Posts belonging to Category 'Exercise'

Beauty & Wellbeing Crushes: Xtend Barre Adventures, Hillary's Wellness Expo & Organic Peppermint Tea!

Welcome to another jam packed edition of Beauty & Wellbeing Crushes! This is seriously such a fun segment for me to put together, and I would love to hear from you if you have any crushes that you think we might like to check out!

Xtend Barre @ Sense of Space in Subiaco

Ok, where to start with this one! A friend and I are currently on a mission to become fitness babes by ramping up our exercise routine, and this was the first cab off the rank. After seeing videos of Xtend Barre online, we approached our post-Easter class with nervousness and excitement.

2 minutes into the warmup, huffing and puffing, we both looked at each other with a fearful smile, we wanted to ramp it up, and this is what we got. 60 minutes of leg toning, butt shaping, ab firming, bicep workin' goodness, all mixed with fun tunes, loads of variation and the promise that you'll feel it for the next few days (this is a good thing!). I can also tell you that not everyone is coordinated, not everyone is perfect at all the moves, and – no one is worried! You just do your best.

The instructor (Kavan) was really lovely and we'll be going back weekly to see if we can improve on our first attempt 😉 Check out Sense of Space online, they have loads of times available!

Hillary's Wellness Expo

Wellness lovers rejoice! The Hillarys Wellness Expo is back! It's a free event held this weekend at Hillarys Boat Harbour on Fri 5th, Sat 6th and Sun 7th April, and features a tribe of health and spiritual practitioners as well as stalls specialising in recycled, sustainable, natural and organic products. There's also a Mongolian yurt on site and many free children’s activities.

Exhibitors include psychics, intuitive midwives, psychosomatic therapists, crystal readings, meditation sessions, plus loads and loads of health stalls. If you're free this weekend make sure you check it out!

Organic Peppermint Tea

Ah peppermint tea, how I love you! Throw organic into the equation and we're verging on soulmates. A really interesting thing has happened… ever since I've started drinking peppermint tea and rosehip tea (not at the same time!) each day, my skin has become exceptionally clear. They're both touted as super skin loving drinks, so I'm going to keep up with this experiment of sorts and hopefully keep enjoying clearer skin.

Have you ever tried Xtend Barre? Have you found peppermint tea or rosehip tea to be great for your skin? I'd love to talk about this with you, so leave me a comment below!

Be well,

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Annette

xoxo

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You Can Change Your Life: How I Lost 20 Kilos By Eating Clean & Exercising.

Hi I'm Lauren and I'm from Perth.

At the end of 2011, at age 22, I had been eating whatever the hell I wanted for a very long time. I did very little physical activity. I had atrocious skin, no energy, no confidence and could be pretty damn negative about life more often than not. I had very high blood pressure – somewhere around 150/110. My Doctor suggested I go on blood pressure medication for the REST OF MY LIFE.

I decided that being on that medication was pretty silly as a young person who had a long life still to live (if lucky!). I was convinced that diet and lack of exercise was my problem – I thought if I really tried hard to sort this issue out by changing my life, then there would be no need for medication. If it didn't work, then at least I tried. At least I had taken control of the situation, rather than letting life happen to me. We have so much more power than we think we do!

I got a personal trainer (Chris Vavakis from Mobile Trainer) for a few sessions, so that I could start somewhere. I increased the amount of vegetables I had in my diet, decreased the sugar and salt and ate only lean protein with my meals. It was hard and I slipped up a lot. Every time I slipped, I remembered why I was doing what I was doing and I KNEW that it was worth all the hard work. I got back on that wagon.

Results came slow but I grew to love the feeling of burning muscles. I knew that meant that my muscles were repairing themselves much stronger than they were before. I loved all the changes I began to see in my body and delighted in the knowledge that I was getting stronger! I became an exerciser and enjoyed the activity in itself! I used to hate cooking but grew to love the challenge of using spices instead of ready-made sauces and trying a difficult dish. Everything tasted so much better and I felt better about myself ten fold because I was doing this all for myself!

My skin improved, I slept better, I felt more positive about EVERYTHING. I became more confident in all aspects of my life. People started asking me for advice about exercise and healthy eating. I lost 20 kilos.

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I cannot describe to you the absolute feeling of euphoria and sense of accomplishment I felt when I first learned just how far I had come. After 9 months to 1 year of hard work, my blood pressure was a perfect 120/80. I went home and cried and laughed and screamed. I fist pumped in the car! I was on top of the world – I had changed my life. I am convinced there is nothing in life that feels as good as knowing that you have achieved something so incredible as changing your future – I could have easily taken that medication, but instead I changed my physical situation and I changed how healthy I was. Just me – I did that!

I'm an ordinary girl. I have 24 hours in a day. I went to university, I work full time. I have loads of awesome friends and a kickass family. I'm lazy and stubborn sometimes, I like to eat sweet things. I bet we're pretty similar.

Why does it matter how similar we are? Because there is nothing that I have, that you don't! Where I succeeded, it was because I didn't give up. I don't have any special knowledge or training. I'm not better at exercising – I started out at the bottom, just like everyone else and learnt along the way. I didn't let my brain tell me that I needed to be at any particular level before I started trying. All champions of anything start out failing, again and again and don't stop until they get there.

There is no secret. You CAN do it, you just have to try. You are stronger than you think you are. Do it for you.

Have you ever wanted to change your life? Do you have an inspiring story as well? Leave a comment in the below as we'd LOVE to hear from you!

Article by the incredibly inspiring Lauren Foreman, life changer and health & fitness lover.

Be well,

xoxo

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Beauty & Wellbeing Routine: Amanda, Owner & Head Trainer at She's A Knockout.

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!

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!

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.

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Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?

♥ Nivea Firming Body Lotion
♥ Nivea Chapstick
♥ Vaalia Probiotic Natural Yoghurt

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!

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 chicken or salmon, baby spinach, mint, carrot & cucumber in rice paper rolls)
Snack: seasonal fruit, reduced fat cheese
Dinner: salmon steak with quinoa, baby spinach, balsamic vinegar and toasted sunflower & pumpkin seeds
Dessert: natural yoghurt, berries & honey

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.

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

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Yoga Review: Complimentary Classes at lululemon athletica Perth City!

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.

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.

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.

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Yoga DVD Review: Eoin Finn's Blissology Project!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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Be well,

xoxo

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