Evolve Wellness Centre – Restore Your Inner Spark!

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Sporting testimonials from Vanity Fair and Vogue, who praise the centre as a “’yoga-for-all’ urban sanctuary”, and “A brand new hub for wellbeing in the heart of South Kensington with some of the most sought-after treatments, therapists and yoga teachers in the country”, you might say that my expectations for Evolve Wellness Centre were high.

And so, with my yoga mat and pants at the ready, I discovered the unassuming centre tucked peacefully away from the busy Brompton Road, nestled inconspicuously in Kendrick Mews. The front door instructed me to ‘take a deep breath…’ and with that, I crossed the threshold with anticipation. On arrival, I instantly felt a sense of calm and serenity. With the soothing sounds of meditation music welcoming me into the reception room, I helped myself to some complimentary mint tea and politely removed my shoes (those of you who are regular retreat- lovers will understand this as standard protocol). Within minutes I was greeted by Anna Schultz, a yoga instructor and intern at Evolve, who was delighted to give me a tour of the centre. As we both glided bare footed from studio to studio, I learned that each room was strategically unique. Different capacities, lighting, temperatures and window surface area provide a specific ambience, mood and energy required for each discipline.

Indeed, the variety of classes available at Evolve is extensive, ranging from the common practice of Vinyasa Flow and Pilates, to more unusual classes such as ‘Gong bath’, ‘Iyengar’, and ‘Kundalini’ yoga. However, Evolve is not purely a place for exercise, but a sanctuary for the soul too. I was taken into a seminar room, where Anna explained that clients can discuss ‘living the law of attraction’ and enjoy self-help classes such as ‘reconnecting to the feminine’. What’s more, the centre also offers a broad selection of treatments such as homeopathy, cranio-sacral therapy and acupuncture to name a few.

Finally, Anna introduced me to Adrian Kowal, one of the founders of the centre. He was delighted that I had chosen to take the ‘Forrest Yoga’ class that evening, and reassured me that I was not only in for an enjoyable, challenging experience, but a profound, emotional one too. Adrian clarified that Forrest Yoga was a modern style based on Hatha yoga, created by and named after Ana T. Forrest. It was this American yogini who wished to base the style on four principles: breath, strength, integrity and spirit, which enables healing powers to nourish the ‘emotional body’. By encouraging each individual to breathe into places where they feel stagnant energy, this provides liberation to emotional issues stored there. Serious stuff. I started to think that Forrest yoga was more than I had signed up for. Yet, when I took part in the class itself, I was pleasantly surprised that it was anything but intimidating. Many of the moves resembled those practiced in other yoga styles, such as Ujjayi breath and tucking the tailbone, while others were unique to this style, particularly the practice of relaxing the neck and wrapping the shoulders. The overall emphasis was on breath work (my particular favourite was ‘lion’s breath’) and muscle strengthening (I managed to hold a full backbend for five whole breaths!). Most significant however, was the emphasis on gratitude, love and acceptance of self. For me, these were the most poignant moments of the class. As a result, I felt both fulfilled yet challenged, strong and empowered, and I even allowed myself to shed a little tear. Adrian was right – a profound, emotional class indeed.

With a clear, conscious mind, I left the centre feeling at my optimum potential and happiness. Evolve Wellness Centre is certainly a little haven of joy. As I reflected upon the new-found spring in my step as I ambled back towards South Kensington tube, I made the conscious decision that it would not be my last visit to the centre.  Feeling alive and at one with myself, Evolve has earned a well -deserved place in my Hip and Healthy lifestyle.  Need to restore your inner spark? Evolve is the place for you. Be well!

Find out more info on classes and prices here.

 

words by Olivia Murphy

Juice your way to glowing skin – H&H’s favourite juice cleanses this summer!

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With summer holidays fast approaching and bikinis creeping out of the woodwork, panic is setting in across the country, and now more than ever we are ready to do what it takes to get truly bikini ready!

However, with life carrying on as usual, we can’t take a week off, before our actual week off, to hit the gym for numerous hours a day and eat little more than celery, and nor do we want to!

Luckily for you, here at H&H, we have put together a list of some of our favourite juice cleanses available to you this summer, meaning that without putting your current life on hold, you could well be flaunting your toned, bloat-free bodies on beaches worldwide in as little as 3 days! It really isn’t too late – hooray!

Most of the companies below offer 3 levels of juice cleanses, catering for those with limited and extensive juicing pasts, so it is important to consider which level might suit you best, ensuring that you challenge your mind and body, but not to the extent that you put yourself off delicious juiced fruit and veg for life!

Imbibery
Imbibery London offers a build your own cleanse option, as well as some of their own cleanses. All of the Imbibery cleanses are £85 per day and include smaller shots of goodness alongside bulkier and more substantial juices.

The Canyon Juicery
The Canyon Juicery delivers across London directly from their store in Notting Hill on the same day that you make your order, offering a mouthwatering selection of cold pressed juices. Starting at £75 for a one day cleanse, with 6 juices, and £245 for a 3 day cleanse, these prices sit comfortably within the going rate for juice cleanses in London.

Crude Juice
Crude Juice is a relatively new to the market competitor in the cold-pressed juice world – but it sure is making its mark! With prices starting from £65 for a 1 day cleanse and £195 for 3 days, they are definitely offering a slightly cheaper and tempting alternative to some of the more well-established names out there.

Raw to Door
This cold-pressed juice company, founded by former model, Natasha, was built on personal experience about the power of healing through cleansing the body. Raw to Door offers a minimum of 3 day cleanses from between £215 – £230, but can cater to the most ambitious of you out there with up to 10 day cleanses available too!

Botanic Lab
The Botanic Lab juice cleanses are considerably less expensive than others currently on the market, but seem not to have compromised in quality. With a 1 day cleanse at £25 and a 3 day cleanse at £85, there is no real reason not to give cold-pressed juices a go!

The Source
The Source is another recently established London-based cold-pressery, offering delicious fruit and vegetable based drinks and a choice of cleanses to suit you juicing needs and experience. As to be expected, a 1 day cleanse comes in at £80, and a 3 day cleanse for £240.

Nosh
Nosh Detox is was founded in 2008 and has since had excellent reviews of its products. Nosh Detox offers a number of juice and cleansing programmes and starts at around £200 for a beginners juice cleanse. However, there is a special offer for you H&H readers – the Organic Green Cleanse (usually £240/3days) is available to you lovelies for just £99, so why not give it a try!

Plenish
Now stocked on Ocado, the amazing juices by Plenish are available nationwide, bringing cold-pressed juice to the entire country. We are huge fans of their Cashew Milk, which is a must-try for any nut milk virgins.

words by Cecilia Kristiansen

Come to Our Wellness Evening!

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SPandCo

 

A little bit more info for you!

Buy your new workout threads at Hip & Healthy
We will be popping up our activewear store at the event and all day at SP&Co so that you can try and buy your favourite new styles from our super hot summer collections (some of which is not even available on the site yet!) and we will be giving a 10% discount on the night.

We will be at SP&Co from 10am-8pm so come on down whenever you can!

Fitness Assessments by SP&Co
SP&Co’s 3 Jubilee Place, is the ultimate health and wellness space for those who truly value their privacy. A bespoke and highly personalised service ensures that each client is given the dedicated time and encouragement to create a unique and extraordinary lifestyle experience. Their philosophy is to incorporate a programme that is based around the individual, mindfully integrating fitness and complementary therapies to bring outstanding results in an environment that feels like a home-from-home. Managing Director & Personal Trainer of the company, Stephen, is passionate about a multi-disciplinary approach to health and fitness and believes that it is the key to a longer, happier, more fulfilled life.

Find out how fit you really are and what you can do to improve it. At the event, the SP&Co trainers will be measuring your fitness and dishing out great advice on how to get even fitter! Starts from 6pm.

Skin Analysis with Sherron Holder-Culver 
Born to Barbadian parents, Sherron has been very fortunate in her life to be brought up within a culture and environment that uses natural remedies and holistic therapies as a way of life to alleviate ailments and maintain healthy living. She is passionate about her work and likes to combine all of her techniques and experience with the latest technology and ingredients to create well informed, bespoke treatments that yield immediate results. As an accomplished aromatherapist and with a knowledge of herbal medicine if a product is not available Sherron will hand blend it herself to address many conditions.

Sherron will be conducting skin-analysis on guests all evening. Please arrive early to make sure you get a slot with her! Starting from 6pm.

Pilates with Katie Power
Spending most of her waking hours as a commercial lawyer and teaching, Pilates is the perfect counterfoil to the combative legal world. Coming back from an injury 3 years ago, Katie was advised that she would never run again without invasive knee surgery. Having-disregarded that advice and taken up Pilates, she has since run several half marathons, completed triathlons and even survived her first full marathon last year. Now a regular runner and gym bunny without injury, she wants to help her clients achieve their goals when they have been told injury or limitations in their body will hold them back.

Pilates will start 6.30pm! Come wearing something comfortable!

Nutrition Talk by Eve Kalinik
Eve Kalinik, is a BANT and CNHC registered Nutritional Therapist with a BA in Psychology. As a passionate foodie she believes in a holistic whole food approach to help support an increase in vitality and a general feeling of wellness inside and out. Eve works with a diverse range of clientele and having previously worked in a high pressure career always considers “real life” when putting together programs and menus for her clients. She works on an individually tailored and bespoke approach to a life long attitude of eating well to assist the body’s natural healing abilities. Alongside her consultations Eve also hosts various workshops, supper clubs and cooking classes.

Eve will be giving a talk on the top Summer super-foods that will get you feeling and looking your best. The talk will start at 7.15pm and last for around 20 minutes.

RSVP: [email protected]

 

If You Only Do One Thing This Week… Get a Toned Tummy With Our Top Tips!

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As grateful as we are to finally have some sunshine (and believe us, we are!), the summer months can be quite a tricky time to say hello to your hibernating abs! You see, there are so many temptations that will quite easily throw you right off course to a flat stomach… sugary cocktails, ice-cream sundays, frappacinos, the list goes on! You think “How am I ever going to get a toned tummy with all of these distractions floating around ever corner?” We say “Don’t panic!”. This is what we’re here for… to help all of you further enhance your healthy lifestyles, even if there may be a few obstacles along the way! This week, we’re sharing a few of our handy-to-know tips for achieving a flat tum even in the sun!

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail
We’ve all heard that quote before, and yes it does sound a bit harsh, but it’s so true. Whether you’re going on a road trip or jetting off to the Caribbean, always have some healthy, nutritious snacks lurking in your bag for when you’re feeling a bit peckish. It’s those moments when you want to make a pit stop at the first foodie place you come across that will determine the outcome of your tummy. Having snacks prepared in your bag will keep you on track and will remove all the excuses to delve into that sugary, nutritionally empty muffin! Nuts and berries are great choices, and we are partial to the odd Nakd Bar or Bounce Ball here and there!

HIIT
Surely, slogging it our on the treadmill for a few hours should do the trick? Well, not exactly. It may burn calories but it doesn’t target fat. HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training), has been hailed the ultimate fat-burning training method and can shorten your hour workout to as little as 15 minutes. Here’s how… Take an exercise, lets say skipping, and for 30 seconds, perform as fast as you can, using all your energy. Then take a 30 second rest and repeat 8-10 times through. By constantly speeding up your heart rate and slowing it down again, you’re raising your metabolism which is what helps you burn fat long after you’ve exercised! There really are no excuses for having no time to break a little (or a lot) of sweat!

Fennel Tea
Digestion is another important aspect to consider when you want a toned and flat tummy, especially if you have a sensitive stomach. Problems like bloating, gas and IBS can really make you feel low, so when things flare up, brew a cup or two of fennel tea. The essential oil in fennel calms muscle spasms and it’s carminative properties are brilliant at easing bloating and excessive gas. We like to enjoy our fennel tea after dinner to soothe our systems while we sleep.

De-stress
The link between stress and our stomachs is truly astounding. Our emotions can have profound effects on our digestive system so much so, it’s been named our “second brain”. When we feel stressed, our bodies produce cortisol (aka our fat-storing hormone) because it think’s we are in danger. Our bodies store glucose as energy so we can fight something or run away from it. Now in the caveman days, this was very useful (the grisly bear wasn’t going to disappear on it’s own!), but now days its usually just traffic jams or horrible bosses that cause us stress. That extra glucose that our bodies “kindly” saved for us hasn’t been used. What happens to it? It tends to get stored as fat around the belly button. So with that nasty scenario in mind, really try and focus on keeping your stress levels to a minimum. Anything from deep breathing, mediation, or even just a lovely bubble bath can help you achieve a flatter stomach.

Stay Hydrated!
I know we keep banging on about it but drinking lots of water seriously is the most simple and easy habit to implement! It enables our bodies to flush out toxins and get rid of any excess water we may be holding on too. Apart from a flatter and more defined tummy, you’ll also achieve a gorgeous glow in your complexion…whats not to love?

words by Moly Jennings

Photo: Bikini available at Zimmerman

 

 

 

Time to Glow: With Secret Urban Escape – the new way to workout

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Want to get your glow on this summer? Check out Secret Urban Escape! Offering  mind-blowing pop up lifestyle events at unique, unusual and extraordinary locations throughout London,  Secret Urban Escape is designed to re-energise, inspire and wow you.  Escape the daily grind and prepare to be surprised!

This amazing concept is the brainchild of Iris and Tash, two super cool ladies who love socialising, exercising and generally spreading positive vibes. Tash is a trained yoga teacher whilst Iris is a career and life coach – what a pair! Together they can solve all your mental and physical wellbeing woes!

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The first event, Pilates in the Park launched on 21st June and took place in Hyde Park. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and we all met, after having been drip-fed clues via email as to the exact whereabouts of the event.  The Pilates class was taught by the talented Chloe Hodgson, our resident fitspiration for January.

Chloe taught a dynamic class ensuring all our bodies were quivering and shaking after each posture. The class flew by, Chloe has a really engaging teaching method – you feel inspired and constantly motivated throughout the class due to Chloe’s can-do, enthusiastic attitude. I really felt like it was a full body workout and I didn’t even leave the mat! Amazing what you can achieve with such a small amount of space.

The class lasted an hour then we were treated to some delicious food from the Detox Kitchen to reward us for our virtuous feat of dragging ourselves out of bed on a Saturday morning to do exercise. The food consisted of homemade granola with coconut yoghurt and berries, brown rice risotto with squash washed down with alkalising green juices. These delightful pots of goodness were wolfed down by the group and we all sat and chatted in the sun – it was like having a picnic with your friends!

Afterwards I felt inspired, happy and ready to enjoy the rest of my weekend. Everyone was really friendly and it was a great way to meet like-minded people – I even got a few people’s number and have met up with them since!

Secret Urban Escape makes you forget about the daily grind. Instead you feel as though you have been transported out of a city. Iris and Tash’s vision is exactly what London needs – time out to reconnect, meet new people and relax.

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At Secret Urban Escape they like to mix things up, so you can expect something different from each event. Some might make you #SWEAT, #RELAX, #MOVE and so much more…

The next event takes place on Sunday 20th July from 9.30am-12pm. Get ready to run your socks off, build up a sweat and enjoy some post-run yoga to stretch out those weary muscles. After your workout, you’ll enjoy a scrumptious picnic with delicious healthy food and drinks plus chilled music – the perfect setting to rest those legs and meet their growing community. So lace up your trainers and run Forrest run! For more information and to buy tickets visit Secret Urban Escape.

words by Bex Fairbrother

photo

Buy the leggings here

The Summer Makeup Bag Essentials We Can’t Live Without!

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So obviously nobody in real life does a total make-up bag edit when it comes to summer like we do with our wardrobes. But adding even just a few of the following can make a difference to the look (and longevity) of your makeup when the sun is shining. So here are my summer make up bag essentials which I always have in my make-up bag for long-lasting prettiness from June to September.

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer, SPF15, £52
My cannot-live-without base which eliminates redness, softens fine lines, minimizes pore size and creates the perfect flawless base for make up.

 

Chantecaille Tinted Moisturiser, SPF 15, £58
I still haven’t found anything to beat this. The formula is excellent – provides fantastic coverage yet looks super sheer. It makes you look like you’re not really wearing make up but just have a lovley, healthy glowing complexion.

 

Burberry Fresh Glow, £34
My go-to highlighter for day or evening. I use it on top of tinted moisturiser, blended on the top of cheekbones and under the brow arch.

 

Nars Laguna Bronzing Powder, £27
Still one of their bestselling products because it suits every skintone. It has a very subtle golden shimmer which flatters everyone and makes you look like you’ve had a weekend in the sun even when you haven’t. Even more beautiful on tanned skin.

 

Kevyn Aucoin Eye Pencil Primatif, £21 (in Defining Brown)
Brown eye pencil is for most people way more flattering than black. So unless you are going for a purist Chrissie Hynde eye, I would use brown every time – especially during the summer when your skin is warmed up with colour. This pencil has the softest velvety texture which is so easy to apply and only smudges if you want it to.

 

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Waterproof Mascara, £22
Creates pretty long, sweeping lashes and stays put in the pool or the beach (if you are at a pool or beach that requires a bit of mascara. I know mine does)

 

Nudestix Skin Concealor Pencil, £24
A fabulous concealor from this new brand where everything is in the form of a chunky crayon. Especially easy to apply under the eye or a dot around the nose. Fantastic colours too.

 

Charlotte Tilbury Nude lip, K.I.S.S.I.N.G lipstick, £23 and Lip Lustre gloss, £16.50
If it’s good enough for Kate Moss, it’s good enough for me. Charlotte Tilbury’s well researched nude lipsticks are brilliant. Kate wears Penelope Pink lipstick with Lip Lustre Gloss in Seduction. It really is the perfect nude with (or without) a tan.

words by Lucia Ferrari

IF YOU ONLY DO ONE THING THIS WEEK…EAT THESE SUMMER SKIN FOODS!

 

Grilled Prawns with Chickpea Salad

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Grilled Prawns with chickpea salad by The Detox Kitchen 

( Serves 2 )

Ingredients 

1 tin chickpeas

1 red pepper

1 yellow pepper

2 spring onions

1 handful coriander, finely chopped

1 handful mint leaves, finely chopped

Pinch salt

Pinch pepper

 

For the dressing

1 handful spinach

1 clove garlic, peeled

½ small red chili

1 spring onion

1 tsp rapeseed oil

Pinch salt

Pinch pepper

12 King prawns

 

Method:

Place a griddle pan on a medium heat. While that is heating, drain and rinse the chickpeas and place them in a mixing bowl. Very finely chop the peppers, spring onions and herbs and mix this through the chickpeas with the limejuice, zest, salt and pepper.  To make the coarse dressing, finely chop the spinach, garlic, chili and spring onions, mix with a little rapeseed oil, salt and pepper.Place three king prawns on each skewer. Drizzle with a little rapeseed oil and place on the hot griddle pan for 2 minutes on each side until cooed throughout.To serve, place the prawns on top of the salad and spoon over the spinach and chili dressing.

 

Couture on Court – Stella McCartney unveils her new “tennis inspired” Barricade Collection at Wimbledon 2014!

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Wimbledon. It’s the tennis tournament that warrants strawberries, cream and Pimm’s as a staple dietary requirement, transforms Murray Mount into a pilgrimage-worthy destination, and unveils…sexy, streamlined silhouettes by Stella?!

Yes, that’s right Hip and Healthies, from catwalk to court, the Stella McCartney for adidas AW14 collection barricade for Fall/ Winter 14 makes its exclusive debut on centre court as featured on brand ambassadors Caroline Wozniacki, Maria Kirilenko and Andrea Petkovic for their upcoming matches.

Sporting striking, stand-out style, the wonderful Wimbledon women will wear all-white, ultra-feminine separates and one-piece dresses to ensure that they wow not only by their tennis talent, but their superior style standards.

And don’t think that practicality is compromised. Strategically structured with open and closed mesh fabrics and textures, the designs ensure ultimate security, flexibility and ventilation. Each piece is engineered to ensure 100% performance, yet, true to Stella McCartney tradition, each intricate detail certifies the collection as timeless.

Be prepared to be dazzled by Caroline Wozniacki, who is due to present the limited edition cropped spacer fabric Bomber Jacket in White and flattering Dress with fit-and-flare bi-tonal pleats in a Wimbledon exclusive. With effortless seam construction and ClimaLITE technology, as featured in all items in the collection, Wozniacki is confident that the style will not only aid her game, but radiate true, innovative athletic vitality. She says: ‘This season’s adidas by Stella McCartney barricade collection is amazing. It doesn’t only look great, but the functionality of each piece is outstanding. I love the bomber jacket and femininity of my dress; the collection gives me the confidence I need to focus on nothing else but my performance – which ultimately, is what every professional tennis player wants.’

 

Similarly, Maria Kirilenko will debut the elbow-sleeved Tee to flatter her flawless feminine physique while Andrea Petkovic will exhibit the sleeveless, collared Tank, designed with a supportive yet sexy racer back and playful asymmetric ruffling to allow beautiful movement during each serve. Both women are due to celebrate the new Skort in White, designed with flirty flyaways to establish the collection as no less than cutting-edge.

Maria comments, “adidas by Stella McCartney barricade allows me to feel confident on court, every time. It is the perfect combination of performance and style, and the all-white collection for Wimbledon is stunning – the different texture combinations look amazing, but they’re also perfect for keeping cool when you need it most.”

But Stella McCartney doesn’t stop there. Never to miss an opportunity, the barricade footwear with barricade 8 tooling complements the clothing line to perfection. By providing weightless comfort, agility and buoyancy, these shoes are carefully created to allow acute receptiveness on court. Of course, the ensemble would not be complete without seasonal accessories such as an on-court tennis bag and visor; and as ever, Stella delivers.

So, want to look and feel like a real Wimbledon woman? Be sure to check out the adidas AW14 barricade collection by Stella McCartney available right now at high-end and specialty retailers worldwide, as well as the adidas by Stella McCartney flagship store in Brompton Cross, London and online at www.adidas.com/tennis.

Apparel and Accessories prices start from 15 Euro for the barricade socks up to 110 Euro for the aSMC dress. Footwear prices start from 130 Euros.

Sweet Nothing – Book Review!

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Sweet Nothing is Nicole Mowbray’s candid account of her relationship with sugar or her “unattractive story of gluttony” as she puts it.  Nicole Mowbray is an established writer and former editor of LIFE&STYLE and FEMAIL of the DAILY MAIL.

Whilst it is partly a memoir, documenting her journey of ditching the white stuff, one she does with extreme honesty, Sweet Nothing is also a guide to how we too can give up sugar and make the necessary changes to transform our lives.

Mowbray’s account of how she quit sugar comes at an appropriate time when sugar seems to be the health buzzword which is on all of our lips (literally!) Sweet Nothing isn’t a sugar-coated (excuse the pun) version of events. Mowbray reveals the evil truths behind this “white poison” as her dad so aptly describes it.

When she goes cold turkey, the horrific withdrawal symptoms she experiences are something that you would imagine a hardcore drug addict might be confronted with when they too quit their “white poison.”  The dizziness, excruciating headaches and lethargy are just a few of the unpleasant side effects which Mowbray is confronted with, highlighting just how dangerous sugar is.

Her account details how giving up sugar changes her life, improves her physical health and mental wellbeing, her relationships as well as her relationship with herself.  It is a powerful tale which includes interviews from experts including nutritionists, cardiologists and psychologists which both highlight the scientific facts behind sugar and how it affects our emotions.

Mowbray not only highlights how sugar (which you’d be surprised is present in so many foods and drinks that we consume daily thinking they are “healthy”) can have an impact on our social relationships but also points out the scary and damaging effects it can have on our bodies.  She also touches upon how we have become conditioned to associate sweet food with feeling good and through her own personal journey aims to re-educate and encourage people to think harder about their sugar consumption and the alternatives that are out there.

 Mowbray offers advice, expert tips as well as a number of recipes to help others embark on their sugar-free journey and succeed.  Her frank account is a powerful read for a generation suffering from an obesity epidemic.  

Buy Sweet Nothing here.

words by Rebecca Fairbrother

If You Only Do One Thing This Week… Never Leave Home Without These Travel Bag Essentials!

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It’s always an exciting moment to retrieve your long forgotten suitcase out from under the bed or down from the loft because it only means one thing… Holiday season! We revel in the joy of whipping out our summer clothes and perching on top of our suitcases in order to squeeze in every last pair of sandals (because you can never have too many!). We also love organising our carry-on bag (Sad, we know!), so below, are the essentials we never leave the country without!

Caudalie Beauty Elixir 30ml – £11.50
We’ve all been told time and time again, that planes are probably one of the most dehydrating ways of transport, not only for your body, but your skin too. Caudalie’s famous Beauty Elixir Face Mist is a powerful plant based, anti-dull spray that will give a surge of moisture and radiance to dry and lack lustre skin.

Neals Yard Melissa Hand Cream 30ml – £13.50
Speaking of feeling dehydrated, it’s always lovely to whip out a luxurious hand cream to give your hands a bit of a pamper when they’re feeling a bit papery and dry. We love the Neals Yard Melissa Hand Cream for it’s rich and nourishing ingredients and it’s so easy to store in your carry-on bag.

IQ Superfood Chocolate – £2.85
Plane food is the worst, right? So whenever we travelling, we always carry a stash of healthy nibbles! A firm favourite has got to be IQ Superfood Chocolate for their inventive flavours and their organic and raw ingredients. The flvour we keep going back to is the orange wild wild raspberry. (So addictive!).

This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray 75ml – £16.00
Overnight flights can be made much more relaxing with a little help from This Works. Their best selling Deep Sleep Pillow Spray aims to calm and sooth your mind and body to encourage a deeper sleep and help you feel refreshed upon awakening.

L’Occitane Cherry Blossom Roll On Eau De Toilette 10ml – £14.50
This dainty and easily portable Cherry Blossom roll-on offers a gorgeous, light, fruity scent that’s super handy for touch-ups on the go. Roll on’s are great for travelling because there’s nothing worse than getting a mouth full of perfume from the person sitting in front of you who’s decided to practically have a shower in it!

Kiehl’s SPF Lip Balm 15ml – £9.50
Having dry, cracked lips is such a bummer, especially on holiday when the sun is beaming down making them even worse! Our go-to remedy is the Kiehl’s SPF Lip Balm everytime. Apart from offering protection from the sun, it also combats the effects of harsh winds and blasting air cons! It’s definitely a winner in our books.

Jason Nourishing Apricot Deodorant Stick – £4.99
Jason’s pure, natural deodorant is perfect for a freshen up when things get a little bit hot and sticky (we’ve all been there!). Natural apricot oil and nourishing Vitamin E will smooth and soften underarm skin, while the grapefruit seed extract (containing antimicrobial properties), will help fight odor-enhancing bacteria!

Punch Foods Raw Cacao Superseeds – £3.99
The newest super snack to hit the town is the utterly delicious Punch Foods Superseeds! These tubes of naturally flavoured seeds make snacking on the go way more hygienic! Simply knock a few mouthfuls back straight out the tube and you’re good to go! Heads up – The raw cacao flavour is the yummiest!

Mio Skincare Workout Wonder Invigorating Muscle Gel 100ml – £21.00
Boost circulation and ease tense, sore muscles with this invigorating muscle gel. Travelling can take its toll on the body, so we love to slather on this gel when we want to energise and cool our tired muscles. You can purchase this in travel size with Mio’s “Your Fit Skin Kit” where you also receive “The Activist”, a firming body oil, and “Boob Tube+”, a multi action bust firmer!

words by Molly Jennings

THE GLOW FACTOR – HIP & HEALTHY’S FAVOURITE BODY OILS!

Hip & Healthy Travel To The Ecuadorian Coast!

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On the South coast of Ecuador, in the Manabi province, lays the sleepy coastal village of Ayampe. The stunning beaches are hugged by rich green hills and the friendliest of locals. In this village lays Otra Ola, a surfing, yoga and Spanish school situated right on the coast! This unique little school offers the chance to feed your mind, body and soul, and to really reconnect with yourself. The location provided the ideal backdrop for experiencing colourful Ecuador whilst investing time in healthy, mindful and sometimes challenging opportunities.

Yoga

The yoga school is situated in an open roofed studio within a charming garden, where the ocean can be heard and humming birds spotted as they fly between vibrant flowers. Akhanda yoga is practised here daily and was a new branch of yoga for myself on arrival (combining elements of the four traditional yoga paths- Bakhti, Karma, Jnana and Raja). I was unfamiliar with the meditative elements and breathing techniques that Akhanda yoga offers and I was afraid it may compromise on the ‘burn’ felt from a challenging session on the mat. I was wrong and the experience has emphasised to me the unparalleled importance of the mind and breathing in yoga. The holistic approach not only provides a fulfilling workout, but the benefits are enhanced through a calming and clearly explained introduction to the mindfulness yoga can achieve.

Food

Another perk of Otra Ola is their organic cafe! All of their food is made with fresh and locally grown ingredients. One dish that particularly caught my eye was the ceviche, a classic South American dish of raw fish cured in lemon or lime juices. In Ecuador it is traditionally served in a sauce of fresh raw tomato, red onion and green peppers… It made the perfect dish for a hot day by the waves.

Fruit is also in abundance and varies from the familiar, every-day options we find at home to the more exotic! Not only is it exciting to try new fruity flavours, but the availability means new smoothies and recipes can be experimented with almost daily. A particular favourite of mine is the Granadilla fruit. Shaped like a plum, it features a yellow shell like exterior that you crack open to expose a seedy pulp that resembles a passion fruit. Its subtle sweetness made a great topper for smoothie bowls and yogurts in the mornings.

Staying Active

This beautiful stretch of Ecuadorian coastline is blessed with incredible sunsets and a refreshing sea breeze. This time of the evening makes for a spectacular opportunity to go running on the beach, barefoot style. If you’re more inclined to make use of the scenery, then the surf is the place to go. Not quite a surf goddess yet? There’s no need to worry, surf lessons are available for all ranges of ability!

It is possible to observe humpback whales between June and October but you can also spot other wildlife all year round. Many spectacular sea birds live along the coast, and the best way to spot them is by taking a rewarding hike on the nearby island ‘Isla de la Plata’. Blue footed boobies (most famously known from the Galapogas Islands) and other wildlife keep you entertained whilst hiking too. The close proximity to the Galapogas Islands also makes it possible to combine the two trips really easily.

If you enjoy travelling, exploring a new and vibrant culture, whilst also dedicating time to your wellbeing, this is a wonderful option without the price tag that comes with many yoga retreats.

Plan your visit to Otra Ola here.

words by Rebecca O’Rourke

Fitspiration – Calgary Avansino

Written by

What motivates you to workout? Exercise makes me feel calm and happy and at the same time makes me feel energised and positive – you can’t get much better than that. It’s fun, it’s good for you and it is a powerful tool for the mind, helping to alleviate stresses and anxiety. After a great spin, yoga or interval class, all my day’s worries have left my body in the form of sweat, leaving me feeling confident and excited about whatever comes next.

Are there any workout trends that you’re particularly loving this season? There are a few that I’ve been really excited about in the past six months. I love the intensity of Russell Bateman’s SBC classes at Baker Street and the new Dance and Interval classes at Barrecore are terrific to burn calories. The new studio for Paolas’ BodyBarre in Fulham is fantastic – wish I lived closer! And I always love a hot yoga class at TriYoga.

Name your top healthy foods you couldn’t live without! I absolutely couldn’t live without avocados and nuts. Since I don’t eat much meat at all, they are positive sources of fat and protein for me. Equally important to my diet are apples, which I eat often with almond butter as a snack, as well as blueberries and basically veggies of every variety. I’m a plant-based girl through and through!

You’re hailed as the “Sugar-Free Queen”! Tell us about why you are so passionate to dish the dirt on sugar? Quite simply, it’s making both adults and children unhealthy, unwell and overweight. According to the NHS, the average person in Britain now consumes roughly 700g of sugar a week, which equates to 140 teaspoons. Experts have said, however, that our bodies are only designed to handle half of that or less per week. The bitter truth is that our health has become severely impacted as a result of this excessive sugar consumption. Expanding waistlines, constant cravings, binge eating, increased blood pressure, heightened risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease – the underlying force behind much of this is sugar. One in four adults are now obese in the UK and there are 3 million reported cases of diabetes. Something needs to be done – and rapidly – about the way we eat and think. Saying goodbye to sugar is a great first step.

What’s your fail-safe sugar-free breakfast that you can’t stop making? I try to mix it up so I am never bored by my breakfast and, more importantly, so my kids aren’t bored. Chia seed pudding made with homemade almond milk, cinnamon and blueberries is a favourite and other regulars are bircher muesli, rolled oat porridge made with almond milk and flaked coconut, wheat-free toast with avocado and my famous green smoothies. I’m always trying new combinations too, so we’ll often have a new rice porridge I am testing or gluten-free muffins made with delicious fruits and grains.

You’re a very busy lady who’s always on the go, how do you fit in exercise and how do you maintain a healthy diet when you’re travelling a lot? In terms of exercise, I always schedule it in my diary as I would a meeting. With a packed work diary and two young children, it would be easy to find reasons not to go if I wasn’t strict with myself about finding time. I’ll sit down on a Sunday evening and work out a plan for the week ahead. Sometimes I will make an hour for myself at lunchtime; other days I wake up an hour earlier than normal, before the children have risen, to fit in an intense morning workout. If I am planning to meet a friend, then rather than suggest a restaurant or bar, I like to head to exercise classes together. It’s a great way of finding that extra time in the day and always fun to do with a plus one. When I am travelling, I religiously plan ahead and bring tons of healthy snacks with me. I’m also always on Google searching, “best healthy restaurants and juice bars in ……” – you’d be surprised what amazing places you can find all over the world.

What are your must-have beauty essentials? Water, sunscreen and sleep! That’s what really helps me feel fabulous – but of course a coat of mascara and a sweep of bronzer can do a world of good too.

What makes you feel confident when you’re just having one of those days?! I always throw on a bright, cheerful dress if I’m really tired or if I’m feeling it might be “one of those days” and I also try to spend an extra five minutes to put on my make-up properly. I know it sounds like a cliché but I make a special effort to smile at people, help someone and compliment people if I’m having a down day – I really believe the good vibes bounce back to you.

Did your healthy habits come from your childhood or was it something you discovered later in life? I was raised on a vegetarian diet by health conscious parents; many of the habits I have now as an adult have been part of my life from a very young age and I thank my parents for that endlessly. However, I’d say in the last ten years or so, I have fine-tuned these to suit my lifestyle and personal tastes. I’m much more flexitarian now, if I fancy steamed salmon or eggs I have them but my diet is primarily plant-based.

Do you have a favourite quote or mantra you like to stick by? Work hard and be nice to people!

You’re having a dinner party, what would you cook? Depends on who is coming! But I always try to serve an assortment of delicious veggie recipes to prove to people how satisfying eating this way can be. Sometimes I serve fish, but never meat. And I always make a mouth-watering dessert that does not contain refined sugar or dairy. I love telling people that, right after they’ve said, “that was the yummiest dessert!”

What’s your favourite go-to “healthy hub” in London? Luckily there are more and more by the day. Roots & Bulbs, Nama, The Good Life, The River Café, Whole Foods, KX Gym, Juice Well, Daylesford Café.

Do you have any top tips for any sugar-free newbies? First of all, learn to look out for hidden sugar in places you would least expect it. Fruit juice, fruit yogurts, pasta sauces, canned salmon, breaded fish and chicken fingers, instant porridges, breakfast cereals, salad dressings, marinades and, of course, all processed foods. If you start there and begin to educate yourself about all of the sneaky hiding places for sugar, you will be well on your way. Then you just have to commit to purging it from your diet. The great thing is that once you quit the white stuff, you don’t crave it!

Can you describe your perfect holiday destination? For beach holidays, I’d say it definitely has to be Maalifushi in the Maldives. It’s unbelievably peaceful there and their focus is all on wellbeing, relaxing and healthy living – they even have a raw, vegan menu, which is one of the best I’ve ever eaten from. It’s my ultimate happy place.

It’s been a busy day, how do you wind down? The first step of winding down for me is taking off my “work” clothes and getting into my comfortable home clothes; I try to symbolically leave whatever stresses the day brought there in a pile with my clothes. I leave my phone downstairs so I’m not tempted to check it while I am with my kids, and then I just try to shut out the rest of the world and BE with my little precious girls. Sometimes we read, sometimes we have a dance party and sometimes we just hang out but it’s always the best part of my day!

What are your favourite few things from our active-wear store? L’urv Sunshine Seduction Floral leggings

L'urv Sunshine Seduction Floral Leggings, £65

L’urv Sunshine Seduction Floral Leggings, £65

L’urv Sea Spray Shorts 

L'urv Sea Spray Shorts

L’urv Sea Spray Shorts