Welcome to Awesome April!

A Message from the Editor, Shanelle Schick

Hello! Welcome to April!

This month we have another fantastic edition to share with you! It's so exciting to watch the magazine grow each month as we discover more amazing things about our community and welcome new columnists to share their knowledge and expertise with our readers.

The interviewing process still amazes me as I get to learn so much about the great work that is being done locally. It's almost impossible to squeeze everything onto the page in the article that is published I'd like to encourage you to track down the social media profiles of those who we showcase each month so that you can truly learn more about their offerings We are attempting to make this easier for you and more user-friendly by including hyperlinks to take you directly to each business's page

This month we have stories to share with you from local businesses including Juicy Inner Glow, Intra-Mind, Cool & Calm Equine Assisted Learning and more. We welcome new columnists into our Hub Family Fold including Catrina Thomasson & Katie Crews and we have plenty of wisdom to share from our regular columnists Candice Fraser, Leanne Smith, Sonja Preston, Kimberly Patterson and Vicki Jeffrey There's definitely plenty there to keep you entertained over the upcoming break!

This month we have included a School Holiday Activity Guide alongside our regular Event Guide. There are also new additions to our Business Directory as it continues to grow too!

As we head towards the celebration of a year since we re-launched as a digital magazine, we are working on something pretty special in the background and are hoping that we will be able to share this with you in our May edition We are pretty sure you're going to love it!

Here's to a fantastic month ahead!

Please feel free to reach out if you need anything or would like to contribute to future editions!

By Shanelle Schick

Juicy Inner Glow became a business for Amy Shiell after she discovered that a friend was using supermarket juices for a juice cleanse that she was doing

Amy, a qualified chef knew that bottled juices don’t contain the same kind of nutritional value as using fresh, organic produce and set about creating her business alongside her partner Jan, of cold pressed juices.

Her own health challenges over the years have led Amy to realising the importance of eating healthy food and making mindful choices, especially in those times where our bodies require extra support. Juicy Inner Glow provides locals with cold pressed juices, buddha bowls, meals and cleanse packages, taking away the stress of having to prepare these. You will find Amy and her partner Jan at the Community Markets on Saturday mornings and other local markets throughout the month.

The cleanse packages are a great option for those who are looking to reset their health and wellbeing. They are also fantastic for those of us who are time-poor with them being already prepared for you. You have the option to choose a juice-only cleanse or to be supported with wholesome nourishing meals as well. You also have the ability to choose the length of your cleanse too, making it easier to fit in with your lifestyle. Amy recommends chatting with a naturopath or health professional prior to undertaking a cleanse to ensure it is suitable for you and your health needs

In March I took part in a 2-day cleanse and found the support offered to be fantastic Having everything laid out as to when to consume and eat took a lot of the hassle and stress out of it for me I chose to have the meal package as well as I was looking to reset my own healthy eating journey having gotten off-track of late I found that I was really nourished over the 3 days The cleanses come with a guide to support you on your cleanse journey and Amy is looking to work more closely with local naturopaths as well as set up a Facebook support group for those who opt to cleanse with Juicy Inner Glow. Cleanses happen regularly, so keep an eye out on the Facebook page or head over to their website www.juicyinnerglow.com.au to order your package.

Cool Calm Equine Assisted Learning is providing an opportunity for locals to get up close and personal working with horses and dogs as a form of therapy.

Megan Size spent 12 months study Equine Assisted Learning after her daughter’s occupational therapist noted a significant change in her behaviour after working with animals This has led Meg to creating Cool Calm Equine Assisted Learning

What is Equine Assisted Learning?

"A unique approach to experiential learning, where clients are offered safe experiences with horses for the purpose of learning social-emotional skills, personal development, and professional development skills (eg leadership and team building) EAL is a fast-growing modality across Australia and the globe. National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) clients benefit greatly from EAL services as do children, adolescents and adults. "

Located on 25 acres at Cawarral, the property has plenty of space for clients to come and work with the horses, giving them an opportunity to be involved in experiential learning Animals reflect feelings back to us and if you are feeling cranky and unhappy, the animal will reflect this back to you and won’t engage with you

Clients working with Meg in 1 hour sessions can expect to be greeted upon arrival with a check in of how things have been going since they last met, providing them with an opportunity to chat and reflect on what has been. Sessions are client-led offering choice points to create confidences. Open-ended questions are asked and the structure of a session develops from there. Clients are then able to choose the flow of the session from leading, to grooming and plaiting, to painting the horses or just enjoying the quiet ambience of the farm - there are plenty of options available, all developing important skills such as empathy for self and others, self care and fine motor skills

Meg reports that many of her clients don't want to leave at the end of their session as they enjoy them so much.

With the school holidays coming up, there is an opportunity for kids to experience working with Meg, her horses and dogs out on the farm. The idea is to give kids a chance to spend some time outdoors in nature with the animals enjoying some screen free time and fresh air Details of the school holiday program can be found on the adjacent flyer and bookings can be made by emailing coolandcalmeal@outlookcom