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I recently had the pleasure of attending an appointment with Amy O’Brien in West Perth to discuss my wellness goals and work on a plan together to attain optimal health. The 1 hour session included a consultation, acupuncture treatment and some herbs to take home with me. I first connected with Amy via email, and before attending my initial consultation Amy sent me some preliminary information including directions, a description of what the treatment would involve and some tips to help me prepare for my treatment which I found really thoughtful and helpful.

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Having never tried acupuncture or Chinese medicine before, I was a little tentative as I stepped into the clinic, however Amy put me at ease straight away. We chatted for around 20 minutes about my health and lifestyle as well as what I was hoping to achieve in terms of my overall wellness, with Amy asking me plenty of questions along the way. She then took my pulse, explaining that ‘blood deficiency’ is a common condition in Chinese medicine, and that my treatment would focus on warming the body and building the blood, which would in turn help to do things like nourish my skin and reverse the effects that stress has had on my body.

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The consultation was followed by an acupuncture session, which I have to say was very relaxing! For those of you who have never tried acupuncture before and are wondering whether it will hurt: the answer in my opinion is definitely no. I felt a slight prick as the needles were inserted, but they are so fine that you feel the pressure more than any pain. Once the needles are in you don’t even feel them anymore. Amy targeted certain areas of my body to focus on building the blood and creating mental clarity. She then left me to chill out for around twenty minutes while the needles worked their magic.

Amy took a very holistic approach during her consultation, providing me not only with direct treatment but also with general lifestyle and diet advice. One of the main points she raised was to make sure I was getting enough oxygen, which would help build the blood. Remembering to stop and breathe is something yoga has taught me, and it may seem trivial but it can work wonders for stress and mental clarity and is something we so often forget to do on a typical day in our busy lives.

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At the end of our session Amy provided me with some herbs to take away with me as well as a personalised write-up of my treatment goals and some tips to help me achieve these, with some further information on what she had discussed with me during the consultation.

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Overall I found the session to be well-rounded, relaxing and informative. Anyone who has taken Chinese herbs before would probably agree with me when I say it is a bit of an ‘acquired taste’, but it is exciting to increasingly see science backing what ancient tradition seems to have known and understood for centuries. I would definitely recommend Amy’s services as a qualified, registered practitioner and she can be contacted by email, on Facebook, or at her website www.fabuloushealth.com.au

Her clinic is located at Suite 7, 3 Lawrence Ave, West Perth.

Have you tried acupuncture or Chinese medicine before? If not, have you ever thought about it? Leave a comment below! 🙂

Reviewed by Alice Unwin, Chinese medicine and acupuncture convert!

Be well

xoxo

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Nestled amongst the beautiful houses and quiet streets of South Perth, Cove Day Spa provides an urban wellness oasis. Coinciding with my 6 week liver and kidney detox (a decision I deeply regretted on Australia Day!), I decided that now was the perfect time to take advantage of Cove Spa's awesome summer special- the full body cleanse!

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After changing into the standard fluffy white robe I was led to the relaxation room (filled with lemon water, snacks and tea) to fill out a quick questionnaire and settle in. Shortly after I was greeted by my warm and very knowledgeable therapist Kylie, whom escorted me to my treatment room.

The full body cleanse package consists of 5 treatments:

♥ Urine PH and Heavy Metal Test

We started off with a 20 minute health and lifestyle consultation, which included a urine pH and heavy metal check. It was exciting and very interesting. Kylie explained the results of my test and gave some good lifestyle tips including the benefits of dry body brushing and green drinks.

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♥ Far Infrared Sauna

A hidden sanctuary houses the infrared sauna and has a very tropical feel. I was given a glass of fresh coconut water to hydrate and left to myself for the next 30 minutes to relax. Infrared saunas differ from traditional saunas in that they heat the body not the air. They warm the muscles and joints and stimulate fat cells to release toxins. Afterwards I felt quite warm, but wasn’t overly hot and sweaty like I would normally be from a traditional sauna.

♥ Full Body Massage

After hopping up onto the most comfy massage bed ever (think fluffy pillowed clouds), I was massaged all over with a special blend of detoxifying essential oils. The smell was divine and the pressure was perfect.

♥ Body Scrub, Wrap & Chakra Balancing Facial

The sugar crystal scrub felt amazing, exfoliating every little bit of my body. I was then wrapped up while my facial got underway. Along with an awesome face massage, warm amethyst crystals were rubbed all over my face to stimulate the internal detoxifying organs and get rid of negative energy. So good!

♥ Disco Shower, AKA Swiss Shower

Finally, I was left to rinse and re-energise in the Swiss shower. Swiss showers feature multiple showerheads that alternate warm and cold water. A highly invigorating experience! This particular shower also had flashing coloured lights (hence my nickname for it), which I was told was a form of colour therapy. One wonders whether Swiss showers are sold on Gumtree….

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Finishing off in the relaxation room with a cup of the spas signature tea (a blend of cinnamon, ginger, cardamon and cloves) and a delicious bowl of probiotic yoghurt with berries, I was definitely in bliss town 🙂

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Overall the service was professional and welcoming. The spa was very clean and the attention to detail was great. A perfect gift for a mother, sister, friend, yourself or even a significant male friend. Whomever for, if you’re interested in a little relaxation, detoxification and a brand new start, this treatment would be perfect!

** This special wellness promotion has been extended especially for Wellness WA readers until the end of March, mention Wellness WA upon booking to gain access to this gorgeous & life-changing 2.5 hour package for $260!

Cove Spa
47 Tate St South Perth WA 6151
(08) 9367 1877

Visit Cove Spa online at:

♥ www.covespa.com.au
♥ Facebook

Review by Kavisha, self confessed ‘health foodie’ & spa convert. She is currently studying for her Master of Wellness at RMIT University and blogs at bebalancedbewell.tumblr.com

Be well,

xoxo

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As a devout once-a-week yogi for the past twelve months, I recently found myself looking for more class options that would mean I could increase my structured practice to twice a week and reap the rewards of increased practice. However, the financial commitment of two classes a week was a barrier for me given I currently exist in a saving-for-a-house black hole. Then, right on cue, I discovered lululemon athletica community classes at the Perth City store.

lululemon offer a variety of complimentary community classes – yoga classes in store, to anyone and everyone who would like to attend, and there is no catch. The underlying philosophy behind lululemon is producing yoga inspired athletic apparel that will encourage and help people to be active, stress-free and live their best & most fun lives, therefore making the world a better place.

Every week lululemon stores move their thoughtfully designed and brightly coloured apparel aside, unroll yoga mats and turn their stores into instant yoga studios. Classes are led by a variety of local instructors that reflect lululemon’s core values, ensuring the offering is spirited and varied. All this in an effort to spread yoga and fitness to their communities.

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This month lululemon athletica Perth City have been offering three community classes a week, and I was lucky enough to try out both the Saturday morning yoga for runners class with Donna Buchanan from The Yoga Vine, and the Wednesday evening upbeat vinyasa class with Laura Carroll from Rooftop Yoga.

My highlight from this month’s classes was definitely the dolphin pose/head stand pose sequence in Donna’s class. Never have I been more comfortable in the knowledge that I was likely to fall over in a room full of people whilst attempting my first full head stand.

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Both classes were completely different, yet sublime. One of my favourite things about the community classes is the exposure you gain to different types of yoga and teaching methods. This alone is working wonders for my overall understanding of yoga, not to mention working my body differently each time I practice.

Make sure you check out the community events calendar on lululemon Perth City’s website so you can fill up your diary with divine yoga dates!

lululemon Perth City is located at:

Shop H127, in the enex 100 building in Hay Street Mall – look for the giant purple Buddha!

Have you tried the complimentary classes at Lululemon? We'd love to hear from you so leave a comment below!

Review by Kimberley, a Kiwi migrant to Perth who is a lawyer by day, yoga convert and dog lover.

♥ My facialist Maryanna Lucror

What better way to start a weekend than with a facial? Make that an ‘at home’ facial using one of the finest skin care brands, Arbonne. Now you’re talking!

The lovely Maryanna Lucror treated me to an Ultimate Facial last weekend, and my skincare resolutions for 2013 (to stick to using one brand) are now set in stone. Luckily, Arbonne is a product that my skin knows and loves (I have never had clearer, more glowing skin than when I used to use it), so I’m looking forward to getting that glow back!

♥ The beautiful Arbon, how amazing does it look?!

Hailing from the Swiss village Arbon, the highly regarded, premium skincare brand is inspired by nature and each product contains clinically proven and botanically based ingredients, which, in combination with meticulous research and testing, exceeds industry standards for purity.

My facial began with Arbonne’s FC5 Purifying Cleanser + Toner, a lightweight formula designed to simultaneously cleanse and tone the skin while visibly reducing oiliness. Ingredients include witch hazel and strawberry cells – yum! This was followed by the FC5 Exfoliating New Cell Scrub, a vitamin rich exfoliant with a slightly clay-based texture. The scrub feels warm on application and tingles slightly as it deeply purifies to reveal fresher, brighter skin. I love this scrub, and use it 3 times a week now!

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My skin was then treated to the RE9 Cellular Renewal Masque – its key ingredients include pineapple, papaya enzymes and algae extract, which function to improve skin tone and texture and minimise pores. What I loved about this masque was that it didn’t dry and harden, which can be very harsh on the skin, particularly if it is sensitive. This masque is actually equivalent to two dermabrasion sessions (but without the risk) so to replenish the skins moisture, Maryanna applied the FC5 Skin Conditioning Oil. The oil hydrates, conditions and softens without being greasy or heavy on the skin.

I have quite dry skin, so to give it that extra moisture boost, the FC5 Intense Hydration Mask was then applied. This is a lighter, gel based mask containing fresh mango, sunflower seed oil and pomegranate extract. The RE9 Regenerating Toner was spritzed gently on my skin, followed by RE9 Eye Crème and FC5 Oil Absorbing Day Lotion with SPF 15.

♥ My Arbonne goodies!

The Arbonne Ultimate Facial was such a treat. It was relaxing, informative and luxurious and a product I really believe in. Since the facial, I ordered the FC5 Complexion Revitalizing Set and have been using it religiously! My skin loves me for it.

To purchase Arbonne or to find out more, contact Maryanna at lucror2010@hotmail.com

Or check out the Arbonne website https://www.arbonneinternational.com.au/

Do you have a favourite skincare brand that you have always used? Or have you tried Arbonne? I'd love to chat in the comments below!

Review by Lucy, Arbonne convert and preacher!

Be well,

xoxo

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If the thought of coming home from a day at the office and being whisked away on a Balinese yoga retreat appeals to you… then this is the next best thing! Filmed in the midst of a serene Balinese backdrop, Eoinn Finn's 6 DVD Blissology Project contains a Vinyasa Flow yoga and meditation routine for each weekday and one for the weekend, and at just $30 from Amazon it's a real bargain! Each day focuses on a different area of the body and mind to guide you through the week.

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Eoin is a well-known Canadian yogi and surfer who has studied and taught yoga and meditation for many years. He regularly teaches workshops and holds retreats as well as having a line of DVDs. Eoin was also one of Lululemon’s first ambassadors!

He describes Blissology on his website as “the art of consciously finding the balance between one’s personal desires and our impact on the web of life. It is not just a brand but a way of being. It is a path of interconnectedness and love.”

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Eoin approaches yoga holistically, encouraging us to adopt its philosophy into our everyday lives. There is no reason not to get some yoga practise in every day with this DVD set, with each weekday disc giving you the option of a ‘quickie’ (usually around 30-35 minutes)if you’re strapped for time, or a longer routine of around 45-55 minutes if you are after a more intense session. If you’re new to the world of yoga there are beginner’s options throughout, as well as a reference guide to help you perfect those postures.

If you are looking for more of a challenge, there are alternatives during each session to help you push yourself further. Every routine also finishes with a 10 minute meditation to keep you grounded, present and feeling like you don’t have a worry in the world.

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Practising yoga at home with the assistance of a DVD is a great complement to your usual yoga or fitness routine, and is an excellent option for those of us who don’t always have time for classes before or after work, or who may not be in a position to commit to a full membership or course.

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If you are a true beginner this is an enjoyable introduction to the yoga lifestyle, however I would recommend that you do combine your at-home practise with some guided sessions at your local yoga studio in order to truly understand and master the various postures and sequences, and of course to avoid injuring yourself.

You can even pop the DVD into your laptop, take it outdoors and practise in the park or at the beach… I can’t think of a better way to shut out the world and get some quality me-time in!

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The DVD can be purchased in-store at Lululemon, or online at Amazon. You can also find Eoin’s range of other videos on the Blissology website, which can all be downloaded straight to iTunes.

I'd love to hear if you've tried the Blissology DVD's, or are keen to, and what your favourite yoga DVD's are at the moment – so leave a comment below!

Review by Alice – yoga-lover who would really like to attend a retreat in Bali sometime soon!

Be well,

xoxo