Pregalates with Pilates TV Instructor Tasha Lawton

Mother of two and larger than life character, Tasha Lawton (pictured), has presented on Yoga TV in Australia and also appeared as the Pilates ‘In Pregnancy Expert’ on the Lifestyle Channel’s Pilates TV series. Tasha has also demonstrated at fitness expos, and worked with pro AFL footballers in the area of sports coaching and Pilates training.

On the experience of providing Pilates training for AFL footballers, Tasha said she really enjoyed it. “They’re very hard working, they’re very committed, very focused and they’re also very aware of the huge benefits Pilates has for them. Injuries in football are common and Pilates is a great thing for them to be doing.” Read more

Aussie Kids Pop Vitamins For Nutrition

Are Australian children relying on dietary supplements to complete their nutritional intake? That’s just one of the questions raised by a new report out today which reveals insights into the state of the nation’s lunchboxes as well as parental concerns around healthy food options and peer pressure.

Are children relying on dietary supplements?
The John West Healthy Lunchbox Report is based on feedback from 1,000 mums1 across the country and reveals a significant trend. Over a quarter (26%) of Australian children are taking pills or supplements to complete their nutritional intake.

Of those children almost half (49%) take omega-3 dietary supplements. This is concerning some nutritionists such as Shane Bilsborough: “The fact that kids are taking dietary supplements proves that nutrition is important to mums and it’s great that they are being proactive in ensuring their children are getting all their nutrients. It’s also encouraging to see that parents are taking steps to ensure their children are getting enough omega-3 – it’s great for kids concentration and brain function – but supplements are not the only solution.”

“A healthy balanced diet should provide kids with all the vitamins and nutrients they need. Unlike supplements whole foods also satisfy hunger and provide kids with vital energy. Supplements may also
mask underlying dietary deficiencies that unless addressed can travel through to adulthood,” he said.

Professor Andrew Sinclair, omega-3 specialist at Deakin University comments, “The benefits of eating whole foods such as fish to obtain omega-3 fatty acids can significantly outweigh the benefits of consuming a supplement. Whole foods, such as fish, provide high quality protein, vitamins and minerals your body needs for good health, not just the one nutrient. Omega-3 supplements can also be quite costly compared with foods sources such as canned fish.” Read more

Book Review: The Secret Pleasures of Menopause by Christiane Northrup

At the age of 39, I figured I had about 10 years before I personally needed to read a book on menopause. But as my job also requires that I review books that may be of interest to women, I recently spent some time getting acquainted with The Secret Pleasures of Menopause by Christiane Northrup M.D.

I’ve long envied post-menopausal women and how utterly liberating it must be to no longer be concerned with PMS, menstruation, bloating, cramping, contraception and unplanned pregnancy. Of course I’ve heard all the horror stories about perimenopause and having been on the receiving end of one or two of my own mother’s hormonal driven rages, I can testify as to the dangers inherent when ticking off a menopausal woman. But after the storm had passed I found my mum to be a most agreeable human being.

Never before have I seen my mother so happy, so content, so completely at peace with herself and the world around her. At 63 she has more energy and zest for life than I could ever imagine is possible for myself – oh, how I envy this woman. And so the question must be asked: How does one achieve this enviable state of being as quickly and painlessly as possible? The answer according to Christiane Northrup is Nitric Oxide or as the scientific community prefer to call it, NO. Read more

Year of the Blood Donor 2009

The Federal Health Minister, Nicola Roxon MP, will today formally announce 2009 the Year of the Blood Donor.

An anticipated doubling of demand for blood and blood products within 10 years has led the Australian Red Cross Blood Service to launch a nationwide recruitment drive in 2009 Year of the Blood Donor.

The Blood Service is appealing for more than 100,000 new blood donors this year, a number that is in addition to the 40,000 who registered across Australia to give blood in the week after the Victorian bushfires. Read more

What Type of Social Networking Butterfly Are You?

Digital strategist Laurel Papworth has 20 years experience in the use of social networks and digital communities. Laurel has identified the seven different types of social networking butterflies. So what type of social networking butterfly are you? Try it Just for Fun!

Camoufly…changes colour depending on the environment
In social networks, the Camoufly keeps their profile separate for each network. Reading the social situation and behaving appropriately is their greatest gift, a place and time for everything. Facebook is strictly for friends and family – forget them adding the boss or popping online at work to poke friends! The Camoufly screens their calls too, pushing personal calls to voicemail at work – privacy is paramount to the vanishing Camoufly. Read more

Australian bosses named toughest on social networking

A recent survey has revealed that Australians are among the world’s most deprived of access to social networking sites in the workplace.

According to 3 mobile’s INQ poll* 55% of Aussie workers said their employers banned social networking websites such as Facebook, MySpace and Bebo in the workplace, compared to just 20% of workers in the UK, 12% in France, 11% in Spain, 10% in Germany and 6% in Italy.

Leading Australian social network strategist and blogger Laurel Papworth, says “Companies are banning sites such as Facebook in the workplace for the wrong reasons – because they’re confusing the ‘social’ in social network with ‘party’. Read more

Launch of Sisters on the Planet in Perth

West Australians will join forces on Wednesday 4 March to urge the creation of state-wide ‘Sisters on the Planet’ communities of action to tackle climate change.

Oxfam Australia Board Member and Murdoch academic Dr Jane Hutchison will address the launch of the Oxfam Australia/Make Poverty History initiative at the Alexander Library Theatre, Northbridge at 6pm on Wednesday 4 March 2009.

Dr Hutchison will be joined by international student, Guerlaine Bingwa, who will talk about the impact of
climate change in her home country, Zimbabwe. Read more

The Farmer Wants a Wife Calls For Single Women Looking For Love and Adventure

Are you looking for love with the man of your dreams? Tired of the man drought in the city? Feel like a tree change? Do you want to swap your stilettos for gumboots? Then the producers of hit TV show The Farmer Wants a Wife want to hear from you.

A ratings hit for The Nine Network, The Farmer Wants a Wife is returning to offer a whole new group of Australia’s most eligible farmers a solution to their ‘love’ problem. Twelve farmers have been selected for the shortlist and now women from all across the nation have their chance to stake their claim on their man. Read more

Business Women Use Social Media to Celebrate International Women’s Day

To celebrate International Women’s Day the Australian Businesswomen’s Network (ABN) is using Social Media to connect Australian business owners with women internationally.

“We’ve put together three 90-minute webinars with local and international guests to give women access to best practice and expertise from across the globe. Women in small business, whether they live in Perth, Albury Wodonga, Cairns or Canberra, can take part in these events, without leaving their desk,” said Suzi Dafnis, National General Manager of ABN.

“Our international speakers from the USA, Canada, Philippines and Singapore will bring their knowledge to our shores and our Australian speakers will help women put new information into practice right here at home.” Read more

Launch of Governent funded website for parents raising kids with autism spectrum

The Federal Government and the Raising Children Network will today launch the national website for parents of young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) – www.raisingchildren.net.au/autism

Bill Shorten MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, will launch the website, part of the Federal Government’s Helping Children with Autism package, at an event at Parliament House Canberra today.

Intended to assist and support Australian families and professionals by providing quality assured parenting information and resources, and improving connections between families, professionals, and services, the
site raisingchildren.net.au/autism will deliver a raft of Australian specific information that parents can access, as their information needs require. Read more

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