Bali. Beautiful Bali.

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As some of you may know, we’ve been really fortunate and have just spent the last few weeks on a family holiday in Bali. We had a great trip; we spent time in Ubud; ate, swam, walked through rice fields, drank fresh coconut juice and just hung out. We then went to the beach and had a villa in Bingin. If you’re a surfer you know where Bingin is! It is just as beautiful, the water was fresh and it was great swimming in the ocean in August and having the sun lick our skin. My boys’ legs became chocolate colour with their beautiful olive skin and I even got a bit of a tan too. It was a beautiful family holiday and when seeing a country with new eyes it’s made me think and see a few Indonesian qualities that I really like and think that maybe I should apply a little bit more to my life.

Gratitude

Every morning an offering of gratitude and faith is made. A beautiful simple offering to the gods to show thanks, give abundance and ask for protection. Flowers, fruit, sweets, rice, incense is offered in a bowl handmade from palm leaves. Master 3 and his mates were privileged to partake in this offering with Made our host. What a special way to start your day, a reminder to give thanks.

Nutrition/Diet

The Balinese diet is centered on rice and rice based products and is full of lots of colourful fruit and vegetables, herbs and spices. Protein mostly comes from soya bean, which is then processed into tofu or tempeh. Eggs play a big part in their diet and are nearly included in every meal; breakfast, lunch and dinner. The most common form of meat products are fish and poultry. 

Coconut products are used in abundance it's a heat stabilized fat making it great for cooking and is also full of the ‘good fats’ making it a key nutrient in their diet. Coconut is full of many healing properties; anti-viral, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, it's protective and energy giving. Most products have some sort of coconut milk/fat/oil used within. Also, peanuts are another main characteristic found in the Indonesian cuisine. Dairy is very rarely used but tea is drunk daily.

Lifestyle

The Balinese live a very relaxed life compared to their Aussie neighbors. Nothing is in too much of a hurry. Mostly the mornings are used to get the jobs done and the afternoons to relax and rest a little before the evening chores begin. I spoke with several locals who have had the opportunity to come and experience life in Australia and all said they couldn’t believe how hectic and busy everyone was, and that they much preferred their way of life. It is easy to breathe, walk and live without too many stresses.

Family

Family life is also very different to our way of life. Most families live in an extended family situation; that is with many relatives living in the same house or commune. The responsibility of children and babies are shared with all the members. They really do take into account the saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. Mothers, like us work away from the home but have such a wonderful community to continue to raise and care for their children, I find it enviable.

It’s also very common for the Balinese to bed share with their children believing it is the best place for their child to sleep; close to them and protected.

And, I personally love that all children are named One (Wayan), Two (Made), Three (Nyoman), Four (Ketut) and then one (Wayan) again – seems to make life so much easier!

I loved our holiday to Bali, I have been lucky to go several times and I am always amazed at how patient and respectful the Balinese are to all the foreigners that grace their tiny island.     Merkassi.

What differences do you love about foreign places?

Breathe

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Take a breathe– sounds pretty simple, or even natural but do you know that most of us never use our full lung capacity? 

Breathing, is obviously something that we take for granted, we breathe every day! But do we? 

Try to breathe now. Take a deep long breathe and fill your lungs, feel your diaphragm push out, count to four as you breathe in and then to four as you breathe out. Increase the number that you count too as you sit and breathe for a few minutes in your day. Try and take 10 minutes a day for the next week and breathe your stress away.

Tips for new new mums

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As we welcomed a new baby son in October, yes it was really that long ago. Another beautiful boy to add to our family, I thought I would list some simple tips on how to keep a new mum sane!

'Tips to help settle into being a new mum' but I think you all know the golden rules.

• First week (or first 3 months) be INDULGENT and loose all GUILT, sleep, accept all offers of help, have no shame just say YES and if you are not particularly good at it learn fast.
• I can't emphasise enough how slow you should take it; REST. Think of the next three months as the fourth trimester.
• EAT. Eat good healthy wholefoods, forget biscuits and cakes, eat real food, nurture your body. Almonds are a great to snack.
• DRINK lots of water, keep rehydrated especially if you are breastfeeding, fill a jug of water to have on the bench and just keep topping up your glass through out the day
• SLEEP and generally rest and hang with your baby.
• Slowly reintroduce yourself back into the world and BE GENTLE with yourself DON'T PLACE UNREALISTIC GOALS ON YOU OR YOUR BABY.
• Want that tummy to return to normal? Try these Belly belt it will be the best investment you can ever make and will help your uterus contract and your tummy retract. (Wish I'd known about this post my babies, I wore high waisted bike-like pants; it was very difficult to go to the toilet!)
• Begin activating your PELVIC floor as soon as possible after the birth. The sooner you get started the sooner you will be in better shape in more ways than one. I wore these great high waisted 'contour shorts', yes very attractive but they pulled my uterus in much faster than after having my first child. Your tummy may never be the same as prior to pregnancy but CORE STRENGTH activation will certainly help.
• Don't make too many rules or timetables as you may just come unstuck and no-one wants that, not you nor your husband/partner or family. Everyone does love a new mum and is only willing to help - Just ask.
• Take a good quality SUPPLEMENT to help with your energy levels, best to see a health professional and be prescribed the correct therapeutic doses.
• Get out of the house and WALK, breathe FRESH AIR and mostly ENJOY your new bub because as everyone says 'they grow up so quickly'!
• Welcome to motherhood

What's your best tip for a new mum? 

Happy 2012

Hello - Welcome 2012.


So much has happened in my life since I have last blogged, and boy am I really starting to miss it (especially since it has taken me nearly 2 weeks to load this post)!!!!


Firstly, happy new year, I hope that you have taken the time to reflect and think about the exciting new year ahead. I certainly have - I have set myself achievable goals. I believe all new starts are exciting and essentially highly motivating! So knock yourself out.
Secondly, I have been slack on the blogging front as we welcomed a beautiful, healthy son - he (and Master 2) have been taking up a lot of my time. In fact it is back to not beating myself up if only one task a day gets completed, the bar hasn't been set too high! We have all been muddling along and trying to find a rhythm with our new family member. It is truly such a beautiful and exciting time to welcome a new baby if not a little hectic. He's another good bub so I can't complain - I really do love them so much - it 's crazy a parents love for their children - you really don't think you can love someone so much - argh the human body/mind/being!


Hence, my blog has suffered and I often wonder how do mums do it - that is live, look after children, cook, clean, shop, wash, have moments to themselves? Well, I guess we all learn a rhythm that suits us and our family. I had a rhythm but it's now up in the air, so I am now learning a new one.


I have been meaning to write a post on 'Tips to help settle into being a new mum' but I think you all know the golden rules.

• First week (or first 3 months) be indulgent, sleep, accept all offers of help, have no shame just say YES and if you are not particularly good at it learn fast.
• Eat good healthy wholefoods, drink lots of water, sleep and generally rest and hang with your baby.
• Slowly reintroduce yourself back into the world and be gentle with yourself.
• Want that tummy to return to normal? Begin activating your pelvic floor as soon as possible after the birth. The sooner you get started the sooner you will be in better shape in more ways than one. I wore these great high waisted 'contour bike shorts', yes very attractive but they pulled my uterus in much faster than after having my first child. Your tummy may never be the same as prior to pregnancy but core strength activation will certainly help.
• Don't make too many rules or timetables as you may just come unstuck and no-one wants that, not you nor your husband/partner or family. Everyone does love a new mum and is only willing to help - Just ask.
• Take a good quality supplement to help with your energy levels, best to see a health professional to be prescribed the correct therapeutic doses.
• Get out of the house and WALK, breath FRESH AIR and mostly ENJOY your new bub because as everyone says 'they grow up so quickly'!

INFO TO MAKE YOU THINK!

• Hello AUTUMN, crisp cool mornings, beautiful days and fresh evenings all make you feel alive. But does your body feel at it's BEST? Come IN for an Autumn REFRESH - prepare YOURSELF for the winter to come.
• Want to get PREGNANT? Boost your ANTIOXIDANT intake that includes VITAMIN C, VITAMIN E, also ZINC, MAGNESIUM and FOLATE
• SHARE our PAGE with your friends and the 75 MEMBER will receive a FREE initial Naturopathic consultation.
• The ONE thing to do this week! Don't cross contaminate your ORGANIC food - remember to WASH your ECO-bags (regularly).
• Tomorrow is TOSS out Tuesday - CLEAR some clutter and make yourself feel LIGHTER. What will you toss out?
• Reuse. Remake. Recycle.
• Do you have a fussy eater? Nutrition Australia says you may need to try a food up to 8-9 times over a few weeks before they decide whether or not they like it. Persistence is the key.
• I love CHICKPEAS. They contain saponins, a group of SUPER-NUTRIENTS that act as ANTIOXIDANTS. Also, a good source of FIBRE - 42% of our daily intake in ONE CUP. Add them to your salad today.
• Only 20 members to go before you get a free treatment - share with your friends’
• Sending our love to those in JAPAN. For the rest of us it is a great time to appreciate our lives and remember not to take our life for granted. Be positive and smile everyday.
• Research has shown that when we are CRAVING a certain food that if we imagine the SMELL & VISUAL of EUCALYPTUS your food craving can GO! Try it and tell us if they are right next time you have a craving.
• Happy St Pat's Day. Celebrate with a glass of Stout - full of FLAVOR and VITAMINS - the Irish would have you believe!
• Congratulations Kappy Hay on winning the FREE initial Naturopathic Consult - you have received a message in your inbox. Well done.
• Beans beans beans - SOYA BEANS contain all of the essential amino acids making it a (near) complete PROTEIN. Also they contain ISOFLAVONES, which are good for BONE HEALTH.
• Save ENERGY and our ENVIRONMENT. Remember to turn off lights when not in the room! SWITCH OFF at the powerpoint when away for the weekend! Switch to ENERGY-SAVING GLOBES - emissions are 70% less with the SAME amount of LIGHT.
• Remember to BREATHE.....................
• Do you know anyone affected by Black Saturday. They are able to apply for health and wellness vouchers to see whatever type of practitioner they choose. Want a Naturopathic treatment you can come see me.
• ohhh - Friday night drinks may be on the cards for some of you - remember drink a glass of WATER on arrival so you don't scull your first drink for rehydration, this will help you enjoy your drink at the end of the week! WATER between drinks ladies and gentlemen. Enjoy your night!
• Earth Hour TONIGHT - make your environmental stand and turn out.
• Monday here it is - going with the environmental theme keep it MEATLESS!
• What a splendid SUNNY day - hope you Melbourne peps got out and about to soak up some VITAMIN D rays! If not eat the skin off of your CHICKEN & FISH, they can be a great source of Vitamin D.

'Forests are the LUNGS of the EARTH' - Tread carefully

I read this quote off of a girls hand crafted bag on the tram yesterday - it made me think YES!

The Seven Principles of Naturopathic Medicine

Traditionally Naturopathic medicine or the Practice of Natural medicine is based on Seven Principles:

Here they are:

1.The Healing Power of Nature: (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)

Naturopathic medicine recognizes that all living systems have an innate ability to heal it-self. Our vital force promotes self-cleansing, self-repair, and thus self-healing. The Naturopaths role is to facilitate this natural process.

2. Treat the Cause: (Tolle Causam) Naturopaths are trained to identify and remove the underlying cause of disease; these causes can exist at the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels. It is a Naturopaths role to identify, treat and remove the cause rather than suppress symptoms.

3. First Do No Harm: (Primum Non Nocere) Naturopaths use safe and effective methods and medicinal substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects, they use the least force necessary to diagnose and assist in the restoration of health.

4. Treat the Whole Person: Naturopaths treat the person holistically, they take into account the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, and environmental factors that make up the total state of health.

5. Doctor as Teacher (Docere): The original meaning of the word "doctor" is teacher. Naturopaths educate their patients by empowering, encouraging and motivating patients to assume self-responsibility for their health by adopting a healthy attitude, lifestyle and diet.

6. Preventative Medicine: The Naturopaths health approach is all about preventing minor illnesses to avoid the development of more serious diseases. They achieve this by educating and encouraging people about life habits that support health.

7. Wellness: A Naturopaths role is to help the patient establish and maintain optimum health and balance by promoting wellness. Wellness is inherent in everyone no matter what dis-ease(s) are being experienced.

Do you need to see a Naturopath to help balance your health or address underlying issues?

TWENTY ELEVEN -Happy New Year

Here it is - it's about to begin 2011.

The new year of 2011 is here and with it comes new beginnings, resolutions and change (as with every year) but make this year different.

Accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative.

Instead of proclaiming to stop things, quitting things and never doing things again be positive in your resolutions and contribute to change.

Eat healthier wholefoods instead of cutting out cakes and desserts. Try fresher homemade meals. Eat smaller portions instead of going on difficult and unforgiving diets. Enjoy organic produce and taste the flavour of foods.

Double your current amount of exercise, take on a new sport; yoga, swimming or the new Zumba craze instead of signing up for that expensive and potentially overwhelming gym membership. Walk more regularly and my favourite is just breathe.

Cut-down your current amount of cigarettes (or things you want to quit) instead of quitting or going cold turkey, this reduces the potential of failure and will help you feel better about what you are achieving.

Enjoy resting and spending time with loved ones this will help you achieve your work life balance, be kind to yourself and enjoy your new year.

What are some of the things you hope to achieve in 2011?