#18 - Tegan Steele on Thriving, Connection & Being Present.

For this intro, we spoke about Tigan challenges with hormones, depression and bullying when she was younger, how to live a happier life. Her mom's battle with Crohn's disease and how they healed it. A holistic approach to wellness, honoring yourself, doing what you love and the importance of presence and connection plus a heat more ticking has such an interesting story and such a lovely soul. It was amazing to connect with her and share a conscious conversation. I really enjoyed it.

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Cool. And how did you, how'd you get to doing that morning ritual? Was that like over the years it just built up and you found things that worked for you? Yeah, so over the years I've developed many different rituals and just through self development practice and improving myself and, and yeah, working through healing the body. So just yeah. Learn all these things along the way and added them into my daily life. Awesome.

I'm a big advocate for morning rituals is I believe it just helps you start in a good mindset and a good mind frame. It just sets you up for the rest of the day. Totally does. Inherent power. Yeah. And if you own that, that part of that morning and you know, you've done that, you just feel achieved for the rest of the day. Everything just flows from there. What are you most excited about in life right now? Uh, there's so many exciting things happening.

Um, at the moment I'm, well, I've made my decision to move up north, so amazing for me, everything that I'm doing is working towards that. Um, so I've been running a lot of retreats, running heaps of workshops and just everything's flowing. Everything's kind of just, I don't know. It's hard to explain because it's so amazing how the universe works when you set your mind to something and it's kind of the right decision. Everything will work in your favor to get you there.

And I feel that's been happening for me a lot. Um, yeah, I just feel my business has gone to the next level, just everything's booking out within a day or two and yeah, I feel like the movies is a big part of that. Yeah. So that's the move was predicated on the business going well or is that just you can do the business anywhere you are? I can do it wherever. I like for me, I want to be near the ocean. I want to be swimming every day.

Like for me, my, my ideal daily ritual, it's to start by swimming in the ocean in the morning and it's just so invigorating and really feeds myself. So got to do what you gotta do. I definitely agree. I share that same goal. I want to wake up near an ocean, but right now I'm four hours away from the closest ocean, so I need to definitely take the steps to move closer. But I'm getting there. So we're about to see you looking at moving. So you are moving, moving around Byron area, be added area.

Um, Byron's a little bit too busy and too many to me that I'm thinking outskirts of that. Just so stunning. Good part of Australia. Absolutely love it. And for those that don't know you, I know a bit because we've, we've grown up together in all grew up together. We met each other in, we're doing it in marketing at the time. It was probably, I would have been out in the 18, so six years ago.

Um, and Teagan was actually a massive influence on me in terms of health, um, her and her mother and um, in going plant based and looking after my body, um, being an athlete and then going overseas and Teagan was always there helping me, which was amazing. Such a good friend.

But that's Kinda like, I kinda know you through that through reading your book and obviously listening to your story all the time, but for those that don't know and, and the listeners, what's kind of a wrap up of your life from start till now and all the things you're doing now? Yeah, well it's, well, it's an interesting story. I definitely haven't come from just an easy road to get to where I'm at. The challenges have been amazing and a blessing in disguise.

Um, I grew up with a lot of gap health problems, irritable bowel syndrome. I had underactive thyroid for a little while, a hormonal imbalances. I really wasn't so well or there I was fit and thought I was healthy. Um, my body was telling me otherwise. And same with my mom. My mom had cranes, disease, uh, which is the inflammatory bowel disease, um, hold on mean disease and she had it from when I was born.

So she actually had to stop breastfeeding me cause she had to go on medications and um, it kind of began then and through growing up I just saw my mom always sick. We could never eat out because she would be in so much pain, should be rushing to the bathroom after every time we went to a restaurant. And it was pretty awful to see my mum say unwell and in pain. Exactly. Yeah. And when I was 19, I was actually studying beauty therapy at the time. It didn't know what to do after school.

And um, I remember coming home on the train one day and mom called me. She's like, I'm in so much pain, I've never felt this much pain before. Like I've got high pain tolerance, but this is, I can't tolerate this. And I remember getting off the train and running home because we lived about three k's from the train station, ran home and found mum on the ground.

And um, I had to call the ambulance and the ambulance came and picked her up and took her to the hospital and they couldn't figure out what was wrong. Mum's like, it's something to do with my bowels, like it has to be a, and she was rushed to emergency surgery because her bow perforated. So her bowel basically opened up inside her body and flooded her entire system with toxins. She got peritonitis, which is basically her insides.

Uh, we're out into our bloodstream and she was very, very lucky to survive. Um, she was in intensive care and then in hospital for a month after. Um, and in this time I was looking after my family. I have two sisters and a brother and my dad and four dogs at the time. So I had, um, I had a big job on my hands to be at uni full time. I had exams and to look after my family and I just developed so much a love and respect for my mom and what she, she does for us every day.

You don't realize how much they do until they're not around. Especially like even in that situation, even when you move out and you're by yourself, you're like, all these, these things are just done for me. I know it's insane. And my mom had such an amazing mom and we were just, just completely distraught when we, when she was so sick.

So when she did come home, we had to have a nurse come in and check her every day and I hope to continue cooking for the family, cleaning, doing around the washing and going to uni. And, uh, the doctors at the time told us that there was nothing that they could do to help her and that her bow will perforate again. And when it does, she can't have the surgery again because she doesn't have enough bowel to have a second surgery. Um, and her body started rejecting the medication.

So we'll kind of put in this very horrible position where we were told that she was going to die in a few years no matter what. And I just didn't want to accept that. I'm like, no way. I can't live without my mom. Like mom and I are really close. She had me very young. She was 22 or 23 when she gave birth to me. My brothers even older than me. So she's a young mom at the time, you know, she was 43 something. Yeah. So it's too young. We were like, you can't, this can't happen.

It can't be reality. I'm not allowing this. So I started doing some research. I got on the Internet. I'm like, there has to be a way to heal this. I don't believe that. You can't, like we thought we were eating healthy at the time. We were Paleo, you know, high protein, low carb, basically very Kelly calorie restricted diet who both going to the personal trainer twice a week, training six days a week. The only reason why mom survived because she was so fit.

Um, so luckily we were doing the training, but the Diet and fortunately was, was very wrong. And, um, while Hubbard bow perforated because she was eating the way she was eating, um, which kind of proved it to me, I was like, there has to be some something that we can do with food to heal her bow because it's, it's a digestive system. It just makes sense. So yeah, I started my journey of discovering ways to heal the body naturally and trying different methods. We were the Guinea pigs.

I needed to heal myself too. So I'm like, why not? Let's just do this. Came across the Gerson therapy. We actually flew over to San Diego and learn how to do the guests in therapy. Um, and it was specific to treat crunch. Yeah. So, uh, the Gerson is natural cancer healing. Okay. Yeah. Cancer and disease therapy basically, but alternative and it's actually a legal, um, unless you're in like Mexico to actually to do it or to go to it a clinic. Um, because of the way the system's set up.

So alternative. Exactly. But mum had no choice. So we had to find an alternative. So we came across concepts of alkalizing the body of plant based Diet, getting rid of, you know, all the processed foods in your diet, going lower in protein. We're like, what the hell is, how does it make sense? Goes against everything we learned. Juicing was a massive part of it. Even coffee enemas, cleaning and detoxing the body. And we came home. We were so inspired.

We actually did some vegan cooking classes when were over in it in La. And um, I remember it was just a whole new world, uh, back then, like 10 years ago, I think it was, this was about nine years ago. By the time we went to the Gerson, no one was Vegan. I didn't know anyone who would speak and like vegetarians. Yeah. But they'll mostly vegetarian for the animals. Not really for how the Vegans, you did know where like the hippies, the markets. Exactly. And so we decided that was it.

We got to change our diet. So we went vegan. Uh, we, we changed a lot of the ways that we were living. Even the way that we were thinking started working on the mental side of things. Um, listening to a lot of audio books and doing some meditation with visualization of healing. Uh, and after changing our diet within 18 months, mum had a colonoscopy done and they said that was healed. She had no sign of Crohn's disease whatsoever. That's crazy. And we just couldn't believe it.

Like we knew we felt better. We didn't know where healed it. We didn't know was possible. It's in a curable. Uh, and that really led me on the path of, of what I do today. I didn't know I was going to get into health. I actually did personal training and I was a beauty therapist and I kind of was a bit lost with what I wanted to do. What really was a passion. And after healing mom, everything changed. My whole life changed and it became, yeah, my life. Amazing.

So what else is in your, I guess of what you do? Cause there's a lot. There is a lot. It's because I guess I was discovering myself on the journey. Um, so Saturday was a beauty therapist. I actually did that because mum was a beauty therapist and we thought I would just open up the dice bar together or something like, yeah, perfect, let's do that. Uh, then I became a personal trainer in the time that I was studying and learning about healing mum.

Um, what's a good, just a little side job thought. I love exercise sport, let's just do that. Then uh, I actually got a job to teach finishing school and modeling. So I taught that for two years and became a professional stylist. Nice. So I can style if need be, which is a handy skill. It is. It is. People need some style. Yeah. And then I got more into meditation and Yoga and um, last year I went over to India and Kundalini Yoga, amazing. Moses came a Kundalini Yoga teacher train.

And so yoga is a big part of what I do now. Um, and then holistic health. And I'm constantly learning, constantly learning more things. Um, you can never learn too much and there's always new studies going on and always, it's always changing. And that's the thing about health. We haven't discovered so much yet. It's just new things coming up every day and new discoveries, new studies. So absolutely, definitely to have an open mind to things.

Yes. Which is the old way of thinking is starting to kind of get pushed away now. Totally. It is. And I feel that people are starting to become a lot more open to it because they're saying that you know, things that they were doing aren't working and they're saying, you know, people are seeing other people heal themselves and, and changing their life and, and thriving and they're wondering how to do the same thing.

And I feel that that's why my business is, is really just taking off because people are ready now. They weren't ready like nine years ago, but they're ready now. And like I've seen the change as well. And even in my own mindset, it's just, I think people get so either they don't know or they're just comfortable. Like even in the pain, they just tolerate the pain. They're tolerate being sick all the time.

They tolerate how they're living, what they're eating and they don't want, they want change, but they don't want to change. And that it's, it's different. It's, it requires getting 80 comfort zone and doing something different and might not be the most popular thing. But if it's going to heal you, like that's the hotline. What do you want in life? Do you want to thrive or do you just want to survive? Exactly. And the problem is that most people don't know how good you're supposed to feel.

Yes. They really don't know how good it is to be healthy and to feel good. Like I wake up in the morning, jumping out of bed, ready to start the day. Most people lay in bed and they hit the snooze button on their alarm 10 times. I didn't even have to set an alarm because my body's so adjusted to, to waking up with the sun. Um, cause I'm in, I feel like I'm living in tune with nature. People just don't understand that because they don't know any better.

And until you start to feel good, you don't realize how important it is and how it can have such an impact on every aspect of your life, your relationships, your work, your job, your, you know, to be happy. I had severe depression when I was 16 and [inaudible] 17, um, because I didn't know how to be happy. I didn't know that you could feel good. Yeah. I was always in pain and I didn't know until I got rid of the pain and then it was like, oh my gosh, life is amazing. Why did I not know this?

But so many people don't. And it's, yeah, it's really sad. But that's why I'm here to help, to help show the light, open consciousness and awareness to see, to show that you can thrive and it feels good. Exactly. Awesome. So now you've got cafe. Yeah. Ever produced in Albert our park. And that's always sitting now. Players. Make sure you come check it out. If you're in Melbourne, um, you do retreats. I do. Yep. So what do these retreats and six retreats a year generally?

Um, I run them in barley in Melbourne. I'm going to start running them up north once they move. Um, and I've also got a few plans for Europe next year. Amazing. The Greek islands and Spain. Um, through people I've met on my travels, I'm a gypsy, had to stay still. Um, but a lot of my best friends actually live overseas. Um, so they've all asked me to come over run retreats. So I'm pretty excited about that. Expand to Europe.

I feel like you rope a little bit missed when it comes to health and healing the buddy. Uh, and I also, uh, yeah, run them in the mountains in doing the plane, which is right near Mount Hotham. The air is so clean. We've got fresh water. We, we collect from the waterfall. Amazing. It's just one of those magical places, a high altitude, which actually speeds up the detox process. Um, yeah. So I love running retreats there. Retreats are kind of my baby.

What I really love, I love to teach the lifestyle that I live starting to the daily ritual. Okay. And Yeah, teaching meditation, Yoga, what you eat, different workshops. I've started doing a few intermittent fasting retreats. So we cook together for dinner fast during the day. Um, yeah, there's just so much to teach, so much to learn. So retreats are great because I can get so much in. Yeah. I also run workshops at the cafe and, and different venues and I speak at different events as well.

I go to the Adelaide Vegan festival every year and speak there and I've actually just been asked to speak in Sydney at a Vegan summit there. Um, so yeah, I really loved to, to spread this word and, and get it out there.

I'll just create it into my brand and, and yeah, share my, my knowledge of beauty as well as health and combine the two. So Osha body was born but also my love for the environment. So being plastic free and uh, I've got bamboo toothbrushes and some environmental shopping bags and things like that on there as well. Um, and many more products to come that I plan to develop. Uh, especially when I'm living up north and I'll have a little bit more time.

Um, and then I expanded my range just a little bit more to an ethical Vegan label. So it's called Indian Osha. So it's combining Osha with the, my travels because I love to travel so much and I made so many beautiful communities, um, I want to support them. So bringing over some of their handmade items and, and making them Vegan so that, you know, you can be stylish and be bacon at the same time. So that it comes in my little festivals. Styling is that clothing range.

Uh, eventually I'm going to work to doing some clothing. My little sister's a printmaker, she's just finishing her third year in uni at the moment as a printmaker visual fine artist. Um, some of her artworks on the walls here at Awesome Evan produce. Uh, so we're working on a few designs to get them printed onto some bamboo, a tee shirt. Oh cool. Yeah. Um, to spread positivity and, and the plant based message as well.

Yeah. So that's in the works, but I've got some bags and accessories and other fun things. Awesome. And they can go to the website and check that out. Like I said, click on the show notes guys. So go check that out. What is one profound realization you've had this year? Oh, this year has been an interesting year. I mean, I've been going to Saturn return the last two years. Okay. I don't know if you know anything about that return.

They say that sudden return is when you hit a 28 or between 27, 28. Um, it's the time when you start to experience all the Karma from your past life. Ah, okay. Yup.

Yeah. And becoming more connected with people like properly, like being present with someone rather than, you know, doing 10 million things at once as texting to a lot of women do, especially, and myself in particular because I was so busy doing so many different things, I, I realize how I haven't been present for so much of that and being busy, it's good, but it can also be very bad. Yeah. Because it can make your interactions a lot less. I guess I'm less connected.

Yeah. So it's been a lot about relationships, about being intentional with your time. Exactly. And um, yeah, I've seen my life improves to in so many ways and my relationships improve in so many ways since.

Um, cause I didn't realize how, how disconnected I have been from not, not only people but myself and really just listening to myself and what I really want and, and making the, the steps to, to change where I'm at to get to where I want to be as easy to be uncomfortable and to be comfortable with being uncomfortable when it's not necessary. Um, and for me, actually going to India last year has, um, changed my perspective on life in so many ways and it's been a big, big factor to me.

Changing things and, and my relationship with people improving. So yeah, connection, being more present has been probably the biggest lesson. And I think that's something so important that people should be talking about is that being busy. You know, if you're busy doing things you love, like that's great.

But you know, you've still, again, being intentional with your time, you can let the four hour work week, you can work for two hours a day and be productive instead of working eight hours and not being productive that whole time and just going through the flow of things and then you can have time to do the things you want to do. Like that morning routine, that's time for you and even how long does your morning routine go for?

It's bad now, so is almost like too, so if you include the gym it's maybe two and a half. Yeah. That's like time for you connected to me, listen to you, get out what you want to put out into the universe or what energy are and what state you want to be in to then set you up for the rest of the day instead of just waken up, wake up coffee first thing into the body and then cereal, whatever else people are eating and then just going straight to work with computer screens.

With everything happening. Maybe it's first thing, wake up, look at your phone, look at Instagram and Facebook. And it's just like that business in your mind doesn't need to be there. Exactly. It's completely unnecessary and, and most people aren't honoring their own time. They're not honoring themselves. And I wasn't, I was always putting everyone else before myself.

And it wasn't until I, I developed that relationship with myself properly that I could say that I can actually help more people by looking after myself. Yeah. If you look after yourself first, then you can look after other people and you can't until you fully understand that and fully actually practice it in real life. And for me, I'm, I'm really one for, you know, walking the talk. I do what I say and I do what I share and teach people.

Um, there's no point recommending something if you don't do it yourself. And yet just adding these different techniques to get myself present and to, to honor myself has been such a big, big, yeah. Part of me changing over the last few years and, and developing as a person and being able to connect with people.

Yeah. I was going to ask what improvements do you see, but you've just said them all the improvements from being president, having that self love and looking after yourself, it just impacts other people. You're doing your thing for you to help you feel amazing is going to impact other people and it really does. Yeah. People can notice a difference and people wanted to experience that themselves so they get inspired just by watching. So I mean really doing it proves it.

Yeah. Especially it being authentic and like you were saying, B being the example is showing other people instead of just saying it and then it's like, well, you're not doing it, so I don't want that. Is it going to work if it's not working on you? Yeah. I don't think I should listen to you and that. That's good advice for anyone, whether it's in business or whether it's in health. Absolutely. Make sure that they've got the results that you want. Exactly.

I always say this to people because I mean a lot of people come to me and they're like, oh, I've been doing this and I ain't been eating this way. I'm like, well, it's your, you know, physician healthy. They're like, oh, not really. I'm like, well, he can to get the results that you want. They're not even healthy themselves. Sometimes you really do need to look to people who are where you want to be and then follow their path because I've obviously they're doing something right. Definitely.

What's the worst thing that has ever happened to you and how, how's that the best thing that has ever happened to you? Well, def, it would have to be from when my mum nearly died. That was the worst thing that ever happened to me. And it will be always the best thing. At the same time, it, we always say it was such a blessing in disguise. We wouldn't be where we're at today. I have no idea where I would be or what I would be doing. Um, but I mean, I might've gotten here eventually.

Um, but to have my mom here along the ways, it's a sweet thing and yeah, it has been challenging but so rewarding at the same time. So many lessons through that to then bring into life, have gratitude for life and health. Absolutely. And then learn more and just teaching people how to like I see it in new and in your work is that you've been through that challenging moment to then you want to help prevent that from happening to other people. Exactly. And you can see it happening to people.

He can say people down that track or heading that direction and you just want to stop it from happening. Unfortunately though I have learned along the way that you can't, unless someone comes to you, they're not ready to learn and it doesn't matter how many times do you tell them you're just beating your head against the wall.

Um, but I think that people are starting to, to notice that they need to make changes and the ending, then they'll come to me, which is so great because then I can change that the way that they're walking on their path to, to nuts. Such a nice place. Well that's the thing.

Like, I think that most people, they have to have those challenging bad moments to then be aware of that to then make a change and it's not until they get to kind of the worst point possible, then they go, oh, I might need to change some things. And it's like, no, you can prevent, prevent earlier and not had that happen and not have to go through that.

But at the same time, if you're sharing your story, I think that's something that, or even if whoever's going through that moment of having that difficulty or that challenge, sharing that openly and what happened in how to improve that, that's going to help people have that, I guess bigger awareness of what's happening to then not do it. And it reminds me of the quote, you can take the horse to water but you can't make it drink.

And then the other one that I heard as well that goes on top of that is just make people thirsty. Like just keep putting stuff out there until they go, oh Teagan's thriving. Teagan's got, you know, a great social life, a great lifestyle. She's doing what she wants. She's passionate. You could say she's living her purpose. Um, and you can actually see that you're thriving, like you looked super healthy. Um, and if people are seeing that, they might go, oh, that's awesome. I want that.

That's making them thirsty to then come and ask you the question of how do I do that? I want that. Absolutely. And it's so true. People, um, yeah, people come to me all the time. They like how, how do you look so healthy? Yep. How, how can we got so much energy? How can you do all these things? Like, well, I'm doing what I love. I'm, you know, sharing my passion. I get to travel, I get to do all the things that I love. Um, and it's because, because I'm living my passion.

Yeah. It's because I'm sharing what I'm passionate about and I know to be true. Yep. I know it works. So yeah, it's, it's easy because I'm just walking my truth and I'm sharing my truth. I'm sharing venting and what I do every day. It's, there's no effort there for me. It's, I'm just living amazing, inspiring. At the same time. So good. What is the best advice you've ever been given? The best advice I've ever been given. Let me have a little think and say what can be from a book.

It can be from a person. Yeah, I, okay. The best advice I've ever been given now think about it was when I was 16 I was going to really, really bad depression. I am, I really couldn't see any positives in life. I was probably the most negative person should ever speak to, which a lot of people find hard to believe. But if you speak to my mom, you guys will know that it's old.

True. Um, I honestly, I, I didn't know why I was or what would the purpose of life and was really struggling with that concept. Um, because I didn't have any joys in life. I did, I was struggling with my health, with school. Um, the people I went to school with were, were awful. Um, jealousy is a curse. I, um, was constantly bullied. Um, and it was, yeah, it was just really hard to live. I just, I didn't understand.

And I remember my mum came into my room one day and she's like, Teagan, I've got to change something because you can't continue the way that you're going. You're like, it's really bad. I had suicidal thoughts. I was crying every day after school. Um, and mum said to me, okay, let's just stop thinking negative and let's change it to the positive. And at the time I was so stubborn. I was like, I just can't think of any positive those situations at all. I was just upset and crying.

And Mom's like, well, you have to, that's it. You've got to change the negative to a positive. She's like right now, tell me what's the positive of this situation? And she forced me to, to say something as hard as it was for me to say. And, and I guess it clicked, I was like, okay, I really, we should probably take this into consideration because I can't keep going the way I'm going. I'm not going to be here for much longer if I do.

And I started to change the way I was thinking, started to think about the positives and not the negatives. And it changed my life. Yeah. Such an important mindset shift to focus on grows and we're focus goes energy goes. So if you're looking at everything and you're looking for the negatives, you're going to find them exam. That's what we're going to be thinking. That's what I was doing. I, my focus was all on the negatives. I couldn't think of anything positive.

Yeah. And as soon as I shifted that, my life changed and I started to get out of that big hole I was in and that was actually like in a cave pretty much. Um, and I couldn't see the light and mum really help showing me that light. Yeah. So it was your mum that kind of, you knew what was happening because I guess it was kind of probably normal. Yeah. Going through that. But it was your mom that came in and said, yeah, this has it, but you knew that this was happening.

Yeah. In terms of union, a negative study, I was so negative. I knew it wasn't like a negative person ever and I had to get out of it. I was so stubborn and so stuck in that mindset, I really need to be shook. And what led to that? Getting to that point. So it was a school, it was a lot of factors. So I think my diet had a big role in that because I really wasn't, I was uncomfortable. I was unwell, um, never feeling good. Um, it was school.

It was, I went to a girls school, which was probably the worst thing ever for me constantly being compared, I was being and toll and you know, do a little bit of modeling and, and girls really hate that. So I was constantly targeted and like you're saying the whole jealousy factor. Yeah, always compared to the other pretty good budget. It was crazy. Um, I also, when I was in primary school, I had a list because I fell out of the bath when I was younger and I lost my two front tastes.

So speaking, um, became kind of not a thing for me. I just decided to not speak because I wouldn't get bullied if I didn't speak. Uh, I've worked through that when I was in year six. Got Rid of my, um, my lisp and, but it stuck with me to be the quiet kind of just internal one. I bottled up everything bottled up, every emotion. And it hasn't even been until maybe the last five years that I've started to really, and bottling all those emotions that I'd been holding in two different practices.

Um, and ever since I have just all my life has changed in so many ways. Yeah. But there's a lot of yeah. Childhood traumas. Yeah. That led me to that and then going through that process of healing, uncovering that, moving through those blocks. Yeah. It's data with Diet and uh, work through into mindset. I mean, I used to go to borders books and go to the self development self help section. That was where I lived. Everyone else would be in fun, like Harry Potter stuff and I'd be in the self help.

I remember buying a book on happiness when I was 16 because I just, I didn't know what it felt like to do. Happy to be truly happy and yeah. So I'm just wrapping that would be your environment played apart. Yeah. As well. The food. Um, and thoughts you were thinking. So I think a big one is definitely food that the mind got connection. Like I don't think people really, society really realizes how important that is.

Is what you put into your body is going to affect how you, how you think and how you act and how you feel. It has such a big impact on, on your entire body, your system, your way of thinking. I never, I felt so unwell. Like every time I ate I felt like I was being stabbed. Like it can be good for you to be in pain all the time. And I say it all the time. People come to me in pain and they're angry. It makes you angry.

Um, and yet fixing my gut health really changed that connection with my, my mind and my body. And I actually felt connected to my body for once. Um, I also went through that stage of it at school and, and doing a little bit of modeling that I was restricting my calories so much that I was a certain way and yeah, I was eating to fit the box very little, like 1002, 1000, 500 calories a day. I mean that's what my personal trainer prescribed, but, and I was starving.

I was exercising two hours a day minimum and eating very, very little, having one apple a day and that was my favorite part of the day and I would spend an hour to eat that apple. It's completely insane what we do to look a certain way. And, and now I ate so much, I use as much as I like and my body is always healthy and, and people can see that I look healthy and, and I feel good and that's what matters. It's definitely touches on quality of food and the stuff that goes into your body.

Like nothing. Yeah, looks as good as healthy feels. Once you've got that, that's the base toward it. Because if you're working on your mindset as well, but then you're not taking care of your health, it's kind of a package deal. You need to, it's holistic. You'd need to meet me after everything you need to then, you know, surround yourself with a good environment. You need to be eating well very well.

Um, and then also working on yourself and your mindset and that just, that's what helps you move forward and progress and improve to them. You thriving. Absolutely. It's, it's so connected. Everything's connected. It is holistic and, and it's why I love running the retreats because you can really help people with working with their mindset as well as their body and connecting the two, connecting the dots, you know, and people can feel so changed after just being away for four days on a retreat.

They can come back a different person and um, yeah, you just need a stronger than the tools. It'd be such a good immersion experience because you'd be surrounded by yourself, by other people that want to do the same and you don't have the outside exactly. And coming in it. Yeah. And we, we try to get rid of old technology and disconnect from that. So you can fully connect with yourself. You have to disconnect it to connect. Yes. I agree. What advice would you give your 16 year old Teagan?

My six year old Taegan so you're in that state? Yeah, I was in the four mile in real progression there was that it's okay. You know, it's okay to be down. It's okay to, to not have everything altogether. I had such a need for, to be perfect. That perfection. I was, I say day back then. I thank God I grew out of that. Um, but everything was about how I looked and not how I felt. So if I really shifted the focus to how you feel, everything would be different.

Um, and yeah, just, just being okay with where I'm at. Yeah, it does. It doesn't matter where you're at. You can always change and you can always shift that. Um, people are way too hard on themselves and I was so hard on myself striving for perfection. What is perfection? You have to accept your imperfections to, to reach any kind of perfection. But perfection doesn't exist. What is it?

You know, so accepting myself for who I was and and where I was at, I think I would've seen life in a different way. But you know,

Yeah. Everything was like, like you were saying, you went to union, did many different things and I felt unfulfilled. I didn't want to be there. I used to come home from work. Um, occasionally mom would pick me up and I would just say the entire way home, I'd be like,

I think that's, that's important to share because you were trying different things. Everyone needs to like you in one thing and if you don't like it, that's, that's okay. Keep trying. And then when you found something, you were then able to progress in it. So then, yes, from finding that passion to them now obviously having multiple projects, running retreats, doing all these amazing things. How did you get from there today?

Was it a journey of just learning and then things happened or was it you had it in your mind that I want it from day one, I want to do this, this, this, this. It was a process. Yes,

And through, you know, self development constantly. I listen to a book a week on audible. Like that's, that's my thing. Um, and through that I developed more passions for different subjects and expanded my knowledge, which has led me to, to loving the retreats and most, um, I opened the cafe with my family to, you know, to do it together, to share this, um, the good food and, and all of that. Although it's not my passion, I did it, you know, as a family thing.

And, and along the way I've discovered what I truly, really love. And that's, that's running retreats, workshops and, and just coaching people. Yeah. Yeah. That's so awesome. And it's a big thing for listeners to hear. And understand your story, that it was an like for many people, it's not that you had the end goal and in insight straight away you tried a few things, you found that passion and then it just kept developing.

You kept learning, kept doing things that you love doing and then things just seem to happen. Absolutely. And I tried so many things and some things just didn't stick and that's okay. It's like, okay, I tried that. It's okay to try. Didn't, wasn't what I love. Yeah. I thought maybe it would have been, but that's okay. It wasn't. Um, but I've got to where I'm at and I'm happy.

That's all that really matters and I'm sure things are still going to change over the next few years and maybe my focus will change even more. Um, I don't know where it's going to take me, but I'm open minded to whatever happened. I've not, I don't have this set thing that I've got to be right there with this amount of money and whatever. That's, yeah.

It's not that if anything I've just become less materialistic, a lot more minimalistic and um, my life has simplified where you think it maybe would become more complicated. It's actually just become a lot more simple and my needs have become a lot more simple. You know what you want, you know what you need and you're focusing on them rather than the external stuff that everyone else seems to focus on that doesn't get them very far. It's unfulfilling.

Yeah. Yeah. I've actually been selling everything because I'm going to move. So, and it's just honestly been the most amazing experience to get rid of a lot of things that you've been holding onto because of memories going to say the attachment people hold onto objects and I didn't realize I had an attachment to took quite a few different items and things from past relationships.

Then you know, things that you hold on to and, and it's been just the most liberating feeling to get rid of them, to give them away and see them go to a good home and, and what to sell them. And yeah, it's honestly been amazing. And also I feel like almost a therapy. What's baggage that you're holding onto? Like what if your house burnt down like that? Okay. Terrible. Don't get me wrong. And I don't want that to happen obviously. Um, but you know, if you were to lose all those things, yes.

I used that attached to them that your life will be over. Or was it just like, okay, there's things I can get new things. Exactly. Yeah. To shoot will come and go like it's okay. Yeah. And just changing that, that mind and shifting those thoughts to, to understand that they're just material things. You don't actually need them. I could actually live probably out of my car and be completely fine. That's one of my goals.

Like after that van trip I did up the east coast, I was like, I lived there of half a suitcase and it was great. Yeah. My sister and her boyfriend had just built a van and they're going to go traveling for two years. So that to me is like, oh my gosh, you guys make it be so jealous. It's, it's so simple. Yeah. You don't stock haul anything, you'd never, you can't keep heaps of food. You can't keep heaps of clothes and items, but why do, why do you need it?

It's a necessary anyway, and even through the years, just watching myself, like becoming really conscious of myself, my actions and what I do and why I do them and, and, and realizing, you know, so many times I might go shopping because I'm not feeling good in that moment. It's like, why did I need to do that? Like it's just unnecessary. I was trying to fill my own cup by shopping. It doesn't work like that. So I'm actually really don't like shopping.

So when I do, I know there's something going on. That's why you create your own products. So exactly. It's exactly how I want it. What do you think is a big problem that needs to be talked about more in society, but you think should, I think it's, it's the presence and connection thing. I think people aren't connecting anymore and I've been running women's circles, but I want to turn them into circles because I've mended it too. They do. Men need it too.

And I feel that women and men are being disconnected. There's a bit of a mate, matriarchal kind of rising happening and it's disconnecting men and women even more. And over the last, I guess, two years, and I've been learning a lot about men and learning a lot about connection. And I mean we had were very different women and men, but we all still need the same things. And human connection, human interaction is, is one of the most important things about life, about being on this earth.

And I feel that people don't know how to keep eye contact anymore. They don't know something. Noticing this whole, whole conversation, they don't know how to uh, touch that without it being sexualized and becoming a thing. Oh my gosh, she touched me. She must like me. You touched me, you know, added. Um, oh, what's the word? It's the added.

It's a preconceived of what things you think they are when really it's just, it's not, no, it's, it's actually so normal and people should be, be able to touch and not think it's weird. Um, so just like sitting next to someone instead of across from them or making eye contact when you meet someone, even taking the time, if you've got a partner to, to sit with them for 10 minutes and, and just eye gaze, you can create a real soul connection with someone and a deeper connection.

It connects your heart to heart having a hug for more than 20 seconds. That's rare. Yeah. And when you do like experienced a hug with someone for longer than 20 seconds, you can feel the benefits from that. And it does make you feel so good, so loved, so connected. And that's what people want. That's what people that are really, really crying out for. They want connection. They want to be seen, they want to be, you know, feel important.

Um, and so many people, it's so disconnected because technology, technology has its amazing benefits but also has so many negatives. And I feel that people are just so connected to their phones and I'm connected to who they're talking with it anymore. So I feel that the biggest lesson and then the thing that people really need the most is, is that connection. And I really wanted to start working with people to, to help them connect even to themselves.

So one that I can actually hear their voice. So if I can notice if they're maybe down or the next excited and then I can touch on that if it's not a phone call and this podcast as well. Every podcast interview is one on one. My setup is the head headset with the boom mic microphone. So it means that I can't interview people in America or wherever they may be going to have to be face to face.

And that's important to me because yes, I can have a conversation over the Internet that might happen, I'm not sure, but I would rather be within energy distance from you to be able to talk to you, to see your energy, to look into your eyes and to have that proper conversation. So that is that connection to friends. Like I've done some interviews with people and they're being more online and it's, it's really hard to connect to someone and to fully field their energy.

There's not that like flow, it's kind of like a question to answer. And often things don't come across as authentic as they should because maybe you're not feeling as comfortable or connected and yeah, like voice messages. I love them. Like my best friend who lives in Spain, she always sends me voice messages because it's obviously the easiest thing to do much with the time difference. I mean, she's walking along the streets in Spain, speak, hear people speaking Spanish behind her.

She was randomly stopped speaking Spanish or French or French and, and um, yeah, just like leaving those voice messages for each other. Like it's so nice to wake up to a voice message to send one back and, and you really can understand, you know, where they're at. Yeah. Okay. No, she's ever upset or if I know, um, you know, she doesn't need a bit of support because I can hear it in their voice.

You can hear it in the voice, which you can't, you, you're suppose you can from texts, but it's not the same. It's definitely not the zone. Totally. So Iran, more voice messages and more hugs, longer hugs. If this was the last time you seen me and I asked you to teach me something tangible I could use every day in my life to improve my life, what would you teach me? I would teach you to keep eye contact with people. And then how everyone goes in for the handshake. I hate it.

People were handshake me enough. I'll shake their hand and then bring them. Well that's a funny one because growing up in an Italian background, it's literally you kiss everyone, guys, girls. And even last night I seen the awkwardness of people around us. Me and my two best mates. Um, I don't know how it happened that, so they're two different best mates that never knew each other.

I met them one here, one in Europe, and with the one here, we always just had this thing like, eh, he's, he's our Turkish. And it was just like, hey, we'll kiss each other on the cheek. Like I think it's three times would do it anyway just to be like, oh, we're Italian, whatever. I'd hug. And then when I went to Europe in Holland, they kiss each other on the cheek three times. And I love that. I was like, this is definitely gonna win over the ladies when you introduce yourself back in Australia.

But um, and then me and him just started doing it like as a greeting, cause I wouldn't see them every day when I moved back. And it became the same ritual with both of them. And then last night we were all together and we, we all did it and I was like, people were looking like, what? It just feels like, honestly, I think one day it came up, we were like, do we do we not?

And it was just like, all right, it's out being like, hopefully people take that on board and you know, do something like that. Like I even have a handshake with one of my teammates now when we score a goal or something that just something little, I love it. Know it. It really does make it different. Yes. It's a little bit of spark, something different and people do go in for the handshake and I'm just like, I'm a hugger. I do mind that. That's another thing with soccer as well.

Like I like the guys want to do a high five and it's always like a high five hug. Yeah. Yeah. And sometimes people are uncomfortable with it, but that's okay. I would just get them out in the morning that I'm going to hug them, hug them, and then often they feel better about it. But you have to get out of that zone of uncomfort and once you get out of that it becomes normal. Yeah. Yeah. There's definitely situations where you don't readily.

But if their friends teammates then at least I can tell yes is a big thing. And like I definitely noticed it cause it was something that I was taught a while ago through all the seminars and all the improvement that I've been doing is that eye contact. But if someone's always looking away, it's not awkward but it's, it's kind of like what's wrong? Like it's just something going on. Do you not want to be here? Is there something on your mind?

And it's interesting noticing when that happens and then trying to bring them back and cause sometimes when you do it is for people that don't do it normally it's uncomfortable. Yeah. And it's kind of like why are you looking at me type thing. But if you're that person that's because I've felt it when I wasn't comfortable doing it. If you're that person that can't look someone in the eye, you've got to work on that a try break. It's not like looking at them like interrogating them.

It's just why are you not look nearly their eyes. Like we're also going to look at their feet and then have a conversation with them. It's getting present. Yeah, exactly. And it does help you bring, bring you back to the, your presence to being fully with that person right there and then, yeah. That's what the, I can take that to me anyway. Good lesson and very simple. One, two, there's been ones that have dragged out for a long time. They're like, oh, I need like an hour with you.

That's, that's very simple. And get straight to the point on that one. Some that you can work on. Tangible good. Yes. Understood. The question, what is most meaningful to you in life right now? To me it's the people, people that I'm with, my family, I'm just, I love my family. We um, we all get on so well and we didn't use to and it will change when we change our diet. Getting rid of animal products, got rid of anger and stress that we were feeling.

And, um, spending time with my family is really important. Like we just went skiing for a few days and just ski with my brother and sisters, which was so much fun. We haven't done that feed for years. Um, obviously, you know, we get busy and often traveling and there's usually one of us are missing or, or all their partners involved and I'm usually the wheel she extra wheel. So it was

So, um, through working on myself and, and working on and also finding what really makes me happy, it's being with people and really connecting with them properly. Yeah. Awesome. What does it mean to be conscious? To be conscious is I guess being aware of of everything and everyone and, and being aware of your actions because every action has an impact on, on the world, on the people around you and to your, your own self. Um, being conscious as I guess being present.

The more present you are, the more conscious you are with every action that you take. And I know being, you know, being kind to the environment that we live in, plastic free July here now and, and really being conscious of, of nature around us, being conscious of the rubbish that's on the floor, being conscious of, of people and, and how our interactions with someone can affect them. Being conscious with our own thoughts, our own own self.

It's being connected and yeah, some people are disconnected so they're not, they're not conscious people just live through life. You know, when you go driving and all of a sudden you're somewhere and you're like, how did I even get here? Do they go through any red lights? Shows you anything wrong? Like I don't even know how I got here. I'm just here. People do that through life. They wake up in the morning and get ready for work, go to work, work all day, go home, Cook Food in front of the TV.

So good everyday unconscious. And that's not living, that's just, you know, you're on a treadmill. There's nothing fun about that. I'd rather run in nature than on a treadmill. Totally. I'm not a gym person who used to be, but only because I didn't know better. Now I'm, if I'm gonna work out, it's going to be adding nature. It's going to be in the park, it's going to be on the beach, it's going to be outside. But example of driving.

So I have that, but it's because I'm listening to podcasts and audio books. Like yesterday when I drove up six hours I, I got here than I've ever gotten here

Like I am conscious, I haven't hit anything. I haven't, yeah, I hopefully haven't been learning more than you are with the driving. Yes. And this is where I'm, it's not a magic. Yeah. That's where I'm cruise control comes in handy because I love cruises needs because they sit on that level. If it wasn't then maybe you'd be a bit more conscious when you're driving. But I love that. That's the only time where it's like two things at once. Perfect.

Why would I just drive and listen to, I love driving because it needs my learning time. It's my me time and I mean I just came back from dinner plain just uh, yesterday or day before yesterday and that's a five hour drive and hates people be like, oh my, like how do you drive this all the time? Cause I go up as much as I can. If I can get to nature for a few days, I will go, yeah. They're like, but how can you be bothered driving that long? I'm like, I love the drive. I drove home myself.

I had my audio book, I listened to the book. You can listen to you often. Yeah. I learned all these things. Like I listen to some good music, had a good seat, had a good dance. That's my thing in the morning, that's my, I've got my playlist that just missing it and moving. It makes me feel better. Even game day, it's the same, same sort of ritual. Then after the game as well, it's like, yeah, I'm always in my cow with a message and I always notice people looking over it to me.

You know, when someone's looking at you, when you look and it's like, oh Quinn, because it's like, oh my God, they're looking at what do you do? Do you just say hello to you? Like smile and nod suddenly? Uh, it's always entertaining. I love it. Love it. Well, uh, is there anything else you want to leave the listeners with? Uh, I just want to leave you with, with really being conscious about being present

So do something that makes you happy every day. Life is for living. It's not about the destination. There is no destination. It's always going to change. Being living every day like it's your last, every day should be an amazing thing. Every day you should wake up and you should be excited. Um, and, and yeah, being more present with yourself, being present with others, putting away your phone.

If you're in a conversation with someone, really, I put it on night mode if I'm with someone, so I don't get any notifications. I don't get any prompts to look at it. Um, or I'll put it away and yeah, do something that makes you happy for your day and you will see your life change before your eyes. Amazing. And where can people follow you more on your Jay can find me on Instagram. It's just Teagan steel, t e g a n s t e l e like woman of steel.

Of course, if someone can't remember my name and like this woman in this field, you can find me on my website as well. I write blogs on there. Um, and that's the information for inflammation. I saw much relax on my personal website as well. My retreats, workshops where I'm at, it's all on there. So it's just taken to deal.com.

And I was just like, and I remember, you know when you get your protein from and then your mom was like, no, no, no, we don't eat meat. And I was like, oh, and then you're like you, but like you're going to be Matt. He plays AFL. And I was like, Oh shit. And then that started everything. And you've used whenever I've had a question, you've always been there to, to help and look at a book as well.

365 days in old days of, and I wrote with Matt Matt, episode number, I can't remember a little while ago. Yeah, there's a lot of good ones. That's why I can't remember which one, but that was in. So, um, yeah. Thank you so much for sharing this, for spreading those good vibes and information with everyone. It was amazing. So much love and cannot wait to do it again soon. Awesome. Take care guys. Thank you so much for taking the time to listen in on our conversation.

Hopefully you've got some insights and values to raise your awareness. If you like the podcast, please like to share on social media and leave a review on whatever platform. I would really appreciate it. You can also keep up to date on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Both handles are at the conscious podcast and also my personal account, which is at Carlow underscore, so below, until next time, take care and be nice.