VIRAL
People, Places & Holistic Health
Issue 2
Editor, Photographer: Tracie Heasman www.tracieheasmanphotographer.co.nz tracie.heasman@gmail.com Contributor: Sophie - The Quickest Brown Fox www.theqbf.co.nz
Holistic Health, Inspiring People and Kiwi Travel
CopyrightŠ2020 VIRAL Magazine All contents and images cannot be reproduced without written permission from Tracie Heasman
Cover: Tracie Heasman, Photographer
Inside: Page 3
Flox - Hayley King
Page 5
Mount Ruapehu
Page 11
DIY Body Serum
Page 13
Gratitude
Page 17
Intermittent Fasting
Page 19
Recipe - Nut & Cacao Bites
Page 21
Recipe - Blueberry Dairy Free Ice Cream
Page 23
Yoga - Kidney Detox
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Flox
Hayley King
How long have you been creating your pieces and how did you get where you are today? I’ve been painting as Flox since 2003 after graduating from Art School. The aesthetic and the business emerged as one entity over the course of a few years, as I kept my fingers in as many pies as possible. I knew I wanted to be a creative and I knew in order to achieve this, I’d need to get the ball rolling myself, so I was determined to be my own boss and control my own destiny. Under the name Flox, I continued to have gallery exhibitions, work collaboratively with other street artists on outdoor walls, align with brands, paint commissions and develop merchandise Who or what are you influenced by? I’m influenced heavily by nature, but I also love the Arts And Crafts Movement (William Morris etc) and the notion of ornamentation. I’m in love with textile and wallpaper design and basically anything that intertwines natural elements. What inspires your creativity? Travel is a major inspiration for me. Obviously the international options are off the table for now but I use my own experiences throughout NZ (and the world normally) as inspiration.
I’m working on new product ranges (DIY and stationery mostly), and looking forward to some large scale murals coming up this summer (both interior and exterior). I also have a number of workshops coming up which is always super fulfilling as I love teaching curious and aspiring creatives, it really gives me that sense of purpose. Best and worst thing about being a creative/artist? The best thing about being a creative is that I have that option as an outlet. Creativity is my happy place and I couldn’t imagine not having that in my life, I am truely grateful to feel such a deep and all encompassing need to express myself through my art. Worst part about being a creative is the uncertainty of what’s around the corner…. How would you describe your perfect day? Coffee, 6km run, paint/admin/hang out with my staff, beach/sun time. What is your most valued possession? I’d have to say my Toyota Hiace Van….she’s been so loyal. She’s my baby :) If you could blink your eyes and be in a favourite place right now, where would that be? Bali. 100% Where would you like to find yourself in 10 years? Somewhere tropical, and somewhere by a beach. Somewhere still accessible to the city.
www.flox.co.nz
Best or most fulfilling experience in your creative career so far? My favourite experiences have always involved painting the big outdoor pieces. I’m in my happy place when I’m painting big, and publicly.. and it’s a real honour to leave a mark for communities to embrace for many years afterward. I remember one particular occasion in Taiwan, when I finished a day long piece…. I had the most gorgeous response from the crowd with full applause, photographs and autograph signing LOL, you don’t get that in NZ! What are you working on at the moment? Photo: Gareth Moon
TRAVEL
Mt Ruapehu
Being avid snowboarding lovers, my husband and I decided it was finally time to introduce our kids to this exhilarating sport. Turoa was our first option as it has a bigger playing field and more accommodation options with the small town of Ohakune right at the base of the mountain. We stayed at the LKNZ Lodge and backpackers, and unfortunately when I booked, I overlooked the work ‘Backpackers’. LKNZ was exactly what you would expect from a typical backpackers. It’s a great option for younger people that just want to drink, have some fun, and meet new travellers. But unfortunately just not ideal for a family with young children... So after a terrible night sleep, it was off to spend the day on Turoa Ski Field. Starting on the beginner slopes, the kids took to it surprisingly well, and by afternoon they were keen to venture up the chairlifts to some serious terrain!
It was an amazing couple of days spent snowboarding, sleeping, and not a lot else. By the end of it, we were all exhausted but happy to get back to our Raglan home, away from the rowdy house of twenty-somethings. A few weeks later, we decided to try out the other side of the mountain – Whakapapa. We booked accommodation right in the heart of the village, and only ten minutes from the ski field. The beautiful 100-year-old Chateau being the biggest attraction to the village, we stayed just behind it at the Skotel, a motel much more suited to our family’s needs! It had an onsite restaurant and bar, plus handy ski gear hire. Not to mention, the breakfast was delicious, I had their smashed avo every morning. As we made our way up the mountain, I was happy to see they had the Sky Waka (gondola). During our last trip to Turoa, I had discovered an intense fear of chairlifts that I had never had before, so the enclosed and sturdier gondola became my best friend. It relieved a lot of the anxiety that I had previously felt on the chairlift,
and made the whole experience more enjoyable. The beginner’s area at Whakapapa was amazing! Very different to the Happy Valley I remember from 10 years ago. They now have lifts to get you down there, and covered escalators to get
you to the top of the beginner's hill. Luckily this time we didn’t spend too much time there, as we had all brushed up on our skills during the last trip. We had a beautiful first day up the mountain, the
weather was perfect and hardly anybody was around. The top runs were nice and wide, great for the kids. Unfortunately, the weather packed in for the next two days, and the Waka was closed to my bitter disappointment. Our last day was Saturday, which brought beautiful weather and hordes of people. You could barely get down the mountain without a near crash, so I left the family up there and drove back to Whakapapa Village to do a few of the peaceful nature walks. They were all beautiful with Tawhai Falls walk ending with a stunning waterfall. We’re lucky the kids have taken snowboarding so well, it could have gone either way. Roll on 2021!
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DIY Body Serum
Making your own moisturizer and ditching the store-bought products is one of the best things you can do for your skin health as it likely contains quite a few irritants (fragrance and parabens). Plus, chances are, it may not be doing that great of a job keeping your skin moisturized anyway. Not only will it help your skin look and feel amazing, it will save you some serious money. Here’s a super easy body oil I make with all organic ingredients, which will not only keep your skin moisturised and supple, but also keeps it healthy by feeding your skin with nutritious ingredients:
Ingredients: Sweet Almond Oil keeps your skin cells healthy, protects your skin from UV damage, and helps your skin look smooth and soft Hemp Seed Oil. The linoleic acid and oleic acids found in hemp oil can’t be produced by the body but can play a crucial role in skin health and anti-aging plus the combination of essential fatty acids that it contains is in perfect balance and matches our skin's own natural oils Frankincense Essential Oil (Bosweilia Carterii) helps protect skin cells. Thanks to frankincense’s cytophylactic properties, it stimulates cell regeneration and also protects older cells from free radical damage. Copaiba Essential Oil contains large amounts of beta-caryophyllene, a molecule that interacts with the cannabinoid receptors in your skin. This causes skin cells to produce beta-endorphin, one of the happiness hormones. Ylang Ylang Essential Oil alleviates stress, improves mood and enhances libido. It is said to act as a natural insect repellent, promote wound healing, and diminish the appearance of scars when applied to the skin
Method: Half fill your bottle with the Sweet Almond oil, then pour in about a quarter of the bottle size in Hemp Oil. Add 3 - 5 drops of each essential oil and top up with Sweet Almond Oil. Apply after shower or bath. Ideally before bathing dry brush yourself using a natural bristle brush then indulge in an Epsom salt bath for at least 2 minutes. Apply oil after bath. To find out the benefits of using oil go to www.viralmagnz.com/holistic-health/abhyanga
Gratitude
“ is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of others” - Cicera Dr. Jay LaGuardia Who doesn’t love the Pharrell song, “Happy”? It’s nearly impossible to listen to that song and not bounce around, move, or dance. The energy, tone, and vibration of that song just makes you feel good about yourself. How would you define happiness? Does happiness come from extraneous temporal experiences? Those momentary experiences that might occur from our purchasing a new pair of shoes, or perhaps buying the latest electronic gizmo we desire. Happiness can be when we’re around the people we love. It could be a warm sunny day, or sitting by the ocean and listening to the waves rolling up on the shore. Happiness can be an easy Sunday morning or a wonderful meal with friends and family. Happiness can come in so many forms and so many variations. The cool thing is that we get to decide what it is that makes us happy. However, so many of the things I just mentioned are temporary; they’re fleeting. Some experiences may leave you with a sense of emptiness shortly thereafter, resulting in the need for the next fix. This often leads to addictive types of behaviors, such as overconsumption of alcohol, medications, shopping, or unnecessary purchases. It has been my experience that true happiness occurs when we learn gratitude. Gratitude is defined by Wikipedia as “a thankfulness, gratefulness, or an appreciation, a feeling or attitude, an acknowledgement of a benefit that has been received or will be received.” To me, gratitude is being thankful for all things that exist in our lives, whether we considered them good or bad at the time. In every life experience there’s an opportunity sewn within; a chance to experience something new or to be challenged, which will cause us to grow. Gratitude is an acknowledgement; an acceptance that all things currently present in our lives are there for a reason, and being thankful that they are present. Gratitude is also a consciousness of being thankful for things yet to come; for the things that we define as being good, as well as the things that we see as difficult. Many people come to gratitude when they experience a significant life challenge, such as a health issue with themselves
or a close family member. If they’re fortunate enough to overcome this obstacle, the overwhelming emotion experienced is gratitude. Gratitude to be able to overcome the health challenge, to experience a new outlook on life, to have a second chance, and this often leads to a new perspective on things that were perhaps once taken for granted. The simple small things in life we now acknowledge as being true blessings. If you look back in your life, I would bet that some of the greatest experiences you’ve ever had were also your most trying times. They moulded you into the person you’ve become. I have many examples of this in my own life. One, in particular, is when I was faced with a major health scare. At the time, I was in my early thirties with three small children when I developed a condition called Benign Fasciculation Syndrome. This is a condition that causes muscles to flutter and twitch. It can occur in a single muscle or throughout your entire body. Think of a million worms crawling all over your body. Not a pleasant experience. This condition began following the completion of my first triathlon, which seemed weird. Unfortunately, my condition was incessant and 24/7 nonstop. It being part familial and part stress-related, as well as the result of nutritional deficiency—which was the precipitating factor in my case. But as a healthcare provider, I knew that fasciculation is also associated with ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Before I was diagnosed with the benign form of this condition, I was terrified that I was going to die and leave my wife husbandless and children fatherless. All I wanted was a positive diagnosis. It was all I thought about for many weeks before my exam was completed and test results were known. At times, I felt helpless—like my life was on hold. I was also feeling completely overwhelmed, anxious, and depressed. I thought this couldn’t be happening to me. I lived the right way. I did all the right things. I worked out, ate right, and didn’t smoke. I lived a healthy lifestyle. I would have done anything to avoid the fate associated with this disease. Unfortunately, those families touched by this disease know, ultimately, this disease is a death sentence.
During the greatest challenge of my life, all I could think was, if I could get a second chance I would live my life differently. I prayed for that second chance. I would be a better dad, husband, and leader. I would be kinder and more grateful. Fortunately for me, on that fateful day, I got that second chance. The doctor told my wife and me it was not ALS and that I was not going to die. I was shocked, relieved, overjoyed, and immensely grateful. I couldn’t believe the words coming from his mouth. My wife and I were in tears. I thanked God for the positive news. Believe me, my perspective on life changed forever. It wasn’t that I didn’t cherish my life before then, but going through something like that will change you—and it did change me in a big way. I had a much deeper sense of gratitude than ever before. I committed to the pledge I made to myself to be a better human being. Rather than looking at the world as the glass is half-empty, I now saw the world in a totally different light. So, I ask the question, why is it that we don’t live in a deep sense of gratitude all the time? Why is it that, often times, we need a tragedy to occur before we come to this realization? It is my hope through my experience that you can come to a conclusion without experiencing a major life challenge. The human condition is constantly looking at what’s not right, rather than seeing all the good that exists. Because, if we choose to open our eyes and change our perspective, good does exist all around us. How do we get conditioned to be so negative all the time? Is it possible to change and, if so, what does it take? What are the steps? Let’s first start by understanding that gratitude has historically been a focus of most world religions. It reinforces present and future emotional and psychological benefactors. It has been found that those who appear or attend religious service more often are more likely to have a greater sense of gratitude in all areas of their lives.
A most recent, larger study found that people who are grateful experience a higher sense of well-being. Grateful people are happier; they are less depressed, less stressed, and more satisfied with their lives and social relationships. That study was from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. That study also indicated that grateful people also have higher levels of control of their environment, personal growth, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. These are just a few of the examples and studies that have shown the positive effects of a conscious of gratitude. Gratitude, like any other emotion, is a choice. Each day or, for that matter, each moment, we get to choose the emotion that we want to experience. At this point you’re thinking, I already do. But the reality is, most of the time we are reactionary with our emotions and not consciously choosing them. Therefore, we allow our circumstances and those around us to have the greatest influence on our emotions. So the question is, are we more influenced by external circumstances or internal thoughts?
A study was done that found a 70% increase in sales when customers of a jewellery store were called and thanked for their purchases, compared to customers who were not called. Servers at a restaurant who wrote “Thank you!” on the back of patrons' checks received bigger tips.
The exciting thing about gratitude is that it doesn’t only benefit the one expressing the gratitude, but the individual receiving it also experiences a higher level of personal satisfaction. I guess what I’m trying to say very simply is, if you want to change your life, start by adding an attitude of gratitude. It’s the simplest thing you can do to begin to change your outlook on life. In a sense it will be like reprogramming your operating system of your subconscious mind.
This helps us to move away fro being our old self with the old thoughts, beliefs, actions and emotions we’ve had repetitively for years. If we want to choose a new experience, we have to begin by reprogramming the mind and, particularly, the subconscious mind from which 95% of all our actions originate. We’re creatures of habit, and when we begin to move away from unconsciously producing thoughts, beliefs, actions and emotions, to take control more consciously - in other words being more aware of those things - we begin to rewire the brain to fire differently. We then create new thoughts, new beliefs, new actions, new emotions, and new results. This all starts with the consciousness of awareness. Being aware of the thoughts that we are experiencing all the time is so counterintuitive to today’s culture and society. Virtually everything we experience is designed to move us away from reality, to move us away from conscious thought, and to dull our senses - which results in a mind-numbing experience. Shifting our consciousness requires a reawakening to conscious living. So let me be clear; all we have to do is to remind ourselves who we no longer want to be. This may seem difficult and challenging, but it starts with a simple decision, one you begin by asking a question. Do I choose to continue to experience the life I have, or do I want something new and different? If your answer is the latter, then lets begin by changing our thoughts so we anchor ourselves to a consciousness of gratitude. The interesting thing about rewiring the mind is that once you create your new habit and behaviour, it’s impossible to have two opposing thoughts at the same time. So when you’re in a conscious state of gratitude, you are less likely to experience things like hatred, anger and fear. The more we focus on what’s good, the more we attract what’s good. This is not a simple play on words but one that I have experienced on countless occasions. There is no greater source and no greater tool to start with than gratitude. Six steps to create more gratitude in your life.
Three: List and identify all the current challenges you are experiencing in your life. For example, you might be experiencing challenges with your family, relationships, health, career etc. Be as thorough as possible. Then answer the question, How does this current challenge benefit me in life? What lessons am I supposed to learn from this experience? This can be a difficult step , but give this serious thought. In what ways will this challenge make me stronger? List each one as thoroughly and completely as possible. I want you to see the inherent opportunity and the lesson, from each of these challenges. This will begin your mental re-framing. Four: At the conclusion of each day, open your gratitude journal and date it, then write out three things that you’re currently grateful for on that particular day. These can be as simple as a home-cooked meal, beautiful rain on a spring afternoon, or a new book you started to read (hopefully mine). Then write one challenge you had for that day, why you’re thankful for it, and what you learned from it. The power from this habit is nearly immeasurable. This literally begins to retrain your brain by neurologically rewiring how the brain fires into a habit of thinking in a gratitude consciousness. Five: Each morning upon waking, before you even open your eyes, give thanks for another opportunity to live your dream. Give thanks for the abundance in your life, for your health, your family, and your ability to serve and to live out your dream, and for the one big goal you want to accomplish that day. This will begin the flow of gratitude in your consciousness as you start your day. Six: Do each of these lessons every day without fail. In the beginning, creating these new habits can be a challenge. The more diligent and consistent you are with applying these steps daily, the faster you’ll create the new habit of gratitude. Before long, if you keep at it, you’ll begin to receive all the amazing benefits of gratitude in all aspects of your life.
One: Create a gratitude journal. One can be purchased from a store, or you can simply use a notebook app on your mobile device Two: Write down all the things that you’re currently thankful for in your life; all the thins that are going well. This could be your health, your relationships. Job, finances or friends. List them all as completely and thoroughly as possible
This is an extract from “Change Your Mind, Change Your Destiny: The Eight Habits of Success that will help you create better relationships, more health, more wealth and more happiness” - By Dr. Jay LaGuardia
Intermittent Fasting
Even if you haven’t tried intermittent fasting yourself, you probably know of someone who has. It has quickly risen through the ranks of diet regimes and is now one of the most popular diets available. This is often accredited to the fact that you don’t need to change the food you’re eating, and many people also experience fast weight loss. But what exactly is intermittent fasting, and how does it work? A fast is where you don’t eat for a certain period of time. Liquids, and sometimes juices or smoothies are allowed to be consumed, but it is different with every diet. Many religious groups use fasting, and recently it has seen a surge in popularity as a diet. Intermittent fasting is where you eat for a period time, and fast (refrain from eating) for a period of time. There are many different types of intermittent fasts, and they often have different lengths of fasting time. Instead of changing to healthier food (although this does help), you are refraining from eating at specific times. Popular examples include ‘16/8’, where you fast for 16 hours and eat for eight, or the eat-stop-eat, which is where you fast for 24 hours, once or twice a week. Intermittent fasting also changes your body on a biological level. The HGH (Human Growth Hormone) often increases dramatically, sometimes up to 5 times it’s original amount. HGH has many benefits for the body, including fat loss and muscle gain. Insulin levels also drop, which makes fasting a popular diet among diabetics. Lowering insulin is also beneficial to everyone, andmakes stored fat more accessible, and therefore easier to burn. Another advantage of intermittent fasting is that your body speeds up cellular repair. This means that old and damaged cells are removed and replaced at a faster rate than on a normal diet. Like any diet, there are both advantages and disadvantages to intermittent fasting.
Advantages - there are many health benefits to fasting. Generally speaking, it makes the fat cells release their sugars, which the body then uses for energy while it is receiving no other food. - Many people who have tried intermittent fasting also report that they were less focused on caloric intake than they were on other diets. This is important because hyper-fixation of calories can often lead to other health issues, like eating disorders. By just eating normally, at different times, there is less emphasis on calorie intake. Disadvantages - One of the biggest pitfalls of intermittent fasting is the number of people that quit after only a few days. "It's human nature for people to want to reward themselves after doing very hard work, such as exercise or fasting for a long period of time, so there is a danger of indulging in unhealthy dietary habits on non-fasting days," says Dr. Hu. Basically, there is a danger of eating very unhealthily after breaking your fast, as the body naturally wants a reward. Fasting, and then binging on junk food will have a more detrimental effect than just eating normally. - Multiple studies have shown that intermittent fasting does not work as well for women. In one study, women experienced a sharp decline in blood sugar control. This can have a plethora of health issues, including increasing the risk of diabetes. Studies have also shown that many women have their period stop, and may even experience a decline in fertility. Therefore, if you are trying for a baby, or breastfeeding, intermittent fasting is not suitable. It is also recommended that women ease into intermittent fasting, and stop if there are any adverse side effects. Many studies have been done that can vouch for the benefits of intermittent fasting, and as it gains popularity there are bound to be more. You need to do your own research, and possibly try several of the different intermittent fasting methods before you find the best, healthiest fit for your body. When followed correctly and safely, fasting can be an excellent way to lose weight and improve overall health.
Cacao Nut Bites
Nut & Cacao Bites
Base - 1 cup dates - 1 cup mixed nuts - 1 Tbsp Chia seeds - 2 Tbsp coconut oil - a splash of vanilla essence Chuck all ingredients in food processor and whizz until it’s a fairly consistent texture, no chunky pieces. Press in to a 12 muffin tray and pop in the freezer for about an hour Cacao Choc Top - 2 Tbsp Coconut oil - 2 Tbsp raw cacao powder - 1 tsp vanilla essence - 1 tsp coconut sugar or maple syrup Heat the coconut oil in a pot until it’s a liquid then take off the element. Mix in the cacao powder using a whisk, then mix in the vanilla essence and coconut sugar or maple syrup. Keep mixing until sugar has dissolved. Pour on top of each base, trying to keep the amounts even. Pop back into the freezer to set, for about an hour. Keep refreidgerated.
Dairy Free Ice Cream STEP 1: Cut up two bananas and freeze overnight STEP 2: Add the frozen bananas and a cup of blueberries into a food processor. STEP 3: Pulse until it’s creamy, dreamy ice cream. You might have to scrape down the sides a few times. STEP 4:
Enjoy immediately!
Yoga - Kidney Detox Kidneys are vital organs of the human body that are located in the lower back below the rib cage. Bean-shaped and asymmetrical, kidneys are responsible for processing everything that you eat or drink. So if you have a diet that includes lots of fat, salt, and sugar, with time this can lead to various health problems. High blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and other conditions are the leading causes for any damage to your kidneys. To keep your kidneys protected, consume a healthy diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Reduce your intake of processed foods, limit your alcohol intake and quit smoking. Taking too many non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can also tend to damage the kidneys. Yoga, through its practices of asanas, can help in the prevention of kidney disease by stimulating and contracting the organs and pushing fluids through the body’s natural detox path Here are some yoga poses which can help you promote kidney health, for you to try at home (just remember to do the opposite side of each pose if it’s not detailed: Sequence created using Tummee.com
Namaste
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