Jess Ainscough - The Wellness Warrior

GUEST POST BY SUSANA FRIONI.
 

When it comes to practicing and learning about yoga (especially in the early days of your journey) I highly recommend immersing yourself in a room full of other people while being guided by an awesome yoga teacher.
 
And by an awesome yoga teacher, I mean the kind of yoga teacher that intuitively knows when you need a little extra encouragement to push your edge some more or when you need a gentle reminder to back off in the moments you start to overdo it. I also mean the kind of yoga teacher who is able to adjust your pose to correct your alignment when you’re really off the mark or simply be able to give you a healing massage to help you relax deeper.
 
But not all of us are able to practice yoga at our favourite yoga studio and therefore are not able to be guided by an awesome yoga teacher in person. Maybe their timetable offerings don’t suit you. Maybe a yoga pass isn’t possible with your existing budget. Or maybe you live in a remote area where yoga studios don’t even exist.
 
Either way, this doesn’t mean you have to miss out on getting your yoga on. There are so many valuable resources out there for you to practice at home that I thought I would share with you some of my favourites.

ONLINE YOGA CLASSES
 
Provided you have access to the internet you’ll be able to access these classes. All you really need is your own yoga mat and a sacred place to practice at home, preferably somewhere where you won’t get interrupted.
 
1. YogaGlo.com – Free trial for 15 days then $18/mth
You can search for the right yoga class by style, level, teacher and duration which I personally think is really awesome. Also, if you are new to yoga then definitely check out the “Beginner Center”. Here you will find an introductory series to a variety of yoga styles which will prepare you for all of the level one classes. Plus, if you want to dive deeper into the yoga philosophy or just get extra guidance with specific yoga poses, you can do that too at YogaGlo.
 
2. Yogis Anonymous LIVE – some free preview classes otherwise $15/mth
Live streaming classes with world renowned yoga teachers all in the comfort of your own home. You can choose classes based on teachers, level and duration.
 
3. YogaVibes.com – Free trial for 15 days then $20/mth or $200/yr.
An online collection of yoga classes featuring awesome yoga teachers and a comprehensive yoga library.
 
4. MyYogaOnline.com – $9.95/mth or $89.95/yr
Another awesome online collection of yoga classes featuring awesome yoga teachers.

YOUTUBE YOGA CHANNELS

The bonus with YouTube yoga classes is that they are free!
 
5. Tara Stiles – Free
Tara Stiles is the Founder of Strala Yoga in NYC, the author of Yoga Cures and Slim Calm Sexy Yoga, and is Deepak Chopra’s personal Yoga Teacher. If you ask me, she is one super cool yogini who is deeply rooted in generosity. Simply head to her channel if you’re looking for mini yoga routines that you can do anywhere at anytime.
 
7. Yoga Journal – Free
Lots of free videos here from yoga routines to breakdowns of yoga poses.

YOGA E-COURSES
 
8. Marianne Elliott’s 30 Days of Yoga Courses – $100
These courses are brilliant! Once you fill out a questionnaire, Marianne will recommend a practice (or two) for you. Once you choose which practice you want to do, you’ll have access to it in a variety of formats (video, audio + text) so you can download it to whatever device you prefer. On top of that you receive daily guidance from Marianne herself to help you on your 30 Day Yoga journey. Plus you can connect with a community of people who have done the 30 days or are doing the 30 days. And to top it off, Marianne has a variety of 30 Days of Yoga editions such as Beginners 30 Days of Yoga, Yoga for Busy People and 30 Days of Curvy Yoga.

YOGA DVD’S

One of my very good friends loves practicing yoga from a DVD. In fact, there are a group of them who meet weekly at the local town hall and practice yoga together from the DVD. I personally have never bought a yoga DVD but if I did I would start with these…
 
9. Sean Corn’s DVD collection
 
10. Kathryn Budig DVD collection
 
11. Shiva Rea’s DVD collection
 
If you have any other yoga resources you love to learn from be sure to mention them in the comments below.
 
 
Author bio: Susana Frioni is a Life Coach, Vinyasa Yoga Teacher + Studio Coordinator based in Brisbane inspiring + empowering people to take the journey inward to heal + transform their lives. In her experience there is nothing more ecstatic + liberating than following your deepest truth + living it wholeheartedly. Susana is also the creator of Selfish For 27 days, an online program where women shamelessly put their health + happiness first.
 

In Good Measure, Authors of the wellness and health blog

Julia Medew, Brisbane Times

If you ask Ruben Tuazon-McCheyne why he doesn't have a mother, he will give you a very direct answer.

Image: Jason (left) and Adrian Tuazon-McCheyne with their son Ruben. Photo: Angela Wylie

''I have two dads,'' he says, as if to question why you would even ask.

For the six-year-old boy who was born to a surrogate mother in the US, his family story is as simple as that. 

He has two fathers who love him dearly and he knows the woman who gave birth to him, but she is not one of his parents.

Ruben, a bright grade-one student from Brunswick West, is one of a growing number of children of gay parents in Australia. As far as his fathers Jason and Adrian Tuazon-McCheyne know, he is a happy and healthy boy who is developing well.

But to be sure they are giving him their best, the couple are participating in what is hoped to be the world's largest study of children belonging to same-sex attracted parents, including bisexual and transgender people. The Australian Study of Child Health in Same-Sex Families aims to investigate the physical, mental and social wellbeing of 750 children belonging to about 500 parents. It will involve surveys and interviews to score the children on a large range of measures.

Lead researcher from Melbourne University, Dr Simon Crouch, said although there were likely to be thousands of children with same-sex attracted parents in Australia, very few local studies had ever looked at whether their family circumstances affected their wellbeing and when they had, they were small. Furthermore, he said most studies of such children had been done in northern European countries and the US and they tended to focus on children of lesbian mothers at the expense of those belonging to gay men, bisexuals and transgender people.

While judges presiding over family court matters and others have raised fears that children of gay parents may be more vulnerable to psychological and behavioural problems and disturbed sexual development, psychologists say no rigorous studies have shown this to be the case. Despite these findings, Dr Crouch said a small Australian study had raised concerns about bullying of such children in 2001, sparking interest in whether discrimination and stigma could negatively impact on the mental and social wellbeing of these children. He said most families with same-sex attracted parents he knew could recount an episode where a health practitioner or a teacher had made an ignorant or derogatory comment that contributed to stigma. ''It can be as simple as a school form that comes home asking for a mother's name … right through to verbal abuse. There are people on TV all the time saying it's not the right environment to raise children in,'' said Dr Crouch who works in the Melbourne School of Population Health.

Research from overseas also suggested children whose parents were open about their situation fared better than those who grew up with secrecy about how they were created, he said.

Jason Tuazon-McCheyne, 42, said he and Adrian, 39, had encountered people's disapproval and were offended by brands such as ''mother's choice'', but took many steps to protect their son from any stigma that could be felt. Among other things, they sent Ruben to a school where other children of gay parents went and were open about their relationship when meeting new people. ''Whenever we're out in public or in new situations and introducing ourselves, we always proactively 'out' ourselves by saying something like 'Hi, I'm Jason, this is Adrian and we're Ruben's fathers' so there is complete ownership of our family structure,'' he said.

''We know some people might have a problem with it, but if you say something like that, most people will not be rude to your face … there needs to be no shame or embarrassment.''

Dr Crouch invited people to contact him about the study and said he hoped it would provide important information about these children so parents and others coming into contact with them could learn how to support them. ''These are all pertinent areas of research to explore in Australia, particularly now given the current political climate in relation to Australian same-sex families,'' he said.

What do you think about same-sex parents? Do studies such as these help to investigate the impacts of social stigmas?

 Women's health and fitness Australia 

Just when you thought they couldn’t think of anything that hasn’t already been done, along comes a new spin on exercise.

Image: Get an Intense Workout with Pilates-Meets-Boxing Classes. Source: http://www.dailycandy.com/los-angeles/

Introducing fusion fitness, where disciplines as diverse as kickboxing and yoga, aerobics and Pilates, combine to form a new style of exercise that makes for a more effective, results-driven workout.

As implausible as it sounds, marrying the benefits of popular exercise styles is more than just a fad. Combining two totally different types of exercise helps the body develop more strength, agility, balance and coordination than a single exercise discipline.

Australia is a pioneer in fusion fitness. Locally trained Pilates and yoga instructor Louise Solomon combined both disciplines into ‘yogalates’ over 10 years ago. Her classes are wildly popular and have been introduced in major UK health club chains.

The industry has exploded and now offers a range of unique exercise classes combining the benefits of martial arts, swimming and meditation just to name a few. The key is to combine disciplines that complement each other, making it possible to offer a single program that delivers the benefits of both traditional exercise modes.

This new trend is helping many women to break the routine that comes with exercising on a daily basis and have more fun. And as we all know, if it’s fun, we’re far more likely to stick with it in the long run.

You may be surprised at some of the popular ‘marriages’ created by fusion fitness – who would’ve thought the serenity of yoga poses complement the high energy of a kickboxing workout?

What’s more, fusion fitness is limited only by your imagination. If you’ve got two or more activities you love but aren’t sure how to put them together to maximise your results, chat with your PT or a fitness expert to help combine the best of both worlds.In the meantime, check out the most popular forms of fusion fitness.

Hoop dance yoga

Hoop dance yoga is a combination of yoga, dance, meditation and overall bodywork. Harking back to your childhood, hooping involves the spiralling movement of a hula hoop using your core.

The rocking motion of the sacrum (tailbone) – a feature of most yoga styles – helps to stimulate full body relaxation, calms the nervous system, releases endorphins, increases circulation to the pelvis and clears the energy centres of the body.

Although hula hooping is commonly associated with kids play, it can be a demanding workout. Moving your body helps to massage the muscles and stimulate energy centres and acupuncture points. Hoop dance yoga can help strengthen core stability and help you to find inner calm after a busy day.

Piloxing

Piloxing is a brand new format of fusion fitness that combines boxing with Pilates.

Similar to cardiolates, Piloxing combines a slow-moving exercise with a more aggressive form of training.

Although it may sound like an unlikely marriage, Olympic boxer Andre Ward utilised this form of training to assist him in winning gold at the 2004 Olympic Games.

The benefits of Pilates include increasing your strength and core stability, while boxing helps to increase your heartbeat, oxygen circulation and kilojoule burn. Interestingly, the two disciplines are quite similar when it comes to breathing patterns and spacial awareness.

Jess Ainscough - The Wellness Warrior

We need food to live. It’s pretty safe to say that this has always been the case. Way, way back in the day, even before the invention of sliced bread, our ancestors fed themselves to stay alive. They knew what to eat, when to eat and how to eat. They didn’t rely on nutritionists, dieticians, scientists, journalists or marketing hype to tell them what to chow down on; they just understood that certain things are made to be eaten and certain things aren’t. They used their common sense and intuition to guide them from the garden or the market to the kitchen. Then something strange happened. Food was no longer just food. Instead, food became the sum of all of its nutritional parts. Suddenly we needed a whole new vocabulary just to understand how to feed ourselves. We needed a science-type person to accompany us to the supermarket just so we could decipher between items that are fit to put in our gobs and items that aren’t. Whole food was out and antioxidant-, carbohydrate-, fibre-, protein-, phytochemical- and fat-content was in. We became a nation obsessed with nutrition. But did it make us any healthier? Funnily enough, no. Quite the opposite, actually. Puzzled? Turns out many of us are.

Michael Pollan, journalist and author of the best-selling In Defense of Food, describes the ideology around our thinking about food as ‘nutritionism’ – a pseudo-scientific way of looking at food. According to Pollan, nutritionism reduces food to its nutritional parts. We clever humans discover that a certain nutrient does wonders for our bodies and we try to isolate it, extract it and mass reproduce it. Take carrots, for example. Carrot is contains a highly beneficial nutrient called beta-carotene. Science guys got hold of this knowledge and decided to hunt down the beta-carotene in the humble carrot, extract it and make supplements out of it. They were a little bummed when they discovered that beta-carotene supplements were a poor-man’s nutrient in comparison to eating a whole carrot. Why? We haven’t yet figured out everything that goes on in a carrot. Vegetables in their whole form house a galaxy of nutrients, enzymes and other goodness that work together to deliver amazing benefits to your body.

Nutritionism also divides the world into good and evil, demonising certain nutrients while enshrining others. This would kind of make sense if the list of ‘good’ guys and ‘bad’ guys weren’t forever changing on us. Remember the days when protein was considered ‘bad’ and carbohydrates were ‘good’? Now it is the opposite. Thanks to Dr Atkins and his classmates, carbs are often wrongly accused of being evil. We may be clever enough to figure out that some carbs are bad for us, but we often forget that not all carbohydrates are created equal. The same goes for fat. The low-fat campaign began in the early 1980s and is just starting to fade out now. You know what else started around the early 1980s? The obesity epidemic and the rise of type-2 diabetes! Clearly, the science around these nutrition claims was not very sound. As soon as we were told to avoid fat at all costs, we began gorging on anything that was labelled as ‘low-fat’ and ‘fat-free’. Never mind the amount of sugar and refined carbohydrates that were taking its place and seeing us spiral into serious health decline.

Butter was another victim of the ‘low-fat’ campaign. Sure, butter is an animal fat and you should by no means use it as a condiment on everything, but it is a heck of a lot better than margarine. We now know that trans fats, as found in margarine, are lethal and responsible for many diseases. On the other hand, people have been successfully eating butter for around eight or 10 thousand years.

Cyndi O'Meara
Nutritionist Cyndi O’Meara is another voice I respect whole-heartedly. She wrote the brilliant book, Changing Habits Changing Lives. What I love about Cyndi is that she prescribes whole foods, and does everything she can to warn us about the ramifications of the modernised food system.

“When we put 80 additives into a prepared meal (just read the ingredients on a packaged food), how could we possibly know the ramifications on what it does to our body. The mind boggles at the stupidity of the food, science and sickness industry,” writes Cyndi. “Don’t be part of the experiment. Realise that nurturing your body with real foods free from chemicals and additives is the best thing you can do for your health and nuturing.”

Nutritionism undermines our instincts. This modern, western style of eating has made us forget that we have things like culture, tradition and in-built common sense to tell us what we should and shouldn’t be eating. As Michael Pollan puts it, “People have eaten very well for thousands of years before they even knew what an antioxidant was, and they can do it again.”

What are we to do? Forget all of the lingo and stick to the basics. Eat foods that are as close to their natural state as possible and good health will follow. Weight loss will be a given. If it can sit in your pantry for years and not go bad, don’t eat it. If it contains ingredients that you can’t pronounce, don’t eat it. If you pick up something that your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognise as food, don’t eat it. It is that easy. By eating local, organic, fresh whole foods you can’t really go wrong. Your body is designed to eat food from the ground and if you feed it accordingly it will reward you by carrying you through a long, healthy and happy life.

What do you think about nutritionism? I’d love to hear your thoughts on the topic.

Jess Ainscough is The Welness Warrior, in pursuit of perfect health, mind, body and spirit. Read more by following her on Facebook or Twitter.

Health and Wellbeing, Ninemsn reports

Release those endorphins

On top of getting bikini ready and looking great for summer, exercise is also about feeling your best. Quite simply: exercise releases endorphins, and endorphins make you happy. 

 

Power it up

Still brushing with a manual toothbrush? Do yourself a favour by switching to the sonicare power brush, which can assist to remove more plaque and help brighten up your smile.

Try the Philips Sonicare FlexCare +, $229 RRP.

Eating for confidence

Instead of eating the foods that give you that instant 'tiramisu' (directly translates into 'pick-me-up') or drastic diet overhauls, choose the foods that provide long-term benefits to your body. Lisa Renn, author of Body Warfare says that with eating, there are many shades of grey. "Diet thinking tends to promote inflexibility — things are right or wrong, good foods or bad foods — and life is not like that."

Instead, continue eating lean meats and get plenty of fruit and veg. And nothing yells summer like seafood, a great source of nutrients.

Drink up!

Water has indisputably become the universal symbol of healthy living, and it's no wonder why. Dermatologists and doctors alike recommend drinking water for better-looking skin and a more youthful appearance. Afterall, water not only hydrates you, but flushes out toxins from our bodies.

And isn't everyone more confident with beautiful, clear skin?

Hair, be gone

Despite being permanent hair reduction rather than permanent hair removal, this really is a gem. If you'd squirm at the sight of hair anywhere but your head, laser hair removal will give you the confidence for years to come.

Imagine never having to shave again? Now that's something to smile about. Try: Laser hair removalist specialists Laser Clinics Australia.

See you later, Cellulite

Few women are lucky to escape the burden of cellulite-laden legs but a whopping 90% of us will have cellulite at some point in our lives. While an agreed-upon solution remains unknown, it's agreed that regular exercise and healthy eating can lessen your chances of further damaging your body. Some topical products claim to temporarily treat cellulite by smoothing dimpled skin.

Try: Silhouhette refining cellulite cream available from Guinot

Getting skin ready

Exfoliating and moisturise for silky smooth skin. If you don't have the time to exfoliate and moisturise daily, aim for once a week. If you're going to be out in the sun, look for products that have SPF for sun protection and aloe vera for its soothing qualities.

Fake it

Once you've exfoliated and moisturised, faking your tan is an easy way of becoming summer-ready in a matter of minutes. The beauty of tan is that it makes you look slimmer, giving you that added confidence when you bare your bikini body. You can choose the intensity of the tan colour (usually either a light glow, medium bronze or a deep tan) as well as pick from the product type (foaming products, creams or sprays).

Try: Self Tanning Cream for Face & Body (150ml) from Thalgo, $39.00 Thalgo

Be sun smart

Unlike the Mediterranean sun, the harsh rays downunder are particularly damaging to our skin. Throw your tanning oil in the bin and invest in broad spectrum sunscreen like SPF30+. Remember to reapply every two-to-three hours to avoid sun burn and the awful skin peeling that comes after. By protecting your skin, you'll not only help prevent cancer but keep your skin looking younger longer. Try: Jurlique's Sun Lotion SPF 30+, $70.00 available from Jurlique Australia.

Highlight your hair

Did you suffer from boring hair syndrome this winter? Perhaps you were content with a dull colour that matched the weather more than your mood? Lighten your hair by a shade or two this summer and get that instant confidence that comes with a subtle change to your appearance.

While it may not seem important, a happy outlook is a healthy outlook. What steps towards a healthy lifestyle do you adopt during summer?

By Larraine Sathicq, Body and Soul

We all know Medicare will cover costs such as GP visits, public hospital stays and annual eye tests, but did you know you may be able to use your Medicare card to help pay for your chiropractor, dentist or midwife?

If you suffer from a condition that has lasted, or is predicted to last, for six months or longer, you may be eligible for Medicare assistance under the Chronic Disease Management (CDM) scheme.

Chronic conditions covered include:

• Asthma
• Diabetes
• Depression
• Arthritis
• Stroke
• Cancer
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure

According to the Department of Health and Ageing, eligible patients must have a chronic (or terminal) medical condition, which requires complex care that is being managed by a GP under strategies known as GP Management Plans and Team Care Arrangements. These strategies allow most patients to be referred by their GP for up to five Medicare rebateable allied health services a year.

The Medicare rebate for the allied health services is currently $50.95 per visit to each of the practitioners a patient is referred to, with out-of-pocket costs counting towards the patient’s Extended Medicare Safety Net.

This means that although the amount you can claim on the spot is limited, once you’ve spent $1157.50 ($578.60 if you have a concession card) of your own money within a calendar year, Medicare will cover 80 per cent of any further costs for the rest of the year.What can you claim?

1. Exercise physiology
"Your doctor may send you to an exercise physiologist if he wants you to increase your physical activity and there may be some risks involved. These may include diabetes,heart problems or stroke [risks]," explains Dr Ronald McCoy from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.

Moderate exercise is always okay, he adds, but some people require a more intense level of activity. An exercise physiologist can determine the risks and devise an exercise plan to suit your needs.

2. Dentistry
Medicare’s Chronic Disease Dental Scheme (CDDS) provides up to $4250 in benefits over two calendar years for people with a chronic medical condition and complex care needs whose oral health is impacting on their general wellbeing. To be eligible for the CDDS, patients must have a GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangements in place and must be referred to a dentist by their GP.

The government has recently announced it intends to close the CDDS at the end of the year in order to make more funding available for the Commonwealth Dental Health Program, so these rebates may be changing next year. However, the Senate has twice prevented closure of the CDDS.

3. Musculoskeletal treatments
People who suffer from conditions that affect mobility may benefit from musculoskeletal therapies, Dr McCoy says. Medicare will cover physiotherapy, chiropractic and osteopathy if your doctor and healthcare team add it to your CDM treatment plan.

4. Podiatry
If you have a chronic condition that affects the health of your feet, Medicare offers a rebate for podiatrists' fees as part of the CDM scheme. "This is especially important for people with diabetes, who should see a podiatrist regularly," Dr McCoy advises.

5. Pyschological treatment
Eligible patients requiring psychological therapy can take advantage of the Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners plan through the Medicare Benefits Schedule initiative.

Currently, patients with a mental health condition, which has been diagnosed by a medical practitioner, may be eligible to receive up to 12 individual allied health services and 12 group therapy allied health services per calendar year. Psychologists, occupational therapists and social workers are accredited to deliver such services. From November 1, eligible patients will be able to receive up to 10 individual allied health services and 10 allied group therapy services per calendar year.

6. Dietetics
Medicare does offer a rebate for such fees and your doctor may advise seeing a dietitian if you have a condition that is affected by nutrition. "This may include diabetes, heart disease or weight issues," Dr McCoy says.

7. Midwifery
Medicare rebates are available to women who receive private midwifery care, but only if their midwives are working in collaboration with medical practitioners and at present these agreements are rare.

Under such a scheme, midwives can provide antenatal care and delivery in a hospital (including a hospital birthing centre). They can also offer postnatal care in the first six weeks and refer omen to specialists and request certain pathology and diagnostic services under Medicare.

8. IVF
The government provides Medicare funding for a range of assisted reproductive technologies, including in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Services for infertility treatment include planning and management, and a range of treatment options, such as super-ovulated and natural cycles.

9. Weight-loss surgery
Medicare benefits are payable for clinically relevant professional services rendered by approved practitioners. There are Medicare items that provide benefits for gastric-banding procedures, performed laparoscopically or by open surgery, on patients considered to be morbidly obese.

Medicare does not cover the cost of the gastric band itself, only the specialist and anaesthetist fees.

10. Occupational therapy
"An occupational therapist can help with any condition that impacts on activities in daily life and requires learning self-management,"

Dr McCoy says. "Recipients might include people who have had a stroke or carers of people with dementia"

For more information call 132 011 or visit www.medicareaustralia.gov.au