Tried and Tested: Relax day at Champneys, Forest Mere.

Venue

Surrounded by luscious forests and nestled in open grounds, if you want to get away, Champneys, Forest Mere is the place to escape to. Hidden in the heart of Hampshire, just off the busy Hindhead motorway in Liphook, visitors are transported to a peaceful idyll, where no traffic or signs of the hectic outside world can be heard!

The Day

No stranger to celebrities, the Champneys resort is impressive to say the least. Boasting a twenty five metre pool, the latest spa and gym facilities (not to mention luxurious treatment rooms), Forest Mere is a secluded hidden hideaway- perfect for some much needed peace and quiet. 

We were greeted by friendly staff, who promptly gave us individual packs containing schedules of the day and offered us a tour of the facilities- handy so we knew where we were going! 

To start, we went for a splash in the pool and then tried a spell in the whirl pool, sauna and steam rooms. After the first hour at Forest Mere, I already felt myself beginning to unwind and could easily get used to the luxury! 

Unfortunately, although treatments were available, they incurred an extra charge. However, various fitness classes were included in our package and so once we’d dried off, we went to our first class of the day: chi ball yoga. 

This was one of our favourite classes; it was a great relaxing exercise to ease us into the strenuous activities that were to follow. A mix of tai chi, Pilates and yoga, chi ball yoga is a holistic approach to exercise that incorporates ancient elements of Chinese medicine, the ying and yang movements of tai chi and colour therapy. 

At the beginning of the session, we were asked to pick out a coloured, scented ball that we felt most attracted to. It was later revealed that our choices represented our personalities, and as I was immediately drawn to the purple ball, I am apparently a soft, sensitive person with paranormal abilities (creepy, but true). My mum (who chose a red ball), was told that her personality is passionate with high energy and my sister (who went with green) is said to be a lover of the earth and home-maker- both fairly strong matches!

We then used the soft Swiss-like balls to stretch out our fingertips, spreading them across the squishy surface. This improved our balance and also helped us practise ying (soft, female) and yang (strong, masculine) movements. The class mostly consisted of slow movements, but you could feel your body being tested, as most movements were stretching or balancing actions designed to increase flexibility. 

At one point, we were told to lie on yoga mats with the ball resting beneath our backs and to quickly roll from side to side, like a child rolling down a hill. It may sound a bit strange, but the movement actually acted as a tension-releasing massage for our spines!

At the end of the session, we did a little meditation- my favourite part of yoga. The instructor told us to close our eyes and to pay attention to the colours we saw in the darkness. She even put blankets over us so we didn’t get cold, which can sometimes happen during meditation. Completely relaxed, I could have happily dozed off right there and then.

Relaxing and invigorating, chi ball yoga focuses on the individual’s sense of well being. The blend of deep relaxation mixed with flexibility and balance-testing yoga is a winning combination that strives to develop your natural state of contentment and happiness, whilst the exercise element helps you to keep fit too! I would definitely do this again.

Next up was the slightly more strenuous fitness class Ballet Workout. A hit across gyms nationwide, the class featured moves from the popular New York Ballet workout. A word of warning to newcomers; this is not for the fainthearted! 

As a former ballerina (yes, I got up to grade 1; no, I did not subject myself to the pain of pointes), I thought I would really enjoy this class. However, rather than the emphasis being on routines and the dance aspect of ballet, it focused on the strength and flexibility that ballet requires- after all, it is called a workout! 

We did a lot of stretching before we began to make sure our bodies were fully limbered up for the class, and then moved onto plies and demi plies from first position. Still pointing our toes, we then moved over to the barre to practise lifts with our arms in third position (overhead) or on the barre for support. As well as balancing, we practised elevated pull-ups in a sequence.

Balancing is a key part of ballet, and the instructor encouraged us to lift our legs high as we could during many moves. Whilst the movements may not have been fast, we found out that it is holding the position (and yourself upright) that wears you out! 

Next up was the harsh New York City Ballet floor move, which embarrassingly I could not do, having got cramp in my foot! The instructor did say it was a tricky one...but perhaps it was because I was pining for my lunch!

All in all, we progressed through some great cardiovascular exercises that worked to strengthen the backs of our legs and firm our behinds. In the end, I found that I did enjoy the ballet elements of the class (even if they were hard work)!

I needed sustenance, so after the class finished, we trotted (in our luxurious white gowns and slippers) to the spa restaurant. What welcomed us was an array of healthy choices (no crisps and choccie to be found here), including salad, cold meats, fresh bread and fresh pasta served in front of your eyes and customized to your taste. When it came to dessert, the options were yogurt or fresh, juicy fruit (completing a perfect, healthy meal of the highest standard!)

Whilst water is available throughout the day, if you get peckish later on (which we did) snacks are not included in the package. We caved in, but a lovely hot chocolate and a cheeky chocolate cake was the perfect way to round off the day. 

Before we gave in to chocolate indulgence, we were back on the fitness wagon right after lunch and headed to the dance studio for another favourite of the day: dance class.

Both my sister and I love to dance, and so does my mum (even if she isn’t doing the right moves half the time). The brilliant teacher, Rebecca, put us through our paces and there was no need to worry if you weren’t the best dancer, as Rebecca did not focus on ability, but dancing with energy and most of all, having fun! 

We practised a high energy routine to the cheesy Michael Jackson tune, P.Y.T and were soon spinning and strutting around the studio, leaving the whole class exhausted and in stitches!

After all that jumping around, we were in desperate need of freshening up, so we popped back to the pool. I was up for a lounge in the whirl pool, maybe a followed by a hot soak in the sauna...but it was not to be.

There was an aqua class about to start, so we (now a family of fitness freaks) joined in. It was a water-based class with a difference and was dubbed Aqua Circuit. A high-powered circuit of activities in the water, it pushed us to our limits and involved “cycling” with floats, ‘jumping’ jacks, punching through the water and sprinting the width of the pool- it was pretty hard going! 

We had tons of fun and experienced a fairly exhausting workout at the same time. It was a great end to our action-packed day at Champneys.

Results

Overall, it was a brilliant experience, and to quote my mum: “One of the best days of her life”. It was a fabulous day of luxury and fitness galore- we could have quite happily stayed the night and kept those gowns and slippers on a little while longer! 

While it was good value for money, we only wished the ‘relax day’ had a mini facial or manicure thrown in, as it would have been nice to be treated without having to pay extra. There are even some fitness classes you still have to pay for, so do watch out for those hidden extras on the day. 

Despite this, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and I would recommend Champneys to anyone who’s got who’s got a birthday coming up and fancies a touch of pampering. 

Check out Champneys resort spas near you on Wahanda and remember you can use Wahanda vouchers at selected locations. So what are you waiting for? It’s time for some “you” time!

HoHoHo Merry (belated) xmas.

Hohoho Merry (belated) xmas to one and all!

Once again, I have been very busy (you must be getting bored of me saying this) but it's true.

In the world of retail, Christmas is prime time for sales. Hence I took the opportunity to work myself silly over the holidays (make money) and am pleased I have come out the other end still standing- just.

Working on fragrance, my presents mostly consisted of thus, Davidoff blue water gift set (£26 for aftershave and shower gel and aftershave balm i'll have you know), my dad received the classic CK one (on offer of course) and No.7 goodies for my Mum. Plus a spa trip to Champneys courtesy of the wonderful Wahanda. (Blog review of the trip to come!).

Sell out- No.7 gift set- (worth £90, got it for £45, plus free gift- bargaain).

I received bits and pieces, apart from a lovely carpet bag from River Island (my sister works there, discountt!) I mostly asked for money. I love clothes, so on bank holiday Monday after boxing day I found myself where else but Topshop. Rummaging in the sale I found, a gorge chunky knit cardie, super brown loafers (30 quid no joke) and a lovely gold necklace- (when asked if expensive, hmm best not to tell them it was only £6.50?!)

Followed by a pretty ballerina like skirt from Miss Selfridge I had my eye on for a while (nabbed it for £15- bargaain) and of course I took a trip to my homeland, Warehouse where I purchased a lovely camel jumper and matching vest, (not sale, just too lovely not to get) to look expensive for my first day at my NEW internship.

                                           My purchases- softly soft camel jumper, vintage loafers and gold rope necklace                

Yep, tomorrow I am off up *tawwn again, Shaftesbury Avenue to be exact. Today I have been researching train times etc and purchased my train ticket (gulp train fayre rise just isn't faair moans*) for my next adventure.

This time, another healthy excursion, but to a magazine named Top Sante. V. excited, slightly scared. Pondering what these next  three weeks will bring? Will I succeed- or flop profoundly, who knows only time will tell. (hoping for the latter...).

Health, beauty and wellness mag where i'll be tomorrow!

More Wahanda articles to follow, trip to Champneys et al and more on the internship!

Happy new year everyone- let's hear it to a fun and prosperous 2011 :) X

Liposuction is top of the male ops

It’s not just the ladies who are having a nip and tuck to get the perfect body - now men are getting in on the act too. With images of Ronaldo’s washboard stomach to compete with, more men than ever are going under the knife according to The Hospital Group.

The leading cosmetic surgery provider has seen a massive surge in the number of men striving to achieve their desired body shape. According to the group, the number of liposuction operations rocketed up in popularity last year – increasing by a record 117% since August 2009. Liposuction removes fat, leaving a svelte and contoured body that any man would dream of.

Surgical procedures are no longer deemed a taboo for men, being glamorized by celebrities so much that it is no longer seen as vain for a man to go under the knife. As medical director of Aesthetic Surgery at The Hospital Group, Mario Russo observes: “Lots of celebrities are turning to cosmetic surgery to fix imperfections, with amazing results and men are no longer scared to strive for the same body shape.”

Even football star Cristiano Ronaldo was reported to have undergone liposuction to maintain his infamous washboard stomach.

Deemed the “Ronaldo effect”, The Hospital Group has seen a decisive increase in men wanting fast and dramatic results to achieve a trim and toned torso.

Men today increasingly want to fix that flabby stomach, whereas before the slim line chest look was popular, to avoid the Simon Cowell saggy man boob scenario.

A reason why more men than ever are going to drastic measures to improve their looks could be down to the increasing pressures in the job market. Men need to make sure they are performing and looking their best to compete in today’s tough workplace.

As Mario Russo states, “Liposuction and Liposculture provides the perfect way for men to feel better about their bodies again”.

So it’s not just the ladies who are body conscious in this metrosexual, recessionista world. Check out our cosmetic offers and fitness deals for quick fixes and lifestyle changes that could make all the difference…

Men "sweat"- while women simply "glow"....

Research has proven that while men sweat buckets, women simply glow. It may sound good to the ladies out there, but it’s not necessarily an advantage, as findings reveal that the fairer sex have to work harder and get hotter to reach the benefits of sweating. 

Researchers discovered that men on average perspire much more quickly, and twice as much as women when exercising. 

However, while ladies may be pleased they are not the ones sweating it out, it actually means that they must work much harder to build up a sweat and that their bodies are working less efficiently than men’s. 

Though sweating can be embarrassing - not to mention a little smelly - it is essential for bodies to wipe harmful toxins from the body, cleansing pores in the skin and even helping reduce blackheads and acne – who knew?

Scientists at the Osaka International University and Kobe University in Japan found that whilst men sweated easily when exercising, losing twice as much moisture per inch of forehead, chest, back, forearm, and thigh at any one time, women needed a much higher body temperature to perspire. 

The study’s coordinator Dr Yoshimitsu Inoue reckons this puts women at a disadvantage as they must work harder, and get hotter before they manage to get sweaty – not great considering sweating regulates your body’s temperature in hot weather or when exercising, helping to cool your body down and preventing you from getting heat stroke.

These findings not only hold implications for exercise, but shed light on why the sexes cope differently with extremes of temperatures like heatwaves. 

Dr. Inoue believes the reason why men and women sweat differently is due to their genetic makeup. Originating from the age-old days of evolution, he believes that men had to increase their stamina for action or labour and therefore increased their sweat rate. Women on the other hand have less body fluid than men and become dehydrated more easily, therefore the body has to adapt to survive in the hot environment and sweats less. 

So ladies, your body may be clever enough to adapt for survival but if you want to work up a sweat, you have to work extra hard. Check out our top fitness offers for inspiration…

Another Wahanda article I wrote a wee while back, check it out on wwww.wahanda.com and remember girls while we may not like to be  sweaty bettys, it's essentially good for our bodies deep down. So get sweating!  X

Winter TV round up

Ohh dear, again I have seemed to neglect my poor blog, slap wrist.

Whilst I have been heinously busy, both at work and play. Having just left my wonderful internship at Wahanda (more on that and the messy xmas party later!) Writing lots of health & lifestyle articles., I have now written overall nearly twenty articles for the site (*gasp*...some zany, some wise...take a peek at http://www.wahanda.com/! ) Also I hope to upload some of my faves up on here, but maybe not the full twenty as I don't want to overload you!

I have also been a busy bee socially, dressing up in nothing less than bright red wigs, and gallivanting round the country to see my fave uni pals. Not forgetting seeing the small band We are Scientists, you may of heard of them?, in Bristolian city. Much to say, it was great to explore the country, (coming from a girl who spends her life downn south in the London area).

Anyway, I have noticed a trend to my sometimes hectic schedule, I love my Sunday slouch days, cuddled in my PJs and duvet wrapped around me, my sister and I are sucked to the sofa like nobody's businness. Really I think humans should hiberate at winter, save the blustery and cold days inside snuggled up inside.

More to the point winter evenings are saved by, you guessed it TV's jam packed schedule. I'll be giving a round- up of the hits on the box that have filled up my winter evenings....

Downton Abbey
   

Finished a few weeks ago, I will truly miss this piece of period in my Sunday evenings. Written by Julian Fellows, it has been a suprising hit for ITV. With shocking storylines, like the gay butler (ooh- er) it differed from the usual period drama. 

Centred on who will go on to own Downton Abbey, the series tribulates the highs and impending contraints for the artiscoracy. Having to marry for money, to secure their future, rather than love being a prominent problem for Lady Mary.  

Even including the feminist movement "votes for women"  it follows a servants desire to make a career for herself, rather than living a life serving others. What I liked was the kindness between the upstairs, artisocracy and the downstairs servants lives, they truly seemed like a family in it together. Whether this is realistic, perhaps not, but it makes pleasant viewing. My favourite character being the kindly Mr Bates, a suprising love interest his caring and modest manner makes him a man women sympathise with and adore.

All I can say is, thank god they are making a second series so we can have more Downton Abbey joy to complete our Sunday evenings, and more importantly to find out if  Mary will ever marry Mathew!

The Only Way is Essex

Love it, or hate it The only way is Essex is a strangely compelling programme. If you were a fan of The Hills, the glam psuedo reality programme that followed the lives of Lauren, Audrina et al in the Hollywood Hills you may love the Essex version. Granted a little less glamourous, the characters and dramas are pretty similar, the main character is even named Lauren! Full of laughs, vajazzles and pink velour, not to mention nana's pat's sausage plait and hilarous sayings such as Shuuut uppp, this is one not to miss.

"I'm soo Jel- are you Jel?!"

The Apprentice

I look forward to this time of year with anticpation. Wednesday evenings revolve around who Lord Sugar may point his finger at, stating"you're fired". This year, I must say the contestants seem younger and let's just say, alot more bloshier than previous years. Cue Paloma- a sure fire winner who left due to her unbelieveable arrogance and plain rudeness in the boardroom. Not to mention badger- aka Alex (resembles the furry creature) who seemed quite personable, till he got in the firing line and started screeching!

One of my favourite episodes, is the task of advertising and marketing a product, (pretty much because I'm always shouting out ideas at the tv thinking I can do better), was amusing to say the least. Both went for the cheesy voiceovers and advert, the type you have not seen since the 1950s, and hopefully will not grace our screens again. Octiclean displayed prominent sexism, which just had advertising execs tittering in the audience. Not a way to impress top advertisers with your skills.

On the other hand, the other team with their product "Germinator" did no better, producing a product that looked more like something you would use to clean your car, than to rid germs in the kitchen!

Really, without blowing my own trumpet, I think a bunch of us creative graduates could come up with something better than that in an afternoon, without even having years of marketing expertise.

So far, it has been pretty disastrous but there is glimmers of potential in Stella, Liz and Chris...even if he was responsible for the "Germinator" castrophe at least he bought something to the table!

Oh, yes and without doubt do not miss out on the debate after the show (BBC2) with Comedian Dara O Brien  and numerous guests it provides countless laughs on the failings of the weeks task, and draws attention to funny moments of the show. 

  "You're fiired"

The X Factor

The show on everyone's lips, The X Factor season is in full swing. From the kooky, (and that's being generous) Wagner to the gorgeous Matt Cardle it is the show not to miss. Both on Saturday as well as Sunday evenings it is taking over our weekend winter evenings. With the judges constant bickering, and controversial results (Fix Factor!) probably created by Cowell himself to keep the media and everyone talking about his show.

Anywho, big name guest performers, including Kylie, Take That and WestLife keep the show high profile. I also think it is one of the years when the talent has been spot on, Cher Illoyd, with her rapping and orginial performances and Rebecca with her spine tingling vocals- you can hardly pick out the show's winner.

Only, I do know Katie and at least Wagner should go; and they do just before the semi- finals.

Good riddance to Wagner and his bloody earrings! (apparently from Acessorize if anyone fancies the look...hmm think I'll sit this one out!)

   

Snore No More- How to Beat Nightmare Snoring

Autumn’s rolling in and the clocks are going back soon which means we get a whole extra hour in bed – good news, for most of us. But for those of you who snore (and more importantly your long-suffering partners) it’s just an extra nightmare. We've researched some options for curing snoring to help you get that much needed beauty sleep.

Snore Surgery-

Uvulectomy and Nasal Turbinate Reduction – Coblation

•The scientific bit...

Ever noticed the small dangly piece of tissue (the uvula) near the back of your tongue - except perhaps it isn’t that small? If it’s over enlarged, this could be the cause of your snoring. Experts have found that a large or elongated uvula can create the dreaded nightly noise. When the person is asleep, their breathing can cause the uvula to vibrate, and that’s why they snore.

Others may have an obstructed nasal airway – if the nasal passage is blocked, breathing through the nose can cause the flow of air to become rather turbulent, causing vibrations that result in the deafening sound of snoring. The most common cause of nasal obstruction is an enlargement of the balloon shaped membranes, aka turbinates. Well, now you know.

•The treatment...

Don’t despair – if you suffer from the former, you might want to try out an uvulectomy, a non-invasive procedure that uses coblation therapy to help reduce the size of a large or elongated uvula. Rather than physically remove or cut the excess tissue, the treatment uses radio frequency energy to reduce the size. The energy gently removes the excess tissue and opens up the oral airway, so you can breathe freely- without waking up your partner!

The procedure takes little more than twenty minutes, so you can be in and out in a jiffy and cured of your snoring dilemma for good. It’s usually performed using a local anaesthetic, and has minimal “downtime”, so you’ll be back to your old (non-snoring) self pretty quickly.

Similarly to the uvulectomy, nasal turbinate reduction also uses coblation. Using radio frequency energy it gently shrinks the size of the turbinates, opening up the nasal airways so you can breathe freely (and quietly).

The Pillar Procedure

The Pillar Procedure is a well known and simple surgical treatment for treating those who have problems snoring and can even help those who suffer from mild to moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

•The scientific bit...

Another reason for snoring can be that when we age, or put on weight, our tissue and muscles in our mouths (just like everywhere else on our bodies) begin to lose their rigidity and strength. When the tissue starts to sag, breathing in our sleep causes the weakened tissue to vibrate and produce that loud snoring noise that keeps us up through the night. In some extreme cases, breathing can even cause the tissue in the soft palate to completely collapse, obstructing the upper airway and producing OSA.

•The treatment...

What the Pillar does is strengthen the sagging tissue, and therefore reduce any vibrations or obstructions that is causing the awful snoring noise we all despise. The simple outpatient procedure takes less than 30 minutes using local anaesthetic. It claims to cause little or no discomfort, so there’s no need to book days out of work for recovery. During the actual procedure, four to six teeny tiny woven implants are placed on the top of our mouth, otherwise known as the soft palate. The implants act as structural support to the sagging tissue, making it stronger and therefore less likely to vibrate, so you can sleep soundlessly. Over time your body should naturally heal and provide the structural support your tissue needs.

Lifestyle changes

If you don’t fancy going for surgery, there are various products on the market that you can try out, from nose strips, nasal dilators to snoring sprays. First take a look at your lifestyle choices - as they could just be the root of your problem.

Diet

Everyone knows that your diet affects your body. Being overweight, especially around the neck area prevents air to flow freely in and out, as it squeezes the airway restricting normal breathing. This causes the tissue to vibrate, and that’s when you get snoring. A change in diet and a sensible exercise regime will greatly help your snoring, making you feel and look good in the process!

Alcohol & Smoking

Yes, you’ve guessed it - the two baddies we all love to hate can cause snoring. Smoking irritates the lining of the nasal cavity and throat causing it to swell, and if it becomes congested it makes it difficult to breathe through your nose as the airflow is decreased. Try to steer clear of those who smoke, as even second hand smoke has been proven to influence snoring. If you find you can’t live without a ciggie, you can reduce the effects of snoring by having your last cigarette at least 4 hours before you go to bed.

Snoring is always worse after a few drinks - this is because alcohol slows the brain’s responses, causing the muscles to relax even more than during a normal night’s sleep. This can obstruct the airway, and can even induce the sleep disorder ‘obstructive sleep apnoea’, (where your sleep is interrupted by periods of not breathing). So if you are a snorer, it is best to avoid copious amounts of alcohol - at least just before you go to bed…

Stress

After a hard day at the office, all you want to do is kick back and get some sleep. However, it has been proven that stress is related to snoring, as during REM sleep (when the brain is organising and making sense of your day’s stimuli), if you had a particularly stressful day this results in rapid or deep breathing, and thus leads to snoring.

Snorers tend to take deep and fast gulps of air when they sleep, so the key is to slow down the speed and volume of each breath. So to combat stress, and in turn reduce your snoring, try out relaxing breathing techniques such as meditation and yoga and focus on your body’s breathing before you get your forty winks.

If snoring’s getting you down, (especially if you’re not the one snoring), don’t have sleepless nights over it - get some help from medical spas around the country or alternatively take action and improve your lifestyle, for a healthier and happier you. Either way you’ll be saying goodbye to sleepless nights, and hello to the land of nod.

For more professional advice and frontline news check out Wahanda; the health & wellness guru's and my personal blog for the site http://www.wahanda.com/blog/emilys-healthy-happenings/

Tried and Tested: Limber up with Hatha Yoga at David Lloyd, Woking

Everyone seems to be going yoga crazy. With evidence that yoga releases stress, high powered business men and women alike are whipping out their yoga mats for a little piece of relaxation in their hectic schedules. I even found out that it reduces snoring, so I decided to see what the fuss is all about, and jump on the yoga bandwagon to discover if it really is all it’s cracked up to be...

The Venue

Set close to the town centre of Woking, the fitness expert’s David Lloyd’s boasts various facilities, from a 20m swimming pool, eight tennis courts and an open plan gym - the place is pretty vast.
However, we weren’t there for the gym. It was the yoga studio we were after; a spacious, relaxing room with dimmed lights spotted around the edge of the wall...ahh, bliss.

The Class

As a yoga newbie I was a little scared that we would be out of our depth with difficult moves to learn, but the instructor made sure we felt at home, and offered help if we needed it. She reassured us that yoga is not a competition, but that you must go at your own pace, and not do anything that does not feel right. And so with this in mind, we began.

Turns out there was nothing to fear, as hatha yoga is full of gentle movements, which are not hard to do - but the emphasis instead is on how long you can hold the pose for.

We started on our back, practising stretching our arms upwards then pulling in our knees, all the while focusing on taking deep slow breaths - holding the breath in while stretching, and exhaling when we relaxed the pose.

After we had practised various postures on our backs, we started to begin some more active movements, like the classic downward dog, lifting the foot if we could at the same time.

After practising poses on the mat, we started to do stretching movements standing up. Classic physical exercises such as touching our toes and stretching upwards were key, and while standing we were told to stand up straight with our feet slightly apart. The tutor told us to imagine that our body had a fine line going through it, to keep the body in symmetry.

Stretching isn’t the only focus in hatha yoga – you learn to balance too. While balancing on one leg, the tutor told us it’s something we find hard as we get older, but luckily I managed not to topple over.

No part of the studio was unused, as we used the mirrored studio walls to balance against whilst we practised stretching into a triangle pose. Surprisingly though the movement was simple, holding and keeping the pose was not, as this is where you can feel your muscles pulling.

At one part we were told we could now do our own stretching poses – in other words, the part where you can show off, as some ladies did head stands, shoulder stands... you name it, they did it!

To relax after the vigorous head stands, shoulder stands or my go at holding my legs into the air, the instructor advised us to get into the child pose, to relax and regain the blood back into our heads, as you can get a little light- headed after all that stretching.

We finished off the session with a little meditation. This was my favourite part, where we simply lay on our mats with the lights dimmed down. It proved to be very relaxing - I nearly nodded off! The instructor read us a short poem (Dance Like Nobody’s Watching) and we were told to imagine a white light coming from our navel, touching others around us, and then going back into ourselves - pretty deep stuff…

The Result

Afterwards, we were left feeling relaxed and renewed. After a quick nip in the pool, I was quite pleased I did not feel any aches or pains but felt more stretched out, so to speak - handy if you spend most of your time sat down in an office. The movements were all relatively easy, but next time I may try out a class that has a faster pace, such as dance or aerobics.

However I may consider giving yoga another go, as it was relaxing and good exercise... so who knows, it could be me standing on my head soon - like a yoga pro!

Yoga- the Bear Necessity of Life

Usually you are more likely to find bears crashing out, gorging on any food they can find. Associated with inactivity, they are perhaps a tad on the slovenly side.

Well, not this bear - the so-called “Yoga bear” at Aharti Zoo in Finland was found by a tourist amusingly practising a 15 minute stretching routine, for all to see.

Apparently her postures resembled those used in yoga- web programmer Meta Penca told the Guardian that she looked “exactly the same as when people do yoga; easy, slow, focused and calm”.

Paul Harvey, a yoga trainer and teacher for 15 years agrees she was practising the ancient Indian discipline. “The first is spread legs, holding big toes or feet - and she’s doing pretty good with claws,” he told the paper ironically.

Not only did she look like she was doing yoga, but she also seems to be abit of an expert too. As yoga expert Paul adds, the bear’s flexibility and balance marked the bear out as something of a pro: “These are not beginner’s postures. Yogi bear is definitely an advanced practitioner”.

If you want to find your zen away from the zoo, why not check out one of our many yoga retreats and studios across the country – you’ll be as flexible as a bear in no time.

Now there’s a sentence we never thought we’d say…

Another Article I did for Wahanda..was singing the bear necessities throughout, love it and how cute is that bear!

Hope you all like :) X

Food Glorious Food- How to feed your beauty!

Hey Guys and Girls,

As I'm currently interning at Wahanda, http://www.wahanda.com/, a health and wellness website, I thought why not pop up some of the blog articles i've done there so you guys can benefit from the healthy tips too!

I've been learning some really interesting info, about all the different treatments you can have- some are interesting, i've been researching what causes the terrible noise that is snoring and what you can do about it (handy I may pass on it on to my mum as shes always moaning about my dad's loud snoring!) Some are extravagent, the 24 carat gold facial for those who fancy all out luxury, and some are just verging on plain crazy- vajazzling- just don't ask!

Anyway, i've been really enjoying my time at Wahanda, and learning along the way...so here for now is my very first blog article. On the subject of nutrition which I find very interesting as although I don't always manage to eat healthily, most of the time not so! I have been to see a nutritonist, as I find I must eat every three hours otherwise I'm left feeling weak and faint. The lady advised me to eat little but often, snacking reguarly on seeds, (suprisingly tasty!), nuts and oatcakes, which I now love- perfect with a smidgen of hummus mmmm. Also some foods can even help you concentrate and boost your brain power; just what you need when you've got a hectic day at the office.

Soo here goes, let me know your thoughts!

We all know that eating the right foods are good for us, but did you know the foods you eat could affect the way you think, how shiny your hair is, and even improve your skin? Read Wahanda's guide on the super foods you should be eating to stay super healthy...

Feed your hair...

What you eat can reflect the state of your tresses. If your hair is thinning for example, it may be because you are lacking in iron, and may be suffering from anaemia. If your locks are lacking in vitality, it could be because you are missing out on essential vitamins in your diet.

Here's a list of super foods to make your hair shine....

Eggs

Not only do eggs provide a great source of protein to your diet, but they also contain valuable vitamins for your hair. High in vitamins, A, D and E, eating an egg can turn a dull head of hair into radiant and shiny locks. Eat eggs to banish those bad hair days, as the fatty acids within the yolk turn frizzy hair into a shiny and controllable mane.

Carrots

Not only do carrots help you see in the dark, but carrots are also a key ingredient for healthy looking hair. The vitamin A in carrots is great for a healthy scalp, so get crunching on those carrots for hair that's the envy of all your friends.

Spinach

Another veggie that is good for your hair is popeye's favourite, spinach. The leafy green provides with large amounts of vitamins A, and C, which the body uses to make sebum. Sebum acts as a natural conditoner for your hair, so instead of buying lots of supermarket hair conditioner, eat spinach for a natural and tasty treat.

Feed your mind with "brain" foods...

If you find yourself slumped halfway through the day and can't concentrate because your mind's wandering, your diet could use a makeover. By eating the right foods, you can sharpen your mind's dithering attention span and even change the way your brain functions. For a more productive day eat "smart" foods, otherwise known as "brain" foods that help you focus...

For snack time

A diet rich in fruits and whole grains can be very nutritous, so try eating mixed seeds and nuts as a healthy snack when hunger calls. A good source of antioxidant vitamin E, it has been proven to cause less cognitive decline as you age. Blueberries are another fruity yet tasty snack which experts say can help protect the brain from oxidative stress and improve your capacity to learn- perfect for city types who don't have much time on their hands.

For lunch

Want to perk yourself up at lunchtime? The ultimate brain food to eat is fish. High in protein and rich in omega 3, fish is essential for brain function and development. Scentifically proven to slow mental decline, it may play a vital role in enhancing memory- sounds good to us....

At lunchtime, rather than go for that meaty sandwich, pick up a tuna or salmon one instead to ensure you have the most brain power in the office.

For that afternoon kick

Lacking energy? Eat some sugar- not literally table sugar- but rather snacks that contain glucose for that much- needed energy boost halfway through the day. However, be sure to do this in moderation so it can enhance your memory without piling on the pounds, else you'll have to make sure you're burning it off too. Why not try a healthy smoothie, or citrus fruits such as oranges or bananas for a natural sweet snack to boost your memory power.

Feed your skin...

It's true what they say- your diet can affect your skin. Everyone knows that if you eat junk food all day long it may result in a less than clear complexion. Facials can only do so much but it's time to sort your skin out from within....

Balance

For a truly clear complexion, try to maintain a healthy, balanced diet full of whole grain foods such as cereals and rice, and plenty of fruit and veggies, especially dark green and orange vegetables- all the brights.

Intolerance

Eating certain foods can trigger a skin flare- up, so try to steer clear of vinegar, soy sauce, consuming alcohol and too many dairy products. If you suffer from bad skin, you may want to discuss cutting out dairy products for a while with your doctor to see if there is an improvement. It could be that you're intolerant- as dairy products are high in oestrogen, it can interfere with a woman's hormonal balance and therefore can affect your skin and immune system.

Alternatives

If you don't fancy cutting out dairy products all together, try switching from cow's milk to goat's milk, and go for cheeses that are low in salt.

Be sure to consult your doctor or nutritonist before cutting out any food groups, and check out our nutritional advice from the experts for more information.

Don't have the time to prepare all this healthy food? Check out our mobdeal, for a huge saving on a "My detox Diet" programme- freshly prepared food delivered straight to your door. For only £59, you will receive healthy and nutritious breakfasts, lunches and dinners, plus snacks and detox teas to ensure you keep on track of your new healthy regime. What more could you want?