#yoga for kids perth

[physzen964]

The Power of Kids Yoga Education: How "Phys Zen" Helps Children Discover Mindfulness and Meditation

In today's fast-paced world, children face increasing levels of stress and anxiety, much like adults. The pressures of school, social relationships, and extracurricular activities can weigh heavily on young minds. As parents and educators search for ways to support mental well-being in children, yoga, mindfulness, and meditation have emerged as powerful tools for promoting mental clarity, emotional balance, and physical health.

"Phys Zen," a pioneer in kids yoga education, offers a structured approach to introducing yoga and mindfulness practices to children of all ages. Through engaging classes and personalized techniques, Phys Zen has become a trusted name for parents looking to incorporate yoga and mindfulness into their children's daily routines.

This article explores the profound benefits of kids yoga education, mindfulness, and meditation for children. We will also highlight how "Phys Zen" is leading the way in fostering emotional resilience, mental clarity, and physical well-being in young learners.

Understanding Kids Yoga Education

Yoga for kids goes beyond physical exercises. It focuses on developing mindfulness, emotional regulation, and cognitive skills that are essential for healthy growth and development. By introducing children to yoga, we can help them build strong bodies, calm minds, and a sense of inner peace.

"Kids yoga education" refers to the process of teaching children various aspects of yoga, including stretching, breathing exercises, balance, and relaxation techniques. At "Phys Zen," instructors create a fun, nurturing environment where children are encouraged to explore their bodies, minds, and emotions in a safe and supportive setting.

Children’s yoga classes typically incorporate playful poses that mimic animals, nature, or everyday activities, making the experience enjoyable and relatable. This approach ensures that children remain engaged while learning how to manage their emotions and connect with their inner selves.

The Role of Mindfulness and Meditation for Kids

Mindfulness and meditation are powerful practices that can help children develop self-awareness, focus, and emotional regulation. Mindfulness refers to the ability to stay present and engaged in the current moment, without judgment or distraction. Meditation, on the other hand, involves focusing the mind to promote relaxation and clarity.

"Mindfulness and meditation for kids" help children learn to quiet their busy minds, manage stress, and enhance concentration. These practices foster emotional intelligence by teaching kids how to observe their thoughts and feelings without reacting impulsively. Children who practice mindfulness and meditation can better manage feelings of frustration, anxiety, and sadness, promoting mental well-being and resilience.

At Phys Zen, mindfulness and meditation are seamlessly integrated into kids’ yoga education. Each session begins with a guided meditation or breathing exercise, allowing children to center themselves before moving into more physical postures. These practices help children cultivate awareness of their bodies and emotions, creating a foundation for emotional balance and mental clarity.

Benefits of Kids Yoga Education

Yoga offers a wide range of physical and mental benefits for children. Some of the most notable benefits include:

Improved Physical Health: Yoga helps children build strength, flexibility, and coordination. As they move through various poses, they improve their balance and posture, which contributes to overall physical health.

Enhanced Focus and Concentration: By incorporating mindfulness techniques and breathing exercises, yoga helps children improve their attention span and ability to focus. This can translate into better performance in school and other activities.

Emotional Regulation: Yoga provides children with the tools to manage their emotions. Through deep breathing and relaxation techniques, kids learn to reduce stress and calm their minds, leading to improved emotional well-being.

Self-Confidence and Body Awareness: Yoga helps children become more aware of their bodies and develop a positive relationship with themselves. This promotes self-esteem and confidence, as children learn to appreciate their bodies for what they can do, rather than how they look.

Stress Reduction: The practice of yoga and mindfulness helps children cope with the pressures of daily life, from academic stress to social challenges. Regular practice can significantly reduce anxiety and promote a sense of inner calm.

How Phys Zen Incorporates Mindfulness and Meditation for Kids

"Phys Zen" offers a comprehensive approach to kids yoga education that integrates mindfulness and meditation into every class. The instructors at Phys Zen are trained to work with children, making each session fun, interactive, and educational.

1. Playful Yoga Poses: Phys Zen’s classes are designed to engage children with playful and imaginative poses. For example, children might pretend to be a tree or a warrior, using their bodies to express these shapes and ideas. These poses not only improve physical strength and flexibility but also promote mindfulness as children focus on their breath and movement.

2. Breathing Exercises for Stress Relief: Breathing is a fundamental aspect of both yoga and mindfulness. At Phys Zen, children are taught various breathing techniques that help them relax, calm their nervous system, and improve their focus. Simple exercises, such as deep belly breathing, can help children manage their stress levels and regulate their emotions.

3. Guided Meditation Sessions: Before or after physical yoga postures, Phys Zen incorporates short guided meditation sessions. These sessions help children center their minds, focus on their breath, and calm their thoughts. The guided meditations are often themed around positive imagery or relaxing body scans, allowing children to deeply relax and practice mindfulness.

4. Emotional Awareness and Expression: Mindfulness and meditation are closely linked to emotional awareness. At Phys Zen, children are encouraged to express how they are feeling before and after each session. This practice of emotional expression helps children understand and regulate their emotions in a healthy, constructive way.

5. Positive Reinforcement and Empowerment: Phys Zen promotes a growth mindset, encouraging children to celebrate their progress, no matter how small. The supportive and encouraging environment at Phys Zen fosters self-confidence, helping children understand that learning mindfulness and yoga is a journey that involves patience, practice, and self-compassion.

The Impact of Kids Yoga Education on Mental Health

The mental health benefits of kids yoga education are undeniable. Studies have shown that children who engage in yoga, mindfulness, and meditation have improved self-regulation, emotional intelligence, and stress management skills. Furthermore, they are more likely to develop resilience in the face of challenges, making it easier for them to cope with life’s ups and downs.

For children struggling with anxiety, depression, or attention issues, mindfulness and meditation can be particularly helpful. These practices provide children with the tools to manage negative emotions and develop a positive, grounded sense of self. Yoga’s focus on breath and movement helps children regulate their emotions, while meditation allows them to create mental clarity and stillness.

Creating a Mindful and Balanced Future

At Phys Zen, the goal is not only to teach children yoga but also to instill valuable life skills such as mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and self-care. By offering kids yoga education and mindfulness practices, Phys Zen is helping children develop a strong foundation for mental and physical well-being.

As children learn to manage stress, focus their attention, and develop emotional resilience, they become more confident and balanced individuals. Whether through yoga poses, breathing exercises, or meditation, Phys Zen is committed to creating a future where children can thrive emotionally, physically, and mentally.

Conclusion

Incorporating mindfulness and meditation into kids yoga education is a powerful way to help children navigate the challenges of modern life. Through fun and engaging practices, children at "Phys Zen" learn to cultivate awareness, self-regulation, and emotional resilience. By combining physical movement with mental clarity, Phys Zen provides a holistic approach to nurturing young minds and bodies.

Parents, teachers, and caregivers looking to support children's emotional well-being can turn to Phys Zen for guidance in creating a mindful, balanced future for the next generation. With the right tools and practices, children can grow into confident, compassionate, and resilient individuals who are better equipped to face life's challenges with calm and clarity.

Incorporating kids yoga education, mindfulness, and meditation into a child’s routine isn't just a trend—it's a step toward fostering well-rounded, emotionally intelligent individuals who will lead with confidence and compassion. Through the teachings of Phys Zen, children can develop the skills they need to thrive today and in the future.

[yogabilitymind]

Yoga Training Australia - Choosing the Right Yoga Teacher Training Program

Yoga training australia is a transformative experience that requires patience, practice, and perseverance. It is also important to seek out mentorship throughout your yoga journey. This can be through your lead trainers or other seasoned instructors.

Upon completion of the course, students will receive a certificate of attendance and a study pathway into the 11149NAT Certificate IV in Yoga Teaching. This will allow them to register as a yoga teacher with Yoga Australia.

How to choose a teacher training course?

When choosing a yoga teacher training program, it’s important to look for one that aligns with your personal goals and style. You should also consider the location and accommodation, and whether or not it offers cultural events or retreats that enhance your experience. It’s also worth checking whether or not the course is registered with a reputable body, such as Yoga Alliance or Yoga Australia.

Located in Sydney, Sukha Mukha Yoga has several different programs that range from 200 to 500 hours. This yoga training centre offers a flexible schedule and a combination of online and residential components, making it a good choice for aspiring teachers. It also offers a teacher assistantship and mentoring program, making it ideal for those looking to build confidence in their teaching skills. The course is priced at $3,700. It also includes a full certification for yoga instructors and first aid certification. Students can also register as a Yoga Alliance or Yoga Australia member upon completion of the program.

Accreditation

Australia’s pristine beaches, enchanting forests, and suitable weather make it an ideal yoga training perth destination. Most training courses include accommodations that range from shared dormitory rooms to upscale resorts, ensuring a comfortable environment for students. Some even offer unique accommodation options like glamping tents or eco-cabins, which encourage participants to connect deeply with nature.

In addition to a comprehensive training program, many Australian yoga schools offer specialized certifications, such as prenatal, trauma-informed, and kids’ yoga. These certifications allow students to teach specific populations, enhancing their teaching careers.

Byron Bay is a popular yoga teacher training location, known for its vibrant wellness community and stunning beaches. Its relaxed atmosphere encourages mindfulness and relaxation, allowing students to deepen their practice and develop confidence as teachers. Byron Bay is also home to several alternative healing practices, which further enhances the holistic experience of students.

Mentorship

Whether you learn through your instructor or your peers in the program, mentorship is one of the most valuable experiences of yoga training. Taking the time to listen to feedback, practice teaching, and share your experiences will mold you into a seasoned, sought-after yoga instructor.

This bespoke mentoring program is designed for teachers who wish to deepen their home yoga practice and understanding of the Iyengar method. This can be used as a

part of your teacher training or as CPD, with each session counting for 30 hours.

Yoga isn’t just about the physical postures, but also a holistic journey of selfdiscovery. Byron Bay, with its picturesque beaches and charming organic cafes, is an ideal location for yoga training Sydney. Many programs here incorporate eco-conscious practices and encourage participants to explore their surroundings with mindful awareness. They also often include yoga classes in local studios and parks. Some even provide transportation to and from the airport.

Post-graduation

If you want to teach yoga, you should look for a program that offers a combination of hands-on practice and learning the theory behind it. This way, you will be able to take your teaching skills to the next level. Body Mind Life’s teacher training programs will help you develop your personal yoga practice and transform into a skilled instructor.

This school has been offering yoga teacher training courses since 1988. They are known for their quality and offer a Certificate IV in Yoga Teaching. They also have courses in Melbourne, Sydney, and Byron bay. Their course is divided into three parts, the first of which starts six weeks before the residential part and focuses on self-study with Skype supervision, online exercises, books, and videos. The second part is a 12-day intensive of self-practice, and the third part encourages teachers to start teaching their public classes within 8 more days.

Most training programs include accommodation options that cater to different budgets and preferences. They often feature shared dormitory rooms to promote social interaction and community among participants. In addition, some programs offer unique accommodations like glamping tents and eco-cabins to further promote connection with nature.

[dancingnotes]

Acrobatic Classes and Workshops for Kids

Whether it’s walking on the tightrope or juggling, kids with an adventurous spirit can now develop circus skills at their local gym. Kids Circus Perth offers classes through the week and workshops in school holidays.

Weekly acrobatic classes perth are a fun, energetic and highly demanding sport that incorporates both ground and aerial stunts. Students must memorise complex routines and build strength, flexibility and balance.

Acrobatics

Acrobatics is a gymnastic-based dance that strengthens the body, helps with balance and flexibility. It also builds self-confidence and motor coordination. It’s often combined with other forms of creative movement, such as dance or cheerleading.

Acrobatic traditions are found in many cultures, including China, Egypt and Greece. Some acrobatic skills are rooted in martial arts, while others are used in performance art and circus acts. It was not until the late 19th century that acrobatics became a competitive sport, with the invention of the flying trapeze and Charles Blondin’s crossing of Niagara Falls on a tightrope.

The basics of acrobatics can be learned by anyone, ranging from beginner to advanced levels. These can include forward and backward rolls, cartwheels, limbers and beginner balances. The more advanced students learn partner lifts and stunts.

Aerials

Infinity Aerial Academy is showing the Morley neighbourhood that aerial arts are harder than it looks. They offer a range of aerial classes including silks, fusion, yoga, conditioning and all-rounders. Their instructors are all aerial artists, acrobats and allround dead-set legends. Their classes are fun and challenging, perfect for those who want to tone and sculpt while having the time of their life.

FlyGym Aerial Fitness offers a variety of classes to suit every skill level, age and body type. These classes combine traditional strength, endurance and power training with fluidity, stability, release and flexibility.

Aerials classes are a great way to build upper body and core strength while learning exciting tricks on trapeze, hoop, silks (aka lyra) and rope. These skills look stunning and appear effortless when you’ve conditioned your body properly.

Juggling

Juggling is a skill that requires tremendous dexterity. The basic technique involves throwing and catching objects in the air without them touching the ground. This includes toss juggling, where the objects are thrown straight up in the air, and bounce juggling, in which the object bounces off the ground before being tossed.

It has also been proven that juggling can help reduce stress and depression. The act of juggling increases blood flow, strengthens the brain’s cognitive pathways and improves concentration. It has even been linked to the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.

Acro Kids offers fun, energetic, non-competitive recreational gymnastics and parkour classes for babies to teens. Students learn acrobatic classes skills like handstands, cartwheels and flips in a safe and supportive environment. The program also teaches juggling, stilt walking and unicycle.

Unicycle

A unicycle is a single-wheel vehicle that requires balance and strength in ways that riding a bicycle does not. The rider can learn several tricks once basic riding is mastered. These include idle riding, turning (putting the arm of the direction they want to go behind them and the other in front of them), and jumping.

Unicycles come in a variety of sizes and are shaped differently. Some are rounded and symmetrical, while others are straight and padded. They are typically geared with one wheel and can be ridden in forward, backward, and even on one foot.

Beginners can learn to ride by standing beside a support and rocking back and forth until the pedals are about horizontal. They can then hop on with their dominant foot, and push down with the other.

Stiltwalking

Stilt walking is a fun and challenging way to exercise your body. It also helps build balance and coordination. However, you need to be very patient when learning this skill. Practice regularly and you’ll be amazed at the results!

Stilt walkers perform in parades, events, and street shows. They are usually dressed in costumes and perform dance routines or walk on stilts while turning. They can also sing or vogu. They may also play drums and cymbals.

When practicing on stilts, find an objective to reach and work towards it. Then, move on to more difficult terrains. For example, start on pavement and then progress to stairs that have railings or walls next to them. This will give you something to steady yourself against and prevent the tendency to turn without thinking.

[tamarayogaaustralia]

Established in 2004, Tamara Graham founded Tamara Yoga because she wanted to share her love for yoga with as many people as possible. Tamara Yoga is a warm, welcoming studio that hosts more than 40 classes each week which cater to a variety of skill levels and personalities. Additionally, Tamara has started training yoga teachers so together they could serve more people happiness and joy. Every teacher trained at Tamara Yoga is the best of the best and are recognised on a national and international scale. To learn more about Tamara Yoga, visit: https://tamarayoga.com/

[a-man-for-hire-and-his-archives]

Frances O'Connor: New drama The End shows death isn't 100 per cent serious

Frances O’Connor tackles euthanasia  in new Sky drama The End — but it wasn’t all dark

For Frances O’Connor, filming new Sky Atlantic series The End was a time of contrasts.

On the one hand, pre-set sea swims, morning yoga, shooting on beaches and boats off Australia’s Gold Coast. On the other, embarrassing sex scenes, hard-hitting euthanasia debates, and a rather more unusual health hazard of the job: getting stung by a bluebottle jellyfish mid-filming.

“The shoot was incredibly intense, but the beach helped,” the Aussie-English actress tells me over coffee at the Covent Garden Hotel, a year on from filming and now back at home with her husband and teenage son in north London.

She misses the heat: O’Connor, 52, grew up in Perth and her parents still live there, so spending four months back in the sun was “amazing” and helped to counterbalance the weightiness of the topics she and her cast-mates were grappling with: the right to die, transgender issues and dementia, to name a few.

The six-part series follows three generations of the same family and O’Connor plays middle-aged protagonist Dr Kate Brennan, a mother-of-two and palliative care specialist living on the Gold Coast. Euthanasia isn’t just a key topic in her field of work but also her family: her own mother Edie (Dame Harriet Walter) has tried to take her own life multiple times.

Episode one opens with Brennan shipping her mother out from England to live in a nearby retirement village and viewers quickly learn that’s not the only heavy storyline: the father of Brennan’s children is in jail, a dying patient has committed suicide under her care, and her child is going through gender reassignment surgery.

“It’s a lot,” O’Connor says, bluntly. “Sexually, too, she’s so screwed up. She’s got a lot of different relationships going on and gets involved with people she really shouldn’t.”

The role is the first time she’s played a doctor and many of the scenes were “pretty full-on”, she says, hinting at some particularly heavy scenes towards the end of the series. She says she struggled filming a “really bad death” where she has to “come in and fix things” in episode four. “We all hated shooting that scene.”

It wasn’t all stress and sadness on set, though: there was a lot of laughter during sex scenes — “they’re always embarrassing” — and O’Connor recalls one moment she and her cast-mates attempted a competency test for Alzheimer’s. “Half of us on set couldn’t do the maths,” she laughs.

On-screen too, the show is surprisingly funny, “because death isn’t 100 per cent serious”, says O’Connor. “It’s something that happens to all humans and usually there are moments of comic relief or funny things that happen right alongside these moments — so I think it’s important to represent that. It’s such a turn-off to be really serious about a subject that’s already serious.”

Has it changed the way she looks at topics such as euthanasia? O’Connor admits she feels “conflicted”. Speaking to medical professionals as research showed her how personal each case is but overall she supports the right to die, and she thinks co-star Walter, 69, brought the subject to life. “She’s so effortless and fun and naughty.”

The pair had never met before filming.   Her favourite scene was “this great sequence with Harriet, me and the two kids, we go for a hike and we end up on the beach and we all go screaming into the ocean. That was beautiful.”

Will she be watching it back with the family? “I’ve seen it once and that’s probably enough for me,” says O’Connor, admitting she hates watching herself. Her husband has watched it but her son Luka, 14, refuses because “he’s too embarrassed” and prefers coding. “He won’t watch anything I do”, she laughs.

Maybe that’ll change if his mother’s not the one on screen. Next, O’Connor says she wants to move into directing: she’s written a film about Emily Brontë that she’s hoping to direct next winter — that’s if The End doesn’t get in the way. “I feel like we’re really just starting to find our way with the characters so it would be fun to see what Sam [Strauss, the writer] comes up with,” says O’Connor. “I’d love to do a second trip. I’d do a second season just so I can get back on that beach!”

- Evening Standard

[unkindnessofone]

5SOS. Ice Cream

This story gets a touch smutty in the middle. Just a warning. It was fun to write, please enjoy and let me know what you think! This story takes place right after Primal & Primal 2

"I don't like this." Sounding like a little kid just put on a time out in the corner, Ashton muttered to Simone as he stuffed a small white plastic spoon into his dish of half eaten frozen yogurt. 

"Really?" Very concerned, Simone looked up at him. "Do you want to go back?" She stood still on the sidewalk for a moment, patting the phone in the pocket of her sweater as it had been buzzing all day. "We could switch. The hazelnut is quite nice." She offered up her dish to him, reaching it closer to his face.

"Not the frozen yogurt." He frowned and scooped himself up another bite of French vanilla with cookie crumbs. "This." He motioned to the walking couple ahead of them, Molly and Flynn, under the transforming sky. 

"Oh, come on, Ash." She huffed at him with a head shake. "I thought dinner was lovely." Somehow throughout their meal, Simone had slipped deeper into her most posh English accent. Ashton figured it was because Flynn practically interviewed her about what it was like to grow up in Maida Vale and some of her favourite old London haunts. 

Truthfully, Ashton couldn't really complain about dinner. His salmon was cooked to perfection, his wife didn't answer a single text, and Molly's partner came across as genuinely in awe of her. Most importantly, she was obviously happy. Ashton wasn't sure if he had ever seen his daughter beam before, but across from him at their corner table he saw her face radiate joyfully every time Flynn said her name or "Molls" as he had taken to calling her with great affection. He showed a plethora of interest in Ashton's latest musical adventures, Simone's company, and their son's current opening act gig. It was clear that Flynn had been raised in a house where manners reigned supreme. He shared with them, well Simone mostly, about his mother's Samoan background and learning to fish and play rugby with his Dad over in Perth. Ashton knew he should have been thrilled. His intelligent daughter had once again made an excellent choice for herself, but he wasn't happy at all. He had a cup full of frozen yogurt, but a pout that not even a picture of his beloved dogs could improve.

"They are so fond of each other. It's sweet. It's nice to see Molly branching out and dating." She never mingled much in high school. Her goals went beyond sexual attraction and beach dates like many of her fellow classmates. While Simone was always proud of how tenacious and focused her eldest was, she still wanted her to make connections and find a partnership somewhere. 

"I don't care for it." Like a grump, he snarled. Ashton was generally such a pro at finding the silver lining, but this felt like was walking through feet upon feet of fog. He stared with squinted eyes at the young couple ahead of them. He watched as Flynn tossed his cup out in a recycling bin they passed and then draped his oversized arm around Molly's shoulder. At dinner, he showed how gentle he was, but all Ashton's mind could do was strange a list of all the easy ways Flynn O'Malley could hurt his precious daughter.

"Exercise some trust. Molly's very smart." Playfully, Simone jabbed Ashton in his side. "Well, at least when she isn't tying herself up into trees, she is." Simone would be trying to make sense of that decision for a while. 

"I can trust her and not like something she is doing at the same time." Ashton liked being the only good guy in Molly's life as selfish and, perhaps, demented as that was. He knew kissing frogs and meeting new people was part of being a very young adult, but that didn't change how badly he wanted to keep her safe from how painful those novelties could be.

"You're right." Slipping her hand into Ashton's once they passed by the recycling bin and she had disposed of her litter, Simone bent. "My dad didn't like you at all in the beginning." However, Simone remembered feeling that at the time he also really didn't trust her because of that. 

"What?!" That was enough to pull Ashton away from painting a mental bullseye on Flynn's very chiseled back. "Arthur loves me!" He nearly shouted as he looked at his beautiful wife like she was spewing nonsense. 

"He didn't always." Frowning with a shrug, Simone practically swore. "He wanted me to focus on my business and saw a rockstar from Australia as a waste of time and reckless. He called you all kinds of horrible things." They were not impressed by what they collected about Ashton through online gossip. Her parents had always imagined she would take up with someone who was Eton educated and knew the difference between a salad fork and an entree fork. 

"Simmie, this is already a horrible day, why are you telling me this?" Very seriously, Ashton asked her. He always looked at her dad as a father figure to himself. He truly respected Simone's parents and had always strived to do right by their daughter. It was news to Ashton that for even a moment, Arthur Telford thought he was scum. 

"Because he knew you made me happy and that we were good together!" She continued. "I know your mother thought I was stuffy at first." 

"No, she didn't." Shaking his head, he insisted.

"She told me years ago that she did." Simone didn't mind in the slightest. "My point is that we don't get to pick who Molly and Connor take up with. We raised great people and we are going to love them through whatever choices they make even if they choose to tie themselves to trees or pine after Penelope Hemmings." 

Like she almost always was, Simone was right and Ashton knew it. It was just an adjustment that he hadn't arrived in Canberra ready for. He was still internally burning that she didn't rush into his arms and thank him for saving her. His hero complex that Molly always indulged was left unfufilled. 

"He flew from Gold Coast to be here. He missed a training day to be there for her." Sim leaned into Ashton as he squeezed her hand, smiling at her daughter up ahead as she caught a glimpse of her grinning at something Flynn said the way she used to on the way to the zoo. "Reminds me of an old boyfriend I had." She waited for Ashton to look down at her before grinning back up at him, not at all hiding how happy their memories made her. "Look past the rugby player physique and everything else, just to try to be happy that right now she's happy and is with someone who seems to think she is perfect." 

"Haven't we talked about this?" With his cup in only one hand, the contents inside mostly melted, Ashton tossed his arm around his wife's shoulder and let go of holding her hand. He craved her much closer. "You're not allowed to be right more than twice per conversation." Ashton didn't always find it so easy to admit that she was right and he was wrong. They had really come so far together and been through a whirlwind. 

He noticed Molly turn around and check on them and instead of scowling, Ashton just shot her a dorky thumbs up. He knew he and Simone had a healthy marriage, albeit strange, and he knew that Molly would not settle for less than what she deserved from people. He just had to get with the program and then everything would be okay. 

*****

For a girl who loved to be clean and carried around alcohol wipes and hand sanitizer in her purse, Simone wore her dirty hands proudly. Three was nothing quite like an afternoon tucked into her studio where she slipped into a work rabbit hole and fulfilled orders or new creative ideas rolling around in her mind. It took less than ten minutes each time for her fingers to be coated with black oil and shiny grey grime from widdling together her different jewelry pieces. 

She was concentrating so contently on creating one of her most beloved ring stacks, the Palisades, with ethically sourced diamonds over its usual peridots for a custom order that she hadn't noticed the sun had stopped floating through the window. It was almost ten o'clock and it took a terrifying thud against her front door followed by the bell ringing repeatedly to make her look up from her work and realize that she hadn't eaten since tea with her mother earlier in the day. 

She wasn't expecting guests, but Simone wiped her hands on the rag closest to her and checked her cell phone for any missed messages. There was only notifications for emails through her website. She didn't have any missed calls or texts, not even from Ashton, her best friend, or older brother or younger sister.  She hummed curiously to herself and kept trying to wipe at her filthy hands with the rag as she moved out of the spare bedroom that she had transformed into a studio and went to answer the door that was still being abused. 

She checked in her peep hole to see who in the Hell was making so much noise. Simone felt a even, but complicated mixture of relieved and worried when she saw Ashton on the other side. Was he okay? Why was he even here? Her mind raced as she hurried to unlock the chain on her door and then the deadbolt. Her internal monologue also contemplated how dreadful she currently felt. She had been fighting off a tickle of a sniffle for a couple days. She and Ashton had only been together a smattering of times and known one another for a few months, Simone realized this would be the first time he would see her without makeup on. She had on black yoga leggings and an oversized Chelsea FC tshirt on that had been gift from someone who didn't know her terribly well. Why couldn't he have come before when she was still in the business casual outfit she put together for tea? 

"I'm about to open the door." Holding the knob, Simone informed him. He was knocking with one fist so frantically that she felt confident he would fly forward and crash into her if she just swung it open.  Once the banging ceased, she pulled it open and revealed herself in all her casual glory. 

Ashton stood nervous in front of her, anxiety and exhaustion slicked over his face, but he looked like he was melting as his smile brightened and eyes softened at the sight of her. Simone didn't realize, but her cheeks began to hurt from grinning as hard as she could when she saw him. It took her a handful of seconds to realize that his non-knocking hand was holding a bouquet of autumn hues as it was just October as of two days ago. The sunflowers, coral roses, and orange alstroemeria shone brightly in his hand. It was bizarre that she had noticed his toothy nervous smile first. 

"I thought you were in Canada or something." Simone relaxed and shared. She was in the middle of stepping out of the way when she heard Ashton take a huge deep breath. She looked up just in time to spot his face right in front of hers, coming forward in one single motion to kiss her madly. He was like a sailor back home after being away for months at a time. The brown paper holding the flowers crinkled against her back as they moved deeper into her flat, their lips never parting as their hands gripped at one another's shirts. Behind Ashton, her front door slammed, but it was practically distant background noise to him.

"I don't want to be away from you anymore." His forehead leaned against hers and Ashton took his first breath away from her mouth to admit that. She was occupying all his thoughts in a way that nothing besides music and boobs had before. He always wanted to check in with her, he didn't like ending his day without hearing how hers was going first, and he had started considering how she would feel before he did just about anything that wasn't playing the drums, signing autographs, or taking his morning piss. She had devoured his thoughts despite rarely getting to spend more than a couple days together at a time. They were casual thanks to the travel aspect of his career, but he wanted so much more from the jewelry designer.   

"As soon as the show was done, I hopped on a plane and flew here." He explained, laughing in his uneven breath at how crazy the last seven hours had been. Ashton truly didn't know what time it was anywhere. "I missed you, Sim." He sighed and kissed her again. "Oh shit, I brought you flowers." He had picked them up from Heathrow as soon as he landed, wishing he had brought all the small things he had picked up along his travels for her. Ashton fisted them forward, making them the only thing between their bodies.

"Thank you." For the first time, Simone looked away from his engaging stare and took in the bouquet he picked, breathing in the scent and admiring the colours. It made her long for a Sunday roast with some kind of spiced pie, but she kept that to herself. "You could have just called." Shaking her head at him, Simone tried to inform him of what he already knew. She slinked away from him in order to rest the flowers on the black coffee table. "You didn't have to fly all this way -" With his schedule, she knew they probably only had a handful of hours together.

"Then I couldn't do this." From behind, Ashton wrapped his arm around her waist and turned her to face him. In one swift movement, he indulged the adrenaline that forged ahead of his exhaustion and picked her up so her legs wrapped around him. Her delighted gasp only made him feel more encouraged as he walked them both into her immaculately kept mostly white with some champagne tones bedroom. His mouth was stretched open on her neck the whole eleven steps in before he dropped her off somewhat in the bed's center.

The two of them had slept together before, just a handful of times. Ashton had felt surprised by how sexual Simone was. He had expected a good girl who would be repulsed by some of the positions he liked best or even his darker fantasies, but she really was his match. In some ways, she was his match with better stamina. She encouraged his fingers to dig in deeper, for his hands to push her into the bed harder, and for his mouth to call her a bevy of names that he would never associate with her outside of the bedroom. Ashton had finished himself off more times than he could count at the memory of perfectly polished London girl removing her red skin tight La Perla  thong and then stuffing into his mouth before going down on him. While Ashton loved that she was just as turned on by rough sex as he was, he had something else in mind. Simone had long since stopped being a woman he was infatuated with. He had finally given up on the notion that she was too good for him and would soon catch onto that. Ashton knew that he was so deeply in love with her that he was almost drowning. He wanted her to know that now. 

Simone inched up the bed, searching without looking for pillow, as Ashton climbed onto the mattress and followed her. He leaned in over her and inhaled deeply right above her hips before running both his palms over her legging covered thighs.

"You smell like home." He told her in a longing moan before he started to peel off her bottoms, bringing her black underwear from Primark with them. She felt so desired that she could have been wearing a hospital gown and felt sexy. Ashton's hands had a way of making her feel like she was the most important person in the room. His thumbs pushed into her thighs and he used his grip to push her legs back, bringing her bare knees to her stomach. He took his hands off of her long enough to fish his arms out of the sleeves of his denim button up and then pulled his white undershirt over his plane hair. Ashton's hands returned to under her thighs, holding her legs back before he pushed himself in and kissed her warm pussy just as he had kissed her upon arrival. Ashton had every intention of going slow, nibbling around her legs and teasing her entrance with long licks and rubbing at her small clit with two fingers the way he knew she couldn't help, but love. Once he saw her revealed to him, he couldn't control himself. He just had to devour her like she was his first real meal in days. Ashton practically sucked at her walls before sliding one finger in, curling it upward and grinning proudly into her as he felt her tighten and ass come closer. She was whispering his name up to the ceiling fan and Ashton knew she liked it. He let her stretch out her legs before running his free hand over her vulva. He thought it was so cute that even though they hadn't been around one another in almost a month, she still kept herself trimmed and tidied for herself. A small strip of hair right above where her clit was hiding. There was nothing he didn't notice about her from her patch of freckles under her belly button, to the way her whispers moved into slurs when he lapped at the bottom of her opening, to how she said she liked one sugar in her tea and didn't seem to notice she always put in two packets. Ashton could pen a book about the jeweller and, right now, he was using his tongue to write it inside of her. 

"Baby, let me look after you." She struggled for a second and then hoisted herself up on her elbows, watching him as he dedicated his jaw to her pussy. She had been amused before, but now he had her dripping wet and sparkling off of his stubbly chin. "I want you in my mouth." It wasn't so much about returning the favor. Simone just liked hollowing out her cheeks to fit him. It made her feel powerful to work him with her tongue and lips, to have lose himself just because of the way she flicked at his tip over and over like a hungry orphaned kitten. Besides, he had flown all the way there. A blowjob seemed like the least she could do despite how much she wanted to.

"Soon enough, babe." He moaned between her lips before raising himself up and crawling over top of her. Ashton snaked up her shirt with both hands to help it over her head. He had noticed when she opened her door that she wasn't wearing a bra, but he appreciated it more so now as he had full access of his favourite parts of her to fondle. "I'm going to have you on your stomach," he growled into her ear before sucking on the top of the line, feeling the shivers it always created suddenly grow from her skin. "And on your sides and with your face against the window above your bed," Ashton rattled off all the places he was going to take her tonight, each position. They didn't have a lot of time and he would make the most of what they did have. "I want to be sure you can still feel me when I see you again." It was supposed to be in another week and a half, but he seriously doubted he could make it that long.

"That better be a promise, Ashton Irwin." Her head had been turned on the pillow to better hear every word he was saying and feel every kiss he put on her cheek, jaw, clavicle, and now over her erect nipple. At the sound of words and the way she fidgeted her chest. He bit down on he left breast and didn't let go until after her gasp had disappeared in the room. 

As Ashton moved back down, squeezing her sides slowly and kissing her hip bones as he did, Simone forgot all about her dirty fingers and reached down to grip his hair and play in the near-curly locks as he went back to his very private conversation with her pussy.

****************************

Ashton could have slept right away afterwards. The thrill of seeing Simmie fled his body when he finally released his load and now he was struggling to keep his eyes open under her covers. His body was used to five star hotel beds by now, but her mattress was plenty comfortable for him. She had memory foam and he swore it could recall the shape they took together cuddling on their sides the few times he had managed to stay over before. Simone was reinvigorated with energy and inspiration. Ashton had made her cum three times, the final blowout along with him which felt intense and ardent, and now she could invest herself in a home renovation or attend an exercise boot camp. Instead, she walked through her apartment naked and went to make tea for their afterglow as well as find a vase and water for the flowers he brought her. Simone entered the room again with the flowers in front of her face, placing them down on the window sill behind the headboard of her bed. She glanced down at Ashton's most sleepy face, fighting with himself to keep his eyes partially open.

“I'm a fan of this.” In a low tone, he told her as her breasts hung in his face. She wished they could be perkier, but at the end of the day, she was quite happy with her  body and all it's dimensions and surprises. Simone had a beyond healthy dose of self confidence and it was, perhaps, the most appealing thing about her. Ashton also loved the way she could talk to anyone, handled her business, and could make any curse word sound like a compliment.

“How much time do we have?” She slid down under the covers that he opened for her and let him move in to rest his head on her bare chest. It felt better than any feather pillow ever could. Instinctively, she combed at his hair with three fingers and stared off at her wall, bare since she had moved her whiteboard, bulletin board of inspiration and thank you cards, and her most recent family portrait into her office. Ashton's eyes were shut as he breathed in the smell of her sweet hair mist her hair fallen around her shoulders.

“I have a flight at about 4 in the morning.” He had wanted her, no, required her so badly before that he hadn't wanted to mention it and cloud their time together with a ticking clock. “We have a show in Calgary.”

“Well, this was a very nice surprise.” She nodded and chose to look on the bright side. He was her with her right now.

“I'm in love with you, Sim.” He yawned, turning to make himself more comfortable and sandwiching his face between her breasts.

“I know. You said so about three times during sex.” She giggled freely and kissed the top of his head. While things were moving fast, she understood that this was novel ground for them both. “I'm quite crazy about you as well.” Simone rested her cheek onto the top of his head.

“That's good enough for me.” Ashton yawned again. “It doesn't change the fact that I'm going to marry you very soon, we're going to have five kids, two dogs, and a place here, in Sydney, and probably one more. You do a lot of work in New York, right?”

Simone had to tell herself not to howl with laughter. Ashton was taking being adorable while being sleepy to a whole different place.

“Well, where's my ring?” Playing along, Simone asked with her face still squished against the top of his head.

“I've looked.” He admitted openly through his drowsiness. It was fast, all his friends thought so, but Ashton knew that it was her for him. He didn't care that it would be the last beautiful girl he ever bedded or that it would change his life entirely. In fact, with her, that was what he wanted. “It's very hard to find a ring when the girl you want to marry designs jewelry.” She was always wearing her own creations and he couldn't exactly blame her. She was talented and her pieces were in demand.

“Well, you could just design something and I could make it.” Sweetly, Simone suggested.

“Maybe.” Ashton yawned and blew his warm breath against her right breasts before sinking deeper into sleep. The battle to stay awake was barely being fought anymore. “I've never designed a ring before.” His mind did have plenty of ideas to create from though. They always had that in common: their endless creativity.

“Just rest, darling.” She sat up a touch straighter and kissed the top of his head. “Wait, Ash?”

“Hm?”

“I love you too.” She decided now was the right time to say it. It was what she was feeling. He was the reason she was being bubblier than usual. He was the one she anticipated talking to every day. He was the joy between a frustrating meeting or phone call.

In response, Ashton wrapped his arms around her stomach like she was a body pillow and kissed her breast, softer than before.

Simone knew the kettle was going to start whistling in her kitchen soon, but she was trapped under Ashton and she didn't want to move.

[oliverphisher]

James Foley

Brobot (S. Tinker Inc) By James Foley

James Foley is a children’s author and illustrator. He makes picture books, junior fiction and graphic novels. He is in high demand for talks and workshops in schools and libraries across Australia. He comes from a long line of queuing enthusiasts. He lives in Perth with his wife, son and labrador.

James Foley makes picture books, middle grade novels and comics for kids. He’s the author/illustrator of the S.Tinker Inc graphic novel series for middle primary: Brobot (2016), Dungzilla (2017) and Gastronauts (2018) star Sally Tinker, the world’s foremost inventor under the age of twelve, and Joe Tinker, her stinky baby brother. James also illustrated Toffle Towers (2019), written by Tim Harris, and Total Quack Up (2018), an anthology of funny short stories with proceeds going to charity. James’ earlier books My Dead Bunny (2015) In The Lion (2012), The Last Viking (2011) and The Last Viking Returns (2014) have all scored several honours, including children’s choice awards, shortlistings in the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year awards, and selection to the International Youth Library’s White Raven list.

What are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life?

The Artists’ Way, by Julia Cameron

The Artist's Way: 25th Anniversary Edition By Julia Cameron

Roland Harvey’s Drawing Book, by Roland Harvey

Roland Harvey's Drawing Book (Young Designer Series) By Roland Harvey

The Eleventh Hour, by Graeme Base

The Eleventh Hour: A Curious Mystery By Graeme Base

What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last six months (or in recent memory)?

It’s not related to writing or illustrating in any way ... my wife and I recently bought some reusable produce bags to replace the soft little plastic bags you use at the shops to put fruit or veggies in. They’re made from recycled plastic bottles too so they’re extra good for the environment. We also bought some bulk produce bags so we can go to our local whole food shop and buy bulk of rice, oats and other things we’d usually have to buy in little plastic bags at the supermarket. It’s reduced our plastic consumption A LOT and that’s making us feel a bit better about our impact on the environment.

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?

I first submitted illustration samples to publishers when I was around 20 years old. I didn’t get any invitations to illustrate books back then; my work wasn’t up to a professional standard yet, and I wasn’t ready mentally or emotionally either. But I did have one publisher who liked one of the images I’d pulled together, and they said they’d keep it on file. Nothing ever came of it, but that one little bit of encouragement was enough for me to keep going.

I was working on a picture book idea around that time too; I had character designs and a theme … but the story wasn’t working. 7 years later, I got my first publishing contract. The story had the same theme as the one I’d been working on way back when, and my old character design was definitely applicable. In fact a whole bunch of different little sketches that I’d just been doing for fun ended up finding their way into that first book. It was as if I had been working towards that first published book without knowing it.

Are there any quotes you think of often or live your life by?

There’s one that’s (supposedly) from Confucius that I’ve had written on a post-it on my computer for a long time: “Man on hill with mouth open wait long time for roast duck to drop in.”

What is one of the best investment in a writing resource you’ve ever made?

It was an illustrating resource, and it was my first graphics tablet: a Wacom intuos 3. I bought it back in 2006 and it served me well for a decade of making illustrations; I illustrated my first four books with it. It still works, too!

What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love?

I’ve collected the ticket stub from every movie I’ve seen since 1994. The first in the pile is Independence Day, which I saw with some high school classmates after class one day.

In the last five years, what new belief, behaviour, or habit has most improved your life?

I had a near-death experience in 2016; I was in a major car accident. It could have gone really badly but somehow I emerged unscathed. That gave me a clear sense of my own mortality for the first time, and has changed the way I look at my life and work immensely. I recommend a non-injurious near-death experience to everyone! I also got married and had a son in the last three years, so that’s changed my outlook again.

What advice would you give to a smart, driven aspiring author? What advice should they ignore?

You don’t need to submit things straight away. You don’t need to get published straight away, and you shouldn’t expect to. It’s important that you get knocked back a few times. It’s extremely likely you’ll get knocked back a lot of times. The knockbacks and the constructive criticism will help you develop your craft and get your work up to a publishable standard. Take on the feedback that you truly feels rings true (because sometimes you will get positive constructive criticism from people who really get what you’re trying to do and see the potential in it); ignore the feedback that doesn’t really click or seems petty or mean (because sometimes you will get discouraging feedback from people who just don’t get what you’re trying to do). For this to work though, you need to be willing to take on feedback in the first place, and that’s absolutely vital. I see lots of people who are overconfident in their ability, and react very badly when given feedback that contradicts that belief. You need to be confident in your ability to put in the work of course, but also humble, as you have a lot to learn, and you will never stop learning.

What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession often?

Sometimes people say, submit your manuscript to one publisher at a time. That’s terrible advice! You will be waiting months and months to hear back from a publisher, if you ever hear back from them at all. The better thing to do is send to multiple publishers at once, and mention in your cover letter that this is what you've done. That way all the publishers know what the deal is, and they can contact you to check if the manuscript is still available before they start putting time and effort into reading it and considering it at their meetings in-house.

In the last five years, what have you become better at saying no to (distractions, invitations, etc.)?

Having a toddler means my wife and I have very little free time, so we’ve both had to become better at saying no to things; I think I still need to learn the lesson on a regular basis! It’s always a balancing act between work and home life; and within work, there’s a balance between spending time on the next book/s, spending time doing paid talks and workshops; getting admin done; and doing the other unpaid things that pop up (volunteer opportunities, media and promotional events, etc).

What marketing tactics should authors avoid?

On social media, don’t just talk about yourself all the time, and don’t just talk about your book all the time. You can share things that interest you, share reviews of what you’re reading, even just share a photo of your dog - social media is about being social, not just hammering people with advertisements and saying ME ME ME.

What new realizations and/or approaches have helped you achieve your goals?

I’ve gotten better at time management and networking, and I’m learning to draw quicker too; these are things that I guess anyone develops with practice. It’s meant I’ve been able to work on more projects at once, though I definitely bit off more than I could chew this year, so I’ve also realised that there’s a limit to how many goals one can realistically work towards at any one time. This year I’m illustrating three middle grade novels (the first is called Toffle Towers: Fully Booked, written by Tim Harris); I’ve also illustrated the follow-up picture book to My Dead Bunny, which will be out in 2020; I’m also working on a bunch of freelance jobs, and starting another graphic novel and developing some picture book ideas. So it’s all go at the moment.

I’m also finding that the sleep deprivation of having a toddler is really affecting everything in my life - my immune system, my energy levels, and of course my mental health and my work - EVERYTHING. So I’m becoming more health conscious, and realising I have to set aside time for naps, exercise, and just plain old downtime. If you don’t make time for rest and exercise then you’ll have to make time for ill health later.

When you feel overwhelmed or have lost your focus temporarily, what do you do?

Procrastinate. But I’m getting better at recognising when I’m in this state and I step away from the desk and do something else. That might be some deep breathing or some yoga stretches, or some mindless chores around the house.

Sometimes I’m overwhelmed because there’s too many things to do, so I’ll make a list. I’ll look at all the tasks and the time I have, and I’ll prioritise what needs to happen and when. Once I have a plan then I feel more in control and can calm down a bit - then I can get on with each task in turn.

Any other tips?

I’ve got a whole bunch of tips on my website at https://ift.tt/3dZDfr1

________

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source https://www.thecommunitywriter.com/blog/james-foley

[wanderingwollongong]

L I K E   A   S T O N E

YOU never know who you’ll meet on a train.

As I embark the quiet carriage from Redfern to Wollongong at 11pm, I am suddenly drawn to an elderly couple with two large suitcases taking up extra seats.

The white-haired lady smiles warmly, squeezes her husband’s hand and falls asleep on his shoulder.

Soon after I nod off, and when I wake they are both fast asleep with their mouths gaping open.

I feel an urge to take a photo. Instead I close my eyes.

When I get off the train, the lady and I exchange smiles again, and that’s that.

A week later I catch the 4:36am train from Wollongong to Redfern, and who should I see on the platform but the same couple saying goodbye to a person I assume is their 30-something year old son.

I wave. They wave back.

We’ve never spoken a word, but we are friends already.

The chatter is instantaneous as we board the quiet carriage.

Ten minutes into the conversation we elect to change to a talking carriage.

It’s not even 5am and we can’t shut up.

Cav and Val O’Mealley fell in love on a blind date – Cav was a trainee teacher and Val a trainee nurse in Armadale, a suburb in Perth.

Now 54 years married, their connection is a joy to behold.

When Cav speaks, Val listens and squeezes his hand. Cav does the same.

If soul mates exist, these two are just that.

The couple used to live local and ran The Open Hearth Hotel, “a real workingmen’s bar” in Warrawong, a suburb of Wollongong in the Illawarra.

Come the 90s they knew it was time to move.

They shifted to Evans Head, over 700km north of Sydney, in the Northern Rivers Region of NSW.

“It’s the most beautiful place in the world,” says Val.

They come to Wollongong a couple of times a year to see one of their five children, Michael, and his two sons of five and three.

They catch the train all the way here. A long ride, even for these fit-looking 77-year-olds.

Cav and Val are lapidarists.

A lapidary or lapidarist is an artist who makes decorative items from stones, minerals, and gems using the techniques of cutting, grinding and polishing.

They sell their creations in Gemtree, north of Alice Springs, and at a store in Sapphire in Central Queensland.

For two to three months of the year they go bush, digging up garnets in Fullatin River, a mountain dotted with red gem stones. They then go 130km south to Agate Creek to fossick for the “prettiest quartz in the world”.

“When the rains come down, they wash them all out. It’s absolutely beautiful out there,” says Cav.

A community of like-minded Aussies do this annually.

Each group of fossickers will camp up in a specific place that is close to water and safe for camp fires, about half a kilometre apart from one another.

From the Earth’s stones Cav and Val make dinky gem trees from labradorite amethysts and decorate emu eggs, which they sell at the Sapphire Markets purely for the love of it.

Val digs them up and Cav carves them into shape.

Val says their kids insist they should have a website to sell their creations, but they can’t keep up with the demand as is.

“Basically we love fossicking,” says Val.

“But when you find something you have to do something with it, so Cav facets and I make things, and then you have to get rid of them otherwise they start to accumulate.”

For the 80-minute train ride, the conversation never stops with these two gems.

We share stories about our families, work, theories on water divining, the healing nature of stones and crystals, post-traumatic stress disorder, sleep disorders, plant medicine, yoga, and mortality.

We go deep quickly.

“I see many people my age spending most of their free time at the RSL (Returned Servicemen’s League) drinking and playing the pokies,” says Val. 

“We don’t have time for that.”

As the years roll by the couple are in no hurry to slow down, always seeking sweetness and adventure.

They have just organised their first overseas trip – “New Zealand doesn’t count, it’s part of Australia,” they joke.

Almost 80 years old and they’re off to Europe and England.

Cav and Val say the hardest thing about getting older is deleting friends’ names from their phone book.

Val squeezes Cav’s hand extra-long to accentuate the point.

The heart melts.

The paradoxical unity of falling madly in love with your favourite person in the world, and knowing you will lose them one day to death or separation balances the sweetness and bitterness of such a union.

Val and Cav are a reminder that as far as we know “there is no always forever… just this”.

So live, love, follow your joy, be adventurous and kind with every fibre of your beautiful and divine human-being.

[foggyinjapan-blog]

26th Oct. Lazy Sunday

Woke up this morning, I suddenly realized, we're all in this together; I started smiling, cos you were smiling, and were all in this together.

I love waking up singing a banger!

So last night was a Netflix and Chuhai night. I only drank 2 and I was PISSED! They are so ridiculously alcoholic haha! I bought more today just in case.

The weather outside is bloody miserable. It's raining so much and I don't have any food for breakfast. The only mode of transport I have is my bike or to go by foot and there is no way I'm doing that right now. I get dressed and make myself look half respectable because I might go to a temple after I eat. I'm googling cafes in the area because I want to eat out and I'm in treat yo-self mode! There’s a really nice one about 20 minutes ride away, perfect!

I walk out the door and grab one of the umbrellas that is provided with the accommodation. There’s 1 left hazar! I open it and it's a kids umbrella... “this ain't gonna keep any adult dry and shit, it's really coming down out there...” no worries though, I'll just head to the convenience store and buy my own! I jump on my bike with my kids umbrella over my head. I get 20 metres down the road and the bastard turns inside-out on me... What the fuck!! This umbrella is useless, no wonder it was the last one! I put the umbrella down and cruise on down to Family Mart (the convenience store). About a quarter of the way there I realise that I am absolutely saturated, my jeans are probably going to take a week to dry... maybe the cafe isn’t a good idea. I make it to Family Mart and I am soaked. Not having fun. Maybe today should be a lazy Sunday! Great idea! I gather some coffee, some bakery goods, bananas and a stupid umbrella!! The total is $40... how?! Whatever get me home.

I make it home and it literally looks like I've lost a competition where the contestant gets dropped in a pool of water if they get a question wrong. The question was 'should I go out today?' I answered "yes" but I was wrong. The answer was "fuck no, stay indoors!!"... So chill out day for me I think. Coffee, yoga, squats, learn some Japanese and “relaxation station” in the common area.

The rain finally calms down at around 7pm and I head out for dinner to a Japanese style steak restaurant called Itadaki. Itadakimasu translates to let’s eat! This is my first sit down dinner by myself in a proper restaurant since being here. I don't know what to do. Do I look around or go on my phone? I don't want to be rude. I order food and definitely wine please!!

The food was pretty quick to come out, but not quick enough because I had already finished my wine. The girl looked surprised when I ordered another one. Maybe don't pour me a half glass then! (I miss party glasses from The Pan in Falls Creek! A party glass is a very full glass of wine by the way!) On the plate was the Japanese beef with rice, miso, salad and soy sauce. The beef was a bit fattier than I thought it would be but fuck me it was delicious. I had to carefully eat everything in the right order so the last bite I had was the best bit of beef! The salad was basic but topped with the tastiest satay sauce ever! The food was amazing and I'm noticing my chop stick skills are getting fucking good! What a treat. The restaurant was playing reggae music which I thought was... different... they advertise an American infused Japanese steak restaurant and play reggae. Haha perfect! I'm feeling adventurous so I try some wasabi with my rice "not so bad". The next time I tried a little bit more and wholey shit yep, I hate wasabi. It was fine at the start but now it's gone up to my nose and my sinus, and is it possible for your sinus to explode from a paste? I feel like a dragon, I need wine stat! Do you know how hard it is to play it cool when you're by yourself?? Very! I had a stop over in Perth last year and I had to kill some time before my next flight so I decided to go to the cinema. “What a great idea!” I hated it dearly. There were so many parts in the movie where I jumped or squeeled and no one was there to laugh with/at me... what a mess and never again!

After dinner I head around to the bakery and get some dessert. Treat yo-self mode is in full swing. I'm looking at the cakes and they all look so amazing with fine attention to detail. All the signs are in Japanese so I put my learning from earlier today to the test. I managed to understand a majority of the signs! Stoked!! I picked up a chocolate mousse cake and rode home.

It feels so good being able to understand some Japanese!! It used to just look like a bunch of lines but look at me now!!

[shannrussell-blog1]

Spending summer at the beach (or river) is about as Australian as you can get. So, we thought we’d put together a short list of tips so you can get the most fun out of your next trip to the beach.

1. Invest in a beach shade

Spending a whole day at the beach in the sun can be taxing on the old body. There is only so much relief the odd dunk in the water can provide. And considering there are only a few shady trees on most beaches (few of us splash on tropical islands in the shade of coconut trees), shade must be brought to you.

The humble beach shade is a game changer. Available in pop-up tent and gazebo and umbrella styles, and Moana-style V/L configurations, there is a beach shade to suit all conditions and even the biggest of families. The main benefit of a sun shelter is that it blocks out the sun. Some will just act as a shade, others go further and offer UPF50+ protection.

But beach sunshades are no one-trick pony. They also provide wind protection and privacy from the hoards of other beachgoers. And their use isn’t to be restricted to just the seaside. Take your shelter on your next picnic, to watch your favourite team over the weekend, even set it up in the backyard for extra outdoor shelter at your next Sunday BBQ.

They also provide wind protection and privacy from the hoards of other people. And their use isn’t to be restricted to just the seaside. Take your shelter on your next picnic, to watch your favourite team on the weekend, even set it up in the backyard for extra outdoor shelter at your next Sunday BBQ.

A beach shade is a must-have for staying cool and protected in summer. Image: Hollie & Harrie

2. Slip! Slop! Slap!

Speaking of sun protection: slipping, slopping, and slapping not only protects you and your family from the risks of skin cancer but the painful effects of sunburn. Summer is about enjoying the outdoors and the beach – the last thing you want is a horrible bout of sunburn. What a dampener that would be!

3. Go to a less popular beach

Australia is known for its beach culture. Sydney has Bondi. Adelaide has Glenelg. Melbourne has St Kilda. Perth has Cottesloe. As soon as the temperature slips above 30, these beaches are a hive of activity – you’ll struggle to find a spot for your towel let alone some shade. That’s why, at the height of summer, heading to a less popular beach can be the key to summertime enjoyment.

Be mindful when selecting a beach that it may not be patrolled by surf lifesavers. Surf Life Saving Australia has a great tool on their website called Beachsafe, which allows you to search Australia-wide and set it to only show beaches that are patrolled by lifesavers. It also provides information as to the best part of the beach to paddle in, amenities (cafes, toilets, etc.), surf conditions, and whether it’s a good spot to cast a line as well.

Even at some lesser known beaches parking can be tricky. Get in early so you score a good park and put a positive spin on the walk from the car to the beach. Make the most of the walk among the fancy beachside mansions that seem to stand over most Australian beaches these days. You might just spot your dream home!

Beachsafe by Surf Life Saving Australia is a great tool to use. Image: Beachsafe

4. Take good food and drinks

Food at beachside kiosks can be expensive, poor quality, and really bad for you. Rather than spending your hard earned cash on fish and chips, consider taking your own food and drinks. And have some fun with it – turn your next beach trip into the ultimate picnic!

Don’t forget to take an insulated picnic bag or cooler with you to keep your nosh cool and fresh.

5. Take toys and games for the kids

Kids have short attention spans. Keep them entertained by having a range of activities and things for them to do at the ready. Pack a snorkel, a boogie board, the beach cricket set, some colouring in books, even a deck or two of cards (fun for the adults too).

Going to the beach isn’t all about swimming and sunbathing. Enjoy the time outdoors and vary up your activities. And don’t forget to pack a book!

Get everyone off their phones with a round of beach cricket. Just remember to Slip! Slop, Slap! Image: Sunshine Coast Australia

6. Be prepared

Seems this tip pops up in all aspects of life, doesn’t it? There must be something in it. Being prepared can be the difference between having an alright time and having a ripper beach trip!

Have a list, check it twice, and organise your gear in advance. Sure, a trip down to the beach for the afternoon doesn’t need military planning. But remembering to pack the bottle opener or sunscreen can have an effect on how much you enjoy your time.

If you anticipate long walks between the car and the beach, make sure you choose light, easy to carry gear. Rather than a large icebox, consider an IceMule bag or wheeled style cooler. Instead of an awkward-to-cart beach shelter, consider something that comes in a small, easy to carry ‘yoga style’ bag like the Caribee Guardian UV Beach Shelter.

If you want to head to the beach more often, build a small kit of the gear you’ll need and store it all together in an accessible spot in the spare room or shed. This way you can just grab it and run out the door when the weather is just right.

  How do you like to have fun at the beach when the weather is warm? 

The post 6 Tips for Having More Fun at the Beach this Summer appeared first on Snowys Blog.

[physzen964]

The Benefits of Yoga for Kids in Perth: Exploring Yoga and Mindfulness Incursions with Phys Zen

Yoga is more than just a fitness practice for adults; it is increasingly recognized for its numerous benefits for children as well. In Perth, the popularity of yoga for kids has been steadily growing, as parents and educators alike realize the positive impact it has on children's physical, mental, and emotional development. One company that is leading the way in introducing children to the practice of yoga is Phys Zen. Through their specialized programs, such as "Yoga for Kids Perth" and "Yoga and Mindfulness Incursions," they are helping children develop essential skills for life, all while having fun.

In this article, we will delve into why yoga for kids is essential, the benefits it provides, and how Phys Zen is making yoga and mindfulness more accessible through its innovative incursions.

Understanding Yoga for Kids in Perth

Yoga is an ancient practice that combines physical postures, breathing exercises, and mindfulness techniques. Traditionally practiced by adults, it has now been adapted to suit children’s needs. "Yoga for Kids Perth" is a program designed specifically to engage young learners in a child-friendly version of yoga that focuses on building strength, flexibility, coordination, and mindfulness. These programs have become a key part of the wellness offerings in schools, community centers, and local studios across Perth.

When children practice yoga, they learn to connect with their bodies in a way that promotes both physical health and mental clarity. By incorporating elements of play, imagination, and storytelling, yoga instructors can make these sessions engaging and fun for young participants.

The Benefits of Yoga for Kids

The practice of yoga has several unique benefits for children that can positively impact various aspects of their development:

Physical Health and Fitness: Yoga enhances flexibility, strength, and balance in children. By practicing various poses, children can improve their motor skills, which is essential as they grow and engage in other physical activities like sports. Moreover, it helps in improving posture and alignment.

Mental Focus and Concentration: Yoga encourages mindfulness, which is the practice of paying attention to the present moment without judgment. This ability to focus is vital for children's cognitive development, helping them concentrate better at school and during other activities. Regular yoga practice has been shown to improve attention span and memory in children.

Emotional Regulation: Kids often struggle to manage their emotions, especially when feeling overwhelmed or stressed. Yoga helps them develop tools for emotional regulation through deep breathing exercises and mindfulness practices. These techniques can help children manage anxiety, anger, and frustration more effectively.

Stress Reduction: In today’s fast-paced world, even children are feeling the effects of stress and pressure. Yoga helps kids learn to relax and unwind by connecting to their breath and practicing slow, mindful movements. This practice can be particularly helpful for children who face high-stress levels in school or in their social environments.

Social Skills and Teamwork: When children practice yoga in a group setting, they also learn valuable social skills. Yoga classes often incorporate partner poses and group activities, promoting collaboration, communication, and respect for others. These social interactions are vital for the development of empathy and cooperation among peers.

Confidence Building: As children progress in their yoga practice, they gain confidence by learning new poses and achieving personal milestones. Whether it’s mastering a balancing pose or simply participating in a group session, yoga offers children a sense of accomplishment that boosts their self-esteem.

Yoga and Mindfulness Incursions with Phys Zen

One of the most innovative ways to introduce children to yoga is through "Yoga and Mindfulness Incursions," such as the programs offered by Phys Zen. These incursions are designed to bring the practice of yoga directly to schools, childcare centers, and other educational institutions in Perth. Instead of parents needing to find an outside studio, Phys Zen makes it possible for kids to experience yoga in the comfort of their own learning environments.

But what exactly is an incursion? An incursion is an educational program that comes to a school or community group to provide a learning experience without the children needing to leave their premises. With a focus on wellness, the yoga and mindfulness incursions offered by Phys Zen are a fantastic way to introduce kids to the calming and restorative benefits of yoga and mindfulness practices, often with little disruption to the regular school day.

These incursions typically include a combination of:

Yoga Sessions: Experienced instructors guide children through fun and interactive yoga poses, helping them explore movement in a way that is both playful and beneficial for their bodies.

Mindfulness Activities: Phys Zen’s incursions incorporate mindfulness techniques such as breathing exercises, visualization, and body scans. These practices help children develop an awareness of their thoughts and feelings, teaching them to stay calm and focused.

Thematic Lessons: Often, the lessons are themed around various topics like nature, animals, or specific emotions. This makes the sessions more engaging for children, helping them connect with the practice on a deeper level.

Personal Growth: With consistent exposure to yoga and mindfulness, children learn skills that will benefit them for a lifetime, such as emotional resilience, improved focus, and a sense of inner peace.

Why Choose Phys Zen for Yoga and Mindfulness Incursions?

Phys Zen is a standout in Perth when it comes to providing yoga and mindfulness programs for children. Here are just a few reasons why:

Qualified Instructors: The team at Phys Zen consists of certified yoga instructors who have experience working with children. They understand the unique needs of young learners and tailor their approach accordingly. The instructors are also trained in mindfulness techniques, allowing them to provide a holistic and well-rounded program.

Customizable Programs: Whether you are looking for a one-off incursion or a long-term partnership, Phys Zen offers flexible programs that can be customized to meet the needs of the children and the educational institution. Whether you have a small class or a large group, Phys Zen can accommodate and ensure that every child benefits from the experience.

Engaging and Fun: The instructors at Phys Zen know how to make yoga fun for kids. They incorporate games, music, and storytelling into the sessions, keeping children engaged while also teaching them valuable yoga techniques and mindfulness practices.

Positive Feedback: Phys Zen has received glowing reviews from schools, parents, and children alike. Parents have reported that their children are calmer, more focused, and more confident after attending yoga and mindfulness incursions. Schools have noticed a reduction in anxiety and behavioral issues among students who regularly participate in these programs.

A Holistic Approach: In addition to physical fitness, Phys Zen emphasizes mental and emotional well-being. Their approach to teaching yoga integrates the body, mind, and spirit, helping children feel balanced and centered.

Conclusion: A Step Towards Wellness for Kids

As the benefits of yoga for kids become more widely recognized, the demand for accessible, engaging yoga programs continues to grow in Perth. Programs like "Yoga for Kids Perth" and "Yoga and Mindfulness Incursions" by Phys Zen are playing a crucial role in introducing children to these valuable practices.

By providing children with the tools to stay physically healthy, mentally focused, and emotionally balanced, Phys Zen is not just teaching them yoga; they are helping to cultivate the skills necessary for navigating life’s challenges. Whether in the classroom or at home, yoga and mindfulness are practices that children can benefit from for years to come. Through their unique and fun incursions, Phys Zen is making a lasting impact on the lives of children in Perth, one pose at a time.

If you are interested in bringing yoga and mindfulness to your child’s school or group, contact Phys Zen today to learn more about their programs and start your journey toward holistic wellness.

[bookkeepinginperth]

Yoga Schools and Yoga Equipment for Perth Yoga

Yoga Schools and Yoga Equipment for Perth Yoga

Yoga exercise institutions

They all hold a special location in and around perth as well as the remainder of australia in yoga exerciseeducation and learning since a number of the top locations remain in the cradle of yogas birth: India. These institutions supply some of one of the most total as well as intense training for yoga exercise worldwide. Though you can go to a school anywhere,…

[definitionhealthclub-blog]

Definition Health Club offers a range of fitness classes and services, including swimming lessons for kids right here in Perth. Find out more by visiting http://definitionhealthclub.com.au/.

Music: https://www.bensound.com

[mymatesavegan-blog]

The Art Of Mindfulness

“Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment.” - Thich Nhat Hanh

Mindfulness is the current hot topic amongst health professionals around the world. It’s a practise baked into many cultures and religions with ties to yoga and meditation. It’s techniques are said to have benefits to our bodies and mind and overall wellbeing. In this article, I will unpack what mindfulness is, how it can be practised and, most importantly, how it could make a lasting impact on your life.

So, why would I want to be more mindful? Studies are continually being done on mindfulness, leading to research papers and articles on the topic and its relationship to our wellbeing. It’s known to help reduce stress and anxiety, to help improve memory and attention spans as well as promote self regulation and empathy.

The areas of wellbeing mentioned above could seem like the obvious benefits for being more mindful. A less obvious link is to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). IBS is a condition that disproportionately affects women and is characterised by chronic abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhoea. More recent research has been undertaken to see if mindfulness could help with IBS. 

“This is a novel, game-changing treatment approach for a public health problem that has real personal and economic costs, and for which there are few medical treatments for the full range of symptoms,” - Jeffrey Lackner, PsyD

By now, you must be thinking, wow that sounds great. But, what is it again? And how do I get a piece of the action? 

Mindfulness is the practice of purposely focusing your attention to the experiences occurring in the present moment and accepting it without judgment. The basic premise is to forget about the past and future and bring your mind and attention to the present moment. 

“Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.” - Mother Teresa

To be mindful is to understand the present moment. Not being lost in thought. Not being distracted. Learning how to be in the here and now. On the surface this sounds so simple, yet a Harvard study showed that on average we spend 47% lost in thought. 

A framework is required to be more mindful and in the present. This is where meditation comes in. Meditation is the process of quieting the mind in order to spend time in thought for relaxation or spiritual purposes. The goal is to attain an inner state of awareness and intensify personal and spiritual growth.

You could start down this road of being more mindful with a small amount of time per day. Just take 10 mins a day to learn how to experience life. The following guide is from the Harvard Gazette:

Settle in

Find a quiet space. Using a cushion or chair, sit up straight but not stiff; allow your head and shoulders to rest comfortably; place your hands on the tops of your legs with upper arms at your side.

Now breathe

Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and relax. Feel the fall and rise of your chest and the expansion and contraction of your belly. With each breath notice the coolness as it enters and the warmth as it exits. Don't control the breath but follow its natural flow.

Stay focused

Thoughts will try to pull your attention away from the breath. Notice them, but don't pass judgment. Gently return your focus to your breath. Some people count their breaths as a way to stay focused.

Take 10

A daily practice will provide the most benefits. It can be 10 minutes per day, however, 20 minutes twice a day is often recommended for maximum benefit.

For those who want to explore this a lot further you should look into Vipassana. Many recognise this as the oldest Buddhist meditation practice. There is plenty of material for this online and if you are interested you could attend a meditation retreat here in Perth, in Bali and probably plenty more around the world. Admittedly, I’ve not tried Vipassana, but I am intrigued and will give it a go. 

How I got into mindfulness was via a good friend at work. He got our whole team involved and we started a habit of dedicating 10 mins a morning to ourselves. We used a very well known app called Headspace which provides guided meditations for all levels from novices to pros. I’ve used Headspace with friends and family as well and the kids have enjoyed our 10 min mindfulness sessions on the beach when we are off on camping trips. 

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit” - Aristotle

Other things you can do. Well, just consider the original premise that this is all about being in the present. This doesn’t necessarily mean sitting down and doing meditation. 

The next time you are standing on the train platform just watch the world go by for a couple of mins. Notice the cars, the trees, the clouds. Notice your breathing. Notice your mood and emotions. 

The next time your on the train. Just kick back and watch everyone and everything. You’ll feel like you’re in the matrix. That time has stood still and you can observe things from different angles. 

After all things said and done, what it boils down to is this. We all spend a lot of time looking after our bodies, with dieting and exercising and general well being. Yet we spend so little time looking after our minds. Try and rebalance that and enjoy the benefits it will bring. 

“It’s your road, and yours alone, others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you”- Rumi

Links

When science meets mindfulness 

New At-Home Treatment for IBS Focuses on Mind Over Body

How Mindfulness Meditation Eases IBS Symptoms

Self-Guided Behavior Therapy Relieves IBS Symptoms

Wandering mind not a happy mind

With mindfulness, life’s in the moment

Learn to meditate and live mindfully

[anneedmonsonus]

Cook and Clean Perth (and Win a Free House Clean!)

When I first heard of Cook and Clean WA four years ago, my first thought was, “What a good business idea!” I think Little Nerd was about six months old, and the reality of how hard juggling a baby and a job (with a husband on frequent work trips away) had most definitely sunken in by then. I shake my head in embarrassment when I think back to pregnant me sometimes, importantly pinning all these “easy healthy family recipes” on Pinterest – I was SO sure when I was on maternity leave that I’d have all this spare time on my hands, to grocery shop and cook (also remember thinking I might just casually write a novel while the baby sleeps with all that time on my hands. Ahhh! I was so innocent. Dumb and innocent).

Whether you have kids or not, I’m sure most of us have at some stage struggled to maintain a clean house and eat healthy meals. Cook and Clean was founded by Leticia Favero, a Brazilian-born woman who could see a niche in the Perth market for a service that offered both cleaning and healthy home cooking. Starting off with just two people, it grew to a team before Leticia changed careers to work in childcare and yoga, and sold the business to current owners, sisters Camila and Carol de Paula Ferreira.

Camila says she loves the satisfaction the job brings – and that her favourite thing about it is getting feedback from happy clients. “We love good feedback – and when the house is so messy and they show me before and afters,” she laughs. “It’s so good.”

I’ve been so impressed by the cleans they’ve done at our house – everything sparkles afterward, and I walk around in a happy, relaxed, almost ASMR-induced haze just looking at everything in awe. If you asked me to choose between having a facial at a day spa or having my house cleaned, I’d choose having my house cleaned every time!

Their clients range from busy singles, couples and families, and understandably, families with new babies are high up there! In fact, two sets of friends of ours – who have both been blessed with the surprise of twins! – have hired Cook and Clean to help get them through the hard times.

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Whenever I’ve mentioned Cook and Clean in conversation, the main thing people have asked me is how does it actually work? While they have clients who just want cleaning, many opt for both services, in which case two people come to your house – one person cooks, the other cleans.

And to cater for your family’s meal preferences, you’re asked which meals you’d like from their extensive menu on their site. I can vouch that the meals are delicious! Carol says they have a passion for healthy eating and cooking with fresh, unprocessed ingredients as often as possible, and while the meal plans are already geared to healthy eating, they also offer extra-lean, vegetarian and vegan options.

They can also do your laundry, ironing or help organise your pantry, closet or kids toys – whatever cleaning, decluttering or home organising you require! Along with general house cleaning, they also do vacate cleans, office cleans and AirBnB cleans.

They’re hard-working people, and I admire hard-working people. And they’re also generous…

WIN A FREE HOUSE CLEAN!

They’re also generous – and this week, Camila and Carol are very kindly offering a free house clean as a prize to one lucky Perth house nerd!

All you have to do to enter is be following Cook and Clean on either Instagram @cookandcleanperth or Facebook @cookandcleanperth, like the giveaway post and tag a friend for each entry. One friend, one entry, five friends, five entries and so on!

Not using social media? You can also enter by leaving your full name and a comment below, letting us know your LEAST favourite cleaning task! (Please don’t forget to include your email so I can contact you if you win).

CONTEST RULES: Competition is open to participants whose home is within 30km of the Perth CBD.

There is a complete release of Instagram by each entrant.

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by or associated with Instagram.

Competition closes Wednesday 4th September, winner announced Thursday 5th September.

Good luck!

The post Cook and Clean Perth (and Win a Free House Clean!) appeared first on House Nerd.

from Home Improvement https://house-nerd.com/2019/08/23/cook-and-clean-win/

[gosallythomas-blog]

4lane_dunsborough Loulou is a qualified Physiotherapist and graduated from Curtin University, as well as being the Co-Founder of 4Lane. Loulou is also a Clinical Pilates and Yoga Instructor. As a Physiotherapist in both the Hospital and private practice environment, Loulou has provided injury diagnosis, rehabilitation and prevention using evidence-based practices including clinical Pilates and dry needling with sports experience. These included: Nutrigrain Surf Iron Man series, AFL, beach volleyball and Hockey. Loulou has worked doing pre and post-natal in Esperance, Torquay and on the Gold Coast! Loulou completed her Women’s Health Physiotherapy course run in Syndey by the Women’S Health Training Associates. Loulou is a Perth girl, who loves the beach and often came to Dunsborough as a kid on family holidays and has been swept away by the South West’s beauty. Loulou also has a Bachelor of Arts Management (Business) Degree from the W.A Academy of Performing Arts.

https://goo.gl/maps/u12mYXYKGZs