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Wellness WA Giveaway: Gorgeous abi and joseph pack valued at over $90!

We all know the importance of taking the time to exercise; it makes us feel calmer, look better and is vital for overall wellbeing. As many of you know, my personal favourite way to exercise is through the magic of yoga classes. I’ve also recently started a beginners pilates course at the Pilates Fitness Institute of WA – results of that one coming soon!

Something I also enjoy about heading to get my downward dog on, other than the fantastic benefits I experience, is getting kitted out in my exercise gear. I find it helps me get in the ‘zone’ and makes me much less likely to forgo the blissful stretching in favour of vegan chocolate and reruns of ‘The Bachelor’. There’s just something about cute fitness clothing that lights my fire!

With this in mind, I’m super excited to announce our latest competition in conjunction with the wonderful folk at abi and joseph. Add a touch of luxe to your lunges with abi and joseph, the Fremantle based local leaders in deluxe, fashion-focused pilates and yoga wear.

Owner Abi has made it her personal mission to create clothing that can be worn for pilates and yoga, that also double as great basics to complement the current leading fashion labels. Sounds like the perfect idea to me! 🙂

We’ve got a glorious goodie pack, consisting of the following three must-have items, for one lucky reader:

Long Scarf – Ultra Soft Merino in Candy Pink – to keep you warm in Savasana – $59.00

Headband – Lilac – no hair in your face with this lovely accesory – $17

Non-Slip Socks $15.99 – the cutest exercise socks EVER! Perfect for winter when you still want to practice yoga/pilates, but don’t want chilly toes.

These three covetable pieces are valued at $91.99 and can be YOURS!!

All you need to do to be in the running, is like Wellness WA on Facebook, and leave a comment on this blog post letting me know:

Which of the three pieces above is your fave? (you will of course get them all if you win, but I’d love to hear your top pick as I’m thinking of picking up some pieces myself!)

Entries close 10th July, so get in quick! Winner will be drawn at random.

Make sure to check out the abi and joseph website for more gorgeous clothing & accessories!

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

Beauty & Wellbeing Crushes: Purple Kale, Dreamy Yoga Retreats, CNR Cafe & More!

♥ Beautiful Purple Kale!

Hola! So, how ’bout this weather we’ve been having? I’m a big rain fan – so long as I’m warmly tucked up inside, complete with dressing gown, socks and a cup ‘o herbal tea. Venturing out into it is another story.

These past few weeks I’ve been flu-stricken and in the final two weeks of my Public Relations course, as well as having taken on an internship at an agency 2 days a week. Needless to say things have been HECTIC and I haven’t been able to update as much as I’d like. That doesn’t mean we’ve been laying dormant though, we have SO many exciting things in the works… so as always, stay tuned, and check out the wonderful bits and pieces that have been rocking my little wellness world this week! Xo

Purple Kale

Pictured above is the cruciferous vegetable of my eye this week, the delightful purple kale. When I spied this beauty at The Boatshed Market in Cottesloe on the weekend, I could not contain my excitement! Granted, the whole trip to Boatshed was exciting as I’d never been there before and it is just AMAZINGLY well stocked with fresh produce. Pricier than your average store, but I feel like it’s worth it.

This violet vegetable has been on many adventures this week, being mixed into a smoothie one day, gently steamed the next and is about to be made into some delicious kale chips! A+++. Love me some alterna-kale.

CNR Cafe Vegan Breakfast

My new favourite. So many vegan, vegetarian and raw options at CNR that your mind just might explode! The vegan breakfast (above) is in-cred-ible, and it’s available til 3pm all week. Including Sundays. I will be doing a proper review of it shortly, but it is definitely one of my new faves to head to when I have some extra pennies in my pockets. The vegan brekky is $18, so not the cheapest morning eats in town, however it is insanely delicious and filling, features macadamia & pepper nut cheese, house made beans, toasted ciabatta, pan fried mushrooms and tomatoes, caramelised onions AND potato chippy things.

They also do a killer green smoothie, breakfast of vegan champions! Check them out.

Stuart Watkins’ Bali Yoga Retreat

If you’re looking for an incredibly inspiring yoga filled getaway, then look no further. Join Stuart Watkins for 7 days and 6 nights on the north-east coast of Bali at Villa-Boreh with daily yoga, sun drenched relaxation and an array of soul nurturing activities including jungle treks, secret waterfall visits, hot springs and dolphin hangouts! Vegetarian and vegan meals will nourish your body, yoga will nourish your spirit. Find our more details here!

What’s inspiring you this week? Please feel free to share with me and spread the crush-love!

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

Wellness WA Presents: Green July!

The idea came to me out of the blue. Since I don’t drink much alcohol (how boring! ;)) and can’t participate in Dry July, why not start my own version and see if anyone else wanted to take part? The result was Green July!

So what exactly is it?

We all know that eating greens is good for us, so this July, we’re going to drink them. Every day! I will be aiming to have 1 green smoothie every day of July in order to boost my health and happiness, and I’d love you to join me. I’ve previously done a week long challenge which resulted in me feeling absolutely incredible, so I want to continue on and see what happens.

I couldn’t be happier with the response so far – over 280 people have signed up to drink a months worth of green smoothies, yippie! To help us out, I’ve created the Wellness WA Green Smoothie Database with all the recipes we’ve posted on here to date, and we will also be posting green smoothie recipes throughout the month – as well as bringing on some special guest bloggers!

Sign up here if you’re ready to watch your health & wellness SKYROCKET with me! 🙂

If you have any questions please leave them below, or on the event page!

I cannot wait to get started and I really hope you will join in the fun x

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

Beauty & Wellbeing Routine: Diana Bressani, eVoke magazine.

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

Hello Wellness WA, how exciting to be interviewed, my first ever! My name is Diana Bressani and I’m the publisher/editor of eVoke magazine which is an awesome quarterly publication new to the Perth market. eVoke content focuses on natural lifestyle choices, and we have the BEST local contributors who aim to provide inspirational content for living cleaner, greener and healthier lives.

eVoke aims to promote local businesses whilst raising awareness for this lifestyle movement. I’m also married to a wonderfully supportive man who is just divine, and the mother of two very cute and clever kids, who changed my life for the better and complete our family.

Tell us about your daily beauty routine.

Gee, how long have you got? My husband likes to make fun of all my lotions and potions, but we’ll see who’s laughing when I’m 80 and looking fabulous!! I like to change up my skincare every 6 months or so and at the moment I’m using Arbonne RE9 skincare range which consists of a foaming cleanser both morning and night, spray toner, serum, eye cream, day cream and night cream…plus the cellular renewal masque…oh and an age defying neck cream. I’m loving Arbonne as it’s a safe product with a scientific background so I know I’m getting all the age-defying “stuff” without the harmful side effects. I’m also a huge fan of Dr Hauschka and am feeling quite guilty to be cheating on him with Arbonne….I also use Lavera eye roll-on for puffy eyes and I recently started using Zwena Argan oil for my face and hair, which is a pure indulgence, but I can feel the goodness going into my skin.

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

Well, unfortunately I am totally living without beauty treatments at the moment and couldn’t tell you the last time I treated myself…but this interview has prompted me to remedy that! I love the Li’tya Marta Kodo massage at Bodhi J, 90 minutes of a pure out of body experience, seriously decadent….picking up the phone to book one now!

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

My hair is my crowning glory, my mother says it’s because my star sign is leo and it’s my mane…anyway, I’m very fussy when it comes to my hair as it’s very thick and wild and when cut by someone who hasn’t experienced my type of hair bad bad bad things happen. I moved back to Perth almost 4 years ago and it took me 2 years to find THE hairdresser who was recommended to me by a friend with equally thick hair. Erin at Hair Outaquin in North Perth is perfection!

Ed: I have seen Diana’s ‘mane’ on a number of occasions, and it is truly glorious!

Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?

Dry body brushing is about as DIY as I get 🙂 but essential during these winter months as my circulation slows right down.

Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?

Eeek…only 3???

Nutter Body Butter keeps my winter skin moisturized
Dr Hauschka tinted moisturiser and Dr Hauschka mascara in aubergine…
– And one more! My Goddess in a Bottle sprays. I’m using Blue at the moment for clarity, which I spritz myself with several times a day.

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

Getting a great bouncy blow dry and feeling my hair move in slow motion around me as I walk with purpose, and a great pilates session which stretches out all the kinks and helps with my purposeful walk.

What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven’t yet? (Due to time, money, scared etc!)

I really want to do an introduction to yoga course. I tried yoga years ago, but due to being completely inflexible and probably being at the wrong class I just hated it, it hurt me sooooo bad. But over the years with the help of pilates I have stretched out some tight muscles and feel I could be ready to give it another go! BUT my all time mecca of a wellbeing activity would be to have 5 nights at a gorgeous wellness spa retreat, it’ll happen one day!

Describe a typical day of eating for you.

Breakfast is a protein shake using Isowhey Complete (French vanilla) with berries, psyllium husk, LSA and Maca powder blend or a fresh vegie/fruit smoothie whizzed in my thermomix. Lunch is a bit hit and miss, my favourite is sushi, or a big salad with a soft boiled egg. During winter dinner is usually a casserole of some description, lots of lentils, root vegetables, lamb shanks or vats of pasta and vegetable soup!!

Describe your fitness routine.

Just as the cooler weather started I made a pact to myself to up the ante on my fitness so I’ve been going to the gym 3 times a week for some serious cardio classes ie. body pump and body attack as well as a cycling class. Twice a week I use my cross trainer at home for 30 minutes but I barely work up a sweat which is why I need the gym.

I also do Pilates 3-5 times a week at home as I’m a qualified Pilates instructor and am lucky enough to have a reformer (Pilates machine).

I also try to do an Xtend Barre class at The Perth Pilates Studio in North Perth when I can squeeze it in, as it’s super hardcore and is a great mix of cardio and strengthening exercises. Pilates keeps my spine moving, lengthens all my muscles and helps me retain a more neutral posture. It’s my all time favourite exercise which is essential to my general wellbeing, especially since I’m spending more and more time sitting at the computer.

Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements?

I go to my naturopath, Katrin Hoehne, about 3-5 times a year to keep me on track with my general wellbeing. Katrin usually treats me with a combination of a liquid herbal supplement, Bowen therapy and adjustments to my eating habits.

Every 3 weeks the kids and I go to Nervana Chiropractic for a spinal adjustment, the results are instantaneous and I always walk away feeling taller and lighter. AND I just started seeing Amy O’Brien at the Chinese Medicine Centre in East Fremantle who is helping me with acupuncture, cupping and Chinese herbs, as apparently my liver and gall bladder need some fine-tuning. I’m a huge fan of natural remedies and will try anything once and if it works I’ll be back! I also take spirulina tablets and a fish oil supplement most days.

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

I love to lie on the couch with a great book and some sort of snack, chocolate or corn chips to be exact. Or just lolling on the grass in the winter sun using my husbands shoulder as a pillow while the kids play close by…bliss!

Thank you Diana for taking part in our beauty & wellbeing routine, where we showcase inspiring people from Perth and beyond! Be sure to check out eVoke magazine too!

If you have any questions for Diana, please leave them below 🙂

Be well,

xoxo

Wellness WA Green Smoothie Database!

A Basic Green Smoothie Recipe – if you’re new to green smoothies, let this be your introduction! Apple juice (not too much, and as high quality as you can afford), baby spinach, banana, frozen fruit (berries or mango).

Magnificent Energising Morning Smoothie – frozen banana, blueberries, apple, spinach, pepitas, vitamin b.

Stuart Watkin’s Green Smoothie – Spirulina powder, chlorella powder, protein powder, himalayan crystal salt, maca, cayenne pepper, ayurvedic herbs (a unique smoothie for experienced smoothie makers!)

Avocado, Apple & Berry Smoothie – avocado, apple, frozen berries (any kind but I used mixed), flaxseed oil.

Green Smoothies – A New Kind of Beauty Therapy – article on green smoothies for skin health as well as a recipe: pear, apple, avocado, grated ginger, spinach.

Double Whammy Banana and Blueberry Smoothie – vanilla soy milk, bananas, frozen blueberries, spinach, wheatgerm.

Friday Night Smoothie Delight – Chocolate soy milk, banana, frozen blueberries, wheatgerm. Note: spinach not in original recipe but can be added and still be delish! 🙂

Blueberry, Banana and Cashew Butter Smoothie – bananas, frozen blueberries, organic cashew butter. Note: my original recipe doesn’t mention spinach, however a handful or more of baby spinach or greens thrown into this would be a great idea!

Mango/Raspberry and Spinach Smoothie – Frozen mango or raspberries (not both, though it could work, let me know if you try it!), spinach, banana, apple & pear juice, wheatgerm.

Q & A: Green smoothies on the go AKA How long will my green smoothie last? – a question we get asked a lot here, check out how to make the most of your smoothies throughout the day!