Movement
21 February, 2025
Words by Em Armstrong, Laura + Mel Kiel.
At the end of each challenge, we like to reflect and look at what an incredible achievement it is to find the mat for 21 days – something that sounds so simple, yet to stay consistent, committed and create LOVE of finding the movement for our mind and body can be quite the task with post Christmas and New Years blues creeping in…holiday mode is well and truly over and yep, time to get back into it!
Our amazing Mat Pilates Teacher Laura Kiel, from Yeoval, NSW originally, now living in Parkes, NSW, successfully has completed the Get Your Groove Back Challenge 2.0 this year, not only filming 7 + classes for our online community The Saltbush Squad but also completing it with so many other bush babes tuning in from Australia and overseas.
BUT, as we are ALL guilty of at times is over doing it, within work, life, exercise, too much choccy and the list goes on…And we get it – Life can be bloody hard with just trying to keep up with our washing, social calendar, daily movement, finances, admin, self-care and WOW, let’s throw sleep in there somewhere too.
Laura has been super open and honest and suffered from a little burnout (which we are ALL guilty of). So, this week, our weekly theme is, (post-challenge) is based around ‘FINDING THE FRESH AIR’ which is SUCH an important reminder for us all. Fresh air really is good for the mind, body and soul and if you are in our community and work outdoors all day, let you shimmy some of that onto the Saltbush plate.
This week, Lauz is encouraging us to ALL find some movement outdoors, no matter if that’s rolling out your mat for a yoga or pilates flow on your deck, lawn, bestie’s backyard. Run after work, lunchtime walk, or just sitting in the sun to enjoy your cuppa.
Words from Laura.. “As we continue venturing into the year (how are we nearly in March, wtf!) it can be quite overwhelming continuing to juggle this thing called life. Being outdoors has ALWAYS been a safe, open, grounding place for me. Whether it is outside shifting cattle with Mum, going for a run outdoors or just moving my body with no headphones and just the sound of Bonnie’s (my spoilt snag dog) little feet pitter pattering along the cement.
Finding the stillness outside even having a cuppa is my favourite activity.. Probably my ideal date as well hehe. Vitamin D we gain from the sunshine is so crucial for our kidney health. Neabling them to flush out nasty little toxins we get from environmental stress (aka when work is WILD) or a few too many bevvys. Our skin enjoys the 10-15 minute collection of UV to allow for healthy cell function (this doesn’t mean sunbaking though, remember that). So get out into the sunshine and find the fresh air!”
And with Lauz inspiring us to get our butts outdoors this week…we also wanted to shine the spotlight on Laura’s Mum MEL (aka queen)! Mel lives on the farm in Yeoval NSW and works for KLR Marketing. A school held in various places nation wide where you learn simple, powerful and proven livestock sell/buy strategies that have been developed to maximise your cash flow while minimising the market risk. She has a love for the land and efficient grazier management.
Her cows are her life! Working along side her partner in crime and husband, Dave they are really the dream team in Lauz’s eyes. Also was their 27th Wedding anniversary last week- KILLING IT!!
If Mel isn’t watching her cattle in the paddock you will find her in the garden, planting a new garden bed (that Dave has dugged the holes for or pushed a tree down to make space) and also finding the mat with the chaos that is the dogs and cats making the mat their place to have a lie down.
We wanted to ask Mel a few questions about herself, the challenge and just all things Saltbush and thought this was so fitting with International Womens Day coming up – What a powerhouse – A monther and daughter POWER HOUSE duo.
What do you love most about living in the bush? I absolutely love living where we do for its beautiful landscape, the feeling of openness & it’s our home!
Who is the most inspiring bush women you know and why? Most inspiring women for me atm is hands down Sarah Wheeler aka beneath the brim – riding 5500km on horseback and rising awareness …. Huge heart, grit & soul for a young woman to take hold of her grief & channel it into awareness raising for pancreatic cancer!
What did you love the most about the Get Your Groove Back 2.0 Challenge? Most loved about the challenge is the length of it…. Consistency is the key and was a great reset for me after the Xmas break!
Yoga or Pilates lover? Definatley Pilates!
Hardest part of the challenge? Keeping the meat from falling off my bones!! (IYKYK) Leg workouts were cruel……but so worth it!
How has Saltbush Stretch impacted your daily life? It’s brought consistency back to my daily routine…. A firm lover of routine this has ticked a box for me!
Wow.. that was a big one.. but we wanted to put Mel into the spotlight as she bloody KILLED the challenge – showed up every day – being her own biggest fan and I can say with 100% accuracy that Mel has GOT HER GROOVE BACK!
We love you Lauz and Mel. Hope you all loved this read
Big love. Em xx
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