The Exfoliator: Cowshed Calendula Refining Facial Scrub, www.cowshedonline.com, £22
The Serum: Oskia Get up and Glow, www.oskiaskincare.com, £64.50
The Moisturiser: Natura Bisse C+C Vitamin Cream, www.naturabisse.es, $110
The Mask: Ren Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask, www.renskincare.com, £30
The Eye Cream: Eve Lom Eye Cream, www.evelom.com, £48
It’s August now and many of us have found it hard to shift those last few pounds before the summer is up. We hate restrictive and unhealthy diets here at the Hip and Healthy headquarters, so we have outlined our top five easy-to-implement ways to burn those extra few pounds to reach your healthy-weight goals.
Sleep More: Sleeping releases fat-burning and appetite suppressing hormones so get your 8 hours. If you find it hard to wind down make sure you switch off all computers, T.V, phones etc. about half an hour before you get into bed so your brain has a chance de-stress. Also, try adding lavender essential oil to your wrists and behind your ears. Neal’s Yard does a great “remedies to role” product, £5.80.
Add Spice: Spices such as cinnamon can cause your metabolism to spike and it is also a great way to satisfy your sweet cravings so you don’t dive into the cookie jar at 4pm. Try adding it to your porridge first thing. Chili also increases the rate at which the metabolism burns your food so put it in your salads by adding chili oil to dressings.
Interval Train: There have been numerous studies conducted now, which have proven the benefits of interval training. Fast bursts of hardcore exercise interchanged with slower bouts, such as running and walking, burns more calories than running at one pace for the same amount of time. So when you are next in the gym, rather than pounding the treadmill at the same speed for half an hour, introduce shorter bursts of running at your top speed. Speak to a trainer though before you do this to prevent injury.
Take Vitamin C: Those who do burn 39% more fat when they exercise. Such an easy thing to do – just buy a good quality supplement (we suggest My Vitamins) and take the daily dosage with your breakfast. Taking vitamins on an empty tummy can make you feel bad. Also – up your intake of vitamin C rich food such as kiwis, oranges and lemons.
Drink more: Water keeps the metabolism going as well as curbing the appetite. So often people eat when they think they are hungry but in fact they are actually thirsty. Also, by eating water-rich foods like melon, you will also feel fuller on less calories then, say, if you had had a biscuit.
Nahid is founder and owner of Good Vibes, the raved about yoga studio based in Covent Garden. Nahid describes the studio as a flow studio that incorporates many forms of yoga styles and movements as well as taking from other related disciplines (such as pilates, feldenkrais, martial arts). Taught at a steady pace, so that you have the time to pause, breath and adjust, the yoga takes place in a room that is heated with infra red panels, (the first of its kind in Europe), and this warms your bones and allows the body to open and relax instantly. The infra red also soothes and reduces inflammation. Sounds like heaven? It is.
What is the first thing you do when you get up in the morning?
A gentle cat stretch and 3 minutes of meditation
What motto/advice do you try and live by?
I have two: Live life fearlessly and kindness is contagious
How do you relax?
Yoga, meditation, disappearing for a walk through the city with the phone switched off. I love to meander, you get to have so many adventures that way.
What three things can you not live without?
My man, yoga and the internet – how did we ever live without it? I can’t imagine a life where you can’t have everything at your fingertips from facts to finding new music to downloading a film to keeping in touch with everyone.
How did you get into yoga?
I left a very well paid and stressful job, without a pay off and instead of freaking out the next day, I booked myself into a yoga retreat leaving the very next day. I was very lucky to have chosen a dreamy venue called Huzur Vadisi in Turkey and a master teacher called with Simon Low. It totally changed my perspective on life, it showed me there was another way to be. I visit one of his yoga holidays a year and trained with him to become a yoga teacher.
Do you do yoga everyday?
Yes – in some form or another, I meditate everyday, I do a spot of restorative yoga at night and a dynamic yoga in the morning or evening most days
Have you noticed changes in your body since doing yoga?
I have! I am very strong and have good core engagement, my posture is so much better that it used to be and my practice has really moved on since I have been teaching in the Glow studio. But the most beneficial thing is that I am totally at peace in my head. I don’t overly worry, I don’t berate myself, I don’t get vexed over things like I used to and I am really happy in my skin. I am just more accepting of the dramas of life. Yoga works on many levels but the mental calm is the most profound change for me.
What made you decide to open Good Vibes?
I wanted to create studio spaces that are client focussed, where everyone who walked in through the door felt welcome, and the teachers are knowledegable and inclusive. I wanted to ensure that the teaching here nourishes you. And that means teachers with a healthy respect of anatomy. Any teacher can train you hard, it takes a skillful one to train you well. I find most exercise options on the market didn’t really speak to me. I don’t want to waste my time in soulless gyms nor do I enjoy being part of a fitness factory. I find most yoga studios too earnest. I wanted to practice in spaces that were more joyous.
If someone took up Glow Yoga for the first time how long would it take them to feel a change?
You’d feel the change as you soon as you walked in the door and you will leave feeling on top of the world. Most people usually fall in love with us on their first visit.
If all this Olympic cheer is making you think about getting fit and healthy (which we hope it is) then the best investment you can make when embarking on a healthy lifestyle is in your trainers.
A lot about improving your fitness is about being able to measure your progress and here is a shoe that does just that. The Nike Lunar Hyper Workout+ is designed to make you fitter, faster and stronger by tracking your workouts using sensors that are embedded in the shoe’s sole and syncing the information to your mobile phone. Not only is it technically a very good shoe, but also its comfortable, light and durable down to the materials it is made out of – Lunarlon and Flywire technologies mean that comfort and excellence need not be compromised.
NIKE LUNAR HYPER WORKOUT+ £170 WWW.NIKESTORE.COM
Hip and Healthy is always on the search for diets that are sustainable, healthy and above all, enjoyable. Healthy eating can be easy for some people; eating a little of what they fancy every now and again and sticking to the school of though of eating well 80% of the time. But I have found that there are many women out there (myself included) that like to be told what to eat, to have guidelines and to be educated as to what is good for them and what is not. That is why we have published this 7 Day Detox Diet – created by the experts and nutritionists at healthy supplement brand, My Protein, we were impressed by the way the diet keeps you full (no more rumbling stomachs only to be met with for four pm carrot allowance) and in its ability to help rid you of toxins at the same time. It has become a diet I turn to whenever I feel I have veered off course for a few weeks. You don’t have to buy all the supplements that the diet recommends but we suggest you do as it really will help you to stay full and will only assist with the detoxing programme. Print it out and keep it with you so you can reference it before you buy your lunch or make your breakfast. Get ready to feel great with very little effort…
7 Day Detox Diet Plan
Our bodies are assaulted by toxins every day. These are poisonous substances that are produced by living cells or organisms and are capable of causing disease when introduced into the body tissues. They enter our bodies through the food we eat, the air we breathe and even the water we drink and if they are not ‘flushed out’ by our bodies effectively, they can build up and make you more susceptible to disease, cause skin problems such as cellulite, trigger hormonal imbalances or, more commonly, make you feel weak and lethargic. Fortunately there is a solution and it comes in the form of this ‘7 Day Detox Diet Plan’ from Myprotein.com, purposefully designed to target the 4 key areas that need to be cleansed regularly; liver, kidneys, skin and colon, this diet will leave you feeling refreshed, with more energy, better skin and help ward off any illnesses.
Day 1:
8:00am: Gluten-free bread with nut or seed butter and sugar-free jam
Detox Tip: Whilst most people traditionally start the day with cereal with a pint of milk poured over them, this isn’t great when looking to detox since dairy products and cereals (that contain gluten) are some of the more common causes of food intolerances. Therefore starting your day with the above breakfast option is so much better since it contains no gluten and obviously no milk.
10:30am: Nuts and fruit and a cup of Rosehip tea
Detox Tip: Caffeine is really bad for your colon and digestive tract whilst it has also been shown to strip the body of vitamins and minerals and contribute to addiction, stress, and depression. That’s why in this detox plan you substitute your usual coffee for a range of herbal teas proven to rid the body of toxins. The first is Rosehip tea, high in vitamin C and antioxidants it’s known to be a natural healing cleanser, and is great herb to boost the immune system, so try substituting your morning coffee for a cup of this.
1:00pm: Organic roasted chicken breast with brown basmati rice and steamed broccoli, cabbage and seaweed
3:30pm: Strawberries and blueberries
Detox Tip: Both strawberries and blueberries are a great source of vitamin C, which helps the body produce glutathione, a liver compound that drives away toxins.
6:30pm: Grilled fish and quinoa salad with onions, olive oil, avocado, chickpeas and lentils
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Day 2:
8:00am: Fruit smoothie made with Spirulina (500g of Organic Spirulina is £28.99 from Myprotein.com) and Soya Milk!
Detox Tip: One thing to consider during a detox is the PH of the body itself since a lot of refined foods are acidic in nature and cause the body’s PH to drop below 7 (foods such as sugars, white flour and soft drinks.) This then allows bacteria to thrive and can cause you to become ill. However if you consume more alkaline foods, you ensure your body’s PH remains in balance and therefore bacteria can’t thrive and cause your body problems. Spirulina is one of the most alkaline foods on the planet, so including this in your diet has massive health benefits and greatly aids rid the body of toxins.
10:30am: Gluten-free crackers with almond butter
1:00pm: Grilled wild salmon with chickpeas, kidney beans and white beans
Detox Tip: Red meat should equally be avoided in the diet when detoxing. It’s difficult for the body to break down, digest, and pass through the system and has been shown to sit inside the colon where it rots and leads to allergies and even colon cancer.
3:30pm: Fruit and nuts
6:30pm: Soy-cured tuna, made with soy sauce, coriander and lime marinade with broccoli and green vegetables
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Day 3:
8:00am: Museli with almonds and cinnamon and soya milk
Detox Tip: Whilst both the museli and almonds provide the body with fibre necessary for good colon health, cinnamon is also full of antioxidants and has been shown to help people control blood sugar levels.
10:30am: Rice cakes with cashew butter and Milk Thistle tea (90 caps of Milk Thistle is £5.59 from www.myprotein.com
Detox Tip: Used for thousands of years as an effective way to treat poor liver function, the flavanoids in the silymarin complex of milk thistle (namely silibin, silidianin and silychristin) have been shown to have powerful antioxidant properties that help protect the liver from toxins.
1:00pm: Baby greens with chicken and spring vegetables
3:30pm: Carrot and ginger soup
Detox Tip: Ginger has been shown to affect the body in a number of ways, it improves digestion, circulation and helps expel gas whilst it’s also been shown to relieve spasms in the digestive tract, stomach cramps and nausea
6:30pm: Grilled fish and quinoa salad with onions, olive oil, avocado, chickpeas and lentils
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Day 4:
8:00am: Fruit Fibre Smoothie with Psyllium husks (250g of Psyllium husks is £4.49 from Myprotein.com)
Detox Tip: Fibre is needed in almost all detox diets since it helps the removal of toxin build up within the colon and encourages the growth of healthy bacteria in the digestive system. Therefore try adding Psyllium husks into your morning fruit smoothie as a way to give it an added boost of fibre.
10:30am: Watercress, potato and ginger soup
1:00pm: Grilled wild salmon with chickpeas, kidney beans and white beans
3:30pm: Strawberries and blueberries
6:30pm: Grilled fish and quinoa salad with onions, olive oil, avocado, chickpeas and lentils
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Day 5:
8:00am: Protein enhanced smoothie made with Strawberries, blueberries and 25g of Soya Protein (1kg of Soy Protein Isolate is £9.49 from www.myprotein.com) and soya milk
Detox Tip: Studies show that the liver needs sufficient protein to help it function properly, therefore having a protein enhanced smoothie in the morning is a great way to ensure it can work properly to detox the body. Specifically soya protein contains an amino acid called cysteine, which your body uses to make glutathione, a powerful natural antioxidant which works in the liver to protect your body from free radicals harmful oxidation and toxins.
10:30am: Beetroot and pomegranate soup
1:00pm: Cod skewers with mushrooms, onions and half a roasted squash and quinoa
3:30pm: Apple and peanut butter
Detox Tip: Sugar should be avoided in any detox diet, since it causes a spike in your blood sugar levels which in turn causes the body to release insulin, and strains the liver and kidneys. Therefore an apple and peanut butter makes the perfect low-sugar snack alternative.
6:30pm: Homemade veggie or turkey chili with steamed carrots, broccoli and cauliflower
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Day 6:
8:00am: Peanut butter on toast made with Gluten-free bread and a cup of green tea
Detox Tip: Green tea contains high levels of catechins, which help keep your liver healthy while also speeding up your body’s production of detoxifying enzymes.
10:30am: Fruit Fibre Smoothie with Psyllium husks (250g of Psyllium husks is £4.49 from www.myprotein.com) and Soya Milk!
1:00pm: Madras chicken soup with asparagus
Detox Tip: Asparagus contains both prebiotics and probiotics, which are both important for keeping your digestive tract healthy and working properly. Plus, asparagus is full of debloating fiber to help flatten your belly.
3:30pm: All-natural spelt ginger snaps with almond butter
6:30pm: Baked sweet potato fries with vegetables and chopped chicken
Detox Tip: 1 peeled, baked sweet potato contains 28 mg of vitamin C. Vitamin C is an essential water-soluble vitamin that has been shown to support of immunity, wound healing, healthy skin and bones, collagen formation and tissue growth and repair as well as act as a powerful antioxidant which helps detoxify or cleanse the body from harmful substances. (100g of Vitamin C is £4.59 from www.myprotein.com.)
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Day 7:
8:00am: Granola with water melon
10:30am: Protein enhanced smoothie made with Strawberries, blueberries and 25g of Soya Protein (1kg of Soy Protein Isolate is £9.49 from www.myprotein.com) and soya milk
1:00pm: Steamed snapper with ginger and garlic, with steamed asparagus and wild rice with walnuts
3:30pm: Nuts and seeds
6:30pm: Skipjack tuna salad with olive oil, celery and onions, with green salad or chopped radishes, carrots and celery in olive oil and rice wine vinegar
Image: Miranda Kerr by Terry Richardson for Hapers Bazar
By Samantha Whitaker
Today’s ‘fast lane’ approach to living means that too many of us are working hard, playing hard and simply not getting enough kip – which is why it can often be hard to get out of bed in the morning… Here are six ways to help you wake up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed:
Get enough hours
We sleep in 90-minute cycles. For around 45 minutes, we descend into a deep, restorative sleep, before we return to a shallow sleep, followed by REM (rapid eye movement), when you dream and when your body is naturally primed to wake up. If you can plan your sleep in multiples of 90 minutes (6, 7.5 or 9 hours, for example) then you’ll wake up towards the end of a sleep cycle refreshed and ready to go. If, however, your alarm clock jolts you out of a deep-sleep phase, you’ll find it difficult to wake up and feel groggy and disturbed. You’ll probably hit snooze until you’ve completed the sleep cycle, and if you don’t complete it, you’ll feel sluggish all day. Most research points towards 7.5 as the optimum amount of sleep for good health.
Create a sleep sanctuary
Anxiety, noise, discomfort and trips to the bathroom can also stop you entering the deep-sleep phase – so make sure your sleeping environment is comfortable, cool, dark, quiet and free from distractions. And keep a pad and pen handy to jot down, at 3am, that thing you suddenly remember you forgot to do.
Stimulate sunrise
One step further is to invest in a wake-up light (for example, the Lumie Bodyclock), which imitates sunrise by gradually lighting up the room over 30 minutes. As the light enters your eyelids, it induces the release of cortisol and encourages the body into the lighter sleep phase ready to wake up naturally when the light is at its full brightness.
Don’t eat late
Try not to eat a large meal too close to bedtime, or drink too much fluid, to avoid nighttime disruptions. It goes without saying that caffeine will disrupt sleep, but did you know the effects of caffeine can last up to eight hours? Keep caffeinated drinks for the morning, when you need the boost. Also, although alcohol might seem like a good idea to help you relax, it can disrupt your sleep cycle and cause you to go straight into deep sleep. As the effects wear off, you’re likely to wake up feeling exhausted after just one or two cycles (rather than the usual six or seven). In the morning, when you are awake, try to get up straight away before you can rationalise another five minutes. A cool glass of water on an empty stomach will get your metabolism going, and then fuel your body with a decent breakfast.
Supercharge your body
Lara Just, a nutrition consultant at www.yourfoodanalyst.com, says: ‘Studies have linked magnesium deficiency with chronic fatigue syndrome, as well as insufficient levels of potassium and B vitamins. CoQ10, lipoic acid, vitamin C and certain key amino acids are also important.’ Stock up on these to help you get going in the morning and to keep your energy levels up through the day. And you don’t need to invest in a stack of supplements: ‘A simple way to provide more of these nutrients is to eat a varied ‘living’ diet of vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils fish, eggs and lean meats, with fewer refined sugars, grains and processed foods,’ says Lara. Optimum energy levels rely on the gut functioning properly, so if you constantly feel sluggish it might be a good idea to seek advice from a qualified nutritional therapist.
Work out
Exercise is a great way to beat insomnia. If you’re physically tired you’re more likely to experience a deeper sleep cycle as your body repairs its muscle tissues. However, strenuous exercise too close to bedtime is disruptive as it increases adrenaline and raises your core temperature. Morning is the best time to work out as you’ll start the day on a natural high, kick-start your metabolism and it gives you a good reason to get up. And in the evening, stick to a brisk walk, a gentle swim or some relaxing yoga.
By Bex Fairbrother
Set beneath the railway arches of Shoreditch High Street, a stone’s throw away from the hustle and bustle of the City, amidst London’s urban trendy scene is the dance, fitness and holistic studio, Frame.
Launched in 2009, Frame is quickly becoming a household name, a force to be reckoned within the exercise world. The founders of Frame, Pip Black and Joan Murphy met through friends of friends on a surfing trip in Cornwall, coming up five years ago now. They hit it off as they had a passion for the same things – gin and sport! Their shared mantra that “getting fit shouldn’t be a chore,” which many can relate to, is where their success lies. At Frame, they keep things fresh, fun and flexible.
What sets Frame aside from other fitness establishments is the laid-back vibe that engulfs you upon entering the studio. That feeling of dread at knowing you have to work out quickly evaporates. They have created and are continuously developing their three signature classes: Frame-Method, Frame-Work and Frame-Barre. What is great about these classes is that they cater to everyone. Whether it’s wanting a hard-core workout, which uses muscles you didn’t even know existed, to improving your flexibility and balance or merely to have fun whilst pretending to be a ballet dancer, each of these classes will ensure to sculpt your body whilst giving you a high-intensity cardio workout.
These classes all use small isometric movements to tone muscles whilst burning fat around the muscle – leading to long, lean muscles rather than chunky muscles. Think small movements rather than too many large muscle exercises that you would get in a traditional Body Conditioning or weights class.
The Frame Method Class
As a self-confessed exercise junkie willing to try any new fitness fad whether it’s entangling yourself in pilates equipment suspended from the ceiling to sweating it out in a hot bikram studio, Frame Method comes in as my number one all time most enjoyable workout. I tried the Frame-Method class on Friday morning at 9.45am with Hayley Alexander and I have to say, it was amazing! I must admit I was slightly apprehensive when we started jumping around on our yoga mats with 3kg dumbbells how I was going to keep this up for an hour! Designed by Hayley herself, this class really is great fun. It is a series of simple isometric exercises that strengthen and stretches every muscle group in the body, using a combination of different equipment (dumbbells, yoga strap, pilates ball, ballet barre and Frame cushion).
Hayley mixes it up, changing sequences and moves every 10 minutes, focusing on different areas of the body and muscle groups. This keeps it fun and enables you not to lose focus. She also makes you utilise your own body to help strengthen, lengthen and tone specific ‘problem areas.’ What is also great about this class is that it is energetic but also low-impact at the same time, so will not aggravate knees and other joints.
What is fantastic about the Frame series is that they are all about achieving great results and packing as much into the hour as possible. They provide a safe yet challenging workout for everyone. Not only will you burn a large number of calories but by encouraging lean muscle mass you will increase your metabolic rate which in turn will result in you continuing more calories throughout the day. Variety is the key to keep your body guessing and to see better results. By mixing it up, trying new things, this keeps it fun whilst giving your body an all-over work out and this is the beauty of Frame.
The Music
They believe exercise should be fun and sociable. They successfully manage to create this environment through their carefully crafted music choices which tie in with the choreography. Music is, they believe integral to the classes as it is what gets us motivated and takes our minds away from the pain we’re going through!
For all of the classes including the Method, they work out the BPM of the class to keep the tempo at the right pace. They first plan the workout structure, and then find music they love which fits, so the workout comes first ensuring maximum results. They work hard to try and vary the music so that it will suit all people, and keep it a little less ‘pop’ so that it’s less cheesy and intense than a standard gym class.
The Facilities
It’s not only the classes themselves that deserve praise, the brains behind Frame have also catered to all your post-workout needs. There are spacious changing rooms with toilets and showers and provide shampoo and conditioner to all guests. As well as towels, hair dryers and hair straighteners (a great touch!) so if you are heading out after then do not fret. You can also rehydrate yourself with a number of drinks on sale including Coconut Water which is great for replacing any electrolytes lost during exercise.
Pay As You Go
If you are looking for a fun and flexible way to exercise then I would 100% recommend trying a class at Frame. They have a number of fantastic teachers who are all super friendly and passionate about what they do and happy to answer any queries you may have about the best ways to exercise. Unlike a number of gyms and fitness establishments, you are not signing yourself up to a lifetime of monthly direct debits. Instead you can pay-as-you-go and can purchase a Frame card upon visiting the studio which you use like an Oyster Card. The new Frame Mobile App also recently debuted, which allows you to book and pay wherever you are in the world.
And if East London is a bit too far to travel, Frame have now expanded out west into another of London’s trendy hotspots, Queen’s Park. So go on, why not give it a go..? Trust me, you will not regret it!
Hoodie and track pants from Nike; Swim Off Bikini and Winner Cape from Sweaty Betty; Shoes model’s own
Short-Sleeved Hoodie from Nike; Track CapriPants from Sweaty Betty
Shorts; Crop Top; Jacket: all from Nike
Real Flex Run Trainers from Reebok
Jacket and Shorts (Just Seen) both Nike; Split Leap Leotard from Sweaty Betty
For more information on any of these items visit www.sweatybetty.com / http://store.nike.com/gb/en_gb/ or www.reebok.com/en-GB/
Photographs Shot by Sam Folan / Styled by Georgina Read / Model Sophie Oakley
One of the most frequently asked questions to nutritionists across the globe is “what can I eat to boost my energy levels?”. If you too are in search of energy boosting foods that aren’t full of sugar or stimulants than look no further, Hip and Healthy has done the hard work for you with our definitive guide to great tasting, energy-boosting foods that will have you jumping out of bed, paying attention at work and even get you in to the gym. Listen up…
1. Eggs
A great source of protein, an egg won’t just give you more energy but have them for breakfast and you’ll stay full through to lunch.
2. Almonds
Loaded with protein, rich in folic acid, vitamin B12 and magnesium (which help convert food into energy), almonds are a quick and easy way to make you feel alert.
3. Oats
Oats’ fuel is released slowly making sure that you don’t nod off during your morning meeting.
4. Bananas
Another slow-releasing gem, bananas are a great source of carbohydrates and are easily digestible making them a perfect pre
5. Reishi Mushroom
Known for its healing properties, Reishi also helps maintain normal levels of energy-giving adrenal hormones.
6. Lentils
Great source of protein, low-GI and full of fibre, lentils make a good base for an energy rich lunch.
7. Garlic
Due to its immune-boosting properties and insulin content that helps you absorb iron into the blood, garlic is a fantastic health tonic that keeps you revved up all day.
8. Lean meats
Low levels of iron can make you tired, so keep yours up with lean meats such as fillet steaks.
9. Kale
We’ve heard a lot about this green giant’s health benefits lately and here’s another one to add to the list; Packed with vitamins A, C & K as well as iron and magnesium add Kale to your morning smoothie to get you ready for the day.
10. Seeds
By regulating sugar levels, seeds will help prevent peaks and troffs in your energy levels that things like sweets encourage.
Our Top Energy Snack: Nakd Bars: Ingredients include cashew nuts, dates and cocoa all great for stimulating the mind, body and tastebuds! We approve! www.naturalbalancefoods.co.uk
Havens of tranquility where you can kick back and forget the madding world are increasingly harder to find. Hip & Healthy is left mesmerised by The Caudalie Spa at The Yeatman, in the magnificent World Heritage city of Oporto, in Northern Portugal
There was once a time when Lisbon grabbed all the headlines in Portugal. But it was only natural that a city that has undergone an architectural and culinary renaissance in recent years should be home to a landmark hotel to lure the unconverted to its abundant charms.
Oportotunity knocks
The British connection with Oporto (only us Brits call it that, it’s Porto to the locals pronounced ‘Port’, with a silent ‘o’, like its most famous export), extends way back to Napoleonic times when the Brits fell out with the French and the Portuguese stepped in to replenish our ailing claret stocks. Many of the oldest port companies were founded by British Merchant families. One such family, The Yeatman’s, was among the most distinguished and enterprising, joining the trade way back in 1838. 172 years on and some of the inherited wealth of its successors helped realise a €40million hotel in 2010, bearing the family’s name, to fill a void in the city’s luxury hotel sector.
Having navigated the steep backstreets leading up from the mighty banks of the River Douro below, you eventually drive through the expansive gated enclave and immediately feel this place is a bit special, it resonates an aura of a country club within a city. It is immediately clear why it has become the go to address for Oporto’s well heeled.
No right turn
Just as social etiquette dictates that a bottle of port be passed to the left around a dinner table, it seems rather appropriate that The Yeatman, part of the chic Relais & Chateaux collection, is perched atop the city’s Left Bank. You would expect a hotel with this kind of investment to impress from the outset, and it doesn’t disappoint. A grandiose natural light infused foyer, as spacious and decadent as one imagines the Titanic to have been sets the scene. Indeed, from the property’s elevated position above Vila Nova de Gaia, you could be forgiven for imagining you were on a great ocean liner gazing down on to the red-roofed port houses where wines have matured in barrels for over three centuries
Like a fine port, The Yeatman beautifully blends the renowned Portuguese hospitality with a uniquely British flair, resulting in an air of understated and stylish comfort. As you flit from one gracious lounge to the next it’s as though you are watching pages from House & Garden come to life.
You gravitate towards the terrace outside where wrought iron detailing meets chill out lounge. You are at first blown away by the view, there can be few finer, then peer down at the hotel’s terraced layers that imitate the sculpted vineyards of the Douro Valley. Beautifully manicured gardens abound, with each spacious 40m2 room river facing to literally drink in the view. Centre stage is a fabulous infinity pool, shaped, you’ve guessed it, like a decanter, plus another one indoors, and the bit you’ve all been waiting for, an enormous Caudalie Vinothérapie spa.
Bathing grape
The Caudalie brand was born out of a chance discovery in the vineyards of Bordeaux by Mathilde Cathiard, daughter of renowned winemakers Daniel and Florence Cathiard. During the harvest of ’93, her parents had invited a local pharmaceutical professor to a wine tasting at their Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte property. Whilst touring the vineyard the professor was drawn to a barrel full of what he declared were polyphenol rich discarded grape seeds and stems. He declared they were throwing away treasure. It was a life changing moment and Mathilde’s idea was born. According to research published in British medical journal The Lancet, polyphenols are 10,000 times more powerful than vitamin E in fighting the free radicals that cause skin ageing. 13 years later it boasts a multi-million euro annual turnover and seven dedicated spas worldwide, latest of which is at The Yeatman.
Cabernet fever
You are welcomed in to The Spa at The Yeatman with a cup of toxin-flushing Caudalie herbal tea, preparing you for the ensuing calm and tranquility. Tea relaxingly consumed, your masseuse accompanies you to the changing room where you don deep pile bathrobes and fluffy Yeatman slippers.
Having indulged in some of the worlds finest seafood over the border in Galicia just days earlier, a crushed cabernet scrub, which according to an Independent Laboratory certified by the French Ministry of Health, can help shave up to 3.8 cm from the thighs was just what the doctor ordered. It is one of the most popular Vinothérapie® Spa treatments in the Caudalie portfolio: a refining, deep exfoliating scrub designed to renew the skin and help it regain its radiance and softness.
Moments later we’re lying face down in the treatment room (each room is named after a native Portuguese wine variety, ours is Baja). Panoramic view now temporarily out of gaze, beautifully warming air filters not only down on to your back from a ceiling heater but from the bed beneath you as well. This little attention to detail was divine to remove any fear of the chilly factor.
The chinking bell chimes of the Torre dos Clérigos act as a soothing background harmony as a concoction of grape seed, honey and brown sugar is meticulously applied to our bodies. A blend designed to stimulate capillary circulation and help drain away toxins while at the same time nourishing and softening the skin. With its coarse granules, this scrub leaves your skin delightfully smooth and nourished. Aside from a pummeling in an Istanbul hammam one time, my skin has never felt softer. The treatment lasts 35 divine minutes. As the treatment came to an end I could literally have levitated from the bed.
We had big plans to tread the delightful cobbled backstreets of Oporto’s old town, but the opportunity to extend the out of body experience in the soothing waters of the Roman bath was too good to pass up. Access to the spa is down a flight of spiral stairs embedded into a giant port barrel. We bliss out on the heated mosaic loungers before checking out the tepidarium, hammam, sauna and colour therapy shower experience.
Eat man
When we finally emerge from the hotel, we head straight to Dick’s Bar where we dine on Mediterranean couscous salad, we are from Hip and Healthy after all. It would be entirely possible of course to come to the home of Port wine and be teetotal, however in the name of research we allowed ourselves to ever so slightly indulge in a glass of velvety smooth Cedro do Noval Douro red from Christian Seely’s eponymous estate further upriver. Besides, we showed considerable restraint given there were 82 Portuguese wines by the glass on offer.
‘Defining a Destination’ is the hotel’s bold strapline, and The Yeatman delivers in barrels full. As with the port at the dinner table, be sure not let this place pass you by.
H&H DETAILS
The Caudalie Spa at The Yeatman:
Crushed Cabernet Scrub (Slimming)
35mins | €65
The Yeatman
Rua do Choupelo, Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto, 4400-088, Portugal
+351 93 200 3916
Superior double rooms from 330euros p/night
www.theyeatman.com
[email protected]
GPS: 41.13305; -8.61360
H&H recommends:
Enjoy the spa experience at home with Caudalie Crushed Cabernet Scrub 150g, £24.45; available at www.boots.com
Having cared for skin for over 145 years, Vaseline has taken its caring side to a new level this summer by joining together with Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life event series. To celebrate, they are giving 7 lucky Hip and Healthy readers the chance to win a Vaseline Essential running kit! Which includes: Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, Vaseline Essential Moisture Body Lotion, a stopwatch with a heart-rate monitor, blister plasters and a water bottle, all packaged in a waterproof bag. What more could a girl want!
To be in with a chance of winning you have to follow Hip and Healthy on Twitter by the end of play on Friday!
If you’re participating in the Manchester (Heaton Park) Race for Life event this weekend (22/07/12), make sure you join the ‘Vaseline Never Stop Bop’ warm up and visit them in their Vaseline chill-out lounge for a complimentary massage to give you a well-earned rest!
In preparation for the big day, don’t forget that Vaseline is your multi-tasking beauty essential:
To take part in your nearest Race for Life, head to raceforlife.org
For all the latest news from Vaseline visit: www.facebook/vaseline
Terms and Conditions: UK 18+. Competition ends at midnight on 20th July 2012. See Lexis the Recommendation Agency, 8 Bolsover St, London W1W 6AB for full terms.
This protein-rich trout is flavoursome and light. High in Omega 3s its benefits include reduced risk of strokes and heart attacks, clearer skin, stronger nails and glossier hair. Sounds good, and tastes it too. Combine this with fresh sautéed spinach, lentils, and red pepper and you’ve got the perfect hip and healthy recipe, plus its easy too. Top Tip: Serve as main course at a dinner party!
Serves 2
Ingredients
90g of Dry Puy Lentils
2 Trout Fillets
Bag of fresh spinach
One red pepper diced
One onion diced
Celery diced (amount is up to you)
One handful of sage
Half a lemon
Olive oil
Method
Preheat your oven to 200 degrees. Place your trout fillets in a dish on top of a large piece of tin foil. Season with olive oil, salt, pepper and a generous squeeze of lemon juice. Cover the fish with the foil and bake for 15-20 minutes.
Boil and let simmer the puy lentils for 20 minutes (or however long it says on your particular packet).
Chop up the celery, onions and red pepper . Wash and prepare the sage.
Sautée the spinach in boiling water for 2-3 minutes.
To Serve
Divide the spinach onto two plates. Combine the sage, onion, celery, red pepper and the lentils and serve on the spinach bed, then place your fillet of trout on top. Season to taste.
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