Articles from December 2009

Perth Yoga and Detox Day: 3rd January 2010!

Yoga Health have long been one of my favourite conductors of yoga classes in Perth!

They offer classes in many locations around Perth which are absolutely fantastic for:

♥ Stretching

♥ Stress reduction (I can personally attest to the amazing feeling of calm after the class!)

♥ Light exercise

♥ Balancing your mind & thoughts

Given that I enjoy these weekly classes so much, I’m excited to say they are running a Yoga & Detox day VERY SOON – Sunday the 3rd of January 2010 in fact!

The day is going to focus on 4 areas:

– Physical Detoxing
– Mental Detoxing
– Emotional Detoxing
– Spiritual Detoxing

DATE: Sunday, 3 January 2010

TIME: 10.00am – 4.30pm

LOCATION: Lesmurdie Community Hall, Gladys Road, Lesmurdie (Ray Owen Centre) (MAP)

COST: $77

BOOKING: Places are limited. To book email (click here) or call Bhumi or Rama on (08) 9448 0904. (please provide your name and contact phone number)

WHAT TO BRING: Bring a mat, cushion (or pillow), a bottle of drinking water and a light lunch. Tea/coffee/light refreshments will be provided.

Men and women of all ages and levels of fitness are welcome. No previous experience is required.

If you are interested you better hop to it as it’s in a couple of days! I’ll be attending and reporting back on what I learn & discover… hopefully with a few less toxins!

Be well,

xoxo

Exercise Review: The Perth Bridges!


The Bridges in WA

You are: Cardio lover, looking for a bit of variety in your exercise routine, love getting outdoors.

I am: A workout for all fitness levels, guaranteed to give you a beautiful view, very versatile – you can experience me in so many ways!

Verdict: Lets get together! Opt for something different and ‘Do the Bridges’ Today!

The starting point for this 10 km route is anywhere you like along the North or South Swan River foreshore in Perth. The course follows the South Foreshore to the Causeway Bridge number one and then on to the North foreshore and Narrows Bridge number two. Bridge order is depending on which way you decide to take, clockwise or counter-clockwise, surrounding the beautiful Swan River in Perth, Western Australia.

The reason why this track is so popular with runners, joggers, walkers, cyclists (WARNING! Watch out for the “cycle-way” and don’t even try to get in their way because some cyclists can be aggressive) is because from every angle of the path is a magnificent view over-looking the Perth skyline and various local landmarks.

Being out in the fresh air, a nice change from the gym, is another reason this is a much loved route. There are many walkers who take their dogs out to frolic and strut, along with birds that pose along the sidelines of the river.

Sunset is the best time of day to go, as there is exquisite picture taking to be experienced for those so inclined. Also with the weather getting warmer, the evening air suits anyone who doesn’t like the hot sun.

The duration of the course is linked with your fitness level. A fit person running at a steady pace will take approximately 2 hours. A bike ride takes about an hour. Time flies though when it is an enjoyable exercise and even quicker if you bring a friend along to walk / jog / run / exercise with you.

If you’re on your own, an mp3 player will give you the boost you need and it’s great to run along to some catchy beats! My current recommendations are: Daft Punk, Birds of Tokyo or La Roux.

The best thing about this course is that it almost forces you to do the whole 10kms to get back to your car. As a bonus, there is plenty of eye-candy, which is a great motivational tool for those who feel like giving up.

Ladies who are wondering what to wear, crop tops are more than acceptable. Sunglasses are a necessity and don’t forget your hat. It is highly recommended to bring a water bottle with you, there are many water fountains along the way but it is important to keep constantly hydrated especially in the Summer months.

The feeling of slight exhaustion subsides after the massive feat, and the endorphins kick in. Sometimes to variate the course it’s fun to create obstacles along the way, such as push-ups and sit-ups to tone the body to throw in some strength along with your cardio. Either way you will reap the rewards from this mammoth achievement.

Downsides
: Word of warning is the midgies that have come out to play around this time of year, but this is almost avoidable if you don’t stay out too late.

Upsides: It’s free, gorgeous, can be a social activity, good for a perve, fido gets fit too, plenty of variation, SO good for you! There’s something for everyone.

Author: Kelly – The Bridges Activist.
Kelly has been doing the bridges for 6 months and also accomplished the City to Surf in Perth, Western Australia. She keeps healthy & feeling great by creating her own recipes at home, reading cooking magazines, going to the beach, getting massages every so often, spending time with wonderful friends and keeping creative in her chosen field, Graphic Design.

How to: Get a great wax at a salon. Part 2!


The sweltering heat this past week has once again inspired me to contemplate the ins & outs of hair removal.

Don’t head to the beauty salon without first heeding this advice…

Timing is Everything

Super mega duper wuper exclamation points on this one! Do not go for a wax when your body decides that it is in fact, not pregnant. It’s different for everyone but from about week and a half before, it’s best to leave it.

All those hormones doing their thing make us girls sensitive little bunnies and subsequently this act of hair removal inflicts much more pain than it does at other times of the month. I’ve cried when I was hormonal because someone bought the wrong pasta sauce (no, really), trust me when I say that waxing during this time is about 50 million times worse than that.

In my experience the best time to go is about a week after your girl time.

Trim trim

I think I can spare too much detail here and assume that y’all know how to use a pair of scissors, delicately of course. Some lady garden trimming wont go astray and will make it much easier for the therapist to get all the hair with minimum pain!

Don’t cut the hair too short though, otherwise the wax may not be able to grip properly. No wild forest & no barren desert will make things optimal for both you and the beauty therapist.

Modest Mouse

This is something I get asked about a lot. “Don’t you get shy getting semi-naked in front of a stranger?” and the answer is honestly not really.

Even from my first experience, the girls have always been so professional yet casual that it always puts me at ease. They see all types of girlies every day, there’s nothing you can throw at them that they wouldn’t be accustomed to. And they will usually just be chatting away about their boyfriend or asking what you are doing on the weekend to help you feel comfortable.

I’ve spoken with beauty therapists about this issue & the consensus is that they just want to get the hair off you as painlessly as possible, they’re not really interested in having a perve!

So no need for shyness! Modesty be gone! Think of the gorgeous smooth skin & weeks of not having to fuss around with razors / tweezers / magic voodoo praying for the hair to disappear. Totally worth it.

There will be two more articles on waxing coming out within the next few weeks!

Ps. Check me out: How to get a great wax @ a salon: Part 1!

Are you too shy to get waxed? Seasoned pro? Leave any questions or comments below!

Be well,

xoxo

A little bit of healthy shopping.

♥ sprouts ♥

Today Wellness WA went shopping & picked up a few handy dandy bits ‘n pieces to keep us glowing & healthy during this silliest of seasons.

Jojoba Oil

This stuff is a delight, but it’s pretty expensive as far as natural oils go. I bought a little 25 ml bottle by the brand Tri Natural which cost about $10, the good thing is that you usually only need a few tiny drops for most of it’s uses!

Gala Darling wrote an article on her experience with Jojoba Oil & it’s benefits, entitled Jojoba Oil is the Elixer of the Gods. She’s probably right.

Sprouts

These little buddies have just been thrown back on my radar by the ever lovely Em of The Raw Kitchen. She grows her own sprouts (cool or what?) and apparently eats them all day long! From the photos I have seen she is a bastion of glowing skin & her energy is amazing.

Because sprouts are in effect still growing when we consume them, they retain a lot of active vitamins, minerals and enzymes – things that are lost during cooking / preservation. This is fabulous for you and your body.

Today I purchased a pack of alfalfa & brocolli sprouts. YUM. I previously made the grave error of buying a ‘salad pack’ which comprised of three sprout varieties, one being radish.

I absolutely cannot handle anything hot & spicy so this made me gasp for water repeatedly & randomly whilst eating. Not the best! Learn from my misfortune if you feel you may be the same…

Avocado

One of my top culinary loves. I swear by this for glowing skin if 2 x avocados are eaten weekly. Unfortunately I don’t always get around to doing this, it’s something I’m working on!

Besides this, they are delicious and great for the heart, joints, hair…pretty much everything! If you are watching your weight don’t eat -too- many as they are quite high in (good) fats.

Frozen Mixed Berries

Another favourite of mine. So delicious & so good for you. Most common uses for me are:

– on top of porridge
– in a vanilla or chocolate soy smoothie
– in a green smoothie

I plan to bake a mixed-berry pie one day soon when the heat calms down a bit!

So all this along with going for a nice evening walk tonight and drinking lots of water has put me in a good mood wellness wise.

I’m also reading this great book by the founder of Aveda at the moment.

In the morning I take about 20 minutes to quietly read from it while drinking a cup of green tea, I find it very relaxing; it’s a well written book on the concepts that inspire him & how to incorporate many small wellness ‘rituals’ into your day.

It’s lovely and I really recommend it.

I hope you enjoyed my little shopping list! Let me know if you’d like to read more.

Be well,

xoxo

Bargains Galore! Cheapest Diorshow & YSL Touche Eclat in town!!!


Diorshow Mascara & YSL Touche Eclat are two of the most coveted & adored beauty products that I can think of.

I own both of them & Touche Eclat in particular has earned me many, many, many compliments with it’s magical dark-circle reducing properties! The Diorshow mascara thickens & lengthens your lashes into the stratosphere. It’s gorgeous & relied upon by thousands of girls for pretty eyes.

SO IMAGINE MY DELIGHT WHEN DISCOVERING THAT BOTH OF THESE PRODUCTS ARE NOW SELLING FOR DEVASTATINGLY CHEAP PRICES?!?! Touche Eclat usually retails for about $90 but is currently being sold for $29.99. Um, ridiculous!

This is seriously the perfect gift for yourself this X-mas, the only problem is that you will want to buy more than one!

YSL Touche Eclat No. 1 – Suited for light-medium skins with a pinker undertone.

YSL Touche Eclat No. 2 – Shade 2 is suited for paler skins & skins with a yellow undertone. This one is my go-to.

For the absolute perfect way to apply this gem, check out: Zoe’s Blog!

Unfortunately the third shade, which is suitable for much darker skin is unavailable at this very special price.

You can, however, still participate in the magic that is Diorshow!

Diorshow Mascara in Black Out – Also selling for $29.99, it says on the website that the usual going price is $39.99 but I’m pretty certain I’ve paid more than that in store, so it’s more of a bargain than it looks!

Alright! Just wanted to share these delicious bargains with you all. I seriously recommend purchasing them both!

Let me know if you do, or if you love these products as much as I do!

Be well,

xoxo