Be Grateful Granola Recipe

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Happy Thanksgiving Hip & Healthies! To celebrate, we’re giving you a sneak peak into our eBook In The Hip & Healthy Kitchen with this Be Grateful Granola we just know you’ll love. Cultivating gratitude is of course what thanksgiving is all about! What are you grateful for?

Serves 1

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup blueberries
  • 1/4 cup of pomegranate seeds
  • 1 tbsp pistachio, pine or brazil nuts
  • 1 tbsp sultanas
  • 30g ground flax (2 heaped tablespoons)
  • 1/2 cup gluten free oats
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup almond milk

Method

Preheat the oven to 190 degrees celcius. Boil the blueberries in the almond milk and just before they begin to pop add the sultanas, cinnamon and vanilla extract. Transfer the gooey mixture into the bottom of a small cooking dish (like a ramekin), placing the pomegranate seeds on top. Then, grind or pummel the oats with a rolling pin or pestle and mortar – put some effort in! Next add the flaxseeds and your nuts of choice to the oats in a bowl. Layer this on top of the blueberry mixture in the ramekin. Pop into the oven and cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the top begins to brown.

VG, V, WF, GF, DF, SF

For More Recipes Like This One Download our eBook In The Hip & Healthy Kitchen Here

 

Our Favourite Nutrition & Health Coaches

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Perhaps you’re struggling with a few health grumbles and feeling in need of some rejuvenation, yet as hard as you try to implement a healthy lifestyle yourself, it’s simply not yielding benefits. A bit of extra guidance and advice when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle may be all it takes to help you reach the healthiest and happiest version of you – see below for Hip & Healthy’s top nutritionists and health coaches…

1. Madeleine Shaw

Madeleine is a true advocate of healthy eating as a lifestyle choice, not just a fad, and feeling good really is at the core of everything she does. Both Madeleine’s book, Get The Glow, and website provide living proof that eating well can be simple and delicious whilst also nourishing and nutritious. Her previous experience with IBS has led to a particular interest in the soothing of the digestive tract, making her articles perfect reading for anyone wanting to restore their gut health, get well and enliven the hottest version of themselves from the inside out!

2. Jessica Sepel

We’ve been following @jshealth on her blog and instagram for a while now and thought it was about time we shared our love for this balanced babe with you! Jess’s wellbeing philosophy is one of total harmony within mind, body and soul, as in her own words “health is holistic; there’s no way to get around it… attention needs to be paid to both diet and lifestyle”. Advocating a balanced diet that nourishes the body with natural, unprocessed whole foods, eliminating deprivation and the need for unnecessary dietary labels, Jessica’s mission is to help her clients and followers reach a state of total bodily calm where they can live healthily in a sustainable and satisfying manner. We love her eBook The Clean Life and can’t wait to get a copy of her second book The Healthy Life when it’s released in the UK in February 2016.

3. Cicely Brown

Cicely’s passion for helping each client reach optimal health and wellbeing stems from her philosophy which takes into account each individual as a whole. Working with diet, lifestyle and emotional factors to help bring your body back into balance – Cicely is an expert in the field of nutrition thanks to her qualifications in Biological Sciences as well as Nutritional Therapy. Clients needn’t worry about complicated and hard to commit to plans, Cicely is of the firm belief that by getting back to basics and keeping nutrition simple, you can reach a state of total wellbeing and balance from the inside out.

 4. Natasha Corrett

Bloated, bad skin, constantly tired, not sleeping well, overweight, hormonal… sound familiar? According to Natasha Corrett, you may be suffering from the effects of a highly acidic diet, which unfortunately is now the norm for many of us in the Western world. Embracing a plant-heavy alkaline lifestle, Natasha has set out to prove that eating alkaline needn’t mean eliminating food groups and feeling run-down, instead she promotes a dietary lifestyle that strikes the right balance between clean and unprocessed carbohydrates, proteins and fats so the body is able to thrive and fully embrace the nutritional density that comes with eating the right foods. We love!

5. Dr Libby Weaver

As an eight-times bestselling author & one of Australia’s leading nutritional biochemists, Libby Weaver really is a true wealth of dietary knowledge. Her holistic approach combined with scientific research will not only enhance your own health and happiness, but empower you from within to embrace a healthy lifestyle through the food you eat and the life you lead. One of our Hip & Healthy book shelf favourites, Rushing Woman’s Syndrome is a detailed insight into the negative physiological and psychological effects that can be triggered within the body due to the increasingly fast paced lifestyles that women lead.

Image: Josh Kearns

Words by Meryn Turner

MORE: Tara Stiles Top 5 Tips For Yoga Newbies | Our Fave Raw + Vegan Sweet Treats

 

 

Why the Apple Watch Rules (quite literally)

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It happened; my son’s first birthday, and I swore that it would mark the return of the fitness regime I had been desperate to get back into for the past year. But I knew I could not do this alone… Enter the Apple Watch. The first thing I did was set up the Activity Rings so that my every move is recorded. Probably my most-used feature, it allows me to monitor exactly how much activity my day sees.

Runtastic

In the first week of using it I was alarmed to see that I was almost never hitting my goals, plus the watch kept telling me to stand and move (for one minute every hour for 12 hours) and I was shocked that I needed this reminder. Something had to change! So I downloaded the Runtastic app. Instead of hitting snooze the next morning I shot out of bed – ok – so that’s a lie – I begrudgingly pulled myself into my workout gear to go on a morning run. It’s true though that you never regret a workout, and I felt amazing knowing that I had already hit my 30 minute cardio quota for the day.

But a run every morning was not sustainable when I had a one year old to get up and ready for the day plus a busy job. So, I had to be more creative in how I squeezed in that essential 30-minutes of exercise (an amount of time that would have seemed measly to my pre-baby-self). One day it would be the gym, another a 30-minute jog with Max in the pram. Once I had got this nailed, it encouraged me to increase the cardio to 40 minutes and the watch keeps me in check to sweat every day and to hit my target as it syncs all my activity together displaying it in the Activity app and I have become addicted to seeing those colourful rings full!

FitStar Yoga

After working up such a sweat during the day, I found that I wanted to stretch out my muscles come evening, so I downloaded the FitStar Yoga app to get my om on. I love this app – the yoga is led by one of our all time faves, Tara Stiles (check out her recent guest edit here), who has the most wonderfully serene and calming nature. The watch syncs with the app helping to time each pose and it even displays graphics of the poses that I should be moving into next on my wrist – so I don’t need to have my gaze constantly fixed on the phone screen.

3 Minute Mindfulness

Taking this one step further, my colleague suggested that if I really wanted some serenity in my life I absolutely had to download a mindfulness app. After checking out a few I settled on 3 Minute Mindfulness as it’s hard to find the time to eat something let alone find 20 minutes to myself to meditate these days. The first thing it did when logging on is to tell me to take a deep breath. Balancing work life with home life can often be really stressful and at times I notice that my breathing is incredibly shallow due to the anxiety I feel on a day-to-day basis! This, I know, is not uncommon but I really want to learn how to master my mind so that my emotions don’ t run me constantly. Especially when it comes to making important business decisions, I need to have a clear head, focus and absolute faith in my ability. Meditation, I have been told, can really help with that and I feel it has got to be worth the 3 minutes out of my day to get control of my breathing and my mind again. Although 3 minutes is not long – it is crazy how much the effect of doing this every day can have on you. Sometimes twice a day. And I truly believe it is all about creating healthy habits that wins the wellness race in the long run – not drastic changes that are hard to stick to. This is a school of thought backed up by the Director of Health and Fitness Technologies at Apple, Jay Blahnik, who has found that this is actually what the Apple Watch seems to do best – remind you little and often to breath, stand, or even eat (download the Lark app for that!) as it is “these small individual moments that can lead to big lifestyle changes over time”.

Green Kitchen Stories

Also worth mentioning is the Green Kitchen Stories app – if you haven’t already heard of this healthy food blog and now cookbook you soon will. This husband and wife team not only create the most delicious, healthy fare out there but they also photograph it beautifully and there tends to be a back story behind each recipe. Their app features loads of inspirational nutritious concoctions – the gingerbread shake is a winter staple in our house and literally tastes like Christmas in a glass. How does this work with your watch? Start the timer in the app and it will time it on your watch so that you can go about what you need to do and you’re watch will remind you when you need to get that baked carrot cake oatmeal out of the oven.

All apps are available to download from the app store.

Words by Sadie Reid

MORE: Leading The Way In Workplace Wellness | Top 5 Fitness Myths Demystified

 

The Review: KX Kitchen

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Think Deliveroo on a health kick, The KX Kitchen is not just your average takeaway; it offers nutritious and delicious menus from a curated list of renowned chefs to provide customers with enticing meal options.

When those hunger pangs hit after a long day of work, but you don’t have time to go to the shops, simply head to kxkitchen.co.uk and choose from an appealing range of nourishing dishes. With vegan, nut free, gluten free, wheat free and even dairy free options available, there is truly something for even the most discerning of diners.

An array of options includes warming soups and refreshing salads, Asian inspired dishes, gluten free pizza and delicious smoothies and juices. For those with a penchant for the sweeter things in life, there is a mouth watering selection of tasty treats including an innovative chocolate and coconut tart with popped quinoa and a dark chocolate espresso pot with raspberries. There is even a menu for the little ones featuring mini hamburgers, fish goujons and fusilli pasta with tomato sauce. Menus will be updated seasonally, with prices starting from as little as £3.

Founder of Honestly Healthy, and a leading alkaline advocate; Natasha Corrett shares her passion for feel good food, with her creation of a number of items on the menu. Some of these include an Asian noodle broth, a super green salad with lime dressing and even gluten free spaghetti with tofu meatballs.

TV chef and author, Lorraine Pascale is bringing healthy back to our tables with her signature dishes on the menu, including quinoa salad with raisins and walnuts and beetroot barley risotto with goats’ cheese and pine nuts.

“I am so excited to share my passion for cooking, through this new culinary venture, offering Londoners the opportunity to get healthy, delicious food delivered straight to their door. Partnering with Chelsea Kitchen was a natural fit for me and my desire to get more people eating super tasty, good quality food.”- Lorraine Pascal

Having cooked for the Duke and Duchess of York, P Diddy and Cameron Diaz to name a few, chef Harry Hensman’s signature dishes include chicken satay with peanut sambal and Asian slaw, sweet potato mezze and a Chelsea Kitchen cobb salad.

Initially delivering to SW11, SW8, SW3, SW5, SW7, and SW1 postcodes, Chelsea Kitchen hopes to expand to other areas of London in the new year.

Visit www.kxkitchen.co.uk

Words by Georgia Barnett

THE REVIEW: The Scarlet Hotel | Tropical Eats At Alila Hotels + Resorts

5 Minutes With Em Furey

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With more than 30,000 followers on Instagram, personal trainer and model Em Furey talks us through her favourite foods, healthy eating habits and quick fitness hacks. Read on for the lowdown…

How long have you been a personal trainer for and what were you doing before you qualified?

I’ve always had a healthy passion for keeping fit! I studied dance at University, and just before that I qualified to become a personal trainer. I was in between different dancing jobs and auditions for various roles in shows and began documenting my progress and soon noticed that people began asking me questions on social media about my food and gym regime, so I decided to set up my blog.

What is a ‘normal’ day for you?

My first client of the day is usually around 6.45am. I’ll set my alarm for 6am and then make a breakfast of simple scrambled eggs with half an avocado. After my first client I’ll go to Core Collective in High St. Kensington to teach a few late morning and early afternoon classes, I could teach a spin session on Monday morning, run a circuits class Monday afternoon and then finish off with a TRX class. Occasionally I will have different fitness shoots so I plan clients and classes around those kind of days but usually my day usually finishes around 8pm each day.

What’s your food philosophy?

Treat yourself every now and then. It is so easy to eat get into a habit of eating ‘badly,’ but as long as you fuel yourself with a good breakfast and something to help support your muscles after a workout, like chicken or fish you’ll begin to curb your cravings. I’m a huge lover of pizza, which I often treat myself to on a Sunday after a long week.

Favourite ‘cheat’ meal/what you can’t live without?

Definitely a Dominos pizza with the herb and garlic dip. I know it is bad for you but when it’s a treat and in moderation, I love it!

What do you eat to include extra protein in your meals? Shakes/any supplements?

I get most of my energy from actual foods. I am not huge on supplements, however,I’ll sometimes have a protein shake after a workout. Today for example, I know I’ll be pushing my body hard in a TRX combined kettlebell class for 45 minutes. I’ve got a shake prepared in my bag to just add water to and have afterwards otherwise I’ll be starving before dinner.

When are you happiest?

I’m happiest after working hard all day including working out and I’ve just had a hot shower and I’m already in bed with fresh sheets. It’s the simple things in my life I appreciate the most.

Do you have any celebrity inspirations? If so, who and why?

Kayla Itsines has done amazingly well. All her hard work and brand is something I definitely aspire to. I have a lot of respect for people who help others in a bright and motivational way, and is always something I try and incorporate in my one on one sessions and classes.

What type of foods do you never eat?

I rarely eat mince meat, pork sausages and processed foods. I try to eat food that’s organic including organic fruit, veg, eggs, meat and milk. Organic food holds so many more nutrients.

Do you have any quick fitness hacks for people to include into their lifestyle, especially as winter is closing in and it is getting colder and darker?

If I take the tube, I’ll always run up the escalators. It is a good burst of a high intensity workout. If I feel like I’ve not had time to workout that day, I’ll definitely include that as a workout! It is important to keep moving throughout the day, especially if you’re stuck at a desk. When you’re stationary, like cooking over a stove, brushing your teeth or making tea for your colleagues, do some calf raises or squats 3 sets of 15 should allow you to feel the burn!

Interview by Rachel Harrison

Follow Rachel: @pigtorig

MORE: Fitspiration – Tara Stiles | How To Love The Skin You’re In

Channel Summer Vibes With Our Tropical Edit

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Whilst it may be freezing outside, it needn’t mean resorting to a dark and drab colour palette. This season, we’ve been channelling that care-free summer vibe. Here’s how you can do the same…

 The beautiful Flower Bomb print from L’urv is our current obsession. A modern take on the floral pattern, the print is available as a crop, tank or leggings. The moisture wicking performance fabric will certainly help to keep you cool in tropical temperatures and Bikram Yoga alike, or if you’re stuck in the UK, the bright prints will be sure to cheer-up even the gloomiest of winter days.

To embrace your wild side, opt for Rivia’s Zebra High Leggings, perfect for daydreaming about the African savannah. With a super striking print and amazingly comfy high waistband, you’ll never want to take them off!

Capture the colourful palettes and sun drenched days of the tropics with We Are Handsome’s Jungle Fever Active Leggings. Made from Subli-Cool 2.0 Polyester, the warp knit fabric is sweat absorbing and quick drying – so you can enjoy staying cool and comfortable as you workout, no matter the temperature.

If you’re wishing for a tropical escape in the midst of the chilly weather yet unable to get away, then wrap up warm in one of Deliciously Ella’s cosy sweaters. The fun ‘Peace, Love & Coconuts’ design will leave you dreaming of blue skies, palm trees and golden beaches all winter-long.

Rivia’s Tropical Body is made of beautifully soft and silky fabric that moulds to the body’s shape, providing ultimate support and a svelte looking physique. The leotard’s flattering low-cut back will look amazing in barre class – complete the look with Rivia’s Brava Tropical Leggings, the mesh detailing around the lower leg features the same vibrant print as the leotard.

The usual dark shades of winter workout gear can become rather tiresome, but the HPE Snake Leggings in White are an inspiringly fresh take. Snake print will add instant cool vibes to your outfit and the neutral colour of these leggings make them wonderfully easy to style. Not just pretty to look out, compression technology, a supportive waist-band and chafe-resistant coverseam stitching will keep you comfortable throughout your active days.

Offering everything you could want in a sports bra, the Rio Bra from Prism Sport provides full coverage, removable bra pads, soft elastic, wide straps for support, plus the added comfort and breath-ability of a mesh back. We love the vivid colour scheme which will ensure you work up a sweat with exotic flair!

Words by Meryn Turner

MORE: The Activewear Trends You Need To Know | What’s In Our Yoga Bag

Banish Winter Skin With These Top Tips

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Over the years, clients have come to me with what they describe as dry skin, only for me to discover on closer assessment that they are in fact dehydrated. Dry and dehydrated skins are both treatable albeit in very different ways, so it is important to pinpoint the root cause of the imbalance early on to counteract symptoms such as dull skin and premature ageing. With winter fast approaching and the radiators heating up, I have put together some key information, advice and solutions exclusively for Hip and Healthy readers to keep winter skin conditions at bay.

So what is dry skin? Primarily this is a skin type – a chronic or longterm state, which you will no doubt have inherited from another family member. This is governed by the amount of oil, or sebum, naturally occurring in your skin and whilst it can be managed, there is no cure to speak of. Those with dry skin tend to have hair and nails which follow suit, plus skin will have minimal pore visibility and feel tight after washing, so it is best to keep using water directly on the face to a minimum, especially during the cold months of the year when central heating goes on.

The aim of the game in treating dry skin is using gentle products to maintain sebum content. Cleanse at least once daily and moisturize throughout the day as needed. When selecting products look for natural emulsifiers such as Shea, Virgin Coconut and Cocoa Butters and avoid high alcohol content. Ingredients on products are always listed in order of concentration from top to bottom, giving you a gauge on how much of an ingredient is included. Other extracts to look for include rose hip, sea buckthorn and raspberry, all rich in essential omega oils and vitamin C. Rose and Geranium are also naturally powerful sebum balancers. Nutritional Counsellor Sheena Rose also recommends adding avocado, berries and pumpkin seeds into your diet. She says, “these are easy to add into your current meals and don’t cost the earth, but are rich in vitamins A,C, E and good fats which will nourish your skin from the inside.” You can also try blending a couple of drops of face oil with your moisturizer in your hand before applying, then massaging face and neck lightly with fingertips to improve circulation flow to skin cells.

Dehydration describes the condition of the skin when it is lacking in moisture. The skin is made up of 70% water, 25% of which is usually found in the epidermis, but this can be vastly reduced due to environmental and lifestyle influences as well as the natural ageing process. Any type of skin can become dehydrated – mature, dry, sensitive, combination, oily – and often the more moisture your skin loses, the more oil is produced by the sebum glands to counteract this, giving the impression of oily skin which masks the real issue! Factors such as heating, pollution, menopause, smoking, alcohol and very hot, dry climates can cause dehydration, resulting in ashen skin with a tendency to being heavily lined on waking in the morning. Pores may appear small or large and you may find that your make up doesn’t last all day, as your skin desperately tries to absorb its water content.

Drinking extra water will help, although it will require a variety of actions to cure dehydration – it’s imperative to consider if there are any areas of your lifestyle which can be altered to increase skin’s moisture levels. Ensuring you get enough sleep, turning off radiators at night or investing in an air humidifier for your bedroom may help to balance skin as you sleep. Choosing natural, chemical-free products which both hydrate and protect skin, for example softening balms versus alcohol-laden cleansers, and nourishing serums and creams with extracts such as aloe, honey, vitamin E, zinc-rich kiwi and pomegranate should be used morning and at night. An excellent quick-fix facial is to smother face and neck in honey, a natural humectant meaning it prevents moisture loss. Nutritionist Sheena Rose also recommends taking good zinc and magnesium supplements to reduce scaly patches and speed up skin rehydration.

Remember, skin is an organ, is ever-changing as we are and is a great reflector of what is going on inside our bodies. Keep a good eye on it and listen to what it tells you.

Reference: Sheena Rose, Nutritional Counsellor www.sheenarose.co.uk

Words by Emma Coleman, founder Inner-Soul Organics London

Instagram @InnerSoulOrganicsSkincare

Twitter @EmmaInnerSoul #loveyourskin

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How To Stay Hip & Healthy In-Flight

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Healthy travelling needn’t be hard – especially when you’re equipped with all the info you need to know to ensure your skin, digestion and immunity stays at the top of its game from take-off to landing. Fresh off the plane from Bali, our Digital Content Editor Zsa Zsa Vella shares her top tips for keeping healthy in-flight.

On my most recent trip to Bali, I was delighted to embark on my journey with Cathay Pacific, a wonderful airline to fly with if travelling ‘well’ is your priority. Armed with a carry-on full of my favourite healthy portable snacks, my in-flight natural beauty essentials and a supplement regime, I was ready for take-off in true hip & healthy style…

The Food

If you want to ensure you reach your destination with your digestion in tow, it’s super important to pack your own healthy foodie staples to enjoy throughout your flight. Whilst this is something I do every time I travel without fail, I had heard great things about Cathay Pacific’s Raw Vegan Meal and was excited to try it out as the basis of my meals throughout my flight.

Featuring a generous portion of fruits and veggies at every meal, I spruced things up by adding my own healthy and tasty additions such as flaxseed crackers, a sprinkling of goji berries, sachets of miso soup (just add hot water!) and my new favourite Japanese Tamari and Chilli Smoke Seeds, the latest easy and portable superseeds from Punch Foods.

For in between-meals, I always keep it simple. Fruit and  veggie crudités make for easy accessibility and are quickly transformed into a decadent snack when paired with flight-friendly sachets of Pip & Nut’s nut butters and a sprinkling of cinnamon, great for keeping blood sugar levels stable. Additionally, I always have on hand a tupperware of refined sugar-free energy balls to satisfy my sweet tooth when cravings hit!

For breakfast, I paired a Cacao & Maca Of The Earth Superfoods porridge pot (my current obsession) alongside my Raw Vegan fruit & veggie platter to ensure I was still getting a dose of plant-based goodness in place of my regular morning green juice. My flight attendant was more than happy to provide me with a cup of hot water – all that’s required to make a creamy, warming gluten and dairy free serving of superfood porridge.

Whilst it’s important to eat well throughout your flight, it’s equally important to be consuming adequate amounts of water to ensure you body stays hydrated from the inside out. To keep my hydration levels up in style, I brought my empty S’well Bottle on board to refill at my leisure throughout the flight. I also always make sure to bring a variety of herbal teas such as peppermint, liquorice and tulsi for their digestion enhancing and calming properties.

The Supplements

If you’re a frequent flyer, you’ll know how easy it is to pick up colds and bugs on the plane that can disrupt your travel plans upon your arrival. For in-flight immune support, I always pack a pouch of Franks Staks of Wellbeing with me during long haul flights. Encased inside a carry-on friendly pouch, immune strengthening supplements such as iron, b12, krill oil, a multivitamin and a just-add-water vegan protein and supergreen powder are included, all of which support strong immunity and help ward off any nasties that you may have otherwise picked up in-air.

The Skincare

Flying can really take its toll on the skin, with dryness, flakiness and dullness a common after effect of air travel, however, there’s lots that you can do before, during and after your flight to ensure your skin doesn’t suffer. Pre-flight, I make sure to stay as hydrated as possible, taking special care to meet the recommended 2 litres of water a day for a few days beforehand, including the day of my flight.

During my flight I have on hand a small pot of coconut oil for moisturising, Hurraw Lip Balm for keeping lips soft and supple and A.S Apothecary First Aid Kit – a tonic for the nervous system full of essential oils and homeopathic remedies to help restore calm and induce a state of peace and tranquillity within the body and skin. The perfect natural remedy to quell any in-flight anxiety.

Post-flight, I always apply a hydrating face-mask to give my skin a potent dose of nutrients and moisture when it needs it most. Tata Harper Moisturising Mask is my skin rehabilitator of choice. Keeping up with the water intake, I like to also up my dose of healthy fats such as avocado, coconut, nuts and seeds for a few days after my flight. I’ve found that doing so is an amazing natural way to restore lost moisture in the skin.

Cathay Pacific flies daily between London and Bali and four times weekly between Manchester and Bali.  To book flights visit cathaypacific.co.uk

Prices start from:

London – Bali economy = from £819

London – Bali Business = from £3,619

Manchester – Bali Economy = from £789

Manchester – Bali Business = from £3,589

*All flights are correct at time of publication

Image: Pinterest

Words by Zsa Zsa Vella

More On Bali The Overview: Alila Hotels & Resorts | The Review: Aerial Yoga 

 

 

The Review: Tropical Eats At Alila Hotels

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This week, we’ve been providing you with a virtual journey to one of the hippest and healthiest destinations we’ve ever ventured to, Bali’s Alila Hotels and Resorts. So far, we’ve given you the overview and firsthand insights into the luxurious Spa Alila and our cliff top Aerial Yoga experience. However, for a Hip & Healthy holiday to tick all of our boxes, another major factor is taken into account. The food.

Bali is renowned for its fresh tropical fruit, medicinal spices and herbal tinctures – a truly healing cuisine that I was excited to take full advantage of during my stay. To make the most out of the abundant array of plant-based goodness in Bali, I decided to embrace veganism during my time abroad.

With the option to eat in the privacy of my Villa or in the open-air restaurants at both locations, breakfast at Alila Villas Soori and Uluwatu were colourful, plentiful and to my great delight; choc-full of tropical fruit, sticky coconut rice (my favourite) and green smoothies galore. I immediately fell in love with the concept of Alila Villas Soori’s daily rotating ‘tasting-style’ breakfast menu at Cotta, featuring tasters of classic breakfast favourites enriched with Bali’s local fare. For both lunch and dinner I stuck to traditional Balinese cusine, enjoying a range of perfectly spiced vegetable dishes, soups, salads, fruit and of course; a whole lot of coconut!

During my stay at Alila Villas Soori, I was treated to a raw vegan degustation at one of their on-site restaurants, Ombak. Upon my arrival I feasted on the juiciest Pomelo salad; a mouth-watering combination of citrus and bitter greens complemented by sweet cherry tomatoes and locally grown micro herbs. My next course, a raw Fruit Tartar, was a creative food endeavour like none other I have ever had the pleasure of biting into; a perfectly placed combination of melon, avocado, pear, orange, radish and lime. What followed next was a Balinese take on our beloved Courgetti – a Zucchini Carpaccio bursting with the earthy sweetness of beetroot, spiralized alongside courgette, carrot and turnips and garnished with tomatoes, basil and olive oil. Last but not least dessert was served; a platter of thinly sliced pineapple adorned with lemon basil, coconut cream, coconut sugar and lime. I left my dinner feeling sweetly satisfied and completely convinced that when done well; simplicity always wins.

My next dining extravagance was experienced at Alila Villas Uluwatu during my Journey of Gastonomy – a half-day cooking class that introduced me to local ingredients, basic recipes and local cooking methods. On the day of my Alila Journey, I woke early to meet chef Eko Purjino who was to be my host and cooking teacher for the day. Our first port of call was the local produce market, a colourfully chaotic assortment of tropical fruits, vegetables, spices, herbs and all that’s in between. For non-vegans, a trip to the fish market would usually follow, however as we were focusing on making the most out of Bali’s incredible vegetable options, after a brief tour of the local marketplace, we set back to the hotel to commence our class.

Utilising some of the most medicinal herbs and spices on the face of the earth, ingredients such as tamarind, turmeric and lemongrass were the centrepiece of each vegan dish. With 4 dishes to assemble, we began by making a traditional spice paste, a staple of the Balinese diet used to liven up most dishes of both meat and vegetable origin. With this alone, we created the most incredible turmeric and lemongrass soup, marinated grilled tofu in a banana leaf, marinated tempeh skewers and my favourite, green papaya salad.

An absolute must-make for healthy foodies – this amazing paste can be stored in the freezer for up to a month or used all week long with absolutely anything and everything. My new favourite staple – below is Eko’s recipe for traditional Balinese Spice Paste:

-450g Large red chillies, seeded and chopped

-50g Cloves garlic, peeled and chopped

-225g Shallots, peeled and chopped

-175g Fresh Turmeric, peeled and chopped

-200g Medium-sized tomato, halved and seeded

-100g Ginger, peeled and chopped

-125g Candlenuts

-2 tbsp Coriander Seeds, crushed

-150ml Coconut Oil

-2 ½ tbsp Tamarind Pulp

-250ml Water

-¾ tbsp Salt

-3pcs Salam leaves

-2pcs Stalks lemon grass, bruised

Combine all ingredients except tamarind pulp, salam leaves and lemongrass, salt and water in a food processor and grind coarsely.

Place ground ingredients in heavy saucepan, add remaining ingredients and simmer over medium heat for approximately 60 minutes or until water is evaporated and marinade changes to a golden colour.

Leave to cool before using and then enjoy!

Alila Villas Uluwatu costs from USD 965 (+21% tax and service charge) per villa per night

The Journey by Gastronomy Alila Journey at Alila Villas Uluwatu costs from IDR 1,200,000 (+21% tax and service charge) per person

We flew to Bali on Cathay Pacific.

Cathay Pacific flies daily between London and Bali and four times weekly between Manchester and Bali.  To book flights visit cathaypacific.co.uk

Prices start from:

London – Bali economy = from £819

London – Bali Business = from £3,619

Manchester – Bali Economy = from £789

Manchester – Bali Business = from £3,589

*All flights are correct at time of publication

Words by Zsa Zsa Vella

More On Bali: The Overview: Alilas Hotels & Resorts | Spa Alila

The Review: Yoga at Alila Villas and Resorts

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The perfect accompaniment to a weeks worth of cleansing food and detoxifying treatments, a definite highlight of my time spent at Alila were the early morning yoga classes that I experienced at both Alila Villas Soori and Alila Villas Uluwatu. If you’ve never tried a beachfront yoga class, add it to the bucket list. An immersive outdoor experience like no other, practising yoga surrounded by sea, sand and sun is one of the best ways to become more connected to your practise.

Each weekday morning throughout my stay, I was treated to a group yoga class at Alila Villas Soori overlooking the stunning volcanic sand beach below. Led by a local Balinese instructor under the warmth of the morning sun, yoga classes at Alila consider meditation and mindfulness as important as the practise itself, with regular pauses throughout to realign and refocus. Suitable for beginners and advanced yogi’s alike, there’s something truly magical about flowing through a series of yoga postures whilst breathing in the beauty of natural surroundings.

At my second destination, Alila Villas Uluwatu, I was delighted to be offered the chance to experience Aerial Yoga in the resorts iconic Sunset Cabana. Combining traditional yoga poses with pilates, calisthenics and dance, Aerial Yoga has been emerging slowly and steadily over the past year, originating in New York and now practised world over.

Stretching out over limestone cliffs with sweeping views of the Indian Ocean 100 metres below, on the day of my class I awoke early for my 5am session led by Alila Villas Uluwatu’s resident yogi, Nyoman Warta. Nyoman is a Balinese native who has devoted his life to developing clarity through intuitive movement, breathing and sense of touch, areas of holistic practice that the Balinese believe are imperative for achieving true and lasting physical, spiritual and emotional healing.

Beginning our practice with a sequence of sun salutations as we watched the sun rise in the East, the ocean quiet, I was transported to a meditative state of stillness within as we practiced the sequence time and time again. As our sun salutations concluded, we moved into our Aerial Yoga Practise.

Supported by a silk hammock attached to the beams of the Sunset Cabana, we swung our way through a series of postures, flips and in-air sequences. Terrified at first, I soon became acquainted with the upside down-ness of the practice. Thanks to my incredible yoga teacher, I felt supported and safe throughout, even if it did take lots of reassuring that it is almost impossible to fall out of the hammock.

Acting like a swing or small trapeze, as the body hangs freely the spine is decompressed and the muscles and joints strengthened. More internal benefits include the stimulation of the circulatory, respiratory and digestive symptoms that are improved through increased blood circulation throughout the body. During the class, I was way too busy attempting to perfect postures to even notice the intense physical workout that Aerial Yoga truly is, but needless to say I felt it within every muscle in my body for days after.

If you love healthy travel and trying out new experiences that challenge both your body and mind, Aerial Yoga at Alila Villas Uluwatu should be high on your to-do list.

Alila Villas Uluwatu costs from USD 965 (+21% tax and service charge) per villa per night

Aerial yoga at Alila Villas Uluwatu costs from IDR 925,000 (+21% tax and service charge) per person

We flew to Bali on Cathay Pacific.

Cathay Pacific flies daily between London and Bali and four times weekly between Manchester and Bali.  To book flights visit cathaypacific.co.uk

Prices start from:

London – Bali economy = from £819

London – Bali Business = from £3,619

Manchester – Bali Economy = from £789

Manchester – Bali Business = from £3,589

*All flights are correct at time of publication

Words by Zsa Zsa Vella

More On Bali The Review: Spa Alila | H&H Guide To Bali

 

The Review: Spa Alila

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Here at Hip & Healthy, there’s nothing we love more than a really great treatment at a beautiful spa. Having experienced my fair share of luxury spas throughout my travels, I waltzed into Spa Alila with high expectations. Needless to say, my expectations were quickly surpassed. A spa experience that fuses holistic wellbeing with traditional techniques and ancient healing modalities, no trip to Alila would be complete without a visit to their world renowned Spa. Located on-premises at each one of their locations, Spa Alila’s aim is to holistically assist its guests in achieving that sought-after state of balance so easily lost in the fast paced hustle and bustle of modern life.

The Treatments

Luxurious and decadent, Spa Alila’s exclusive menu of treatments offers something for everyone. All of the local in-house therapists have been trained in anatomical physiology, massage and meditation as well as the latest in organic nutrition and health, so you can rest assured your time at Spa Alila will be spent in the best of hands. Showcasing the incredible range of the hotels own natural, handmade skincare products (more on that below), as a guest, you have the option of selecting from the extensive list of treatments and packages or creating your own personalised to your needs, requirements and desires.

The Skincare

As a lover of green beauty in all its guises, I was beyond excited when I found out that all products used in Spa Alila are formulated with ingredients of natural and mostly local origin. Using age-old beauty recipes, the entire Alila Living skincare range features the most luxurious aromatic blends of fresh and natural ingredients that are uplifting and soothing to body, mind and spirit. Used within all treatments, each private villa additionally boasts a generous array of ‘his’ and ‘her’ Alila Living products, so you can easily maintain that ‘just pampered’ feel throughout your stay. From nourishing massage oils to invigorating body and facial scrubs; all of the range is free from parabens, sodium laurel sulphate, petrochemicals, synthetic substances, artificial colour and fragrance – nasties we tend to avoid when it comes to our skincare rituals. If you love natural skincare and want to bring a touch of the tropics into your life sans the 16 hour flight, due to popular demand, Alila’s Living Skincare is now available to purchase online for you to recreate a Spa Alila experience from home.

My Experience

Easily the best spa experience I’ve ever encountered, during my three day stay at Alila Villas Soori, I was treated to the dreamiest set of four signature treatments available as part of the Relaxology treatment package (five and seven day Relaxology treatment packages are also available).

Upon each of my arrivals at Spa Alila, I was greeted by a refreshing and medicinal lemongrass and honey infused mocktail to enjoy at my leisure, whilst soaking in the tranquil atmosphere of the Spas lounge. Located in a secluded sanctuary below the reflective pond in the open-air reception, an ‘aqua-roof’ lends to the unique ambience; a soothing spectrum of watery light that encapsulates the interior.

The first of the bunch, the ‘Soakology Treatment’, I received fresh off of my flight from London. A signature foot massage using sea salts, herbal oils, ginger lotions and Alila Detoxifying Bath Salts, this grounding treatment was just the quick fix I needed after my long-haul flight.

On my second day of pampering, I woke up eager and excited to experience my first full-body treatment. Having heard of the healing and medicinal benefits of volcanic sand, I was curious to experience its positive effects first hand during my Volcanic and Rice Bran Lulur treatment. Combining the sands with rice milk to form a paste, my entire body was gently scrubbed and exfoliated. A process that purified my body and skin, transporting me into a relaxed state of calm, clearing my mind and inducing a deep state of inner peace. When I awoke from my hour of utter bliss, I felt deeply rested and my skin had truly never felt as silky smooth, reinvigorated and revitalised.

The last day of my treatments consisted of an Awakening Facial Massage and the Soori Signature Massage, both of which can be tailored to your personal wellness needs. I loved having the option to choose which oil the massage therapist used during my signature massage, based on scent as well as desired outcome; detoxification was my oil of choice. Completely holistic in nature, these two treatments take all details into account, drawing on the healing and preventative effects of the pure plant oils, creams, cleansers and essences used. Providing 80 minutes of pure delight, these two treatments left me tension-free and in a state of relaxation that lingered on for the remainder of my trip.

Relaxology spa package at Alila Villas Soori costs from USD 567 (+21% tax and service charge) per villa per night (minimum stay 3 nights) 

We flew to Bali on Cathay Pacific.

Cathay Pacific flies daily between London and Bali and four times weekly between Manchester and Bali.  To book flights visit cathaypacific.co.uk

Prices start from:

London – Bali economy = from £819

London – Bali Business = from £3,619

Manchester – Bali Economy = from £789

Manchester – Bali Business = from £3,589

*All flights are correct at time of publication

Words by Zsa Zsa Vella

More On Bali: H&H Guide To Bali | The Overview: Alila Hotels & Resorts

 

The Overview: Alila Hotels + Resorts

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For much of my life, wild and wonderful tales of Bali have made their way into my subconscious. Growing up in Australia, Bali was a common addition to any local travellers itinerary. A mere 4 hours away from Australian soil, backpackers, school leavers and sunshine seekers would venture off each and every summer to revel in the beauty of Bali. A prompt move to London after high school meant I was one of the rare few never to experience the tropical paradise I had always heard so much about. Keen to experience the ever-growing wellness scene Bali has become famous for, last month, yet another case of wanderlust became a reality as I packed my bags and journeyed solo to the Indonesian Island of Bali for a week-long wellbeing escape.

The Hotel

Invited to experience the island at one of Bali’s most luxurious resorts, Alila Hotel and Resorts provided my accommodation for the duration of my stay. With a strong wellbeing focus and sustainable ethos, Alila Hotels and Resorts had been on Hip & Healthy’s radar for a long while so you can imagine our excitement when we found out we’d be journeying to two of their Bali based locations for a week of relaxation and exploration.

The Locations

Alila Villas Soori

Located just 20 minutes from Tanah Lot Temple, one of Bali’s most sacred and most visited temples, Alila Villas Soori lies within Tabanan Regency, one of Bali’s most fertile and picturesque regions. Featuring a range of exquisite scenic accommodation types, guests can choose between ground level Beach Pool Villas or Higher standing Ocean Pool Villas; each with a private pool and direct access to the beach. For something a little different, larger living residences and Mountain facing Pool Villas with the most incredible views of Mount Batukaru and the surrounding rice fields are available. One of Alila Villas Soori’s infamous Beach Pool Villas was my home for half of my stay. Waking up to the sound of the waves and views of the volcanic sand beach a sheer stones throw away from my hotel room provided a stunning scenic setting for relaxation and reflection. Daily sunrise meditation followed by a refreshing swim in my villas private beach-facing pool made for the best kind of early morning ritual.

Alila Villas Soori costs from USD 655 (+21% tax and service charge) per villa per night 

Alilia Villas Uluwatu

A short 30 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport, Alila Villas Uluwatu was my home for the second half of my stay in Bali. Located along the southern coastline on the island’s Bukit Peninsula, Alila Villas Uluwatu is situated upon an elevated plateau sweeping down to the Indian Ocean. Offering one, two and three bedroom residencies, all are equipped with a private pool and ocean-facing shaded outdoor cabana, perfect for retreating to after a day in the Sun. A contemporary take on tradition Balinese design, all rooms feature the dreamiest decor and stunning interiors that utilise elements from nature intertwined with traditional Balinese accents and accoutrements. Open plan designs allow for ocean views from bed to bath, keeping in line with the signature Alila aesthetic that merges the surrounding landscape with the architecture; an homage to nature through the manmade.

Alila Villas Uluwatu costs from USD 965 (+21% tax and service charge) per villa per night

The Wellbeing Offerings

One of the things that first attracted us to Alila Hotels & Resorts was the abundant wellbeing offerings available at every one of their destinations. From their spa and yoga facilities to their Hip & Healthy style restaurants, my days spent at Alila were a wellness lovers dream!

Envision this: The sound of waves wakes you from a deep and restful slumber, you roll out of bed and out the door, enjoying the serenity and silence of your short walk on the cusp of a volcanic beach to a beach-facing yoga class. You bend and stretch your way through a series of reinvigorating and restorative sun salutations and inner-peace inducing meditations before retreating down to the on-site outdoor restaurant for a breakfast of tropical fruits, sweet coconut rice and unlimited green juice. You finish your meal and are escorted up to your first spa treatment of the day, a deeply tranquil massage that transports you to a place of rest and relaxation you never thought existed – is this a dream? Far from it. This is a typical day in the life at Alila Villas Hotels & Resorts. A review of my spa experience is coming soon so keep your eyes peeled!

Relaxology spa package at Alila Villas Soori costs from USD 567 (+21% tax and service charge) per villa per night (minimum stay 3 nights)

The Flight

We flew to Bali on Cathay Pacific.

Cathay Pacific flies daily between London and Bali and four times weekly between Manchester and Bali.  To book flights visit cathaypacific.co.uk

Prices start from:

London – Bali economy = from £819

London – Bali Business = from £3,619

Manchester – Bali Economy = from £789

Manchester – Bali Business = from £3,589

*All flights are correct at time of publication

Words by Zsa Zsa Vella

More On Bali: How To Stay Hip & Healthy In Flight |  Hip & Healthy Guide To Bali