Table of contents for Issue 195 in WellBeing

“To be in the process of getting to know someone, of building a relationship, of giving it your all generously and honestly, with absolutely no attachment to results … That’s not an easy thing,” writes Rachael Coopes on page 50. “From the perspective of yoga, the process of dating is the point, not the outcome. You do the work, give it your all, and then surrender and let grace step in. Because what is for you (or who) will never pass you by. This is where you need a little faith.” Rachael’s piece is about surrendering to the process of dating, but her counsel can be applied to many aspects of life. There is great wisdom in the idea that value lies largely in the process, not the result. We…

I love hearing from you. Whenever I have a spare moment, I trawl through the WellBeing letters inbox in search of your feedback, perspectives and stories. Often, readers get in touch to tell us that this magazine helped them through a really difficult time. Recently, I received an email from someone, let’s call her Holly, who took issue with our use of the word womxn in issue #193. This wasn’t an unpleasant email to receive, we welcome feedback of every stripe. But it got me thinking about the words we use to describe ourselves and each other, and the power of language in general. I responded to Holly to tell her it was absolutely OK that she did not identify with the word womxn, but that it’s important we acknowledge…

Respect in the workplace For this study, researchers surveyed more than 1000 full-time workers aged 21 to 34 across 18 different career sectors. Subjects were asked to rate their workplace across qualities including respectful engagement, autonomous respect, occupational resilience, job satisfaction, employee loyalty and retention and job engagement. The results showed that while managers spend 70 to 90 per cent of their time communicating, they need to place more emphasis on the nature and manner of their communication. This is because the millennials surveyed placed less value on trendy perks than they did on being respected and having a sense of purpose, engagement and wellbeing. Work does not need to be joyful every day, but having a sense of fulfilment and respect as a human being is highly valued these…

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a tall perennial herb of the Apiaceae or carrot family, native to the Mediterranean region but today widely cultivated worldwide. The name foeniculum comes from the Romans meaning “fragrant hay”. The whole plant is used medicinally as a culinary food, herb and spice. The stronger-tasting seeds taste like aniseed or liquorice. The seeds (actually the fruits of the plant) are used as a spice and are one component of the Chinese five-spice powder and are also used to flavour baked foods, meat and fish dishes, ice cream, alcoholic spirits and herb teas. The fresh green seeds are the best for cooking (they go grey as they age). The root bulb, stalks and leaves are eaten as a vegetable both raw and cooked, in side dishes, salads,…

Align with the seasons Follow nature’s cues as the seasons change. In the warmer seasons, eat the refreshing fruits and vegetables that nature offers and keep your body light and active. In the cooler seasons, eat root vegetables and hearty fare to warm and energise your body. Balance your body type Go to whatsyourseason.com/quiz to discover your seasonal body type. Correct any imbalance by using the healing principles appropriate for your type. If you resemble the warmer seasonal body types, cool and refresh your body with yin foods and activities. If you gravitate toward the cooler types, balance your body with warming, yang foods and activities. Choose what your body needs Adapt to your current health condition and select your meals and activities based on how you are feeling each…

In his dystopian novel 1984, George Orwell created a new language for the fictional depiction of Oceania dubbed “Newspeak”. The purpose of this new language was to remove the possibility of rebellion by restricting language and altering meanings: “War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength,” writes Orwell. All political commentary aside, 1984 paints the perfect picture of just how easy it is to manipulate, change and redefine language to take on a whole new meaning. But there’s a flip side to the notion of Newspeak. It shows just how much new words and meanings are defined by the culture, society and technology of the times. So where exactly do new words come from in the 21st century? Unlike the government-dictated lexicon of 1984, most of the new language…

Protein, carbohydrates and fats are usually high on the nutritional trend list but what about often-forgotten fibre? Fibre is an essential part of our diet and can have a huge impact on our daily and long-term health. We all know we should consume it, but how much do we really need and what are the fibre-rich foods? Unfortunately, many Australians aren’t getting enough fibre in their diet. Australian guidelines recommend adults eat at least 25 to 30 grams of fibre a day, and many fall short of this figure. Although its benefits are commonly linked to digestion and “keeping us regular”, the benefits of fibre don’t stop there. Here are some tips to pack more fibre into your diet to keep you and your gut feeling fabulous. Dietary fibre, also…

Depending on your office set-up, it might not be practical to exercise at your desk, especially if you’re in close quarters with co-workers. However, there are many other ways to fit in time for incidental exercise at work. Go for a short walk on your break. Replace the office chair with an exercise ball. Use the stairs regularly. Consider a standing desk. Consider walking or biking to work if practical. Keep some exercise equipment at work so you can exercise during your lunch break, especially a foam roller. Walk while on the phone and use headphones as opposed to holding the device.…

Fossil fuels are on track to soon become history. In May 2021, the International Energy Agency (IEA) put out a report calling for a stop to all new fossil fuel development by the end of the year, and for the sales of internal combustion engine cars to discontinue by 2035. The purpose of this aggressive stance on climate change is to align with the Paris goal of having a shot at a maximum 1.5°C temperature rise. The report, Net Zero by 2050, laid out a detailed road map for an accelerated transition to renewables, and many decision-makers are paying attention. Perhaps surprisingly, clean energy infrastructure involves sourcing significantly more mineral content than is needed for its fossil fuel equivalent; an onshore wind farm, for example, requires nine times more minerals…

"What does gratitude mean to you?” The question buzzed around my mind throughout my first session of the Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Wellness course at Nature Care College. For the rest of the day, I pondered the question … What is gratitude and what does it mean to me? I kept coming back to my course instructor Emma Gray’s words that “things happen for us, not to us.” I sat in my home office embarking on the second week of lockdown, and as I pondered this statement, I felt the bitterness and frustration of the past few weeks slowly melt away. I nominated journaling as my 21-day gratitude practice to get the sea of thoughts out of my head and onto paper. And even in the midst of a pandemic,…

LEE HOLMES runs Supercharged Food and recently released her book Supercharge Your Life. Visit her blog at superchargedfood.com for cooking inspiration, recipes and tips. I’m so fancy You already know I’m in the salad lane, It’s not my first prawn rodeo. I’m so fancy Can’t you taste this prawn? Remember my fennel frond, ’bout to blow. Hey everyone, I’m so excited to announce that I’m releasing my debut album, Songs About Prawns, featuring the single “I’m so fancy lunch” and a track called “Shrimply the best”. Find it on Spotify or wherever you find your music. Just kidding. One thing I am serious about is food. If you’re serious about creating fancy lunches, like me, and want to impress your family, friends, neighbours, Instagram followers or just yourself, you’ve got…

KAREN GOLDRICK is a holistic veterinarian at All Natural Vet Care, Russell Lea, Sydney.  T: 02 9712 5844 W: naturalvet.com.au. Food allergy is an immune response to food, resulting in clinical symptoms such as inflammation, skin redness, itch, gut symptoms, respiratory signs, conjunctivitis or ear inflammation. Food allergies might be suspected in dogs and cats with year-round symptoms or with concurrent gut and skin symptoms. Food intolerance is a different reaction to food that is not immune-mediated, and may be due to other factors, such as digestive enzyme deficiency such as lactose intolerance, or inability to digest specific nutrients like fat or fibre. Gut symptoms are more likely to predominate. As holistic vets, we view the role of food in other ways. Poor-quality ingredients may be contaminated with heavy metals, pesticides…

CHRISTINE BROADBENT loves astrology for its healing strengths and has over 30 years’ experience in her combination of personal readings, writing and teaching astrology. Book to see Christine in Sydney December 2021 and January 2022, and Melbourne in February 2022. After that Auckland, plus phone, Skype or Zoom sessions worldwide. Visit astrologyembodied.com for upcoming retreats and workshops in Australia and New Zealand. Contact Christine for more details.  Ph/Txt Au: 0402 664101  NZ: 0214 10126. Scorpio November has special mana: the Sun and your ruling planet Mars are back in Scorpio. Consider your totem the Eagle and use your powerful vision wisely in the last months of 2021. From the New Moon in Scorpio on November 5 to the Mars–Mercury line-up on the 10th, you can clearly see, claim and articulate your…

After studying at university in Western Australia, Chelsey Costa describes Endeavour College as like coming home. “At uni, it can be difficult to make connections,” says Costa. “At Endeavour it’s the opposite. I discovered a supportive environment where I got to know everyone, made amazing friends, learned so much and felt right at home. I loved it.” While Costa originally wanted to study medicine, she became increasingly interested in healthy eating and lifestyle. She pushed this passion aside to study neuroscience for six months — until she realised it wasn’t for her. “I started working in a healthfood store and was just about to study nutrition when I stumbled across Endeavour,” she explains. “The college offered a more holistic degree, so I made the switch then changed courses to naturopathy.…

City bees Bee populations are currently threatened by a range of stressors including habitat loss, climate change, pesticides and invasive species. In a new study researchers sought to establish whether converting urban lots into green spaces to improve neighbourhoods might also benefit bees. The research encompassed community farms, gardens and green areas studied over three years. The results showed that urban green spaces surrounded by six or more connected hectares of green space and flowering fields created conditions most conducive to the conservation of native bees and wasps. These insects are important for pollination and pest control, two ecosystem services that benefit both rural farmland and the booming urban agricultural industry. Enhancing living conditions for bees in the city could help offset threats to their survival. This could be a…

Spend 10 minutes with our Paradigm Shifters, the people who are shaping the ideas that will take us into the future. Meet Jonathan Evans, specialist timber architect and founding director of biophilic architect firm Arbor.tect. How I start my day … I like to reconnect with nature each morning — spending some time in silence just watching and appreciating the surrounding beauty, colour, pattern and movement in the world around me. I am fortunate to live in the village of Bundeena surrounded by a raw natural paradise, so this morning ritual usually involves either a mountain bike ride to the Royal National Park cliffs, a sunrise kayak paddle around the Port Hacking bays or a walk through a nearby majestic angophora forest, stopping along the way to sit in awe…

It is through your body that you can understand what needs attention in your life. Your body can alert you that you’re moving towards burnout, it can protect you from becoming sick and it can show you when you’re living out of alignment with your true calling. Your body sends you signals each day. How well do you notice and hear your body’s messages? Exhaustion, illness, anxiety, stress and tension are all messages from your body that something needs your attention. Perhaps you have an underlying health condition, maybe you aren’t speaking your truth, or you could be in the wrong job or working too hard. Your body speaks to you in three ways: first as a whisper, then a shout, which, if left unanswered, is followed by a shutting…

Welcome to WellBeing TV, a new feature in collaboration with some of our favourite brands and wellness wizards. As Australians become increasingly health-conscious, we want to bring you honest tips and insights straight from the experts themselves. Whatever wellness you’re seeking, join us on this holistic health journey as we meet and get inspired by the industry’s best. In this WellBeing TV feature, we speak to Dr Jacinta Di Prinzio, an integrative chiropractor, holistic lifestyle coach and personal trainer. Dr Di Prinzio shares her self-care tips for embracing your femininity, naturally. For more information, visit wellbeingmag.tv or follow us on Instagram @wellbeing_magazine.…

When Gill Hicks lost both her legs and nearly her life in the July 7, 2005, terrorist attack in the London Underground, it brought her face to face with the horrors of terrorism. But it also showed her the depths of human compassion, love and empathy. Hicks has risen to become a voice of hope and optimism, and a passionate advocate for peace. Her story and journey have captured the hearts and minds of many, and her work through her charity M.A.D. for Peace (Make A Difference for Peace) has won her numerous awards, including an MBE and OAM. Hicks is the embodiment of warmth, compassion, intelligence and optimism. She has a real thirst for life and a desire to push her limits; to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the…

Stepping into Dannielle Fletcher’s home is akin to taking a trip back in time, landing on platform shoes into the groovy 1970s. Dressed with shag rugs, mushroom lamps and varying shades of orange, sunny yellow and brown, Fletcher’s home is a testament to her love of retro style and her dedication to collecting ’70s vintage. “I love the patterns and colours, and the brightness of it. It’s such a happy era,” she says. Fletcher has been drawn to second-hand since she was a young girl visiting garage sales and op shops. “I’ve got the collector bug and I can’t change that,” she says. The second-hand fossicker owns a popular vintage store in the Illawarra south of Sydney, jam-packed with retro homewares and fashion and frequented by a legion of fans…

If you’re serious about taking care of your complexion, it’s important to understand the impact blue light has on the cellular ageing of your skin and your general wellbeing, plus what you can do about it. When it comes to minimising premature ageing, photosensitivity and pigmentation, there is growing evidence confirming that protecting your skin from UVA and UVB rays alone simply isn’t enough. According to experts, blue light is a big culprit contributing to oxidative stress, which has an overall beauty-damaging domino effect. Are you glued to your phone, laptop or tablet for multiple hours a day? If you answered “Yes”, take a deep breath! The good news is that you don’t have to let your skin pay the price of overexposure to technological blue light emissions; you simply…

It’s not at all difficult to fall in love with Lizard Island’s coral-fringed curls of sand and the cornflower-blue bays that beckon snorkellers under the sea. Travel writers and reef lovers besotted with this tropical isle call it idyllic and wild, and while Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is littered with such beauties (some far more verdant and with coral reefs in much better shape), the allure of Lizard Island lies in its being so very far away. Reaching its national park-protected shores is an adventure in itself, ensuring very few people converge on Lizard’s 24 shimmering white sand beaches at any one time. Those who do make the journey — by plane, charter boat or private yacht — amount to an incongruous bunch of castaways: five-star resort guests, adventurous grotty…

Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art JAMES NESTOR, PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE Breath is a powerful tool. Beyond keeping us alive, breath can calm us, help us focus and provide a grounding force for many of us. But it seems that humans have lost the ability to breathe correctly. In Breath, Nestor explores the “lost art” of breathing that dates back to around 400 BCE. He draws upon ancient wisdom, real-life stories and studies in pulmonology, psychology and human physiology to deliver an intriguing read that will change the way you think about your body’s most basic function. Nestor discovers freedivers who have utilised their breath to increase their lung size; explores the effect the industrial revolution had upon the quality of breathing; dives into the healing power of…

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. … alternate day fasting, which might be a tall order for most of us, has been found to be the most powerful way to turbocharge [sirtuins].S Some experts like to bludgeon you repeatedly with their brilliance; not so Professor Brian Morris, a molecular biologist and professor emeritus of medical sciences at the University of Sydney. His prodigious research efforts, which span the unveiling genes that override ageing and elevate blood pressure and a mountain of work on sirtuins, enzymes that reside at the epicentre of ageing, give this scientific decathlete…

Winter Skin™ It’s a 2-in-1, nourishing body moisturiser and gradual tanning lotion that gives you a sun kissed glow, without the harmful UV rays. Effortlessly build it to your desired depth of colour. Coconut Body Milk This thick, powerhouse, luxurious moisturiser belongs in every bathroom. From babies to great gran, the phenomenal organic ingredients will deeply soothe, protect and transform your skin. Glory Oil™ A phenomenal omega abundant seed oil pioneered to help reduce the appearence of scars and fine lines. Your skin will be restored to its true glory. CERTIFIED ORGANIC. VEGAN. NATURAL. CRUELTY FREE. TOXIC FREE. GREEN PACKAGING. AUSTRALIAN MADE & OWNED. MULTI AWARD WINNING…

Too much coffee Too much of anything can be poisonous, and this is true of the beloved brew, coffee. Many people turn to coffee to get their brain ticking over for the day, but according to this new study too much coffee is bad for cognitive function in the long term. The study involved more than 17,700 subjects aged 37 to 73. The findings showed that high coffee consumption is associated with smaller brain volumes and an increased risk of dementia. Dementia is a degenerative brain condition that affects memory, thinking and behaviour. It is also the second leading cause of death in Australia, with an estimated 250 people diagnosed each day. The dangerous level of coffee consumption was established as being more than six cups per day, with consumption…

Tribulus terrestris is an annual plant in the Zygophyllaceae or caltrop family, with spiny fruit, yellow flowers and sharp thorn-like seeds. While originating in southern Eurasia and Africa, it has spread worldwide and is a hardy invasive species, being known as a noxious weed, partly because of its ability to survive but also because the thorny seeds can easily penetrate many surfaces including human skin and the mouths of grazing animals, generating painful wounds. Tribulus terrestris has many common names, including puncture vine, bindii, goat’s head, devil’s thorn and tackweed. Tribulus has been used traditionally in multiple ways, particularly in Ayurvedic medicine. For centuries it was mainly used to treat sexual dysfunction and venereal disease and for conditions affecting the liver, kidney, cardiovascular and immune systems. Active ingredients The whole…

The natural world is always changing. It’s either growing or diminishing, expanding or declining, ebbing or flowing, but it never remains still. Over the course of days, months and years, Mother Nature displays a dependable set of rhythms and patterns. Life depends on this rise and set, tides roll in and out, storms create a continuous process of transformation; birth is followed by growth, then maturity, decline, death and eventually a return to the Earth. One of the keys to good health is the ability to adapt to change and “go with the flow”. Plants and animals instinctively know to do this. Growing and flourishing in the warmer months, then storing up and settling into the cold of winter, they find a way to endure and live through upheaval. When…

In every job, there comes a tipping point that calls for a complete re-evaluation of where we are and where we’re going. It’s not uncommon to feel as though we have outgrown a career or workplace the same way we outgrow phases, places, clothes and relationships. Athlete and social entrepreneur Samantha Gash is no stranger to this feeling. Working long, unpredictable hours as a corporate lawyer, Gash began to gravitate towards her passion for endurance running, social impact and philanthropy work. “I didn’t know how they would fit together as they didn’t make up a conventional career,” says Gash. “But deep down I knew they aligned with my values of contribution, connection and community.” And so she began her journey from lawyer to entrepreneur and activist. Since swapping business suits…

Daily check-in: Ask yourself each morning: “How am I feeling today?” And “What do I need right now?” Body mindfulness: Create regular routines that allow you to pause and connect with your body, like yoga, walking, tai chi or stretching. Deep breathing: Diaphragmatic breathing will help you to switch from your mind into your body, activating your calming parasympathetic nervous system. Take 10 long deep breaths to check in and reset during your day. Connecting to your senses: Incorporate more sensory experiences into your day: have a massage, a long hot bath, diffuse your favourite oils, walk in nature and feel the sun on your face. Decreasing stimulation: Limit the amount of stimulation you experience throughout your day. Go for a walk without your phone, spend 10 minutes each day…

Dating. Oh, how it’s changed. In my day, there was no social media and little texting. You had to get someone’s number, speak on the phone, make a plan and stick to it. You’d look up movie times in the newspaper, which you had to go to the shop to buy with your money. You couldn’t book online, so you’d arrive at the cinema early enough to get tickets. There was something about the accountability of it all. People did what they said they were going to do, and actually showed up. To not turn up and leave someone standing outside a cinema or restaurant was a rare and serious thing, unlike the regular online “ghosting” of the modern dating world. Life was slower, there were way fewer distractions; people…

No matter how much time you spend working out or in a yoga studio, if you’re an office inhabitant or working from home, chances are you spend many hours at a desk. And when you’re not at work, your neck is probably curved over a phone with shoulders, arms and hand muscles in a constant state of contraction. To state the obvious, sitting for eight-plus hours a day staring at a screen isn’t how your body was designed to function — and forcing it into these positions can compromise your health. “Tech neck” is a result of sitting with the head forward, neck curved in a downward glance, shoulders rounded, arms and elbows locked upon the side of body and hands gripping a device. People spend approximately five hours a…

There’s something magic about slipping into a piece of clothing that really makes you feel good about yourself. Wearing something you love can invigorate you, making you move differently in the world — standing taller, smiling more brightly, striding with purpose. It can give you an extra glimmer of confidence that others respond to, reinforcing the good feelings. Think of a soft, perfectly fitted T-shirt that feels like home against your skin. A sharp blazer that you throw on before an important meeting. Those workout tights that make you feel swift and powerful. A splash of yellow that imbues a grey day with sunny feeling. Fashion is often dismissed as superficial, but there is something deeper to the connection between how we dress and how we feel. In her book…

Get there Lizard Island is located 240km north of Cairns. During the dry season, East Air operates daily charter flights between Cairns and Lizard Island (except Mondays and Wednesdays). Resort guests pay $770 return, campers $820 return (visit eastair.net.au). Go From May to October. Stay National park campsites cost $6.85 per person per night ($27.40 per family). Facilities are limited to picnic tables, composting toilet, a bore water tap, gas barbecue (hotplate, no burners) and tarp poles (BYO shade cover, camping gear, food supplies and water container). Book online at parks.des.qld.gov.au. Pack Swimmers, snorkelling gear, hiking sandals and reef-friendly sunscreen. Do Download the Lizard Island Field Guide app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Plan To find out more visit lizardisland.com.au.…

Images and text from Low Tox Life Food by Alexx Stuart, photography by Cath Muscat. Murdoch Books RRP $36.99. Good for your health, the planet and your budget, Low Tox Life Food is the perfect introduction to a greener kitchen and diet. It’s part guidebook, part cookbook, packed with plenty of tips that will make you just as handy in the garden as it will in the kitchen. Stuart will teach you how to how to compost, cook from scratch with wholefoods and choose the right places to shop and what to buy to limit your intake of nasty pesticides and unnecessary chemicals. This is the season for celebrations and family gatherings, and Low Tox Life Food is here to shake up your Christmas table spread in the healthiest of…

EMA TAYLOR is a naturopath, clinical nutritionist and certified fertility awareness educator. For more, visit emataylor.com or @emataylornaturopathy on Instagram. … tongue scraping involves scraping your tongue with a U-shaped tool … from the back to the front of your tongue first thing in the morning to remove built-up bacteria. A healthy mouth and smile is not only how you greet the world but an indicator of your age and overall wellbeing. Tooth discolouration, enamel wear and decay are preventable and can be kept at bay with a wholesome diet, specific nutrients and a few age-old beauty practices that you can easily weave into your daily routine. What causes poor oral health? There are a number of factors that can contribute to poor oral health; the leading cause however is…

JACKIE FRENCH is an author, gardener and honorary wombat. She was the Australian Children’s Laureate from 2014 to 2105 and awarded Senior Australian of the Year in 2015. Jackie is also a patron, ambassador and director of projects for kids, animals and the land. Get in touch via Facebook @authorjackiefrench, Twitter and Instagram @jackie_ french_. … deep within me is the conviction that gardens should be gifts, from our friends and from the earth around us. You should not have to pay for beauty. My friend Evangeline called last week — she was feeling low. Evangeline has been doing things for over 70 years. Suddenly in lockdown, all the voluntary projects she is involved with, the lunches with friends and sleepovers with grandkids had to stop. Even her garden looked gloomy,…

KAREN BRIDGMAN is a holistic practitioner at Lotus Health and Lotus Dental in Neutral Bay. All of this produced a very happy result – three months later she rang me, and it was confirmed that she was six weeks pregnant … These days there is an increasing incidence of couples having difficulty conceiving a baby. One of my patients was having this problem. She was 38 years old, had been working and living overseas for many years and had been married about 15 months previously. As she was concerned about her age and the potential for decreasing fertility, she and her husband decided to try and conceive as quickly as possible, but this had not happened as yet. Medically it is generally suggested to try and conceive for 12 months after…

My face was covered with hundreds of blisters, my bulging eyelids were swollen shut and the pain radiating down my back made it difficult to walk. Something had gone terribly wrong since the birth of my second child. Months after he was born, I was barely able to care for him, his brother or myself due to a mysterious set of symptoms that only seemed to worsen. Many doctors and countless tests later, I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, or AS, an incurable inflammatory disease of the spine. If untreated, AS can lead to the permanent fusion of vertebrae; and even with treatment, it can seriously compromise quality of life. I’ve tried just about everything to manage my condition. Severe diets and herbal supplements taken by the fistful never made…