Innehållsförteckning för Issue 11 från WellBeing Being

“Keep close to nature’s heart … and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.”—John Muir Dappled light is filtering through the canopy of trees around the kitchen as the coffee pot starts bubbling on the gas stove. Poppy is lying down by my feet on the timber floorboards; I watch her nose twitching as she follows the caffeinated scent emanating throughout the open-plan kitchen and living area. Both the aroma and Poppy follow me upstairs as I take our cups of coffee to the treetop balcony where my love is sitting in the morning sun surrounded by grapevines, fig trees and other lush foliage. As I hold the warm ceramic cup in my hands, I…

Circles are an intrinsic part of our world, so it’s little wonder that many of us feel drawn to mandalas. In Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language, mandalas mean circles or containers of sacredness. These circular artforms usually comprise an array of patterns, concentric designs and symbolic imagery and are deeply embedded in Tibetan Buddhism and ancient Hindu traditions. Dealing with stress In modern life, a growing body of research has shown that mandala art reduces stress. According to research published in Human-Computer Interaction Journal (2021), mandala colouring is a valuable self-care tool for mental wellbeing, allowing people to express and connect with their emotions. Natalie Kessell, 41, runs multiple businesses and uses mandala colouring to switch off her brain. While working on one business she is often thinking about the…

We’ve all witnessed the power of a joke. Used skilfully, it can defuse tension and promote social bonding, for instance. Wielded like a weapon, or without thought, it can chop others down. Outside the arts and entertainment industry, humour has had little academic scrutiny. Now, psychology is beginning to take our funny bone more seriously. Hidden purpose in our funny bone Humour, as we know, is that capacity to perceive or express the funny side of life, says psychologist and communications trainer Clare Mann. While related to laughter, it’s not the same thing — people laugh in reflex to tickling, nervousness, horror and even malice, while seeing the funny side of life doesn’t always generate a chuckle. A sophisticated activity, humour seems to involve timing, intuition and creativity, Clare says.…

• Always keep your feet warm. According to Abbie, the kidney channel runs up the inside of your legs, so it’s incredibly important to keep your feet and legs warm. Think socks, long pants and warm foot baths. You can take it up a level and add some magnesium to your bath.• Be wary of the wind! Wear a scarf and keep your neck warm.• Mitigate dryness with oils such as ghee or doing the Ayurvedic practice of abhyanga (self-massage).• Eat seasonally. Notice what’s available in your area, and eat that. We are not supposed to eat the exact same produce year-round.• Set aside time to meditate and reflect. Use the energy of this time to slow down, rest and reconnect with yourself.• Begin a journalling practice to connect deeper…

• What are the best and worst personality traits of your parents? Do you see them within yourself?• When are you hardest on yourself? Why?• What emotions do you tend to avoid? What would happen if you allowed yourself to feel these emotions?• How do you respond to constructive criticism?• What traits in others do you find most challenging?• What is the most hurtful way someone could describe you? Why?• How do you find compassion and forgiveness for others, and how can you translate this to your relationship with yourself?• How might repressed traits be holding you back from living your fullest life?…

• Place 25 grams of ceremonial-grade, ethically sourced cacao in a pot and cover with a cup of your favourite plant-based milk.• Allow to warm slowly over a low heat (overheating will reduce some of the benefits of the cacao), continually whisking so that the milk and cacao blend together as the cacao melts. Optional extras include sweetener, cinnamon, chilli or mushroom powder.• Wrap your hands around your mug of cacao and enjoy mindfully, noticing the effect the drink has on your mind and body.…

Winter It’s surprisingly easy to find lots of hidden magic in the winter time of long dark days, a bounty of earthy vegetables and the brief opportunity to stop, even if just for a moment. Feel your own way into winter hibernation and look for moments that might give you the chance to enter into the peace that winter food can bring. Whether that is a soothing hot chocolate at the end of a long day, the chance for a very early night or a crisp winter morning walk when nobody else would dream of venturing outside. Winter is traditionally a time for reflection in a world that rarely stops to look back. In the winter I treasure a much slower pace of life, Yin Yoga practices, warm foods and…

Q: What is guayusa (why-you-sa) tea? Please share a bit of information about your journey with guayusa. A: In 2017, my family and I found ourselves struggling to keep up with the pressures of our fast-paced world. Rushing. Racing. Busy being busy. We desperately wanted to reconnect and slow down, which was what led us to pack up our things and relocate to rural Ecuador. Friends and family thought we were out of our minds. Taking our children, then three and six, to a place so remote — forfeiting our western comforts to embrace the unknown. But little did they know that this journey would lead us to discover the wonders of guayusa tea. Each morning, our family gathered and sipped this ancient ceremonial tea. We felt more centred and…

Food & drink • Forrest General Store: Visit for good coffee, fresh homemade pies and baked goods, and stock up on supplies for an evening platter of local produce.• Forrest Brewing: Enjoy a tipple of beer that’s brewed on site as well as tasty breakfast, lunch and dinner options.• Brae: Immerse yourself in nature and eat off the land at Dan Hunter’s renowned restaurant, Brae. Set on a hillside 20 minutes from Otways Loft in Birregurra, Brae is ranked in the top 50 restaurants in the world and makes for a very memorable dining experience. Adventures in nature • Mountain biking: Forrest is a mountain biking mecca with world-class mountain bike trails across 60 kilometres of sign-posted single track.• Forest bathing: Visit Beech Forest and the Redwood Forest for the…

Mandala drawing • Search online for “mandala drawing template” or watch a tutorial• Let go of expectations and be open• Fill your circle with patterns, or whatever you like• Draw often, even if it’s only a few lines• Enrol in a workshop Mandala colouring • Pick up a colouring book from a bookstore, newsagent or online• Search for free mandala printables online• Buy pens that inspire and please you• Choose a mandala design that you love• Let the mandala create time for relaxing…

• There can be a fine line between positive and negative jokes. It’s all about self-awareness, Clare says.• Know your own personal humour style and tone. Is it pro-social and affiliate, warm, cynical, self-deprecating or aggressive?• Be compassionate to yourself and others. Often low self-esteem and insecurity are behind aggressive joking.• Use humour inclusively and responsibly and be aware of your audience, Clare says. For example, children (with their less life experience) can feel shamed when they don’t understand adult jokes.• What is considered funny varies a lot, both individually and culturally. Like all interpersonal behaviour, be observant of others’ social cues and body language.• Look for the comedy in the everyday and use it to promote intimacy, relationships and healing. According to the authors of Humour, Seriously, humour is…

“Rest begins with the prefix re-because it requires us to go back to a prior state. It is a second chance. It’s an opportunity to put back in order anything that has shifted out of alignment.”—Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith “Unprecedented times” is what we called it when our container of familiarity shifted dramatically two years ago. These times brought a high level of discomfort and fatigue that continues to this day. But truth be told, we had been getting by on a rest deficit long before then. So, when a friend forwarded me a quiz about finding out what type of rest you need, I dismissed it; rest didn’t quite feel like the answer to my problem, which was fatigue mixed with restlessness mixed with apathy. New labels for it kept…

Winter invites a slower, more restful pace of life, yet our broader society demands productivity and perfection. This toxic culture praises being busy, encourages unrealistic expectations that are often internalised and thrives on unhelpful guilt and “not good enough” beliefs. This may leave you vulnerable to an internal drive system that is in overdrive, resulting in a state of stress, anxiety and overwhelm. Understandably, this can make it difficult to rest and relax, as well as slow down, be still and do less, rather than more, in your life. The productivity trap A desire to achieve and be productive can be helpful, although ironically, this pursuit can also lead to paralysis or inaction. This may show up for you as avoidance, procrastination or reduced capacity to function due to underlying…

I should exercise more. I should get up earlier. I should eat more green leafy vegetables … or maybe I should just stop saying “should”. By “should-ing,” I’m comparing myself with others, or with an idealised version of what I could be. “Should” suggests that I need to change, because who I am now isn’t good enough. Sure, occasionally “should” can be helpful. It can help us focus on our priorities. For example, if I want to complete another half-marathon this year, I’ll need to train. But telling myself I should run doesn’t always motivate me to hit the pavement. Perhaps there are better ways to encourage myself. Psychologist Patrea O’Donoghue says one of the problems with “should” is that it puts a negative slant on things. Even things we…

Q: What is the Australian Natural Therapists Association (ANTA)? A: The Australian Natural Therapists Association (ANTA) is Australia’s largest democratic association of natural therapy practitioners. ANTA is a historic, trusted association of highly skilled practitioners, qualified in traditional and natural therapies. The modalities that ANTA recognises are: • Acupuncture• Aromatherapy• Ayurvedic Medicine• Chinese Herbal Medicine• Homeopathy• Myotherapy• Naturopathy• Nutritional Medicine• Oriental Remedial Therapy• Remedial Massage Therapy• Shiatsu• Western Herbal Medicine Q: ANTA represents thousands of natural therapists in modalities from acupuncture to Nutritional Medicine, herbal medicine and remedial massage. What are the benefits of a membership with ANTA? A: When you join ANTA, your professional accreditation will become nationally recognised, and you will have the opportunity to grow your practice. Becoming an ANTA Member has many benefits including: • Recognition…

Multiple outfit changes, a pile of clothes on the bed, a closet bursting with items that have barely seen the light of day, the constant “nothing to wear” feeling. It’s easy to get caught in a fast-fashion frenzy, and it’s only getting faster. According to the World Economic Forum, clothing production has doubled since 2000, and the 2021 Sustainability EDIT Industry Report showed that the number of new styles released by brands was up 19 per cent from 2020. This isn’t only bad for the planet, but unhealthy for humans too. An industry focused on speed and hyper-productivity goes hand-in-hand with pressure and over-stimulation. Livia Firth, founder of creative agency Eco-Age, compares it to fast food: “After the sugar rush, it just leaves a bad taste in your mouth.” The…

Mindfulness is a tool we can use to connect with the present moment. Inside this issue of Being, you’ll find a tear-sheet lift-out with space to contemplate and cultivate mindful morning and evening routines. Mindful routines are a powerful way to ground and calm yourself while connecting with the present moment. No matter how small, routines act as powerful reminders that you are worthy of love, attention and care. These practices are a way to find meaning, wonder and appreciation for the simple things in life, and we encourage you to use this tear-sheet lift-out to turn ordinary moments into extraordinary acts to cherish.…

It was just after 9am and I’d rushed to the pathologist, dismayed that despite only being open for a few minutes, there were already several people waiting. I took a number and joined the queue, glancing back at the car where my partner and our two-week-old daughter were waiting. How long would it take until she woke up, crying for a feed? It was the first time we had left the house with her and I was feeling anxious. The woman ahead of me noticed my nervousness and struck up a conversation. On hearing that I had a newborn waiting for me, she handed me her queue number, telling me to take her place. Perhaps it only saved me five minutes, but it was the kindness of a stranger that…

There was a time in my life when I wanted to avoid winter altogether. An endless summer — it’s something dreams are made of. It was simple: spend summer in the southern hemisphere and then as the seasons change, head over to the northern hemisphere and do it all again. I thought I was a genius that had cracked some sort of magic code. I did this for four summers, thinking I was living my best life, but then I started to notice a shift in my energy. I was feeling fatigued, even though I was well rested and not working too hard. I felt less creative and depleted. There was something not quite right, and I couldn’t place my finger on it. It wasn’t until I was facing my…

Over the past decade, cacao has cemented its place in the family of superfoods. We’re throwing it in smoothies, sprinkling it on top of nourish bowls, stirring it through chia puddings and drinking it instead of coffee. We’re also seeing cacao ceremonies advertised on posters all over town. While it may seem to be simply another fad food, studies show that cacao really does pack a serious health punch — and has a sacred lineage that puts it next to godliness. And considering that respondents in a 1997 study by American psychologist Harold Yuker variously described chocolate as “awesome, calming, dangerous, delectable, erotic, heavenly, intoxicating, irresistible, mysterious, non-nutritious, satiating, sexy, sinful, sticky and tranquilising” (as noted in the Journal of Nutrition), it’s safe to say cacao has a bit of…

• Be curious (without judgement) about how your past experiences have shaped your beliefs about what it means to be productive, and how you may be reinforcing these beliefs through your current behaviours.• Create your own definition of productivity. Identifying and honouring your true needs, doing something nourishing for yourself or spending your time in a meaningful way could all be considered productive.• Remember that it is normal for your levels of productivity to ebb and flow. Sometimes you may do a lot in a day and sometimes you may do less, and that’s okay.• Train your mind to focus on and acknowledge what you have done and achieved, rather than what you haven’t.• See if doing less in the short-term, such as leaving work on time rather than staying…

Q: How did your journey with We, the many* begin? A: We, the many* began as an idea around five years ago. The key concept that really started it all off was around responsibility. I strongly feel that your personal health, as well as the health of the planet, is every individual’s responsibility. The challenge is how to actually take that responsibility when there is so much complex information and moving parts to both of these issues. The idea for We, the many* is that this gives the ability for every individual to take ownership of both their health and environmental decisions at the breakfast table. Q: We, the many* is focusing on its environmental impact by investing 50 per cent of its profits into carbon reduction. Please explain this…

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