DOING……
Spring is a the perfect time to try new forms of exercise, clear the mind and declutter the home. Try something new…..you may just form a habit of a lifetime.
First up - Exercise. Which exercise is best for ‘getting your glow’? Naturopath Andrea Wardle tries out Bikram Yoga and gives us the long list of benefits.
Next up - Home. After all, it’s where the heart is. We spoke to Sam Sample from Australian aromatherapy brand Be Genki on how to rid our homes and minds of clutter.
KEPT turns our focus to finding new ways to reuse and embrace what we already have. Try keeping it!
LET YOUR SKIN BREATHE
The skin is the largest organ of the body and is not only a first line of defence against our external environment, but also one of the key pathways in the elimination of waste materials - ‘toxins’ - from the body. The skin is often referred to as the ‘third kidney’ due to its remarkable waste removal capacity. All too often this important organ is disregarded and disrespected. Just as the liver suffers from an overload of chemicals, so too can the skin. This is where Bikram yoga can ‘kill 2 birds with 1 stone’ - great as exercise and great for detoxification.
Bikram yoga is performed in a room heated to temperatures of around 40 degrees Celsius - think of it as ‘yoga in a sauna’. Try visualising all the skin pores opening and expelling the waste as one sweats from not only the external heat but also the internal heat that is generated with the movement of the body. Sweating helps ’spring clean’ your body by removing the build up of the natural by-products from body functions and the foreign chemicals we consume, breathe in, and may be putting on our skin. Profuse perspiration not only assists in the detoxification process but also deeply cleanses the skin enabling rejuvenation and vitality to shine. By focusing on correct breathing techniques you also assist the lungs to perform their vital detoxification process, simply adding to the overall GET YOUR GLOW benefits. Some suggest that the use of heat also stimulates faster fat burning and immune function, thus adding other positive benefits to this mindful and gentle form of exercise.
The naturopathic philosophy for the optimal exercise prescription is the combination of aerobic, strength and flexibility training. Adding a class or two of Bikram yoga a week to your current exercise regime provides many health benefits including joint health, postural support, reduction in lower back pain and balancing muscle groups that may be over trained in other forms of exercise.
In the 90 minute class, 26 modified Hatha yoga postures are held for 10 to 20 seconds each. The external heat enables the body to become more limber, enabling flexibility to increase, and you may find that you can achieve postures that you never thought possible. This assists in keeping you motivated and enjoying the challenge that is Bikram yoga. Give it a go…it’s a little addictive.
Want to learn more?
Chalk Farm / Kentish Town / Queens Park / Old St - Bikram Yoga
Balham / Fulham - Hot Bikram Yoga
Soho - Bikram Yoga Soho
Chiswick - Bikram Yoga Chiswick
Leicester - Bikram Yoga Leicester
Credit: Andrea Wardle
N.D. (naturopathic doctor)
Dip.Applied Science - Naturopathy
Dip. Homoeopathy
Dip. Anti-Ageing Medicine
Andrea consults from CONTENT every Friday, and lectures at the College of Naturopathic Medicine.
www.beingcontent.com
CLEAR YOUR MIND AND DECLUTTER THE HOME
Chances are you may have slipped into some ‘not so healthy’ habits throughout winter. I know I’m guilty of a few…not exercising as much, eating more comfort foods, and snuggling up under the covers for a little longer than I do in the warmer months. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I’m all for embracing each season and all that goes with it. But Winter is well and truly over and Spring is all about rebuilding energy levels, detoxifying the body and cleansing the mind. And whilst we’re at it, 
why not check what can be done around the home as well?
Set aside an afternoon to go through your cupboards, shelves and drawers and recycle old papers, donate magazines to a local school and clear out old cosmetics and food that is past its use-by date. Coming home to an uncluttered living space is such a joy, and somehow manages to help unclutter the mind too. The perfect addition to this process, in my opinion, is aromatherapy. When good quality essential oils are diffused, they purify the air and neutralise mildew, cigarette smoke, and other odours. They reduce bacteria in the air and alter the structure of the molecules that create odours, rendering them harmless. Breathing in pure, plant-derived scents also helps to influence and bring about a positive state of mind. My personal favourite is the Be Genki Serenity Essential Oil Blend of Neroli, Rose Otto, Rosewood, Palmarosa and Bergamot; oils that are all renowned for their calming properties. Neroli essential oil is regarded as one of the most effective sedative and antidepressant remedies and is reputed to be wonderful in helping with states of anxiety and depression.
Many illnesses and diseases start in the mind. Have you ever noticed that those people who say “I’m sick and tired of this or that” are often sick and tired in physical form as well? Be mindful of what you say as every word has an energy of its own. Detox your mind by becoming more conscious of your thoughts and words, and make it a priority to have gratitude for all that you are and all that you have the potential to be. You are the creator of your life, so how about turning all those negative thoughts 180 degrees and begin to be the happy and healthy person that you truly deserve to be.
xSam
www.begenki.co.uk Perfect for clearing the mind.
KEPT IT
Ever get the feeling you have too many things? Too much rubbish? Kept has noticed too. Created in 2009 to inspire us to reuse, keep and treasure our things. Kept was formed by a group of designers, writers, policymakers and business folks:
Thought-leaders and change-heeders who want a world where products can bring joy without filling the world with rubbish. We believe in getting the most out of things: that there is delight, nobility even in keeping treasured things and not simply buying new. Kept’s mission is to:
* Help people to reduce waste
* Make it easier for companies to ‘Make Things Better’
* Keep things out of landfill and in fashion
Unlike most endeavours these days, Kept aren’t selling anything. Just the opposite. Their aim is to motivate us:
To use it. To wear it. To celebrate it!
And we like the way they think:
The world has got a bit rubbish recently. Our relationship with stuff has become temporary, throw away, on a losing tip. Now is our moment to start making and using things better. The first step is easy: tell the world about the stuff you treasure, why you care, and why you Kept it!
Go on, make sure your possessions are KEPT.
