Changing Ways

10/06/2026

What if we looked at mental health from a brain health perspective?

There are many different factors that contribute to someone experiencing mental health challenges. And even though learning to challenge and change your thinking is super helpful, there can also be other factors involved such as inflammation, sleep disturbances and blood flow issues.

Over the past 6 months I have presented my 90-minute seminar called “taking a brain health approach to mental health” to a number of organisations. It provides an opportunity to be introduced to the 11 risk factors to brain health and provides numerous research-based brain health strategies that can be immediately implemented to improve your mental health or the people you serve.

I’ve had a number of requests to run this as an online seminar, and here are the details below:

Taking a brain health approach to mental health

Date: Tuesday 17th June
Time: 4.00 – 5.30pm
Investment: $40

More information and to enroll in this seminar in the comments below.

06/06/2026

Brain health seminar: Tuesday 23rd June, 4.00 - 5.30pm (NZSD)

For the 6 months I've been incrementally putting together this brain health seminar called “taking a brain health approach to mental health”.

The seminar goes over the 11 risk factors to mental health, based on the research of Dr Daniel Amen. Sprinkled throughout the seminar is a pile of research backed strategies that are really useful for helping improve your mental health or the people you serve.

Investment is $40.00 and there are some resources you'll receive following this. Click on the link to enrol.

Feel free to share.

05/02/2026

One of my goals this year is to provide opportunities for people to learn about brain health and find hope that you can do practical things to feel happier and become healthier.

This week I had the pleasure of delivering a 90-minute brain health education session "taking a brain health approach to wellbeing" within the organization I work in.

If you are organizing a conference and need a keynote speaker or would like a workshop run within your organization please feel free to reach out.

10/01/2026

Last year I started a Weight Loss in Action Support Group. It is based on principles of Brain Health to ensure building health and wellbeing long term.

Over the year I collected notes and hot tips to help get back on track when times had got tough and moving on from emotional eating was tricky.

There is a handout you can download on the link below.

Meetings are on Mondays 5.15 - 6.15pm in Dunedin. Feel free to PM me for details.

Let get real, for many it can be a huge challenge getting back on track with your health and wellbeing goals after holidays, or times when you have been emotional eating. - Emotions such as guilt and disappointment can arise, increasing cravings and anxiety. - An increase in sugar and processed f

03/12/2025

#1 Hot tip for a happy and healthy holiday season.

Know your why.

Before your holiday starts, spend a bit of time thinking about what is important to you this holiday.

Do you want to wake up with energy each morning?
Do you want to have energy for outdoors activities?
Do you want to be present with family?
Do you want to still fit your clothes after your holiday?

Once you gain clarity on this, then you can get clarity on what actions are helpful to take.

For example: I recently went to a conference. I wanted to wake up each morning with energy. There were lollies on the tables, bread based lunch options and sweet desserts.

Before I make choices each day, I brought my 'why’ to the front of my mind. Then I made choices based on foods that kept my blood sugars stable, minimised inflammation and helped set me up for a great sleep.

Worked a treat.

29/11/2025

I'm in the process of making a Brain Health video looking at navigating the holidays in a happy and healthy way.

And whilst thinking about using 2 very overripe bananas in a cake I decided to have fun experimenting ways to make it taste great whilst being filling and nutritious.

So here is what additional brain shiny ingredients went in:

- avocado - good fat.
- half a very very green banana. Our gut loves this!
- h**p seed hearts. Fibre and protein.
- brain spices cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and a dash of chilli.
- no sugar or substitute
- chocolate protein powder

And .....delish!!!!!

09/06/2025

Hi everyone.

I thought I'd let you know that I am running an online seminar this Friday looking at Strategies for a better sleep.

I'm excited because this seminar has been designed to specially focus on understanding the hormones that influence your sleep the most (melatonin, insulin and cortisol) and show you strategies that can make a huge difference.

Topic: Strategies for a better sleep

Date: Friday 13th June, 12.00 – 12.45pm (NZST)

Our Lunch and Learn journey will include:
Understanding the importance of sleep on mental and physical health.
Discovering how to strategically look after the hormones that influence your sleep.
Learning some interesting strategies to up-level your sleep and set yourself up for success.

When we get the health of our brain right, everything else falls into place - Dr Daniel Amen Over the year Karyn Chalk offers free online Lunch and Learn seminars. They invite you to reflect and direct your attention to valuing and enhancing the health of your brain. Our brain is involved in every

06/04/2025

BRAIN HEALTH NEWS!!

FREE online seminar: How gut health affects brain health

When: Friday 11th April, 12.00 - 12.45 pm (NZST)

I'm really excited about doing this seminar on Friday. I got a library book out in December about gut health and have really enjoyed upskilling over the past 4 months.

Gut health has a HUGE impact on our mental health, our sleep and even our relationships.

Here is what we will be covering:

• The importance of gut health in your health and happiness,
• Some symptoms of when your gut is out of balance
• What foods to take out
• What foods eat to add gut healthy bacteria
• What foods eat to grow gut healthy bacteria

FREE online seminar: How gut health affects brain health

When: Friday 11th April, 1200 - 12.45 pm (NZST)

I'm really excited about doing this seminar on Friday. I got a library book out in December about gut health and have really enjoyed upskilling over the past 4 months.

Gut health has a HUGE impact on our mental health, our sleep and even our relationships.

Here is what we will be covering:

• The importance of gut health in your health and happiness,
• Some symptoms of when your gut is out of balance
• What foods to take out
• What foods eat to add gut healthy bacteria
• What foods eat to grow gut healthy bacteria

When we get the health of our brain right, everything else falls into place - Dr Daniel Amen This free online Brain health Lunch and Learn session invites you to reflect and direct your attention to valuing and enhancing the health of your brain. Our brain is involved in everything we do and the h

05/04/2025

I brought the super gut book by Dr William Davis. He encourages learning how to make powerhouse probiotic stacked yoghurt.

So I brought a couple of strains.
And here it is.....my first one...L. gasseri..... . When fermented for 36 hours these yoghurts are loaded in healthy bacteria that can support super shiny gut health.

And it tastes delicious. Im well stoked.

I'm running a lunch and learn gut health seminar on Friday 11th April.. will put deets out in the next couple of days

16/02/2025

Get tickets on Humanitix - Brain Health in Action hosted by Community Classroom. Online. Thursday 20th February 2025. Find event information.