WELLBEING
MINDFULNESS
CREATIVITY
ESCAPING
Breathe and make time for yourself
Free from fear The big blue pill Mind body & soul Art without walls Don’t keep dreaming
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WELCOME
I found myself again one morning when I opened the window and smelled the fresh daisies growing in my background. I ran outside and danced under the sunshine and nothing had felt that warm in a long time. The rays on my skin and the grass beneath my feet, nothing had been that normal in so long. I found myself in the novels I read and the country music I played while riding shotgun. I found myself while walking along the beach and witnessing the sun setting down. It was beautiful and when the sun rose the next day, I found myself, “I’m going to be alright.” Because I found myself while pacing down the open roads at midnight. And we laughed under the stars and I remember that the world is much bigger than I am and there is so much more out there than what we had. I found myself while tracing back my footprints along sand and listening to the waters rush along the creeks. Ming D. Liu
COVER ARTIST Eberhard Grossgasteiger illustrator and professional photographer. Photo by eberhard grossgasteiger from Pexels.
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CONTENTS BREATHE ISSUE 29
Breathe (ISSN 2397-9747) is published by GMC Publications Ltd, 86 High Street, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1XN Tel: +44 (0) 1273 477374 For editorial enquiries, email: hello@breathemagazine.com For article and illustration submissions, go to: breathemagazine.com/submissions Design: Holly Patterson Editorial: Holly Patterson Marketing: Holly Patterson Production: Holly Patterson Publisher: Holly Patterson Distribution: Leeds Beckett Fashion Marketing Printer: Pression Creative Print & Finishing Subscription enquiries: T: +44 (0) 1273 488005 or pubs@thegmcgroups.com To subscribe online, go to: breathemagazine.com/subscribe Views and comments expressed by individuals do not necessarily represent those of the publishers and no legal responsibility can be accepted for the result of the use by readers of information or advice of whatever kind given in this publication, either in editorial or advertisements. Nutritional information given is a guideline only and may vary due to ingredients/quantites used. The ideas and suggestions contained in this publication are not intended as a substitute for consulting your GP. The publisher disclaims all liability in connection with the use of this publication. The information supplied in book extracts in the responsibility of the book’s original publisher. No part of this publication may be reporduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission of the Guild of Master Craftsman Publications Ltd.
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WELLBEING
ESCAPING
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Free From Fear It’s time to take control of the anxiety and welcome positive thoughts.
The Big Blue Pill Breathe explores some of the best things to do in Australia during the month of July.
MINDFULNESS 16
Mind Body & Soul Transform your life with the power of essential oils.
CREATIVITY 20
Art Without Walls The pleasure of appreciating the world around us.
LIVING 28
Don’t Keep Dreaming Don’t let you past dreams and aspirations block your future passion.
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WELLBEING
‘More compassionate mind, more sense of concern for other’s well-being, is a source of happiness.’
Dalai Lama 7
FREE FROM FEAR A wave of dread overcomes you - your chest hurts, your heart flutters, and you can’t catch your breath. All classic symptoms of anxiety and can often be mistaken for a heart attack - and for good reason. We all feel worried and overwhelmed from time to time, but when having this weight drag you down in your day-to-day life it can feel never-ending. What is anxiety? Anxiety is a primitive and essential emotion. It is also described as the fightor-flight response, it’s your body reaction to something it sees as a threat. When the body needs to defend itself, the heart beats faster to pump blood to the muscles, which provides energy to run away or fight danger. When does it become a problem? The response of fight or flight can be so powerful, it will react before the body discovers the real danger and the fear ultimately takes over, which can then trigger a panic attack. Anxiety can stem from numerous situations or past experiences. The extent of your anxiety can be as a little as being away from home to break-ups or family traumas. But once you experience continuous panic attacks, you can begin to live in fear of them happening or worry something bad will happen because of an attack. My own experience with anxiety Growing up I have always felt safe within my own body and mind, so I never really felt the extent of anxiety or understood the term that well. Only until my later years at university did I start to become very familiar with anxiety and what came with it. During this period of time, my parents were undergoing a divorce, I was having complications in my first relationship and a close friend of mine was terminally ill which may have been the roots to my anxious way of life. Obsessive pulse taking After experiencing panic attacks, I then had a fear of them and having the sense of no control over my own body and the only professional advice I received was to “think more positively and remember that there are people worse off” which I thought was just insane. I started to develop symptoms over time that were making me feel physically and mentally ill which I then convinced myself I was. I would wake in the morning with a tight chest and would also to struggle to sleep at night with an ongoing fear running through me. I would attend regular medical appointments discussing my stomach and pack pain which was so intense I couldn’t walk properly. I had literally convinced myself numerous times that I had an underlying illness. I then developed an obsessive habit of checking my pulse regularly through the day, due to the strain of worry on my chest and the fear of not being able to
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breathe. This was an impulsive habit. However, I felt it was a way of trying to control my anxiety and calm myself with the reassurance of feeling my pulse.
One night in my university flat, I was having an anxious flare up and my chest was tight and I knew that having no sleep that night was inevitable, so I decided to take myself to A&E, with worry that something wasn’t right. My friend Jordana who lived with me decided to come with me, not knowing we would both be there until 9am in the next morning.. After waiting amongst the Thursday night drunks in A&E I was finally seen to, where a nurse monitored my heart rate and took my bloods. Turns out my friend didn’t deal well with blood and fainted three times and ended up splitting her chin open on the floor. My friend then had to join the back of the waiting list, for her chin to be glued back together. Eventually at 9am the next morning, we had both been seen to and I had received the results that I was completely fine and that it was just my anxiety taking over once again. However, my friend was left with a scar she would have forever, the irony. After that night, I decided I needed to learn to control this fear and over time I did. After understanding what anxiety is and your anxiety is triggered, you can begin to control it. When it comes to conquering anxiet, facing your fears is step number one. I would also remind yourself of the key facts of anxiety: It won’t kill you -Panic attacks are the body’s fight or flight response kicking in. But the body will still react when there is no danger. -Although panic attacks are scary, remember they’re harmless. -Remember that panic attacks are breif, they will typically last 10-15 minutes, even though it can feel like forever. If reminding yourself of these facts and they still don’t seem to calm you, try distracting yourself, I like to watch makeup tutorials as they seem to really calm my mind, when I start to feel anxious. Of course if you’re experiencing anxiety or panic attacks, don’t suffer alone, seek a professional and they will help you overcome these fears.
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ESCAPE
‘The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page.’
gustine
Saint Au11
The Big Blue Pill The cure for anything is salt water, sweat, tears or the sea.
When you think of Australia what is the first thing that comes to mind? Sunshine. Well unfortunately it’s not all BBQs, beaches and bikinis all year round. July in Australia is actually mid-winter for them down under, although it’s not typically the warmest time of year to visit Oz, it is the perfect month for other amazing activities and adventures for you to experience. June to August marks the dry season in northern Queensland, so rainful is at its lowest and temperatures are generally still warm and sunny. This actually makes it the more perfect time to swim, dive and snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef, sail the Whitsundays and explore the ancient Daintree Rainforest. July is one of the best months for skiing in Australia. You can now ski in New South Wales in the Snowy Mountains, in Victoria in the state’s Alpine regions, and in Tasmania in some of its high-altitude national parks. Ski season in Australia traditionally begins on the Queen’s Birthday holiday weekend.
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Yulefest takes place in July, this is because Christmas occurs in the Australian summer. The Blue Mountains west of Sydney celebrates Christmas in July during the winter. You can enjoy Christmas dinners, sing-alongs and a visit from Santa himself. At Australia’s top end, July is when the Darwin Beer Can Regatta takes place. Boats made of beer cans and milk cartons compete with one another in the water on Mindil Beach. Coonawarra Cellar Dwellers from the Coonawarra wine region on the Limestone Coast zone of South Australia host a month long festival, Coonawarra winemakers bring along their best from their cellars, giving you opportunity to buy some vintage wine. The winter months of June to August are also the time when the roads to the National Parks are fully open and touring is in full motion. The Red Centre in winter also expereinces lower temperatures, which creates a perfect opportunity to explore around Uluru and Alice Springs.
Australia’s Top End is a region that never seems to get enough credit as a main travel destination and more particularly Darwin. Darwin can be overlooked for its extremley hot condtions. July menas that Darwin’s usual stifling humidity is greatly curtailed. Darwin is a great starting point for travellers to explore some of the countrys most spectacular natural environments such as, Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks, Arnhemland and many others.
“Where else in the country can you learn about war history, go swimming with crocs, and then relax with a drink outdoors at night while taking in a movie - all in the middle of winter?” These are only a number of activites and places to travel during the July month in Australia, Australia is filled with amazing places to travel all year round and there will always be plenty of things to do.
What to pack? Keep in mind the areas you’ll be visiting and all the adventures you have planned for your trip. I would also keep in mind, that if you’re travelling for a long time then only pack your essentials. Essentials would include sturdy walking boots, which will be highly useful if you are planning on going out on a bush tail. A pair of sunglasses to protect you from the sun, as well as sunscreen and I would also pack a swimsuit just in case. Layering up is a good tip for this time of year in Australia, so lots of warm layers to keep you warm and a good quality coat. Australia is generally casual and outdoorsy. However, if travelling into Sydney you might want to consider packing something more dressy, maybe if you want to visit the opera or just one of the higher-end restaurants.
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MINDFULNESS
‘Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is anchor.’ Thich Nhat Hanh 15
Mind Body & Soul The power of essential oils
More than ever essential oils are becoming increasingly popular and there’s no wonder why. They’re one of the most effective and quickest ways to stimulate your emotional, physical and mental responses within your body. Yes they smell incredible. For centuries now, essential oils have been used for a number of things: medical uses, spiritual and for uplifting properties. Ancestors believed that plant-based medicines were provided by mother nature, providing us healing properties from the extensive range of powerful plant extracts. Every essential oil contains compounds with unique healing therapeutic benefits. If this sounds of interest to you, then here are three of the popular essential oils you should start your collection with and creative ways to use them.
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Peppermint: cooling and calming this oil can help your health and body, particularly the digestive system. Replace your afternoon hit of caffeine with a drop of peppermint massaged into your temples. You will get an immediate energy boost. Beat nausea with a cold compress infused with 2 -3 drops of Peppermint. Place one drop in your mouth to help freshen your breath. Drink a glass of water with Peppermint oil in it before eating to reduce bloating, gas, and indigestion. Apply a few drops of Peppermint oil to the palms of your hands and deeply inhale for a quick pick-meup.
Lemon: this essential oil can uplift you instantly with its fresh, clean citrus aroma. Not only does it smell amazing, but lemon actually has multiple health benefits. This oil is recommended daily, to cleanse your body and physical environment of any undesirables. Add lemon oil to your water for a refreshing taste and to help naturally cleanse the body. If you find it hard to wake up in the morning, add three or four drops of lemon to your diffuser and you’ll find yourself invigorated and rearing to go. For a chemical-free cleaner that cuts through grease use 1 1/2 cup of white vinegar, 1/2 cup water, eight drops of Lemon oil. Love infused olive oils but not the price? Add a few drops of lemon essential oil to your olive oil for an instant taste sensation.Take two drops each of lemon, lavender and peppermint to help fight off seasonal allergies.
Lavender: another extremely essential oil used around the world. Lavender is recognised for its calming properties, which is why it is often the go-to oil for the sleep deprived. Having trouble sleeping? Apply lavender oil to the bottoms of your feet or place a few drops on your pillows or bedding. Lavender oil keeps the scalp looking clean and healthy and makes a great addition to any hair treatment, shampoo, or conditioner Add a drop of oil to your children’s bath water and watch them instantly relax. When you start to feel tension building in your body, apply lavender directly on to your temples and back of the neck. Combine Lavender oil and water in a spray bottle and you have an instant solution for all those unwanted smells.
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CREATIVITY
‘The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul’ Dieter F. Uchtdorf 19
Art Without Walls The pleasure of appreciating the natural world
The pleasure of travelling. The experience of travelling can encourage creative thinking, prompt new cultures and provide a different outlook on life. Travelling allows you to explore the world and discover new experiences all the time. The mystery of discovering something different, learning from new cultures and understanding that everywhere you go something new is awaiting you, that is the true meaning of travel.
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Travel can inspire the soul, body and mind, allowing you to find yourself. Astounding landscapes and natural light have their role to play, and their impact is powerful. Staggering mountains, miles of crystal blue sea, wild animals beneath the tall jungle trees: we live in a beautiful, big world. Mother nature has granted us with so many inspiring places, but we have pinpointed only ten inspirational landscapes you should consider.
10 INSPIRING COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD
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Zanzibar
amazing island is located off the Indian Ocean coastline of Tanzania and north of Dar-Es-Salaam. It is known for being historically romantic with breath taking tropical islands. On the mainland there are combinations of trekking and Safari available, reaching the Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa.
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Baja Peninsula, Mexico
(Below) Baja
is filled with stunning visions at every turn, the second longest peninsula offers 1,200 km of the mystic, ethereal, and untamed escapade. The second longest peninsula offers 1,200 km of the mystic, ethereal, and untamed escapade. There is a stunning vision at every turn, like the mountainside village with blue skies. Sip drinks and watch sunsets, linger and disappear on the Pacific. Get an adrenaline rush while surfing the perfect wave or walking through the canyons while staring up at the diamond stars above. Any which way you choose to enjoy your time, you are sure to discover the ongoing joys of Baja.
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Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Japan
Arashiyama has many attractions, like the Togetsukye Bridge, small restaurants, and small shops, as well as bamboo groves and pleasure boats. It is most attractive in the beginning of April and in the middle of November with fall colours and cherry blossoms. December boasts lantern illumination with street lights. (Above)
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Sossusvlei, Namibia
Situated in a conservation area on the continent of Africa is Sossusvlei, a spectacular and well-known attraction. It is characterized by surrounding red sand dunes and large white salt clay pans. It can be visited during any time of the year. Some dunes are the highest in the world and reach almost 400 metres in height. It provides photography enthusiasts with wonderful images in the morning and evening light. (Right)
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The Rocky Mountains, North America
Located on the west of North America, The Rocky Mountains are a mountain chain approximately 4,800 km long and 563 km wide running from north to south. The range runs through New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Alaska, and Montana, as well as British Columbia and Alberta in the Canadian province in the Northwest territories and Yukon. It has been poetically described as the spine of the continent. (Left)
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Myanmar, Bagan Visiting the ancient city of Bagan is about the sunrises and sunsets. There are 2,000 temples and pagodas and a marvel of colours over the amazing landscape. Bagan was once the capital of the kingdom between the ninth and thirteenth centuries where there were more than 10,000 temples, monasteries, and pagodas. (Below)
‘We travel not to escape life but for life not to escape us’ CARLY GALLAGHER
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‘If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.’ JAMES HERRIOT
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Serengeti, Tanzania, East Africa
The vast ecosystem of the Serengeti is in East Africa. It spans at about 30,000 square kilometres and the name Serengeti from the Massai Language means endless plains. This region is in northern Tanzania in Africa, extending to southwest Kenya. The Serengeti Park hosts the large mammal migrations and is popular for its African Safaris. (Above)
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Giant’s Causeway, Ireland A UNESCO world heritage site in Northern Ireland, the Giants Causeway is renowned for layered basalt polygonal columns that resulted from a volcanic eruption, which took place 60 million years ago. It has attracted visitors for centuries and harbors a wealth of natural history. Seabirds are seen around the coast of the causeway with razorbill, fulmar, petral species, and rare plant species over the natural rock formations and cliffs. (Left)
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Dinosaur Provincial Park, Canada
Dinosaur fossils remain buried in the surface of the earth. If you want to see fossils of extinct dinosaurs, the Dinosaur Provincial Park is the place for you. The Dinosaur Provincial Park is regarded as the best place to see and experience dinosaur fossils. It is located 48 km away from Calgary, on the border between USA and Canada. Dinosaur Provincial Park has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1979. (Above)
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Laikipia District, Kenya, East Africa
Laikipia in the Maasai language translates to “treeless plain�. The Laikipia District is a vast plain with numerous wildlife species. including the Big Five (rhinoceros, elephant, buffalo, lion, and leopard) that roam freely in Laikipia. (Left)
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LIVING
‘Open your eyes, look within. Are you satisfied with the life you’re living?’ Bob Marley 27
Don’t Just Dream Do you ever find yourself looking back at your younger self and the goals, ambitions and dreams that have passed you by over the years? You may feel as though you have failed, but this isn’t failure it might just be an indication that you aspirations and the way you view yourself needs an upgrade.
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As a child you see no limitations in what you want to achieve and believe anything is possible. As you begin to experience life and what it throws your way, your confidence can start to chip away and those limitations become the only thing blocking your dreams. As a result those ambitions you once had become a distant memory.
Although you never reached your childhood goals, it doesn’t mean you can’t harbour the passion you have now. Overtime you evolve as a person from the experiences you endure through life and your future goals change with you. Why would your goal from the age of nine remain the same as the goals and ambitions you have today?
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‘Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country.’ ANAIS NIN Grow through what you go through Meet Katherine Patterson, 46 years old, a social worker and mother of two. Last year Katherine graduated from university with a first-class degree in social work and she also won the special award of best dissertation. During her studies at university she was undergoing a difficult divorce, but this didn’t stop her new discovered passion in an area she wasn’t even looking - in helping others to have a better life. ‘I had stopped sharingmy childhood dreams by the time I was a young mother, and when my eldest daughter became ill with kidney failure,” says Katherine. ‘It wasn’t really an option, when it comes to your children that’s all that matters and I had to take care of her, the only hopes I had then was for her to get better.” It was five years before her daughter got better and received a transplant for a better life. “That’s all I ever wanted, for her to get healthier and have the life she deserves, even after the transplant, my role was as a mother and taking care of my two children, whilst my husband worked on the oil rigs and as the kids grew older I took on office work at various places.” Katherine’s daughter receiving a transplant and beginning her road to recovery was just one of the hurdles that year, the same year she herself was diagnosed with Lyme disease. The effects of Lyme disease was debilitating on her life mentally and physically. “Yes that was certainly a tough time for me and my whole family, but I carried on and after two years suffering with Lyme disease things got better, including my health,” says Katherine “As my children were growing up, one of them was travelling and the youngest was looking at university, university wasn’t an option for me when I was younger and I was amazed at what universities had to offer.” She then went on to discuss how she never felt like she never had her full independence and that it was difficult her husband working offshore ‘It’s hard, when your husband works offshore, you have your own routine and then you have to adjust when they come home and initially takeover, but overtime I was changing as a person and that just wasn’t suiting my marriage.” 30
That year Katherine’s youngest daughter was accepted at university and she was too, on a social work course. “I have always been caring and wanted to care for others, the more I looked into the course, the more I knew it was for me,” she says. University changed Katherine’s life, it changed her outlook on life and initially her as a person, but unfortunately this change was having bad effects on her marriage “we had been having issues for a long time, but me going to university made me realise a lot of things and the life I wanted for myself.” After discussing the issues with her husband she decided she wanted a divorce. “It was through that this that I was able to rediscover myself. I re-evaluated my goals, my vision, my values. It was only then, with this newfound clarity, that I was able to determine what I really wanted out of life, in the present.
RE-EVALUATE YOUR LIFE GOALS Life Coach Alex Klokkaris spoke to Breathe about how to set and achieve your new goals. These are some of her tried and tested tips, which will exponentially increase the likelihood of their achievement. So here is what she say’s “once you have discovered what you knew found desire is and what you want to achieve, then ask yourself how serious are you about it and how committed are you to achieving that goal?”
Alex says “Design you unique blueprint. Make conscious, positive choices about what you want your life to be and do it. We all have this amazing power which lies dormant within us, waiting for the moment to be released in an authentic way that represents a deep aspect of you. Allow yourself to commit to a goal that is meaningful to you and then go ahead: play, experiment, focus and take action.”
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