Bookplate Spring Magazine 2016 Bookplate Spring Magazine. | Page 12

And now for something nourishing for our body. According to Anne Zelnik from Byanne Canberra has fallen in love with handmade products. Almost good enough to eat Anne started Byanne six years ago with a commitment to create products that are natural, free of chemicals and animal testing (only testing was on family and friends). Her range of handmade soaps includes beautiful scents such as Eucalyptus & Lemon, Star Anise Coconut & Lime, lemongrass & sage and Spearmint. IN-TUNE Anne believes in only using natural oils, butters and botanicals; each batch of soap is specially crafted with the main ingredients being olive oil, coconut oil, rice brand blended with shea, co coa or mango butter then possibly adding some sweet almond and hemp oil, while Lavender is sourced from a local grower. As the traditional cold process method is undertaken, soap batches usually take between 4-6 weeks to cure. They are then beautifully packaged and off to market. SPRING IS TIME TO LISTEN TO OUR BODIES AND GET IN-TUNE BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY. WE SPOKE TO SOME CANBERRA EXPERTS ON TIPS FOR A HAPPY AND HEALTHY SPRING. A. WALLACE Byanne can be found at Trove Canberra Shop, Garema Place in the City Centre and also at the Handmade Markets. For that special occasion, why not talk to Anne about customising a gift for your guests as a special memento. image stellaraezelnik.com Exercise has always been a passion not a chore. Feel Great no matter what life throws at you Louise Dobson OAM – Dual Olympian, Leadership Mentor, Ambassador & Advocate for Community & Youth Sport. While it might be daunting to ask a former Olympian about their fitness regime, Louise Dobson has some great tips for embracing Spring. Louise, or Lou as she prefers, had a successful career with the Australian Women’s National Hockey team, the squad won gold at the 1996 Olympics and several gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and Champions Trophy. Lou is now kept busy with mentoring young athletes and public speaking. “Spring is a particularly special season for me” says Lou “growing up in rural Victoria, I fondly remember the crisp Spring mornings, return of 12 6 image Hilary Wardhaugh green paddocks and a scent of blossoms heralding a new beauty and a time to embrace the outdoors. In her role as Ambassador & Advocate for Community & Youth Sport, Lou is committed to seeing more sports programs available to kids, particularly in rural areas. “There’s so much talent in country Australia, however kids in rural areas are not exposed to the same facilities”, admits Lou, “I’ll be working hard to ensure that they can access sports programs and elite training facilities, which may just lead to another Olympic gold medal for Australia.” “While my fitness levels no longer require the workout when training for the Olympics, I try to commit to regular exercise each day. I’m not a believer in diets or detox but I do believe in taking simple steps to a healthier you. I suggest: •commit to 30 minutes’ exercise each day •make small incremental changes to your diet •join a group or have a fitness buddy •commit to that weekend walk around the Lake or one of our great national parks •And eat a healthy breakfast! Wesley Smith, Director of Live Well Spa & Wellness Centre. Have you ever thought, how do I meditate? To most of us, mediation is about finding a quiet space and a mantra. Wesley Smith from Live Well Spa & Wellness Centre in Manuka advises that meditation is simply about focus and emptying or calming the mind, becoming oblivious to distraction. “I meditated when I was rock climbing” says Wes. “You can meditate while playing a musical instrument, cooking or simply listening to your breathing”. Of all his talents, acupuncturist, herbal medicine practitioner and yoga teacher, mediation is what Wesley is most passionate about. “Many clients I see are looking for strategies to lower blood pressure, get a good night’s sleep or simply seeking relief from troublesome thoughts.” Wes was keen to help others meditate effectively and created, meditatewithwes.com, a sevenpart program which teaches you how to benefit from meditation and empower you with tools to: •handle life’s challenges •unlock vitality and energy •access your own profound stillness and peace •be in flow with life and do more with less stress It is really important that we rewire the brain for happiness. Wes says that life can be particularly stressful for high achievers and finds this group really struggles to calm the mind until they crash. Wes knows personally that depression and loneliness can occur to anyone, even with loved ones around and suggests that yoga and meditation can revolutionise a person’s life, as it did his. He believes that meditation nourishes the nervous system, making the day’s stresses a little easier to cope with. Away from the studio, Wesley enjoys time with his two-year old daughter and his partner, Anthea, Creator of “Real Chai”. 13