Age: 36
Where are you from?
Mostly grew up around the Hunter Valley/Newcastle area. We moved around a fair bit as my Dad use to break-in horses for a living so we would move from one horse stud to another.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be an astronaut. I’ve also been fascinated with space and how vast this universe is. It’s mind blowing to think that the stars we see at night are each sun’s in another galaxy!
What are the top 3 things you learned from your experience on Bachelor in Paradise?
1. Follow your intuition. There’s a lot of pressure you feel to be a certain person. Whether that is what other people want to be or what you feel you should be. Listening and staying true to your intuition when going through an experience like that will serve you well.
2. Be grateful for the opportunity you have been given. It can be easy to get caught up in the ‘buzz’ and notoriety that comes with being on a show like that. Surrounding yourself with grounded people throughout the experience is highly recommended.
3. We should do more things that make us uncomfortable. So many people I speak with say ‘I could never go on a show like that’ and that is the exact reason why I did it. Because I was that type of person who never would have thought to do something like reality TV. But I learnt more about myself through that experience than anything else in my life. We need to challenge ourselves more these days. Open up our minds and do things we never thought we would/could do. That is when you will grow the most.
You are a meditation instructor now, did you teach the others in the mansion while you were there?
I actually did! The environment is specifically created to be like a pressure cooker. So that your emotions and reactions are heightened. A few of the guys really struggled with this there, so I would regularly run meditation classes in there to give them some peace of mind.
What got you into meditation?
I originally got into it to help me with my work. I remember reading a business article where they did a study on all these successful people in different fields, eg. business, sport, the arts and one exercise that most of them had in common was meditation. I found that fascinating! As at the time, I thought meditation was for hippies, but people like Steve Jobs, Muhammud Ali and Oprah put meditation down being one of the key habits to their successful/fulfilment.
Have you always wanted to be in this space of meditation and mindfulness?
I think my intuition has consistently nudged me to be where I am now and I suppose I always have been what most people would consider to be a fairly sensitive guy. I can remember even when I was a teenager I would often be the mediator if my friends were having an argument with their mum or dad. I would first separate them and give them both time to ‘cool down’. Then speak with both my friend and his/her parent to work out some type of compromise.
How long have you been teaching?
I’ve been teaching for about 4 years now but practising myself for over 11 years.
What inspired you to launch your platform Soul Alive?
I felt like there was a gap in what was being offered in the meditation space. You either had these meditation apps that really just left you to yourself to figure it out or you had to go to some types of ‘bricks and mortar’ studio. Which would often be inconvenient and costly. Soul Alive sits in the middle of these two options. It’s all delivered online so it’s convenient and cheap, yet every class is delivered live with a teacher. So you get that support, guidance and sense of community to help you on your journey.
What can people expect to get if they sign up?
We keep it really simple. You have the ability to attend any live-streamed classes that we run (which can also be accessed after if you wish at any time) and receive the support and guidance you need to establish meditation as an enjoyable lifetime habit. Lastly, you become a pat of a wonderful community to talk, socialise and share your journey with.
What are your top 3 stress reduction tips for mums?
1. It’d be hard to go past meditation as my number one recommendation. It can be done from anywhere, at any time and can just deliver a little peace of mind within minutes.
2. Try some deep breathing exercised. Again, this is an exercise that can be done from anywhere, at any time and only requires a couple of minutes.
3. Spend more time in nature. Nature has a special healing and calming effect on the body. Taking a swim in the ocean is a perfect exercise to flush out the system.
Rule to live by.
Only the golden rule… to treat others the way you would like to be treated.