Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 197 i WellBeing

For as long as I can remember, I have suffered from social anxiety. Feelings of not-enough plagued me during work meetings, family dinners and even with friends. After a breakup just before lockdown in Sydney, I was living alone. I’m 34 years old and I found myself calling my mum daily. I got curious. Feelings of loneliness and the worry of being a burden to friends had combined to make my vulnerable inner child’s voice loud. In some ways I reverted to a childlike state. I’ve been forced to change my priorities post-lockdown. With no other distractions I was forced to listen to where these anxieties for coming from. A need to be close to people became evident. Now I’m aligning my want to be close to people. So I’m…

Seal speech Changing the pitch of the voice to be higher or lower is one of the crucial elements of human speech. We can do it because we have direct neural connections between the cortex (outer layer of the brain) and the larynx. Few other mammals appear capable of such tone modulation, but new research suggests seals may be able. The research involved seal pups aged one to three weeks old who were being held in a rehabilitation centre before being returned to the wild. The researchers recorded noises from the ocean and then played them back to the pups at varying degrees of loudness but with a similar tone to that of the seal pups’ calls. When the seal pups heard louder sea noises they lowered their tone of…

For many years I have been in a constant search for help. I was upset about my hair thinning and dreamed of beautiful thick and shiny looking hair. I have tried everything as well as seeking help from my hairdresser. But when the hair started breaking, I became really desperate. Hair Volume™ tablets were recommended to me In my local health food store, I was recommended Hair Volume™ from New Nordic, as among other things it contains apple extract. I was recommended to use the tablets for a minimum of 3 months. I went home full of expectation. Losing my hair is in the past My skin was the first thing I noticed. It’s a great extra benefit of the tables. There was a nicer glow to my skin. My…

Spend 10 minutes with our Paradigm Shifters, the people who are shaping the ideas that will take us into the future. Meet culinary powerhouse and minimal-waste champion Jo Barrett. How I start my day … Coffee, stretching, then more coffee. On ambition … This has always been important to me — having a purpose and feeling like I am contributing to the community. My ambitions are based on my core beliefs and the life I envision for myself. I don’t necessarily set out for specific targets. My ambitions are more around doing my best at the task at hand no matter what it is. Then even if I fail, I’m satisfied with my effort and not the result so much. I believe it’s important for people to have ambition for…

Achievement Adaptability Adventure Altruism Ambition Authenticity Balance Beauty Belonging Community Compassion Connection Contribution Control Cooperation Courage Creativity Curiosity Determination Discipline Efficiency Empathy Enjoyment Equality Excellence Expertise Fairness Faith Family Financial stability Fitness Freedom Fun Generosity Gratitude Growth Happiness Harmony Health Honesty Humour Impact Inclusion Independence Intelligence Integrity Intimacy Intuition Joy Justice Kindness Knowledge Leadership Learning Legacy Love Loyalty Mindfulness Nature Openness Optimism Order Originality Passion Peace Perseverance Pleasure Positivity Power Pride Practicality Recognition Reliability Resourcefulness Respect Risk-taking Romance Safety Security Self-awareness Self-discipline Self-expression Self-reliance Self-respect Sensuality Service Sexuality Simplicity Spirituality Spontaneity Status Success Teamwork Thrift Travel Trust Uniqueness Unity Vision Vulnerability Wealth Wellbeing Wisdom Write your own:…

Adrenal fatigue is a condition affecting thousands of Australians due to stress, poor diet and a generally unbalanced lifestyle. It occurs when your body has been under stress for a prolonged period of time, which results in your adrenals becoming over-stimulated and exhausted. High cortisol levels over an extended period can wreak havoc with your body and can be detrimental to your immune function, digestion and hormonal balance. Common symptoms of adrenal fatigue include cravings for salty or sugary food, low energy levels, brain fog and the inability to sleep at night. Other symptoms like weight gain, impaired immunity and hair loss may also be common. Located on top of your kidneys, these walnut-sized glands produce hormones that help regulate your body’s functioning. Nourishing your adrenals is an essential part…

Two times Pulitzer-prize winning author David McCullough once said: “You can’t love what you don’t know much about.” Brinkley Davies certainly knows that to be true. Having witnessed the devastating impact of modern life on our oceans as a young girl in South Australia, the 28-year-old freediving marine biologist and charity founder knows that to stem the tide of destruction she needs the world to fall in love with our seas and the life that inhabits them, just as she did. How do you do that, though, when so much of the ocean’s wonder and its ruin are hidden? For Davies, it’s about showing people what they don’t know, even if it’s just from their computer screen. Into the deep If you’ve ever seen someone freedive, you’ll know it’s both…

Your brain is a mysterious, complex, incredible thing — and so are your moods. It’s natural to feel a whole spectrum of emotions. Some light you up and make you feel electric and bright. Some are more serene and flowing. And some hurt, leaving you feeling flat and sorrowful. Our moods can be influenced by so many things, and we can’t control them all. We lose loved ones, suffer heartbreaks, face health challenges or financial stress or global pandemics. And if you’re living with a mental health condition like depression or anxiety, it’s definitely not as simple as trying to “cheer up” or “look on the bright side”. But while it might not be a quick fix, there are lots of healthy and natural things we can do to help…

Twenty twenty-one was full of shock, stress and plenty of unsteadiness. No doubt your workout routine suffered, which is entirely understandable. This year, let’s hit the reset button and begin again, with soulful movements that build strength and suppleness. Our focus is finding the functionality of stretch by using a selective training combination. We will use just one exercise in various flow movements that target multiple groups of muscles. By combining these training methods, we create a soulful and successful restart to your workout routine. With breath and pause, we will ease into these aligned exercises to create a supple spine and build the important foundations for strength. Firstly, I encourage you to be patient and please do not rush your body. It’s important to prepare the body to move…

Michelle, how can we best nurture our mental wellbeing during periods of busyness and stress? Operating in a constant state of stress and anxiety can create a big mental toll and really impact your cognitive abilities. If you work or are frequently in a busy and high-stress environment, it’s important you still find the time to take care of your body. You can do this by exercising, eating healthily and getting enough sleep. Make sure you take time to check in with yourself throughout the day by practising controlled breathing and, if you can, take breaks from stressful tasks to give your brain some time to relax. How can we avoid burnout when juggling careers and the return of “normal” everyday life? Returning to the office and “normal” life after…

Akangaroo raises its fuzzy grey head from the ochre grass and stares right at me. Just as astonished by the encounter as the native creature, I stamp down on the brakes of my bicycle. Not impressed with my intrusion, the kangaroo and its smaller mate hop away into scrubby bushes at the edge of the field. Three and a half to four hours west of Sydney, I’m in the land of food, wine and apples (ironically known as Orange), experimenting with a more active way to sightsee the countryside. On a bicycle. After the long car ride to the Central West town (Orange is technically a regional city with a population of about 40,000), it’s a creative way to stretch my legs and clock some exercise while taking in the…

Lakeside Kiosk & Cafe Located on the western side of the Lake Canobolas, the kiosk serves takeaway drinks, snacks and meals. Reportedly, picnic hampers are soon on the menu. Phone 02 6365 3279, lakesidekioskandcafe.com.au, facebook.com/LakesideKioskandCafe. Bissy’s Cafe Gourmet sandwiches, burgers, drinks, brekkie, picnic hampers and more. Phone 02 6369 0666, bissyscafe.com.au facebook.com/bissys.cafe.and.catering.orange. Byng Street Cafe & Local Store Eat-in or takeaway coffee, snacks and more. Open 7am–3pm, 7 days a week. Phone 02 6369 0768, byngstreet.com.au, facebook.com/byngstreet. Getting there Orange is 260 kilometres from Sydney and can be accessed by car, air (booked through Rex) or rail (through Countrylink). For those driving from Sydney, take the M4 highway via the Blue Mountains or the M7 and go via Richmond and Bell till you reach Lithgow and the Great Western Highway.…

Big Pussy Energy VANESSA MURADIAN, HARDIE GRANT Sexologist and yoga teacher Vanessa Muradian has created a deck of prompts and mantras to help you harness your pussy power and free yourself of unhelpful societal constraints. Vanessa invites you to take a topless hike with a pussy pal, initiate bold conversations with lovers and friends and gaze at your genitals, all in the name of connecting with your desires and becoming the most authentic, confident you. Find journal prompts, inspiring quotes and selfcare tips printed on beautiful, tiger-print cards. It’s a deck your fierce feminine energy is crying out for. CH non fiction How to be Online & also be Happy ISSY BEECH, HARDIE GRANT Most of us know that spending too much time on social media can have negative…

Can you please tell us a bit about the history of La Corvette? For more than 120 years, the Savonnerie du Midi, one of the world’s last historical soap factories, has been making traditional Marseille soaps in the best tradition, of which La Corvette is a supreme example: a blend of history, tradition and expertise, often imitated but never equalled. La Corvette follows traditional recipes of soaps manufactured in Marseille or elsewhere in les Bouches-du-Rhône, boiled in a cauldron, using only vegetable oils, with no chemical additives (no dyes, no perfumes and no preservatives). What exactly is Marseille soap and how is it made? Marseille soap is made from vegetable fats and oils and contains a maximum of four or five ingredients including vegetable oil, palm oil, copra oil, salt…

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. Names become harder to remember because they … usually aren’t bound to the activation of any of your senses, which makes their retrieval less available. I’m constantly freaked out by my tip-of-the-tongue memory shortfalls. My inability to instantly remember well-known celebrities, formerly immediately accessible but now hiding in the recesses of my failing memory, is a terrifying signal that my once adroit brain might be sliding into irreversible degeneration. This was until I read Lisa Genova’s book Remember. She’s also the author of Still Alice, the harrowing depiction of relentless…

Spicing up breastfeeding Unlike standard infant formulas, mother’s milk does not taste and smell the same every day. Studies tell us that the taste experience while breastfeeding does influence eating behaviour in adults. However, there is not a direct translation between what the mother eats and what the baby tastes. For instance, active flavour ingredients from garlic and coffee do pass into breast milk but flavours from fish oil and tea do not. In a new study, researchers wanted to establish if pungent substances from chilli, pepper and ginger are found in breast milk. Using a mass spectrometer, they found that one hour after a mother consumed a curry dish, the pungent component piperine was still present in breast milk. The concentration was below the taste perception of an adult…

Hemp (Cannabis sativa) is possibly one of the oldest crops known to humans. Hemp seeds have been eaten worldwide as a major source of food for millennia, and hemp seeds used as food generally do not contain the hallucinogenic component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It is these non-THC varieties that are the older prehistoric plants. The leaves, flowers and sprouts can be eaten, but hemp seeds are the most common food source. Hemp seeds are very versatile and can be eaten raw, sprouted or made into milks as well as used for baking and teas. Hemp oil (from the seeds) is high in unsaturated fatty acids and can be used in salads. Despite its ancient history of use, there is minimal but increasing research today looking at its effect on human health.…

Positivity is everywhere. Just scroll through your social media feed and you’ll come face to face with the Instagram highlight reel: upbeat stories of success and motivational quotes that tell you “happiness is an attitude”. The #goodvibes hashtag has racked up over one million posts on the photo-sharing app alone, but what happens when you encounter an experience that leaves you feeling … not so good? The impulse to cling to happiness in difficult situations, such as a global pandemic, is an understandable one, but this outpouring of relentless optimism is creating a spike in what has been coined toxic positivity. Trend forecasting platform WGSN described the term in their Future Consumer 2022 trend report as “the concept that keeping positive, and only positive, is the right way for people…

“Everything changed the day she figured out there was exactly enough time for the important things in her life.”- Brian Andreas Many of us are familiar with the feeling of not having enough time in the day. Do you regularly find yourself M saying “I’m too busy” or “I don’t have time for that”? Time poverty particularly affects working parents and impacts both high- and low-income earners. Feeling frequently pressed for time is often accompanied by the perception that life is passing you by. Research shows that time-poor individuals who feel constrained by competing priorities often become less active and less healthy, and have also been shown to be less helpful. Time is the number one reason people give for making unhealthy food choices and exercising less. Research also demonstrates…

Have you ever laughed out loud at something funny while feeling desperately upset about a situation going on in your life? Or when asked how you are, have you unconsciously answered, “Up and down.” While that response may sound contradictory, even confusing, it can actually act as a very accurate assessment of how you are feeling in that moment. It might be that you’re feeling really good about home life but are all at sea at work. At a deeper emotional level, you could be feeling a sense of loss that comes with heartbreak or grief, but also feel really energised and comforted by what’s ahead or knowing you have other bonds of love. In psychology, there is a therapeutic process called “parts therapy”. It is where the client can…

Money matters. There is no denying it. Money is a powerful resource and an unavoidable part of our everyday lives. It is considered one of the biggest and most consistent sources of stress in our lives, commonly affecting our emotional and physical wellbeing and creating tensions in our relationships. A 2015 Australian Psychological Society report revealed that financial issues are the top cause of stress for Australians, and have been for a considerable period of time. Yet teaching our kids how to navigate this stress and nurture their financial wellbeing is often an area of parenting that is neglected. So many of us are rushing through life, doing jobs we don’t enjoy, buying things we don’t need to impress people we don’t like, that we forget to consider what we…

There are currently 150 million tonnes of plastic floating on our seas. Each minute, the equivalent of a garbage truck load of plastic is dumped into the ocean. Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), the largest of five major garbage patches in our oceans, contains the equivalent weight of 500 jumbo jets-worth of plastic. And despite the growing awareness, local initiatives and activism around plastic waste and the environment, the average Australian still uses 130kg of plastic per year. Given the current rate of plastic consumption worldwide, plastic is expected to account for 5 to 10 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. However, there is a new focus on innovative eco-friendly alternatives to the plastics we’ve become reliant upon in modern society. From compostable cling film to pasta straws…

When we think about the influence of feel-good chemicals on our mood and body, we also need to look at some of the notso-feel-good ones. Our main “stress hormone” is cortisol. “Cortisol is a hormone that influences our mood, motivation and fear levels,” Christine Bagley-Jones says. “It helps us during our ‘fight or flight’ moments in life — and it’s powerful. We need it for rare situations when we might need to act fast to respond from some kind of risk, which could be physical or emotional.” Cortisol and the body While a quick burst of cortisol can play a useful role, too much stress can wreak havoc on us. “You don’t want cortisol firing off all the time so that it becomes your natural way of operating — because…

If you are inactive and do not exercise as an adult you lose between 3 and 8 per cent of your muscle mass per decade. That’s the bad news, but the good news is that just 10 weeks of strength training can reverse a lot of that loss and boost your metabolic rate at the same time. Training to build your strength and muscle is very good for you and it is not new. Lifting things to build muscle has been practised by human beings for millennia. It is entirely possible that our Mesolithic and Neolithic ancestors noticed that lifting rocks made them more ripped and stronger in the process. In earlier times our Palaeolithic forebears may have been even more motivated to pump rock so that they could flex…

Across 1 Element with the symbol Co (6) 4 Clippers (6) 8 Ocean snail (7) 9 Etc (3,2,2) 11 Asian sea bass (10) 12 Personal favourite (2-2) 13 More enlightened (5) 14 Commonly torn knee cartilage (8) 16 Earnest suggestion (8) 18 Use a loom (5) 20 Refurbish (2,2) 21 Gorgonzola or Roquefort, eg (4,6) 23 Tex-Mex beef tacos (7) 24 Absorption of ideas via proximity (7) 25 Word of gratitude (6) 26 Rise (6) Down 1 Venomous hooded snake (5) 2 Minsk’s nation (7) 3 Guiding features in nature (9) 5 Vietnam’s northern city (5) 6 Sets work for (7) 7 Hothead’s ignition? (5,4) 10 Out of the ordinary (9) 13 Masterpiece (4,2,3) 15 TV bulletins (9) 17 Hungarian word for “pepper” (7) 19 Nail-polish remover (7) 21 Poker-faced…

You have big dreams, don’t you? Virtually every Life Coaching weekend seminar in a vineyard somewhere has featured a PowerPoint presentation that featured slides advising, “If you can dream it, you can do it” or “Every success story started with a dream.” We are encouraged endlessly to dream, to aspire, in order to achieve. There’s a kernel of truth in all that optimistic visioning, but there’s also a hard outer shell that is often ignored. That shell is disappointment, and you can easily break a hopeful molar on it as you bite in expecting the sweet soft centre of fulfilment. Yet, as soon as you set up the target of expectations then you have also opened the field of disappointment. The bigger the expectation, the greater the risk of disappointment,…

Can you remember the smell of your mother’s perfume, your childhood garden or your favourite herbal tea? Even recalling smells can conjure feelings associated with that time, place or person. Aromas immediately evoke emotions via the limbic system, which are deeply embedded in our memory. Powerful properties in concentrated plant and fruit essences can be applied to address mental and physical imbalances. Aromatherapy oils also enhance an ambience — think of the welcoming smell of wild orange or the romantic sent of rose. When we walk into a home infused with essential oils it can put us at ease or energise us. Having an essential oil first equips one to treat common complaints such as peppermint for tummy ache and lavender for anxiety. Aromatherapy has been among the most widely…

DG Cycles Electric bikes are also available. Open Monday to Friday 9.30am–5.30pm, Saturday 9am–1pm. Unit 4/241 Lords Place, Orange, phone 02 6360 4040, dgcycleco.com.au. Ron Boulton Cycles Open Monday to Friday 9.15am–5.15pm, Saturday 9.10am–1.30pm. 202 Lords Place, Orange, phone 02 6362 3670. Bissy’s Permaculture Cafe Adults, children’s BMX and tandem bikes available. Open Monday, Tuesday 7am–3pm, Wed to Friday 7am–4pm, Saturday 7am–2pm, Sunday 8am–2pm. 88 Warrendine Street, Orange, phone 02 6369 0666, bissyscafe.com.au/about/bike-hire.…

When considering good dental hygiene, most of us prioritise brushing twice a day and visiting the dentist once or twice a year. But good dental health is so much more than just what you physically commit to — and biodentistry, a leading dental wellness practice, is at the heart of it. “Biodentistry is a holistic approach to dentistry, focusing on treating the whole of a person’s health in the context of how this could be affecting our oral health,” Dr Scott Makiol from Scott Makiol Biodentistry says. “We strongly believe, and the research continues to tell us, that nutrition is key to maintaining good health. We work with you to help you understand how maintaining a nutritious diet can help your oral health.” The concept makes so much sense. When…

EMA TAYLOR is a naturopath, clinical nutritionist and certified fertility awareness educator. For more, visit emataylor.com or @emataylornaturopathy on Instagram. … zinc deficiency is a common problem, with an estimated one third of the world’s population experiencing a deficiency. Zinc is a biologically essential beauty mineral that has been used as a therapeutic agent in dermatological conditions for centuries. The skin is the third most zinc-abundant tissue in the body, so making sure you’re including this micronutrient in your diet is key to ensuring optimal skin integrity. Zinc is an “essential trace element” because very small amounts of this micronutrient are necessary for human health. When it comes to skin, zinc is one of the most important micronutrients for correct functioning and integrity. Zinc has a long history of medicinal use…

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 @authorjackiefrench, Twitter @jackie_ french_ and Instagram @jackie_ french_. Daylilies taught me that a flower need not be useful, even as a cut flower, nor need it multiply into glory in a few years. Each bloom might last only for a day, but daylilies are grown for those who’ll love their beauty for many decades to come. I first noticed daylilies in a garden in New Zealand, a glorious long row of them all along the garden’s back fence, dazzling gold blossoms that brightened…

Diagnosis is like a jigsaw puzzle, where all the pieces have to fit perfectly to picture the whole. A recent patient reflected this concept: she had a plethora of symptoms and nobody had been able to put a finger on the underlying problem. She had had many medical tests which were essentially normal but she was still feeling unwell. The pieces She was in her early 30s with a high-powered job and a social life to match, although she was finding that her tolerance for alcohol was dropping and she was not only feeling increasingly ill when drinking wine but also was suffering severe hangovers the next day, the headaches sometimes lasting all day. For philosophical reasons she had changed to a vegetarian diet over the previous few years. This…

Treating endometriosis can be a challenge. There aren’t many treatment options available and the few that do exist rely on pharmaceutical medications that alter hormones or surgery. In my own personal battle with endometriosis, I’ve tried all the above. Unfortunately, the hormonal treatments had side effects that I couldn’t tolerate, and while my two surgeries were very helpful in removing the disease, it always grew back within two to three years. Aside from continuing to have more surgeries or try risky medications, I wasn’t sure what to do next. Endometriosis, a serious and painful disease, affects more than 10 per cent of the world’s women. I recently wrote about my long struggle to get an accurate diagnosis of endometriosis. After the piece was published, I received dozens of questions from…

Since its formation in 1979, ACS Distance Education has constantly evolved and improved its unique courses and how they are delivered. Providing students with an effective learning journey has always been ACS’s top priority. Building a capacity to know and to do, combined with a passion for the subject, is what makes a course valuable for life. New career, business or self-improvement ACS realised a long time ago that success at work depends far more on what people can do, rather than on the qualifications they hold. As such, ACS has always striven to provide learning experiences that can be used in real life. Courses may begin with reading study notes, but they move onto experiential tasks that involve observation and interaction with people and things in ways that allow…

This will be my last editor’s letter before the lovely Kate returns from her maternity leave and resumes steering the WellBeing ship. It’s been quite the eight months for me as a first-time mum and first-time editor. As I’m sure every working mother will know, there are periods that feel nothing short of impossible. So often we speak of “balance” or “the juggle”, but really it is a push and pull, to and fro. A constant swinging pendulum, that never rests in an easy middle. Careers and babies are not natural companions. Plenty of help, compromise and healthy boundaries are required to make it work. I like to think we will one day structure society to better support mums who want to re-enter the workplace, but for now a lot…

Beating procrastination For a new study, subjects were asked to complete an online survey in which a donation is made to charity. The subjects were given either one week, one month or no deadline in which to respond. The results showed that responses to the survey were lowest amongst the group who were given one month to respond. Interestingly, the response rate was highest among the group who were given no deadline. The theory is that a long deadline gives people permission to procrastinate and then forget. A longer deadline removes all urgency, but the researchers speculate that having no deadline at all might lead the subjects to speculate that there is an implicit deadline or need which will impel them to act. If you want someone to help you…

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is a traditional medicine utilising the flowers as well as the berries, roots and leaves, originally prized by native North American people before spreading to Europe. Traditional uses reflect the uses today and in Europe these are mainly as a tea for insomnia and anxiety. In North America it is primarily used for sedation and in Brazil as an anti-asthmatic and analgesic and for sedation. In the Amazon, passionflower was a component of an analogue of the shamanic hallucinogenic drink ayahuasca. The name “passionflower” came from the Spanish Christian missionaries in the 15th and 16th centuries, who thought the physical structures of the flower symbolised the passion of Christ in Christian theology. Active ingredients Passionflower contains beta-carboline harmala alkaloids, some of which are mild MAO (monoamine oxidase)…

In 1969 some psychologists came up with the “Pollyanna hypothesis”, the idea that there is a universal human tendency to use positive words more frequently than negative ones. This was just an untested theory, until researchers gathered billions of words from around the world using a range of sources including books, news outlets, social media, websites, television subtitles, movie subtitles and music lyrics. The research encompassed 10 languages including English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese (including Brazilian), Korean, Chinese, Russian, Indonesian and Arabic. For each language they found the most frequently used words and then asked native speakers of the language to rate the words on a scale from 1 to 9 for their positive or negative nature (1 being negative and 9 being positive). In English for instance, “laughter” was…

Do you have a clear set of values that guide your life? Do you know what you need to thrive? When you know what matters to you and what you need to live a fulfilling and vibrant life, it is easier to make good decisions and live more authentically. Decision-making can feel difficult and complex when you don’t have something to guide you. Without a solid foundation you can flounder and get stuck in overthinking. Or you may resort to making choices based on what others think you “should” be doing. The choices you make in your life matter; your decisions can move you closer to what you value, or further away. While it can be tempting to make choices that are based on what you feel you “should” be…

“If you really wish to become successful in your personal life and business or in any walk of life, concentration on the mind through the teachings of yoga must be understood and mastered.” ~ Sri Brahmananda Sarasvati, Fundamentals of Yoga: A Handbook of Theory, Practice and Application. It could be argued that to really understand your purpose in life, to be truly successful from the perspective of yoga, we must give everything up, and, just like Buddha, walk away from the material comforts of our world. At the minimum, we must immerse in sadhana or conscious spiritual practices. Patanjali tells us in Yoga Sutra 1:14 that if we wish to walk the path of yoga, we must cultivate a steady practice, consistently, without gaps, over an extended period of time. Unfortunately,…

Over the last decade, the beauty industry has seen a surge in the popularity of cosmetic injectable treatments, such as Botox and dermal fillers, along with complex, chemical-driven skincare formulas. On the flip side, the “clean” beauty movement has gained momentum, making it clear that consumers are looking for alternative solutions when it comes to supporting ageing confidently and naturally. While cosmetic injectables certainly deliver results, these procedures do come with associated risks, ranging from poor cosmetic outcomes to, at worst, blindness or skin cell death. Likewise, “toxic” ingredients in skincare may have an adverse impact on your wellbeing. According to studies, you can absorb over 60 per cent of the ingredients you apply topically to your skin, the body’s largest organ — meaning the products can penetrate through the…

The thyroid gland is one of the most important glands in the human body. It controls nearly all of your cells and is vital for healthy metabolism, growth and development. This tiny butterfly-shaped gland, which makes up part of your endocrine system, produces hormones that help regulate many vital functions in the body. A disturbance in thyroid function can greatly impact your physical and mental health and wellbeing. This is why, when the thyroid is not working optimally, it can affect the functioning of almost every system of the body, including your emotional state. Thyroid hormone regulation Located at the base of the neck, the thyroid gland is regulated by what is called a negative feedback loop, which includes the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and the thyroid gland. The hypothalamus secretes…

Have you ever been on the phone with your boss, simultaneously shovelling banana into your toddler’s mouth, while wildly gesturing for your pre-teens to stop pelting each other with cornflakes? I’m sure it’s not just me. The concept of multitasking is a modernday malady that has convinced us we can “do it all” … all at the same time. Parents often multitask out of sheer desperation — there isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done, so they double or even triple up on tasks. We’ve been conditioned to wear this level of busyness like a badge of honour; you might even say the ability to multitask is considered a skill, an efficient way of doing things in the 21st century, but it isn’t. Reliance on multitasking often…

At the mercy of the global pandemic that hit our shores in early 2020, Australia experienced loss and uncertainty, waves of closures, rolling lockdowns and constantly changing rules and regulations. The pandemic left an imprint on our mental, physical and financial wellbeing, and it changed our relationship to our homes and the way we design and decorate our spaces. With restricted opportunities for travel and socialising, our priorities pivoted and the focus became hyper-localised and personal. For those lucky enough to have a place to call home during this time, private dwellings represented security and a buffer for anxiety. “The pandemic has changed the way we live in our homes more than any other event in recent memory,” says Lauren Li, the founding director of the Melbourne interior design studio…

Household 1 Cheeki Bottles Treat Mum to Cheeki’s Limited Edition “Mother’s Day” Wine Tumbler. The stemless, insulated stainless-steel wine tumbler will keep your favourite drink cold until the last sip — even on those hot summer nights! Perfect for cocktails, wine, beer, smoothies, ice-cream, tea and coffee, you can take this tumbler with you wherever you go. Featuring a shatterproof lid, stainless-steel straw and powder-coated finish for increased durability, this tumbler is built for adventures. W: cheeki.com 2 The Wandering Artist The Wandering Artist Plantable Card range is a sustainable and unique gifting idea. Designed and printed by founder Kristy Mary, the cards are 100 per cent Australian handmade on recycled paper and imbedded with seeds which will grow when planted. Visit @the_wanderingartist on Instagram for more. W: thewanderingartist.co 3…

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, estimated to make up 75 per cent of all matter. With an atomic number of one, it is a colourless and odourless gas that is highly flammable. On Earth, it only exists when combined with other elements, notably as water (H2 O), with two molecules of hydrogen bonded to one of oxygen. According to the hype, hydrogen is going to be a central element of a future sustainable world. As countries and corporations race to slash their emissions, many new announcements in the hydrogen field are being made, and the picture is continuously updating. However, when examined closely the advantages of hydrogen are not so straightforward. An important issue is the sequence of energy inefficiencies and losses that are necessary before…

Best for wineries and farm gate experiences The Lake Canobolas/Borenore Trail takes you into the thick of the vineyards and farms of Borenore and Nashdale. Drive to Lake Canobolas (where there’s plenty of parking) and commence your journey from here. As you’ll be travelling on the road (there’s no separate cycle path) and up and down hills, this route is best suited to experienced cyclists. Another (easier) option is to cycle a smaller segment of the trail. From the lake, it’s two kilometres north to Cargo Road, the site of several wineries. Or head to Borrodell Vineyard on Lake Canobolas Road for wine tasting or eat at the Sisters Rock Restaurant. A further 4.5 kilometres along the route you’ll reach Borenore Lane with more vineyard opportunities and apple picking. Return…

This is an edited extract from Ottolenghi Test Kitchen: Shelf Love by Noor Murad and Yotam Ottolenghi, photography by Elena Heatherwick, published by Ebury Press, RRP $49.99. From the team of the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen (OTK) comes a new chapter in home cooking to make life easier — and tastier! Shelf Love is the perfect introduction to intuitive cooking and adapting recipes according to what you have in your pantry, fridge and freezer. Packed cover to cover with recipes that don’t require you to be a culinary expert, you’ll enjoy chapters such as “The Freezer Is Your Friend”, “That One Shelf in the Back of Your Pantry” and “Who Does the Dishes?” (aka one-pot wonders). From creamy hummus and tandoori chickpeas to a new take on shakshuka, middle Eastern-style mac…

When it comes to skincare, I’m all about a lessis-more approach that involves minimal products and time and maximum results. While I do have a beauty cabinet almost overflowing with my go-to products (I tend to mix my routine up each day depending on what my skin needs), I like to keep it simple with a few steps: daily sunscreen, cleanser, serum or exfoliant, moisturiser and a hydrating oil. I was pleasantly surprised and excited when JSHealth Vitamin’s new 4-Step Vitamin Skincare System was delivered. I’m currently on day 12 of using the products and my skin is glowing. I have sensitive, dry-combination skin which gets easily irritated when I use products with potent actives or oils. Since using the JSHealth Vitamins Skin line I haven’t experienced any redness or…

If you’ve got a bone to pick with bone broth, I understand. I love bone broth; it was essential in my gut-healing journey, but I know to others it can sound a little … well … unappetising. If that’s you, I would love the opportunity to change your mind. What is bone broth? Bone broth is vastly different from the packaged chicken stock you may have used to make soup. It’s made by simmering the bones and connective tissue of animals, which creates a nutrient-dense stock that can be used to make soup or sauce, and also drunk on its own. You can make bone broth out of practically any animal — including chicken, beef, fish, buffalo or lamb. 10 reasons to eat bone broth 1 It’s mineral-rich If minerals…

Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points just under the surface of the skin, which results in therapeutic effects. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, tonifying or sedating acupuncture points moves Qi (life force) or Blood (fluids), and the goal is to return the body to balance. Acupuncture points are arranged in paired channels, which are connected to an internal organ. Acupuncture works via multiple mechanisms and affects multiple systems. Analgesic mechanisms of acupuncture have been studied extensively, and the physiological mechanisms identified include spinal gating and descending inhibition. Acupuncture also has multiple anti-inflammatory effects, although all the underlying mechanisms from a conventional perspective are unclear. Rabbits and smaller pets Acupuncture can be used to treat smaller pets, where we have fewer pharmacological options. Rabbit sessions require a quiet environment with muted…

Leo A gathering of planets in your partner sign connects you with your clan. They include Lover Venus and Energiser Mars, which travel together through all of March. Despite its strange polarities, March 6 to 19 can be both emotionally and financially rewarding. Emotional flexibility will be your friend now, and from April 8 to 15 your intuition will be a better guide than logic. April 17 to 18 presents a Full Moon and potent planet meeting that awakens a new vocational idea. The completion of a creative project may accompany this. Sagittarius Renewal of family is likely to feature in March, but could also drown you in sometimes unwelcome responsibilities. “On fire with desire” describes April for Sagittarius, and your desires are promoted by the lunar cycle of New…

Beauty & Fashion Humidity Lifestyle Daisy Dress Wrap yourself in something stunning from Humidity this winter. Shop their new range online or at your nearest stockist. W: humiditylifestyle.com Ħarlo Ħarlo’s multi award-winning professionally formulated botanical skincare is pH-balanced, filler- and water-free. Comprising purely natural butters and high-performing premium oils, it’s made in small batches in a carbon-neutral studio and specially formulated for the conscious consumer. W: harlo.com.au New Nordic Hair Volume by New Nordic adds nutrients to the scalp and hair follicle where the hair is formed, facilitating hair growth and volume. Try the New Nordic hair care range and tablets in combination for optimal results. RRP from $44.99. W: newnordic.net.au Green Hemp Green Hemp’s light and silky Face Cream is rich in hemp seed oil and delicately scented with…

Autumn Fruit and vegetables Vegetables Asian greens (buk choy, choy sum, gai lan, wombok), avocado, beans (butter, green and snake), beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, celery, chilli, cucumber, daikon, eggplant, leek, lettuce, field mushrooms, okra, olives, onions (brown, red and spring), parsnip, peas, potato, pumpkin, shallot, silverbeet, spinach, squash, swede, sweetcorn, sweet potato, taro, tomato, turnip, zucchini. Fruit Apples (Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith and Red Delicious), banana, breadfruit, cumquat, custard apple, fig, grapes (Muscat, Purple Cornichon, Sultana and Waltham Cross), guava, kiwifruit, lemon, lime, mandarins (Imperial), melons (honeydew and rockmelon), nashi, orange (Valencia), papaya, passionfruit, pears (Beurre Bosc, Howell, Josephine, Packham, Red Sensation and Williams), persimmon, plum, pomegranate, quince, rambutan, raspberry, rhubarb, rockmelon, tamarillo. March March, Global Endometriosis Awareness Month endometriosisaustralia.org March, AU The Water Challenge…