageing. Sprawled on a couch, Goldie Hawn enquired…

We live such hectic lives and I believe it’s important to explore different ways to help us slow down and quiet the mind. A few years ago, I realised that the hectic lifestyle I was living and the intense pressure of running a business were beginning to take a toll on me. I was close to burning out and knew things needed to change. Through some reassessing and realisation, I found that I had a deep desire to incorporate more creativity and artistry into my life. While I had to be creative at work every day as the CEO of a PR agency, I needed to tap into creativity that was not about being perfect but more about exploration as well as play. I knew that, not only would this…

PROTECT & NOURISH AGAINST DRY CHAPPED LIPS An irresistible lip balm made with both Tasmanian olive oil and wild raw unprocessed beeswax, Naturally Millie Ma olive Oil Lip Balm is the perfect way to hydrate and moisturise your lips to protect from dry weather. It comes in three natural flavours and is 100 per cent natural. W: milliema.com.au HYDRABOTANIQUE SKINCARE COLLECTION BY ALEXAMI Natural beauty brand Alexami presents Australia’s first organic chia facial oil blend! This fine, highly concentrated oil unites eight powerful certified organic oils and absorbs deeply into your skin to boost hydration and restore and regenerate your skin cells. It contains 95 per cent certified organic ingredients and includes chia, pomegranate, camellia, rice bran, peach, borage, grapeseed and sea buckthorn oils. Use night or day on your…

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Do you know what you value in life? Your values represent the truth of who you are. They reflect what matters to you, what you stand for and what gives you a sense of purpose. Your values are principles that guide your behaviour in both professional and personal realms, providing a blueprint for living that reflects your essence. Your values indicate what bring you fulfilment; they point to your bliss. Everyone has a handful of about five core values that determine what is truly important to them. According to Harvard University psychologist Susan David, when you identify your core values, you’re “more likely to cultivate habits that are congruent with who you want to be in the world”. When you honour your values through daily actions, you lead a life…