by Annette @ Wellness WA | Mar 17, 2013 | Alternative Therapy, At Home, Other
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♥ Acupuncture
I’ve used acupuncture a couple of times before and always found it helpful. My digestion has been a bit sluggish lately, so I decided to see Jacinta at the Perth Natural Medical Centre. I find the sessions extremely relaxing and always leave with a gentle buzz of energy and feeling really refreshed. The dietary advice has been so interesting and also counter-intuitive. Apparently my system works best without cold and raw foods according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. I’m not sure where that leaves my green smoothie habit, but it’s worth a go!
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♥ Swimming at the new Beatty Park Pool
I started to swim regularly in my teens and it’s the one aspect of my exercise routine that has stuck. I've tried many types of exercise but, for me, nothing beats the soothing, meditative effects of lap swimming. I absolutely love it and always sleep so well after a long swim. I’m feeling very lucky that my local newly renovated pool at Beatty Park is so lovely. The works haven’t been totally finished yet but it looks like the centre will be amazing when it’s all done.
♥ Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate
This is my new mantra! There’s nothing like summer to make you more body conscious. I’ve been using the hot towel scrub method lately to make my skin silky smooth. Just grab a flannel, warm water and soap or shower gel, lather up and scrub away! For my face I’m enjoying a lovely scrub from the Smitten Organic skin care range. My skin tends to be quite dry so I avoid harsh scrubs, but this one is a very gentle, creamy and really effective.
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♥ Hands and Feet Pampering
I'm loving Burts Bees Tips and Toes Kit at the moment. I’m pretty busy, so find it hard to fit in a mani-pedi and I also find them pretty boring treatments. This kit is great for some quality at-home pampering.The hand creams are also the perfect size to throw into a handbag or purse. They’ve thrown a yummy pomegranate lip balm into the kit too! All of their products are earth friendly, in fact they were one of the pioneer natural skin care brands as they started in 1984. It’s a pretty affordable range too.
What are your favourite budget and at-home pampering tips?
Article by Karen, whos certain she was a fish in a previous life!
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Mar 15, 2013 | Makeup, Wellness Tips
♥ Lime Crime Carousel lipgloss in Snowsicle
Vegan friendly super glittery lipgloss. Need I say more?
They’ve also got a really cute tumblr!
If you'd rather check it out in person first, Red Stripe Clothing in Northbridge have a great range of Lime Crime makeup. Just before Christmas I was in there and mentioned this lipgloss and they got it in in their next order and THEN texted me when it came in so I wouldn’t miss out. Just wanted to give them a shout out because they deserve your business!
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♥ Apple Cider Vinegar by Braggs
Already a huge fan of their liquid aminos, it seemed only a matter of time til I found my way to the ACV. Benefits? Well it depends on whom you talk to, but for me personally- digestion and skin goodness are really copping the awesomeness. *Get the one with mother!*
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♥ Models Prefer Kohl Pencil in Matte Black
Makes me feel like Daria Werbowy. Pencily on one end, smudgy on the other. You want a smoky eye? No problem. Oh you want a cat eye? Can-do. A kohl pencil is a staple (seriously everyone needs one) and this is a hard-working, versatile number. Purchase.
Are any of these favourites of yours too? Have you tried Apple Cider Vinegar for it's health benefits before? Leave a comment and let me know!
Article by Adriane Daff, equal parts fan of vinegar & makeup.
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Mar 14, 2013 | Exercise, Interviews
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♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!
I loved sports growing up and was into everything including netball, tennis, soccer, karate and even trampolining. Although sporty, my weight was a problem. After a decision not to leave my teens unhappy with my weight, I took control of my health and dropped 20kg to become the fit, strong and confident person I wanted to be.
Passionate and determined to share the benefits of health and fitness with others I started up She’s a Knockout, a mobile personal training company specialising in personal training for women!
It’s so rewarding helping women achieve their goals, transforming their lives and themselves along the way. Through Personal Training, Corporate Training, Bootycamp and Boxing classes, She’s a Knockout now brings health and wellness to women all over Perth… and we’re loving it!
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♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine.
I spend a lot of time outdoors so my skin is constantly thirsty. A massage therapist gave me a great tip once to add oil to my usual moisturiser – it works wonders! I mix Nivea Body Firming Lotion with Bio Oil.
Confession: I may or may not have cleaned Strawberrynet out of Clinique products. The daily routine comprises Take the Day Off Makeup Remover (you’ll never have racoon eyes again I swear!), Clarifying Lotion, Dramatically Different Moisturiser and Superbalanced Makeup. They also have a great moisturizing lip colour balm that comes in loads of colours –just ignore the weird name – Chubby Stick?!
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♥ What’s the one beauty treatment you can’t live without? And your favourite place to have it done?
I haven’t had the chance in Perth, but on a recent trip to Vietnam I tried my first Traditional Thai Massage. Amazing!
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♥ Who do you trust with your hair in Perth, and why?
It took me a year to find her, and I’m not sure I want to let the secret out, but Victoria at Renos on St Quentin in Claremont is my hair guru.
♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?
A friend of mine gave me a product to try once called Baby Foot. You pop your feet in these indivdual moisturising bags and let them do their magic! After a couple of days avoiding strapless shoes (peeling!), lovely soft baby feet emerge.
♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?
♥ Nivea Firming Body Lotion
♥ Nivea Chapstick
♥ Vaalia Probiotic Natural Yoghurt
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♥ Do you have any secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?
I believe feeling and looking great all starts in your mind. If you think ‘I am a fit, healthy person’, you will talk that way and you will act that way. The result: you will be that way! (Ed: check out our article on Positive Affirmations for more on this!)
For me it’s drinking lots of water, exercising regularly with purpose, eating natural non-processed foods and surrounding myself with positive people.
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♥ What beauty treatment/ wellbeing activity would you love to try but haven't yet?
If the opportunity ever arose I’d love to give aerial acrobatics a go!
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♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.
Although I can’t cook to save myself, I’m definitely a foodie. So the key for me is moderation. I try to stay away from packaged foods – I know I feel good when I eat clean, so a typical day goes like this:
Breakfast: wholegrain toast, banana and cinnamon
Snack: almonds, cottage cheese
Lunch: fresh spring rolls (these are so easy to make – herbs with protein, baby spinach, mint, carrot & cucumber in rice paper rolls)
Snack: seasonal fruit, reduced fat cheese
Dinner: protein with quinoa, baby spinach, balsamic vinegar and toasted sunflower & pumpkin seeds
Dessert: natural yoghurt, berries & honey
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♥ Describe your fitness routine.
Ooo my favourite bit! ☺
Fitness should be fun, so I mix things up with my exercise routine to keep my brain and body from getting bored.
Outdoor training is the best, so most of my training takes place in parks or at the beach. Each week I’ll do a combination of boxing, playing netball, weighted circuit training, running, interval training and hill sprints.
Relaxation and recovery is also important, so I do a few stretch/relaxation classes a week to stay loose and avoid injuries.
♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, discuss.
In addition to a nutritious diet I take a women’s multivitamin, vitamin c and fish oil daily.
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♥ How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress?
Cathcing up with girlfriends, smashing it out in a boxing session or going for a run in the sunshine are all top of my de-stress hit-list ☺
Thanks to Amanda for taking the time to share her routine with us! Check out the website if you’re interested in finding out more about She’s A Knockout.
If you have any questions or comments please leave them below! 🙂
Be well,
xoxo
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Mar 11, 2013 | Cheap / Free, Events, Exercise, Inner City, Reviews, Yoga
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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.
by Annette @ Wellness WA | Mar 7, 2013 | Alternative Therapy, Other
What exactly is a positive affirmation? An affirmation is a positive statement used to bring about a desired situation.
Let’s not over complicate it, that’s all it is. It’s something that we say to ourselves to create what we want. “But I’d feel silly talking to myself” I hear you say. Have you noticed that voice in your head though that does talk to you? Usually in a negative way?
So, if you’re going to talk to yourself anyway, why not say good things, nurturing things, things that will change your life for the better?!
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There is a cafe in San Francisco that has made affirmations a major part of their theme, the menu at The Gratitude Cafe is in the form of affirmations such as:
I AM DAZZLING
Caesar salad with romaine lettuce, avocado, Caesar dressing, capers and Brazil nut Parmesan
I AM COMPLETE
Mediterranean plate with almond hummus, olive tapenade, live falafels, cucumber tzatziki salad and a live cracker
and
I AM ETERNALLY BLESSED
Cold-processed espresso milkshake ( I think this may be my favourite 🙂 )
How awesome is that! Fabulous food and the opportunity to set up your day in a powerful, positive manner.
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There are countless stories of people who've healed themselves and changed their lives through affirmations, from Louise Hay who cured herself of cancer to Australian Denise Duffield-Thomas who created her dream job through affirmations and visualisation, as well as using the Law of Attraction.
Add to that the fact that they're an inexpensive (can't get better than free) thing to add to your routine – why not give them a try yourself?
The best affirmations are simple and easy to remember and repeat, “Every day in every way I'm getting better and better” is an oldie but a goodie, and if it's good enough for Tony Robbins who am I to argue.
Make sure to say them in the positive, present tense for example, “I am the perfect weight for me” rather than, “I will lose weight” which implies at some time in the future you will lose some weight.
Affirmations can be used for any area of life you can think of, and Tony Robbins (yes again) even talks about a couple who used affirmations to win the lottery.
What will you use affirmations for?
On a side note I’ve found these amazing people who also add your own personal affirmations to meditation music to make them even more powerful, these are awesome if you want to take it to the next level.
I’d love for you to choose just one affirmation and use it in as many ways as possible, say it out loud, say it to yourself while looking in the mirror, write it down ten times a day.
In the comment box below I'd love to hear about your results!
Bubbles of Love from me to you!
Written by Chizelle, leading The Ultimate Self-love Revolution, writer, speaker and hostess of Chizelle TV
Be well,
xoxo
