Soul Magazine - Autumn 2019

MAGAZINE

SOUL AUSTRALIA

Autumn 2019

free! Take me home

SUNSHINE COAST’S WELLNESS & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

MAGAZINE

SOUL AUSTRALIA Lifestyle and wellness magazine for the Sunshine Coast, published quarterly

What sets us apart

OUR PHILISOPHY is simple

Distribution

Soul Magazine is a 48-page, high quality, peaceful read with gentle colours, beautiful artwork and uplifting features.

Our stories on intimacy, fashion, yoga, food, health, small business, relaxation and more show local people, services and products without bombarding our readers with flashy advertising that most people tune out anyway. Just as you are careful about where you spend your advertising dollars, we are careful about what we publish. Our readers rely on us to provide a valuable, informative and uplifting experience and we respect that.

This gives you, as a Soul supporter, the guarantee that you are aligning yourself with the right businesses.

We won’t book businesses that don’t share a similar target audience or don’t align with the Soul values and philosophies of being good for the soul and living life with intention. We craft your advertisement into an editorial piece which makes people want to find out more. We don’t do traditional adverts so your message doesn’t get lost in a sea of ads. Our passion is curating unique feature stories and matching them with brands to showcase small businesses to help them attract more clients on the Sunny Coast. We take pride in making sure that every story we publish is a win-win for both our audience and our advertisers.

Soul magazine is thoughtfully distributed by hand to targeted places where people are inclined to linger a while, such as selected coffee shops, waiting rooms, clubs and small community shopping centres. Soul Magazine is where people want to read it.

Physical ads have a longer lasting impact than digital, readers Confidently remember more of the physical ads, which may be crucial when making actual purchases.

64%

60%

82%

People who pay more attention to advertising when reading magazines in print.

People pay more attention to advertising when reading from a printed medium.

Internet users trust print ads when making a purchase decision, more than any other medium.

Source: Enhancing the Value of Mail: The Human Response

Hello,

I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been involved with Soul – especially our followers who have promoted us. It’s heart-warming to know that you are behind this wonderful magazine and support our vision.

The first issue of Soul had a fantastic response, with readers travelling all over the Sunny Coast to snap up their own copy. We’re excited to have a larger presence now and we’re thrilled to be a part of the Sunshine Coast community as it rapidly continues to expand.

It’s been humbling to learn about the unique businesses featured in this issue of Soul, we are in awe of the caring nature of the people we have met whose purpose is to help others be mentally, physically and emotionally healthier.

We have some wonderful tips, ideas and heart-warming stories to help you on your journey to a healthier and happier life. I hope you enjoy this edition as much as we’ve enjoyed putting it together for you.

Jo

People with soul Tom Sharman is the Business Development Manager for Soul, he originally hails from the port city of Hull in the UK (and kindly asks people not to judge him because of it!). In his spare time Tom loves reading about science, exploring new bars, being a bedroom DJ and perfecting his T-shirt tan.

Pauline Ryeland,

Intimacy Whisperer®, is an Intimacy, Sex & Relationship Coach & Educator who is passionate about sustainable relationships that can stand the tests of time with deep, intimate connection, great communication and passionate love.

Justin Sayson,

freelance writer, is Sunny Coast born and raised.

Justin is all about that lifestyle, but don’t tell his family overseas he can’t surf. In his spare moments, he’s probably reading or going for a nice drive along the beach.

Erin Farquharson,

Sunny Coast photographer, is longskirt and sunflower obsessed. Erin loves capturing the emotion and relationship of a moment between people through her photography.

Jo Grey is the editor

of Soul. Jo was born into a family of printers and publishers and ink runs through her veins.

Whenever she gets the chance, she enjoys a walk through Noosa National Park and hits the local markets.

All material appearing in this magazine is copyright. Reproduction in whole or part is not permitted without permission from the publishers.

Notice: While every effort has been made to ensure that information in this magazine is accurate, no responsibility is accepted by the publishers for material supplied by an individual, company or organisation or for any typographical errors. The opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the view of the publisher.

E: info@soulmagazine.com.au W: soulmagazine.com.au

Contents 09

Art

How art therapy can help with stress, previous trauma and the challenges of daily life. Also, try your hand at making an eco-friendly Autumn photo frame.

Radiance

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Bambinos

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Get beautiful, customised and sentimental jewellery that makes you feel a million dollars, plus how to feel and look gorgeous with organic hair styling and products.

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Health

Improve your health and look after your soul by reading about the Sunny Coast’s healthcare experts, learn more about Reiki, aromatherapy, naturopathy, Pilates retreats and colonics.

Holistic care before, during and after your pregnancy.

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Music

Meet the Dennis Sisters with their unique Sunny Coast style.

Intimacy

Pauline Ryeland talks about pain during intimacy and offers solutions.

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“The squeaky tennis balls are king” -Dr Romane Cristescu

Sniffing out solutions

Detection Dogs for Conservation

By Justin Sayson

Scouring the bush floor for koala scat isn’t the most ideal job. But ecology researchers Dr Romane Cristescu and Dr Celine Frere from the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) have found a group of willing workers to do just that, and their only payment is a tennis ball.

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Detection Dogs for Conservation aims to protect koalas by mapping their populations, habitats and health, then use that data to help land developers and government agencies make informed choices.

Romane says she has spent what seems like months crawling through the bush, looking for the koala’s tiny pellet-like poo. A dog’s ability to smell is 1,000 – 10,000 times better than a human so she decided to test the theory to see if it worked for koala poo.

When tested against humans, the dogs found koalas in 30% more areas than humans could find.

“If we miss 30% of where the koalas live, we have no chance of accurately or efficiently protecting them,” Romane said.

Maya and Baxter are two of five dogs that are part of the conservation team at USC. Maya, with her mottled black and white coat, was the team’s very first detection dog.

When they found her, she was on death row

at the pound. Detection dogs are the ones abandoned and not chosen because their high drive and energy makes them difficult to keep as a pet.

“What makes the worst pet makes the best detection dog,” Romane says.

Maya’s rescue and initial training was done by professional trainer Gary Jackson, but since then the USC team is training their detection dogs in house, with Masters student Russell Miller doing most of the scent training, wildlife habituation and testing of the dogs. The first steps are target and non-target scent training, and just require the dogs to associate the target scent with their reward, which is an easy task for dogs as they are so intelligent. Most of their training is then focused on making sure the dogs aren’t distracted by local wildlife or barking and are focusing on their work. For the dogs, it’s a bit of play with the reward of a tennis ball at the end, they especially like the squeaky ones.

“They’re the first waiting at the car every day because they want to go to ‘work’,” Romane says.

The koala poo, or the “golden nuggets” as Celine calls them, are key to understanding the health of koalas. When fresh they contain enough genetic information to understand the genetic diversity of the koala population, their resiliency and if they’re carrying chlamydia.

“You can really answer a lot of the questions without seeing the koala,” Celine says.

“In some ways, finding the poo is more important than seeing the koala.”

If people want to help Celine and Romane, they can engage with koala conservation, things as small as reporting the koalas they see on their Sunday walk to Koala Tracker or the Atlas of Living Australia, planting native trees, driving more carefully and keeping dogs indoors at night all contribute to helping keep koalas safe. As a non-for-profit, the group can take donations through the USC website, or the dogs can be hired for koala surveys.

Overseas, landowners have given land to conservationists and ecologists like the two researchers so that dogs and handlers can live and train together. “It’s good to dream big, right? We would love to have our own land where we could protect wildlife, train our dogs and have our handlers and their dog live together,” concludes Romane.

(07) 5456 5415 @DetectionDogsForConservation rcristes@usc.edu.au cfrere@usc.edu.au

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Nature’s first aid kit Hello Honey

What started simply as a way for stay-at-home Kin Kin mum, Judy Scrase, to generate an income, has led to products that today are being sold overseas.

Judy began Hello Honey over a decade ago at Noosa Farmers Market with six jars of Medicinal Jelly Bush honey and she’s been learning more and more about the benefits of bee products ever since. As a result she has been creating products that nourish the body inside and out, natural products that are created from the by-products of a beehive.

Australia’s version of Manuka, Jelly Bush honey is what Judy uses on her family. It is used internally to treat sore throats or mouth ulcers, externally for burns, gravel rash, wounds and skin ulcers.

It’s the most natural way to reduce pain and heal wounds quickly.

From her BEE Nourished Beeswax Moisturiser for dry skin issues such as eczema and psoriasis, BEE Have Hair for beards and wild, curly hair, to Propolis Candy with Manuka Honey and Lemon that can help soothe a sore throat, every substance the bees produce can be used.

“One of our first creations in 2007 was Cinnamon Creamed Honey that can be added to warm

drinks, toast or pancakes,” Judy says.

“It’s delicious with cold strawberries.

“I even do an exfoliating face mask with the Cinnamon Creamed Honey, it’s so good,” she says.

Hello Honey was one of the first businesses in Australia to be awarded the Snail of Approval by slowfoodnoosa.com.au, part of the internationally recognised Slow Food movement. Judy has always offered 100% Australian and 100% Natural BEE products, and is proud to support local businesses and Australian beekeepers.

The Hello Honey online shop (hellohoney.com.au) has a range of local and sustainably sourced products that are simply beautiful. To see the full range, take a drive ½ hour north of Cooroy or Noosa to see the range in Kin Kin’s Black Ant Gourmet eatery or pop into Eumundi Bee’s & Honey, Main Street, Eumundi (open Wednesday through Sunday).

Photos: Peta Hood

hellohoney.com.au @HelloHoneyAustralia @hellohoneyaustralia

Giveaway!

Hello Honey has a giveaway up for grabs for Soul readers! Email info@soulmagazine.com.au with your name, phone number and email address and you will go into the draw to win a Hello Honey gift! Entries close June 17, 2019 and the winner will be drawn at the Soul office at Kelvin Grove, QLD and announced on June 20 on Soul and Hello Honey social media. Competition is open to South East Queensland residents only.

Judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

The humble honeybee Did you know?

Honeybees not only produce honey, but play a vital role in the pollination of agricultural crops, horticultural crops and the household garden.

Our favourite foods such as apples, avocados, stone fruits, melons and citrus fruits are either highly dependent on, or greatly benefit from, honeybee pollination. According to the Australian Honeybee Industry Council, whose role is to protect and promote the Australian honey bee industry, honeybees add an estimated $4 to 6 billion to the Australian agricultural and horticultural industries each year. More than 80,000 commercial hives in Queensland produce around 75 kg of honey per hive annually.

Honey is healthy and is thought to have many benefits. Let’s look after our humble honeybee and support those who work sustainably in this industry.

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“Art is a place where you can safely rest your mind.”

Helen Bradshaw Growth Through Art.

“Allow me to take you on a journey that is engaging, creative, transformational, fun and gets results! Is it YOUR TIME now?”

The Art of Healing Safely resting your mind

By Justin Sayson

There’s a palpable feeling of calm in the room. The gentle lilting of guitar plucks in the background against the soft scratching of pastel against paper, therapeutic in itself.

Helen Bradshaw sits at the head of the table, her calm tone guiding the group, creating a swirl of colours before her.

“So that they can live a purposeful life in their fully-expressed essence without having to hide themselves.”

“What are you thankful for?” she asks.

Art therapy can help people process change, review past events, understand feelings, explore future goals and create greater understanding of relationships.

An artist first, it wasn’t until Helen experienced her own personal tragedies, a marriage ending and a diagnosis of breast cancer, that she fully realised the beauty of art wasn’t always the finished product but the process it took to get there.

Through her own struggles Helen created Growth Through Art as a gift to those who have known pain and she seeks to help people walk through it and find freedom.

“While we often witness and experience the pain or problem, my focus is to help people create a new relationship with it. This enables them to gain acceptance and peace, a place where they can begin to transform into who they were born to be and to shine their light,” she says.

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Her Coolum art-studio is brimming with every medium imaginable. Curiously, there’s a shelf full of figurines, featuring a sassy Princess Fiona, Charlie Brown, animals, dragons and more. Everything in this room exists to help you find a way to express yourself.

“Art therapy helps you see what lies within you outside of yourself in the art so you can view it from different perspectives,” Helen says. “This is so much more powerful than using just words. From these new perspectives, possibilities arise to transform old patterns of behaviour and ways of being that no longer serve us.”

“A lady came in and drew what her pain felt like in her arm, pain from a past trauma many years ago.

“She was surprised that’s what it looked like, and said it looked exactly how it felt. It was about separating herself from the pain.

“We then work together to decide what to do with it. We might cut it up or burn it to release it; whatever feels right for the client.

People walk away feeling relief and more joy.”

Growth Through Art provides art therapy in all forms, from one-on-one mentoring to workshops, retreats and team building on the beach. But what Helen wants to see through all of this is people free from pain and provide an alternate option for those who struggle to fully express themselves.

“People often have tape recordings of unhealthy stories in their heads, that get caught on repeat and are difficult to stop,” she says.

“Art is a place where you can safely rest your mind and create a new healthier story. A place where lasting positive change takes place.

“We’re tapping into all of our senses here, not just visual, but sound and touch too.

“We do a lot of processes using our hands as well as movement, meditation and mindfulness techniques,” she says.

The women sitting around the table are from all walks of life, someone even brought her mother along to experience it. Despite an openness and vulnerability in the room, your art isn’t judged and whatever you feel is real and is always acknowledged. The use of stick figures, shapes, symbols, colour and metaphor are all that is needed to gain therapeutic outcomes.

One woman writes “Bless the Bliss” in hues of blue which looks like it has been swept onto the page. Her work with Helen has brought her and the other women in the room a lot freedom.

“It makes everyone lighter in the world and empowers them to strut their stuff,” she says.

Helen has created a beautiful, safe space for women and teenagers to let go of what’s holding them back and move forward with love, light and strength.

Give Helen a call to find out more about how you can go on this wonderful journey and experience lasting positive change.

Other things people had to say about Helen…

“Love this lady, Helen you are amazing. She gets us females and brings out the best in us, encourages us to be curious. You don’t have to be arty to do this, anyone can.

It’s fun and it makes you think. Helen helps release the old hurts/values and bring in the new.”

“I completed the Return To Love program with the beautiful Helen. This wonderful lady helps you improve your spiritual, emotional and physical health. I was going through some life changes at the time and working on myself with like-minded ladies in the group was very enlightening. I learnt to accept and love myself for who I am.”

“I didn’t know a lot about art therapy, but I was very pleasantly surprised! A great experience and Helen is amazing.”

0419 467 442 growththroughart.com.au @GrowthThroughArt @growth_through_art Coolum Beach

Celebrate Autumn

Make an earth-friendly photo frame Taking photos and videos nowadays are a breeze, but sometimes having an old-school photo frame is better.

Old-school photo frames don’t need to be plugged in or rely on batteries and they can add character to your home or office.

This photo frame is a simple and fun way to be creative and it’s a great project to do for yourself or with children. Let us begin!

Step 1: Gather all the materials: • • • • • • •

2 pieces 20 x 30 cm cardboard (or size that is about 10cm larger than your chosen photo) cutter or craft knife a pair of scissors several dried leaves long ruler hot glue and glue gun photo for the frame

Step 2:

Measure the photo on the cardboard and mark it using a pencil.

Measure space for the border (depends on your preference but we used 6cm) and mark that out using your ruler and pencil.

Step 3:

Cut the excess cardboard using a cutter or craft knife.

Step 5: Step 4:

Place the photo in the middle of the cardboard and run a line around the edge of the photo. This will be the window of the photo frame, so make sure that everything is perfectly lined up.

Step 6:

Place the strips on the main body of the photo frame. The ends should be aligned and the space should be observed on the inner border as seen on the photo.

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On the other excess part of the cardboard, cut three strips that are almost the same width of the three borders of the main cardboard frame. We wanted a landscape frame, but you can adjust the strips to suit your preference. For a landscape frame, two strips should be on the shortest side and one on the longest side. Make sure that the strips are half a centimetre lesser in width to give some space to the photo.

Step 7:

Hot glue the strips on the board, (this will be the reverse side of the photo frame now).

Step 8:

On the front facing side of the frame, hot glue the dried leaves in a random manner and allow them to overlap and extend past the the cardboard.

Make sure to cover all the cardboard with leaves.

Step 9:

Allow the glue to dry, then cut the excess dried leaves on the edges of the main frame.

Step 11:

Cut the other cardboard to match the size of the main frame. Hot glue the cardboard on the reverse side of the main frame. This will seal the back of the photo frame.

Step 10:

Cut the excess leaves on the inner border as well. The main frame should look like this when finished.

Step 12:

Cut a polygon from the excess cardboard that can serve as a stand for the photo frame at the back.

Step 14: Step 13:

Hot glue the longest side of the frame stand at the semi cut folds.

Make sure to place this on the lower centre part of the frame on the reverse side.

Step 15:

Step 16:

Semi cut the longest side of the photo frame stand (where the fold of the stand will occur). This will give the frame stand a cleaner fold.

Place the strips on the main body of the photo frame. The ends should be aligned and the space should be observed on the inner border as seen on the photo.

Try the photo frame now and place your photo.

Step 17:

Done! Your earth-friendly photo frame is now ready for display!

This autumn loving earth-friendly photo frame is such great project as it looks good and it’s biodegradable. Be an earth-friendly crafter!

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Beauty begins the moment you begin to be yourself.

Coco Chanel

To love, to remember To Hold & To Have

When we think of a jewellery purchase we often think of blaring lights, of glass displays in a shopping centre, catalogues in your mailbox, and wish lists on Pinterest boards.

But Sunshine Coast’s world recognised jewellery design team Shiree Hobson and Jo Saxelby of To Hold & To Have Jewellers are changing the way Australians think about their jewellery purchases.

made in the workshop, read about customers who commission the items or to create your own wish list for the bespoke retail pieces photographed in store – all on a daily basis. You may also see cute puppies who have visited, Jo’s daughter being homeschooled, learn about the gemstones and the industry, or hear the pair share their gratitude for the blessings the community shares with them.

Seeing the beauty When asked, “What do you keep in mind when designing a piece of jewellery for clients?” Jo refers to her favourite Coco Chanel quote, “Beauty begins the moment you begin to be yourself.”

The vintage dining table in-store has heard many conversations and hosted hundreds of cups of tea and coffee before it came to Jo and Shiree and it has now hosted hundreds more.

“Clients become friends as they share their stories, and in the process, we learn about what is beautiful to them and we see the beauty in them,” Jo says.

“We bring that to life in the jewellery that we create for them.

Shiree adds: “The majority of the time we see clients because more or less life is happening as they hoped it would.

“We are helping with celebrations of every kind: birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, weddings and we share in the joy and love of these occasions.

Globally recognised, the pair recently represented Australia at the International Jewellery Design and Manufacturing Awards in Hong Kong as one of the leading jewellery design houses in Australasia. This gem of a jewellery business also won the Jewellery Industry Awards coveted “Best Small Jewellery Retail Store In Australia” accolade.

Now that you know how popular the duo’s work is, you might not expect to message them at 10 pm and get a personal response. But you will. You see, for Jo and Shiree, business is personal, especially for something as close to your heart (and their hearts) as a jewellery purchase. You will always receive a personal response.

Community This attitude could be one reason for their passionate, supportive and interactive online community of 30,000. The To Hold & To Have Facebook page lets you see how hand-made pieces are

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“But, life does not always go to plan and sometimes jewellery is designed or purchased with equal significance, passion and love because moments, weeks or life hasn’t turned out as someone might have expected.”

Gemstones that a husband, father or grandfather may have found fossicking and have now been passed down, are very treasured focal points in rings. These pieces are worn and adored daily, with the memories and love these gemstones represented honoured.

It’s easy to see that there is “Soul” in their motto “To Love, To Remember, “To Hold & To Have”- Forever.

To Hold & To Have jewellery manufacturing workshop and retail boutique is located at 98 King St, Buderim opposite the beautiful historic Wirreanda Park. Amongst other specialties, they do hand-makes, CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/ computer-aided manufacturing), remodels, repairs, restringing and valuations. Call for a free consultation over a cuppa (after hour appointments available).

You can find To Hold & to Have at: 98 King St, Buderim (07) 5477 0561 toholdandtohave.com.au @toholdandtohavejewellers @toholdandtohave

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Beautiful, confident & stylish The Guillotine Hair Artistry

By Justin Sayson Photo Credit: Paul Fletcher Photography & Bruce Haggie Photography

Whether it’s on the catwalk or in studio, Elizabeth Martin Creative Director of The Guillotine Hair Artistry wants to make sure you walk away feeling beautiful, confident and stylish.

Hairdressing has been a passion since she was a teenager, starting her own business was a culmination of years experience and wanting to deliver the best possible service and results.

Liz has bounced up and down the east coast working in Brisbane, Sydney and North QLD, honing her skills along the way, before landing back on the Sunny Coast in 2011.

“The more people you get to work with the better your skills get,” she says.

“I got to pick up all the good tips from different stylists and hairdressers over the years and evolve them into my own techniques.”

Going into her third year as Hair Team Director at the Sunshine Coast Fashion Festival, where she started out on the team in 2012, showcasing her creative flair and passion for fashion, she’s in charge of the stylists and of creating the look of the models that will go 18

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down the runway.

From models to mums, Liz wants to ensure that whoever visits her feels and looks their best by the end of the day.

“I don’t think I would consider myself a typical hairdresser,” she says. “I’m a little bit more mellow and softly spoken and I really like to get a good understanding of what my clients want and what we can achieve,” and her clients definitely appreciate that. “I work mainly one on one with my clients so it’s a more personal experience, not being passed from staff member to staff member.

Every product she uses is ethical, organic based, cruelty free or has 100% organic ingredients, from conditioners to hair colours Liz wants to make sure you receive the best care.

“We come across so many elements of pollution in everyday life,” she says.

“People are becoming more vigilant and conscious of what chemicals are in the things like hair colour.”

“I think it’s actually a lot healthier for my myself too, as I’m using these everyday and I can still achieve the most creative and luxurious results as possible while being conscious of the environment and my clients health.”

You can find Liz all over the Coast during the week, Monday and Friday in Caloundra, or you can book a cut, colour or special event styling appointment by calling, emailing or visiting her website.

0452 595 596 @theguillotinehairartistry @theguillotinehairartistry liz@theguillotinehairartistry.com.au

Mother Nature’s pharmacy has long been accessible to those who have pried open her botanical medicine chest.

Lila Devi SOUL AUSTRALIA MAGAZINE

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How aromatherapy can improve your wellbeing Aromatherapy has been experiencing a rapid resurgence in popularity as people search for alternative ways to help them reach a state of wellbeing.

Aromatherapists use a range of essential oils to help people attain a healthy mind, body and soul.

For those suffering from stress, there are quite a few oils that will help. For general stress relief and mild depression, ylang ylang is often given. It’s an interesting scent though, so some patients prefer the soothing smell of lavender, which is equally effective but is a little more pleasant on the nose.

For women having hormonal difficulties with their hormones or painful menstrual cramps, geranium has been shown to help a woman balance her hormones. This can help tame menopausal issues as well as reduce breast and uterine problems. Clary Sage is used quite often to ease the discomfort of PMT.

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Essential oils aren’t only breathed in, they can also be rubbed directly into an affected area (ensure that you consult an essential oil specialist here – NEVER use undiluted oils before getting expert advice). Massage oils that include rosemary can help ease the pain caused by arthritis or stiff joints and peppermint may instantly relieve tired feet and sooth a headache.

Lavender and chamomile, when paired, may have a potent impact on a person’s feeling of wellbeing.

These scented oils are used in many meditation rooms to help a person reach a deep level of relaxation while they are meditating or doing deep breathing exercises.

When Soul visited Tanya from Botanist Aromatherapy (see her story on the next page), the first thing that came to mind was, “It smells so good here!” followed by a feeling of complete and utter relaxation. Tanya is extremely knowledgeable on what works and carefully and lovingly creates beautiful products meant for everyday use. Her roll on “Calm” blend is amazing for stressful days and is compact enough to keep in your desk drawer or handbag. We love Tanya’s oils and bath products and know you will too.

Wellness for your soul, skin & space Botanist Aromatherapy

By Justin Sayson

A far cry from her former career crunching numbers, Tanya Ambrosini, in her journey to create Botanist Aromatherapy, found a love for herself along the way that she wants to share with others.

Seven years ago, lacking energy, feeling unhealthy and living with mild depression, Tanya decided to make some major life changes.

“I wanted to stop trying to find things to make myself happy and just be happy,” she says.

“I realised that it had to come from within.”

Tanya delved heavily into learning about non-toxic living, discarding practically everything from her bathroom and kitchen cabinets and set out making her own food and beauty products. From there she learnt meditation, mindfulness, and retrained as a Holistic Health Coach with The Institute of Integrative Nutrition. But it was while she was working with another essential oil company that she found what really connected with her soul.

Already making aura sprays, self-love rollers and meditation sprays for several years she decided to finally make her blends available to others and start her own brand.

“I want women to connect with themselves more and feel a lot better about themselves,” she says.

“Using the self-love roller which has essential oils linked to increased self-esteem, applying them intentionally and connecting with the limbic centre of the brain.”

“Saying something beautiful and positive in the mirror when they’re applying it, just giving themselves that 30 seconds twice a

day where they show themselves a little love and respect,” she says.

Vegan and cruelty-free, every spray, soak and roller is handmade. From the cleansed crystals in the rollers to the water that she uses to blend, it’s all purified to ensure quality and ease of use.

Only six months into the business Tanya has already found herself with almost 20 retailers and seeing her products stocked interstate. With skincare products, diffuser blends and even essential oil candles planned for release in the future, she hopes more people find self-love a lot easier.

Tanya’s products are purely non-toxic, made from natural ingredients and infused with heavenly essential oils and energetically cleansed crystals. Every item is lovingly made by hand on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. The crystals are cleansed in salt water then smudged with white sage. The crystal infused waters are placed under the full moon and infused with joyful sunshine.

The luxurious bath products leave you with softer skin, a relaxed state of mind and help you enjoy a deeper sleep. Beautifully packaged, Tanya’s products are perfect for gifts and can be easily purchased online.

0449 561 930 botanistaromatherapy.com @botanist.aromatherapy @botanist.aromatherapy

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Going back to basics Helping to nourish your soul

By Justin Sayson Self-love is a forgotten art form that leaves mums exhausted and barely functioning. Nikki Ratana from Be Soul Beautiful knows this all too well.

With her baby girl nestled in her arms, she says that some social media mother's groups foster a negative culture of comparison and criticism which forces unrealistic expectations on mums which can be crushing.

Nikki specialises in aromatherapy, drainage. She also uses her skills as a beauty therapist so people can indulge in a little bit of self-care while they are with her. Nikki has also set up a children’s play zone so busy mums can relax with kids in tow.

Future workshops focusing on mothers and their tribe, womanhood and emotions, removing toxins and chakra health are in the pipeline at Be Soul Beautiful.

She seeks to help women depart from this, they are healthy in mind, body and soul.

needed, but if possible, she encourages people to relax and enjoy the serene

“Some women are lost and don’t know how powerful they are, their body is a mystery and they have forgotten how to nourish themselves,” she says.

“It’s a home within my home, for anyone to come and be themselves, a house of no judgement,” she says.

“It’s about empowering women.”

Nikki focuses in the art of Reiki. By incorporating crystals, she works to clear the blockages in a person, whether it be emotional, physical or spiritual. Working to improve their spiritual wellness, she seeks in their busy lives, creating positive lifestyle changes and a healthy physical body.

Along with the ancient healing of Reiki,

“You need to give yourself some time and have a space.

“I see it as helping everyone get back to basics and Reiki is where I can help people do that,” she says.

Nikki feels that every healing is not only a part of your journey, it is a part of hers too, with all of us in a constant state of learning and growth.

Are you stressed?

Some people are so used to living a stressful life that they become highly functional stress monkeys. If you’re noticing a change in appetite, frustration at trivial matters and have digestive troubles, then you might be living in a stressed state without realising it.

Changes in behaviour can also be an indication of stress. Because

your body as most people react to stress in one of several ways.

Sometimes people become moody or angry during a stressful event.

spotted as appetite changes, particularly if the change is gradual.

seem to come from nowhere. Mood changes that puzzle friends and Changes in appetite are one of the most common symptoms of stress. Some people deal with stress by eating very little and some

leading to more stress.

few years ago and compare them with today. Eating disorders can be triggered by a stressful event and if the stress continues, so can the eating habit.

A lack of emotion or the loss of the feelings of enjoyment that are normally present in your life can also be a sign of stress. Some people hide their stressful emotions and become silent when faced

body and can create health problems like obesity and heart disease.

If you are noticing changes in your eating habits, including binge eating, stress may be the cause.

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until physical damage occurs. High blood pressure and anxiety can occur from suppressing emotions during stressful events.

facebook.com/besoulbeautiful.reiki 0430 532 355 Instagram @be.soul.beautiful besoulbeautiful.com.au 0430 532 355@besoulbeautiful.reiki besoulbeautiful.com.au @be.soul.beautiful Cooroy, Noosa Hinterland

Changes in your body Changes in bodily functions like bowel habits can be a sign that you are stressed.

Extreme changes such as frequent diarrhoea or vomiting can cause damage to the digestive system and other organs.

Symptoms like these should be mentioned to a doctor.

If you can identify first that you are feeling stressed and second identify the causes of your stress, you can take action to find ways to manage your stress levels.

Nikki from Be Soul Beautiful is a beautiful soul who can really help you on your journey to being stress free.

Prevention over prescription Naturally into health

By Justin Sayson

Hot flushes, anxiety, low libido and acne can all be linked to hormonal imbalances. A smorgasbord of pills and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are often standard prescriptions, but what if there was another way? seed has the best chance possible of growing.”

Practising for nearly 20 years, Kerri says she’s not a “peace, bells and incense” naturopath. In the past, naturopaths could do limited study and call themselves an expert.

“In the old days, it was like, ‘ooh I can give you this herb’, there weren’t any clinical trials attached so it was seen as selling snake oil,” she says. “I’m happy to say it’s not like that now.”

Having done five years of study to supplement her more than 15 years of experience, Kerri ensures everything she does is as evidence-based as possible.

Kerri has helped hundreds of women, sometimes by making a simple change to her patient’s diet, or taking blood tests to help get to the bottom of the underlying issue. Kerri creates personalised health plans using a variety of techniques and tools to help to bring her patient’s hormones back into balance.

Buderim naturopath Kerri Abbott’s work allows people to seek a natural alternative before they seek out medication.

“Naturopaths are sort of that little missing gap,” Kerri from Naturally into Health says.

People often don’t know that they can get help without HRT and that’s where I step in,” she says.

Specialising in helping women of all ages with hormone issues and fertility, Kerri suggests the more gentle approach of prevention over prescription.

“The human body is incredibly good at fixing itself, so we try a different diet along with herb supplements before we have to go down the extreme route of hormone replacement.”

Women wanting children often go to see her when there is nothing else has worked.

“I see a lot of mums struggling to get pregnant after being on contraception for the past few years and their body hasn’t functioned properly, because it’s been artificially controlled,” Kerri says.

“So, I work to help get the body back to its normal state.

“Falling pregnant is very much like trying to grow a plant, you want to ensure the soil is as great as it can be to make sure the

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With weight gain common amongst women going through menopause, women often reduce their eating as they think they need to be cutting back on calories, while at the same time exercising more which is a vicious cycle when you’re not nourishing your body the right way,” she says.

“I work with you and your lifestyle to help fix what is going wrong for you and we start this by eating a good amount the right way.”

The plan is designed for healthy eating, no fad diets, no starving yourself, just nourishing food and enough of it. It’s hard to remain happy and focused when you’re hungry, tired and anxious. Your dietary plan with help with you with anxiety, losing weight and hot flushes.

The most common problem Kerri sees is anxiety and when your hormones are balanced, anxiety will be at bay. She clearly loves helping people and gets a great amount of joy when her patients conceive after they have battled infertility.

“It’s absolutely amazing,” she says.

“I’ve got five children and none of them have given me grandbabies yet, so I think of everyone else babies as my grandchildren.

“It’s such a rewarding feeling to help people who have been told they can’t have a baby and suddenly they have a beautiful bubba there, it’s absolutely wonderful.”

Kerri is dedicated to working with her patients to help make them healthier. She keeps up-to-date with the latest research and has scientific evidence on all of the herbal remedies she uses. Contact Kerri to find out how she can help you keep your hormones in check or if you would like to feel healthier and have more zest for life.

0404 853 527 sunshinecoastnaturopath.net.au naturallyintohealth.com.au @KerriAbbottNaturopathNutritionist @kerri.naturopath kerri@sunshinecoastnaturopath.net.au

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A match made in heaven

Restoring and reenergising with Pilates and wellness retreats What does “retreat” mean for you? For us, it means relaxation, peace, healthy food and exercise.

Going on a retreat usually means taking time out of your daily life whilst enjoying meditation sessions, some form of exercise, nourishing food, making new connections with others or yourself and learning something new, all in a safe space to just ‘be you’. But locally run, inspired retreats close to home aren’t always easy to find.

Thankfully, two Sunshine Coast Pilates instructors, Libby Mason and Narelle Jones, are now taking their knowledge and love of Pilates to the next level, with the launch of Pilates and wellness weekends.

Libby and Narelle’s idea for facilitating retreats on the Sunshine Coast emerged last year when they were on a retreat in Bali.

“We are so excited to offer retreats where people can enjoy luxurious locations, experience our love of Pilates and wellness, whilst choosing to do as much or as little as they want to whilst on retreat,” Libby said.

Narelle says that Pilates has so many wonderful benefits and is suitable for everyone, whether you are a beginner or in the care of a skilled Pilates and Movement professional.

“Your Pilates program can be tailored to meet your individual needs,” she said.

“You can expect to feel improvements with your connection to core, overall body strength, coordination, balance, flexibility as well as beautiful benefits to your state of mind through improved mind/body connection.”

Inspire Balance Pilates Retreats are suitable for people with or without Pilates experience. Classes during the retreats will be gentle and supportive and workshops will aim to increase knowledge about Pilates and wellness.

Take time out for you and spend three nights enjoying self-care, delicious food, massage, reiki, Pilates and wellness workshops, all in stunning surroundings that celebrate the best that the Sunny Coast has to offer.

Narelle and Libby are walking advertisements for their retreats, when you meet them you’ll see why. Their knowledge and passion for a healthy lifestyle incorporating Pilates is infectious and will inspire you take your health and wellness in hand and go on one of their retreats. Inspire Pilates offer classes in Coolum and Palmwoods if you wanted to try a class or two before committing to the retreat, but be warned, you’re likely to want more if you get started!

0418 795 945 pilatesretreats.com.au @pilatesretreats.com.au @pilates.retreats Pilates classes inspirepilatesstudio.com.au (Narelle) 0417 194 323 balancepilates.com.au (Libby) 0418 795 945 SOUL AUSTRALIA MAGAZINE

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Ways to start your day The healthy and happy way Healthy and happy mornings set up healthy and happy days. If your mornings feel chaotic, then it’s likely that the rest of your day will feel chaotic too.

Below are helpful ideas on making the most of mornings and setting yourself up for the day.

Set the alarm 15 minutes earlier

One of the main reasons why many of us fall victim to messy and muddled mornings is because we don’t leave ourselves enough time to get things done. In the mornings, ten or 15 minutes can make or break our morning routine. Make it a goal to wake up as soon as the alarm goes off, or allow yourself to hit the snooze button once. To help, set your alarm 15 minutes earlier from the time you need to be out of bed to give yourself a window to get a few more minutes of shut eye or just lie in bed and quietly meditate. Or try moving your alarm away from your bed so you have to get up to turn it off. There may be other things that happen in the morning that can upset your schedule, but you shouldn’t be rushed from the time you turn off your alarm clock.

Make time for morning exercise

While hitting the gym is a good way to start the day for some, it may be an affront to others first thing in the morning. Try a quiet walk around your neighborhood to get you moving, or do 15 minutes of gentle yoga.

Use this time to clear your head and connect with yourself. During the day, things get busy and we often fail to take time out for ourselves. If you can do this in the morning before your schedule starts, you’ll be better prepared to take on what the day has in store for you. Incorporating just 15 minutes of gentle exercise into your morning routine will do wonders for your stress levels and productivity.

Have a cool shower

Switch your water temperature to the chilly side. Cool showers are thought to boost immunity, improve blood circulation, regulate body temperature, enhance lymphatic movements and deepen breathing

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and most of all, increases energy and invigorates you.

It can be hard to have a cold shower if you’re used to hot water, so start by gradually turning off the hot water for the last 30 seconds of your shower. You can then increase this time until your body is able to take a cold shower each morning, at least for some of the time.

Eat a healthy breakfast

People who eat breakfast tend to weigh less, are healthier and have higher energy levels.

Breakfast is a good thing but it’s important to choose the right foods. Banana bread, sugary muffins and cereals (check the sugar content in “healthy” cereals) should be eliminated from your morning diet. These foods may taste good, but they’ll only give you a short boost before making you feel tired and unmotivated. Instead, aim for a protein-packed breakfast such as eggs, Greek yoghurt or cottage cheese with blueberries.

Other foods to include could be high-fiber cereals, oats or quinoa porridge.

Night-before preparations for smooth mornings

We have a good morning because we have a good night. That’s not to say that you went to bed with a smile on your face, but instead it refers to having everything organised before you go to bed. It only takes a few minutes to get everything ready for the following day, by pulling out your kids’ schools clothes, packing lunches and having all bags packed. Going to bed at the same time every night and clearing your head so that you can sleep well are also critical in getting a good night’s sleep. Do you really need to watch one more binge episode or keep mindlessly scrolling through social media?

Avoid stress triggers

Finally and most importantly, avoid stress triggers in the mornings. Some of your stressors can be avoided just by waking up on time, doing 15 minutes of light exercise and having everything packed and ready to go the night before. But also be sure not to let the little things bother you in the morning and set the tone for the rest of the day. For example, don’t start a conversation about a sensitive topic with your spouse or child right before work or school. These discussions can wait.

Consider other sources of stress and determine ways you can avoid them. If it’s traffic that stresses you out, maybe you can take a different route to work or leave at a different time. Beating the traffic is a great way to get to work faster and have a few extra minutes to collect your thoughts. Or perhaps you can get to work early and take a morning walk around the building. By thinking ahead and weeding out sources

of stress, you can create a morning that’s as seamless as possible.

A happy and healthy morning is the golden ticket to a happy and healthy day.

Unfortunately, we often rush through our mornings and begin our days with too much stress. When stress builds up, it’s almost impossible to start the day with a positive attitude. Be sure to take time to collect your

thoughts whether it’s while you walk, take a cool shower or have breakfast with your family. The goal is to approach each new day with a solid head on your shoulders, low stress and optimism. This isn’t always easy to do, but it is one of the greatest ways of investing in yourself.

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Weed, seed and feed Harlow Health

With all the processed foods we eat, we often worry about our waistlines. But how often do we consider our gut?

Naturopath and Colon Hydrotherapist, Naomi Nettleton says it’s important to keep your gut health in check.

“It’s about weed, seed and feed,” she says.

“Take out the bad stuff, feed the good stuff through good probiotics and good foods and then keeping that going.”

While Naomi’s work as a naturopath has seen her work in the bustle of London and Sydney, she has decided to call the Sunny Coast home and has established her own naturopathic/colonicclinic, Harlow Health in Tewantin.

Naomi’s passion is for people live healthier lives, from helping top athletes gain an edge on the field, to people dealing with autoimmune diseases or simply those who have IBS and other bowel-related illnesses.

“We just assume all the food we eat goes out and it doesn’t,” she says.

“If you put bacteria in there that’s not supporting the production of serotonin, you get an increase in depression and anxiety.”

With the gut being the centre of how nutrients in your body are absorbed, Naomi says that whatever supplements a person takes cannot be as effective if they have bad gut health.

The procedure of the colonic itself is a clean, closed off system that uses purified water. All the waste goes directly into the sewerage system and being a closed off system, there’s no smell.

“It’s a relatively easy and painless procedure, much easier than people think” she says.

“I think the main thing is that it’s just awkward for people and of course, the embarrassment factor.

“I have a great ability to calm people and make it comfortable for them.

“Many of my clients return feeling more confident and comfortable once they know what to expect.

“Most of the them say that it was nowhere near as bad as they thought it would be and the benefits far outweigh their initial embarrassment.”

While her profession is not one that is always seen in the most decorative light, Naomi takes pride and joy in seeing people return with reports of feeling and being lighter, healthier and happy.

“It’s the people factor I love,” she says.

“I like talking with people on a very real level and I really like that as a healer.

“When you find a tool that works really well for you that helps

people get better, it gives you joy.

“That’s what keeps me inspired.”

Naomi’s website (harlowhealth.com.au) has some detailed facts on what to expect on your first visit, as well as how to prepare for your treatment. After meeting with Naomi, we could tell that she has a deep, caring nature for her clients and is invigorated every time someone feels the benefits of her treatments, especially when they tell her how she has changed their lives. Take the first step to weeding, seeding and feeding and give Naomi a call.

(07) 5455 6765 www.harlowhealth.com.au naomi@harlowhealth.com.au SOUL AUSTRALIA MAGAZINE

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“For all the things my hands have held the best by far is you.�

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.�

Virginia Woolf

In celebration of birth and making mothers Kindred Birth

By Justin Sayson

Ever wanted to have something in common with royalty? Breaking royal tradition, Meghan Markle has hired a doula to assist her during her pregnancy.

Derived from the Greek word, meaning “women-servant or caregiver” a doula (pronounced “doo-la”) doesn’t replace a midwife but rather acts as a support for both partners throughout the birth and postnatal period.

Falling pregnant at 22 years old, being the first out of her friends, Bron Arnold-Briggs struggled to find the support she needed. It was during her time as a birth photographer that she saw the need for someone to be there for couples during that time.

“Midwives were being stretched thin and couples were left alone for long periods of time with no help,” she says.

Hence, Kindred Birth was born to help women throughout their pregnancy.

“So I completely understand their worries and fear surrounding the birth of their baby,” Bron says.

“I regularly see second-time mums,” she says.

They often found themselves with interventions they hadn’t expected.

“They ran out of coping skills early in labour and didn’t know what to do,” Bron says.

“They felt really abandoned.”

Seeing that many women went through a painful process like her own she saw the need for a support person to be alongside the birthing mother and their partner.

It can be a confronting experience for a partner to see their loved ones in labour. She brings a myriad of labour support skills and techniques to make sure the mother and partner are comfortable.

“Trying to handle their own emotions and stay calm all while being the ‘rock’ for their partner can be overwhelming,” Bron says.

to having a natural labour and birth was completely life-changing for me.

“Having a doula by their side for encouragement, reassurance and helping normalise what’s happening is a huge benefit.

“I left the hospital saying I wanted to have at least four babies.”

“My focus is on how the woman and her partner can be together during this experience.

“We’re in it for the long haul, we want to have that continuity of relationship.”

What Bron does is not just for the “crunchy hippy people”. As a doula, she is there to support every birthing woman, making sure they have the support needed to navigate their pregnancy.

She works with families to discover what a positive birth looks like for them and achieve this. For some that’s a water birth, and for others that wish to have pain medication to help them.

“I’m there to help them with their choices,” she says.

Bron has worked with first time parents, IVF parents, women who have had previous caesareans and want a different birth and those that choose to have a caesarean birth. It’s all about supporting their own choices in the way they want to birth.

“It’s an amazing and humbling experience to be a part of that journey,” she says.

Kelly and Aaron asked Bron to work with them during their pregnancy and birth journey and said that they were able to complete the labour at home with Bron there to support them.

“I literally arrived at the hospital only to hop straight into the birth pool and was holding our baby girl half an hour later,” says Kelly.

“To go from not wanting children at all because of my fear of birth,

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Many of the people who seek her out have often gone through a similar experience with pregnancy number one.

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While Bron’s services are in high demand, she’s found that to help women along this special and personal journey takes time and there are only so many women she can support. Due to the demand for her services, Bron has created the Kindred: Doula Collective, to ensure more women are supported, informed and nurtured. Teaming up with two other doulas, Michelle and Mish, this collective is an important service for women birthing on the Sunshine Coast. With the doulas working as a team, clients can access three doulas they know in the rare case Bron is unable to be with them for birth.

“This is truly a one-of-a-kind concept here on the Coast,” she says.

It’s never too early or too late to hire a doula. Bron has clients contact her as soon as their pregnancy is confirmed at six weeks and others book after 35 weeks.

“Seeing the look of achievement on couples faces is the best reward, I’m known to shed a few tears in this moment too,” she says.

“It’s something I’ll never forget.”

Bron is also a professional birth photographer who will capture the magic of your child’s day of birth, the first breath, first cry and those precious bonding moments with your new baby.

If you are expecting a baby, then contact Bron for a chat or visit kindredbirth.com.au to find out how she can support you.

0400 551 977 www.kindredbirth.com.au @kindredbirth @kindred_birth hello@kindredbirth.com.au

Honest conversation about motherhood When a baby is born, a mother is born.

By Justin Sayson

Motherhood takes time. Eliza Pike from Blackbird Counselling knows this all too well, as when her daughter was born eight years ago, she struggled to find a space where she could admit to her struggles and find support.

Even with her years of social work experience to help her, the stigma of being the “perfect mother” stuck.

asking if you can help.

“I was surprised at lack of honest conversation about motherhood,” Eliza says.

One person alone doesn’t raise a child. If neighbours and friends can reach out and be there for each other, everyone will benefit.

One of the initiatives Blackbird runs connects people to create a supportive mini-community.

As the director of Blackbird Counselling, Eliza specialises in helping women adjust to motherhood during the perinatal and postnatal period. A fully Accredited Mental Health Social Worker for the past 20 years, Eliza understands the challenges faced by mums today. She provides support on how to deal with sleep deprivation, changing relationships, making sure they have a network of people around them, and reassuring them it’s okay to ask for help.

“I normalise a lot of the feelings they have in regards to the baby and the sadness,” Eliza says.

“Helping them realise they’re not alone, there’s a tribe that can support them.

“I acknowledge the adjustment to motherhood and support them through it.”

She says while there is often support offered in the antenatal period, the six to 12 month period after the baby is one that is often forgotten. While other cultures seem to have a familial and friendship support network when the baby is born, that can be missing from our own culture. Eliza hopes to create environments where reaching out for help is normal.

“It’s about creating a space in the community where we can speak honestly and openly about our struggles.

“Honest conversation can be difficult, but you don’t have to be a perfect mother,” she says.

Helping new mums isn’t something limited to just the professionals. Eliza says it can be as easy as asking that parent in the park how are they going or approaching your neighbour and 36

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“Just be kind to each other, just be in tune and compassionate to each other’s needs,” she says.

Eliza saw mothers who were isolated and grandmothers that had raised their own kids that had the wisdom to share, so she put them together to create the Mother Mentor program.

“I saw these amazing grandmothers and I realised the value of having an amazing mother when you become a mother yourself,” Eliza says.

All it takes one open and honest talk and the healing begins. For Eliza and everyone at Blackbird Counselling, they’d gladly help people do that again and again.

“It’s the best thing in the world.

“It was the best decision in my life to dedicate time to helping mothers,” she says.

Eliza can help you adjust to motherhood, promote emotional wellbeing and build competence and confidence. Contact her for a respectful and compassionate conversation she can help.

0421 521 518 blackbirdcounselling.com.au @Blackbird.CoQLD @blackbirdcounselling eliza@blackbirdcounselling.com.au

“Just be kind to each other, just be in tune and compassionate to each other’s needs.”

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Hey beautiful Mama, feeling tired?

Born to sleep baby sleep solution

By Justin Sayson

Bleary eyes, half a dozen coffees in, and it’s only 10 am, sound familiar? How to get your baby to sleep is the question on the lips of every new parent and navigating the answers can be daunting.

The variety of opinions on what works best are overwhelming. From having the right lighting and specific feeding times, to not making eye contact with your baby, Sunshine Coast’s Lisa Cheetham knows the struggle all too well.

As a certified and experienced sleep coach and founder of Born to Sleep, Lisa works alongside parents to help babies develop better sleeping habits, so they can finally get some rest as well.

Lisa, who left her high-flying corporate career to become a student of psychology, has always been passionate about parents and baby’s health & wellbeing. She says it’s okay for people to have trouble adjusting to a new lifestyle and there is support out there.

“The transition is extremely hard,” she says.

“Not only do you meet their daily physical and psychological needs but also work out what works best for them, with the added pressures of still being a wife, friend, cleaner and even a working mum, it can be exhausting.” That’s why sleep is so important, to reduce stress and help you not just survive the day but thrive in the day.

As a mum of two, she knows this struggle all to well. For her second she had a private midwife and that support made all the difference.

“I remember I just wanted her to stay the whole day with me and guide me through it” “I loved that she helped to change lives by supporting women and I wanted to do something similar. Sleep was something I felt so passionate about and was able to master. It always felt so good to get a full night’s sleep, as well as, time in the day to get stuff done. All while knowing my babies were meeting their developmental needs.

It was a win win for me, and I wanted to share that feeling with others” Sleep is complex and delicate. Some babies do the skill better than others. Although her job puts parents out of their comfort zone, with the personal plans, expert advice and continued support it doesn’t feel so overwhelming.

Lisa always aims to deliver and delight and so far, says she has been thrilled by the dramatic transformations seen in all her clients, many of whom had been worn down by the endless late nights where they

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had struggled to put their baby to bed.

Ensuring the mother takes care of her own mental health is key for Lisa who says mum needs to look after herself to make sure she’s making the best decisions for her child.

“Taking care of yourself is as important as taking care of your baby,” she says.

Born to Sleep currently services the Sunshine Coast and Noosa areas. She also provides both online and over the phone support for parents further afield.

Lisa’s top 5 tips for making sure your bub gets the best sleep: 1. Be conscious of the baby’s age appropriate awake times 2. Focus on a longer, restorative lunch nap to reduce stress and avoid over tiredness.

3. Have a routine that’s predictable, so they know what’s expected and feel safe and secure 4. If teaching self-settling, find a method that’s right for you and stick to it.

5. Have a support network to help you. This is not something you have to do on your own.

If you or someone you know is having difficulties getting their baby to sleep, then Lisa can help. Lisa’s clients have said that they would have called her in earlier if they’d known just how much of a difference she would make to their baby’s sleep.

0488 008 878 borntosleep.com.au @borntosleep.biz @born._to._sleep

What Lisa’s (now rested) clients have to say…

“Lisa has worked wonders for our family.”

“Lisa knows what works having been there, done that and I completely trusted her direction because of this. Thank you, Lisa you saved our household so much heartache and for the first time in three years we are all sleeping.”

“Lisa changed our lives, our 4-month-old son is like a new personhe is so happy and content and is down to one quick feed per night.”

Classic tales

Old and new classic recommended reads

Starved and accused of stealing Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Jane Eyre is a Gothic coming-of-age novel. Charlotte Bronte published the novel in 1847 under a male pseudonym, Currer Bell.

Jane Eyre is a very poor orphan living at Gateshead with her uncle’s widow and her children. She is mistreated and berated and is considered ugly, skinny and sneaky by her guardian. She is sent to a boarding school where the conditions are even more terrible than they were at home. She is starved and accused of being a thief and eventually leaves the school when she is hired to be a governess for a Mrs Fairfax. Only after living for several months in her new employer’s home, does she realise that Mrs Fairfax is only a housekeeper and she is actually employed by a man named Mr Rochester.

Jane believes that Mr Rochester can never marry her because she is a servant and because he is already married (albeit to the mentally ill Bertha). She eventually leaves Thornfield, sorrowful and destitute, to work for a charity school. Jane finds that the clergyman who is the head of the school is actually her missing cousin and discovers that she has an inheritance from her uncle and she shares this wealth with the clergyman’s family. With her newly-gained wealth, Jane seeks out Mr Rochester, but finds Thornfield burned to the ground and Mr Rochester blinded from the fire. His wife is dead and Jane is now free to marry Edward Rochester.

Edward Rochester has a secret that he keeps from everyone except his trusted employees. His wife, Bertha Mason is completely insane and is kept locked in the attic of Thornfield Manor. She is guarded by a nurse and can be heard laughing and shrieking in the night.

Jane hears these noises and eventually helps to extinguish a fire that Bertha lights in a fit of rage and jealousy. Jane comes to love Mr Rochester, even though she does not consider him handsome. She suspects slightly that he loves her too.

The novel is daring in that the heroine of the story is so different from what was expected at the time. She is not the beautiful and rich heroine; she is poor and too thin. The hero, Edward Rochester, is filled with all of the flaws that make a person human while still having something indefinable, which is endearing. Jane Eyre’s characters are full and rich. This classic novel contains a story which is gripping for today’s audience, even after all of this time.

Fantasy and adventure Life of Pi by Yann Martel Pi is the son of a man who ran a zoo. Yann Martel is a Spanish-born Canadian author who developed the idea for Life of Pi in 20 minutes.

Between that moment of revelation and the publication of the novel in 2001, Martel made three trips to India.

Pi’s unusual name comes from his father’s friend Francis Adirubasamy, a swimming champion. His full name is Piscine Patel, named for the Piscine Molitor, a swimming club in Paris. Pi’s father teaches him and his brother about the animals in the zoo and their ferocity.

Pi’s story is told in several parts. He begins with his early history, detailing his family’s move to Canada aboard a boat with many of the zoo animals. The boat sinks and Pi finds himself on a lifeboat with a tiger named Richard Parker, a hyena, a zebra and an orangutan.

The small boat drifts on the sea and the hyena attacks and eats the zebra. It then eats the orangutan. At this point, the tiger attacks the hyena and devours it. Pi, believing that the tiger will eat him next, begins fishing for food. He feeds both himself and the tiger with fresh caught fish from the sea.

The survivors come to meet another castaway, also in a lifeboat. The drifters tie their boats together, but the stranger attacks Pi. He means to eat Pi, but the tiger kills the stranger instead.

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Later, the lifeboat reaches a small island. The island vegetation grows almost directly out of other vegetation, rather than out of sand or soil. Pi and the tiger go ashore and find a population of small animals who survive on fish and fresh water. Pi also discovers human teeth on the island and realises that the vegetation likely kills humans and they leave the island aboard the lifeboat.

The arrival of the survivors in Mexico ends the tale. The tiger runs off into the jungle and the Mexican villagers take Pi to the hospital. In the next section of the story, two men from the Japanese Transportation Ministry question Pi about his shipwreck. He explains his story several times. During the second telling of his days at sea, Pi replaces the animals with people. The two men see the horrors that Pi must have endured, and they commend him for his survival.

The Life of Pi is a fantasy and an adventure. Yann Martel gives the story so much life that the reader smells the ocean and sees the giant tiger. Pi’s will to survive and his brilliant ability to comfort himself with his storytelling skills create a character that is effortless to love.

The themes of territory, religious beliefs and ritual are thoroughly explored in this delightful book.

“This is what music is about.”

- Guy Sebastian

We do it because we love it The Dennis Sisters

By Justin Sayson

With a splash of purple and turquoise in their hair, Tiana and Briannah Dennis will catch your eye. But it’s their voices that will be resounding in your ears by the end of the day with their unique style spanning folk, alt-country and pop.

At 18- and 19-years-old, the Dennis sisters haven’t lived a typical teenager’s life. From being in the top 30 on X-Factor in 2016 to playing at a ski lodge in Japan for the past two months, they continue to hit the right notes.

X-Factor judge Guy Sebastian said they were beautiful to watch.

“Performing at a young age people would say, ‘you’re too young, grow up first’,” Bri says.

“It’s what music is about.”

“It’s like, no, we do it because we love it.”

The sisters discovered their passion for music during a difficult time in their lives. Both contracted a illness in their early teenage years, which took them away from school and from friends much of the time.

However, that time away from friends helped both of them find music.

“I picked up a guitar and started writing depressing songs about my feelings,” Tiana said.

“The sort of stuff you do when you’re 12, you’re sick and you can’t go to school.

“It was really therapeutic.

Eventually, I dragged Bri into playing bass and we started playing live.”

Performing on X-Factor gave the sisters a glimpse into the professional music world.

“We learnt so much on X-Factor,” says Tiana.

“To perform in front of a large crowd, on TV and in front of the judges was incredible.

“Nerve-wracking but incredible.”

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SOUL AUSTRALIA MAGAZINE

“Watching them was very emotional for me.

“There was just this authenticity about it.

The journey of beginning their music career from a place of pain and moving through to where they are today keeps them grounded and remains central to their music. For them, music is place where you can be encouraged, strengthened and do good in the world.

The duo recently spent a couple days with Positive Change for Marine Life at Byron Bay cleaning up the beach. Though it looked clean initially, a closer look revealed cigarette butts and bottle caps littering the sand.

“It looked so clean from the outside until you moved a rock and looked,” Bri says.

“It was really an eye-opening experience for us,” Ti says.

“We’d love to get some people committed to a routine a couple times a month and get something similar moving on the Sunny Coast.”

Last year was an exciting whirlwind of recording and performances for the pair. They released their debut single Find Me that charted at no. 1 on the Triple J Unearthed Roots Charts and received Highly Commended at the Queensland Music Awards. They also performed at some of Australia’s leading music festivals including the Gympie Muster, Tamworth, Groundwater and Caloundra Music Festival.

Now back on the Coast and into a routine, the Dennis Sisters are keen to get back in the studio and will be working on a few singles to release this year.

Photos: Erin Farquharson

thedennissisters.com @thedennissisters @thedennissistersmusic SOUL AUSTRALIA MAGAZINE

XX

Real intimacy depends on truth - lovingly told especially in the bedroom.

Joyce Brothers

Ask Pauline

Pauline is Soul Magazine’s sex, intimacy and relationship agony aunt. If you have a question for Pauline, ask us on Facebook or email pauline@soulmagazine.com.au.

Is pain normal during intimacy?

No, it’s not. No-one should experience pain when they are making love and if you are, we need to look at what can be causing this.

The first question I would be asking is are you fully aroused when you are having sex and are you lubricating naturally? Or do you need to keep topping up the lubrication?

Does the pain happen all the time or is it only some times? Is it in certain positions only?

Often, when women start going through menopause, the walls of the vagina lose elasticity and there is not as much collagen present.

Sometimes pain can occur after childbirth. Maybe there has been a tear or an episiotomy leading to internal adhesions in the vaginal wall, which will give you pain.

We can also have what’s known as genital numbness. This can happen when there has been a little bit of discomfort or pain in the past and we block that out. We actually start to lack feeling internally too.

Here’s a list of just a few areas that can be affected by internal adhesions, but not limited to these only:

Pauline is available for consultations (in-person, phone or Skype) 0411 701 594 PaulineRyeland.com @intimacywhisperer

Any surgery to do with childbirth, episiotomies, natural tears, C-sections, hysterectomies, ectopic pregnancy removal, abortion, prostatectomy, bladder infections, hysterectomy, endometriosis, organs, ligaments, tendons, fascia, muscles, any abdominal surgery, injuries to the coccyx, breast implants, head injuries, bowel surgery and more.

There could also be numbness or inflammation internally.

So, if you are experiencing pain – how do we reverse that so you can go back to enjoying pain free sex?

Many women are unaware of the lack of feelings or sensations experienced internally in the vaginal passage. This can come from childbirth or uncomfortable sex. By mapping internally with organic castor oil, we can determine any numbness or pain sensations and slowly restore the vaginal walls to feel sensations and pleasure.

Having low libido can also be due to internal adhesions.

So please, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, can you please get in touch with me.

SOUL AUSTRALIA MAGAZINE

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Supporters with soul Intimacy Whisperer

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Postnatal counselling blackbirdcounselling.com.au

Born to Sleep

Baby sleep training borntosleep.com.au

Kindred Birth Doula kindredbirth.com.au

The Guillotine Hair Artistry Organic hair stylist theguillotinehairartistry.com.au

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To Hold & to Have

Jewellery design toholdandtohave.com.au

Botanist Aromatherapy Aromatherapist botanistaromatherapy.com

Be Soul Beautiful

Reiki Healer besoulbeautiful.com.au

Hello Honey

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Kerri Abbott

Naturopath sunshinecoastnaturopath.net.au

Inspire Pilates

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47

And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.

John Muir

@soulmagaus SoulMagazineAustralia Want to be featured in Soul?

Link with us or contact us through

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About us Soul Magazine is a new and exciting print publication distributed across the Sunshine Coast and surrounds.

Focusing on local businesses, offers and news, Soul Magazine is passionate about community and local society.

We want to hear about the heroes in your community. Does your local grocer source local produce?

Who builds and promotes your community? What great foodies live in your area?

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