The Carlo Cirillo Show

#43 - Elise Ottaway on Self Acceptance, Holistic Wellness & Trusting the Journey.

February 25, 2019 Carlo Cirillo Season 1 Episode 43
The Carlo Cirillo Show
#43 - Elise Ottaway on Self Acceptance, Holistic Wellness & Trusting the Journey.
Show Notes Transcript

On this episode I shared a conscious conversation with my lovely friend, Elise Ottaway. Elise is a yoga teacher, personal trainer, wellness coach, wholefood chef, founder & creator of Balancing Bodies.

We got stuck into topics including have an eating disorder both ends of the scale, a sudden neck injury that inspired a career change, the importance of self love, why we need to listen to our bodies, letting go of baggage and external expectations, holistic approach to healing, finding what works for you, loving yourself and your life  and so much more!

This was such an inspiring conversation - Elise is such a beautiful human! I love Elise’s attitude on life, her positivity and her uplifting energy, it is infectious to be around! #goodvibes
 

So much wisdom and insights for everyone to gain from!
 

I really enjoyed this and I hope you do too! 



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Speaker 1:

Hi, my name's Elise Ottaway and you're listening to the conscious podcast.

Speaker 2:

Okay.

Speaker 3:

Welcome to the conscious part. My name is college to reload and this is your place to cultivate wisdom wearness life insights to raise your B and become more conscious in your daily life.

Speaker 2:

Hi, conscious boys and girls. Welcome to episode 43 of the conscious podcast. On this episode I shared a conscious conversation with my lovely friend, at least Ottaway at least is a yoga teacher, personal trainer, wellness coach, whole food chef and founder and creator of balancing bodies. We got stuck into topics including having an eating disorder on both ends of the scale, a sudden neck injury that inspired her career, change the importance of self love, why we need to listen to our bodies, letting go of baggage and external expectations, a holistic approach to healing, finding what works for you, loving yourself and your life and so much more. This was such an inspiring conversation. Elise is just a beautiful human. I love at least his attitude on life, her positivity and uplifting energy. It is so infectious to be around so much wisdom and insights for everyone. To gain from. I really enjoyed this and I hope you do too. Elise, how are you? I'm very well, thank you. How are you? Excellent, thank you. What have you been up to this morning?

Speaker 1:

Um, I went for a sunrise and then I ran the lighthouse loop and then I did a meditation and then I came. Yeah.

Speaker 2:

Awesome. All before 10:00 AM oh before like 8:00 AM really productive. Their soil. Nice. And uh, we're, we're sitting at Sophia, Sophia, Sophia in Byron Bay. Good part of the world. So you've been here awhile? Yes, just over two years. Nice. Love it. That's why you've got an amazing 10. We're talking about that before I burn easily. Something like we need to find somewhere in the shade because I don't want to be red. Yeah, there's a lot of you around here. It's about the tourists. Well, as we were talking about before, a spot, the local, you've got the blonde hair, blonde, blondie, beachy hair, blue eyes, you surf, you do yoga. Um, what are you drinking? You're drinking like a Chai latte. Dandy. Dandelion Mot. Yeah, you're fine. Yes, definitely. Buyer. Right? Uh, what are you most excited about in life right now?

Speaker 1:

Um, I dunno, there's, I guess I would say maybe the unknown. Like there's a lot going on right now and this year has just been awesome so far and I just keep like saying yes and opening myself up to just kind of trusting what's happening and things just keep happening. Like this came along and then like this whole week I've just had the most crazy random things approach me and come to me and I like, I can't wait to see what else happens. So very exciting.

Speaker 2:

Yeah. Amazing. Yeah. And a, it's only been two weeks since I do it. Well, so I have only, this is the first time we've met in person. We only spoke yesterday, I think it was, or the day before on Instagram, the beautiful human that is Carly who was episode couple of episodes back. Can't remember which one it was. Sorry. Um, introduced us. I was like, put it on, on the Instagram or the Facebook group, who knows? People that are conscious and awesome humans in Byron. And Carly was like, yeah, she could have talked to at least. So yeah, hit you up. Um, and even just following your page for the past couple of days, like we're very similar in that we post a lot of quotes and I'm like, yeah, I'm going to get along with this chick. So for myself and for the listeners, can you give us a wrap up of your life from start to now in everything you're doing now? It's a lot, but I'll keep it brief. As brutal as you want to keep it. Yeah. Wow. Um,

Speaker 1:

I grew up in Brisbane and had like a, I would say like noble quotation mark life, great family, um, you know, normal sort of childhood. And then, um, in high school I um, started to kind of become a bit more interested in health I guess, but not from a healthy place. Um, it led to sort of eating disorders and stuff like that. Um, which then kind of took me on a long road. And when I finished school I very much was, you know, doing, went to uni because he was supposed to go to uni. But I was very lost at what I wanted to do. Um, I did, uh, two years of an interior design degree and then, um, on my, after my second year, I thought, okay, for the summer holidays I'm going to go away for three months and like come back and go back to uni. So I went over to Canada to do the whole like ski films, you know, thing that we all do when that young. Um, and I went from my three months and then was like, Nah, I'm going to stay here for a little longer. So then I ended up staying for three years or so. Yeah. That return flight home never happened. Um, yeah, stayed there for three years and that was a big change and transformation in my life in that, that, um, sort of just took me totally out of my comfort zone. I'd never really been overseas. I'd never lived out of home. I was only 19 when I went over. And, um, you know, all of a sudden I was in a place where no one knew who I was. I could be whoever I wanted to be surrounded by totally different sorts of people to what I was surrounded by back here. And it's, yeah, a really, really changed my life. It changed my whole perspective of life. You know, I always thought I'd go back and finish my degree, but then I realized that that wasn't what I wanted to do when all these people that I met taught me that and they showed me how to like really embrace life and love life. Um, so yeah. So I did that and then eventually came home and from there I had always wanted to study interior design. I mean, not in tears, not, and I did that study, personal training and get into that kind of thing. But so you finished your no, and they did half of it. Um, so yeah. Then I was like, oh yeah, I'll get into personal training. But when I'd gone to Canada, I had gone the opposite end of the spectrum with the eating disorder and put on a lot of weight. And so it was always kind of go back and I was like, oh, I can't be a fat personal trainer, blah, blah, blah. So I put it off, put it off for a long time. And then, um, the, a friend of mine really lack was like one day was like, nope, you're enrolling today, enrolled. And then study that. And it was quite hard because I was like, oh, I'm not the stereotype, blah, blah, blah. But eventually started doing that. So I was a personal trying to for quite a few years in Brisbane. And then that kind of was like my doorway into the health and wellness industry. And then through that I met lots of different people. And then along the way I, um, so I started running my own business with that, which is balancing buddies. And then through that I then at one point sort of got into the health and wellness of eating side of things. And um, I went to Bali and I did this raw Scheffing course. And then from there I, that opened a whole new world of things as well. I started doing like cooking healthy cooking workshops and teaching people how to make all those yummy he raw treats. And then, um, I then opened my own cafe for a while at the gold coast, which was a Vegan gluten free cafe that was all raw, um, which was good, but then bad. So, um, with that I sort of went into it with some friends but then they turned out to not be so friendly and um, yeah, told me a little lessons though. Um, so I didn't have that cafe for too long, but, um, it was really great experience and yeah, taught me hard lessons but also a good lessons as well. Um, and then from there went back to Brisbane. Then at the end of that year I went and did my yoga teacher training and I'd gotten into yoga because, uh, just before the cafe or maybe a year before the cafe, I was, um, doing my thing at the gym. And, um, I had an accident, a machine at the gym broke on me and, um, I had a good, a really bad neck injury and concussion and stuff. Um, and so then that like totally put my whole life on hold. I couldn't move for a long time. I couldn't exercise nothing. And then in the rehabs, one of the first things I was allowed to do movement wise with some really gentle yoga. So I, you know, kept going on cause it's all I was allowed to do, thought it was a bit boring, but then, um, but then from that I then, because I had to keep going because there's a little as to day, I then was like, aw, there's like a lot more to this yoga thing. Just stretching, just stretching. And then that totally changed my life. Like I went through mind, body, Spirit, the whole thing, like totally tend to change my life. So I then went to India and did my training in India. Um, which was an interesting experience. And then in Russia, cash up in the north. Yap. That was about to attempt that. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Um, so yes, I did that and then came back and was teaching a bit around Brisbane and then the opportunity came up for me to come down here to Byron and um, got the job here at Byron Yoga Center where I teach and run yoga retreats and everything there. And that's kind of, yeah, being here for the last two and a bit years and loving it. I'm doing that. And then doing a bit of my stuff on the side with balancing bodies and worked work, cooking workshops, yoga workshops, um, and online sort of stuff as well. Yeah. Also live in the dream. Wow. Done quite a few things. People often like, wait, how old are you? Just keep trying. I had a jewelry business for a while. I forgot about that. That's like a crystal jewelry business. Sure. Why not? Very much fitting the, again, the stereotype. I'm sure you've got essential oils and I'm sure you drink green juices or like I did this morning. For me it's like very similar in stories like myself, done a lot of things as well to a different country. So I'm, I'm so intrigued that, you know, what, what really inspired you to take that big step to Canada? I just want to go experience the snow three months, then I'll come home. You know what, like I don't really know. I think like right then, you know, I didn't really think it was a big deal. Like you look back at it now and you're like, that was huge. Like I was 19 I had no idea. But then like at the time I didn't think of especially cause I was like, I'm going to go in for a couple of months, you know, and like, and so I had a plan, but then I also think too, like there was a massive part of me, which I wouldn't have recognized at the time, but there was a massive part of me that knew I needed to change and like I was desperate for some change. Um, cause I, I W I was good at interior design and I lacked the course, but you know, whenever they talked about what it was like to be an interior designer, I was like, that's not me. You know? Like, I just knew it wasn't who I was and what I was supposed to be doing, but you know, I was doing what I was supposed to be doing as I say. Yeah. So yeah. Cool. And was there any element of I guess, fear at 19? I mean there was, especially if the decision to stay, yeah, that was I think a bit hard in that I was never someone that quit anything. And so as I said, like when I got there, I was still like, no, I'll go back and finish it. I'll go back and finish it. And then, um, I did come back at about after a year and a half, I came back and was like, intending to come back, stay back, you know, but I realized like I came back cause I thought I should and then like I was, I just wanted to be there still and like I wasn't happy here and I just was like, no, like I have to go back and finish what I started. And like, everyone's like, oh you never coming back. And, and I knew that I'd come back, but I was just like, no, like I'm not done there yet. And then when I eventually did come home, it was super sad and super hard to leave or like, you know, my friends and family I created over there and, but I knew I was like, no, it's, it's time. Like it's hard, but I know it's time, so. Yeah. Wow. Would you say you're living your purpose? I'd say yes. Um, I totally think so in that, uh, you know, I absolutely love what I do and I love, you know, I feel like I can't even call it work, you know? And I, it really, really lights me up every day. Like being able to share this and seeing people transform and seeing like I actually get to make an impact in people's lives. And I also just kind of think everything seems to just constantly unfold for me. And like these doors just open in unexpected ways. And I feel like that happens when you're, you know, everyone's always like, oh, you just get the perfect job, you get this yet. And I'm like, cause I just trust it and I just kind of go, like, I just keep doing what I like and what I love. And then I just sort of know that it'll just keep working out, you know? And I think that's, that's why it really makes me think that. Yeah, I'm living by that. This awesome. So you didn't plan for this at all? No, not at all. Like if you'd told me years ago that I would be living, I had never even thought of living in Byron. Like that was not on the radar at all. And so if you told me what, like three years ago that I'd be living in Bahrain, I would have laughed in your face. Like I wanted to move to the beach. Like I definitely had started surfing and I was like, oh, I want to move to the beach. I thought it would be sunshine coast, north of Brisbane, um, or maybe the Gold Coast area. But I never thought Byron, but then literally like it was just one of those things. Like someone called me two days after one of my jobs in Brisbane told me they were closing down as someone caught me, hadn't spoken to over a year. And they called me just being like, I've got the perfect job for you. And I'm like, what? Like, and I'd said earlier that year I was like, okay, by the end of this year I want to move to the coast somewhere and I want to pursue yoga more. And then yeah, they were like, I've got the perfect job for you and buried and it's teaching yoga. And I'm like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And then like as I went to move a room became available at a friend's house. Like it just feels like, yeah. Yeah. So in that you were saying that you, um,

Speaker 2:

you wrote down what you wanted, so you set that intention of this year I want to be near the coast and

Speaker 1:

doing what I love as I want it. I said, you know, at beside that year arc is constant cause I'd want it to live at the coast for a while. But I was always like a bit scared to make that leap. And I was always kind of like waiting for a partner or like I didn't want to do it on my own. And I was like, no, this is the time you've got to do it regardless. And I was like, so by the end of the year I want to live at the coast and be like pursue yoga more. And I was going away for three months though. So I was going away from a, it was going back to Canada actually for a friend's wedding. And I went from June or July til about September, October. So I was kind of like well won't move until after then cause it doesn't really make sense to move before then. And so it was black, you know, cut it a bit fun. And literally that person called me two weeks before I was going away and I said, oh I'm about to go away for three months at night. Just come and see us when you get back. And then it all still worked out. Awesome. Yeah. Yeah. Having that trust and like knowing what you want, but then there was the element of you just going, yeah, it's come, it's in your face and you went, Yep. Yeah. And I had like, I had no idea how it was going to pursue yoga, cause getting yoga jobs can be really hard, you know, and especially in a full time sort of situation. And when I started at the Yoga Center too, I was working in the kitchen as well. So, um, you know, don't do a bit of shifting as well. So it's doing that, making all the amazing food there and then that led and then did my training through them and then that opened up the teaching doors for me. So, yeah. Yeah. That is so cool. Yeah. What is success to you? Ooh. Um, I think success is, you know, getting, we're not necessarily getting paid, but just doing what you love and getting rewarded by that, you know? So as long as you're enjoying what you're doing and it brings you some kind of reward, whether that's money or not, you know, it can be just the satisfaction of it. That's success, you know, if you're finding a reward from something you love. Yeah.

Speaker 2:

And would you say that it, it does, it for you, it can became that journey of then getting to this place where you are now to then have that success?

Speaker 1:

Oh, did it change for you along the way and totally changed along the way. And Mike and I, you know, I'm definitely don't know what's next. You know, like I have ideas and I have like sort of plans. I guess. I'm not much of a planner though. Like I have ideas and think of that would be cool, but I'm also just always so open because it, the way everything's evolved so far for me, I'm like, well, you know what can go wrong? And like you said, just trust that and then ride the journey. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. What are you most proud of in life? Um, I would say it's a bit cheesy, but I would say like totally like my sort of unrelenting positivity. Like yeah, I'm a very positive person. I'm kind very, you can tell by the quotes. I'm kind of like annoyingly positive sometimes I think. Um, but, and I feel like, you know, I've, I've managed to really create that mindset of the glass is always half full. And I mean I think it's sort of was a natural thing a bit. But then totally like when I've been through bad times and been through hard stuff, like I've managed to keep that and a lot of people often comment to me and say like, Oh, you're just lucky, you're lucky you've got that positive mindset, you're going through so much of blah, blah, blah, that sort of thing. And I think, you know, it's cheesy and it's simple that like, I think it's, I am proud of the fact that I can uplift myself and others. It's that it's a good energy too. And people are attracted to that and they want to be around that because let's think of it, if it was the opposite, like you wouldn't want to be around you if they want to be through the energy vampires or just I'm going to have a negative person that's just, you know, never putting out that optimism and like, I mean, it comes from a lot of things too. Like, you know, I've learnt ways, like as in I was around a lot of those negative people and I realized like, okay, along the journey I was like, okay, you don't need to be in my life anymore, you know, and, or like, at least not a close part of my life. You're not who I choose to spend my time with the most. And like, you know, making changes to keep that lifestyle and that positive sort of thing going on here. Mm. So you did touch on it in that as well. And that's the next question. What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you? I don't know. Is that the best thing that has ever happened to you? Um, I mean I don't think there's necessarily worth things cause they always turn into this thing, the sake of this question. But, um, I would say, well one of the big ones was when I had the accident with my neck. So that was a big one. Um, cause it did totally, you know, I had all these plans, I had all these goals, they're totally put everything on hold. I had to like, we can't really be a personal trainer. Like I literally, my mom had to drive me around, I couldn't drive like, so yeah. And I had to wait like a neck brace. It was a good time. Um, but, and like, and like I didn't realize too, like until a while later when I came out of that, how much has it affected my mindset then? Like it wasn't until maybe a year later and I was hanging out with a friend, I was like, oh my God, like actually feel like myself again. And I didn't realize, I wasn't feeling like myself, you know? Totally. Um, in that time. And, but like I always think of it now too. I'm like, if I hadn't of had that accident, it changed my career. It changed like everything, it brought me to yoga. You know, if I hadn't had done that, I would not be right here probably sitting teaching yoga and doing what I'm doing now. And I feel so blessed to be doing what I'm doing now. So yeah, you never know what's going to come from something. But that definitely brought a whole different sort of ballgame to my life. Yeah. So what about when it first kind of happened and obviously you're going through the emotions and everything. What was going through your head at that point? Were you still the optimistic Elise? I mean I think I was a lot more optimistic than other people, but like, yeah, looking back I realized that I did go down a notch, but um, yeah, yeah. Like it was, and it was something too that I didn't really realize the magnitude of how bad it was cause it's still something that I am still really affected by it as well. Like, I still get it flares up and I get like really bad neck problems still. But you know, that's just part of lockdown. Hopefully one day it'll go away, but if it doesn't it doesn't. But yeah, like I didn't quite realize, I thought it would just be this temporary, the only thing that like get over that speed bump and to a degree, the worst part. Yeah, of course you did. But yeah, it is something that it changes, you know, the way I do things, the way like I'm very adrenaline junkie kind of person and now I have to like, I often am like, oh, but capital of the neck, you know, like a semi things that you have to like step back from it. Even surfing. Yeah. But I mean I do it anyway. It just didn't turn my neck. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, but then sometimes it flares up and I can't say for a little while or something. But yeah, generally it's okay listening to your body in that way. Take a week off and then I'll get back into it. Yeah, exactly. That's hard when you're watching it and you're like, oh, well no. Even through my whole sporting career was always that big injury and it was like we were discussing this before, a little bit about my story, like when I did both my hips in the same season, it was just before Susan too. It was like I wanted to play that year and I was like, I was feeling so good about it and then both wet and I went, you know what? Maybe this is, look, you can take it two ways. You can go. This is the, again, the worst thing ever, but I'm going to recover and get back into it. Or you go to the worst thing of our staff do. So I'm not doing it anymore. And to run myself cotton wool and we go sit at a desk and not do anything that's going to injure me. And at that point in my life I was like, no. Like, okay, I'll just go through the rehab and come back and I want to play this season like I'm getting paid. I want to actually like prove myself in quiet. And the mindset was down a notch, but it was still optimistic. It was like, okay, well for four to six months recovery, okay, time's going to pass. Anyway, got back into it, played four games and then did it again. So yeah, that was my, that was my impact point of like, okay, maybe the hips don't like this. And I look at it now too, like when mine flares up, I often like kind of try to read into the message of it and they're like, I'll say like often I feel like it's like telling me to slow down cause I'm a very go, go, go kind of person. I mean as you can tell why everything I've done this morning, but um, I often think it's like a little message to be like slow down, chill out of it, you know, take a break. Yeah, exactly. So I always think there's like a deeper, like whenever you get sick and things like that, it's, you know how people often they get sick when they go on holidays and it's because they're finally giving their body a break and their body's been like, like being like a star. It's finally recovering. It's just built up. Yeah, exactly. So I always think there's a deeper reason behind just like when things happen. So yeah, I try and look at it that way now. What is the best advice you've ever

Speaker 2:

been given? Um,

Speaker 1:

I would say it's simple but so powerful is that self love is not selfish because I think, you know, you're like a lot of us spend so much time giving, giving, giving, giving to other people. Um, and you know, all those, whether it's strangers or families or you know, through work or whatever it is that you do. But we give, give, give, and we never really take that time for us. And it's so important because if we don't take that time for us, then we don't have anything left to give to other people. It's like filling up a little jug of water and if you've pulled out all your water to everyone else, then there's nothing left for you or nothing left to give anymore. So a lot of the time people think that, yeah, taking some time for them is this very selfish thing. Especially I think parents and stuff, I often think that it's can't, they can't, but even if it's five minutes, you know, like taking you time is so important.

Speaker 2:

Yeah. So how do you take your you time? I get a lot of it. I do it like I find when the neck flares up or,

Speaker 1:

no, no, no. Like I find like surfing is a bit of me time, but also like running the lighthouse for me. Like I mean nature and it's like, it's my little like zone and I'm just have my music and me and like, yeah. And then Yoga and meditation and just beach in general. Plenty of me.

Speaker 2:

Yeah. Especially that's daily. Like it's, it's a good way. I say morning people, you know, I don't think anyone's a morning person. You just get up and do stuff like that. Yeah. You become a morning person. Yeah. Um, I didn't feel like getting up at like five o'clock this morning, but I like no, it'll be worth it. And it was that sunrise is definitely worth it. Yeah. You were saying you were surfing when it was sunrise. Yeah. Yeah. That's cool. Yeah, that's very good. Yeah. Unfortunately for me, where I was in Lennox, I still jumped in and then came out and then they're like, beach is closed because there's sharks. And I'm like, who told me that before you just fulfilling the stereotype around here, everyone's always scared of it around you. You shouldn't tell me, uh, they won't eat me. Maybe there'll be less effort, so that's fine. Well, I'll just come up to Byron and join the crowds because if they're going to get someone at won't be in there. I'll just swing faster than anyone. Exactly. What advice would you give your 16 year old self?

Speaker 1:

I would say to my 16 year old self that you are perfect just as you are. Because, especially at that point, I, you know, it's when everything really started for me and I really thought that you, that you're constantly finding something wrong and there was no self love there. And that's been, uh, you know, like 15 year journey for me to actually go, oh yeah, I am perfect. Just as again, you can want to grow and evolve and change. But I am perfect as I am. And that has been, and you know, sometimes that's hard but to, to really take in. But most of the time that's my attitude now and that's been something that it's taken a long road. But if someone had told me that, then it could have saved a lot of heartache. So how did you come to that, that realization yourself? That you're perfect just the way you are? Ah, it's been a long ride. It's been through many different things, you know, through, um,

Speaker 2:

was it uh, like enlightened yoga session where you, oh, meditation where you are levitating and it just came, um, no

Speaker 1:

famous, it's through everything. Like through yoga, through the journey of like going through every diet under the sun. And then eventually learning to eat for love, you know, like eating, because I love myself and because, you know, I went to nourish my buddy and that's when I it, because literally I went through this. So when I like I lost, I was really skinny and then I put on a little weight and then I couldn't lose weight even though I was the healthiest person ever. And then I, you know, it took a lot and it was through a lot of things, but it was a lot, it was two at the mind, you know, like learning to master the mind and you know, accept and all of that sort of thing. And that's when things sort of just started to flow into place and, um, letting go of all of that kind of expectations you have of yourself and all of this sort of stuff. And Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker 2:

It's interesting to me cause I'm not, I'm not a PT, I'm not a nutritionist or anything like that. But would you say that you would just say, uh, that what you were just saying was, um, a lot of it was in your mind? Yeah. Um, would you say that you holding on that weight was also you holding on to other things that were in your mind and in your beliefs that then

Speaker 1:

totally, yeah, totally. Like energetically you had all the like all these blocks and this stuff going on that just was not letting me like letting me lose it, you know, or letting me, it was like holy. And there was obviously some, there's some physical components to it too, but like it's not just 100% mine, but it definitely had a big, it was literally when I started to accept myself that I started to lose the weight and I was doing nothing else different. You know, I was already eating super healthy. I was one of those people like people like how like I don't understand how, you know, you're so healthy, so fit, so active. But then also, you know, like I would exercise out of like punishment almost like, you know, I love, I've always loved exercise. We did enjoy it, but it was always like you have to burn this many calories because you've eaten as much food, blah, blah blah. Whereas like now, I literally exercise just for the love it. I do the lighthouse like every day because I love it. You know? It makes me super happy. I do, I surf because I love it. That doesn't feel like exercise. Do you let go? Because I love it. I do weights and stuff because I want to, it's not an, I don't care how many calories I burn, you know? It's all about just doing it for the joy of it. Yeah. And that's what I try and help people find as well. You know? Like I'm all about helping people find exercise that I love. Like if you like going swimming, great. If you like going for a walk in the park, great. If you're like playing tennis, great. Do that. You know, you don't have to do this crazy exercise regime. You know? It might evolve into that, but you never know. Yeah.

Speaker 2:

So when it comes through the whole journey of losing weight and becoming healthier, it's a, it's a combination of, yeah.

Speaker 1:

Oh, 100% yeah. Mind, body, soul, whole thing. Yeah. Yeah. And like the way you eat, the way you feel, the way you think. It's everything. Yeah. But tailored to you as well. Oh, that's exactly it. Like there's no specific diet that suits every single person. You know, like some, the Paleo for example might suit someone, but then it's could be terrible for someone, a high fat diet might see someone that could be terrible for someone else. And there's definitely key components that suit everyone. Like you're eating more vegetables, drinking lots of water, like not having processed food, like all these kinds of things. Like they 100% apply to everyone. But then like the specifics, you know, I'm plant based, but then I think some people do need a bit of meat every now and then. And there's certain people, like some people like have it once a month or something, but you know, no one needs it three times a day every day. But then like everyone's got different bodies and it's learning to listen to your body. That is like the most powerful thing that you can, you can learn. Yeah,

Speaker 2:

we're all so similar in so many ways, but, and there's, there's different, um, I guess things that we all have to follow. Like you were saying like the water and getting enough nutrients, but then it's all unique to our bodies and there's certain things that trigger certain things. Um, and it's definitely something I've learned in my journey as well through eating and being the skinniest kid in, in, in high school that was always active and then changing my diet and then going even the skinny out, but then also now putting on weight and not doing the traditional conventional thing. Especially growing up in an Italian household, it's, it's different. But knowing that my body is different and I don't, if I follow, let's say a tree, even a training program that may work for a bodybuilder bodybuilder. So

Speaker 1:

exactly. No 100% and you know, we all have like different things. It's like in Yoga, like that's one thing I really love about yoga is that no one's going to be perfect at everything. You can never perfect yoga. And I think that's like, there's no like final destination necessarily. And I think that's such a humbling thing about yoga in that, and you can be next to someone and you know like you could do say a backbend amazingly, but then not be able to do an inversion and then they could do an inversion but not be able to do it back then. Like you know, it's just we've all got our strength and weaknesses and it's all about learning to work with what you've got. Yeah. It's not a competition.

Speaker 2:

We're doing this because we love this and we want to work on ourselves.

Speaker 1:

We want to give ourselves like the healthiest body vessel possible to go through life with.

Speaker 2:

It's, it's literally like if you were to get everyone to line up like everyone in this cafe lineup who can touch your toes, whatever does, you're the winner. The rest, you're not good at life.

Speaker 1:

Yeah. Yeah, totally. It doesn't make sense.

Speaker 2:

Way better way to think about it is, is doing it for you. Yeah. Yeah. How do you think people can become more fulfilled in life?

Speaker 1:

I think, I mean it's simple, but just keep doing more of what you love, you know? Because when you start, like I was saying with me, you know, like when you start doing what you love, I feel like things just evolve. Things happen and then when you're doing what you love, it's not hard to feel happy, not hard to feel fulfilled because um, you're getting satisfaction from this. And it could be the simplest things, you know, like maybe you like baking cookies, so you bake cookies and then, but like you could give them to people and stuff. You don't have to eat them. I'll give them and like that is very fulfilling, you know, making someone else's Day, you know, it could be just literally saying hello to someone if you like talking, just say a little more before, I don't know the simplest thing, but do what you love and then things will evolve and happen. Yeah. I think once you step into that zone as well of doing things you love, like you were saying before, we'd like trusting the process of why you didn't know this is all going to happen, but you just kind of did it. Could you loved it and then look at all the opportunities that came from it. Yeah. Yeah, totally. What's a big problem you think needs to be talked about more in society? Oh, I would say I think, I mean there's, I've got two. So first one is body image issues with like especially like teenagers and stuff. It's just so scary now seeing like little kids like you know eight year olds that are like worried about their, they don't have a thigh gap or something like it's ridiculous. It gets actually like so ridiculous and like I think there needs to be a lot more of like body level where there's, and there's a bit more now but like more and more like I think it should be part of curriculum. I think it should be something that's really like emphasized. And the other one is the what we're consuming like toxins and stuff in what we're consuming. So and like, I mean we all kind of know processed foods usually have some kind of like crap in them, but I'm talking more about like fruit, vegetables, water, that kind of stuff. Like the stuff that is perceived to be really healthy and a lot of the time it's full of so much bad stuff. Like all the sprays and everything. If you're nodding, you're doing organic like that stuff. It's crazy what it can do to your body and people. Yeah, I think they're eating really healthily and they're having all of this extra terrible stuff. And then same with water, like the quality of water that you're drinking. And that's something that a lot of tap waters. I know in Australia anyway, a lot of tap waters in big cities especially are filled with so much stuff, so much chemicals that are not good for you and we're no longer getting the nutrients that we need and instead we're getting lots of toxins and terrible things instead. So I think that stuff that really needs to be have like latch on it. I'd tell people every week and teach it in the class every week cause I'm like the more people I can tell, cause it's one thing that I guess it's definitely overlooked because everyone's like, oh no, but I feel fine anyway. You've been drinking this water for years, but it's like, yeah, but that's all building up. And how far do you want that to go? A good example of that is, um, if you buy fruit and veg and you don't buy organic, which not everyone can afford organic because that's fine. There's lots of things you can do to get healthier versions. Um, I mean, I'm a terrible governor, so I don't know how well that would go. Um, but if you buy fruit and Veggie can take it home, fill your sink with water and then put a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in there and then soak you freaking vege and then you'll see like a filmy layer of stuff that comes off the fruit and Veg, like especially at waxes, off apples and stuff. And then you see that that's just like one of your fruit and veggies, grocery shops, that little film you layer. If you think about a year's worth of that, that's, you know, everything's out. It's not much whatever, just to look a little bit of spray. But if you think of a years when you see it physically too, and then you think about a year's worth of that, that's a lot that you're consuming. Any, yeah, exactly. Like you're eating that. That's a lot. Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker 2:

So I grew up on a vineyard and we still have it now. So, um, even even in where I'm from him, we'll draw it. It's, it's a big, um, produce town, lot of citrus, a lot of vineyards. And when people are spraying, especially this time of year, you're outside, you smell all the chemicals, you get all of it. And I was washing my car the other day and dad was spraying, um, the other day, two weeks ago, um, and Deb was spraying and I'm like, I have to go inside. Like I can smell it. Most people are like, oh no, it's, you know, you get used to it. It's like, yeah, that's why the cancer rights,

Speaker 1:

that's like the top water. Like, you know, if you drink tap water and you kind of have a bit of filtered water here and that you don't taste the difference, but if you only drink filtered water and then you try and drink tap water again you're like yeah. Like I remember when I moved back from Canada, I was not into that, this kind of like health thing at all. And I remember just like struggling to drink the tap water even. And I was like no. And I would, I had to put lemon in it to train myself to drink it again cause I was like it tastes like a swimming pool. But then I made myself to drink it again cause I didn't think about it. Yeah,

Speaker 2:

Ben. But yeah, now I'm like, I'm like the full other end of the spectrum where I take my little spring water and get it refilled at the markets every week by a local guy and it's great. It's delicious. I've gone to that extent but it's like further I bought myself like this machine, it was like five grand to just filter my water. I, it's like I need, again, I've tested all of our waters now. A lot of people think I'm crazy. Even my parents were like, what are you doing? But I'm like, look at it. What's in this? Look what's in and then look what's in this. And it's like, it's just a simple transition. Um, and I think again, it's that thing of like, oh, we've been drinking it for years and we're fine, but we've been eating this fruit and veg for years. We're fine. We've got systems in our body to get rid of that stuff. And it's like, yeah, but imagine if they didn't have to do that work. What else it could be doing, how much time and energy your body is focusing on that. It's like having a, you have a Ferrari, you're not going to put the cheap, shitty fuel in it and you're going to put premium in it because you want it to run properly. Yeah. I mean, I know nothing about cars, but sure. I get it. Yeah. Trying to think of it, an analogy that if this was the last time you seen me and I asked you to teach me something tangible that I can use every day in my life to improve my life, what would you teach me?

Speaker 1:

I would teach you, oh, I've got to, um, maybe I would either teach you too. Oh boy, I'll teach you about let's be real. Yeah. Um, the, to listen to your body. And we kind of talked about this, about learning to listen to your body, whether that's in like with your exercise, whether it's the way you eat, because when you can listen to your body and you actually listened to what it needs, it will tell you, it always tells you what it needs, you know, and if you can learn to listen to that, that is the key to health really like that. And self love. I like the ultimate key to health. If you can do those things, you're going to live a happy and healthy life. Um, and the other one is like learning to let go because a lot of us hold onto a lot of stuff and um, it doesn't serve us and you know, letting go, you can do it in many different ways. Like I like to write about things, but some people like maybe you need to have a little yell, maybe you need to go for a run and run it off. Or maybe, and you know, sometimes it's a process. You're not going to just let something go straight away. But you know, sometimes we hold onto a lot of stuff. Someone said something to us and we're walking around just replaying in our head, having the worst day of art and they're having out there having the best day ever. It's not affecting them in the slightest. It's only affecting you. So, you know, the more we can let go of that crap, the better. You know, how can we let go though? So, so writing it down. Yeah. So I like, I personally, I was never a writer about things like journaling as everyone calls it. You know, I was never that, I always thought it was kind of weird and like didn't that I was like, well I'd sit there and try and write and be like, well, what are right? This is stupid. But then now that I've got into, I'm like, oh my God, this is the best thing ever. I'm like f like it's such a release on so many levels. And a good way to start if you've never done it before is to literally just write down some questions. So if someone was getting, when someone you, it was going through something and you were going to like, you would ask them questions like, oh, like how's that make you feel? Or like, you know, um, you know, like what could you do to make you feel better or I don't know, lots of different things. Or like, why are you annoyed about that? Write down the questions and then just answer them. And then that's like a really great way to start. And then you kind of, things just start to bubble and evolve and kind of goes everywhere. But yeah, it's, and once you kinda start doing that about stuff like I, I often just am like, okay, I really need to have a write about things. And like I pretty much try to journal every day now. Like even if she's just a little bit, but finding and whether it's like affirmations or like gratitude or like, you know, sometimes it's not necessarily to release something, but like having that release is a really powerful thing.

Speaker 2:

Yeah. I think for me, one thing that's in the last six months was learning how to journal cause I never wrote as well journaling, writing out like a limiting belief or, or limiting feeling. Like for example, our, I'm nervous to interview, at least today it's because I don't feel like I'm good enough to, to interview her and then it's writing, like flipping it and saying I am I great interviewer, I have an amazing podcast and I'm adding so much value to people's lives just

Speaker 1:

by sharing an amazing conversation and connecting with good people. Cause yeah, that's, it's all about getting under why you're having some kind of thought or something. You're holding onto something or whatever it is, like understanding why. Cause there's always a reason why and sometimes it's, it's hard to find out why but sometimes it is quite simple if you actually stop and think about it. But a lot of people never stop and think about it. Yeah. Yeah. So true. How can I find my purpose or how can people find their purpose? Um, I think saying yes, like we were saying before, like if things feel aligned you, if something feels right it following, I say following your gut, feeling like that whole gut feeling. What is that? But it's kind of that inner knowing. Like there's always some kind of party you were, you know, often you feel like you want to do something even though it makes no sense whatsoever. And that then I think opens. If you start to learn to tune into that and listen to that, then it will lead you on to finding your purpose. Cause you keep saying yes to those things that feel right. Even though we may not make any sense, it will keep evolving into you and yeah, keep doing what you love, love and enjoy. Do that, love that message. It's so it's coming through and so many, it's so simple but it's like, so what is most meaningful to you in life right now? I mean lots of things, but I would say like there's a lot of very meaningful people in my life. Um, and I really love what I do and being able to share and really empower people and change people's lives. But I think on like a personal level, like right now it can, it's something like kind of, it's very cliche Byron nature. Like nature is like super meaningful to me right now. Like I spend like since living here I get to spend so much time and I just find it's so healing and powerful in so many levels. You know? Like, whether it's, it just makes me super happy or whether it like just makes me chill out and like grounds me or whether it makes me just feel peaceful being in there, like going, you know, just taking him over to watch the sunrise. You know, like living in a city, you never really watch a sunrise or sunset cause there's nowhere to watch it well in Brisbane anyway. Um, so actually kind of having those moments every day, it really is super meaningful to me. Yeah. I'm feeling that now that I've been up here for almost a week. It's just like every morning I've caught the sun. Right, exactly. Like the beach doing that before, even when I lived near a beach in Melbourne, it was just like no. Yeah, yeah, yeah, totally. Even when it's cold here in the winter there's whales. So then you want to get up to see the whales cause it's, oh well I'll go see whales. That was be incredible. Yeah. To come back in winter as well. What impact do you want to have on people, the community in the world?

Speaker 2:

Um,

Speaker 1:

I would say, again, very simple, but like literally I just want to make people happier and healthier and you know, doing that in whatever ways forms evolves. I who knows how that's going to happen, but by just keep doing what I love and then spreading happiness and health and just because it's been, it's what I've been through. You know, like I've been through so much health stuff of my own and so much of a self love journey that I then want other people to get what I've got and find what I've found. So if I can even help one person do that, then that's amazing cause then that will then make other people happy if they're happy and you know, it's a flow on effect. So that's my goal.

Speaker 2:

I love how you said it, you'd like help people go through that and find that themselves because if you would a little bit like I want to just teach them so then they know how to do it. It's like, no, they've got their own journey. Yeah, you can just provide that guidance through it. So very well said. I didn't even think about it, man. Power of your language. What does it mean to be conscious?

Speaker 1:

I think to be conscious is to be so aware of yourself that then it big you become aware of others and everything around you in that. So what I mean by that is that you're so aware of who you are, that you're constantly trying to evolve yourself as the best version of yourself. Whether that's, you know, the way you eat, the way you consume things, the way you use things like your plastic, all of those kinds of things. Um, then that has a run on effect the way you think, you know, that has a run on effect to those everything around you. It affects the people around you, it affects the earth around you. It affects absolutely everything. And I think that's being conscious. Powerful.

Speaker 2:

Is there anything else you want to share and leave with the listeners? I didn't, didn't say just love yourself. Yeah, yeah. Simple but true. I think, I think we know the title for this one. I'm going to be awaken. People see more of your stuff and follow you or the events where they can come do yoga, teacher training, all that sort of stuff.

Speaker 1:

Yes. Um, so I have Instagram and Facebook for balancing body. So Instagram is at balancing buddies. Facebook is slashed balancing buddies for you. And I also have a website which is www dot balancing dash buddies. Dot. Huh. And Yeah, all the infos on all of those things and that connects me with whatever else is going on and whoever else I'm working with as well.

Speaker 2:

Amazing. All those links will be in the show notes as well. Um, and I guess to wrap it up, I just want to say thank you so much for taking time out, for responding and like sharing this conversation, getting so open and vulnerable and I'm sharing a lot about your life and I like, I've gotten so much from that and it's like normally I don't need to see it on Instagram and you just read the quotes and be like, oh, she's very optimistic. But there was just so much goodness and value in this conversation and I'm so grateful that we are got to share this conversation. Thank you. And you know, honestly I just love being able to share the message because as I said, if it affects one person then great. If one person listens and it makes them a little bit happier, great. We've done our job and it's amazing what you're doing. Absolutely amazing. Yeah. Thank you so much. If you are that one person that you've listened to this and you're inspired, you've been impacted, somethings like you related to something, reach out to at least in myself, like give us a message, share it on your, your Instagram story, take a screenshot, leave a review. We love all that sort of stuff and we love connecting with people and I guess just being told that what we're doing is inspiring and, and affecting people. So yeah, make sure, make sure you subscribe and make sure you tell your friends and um, yeah, I also have youtube to balancing bodies. Yeah. Awesome. Yeah, I've started making videos. Will be there until next time. Take care everyone. Thank you so much for taking the time to listen in on our conversation. Hopefully you got some insights and values to raise your awareness. If you like the podcast, please like share on social media and leader of view on whatever platform. I would really appreciate it. You can also keep up to date on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Both handles are at the conscious podcast and also my personal account, which is at Carlow underscore, so below, until next time, take care and be nice.