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Where did the year go?! It’s only a matter of days until Christmas / the holidays and all the fun and festivities that go along with it. And, if you’re anything like us, you have left your present shopping until the last minute again (no judgement here).

Luckily, Wellness WA have sourced some fantastic gift ideas to help promote self-care & sustainability to those you love these holidays. And yes, you are included on that gifting list too!

♥ Zero Co – #imgoingzero

If you and your loved ones are trying to be more conscious of how you are treating Mother Earth, then gifting a present from Zero Co is a great step! Zero Co are a local Australian company that make single-use, plastic-free body care and home-cleaning products that are vegan, cruelty-free, grey water safe and made from plant-based formulas.

Not only are their products great, but even the packaging they come in is earth-friendly. All of their products come in ‘Forever Bottles’ and refill pouches that you can use and re-use forever (and ever)! Forever Bottles are made from ocean, beach and landfill (OBL) plastic that is sourced from clean ups, funded by Zero Co and refill pouches are made from recycled materials diverted from landfill.

When you gift Zero Co’s refillable products, you’re helping to fund ocean clean ups around the world and eliminate the production of more single-use plastic – how great is that?

♥ The Body Care Christmas Gift Box

Sound good? Head here to grab one of their Christmas Boxes like the Body Care Christmas Gift Box or their Home & Body Christmas Gift Box for your special someone. They’ll ship it to you, or straight to your loved one’s door with a letter from sustainable Santa to explain how it all works. They even have gift cards for those harder-to-buy-for people in our lives (we all have one). It’s an easy & festive way to have a big impact on our planet.

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♥ Soul Nurture Wellness

2022 was a stressful year for many of us, and the festive season can sometimes add on even more stress! Imagine if you could give the gift of relaxation … that’s where Soul Nurture Wellness comes in.

Specialising in holistic and nurturing massage, meditation, and ultra-relaxing treatments, it’s the perfect present for those in your life who need a bit (or a lot) of bliss and calm. You can select a gift card amount, or choose to gift whole treatments to that special someone. See their range of relaxing treatment offerings here. We recommend the 2 hour Wellness Journey as the perfect kick starter.

Check them out on Instagram too for last minute appointment availability!

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♥ Healthy Hampers

If you’re after a delicious gift idea for that special someone – then look no further. Healthy Hampers specialise in delicious and generous hampers, carefully curated for those with dietary requirements or diet preferences. They have just released their extensive range of hampers that meet many dietary requirements including vegan, gluten-free, keto options, and everything in between – perfect timing for the holiday season!

Some delicious options include the Vegan Snack Attack Hamper or the Gluten Free Bake & Snack Hamper. With so much to choose from, you are sure to find the perfect selection to spoil your fussy loved ones.

Visit Healthy Hampers Australia to start shopping.

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♥ Veggie Saver

Did you know that the average Australian household throws away over $2,000 of food waste every year? Even more so, Christmas is notoriously the most wasteful time of the year, with 90% of Aussies throwing away more than 25% of their food during the festive period. If those numbers make you feel a bit sick (and not just from too much Christmas ham), we have a solution.

Veggie Saver is an award-winning, Australian-owned food storage system which is designed specifically to keep fruit and veggies fresh and crisp for two weeks or more – so your Christmas leftovers can still be enjoyed well into 2023!

Additionally, 5% of every sale of Veggie Saver is donated to Destiny Rescue, a not-for-profit leader in the rescue and rehabilitation of children from sex and slave trafficking. Win-win!

For more information on the Veggie Saver and to find a stockist near you, check out their website here!

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♥ Bare and Wilde Memberships & Retreats

Established in 2018, Bare + Wilde has built a fanbase of Australian wellness enthusiasts who have a thirst for discovering new healthy products through their wellness subscription boxes and hosting wellness retreats throughout Australia. Late in 2022, they also launched their own Self Care range of products.

Their Rituals Boxes and Memberships and self care bundles are a thoughtful gift for a loved one who needs more “me-time” in their life. Or for someone extra special in your life or if you need to treat yourself, why not check out one of their upcoming retreats?

There are a few already planned for 2023 so you can start planning your best year yet.

♥ Open House Yoga <3

♥ Yuletide Yoga

Yoga is one of our favourite pastimes and with good reason; researchers have found that regular yoga practice may produce health benefits including increased cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength, and normalisation of blood pressure.

Whether you are a seasoned yogi, or a first-timer, make 2023 the year of yoga by treating yourself or a loved one with a yoga class or two at your favourite yoga studio.

Some of our go-to’s are Open House Yoga, YOGALAB, Common Earth Studio, and Yoga Folk.

We hope that you were able to find some holiday gifting inspiration from our curated list, or maybe you have a few ideas for your own wish-list!

Either way, we hope that everyone has a very merry festive season, and wish you all the best for 2023! Bring it on!

Leah is a freelance content creator from Perth who loves her dog, trying weird fitness trends, beach days and avocado toast. Follow her Instagram @leahonthedoor

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Stress. It is a part of our lives whether we like it or not – especially in 2022. The pandemic is a constant black cloud over our heads. Dealing with this, on top of all the regular every day stresses that we have, like work deadlines, kids, housework and finding time for friends & loved ones, it’s no wonder that a lot of people feel like their stress levels have increased. We are all being pulled in so many directions and it is important to understand, and recognise, that all of these things are classed as a stress to our nervous system. Whilst our nervous system isn’t designed to be under constant stress, you can also use it to help manage our stress and anxiety if you know how!

The more “in balance” our nervous system is, the better it deals with day to day stress and life, which is what we all want, isn’t it?

To understand how you can use your nervous system to help manage and regulate stress you first need to know about the nervous system itself. It has two main parts – the central nervous system (CNS) made up of brain and spinal cord, and your peripheral nervous system (PNS) which is everything else including cranial nerves, spinal nerves and their roots and peripheral nerves.

The PNS communicates messages from the brain and the rest of the body. The PNS has two branches. The Somatic (carries information to and from the nervous system) and the Autonomic system which regulates involuntary functions such as breathing, heart rate and hormone secretion. The Autonomic System then has two parts as well. The sympathetic system “fight, flight or freeze” located in the vertebral column in the thoracic and upper lumbar region and the parasympathetic system “rest and digest” made of cranial and sacral nerves. With me so far?

All of these parts of your nervous system are meant to work in harmony or balance. It goes into a state of increased sympathetic control in times of stress so we can run away from the “tigers” in our lives (aka work deadlines, family stress, trying to do it all). Your heart rate increases, digestion slows, glucose (energy) is released, airways open, adrenaline is released, bladder contraction is inhibited and your pupils dilate. Which is great for a short period of time. But you then want your body to balance out into parasympathtic control. This means you are ready to rest and digest so to speak, to recover from the stress. Your ability to digest food well increases, bile is secreted, bladder contracts, heart rate slows and pupils constrict to name a few things that may occur at this time.

One thing to keep in mind is that your brain doesn’t understand the difference between a real threat and a perceived threat, and will stay in fight and flight until the “threat” is perceived to have gone away, which means it can impact you for much longer than you think it can, especially if you are still thinking about it!

So, with that knowledge, we can use our nervous system to help deal with stress. Which basically means that you are helping to regulate your nervous system and its responses. The more “regulated” your nervous system is, the better you will deal with everyday stress – which is what we all want.

From what I see, so in my opinion, the majority of people are currently in a stressed state. So to regulate their nervous system it is best to stimulate and activate the parasympathetic system.

Here are my top 6 ways to do this!

Breathing techniques – An easy, free and simple way to help take your body back into sympathetic control. Take 5-10 minutes to stop and breathe, deep and slow. Try to spend a little longer on your exhale, than your inhale. I recommend setting a timer for how many minutes you want to do it for, so that you can focus on breathing with your eyes closed, rather than thinking about how long you have been doing it for.

Water – Jumping into cold water is ideal, and if done regularly has been shown to lower your “fight and flight” response. If you can’t do this, even just splash it on your face or use a spray bottle and spray your face and neck. Cold showers are great, and even taking a few minutes to drink some water and breathe can make a difference!

Exercise – We all know by now that exercise and movement can get good endorphins flowing which is good for both your body and mind.

Sleep – One of the most important aspects to self-regulating the nervous system, you should be aiming to sleep well for a wide range of reasons. Importantly, when you sleep, your body can recover and heal. This includes your nervous system! If you are sleep deprived your sympathetic nervous system activity increases. This is not what you want, if you are trying to decrease the impact of stress on your body and nervous system.

Get into nature – Even better, barefoot in nature! If you can’t do this then close your eyes and picture yourself in your happy place. Just like the nervous system doesn’t know the difference between a real and perceived threat, it also doesn’t know the difference between you really being in the middle of the bush, hiking, or camping with your family, vs. you just thinking about it. The positive and happy thoughts of somewhere with low stress, will help your nervous system get into that state.

Seek additional support – See a health care practitioner that is trained in the way the nervous system works (A Chiropractor is a great example of this as we spend years training!) and can work with you and your personal situation to put a plan in place to help your nervous system work the best it can!

Please remember that all these tips are general and not designed to replace individualized advice. If you have any questions please reach out, I would love to help you or point you to someone who can.

Written by Dr Aimee Brown – a Holistic Chiropractor, Personal Trainer, Ultramarathon Runner & Mother of three, based in Manning, Perth, who is passionate about the mind & body connection. Find out more about her work or get in touch with her here.

♥ Under Armour Brand House – Karrinyup

With a brand new year comes brand new opportunities to rework the bits & pieces of your life that maybe weren’t 100% in 2021.

For me, I’m making health and fitness my top priority this year. I’ve cut down my work hours to 25 hours and have scheduled 3 days off each week, and the hours that I am working are based around attending specific yoga & fitness classes in the mornings and afternoons.

Put simply – ya girl is serious about getting fit again. I have about 10 kilos that I’d like to lose in order to be within the healthy weight range and feeling like my best self (I know it’s unpopular to talk about losing weight, but it’s my truth and I think it’s important to share that you can still love yourself, and also have weight loss goals).

With that said, when the opportunity came up to visit the new Under Armour Brand House Karrinyup, I was very keen! What better way to start a new year and kick some goals than with a fresh new wardrobe from one of the most popular activewear brands on the market? There’s just something so motivating about a new outfit, and I’m more than happy to draw on every available resource (psychological or not!) to help me hit my goals.

I have to admit that I was fairly unaware of Under Armour before trying their clothing – but after visiting them at their brand new Karrinyup digs late last year – now I can’t go a single day without spotting many multiple people sporting their gear!

I also convinced my boyfriend, Ben, who has some 2022 fitness goals of his own, to give a few pieces a whirl – and he’s also a convert.

We’ve put together a list of our top 3 pieces each in the Women’s & Men’s categories – to help you hit your own health & fitness goals in 2022 – let’s dive in.

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♥ Meridian Bike Shorts

Starting this list with any other piece than the Meridian Bike Short just wouldn’t make sense, it’s pretty much all I’ve been wearing for the past 4 months – chillin’ at home? Check. Going for a run? Check. Heated yoga? Check. HIIT workout? Check. Popping down to the shops for a bag of chips? Check.

What I like so much about this unassuming short, is that it’s the perfect length (8 inches), super soft and high-waisted while not being constricting and uncomfortable on the tummy, doesn’t cut in on the thigh, is squat-proof, and also has pockets (yaaaay!).

It really is the perfect all-rounder short for WHATEVER you want to do! I will admit, at first I wasn’t sure because I normally like my bike shorts slightly shorter than this, but I’ve since been won over and the little bit of extra length means I’m not constantly tugging down my shorts during my workout.

I will note that if you’re using this for more intense exercise, over time the fabric will become a little textured – not quite pilling but just a more brushed texture rather than smooth. This doesn’t bother me in the slightest, but having worked in the activewear industry for many years now – I know this is an issue for some people. So if you’re super particular about keeping your fabric 100%, I’d recommend hand washing in cool water, laying flat to dry, and just using these for more gentle exercise like yoga and pilates.

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♥ UA Rush Tank

What’s a pair of shorts without the perfect matching tank top to go with it? The UA Rush Tank is a light-weight, super sweat friendly tank top that comes in plain black and is the perfect pal to pair with your Meridian Shorts.

I find myself reaching for this one when I’ve off to a functional strength class at FitStop, a run, or heated yoga. I love that it’s a slightly looser fit, which I find very flattering and I don’t have to worry about fabric clinging. You can do a tiny tuck of the tank into the shorts so the top doesn’t fly over your head during downward dog, and the extra breeze on my arms during a super sweaty workout is very much appreciated.

It doesn’t stick to your body and is ultra quick drying too – love this addition to my fitness wardrobe!

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♥ HOVR Phantom 2 Intelliknit Running Shoes

I was immediately drawn to these shoes because I felt like they had a “cyber hacker babe” vibe to them, and that is how I wish to view myself moving forward.

The Intelliknits are super comfortable to wear, and I’m reaching for them without fail every single time I go for a lap around the local park, jog around Lake Monger, or even if I’ve just got a busy day filled with lots of errands about town.

They come in loads of different styles and designs, and truth be told I want absolutely all of them.

I would highly recommend these for anyone looking for a cute, lightweight walking / running shoe that’ll make you feel like you’re walking on air.

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♥ Rush Compression Long Sleeve Top and Shorts (Men’s UA Rush Heatgear 2.0 Long Sleeve & and half tights)

It is Under Armour’s compression line that intrigued me the most when I was browsing their collection. I have been using compression garments for years, and they have become particularly important to me as I have gotten older. I’m nearly 40, and increased muscle soreness is just a reality of staying active as you enter middle age.
I have tried a lot of brands, but never Under Armour and I have to say I am impressed. The first thing I noticed is just how light they are compared to other compression garments I have tried. It is a revelation. When I wear compression gear I just expect to be hot after a workout, but not with Under Armour Rush. It kept me cool and comfortable for my entire 70 minute session, and still provided me with the support I expect from a compression garment. If you have tried other brands and found the heat too much, I definitely recommend giving Under Armour a try. The Rush compression line really impressed me and they are very competitively priced.

You can find the shorts here, and the top here.

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♥ UA Streaker Run Short Sleeve

This, in my opinion, is the perfect workout shirt. It is so light weight and well ventilated that I knew as soon as put it on it would go the distance. As you can seen from the name, it is designed for running, but this top was equally as good in the gym. I had excellent range of motion and I barely felt its presence my entire workout. I love the cut of this shirt as well. Confidence is a significant element of a successful training regime. If you feel that positive energy about yourself, and about what you are doing, working out does not need to be a chore. I feel good in this shirt and that positive energy lets me push that little bit harder. I know that is a lot to put on shirt, but this is my go to if I am feeling little down before a workout and need a boost.

On top of that, it is literally half the price of other brands that are not even half as good as this. Highly recommended! You can find it online here.

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♥ UA Project Rock 4 Training Shoes

Okay, I admit it, I did not know that Under Armour did shoes. That is on me though because their collection is pretty impressive and includes a great selection of running and training shoes all the way to more practical varieties like hiking boots and protective gear.
I tried the Project Rock 4 Training shoes and what a find they were. I have always worked out in runners because I thought ‘Whatever, shoes are shoes.’ Well I was wrong, very wrong. In fact, I have been denying myself the extra support and stability you can get from shoes that are designed for purpose. Shoes that give you that little bit more confidence taking one those extra weight plates, that take the pressure off your ankle and let you power through a movement.

The Project Rock 4 does just that. As soon as you put them on you can feel the difference, with a knit compression collar that softly, but firmly, cradles your ankle. I immediately felt more stable. A rubber strap bisects the foot from the laces to the arch to provide that extra structure you just do not get with runners. This is a must for anyone looking to improve their balance doing weighted squats, lunges or deadlifts. You will feel the confidence you need to go for little bit heavier, and get those gains a little bit faster.

We tried on all of this fab gear at the Under Armour Brand House Karrinyup, where the staff were incredibly sweet, helpful and positive – it was a fantastic experience and I would highly recommend popping in to check out their latest goodies if you’re in the area!

Have you tried the Under Armour brand before? What are your ‘must have’ pieces? Head on over to Instagram and let us know @wellnesswa!

Be well,

Annette & Ben

xoxo

*Products provided by Under Armour for consideration, opinions are our own.

♥ Photo from Jordanna Levin’s Instagram

It seems somewhat counterintuitive to set out on a quest to find love by focusing on who you are on your lonesome, but when it comes to manifesting a Higher Love, i.e a love that lifts you up rather than has you falling, then the only thing you need is something you already possess, yourSELF.

Too often we walk into a new relationship or at the very least a dating experience, looking for our potential suitor to tick a bunch boxes, fill a few gaps and make us feel something we convince ourselves is impossible to feel without them. But if you know anything about manifestation, you’ll know that like attracts like and if you want to become a love magnet (I mean, who doesn’t) it all starts with an acute sense of self awareness.

You’ve likely heard the terms self-care and self-love thrown around in the context of body brushing, journaling and eating your greens, but true love and care for oneself comes down to knowing who the bloody hell you are! Most of us don’t…

I describe it as your personal vibration. When your personal vibration is strong, you feel like the truest version of you. You feel confident, comfortable, your posture is probably nice and tall and your words flow with ease. When your vibration is weak you feel stuck and stagnant, you can’t find comfortability in anything and you’re likely not the witty and clever gal (or guy) you know you can be.

Self awareness is about knowing what strengthens your personal vibration and what weakens it (and I’m not even talking about relationships, yet). My vibration is strong when I’m around certain people, when I’m working in my business, when I integrate enough ‘me time’ into my week and when I’m doing the things that bring me joy. My vibration is weakened when I spend too much time on social media, when I fall into the comparison trap, when I spend too much time with people who drain me, or when I force myself to do things because I feel ‘I should’.

Once you know what it feels like when your vibration is strong then day to day you aim to choose things that keep it vibrating at their frequency. When it comes to love and dating this is helpful in two ways. When you’re vibrating at a strong frequency:

– You naturally attract people vibrating at a similar frequency to you! Score.

– You can use it as a barometer to determine whether someone you’re dating is bringing you closer or further away from that true authentic version of you. Make sense?

If you really want to manifest a Higher Love in 2021 you need to ask yourself 3 questions:

1. Who am I?

2. What lights me up?

3. And how do I want to feel in love?

And then prioritise the answers to those questions in all of your pursuits in love. Self awareness really is your greatest superpower.

Jordanna Levin is is an author, podcast host & self-love & manifestation expert. You can read more about Jordanna’s wellness routine here!

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With 2021 shaping up to be a crazy little year already (hello snap lockdown, fires and floods), there’s never been a better time to prioritise love, self-care and

Whether you’re celebrating valentines, gal-entines, pal-entines or treat yourself to some Cristal-entines (?), this list of fun gifts will have you or your pressie recipient feeling the LOVE this February 14th. And while we agree that you should show yourself and your nearest and dearest love EVERY day of the year, we also think it’s nice to have a little space carved out in the calendar that’s dedicated solely to the L word.

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♥ La Loba Cliterally Amazing Clit Oil – $24

What better place to start on the day of love than right with your own body? Designed for people with clits, this lush oil smells like a delicious chai tea (seriously, the smell is amaze). Use the dropper to apply 1-2 drops to your (or someone else’s) body, wait a few minutes and then enjoy the warm, tingly sensations. Fun to use for self-pleasure, partner-pleasure – particularly oral sex – or just because, when I first bought this product from the cuties at Soft Yoga Perth, I would NOT stop raving about it to everyone that crossed my path. The obsession remains. Do yourself a big favour, at $24, it’s well worth the investment.

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♥ Couples Massage

People have been showing their love for one another by sharing the gift of massage for almost as long as time itself. There’s nothing quite like the post-incredible-massage haze and deep sense of relaxation, so it makes sense that we would want to gift this feeling to someone we care about!

If you want to take it up a level, a couples massage involves both of you being massaged at the same time in the same room by two separate massage therapists, so you can bond over the mutual relaxation you’re both experiencing!

Most couples massages will end with a cup of tea and some snacks in a cosy room to keep the bliss going just a little bit longer.

Our top recommendations are Endota Spa Perth CBD, Bigfoot Massage in Northbridge, Bodhi J, Como Shambhala in the city, and Crown Spa.

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♥ Peggy Sue’s Pink Vitamin C Serum

Your face shouldn’t miss out on the love this Val-day, and we think that one of the very best way to show your skin some TLC is with a natural Vitamin C serum – specifically this cute one from Peggy Sue!

Naturally coloured with dragonfruit extract, I’d say it’s pinkness compares to rose quartz, the Pink Vitamin C Serum is designed brighten, hydrate, and firm the skin. I can confirm that after using it my skin felt moisturised and not oily or sticky at all – which is ideal in a serum – and my daily facial sunscreen & makeup went on perfectly over the top.

Give the gift of glowing skin with this absolute babe of a product. Used daily, for at least two weeks, your skin will be feeling and looking its very best.

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♥ Higher Love by Jordanna Levin

This one is a great idea for your Gal-entines day or a night snuggled up at home on the couch with Uber Eats and a bottle of wine – introducing, Jordanna Levin and her make-your-heart-happy book, Higher Love.

A dating manual for the astrology-lovin’, crystal cleansing & soul-centred friends in your life – Jordanna promises to help you manifest more love in your life by upping your personal vibration to help attract the partner of your dreams.

And even if you’re already coupled up, you’ll enjoy this feel-good, self-love guidebook that will have you feeling more deeply connected to your heart.

Whatever you’re doing this Valentines / Galentines / Palentines / Icecream-in-bed-entines, we hope you enjoy showering yourself or someone else with love!

Be well,

xoxo