daily life, taking inspiration from her
Italian roots. “Research keeps showing
that diets close to a Mediterranean diet –
primarily plant-based foods such as fruits
and vegetables, whole grains, legumes,
nuts and healthy fats – play a key role
towards living a long, healthy life. So,
that’s what I stick to. I really don’t eat a
lot of meat anymore.
“For the most part, I will cook things
from scratch, avoid processed foods,
additives and ingredients, but if I really
want something – a glass or two of
prosecco, a chocolate bar or the decadent
dessert at a fancy restaurant – then I am
going to have it, and enjoy it,” she says.
A HOLISTIC APPROACH
Aside from internal nourishment, Joy’s
understanding of health encompasses
a holistic perspective on our lifestyles.
“I strongly believe it’s not just what
we put into our mouths, but also the
environment we create around eating,
the amount of physical activity we
engage in, how we handle stress, the
connections we have with those around
us, the joy we find in life, and doing
things that align with us – not what
works for our friends or the people we
see in the media, that influence our
overall health.”
It was around the time that Joy
established a healthy relationship with
diet that she discovered Pilates and
yoga. During the first few months
of her practice, Joy met a teacher
named Erin, who would become one
of her greatest sources of inspiration
and a catalyst for her healing. “Erin
introduced me to meditation, which I
strongly believe has been the glue that
has held me together when it seemed all
I could do was fall apart,” says Joy. Soon
enough, Joy found herself in more and
more yoga classes, enjoying the postures
but holding out until the final savasana.
“Once I realised that I could tap into
that blissful state whenever I wanted, I
really gave a lot of energy into my own
practice at home.”
Today, Joy still enjoys a daily
meditation practice as part of a mindful
morning routine. “Recently, I’ve
been making a 20-minute morning
meditation a priority,” she says. “I believe
that morning routines are key in setting
you up for your day. As Tim Ferriss [an
author] says, ‘If you win the morning,
you can win the day.’
“Meditation has taught me not to
resist or pretend things are different
than what they really are,” says Joy. “It’s
taught me to welcome emotions, eventhe so-called negative ones.” Joy notes
the difference between denying our
feelings and accepting them. “It’s not
a blanket ‘positive thinking’ approach,
because I believe that can do more harm
than good. By pretending we’re not
feeling a certain way and masking it with
a fake emotion, we’re only increasing
our suffering.”
The solution? Joy says we can unlock
our true power when we invite fear,
anger, anxiety and overwhelm into our
lives and acknowledge their presence.
“Acknowledge them, allow yourself
to feel them and they’ll pass through.
Nothing is permanent.”“Unapologetically
be yourself and take
care of yourself
before you take care
of anyone else.”26 | AUSTRALIAN NATURAL HEALTH naturalhealthmag.com.au