Our Yoga Style Rules!

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We’d be lying if we said we’ve never gone through a yoga class where we were constantly pulling up our leggings, tucking in our shirts or adjusting our crops! We are absolutely in love with yoga but downward dog isn’t exactly the ideal pose for regular ol’ activewear. But, by the grace of the fitness gods, we have had some of the ultimate yoga brands bestow upon us the best of the best gear for our practice! We break down our top yoga style rules for sweating in style during our sun salutations! (Try saying that ten times fast!)

 

Keep it High-Waisted
Like we said, we’d be lying if we said we have never spent a yoga class constantly pulling up our leggings. With different inversions and folds, there are always going to be parts of your body that might make an appearance whether it’s your tum or your bum! Enter the high-waisted legging! We love being able to get our yoga on without having to fuss with our gear. This way we are able to fully focus and enjoy our hour!

 

Just breathe (Mesh Leggings)
When people think of yoga, they usually think of a relaxing workout, and while it is, we never underestimate the amount of work we are doing and usually work means sweat. We love materials that let our limbs breath especially when we are holding warrior two!

 

Patterns
We would be remiss if we didn’t include patters in our top style rules! Long gone are the days of typical black leggings sans any detail. We love that yoga is a sport where anyone and everyone is free to be! Love a crazy and colourful print? Go for it! Add some excitement to your savasana with some of our favourites!

 

Support for your closest girlfriends!
During a traditional workout, normally we only double-check the supportiveness the bottom of our bras and crops. But yoga is a liiitle trickier. Because we are doing headstands and downward dog, it is important to kit yourself with sportsbras that are equally supportive on top as they are on the bottom. We keep our girls in check with Mara, Alo and LNDR!

 

4-way stretch (Not just for swan dives!)
Of course yoga keeps us bendy and flexible, but if you aren’t doing your practice in fabric which is meant to complement your movement, then you may as well be tree posing in your best pair of skinny jeans. We love 4-way stretch fabrics that let us move without any limitations so that we get the full benefits from our practice. These leggings are like our second skin!

 

Add a smile to your chakras
The physical benefits of any workout are always obvious, but it’s the mental benefit that is harder to express. One of the main reasons why we love yoga is because it leaves us feeling relaxed and happy! After all, smiles are the best accessories!

words Nadia Liu

Discover The Best Workouts For Your Body Type

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Shop the activewear in this image here!

To find the best workouts to suit your body type, Health and Fitness Travel, the leading experts in healthy holidays worldwide, explain why it’s important to know which body type is most applicable to you. Endomorph, mesomorph and ectomorph are the three body types or ‘somatotypes’ that can be used as a basic formula to categorise which type(s) are the closest fit, in order to effectively achieve your fitness goals. Although, hardly anyone fits rigidly into one body type criteria, so don’t be surprised to find overlapping similarities between multiple body types within your own body. Learn which cardio and strength training based workouts are suited to your body type, so you can reach your fitness goals faster and even choose the best fitness holiday!

 

ENDOMORPH
The body type of an endomorph has a soft, curvy physique. Naturally, larger bone structure means your total body mass tends to be higher. Difficulty in losing weight means exercise is essential to maintaining your optimum body weight.

Endomorph Characteristics

  • High levels of body fat
  • Pear-shaped physique
  • Lose weight slowly
  • Slow metabolism
  • Larger bone structure

Endomorph Cardio Recommendations
Emphasise cardio during your workouts to see the best weight-loss results. Endurance running or spinning for 30-45 minutes several times a week will burn fat whilst helping to build muscle and speed up your metabolism.

Best Strength Training Workouts for Endomorphs
Highlight strength training exercises that will make your lower body feel the burn with heavier weights, to target your muscles more beneficially. High reps with short recoveries will also help to burn those extra calories for an endomorph physique.

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Where to Workout like an Endomorph – St Lucia: The BodyHoliday Fusion Fitness

Return home feeling fit, healthy and body beautiful following this fun-filled fitness holiday on the tropical shores of St Lucia. Choosing from a diverse range of 1-on-1 fitness sessions, sports and daily spa treatments, tailor-make your ideal fitness holiday and reach your body goals with your favourite activities. Kick start your day with yoga, before reaping the rewards of strength and cardio workouts, from beach running to kettle bell training.

 

 

MESOMORPH
The mesomorph is considered to be the athletic and lean body type. With a greater ability to gain muscle mass, this body type creates natural athletes who excel in high-intensity sports. They possess a medium sized body type and bone structure, whilst also gaining or losing weight with apparent ease.

Mesomorph Characteristics

  • Naturally muscular
  • Quick to gain muscle
  • Lose/Gain weight easily
  • Athletic physique
  • Efficient metabolism

Mesomorph Cardio Recommendations
The most efficient way for a mesomorph to maintain muscle tone is with HIIT training, which will help to address fears of becoming too bulky in women. Be careful though not to do too much, as you’ll start to burn muscle instead of fat.

Best Strength Training Workouts for Mesomorphs
Create an overall balance to your body and well-being on a bootcamp holiday where shaping up or slimming down will help you reach your fitness goals. Raise your heart rate with slight resistance (but not too heavy), with a high number of sets and repetitions to prevent muscle bulking.

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Where to Workout like a Mesomorph – Zanzibar: Wildfitness Zanzibar

Treat your body to a luxury fitness retreat with bootcamp workouts set amongst the beautiful surroundings of Zanzibar’s south east coastline. Following an initial assessment with professional fitness trainers, delve into a programme of daily training sessions with a strong emphasis on nature. Boost your fitness with activities from beach fitness training to wild running, before unwinding at the Hush Hut with a deep tissue massage. Fuel your body during your stay with natural cuisine and learn how to live a healthier lifestyle with nutrition workshops.

 

 

ECTOMORPH
This slender body type generates the slim, tall and long-limbed ectomorph that optimises the ‘ideal’ model physique. The difficulty lies in gaining weight or muscle mass, as you are naturally disinclined to retain body fat. Being slender in size means you are well suited to long distance and endurance events.

Ectomorph Characteristics

  • Slim physique
  • Low body fat
  • Fast metabolism
  • Difficulty gaining muscle/weight
  • Lean muscle mass

Ectomorph Cardio Recommendations
Ectomorphs looking to tone their lithe physique suit cardio and long distance running, but not to the extreme. To bulk up and add some curves, then HIIT workouts and circuit training are great to build muscle mass and definition.

Best Strength Training Workouts for Ectomorphs
Train heavier and extend your workout duration to allow for the muscles to have a greater recovery time between sets. Prioritise strength training in order to gain muscles mass, with three sets of 10-12 reps, enabling you to gain the most out of each exercise.

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Where to Workout like an Ectomorph – Thailand: Absolute Sanctuary Pilates Reformer Bootcamp

Get fit not thin on a toning Pilates fitness retreat on the beautiful island of Koh Samui in Thailand; the perfect full body workout to increase muscle tone, flexibility and posture. Under the guidance of expert instructors make the most of group classes on state of the art reformer machines, before experiencing the benefits of a tailored private session. Advance fitness with classes in Thai boxing and aqua power, before indulging with luxury spa therapies, such as Thai stretch, to release tension and lengthen tight muscles.

For advice, guidance and booking visit www.healthandfitnesstravel.com or call 0203 397 8891

 

 words by Paul Joseph

About Paul Joseph:
Paul Joseph is co-founder of Health and Fitness Travel, the leading experts in tailor-made healthy holidays worldwide. He searches for the rare and hidden gems around the world and puts together exclusive and trend-setting holidays for those who would like to improve or maintain their health and fitness whilst on holiday. As well as a love of all things travel, Paul’s other love is exercise, cycling and yoga. Paul also contributes to the travel pages of various high-profile newspapers and magazines where he offers his expert advice on wellness holidays.

 

About Health and Fitness Travel:
Health and Fitness Travel is a global luxury wellness travel company that originated in the UK in 2010 and is committed to providing healthy holidays that enhance and change lives. Created by Paul Joseph and Adam Heathcote as a result of their passion for health and fitness travel and offering bespoke holidays to improve people’s well-being to lead happier and healthier lives.

Health and Fitness Travel offers clients a tailor-made seamless service with the very best health and fitness holidays, handpicked by its expert team, together with exclusive and added value packages with the best deals. As leading specialists, Health and Fitness Travel has also created their own collection of trademark healthy holidays in various destinations, which include Fusion Fitness™ BodyBreaks™ and Discover Recover™, offering clients the best value and holiday experience. For more information visit: www.healthandfitnesstravel.com

 

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Hip & Healthy Guide To Sydney

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Arguably Australia’s most famous city, Sydney is known for its year-round sunshine, stretches of sand, and of course, beloved Bondi Beach. The home of healthy eating and brilliant brunches, we all know that Sydney is the perfect place for anyone with a penchant for ocean-related activities, and with its scenic coastal walks and plethora of perfect spots for foodies, it really is an Instagrammers’ heaven. So read on for our Hip & Healthy Guide to Sydney!

 

SLEEP

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The Establishment Hotel
Perfect for the more discerning traveller is The Establishment Hotel. Offering 31 rooms, including two stylish penthouse suites, and located in the centre of the CBD and walking distance from the famous Opera House, this boutique hotel is achingly hip and surrounded by trendy bars and restaurants.

Bondi Yoga House
Nestled down a pretty street away from the hustle and bustle of Bondi Beach, is newly opened urban retreat Bondi Yoga House run by qualified yoga teachers Amanda and Benny. With five sumptuous rooms named after local beaches, the décor is indulgent beach chic as its very best. A shared kitchen and dining room allows guests to mingle with fellow travellers, and the hosts have been known to knock up a five-star breakfast to rival any of the local cafes. As well as offering over-night accommodation, there is both a yoga space and in-house massage treatments available and tailor-made stays can be customised to suit individual guests.

 

SWEAT

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BikeAsana at Flow Athletic
Keen to make like a local with one of the latest fitness trends? Give Flow Athletic’s Bikeasana a go. A sixty-minute class starting on a bike and ending on a yoga mat, it’s a well-balanced and unique work out that will leave you feeling both relaxed and reinvigorated.

Coastal-Walking
Offering some of the best views in Sydney and unending stretches of rugged coastlines, there’s no better way to blow away the cobwebs than with a coastal walk. One of the most popular – and no doubt picturesque – is the famous Bondi to Coogee, but we recommend the slightly less busy Rose Bay to Nielsen’s Park which offers unbeatable views of the harbour and famous city skyline.

Power Living Studios
For the crème de la crème of yoga that Bondi locals swear by, try one of Sydney’s four Power Living studios where you’ll be able to get your sweat on in style. Offering 60 and 90 minute Heated Vinyasa Yoga and relaxing Yin Yoga classes and with calm yet vibrant vibes and zen-like interiors, the popular studios are well worth adding to your hit-list for any stays in Sydney.

 

EAT

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Porch & Parlour
One of Sydney’s hottest spots for brunch is Porch and Parlour, a hip cafe on Ramsgate Avenue whose distressed walls, elegant tile work and rough wood paneling give its interiors a beach-chic feel with a mediterranean edge. Offering locally sourced and seasonal produce, the menu ranges from a green pea pancake to the devil’s breakfast – spicy chorizo, roasted potatoes, bean molé, and chilli and papkrika doused eggs, but our personal favourite is the green brekkie bowl – the perfect fusion of kale, quinoa and creamy avocado.

Sadhana
For the creme de la crème of all things vegan, Bondi favourite Sadhana is where it’s at. Offering a seasonal and plant-based menu, which is gluten, dairy and refined-sugar free, it’s the ultimate in clean eating. Try the vegan Cheezeburger for a post coastal walk treat; or the Monkey Business smoothie for something lighter – with banana, coconut mylk and peanut butter it certainly takes some beating.

Kawa
Boasting streetside seats and a country-cottage vibe in the heart of bustling Surry Hills, Kawa is a must-visit for anyone seeking the finest of health eating in Sydney. With mismatched furniture and a relaxed vibe, Kawa’s organic offerings range from breakfast to lunch and everything in between. Their spiced tea and Single Origin coffee are loved by locals, and their famous breakfast salad is as good as it looks.

Bare Naked Bowls
If you’re an Acai bowl addict, you must stop off at Bare Naked Bowls. Started by two friends Josh and Ashley, Bare Naked Bowls was born out of a desire to create a sustainable business that fed customers the most nutritious, delicious frozen acai bowls, which both Josh and Ashley discovered on a month long trip to Santa Monica in California. With so many different blends and toppings, you’ll never get bored of this healthy haunt! We love the Power Bowl, which consists of Organic Acai, Banana, Strawberry, Peanut Butter and Almond Milk topped with Organic Activated Chocolate Buckinis, Banana, Blueberry, Hemp Seeds, Almonds and Honey!

 

DRINK

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Coogee Pavilion
Eastern suburbs favourite Coogee Pavilion, is a rooftop oasis with views of Coogee’s stunning shoreline, chic interiors and four bars – each with their own exotic flair. With drinks ranging from fruity cocktails to superfood smoothies and cold pressed juices you’ll be spoilt for choice; though our personal favourite has got to be The Original Green. The perfect spot to while away a balmy afternoon in the sun, the vibe is carefree, the drinks delicious and the menu mouth-wateringly Mediterranean.

Watson’s Bay Boutique Hotel
Few places do sunset drinks like Sydney hotspot Watson’s Bay Boutique Hotel, known for it’s unrivalled views of the city. With beautifully blue décor – both inside and out – and a mouth-watering cocktail list, there’s few better places to watch the sun set in Sydney. Their superfood cocktail – the Coco Bay, served in a fresh coconut with pineapple, Cirac coconut, lychee, peach and elderflower – is the perfect accompaniment to a Sydney sun set.

words by Lucy Pearson – Check our her blog – www.theunlikelybookworm.com

Like our Hip & Healthy Guide to Sydney? Check out more of our City Guides here!

The Super-food Trend That Is Here To Stay!

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Let’s face it. Sea Vegetables have got a pretty bad rep. A lot of people think of them as these alien type creatures that only the most dedicated health nuts will eat. However, what we don’t realise is that they are some of the most chlorophyll-containing and mineral enriched foods on the planet with so many amazing healing properties. Macrobiotic and Life Counsellor, Nicky Clinch, explains the importance of introducing Sea Vegetables into our diets!

 

There are many varieties of seaweeds available and generally they come in three colour categories, brown, red and green, depending on the level of chlorophyll and light they have been exposed to. Here are some of the more readily available ones:

Green Seaweeds: Sea Lettuce
Red Seaweeds: Nori, Agar, Dulse, Irish Moss
Brown Seaweeds: Kelp, Kombu, Arame, Hijiki, Wakame, Sea Palm

All varying in flavour and texture, but a little goes a very very long way. Here are some of the amazing benefits and healing properties that you may not have known about:

 

Highly Mineral Enriched
Sea Vegetables have some of the highest and broadest source of minerals than any other food on the planet. With up to 20 times more minerals than land plants they are an amazing way to get an abundance of vitamins and minerals without the need for supplements. Most are particularly high in Iron, accompanied with vitamin C, which helps the iron to be more easily and efficiently absorbed into our system.

They are also the only plant source that contains B12, which is usually only found in seafood and meat. So for all the plant-based foodies and vegans out there, this is essential to ensure you get your source of this important mineral, which is important for keeping our body’s nerve and blood cells healthy.


Keeping our mineral intake happy and healthy will promote:

Hormone Regulation
Bones, teeth & nail strength

Healthy, glossy hair

Efficient concentration
Good energy levels
 

Kidney & Adrenal Strength

In Oriental Medicine, Sea Vegetables are well known for being the best source of foods for strengthening our Kidneys, Adrenal Glands and Bladder. Keeping our Kidneys and Adrenals strong will give us tip-top energy levels, good sleep, good sexual libido and a healthy reproductive system. Not bad hey!

 

Cleansing Metals and Radioactive Toxins
Sea Vegetables are an amazing natural cleansing source for removing metallic and radioactive elements from the body. This is a particularly important for those of us living in heavily polluted cities. Snacking on a sheet of Nori a day is such an easy, delicious and effective way to keep our blood cleansed and system healthy. Try this delicious Nori Wrap recipe!

 

Reproductive System & Boosting Fertility

As mentioned earlier, Sea Vegetables are one of the main sources for keeping our reproductive system happy, healthy and strong. An amazing blood tonifier, Sea Vegetables are amazing for naturally cleansing and softening hard masses deep in the body, fibroids, tumours and ovarian cysts, helping our reproductive system to flow well and work efficiently.

 

Clarity of Mind

Lastly, in Oriental Medicine, Sea Vegetables are known for helping to keep the mind focused, clear and peaceful. Clearing the well-known foggy headedness often created from excess sugar, refined foods and drinks.

words by Nicky Clinch

 

Want to know how to incorporate Sea Vegetables in to your diet? Head over to Nicky’s website to get access to many amazing recipes that will teach you how toinclude more Sea Vegetables into your life easily, deliciously and accessibly.

www.nickyclinch.com

Instagram – @Nicky_Clinch

Twitter – @NickyClinch

Facebook – @NickyClinchBalance

Massage Of The Month – Lava Shells At Dolphin Square

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Our Content Editor, Molly Jennings, took a trip to Dolphin Square Spa to indulge in some TLC with their relaxing and tranquil Lava Shells Massage. Here’s what she thought…

 

I have to be honest and say taking time out of my schedule to treat myself to a massage (or any kind of body treatment) isn’t something I do a lot. I don’t know why but I always think I’m too busy… I love treating myself to the occasional mani/pedi but a full on massage always feels like too much of a relaxation commitment! By the time I’ve stripped down to my undies, planted my face in to the head rest and spent the first 20 minutes trying to stop my brain from chattering, the treatment is practically over and before I know it I’m back to the hectic outside world.

 

Maybe the reason why I’ve had that kind of attitude is because I’ve never really found a treatment where I’ve felt truly and utterly relaxed. Having been a ballerina, I’ve had countless deep tissue massages in my lifetime, but not the normal, slightly uncomfortable ones… I’m talking about the intense, sports massages that take “ouch” to a whole new level. You have not felt pain unless you’ve given birth or you’ve had someone’s elbow digging in your hip flexor. It makes me wince just thinking about it!

 

So when the opportunity arose to try out Dolphin Square Spa’s new Lava Shells Massage, I was intrigued and open minded, but not jumping up and down with excitement like most massage addicts.

 

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Well… let me tell you, I have never felt cosier, more relaxed and more content in a treatment than this one. Let’s start from the beginning. Upon entering the spa (a few streets away from Pimlico Tube) you are given directions to the changing rooms and a key to a locker where you can store your belongings. There, you will strip down to the bear essentials, pop on a robe (and slippers if you fancy) and head to the waiting area where you will find jugs lemon and lime infused water to sip on while you wait for your therapist. In terms of style, the spa has a very Moroccan, warming, mystical feel, with lots of gold and red tones to the decor. A stark contrast to a lot of London’s spas, which often feel very modern, white and futuristic. After a few minutes of waiting, my lovely therapist came to collect me and took me to a gorgeous, low-lit treatment room that was almost cave like. I instantly felt a sense of calm. Things were looking good so far!

 

The treatment is very much like a hot stones massage, except the stones, which in this case are shells, self-heat. Here’s how it works. The shells incorporate a biodegradable heat technology, due to a natural exothermic reaction – which in layman terms means that the shells emit a continuous heat for over an hour and are an eco-friendly alternative to hot stones. My therapist seamlessly worked on my back, neck and forearms (a girl who types all day really appreciated the latter!) for about an hour solely using the silky-smooth shells to ease out tightness and tension, which there was plenty of. It was glorious I tell you! The warmth of the shells gliding up and down your back is to die for… a definite must-have treatment for the autumn and winter months!

 

After the treatment was over, I was shown to the relaxation area where I could continue to feel totally calm and zen-like for as long as I wished. This, for me, helped prolong that feeling of relaxation, as I didn’t feel pressured in any way to leave at a certain time. I just spent the next half an hour flicking through glossy magazines and sipping on a delicious tea infusion. Bliss!

 

I would highly recommend this treatment to those who feel over-worked and stressed. Dolphin Square understand that being able to switch off and truly find calm and peace can be difficult in this day and age so everything they do is catered to allowing you to achieve total tranquillity. I’ll definitely be back, that’s for sure!

For more info head to their website here!

words by Molly Jennings

Healthy Waffle Recipe – The Good Life Eatery

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Shake up your breakfasts and add an american classic with a healthy twist in to your morning! This healthy waffle recipe from The Good Life Eatery’s cookbook is incredibly delicious and totally sin-free! We just had to share it with you!

Chestnut and almond waffles with strawberry chia jam

Makes 7 waffles

Ingredients

170g gluten-free chestnut flour or other gluten-free flour

170g almond flour or finely ground almonds

A pinch of salt

1¾ tsp baking powder

4 eggs

10g pure vanilla paste or 2 vanilla pods

130g vegetable oil

50g maple syrup or honey

50ml sweetened almond milk

​Equipment:

A waffle maker

 

Method

Preheat the waffle maker and spray with oil. If your waffle maker has a temperature setting, set it to 240°C/475°F.

Put the chestnut flour, almond flour, salt and baking powder into a large bowl and mix together, making sure there are no lumps.

In another bowl, stir the eggs, vanilla, oil, maple syrup and almond milk together. Add the dry ingredients and stir gently to a thick smooth batter. Don’t over mix otherwise the waffles will be heavy.

Ladle the mixture into the waffle maker and close it. Cook until the waffle maker’s indicator light shows that the cooking time is complete, or until no more steam comes out. Open the maker carefully; the waffles should be golden brown and crispy.

Serve the waffles with quartered fresh strawberries, strawberry jam (below) and maple syrup.

 

Strawberry chia jam

​Makes about 600g​

Ingredients: 

600g strawberries, fresh or frozen

100g honey or coconut sugar

2 tbsp vanilla extract

1 tbsp lemon juice

Finely grated zest of 1 lemon

100g chia seeds

​Equipment

A blender

A sterilised jar​​

 

Method​:

If using fresh strawberries, hull and quarter them.

 

Put the strawberries, honey or sugar, vanilla, lemon juice and lemon zest into a saucepan and cook over a medium heat until the mixture starts to bubble, then lower the heat and cook gently for 30 minutes.

 

Remove the pan from the heat and add the mixture to a blender. Blitz until smooth or to your desired consistency. If you like your jam chunky then you can omit this step.

 

Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and stir in the chia seeds well – you can just use the saucepan as a bowl to avoid getting another bowl dirty.

 

Pour the jam into a sterilised jam jar and leave to cool. Seal with a sterilised lid and store in the fridge for up to 3 weeks, ready for dolloping on waffles or whatever else you fancy.

 

Recipe taken from ‘The Good Life Eatery Cookbook’ (2016, £20) by Shirin Kouros and Yasmine Larizadeh

Ayurveda In London – Akasha Spa

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In search for the perfect Ayurvedic treatment, our founder, Sadie found herself underground, deep beneath Piccadilly Circus, in Café Royal’s Akasha Spa – a haven of peace and tranquility. She tells all about her sumptuous Ayurvedic experience.

 

You would forget you were in London completely if it wasn’t for the faint rumble of the distant tubes that murmur nearby. As I put on my dressing gown I think of all the busy commuters, sweating side by side, sardine style, and I feel so grateful that I am here and not there. My therapist could not have been nicer or more accommodating as she showed me to the treatment room and I felt the stresses of the week already start to ease away.

 

I was here for the Relax and Balance Ayurvedic treatment, which consists of an entire body massage with the most delicious smelling oil, finishing with the tradiotional Shirodhara, which is a form of Ayurveda therapy that involves gently pouring oils over the forehead with an apparatus that hangs above you. The name comes from the Sanskrit words shiro (head) and dhara (flow). The treatment lasts 80 minutes and through the rhythmic movement of the therapists massage I found myself getting sleepier and more relaxed by the second. I don’t think I realised how much I needed this. Once the treatment was over (I always dread that moment – to the extent where sometimes I realise its all I have been thinking about for the last 20 minutes “oh god – please don’t be over”) I felt more energised than I had expected but also very calm. The oil takes a few washes to get out of your hair but once it’s clean, you’ll notice it is much softer than normal.

 

Not just renowned for their Ayurvedic treatments, the Akasha Spa has also become a favourite amongst London’s major business profiles who take time out of their busy schedules to come to the meditation classes. The Watsu Pool too has a steady stream of water devotees paying a visit. And if all that activity (or relaxation) works up a healthy appetite – why not order something as delicious as it is healthy from their spa menu to satiate any hunger pangs.

Treatments start from £60, hotelcaferoyal.com

words by Sadie Reid

The DIY Health Test You Need To Try!

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Our lovely Editorial Assistant, Nadia, shares her Thriva experience and what to expect from this super simple DIY health test!

Check your health, before your wreck your health!

In this day and age, we are all so incredibly busy that we sometimes struggle to eat a proper breakfast let alone head to the doctors for a check-up. It is common for many of us to avoid this situation until we actually feel unwell (guilty!). However, with our busy lives, comes the benefit of people who understand how life can sometimes get in the way but also know the importance of keeping our health in check.

 

Enter Thriva. By making it convenient to know and understand what exactly is going on in our bodies through a simple at home blood test, Thriva allows us to get a deeper understanding of what’s going on in our bodies without spending hours at the doctor’s office. I tried out the Lifestyle test and was pleasantly surprised to find out that I am healthy (that would be a smidge awkward if I wasn’t!) with a few minor imbalances.

 

Once the kit arrived safely, I was ready to crack on to see what kind of story my blood had to tell me! The directions were simple and after mustering up the courage to prick my own finger (which was honestly not bad at all!), I was ready to send my test to the lab.

 

After the blood sample was processed in the lab, one of Thriva’s trusted doctors analyzed my results and all of my information was available online via my Thriva profile. The Lifestyle test included information about my cholesterol (which I admit, was slightly high but nothing of concern), and my liver and kidney function. The doctor gave me an explanation of what my cholesterol levels mean and how I can improve them (basically, no more cheat day burgers for a bit!).

 

Here at Hip & Healthy, we believe it is important to be constantly in tune with our wellbeing and Thriva’s blood tests reveal information that can help you live a happier, healthier life. You can always tell when you’re getting a head cold but understanding when you’re cholesterol or other chemical profiles are out of the norm is a little trickier. Thriva is definitely worth giving a go if you don’t have the time to head to the doctors office to get your blood profile checked. It is a great tool to see what areas you can improve upon in your health and gives you an important baseline to measure any changes that may occur! For more information on Thriva, head over to their website to see what they are all about and how they can help keep you or get you on track with your health!

Keen to try it out for yourself? Enter the code “HIPANDHEALTHY10” to redeem a special 10% off discount!

words Nadia Liu

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Best Juice Bars In London

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So let’s talk about juice. The detoxing green dream. With health benefits as long as your arm, green juice can be found nearly everywhere in London, but what exactly do we want to be looking for? You want to be aiming for a location that sells organic, cold-pressed juice. Organic to ensure there are no nasties, and cold pressed to maximise the nutrients from the raw produce to green on the go. Try to get as many veggies in as possible, however, unless you’re a hard core juicer some fruit, like apples, are also great addition – just don’t overdo it.

Juicing can help our bodies in so many ways, providing great nutrients to support detoxification in the liver and kidneys; helping our skin and gut health not to mention feeding our cells with powerful antioxidants. As well as these benefits, juicers attribute benefits such as boosting the immune system, raising energy levels and supporting overall health to their juicing rituals. And, yes. It is addictive. So where in London is best to get our fix?

The Detox Kitchen – The Cure

With two beautiful locations in Fitzrovia and just off Oxford Street, the Detox Kitchen can provide you with the perfect mid-morning pick me up. I recommend ‘The Cure’: a refreshing mix of apple, celery, pineapple, ginger, lemon and wheatgrass. Wheatgrass is a power house in its own right, packed full of Vitamin B, C and A and providing all essential amino acids, not to mention the magnesium, phosphorus and calcium. This juice will cure you and more.

 

Planet Organic – The Green Machine

Located at multiple spots all over London, Planet Organic has a great range of juices. The ‘Green Machine’ is not technically a juice but actually a smoothie, although so light it could nearly pass for one. This is a slightly sweeter option for anyone not totally sold on a juice packed with vegetables. Made up of apple, banana, broccoli, spinach, parsley, mint, ginger, spirulina, wheatgrass, barley grass, chlorella. Don’t be put off by the big words – this juice is delicious packed full with powerful antioxidants.

 

Daylesford Organic – B-Balanced

If you fancy a taste of countryside living in the heart of London, this is your place to be with a bonus of wonderful cold-pressed, organic juices at the same time. Daylesford Café is a farmshop, grocer, café, bakery and more. I love the ‘B-Balanced’ juice: a zingy, alkalising selection of apple, cucumber, leafy greens, celery, lemon and ginger. Daylesford is a must-visit.

 

Rawligion – The John Dee

With their raw, organic café based just off Tottenham Court Road, this is a one-stop shop for the most deliciously tasty and nourishing raw food and drink. The juices here are all made to order for this location and served in glass bottles to reduce waste. So as well as being wonderful to your body, with probably the most exotic of all the juices on this list, they’re wonderful to the planet as well. ‘The John Dee’ is a mix of grapefruit, lime, ginger, volcanic salt, charcoal, black Persian lime, ashwagandha, vanilla and more (I said it was exotic). This is great for a sunny day with the grapefruit and lime making this juice intensely refreshing.

 

Radiance Cleanse

Radiance started seven years ago and was the first company to offer cold-pressed juices. If you’re already a juice fan, then a juice cleanse could be the next step for you. Radiance is wonderful brand that provides cleanses for 1, 3 or 5 days. You can either choose from one of the classic cleanses, put together by the Radiance founders or our build your own cleanse which gives you the flexibility to choose from any of the juices in the Radiance range. There is also the option to choose from how many juices you receive, if you feel like you may be hungry or struggle on a juice maybe choose to go for more juices per day to give you all the benefits of a juice cleanse without feeling restricted.

 

Tanya’s Café – My Alkaliser

Whilst being at risk of nearly not having any kale on the list, Tanya’s comes to the rescue. The alkalising, pH boosting juice at Tanya’s is so yummy whilst also being amazing for your body and digestion. The cleansing mix of kale, spinach, lemon, apple and cucumber, set in a dreamy café in Chelsea is a detox dream.

 

Drink up and relish the results.

 

words by Rachel Cruickshank

10 Things The Olympics Taught Us

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It All Starts with a Dream

You have to dare to dream in order for them to come true. Do you think that Jess Ennis would have got to the Olympics if she had never let herself even think about it? Once you have your dream in place, visualize it coming true, play through the emotions of it happening in your mind. Dreaming and visualizing is the key to getting started. Anatole France once said, “To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act.”

 

It’s 5% Talent and 95% Hard Work

Sure, the Olympians all have amazing talent, but what makes them true athletes is not the talent that they were born with but how hard they have worked to make their dreams come true. Getting up every morning for training for years and years of their lives, being consistent with nutrition plans and sleep schedules, always pushing through pain barriers both emotionally and physically. Hard work and grit is absolutely vital to success.

 

You’ve got to be passionate 

Passion is what will make all the hard work not feel like hard work at all. Sure – you’ll have tough days, but if you are passionate about what you do, you’ll feel forever grateful and honoured that you get to do it.

 

You’re only as good as your team

Even solo Olympians like Mo Farah, Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps have an amazing team behind them that are just as passionate and hardworking as them. There is no way that they could do what they do without them. On winning a medal, you’ll hear that they all thank their fantastic teams. Your support network in life is essential to accomplishing the things you set out to do.

 

Health is your greatest wealth

If you don’t have your health, it is hard to do any of the things you want to do. Look after yourself and treat your body like a temple. Afterall, it is the only one you have. Be respectful of how hard you can push it and be grateful for the amazing things it can do for you.

 

Embrace the Sacrifice 

In order to achieve great things you are going to have to sacrifice a little – perhaps a lot. Speak to most Olympic athletes and they’ll tell you that partying in their teen years and early twenties just didn’t exist for them as being hung-over and feeling a bit ropey just isn’t conducive to long days of training. They may also have had to sacrifice school, relationships and weekends. Embracing the sacrifice and recognizing its all part of a bigger picture will help you not to feel like life is unfair. If you’re passionate about what you do you’ll often find that sacrificing, although may not be easy, it will be much easier.

 

Love the journey 

Don’t forget to enjoy the journey. The journey is what life is made up of.

 

Be the Best Version of You in Everything you do

If you always push yourself and know that you have done your absolute best, you can be satisfied in life that you did everything you could to achieve your dream.

 

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall

Mo Farah’s first race exemplifies this perfectly. If you fall, and you will fall at some point, get back up and carry on to the best of your ability – if like Mo you still win, then fantastic, if you don’t you’ll have learned a valuable lesson that will come in handy later on in the journey for sure.

 

Family comes first

No matter what our dreams are, and what missions we are on make sure you make time for family. When you win, you’ll want them to be there to share the moment with and when you fall you’ll need their support and love. Family always comes first.

 

Words by Sadie Reid

What To Do In London This Weekend!

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image: View of Hyde Park from Metropolitan by COMO

Along with the arrival of cooler weather and cashmere sweaters, Autumn brings us the sense that we can reboot our routines and finish the year strong and healthy! Good news! You can start this weekend! Check out what’s happening in London this weekend to help you transition your routine from Summer to Fall!

 

Unwind at Metropolitan by COMO’s Retreat with Jody Shield

This weekend, meditation guru and healer Jody Shield is hosting the “Lifetonic Weekender” at  Metropolitan by COMO. This urban retreat is the perfect getaway for those who are feeling out of sorts and like they need a complete reset. The weekend is full of meditation, healing sessions, inspirational talks, and not to mention delicious and healthy food! Go from distressed to de-stressed all in one weekend and emerge ready to begin a new! No need to wait until Jan. to start new and fresh! To book in for the Lifetonic Weekender, click here!

 

Enjoy Sanderson Hotel’s Wake Up Well Breakfast Menu by Qnola

We love that London Fashion Week brings out everything en vogue and love even more that one of those things is healthy eating! Qnola Founder, Danielle Copperman X Sanderson Hotel have come together to bring us the Wake Up Well breakfast menu in honour of fashion week. the Wake Up Well menu will be available all throughout September to help fuel your busy schedules with nutritious and delicious food like the Seasonal Berry and Watermelon Smoothie Bowl. We all know that fueling your day properly is important so why not start here? Visit the Qnola site for more information on the menu and upcoming events!

 

Downward Dog to Classical Music at Southbank Centre in partnership with BBC Radio 3

Get ready for a weekend of Chopin and Chakras at the Southbank Centre, hosted by BBC Radio 3! To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Third Programme, music will be performed by some of the top young musicians of London. The free outdoor yoga sesh is sure to get you inspired before your day begins! Just be sure to bring your own mat and towel. For more information on this series, head on over to BBC!

 

Brunch at newest health food cafe on the block, Squirrel

We have our new favourite, cosy locale! We Are Squirrel has answered our prayers by providing us quick and healthy salads and bowls! The new café based in South Kensington has an amazing selection of greens and grains to keep you fueled throughout the day. You can either pick one of their recipes from the menu (we love the Absolutely Radishing!) or make your own (extra, extra, extra avocado please!). Grab an almond milk cap or a fresh coconut enjoy your meal in the “Treehouse”! Or if you’re in a rush, Squirrel is the perfect place for takeaway and will have you out the door and nourished in no time!

 

words by Nadia Liu

Eat Smart Recipe – Date, Walnut & Banana Loaf

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One of my favourite things to do with friends is share afternoon tea; it’s a great way to see old friends and gossip over cake. This loaf is perfect for slicing up and sharing. There’s something very wholesome about the combination of banana and date, with the added crunch from the walnuts.

 

INGREDIENTS 

coconut oil, for greasing

2½ ripe bananas, peeled

200g (1½ cups) buckwheat flour

25g (¼ cup)

chopped unsalted raw walnuts

1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp bicarbonate

of soda

110g (   cup) deglet nour dates, pitted and chopped

190ml (¾ cup) unsweetened almond milk

a pinch of Himalayan pink salt or sea salt

 

METHOD

  1. Preheat the oven to 170ºC/325ºF/gas 3 and grease an 18cm x 8cm loaf tin with a little coconut oil and line with greaseproof paper.

 

  1. Mash 2 bananas and slice the remaining half-banana.

 

  1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, walnuts, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and a pinch of salt.

 

  1. Stir in the mashed and sliced bananas and chopped dates and slowly add the almond milk until the mixture is fully combined.

 

  1. Pour the mixture into the tin and bake in the hot oven for 35-40 minutes or until golden and cooked through. To check whether the loaf is cooked, insert a knife into the centre of the loaf – if it comes out clean it is done, if still sticky, return to the oven and bake for a further 15 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean.

 

  1. Allow to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

 

Order your copy of Eat Smart here!

Check out our video with Niomi, on YouTube!

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