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♥ Healthy Sweet Treats

I have just returned from a 3 week holiday, and needless to say, my body has taken a beating at the hands of Pina Coladas, Pad Thai and English pub meals. After indulging my sweet tooth, coming back to my usual low-sugar fare has been a bit tricky. To ease myself back into the swing of things, I’ve been making some healthy sweet treats. These are delicious, and the basic recipe can be changed up (I put a dried cherry in the middle of mine for a surprise zing!). I’ve also been scoping out these delicious-looking recipes, and have a funny feeling some of those will be making their way into my kitchen very soon!

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♥ Fresh Flowers

Fresh flowers not only brighten up the room, but also your mood. Try it- it’s impossible to be unhappy or upset when faced with some fresh blooms. And who needs Ambi-Pur when you’ve got a bunch of something lovely on the table? It’s a simple pleasure, but well worth treating yourself with a bunch of your favourites when you get the chance.

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♥ Mark’s Daily Apple

I’ve been reading Mark’s Daily Apple (www.marksdailyapple.com) for a while, and lately his articles have really been striking a chord with me. Mark is a former athlete turned wellness activist, and promotes the ‘Primal’ lifestyle. He publishes daily articles, covering everything from recipes to success stories, lifestyle tips and his opinions on various foods and activities. Whilst I don’t always agree with everything he says, I really enjoy his down-to-earth approach to healthy living on a day-to-day basis, which alone makes it worth the read.

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♥ Journalling

One of my new year’s resolutions was to journal more, and after just over a month, it’s become part of my daily routine. Sometimes it’s stress, sometimes it’s worry, sometimes it’s happiness and excitement, but most days I feel the need to jot down my thoughts and feelings. I find it very relaxing, and often if something is troubling me, re-reading my entry helps me see the solution. Journalling also allows me to appreciate the good in my life, which in itself is incredibly beneficial.

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♥ ‘Play’

As kids, we rode bikes, climbed trees, and swung from monkey bars, but as adults, it seems the concept of play gets left behind. I’m on a mini-mission to bring back those golden years by riding my bike and skipping, whenever I can, for fun. I cannot begin to describe how much I am genuinely enjoying this, and really encourage everyone to do the same. Choose your two favourite childhood activities and try to incorporate them into your week. Even better, get your friends involved! Now, who’s for a game of ‘Spotlight’?…

What do you do for ‘play’? Do you journal? What are your favourite flowers to have in the house? Drop me a line below and let me know your thoughts!

Article written by Katie, a flower-loving, diary-writing biker girl, whose boyfriend is really enjoying her sweet treat recipe experiments.

Be well,

xoxo

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With a funky set up, welcoming atmosphere and awesome products, The Little Concept in Freo has definitely taken a step forward in the Perth café scene.

The café offers a variety of coffee, tea and chocolate beverages with a strong emphasis on their red espresso rooibos menu (which consists of items such as red cappuccino, red latte, red smoothie and red frappe). What's with all the 'red' you ask? Well these delicious bevvies are all made with a base of Rooibos tea- an alternative to coffee that can be enjoyed just like it! Rooibos comes from South Africa, is naturally caffeine free and has 5 x more antioxidants than green tea. Whoop!

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I got chatting to the lively and passionate owner Micheal who said he wanted to provide an option for people who couldn't have caffeine but still wanted to enjoy their 'coffee'. However don't stress of you need caffeine to get you through your morning, the café still caters to the masses (meaning yes they still have normal coffee!). Another bonus, these awesome peeps offer the option of soy, rice, almond OR oat milk in any of their beverages to cater for people with certain intolerances (this is what I like to see!). And another big plus, most beverages are sweetened with coconut blossom sugar- a low GI, healthy alternative to white sugar containing protein (12 amino acids), potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, zinc and iron!

The prices are great by Perth standards with most hot coffee beverages around the $3.50 mark. The hot chocolates and chai are a little more expensive (between $5-$6.50). I enjoyed a red smoothie on my visit which consisted of raspberries, banana, honey, cinnamon, almond milk and red rooibos tea- it was deeeeeelicious 😀

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If you're feeling a bit peckish there's also a great range of food available from raw dessert treats and freshly baked goods, to sandwiches and wraps that are made fresh in house. The vegetarian sandwich was screaming “eat meeee!” and will be consumed upon next visit 😉

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After hearing great things about their chai I picked up a bag of the famous Prana Chai to take home with me and try. It's a wet chai, which means no need to steep. Simply pour some hot milk over, add honey and enjoy! The Mork Hot Chocolate also sounded tempting and I couldn't resist picking up a bag of this too. Available from the café as a hot chocolate, iced choc or choc affogato (to name a few), this is definitely one to try. I made mine at home using fresh cashew nut milk. YUM!

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Head into The Little Concept to try some of there awesome beverages or pick up some goodies for home. Check out their instagram @thelittleconcept for more pics of their delightful creations and get down there sooner rather than later!

The Little Concept is located at 7 Wray Ave, Fremantle, WA.

Have you tried this new cafe before? A fan of rooibos? Leave a comment below!

Article by Kavisha, newly found lover of all things rooibos and chai.

Be well,

xoxo

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wellness |ˈwelnis| n the state or condition of being in good physical and mental health :

What do you know about your health and wellbeing? Do you assume that you’re in tiptop shape just because you’re not fighting a cold or don’t have any aches and pains? I used to think a bit like this. I was always under the impression that how I felt physically, reflected exactly what was going on inside. Truth is, there is so much more to our inner health and wellbeing than we actually know about, and sometimes the smallest change in behaviour can have the biggest effect.

I recently completed a Wellness Package at A Fine Balance, a physiotherapy and clinical nutritional practice located on Green Street, Joondanna. Having never had the opportunity to take part in a package like this, I was really keen to learn more about my body and changes I could make in my lifestyle – being a bit of a perfectionist, improvement is something I’m always on the hunt for!

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The first part of the package is a clinical consultation with AFB’s clinical nutritionist Joanne. This was a one hour appointment where Joanne assessed all aspects of my diet and lifestyle to work out where I may be limited in achieving optimum wellness. After reviewing my current situation, she proceeded to advise me on ways in which simple diet alterations would be beneficial to my wellbeing. This included dietary recommendations as well as nutritional supplements to complement my diet.

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One of these recommendations has changed my life. I have been suffering from headaches for over a year now and after a series of medical tests and checks I was ready to accept that maybe I was destined for a life of debilitating headaches. Not the case apparently! The miracle cure has been a magnesium supplement called BioCeuticals Ultra MuscleEze Energy®. The supplement provides a high dose of magnesium, which is essential for the healthy functioning of nerves, muscles, bones and heart rhythm. In my case, my neck and shoulder muscles were craving a bit more of the old magnesium, since I started taking it I probably get one headache a week now – sometimes none!

I left my consultation with Joanne feeling inspired and ready to make some changes in my diet. I didn’t forget this feeling either, not long after I left the clinic, an email from Joanne came through with some handy diet tips as well as suggested meals and recipes. Talk about motivation! I’ve since taken a very conscious approach to making sure I consume more foods which produce an alkaline environment and help to control inflammation in the body. I believe this has played a major role in helping combat my headaches too, keeping inflammation levels down and helping to support a healthy and balanced immune system.

I returned a few weeks later to continue my Wellness journey at the hands of AFB’s remedial masseuse, Emma Gater. Remedial massage is the blissful combination of deep tissue massage techniques and works to release tension in the soft tissues to increase circulation, relieve pain and promote healing throughout the body. It is also mighty relaxing!

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Posturally speaking, my next and final stop was a clinical Pilates class and postural assessment with clinic owner and physiotherapist Roshan Singh. This Pilates class was nothing like the reformer and mat classes I attend religiously, it was a customised session which assessed my core strength from head to toe and identified particular weaknesses and strengths.

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One thing I found particularly interesting was finding out that I actually have muscle wastage in my left thigh muscle as a result of a knee injury from my high school days! I have since been working on building up and strengthening that muscle, to prevent further injuries later in life. Roshan then took a look at my posture, which is the poor victim of various daily wear and tear. It doesn’t really take much to get yourself all straightened out, but the difference a small chin tuck for example can make is huge in the long run.

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The Wellness Package at A Fine Balance costs $350 (valued at $513) includes:

• 1 full clinical nutrition consultation
• 1 follow up clinical nutrition consultation
• 2 half-hour massages
• 1 postural assessment with a physiotherapist
• 2 Clinical Pilates classes
• 1 take home massage ball

The package must be used within 3 months of purchase.

Call A Fine Balance on (08) 9444 9663 or email reception@afinebalancephysio.com.au to book.

Think about how comfortable you want to be in your old age, and start working towards it now. Give your body the absolute best it deserves, look after it and nurture it with good food and rest and listen to it when it speaks to you. For it is the investments we make today, that will be worth it tomorrow.

Have you ever considered a wellness package before? If so, what would you like to gain from it? Leave a comment below as I'd love to hear from you!

Review by Lucy Anderson.

Be well,

xoxo

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♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!

Vanessa and Fabrice are the creators of The Health Collective here in WA! Vanessa is a passionate Personal-Trainer, Massage-therapist at Silq Medi-Spa in Nedlands and a raw fresh food enthusiast. Fabrice is a runner and offers one-to-one life coaching sessions for those who need the clarity and the motivation to achieve their goals (weight and health wise).

Together we share raw and vegan cooking classes from the “Newbie” to the more educated. We like to keep it simple and accessible to all. Our classes include step by step information to transition your lifestyle, from the “standard Australian diet” to a healthier one.

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At The Health Collective, we are sharing our knowledge about true health, fitness, food and nutrition. Our vision is to get people healthier, to assist them in reconnecting with planet earth, and ultimately raise the global consciousness.

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♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.

I lightly scrub my face each morning with a bamboo fibre mitten, under lukewarm water, and apply some Tinderbox Day Cream. That's it! Because of my lifestyle, my skin remains clear and healthy so I don't need anything else. 😉

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♥ What's the one beauty treatment you can't live without? And your favourite place to have it done?

I like to get my eyebrows threaded, as I think eyebrows give a defining look to the face.

♥ Who do you trust with your hair in Perth, and why?

I am currently having my hair cut at “Renos on St Quentin” in Claremont Quarter, with a hairdresser named Edward (not scissors- hands hahah!) he is good at style cutting long hair.

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♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?

I love Puresource Rotorua Thermal Mud Mask, I use this once a week. It is a natural smooth mud mask, loaded with mineral that comes from New Zealand …and it only costs $12.00 online! I always recommend this to anyone.

Watermelon, mint & lime juice!

♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?

I have no products that I can't live without, my lifestyle really supports the healthy glow to my skin, so I guess I would say I would not give up my love of eating fresh fruits, veg and natural oils like coconut, hemp, avocado and olive oil.

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♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?

In one word: LIFESTYLE! 😀

Healthy lifestyle (raw organic/bio dynamic fruits and veg), good water, exercise and happiness – Your mindset is truly important too, and can be improved easily, with meditation, laughing and socializing.

♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven't yet?

I have heard there is an Indian “hot oil hair treatment” (ED: Shirodhara!) that is meant to be amazing… I would like to try that. I totally believe though, that beauty comes from inside out, and not the other way around.

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♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.

I always eat local and seasonal;
Breakfast start with a high carb smoothie (usually bananas, dates, fresh coconut water or high PH water)
For brunch, if I have been to the gym I will make a young coconut vanilla-pod smoothie (this provides all the natural amino acids for the body after a workout) otherwise fresh fruits.

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Lunch will be a huge green salad, and I am talking huuuge ! Haha …like a bucket.. variety is essential.
Afternoon Snacking will be some kind of nuts (macadamia , walnuts, etc.. )

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Dinner will either be mono-fruit eating, so at the moment persimmons are in season ,so I would eat between 6-8 of them, or a raw homemade dish like raw pasta. By eating light at night, you will find your sleep will improve greatly and you will feel much more refreshed in the morning.

♥ Describe your fitness routine.

1 hour cycling followed with 3 weight training exercises for either upper or lower body then 20min stretching, 4 to 5 days a week. However I listen to my body if it needs a rest.

♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, discuss.

A good massage does have an outstanding effect on the human body and mind, being a massage therapist myself I consistently see great improvement with my clients. Now and then, I have massage treatment done, from a great therapist from “Perfect Posture”. I take one plant-based supplement called Neuropathy Support Formula for B1 & 12 to support my nervous system and B vitamins intake, mainly because the modern world that we live in does not provide the same quality regarding the fruits and vegetables as it was 50 years ago.

♥ How many hours sleep do you usually get each night? Do you have any bedtime rituals or tips to help you get a great nights sleep?

I sleep around 8 to 9 hours per night. I go to bed early, as most of the the body's cleansing, healing and hormonal processes operate between 10.00pm and 6.00am. I also use a sleeping mask to block out any light, because the pineal gland will only release melatonin (regulating female reproductive system) and many other hormones in the pitch black. I have noticed a real improvement in the quality of my sleep.

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♥ How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress?

Meditation and stretching with candle light.

If you have any questions or comments on Vee’s gorgeous routine, please leave them below!

Be well,

xoxo

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I recently started a new job in the CBD and boy, life has definitely changed up a gear! I love my job, but lately I’ve found stress getting the better of me, and I’ve been feeling the physical effects of sitting at a desk from 9 to 5. What is a hard working city gal to do?!

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Enter The Yoga Vine, with a super convenient pop-up location next to The Aviary at 140 William Street in the Perth CBD. Classes are held in what looks like a newly renovated office space, which works really well, as the area is open and full of natural light. I attended one of their 45 minute lunchtime classes, and at the bargain-basement price of $10 a session, forget picking up a toasted turkish and use your lunch money for this instead! The website asks participants to bring their own mats, though on the day I attended our lovely instructor Amanda brought a few extras along.

We started with some breath work, moved into sun salutations and then into several trikonasana poses. These sequences really called on my hips and hamstrings, and after a long morning at my desk, it felt amazing to stretch them out. To finish, we practiced some balance poses, and ended in savasana (always a crowd favourite!).

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I was a bit worried that I would return to work in the mood for a snooze, but I found the exact opposite- I felt invigorated and fresh- and had a super productive afternoon! I really liked that the class seemed to be tailor-made for office workers, including poses accessible to beginners and experienced yogis alike. I would wholeheartedly recommend Yoga Om to anyone with the ability to attend- not only does it offer the opportunity to include yoga into your exercise routine (or to try it for the first time!), it’s the perfect midday pick-me-up before heading back to the office to meet that 3.30pm deadline.

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Classes also run on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings in the William Street location, and The Yoga Vine offer a number of other public classes in North Perth and Osborne Park. Visit www.theyogavine.com.au for more information.

Is anyone excited to give these classes a try? How do you use your lunch break to maximise your wellness? Let me know in your comments below!

Article by Katie, a corporate green smoothie lover and yoga newbie.

Be well,

xoxo