15 minute read
Body balance
HEALTH AND WELLNESS Body balance in Buderim
WELLNESS CENTRE NOW OPEN
Bby Halcyon’s Wellness Centre is the Sunshine Coast’s largest private spa facility, boasting a total site area of 2663m2.
The Wellness Centre is now open and features a variety of luxurious spaces that promote a healthy, balanced lifestyle, including: * 25m magnesium salt pool and spa * Gym and circuit room * Hairdressing salon * Beauty therapist and nail technician * Massage therapists * Steam room * Sauna * Lounge and tea station It is the perfect place to refresh, energise and soothe your mind, body and soul. Meet some of the fabulous practitioners now off ering their services.
SHAPING UP FOR FUN
Staying active is a balancing act and doing some kind of moderate activity at least three times a week helps to build bone strength and maintain a healthy heart and fl exible body.
Circuit training provides an all-body workout for all ages and fi tness abilities that you can take at your own pace with plenty of options to adapt exercises to suit your needs. Incorporating cardio, strength training and stretching exercises, circuit training provides a host of benefi ts such as mobility, balance, strength and fl exibility for everyday life as well as the social aspect of group classes. B by Halcyon has a dedicated circuit gym with a selection of exercise equipment, free weights and amenities such as kettlebells, dumbbells, mats and Bosu balls. Each circuit class consists of two rounds of 15 diff erent strength or cardio exercises with one minute at each station. It’s a comprehensive workout with real benefi ts and everyone is so happy and easy-going – it’s a pleasure to teach! I also off er deep tissue and Swedish relaxation massage as well as gentle vinyasa yoga classes. I love seeing the change in people, especially with yoga. I see such a diff erence in their progress and how much better they feel when they build their strength, fi tness and fl exibility. My favourite thing about being a personal trainer is defi nitely the people.
Amy’s tips for staying in shape
1. Good nutrition and lots of water. 2. Being active at least three times a week. 3. A positive attitude.
MAKING A SPLASH
Words by Kim Saker, Fitness Trainer, B by Halcyon
Aqua aerobics is not only a fabulous fi tness class, it’s a lot of fun as well. It off ers all the benefi ts of an exercise workout without the weight-bearing impact on the spine, hips, knees and ankles.
Aqua aerobics is suitable for people of all abilities. At B by Halcyon, my water-based classes are attended by everyone from super-fi t homeowners to those who cannot swim, plus people with injuries. As aqua aerobics classes take place in a heated pool, there is zero impact on joints as you are weightless in the water and the exercises are great for rehab, pre-surgery and fl exibility. The aim is to make everyone feel comfortable with tailored exercises and options. I teach aqua aerobics classes twice a week at B by Halcyon and each 50-minute class includes a warmup, cardio, strength training with dumbbells, abdominal core work and a cool down. My Halcyon clients love a good, hard workout; I always have requests for great tunes from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s – and to turn the music up louder! I love my clients at B by Halcyon – they bring so much enthusiasm to each session and have a great zest for life. They are such a fabulous group and create a fantastic and fun atmosphere, I think I enjoy the classes even more than they do!
Kim’s top 3 benefi ts of aqua aerobics
1. Increasing bone density. 2. Increasing fi tness. 3. Light impact on joints.
REST AND RELAXATION
Words by Dawn Lee, Beautician, B by Halcyon
Self-care in the form of looking after yourself isn’t just an indulgence, it’s a powerful way to manage your health and wellbeing.
Regular massage and facials are important to refresh, energise and soothe your mind, body and soul. We off er the full spectrum of beauty services at B by Halcyon, including facials, massage, manicures and pedicures plus brow shaping, eyelash tinting and waxing. I specialise in skincare and massage, which have fantastic topical benefi ts for the skin as well as for relaxation and rejuvenation purposes. The spa and wellness facilities here are beautiful – there is a hair salon on site and two dedicated treatment rooms with all the amenities.
The homeowners are very warm and welcoming and I enjoy getting to know the homeowners at B by Halcyon. With more than 25 years in the beauty industry, I’m thrilled to provide a range of self-care services at the stunning new B by Halcyon Wellness Centre.
Dawn’s tips for self-care at home
1. Enjoy a wellbalanced diet for beauty that is refl ected on the inside and out. 2. Staying hydrated by drinking water is essential for good health and wellbeing. 3. Use essential fatty acids such as omega 3s and omega 6s in your diet or as a supplement to retain the moisture in the skin.
FEEL FABULOUS
Words by Lisa Hathway, Hairstylist, B by Halcyon
If your hair looks great, it’s one less thing to worry about! So, I place a lot of emphasis on my clients walking out of the salon feeling fabulous.
At B by Halcyon, the luxurious salon is light, bright and airy – a warm and welcoming environment tailored for a more mature client where you can feel comfortable while we make you feel beautiful for all occasions. As a mature hairdresser, I pride myself on off ering a sense of comfort and professionalism and, of course, the best conversation.
I’ve been a hairdresser for 29 years, including as a competitive stylist and award fi nalist. I also have an editorial styling background, creating before-and-after makeovers for Australian Women’s Weekly magazine. I specialise in cut and colour services and also off er waxing and eyelash tinting treatments in the salon. I really love the people aspect of my role and the ability to off er specialised services to B by Halcyon homeowners that other salons might not. Temporary colour treatments such as ‘glamour baths’ and hair rinses for predominantly greying hair refresh your hairstyle and add stunning shine and condition for special occasions. It’s important to look and feel good at any age, and a salon appointment is your opportunity to sit down, relax and be pampered.
Lisa’s tips for haircare at home
1. Opt for a lowmaintenance haircut so you can just blow-dry and go. 2. A good shampoo and conditioner are key. 3. Use a leave-in conditioner for extra hydration. 4. Try a take-home rinse to refresh colour and shine between appointments.
PARDON MY MINDFULNESS
Words by Geoff Shearer
A stalwart journalist for News Ltd for 20 years and a former TV Week Features Editor, Geoff Shearer is one the country’s most admired arts and entertainment writers. He’s taken a step into semi-retirement to concentrate on his fiction writing, while relishing the chance to share his unique take on life with My Halcyon Days’ readers.
SO when my wife asked, “Do you want to try tai chi?”, I thought she’d said chai tea which I hastily explained I wouldn’t touch because I prefer my hot drinks with LOTS of caffeine, thank you very much.
And therein lies my problem, according to her. My “silly” reliance on caffeine (although, to be honest, she should have been more worried about my total ignorance of relaxation activities, or at the very least my hearing). We went back and forth on various practises around mindfulness, meditation and mindlessness. Well, one thing led to another (that’s code for I was told what to do next) and a week later I found myself in a pair of precariously wide-legged shorts doing various yoga positions, of which the only one I found remotely relaxing was the “corpse pose”. Well, lying on your back, on a 1mm-thin yoga mat in a room with 20 other people all trying to be perfectly still and quiet was, well, weird. We must have looked like a Madame Tussauds storage room after a very strong breeze had rushed through the place. And let me tell you, that strong breeze hadn’t entirely left the room – there was a stomach grumbling away quite threateningly to the left of me. The poor woman was trying her utmost to be mindful. But all she could be mindful of was the bulging bubble of gas travelling through her lower intestines that could, at any moment, make an unexpected and loudly trumpeted arrival. Someone get George Bush and Hans Blix on speed dial, I think we’re about to finally discover a weapon of mass destruction … well, distraction at the very least. The thought of that got me giggling ... which distracted everyone … which made the instructor scowl at me. And then the woman beside me made what we called in the 1980s, an “extended 12-inch dance remix” of a distraction … which got me howling with laughter … which was a mass distraction for everyone and weaponised the instructor to point at me and explode into an unintelligible, un-yoga-like rant that effectively meant I was ordered to leave the room and never come back, apparently not in his godforsaken lifetime, or something… I guess relaxation and meditation isn’t for me. I’ll just go grab a coffee and think about that. SPRING 2021 | 29
Let us say thank you.
When you refer someone to Halcyon we like to say thank you to you and a charity
of your choice.
Best of all you don’t have to be a Halcyon homeowner to be part of the program. Our referral program is available to anyone who helps introduce a new home owner to a Halcyon community.
How does it work
When you refer a friend who buys a home* from Halcyon we provide you $1,500 and a $500 donation towards a charity or cause you support. When a buyer enquires into a Halcyon community our team asks who referred them. Our friendly team record the referral details in our database. If your friend or family goes on to buy, we will give you a call to confirm payment and your charity of choice.
To find out more visit lifebeginsathalcyon.com.au/friends-of-halcyon-referral
Halcyon has proudly supported charities with over $1 million in donations since it was established 15 years ago.
Book club
WITH ROBYNNE BARNES, HALCYON WATERS
Robynne has been living at Halcyon Waters with her husband Bill for the past nine years. Prior to that she had a long career with Griffi th University teaching academic English as well as editing PhD students’s academic submissions into professional journals. With more time now, she enjoys reading, pickleball, Zumba, aqua aerobics, singing and looking after her adorable granddog labradoodle Belle.
While Paris Slept
Author: Ruth Druart, Publisher: Headline Review, 2021
In confi dent, affl uent post war California, a young boy is growing up secure in the love of his parents and his boyish dreams of a bright and prosperous future in the land of plenty.
He is completely unaware of another mother on the other side of the world still grieving for the newborn baby she thrust into the arms of a railway workman as she was bundled into a cattle train bound for Auschwitz.
This wartime tale full of pathos and unrelenting courage gallops its way through Nazi occupied Paris and the French countryside, across the Pyrenees in winter to Spain, and across the ocean to the American dream, and on to a fi nal heart wrenching return to Paris.
This book will excite, enrage and inspire.
Sooley
Author: John Grisham, Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton, 2021
If you’re expecting another gripping multi-layered Grisham courtroom drama, don’t read “Sooley”.
Here, Grisham strays from his usual genre to a tale that headlines his fi rst love – basketball. His masterful storytelling prowess centres on the journey of a teenaged South Sudan boy, gifted with a loving family, a promising physical stature, and a jump that amazes even the most hardened sceptics.
Although a glittering career within the multi-million dollar American basketball league beckons, Sooley is reluctant to leave his family to suff er the South Sudan civil war atrocities without their eldest son.
The story abounds with basketball jargon and nuances, as well as a sweeping overview of the many layers of the American basketball franchises. This is not just a story about a basketball player. It will pick you up on waves of exhilaration, while underscoring it with the despair of life in the African refugee camps.
The Coffi n Maker’s Garden
Author: Stuart Macbride, No.1 Sunday Times Best Seller, Publisher: HarperCollins, 2021
As a fi erce storm lashes the Scottish coast, investigators are called to cordon off a cliff side house and garden threatening to slide down into the North Sea.
By happenstance, ex-detective Ash Henderson is in the area on another matter, when through the gloom and beating rain, the corner of a long box is spotted poking through the eroding cliff face, teetering with every fresh gust.
So begins the gruesome discovery of a large number of coffi ns in what was once the back garden of a village home. Evocative Scottish scenery, a clever plot with creepy characters and settings, and a dark humour which keeps popping through, all underpin the ensuing investigation. Razor sharp Scottish repartee between the various quirky characters creates amusing dialogue which will put a smile on the faces of those who love language.
This is a great read for those who are a little jaded with usual serial killer genre.
Bowled over
Here are some ideas –
BUDDHA AND POKE BOWLS HAVE BEEN GROWING IN POPULARITY AND ARE PERHAPS THE EASIEST, MOST COLOURFUL AND HEALTHY OPTIONS FOR A QUICK MEAL. THE BEAUTY OF THESE BOWLS IS YOU CAN ADD ANY INGREDIENT WHICH APPEALS – THERE’S NO RIGHT OR WRONG WAY – IT’S ALL UP TO INDIVIDUAL CHOICE.
Buddha Bowl
Serves 4
Named after Buddha, who would carry a bowl with him and accept food as donations, which he would eat at the end of the day. Originally these were predominately vegan and vegetarian, but you can always add a meat-based protein of choice. Start with a bowl of rice and go from there. ☐ ¾ cup cooked rice (brown, wild or mixed with quinoa). ☐ 1 can legumes such as canned chickpeas, kidney beans or lentils. ☐ 2 cups of (any combination of) vegetables which steam well such as sugar snap peas, snow peas, edamame beans, broad beans, caulifl ower, zucchini or broccoli. ☐ 4 cups of chopped raw vegetables (of any combination) such as onion, sprouts, cabbage, kale, English spinach, mushrooms, carrot, cucumber and fresh grated beetroot. ☐ 2 avocadoes (slice ½ for each person). ☐ Sesame seeds, pepitas or nuts for added crunch. ☐ Dressing of choice – experiment with diff erent types including Green Goddess or yoghurt-based ones.
Method
Assemble all ingredients into individual bowls, sprinkle pepitas or nuts and serve with dressing. Only add avocado If you are planning to serve immediately, otherwise it will turn brown. Pour dressing over the top and enjoy. If there are leftovers, you can always store in a container and add dressing and avocado when you’re ready to eat.
Poke Bowl HAWAIIAN IN ORIGIN - THE WORD POKE (PRONOUNCED POH-KAY) MEANS TO SLICE OR CUT – AND IS TRADITIONALLY MADE WITH FRESH DICED RAW SASHIMI-STYLE SALMON AND TUNA. THESE INCREDIBLY FRESH AND TASTY BOWLS CAN BE SERVED ON A BED OF RICE, NOODLES OR GREENS WITH FRESH VEGETABLES, SEAWEED AND PICKLED GINGER.
Pick a base:
Depending on whether you are limiting your carbohydrate intake, choose from steamed sushi rice, brown rice, coconut rice, soba noodles or leafy greens. Rice should always be served warm while noodles are cold.
– Aim for around ¾ - 1 cup of rice or noodles per serve, extra if you’ve chosen greens.
Add protein:
Traditionally served with raw or marinated fish such as salmon or tuna, feel free to add something different if you don’t like raw fish such as fresh cooked prawns, chicken or cooked tofu if you want a vegetarian option. – Aim for around 120gms protein per serve.
Add vegetables:
When it comes to vegetables, you really are only limited by your imagination and your tastes. Most authentic poke bowls will include avocado, carrot, cucumber, red onion, capsicum, corn, pickled ginger, seaweed, edamame beans, radish, spinach, kale or fresh beetroot.
– Aim for 1-2 cups of vegetables per serve.
Add dressing:
The type of dressing for your poke bowl will largely depend the protein component. If you’ve gone for raw fish, stick with Asian inspired dressings and sauces such as miso, tamari, ponzu. If you’ve chosen chicken or vegetarian, a satay style dressing would work well.
– Add dressing according to taste.
Add your crunch:
There are lots of ingredients such as sesame seeds, pepitas, fried shrimp or onions, wasabi peas, croutons, nuts, which add to the texture of the poke bowl. – Sprinkle over the top and enjoy.
