Chill Mama Wellness

Howdy!
It’s the time of year when you might be considering how you’d like your year to play out. For me, it’s about values, understanding what’s important to me and working back from there.
Here’s my values linked to nutrition and movement. My reasons to get out of bed early and move, and to make sure I give my body the right nutrients so it functions well.
As a nurse, every day at work I get reminded of how important it is to work towards mitigating lifestyle based diseases - type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, diseases of substance misuse are reasons many people end up critically unwell in hospital. I’m keen to do what I can to stay healthy in my body for as long as possible and my values reflect that.

Merry Christmas everyone! May you enjoy some downtime, rest and peace over the next few weeks.

I’m not crying, you’re crying 😭

Today was our final yoga class for Live Life Get Active in Albury.
We thank Genesis Care for their sponsorship for the last 6 years. A special shout out to Wenona for completing 401 classes over the years and Cath for completing 382. For me it’s been a joy and a privilege to practice with all of you over these last 6 years.

Please remember you can still access all of Live Life’s Get Active online offerings.

Namaste 🙏

Part of today’s was actually getting through the swampy parts of the outer oval to the dry-ish grass to roll out our mats! An absolutely beautiful day, an incredibly swollen Murray river lapping at the shores of the oval. Thanks to our corporate sponsor Genesis Care.

for Live Life Get Active with thanks to our corporate sponsor Genesis Care. Under the verandah today as the run and sun battle it out. Expecting 🌨❄️☃️ in the mountains on the weekend, it’s been an interesting time for weather.

And we’re back Live Life Get Active for term 4 with thanks to our corporate sponsor, Genesis care. Lucky the oval is up high, 50m either side of our mats today the Murray river is lapping at the edges.
Come and join us! 9.30am Fridays at Noreuil Park Oval.

We made it back to the grass for our final for the term, with thanks to Genesis Care. However, swipe to see the Murray river in flood, lapping up against the banks of the oval. Hopefully by the start of term 4, things will be a bit drier!

It might be a public holiday in VIC, but yoga is still on!

🧘🏻‍♀️9.30am, Live Life Get Active (last class for the term),

and

🤰🏼pregnancy yoga at Birth and Babes in Wodonga at 4.30pm.

If you have the day off, come to yoga!

Links to book are in the ”learn more” tab.

Live Life Get Active on behalf of our corporate sponsor Genesis Care. I’ve never known it to stay so wet for so long, certainly not in the 6 years we’ve been doing yoga here on the oval. The cricket pitch has really come in handy! One more week til the end of term 3.

🤰🏼PREGNANCY YOGA🧘🏻‍♀️

All the props for as much comfort as you need…
Join us, Fridays at 4.30pm at Birth and Babes hub in Wodonga.
Link to book is in the “learn more” tab. DM if you’d like to know more.

Back on the cricket pitch for Live Life Get Active on behalf of our corporate sponsor, Genesis Care.
We chatted about The Queen’s death. I’ve been reading “The Dreaming Path” by Paul Callaghan with Uncle Paul Gordon. I am reminded of a beautiful quote in that book in remembering the life of Queen Elizabeth:
“When our Old People pass away, their story stays with us if we remember it and their story was strong. As we remember and tell their story, they are still contributing to our society…We should strive to be like the people we remember. Leave a good story for others to follow.”
What a story! What an incredible woman.

Breathe in ➡️ Breathe out 💨

Recovery week yoga at Lonedog this morning ❤️

Pregnancy Yoga 🤰🏼🧘🏻‍♀️
Friday at 4.30pm at the new hub in Wodonga. Chillax into the weekend.
Link to book is in the bio.

ICYMI…
Pregnancy Yoga commences tomorrow (Friday) at the Birth and Babes hub in Wodonga from 4.30-5.30pm. If you are practicing or or you’re looking to add some calm into your busy life, yoga is a wonderful path to explore. Link to book is in the “learn more” tab.

📷 .motherhood ❤️

🤰🏼Pregnancy yoga 🧘🏻‍♀️
Commencing this Friday 26th August 4.30-5.30pm at the Birth and Babes hub in Wodonga.
This class is informed by my knowledge as a midwife, but led by the needs of the individuals on the day. We will practice an indulgent slow-flow/yin and include some meditation to top it off. A lovely way to ease pregnancy aches, pains and stresses. If you are using calmbirth or OMP techniques as part of your birth preparation, pregnancy yoga is a wonderful complimentary practice.
Link to book is in the “learn more” tab.
Looking foreword to enjoying this fabulous new space!

From yoga on the netball court, to yoga on the cricket pitch! It’s way too wet on the oval for Live Life Get Active so we just make the best of what we’ve got. The sun was shining, the gentle breeze was blowing and we were getting amongst it. Thanks as always to our corporate sponsor Genesis Care ❤️

🧘🏻‍♀️Global Active Recovery🧘🏻‍♀️
Fun night tonight with the Lavi Panthers netball girls, shaking things up in their training session tonight in the run up to the finals, with a focus on core and balance.
I’ve taught yoga in plenty of random places, but this is the first time on a netball court. Thanks to coach Linda for asking me to come along to your training session tonight and all the best for the rest of the season!

for Live Life Get Active on behalf of our corporate sponsor Genesis care. Today for the first time in 5+ years, the oval was so sludgy from the rain that we invaded the cricket pitch instead. I think we were lucky for the beautiful sunshine we got this morning as it seems potentially short lived.
Come join us! Fridays 9.30am at Noreuil park oval, link to book is in the ”learn more” tab.

Introducing my first pair of barefoot shoes. Vivobarefoot “primus asana”. ❤️ perfect accompaniment to my Injinji toe socks keeping me warm but my toes moving!

🤰🏼PREGNANCY YOGA🤰🏼

Tuesdays 10.30-11.30am
Fridays 11am-12pm

Starting from the 12th August.

Birth and Babes Education Centre, Wodonga.

Classes are by booking only (link to book is in the “learn more” tab), casual classes $25, or a pack of five classes for $100 payable by card on attendance.

This class is a slow flow/yin fusion specifically designed for pregnancy. It is based on the physical and emotional needs of the participants on the day.

My experience as a midwife helps to inform my pregnancy yoga classes, and offer you a supported environment to relax into, but don’t worry, we don’t do “too serious”. We’ll have a bit of a laugh along the way too.

I look forward to welcoming you to the mat to honour your pregnancy journey!

Playing in the new Birth and Babes education centre 😍

The vibe in here is already so beautiful and calm. I can’t wait to teach yoga here!

Class dates and times TBA for August.

“But scientists have now established, the support – and good health – of grandmothers are crucial to the long lives, and health, of their kids, and grandkids.”

There are quite a few grandmothers who come along to my yoga classes. I love their enthusiasm to take care of themselves, because in doing so, they become more available to care for those around them. The research shows us, this is so helpful and important to the community at large.

I adore both my grandmothers, one still here, one with me in spirit. I wouldn’t be who I am now without their nurturing throughout my life ❤️

Grandmother hypothesis revisited: the women who fill our children’s most human needs Children rely on their grandparents, and research reveals that we’re failing to recognise just how much they treasure them.

Aaaaand we’re back! for Live Life Get Active on behalf of our corporate sponsor Genesis Care. Weather was 👌.
Today we explored the concept of our “breath container” and how it feels and moves and changes shape through our flow, inspired by one of my fav podcasts by Nutritious Movement
If you’re interested in biomechanics, have a listen.

Here is a sneak peak of the beautiful space in Wodonga that Kerri-ann from Birth and Babes has created for care and education during pregnancy. How delish are those recliners for relaxing in while you’re taking a or or class??

Really looking forward to collaborating once more with all the wonderful people who have woman centred care at the heart of their perinatal based practices and providing another pregnancy yoga option for women in our community. Tag your pregnant friends and let them know about all the local options available to them.

Pregnancy Yoga

It’s hard for me to believe, but it’s been almost 3 years since I last taught pregnancy yoga. Nothing like being a nurse/midwife during a pandemic to shake things up a little!

I am really excited that Kerri-ann from Birth and Babes is opening a new space in Wodonga that will be geared towards all things pregnancy and postnatal and I’m pleased to be able to offer pregnancy yoga in that space (head over to her page and check it out).

Stay tuned for class dates and times.

📷The Sophia Co - Photography and Films

NEAT: non-exercise activity thermogenesis - the energy we expend for everything that is not eating, sleeping or sport-like exercise. Walking around, doing chores, typing, gardening, and playing with the kids are all examples, but there are many more.

Culture impacts NEAT. The way we live impacts NEAT.

NEAT is an important aspect to consider when maintaining wellness. We can measure NEAT by the number of steps we do each day. Somewhere between 8-10,000 steps per day is a good aim, ideally spaced out across the day. According to from Lonedog “8,000-10,000 steps are the optimal amount of activity (with nutrition) to impact weight management (fat loss). In regards to health- all cause mortalities decrease by risk around 12% per 1000 steps. 16,000 steps has a 67% less risk than 2,700 steps daily. So depending on someone’s goal, there can be a benefit in increased NEAT providing that the additional stress is managed through nutrition and recovery.”

On days when I’m at work in the hospital, I easily get my NEAT target. On wintery days at home like today, I need a bit of an outdoor walking boost.

How do you get your NEAT? Is it something you’ve thought about or learnt about?

Thanks to for teaching me about NEAT.

Following on from yesterday’s dressing gown discussion, some of you said you also like pottering around the kitchen and meal prepping or baking. Preparing nutritious food in advance when you’re in a relaxed state is such a fabulous way of taking care of yourself - and others!

Enter, the soup library!

My mother in law makes amazingly tasty soup and has always provided our family with lots of meals to take home over the years. This winter we have the freezer stacked full of different soups made by her. Having tasty, nutritious meals made from love in the freezer ready to heat and eat is the ultimate in care - for yourself and/or the people you love.

Thanks Nonna 😘

AND

I spent a lot of time as a young person with my Nan and my Mum. Just watching them go about their business. Learning vicariously things like how to cook and clean and take care of things. Interestingly, they did a fair whack of those things in their pj’s with a dressing gown on. Neither of them ever got dressed til their morning jobs were done. And now I’m the same. Self care for me involves a dressing gown and the kitchen. It might be pottering around doing jobs, it might be cooking. For some reason when I’m doing that I just slide right into my parasympathetic nervous system - rest and digest. No need to rush around. Have a cuppa on the go as well. Maybe chat to someone on the phone or put a movie on in the background I’ve seen 1000 times.

Even better, my mum bought this dressing gown for my Dad when he was in hospital during his last weeks on earth. He hated it. Reckoned it was too pink (lol, it’s pretty brown), the thought of him in it makes me laugh. Dad never owned a dressing gown in his life til the very end and still wouldn’t wear it! Now it’s mine and I put it on and potter around and do my jobs in comfort.

So self care isn’t all bubble baths, facials and yoga. Sometimes it’s just pottering around in your dressing gown with a sink full of soapy water and a cake in the oven.

How do you ?

🌲