Inaugural Healthy Livin Festival livens up Kiama

So Warilla mum Courntey Beaton decided to create a festival around this premise.

This weekend Kiama’s Black Beach Reserve will be glowing with endorphins for the inaugural Healthy Livin Festival organised by Mrs Beaton, Jess Smith (the forces behind The Farm Markets) and Ashley John Hatch (from Coastal Fitness Movement).

Mrs Beaton said they created the weekend around getting outdoors and being around others which she said is always a mood booster, especially for people having a tough time.

All proceeds of the event will go to suicide prevention charity Livin.

“I think it affects more people than anyone’s really aware of, whether it is just handling a bad situation or having full blown depression,” she said.

The two day festival delivers food, fitness, free massage, health and wellness classes, nutrition, free samples, workshops and ready-to-chat experts.

“Exercise is a great form of relief and clearing the mind, and if you do it with a mate it’s even better,” Mrs Beaton said.

“We’ve created this event around mass participation workshops, working with people that are in the know but you don’t have to be an expert to take part.”

Defence Force tactical strength and conditioning coach Kev Toonan will be one of the experts on hand and has seen the hardships his colleagues have gone through with mental health issues like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

He also believes health and fitness is extremely important and one of the best ways to combat many hurdles life brings.

“The way [the Defence Force] looks at training, we’d rather spend as much money on the body itself as we do on the equipment,” Mr Toonan said.

“Our bodies are designed to move, that’s what they’re built to do.

“You’re happier, healthier, you tend to make better decisions if you’re in a better state of mind, exercise releases seratonin and dopamine [the happy hormones] in the brain.”

The overall suicide rate in 2015 was 12.6 per 100,000 in Australia, the highest rate in more than 10 years according to Lifeline.

An ABS study in 2015 reported more than 3000 deaths due to suicide, more than deaths each day

For tickets or more information visit: www.healthylivinfestival.com.au 

* Main Stage – workouts running on the hour, every hour from 2pm to 6pm Saturday, 6am to 3pm Sunday. Classes include yoga, pilates, bootcamps, HIIT training, Crossfit and more.

* Challenges – how do you compare to the elite? Go head-to-head with celebrity trainers, pro athlese and elite competitors to test stamina, strength, cardio and courage!

* Red Zone – get intimate with trainers taking small sessions on boxing, core activation, movement and mobility, handstands, squats and deadlifts.

* Seminars – a chance to hear from the experts on a range of topics including injury prevention, what is a body scan, best training results.

* Exhibitors – free massage; plus free samples and information from food, coffee, nutrition, physiotherapy, and more.

* Water bottle

* Yoga mat/towel - this isn't necessary but might  make it more comfortable.

* Comfortable clothing and something if and when you cool down (tracksuit pants / jumper). 

* Sessions run on the hour every hour. The actual workout runs for about 45min, which gives time to turn it around for the next session. Please stick to a full session and wait for the end before upping and leaving to avoid interruptions. 

If you or someone you know is having a tough time, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.