by Leisa on March 16, 2010
Hi everyone – wow it’s been a long time since I’ve updated my blog!
The last entry prior to this is about the Australia Day Retreat, and that was nearly two months ago – what happened??
Well, what happened was the whirlwind of the David Wolfe Australian Tour – which was such a huge undertaking (and amazing experience!) – that I had to put my own business on the back-burner for a little while. Apologies to everyone who keeps in touch via the blog and have e-mailed me wondering where I am!
The Tour was 14 sold-out events over three weeks in February, and not only did I spend several months prior to the tour organising all the details – I was on the tour itself, making sure that everything ran smoothly (which it did).
Over the next couple of weeks I’ll post a tour wrap-up of each event and post some great photo’s from around the country! It was the most successful tour of it’s kind in Australia, and it is a credit to each organiser in every city for making the events such an outstanding triumph!
Next week I have one of my own Embracing Life! Six Day Detox, Healing and Raw Food Retreats at the Sunshine Coast of QLD which I am really looking forward to – it is the last one until September, so if you want to come along, there are still a couple of places left.
After that, you’ll be hearing from me a bit more often! I have lots of new plans and developments coming up this year. The membership club is being re-vamped and re-launched, there will be new e-mail news coming out regularly, more blogs on current issues, and even a book is in the pipeline!
Watch this space 
Leisa
by Leisa on January 9, 2010
3 Day Raw Food Rainforest Retreat
Uki, NSW; 23rd-26th January, 2010
This retreat is almost sold-out!
Only four places left!
Instead of sitting at home sweltering in the summer heat this Australia Day long weekend, why not join us for a refreshing raw food experience in the lush Uki rainforest of Northern NSW – only 40 minutes from Gold Coast Coolangatta Airport.
We are having an amazing weekend of gourmet raw food, relaxation and pampering at a beautiful rainforest resort – where the most difficult decision you will have to make all weekend is whether to move from the pool to the spa or the sauna!
Arrive after lunch on Saturday and be treated to a refreshing welcome juice as you check in to your private en-suited room. Over the next days, you will enjoy evening meditations, daily morning yoga, a powerful “Healing with Food as Medicine” lecture with myself, a special raw food preparation class with our own Master Chef Jo, and delicious, healthy raw gourmet meals each day.
Spend some time soaking up the sun by the 20m swimming pool with awe-inspiring Mt. Warning views; soothe your muscles in one of two huge above-ground swim spas (which are the ultimate treat at night under a star-lit sky), and indulge as often as you like in either the steam or dry sauna. For those who like a little more luxury on their weekend getaways, there is the option of upgrading to the Pampering Package and adding a massage and a deeply nurturing Day Spa treatment to your time away.
The resort is a purpose built, multi-million dollar, five star retreat facility, carved into the natural rainforest valley at Uki situated at the foot of Mt. Warning. An abundance of natural bushland and birdlife makes this centre one of the most peaceful getaway retreats you will find anywhere in the world. With no mobile access, internet, phones, television, radio or newspapers – you will feel like you are in another world as your stress melts away as soon as you arrive
Because of it’s unique location, this will be a true escape from day to day life, where alongside all the quality features and inclusions of the Embracing Life! Retreat experience, this will be the perfect time to recover from the Christmas and holiday season madness, and rest & rejuvenate as you gain inspiration for the year ahead.
Finishing after lunch on Tuesday afternoon, you are welcome to use the facilities until the leaving time of 2.30pm that afternoon.
In Summary…
There is only one price to pay which includes everything you need for the weekend on the Escape Package, or you may choose to upgrade to the Pampering Package if desired. No add-ons, no surprises. Payment plans are available and there are fantastic discounts for couples sharing a room.
- Luxury accommodation for three nights
- All food and drinks from Saturday to Tuesday afternoon
- Morning Yoga sessions daily
- Evening meditation sessions daily
- A powerful “Healing with Food as Medicine” lecture
- A Gourmet Food Preparation class with our own Master Chef
- Unlimited use of resort facilities
(Transport, phone calls, and extra services are at your own expense)
Book NOW!
The retreat is almost full and will sell out fast! Click below and then scroll down to find the order buttons for either package.
Leisa
by Leisa on January 8, 2010
While on the treadmill at the gym yesterday morning, I saw on the television news program that they were discussing a new study which promoted the fact that formula could improve on breastmilk for babies.
My skeptical mind immediately thought “who paid for that study?”, and nothing could be better for a baby than natural breast milk , ideally from a well nourished and healthy Mum.
This morning on Natural News an article came through which discussed this particular study, and sure enough, it was slanted to support the baby formula industry…
“A recent study lauding the benefits of fortified infant formula has been greeted with skepticism by child development specialists, who suspect that the study is only the first part of an attempt to promote formula over breastmilk.
“It is clear that the food industry fascination with nutraceuticals (strategically fortified food products) is now spreading into infant formula,” said Barbara Moore of Shape Up America! “This is a disturbing new development. We have parents thinking that sticking their tiny infants in front of a Baby Einstein video will improve their child’s mental development when the data suggest that parent-child interactions (and plenty of them) are the most critical factor for such development. Now parents will be encouraged to fore-go breastfeeding — which is optimal for both mothers and babies — in favor of a hyped up infant formula.”
A recent study concluded that children who consumed infant formula fortified with the omega-3 fatty acid DHA had higher cognitive function than children who consumed unfortified formula. Breastmilk was not included in the study, and the formula used in the study was provided for free by a manufacturer.
Miriam Labbok of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill said she was doubtful about the study’s findings.
“It might be reasonable from these industry-funded studies to consider that this would be a good additive to formula if you are forced to stop breastfeeding,” she said. “However, 1) none of these studies compare to continued breastfeeding, 2) you could also get these [nutrients] from other sources if you stop breastfeeding, and 3) there are hundreds, if not thousands, of other components in human milk that cannot be replaced.”
Pediatrician Lori Feldman-Winter of New Jersey noted that many mothers come to her believing that DHA-fortified milk is healthier for their infants than breastmilk.
“The marketing has actually dissuaded mothers from choosing exclusive breastfeeding, which is preferred from all the outcomes that we understand,” she said.
All major health and pediatric associations recommend exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first six months of life, if not longer.”
Unfortunately in this industry of “scientific studies for hire”, it is worth asking the question “who stands to gain” when evaluating the merits of a particular study, and “how have the results been manipulated to result in a desired outcome”.
Leisa
by Leisa on January 7, 2010
Like many people, I’ve started off the New Year with a resolve to improve both my health and fitness! Even for those of us who have a very health lifestyle, there’s often another level of vitality that can be achieved and minor bad habits to overcome…
Having had quite severe thyroid problems for many, many years that are now largely resolved, I still have to be quite vigilant about the balance in my life between the food I eat, the exercise I do, the rest I get, and the amount of work I do. If I fall out of balance in these areas, my body tells me very quickly – and then I have to get back on track in whichever area has slipped.
Over the past year the area that has been put to the side more often than not is exercise. Even though I would still walk several days a week and do intermittent training at the gym, the consistency isn’t where I would have liked it to be, and I do know that being very fit helps my overall energy levels and supports my thyroid and adrenals.
So to kick the year off I hired a personal trainer to do three sessions a week with me for the next month. And that has been fantastic!
By having to turn up for an appointment that has been made, it commits you to the workout session, and because you are paying for it – following the trainers instructions for the cardio work on the days in-between to support what you are doing in the training sessions just makes sense.
Part of what I had to do as well, was fill out a food diary for the trainer, which was great. To sit down and write every bite that goes into my mouth over a day was an excellent exercise in food awareness – and I can highly recommend that everyone keep a food diary for a week or two to evaluate your true food intake and where it could be going a bit wrong.
So we tweaked my diet a little, and with training of some kind almost every day over the next month – I know that I will have formed new positive habits that I had let slide a bit over the past year. I also know from previous experience how good it feels to be really fit and strong, and after a month I know that I will have created enough of that feeling in my body, to ensure that it is very easy to continue with the positive practices.
So for anyone who does feel like they have gotten off track a little in the area of exercise, I have found that doing some personal training sessions is a great way to re-form those new commitments. By having a professional put together a personalised program taking into account your health and fitness level, and then supporting you in forming excellent new habits, can serve you for a much longer time than just the initial month of sessions.
Here’s to the new, super-fit me!
Leisa
by Leisa on January 6, 2010
Summer in Australia means warm weather and a desire for cool drinks which quench the thirst and rehydrate the body. There are some wonderful superfood drinks and smoothies you can make to give an extra boost of great nutrition with a divine flavour!
Try this “Happy Juice” Goji Berry Lemonade on a hot summer’s day while you are lying by the pool – it’s a winner!
Goji Berry Lemonade
2 Lemons, juiced
1 Orange, juiced
1 tablespoon of Goji Berries, soaked
1 cup young Thai coconut water (optional)
1 cup filtered water
1 tablespoon Agave Nectar
½ teaspoon Camu Camu powder
Pinch of salt
Put all ingredients, including the Goji Berry soak water, into a high speed blender, strain, and pour over ice.
Goji Berries
Goji berries are also known as “happy berries” and are celebrated for their ability to increase feelings of well-being and make people smile. They contain some of the highest levels of anti-oxidants of any berry, and are powerhouses of superfood nutrition.
Regarded in Tibet as the “Fruit of Longevity”, the Goji berry is thought to be one of the factors in the long lives of people in certain remote regions of the Himalayas.
High in amino acids, trace minerals, and several B vitamins, Goji berries are a great addition to a healthy diet. They can be soaked and added to drinks as above, added to trail mix, and used in raw dessert recipes.
Leisa
