INTERVIEW

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ON LIFE-CHANGING JOURNEY

Amy McAuley’s new book… Behind the Smile – is a revelation. It follows her journey from addiction and despair to health and happiness and, as she told HELEN PERRY, will hopefully inspire others travelling a similar path.

To those who know Eastern Beach fitness enthusiast, Amy McAuley, or have attended her invigorating Powerhoop classes, the idea that she was once overweight, bulimic, depressed and drinking far too much, seems alien. But Amy is quick to point out that was, indeed, her life until 10 years ago.

And, rather, than conceal her past, she openly reveals it, documenting with passion and sincerity, how she went about her life-changing journey, overcoming many stumbling blocks, before building up confidence and self belief so she could love herself again.

“For many years my life was a roller coaster ride of bulimic binging and purging, bouts of post natal depression, battling with other mental health issues, being overweight, having counselling and always feeling guilty that I wasn’t able to deal with any of these issues and achieve balance in my life.

“My unhappiness fuelled my sugar and alcohol addiction. I used alcohol to numb the inner pain and told very few people about it. I ate to console myself and ballooned to a size 18. I hid the dependency and unhappiness from even those closest to me; I was amazing at hiding my pain. I didn’t want to burden people, and then felt guilty because ‘what did I have to feel unhappy about?’ I was, quite simply, ashamed that I couldn’t be ‘normal’ like everyone else.

Then, almost miraculously, Amy discovered powerhooping and says, for the first time, she found an exercise she could fall in love with. “It was boom – this big, bright, beautiful hoop came into my life and changed every aspect. “I’d always been exercise-averse, but this was something I could do. I started losing weight and I felt happier. Then because my husband and I were also planning to immigrate to New Zealand with our three children, I trained as an instructor with the intention of introducing the Powerhoop programme here.”

It was the move that brought them to east Auckland nine years ago that saw the real turnaround in Amy’s life.

“Leaving Scotland I made a conscious decision to leave my eating disorder behind and I did. The move was the catalyst for me cultivating a better relationship with my body and developing new habits which helped me give up alcohol. for me because I just couldn’t strike that level of moderation which meant having one glass of wine instead of three or four. What’s more, I didn’t want my children to have the mum who always had a drink in her hand.”

Setting up PowerhoopNZ also helped Amy find renewed energy and a lust for life, spurring her to new challenges such as tackling the Queenstown marathon and doing her first sky dive (all in the same weekend) at the age of 43.

Her changing life also provided her with the courage and determination to write Beyond the Smile, described as a raw and authentic story of depression and addictions but shows how anyone can learn to change life around to live healthily and happily.

For those keen to learn more about Behind the Smile, author Amy McAuley will be giving a FREE talk with refreshments at a Poppies bookstore in Howick on Wednesday, March 17 at 5.30pm. She will share some practical tools and her favourite lifechanging tips.

2017 and originally with the title, Stick and Stones – but as the work progressed, Amy made changes and was also grateful to ghost writer, Bronwyn Bay, who assisted her.

“Importantly this book is not about judging others,” she says. “It not about being perfect, either. It’s about learning to be kind to yourself; to love yourself.

“For many people one of the biggest hurdles is overcoming guilt and dealing with remorse. Learning not to feel guilty, and to actually feel emotions rather than numbing them out, is not easy.”

Amy admits she can still have difficult days when the first thing she wants to do it revert to old habits.

Photos Wayne Martin

Amy McAuley

“Instead, I make myself embrace my new habits, such as meditation and yoga; it’s all about achieving balance in life.”

Very aware that not everyone’s journey is the same, nevertheless Amy knows how hard it is to break the cycles of addiction and depression.

“That’s what this book is really about. It may be my story, but I want it to help others who may be experiencing a similar state of mind. I’d like them to know there is a way forward; if it does that I’ll feel I’ve achieved something.”

Behind the Smile can be purchased from Poppies Bookshop in Howick or online from: www.poerhoopNZ.co.nz

POWERHOOP TO HEALTH

Many a Kiwi will remember the hula-hoop craze when it first hit New Zealand in the late 1950’s early ‘60s. Some were masters of the art; some were not!

But, now, there’s the powerhoop, based on the principles of a hula-hoop, but easier to use due to the additional weights and thicker diameter.

Aimed at slimming the waist, trimming the hips, flattening tummies, improving posture and strengthening the back, the powerhoop offers many physical and mood benefits. Devotees say it energises them, lifts their mood and helps them de-stress.

Amy McAuley, who brought PowerhoopNZ to New Zealand, and operates from Eastern Beach, says the best thing about powerhooping is that it is for every age, shape and level of fitness.

“Just 10 to 15 minutes every day and it doesn’t take long to see results. It can be done at home, through online classes or at our physical classes which are held four days a week at the Netball Centre on Pakuranga Rd, corner of Lloyd Elsmore Park.

CARS ON PARADE

Thousands of car enthusiasts turned out at Ellerslie Racecourse on Valentine’s Day to share their love of one of the country’s biggest line up of classic cars.

The annual Ellerslie Car Show attracted visitors from across the country and incorporated The Intermarque Concours d’Elegance featuring competitions of world class standard, based on presentation, appearance, originality and excellence.

Aside from the Concours cars, about 70 car clubs showcased a huge range of marques and there were three new attractions to interest visitors – the 50-50-50 competition for younger cars and younger entrants, a display of classic hotrods and a display of barn finds and restoration projects.

Displayed vehicles ranged from the early 1920s, through to the latest exotics, micros to high performance supercars and included cars from manufacturers across the globe. EastLife photographer, WAYNE MARTIN brought them into focus.