LYRA MAG.

WHERE TO GO: - iconic Sydney Opera House-def worth a tour. Haborside piers-redeveloped as as housing, theater/dance performance centers, and art galleries The down under destination for the USA (other side of the equator)-is almost the same size-land mass  wise-as the lower 48.  There's never really a 'bad' time to visit Australia (AU) but if one wants to avoid crowds-avoid the AU school term holidays -and  holidays of nearby countries like Indonesia, Malaysia etc... Low crime easy to get around Australia is popular.  The weather ranges from hot dry, hot humid tropical in areas-closer to the equator...to cooler temps further south-with even a few light snow spots in the mountains possible-in July.  TIPS: Americans need a visa (ha otherwise we'd all move there)-get online in about five minutes online using your USA passport. sums it up... There's a 14 hour time zone difference-so one 'loses' a day-going there...and gains it going back. On our from the USA -LA

With the 'journey' now being more stressful than ever (high gas prices! airport delays! flights canceled!) the destination needs to be more 'calming' than ever for need to chill out seekers.  For Value Budgeteers wanting self-care with a tad less emphasis on the 'self' (as in selfish) part-the non-profit Le Monastère Des Augustines, very accessible from the tourist destination-Old Quebec City...offers basic and contemporary rooms, healthy meals-dining (and snacks/picnics to go), multiple inclusive wellness packages or á la carte hands on holistic options of soothing pampering  massages and treatments,  mental respites in leafy green outdoor sanctuaries -including yoga, private meditations/movement sessions -and seasonal winter cross-country- downhill skiing on the slopes of nearby mountains. With a history of spiritualism combined with the healing -Le Monastère Des Augustines has reimagined and updated its historic architectural structures and thoughtfully

 Post pandemic self care and the resumption of 'experiences'-including endurance races (and all that training that goes into it)-require different stuff   (think actively anti-inflammatory)  than just sitting around for another Zoom call. Everyone 'gets' the hydration part of workouts (by now)-but the 'what' to drink has really evolved into functional beverages as an option to fuel/ feel  better -or in the case of Good Idea -to stabilize blood sugars' highs/lows via a winning no -calories-no caffeine-no-junk mash-up of sparkling water spiked up with amino acids and the essential mineral chromium ( chromium picolinate , precisely). That doesn't leave you spiked up (or crashing). A quarter of a can ( lightly berry flavored=totally refreshing)-with a meal-is suggested-evens out metabolism too and miraculously when we tried a half a cup of the refreshingly cold black currant flavor  -at a recent Organic Spa Magazine event-the need for the usual later after

 YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT The importance of gut health is  accepted universally  --- EATING certain foods that are good digestible (holistic)--- accessible sources (and the correct amounts-dose needed) of pre/probiotics (fermented ones-yogurt,  miso, kimchi, sauerkraut to name a few)...is ideal-but is not realistically on the menu, for summer travelers hitting the road,  busy stay at home types or fussy food nibblers of all ages.  While immune boosting supplements are not regulated by the FDA-people nonetheless rely on them for daily doses of must haves for the gut microbiome...especially now when the nutritional value of what we eat/digest often seems a real toss-up these days-coupled with the seemingly bloomin' boomin' proliferation of auto-immune disease sufferers.  Yikes. Fortunately independent analysis of high quality supplements does exist... and should be 'on the list' for those looking to boost their daily intakes of nutrition aids.   Recently we got intro-ed to a