Feeling Burnt Out?

Are you feeling burnt out? Following a low fat/low carb, high protein "healthy" diet? Putting in hours at the gym lifting weights and running long distances but not feeling that healthy or a lasting sense of wellness? You are probably burning yourself out, we don't need to do hours of cardio a day to be fit and healthy in fact if you do too much you will just be wearing down your body and its complex systems, making sure you move your body for 30 minutes a day in a variety of different ways makes sure you don't overdo it and keeps it interesting, anything from Pilates and yoga to interval training, jogging or even brisk walking. Unless you want to achieve a muscular or athletic body I beg you to stop paying attention to the pressure that says you need to be in the gym for at least an hour a day, it probably isn't healthy for you and you will end up burning out your immune system resulting in injuries and illnesses and diseases. Don't even get me started on diet, don't believe the clever marketing tactics of low fat low sugar packaging on food in the supermarket just because it says low fat it doesn't make it good for your body, have you ever asked yourself how they've magically got rid of the fat? Most of the time they have just added sugar- which I think we all know is not healthy or good for you. The healthiest diet is surely to eat food as unprocessed as possible that is closest to it's natural form. Stop counting calories from packets instead work out the level of vitamins you need for optimal health (I'm not talking RDAs here) and I promise you will start feeling healthier. Forget your six pack show me what you can do with your life, since when has optimal health suddenly become about a muscular lean body and less about how your body is functioning and your mental wellbeing. Is someone with 6% body fat spending hours a day trying to achieve the perfect muscular physique in a gym really "healthier" than someone with balance and variety in their active ness and life who may not have the "perfect" body as portrayed by the media but is happy and their body is functioning as it should be?What are your opinions?

Circuits…..One of the easiest DIY workouts!

Hey Guys!!

Recently I have been so manically busy with work I have found it extremely hard to be able to get to classes that fit around my schedule. I am not a gym lover, personally I don't want to look overly muscular or anything resembling a body builder, my aim is to be fit, happy healthy and toned, but sometimes I find it hard to motivate myself when I can't get to a class. 

I am not someone who can run for hours or go to the gym by myself, I just tend to get bored! So I found the perfect solution for me….an at home DIY circuits class.

The format is really easy and it is so good for anyone with a short attention span like myself or if you get bored by doing the same things.

Here is what I do:

Grab a piece of paper, write out SET A and then number the lines 1-8.

Below write SET B and again number the lines 1-8.

You then need to write out 8 different exercises for each set targeting different parts of your body, I like to make Set A and Set B completely different, but if you want to repeat some exercises that is totally fine!

Here is an example of one of mine :)

I like to put my cardio exercises as numbers 1&5 so that they are spread evenly throughout your workout.

I have also put in exercises with weights, if you don't have weights at home you can do other exercises or get experimental with what you can use as substitute weights!

Then once you've sorted out your exercises grab a timer. Do each exercise in Set A for 1 minute with a 20-30 second rest in between, then do the same for Set B.

On the second time around increase your time doing the exercises to 1 1/2 minutes still with a 20-30 second rest. 

I hope this is helpful for some of you! Let me know if you try it out :)

Triyoga Rooftop Yoga Event at Selfridges.

The rooftop restaurant at Selfridges

Beautiful flowers to enhance the experience.

A Picture- Perfect morning, what a heavenly sight!

Post class cold pressed fresh juices served in the sunshine - pick your colour :)

A chance to soak in the sun after class with a carrot juice and my new triyoga tote bag.

Hello All :)

So this morning I ventured into central London for the first of Triyoga's rooftop yoga classes held in the Q Rooftop restaurant on the roof of Selfridges. The weather was perfect, the sun blazed down on us and not a cloud in the sky, we could not have dreamt up better conditions! 

I took the express lift in Selfridges that takes you straight up to the roof, once out of the lift I walked down a corridor filled with different paintings and photographs before emerging into the restaurant. 

This restaurant is like a little slice of cool& calm in the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street (I will definitely be going back to sample some food, especially as I spied a gluten and dairy free cake!)

The outside garden area had been cleared and all our mats lay out in the sunshine, I was early as always so I picked a mat near the front and sat stretching watching all of my fellow yogis turn up one by one dressed ever so fashionably in a mix of Lulu Lemon and Sweaty Betty, everyone amazed by the view, snapping pictures and chatting away - the atmosphere was electric yet calming and friendly enhanced with the beautiful flowers that surrounded us, it was a sea of tranquility in our far too busy modern lives.

The class itself, although shorter than most yoga classes triyoga offer (it was an hour class) was brilliant, a vinyasa flow class that was tailored to any level you needed....beginners poses if thats what you need but also a balancing crow pose, binding and one legged toe grip side planks just to make sure we got the most out of our flowing practise we even managed to try a one legged and one armed downward dog- I know it sounds crazy but it works your core like mad and I even managed to hold it even if it was all of a few seconds!

After the class I was feeling like I could float around for a week, I was so relaxed and felt happier and healthier than I have for such a long time. We were greeted with a post class juice with a choice of green, beetroot or my choice which was carrot and tumeric, it was delicious and the perfect end to an amazing morning.

If any of you are around in London this summer I would urge you to go and try this out. You will not regret it, I promise.  It is being held every Tuesday morning until September (in case of rain it will be cancelled but you will get a full refund) You can find all details about the class and how to book here

I am definitely going to be going again so maybe I will see some of you there!

Have a great week :)

Turkey Burgers

These turkey burgers are so easy to make and they are such a yummy and nutritious dinner option for all ages, everyone I have ever made these for has absolutely loved them so I am sure you will too!!

 Homemade turkey burger with salad and veg.

Turkey Burger Recipe (makes 4-6)

Mix :400g Turkey Mince with 

1 Onion -finely diced,

2 Egg Whites and

40g Parmesan grated

In a bowl and then shape into burger shapes. Cook in coconut oil in a frying pan on a medium heat, turning the burgers occasionally until cooked through (should take around 15 mins)

Such a simple recipe but they are so tasty and turkey is a great alternative to beef.

Thailand

Hey All!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I have been moving home after some personal family issues and then I took a little 2 week holiday to Thailand. It was amazing and I got to spend a lot of time relaxing and tanning by the beach. Sometimes we need to take some time out from our reality to spend time on ourselves, do some meditation and yoga and eat good food.

Here are some of my holiday snaps I wanted to share with you, I will be doing some get bikini ready with me posts over the next few weeks to share my tips on how I got into holiday shape and also to prepare for my next trip to America in July!

Enjoy!

xxx

"You have every right to a beautiful life"

 "The cure for everything is salt water, tears, sweat and the sea"

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain"