Issue 04 | Face the Current

Issue 04

February 2017

fAce the current TRAVEL & LEISURE

|

CULTURE

|

MUSIC

|

SPORTS & FITNESS

|

HEALTH & WELLBEING

|

BUSINESS

Insider Guide to Riviera Maya Top 10 Places to Visit

Explore New Zealand’s Secrets of Hobbiton Glowworm Caves & Milford Fjord

Nari & Milani Facing the Current with WOOF

Pioneer Solo Adventurer Ness Knight Heads for the Pacific World Record

Dr. Steven Lin The Dental Diet

...inspiring positive change in the world

www.facethecurrent.com

1

EDITORIAL

editorial

FtC

fAce the current issue 04 · February 2017

Let’s Get Social... facethecurrent @facethecurrent

In the Beginning Face the Current was created with the intention to inspire positive change in the world and enhance lives by encouraging one another to relentlessly discover, explore, question and learn from current and emerging information and perspectives. Driven by a deeprooted love of learning, creative minds and a great appreciation for connection with other individuals who are passionate about what they do, Face the Current has quickly developed into a growing team and global community of incredible people who believe in living life to the fullest and discovering their true potential.

“I find it inspiring to connect with others who are following their flow, pursuing and exploring their passions. Their energy is vibrant & contagious and there is often a lot of incredible things to learn from their life experience and the perspectives they have gained.”

Sasha Frate, Founder and Co-Editor in-Chief Sasha Frate editor in chief

2

sashafrate sasha@facethecurrent.com

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

@facethecurrent www.facethecurrent.com For advertisement and sponsor inquiries, or to request our media kit: info@facethecurrent.com For writer and collaborator inquiries please contact: Founder & Co-Editor in Chief: sasha@facethecurrent.com Co-Editor in Chief: naia@facethecurrent.com

All Rights Reserved DISCLAIMER The information provided on this magazine is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider.

FTC OVERVIEW Face the Current Magazine is a life, thought, goal and experience - enhancing resource of stimulating inspiration and empowerment.

We provide access to expert advice, stories, experiences and knowledge from the world’s leading experts on Health & Wellbeing, Travel & Leisure, Sports & Fitness, Culture & the Arts and Business.

We are developing an enriching community for perspective seekers who desire a fit, healthy and positive lifestyle.

FtC is packed with inspiring & motivating features on outstanding people, places and products. It’s a springboard to attaining greater focus, fulfilment & potential – connecting people to what matters!

FtC Magazine links individuals and businesses alike with pro-active networks, associations, platforms, information, opportunities and ideas; to facilitate and encourage development and success from personal goals to business tactics. FtC makes multi-faceted learning and development accessible, engaging and beneficial.

We provide a valuable platform for the exponential interest and movement towards a healthier lifestyle. We provide truth, exploration, solutions and higher perspectives for positive change seekers who desire a fulfilling and optimized lifestyle. We champion those who are making positive change and seek sponsorship for upcoming athletes, life-changing projects etc.

FtC - Fuel for an inspired life. Discover your potential.

www.facethecurrent.com

3

issue 04 · February 2017

fAce the current

the

t e a m 4

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

Sasha Frate

Founder and Co-Editor in Chief

Naia Reid

Co-Editor in Chief & Creative Director

is a perspective seeker, adventurer, and explorer. She received her Master’s Degree in Liberal Arts and continues to study a variety of subjects within and outside of the academic setting. Frate brings her personal moonshot approach to life to FtC, aiming to provide an experience for our global community where we inspire one another to stay curious, never stop exploring, and to live on-purpose and to potential.

was formerly the Editor of BGlife Magazine, Marbella. A copywriter for years for a Google-Affiliated website design company, before writing, reporting and photographing for Andalucía’s largest English newspaper conglomerate: Euro Weekly News. She now channels her creative talent and vision for a better world, into developing FtC as a broad and multi-faceted platform for people to come together and make a difference.

Sema Garay

Kathleen Johnson Antoñana

Sema is the graphic designer behind the development of the image and magazine of Face the Current. He has developed a multitude of projects, including his previous job leading the Creative Department of BG Life Magazine, where he worked alongside Naia Reid. Sema is passionate about all kinds of artistic expressions, especially music and architecture.

is a dual Master of Spanish Linguistics, Literature, and Culture as well as of Bilingual Special Education. A voracious student, teacher, writer, and paralegal, Ms. Johnson has dedicated her career to immigration law, translation, non-profit grant writing, and special education in Brooklyn, New York. Ms. Johnson is an avid traveler and linguist with a deep love of books, travel, and people.

Executive Designer

Editor

letter from the editor Our February Edition is a compilation of inspiration testing your notions about EXPANSION. Expansion can mean many things: healthier living, higher levels of fitness, consciousness and mindfulness or -even-putting your mind over your matter. Whatever the case, we will ignite a hunger to push your limits.

When we look at the world and our human positioning within its fragile balance -yes, existentialismsome opt for the glass half empty or full perspective. Others might choose the more romantic, single drop in the expansive ocean that comprises the majority, to articulate -both- the importance and the insignificance of our short lives.

Whatever the outlook might be, the fact that we do exist on same basic, fundamental, and, crudely, physical plane is undeniable. The great Spanish artist Francisco de Goya drove himself to insanity as he struggled to make sense of his own life during the historically turbulent times of the Enlightenment. Painting such pieces as El coloso, where his own words failed, to capture the grotesque beauty of humanity in an infinite universe. Goya created a colorless giant staring onto the vast, dark expanse of absolute night.

Francisco de Goya: El coloso, detalle. Biblioteca Nacional de España, Madrid.Why would great thinkers from Albert Einstein to Stephen Hawking grapple with the, seemingly, minor details of what makes life worth living? Hawking asking and demanding that we, “Look up at the stars and not down at your feet.

Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious,” almost as though he were answering the listless pondering of this giant being. Whether our musings are answered with inconclusive proof or spawn more questions, we have come to a point in our history that we have learned that it is the quality of the singular moments that compose the seconds, the minutes, the hours, the days, the years, and, ultimately, our lives that make us whole. It is the appetite to make those moments matter, that gives us purpose and shows those in our midst exactly that with which we are made.

This month we feature: Extreme painting with Mexican Artist Victor Cruz. Trainer & Speaker Ingo Snorrafson talks about how to avoid conformity to consume you. Michael Malone recounts a story on staying true to you.

International DJs Nari & Milani share how to shake up the future of creativity in music industry.

Natalia Clavier, of Thievery Corporation, discusses her views on the healing power of authenticity. Ness Knight, Solo Pioneer Adventurer, relates her adventures and preparation for her first ever female Trans Pacific Ocean attempt in a canoe. Enjoy the journey!

Kathleen Johnson Editor

www.facethecurrent.com

5

,

FebruARY s

CREW We are a growing team of Up-standers

David Asarnow

Dr. James Bentz

is the founder of Business Oxygen, and How To Monetize business marketing and monetization agencies. He is an authority in monetizing your business.

David’s clients have added millions of dollars to their bottom line after implementing his business monetization strategies. David has trained thousands of business professionals worldwide, including those for clients like Tony Robbins and Chet Holmes Business Breakthroughs International. www.BusinessOxygen.net www.HowToMonetize.net

D.PSc. is a Chiropractor, Speaker, Health Coach & Educator, Trainer & Leading Practitioner in Neurological Integration System (NIS), which is a method of restoring communication between the brain and body based on the principle that the brain monitors every cell in the body. www.fidalgoislandhealthcenter.com

whose intention is to create positive change in the world, through networking, connecting, supporting and developing at an individual and global community level. We are passionate about building our

Dr. Vaughn Bowman is a board certified Naturopathic Physician licensed in the state of Connecticut. For nearly two decades he has treated patients of all ages with a myriad of different conditions from the common cold to debilitating autoimmune conditions. The goal is to always locate the underlying cause for any one illness rather than treat superficial symptoms and by doing so Dr. Bowman has led many patients back to health. drvbowman.com

Ingo Snorrason

is a professional Athletic Developer, Personal Trainer, Seminar Speaker, NLP Specialist and a Counselor for various professional athletes and teams. He travels Europe working with people in sports ranging from handball and football to horse riders, martial artists and golfers.

Email: ingo@ingo.is

network of experts and industry leaders to deliver cutting edge information to our global community.

This month’s Team and Crew are based in the U.S., Europe, and Mexico.

6

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

Lisa Skube is a former US NorAM skier turned information advocate, carving up digital experience design & scaling press sustainability, a social change architect. She is the founder of JournalismAccelerator.com a trainer, coach and consultant unifying public good plus revenue @journaccel @lskube & beyond instagram @skube2U2

David Ryan

David is a celebrity trainer in Los Angeles, California and creator of LIFTSTRONG Max Intensity Interval Training. You can get your own personalized HIIT program at www.

DavidRyanFitness.com Instagram: @DavidRyanFitness

Michael Malone

Dave Aiello

Tom Archer

is an American Comedian, Actor, Director, & Podcaster. His popular comedy podcast “Punched Up” explores the stories behind the comedians you love. Michael writes on “Great Comedians. Great Stories.

Told Differently.” www.malonecomedy.com Social: @malonecomedy

is an author, musician and photographer based in Portland, Oregon. He has worked with Fortune 50 companies to build their global brands but now applies his natural curiosity to exploring and documenting the world around him. www.radisaurs.com dave@aiellobuzz.com

is a freelance photographer with a passion for travel. He shoots a variety of work from weddings to advertising, he is completely self-taught and his work has taken him all over the world. He is in the process of building workshops, which will see him teaching landscape and adventure photography in some of the most beautiful destinations on the planet. www.facebook.com/ tomarcherphotography www.instagram.com/tomarcherphoto

Sabrina Hutchinson

is CEO of Defiant Public Relations, an entertainment PR firm headquartered in Los Angeles, CA. With over 15 years of PR, marketing and advertising experience, Hutchinson has worked closely with celebrity talent, creatives and top corporate clients and has extensive experience in entertainment and digital marketing, delivering smart communication strategies, passion, creativity and integrity to the clients she serves. www.DefiantPR.com T: @DefiantPR

Clair Marie

who also goes by “BASEgirl” is a BASE jumper, Skydiver, Mountain bike racer, Rock climber, Motivational Speaker, Keynote, and Model. She is a passionate vegan and a world traveler. She has made it her life goal to inspire others and help them accomplish or find their dreams and passions. After defying the odds and becoming one of the worlds youngest BASE jumpers at 16 years old she realized how important it is to always follow your dreams! And now she helps others find theirs. https://basegirl.com

Joseph Montgomery

runs a wealth management and financial planning practice based out of Seattle and Los Angeles. His mission is to develop enduring relationships with clients by providing expert guidance for a lifetime of financial security.

Joe works with clients to identify and grow their financial trajectory and then focuses on solutions that can help make those financial goals a reality. He helps find the right solutions for personal, family or business needs. Joe is proud to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Intiman Theater as well as being an active member of Seattle Rotary 4 and the Washington Athletic Club. http://josephmontgomery.nm.com/ Email: Joseph.Montgomery@nm.com

Harry Reid

is a Freelance Photographer living in County Kilkenny, Ireland. His Photography includes: Sea & Landscapes, Wildlife, Portraiture, Sporting & Corporate Events, Press Photography and Commissions. A selection of Harry’s Photography may be viewed on www. facebook.com/harryreidphotographyand he can be contacted by emailing: harryreid@live.ie

Leandro Gidoni,

graphic designer and illustrator, works remotely from his small studio near the beach in the city of Mar del Plata, Argentina.

He has spent the last eight years working in the graphic design field, as well as taking on a wide range of illustration projects. Find in the personal illustration a therapy, solving and generating questions of things that day by day traverse his reality.

Follow his work at www.instagram.com/gidoni.ilustracion

Alen Cristen Romero

is one of the most qualified and knowledgeable tourist guides in the Cozumel region of Mexico. When not showing visitors around the area, he runs a wellness park where Traditional Temazcal healers work alongside European professionals. He loves to dive the coral reefs and explore the jungle with his machete.

www.facethecurrent.com

7

CONTENT issue 04 · february 2017

COVER stories

INSIDER GUIDE TO RIVIERA MAYA 26 Top 10 Places to Visit

NARI & MILANI 50

Pioneer Solo Adventurer Ness Knight 70

Facing the Current with WOOF

Heads for the Pacific World Record

DR. STEVEN LIN 92 The Dental Diet

8

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

EXPLORE NEW ZEALAND’S SECRETS OF HOBBITON 12 Glowworm Caves & Milford Fjord

february CONTENT L VE RE A TR ISU E &L E UR

LT

CU

IC US

M

s rt s o sp nes it &f & th g l n a he lbei l we ss

bu

e sin

12.

Explore New Zealand’s Secrets of Hobbiton, Glowworm Caves, & Milford Fjord

18.

A Taste of Ireland

26.

Insider Guide to Riviera Maya: Top 10 Places to Visit

36.

Victor Cruz Extreme Painter: Hanging in Translation

40.

Our World and Our Reality is What We Make It: Be Free

42.

Do Your Characters

44.

Leandro Gidoni Illustrator

46.

February’s Conversation Enhancers

50.

Nari & Milani: Facing the Current

54.

Ben Phipps: To the Rhythm

58.

Natalia Clavier: An Open Heart

64.

Nick Kinsey: Music, A Serious & Spiritual Business

70.

Pioneer Solo Adventurer Champions the Unfathomable and Heads for the Pacific Record

80.

Mind over Matter

82.

The Yoga Rebirth: The Latest Alternatives Are Keeping it Fresh or Funky!

84.

Tabata Training. You Can Do Anything For 20 Seconds

88.

Nutrient Density: What is it and Why Should You Care?

92.

Your Teeth Reflect Your Diet: How to Eat For That Beautiful Smile

96.

Doctor, “What can I do to make this better?

98.

The Power of Reishi - An in Depth Look at the Benefits of Reishi Mushrooms

104.

Leaf Republic: Nature’s Solution to Plastic

108.

Owning the Power of Capability

110.

Time Republik’s Time Currency: Time to Get in on the Action

114

Marketing: A Key Lever in Monetization

www.facethecurrent.com

9

FtC fAce the current

TRAVEL 12.

18.

26.

10

Explore New Zealand’s Secrets of Hobbiton, Glowworm Caves, & Milford Fjord A Taste of Ireland Insider Guide to Riviera Maya: Top 10 Places to Visit

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

www.facethecurrent.com 11 Photo by Tom Archer

FtC travel

Travel Deeper Explore New Zealand’s Secrets of Hobbiton, Glowworm Caves, and the 2nd Wettest Place on Earth - Milford Fjord

By Tom Archer, Adventure Photographer & Writer Sunlight flickers and splinters like golden daggers through the colourful green foliage way above my head. A cool humidity fills the air, refreshing me on this warm summer’s day. We descend down through the deep gorge; I can hear the gentle trickle of the stream below as we clamber over cold, slippery boulders, slowly making our way towards the dark abyss ahead.

We are in Waitomo, New Zealand, on a family farm passed down through four generations.Their main business is now tours of their glowworm caves; something the area is very famous for, with thousands of visitors arriving every day to see the caves and their inhabitants. Our guides, Glowing Adventures, specialise in small, intimate tours.Their caves aren’t as accessible as some of the main caves, but the experience is more relaxed and feels quite adventurous, like I’m in a scene from Indiana Jones.

Our guide, Heath, turns around to my girlfriend Julie and I and tells us to flick our head torches on before jumping into the stream below. It’s deeper than it looks and ice-cold water pours into our gumboots.

As we enter the cave mouth it doesn’t take long for inky blackness to fill the void around us.

“Glowworms are actually the larval stage of an insect called the Fungus Gnat,” Heath tells us, as we plod our way through the flowing water. “The bioluminescent light they produce is used to attract other insects.The glowworms hang sticky threads around the light, which they use to catch insects, much in the same way a spider does in its web”.

12

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

www.facethecurrent.com

13

Cold moisture drips from the rocks above us as we arrive at what Heath tells us is the main colony in the cave. We turn our torches off and it takes a second for my eyes to adjust before I start to notice them.Thousands of blue dots fill my vision in a spectacle that rivals the Milky Way.They produce a beautiful light that shimmers off the stream beneath my feet and stretches off into the distance. I feel like I am in another world and I’m completely humbled by it. How can something as small as a gnat create something so beautiful? For the next couple of hours I get the opportunity to photograph this amazing scene, loving every minute of it.

Julie and I are on a 6-week tour of New Zealand. I had initially thought this would be plenty of time, but we quickly realised it was nowhere near long enough, with the plethora of sights and activities the country has to offer.

14

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

One of my favourite so far has been Milford Sound. It’s actually a fjord that was formed by a gigantic glacier carving its way through the mountain millions of years ago. Milford is the second wettest place on the planet; with over 200 days of rain a year.The two days we spent there felt like four seasons. We had brilliant warm sun, cold torrential rain, mist and beautifully clear night skies. The mountains there surround you like huge, peering granite giants. Waterfalls cascade off almost every face of rock after it has rained. Kayaking through these waters makes you feel like a hobbit; you can’t help but be humbled by the scale of this place.

Speaking of Hobbits, the Hobbiton Movie Set is a hugely popular site for visitors to New Zealand’s North Island. I was apprehensive; I’m a huge fan of The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies so I worried that the commercialism of the franchise, along with the thousands of visitors they receive each day, would spoil the experience, but it didn’t for a second.The tour is very cleverly organised and timed; your group often feels like the only one on the site, as you weave through the beautiful gardens and hills, led by your guide, whilst they deliver interesting and amusing anecdotes.

Hobbitontours.com shared some fascinating facts with FtC… Did you know: *There isn’t a large amount of synthetic scenery and what is there, fits seamlessly into the immaculately looked after gardens and fields. *It took a team of 70 builders to construct the set, which is spread over 12 acres. *During production, catering crews provided three meals were daily to cast and crew, plus snacks on demand for 600+ people. *There are a total of 44 Hobbit houses on the set and

each Hobbit hole is planted with 30-200 plants. *The plum trees are actually apple and pear trees that were transplanted to the site. (The native plum trees were too large for the hobbits) They had their fruit removed and artificial leaves and plums wired onto every branch (and after all that effort were only featured for 5 seconds in the extended addition!). *The Party Tree is 70 - 80 metres tall and approximately 110years old. *The tree above Bag End is artificial, made out of steel

www.facethecurrent.com

15

and silicone with 200,000 artificial leaves made out of silk wired onto it.They took moulds from an oak tree to make it look like real bark.

10 days prior to the filming of The Hobbit, it was decided that the colour wasn’t realistic enough, so they lowered set designers in cranes into the tree, to spray every single one of the leaves. *Over 100 staff attend the site. It takes 7-8 full time gardeners to maintain the pristine site in the height of the season and 5 keep it tended during the winter. *Two weeks before filming was due to start, one person was assigned to hang the washing out on the clotheslines each morning and bring it in again at night.This was done to create natural paths in the

16

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

grass. *Catering: During production, catering crews provided three meals were daily to cast and crew, plus snacks on demand for 600+ people. *Traditional ales, cider and nonalcoholic ginger beer, all brewed exclusively for Hobbiton, are served from barrels behind the bar at the Green Dragon Inn, where the tour ends. Over 400,000L have been poured since the Green Dragon opened in Dec 2012.

There is a huge amount of passion that goes into Hobbiton, like everything in New Zealand.The country is staggeringly beautiful; from epic mountain ranges to exotic beaches and the beautiful, green rolling hills in the North,

there is something for everyone. But what makes the country so amazing is the magic of the place. It may sound cheesy or cliché, but you don’t just feel like you are visiting, you feel part of it.

New Zealand is certainly up there with the top destinations to visit in the world and is one I will definitely be returning to.

yMore info: Glowing Adventures Glow Worm Caves: www.glowing.co.nz Hobbiton Tours: www.hobbitontours.com Tom Archer: Facebook.com/TomArcherPhoto www.facethecurrent.com

17

FtC travel

A Taste of Ireland

By Harry Reid

Ireland or the Emerald Isle, or Eire as the Gaelic speaking natives call her; birthplace of legendary heroes like Fionn McCumhaill, St. Patrick and of course, the cheeky, usually well inebriated, rainbowdwelling leprechauns.

This little country is known around the globe for the exquisite Book of Kells, its ancient castles, stone circles and high crosses that dot the land, the history-morphing potato famine and the 40 shades of green fields that explode upon the senses. Ireland leaves a lasting impression on those who visit and experience the unique culture, renowned friendliness and laid back attitude of the people.

For many, the essence of Ireland is in the clash of the ash during knuckle and lip busting hurling matches, lively Irish traditional music in tiny crammed local pubs, punctuated by the smell of smoky turf fires, hearty Irish beef stew and pints of creamy Guinness. This is the place where the “craic” is always “mighty” and the charm of the landscape, culture and people is infectious. It’s also famous for its sport horses, four-seasons-in-a-day weather and for producing some of the greatest musicians and bands in the world.

There is so much more to this little country than meets the eye. So often travellers make it as far as Dublin, the sprawling

18

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE Ruined castle, Waterford

cosmopolitan capital and think they’ve seen it all, failing to venture into the delights of the beyond. However, it’s often the surrounding counties, landscapes, towns and gathering places where you will discover the true, local colour, character, craic and charm of this rugged little island.

Professional Irish photographer and wood turner Harry Reid has exhibited his work in many renowned Irish public buildings around the country and his commissioned collections enliven the walls of hospitals, banks and hotels as well as private homes. His work has sold around the world and offers a natural, often fly-on-thewall perspective of Irish life and lore. He travels extensively in Ireland with his camera, capturing magical moments, characters and landscapes from all corners of this quaint, historically endowed and stunningly beautiful country.

Kilree Round Tower and ancient High Cross

www.facethecurrent.com

19

Kilkenny Castle

20

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE St. Patrick

Traditional ploughing in Wexford

www.facethecurrent.com ML Dore, High Street, Kilkenny 21

A Sailors Haven in West Cork, Ireland.

Great Saltee Island

22

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

Slieve League in West Donegal

Puffins on the Great Saltee Islands

St. Canices Cathedral

www.facethecurrent.com Stradbally Steam Rally 08. 086

23

Back in the day

24

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

Irish Cailins

Mt. Juliet Hotel & Golf Resort.

Irish busker

Enjoying a pint of Guinness in the Clubhouse Hotel in Kilkenny

yFor more information, commissions or sales, Harry would be delighted to hear from you and can be contacted at www.facebook.com/harryreidphotography or by emailing: harryreid@live.ie www.facethecurrent.com

25

FtC travel

Insider Guide to

riviera maya Top 10 Places to Visit

By Alen Cristen Romero

Born in Cozumel Island, Mexico, I have dedicated hundreds of hours to the study of the Mayan world as an archeological student in the USA. My love for travel and the study of culture has prompted me to travel to Europe and learn Italian.

Once an important area of Mayan civilization, the Riviera Maya is a peaceful place surrounded by incredible nature. Just 90km south of Cancun, this beautiful region is becoming known for the same ecolife consciousness that Tulum enjoys. Additionally, it is well known for its superb weather, many wonderful activities, fantastic food, and natural drinks.

Allow me to introduce to you to some awe-inspiring places that I consider being the most memorable and worthy of a visit. These ten places represent places that are sure to fill your five senses with delight and the inspiration to experience it all.

26

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

1. tulum Mayan Ruins

The ruins are reasonably well preserved and date from was originally a seaport trading in Jade and turquoise. It is almost completely encircled by a 7m thick wall and sits atop a 12m-limestone cliff. It is the only Mayan city to have built beside the sea and the only one to have its own beautiful beach, so it’s an ideal escape from civilization today. This place has amazing energy, particularly notable in the mornings.

2. Tankah Pueblo

This authentic and somewhat mystical Mayan Village is surrounded by the rainforest and is a spectacular submergence into Mayan life as it has been lived for eons. Tankah is a delight to visit, offering rich colors, friendly locals and time-untouched, authentic culture. There are many underground rivers and cenotes networks to explore here which are renowned for their minerals, an excellent natural skin and hair tonic. Try taking a traditional Temazcal (steamy sauna) before plunging in for some serious refreshing of the senses.

www.facethecurrent.com

27

3. Chichen Itza 125km west of Cancun and Cozumel, is the 7th Wonder of the World, the Temple of Tukulkan, which has 365 steps and demonstrates incredibly precise planetary alignment: on the Spring and Summer Equinox each year, a shadow descends the steps of the pyramid like a serpent, drawing spectators from all over the world to observe the phenomenon. These ruins have the largest ball court in the Americas and are famous for the nearby sinkholes, which provided the community with water, in which females were sacrificed to the rain gods.

28

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

4. Akumal The name of this area means “place of the turtles”. It’s a stunningly beautiful beach area, which is famous for its coral reef, choice of ship wrecks to dive and of course, plentitude of sea turtles, which often you get to swim alongside. For the more adventurous (and qualified divers), you can also get close and personal with the non-aggressive, pregnant female Bullsharks, which come to the area between December and April.

5. Uxmal Originally a center for trade from around A.D. 700, the city of Uxmal is now a designated UNESCO Heritage site, most famous for the Temple of the Magician, a 91ft high step pyramid with rounded sides and mysterious legends surrounding who built it. The city was once home to 25,000 people. It is in excellent condition and is particularly aesthetically pleasing.

www.facethecurrent.com

29

6. Playa del Carmen Playa is a popular city and stop off point for cruise ships which dock nearby. It’s also home of the Xcaret Eco Park, a themed archaeological experience where you can also test your ner ve on the highest zip-line in LatinAmerica.

7. Cozumel An incredibly beautiful island of just 650km2 opposite Playa del Carmen, Cozumel is also a popular cruise ship stop. The reefs here, south west of the island are the best place to snorkel and see starfish, manatee and dolphins.

30

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

8. Puerto Morelos There’s nothing quite like sampling great local food… and Puerto Morelos, 30km north of Playa del Carmen, is renowned for and very proud of its reputation for amazing fresh sea food. The National Marine Park is just 100m off the beach and ideal for snorkelling.

www.facethecurrent.com

31

9. Cancun Cancun is where to head if you want to shop til you drop, stay in high quality hotels or experience the busy nightlife. The ancient ruins of Coba nearby make a great day trip for a taster of the local history.

riviera maya

32

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

10. Bacalar Bacalar has a 60km long laguna of crystal clear waters and white beaches, which offer an ideal spot for camping, kayaking, swimming or simply hanging out and relaxing around the stilt-legged sea cabañas.

ymore info: Find out more about Alen’s tours and more around these amazing destinations: Alen Cristen: biotechalen@gmail.com www.padi.com/ www.cuevaz.com www.xplor.travel/xplor-tour-activities.php www.akumalmonkeysanctuary.com/ www.facethecurrent.com

33

FtC fAce the current

culture 34

36.

40.

42.

44.

46.

Victor Cruz Extreme Painter: Hanging in Translation Our World and Our Reality is What We Make It: Be Free DO YOUR CHARACTERS LEANDRO GIDONI ILLUSTRATOR FEBRUARYConversation Enhancers

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

www.facethecurrent.com

35

FtC culture

Victor Cruz

Extreme Painter:

Hanging in Translation Mexican artist Victor Cruz is a landscape painter, but not of the usual kind of landscapes you see.

Chasing a twist that he wanted to inject into his art, searching for a way to paint something that people had never seen before, determined to be different and also to highlight the many hidden beauty spots of his country,Victor took an Indiana Jones approach to his art and became possibly the first person on the planet to merge art with an extreme sport.

36

Credit: Tavo Cruz. Sótano del Popocatl, Zongolica, Veracruz (México) FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

By Ana McFerran

After sometimes trekking for hours through dense forest undergrowth, in humid conditions and carrying a huge selection of backbreaking supplies, Victor puts his life in the hands of his team of 6-8 professional cavers, or “brothers” as he refers to them, who assist him to descend into his natural and awesome studios to paint.

Victor searches out the many unknown natural caves and cenotes of the Mexican jungle; the secret, silent and often never seen before other-worlds, disguised and hidden by the foliage and rough terrain.

These are often surrounded by huge, straight cliff faces and as Victor likes to paint his subject from the inside, with a

unique perspective and birds eye view, this involves his team lowering him inch by inch into position by harness.

Where others simply squirt some paint onto a palate and get stuck straight into their creation, Victor’s canvas requires a slightly different approach. Armed with a specially designed easel and equipment box that sits in its own harness on his lap, complete with hard hat and steely concentration, Victor is now well accustomed to rappelling down 50 or 70m of rock face, into these gaping openings into the earth. As he hangs, silently suspended for hours, lost in the translation of what he sees and senses, he has learned to adapt to the spray of waterfalls,

Credit: Irving Arturo Angulo Chi. Cueva Río Secreto, Quintana Roo, (México)

upwind gusts, swaying ropes and complete solitude and says the adrenaline, focus and mindfulness of the present moment are difficult to explain, but truly powerful. He explains that the sense of peace in these majestic and humbling places makes him forget the risk as he paints.

He enjoys intimately getting to know the hidden beauty of his country and hopes that one day his pieces will be exhibited in important art galleries around the world.

He also hopes to draw attention to the alternative attraction that these caves offer for tourism. Victor discovered he’s not the only cave painter in the area…although the rivals left with the ice-age, he often sees the art they left behind.

www.facethecurrent.com

37

Credit: Irving Arturo Angulo Chi. Cueva Río Secreto, Quintana Roo, (México)

38

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

Credit: Tavo Cruz. Sótano del Guacamayas, SLP, Veracruz (México)

Credit: Irving Arturo Angulo Chi. Cueva Río Secreto, Quintana Roo, (México)

Credit: Irving Arturo Angulo Chi. Cueva Río Secreto, Quintana Roo, (México)

Credit: Tavo Cruz. Sótano del Boquerón, Zongolica, Veracruz (México)

ymore info: To find out more about this incredible artist and his work, you can contact him on Facebook.com/victor.cruzg Credit: Irving Arturo Angulo Chi. Cueva Río Secreto, Quintana Roo, (México)

www.facethecurrent.com

39

FtC culture

Our World and Our Reality is What We Make It: Be Free Is the ROLE you play consuming the LIFE you live?

“

Conformity makes us chase images, makes us blindly follow what is in front of us, very often in the fear of showing the world who we truly are.

“

40

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

Conformity. To tell oneself to think and act under the influence of an external force in the purpose of going along with whatever …it’s a mindless attitude.

Let´s be clear on that. We take on the role we live in our life, whatever that role is.

Modern society constantly fills our mind with information and ideology that tells us what the ideal lifestyle is and how to live it.

Take diet for instance; how many spins of “diet fashion” must one individual have to take while going through one lifetime?

How much information is true and legit?

This is where it is easy to give in and conform to the norm, skip all the questioning and active reasoning, why bother? It takes a lot of gut anyway.

Now, let´s come down to some not so common knowledge; The Secret´s Secret!

We are a mass of thoughts, decisions, actions and feedback that either rewards us or punishes us. Even the pain can have a deep purpose, a life experience that offers us an understanding of the contrast that we experience.

The trick here is to be able to keep both feet on the ground; to be able to still the

mind and actively decide where to turn next. If we just shrug our shoulders and constantly follow the norm we lose the touch with our individuality, which inevitably keeps us disconnected from who we truly are - behind the makeup, underneath the fashion clothes and above our common actions.

Conformity makes us chase images, makes us blindly follow what is in front of us, very often in the fear of showing the world who we truly are. It starts early; we are exposed to constant information that shapes our behavior, even when we are children. All we have to do is to say “yes, I want that shiny doll to play with”, the same doll that starts telling my subconscious mind what image I will constantly try to follow but never become.

This is where the creation of the role we live manifests and slowly takes control of our feelings and behavior. Notice that I mention feelings, that´s right; emotions are very often stronger than the thoughts, and the seller knows it. So it is very easy to go through life, never truly getting to know oneself and then wake up realizing that so much time has been spent in the wrong

bed.

Go out and take a walk, notice the surroundings and enjoy being alive. Feel the touch of your clothes and the air that flows into your lungs, realize that you are a constantly moving entity that sums up an enormous amount of energy. Disconnect from your duties and feel free, even if it is only for a few minutes. Then come back from that and give yourself feedback on how you feel at the moment you finish your walk. Realize that by going through these steps you are literally getting to know yourself, you are out from the duties, you are only under the influence of your own existence and this is where you learn to get to know yourself.

Remember that self-knowledge is the core of self-confidence. And self-confidence is the ability to be able to be in a preferred state in different kinds of situations.

Be well.

ymore info:

e-mail: ingo@ingo.is www.facethecurrent.com

41

FtC culture

DO YOURCHARACTERS

By Michael Malone It’s 2 a.m., and Becky just got called into the office. Well, sort of…

Late night emails and writing jokes ‘til sunrise are the norm when you’re a cast member of MTV’s Wild’n’Out, a fast-paced comedy sketch and improv. show.

Becky is one of the newest on the Wild’n Out team, where she frequently shows off her improv. skills in comedy and rap battles. And she usually finds out about what segments she’ll be performing the night before they tape.

This particular night’s call to action?

“The Hating Game.” The 2 a.m. email informed her she’d be playing with Jay Leno. It’s a parody on the old game show “The Dating Game.”

And Instead of giving Becky a role, the email simply said, “Becky, just do your characters.”

You may already know Becky without realizing it.

Sometimes she wears a brunette, bull-cut wig as ‘Alan Ginsberg, the world’s youngest billionaire tech guru’.

Or you may know ‘Deb, the androgynous tour guide,’ another of Becky’s most popular. During the election season, I watched Becky dressed as ‘Young Hillary Clinton’ twerking on stage with rapper Nelly on my Snapchat feed. That is not fake news. That actually happened.

So, being told to “do your characters” wasn’t alarming. But the lack of direction certainly was.

Becky manically pours over her joke book ‘til sunrise. She’s writing what she thinks the producers of the show would want her to write. Roasting 42

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

jokes, you know, jokes about Jay’s chin, or his matching denim outfits.

The normal stuff people bag on Leno for.

The following morning during rehearsal, Becky starts delivering all of her roast jokes she prepared.

They fall flat. Not even a chuckle.

Nick Cannon and the Nile Evans, the executive producer, walk over to Becky and tell her jokes were too mean spirited. That they needed to make sure Jay didn’t feel bad.

“It was just the worst feeling… like, I had the worst pit in my stomach.”

The episode films in an hour and Becky has to start from scratch.

On the verge of a panic attack, Becky throws the rules book out the window. She stopped writing what she thought the producers would think was funny and started writing what she thought was funny.

She transformed herself to “Ziggy,” a Southern woman who’s politically incorrect, racist rants would make Donald Trump blush. Armed with only a notebook of untested jokes

and southern charm, Becky’s “Ziggy” was created just in the nick of time.

The ink had hardly dried in her notebook when she was summoned to run jokes with Jay Leno.

“I just remember thinking, say the punchlines to him how you’re going to say them in the sketch, ya know? So that he gets the joke. So that he really gets what I’m trying to do with this character.”

Jay starts running lines for the sketch with questions for “The Hating Game.”

“What would you do to get me to fall in love?” Jay asks.

In her thickest Southern drawl, Becky croaks out, “Ohhh that’s easy. I’d bring you right on back to my trailer” and proceeds to describe what she would do to him in said trailer. It doesn’t leave much to the imagination.

Silence.

Then, the shock wore off and an explosion of laughter hit the greenroom. Jay loves Ziggy! Each answer gets dirtier than the last, and soon it’s show time.

Becky patiently waits backstage for the commercial break to end, wearing her overalls and snug brunette bull cut wig. She is no longer Becky Robinson, she is ‘Ziggy.’

A fellow cast member sees her standing in the wings and says to her, “We don’t wear wigs on this show.

You should take that off.”

Becky quickly snapped backed.

“I am doing this, and this is how I’m doing it! This is what we planned on doing! These are the jokes I’m doing!

This is a character piece and God D***** I’m doing it as a f****** character piece!”

The lights come on, cameras start to roll and Becky’s performance proceeds to receive giant applause breaks. Laughter was crashing in like tidal waves. Even Leno had a hard time keeping it together.

Comedy isn’t a one-size-fits-all. It’s challenging, and tough to swallow sometimes. As a comedian, I know how easy it is to get wrapped up in worrisome thoughts like bombing.

My suggestion? Be like Becky.

Focus on your x-factor. Don’t try to squeeze into what you think other people want from you. What happens if you don’t bomb? What happens if that idea of yours is on the verge of something spectacular.

I’ll tell you what happens. You get a phone call from your management the next morning saying, “I don’t know what you did last night, but I’ve been getting phone calls all

morning from agents and networks that all want to meet with you.” At least, that’s what happened to Becky.

Stay true to yourself. Don’t be afraid to be different... And for God’s sake, do your characters.

Find Michael Malone’s new podcast at www.punchedup.com. You can download his latest album “Thirty One” on iTunes and keep up to date on his tour schedule and upcoming films at his website www.malonecomedy.com. www.facethecurrent.com

43

FtC

LEA ILL ND US RO TR GI AT DO O R NI

culture

”Change is the heartbeat of growth” Scottie Summers “There is no justification for present existence, other than its expansion into an indefinitely open future.”

Simone de Beauvoir “Knowing is not enough…we must apply. Willing is not enough…we must do.”

Bruce Lee Scottie Summers 44

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

“Expansion” www.facethecurrent.com

45

FtC culture

Conversation

FEBRUARY

Enhancers

February’s Word Play

Words to Enhance Vocabulary & Enrich Life that the plot of your Nodus Tollens: the realisation any more.

life doesn’t make sense same old issues you’ve Altschmerz: weariness of thegs n always had, the same thin that have bee gnawing you for years Occhiolism: the awareness of the smallness of your perspective y Alacrity: (n.) eagerness, speed or more satisfactor

Repudiate: (v.) to reject, refuse to accept 46

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

Let’s try it out!

Repudiating altschmurz at the moment of reaching Nodus Tollens and accepting that occhiolism can in fact spurn an alacrity towards change and growth, can be a powerful path to true expansion.

How to play te word, Send your favoriph se to expression, or ra

t.com n e r r u c e h t e c fa info@ with

yur”entry to a l P d r o W “ yo r fo ce for a chan ion. Be sure to in the Subject line month’s edit be featured in nerxtname or @john/janedoe include you

www.facethecurrent.com

47

FtC fAce the current

MUSIC 50.

54.

58.

64.

48

Nari & Milani: Facing the Current Ben Phipps: To the Rhythm Natalia Clavier: An Open Heart Nick Kinsey Music: A Serious & Spiritual Business

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

www.facethecurrent.com

49

FtC music

i n a l i M & i Nar rrent Facing the Cu with WOOF

by naia reid

50

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

The Italian duo Nari & Milani are known for their endless uplifting energy and good vibes wherever they perform around the globe. They recently set off waves within the industry, by pioneering a move back towards a more underground sound, with more innovative, emotional and progressive elements and are also supporting raw, innovative talent with their own Label WOOF : spotlighting and supporting fresh young talent with the intention of pouring new inspiration and perspectives into a fresh new sound, counteracting what many have described as the stagnancy and monopoly of the commercial music industry. Nari and Milani talk to FtC about their brotherhood, how they plan to change things up and how WOOF is “a movement that is angry for change.”

You guys have always brought your crowds a deep and intense vibe. In what way will the journeys that you take people on with your music be different with your transition from mainstream dance to more underground sounds? Tell us about the energetics and intention behind the evolution you have planned for your music.

From a creative prospect, there has never been a better time to experiment and do something different. That probably sounds weird given the vast saturation of sound we have had more recently, but I see talented people being handed the platform they deserve finally – both in context of ‘mainstream’ and ‘underground’ music. Truth is, all these things like ‘EDM’ and ‘Underground’ strike me as ways people try to simplify something that is so broad and ever expanding that there really is no snack term suitable. It’s a good time to be making game changing music.

The internet helps a lot with communication obviously. Today there

are more resources and we are happy when for example we play at festivals and guys follow us by streaming. We love the contact with our fans...that is the most important thing for us.

A lot of DJs start underground and then once they “make it” they switch to more mainstream genres…resulting in the majority of dance floors everywhere playing the same tracks and a lot of unique creativity being lost.You guys are breaking the mould and setting your own path facing the current (which funny enough is what we’re both about!) (laughs)…tell us about how this decision to transition to a more club culture sound came about and what you plan to achieve with the move.

It is really boring to have to listen to the same drops and easy melodies. We try to do something different, of course it is not easy but we should definitely try new stuff matching the peoples’ different tastes.

One’s mind should not be locked in on only one genre. Good music will always be good music, regardless of genre. We always consult with one another on new tools, new methods and tracks to play.

Everything is prepared. Our inspirations are in the air and everything is connected to timing. Sometimes certain things work and sometimes they don’t. We just keep adding new variables into the equation until we get the finished product.

We believe that the more commercial scene is a piece of the puzzle that needs to be there, but there will always be underground sounds, no worries.

Is this move encouraged by many fans wanting a more creative and unique feel to club music…or driven by personal preferences…or both?!

A lot of promoters are trying to make people understand EDM better with more events and gigs. Italy is all about style, there is little knowledge of EDM over here and we hope there is an electronic revolution soon. The music should win, but the www.facethecurrent.com

51

business wins in Italy always...unfortunately.

The American crowds understand your story and your music and in Italy the people don’t appreciate our music like they do in America. The Italians don’t care about the DJ – just the champagne and the women. The music in Italy has changed and normally the people prefer the progressive, tech house, electro music, and right now we have changed a little towards that direction.

Another thing you have in common with Face the Current is your desire to connect people and support upcoming talent, who may otherwise struggle to get themselves out there.You were quoted as saying “We’ve made it our goal now to be available and helpful to young people who believe in music.” Tell us about some up and coming talent to watch out

52

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

for and how exactly you help these artists within your own new label WOOF. We always work with young producers.

There are so many producers innovating right now. It’s an incredibly open-minded and creative time. It’s very exciting – and very inspiring!

WOOF has as a mission to spread good music, discover and promote new talents, helping them to never stop chasing their own dreams. Woof is a new trend; a movement in which every release is art being expressed freely. Woof is looking for creativity. Woof is angry for quality. Woof wants Change. This is Woof!

What elements does a promo need to have to be considered for WOOF? We are looking for fresh, cool, innovative and sick ideas and sounds!

You have two new releases of your own coming out shortly;Twilightpre order on Doorn Records and Alone- pre order on WOOF Records. Can we have some juicy insider teasers on what to expect and some insights into the elements that came together for these tracks to be released?

“Twilight” with Tava is is very fresh. It’s like a waveform – inspiration is in the air and together we built a cool house melody.

“Alone” on Woof rec is HARMONIOUS and describes perfectly what we are looking for in a production: progression, vibe and emotion. If people love our music, then they can join us on this journey!

The music has a cool image- the WOOF covers are all 3D, it’s a sick idea and cutting edge. We love art and you can check out some samples on the WOOF Instagram profile:

What are your personal philosophies on life and music making?

For us making music means pure happiness, new friendships, funny moments and exchanges of different perspectives.

For example, like Camino del Sol with Hiisak. We came to know Hiisak through a dear friend. One day she told us about a really good young producer who we should check out. We did, Hiisak became a friend and is now part of the team!

We just started showing each other the projects we were working on and it clicked. We all have pretty different musical tastes, but when it comes down to starting an idea or staying engaged with what you’re working on, oftentimes it’s something small like a bass stab or a random musical sample that sparks an idea. Those moments build on each other until you’ve got the beginnings of a track.

This is all a dream come true, we work

hard, but with a smile every day, enjoying moments like these. It is all that we want to do in our lives. we don’t know what life would be like without music…we can’t even imagine!

How do you feed and nourish your own creativity on a personal level?

Don’t copy! You can look at other artists’ work for inspiration but should always find your own niche to work on. Read books, study, learn to play a musical instrument… because making music is key to the knowledge of music.

It must be an amazing feeling to take a 21-year friendship onto the biggest stages of the world and watch the crowd bounce to your joint efforts.Tell us about some of the highs and lows of achievements and challenges you guys have been through together, how you work

through things together… and what the dynamic and key is to such a strong bond?

We are now like brothers; we have different characters, but this is our strength.

If one day we struggling to find inspiration, we don’t go to the studio ... creativity is a gift, we respect that and appreciate that we are very lucky!!!! We have a team that has been working with us for years now and we are all like one big family.

This is our strength.

Nari and Milani, it’s been a pleasure, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us. All at FtC want to wish you the very best for the coming year. Is there any message you would like to leave for our readers?

Believe in your yourself and your dreams and never, ever give up!!!!

ymore info: Webpage: www.nariandmilani.com Instagram: woof.rec Facebook: nariandmilani Soundcloud: nariandmilani www.facethecurrent.com

53

FtC music

Ben Phipps - To the Rhythm

By Naia Reid

Dynamic, emotional and exotic are words used to describe the soundscapes created by, Swedish born Sound Artists and Producer Ben Phipps, who plays alchemist, with classical instruments with modern electronic music. He also likes to inspire other music makers with his online production tutorials, believing that the freedom to be creative is the key to the future of music.

Recently included on a Chill Armada compilation, he talks to FtC about Groove Cruising, what comes after becoming a Spotify Multi-Millionaire and how a random meeting via SoundCloud changed everything.

54

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

How did you find the change in environment, culture, pace of life and opportunities moving from Stockholm to NYC last Dec? NYC is where my heart is, it’s the place where I feel at home. I’ve spent long chunks of time here in the past so it wasn’t a shocking change or anything. But I feel like I never have to sleep, in a good way. There’s a drive and a feel in this city that matches my own and it slaps you right away if you slow down. I like that!

How easy is it to break into a new scene and circles in NYC? What was your approach? Where has it taken you?

I just got plates and cutlery yesterday so I haven’t really had time to break into the local scene haha. I’ve spent more time in label executive’s offices then studios, but that’s about to change. I just spent all of last week recording a new single.

Did you have a party when you became a Spotify multi-millionaire with “I Don’t think so”? What is the next milestone to reach in your career?

No party yet, I’m too busy putting together IKEA furniture while trying to finish the next single. As far as milestones go, radio is an obvious one! I’ve got some good presence on XM but FM is a whole

different league. It’s not something I’m thinking about a lot though, that day will come when the time is right. But I’m enjoying all the creative doors the success that “I Don’t Think So” has opened. Now I can make music videos, build a bigger live show and express my art in new different ways.

Your vocalists, Ashe (Alive, Don’t Look Back) and Emily Coulston (Hope) have exquisite voices which blend beautifully with your tracks.

How did you guys meet and get recording together?

I found them both through random tracks on SoundCloud! There’s so much www.facethecurrent.com

55

raw talent in people out there and I love finding it.

You have a very defined style which works extremely well. Do you plan on exploring new sounds, styles or collaborations this year?

I never sit down with a plan to make “that sound”, I let it come to me. But I feel it’s been a slow progression over the last year, in a way that feels natural to me. I do make some stuff on the side that is really different to my released stuff, but that might have to go under an alias one day.

You’re currently on break from touring. …what’s lined up for Summer 2017?

56

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

Hopefully some good shows! I really hope we can get something together in Sweden actually, because I’ve never played a show there.

You obviously love animals…and have assisted a few along your travels.Your own little dog has knocked up some mileage travelling everywhere with you. How did you guys meet and what makes he/she such a great travelling companion.

I got Fiona when she was 12 weeks old, six years ago now. I didn’t plan on getting a dog when I was 19 but my girlfriend at the time thought it was a good idea. She got bored within months and by then Fiona was pretty much my dog anyway!

She’s been by my side every day. She’s very attached to me and follows me just about everywhere I go. She’s a great companion; you’re never alone if you have a dog. If only I could collect her 30 000 frequent flyer miles from all our flights together!

Tell us the story surrounding the selection for and appearance on Chill Armada 2016 of Don’t Look Back.

They reached out and contacted me after hearing it somewhere and deciding it was a good fit for that release. Armada is a great label, so it was a no brainer for me to say yes.

ending Halloween party. People take the costumes and crazy props really seriously; you don’t know what to expect next during these parties… I love it.

You were on the Dec Groove Cruise recently.

Describe the atmosphere and antics at these gigs and what kind of people make up the Groove Cruiser crowd.

GC is crazy! I wish I didn’t have to work so I could enjoy it as a passenger.

It was basically a 5-night long, never-

They throw giant inflatable bananas and water guns out to the crowd, there’s crazy light and acrobatic displays and everyone’s in swimwear. What in your personal opinion makes an unforgettable party?

All the production in the world might get you started. But in the end, it’s about the people you spend it with. I can be at the shittiest bar in the suburbs of the crappiest city in the world and still have the best night, with the right people.

However, nothing beats my Tomorrowland experience in 2012 - that was pure magic.

Thanks for taking the time Ben, we wish you all the best in your creative endeavours! Keep in touch.

yIf you would like to get in touch with Ben, you can contact him via : www.benphippsmusic.com Twitter: Benphipps

www.facethecurrent.com

57

FtC music

Natalia

Clavier

An Open Heart

By Naia Reid

Changing the world one song at a time with her enchanting voice and emotional lyrics, Natalia Clavier’s artistic journey has taken her from performing with eccentric bands in Buenos Aires, to emotion-filled festival performances around the world and onto the stage of Thievery Corporation as lead singer. Her style is unique and refreshing, her energy and message enlightening and her love for life infectious.

58

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

Avoiding procrastination; flowing with change, moving from place to place, country to country and band to band, has played a huge part in your amazing evolution as an artist, songwriter and soul. What in your experience, is the best mind-set with which to approach change, even if it feels challenging, to transform it a positive experience?

From my experience, change always comes with a lot of fear. Although you see me moving from country to country, I have been living in this constant contradiction from an astrological point of view.

My sign is Libra and my rising sign is Aquarius; which likes the sudden, the unexpected- the innovator in a way.

But then my moon is in Taurus, which means stability, I like nice things, I like living in one place without a whole lot of change. In my case, I can’t help it but to create change and be drawn towards something that hasn’t been done yet. But at the same time I fear change a lot. So how do I survive this? One thing I’ve been doing for a long time is meditation. It’s very grounding and it’s something you can do anywhere, because it only takes about 15 minutes twice a day. I discovered it about 10 years ago and it’s really a helpful tool. It can reduce anxiety really effectively. Even though I’m not super consistent with it, when I do it, I see the benefits right away. Also, I highly recommend Talk Therapy, which I’ve been doing since I was a little girl.

What is Talk Therapy? What does that involve?

Talk Therapy is just talking with a therapist about everything- your life, whatever is going on, whatever happened in the past. It’s based on re-wiring your brain, re-approaching the way you think and coming up with the coping mechanisms for whatever you need to progress. This is not a Psychiatrist, it’s a Psychologist, so there’s no medication involved. It’s basically working with, expanding and exercising your mind. I’ve had many, many therapists throughout my life. I look at it like having a physician, but for your mind. In the same way that you would do a medical check-up and need to adjust certain things here or there or take supplements- but for the brain and the soul. It’s still a big taboo for many people. People don’t talk about it- they feel “oh my gosh “I’m going to a Psychologist, so that means that I’m completely nuts,” so they don’t talk about it. Where I come from in Buenos Aires, that’s not the case.

Everybody sees the benefits and does it regularly there.

Your eclectic wardrobe oozes Individuality, personality and expression. What are your favourite must haves and what would you say to people who can’t see beyond the “what’s in now” fashion paradigm?

Must haves… definitely wedges. I love platforms. Big shoes- I’m a bit of a shoe-aholic, I’m trying to work on that as we speak. (laughs) Leggings in a shiny material, black leggings- you can do a lot of things with them. Shoes must be black for sure. I’m so eclectic with my taste that I really don’t know what else… high rise, big leg pants are a staple. I never plan. It’s really hard for me to pack when I go on tour. I’ve been doing this for like 10 years and it’s still really hard because my mood in the moment really determines what I’m going to wear. I can be thinking tight and sexy and www.facethecurrent.com

59

then swing to something loose and flowy in a heartbeat.

Many, many people limit their look and wardrobe with trends and corporations etc. I would recommend that people go with what their gut dictates, rather than consumerism and passing trends thought up by people in offices. If one day you feel like wearing all red from head to toe, go for it! If red is “out of fashion”- screw it!

Individuality is definitely more interesting to share with the world and for the world to see!

You believe in a healthy lifestyle. What are the essential elements that you include in your diet, exercise and skincare regimes?

I live in a constant contradiction. I’m a certified health coach, so I have a lot of information and I think I’m pretty good at advising people. But I have trouble walking the walk and applying it for myself. Mostly because I’ve been struggling for many years with addiction and this is something I’m saying for the first time ever on an interview. One of my 2017 resolutions is to try to be as open and honest as I can, so I can affect people in a positive way. Why do I think disclosing such huge private information would affect people?

Because it shows my human side and that I have struggles and issues just like everybody else. Because of all this information that I have from my studies, I do believe in self-healing and this is what I’m going through right now. It was an addiction to marijuana, which can be underestimated. I’m not against marijuana, I actually respect it and believe it has amazing power and is a healing plant. But my relationship with it was abusive. I’m winning this battle now.

Right now my staples are definitely any physical activity, even walking is beneficial. If you don’t have money to join a gym, that’s not an excuse. Just walk 30-60 minutes a day and you’ll see huge improvements. My diet is plant-based. I don’t believe it’s the diet for everybody and I don’t think it’s the only diet. I think you should eat what your body tells you- not a craving. Definitely look for local and organic animal protein. Don’t go for the industrial animal protein, because that’s not even meat! It’s just hormones and antibiotics…

My go-to belief is that you are what you eat. So if you eat a tortured, drugged animal, that’s what you’re going to be, long story short.

Thank you for sharing your personal story. We all have our own personal struggles and challenges at varying points in our life and it is humbling to hear – especially from people like yourself whom we often look up to or admire.

Thank you. Now that we’re talking about this, I’d like to give a little bit of information because marijuana addiction is most times underestimated. Even when you talk about it with your close friends they say “just stop smoking, it’s not even addictive- it’s just an herb!” It’s just like alcohol, cocaine, heroine- it’s another drug. It really depends on the relationship you have with it. If you use it as an anaesthesia to numb your feelings and thoughts, then it’s just as bad as any other drug. In the U.S. there is a great organization called “M.A.” or “Marijuana Anonymous,” and they do a free program similar to Alcoholics Anonymous. They do meetings online and you can try it online if you don’t want to go in person and get a professional, unbiased opinion. https://www.marijuana-anonymous. org/ You started out singing at many festivals, interacting with

60

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

a powerful party, open-heart atmosphere.The vibe between you, the members of Thievery Corporation and the audience is a continuation of this…a constant flow of lively, imaginative, off the cuff, playful, unconstricted fun, wherein you radiantly sparkle! Tell us what you have learned about following instinct and the essence of human connection along the journey.

It has definitely been a learning curve. When I started performing with Thievery Corporation I was very shy and I barely moved while on stage. Over the years, I learned to just let the crowd dictate the moment. We have so many loving fans around the world and it’s really a gift- because with Thievery Corporation I performed songs like “Lebanese Blond” and as soon as the song starts, the crowd is already there, so open and happy to receive what I have to offer and that just makes me open myself even more and go with their mood and vibe. I think it’s a beautiful exchange. That’s one of the reasons I never performed high, even when I was dealing with my addiction. Those moments on stage are so precious, I always wanted to be able to receive and give fully. A lot of times the crowd is very high at festivals, but I have learned to recycle the energy and give them back something pure and beautiful; kind of close to what they give me.

The elements of “Lumen” came together in an organic, energetic fashion and heralded quite a change in your career and style.Tell us about how this process unfolded and how you grew with it.

My first album Nectar was produced by Eric Hilton of Thievery Corporation was definitely more electronic and it was entirely in Spanish. I wrote the demos for that album when I was still living in Barcelona and most of the songs I wrote for Lumen, I wrote when I was living in Brooklyn. So I became a bit bi-lingual! I started dreaming in English and hearing the lyrics and melodies for the songs in English as well. It was a totally natural process- I didn’t force it, it just happened. Because I chose Adrian Quesada to be the producer, he is more used to working with organic elements rather than fully electronic elements. SO it was a combination of what I wanted, along with what he brought to the table. That’s why the album is pretty eclectic and has a lot of organic instruments mixed with some

elements from electronic music. Every album is growth and it was amazing working with him. For my next project, I’m feeling more electronic right now and I want to go back to that. I’m going to put out an EP this year that I’m co-producing with my brother at the moment, called “Trans.” . It’s a dream of mine to do something with him, seeing as it’s kind of my fault that he’s a musician. I was going to do a fundraising campaign for it and I completely chickened out. I’m going to have the material produced first and then I’ll see how I put it out. I didn’t know if anybody’s going to want to give money before they hear the songs. So I’m going to work on the songs and then see how to do it!

Tell us about your experiences working with Federico Aubele and any other artists that were dream-shapers for you.

There’s definitely a before and after Federico Aubele in my career.

Before Federico, when it came to writing, I was only writing commercial techno tracks, because I thought that was pretty much all I could do. I knew I could pay my bills and the songs I was doing with producers in Spain were good and being played on the radio and they were on the top 10…. But I think my selfesteem issues didn’t allow me to really go for it. Then Federico hired me to sing in his band and I remember one day he told me “I can’t believe you don’t have any ideas. Come on Natalia, show me anything and I’ll help you out.” Basically after that I became a songwriter. I’ll be always grateful to Federico Aubele for that.

You recently supported a Standing Rock Supply Drive.

You are a health coach, inspiring people to live better lives, your heartfelt words touch people’s souls, your energy is energising inspires the same in others. Life dealt you many challenges and even though you are now in a privileged position in life, you still choose to give back and help others in a humble manner. Many people have no concept of the beauty and fulfilment of these actions…can you tell us more about the transformational power of helping one and other and acting on things that you believe in?

There is something I think that is a personality thing. I’ve always found pleasure in doing something for another human being.

When I was about 5 years old, I wanted this was a doll on the television in Argentina. My mom didn’t have the money at the time. She was like “as soon as I get my pay check I will get you the doll.” I was waiting, waiting, waiting, and finally after like three weeks my mom was able to buy it for me. I hadn’t even opened the box and we were walking down the street and there was a homeless woman with a kid who was probably my age or a little younger. The kid was crying and without even asking my mom or looking at her, I just gave the doll to this boy and kept on walking.

My mom was floored. I didn’t even ask her, because I knew that it was a big effort for her, so I didn’t ask her for another doll. I think that giving the doll to that boy gave me more pleasure than having it for myself, even though I really wanted it. That kind of reflected later on in my life in different areas, doing charitable things or even just helping a friend. Maybe it’s even selfish because I do get a lot of pleasure, it makes me feel great to help others. It also feels really good to let go of things. As a fashionista I tend to collect shoes, clothes and things and so once in a while www.facethecurrent.com

61

I really enjoy doing a declutter and give to people in need or friends. I don’t have savings and I’m not rich. You don’t have to be rich to help others and give.

Your journey has brought you to a place where you are aware of who you truly are and what truly nourishes the body, mind and soul.

What is your message to those who are struggling to find their personal power or path?

62

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

I think it’s a matter of believing and also sometimes understanding that it’s ok to ask for help and acknowledge and recognize yourself as a human beingunderstand that we’re able to do amazing things but we’re also creatures of this world. We have an end in our life and we live in community; we’re supposed to live in community, so it’s okay to reach out and show your vulnerabilities. A lot of people sometimes think that shows weakness, whereas I actually believe it’s the

exact opposite. I think it shows greatness, integration, being humble and saying “I’m going to get advice, watch videos of people who have overcome struggles and a lot of inspiration just by listening sometimes.”

Be nice to people. We’re mirrors.

If you find something annoying in someone else, it’s probably something that you have as well.

We are mirrors. You should try applying niceness, compassion, be

nice to your neighbours, and put quality time into friendship. Friendship to me is everything. I worship my friendships, I value them and try to nourish them as much as I can. I’m not perfect, so I learn as I go.

Can you share any exciting projects you have coming up in 2017 and what your personal goals and resolutions are for the coming year?

For 2017 because I feel that I’m healthier and I can advise people and lead by example, I’m planning on going back to my health coaching and combining it with my career as an artist and musician. I really want to try to be of service to people with addiction problems and give back to help as much as I have been helped. I’m working on a website and series of videos and I don’t have a date for the launch of all of this, but it’s something I’m working on. Making music with my brother and trying to do as many collaborations as possible with other artists, play live as much as I can in New York and other places… I think it’s going to be a pretty busy year. 2016 was a crazy year for a lot of people. For me in particular it was a very intense year. Yeah, I’m really looking forward to this year.

It’s supposed to be a good one!

Yeah that’s what people are saying, and from the Astrological perspective it’s supposed to be a good year.

What are your most anticipated gigs of 2017 that people should know about?

There are two gigs that I’m super excited about- One with Thievery Corporation in my second hometown, which is Barcelona, Spain. Ever since I joined the band, they haven’t played Barcelona. I think the last time Thievery played Barcelona was 2004 and I joined the band in 2007 so I’m super excited about this gig on February 17th at the Razzmatazz.

March 23rd I’m going to play a solo gig at a beautiful venue called Guadalupe Inn in Brooklyn, NY and this is a restaurant that has a beautiful stage and great sound.

They’re trying to turn this venue into a blue note Joe’s Pub kind of venue. It’s going to be my 2nd time there. My first time was in November 2016 and it was sold out. I’m coming back and this time I’m going to play two sets with my New York City band of all Argentinian musicians, so I’m very excited about that show.

Natalia, your openness and individuality is truly inspiring, thank you for taking the time to chat with FtC and we wish you happy adventures for

yYou can reach out to Natalia for more info and bookings at: www.nataliaclavier.com Twitter: nataliaclavier Facebook: NataliaClavier www.facethecurrent.com

63

FtC music

Music: A Serious & Spiritual Business

By Ana McFerran

Improvisation Musician and Producer Nick Kinsey has ventured beyond the typical realms of your everyday musician, with his instinctual attraction to music and expansive approach to immersing himself in the multi-faced aspects of the industry. Over the past decade he has been playing drums, writing, composing, producing and touring professionally with respected artists Elvis Perkins, Kevin Morby, Cold War Kids, Sam Cohen and many more. In 2016 he released his own self-titled debut KINSEY and performed live on David Letterman.

64

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

At 17, you were mentored by legends Billy Martin & Bob Moses. Bob has some powerful philosophies like “flow without measure”, “dance without the boundaries of culture” and “Spirit is the source.” Describe how having mentors like this at that age shaped your attitude towards making music and your technique and style of drumming.

I really can’t over-emphasize the impact that the time I spent with these two has had, in my approach to not only drums and music, but my understanding of the world and my place in it. They taught me that rhythmic and musical mastery is a lifelong pursuit and that it is serious and spiritual business. I can safely say that seeing Billy Martin perform (with Medeski, Martin & Wood) for the first time was the turning point for me, when I said to myself, “I wanna do what he’s doing”! (Only to quickly learn that I had to figure out what I wanted to sound like) I had never heard a drummer or any music that was so free and funky and weird and exciting.

There really isn’t enough space here to fully express how much I learned from these guys about the history and possibility of music. In their own distinctive ways, they completely blew my world open. What I am most thankful for and what accelerated my path the most about the time spent with these guys, was that they took me seriously and were so generous to me at such a young and inexperienced time in my life. Both of these guys have such a deep understanding of African Diaspora music, which is essential to really play almost any contemporary groove based music but they are both striving for something even more transcendent which always drew me to them. And they are both master improvisers and having that influence so early on really helped me approach the instrument more fluidly than some of my peers.

What would you say was the most influential part of your studies of Ethnomusicology in Brown University, Rhode Island?

Well, I really got a rigorous and formal musical education in Western Harmony, (ironically) and those lessons remain very useful, but the ethnomusicology department

definitely exposed me to a wide range of indigenous music, which have always been the most fascinating to me. It also really sparked my love for Tropicalia music.

You actually moved to Havana, Cuba to spend time studying percussion with the city’s rhythm masters.

Describe what it was like to live and breathe a culture that is so alive and infused with passionate expression at such an intimate level.

It was a magical time in my life and it almost seems like a dream now. Not to be overly sentimental about it, but it’s a true rhythm culture, where I would study a rhythm and then walk out into the street and hear it blaring out of a boombox from a third story window and then dance it that very night. It was unbelievable, and every bit as romantic as one would hope.

How many instruments can you actually play? Are there any you haven’t tried yet but plan to incorporate?

Haha, well I’ve tried to play just about anything I can get my hands on, but I’ve always felt that my passion for music has always outmatched my abilities. For me it’s all about necessity. If a given sound is needed at any given time and I’m the most capable (or the only one around) I will try it. The older I get the more I realize that technique is simply a means to an end and if I am able to get to that end by playing a given instrument then great, if not, find someone who can.

You spend quite a bit of time at your farm, in your home studio “The Chicken Shack” It looks like the perfect getaway where time is easily forgotten and inspiration, camaraderie and connection abound.

Tell us about some of your favorite home brewed sessions and visiting artists.

Well, I love the solitary time I have there to really explore my musical self and strive for those moments of inhibition, but of course there have been countless moments of camaraderie and collaboration. The early days with Elvis Perkins and the Dearland boys certainly go down as pretty joyous and fruitful times. www.facethecurrent.com

65

What are the essential elements for you personally, to create the ideal recording session ambience?

Well, I think it really depends on the music and the people involved. You know things are going well when the technical parts of the recording process aren’t obstructing the creative process and this comes from really knowing your space and your setup which is particularly important when you are playing and engineering which is often the case with me. But I suppose the key element is having faith in the music and instilling that faith in the people you are working with. I suppose some people perform well or better under stress and discomfort, but for me and most of the people I work with, a tone of support, openness and faith in one another is essential and can really produce an outcome that exceeds anybody’s

66

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

expectations. I also feel that these days, when it so easy to get distracted by one’s phone and social life, a remote location like the Chicken Shack can really accelerate the path toward real focused creativity.

are always incredible.

You’ve done a couple of European tours now.Tell us about your favorite venues, some highlight moments and what you and Kevin Moby plan to get up to on the road this year.

You’ve been working on your own personal project KINSEY with Dave Hannington, guitarist from Darkside, playing improvised shows together. What’s the key to finding and maintaining the flow when you’re on stage with the pressure of expectation from the crowd?

Touring in Europe is really just the best.

On the whole, the venues are nicer, better equipped and they really just take good care of the artists in a way that is much rarer in the US. Arts in the US are still sort of up against some kind of puritanical resistance (which of course can make for good art) whereas in Europe the long history of Western Art is ingrained in a way that is palpable. France, Spain and Portugal have always been my favorite places to tour. The food and the people

Kevin has a new record coming soon and we basically just plan to tour our asses off and expose as many people to the music as possible. Next week we’re going to Sam Cohen’s studio in Brooklyn to work on some even newer music.

Performing as KINSEY has been a really important and interesting experience for me and I’ve learned a lot having to take center stage and expose my voice and songs to people, but it can sometimes be a much different experience when playing improvised music. It’s like therapy almost and exposes the brightest and darkest parts of your musical identity. Having an audience really helps. Dave Harrington,

Sam Cohen and I had a wonderful improv. show back in September and were so excited to get into the studio, but it was a little harder to get to that place of transcendence without the audience.

Sometimes that pressure from a live audience can raise the stakes and more efficiently conjure great performances.

You were busy collaborating with Elvis Perkins and Sam Cohen recently…can we have a teaser on what you have in the pipeline?

I helped Elvis out a bit with a soundtrack he was working on for his brother’s movie “The Pretty Thing That Lives in The House”, which was a really fun and challenging experience. We went to some pretty weird and adventurous places. And like I said, Dave Harrington,Sam Cohen and I have been recording a bunch of improvised music and we’re figuring out

what direction that music will go, but it is definitely some uncharted territory for all of us, so I am really excited about that.

Yourself and Morby, along with Hand Habits, have recently shared the stage with some greats like Sharon Van Etten for benefit shows in support of planned parenthood.

Offering your support to causes and education is obviously important to you. What is your philosophy message to the world about the importance and energetics of giving?

I’ve been very lucky in my life to have the exposure, access and comfort that I’ve had and I feel strongly that everybody should use whatever they have, be it skills, talents or wealth to do what they can for others and ensure freedom and access to all people.

You recently played a Leonard Cohen tribute show with some of NYC’s finest.Tell us about the experience.

It was unbelievable. I mean I played Leonard Cohen songs with legends like Lee Renaldo, Lenny Kaye and Amy Helm (just to name a few) and a bunch of old friends all for a good a cause. What could be better? Only bummer was I was very sick with a stomach bug and I chipped my tooth five minutes before show time!

ymore info: nickkinsey.com www.facebook.com/KinseyMusic soundcloud.com/kinsey-5 www.facethecurrent.com

67

FtC fAce the current

sports & FITNESS 70.

80.

82.

84.

68

Ness Knight add World in her title for Pacific World Record Mind over Matter The Yoga Re-Birth: the Latest Alternatives Are Keeping it Fresh or Funky!

TABATA Training: You Can Do ANYTHING For 20 Seconds

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

David Ryan

www.facethecurrent.com

69

FtC sports

Ness Knight

add World in her title for Pacific World Record

By Sasha Frate

70

Ness Knight is an insatiable solo adventurer with an incredible list of

achievements to her credit, which include a 2000-mile cycle across America, being the first woman to swim the length of the Thames River, a 1000-mile standup paddle-board expedition up the Missouri River and a rare opportunity to explore the Namibia Desert’s unforgiving Diamond Zone. Ness shares uplifting and humorous stories about these incredible journey and gives us a peek into the preparation and training for her up-coming attempt at the Word Record to be the first female ever to solo row, non-stop across the Pacific Ocean.

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

1960’s. I fell in love with the stark beauty of travelling simply, carrying only what I needed to survive.

Ness, give us a brief background on yourself, how you got started and why you choose such variety in your personal challenges.

I didn’t start out in life as your obvious choice for an endurance adventurer, that’s for sure. In school I was staggeringly un-coordinated and spent most of my time in the C-team or sat on the side as the token reserve and I guess it was at that early age that I defined myself as utterly inept athletically. I did have a wild and vivid imagination though, with a passion for reading books about great adventures and exploration. It was only years later in my mid 20’s, working a 9-5 job in London, that I started to challenge my own and others’ perceptions and open up to the belief that

anything is possible. I realised that the only thing stopping me was my own fear of failing. I wrote down a list of what I would do if I knew I could not fail and that was both an eye opener and the impetus I needed to quitting my desk job and heading out to chase a career I was truly passionate about.

My first dabble into adventure was stand-up paddle-boarding 100 miles down the Missouri River in the USA. I wasn’t ready to leave things there, so I swapped a paddle for a bike and headed out to solo cycle west across America to the Californian coast. I did it on a shoestring; borrowing men’s shoes two sizes too big, I bought a bike older than I was and talked someone into giving me some old, crumbling pannier bags from the

A year later I decided to swim the Thames, as no female had ever swum the length of it ever before.

Looking back, I suppose I just looking for a somewhat eccentric and whacky expedition to do in the UK and this ticked the box. It was an extraordinary experience and not at all as I had imagined it would be. The isolation of spending 10 hours a day, exhausted, in freezing water, when you can’t see anything, can’t hear anything due to earbuds and can’t speak, well, that really was a challenge in overcoming boredom, negativity and monotony!

The monotony was broken on occasion though as I swam though pockets of water that tasted of dishwasher liquid and smelt of human faeces (there is a distinct difference between the smell of animal and human poop!). Turns out some boats release their bilge illegally. No wonder I got very ill shortly after with ‘Thames Tummy’.

I love doing a variety of disciplines, as they all appeal to me in different ways. The slowness and immersive experience of swimming is fascinating, whereas the bike is the perfect way to make great distances and give you a real sense of freedom. Running allows you to go well off any beaten tracks, to discover strange and wondrous places, where standup paddleboarding gives you access to see what life is like on the great rivers, cutting a swathe through cities, valleys and the remotest of wilderness.

Venturing on journeys that span 1000-2000+ miles on small vehicles such www.facethecurrent.com

71

as a bicycle or standup paddleboard, how do you manage to pack sufficiently to ensure you are prepared for the adventure from start to finish?

Packing well comes with experience and you always need less than you think. Each time I head out on expedition I find new ways of reducing weight (even down to cutting most of the handle off a toothbrush), I learn what I don’t need and find ways to use single items for multiple purposes.

You become quite innovative.

I love expeditions born out of simplicity. There is something starkly beautiful about stripping back to just the basics you need to survive.

Micro-adventures (ex. Camping out on a hilltop with friends mid week) are brilliant for small tastes

“

of adventure. All you need is a matt, sleeping bag, bivvy bag, down jacket and of course, a hip flask for a nightcap. Find a hill with a great view that is a short trek form a pub, have some dinner and a pint, sleep under the stars, wake up to the sunrise, head back to the train station and into work. No-one will be the wiser! It’s simple and brilliantly fun.

My Pacific Ocean row is by far the most complex expedition to pack for. Everything I need to survive for up to 8 months at sea alone will get stored in my 21foot ocean rowing boat. I’ll have a water de-salinator, solar panels for power, freeze dried food, navigation and communications equipment, a laptop, cameras and bedding.

Clothing is rather easy as most of the time you row in your birthday

suite – helps with chaffing – unless there is a tanker on the horizon.

The closest humans to me are likely going to be the astronauts on the ISS 90 miles above. Spares are important too as this is an unassisted expedition. I’ll need to learn how to fix any issues I have with what is at hand. By the end of the row I’ll be essentially rowing one giant trashcan across the ocean!

You embark on most of your expeditions solo. What do you love most about going it alone? What keeps you “company”?

I love solo journeys for so many reasons. I live spontaneity, so I suppose, selfishly, I don’t want to have to ask anyone else if they are OK with it. I also love being out in

I’ll have a water de-salinator, solar panels for power, freeze dried food, navigation and communications equipment, a laptop, cameras and bedding. Clothing is rather easy as most of the time you row in your birthday suite – helps with chaffing – unless there is a tanker on the horizon. The closest humans to me are likely going to be the astronauts on the ISS 90 miles above.

“

72

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

“

We grow stronger in our minds by doing, not by creeping back to the sofa and watching others do what we are too afraid to. Mind-set, confidence and positivity are all like muscles; you have to use them, stretch them and build them up to become

“

the remote wilderness where you have to learn to trust yourself and your gut instincts, because there simply is no-one else to rely on.

That is quite empowering and I usually come back walking six inches taller. I love the freedom, the peace and the extraordinary highs and lows of a solo journey. But then I like to come home to my friends and family, to head out on microadventures together or just doing very normal, low key things. It’s a perfect balance of time with myself and time with those I love at home.

Over the years I have built up a seriously positive mind-set, which is all down to the confidence I gained from doing a career I love and am passionate about. It also helps to challenge yourself over and over again. We grow stronger in our minds by doing, not by creeping back to the sofa and watching others do what we are too afraid to. Mind-set, confidence and positivity are all like muscles; you have to use them, stretch them and build them up to become powerful tools.

You describe the mind as being both the most difficult thing to train, yet the most powerful tool we possess.

What is your ‘science’ behind developing an “iron mind” for endurance?

Endurance is definitely in your mind. You can be as fit as a fiddle, but if you haven’t spent time building up your mental fortitude too, you risk making bad judgements and unhelpful decisions that could negatively affect your

success (and your motivation).

I think in general people have grown to try and look for the shortcut, the quick fix solution to finding inner strength, but in reality it is earned by having the courage to step up, and step out of your comfort zone. Whether you are pioneering and idea, building a business, becoming a new mum, or taking control of your wellbeing, you have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable if you want to grow. I was an awful public speaker when I started, but the only way I got better was to swallow my fears, buckle up, and do as many talks as possible till it flowed effortlessly.

It helps to remember that no-one is the authority on what you are capable of except you. www.facethecurrent.com

73

“

The second I consciously defined myself as someone who is capable of writing great books, creating great films, traversing inhospitable terrain and speaking in front of thousands of people, everything changed. I took on the persona of that person, I began to think like that person, and after enough time it became my reality.

“

Why do you feel that such a huge percentage of the population would shy away from the rigor that’s required?

Simply, I think this is an issue of how people have chosen to define themselves. You probably shy away from certain things because you have defined yourself as the person who doesn’t have enough time/money/skill/experience/a good enough story to do the thing you want to do. The second I consciously defined myself as someone who is capable of writing great books, creating great films, traversing inhospitable terrain and speaking in front of thousands of people, everything changed. I took on the persona of that person, I began to think like that person, and after enough time it became my 74

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

reality.

People don’t follow me because they want to row an ocean, they follow me because they see an ordinary person trying to achieve something extraordinary. Adding a little more grit, sweat and tenacity to your days, adds a whole lot more excitement to your life.

Perhaps people shy away from rigor because they worry about failing, like I did? I’m not sure. We are all different. But it helps to remember that everyone was once a novice at what they do now.

Tell us about your exclusive access to the Sperrgebiet ‘Forbidden Zone’ (a.k.a.

Diamond Area ) on your Namib Desert solo. What all did you encounter on your expedition?

The ideas for this solo Namibia expedition was born out of sheer curiosity for exploration of remote and untouched corners of our planet. I chose to use a fat-bike for this expedition as it gave me the opportunity to traverse the most testing landscapes imaginable, taking on terrain no one had ridden before on a bike. I travelled though boulder strewn volcanic regions, thick grassland, jagged rocky gorges, scree slopes, riverbeds, thorn fields and sand dunes. I was in at the deep end, learning as I went, cracking bones on rocks, falling down more times than I care to count, being battered and bruised, but ultimately coming away from the expedition with the most spectacular experiences.

It must feel incredible to exist ‘alone’ for a moment in

a place in the world that is so remote and uninhabited.

How was this aspect of your experience in the world’s oldest desert?

Being alone in the wilderness is a phenomenal experience. But it does come with its dangers when you are out in extreme environments. I cannot even begin to describe the kind of debilitating heat I experienced. It was like nothing I had ever experienced. Most days I would scout ahead to the horizon desperately seeking out the next Shepherd’s tree or rock to shelter under for a few minutes just to cool my body temperature down enough to be able to keep moving through the arid wilderness. It was an unforgiving place that tested me to my absolute limits physically and mentally.

It was crucial that I found natural water sources to supplement my caches along the way.

But I hadn’t banked on the country suffering a three-year drought. Cycling over hundreds of dry riverbeds and watering holes was utterly demoralizing. The watering holes that did still exist were a sorry sight. Wildlife would trek from hundreds of miles around to quench their thirst, and that meant risking coming face-to- face with Africa’s big game: lion, elephant and rhino.

I remember one morning setting

off in the direction of guttural roars from a pride of lion that I knew would be at or around the watering hole. When I arrived I found a fresh rhino print in the mud by the waters edge. They were all here. They would all know I was here too, but I couldn’t see

them behind the bank on reeds.

Never before have I felt so attuned to, and a part of, my environment. I realized that day just how far down the food chain I was out there, alone.

But nothing on Earth beats setting up camp, alone in the African wilderness with not another human for 100’s of kilometers around, listening to the wildlife as the sun goes down.

What motivates you to embark on a solo World Record attempt to row the Pacific Ocean non-stop? Why this particular venture over another?

When I was a young girl growing up in South Africa, there weren’t many female role models getting the deserved limelight for challenging the norms and doing things outside of the box, so I always believed that exploration and adventure were for blokes.

Even when I started out as an adventurer 20 years later, I was still surrounded by beards. Then, in my mid 20’s, things changed. I heard about a woman, Roz Savage, who had rowed around the world in stages, a bold undertaking that blew me away. The seed of an idea to head out on the grandest of all adventures was planted: to take on the longest solo ocean rowing journey by any female in history. So here I am today, preparing to head out on the vast Pacific Ocean, solo, and give everything I have to achieve what most people believe is impossible.

The Pacific Ocean row is the greatest expedition I will ever embark on. I live for exploration and this journey captured my imagination like no other. I’ve done many land-based expeditions, so it is time to see what it is about the ocean that so many people fall in love with. www.facethecurrent.com

75

Can you share some of the ways you are preparing for this, such as your visualization technique?

Preparation for the row is immense. I’ll be taking all manner of courses for safety, navigation and first aid in extreme situations. I’ll be undertaking cognitive tests and working with top sports and performance psychologists to see where they can help with tactics, as the pressure of exhaustion, dehydration and isolation can easily cause friction points. I have personal trainers who are specialized in endurance and an

osteopath to make sure I’m in peak condition before setting off.

The most important things to work on will be flexibility, core strength and muscle mass. After I’ve used up my fat reserves, my body will start using my muscles as fuel so the more mass I have there, the better.

Outside of this, I’ll be doing my own personal work on visualization techniques.

Essentially building up confidence by envisioning having focus and calm in any situation. I’ll be facing storms and possible capsizes so I need my default reaction to be one of perseverance and

“

I remember one morning setting off in the direction of guttural roars from a pride of lion that I knew would be at or around the watering hole.

When I arrived I found a fresh rhino print in the mud by the waters edge. They were all here. They would all know I was here too, but I couldn’t see them behind the bank on reeds. Never before have I felt so attuned to, and a part of, my environment. I realized that day just how far down the food chain I was out there, alone.

“

76

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

“

The Pacific Ocean row is the greatest expedition I will ever embark on. I live for exploration and this journey captured my imagination like no other. I’ve done many landbased expeditions, so it is time to see what it is about the ocean that so many people fall in love with.

“

trust. Studies have shown that our brains struggle to tell the difference between real life events and ones imagined so vividly they feel real.

We experience a direct physical and emotional response from both, whether real or imagined, thus, making sure the ones I visualize are positive is critical to my success on expedition and in life. You literally create your own reality by what you focus on. What a powerful tool to have if you use it right!

Celsius on my Namibia expedition, I lost consciousness 200 meters from a fresh lion kill due to heat exhaustion and was luckily discovered by the lion warden. That was quite a day.

Any wild/crazy encounters while venturing on your solo expeditions?

Setting up camp in the heart of hyena territory, alone in the dark at night with no light (my head torch broke and all technology was dead) was a hair-raising experience. The soft sand was littered with fresh prints and not just from hyena. I’ve never wished for the moon to rise and shed some light more than I did that night!

The day it peaked at 49 degrees

Years ago, I worked as a volunteer

at a sanctuary for big cats, deep in the Bolivian jungle and after a month of working to rehabilitate a feisty wild Oscelot called Millie, she finally trusted me enough to curl up into my chest and fall sound asleep. I’ll never forget it.

There were plenty of lessons to be learned the hard way out there in Bolivia. If you ever find yourself in a jungle without toilet paper, choose wisely the leaf you use, because not all leaves are made equal. And I didn’t know this. A panicked trip up to the vet’s office confirmed the rash that felt like fire on my unhappy derriere, to be the outcome of my DIY jungle loo roll. www.facethecurrent.com

77

He didn’t do a great job of hiding the laughter that bubbled up and burst free. I doubt I was the first volunteer he had walking through his door looking mortified.

If you could share one of your greatest inspirations gained from your personal experience that you feel might benefit others, what would it be What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail? Write a list tonight of those things, big and small... and start doing them.

When the going gets tough, sometimes you have to take the very smallest possible next step.

Not all progress needs to be a

giant leap.

Were any of your adventurous traits or resoluteness noticeable early on in childhood? What made you decide to continuously push yourself to break limitations?

As a small child I had a vivid and wild imagination. I lived in a world of indescribable beauty where anything was possible, where heroes were born out of adversity, where superpowers were the norm and great journeys of exploration into uncharted worlds were constantly underway. But away from home, I was painfully shy and introvert. I had my own battles as a kid, attempting to navigate through school with great difficulty,

“

Studies have shown that our brains struggle to tell the difference between real life events and ones imagined so vividly they feel real. We experience a direct physical and emotional response from both, whether real or imagined, thus, making sure the ones I visualize are positive is critical to my success on expedition and in life. You literally create your own reality by what you focus on. What a powerful tool to have if you use it right!

“

78

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

What has been your biggest challenge during a trip to date and what mindset/ philosophy did you use to overcome it? How do you deal with fear if it arises?

Oftentimes the biggest challenge is in simply getting to the start line of any expedition or project.

To take an idea from inception to up-and-running, I usually list out all the main tasks, and prioritize them from hardest to easiest. Do the toughest things first and you will quickly gain momentum. Once you have momentum you are on your way!

“

I lived in a world of indescribable beauty where anything was possible, where heroes were born out of adversity, where superpowers were the norm and great journeys of exploration into uncharted worlds were constantly underway. But away from home, I was painfully shy and introvert. I had my own battles as a kid, attempting to navigate through school with great difficulty, bumbling through by the skin of my teeth.

“

bumbling through by the skin of my teeth. My battles with mean friends and shyness made me a more compassionate person, it also made me want to be more, do more and stand for more. I learned about the importance of the pursuit of happiness.

I also grew up with an innate curiosity for understanding the relationship between mind and body. I remember at a very early age reading thick book about how our brains worked, about habits, psychology and neural pathways.

Perhaps that was the catalyst for seeing what I truly am capable of in life? So many things shape us as we go through life; it’s hard to know which did so the most!

yFor more information visit: www.nessknight.com Instagram: Ness_Knight Twitter: @Ness_Knight www.facethecurrent.com

79

FtC sports

r e v o d Min Matter

By Clair Marie

80

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

“

Your mentality and your mindset have a huge impact on performance.

Scientists are just scratching the surface on the effects of thought on performance

Our bodies are these incredible machines that are capable of so much more than we can even imagine.

As an athlete, training becomes a ritual; a sacred time of pushing your body in ways most couldn’t imagine and quite honestly probably wouldn’t want to!

The effects of following a strict training regime are almost always physically noticeable either on the athlete’s body or on the podium. But one of the most important aspects of training, for any kind of activity, sport or goal is something that is very rarely mentioned. That is the mental aspect, the way you

think about your approach to training, what your inner voices are telling you.

Your mentality and your mindset have a huge impact on performance. Scientists are just scratching the surface on the effects of thought on performance.

What we do know, is that there are two very distinct types of mindsets that greatly affect our outcome.

They are categorized as 1. A fixed mindset 2. A growth mindset According to Carol Dweck who is one of the world’s leading researchers in the field of motivation at Stanford University, people with a fixed mindset believe that their intelligence and talent are set in stone. They are fixed traits that can’t be expanded upon.

Sort of a “this is the hand I was dealt”

“

In the early years of training for sports, the advice from the professionals was always - “do it when you can, as much as you can, as hard as you can.” The thinking was along the lines of: the only way to get good at something is to relentlessly pursue it; to become hyper focused on that one thing. This approach works to a certain extent but with the body’s ability to adapt to certain movements and repetitions, eventually the positive effects of training the same way all the time fade away and become obsolete, not to mention, it’s incredibly boring.

kind of attitude. Whereas those with the growth mindset believe that they can develop their abilities and talents through hard work.

Adopting a growth mindset, believing that you are capable of so much more, thinking positively about the pain and learning to enjoy the suffering of training your body to push harder, is key to bettering yourself and your performance. Cross training and not just physically, is a way to expand your capability within your chosen sport or activity and so much more!

ymore info: basegirl.com Instagram: @thebasegirl

www.facethecurrent.com

81

FtC fitness

The Yoga Re-Birth

the Latest Alternatives Are Keeping it Fresh or Funky!

Not into your mom’s yoga classes? The next generation yoga classes will get you kicking… or kicked!

By David Aiello I’ve never tried yoga. And it hasn’t been because I haven’t thought about being in a hot room with equally hot, fashion conscious, athletic woman. It’s really been about the notion that I’d have more fun rearranging my stamp collection.

But there is movement afoot that is attempting to change that perception by mixing yoga with other elements, both traditional and some not so much.

The yoga classes your mother attended look nothing like what is trending today.

Here is a small sample.

Channel That Inner Rage

Having a bad day at work? Did some jerk totally cut you off on your drive to the market?

Experiencing less than marital bliss? Perhaps “Rage Yoga” is the way to channel your pent up emotions into a meaningful physical workout!

The brainchild of Lindsay-Marie Istace of Calgary, BC, in response to a painful ending of a relationship (who hasn’t been there!), Rage Yoga may persuade those of us feeling emotional to finally visit the yoga studio.

mom’s yoga

82

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

Lindsay’s website defines Rage Yoga as a “practice involving stretching, positional exercises and bad humor, with the goal of attaining good health and to become zen as f*ck.

More than just a practice, Rage Yoga is an attitude.”

for a “studio” to conduct her classes. Lainey suggested her farm, including the goats, and Goat Yoga was born!

I want to be that zen!

If I Could Yoga With the Animals…

If the rage angle is a bit too much and you require a more traditional approach to your yoga, to quote Dr. Seuss, “Could you, would you, with a goat?”

No Regrets Farm in Willamette Valley, Oregon, offers yoga with, you guessed it, goats!

Lainey Morse, a photographer by day, was searching for ways to leverage her farm for a new business. Little did she know how the universe was conspiring to help her when she had a conversation with a local yoga instructor looking

Goats are cute – especially the baby ones – and are there to help keep students calm and relaxed as they perform the downward dog!

The Yoga Mashup

If rage is not your mindset and you would rather have your goat with red wine than on your yoga mat then perhaps a fusion of yoga with more established workout routines is the ticket.

At Set and Flow Yoga, a fusion studio in Los Angeles, you can take Barefoot Bootcamp 60. The class description reads, “The ultimate mashup of yoga, Pilates and Kettle bells. This heated, 60 minute class is practiced on a yoga mat and will forge a powerful physique by testing your mobility, strength, athleticism and endurance.”

Classes like this at Set and Flow Yoga attempt to attract folks who work out but perhaps normally would not think of doing yoga in an upbeat, up-tempo fashion!

The class descriptions also adds that a matt and towel is recommended. I would suggest two towels.

yFor more information visit: Rage Yoga: rageyoga.com No Regrets Farm: www.goatyoga.net Set and Flow Yoga: setandflowyoga.com

www.facethecurrent.com

83

FtC fitness

TABATA Training You Can Do ANYTHING For 20 Seconds BY

David Ryan Fitness

One of my favorite training protocols is the Tabata method.

Japanese researcher Dr Izumi Tabata, concluded that a mere four minutes of exercise performed at extreme intensity, four times a week, can improve your anaerobic capacity by 28 percent and your V02 max and maximal power by 15 percent in as little as six weeks.

Study participants who performed an hour of steady cardiovascular exercise on a stationary bike five times a week only improved V02 max by 10 percent and their regimen had no effect on their anaerobic capacity after six weeks.

For those of us with a full plate of responsibility and limited free time, these short but intense workouts can be extremely useful. The fast paced workout structure also makes it fun and engaging.

How To Do a Tabata Workout: 1) Choose 2 exercises.

2) Set a timer for 20 seconds of work, followed by 10 seconds of rest.

3) Alternate the 2 exercises for a total of 8 rounds (4 rounds each).

Remember to perform each 20 second exercise round with maximum intensity.

There are many different ways to use the Tabata method and it can be formatted to achieve a specific goal. I’ve created 2 Tabata programs designed for men and women.

They are free to download at www.DavidRyanFitness.com

yTraining programs & Resistance bands: www.DavidRyanFitness.com Instagram: DavidRyanFitness YouTube: LIFTSTRONG 84

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

Need a Trainer?

Get in the best shape of your life this year with David Ryan Fitness.

FtC fAce the current

HEALTH & WELLBEING 88.

92.

96.

98

86

Nutrient Density: What is it and Why Should You Care?

Your Teeth Reflect Your Diet: How to Eat For That Beautiful Smile Doctor, “What can I do to make this better?

The Power of Reishi

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

www.facethecurrent.com

87

FtC health

Nutrient Density:

What is it and Why Should You Care?

By Dr. Vaughn Bowman

88

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

Nutrient density is a buzzword that refers to the amount of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrate, fat, and protein in any one food. This is not the same as energy or caloric dense foods. In fact, the two groups can often be at opposite ends of the same spectrum. Clearly, nutrient dense food has the advantage of providing more sustenance with less volume of actual food. For those interested in weight loss and overall health, this can be a very big deal indeed.

Consider for a moment that a single slice of white bread contains 2% of the daily recommendation for magnesium while a slice of whole grain bread contains 8%. You would need to consume 4 slices of white bread to get the same nutritional content of a single slice of whole grain bread. In terms of additional calories, this would equate to a weight gain of over 30 pounds each year. Suffice it to say, the more nutrient dense food you eat, the healthier you will be and the easier it is to maintain a healthy weight.

Everyone seems to agree that nutrient dense foods are best. The only problem is the debate over what really constitutes a nutrient dense food. The entire concept has become a confusing mess of late with over 9 currently used systems to attempt to rank various foods. Of course, there is also the argument that the soil in which the plant grows or the animal then consumes can play a large factor in actual nutrient content. Unfortunately, there is some truth in each approach or thought process and therefore it is very difficult to www.facethecurrent.com

89

90

say with any certainty which food actually reigns supreme in density. The truth is it doesn’t really matter either for the majority of us.

where attention is focused on growth rate, maximum yield, and herbicide or pesticide resistance. Once again, little if any attention is devoted to nutrient content.

The bottom line is very simple: the more processed a food, the less nutrient dense it becomes. Processing focuses on things like marketability, shelf-life, and cost reduction. Very little attention is placed upon actual nutrient concentration. The same can be said for genetic modification

As a result, developed nations have moved toward cheaper, less nutrient dense foods causing an epidemic rise in rates of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

The good news is by avoiding the center isles of your grocery store and shopping

primarily on the periphery; you can avoid most processed food and enjoy a cornucopia of nutrient dense foods at the same time. Any simple Google search will provide multiple examples of food with a high nutrient content. In fact, many of these charts will contradict one another for the reasons previously mentioned and this is why I chose not to include an actual list of foods in this article. Don’t despair however, and keep in mind that a little common sense goes a long way when

“

the more nutrient dense your food becomes, the more nutrients available for your tissues and organs in need. This has a major impact not only on your waistline but the effectiveness of your immune system, your ability to manage stress, the ageing process, and your overall health.

“

deciding what to put in your mouth. We truly are what we eat. Therefore the more nutrient dense your food becomes, the more nutrients available for your tissues and organs in need. This has a major impact not only on your waistline but the effectiveness of your immune system, your ability to manage stress, the ageing process, and your overall health.

Two final words of caution for those not used to eating a good amount of

whole food: go slow. Remember that these foods are indeed very dense and therefore require good digestion to properly breakdown and assimilate the nutrients. Some people find enzyme supplementation necessary at first to help decrease the additional burden placed upon the gut. If you experience a large amount of gas, pain, or overall distention of your abdomen, you can bet you’ve overdone it. A person used to eating a lot of prepared, processed, or fast food can

expect some initial difficulty with whole food integration. Therefore, a gradual but consistent approach is required to allow your digestive system to adjust to the new intake.

ymore info:

drvbowman.com www.facethecurrent.com

91

FtC health

Your Teeth Reflect Your Diet: How to Eat For That Beautiful Smile

Interview by Sasha Frate

92

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

Dr. Steven Lin talks with FtC to explain how our mouth

is the first place to look as the best sign of whole body health, and how dental health can be vastly improved with diet.

Trained at the University of Sydney, Dr Steven Lin is a practicing dentist and writer with a background in biomedical science. A passionate believer in lifestyle-based health, his work interface between dental and nutritional science and integrates the relationship between oral disease and systemic connection through dietary principles How can people observe their family’s dental history to have a better understanding of their own health?

What’s interesting about dental diseases, is that they’ve really only existed for the last few generations. If you look at your grandparents or great grandparents, it’s likely that they had far less dental problems than children today face.

Looking at kid’s teeth today, I see problems such bad tooth decay that young kids are going into hospital to have all their first teeth removed. And crooked dental arches, nearly everyone requires braces for straight teeth now.

What we need to see here is that dental diseases aren’t a normal state for your body. Dental diseases are also signs that the body will have fundamental issues that can lead to other diseases later in life.

The reality behind “you are what you eat” with gene expression from what we put into our bodies is becoming increasingly familiar.

However, the implications are still generally vague for most people.

What is the connection that you have identified in diet affecting oral/ dental health?

The most immediate result of what you eat can be seen in the mouth.

You developed a “diet” guideline for optimal oral health called “The

Dental D i e t .”

Is there a quick breakdown of what this looks like?

It works with four main principles -`To eat for healthy jaw and face development - Balance mineral and calcium delivery in the body - Promote the health of the oral and human microbiome - Maximize your epigenetic signals via nutrition If we eat foods that do these four things, you don’t get dental disease, or any of the chronic diseases that are so common today.

Modern health and common ailments are reflected from the modern diet.Your approach suggests we follow a more Ancestral Diet.

How does “modern” compare to what we ought to be adopting from “ancestral”?

Modern generally refers to since humans began to interfere with food on large scale.

These include processed foods that really don’t have any connection to how they are

naturally grown.

An ancestral diet looks at how traditional societies took time and care to source and prepare foods.

When you look at these foods they have a surprising amount of things in common, that are important for human health. That’s the real message from ancestral eating.

Remove processed food and reconnect with traditional eating – not necessarily eating like a caveman.

Dr. Weston A. Price identified the correlation of the modern diet to our declining oral health as far back as the 1930s, yet the situation has not improved since this recognition.

With this revelation and significant supporting evidence to date, why do you believe it is being so overlooked/ undervalued?

His book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration was lost out of print in the 1940s. The issue was in fact that it came at a time when medicine was rolling out antibiotics. It was considered the gold standard to shoot infective diseases out with medications and surgery but the principles of Weston A. Price really were at opposite ends to this. www.facethecurrent.com

93

The other problem is that the wider health community has failed to recognize the importance of dental health. While Price was a dentist, he spoke of how the mouth was the best sign for health all over the body. Our segmented healthcare system really fails to acknowledge this at all.

Dan Buettner’s “Blue Zones” is a fascinating observation of people around the world who live the longest. What do you think is the greatest take-away from this study?

There really isn’t one simple answer to health, but a whole-life approach to longevity and wellness. He really looked at how the longest lived communities have appreciation and sense of family in the society. They were also active and cared about their food preparation and sourcing.

Health for them was a way of life and every aspect of their daily routines contributed to this.

94

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

Using coconut oil to clean teeth and fight tooth decay (or reverse as some claim) has been circulating as an ideal practice for oral health. Many calling this “oil pulling,” it is said to clean and detoxify teeth and gums. What is your take on this practice, and do you feel it is effective?

Is there something different you’d recommend as a routine mouth cleanse?

Dental diseases are for the most part caused by simple carbohydrate intake. Coconut oil is a great source of medium chain tryglycerides and antibacterial agents. It certainly does no harm, but evidence is yet to support it.

What I do know is effective, is replacing coconut oil in the diet for sugar. Its sweet taste makes it perfect for this and people really do struggle to reduce their sugar intake. The MCT oils are absorbed fast and are great for sugar cravings too.

Simply chewing herbs such as peppermint or parsley have natural

digestive enzymes that are great oral cleansers.

Tongue scraping is another oral hygiene practice said to boast numerous benefits. Is this something you recommend? Why/why not?

Bacterial imbalances in the mouth can build up on the back, top side of the tongue. This can be a source of bad breath, which can be an embarrassing and difficult problem to treat.

Tongue scraping is a good way to stop this build up. But always remember that your oral balance is determined primarily by what you eat!

What is one of your favorite dental myths you love debunking?

Crooked teeth are a genetic problem. They are not. It’s a dietary problem primarily which becomes a functional problem.

Airway focused orthodontics can now straighten teeth without the need for braces simply by correcting their breathing. This is something that many people aren’t aware of.

Jaw and teeth development is primarily a nutritional problem that needs to be corrected with proper diet (which is what The Dental Diet is all about).

ymore info:

www.drstevenlin.com www.instagram.com/drstevenlin/ www.facethecurrent.com

95

FtC health

Doctor, “What can I do to make this better?”

By DR. JAMES BENTZ (D.PSc)

“

We are moving away from the old model of the doctor “fixing” the patient towards a more interactive model where we act as partners in helping you improve your health

“

96

stress FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

Let’s use the simple analogy of a circuit breaker. A circuit breaker is rated by the amperage it will take to switch it off; so a 20 AMP breaker will switch off as soon as the electrical flow though it exceeds 20 AMPS. This protects whatever is on that circuit from damage if there is a spike in electrical energy. The neurological circuits that we are dealing with in your body work in roughly the same manner.

Rather than amps of electricity, we are looking at tolerances. In other words, each of the neurological circuits in your body has a tolerance level which, when exceeded, causes a breakdown which can be identified though MRT and corrected.

The body is trying to do basically the same thing as the circuit breaker: to protect your body. It is an adaptation to some form of stress.

1. Physical stress; injury, overuse, overstressing joints and muscles.

2. Pathological stress: infection, autoimmune reactions, cellular damage.

3. Emotional stress: old emotional patterns, life stress, negative thoughts and emotions.

4. Environmental stress: toxins in food, air and water, poor nutrition, alcohol and drugs, both prescription and “recreational”.

Our tolerance levels to these stressors is determined by a combination of genetics and lifestyle choices. With what we now understand about epigenetics, we have much more control over even our genetics than previously thought. When the human genome was mapped out scientists found that only about 7% of our DNA was coded for specific genes. Initially the other 93% was called “junk DNA”. This view has been proven to be very misguided as we now are learning that the 93% is what switches the 7% on and off. The exciting news is that the choices we make in life has a profound influence on that 93%! See Bruce Lipton’s book titled “Spontaneous Evolution” for a more in depth discussion of the exciting science of epigegnetics.

You have the ability to greatly increase your tolerance level to all these stressors by the choices you make on a daily basis.

Choices about what you put in your body in the form of food, drugs, water and other

“

“

What types of stress is our body trying to adapt to?

With what we now understand about epigenetics, we have much more control over even our genetics than previously thought

circuit breaker

EFT Tapping

substances. Choices about your level of activity from just getting out and walking more to a structured exercise program.

Choices about what you think and how you feel.

Anthony Robbins says: “The quality of your life equals the quality of your emotions”. I wholeheartedly agree.

For now, I recommend checking out “EFT” or Emotional Freedom Technique for a simple technique to get more control over your thoughts and emotions. See the “Tapping Solution” website for more information.

You have experienced the power of your own innate healing capabilities through the restoration of normal signalling with Neurolink. Hopefully you also see that you also have the ability to significantly increase your tolerance levels to signalling breakdown. You can increase the “amperage” of your circuit breakers!

“

You have the ability to greatly increase your tolerance level to all these stressors by the choices you make on a daily basis

“

I am always excited I hear these words from my patients. It tells me they want to be more involved in their own health care. We are moving away from the old model of the doctor “fixing” the patient towards a more interactive model where we act as partners in helping you improve your health. My clients have all had the experience of being an active participant in a session with me as we get information from their body using MRT (muscle response testing). This helps me determine where there is any failure or breakdown in normal signalling between the brain and the body. So what causes that breakdown in the first place?

ymore info:

www.fidalgoislandhealthcenter.com

www.facethecurrent.com

97

FtC health

The Power of Reishi An in Depth Look at the Benefits of Reishi Mushrooms

By Jerry Angenlini, Education Director & Formulation Team for Host Defense Organic Mushrooms

“

Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrate molecules that are found in Reishi, which can increase natural killer cells and macrophages in our intestinal tract. These two types of immune cells can identify and destroy mutated cells and pathogens andtheonCURRENT our bodies 98in FACE MAGAZINE

“

Reishi is a mushroom that has been receiving increasing worldwide attention. It goes by many names including Ling Zhi, the Imperial Tonic and the Mushroom of Immortality.

There are a number of mushroom species that are loosely called Reishi, but for the purposes of this discussion we will be considering Ganoderma lucidum. Historical sources suggest that Reishi has been in use in multiple cultures continuously for over 2000 years.

Amassed over centuries of use, Materia Medica from these cultures present the rich history and considerable clinical application of the species. Furthermore, there is a growing body of scientific evidence from over fifty years, suggesting that Reishi may support a wide range of physiological functions with an overall tonic effect on the body.

So, what is a tonic? A tonic is a substance that contributes to the overall improved functioning of the body and mind; supporting physiologic homeostasis and longevity. Lets break it down.

Immune Response

The comprehensive body of research available on Reishi demonstrates that this mushroom can support a wide range of our bodies systems.

In common with a number of other mushrooms, Reishi supports a balanced immune response.

This means that instead of just supercharging one or two types of immune cells, Reishi’s complex chemical make-up allows for impact on the numerous cells types that make up our immune system. Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrate molecules

that are found in Reishi, which can increase natural killer cells and macrophages in our intestinal tract.

These two types of immune cells can identify and destroy mutated cells and pathogens in and on our bodies.

Simultaneously, Reishi also contains compounds called triterpenoids that support a specific T cell type that regulates or modulates other immune cells. These T regulatory cells can be compared to a musical conductor, in that they help direct activity and keep things interacting gracefully. If we consider the immune system like an orchestra instead of a light switch, then we can recognize that it is amazingly complex. We can also then consider that complex substances like Reishi can help orchestrate all the various cells so that they create a symphony instead of chaos. www.facethecurrent.com

99

“

By reducing the damage to our cells and reducing the mechanisms associated with aging such as plaque formation, insulin resistance and oxidative damage, Reishi provides our bodies with novel nutrients that help combat these mechanisms of entropy

“

Cardiovascular Support

Another major body system included in Reishi’s tonic impact is our cardiovascular system. Cholesterol, triglycerides, Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL’s), High Density Lipoprotiens (HDL’s) all benefit from ingesting Reishi preparations. Blood glucose levels are also balanced when using Reishi preparations. There is increased awareness in the US that cardiovascular health includes not just balanced blood fat levels, but also blood glucose levels. High blood sugar levels can increase inflammatory responses in the body that can then lead to the formation of plaque in the arteries. So the research indicating the mechanisms of helping the body manage blood glucose levels and supporting balanced blood fats together support cardio and vascular homeostasis. The combined support

100

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

of blood fats and blood glucose

by Reishi is a critical tonic action supporting longevity.

Adrenal System

The adrenal system is responsible for our stress or ‘flight or fight’ response but also for general energy. Traditional use and research on Reishi has been shown to increase exercise endurance and time to exhaustion. In animal and human clinical trials, Reishi was able to increase aerobic endurance and overall physical fitness. What was found in these studies is that Reishi compounds were able to reduce oxidative stress and damage by supporting a number of different antioxidant pathways. This seems to be one of the key underlying mechanisms of how Reishi supports longevity. By reducing the damage to our cells and reducing the mechanisms associated with aging such as plaque

formation, insulin resistance and oxidative damage, Reishi provides our bodies with novel nutrients that help combat these mechanisms of entropy.

Kidney Function

Another critical body system to consider is the kidneys. Our kidneys not only filter our blood, keeping it clean of the end-products of daily living, they also help regulate blood pressure and red blood cell creation.

Research suggests that Reishi can support kidney function by reducing oxidative damage, supporting blood glucose regulation and restoring immune homeostasis with the combined impact of reestablishing kidney functioning within normal limits.

Healthy Microbes

Finally, we need to consider our microbiome. Increasingly, current

“

As our world becomes increasingly congested with synthetic compounds and we continue to demand more and more from our bodies with the stressors of daily life, we need to find methods of nourishing ourselves and our personal ecosystems

“

research is suggesting that longevity and health maintenance includes symbiotic microbes. Personal health is a reflection, on an individual scale, of the interconnectedness and interdependence of the larger global ecosystem. Our bodies house trillions of microbes, some probiotic, some neutral and some pathogenic. In research conditions, Reishi is proving itself to be wonderful food for our probiotic species while impeding the growth of undesirable species. This selective support for the beneficial bacteria in our intestinal tracts seemingly has an advantageous impact upon the rest of our bodily systems.

Scientific research is uncovering the wide range of impact that Reishi can have on our bodies. As our

world becomes increasingly congested with synthetic compounds and we continue to demand more and more from our bodies with the stressors of daily life, we need to find methods of nourishing ourselves and our personal ecosystems. When we consider the centuries of safe and effective use of the Imperial Tonic, Reishi might be one of those substances that can help us find balance and return to a state of homeostasis.

References: Wachtel-Galor, S., Yuen, J., Buswell, J. A., & Benzie, I. F. (2011). Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press/ Taylor & Francis. Chapter 9: Ganoderma lucidum (lingzhi or Reishi): A Medicinal Mushroom Chu, T. T., Benzie, I. F., Lam, C. W., Fok, B. S., K. K., & Tomlinson, B. (2012, April). Study of potential cardioprotective effects of Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi): results of a controlled human intervention trial. British Jornal of Nutrition, 1017-27. doi:10.1017/ S0007114511003795 Boh, B., Berovic, M., Zhang, J., Zhi-Bin, L., (2001)

Ganoderma lucidum and its pharmaceutically active compounds. Bitechnology Annual Review, vol 13, 265-301.

Collado Mateo D, Pazzi F, Domínguez Muñoz FJ, Martín Martínez JP, Olivares PR, Gusi N, Adsuar JC. Ganoderma lucidum improves physical fitness in women with fibromyalgia. (2015), Nutr Hosp. Nov. 2126-35. doi: 10.3305/nh.2015.32.5.9601.

Zhonghui Z, Xiaowei Z, Fang F. (2013) Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides supplementation attenuates exercise-induced oxidative stress in skeletal muscle of mice, Saudi J Biol Sci. Apr;21(2):119-23. doi: 10.1016/j. sjbs.2013.04.004.

Futrakul, N., Panichakul, T., Butthep, P., Futrakul, P., Jetanalin, P., Patumraj, S., Siriviriyakul, P., (2004) Ganoderma lucidum suppresses endothelial cell cytotoxicity and proteinuria in persistent proteinuric focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) nephrosis, Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 31, 267-272.

Li, K., Zhuo, C., Teng, C., Yu, S., Wang, Xin., Hu, Y., Ren, G., Min, R., Qu, J., Effects of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides on chronic pancreatitis and intestinal microbiota in mice

ymore info: www.hostdefense.com www.facethecurrent.com

101

FtC fAce the current

BUSINESS 100. Leaf Republic: Nature´s solution

to plastic 108. Owning the Power of Capability 110. Time Republik: Time Currency Time to Get in on the Action 114. MARKETING: A Key Lever

in Monetization

102

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

www.facethecurrent.com

103

FtC business

By Ana McFerran Leaf Republic is based in Munich and develops, produces and markets leaf-based products for the packaging industry (one-way dishes) also producing pulp and paper. Both the sustainable product and the scalable business concept have been given several awards over the past years and the company was selected as German Start-Up of the year 2014.

The founder of Leaf Republic, Pedram Zolgadri, discovered his young daughter sitting in piles of plastic waste after a birthday party. He wondered what he could do to prevent such a wastage of resources and environmental pollution and began to search for an idea to tackle the devastating world-wide

104

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

problem of plastic waste.

The world has become dependent on plastics and paper - with disastrous consequences: a startling percentage of plastic waste ends up in the sea as a dangerous pollutant, endangering sea life and finding its way into the food chain.

Every two seconds, woods as large as a soccer field are cut down. Around 4 000 billion units of packaging are used per year. Currently, around seven billion people on the planet are causing a constant yearly increase of 10% to 14% of the prices for plastics and wood.

Annually, around 266 million tons of plastics are produced and sadly, today you can find six times more plastics than plankton in the seas.

It’s a situation, that if left to increasing spin out of control, will not have a pretty ending for the environment or humanity. It’s a problem on a scale that is difficult to fully comprehend and therefore, ironically, easy to dismiss.

The only long term feasible solution is making sustainable alternatives available to consumers, to replace and phase out plastic.

While on a trip around the world, Mr. Zolgadri discovered a particular kind of

leaf which was used for making plates by natives. One-way dishes based on leaves have been used in Asia for centuries.

He had the inspiration to modify the traditional leaf plates and adjust them to the European market.

Leaf Republic was founded in August 2013. Since then, the company developed from a research-based company into production, which intends to set a first step for an innovative new idea applicable globally.

Leaf Republic is taking the first step to create a change of perspective, awareness and a new choice for consumers and show that it is possible to bring sustainable products to the market which offer a high visual value with a unique and beautiful look. Leaf Republic are offering sustainable raw materials for certain sectors such as food and non-food packaging, with the hope being others will be inspired to follow the example and get ecologically creative.

www.facethecurrent.com

105

The response and demand has been overwhelming, proving consumers clearly DO want healthier, sustainable and ecologically produced alternatives.

Leaf Republic´s mission, is to replace paper plates, takeaway and food packaging with an innovative, green product, free of any oil-based ingredients.

The leaves are collected, selected and sew together into flat sheets before being turned into unique, liquid-proof dishes by a pressing machine which uses heat.

They offer a range of different sizes of plates and bowls: the plates vary from 18 cm to 28 cm in diameter, with volumes of 250 ml to 400 ml; the biggest bowl has a volume of 1000 ml and is offered with a RPET (recycled plastic) lid. Rectangular bowls with volumes from 250 ml to 300 ml are also available with lids.

Leaf Republic are starting a revolution against pollution...something we should all play our part in, for a brighter future!

106

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

ymore info: www.leaf-republic.com Facebook: leafrepublic Email: sales@leaf-republic.com

www.facethecurrent.com

107

FtC business

Owning the Power of

Capability

By Joseph Montgomery

The most limiting things I see in people that I work with, are their own beliefs. We can be our own biggest advocates, or most limiting forces.There is a common misconception that motivation comes from a place of deficiency, that we need more or that we currently don’t have enough.That can work initially, but at some point the feeling of lacking becomes exhausting and unsustainable.

An alternative form of inspiration is the idea that we are only confined by our thoughts and willingness to change.

We are essentially without limits. I’ve spent time meditating on each of the following and it has opened my mind to opportunities both in my business and personal life

Each and every one of us has a narrative –a story we tell ourselves that either inspires us to charge at our goals or allows us to remain in the same place.

I’m always hearing from people, “I’m just useless on Monday”, “I’m not a morning person” or “I’m too busy.” These attitudes make it a lot easier to slack off on Monday, wake up late, or neglect the people you care about. However, the great news is, stories can often easily be rewritten if the desire to rewrite them is there.

We are not victims:

108

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

I studied music before my career in finance and when I was looking for a way to launch into the financial world, I constantly wrestled with my story that I told myself. I remember walking to an elevator bank for an interview and feeling like people were staring right through me and wondering what a music student in a suit was doing at a downtown high rise. I also remember the first meeting with a potential client I went to without a senior advisor,

thinking to myself “who would trust a music student with their life savings?” The story I tell myself is a little different now. It touches on the fact that because I come from such a diverse background, I’ve had to earn every inch I’ve gotten. No one will work harder for my clients than I will and I’ve shown, through my success in many fields from arts to finance and from the classroom to the rugby pitch, that I’m in no way lacking in the aptitude or knowledge to serve them to the highest degree. With a new story you will be shocked at the doors that will open.

We are in charge:

“

There is never a situation that is insurmountable, the issue only ever lies in your ability to gain clarity around what must be done.

If you don’t know how to do something, go out and attain the information, take classes or find a mentor.

“

A great speaker and writer Hal Elrod said once, “Our energy flows to areas in which we have the most clarity”. One of the things that has made me feel helpless in the past is my lack of clarity on what it is I need to do. There is never a situation that is insurmountable, the issue only ever lies in your ability to gain clarity around what must be done. If you don’t know how to do something, go out and attain the information, take classes or find a mentor. What puts you at the steering wheel isn’t innate ability, it’s the desire and willingness to do whatever it takes. What is most terrifying and beautiful about that realization is that EVERYONE is in charge of their outcome. You lose your excuses and at first, that’s uncomfortable. What happens after that, is that you realize you have no limits and that can be the most motivating and liberating realization you’ll ever have.

We are capable:

When I was a teenager, I got into a lot of trouble and I was offered an opportunity to take part in a year-long wilderness based correctional program.

During this experience we were given the bare necessities to survive in a 5 to 10-degree desert climate. We lived in silence and solitude with the exception of group therapy at nights. There were about 8 kids who had at one point (or in most cases many points along the way) gotten in a LOT of trouble. Some of us hiked along, in silence as required and reflected on the circumstances that led us to these long walks. Some, fell on the ground and refused to go on, blaming everything that was happening on anyone but themselves. What I find fascinating is that in business I see the same thing happen all the time. There are things that we HAVE to do. Just like in the program, we HAD to hike or we wouldn’t make it to the next ration box and would have to go without food until we reached it. The difference I see in people is that there are some who know what needs to be done and no matter how uncomfortable or difficult it may seem, they execute. Then there are those who simply blame circumstance on their lack of success. The truth is, we are all capable of trekking on we just have to make the decision.

Joseph Montgomery is a Financial Advisor at the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company. For more information about his services, you can contact him at: Email: joseph.montgomery@nm.com Website: josephmontgomery.nm.com www.facethecurrent.com

109

FtC business

Time Currency Time to Get in on the Action

by Naia Reid

110

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

Imagine an alternative reality, where your time, passions, skills and input were precious, highly valued and rewarded resources. Imagine if, anytime you did something you enjoyed, were good at or loved to share, for the benefit of someone else, that you received time credits to “spend” with real human beings, who are eager to share their talents and services with you…for free.

Trading, sharing, bartering - there was a time when these things were a normal part of everyday life in and between communities.

Then money entered the equation and was set in motion to be the modern driving machine that “makes the world go round”. The system and modern society, almost in its entirety, is well oiled for those

who are financially abundant and decidedly more challenging for those who are not.

The source of many evils, money has been the fore bearer of, to name a few- class separation, greed, elitism, war, poverty, exclusion and in many cases, at a personal level desperation, loss of selfworth; as the cost of living rises exorbitantly year after year without the same reflection in income for the majority. Frustration, loss of opportunities, feeling stuck and stagnant…when you don’t have enough money, it’s easy to feel trapped, at a loss…feeling or being judged as less than what you could and should be by “successful modern society standards”.

Imagine asking for something; for

guidance, professional support, information…or for an expert service, help with a business set up or creative project or learning a new skill for example…and having many people offer their time and services to you for free. It’s not fantasy.

Gabriele Donati and Karim Varini have managed to turn time the old saying of “running after time” on its head. Time is something we all have and everyone has their unique passions and skills…these now become a valuable exchangeable resource, a way to freely give and receive – the facilitator of whole new way of getting things you need done, in a simple way that can work for everyone, anywhere…. with no money involved… whatsoever. www.facethecurrent.com

111

Gabriele Donati

Gabriele and Karim founded Time Republik in 2012 and it has exploded into an eclectic collection of over 100,000 talents around the globe, organised into 400 services and 14 categories, connected by an online peer to peer sharing platform. You can simply log in, describe what you can offer and request what you need. You then help someone, earn time credit by doing so, which is then yours to spend on whatever services you need yourself. It’s so simple it’s genius. You even receive automatic notifications when someone is looking for what you offer. The concept can also work outside the confines of the Time Republik webpage, with the Digital Wallet app, that can be embedded on

112

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

any other site, to allow members to share time and skills anywhere.

It’s an enlightening, enriching, mind opening new form of payment that could become a life-enhancing revolution!

And the benefits don’t end there either! This can be a great boost in developing a new angle to your portfolio or C.V., help you find a talent you didn’t know existed and even build you a solid business reputation.

The platform has won many start up and innovation awards and is particularly popular with skilled entrepreneurs, students, skilled retirees and start up projects.

Major Network Development Time Republik has now also been white labelled for incorporation

Karim Varini

by large companies, universities, municipalities and non-profits, because of its extraordinary ability to boost morale, productivity, relations between staff/community members and also in spotting talents that would otherwise remain unknown. They continue to partner with universities and NGOs to develop the constantly growing global network of support. It’s a place where anyone’s authentic character and skills can shine, where incredible connections are made and amazing collaborations are born and flourish, so if you fancy finding out how it can help you, in personal and business development, visit their site at www.TimeRepublik. com

ymore info www.TimeRepublik.com www.facethecurrent.com

113

FtC business

MARKETING:

A Key Lever in Monetization

by David Asarnow, Founder of Business Oxygen

114

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

What can effective marketing do? It creates a voice for your concept, product, service, or work before your ideal client or target audience. Great marketing will compel one to engage and listen to what you have to say.

This may sound like a no-brainer or like a variation of the sales adage “Always Be Closing” but selling and marketing are a little different. Shockingly, many business owners refuse to do any type of consistent marketing or advertising. They, mistakenly, believe marketing is important when they need a quick influx of cash or when the economy is good and they are in a good cash position. Think about it, in tough times, what do businesses often cut first? In fact, marketing and advertising are often slashed when, that is the last thing that should be stopped. Henry Ford once said, “A man who stops advertising to save money is like a man who stops a clock to save time.” Whether the business is new, struggling or just in plain need of customers, we often hear, “We do not have the money for marketing.”

Even though the “build it and they will come” strategy worked in the movie Field of Dreams, when it comes to building a business that kind of approach rarely, if ever, works.

There is no doubt you must have a consistent and targeted marketing strategy if you want your business to be profitable and lasting. A small little ad in the local newspaper or community publication once or twice a year can hardly be considered marketing consistently. Many businesses will do just that, though, believing that they are properly “marketing” their business.

Even if you spend more than that on advertising, marketing extends beyond the occasional sales ad and into your everyday business interactions.

Here’s something to think about: If we were to meet you at a business event, how would you introduce yourself? What would you say about your business?

Isn’t that what most people answer when asked this question? While it is true that you do sell something and operate within a particular industry but your answer to that question should quickly educate any potential customer on who you are, then lead to questions that will help you to learn more about them. For example, if someone were to ask us what we do, we would say, “We help companies grow and monetize their business 15% - 75% or more in six months or less through proven digital marketing and online and offline sales strategies.”

If an “education-based marketing” approach is not part of your typical response then you’re most likely part of the group of businesses who are not maximizing their profit potential and may, in fact, be having serious profit problems.

Quite frankly, many business owners are confused about what the nature of their business making it sound more complicated than it actually has to be. So, let’s break down your responsibilities as a business owner. The most important activities in your business should be as easy as 1-2-3: 1. Understanding your clients’ wants, needs and desires and then providing the education-based information they will benefit from.

2. Creating compelling marketing that attracts your desired clients.

3. Convert your ideal clients into a profitable paying clients and then delivering the promised result(s).

We are here to share a system that works—today! After working for well over a decade with business clients, we have come to realize that most business owners do not know what works and truly are not to blame for their inability to put together effective marketing campaigns.

Think about this: Did you receive an instruction manual about how to get customers when you first started your business? Was there a course offered in grade school, high school, your college www.facethecurrent.com

115

major or at a trade or professional school designed to teach entrepreneurs how to attract qualified customers to their business? Heck, no! And what’s more, those methodologies would be outdated, failing to meet your needs using new strategies using the most cost-effective model.

When you first opened your doors, you probably just went out there and told everyone what you were doing. Then expectantly, you sat back and waited for paying customers to come rolling into your business. After all, your idea was a sure thing, right?

When things were a little slow to start, you probably turned to industry publications, magazines, and newsletters; which focus solely on products and customer service as the solution to your problems. Next, you looked around at what the competition was doing and you probably began to think that if you offered your product or service at a lower price, customers would flock to your business instead of your competition. But what really happened?

Initially, you may have seen a rush of customers after you ran the promotion offering the product at a low price, but

116

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

did that rush of customers continue or become loyal clients? No. As time went on, you probably began doing less and less advertising because you weren’t seeing great returns from monies spent. Deep down inside, you may have had the gnawing feeling that you should be doing some sort of marketing and advertising but you didn’t have a clue what to do exactly.

Perhaps you were functioning under the false belief that you were just a simple small business owner, selling a gadget or providing a service, but not a marketer.

This terrible mistake entrepreneurs make who fail to realize that they must become marketers Your primary job is attracting more customers to your business.

to implement strategies and tactics that are driving more paying customers to you. You only have one chance to make a first impression, thus an effective plan to capture their attention and keep it, is essential. The next step is the referral. Only becoming a marketing and advertising zealot will show you these returns.

You can excel and be a very successful marketer if you thoughtfully implement the strategies we are discussing in Face The Current.

By the way, if you are ready to monetize your business more effectively and accelerate your business results, let’s connect.

Other day-to-day activities that do not bring in revenue can easily become the focus of a misguided small business owner.

For example, you don’t get paid when you: • You counsel employees; • for payroll; • answer questions about shipping; and -certainly not• A when you are willing someone to come to your business or to call!

Your number one job, daily, should be

ymore info: For more info on how to monetize your business more effectively and accelerate your business results: www.businessnitrogen.com www.facebook.com/RealDavidAsarnow

www.facethecurrent.com

117

s ’ e n o e m o s Brighten a h t i w d l r o w !

N O I T A R I P S GIFT OF IN

Give your friends, family, or loved ones a gift of positivity and inspiration with a yearly subscription to Face the Current Magazine!

Inspiration, aspiration, and positivity are things that everyone loves and needs more of!

FtC is fuel for an inspired life. Live your potential…

118

www.facethecurrent.com

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

Want to make an impression?

Looking for the best

space for your ad?

Not only can FtC make your ad really stand out, with limited places to ensure high visibility and a highly targeted audience…

We’re also adopting the Happy Holiday Spirit and offering some crazy discounts so you get simply the best value for your investment!

To get up to 1/3 discount on normal advertising prices, contact us now. It’s a limited offer you won’t want to miss!

FtC

www.facethecurrent.com

119

FtC fAce the current

120

FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

FtC - Fuel for an inspired life.

Discover your potential.... www.facethecurrent.com