Soul Magazine - Spring 2018

MAGAZINE

SOUL AUSTRALIA

spring 2018

free! Take me home

SUNSHINE COAST’S WELLNESS & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

in d e r u t a e f e b to e k li ou y Would

Lifestyle and wellness magazine

for the Sunshine Coast, published quarterly Local content for locals

Distribution

Social media

Focuses on healthy and positive living

Soul magazine has targeted distribution points where people are inclined to linger a while, such as selected coffee shops, waiting rooms, clubs and small community shopping centres. This reduces mass printing and wastage, which in turn allows us to offer reasonable and competitive advertising rates, while at the same time maintaining an interested and high readership per issue, estimated at 30,000.

As a new publication, we are building our social media presence using a combination of aggressive marketing and organic growth. Our wide range of inspirational, humorous and goodfor-the-soul content has appealed to a large number of locals and our reach continues to grow at a high rate.

Positive stories on intimacy, fashion, yoga, food, travel, health, small business, relaxation and more.

Adding magazine advertising to your media mix drives purchase intent and builds consumer relationships and increases:

Brand trust by

22%

Brand favourability by

55%

Purchase intent by

29%

Pairing your online marketing with a magazine makes people 2.6 times more likely to recommend your brand.

Pairing your outdoor advertising (banners, signs, etc) provides 3.2 times more likely to be interested in your brand.

Source: Magazine Networks The Multiplier Effect 2017

Call 0475 949 386 or email sales@soulmagazine.com.au

www.soulmagazine.com.au

Hello,

It is with great excitement and pride that I introduce a new magazine to the Sunshine Coast.

In the last few months, the Soul Magazine team has learned a great deal and had a lot of good experiences covering this growing, vibrant and, arguably, best part of Queensland. Working on the first issue of this magazine has given me the opportunity to fall in love with the people and the Sunny Coast itself. It’s a lot of fun to cover and I’m thrilled to be a part of this adventure.

I couldn’t wish for a better team who love what we do and in particular, enjoy writing about their passion.

Right-hand man Tom Sharman and the best graphic designer in the world Tracy Small have enthusiastically played a huge part in getting us to this point. Morgan McSmith and Justin Sayson are story geniuses and have sourced some wonderful articles for you (thanks guys, we couldn’t have done it without you!). Our contributors Kim Allan, Claire McErlane and Pauline Ryeland are passionate about sharing “good for the soul” experiences with you. After reading Claire’s travel experience to Vietnam, I have to go there! Pauline is our regular Agony Aunt and specialises in intimacy and sexuality, so all those questions you were too embarrassed to ask? Ask Pauline. Kim offers practical advice that really makes a difference in people’s lives by drawing on her years of experience and training as a yoga therapist.

It is a great time to be a part of this dynamic area and we hope you enjoy our first issue of Soul Magazine.

Please do let us know what you think of our first issue!

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.

Morgan McSmith is

originally from Portland, Oregon and is a freelance writer who fell in love with the Sunny Coast after moving here in 2016.

You’ll most likely find her swimming at the beach, strolling the aisles of a bookshop or any place featuring live music.

Jo Grey is the editor of

Soul. Jo was born into a family of printers and publishers and ink runs through her veins. She loves to travel, read books and is currently trying very hard to learn French.

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 05

Fashion

There is something alluring about vintage fashion and the Sunny Coast is full of these retro treasures. Read about two shops offering a glimpse of yesteryear’s threads.

Food

12

Intimacy

30

Travel

42

Catching up at the community-focused One Block Back is good for the soul. Check out the story behind this charming cafe. We also offer a daily market guide just in case you find yourself without fresh fruit and veggies.

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Mind

Yoga therapy, art therapy and meditation can all help with stress and the challenges of daily life.

Our resident sex therapist answers some of those questions you might not know who to ask.

36

Music

Feed your soul with music from two local legends.

Is Vietnam on your travel list? If not, make a cuppa and settle in for some armchair travel that’s bound to please.

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“Fashion is about dressing according to what’s fashionable. Style is more about being yourself.”

Oscar de la Renta

Out with the new, in with the old Go vintage for summer

By Morgan McSmith

It’s made to last, it’s unique, it’s easy on the bank account and it’s environmentally friendly.

It’s vintage.

Fortunately the Sunny Coast has embraced this fashion trend head-on. And what’s not to love? Thick denim, bright colours and funky sunnies? Count me in.

One of the worst feelings is splurging on a new fashion find only to have it last for just a couple of wears. No matter how many buttons you buy or hand stitches you sew, it’s just not going to work. Somewhere in the world of fashion, quantity overtook quality. Vintage lasts and if it didn’t, well, it wouldn’t really be vintage.

Two of a kind do not exist. Vintage fashion is especially unique because there is typically only one of everything. Nothing is worse than rocking up to a party in the same outfit as your best mate or even worse, your worst mate.

Not only does shopping vintage help the environment, it also helps make that card tap a little less painful. Buying preworn clothes saves them from filling landfills. The Australian Bureau of Statistics suggests about 500,000 tonnes of leather and textiles are discarded every year.

You can save the earth and your money simultaneously by shopping vintage, besides, who wouldn’t want to own some of the fashion from a bygone era? Hand-stitching, pearl buttons and exquisite fabric awaits you.

Winter is over, let’s get those wardrobes ready for the warm months ahead.

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Meraki Threads Co.

Situated on the stunning Mooloolaba waterfront, Meraki Threads Co. is the place to look for that special something.

Meraki Threads Co. is truly a hidden gem.

Meraki focuses on providing sustainable, preloved goods from all over the world. Store owner and operator Jess Bos wants everything to be totally unique.

“I don’t want any fast fashion brands in here,” she says.

“Everything is a one-off piece; it’s all unique which is fun. It’s awesome to just come in and try on a million things and find something that suits you or your style.”

You can expect to find heaps of denim, a variety of knits and classic crewneck sweaters for cooler days. Meraki is even looking to get some trench coats ready for next season. Rocking a vintage PBC trench might only happen a few times a year thanks to the wonderful weather on the Coast, but finding the right one could be the easiest fix to almost any outfit come winter.

It looks like mum jeans are sticking around yet again, no complaints here. High waisted Levi’s and a simple button down are an easy effortless look. The vivid shirts are a great way to add lots of colour to your everyday wardrobe.

With jewellery imported from a woman in Indonesia and bags from Vietnam, Jess uses her contacts from around the world to get quirky finds to the Sunny Coast.

“Everything is a one-off piece.

It’s all unique, which is fun.”

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facebook.com/merakithreadco Instagram @merakithreadco merakithreadco.com.au 29/123 Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba

Style Workroom

Right in the centre of Peregian Springs lies yet another sustainable and fashionable vintage shop, Style Workroom.

Don’t let this pocket sized shop fool you, it may be small but it is indeed mighty.

It’s impossible to miss the overalls. With two separate sections, one rack stocked with denim and the second with unique patterns and designs, it’s hard not to want them all.

Ringing in at $80, overalls are the perfect go to for a beach day or Sunday brunch with the girls.

The leather jackets (faux of course) are 100 per cent recycled material and oh so cute.

Seemingly they’ve made it through endless winter seasons, a trend that never goes away.

The buckets full of vintage swimwear are perfect for all ocean lovers. Some are even stylish enough to wear as a playsuit with

some basic denim shorts or washed out mum jeans.

Expect to find a lot more denim, light jumpers and flowing dresses in preparation for spring and summer.

Fashionista and Workroom stylist Elma Kondi-Mcdonald says fashion is all about expression and individuality.

facebook.com/styleworkroom Instagram @style_workroom styleworkroom.com Shop 4A Oasis Arcade, Grebe Street, Peregian Beach

“I find when people don’t know how to dress, it’s often because they don’t really know who they are,” she says.

“When I style someone I like to just give them ideas to work off but it’s all about figuring out what works for you.”

Vintage fashion has soul, it has character and Style Workroom is nailing the game by packing their store with items that make customers feel and look great.

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Festival females downunder

How to look and feel marvellous at your next music festival

By Morgan McSmith

Long portaloo lines, a dead phone by 4pm, and extraordinarily tall people that believe they belong in the front of a crowd.

Unfortunately, there is no solution to every music festival dilemma.

Here’s what can be solved, though: the endless hours spent trying to find the perfect outfit.

Young Queenslander Samantha Todd and her partner in crime, Sarah Neilson have recently started their own micro-business to help the music festival females of Australia look and feel marvellous, while enjoying some of the largest music events that take place down under.

Sam and Sarah have taken advantage of the large and continuously growing social media industry by creating an Instagram page for hiring festival attire. What started as a meaningless chat about how much festival clothing Sam owns coincidentally turned into a money maker. While they thought the idea was unique, little did they know they would be the only company in Queensland that specifically rents out festival clothes and accessories. Which seems odd, considering the amount of festivals that go on both here on the Sunny Coast and in Queensland in general.

And here’s the thing, it’s ridiculously cheap, renting their clothes out for about a quarter of the price they paid! But why?

“What I think when I’m putting things up is if someone wants to hire something it’s because they might not have enough money to buy that item at the moment. So, let’s make it cheap,” Sam says.

The duo met about two years ago when they were both working at Zara, a fashion retailer in Brisbane. The co-workers became friends when they spontaneously decided to get their ears pierced together. Although,

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it’s hard to tell exactly what piercing they got that day (and we didn’t ask!). Sam’s ears are pierced all the way down, starting at the outer cartilage and ending at the bottom of her ear lobe. After a year of living together they’re pretty much inseparable, spending every bit of free time together working on their new business or simply just hanging out.

At the start their business was built on pure trust. The tandem group would go as far as shipping their clothes off to someone who reached out to them via social media with nothing but a small payment and hoped that the item would be returned. The girls have now established a small contract covering damaged or lost items but it’s not much.

“We just hope and pray that everyone brings everything back in good condition and so far, so good. At the moment, it’s just girl power, trust and sharing,” Sam explains.

They simply ask the ladies that hire from them to tag their Instagram page to help promote their business to other potential renters, which has worked out well so far.

Sam smiles when talking about all the ladies they’ve met through Festival Clothing Hire. “The girls we meet are always just so kind. I used to think that was really hard to find but we’ve just met so many beautiful people. And everyone wears [our outfits] so differently; we don’t have the same style so it always ends up looking completely different even though it’s the exact same outfit,” she says.

Instagram: @festivalclothinghire

“The girls we meet are always just so kind. I used to think that was really hard to find, but we’ve met so many beautiful people.”

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

Virginia Woolf

Hidden gem

One Block Back moves forward

By Justin Sayson

Meet Jasmin Smith, founder of RAWR Foods and café One Block Back. Soul sat down with Jasmin at her café to talk about food, business and her favourite places on the Coast.

One Block Back has been silently stirring up a food revolution in Caloundra. In a world where even food lifestyles cause bitter conflict, this café may be able to broker peace, to unite, to enjoy food that may be a bit healthier than you think.

flakes, seeds and fresh fruit. The scoop of activated charcoal doesn’t change the flavour but can cleanse your body of toxins and even works as a hangover preventative. Eating good food and getting healthier at the same time? We’re all about that.

Hidden in the suburbs of Moffat Beach, the solar panel factory turned rustic-beach café holds a Sydney-esque charm, while never straying from its Sunny Coast roots.

But if acai bowls aren’t your deal, they’ve got all day breakfast and brunch or treat yourself to one of their delectable RAWR cakes.

Whether you’re looking for a place where some of your friends can try some vegan food, or just trying to find a place where both sides of the fence can unite and eat together, this is the place to be.

The menu is a treat for both Instagram feeds and your tastebuds, the brainchild of RAWR Foods owner and vegan dessert queen Jasmin Smith. Food is prepared by a vegan chef, in a kitchen that’s open from 7am-2pm everyday.

Their signature One Bowl Black acai bowl, with creamy almond milk is topped with a heavenly combination of granola, coconut 14

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The open space is separated into a lounge area, small tables and a work bench complete with power outlets so you can tap away at your keyboard while enjoying some coffee and a brekkie bowl. Inside, surfboards

line the corrugated iron walls and, if you’re lucky, you might find a pro surfer coming in to check them out.

Venture outside to the sunlit deck that overlooks the bush to find a huge picnic table for you and all your mates, but just watch out for pesky birds wanting a peck at your food. I found myself surrounded by magpies one morning while I was trying to get a snap of my acai bowl.

In-the-know locals have fully embraced the café and the neighbours, well, they’re living the dream being able to wander across the road for some coffee and a good breakfast.

OBB hasn’t limited itself to being just café though, with it hosting a wedding last year and with more weddings, parties and baby showers on the schedule, everyone there will have a taste of some of the café’s delights.

Just over a year in its experience and One Block Back is making a name for itself on the Coast. With the power of Jasmin Smith and RAWR foods behind it, you can happily have your cake and eat it too.

Photo Credit Brandon Bloomfield

“We asked Jasmin to tell us more about what makes One Block Back unique.”

Describe One Block Back in a sentence?

It’s just something for everyone, like really a destination, all about having a good time and good food.

What inspired OBB aesthetic?

The Grounds of Alexandria [in Sydney] is my favourite café ever. I’m really into that Melbourne, Sydney style, so a lot of inspiration from down there, I kinda just want to bring a little bit of it to the Sunshine Coast.

What’s the first year of having your own café like?

It’s been crazy, it’s not slowing down that’s for sure. We’ve learnt a lot about our customers, so we just continue to grow and be better, like every week we are just trying to be better.

What’s with all the surfboards hanging on the wall?

They’re just my friend’s collection; he collects all the vintage boards and thought

we could put them up in here. It helps him with storage, he just comes in and grabs one puts one back up.

What’s your week-to-week look like?

I pretty much work all the time. If I’m not, it’s just...travelling. I just went down to Sydney for 3 days just to see cafes, see what’s happening around to try to keep up-to-date get some new ideas, yeah, I love working.

Do you have a favourite food at the café?

I love our acai bowls and the Smashed Duo (Smashed avo, roasted pumpkin hummus, caramelised onions, chipotle mayonnaise on organic sourdough ). We get salted caramel cruffins and cronuts in on weekends and I don’t mind getting one of those every now and then but yeah it’s easy here, I just eat random things.

What’s your go-to place for food on the Coast?

I’m more of a dinner person for the Coast, I love Noosa, I love all the restaurants in Noosa, the Spirit House is amazing and Spice Bar [in Mooloolaba], I’m really into Asian fusion and all that.

You can find One Block Back at: 106 Nothling Street Moffat Beach, QLD 4551 facebook.com/oneblockback Instagram @oneblockback oneblockback.com.au SOUL AUSTRALIA MAGAZINE

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The tastiest diet plan we have found so far It includes wine!

By Tom Sharman

It seems as if 2018 is the year of the Mediterranean diet, after being touted as the healthiest diet for longevity, weight loss, brain function with an emphasis on high consumption of vegetables, olive oil and a moderate consumption of protein.

The Mediterranean diet is inspired by the eating habits of Greeks, Southern Italians, and Spaniards in the 1940s and 1950s.

Luckily for us, the diet allows moderate consumption of wine… Finally, a diet we can all get behind!

International Foundation of the Mediterranean Diet president, Professor Lluis Serra-Majem, says the Mediterranean diet is more than just another trendy weight loss and healthy lifestyle diet.

“There have been a number of very well documented clinical trials run by doctors which support the health benefits of the diet, particularly of its main ingredients like olive oil, nuts, fish,” Professor Serra-Majem said at a Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation conference.

“This isn’t just a fad; it’s got strong scientific support as we know that it reduces the chance of coronary heart disease by more than 30 per cent, plus reduces the chance of breast cancer, diabetes and many assorted chronic health issues.”

The main tenets of the diet are to try and include vegetables with every meal with the recommended amount set at 400 grams a day with 100 grams of leafy greens, 100 grams of tomatoes and 200 grams of other vegetables.

The diet’s proponents say you need to include at least two meals consisting of a 250 gram serve of legumes each week and two servings (175 grams) of fish per week, with a focus on oily fish which is rich in vitamin A, vitamin D and omega-3 which helps combat neurodegeneration.

The best fish for the job are Australian salmon, blue-eye trevalla, blue mackerel, gemfish and canned sardines. Canned tuna is not as high in the important fish oil omega-3, but still a good choice to include in your fish serves.

The diet also pushes for less consumption of red meat and poultry, with no more than two small serves recommended per week.

Use extra virgin olive oil as the main added fat while cooking and aim for around 60 millilitres a day.

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Desserts and snacks: Fresh fruit, nuts, dried fruit, yogurts and cheese in small servings are the go, as they provide the body with a plethora of different vitamins and antioxidants.

Grains: Eat whole grain breads and cereals that add fibre and carbohydrates into the diet; specialists recommend between two and four slices of bread a day.

Here’s what you need more of: • Veggies: Tomatoes, broccoli, kale, spinach, onions, cauliflower, carrots, cucumbers, Potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips.

• Fruits: Apples, bananas, oranges, pears, strawberries, grapes, dates, figs, melons, peaches, etc.

• Nuts and Seeds: Almonds, walnuts, Macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, cashews, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and more.

• Legumes: Beans, peas, lentils, pulses, peanuts, chickpeas, etc.

• Whole Grains: Whole oats, brown rice, rye, barley, corn, buckwheat, whole wheat, whole grain bread and pasta.

• Fish and Seafood: Salmon, sardines, trout, tuna, mackerel, shrimp, oysters, clams, crab, mussels, etc.

• Poultry: Chicken, duck, turkey and more.

• Eggs: Chicken, quail and duck eggs.

• Dairy: Cheese, yogurt, Greek yogurt, etc.

• Herbs and Spices: Garlic, basil, mint, rosemary, sage, nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper, etc.

• Healthy Fats: Extra virgin olive oil, olives and avocados.

Here’s what you should be avoiding: • Added sugars: Soft drinks, sweets, ice cream, granulated sugar.

• Refined grains: White bread, pasta made with refined wheat, etc.

• Trans fats: Margarine and various processed foods.

• Refined Oils: Soybean oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil and others.

• Processed meat: Processed sausages, hot dogs, etc.

• Highly processed foods: Everything labelled "low-fat" or "diet" or looks like it was made in a factory.

Example menu for the day: • Breakfast: Slice sourdough bread with chopped tomatoes, red onion, fresh herbs with crumbled feta and drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Slice of melon. Greek coffee (or espresso).

• Snack: fresh fruit (pear, small bunch grapes, a couple of figs) or small handful of nuts (walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts).

• Lunch: Mediterranean vegetable bake (Briami) with small serve of rice.

• Afternoon snack: Greek plain natural yogurt drizzled with honey and a few crushed walnuts.

• Dinner: Baked or grilled snapper (or other fish) with salad of cooked leafy greens drizzled with olive oil and lemon juice. Small glass of wine.

• After dinner: small plate of fresh fruit to share (melon, grapes, figs, stone fruits).

We tried a delicious Caprese Portobello Mushroom recipe that fits into the Mediterranean diet and our only complaint? We could’ve done with more cheese! We served ours on some toasted sourdough, but it’s just as good without.

Caprese Portobello Mushrooms Ingredients

Preparation:

large portobello mushroom caps, gills removed

1. Heat oven to 200*C.

cherry tomatoes fresh mozzarella fresh basil olive oil

2. Line a baking sheet with foil for easy clean up.

3. Brush the caps and rims with olive oil on each mushroom.

4. Slice cherry or grape tomatoes in half, place in a bowl, drizzle with olive oil, add chopped basil, salt and pepper. Let it sit for a few minutes to let the flavors meld.

5. Place your cheese on the bottom of the mushroom cap, spoon on the tomato basil mixture and bake until cheese melts and mushrooms are cooked but not overcooked.

Special gift for Soul readers!

Download our free cookbook that includes a recipe for Caprese Pizza at soulmagazine.com.au/ cookbook

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Favourite weekday and weekend Sunny Coast markets

By Morgan McSmith

If you’re a true Sunny Coaster there’s no denying the love for pop up tents and tiny trinkets found in every corner. But what’s not to love?

Markets often offer farm fresh produce, they’re affordable and easy to budget for, they support your local community and are typically social events. Here’s some of the best markets on the Coast worth checking out throughout the week.

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Wednesday

If there’s a market you don’t want to sleep in for, this is the one. The parking can get hectic and the crowds seem to grow with time so it’s better to arrive early. The Original Eumundi Markets is Australia’s biggest art, craft and produce market. With over 300 stalls tucked away in this small hinterland town it’s hard not be overwhelmed with excitement cruising through the endless sequence of booths. Rain or shine Eumundi Markets are on every week on Wednesdays from 8-1.30pm and Saturdays from 7am-2pm.

Thursday

If you love the hippy/boho style Thursdays are your days. Nambour hosts a cozy vintage market every Thursday from 9am to 2pm. Shabby clothes, rare antiques and tasty homemade fudges are some of my favourite things Nambour Village Square Market offers. It’s one of the smaller markets on the Coast but you can be sure to come across some quirky finds.

Friday

Nights on Ocean falls on the second Friday of each month attracting between 6,000 and 12,000 guests to this busy street. Drawing such a massive crowd sometimes means long wait times for food, or even a good gaze at a stall inevitable, but if you can manage a little patience and go into it knowing your excursion down Ocean Street might take a while, the wait is well worth it. Live music, great food and good vibes can help get you through all the bustling people immersing themselves in the local culture.

Saturdays

If you’re looking for fresh produce make sure to keep your Saturday mornings free.

For over 15 years, Woombye has put on the Hinterland Harvest Market which features chemical free and organic produce from local and wider communities. Hours vary depending on the season, starting earlier (6am) in the warmer months and a little later (7am) once it starts to cool down.

Kawana Waters Farmers’ Market also offers fresh, organic produce. Located at Kawana State Primary School, it’s a tight area for all the stalls and eager customers to squeeze into but the vendors make the most of their compact space making sure everyone can get to whatever they’re after. Local tip: The best priced bananas are sold out of a van from a woman who wears the same banana print shirt every weekend. Typically neighbouring the banana stall you can find beautiful native flowers that look lovely nearly year round.

Yandina markets are from 7am to 12pm but you’ll want to get there early for all the best stuff. Plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables can be found at Yandina, but it’s the plant selection that makes it amazing. If you’re looking for cheap garden or even some indoor plants check out the Yandina markets and you’ll be sure add some greenery to your life.

Sundays

The Sunny Coast is market central on a Sunday, with up to 15 pop up markets catering to every whim.

Caloundra Street Fair is one of the best Sunday markets if you’re looking for handmade, local buys. Covering two blocks of Bulcok street you’ll find 100 stalls lining the road with their unique businesses. You can find anything from organic homemade sauce, to handwoven dreamcatchers. There’s also live music and delicious food. Breakfast burritos, dutch pancakes and acai bowls, anything that strikes your fancy.

Peregian Beach Markets is known for its variety of art, craft, recycled, upcycled, handmade, home grown, organic and fair trade goods. They’re only held on the first and third Sunday of every month but it’s worth writing the dates down in your diary. Perfect for picking up a gift, upcycled outfit or relaxing during a massage, Peregian Beach Markets have something for everyone.

Held every Sunday from 8am-12pm, the Maleny Sunday Market offers locally produced arts and crafts, antiques, collectables, books, jewellery, candles, soaps, jams, massages and much more. The weather isn’t an issue for this miniature market as it’s held inside. They also often hold free information and demonstration sessions where market goers are encouraged to gain knowledge on what the stall holders offer.

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The rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind & the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life.

B.K.S. Iyenga

Managing stress with yoga therapy Building better coping mechanisms

By Kim Allan

Everyone in modern life has experienced stress. Stress is endemic to our lifestyle and no one seems able to escape from it. But why are we so stressed?

Modern living places many demands on us from family life, work schedules, keeping up with the cost of living, expectations we place on ourselves, to simply trying to keep up with the general pace of life. What may cause us stress can be changeable and vary greatly from person to person. It can all seem overwhelming and leave us feeling perplexed about what we can do to help ourselves.

The way we respond to stress is nothing new, it is an inbuilt physiological response, a survival mechanism that is most beneficial to us if we are faced with a threat that could endanger our lives. The problem with modern living is that this stress response is in a hyper state, whether we are stuck in traffic or in front or the computer screen.

When this stress response is active over a long period of time it starts to affect our health in a negative way, such as high blood pressure, digestive problems, back pain, and in extreme cases, cancer. Science recognises that stress impacts everything from insulin levels to infertility. High levels of flight-or-fight hormones like cortisol and adrenaline actually unravel and fray the end portions (telomeres) of our chromosomes, which are part of our DNA. Most of us will keep pushing on until something serious happens that stops or forces us to take some form of action, often this can be too late and results in array of complicated health conditions. What yoga can teach us is to notice the signs and symptoms before stress levels escalate to a state that is detrimental to our health.

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As we all know there are many ways to relax or destress: take a walk along the beach, go for a swim, surf, play golf, sit and watch a sunset, or go to a yoga class.

While these stress-busters can be beneficial to us. and offer a momentary feeling of being relaxed or de-stressed, this can be nothing more than a break from our regular routine that makes us feel better. The challenge is how we maintain this feeling and how do we manage our stress triggers on a day-to-day basis?

Learning resilience and steadiness in life’s difficult situations can be achieved with the right practice to facilitate this.

We cannot run away from our daily stresses but we can learn how to desensitise ourselves from stress and build better coping mechanisms, which a specialised approach with yoga therapy can do.

Yoga Therapy can help you as an individual so you can learn how to develop these skills and improve stress resilience. A recent article by Harvard Health suggests that by reducing perceived stress and anxiety, yoga appears to modulate stress response systems. This, in turn, decreases physiological arousal — for example, reducing the heart rate, lowering blood pressure, and easing respiration. There is also evidence that yoga practices help increase heart rate variability, an indicator of the body’s ability to respond to stress more flexibly.

Source: Yoga for anxiety and depression.

Harvard Health. Updated May 2018. Originally published April 2009. www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/yoga-foranxiety-and-depression. Retrieved August 2018.

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Yoga Therapy is a name for how yoga was originally taught on a one-to-one basis. This gives you the opportunity to gain a proper understanding of how to practice yoga safely and effectively, so it becomes part of your daily life.

“A yoga class can relieve stress, but we have to look at life itself and control our minds in daily activities if we wish to reduce our stress over time. Yoga is meant to help us feel good.

But not all activities and practices that feel good necessarily transform us positively.”

Mohan, AG, Yoga Reminder, Founder of Svastha Yoga Ayurveda, AG Mohan Being under the guidance of a properly trained Yoga Therapist with specialised training can often better cater to your needs than a general yoga class. They support you on your path to wellness and can work alongside other healthcare practioners, in particular Ayurveda.

Yoga Therapy is usually offered in a small group of 6-8 people which has a specific theme, such as stress resilience and allows for a more supportive environment. The classes included simple practices, which are profound in their effect, such as mindful movements with breath, relaxation techniques to release long standing tension in the body and learning how to focus and steady our minds. Taking these practices into your day is where the real changes will come about when managing stress.

“Healing is in our own hands, no one can do this for us.”

Ganesh Mohan

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Kim Allan is from the Yoga Therapy and Ayurveda Wellness Centre Buderim. Kim is a certified Svastha Yoga teacher and Yoga Therapist. She trained under Vina Shah Director of Svastha Yoga Ayurveda, Sydney and Dr Ganesh Mohan of Svastha Yoga Ayurveda Chennai. She has over 12 years teaching experience, is a long time student of Vina Shah where she continues her studies with Vina in Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, meditation and yogic philosophy. She runs therapeutic yoga classes for stress and anxiety and Yoga Therapy for back pain. She also offers private sessions and general Svastha Yoga classes for wellbeing.

www.yogaayurvedacentre.com.au facebook.com/individualcare 2/87 Burnett Street, Buderim

4 ways to reduce stress right now Reducing your reaction to stress is a good way to begin controlling its effect on your life. Here are some quick relaxation techniques to calm yourself during a stressful event in order to limit any damage and to get yourself onto the right path as quickly as possible.

1 Breathing

2 Talking

3 Say No!

4 Exercise

The most important and easiest way to reduce stress quickly is by controlling your breathing.

This might seem like a silly idea, but deep breaths are the body’s way of “resetting” itself.

Communication is another quick stress-relief exercise. You can share your stresses and worries with your friends and family. Knowing that other people share your anxiety is often a relief in itself. Talking about the things that cause your anxiety or stress will often make those situations seem less dire.

Saying “no” is another great stress-relieving technique.

Taking on too many projects or making yourself available beyond what you can handle is a large cause of daily stress.

If you are not able to complete a project, try not to begin that project. If you are planning a large event, delegate some of the jobs to other people. Sharing the workload can keep your stress to a minimum. Say “no” and your stress levels will immediately decrease. You don’t have to be a martyr and try to do it all.

Exercise is also a wonderful stress-reliever. When you feel the anxiety building in your system, take a quick walk around the building. You could try walking during your lunch hour or even join a gym to get some quality exercise time.

You can begin by taking several deep breathes. Inhale slowly through your nose until your lungs are full of fresh air. Then, exhale through your mouth in a steady breath. Repeating this exercise several times during a stressful situation can actually slow your heart rate and calm your body. When your mind is racing, deep breaths can change your focus enough to allow you to relax and rethink your situation.

Good advice from a trusted friend is sometimes all the stress-relief a person requires.

Expressing your feelings, including anger or resentment, can allow you to release those emotions. The process of communication can also help to create bonds between yourself and a friend.

The time spent working your body helps to return your mental focus to its best level.

Since the body and the mind are connected, relaxing your body will help to relax you mentally.

Exercise is a great way to reduce stressful effects on your body. Exercise can lower blood pressure and reduce the hormones in your body that respond to stress.

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The power of meditation Coming back to centre

We all know someone who meditates. For some people, it’s a daily practice, while for others it’s reserved for emergency situations, for when you feel like your life is spinning out of control.

It’s for times when you can’t seem to get out of your own way.

Can you become one of “them” and meditate as well? Does it sound like it’s too timeconsuming and not worth the trouble? If you think this way, you’ll be in for an extremely pleasant surprise. Not only is meditation most certainly worth the time and effort, but the rewards will speak for themselves.

Meditation Can Allow You to Become More Empathetic During meditation, the part of your brain that is responsible for showing more compassion is activated. Studies show that compassion and empathy are more active when someone meditates.

What is Meditation?

Meditation Can Increase Focus It makes sense that meditation can increase focus because when you meditate, you are focused on the present moment. Present moment awareness trains the brain to stay focused.

Meditation allows you and, most importantly, your mind to relax, rest, and rejuvenate itself.

You take time to practice breathing, slowing down your mind and coming back to centre.

One of the biggest bonuses and benefits of meditation is to help you choose your focus and to pull your thoughts back to present moment reality. How often do you catch yourself having a busy brain and feel as though you are not able to reel it back in?

Meditation can help with that.

Meditation has a single goal – to slow down the mind. Especially in today’s culture when we all have busy lifestyles and even busier minds. Stress levels are up and relaxation is down.

What is centre?

Centre is where your deepest desires live and breathe. It’s the place where you can move forward from and get back on track.

Meditation is really being conscious of total awareness and not letting the mind wander serving one higher purpose. That purpose is to be in and experience present-moment living.

Why So Many People Use and Promote Meditation

Why do so many people use and promote meditation? The answer is because it works.

Meditation is successful for many reasons.

Meditation Decreases Anxiety Some people have a high “fight or flight” reaction. There’s a neural pathway leading to the part of our brains where we need to determine whether or not we are in real, imminent danger. Some peoples’ gut instincts tell them they are in danger when, really, they are not. Meditation can help ease this anxiety.

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Meditation Improves Memory If you’ve ever walked into another room and wondered why the heck you went in there, maybe meditation can give your memory a boost. Meditation activates a certain part of the brain which helps to decrease distractions and increase memory recall.

Meditation Unlocks Creativity If you’ve ever gotten stuck on creating a new idea or had the experience of writer’s block, you may wish to take up meditation.

Meditation has a way of unlocking and unleashing creative potential.

Meditation Techniques

Centering With so many activities and responsibilities to take care of, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily mindset of having a busy mind.

Centering will help to gently and easily guide you back to your central foundation.

That foundation is, or at least should be, one of peace. When meditating, you will begin the practice of gently bringing your thoughts back to the present moment of awareness. You will begin to train your mind not to think upon anything else other than what’s in the present moment.

Grounding Grounding is similar to rooting. You ground yourself when you connect to the energy of the earth. Walking barefoot in the grass or standing outside while your bare feet connect with the earth is a great way to ground yourself.

Nature has a way of healing us and when we connect with nature, it’s like a return home. While it’s not always possible to get out barefoot in the grass or dig your bare feet into the mud, you can always use your imagination. While it might sound unusual, the act of visualization incorporated with meditation works wonders.

Focusing on Breath When you focus on your breath, you focus on where you are at in the present moment.

Present moment practices allow you to quiet and calm your mind. Without focus on the breath, this is not easy to achieve.

As you breathe in, envision all good things you want to create. Picture white light entering your body and resetting your life force. As you breathe out, picture all the negativity leaving your body and making way for the next light breath.

Protective Shielding Imagine a shield of protection surrounding you. As you meditate on this vision, you will feel more comfortable in places where comfort is not optimal. Imagine yourself entering a board meeting or a party where you don’t know or necessarily like anyone there. This could be the perfect time to take on the practice of shielding.

Easy tips on getting started • Start with just a few minutes a day • Focus on gratitude to increase happiness, which will increase positive thoughts and then productivity • Allow thoughts to come and go without making them wrong – it’s enough just being mindful of them.

• Sometimes meditation can seem to be too much but it’s important to sit through it and the feeling will pass.

• Monitor your thoughts – when you find you don’t have as much time as you’d like to meditate, you can monitor your thoughts. You can think to ask yourself if you have the ability to recreate those thoughts. Is the thing you are worried about happening exactly at this moment? If not, take on present moment practices along with meditative breathing.

• Recreate your thoughts – Can you turn that negative emotion into something else? For example, can you be grateful for something good rather than focusing too much on something not working for you while you meditate?

Meditation is not difficult to learn and it is not difficult to keep up the pace. With only 10 minutes a day, you could be on your way to a brand new you. You’ll be glad you did and your family, friends and co-workers will be thrilled you did, too.

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A brighter look at therapy Sometimes words aren’t enough

By Morgan McSmith

Scavenging the English language of 171,476 words sometimes just isn’t enough.

Art therapist Lisa Moore is pioneering unconventional therapies by combing psychotherapeutic techniques and creativity to help improve client’s mental health and wellbeing. Art therapy is a unique therapy that adds a third component to each session by bridging the therapist and client together through artwork.

Giving people a safe place to process what’s going on in their lives, art therapy allows clients to express themselves without having to explain it verbally.

Commonly misunderstood for ‘art and craft’ art therapy is much more than just paint, glitter and glue. While there is certainly a creative component, Lisa says there’s always meaning behind what the therapist asks the client to participate in. The art materials are simply a tool used to express repressed emotions, explore feelings and recognise emotional conflicts. But the fastest way to understand all that is to roll up your sleeves, grab a paintbrush and tackle art therapy yourself.

Art therapy certainly doesn’t mean you need to be an artist either. It’s hard to believe that Lisa considers herself a “stick-person drawer” looking around at all the art supplies scattered throughout her home studio.

“I’m not an artist but I have a real passion for just creating. When you’re in a creative space you can lose track of hours and it’s just that sense of flow that’s beautiful; when you match that with helping people get into that state of flow, they relax, their nervous system calms down and things are able to come up,” Lisa shares.

Lisa has been involved in art therapy on the Sunny Coast for five years and her passion pours out of her as she talks about her work.

“I think the most rewarding part would be halfway through a session when a client might

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look at you and it’s like that big ‘aha moment’,” she beams.

“It’s just seeing them get some relief out of what they’re doing, and it’s not me talking to them or telling them what to do, it’s coming from within so it means so much more.”

Most of Lisa’s work is currently mobile, travelling from one place to another running group or individual sessions. Although they differ slightly, most sessions function on the same format; an introductory 15-minute discussion, then jumping straight into the art for 30-40 minutes and ending with an integration period. The group sessions always involve a sharing component.

“Sometimes there’s a real loneliness in mental health and illness that you often think ‘am I the only one that feels like this?’ then you look around the group it’s like ‘oh my God I’m not alone’; it’s really beautiful in that sense,” she says.

While anyone can benefit from art therapy, Lisa holds a special interest in clients who have a hard time expressing themselves verbally, finding this more common in men.

“I think that in today’s society there’s still a stigma attached to it [mental health] as much as we all talk about it and we want our guys to talk about it, it still doesn’t come easily to them,” she explains.

However, Lisa finds the men she’s worked with tend to love what art therapy can offer.

Turning problems into paintings gives clients a relaxing, non-judgmental space to build an alliance helping alleviate stress and focus on the task at hand.

Art therapy makes the struggle to find the right words disappear and reinvent itself on a canvas and Lisa is determined to help as many people as possible do just that.

Lisa is a certified Clinical Neuropsychotherapy Practitioner and a member of the Society of Clinical Neuropsychotherapy Providers. Lisa’s studies include Art Psychotherapy, Transpersonal Art Therapy, Counselling, Expressive Therapies with Children & Adolescents and she has worked in a variety of hospital, school and rehabilitation services.

She is a neuro informed Arts Psychotherapist with a passion for working with individuals and diverse client groups, through the combination of health neuroscience and the innovative right brain approach of art therapy to deliver lasting change. This highly effective combination addresses biological, social and environmental influences in collaboration with thoughts, emotions, individual outlook and beliefs. ​ Lisa believes wellness is a whole bodied approach, embracing physical, mental and social wellbeing, not merely the absence, or treatment, of an autonomous disease.

lisamoorearttherapy.com.au facebook.com/lisamoorearttherapy 0411 363 319

Sex is an emotion in motion.

Mae West

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.

I need clitoral stimulation to come and my husband gets frustrated with me if it takes too long. Am I normal if I can't orgasm from penetration?

75 per cent of women have difficulty in not being able to orgasm from penetration alone. That's a pretty high statistic. It takes the average woman 30-40 minutes to be fully aroused and by that I mean having the whole clitoral system fully activated so the vulva is engorged due to the blood being pumped to the area.

• Imagine the clitoral structure looking a little bit like a giant wishbone. You have the clitoris glans, the shaft which is the fleshy part that sits behind the clitoris glans and the wishbone part, which is actually the legs which sits under the outer labia. So when this area is rubbed or sucked it stimulates you more.

• Your partner can try to stimulate your G-spot or alternatively use a curved vibrator or glass G-Spot dildo.

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

• Try different positions. On top means you get to control the tempo and the movement by moving your hips. Also doggy style is great with your bottom raised up higher.

• Stimulating the clitoris during penetration can also help.

• Your partner can see when you're ready as your vulva will be fully engorged from the blood being pumped to the area. That can be a great time for him to penetrate, just before you orgasm.

• Your partner needs to understand that foreplay is KEY, without it, you are just not going to even come close to vaginal orgasm.

The best way is for you both to be present, get out of your heads, relax and let go of outcomes.

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Where’s my sex life gone?

Getting real about sex after a baby

By Pauline Ryeland

Usually having sex after a baby is the last thing on your mind. Being a new mum, means you have all these new demands on your body. Your body will be going through a lot of changes and your focus is really just on the baby. Some days you are exhausted and don’t even get to have a shower, let alone get dressed, so getting sexy with your partner unfortunately moves to the bottom of your priorities. If you had a traumatic birth or required stitches this may also lead to some anxiety and apprehension about resuming having sex.

Some of things you might be experiencing: • Hormones all over the place

• C-section

• Sleep deprivation

• Traumatic or painful birth

• Confusion

• Depression

• Guilt

• Breast feeding problems

• Disconnected from your partner

• Complete lack of libido

• Possible prolapse • Scar tissue from having an episiotomy or perineal tear

• Fatigue • Birth plan not going to plan

It takes four to six weeks for the cervix to close fully and for post partum bleeding to stop, so you need to wait at least for that period.

How To Get Past Challenges:

Communicate - It might not fix the situation but at least it’s being discussed and not ignored. This way both of you feel heard. Often women want to have intimacy and sex, but something has shifted and they don’t want it the same way they used to any more. It’s important to be able to talk about all of these things and to actually say what you are wanting. Often it’s a good idea to take penetrative sex off the table for awhile and have less focus on orgasm and ejaculation and look at new ways to connect and slowly rebuild the intimacy again, which will then lead to penetrative sex when the time is right.

How to Create Intimacy:

• When your partner comes home from work, greet each other with a full body hug. Heart to heart, arms gently holding each other and take three deep breaths together, then slowly release.

• Another great intimacy building exercise is to sit with each other for five minutes and look into each other’s left eye. It’s done with a soft gaze and is known as looking into the windows of the soul.

There may be giggles at first, if so, just close your eyes for a few seconds, breathe and open them again and continue with left eye to left eye. There may even be tears, that’s ok too, just allow the tears to fall, don’t ask is everything all right, just hold the space.

After five minutes (you can put a timer on), have a hug.

These two exercises alone are so simple, yet incredibly powerful for rebuilding intimacy and connection and if you only do these two things every day, you will see a big difference!

If you’ve had an episiotomy, had perineal tears or a C-Section, the time frame could be a lot longer. It takes 12 weeks for scarring to heal fully and so you want to be extra careful when engaging in sex for the Intimacy Building Exercises first time. You will possibly not be lubricating as much as you used to, • The three minute game: This is where you get to ask for some form so it’s important to be very lubricated and to be very aroused as well. of touch for three minutes only, (no genitals). You can ask for a And to go SLOW....I mean really slow. If there is any pain at all, please back rub, head massage, light feather touching on your arms or face. stop and allow a little more time to heal. If further along you are still Take turns - this is a great way to connect and feel nurtured from experiencing pain, then you need to seek the help of a professional each other Sexological Body Worker who is experienced at working with this type • If you have a bath, run a nice bubble bath, light some candles and of internal pain. squeeze yourselves into it and relax together • Alternatively, light some candles in the bedroom, put some music on and just snuggle Your partner is possibly feeling a little excluded • Give each other a gentle massage and confused as well. He wants to have sex but • Hold hands when out and about or sitting on the couch is scared it will hurt you. Maybe you’ve tried to • Give each other kisses, keep the connection going have sex and it was painful, so you’re scared to • Find ways where both of you can feel nurtured go there again.

• Check in and communicate with each other about non-baby things.

The time after a baby is so important to have some self nurturing, honouring yourself and doing what feels right for you. Everyone is different, so you need to go at your own pace of what feels right for you. The most important thing is to keep communication open about how you’re both feeling and what’s going on for both of you. It would be fantastic if part of your birth plan also included ways to remain intimate and reconnect sexually after having your baby.

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Finally:

• Don’t dump your emotions on your partner the minute they get home • Give them space too • Create space to connect together with your hug • Breathe together • Laugh together.

Pauline Ryeland, Intimacy Whisperer Ž is an Intimacy, Sex & Relationship Coach & Educator. She’s certified as: Tantra Teacher & Facilitator, Somatic Sexological Body Worker, Master Trainer & Master Practitioner of NeuroLinguistic Programming, (NLP), Advanced Subconscious Reprogramming, Erickson Hypnotherapy, Results Coach & Performance Consultant.

Pauline works with individuals and couples who are experiencing challenges with intimacy, sex & relationships and everything in between.

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Why I decided to ditch the tampon…

Making the change to a more sustainable life

By Alicia Salem

The average Australian women will use more than 11,000 tampons and spend more than $20,000 during her lifetime paying for them. Not only do they cost as much as a small family car, they also have a hugely detrimental effect on the environment.

The majority of tampons are nonbiodegradable and take hundreds of years to break down and with 3.8 billion women living on this planet, that’s a lot of tampons!

Modern day menstrual cups like our Flower Pot Cups are made from soft medical grade silicone and don’t contain nasty chemicals like dyes, toxins or bleaches.

The big feminine hygiene companies have shied away from investing in alternatives (we think) as they prefer multiple sales throughout the year with disposable tampons.

They’re also great for women with sensitive skin and are a safer alternative to expensive disposable tampons and can last for up to five years before they need to be replaced if they’re looked after properly!

They’re also healthier for your body. I didn’t know this until I dug into some research that suggests tampons are made with cotton grown use pesticides linked with infertility, neurological dysfunction and developmental effects. The cotton made into pads and tampons is bleached and fragranced and that’s worrying. From product-testing we know that fragrances may contain allergens, sensitisers and neurotoxins which could be contributing to reproductive harm and hormonal imbalances.

Our Flower Pot Cups are Vegan Friendly too and packaged in Australia to help reduce their carbon footprint.

Since finding this out I’ve searched for a more sustainable solution to this problem.

There’s a quiet but growing movement of women who have switched to a menstrual cup. At first I was hesitant as it seemed a little bit gross, but the more I learned about cups, the more they seemed like a good idea The menstrual cup was first invented by American-born actress, inventor, and author Leona Chalmers in 1937, but was made out of a hard plastic and didn’t become popular until they were manufactured out of a softer silicone.

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All Soul readers get 15% off flower pots - see flowerpotcup.com.au flowerpotcup.com.au

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Music, at its essence, is what gives us memories. And the longer a song has existed in our lives, the more memories we have of it.

Stevie Wonder

Peace, love & community Andrea Kirwin’s soulful music

By Justin Sayson

It’s called A Little Shop of Soul, and if you come on the right day, at the right time, you’ll find Cooroy’s Andrea Kirwin sitting out front with a ukulele, notebook and phone by her side.

She sits listening for the whisper of a melody as she waits to see where the music will take her next, and so far this journey is one this North Queensland raised Fijian girl never dreamed of taking.

Andrea grew up in Townsville before moving to Canberra to study law so she could make “good money”. Starting her own music career couldn’t have been further from her mind during this time.

“I thought you had to be a record label person like Whitney Houston or Michael Jackson to live that type of lifestyle,” she said.

Watching Australian singer Clare Bowditch (2006 ARIA award winner) perform in the ANU bar was a turning point for Andrea. I thought, “I can probably do that!”.

She began writing songs after getting her first guitar for her 21st birthday and has never looked back.

Fast forward 13 years and she’s performed everywhere from cafés to festivals in hundreds of shows a year, plus established her own record label in 2009. Andrea’s vision for Peace Run Records is to spread positivity to people, using music as a “bridge into their worlds”.

“If you’re talking to people they might walk away but with music, if it’s beautiful they stop and they listen,” she said.

“We [musicians] have this opportunity to connect with people in a way that could happen in an instant.”

She finally settled on the Sunshine Coast with her partner in 2012 after the area’s thriving musical community gave her a reason to stay put and says it’s the most inclusive, supportive and progressive place she’s ever lived in. “Living on the coast has helped shape my sound.”

Lying on a bed of soulful grooves and the ever-present strum of a guitar, Andrea’s music resounds with a message and story.

“I use my songs as affirmations and, as people listen to them on repeat, they become affirmations for them as well.”

Giving advice on booking gigs and offering encouragement is what Andrea enjoys and she’s all too keen to help anyone

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kickstart their careers and welcome them into the music community. Anyone can reach out to her.

“Building relationships between my local venues, artists and community is really at the level where you can sustain yourself,” she says.

“I like to help musicians understand that playing for free isn’t sustainable and they reduce their value when they don’t charge.”

Originally planning to tour with an 11-piece band this year, Andrea says the reality of gathering those musicians was more stressful than anticipated. After learning from the past, this year continues to be one of creating the space to write songs as well supporting her family’s goals, with the Sunshine Coast benefitting from Andrea staying home and doing more solo shows.

“Initially I thought I had to put my music first,” she said.

“The main thing that changed it for me was putting myself and my family first and everything just flowed naturally.”

While this year may not have been what Andrea originally expected, she’s grateful for what she has. Whether it’s supporting her partner and her daughter as they both go to uni, or simply writing music in a shop in Cooroy, Andrea is happy.

“A sustainable career where we can enjoy the beach, mountains and nature?”

“That’s as good as it gets.”

From Mountains to Sea Jason Daniels’ Musical Journey

By Justin Sayson

In a remote village in PNG, Jason Daniels, acoustic guitar in hand, is doing what he does best. “Oh, man they can sing,” he smiles at the memory.

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The crowd harmonising perfectly, the kids surrounding him, giggling as he finger picks his guitar. John Mayer eat your heart out.

For Jason, this is what music is about. “I love that about music… If it doesn’t unite people then you’re either not getting a very good message across, or your PA isn’t loud enough; it’s just what music does,” he says.

It’s the first video you see on his Facebook page and that’s no mistake. Recorded three years ago during a mission’s trip on a medical ship with YWAM (Youth With A

Mission), the video serves as inspiration for him and his band’s latest EP “For When I’m Lost”, which peaked at number 9 overall in iTunes after its release late last year.

“It was right between Michael Jackson and Pink, it was crazy,” he said.

After touring Byron Bay and northern NSW during the summer and even having Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth at one of his gigs, it has been a whirlwind. With plans to perform in the USA and maybe even Japan later this year, he keeps moving forward.

He’s humbled by the experience and knowing that others can join him in his musical experience is at the heart of why Jason plays music.

“It’s gotta be about people and something bigger than yourself… it’s bringing joy, it’s bringing hope to people.”

At 21-years-old, tall, with surfer-like blond hair, easy going and quick with a smile, it’s surprising that Jason’s not native to the Sunshine Coast. Born in Megalong in the Blue Mountains, Jason’s music seems to have found a home by the shores.

Starting with the piano at age four, Jason thinks his passion for music was crafted by his father’s love for the Beach Boys and dancing on tables with his siblings as a child. After living on the Coast for the past three years, he’s found his calling.

“I think dad probably wanted me to be an AFL star or some sporting legend,” he says. “But at the end of the day, they were both like, ‘if that’s what you’re passionate about we’re here for you’.”

And he was glad that they were. Leaving school at 16 and getting his first taste of the “adult world” in JMC Academy in Sydney, he was the youngest in the class by a good few years. However, it wasn’t the classroom that shaped his musical journey but the people he met.

“The best thing was being with the teachers after class, jamming and talking with them,” Jason says.

But it was his time with Richard Grossman (bass player for the Divinyls and Hoodoo Gurus and in the ARIA Hall of Fame) that helped him learn about what it takes to make it.

“I want to be a good enough songwriter that when I write something that listeners connect with, it hits a note with them.”

The impact of music is not lost on a crowd. He tells a story of a couple that lost contact with each other 31 years ago, who are now reunited and it was one of his songs that created a memory for them.

“It’s really, really humbling as I play music because it’s what I love to do.”

“When you work hard from something, it doesn’t always pay in money, but rather through connecting with people.”

But apparently, the gift of music making isn’t limited to one Jason Daniels. There are other musicians with the name Jason Daniels around the world, covering genres from country to electro.

Much to the confusion of the places he’s performed at, getting gigs was sometimes a case of mistaken identity when Jason started.

“It’s really, really crazy when you have someone like that who has played every type of gig, had every type of object thrown at them during a gig and taken every type of substance,” Jason says.

With his best announcer voice, he says,

“He brought his bass guitar one time and there’s blood encrusted on it and the smell of every pub in Australia,” he says.

“It’s like nope sorry, hope you’re not feeling let down but it’s just a kid with a guitar from up the road.”

“And you’re like, ah okay, this guy he’s done the hard yards…he’s really done it and gone there and come back again and it’s really good having someone like that give you some advice about the industry.”

But that doesn’t seem like it’s going to be a problem anymore. With gigs booked at Eat Street in Brisbane and locally at Sol Bar, Jason Daniels is coming and the Coast better be ready.

But the biggest tip he got was “just know why you do what you do.”

For Jason, it always comes down to meeting people, “I love meeting people through music; it’s one of my favourite things.”

“All the way from the States, country rock, Jason Daniels 45-year old man with a beard,” he laughs.

facebook.com/JDanielsMusic Instagram @jason_daniels_music SOUL AUSTRALIA MAGAZINE

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The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.

Marcel Proust

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Travel to feed your soul

Discover, explore and reflect in Vietnam

By Claire McErlane

Vietnam is, without doubt, a spectacular destination that has something for everyone.

Here you will find yourself immersed in the beauty and culture of this diverse land, Asia’s most vibrant destination. It is blessed with breathtaking natural beauty of sparkling emerald bays, towering limestone islands, jungles, dramatic mountains, greener-thangreen rice paddies and exciting modern and ancient historic cities. And don’t forget about the delicious local cuisine and fantastic shopping!

Sadly, many organised tours ‘skim the surface’ and cover the whole country in fourteen days. If you want to get the best out of your holiday, I highly recommend taking the time to see more of a couple of regions, rather than rushing your itinerary. This is when you can truly immerse yourself in the local culture, meet the locals and make your special holiday memories.

We chose to explore North and Central Vietnam over fourteen days, starting north in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city since the reunification between North and South in 1976. A combination of 1000 years of history and influence of French architecture has produced a charming old-world city rich in cultural relics and … full of scooters and motorbikes!

Try to work your itinerary to include a Sunday in Hanoi, when local families congregate around the famous picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake to play traditional games, or early mornings to catch locals doing tai chi. Everything about the peaceful activities around the lake I describe as ‘innocent’ and typical of the gentle Vietnamese people.

Not to be missed is the interesting Hanoi Hilton ‘Hoa Lo Prison’, built by the French between 1886-1901 to hold political prisoners, and then used during the American War to hold POWs (this is where politician, the late John McCain spent over five years).

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is extremely popular with locals and tourists alike – so allow plenty of time and be prepared to wait (sometimes a couple of hours) to gain entry.

A cyclo ride, or a motorbike tour of the city is a must, as is a visit to the Sofitel Metropole for an afternoon Chocolate Buffet – pure

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indulgence fit for a king! Another must do, but surprisingly many tourists miss, is a show at the historic Hanoi Opera House.

Here we were treated to a mesmorising ‘cirque-style’ show depicting traditional village life featuring numerous incredible acrobats with rubber-like spines.

No visit to Hanoi is complete without going to the fascinating Old Quarter and its colourful night markets, with all the sights, sounds and smells one expects to experience in Vietnam.

Next, we did an overnight cruise on Halong Bay amidst amazing towering ‘karsts’ (limestone islets) spread across 150kms. We cruised on a traditional junk and enjoyed excellent cuisine, relaxed on board, visited a cave, beach and a fishing village and even did a 6am tai chi session.

Our next stop was overnight in Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s ancient capital in the stunning Ninh Binh province (no resemblance to NSW’s Nin Bin!). Sadly not many westerners visit this region, also known as Halong Bay on Land. Here you can cruise the stunning wetlands and explore water caves on a traditional sampan boat.

Alluring Hue (pronounced ‘Whay’) in central Vietnam is a must. It is well-known for its severe weather, with boiling hot summer days and endless rainy weeks in winter, so choose your timing well.

Originally not part of Vietnam but a part of the Kingdom of Champa, over the centuries the people have carved their own culture and cuisine unique to them. It is also said the ladies of Hue were the most beautiful in the land.

Don’t miss a tour of Hue’s intriguing Citadel, a wonderful dragon boat dinner cruise on the Perfume River, and the best cyclo ride or vespa tour you can do.

The picturesque drive from Hue down to Hoi Ann includes the spectacular Hai Van Pass, climbing 496m on a road quoted on TV’s Top Gear as “a deserted ribbon of perfection – one of the best roads in the world”.

Our final destination, indeed the ‘grand finale’ in my book, was fairytale-like Hoi An, an ancient town recognized by UNESCO in 1999. Steeped in history, the cultural

influences of the Japanese and Chinese merchants are still evident today, with the famous Japanese Covered Bridge and the distinctly Chinese atmosphere of the Old Quarter. Lining the narrow streets are two-storey Chinese shops with charming wooden facades, merchants’ homes and colourful temples.

Claire McErlane originally fell in love with Australia as a backpacker in the late 80s. Today, Claire operates Uplift Tours and Travel in Caboolture. When Claire is not travelling she enjoys being at home with their rescued horses, cats, chickens and their huge dog, Cara.

Evenings take on a festival-like atmosphere in this town, with the kaleidoscope of different coloured lanterns lighting up all the streets and alleyways. The markets are bustling and the cafes and restaurants buzzing.

Hoi An is amazing for cheap shopping, quality tailors at reasonable prices and cheap

prescription glasses, and has a huge array of good local and western eateries. Don’t miss the great food at Lantern Town or Vinh Hung restaurants, or if you’re looking for a good coffee check out the Hoi An Roastery.

Vietnam is truly captivating. With colourful yet sometimes tragic history, her people today are gentle yet have proven themselves

resilient, having needed to defend their land numerous times from invaders.

Whether you’re a history buff, seeking a beach holiday, wish to go trekking, enjoy cultural experiences or love shopping for a bargain, Vietnam offers the ultimate experience for the traveller, and I’m already planning my next trip!

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