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

I am a Pilates Instructor that wholeheartedly believes in the magic of mindful movement and the connection between mind and body in feeling well and good!

I founded Perth Pilates Collective to create a fun and supportive space for individuals to pursue their wellness goals and enjoy a mindful pilates practice in a unique environment that would not only have physical benefits, but also improve the mind.

I am a big believer that changing your physical environment and getting out amongst nature takes us off auto pilot and allows us to pause, experience the current moment and give gratitude for what is. My continuing education in psychology and keen interest in yoga further drives my curiosity and passion for helping others restore a mindful balance in physical and mental well being.

♥ Nars Laguna/Orgasm Duo

♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine! What are your non-negotiables for looking and feeling your best?.

My daily beauty routine is pretty simple and that’s the way I like it! A quality moisturiser with an exceptionally high SPF rating is a must given I am outside a lot (I like the Nivea range for affordability!), a dab of mascara (Rimmel is a goodie) and a touch of Nars Bronzer in Laguna sets me up for the day!

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♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?

Coconut oil is my number one natural go to after a long week, working as a face mask and all over body moisturiser. I also enjoy the Facial Glow Mask by Elemental Herbology to get my natural glow on and wake up tired skin (I have a lot of early morning starts!).

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

Batiste dry shampoo in light to medium brunette is a lifesaver to keep the sweaty hair at bay when running between studios, a nourishing facial moisturiser with 30+ SPF to protect my noggin (I like Nivea’s Light Feel Daily Face Veil) and Rimmel Scandal Eyes mascara in Extreme Black for a touch of pretty.

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

I would actually love to try a facial one day! The closest I’ve ever gotten is an at home mixture of oats and honey or coconut oil. Perhaps I’ll give it a go one day in an exotic location like Hawaii or the Greek islands, that’s usually where my spare time and money goes; travel!

♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you – brekky, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinks – the works!

I am a big breakfast kind of gal and often wake up with a rumbling tummy! Oats and banana are my staples in the morning, sprinkled with almonds, berries and a dash of peanut butter for energy and concentration throughout the day.

Given I am often on the go I snack on fruit and nuts, as they are easy to carry around and are a good sized snack in between classes that won’t make me feel sick when upside down or bouncing around at the studio! Plus the slow burning energy from nuts aids my concentration and keep me full until dinner.

Lunch almost always involves avo on a hearty slice of rye bread, topped with sauerkraut for healthy skin and nails and digestive health (plus they are both super delicious!) Dinner is a variation of vego staples; vegetables, tofu and tempeh are all favourites.

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♥ How do you like to get your body moving? Describe your weekly fitness routine.

Pilates is my go to exercise of choice at home, mixing it up between matwork and reformer classes at the studio when I have a spare moment! Pilates is a meditative practice for me. It allows me to reconnect with my body and focus my mind on the present moment. My mind is often racing and quite frankly rarely stops! Pilates slows everything down and gives me something to focus all of my pent up energy in to, whilst doing good for my body and mind; I love it!

I also dabble in yoga to stretch out a sore body after a full teaching schedule and love hiking the beautiful hills of Perth and strolling our beautiful beaches in my spare time.

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

My absolute favourite way to distress is a combination of pilates and yoga. I am known to integrate a touch of yoga into my pilates classes, combining the strength and core stability of pilates with the zen and tranquility of a yoga practice to calm the mind. I have also recently been introduced to essential oils which have really improved my quality of sleep.

♥ 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 struggle at times with anxiety and have found slowing down and switching off before bed time is super important to getting a good nights sleep and recharging for the day ahead, which often starts bright and early! Hours of sleep can range anywhere from 6-9 hours. For a happy medium I aim for 8 hours on average.

My top tips for a good nights’ sleep are disconnecting from technology a good 30 minutes before bed, dimming the lights in your room and doing something relaxing like reading a book, writing in a journal or meditating if you are feeling super wired! All of the above practices allow me to slow the mind and give myself permission to rest my body (and mind!) which is often a tad sore from teaching and racing around during the day.

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♥ And lastly… do you have any top secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?

Exercise often and be in nature as much as possible. Fresh air and the feeling of fresh grass on the feet will give you perspective and moments of gratitude in even the most challenging of times. I love to get out of the city and in to the country. I am a country girl at a heart and always find my peace by getting back to nature.

Check out Lauren + Perth Pilates Collective on Facebook & Instagram!

What do you think of Lauren’s routine? Leave a comment below if you’d like to know more! 🙂

Be well,

xo

♥ Reece Carter, the Herb Nerd!

Today I’m really excited to share with you the wellbeing routine of Reece Carter, well-known Aussie Naturopath & “Herb Nerd” who loves all things to do with plants and their healing powers. Read on for some fantastic tips that will get your skin glowing & energy levels soaring. Thanks Reece!

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

I guess you could say I’ve been a ‘Herb Nerd’ all my life! Growing up in The Wheatbelt, my Pop had the most phenomenal veggie garden which we worked on together, and I felt a real connection to life on the land.

I’ve always been fascinated with the combination of traditional remedies with current research, and turning to the garden or pantry for wellness. While living in London, I had a lightbulb moment and decided to formalise my education in the area I loved with a Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy) with Endeavour College of Natural Health.

In my very first year of study, I did a subject called ‘Herbal Manufacturing’ which gave me hands-on experience of how herbal preparations are made. I loved the subject and spent more than 600 hours in the Wellnation Clinics at Endeavour to better understand people’s daily health concerns. That’s when I decided to dive into the world of herbal medicine.

♥ DOSE Vitality Tonic

Now, I’m a practising naturopath based in Sydney, creating a life I love! I have my own clinical practice, have recently released my own liquid vitality tonic called DOSE, and produce my video channel ‘The Garden Apothecary’ in Los Angeles dedicated to making the ancient art of herbal medicine new again.

♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine! What are your non-negotiables for looking and feeling your best?.

Cleansing and a light moisturise after the gym every morning. Night time is where I do my more heavy duty skin healing, loading up with heavier oils like rosehip, and blends that I make myself. I love using sweet almond oil for Vitamin E and calendula which is very healing for the skin.

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♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?

An aloe vera plant is my at-home hack, because it’s so easy to grow and so versatile. It’s one of those things that has so many different uses in beauty and grooming. You can combine it with a bit of cucumber juice or witch hazel, and all of a sudden you’ve got an aftershave gel to reduce irritation. Or you can freeze the gel and replace the store bought version from your own garden if you’ve had too much sun.

One of my go-tos would have to be my aloe vera eye gel, which uses hydrating aloe, soothing cucumber, anti-inflammatory chamomile and tightening witch hazel to soothe tired, puffy eyes. You can find the recipe here, or watch me show you how to make it here!

♥ Midas Cup Tumeric Latte

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

1. DOSE Vitality Tonic – this is built around something I was making for myself and having at the start of everyday for wellness and improved energy and mood throughout the day, so I created an over-the-counter version of that. My aim with the tonic is to reduce the effect our every increasing hectic lifestyles have on wellness, and restore vitality using our bodies’ natural energy pathways. Find it online here or also at OneFHL in Subiaco.

2. Midas Cup Turmeric Latte Superfood Blend – my absolute go to! Turmeric is another food I have every day because it has this enormous range of health benefits. It’s the king of anti-inflammatories – especially for the gut – and as we know as naturopath’s, the gut is linked very closely to mental health and wellbeing. So having a natural gut anti-inflammatory everyday is a must for me, and this blend is absolutely delicious.

3. Organic Rosehip Oil – it’s a beauty! I use it on its own at night for my skin. It’s rich in Vitamin C which not only acts as an antioxidant, but also improves collagen synthesis to strengthen elasticity and keep your skin looking fresh and supple.

♥ Reece + pals @ OneFHL in Subi

♥ How do you like to get your body moving? Describe your weekly fitness routine.

The thing I do most is high intensity interval training (HIIT), usually a 45-minute sweat session first thing in the morning. I always look for a place I can do that kind of class – when I’m home in Perth, it’s at OneFHL in Subiaco.

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

As much as I’ve tried, I’m not really big on meditation. I see enormous benefit in it, but my mind is always racing and so if I need to do something meditative, it’s a slow-paced repetitive cardio activity. I find swimming to be very relaxing, so if ever there’s a time where I feel a bit overwhelmed, that’s the kind of exercise I do. For me, it serves the same purpose – quietening the mind and focusing on a single activity, that’s where it’s therapeutic for me.

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

A lot! I’m an early to bed, early to rise guy, and a very deep sleeper! It’s not unusual to find me in bed by 8:30pm, and I’m up at 5am. So I get at least eight hours a night, and always have my magnesium and herbal tea before bed. I usually have a passionflower, lemon balm and lavender blend that I make myself to calm a racing mind – this was a lifesaver during my studies!

To keep up to date with Reece on his Herb Nerd-y journey, check out his website or follow him on Facebook / Instagram!

If you have any questions or comments about Reece’s routine, please leave them below! <3 xo

♥ Lara Zilibowitz

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

I am an artist and yoga teacher with a long-standing passion for creative expression through the body. Movement and creativity have been the keystones in my own quest towards health and I feel extraordinarily privileged to share these learnings with students.

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I am the co-founder of Back2Roots Retreats, hosting yoga, meditation, creativity and nature immersions around Australia and abroad, a synthesis of luxury and wilderness woven with heart. Alongside my love of movement, is my passion for creative expression. I have become known for my handmade, hand-carved mandala-designed ceramics. Each piece is unique with no two the same, and the process of creating each mandala is a meditation practice.

The most recent collaboration with the ABC for the Classic Flow podcast has also been such a joy to create – a gift of exquisite sound and sensation available to the global community.

♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine! What are your non-negotiables for looking and feeling your best?.

I’m a pretty low-maintenance kinda gal when it comes to beauty routine! Sun, swims, lots of yoga and good sleeps tend to be a foolproof combo!

♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?
Saltwater from the sea for my hair, coconut oil for my skin and frankincense essence for fragrance.

♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you – brekky, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinks – the works!

I’m not strictly vegetarian, but I eat a lot of fruit and veg. And I’m a snacker! Because I’m on the move so much of the day, it’s rare that I’ll sit down for a solid lunch. I make my own granola that I have most days for breaky with seasonal fruit and yoghurt, but then throughout the day may very from chopped veggies with hummus to toast with almond butter and apple, or a good smoothie and a muffin. I eat all-sorts for dinner, too. I worked for many years in food magazines and I love to cook – from quick and easy stir-fries and frittatas to a roast dinner with all the trimmings.

♥ Lara Z

♥ How do you like to get your body moving? Describe your weekly fitness routine.

I practice yoga every day, if not at the studio then on my deck at home. It’s not only my physical practice, it’s essential for my sanity and sanctity. And a solid walk out in nature is my preferred way to get the heart rate up.

♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, we’d love to hear about it!

When I was 18 I had a life-threatening encounter with a glass table which left my nervous system in a state of severe shock. My yoga and meditation practice has been the best medicine for me during a long-time skirmish battling post-traumatic stress symptoms of anxiety and insomnia. Over the years I have also found craniosacral therapy extremely helpful for settling my nervous system.

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

Getting out into nature is the antidote and I am absolutely in my element down by the ocean. There’s something about immersing myself in the vastness of the sea that clears all mental barnacles and details that may be clinging to my mind, to help me detangle stress. Getting my arms elbow-deep in silken clay, painting, drawing, carving, creating, is also a meditation practice for me.

♥ 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?

My bedtime routine is very strict, as I have struggled for so many years with sleep-related issues. Getting to bed early is rule one, and I sleep with an eye mask in a dark, quiet room. I turn my phone off after dinner so my head isn’t full of work-related distractions, allowing my system to start to slow.

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♥ And lastly… do you have any top secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?

Enjoy the skin you’re in! I firmly believe looking beautiful comes from feeling great from the inside. Indulge your passions, pursue what makes you happy and keep orienting towards pleasure and joy.

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Thanks Lara!

Lara Zilibowitz will be leading Classic Flow Yoga at Perth International Arts Festival – a free Vinyasa flow class paired with live classical music on Saturday 18 February and Sunday 19 February at UWA, as part of Chamber Music Series. Register on Facebook here!

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

I’m the manager & resident yoga instructor at COMO Shambhala Urban
Escape. I was first introduced to yoga when i was 16 as method of coping with stress and anxiety. I credit the practice for providing a close-knit community, support and guidance that I so desperately needed, something I’m now recreating with COMO Shambhala Urban Escape, Perth’s urban wellness center in the heart of Perth CBD.

I have practiced yoga for more than a decade, and have completed my Level 1 (350 hour) Integrated Science of Hatha, Tantra, and Ayurveda teacher training with Tamara Yoga, in Western Australia. I have also trained with internationally renowned yoga teachers; Sarah Platt Finger, Alan Finger, Seane Corn & Simon Borg-Olivier.

♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine! What are your non-negotiables for looking and feeling your best?.

Self-practice! I can not walk out the door without doing my own practice. I HAVE to check in with myself every morning and every night! I’m also a bit of an obsessive shower-er, I have been known to have 4 showers a day… some may call that OCD…

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

Hair cut!! I started going grey at 24 (eek!) and I cut my hair every 8 weeks.

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

Alicia from Baseline Hairdressing in Subiaco, she’s the bomb!

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♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?

Massaging sesame oil all over my body.. it’s whacky but it’s incredibly nourishing & calming and a fantastic remedy for anxious or ‘Vata’ types.

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

Bare Minerals Powder, Nars Laguna Bronzer and toothpaste.

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

You wouldn’t believe it but i have never done Jacobs Ladder… I seriously have to get there!! Otherwise Indoor Cycling scares the CRAP out of me but I’m game. Also, I’m rather curious about this new buzz on pole dancing!

♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you – brekky, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinks – the works!

Oh gosh, I’m really quite simple. I’ll have a smoothie and a cup of tea before I head out the door. Lunch is generally eggs in some form either on a salad or on toast with avocado and vegemite and dinner is greens with tempeh, salmon or roasted vegetables with some sort of tahini apple cider vinegar. I kind of do things on repeat…

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♥ How do you like to get your body moving? Describe your weekly fitness routine.

Yoga yoga yoga! And a walk once or twice a week. I am also occasionally dragged to a cardio session with friends… kicking and screaming though!

♥ Reece Carter (The Herb Nerd!) Dose Vitality Tonic!

♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, we’d love to hear about it!

I am always trying out weird and wonderful things. I get a remedial massage once a month from Louise @ Resolve Remedial Massage in Claremont, I went through a stage of getting bowen therapy, acupuncture and reiki once a week, I practice a lot of Tantra and I take 5ml of Reece Carter’s Dose Vitality Tonic once a day. Also.. chocolate!! LOTS OF IT! Is that a supplement? (ED: Yes.)

♥ You’ve got a big event in 7 days time that you need to look incredible for. What’s your plan of attack to look & feel your absolute best?

Sleep, meditation, yoga, water and clean eating. That’s it. Not complicated. Straight to the point and very
manageable. I’m not one for big diets or restrictions. These are my non- negotiable and they work.

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♥ How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress? Yoga, Meditation and my body coated in sesame oil with a cup of tea and a good book. I’m currently reading: Relax & Renew, Tantra: The Path of Ecstacy & The Girls.

♥ 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 8 hours a night… without fail. I will always have a shower before bed and brush my teeth. Reading a book with a cup of peppermint tea & dark chocolate is a pretty common practice too.

♥ And lastly… do you have any top secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?

Be authentic!! Always be yourself. Trying to be something or someone else will only create suffering which in turn will leave you feeling unfulfilled. Being you, being bold and being brave will always reward you! And then of course.. yoga, water, meditation, self-reflection and lots of self care will help you along.

You can find Steph @ Como Shambhala Urban Retreat Perth:

1 Cathedral Avenue, Perth

Website: www.comoshambhala.com/perth/classes
Facebook: www.facebook.com/comoshambhalaperth
Instagram: @comoshambhalaperth

If you have any questions for Steph please leave them in the comments below so she can reply! 🙂

Be well,

xoxo

♥ Photo by Vanessa Levis

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

I’m a nutritionist who writes health and beauty books, I occasionally eat chocolate, and my latest book, Younger Skin in 28 Days (RRP $29.99), has just been released.

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♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine. (please include specifics about brands/products used)

I have sensitive skin and I use products that are both gentle and anti-ageing.

In the morning I moisturise my face with Vitamin B serum and Uberzinc, which is SPF15+ and has anti-inflammatory ingredients. I also apply ReviTaleyes which is an anti-wrinkle eye serum (all by Synergie). At night I cleanse with Hydra Calm Cleansing Crème by La Mav, and then I apply an anti-ageing serum Ultimate A and moisturise with Uberzinc.

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

I usually do my own exfoliation beauty treatments, which remove dead skin cells and smooth my skin. It’s really simple and involves using an exfoliating mit and gentle body wash, and for my face I use ReVeal by Synergie. When I want to treat myself I go to Amy Erbacher Beauty (in Sydney) for a skin-smoothing facial.

♥ Favourite budget / at home beauty treatment?

I love this simple Foot Soak and Scrub weekly treatment to remove dead skin for younger, more beautiful feet. Place warm water into a large, wide bowl and add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Place the bowl onto a towel on the floor where you can comfortably sit and soak your feet for 5 minutes. Then use a pumice stone, rubbing it gently on the soles of your feet in a circular motion.

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

Ultimate A by Synergie, it’s the wrinkle eraser!
Body moisturiser such as B-Juvenate by Synergie or Dr Organics Pomegranate Body Butter.

All can be found here.

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

I take a powdered calcium supplement every day – it’s fantastic for the skin. Calcium helps to moisturise and protect the skin from harsh weather conditions and it’s great for bone health too, which is important as you age!

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

I’d like to go to a health spa where you can’t talk for a week.

♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you.

I wake up early and have an organic chai tea. Later, for breakfast I have Omega Muesli which is 3/4 cup oats and 1 teaspoon of linseeds soaked overnight, drained, and served with organic soy milk, cinnamon and seasonal berries. Lunch varies but often consists of brown rice (Low GI by SunRice), roasted pecans, radicchio lettuce, mixed purple salad leaves, celery, grape tomatoes and home-made salad dressing. In the afternoon I snack on fruit (such as peach, papaya and cherries) and dinners vary greatly but I do love sushi and home-made curries.

♥ Describe your fitness routine.

I recently joined a gym so my routine now consists of lifting weights – upper body one day and lower body the next. I go about 5 times per week and I also do about 300 squats per day.

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

I take my own custom designed supplements for healthy skin, hair and nails, one with each main meal. I also have powdered calcium (with magnesium and vitamin D) every night.

♥ 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 have about 7 hours of sleep each night. I sometimes have trouble falling asleep so I do this Younger Skin face steaming routine just before bed, to relax the facial muscles and promote sleep:

Cleanse your face and rinse, then fill a bowl with very warm water. Add a small amount of apple cider vinegar — the vinegar is an optional step that is designed to help restore the acid mantle of the skin. Wet a soft cotton face cloth and quickly wring out the excess water. Hold the hot/warm cloth against your face (eyes closed) and gently press, imagining your facial muscles relaxing each time you breathe out. Hold the cloth over your face for 5–10 seconds and repeat the process three times.

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

Enjoying hobbies is an important part of being healthy, for me. I love listening to music, and once a week I’ll go to the cinema by myself. If I’m really stressed I’ll go for a beach run or buy a big bag of cherries – I love them!

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Karen Fischer is a nutritionist, award-winning author and a former television presenter (What’s Up Doc? Nine Network). Karen’s bestselling books include The Healthy Skin Diet, The Eczema Diet and newly released Younger Skin in 28 Days. Karen’s website is www.healthbeforebeauty.com

Thanks Karen! If you have any questions on Karen’s routine, please leave a comment below 🙂

Be well,

xoxo