Windows TO THE SOUL

They say you can be fooled by a smile, but the eyes do not lie. Only 1/6th of our entire eyeball is visible, yet our eyes are still capable of transmitting such a powerful energy!

From an icy glare (which can be felt), to a flirty stare or an eyeroll to show our annoyance; the eyes have a language free from words.

You can also gain an emotional insight into how someone is feeling - we see pain and sadness in one’s eyes, through their facial expressions and behavior.

When people try to mask their emotion’s they can alter their body language or try to fake a smile (to hide how they really feel), yet they often forget the eyes can tell a different story. In short – the eyes reveal what the body hides.

We only have to look into our dog’s eyes when we leave the house without them to see the sadness they portray (worthy of an Emmy). We feel so guilty leaving them alone, yet when we return, their eyes light up and they are full of excitement…. and all is forgiven.

The old proverb or saying ‘the eyes are the windows to the soul’ refers to the idea that we can see or understand how a person feels emotionally by looking into their eyes.

Eye contact can save a life by seeing or recognising a silent cry for help; you can tell a story of a life well lived through the eyes in a photograph or portaits; and you can pick up when someone is lying as pupil dilation or enlarged pupils can indicate deception.

This is because lying is more cognitively demanding than telling the truth as our brain works harder by searching through our mind and our thoughts for a believable story.

Audrey Hepburn once said “The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.”

The eyes can also have a cheeky, more romantic side to them – they are capable of scanning an entire room and locking eyes on a handsome stranger.

You can feel when someone is staring at you, so when two sets of eyes meet – it can literally be ‘love at first sight’.

Your body releases a rush of oxytocin (the love hormone) and you know straight away if this connection is worth pursuing, even without a word spoken.

Many a love song has been written about the power of our eyes - such as Bette Davis Eyes, Eye of the Tiger, BrownEyed Girl or the song that brings tears to my eyes, Bright Eyes.

Our eyes shine, glow or smile when we feel happy; we make assumptions about people within a few seconds of meeting them and decide if we will become friends with them; and we perceive people who make eye contact to be more trustworthy, intelligent and sincere, as we tend to believe what they are saying.

According to the World Atlas the population by eye colour is:

• Brown - 70% to 79%

• Blue - 8% to 10%

• Hazel - 5%

• Amber - 5%

• Grey - 3%

• Green - 2%

• Red/Violet – less than 1%.

According to local Eye Specialist Dr Sonia Moorthy of EyeHub Buderim, the eyes are also a window to our health, providing critical information on a range of conditions.

“New and existing research has linked the eyes as a portal to many diseases ranging from Diabetes to high blood pressure, cardiac disease, autoimmune diseases, pregnancy-related issues and even cancer,” she said.

“The link to Alzheimers in particular, is ground breaking in many ways.”

Dr Moorthy said the eyes can also be an indicator of drug-related side effects when looking at new generation biologics and vaccines.

We have so much to be grateful for each and every day! Eyes help to capture beautiful photographic memories that can be stored in our minds for replaying later, or saving them for years to come.

Memories can be bought back to the forefront of our mind through a familiar smell or a random flashback.

When we close our eyes we see the memories exactly as it was, in intricate detail - in our mind’s eyes.

So… gaze deeply into intense moments of beauty and surround yourself with what takes your breath away.

Our eyes really are our silent guides for our future, and if we stop, look and listen to the whispers of the near and far we can meditate our way through life more expressively.

It’s important to nurture them and seek professional advice with the first sign of complications

After all… the eyes are the windows to the soul - and your health.

MAKE YOUR EYES SPARKLE:

• Stay hydrated

• Get a restful sleep

• Eat dark green leafy veges and yellow/orange fruit and veges

• Put cucumber slices on puffy eyes

• Wear sunglasses

• Avoid screen overuse

• Minimise air conditioning

• Place warm teabags on eyes

• Use hydrating drops for dry eyes

• Laugh more, stress less

Working in the fitness and health industry for more than ten years I have seen many clients struggle to maintain their health and fitness goals when they are out of routine. This can be when school holidays hit, during the busy Christmas period and particularly when travelling. Here are some simple ways to help stay on track and in shape while you travel and play:

PLAN AHEAD

Organising your holiday ahead of time will ensure your health and fitness doesn’t get left behind. Journal your planned activities, restaurant bookings and recreation. I find that mapping out your trip ahead of time is the best way to MAKE time in your schedule to exercise. Many people want to take a break from exercise when away, but exercise should never be a chore - it should be a part of your lifestyle. If you are trying to reach a goal and create a habit when at home, there should be no reason to stop when you are travelling.

Researching local gyms and studios before you leave will ensure you can access casual classes and sessions at your destination. Or why not make the most of your environment and find a mobile trainer that can bring all the benefits to you and make it fun and interesting.

PACK THE BASICS

If you cannot commit to your regular gym program, I always recommend an outdoor routine which can be done with minimal equipment. I usually find mixing my routines up when travelling is great, particularly if you are on a beach holiday. Sand between your toes, salt air, morning sun, there is nothing better! Here are some of the basics to pack:

- resistance bands

- booty bands

- small dumbbells if possible (easy to place in luggage)

PUMP IT

I recommend this quick 30 min workout first thing in the morning to have you energised and ready for the day ahead. Let’s face it, when beer o’clock hits you won’t be thinking about bar bells and squats – more like cocktails and shots!

1. Warm up with resistance bands: squat to press x 20 reps; pause at the bottom and squeeze glutes on the way up.

2. Booty band kickbacks: 20 x each leg; pause at the top of the movement and squeeze glutes.

3. Squat jumps: x 20; jump as high as you can landing through your heels.

4. Lunge jumps: x 20 each leg; jump as high as you can landing on your back toe.

5. Dumbbell chest press: x 20 reps; or Superman’s if you don’t have weights.

6. Dumbbell side raise: x 20 reps; or shadow punching x 1 min.

7. Sit ups x 20

8. Leg raises x 20

Total: 8 exercises with 20 reps each.

Finish with 5-10 mins of stretching.

EAT WELL

A big part of the holiday experience is to enjoy different types of food but it is just as important to make sure you balance your food choices.

Breakfast: A protein shake/smoothie is a quick, healthy and easy option to get your day started. If you are eating out opt for a high protein breakfast that will keep you full and satisfied for longer. Try eggs and smashed avo.

Lunch/Dinner: Again, choosing a higher protein meal is always best to help you feel fuller.

Water: Keep your water intake high to prevent dehydration, headaches, fatigue and maintain your energy level. A simple tool to calculate how much water intake you should be having is to drink one litre of water per 25kg of body weight. I recommend you carry around a large refillable water bottle so you do not forget to drink.

RECOVERY AND RELAXATION.

Recovery and relaxation is just as important as the workout while on holiday.

If you are sore from your workout, use your session time to go on a nice 30-minute walk and finish with a stretch and meditation.

Book in for yoga or massages (particularly ones that come to you!), take long walks in nature if possible; go for a surf, read a book, most importantly enjoy yourself – you’re on holiday!

THIS IS WELLNESS WITH SOME HELL YES. THIS IS FS8.

FS8 is all-in-one fitness with attitude. It’s a never-been-done-before offering that remixes the best elements of Pilates, tone and yoga for a complete, full-body group training experience — with none of the fluff.

1776-1784 David Low Way, Coolum Beach 0415 655 185 | fs8.com/coolum