BLOG | HOLISTIC HIKES

HOLISTIC HIKES_Final_Files_13.9.18-01.pn

When Women Connect

When Women Connect

Last weekend I spent the weekend with a small group of women, mostly strangers. We slept, ate, hiked, and talked. It was an intentional weekend of connecting with not only nature but importantly ourselves and as a collective. We dove deep into the real conversations, left the fluffy stuff for the uninitiated, opened up and spoke our truths, scars and all. We spoke of our stories, in order to better understand them ourselves and share the experience of challenge to growth. The

What Happens when 5 Women take on 60km Coastal walk

What Happens when 5 Women take on 60km Coastal walk

Friday morning started early, 4:24 am to be exact with a second alarm set for a strategic 2 mins later. I’m not usually a great morning person but I was alive with excitement. Needless to say the second alarm wasn’t required this morning. Today was the day I was taking on 60 km of coastal trails, sand dunes and unrelenting hills. I was skipping around the house in the early hours trying not to wake my sleeping family, enthusiastic like a small child on Christmas day. I kissed

Reflection & Top Reads

Reflection & Top Reads

What a year, energetically and emotionally! I’ve heard from many of you that it has been quite a year of self-reflection, growth, changes and challenges. Life is in constant flux however, it is how we approach and overcome these difficulties, which speak attest our true characteristics. I had often felt alone in my pain experienced over the years. I knew I had support of my family and friends however, I remind myself that we are all forging our way through dark times and one

How Not To Die

How Not To Die

*Disclaimer- I took this title from Dr Michael Greger's book - How Not To Die which is an incredibly insightful book about common diseases and how these can be prevented through plant based Nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices. If you have read it and want to live well, read it. Dr Greger is the founder of Nutritionfacts.org * Such a title is a little dramatic however, the truth of it is we are all dying. My thoughts journalled this week is a pragmatic approach about how

An Engaging Title...

An Engaging Title...

Constant demands for our attention; Look here, buy this, share this. Bright red to grab your attention, Green to promote health.. Our senses are dealt with a serious blow daily. Flashing, moving, sounds. Anything that grabs our attention then we are off onto the next dopamine hit, wherever that may come from. Social Media? Someone likes your post, page or comments on your picture. What does all this mean? Have you stopped for a minute to look beyond the screen and connect wit

A frame work for Mindful living

A frame work for Mindful living

Xin; the Chinese word meaning Head-Heart. This philosophy is that we each have a rational mind in which we make decisions and our hearts full of emotion and instinctual knowing. In certain situations you may lead with either your head or your heart however it is imperative that we utilise both heart and mind to make a good decision. One balances the other. When we make decisions with our heart, emotions can taint the truth. They are reactive and unpracticed responses which do

How to fire up your Mental Metabolism

How to fire up your Mental Metabolism

We all know the hibernation effect winter has on our bodies and minds. There is a cycle as with all things in life that has an ebb and flow. Winter has been a dark cloud over my mind this year, as with many I speak to, and whether you believe in the synchronicity of the season cycle, we are all ultimately affected. This winter has been the down time that I’ve required to introspectively look at life events and re-evaluate their meaning. Having my mother diagnosed with breast

The Power of Community

The Power of Community

It is in our psyche, that of our primal nature that we are hard-wired to feel good when connected within a community. Our early ancestors relied on a social network to not only survive but thrive by eating, sleeping, hunting and playing together. Physiologically when we are connected in our network we are delivered with a hit of dopamine, Oxycontin, serotonin and endorphins. These hormones and neurotransmitters have provided, throughout human evolution the reward of feeling g