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Shamanic Healing at Orchard Barn Health

Ever thought about experiencing a holistic therapy in order to help restore your energy balance?

In these testing times we are all looking to rebalance our health, mind, and body. By booking a Shamanic Healing appointment with a specialist practitioner it may be exactly what your body is crying out for.

Orchard Barn Health is an integrative health and wellbeing centre, located in the rural village of Stallingborough in North East Lincolnshire. The vision of two sisters, Dr Sally Moorcroft and Helen Quirke, Orchard Barn was created within a converted barn on their family farm. The centre now attracts clientele from across the country.

Dr Sally is Clinical Director of the practice, and her sister Helen, is Co-Director and Business Manager. They are supported by a team of natural health therapists including Emma Bailey, who is qualified in the field of shamanism.

Shamanism can help to remove deep-rooted traumas that can affect the body on a physical and emotional level. This treatment is especially suitable for those in need of rebalancing wellbeing.

The Healing Treatment

Shamanic Healing involves cleansing the aura with white sage or palo santo, ‘holy wood’. Emma will talk over the issue that you are bringing to heal. An issue may be something such as grief, anxiety, heartache, loss of direction, or to re-energise the body’s spirit.

Emma Bailey of Orchard Barn Health

Shamanism connects with the natural world. It brings healing from nature, including the earth, seasons and even spirit animals like deer or birds of prey.

During the healing, Emma will rebalance the energetic body, to help find equilibrium and peace. The energies continue to work for at least 28 days afterwards, and Emma will advise on after care for the settling process. You may find that one session is enough, or you may want to return when you feel the time is needed.

Emma is highly trained in her practise and her trainer has worked directly with Shamans in Peru. Emma therefore has a strong lineage to support her healing gifts.

Dr Sally Moorcroft

Dr Sally Moorcroft has twenty years clinical experience as a hospital doctor and then training in functional and integrative medicine. She is passionate about combining this allopathic medical training and clinical experience with a mind-body holistic approach, as a functional and integrative medical practitioner.

Dr Sally’s specialisms include women’s health, gut health and cancer support. She helps to heal patients with a combination of techniques, including nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy and bioidentical hormones.

So, why not book a consultation with Dr Sally, or book a healing treatment such as shamanism with Emma Bailey. Each shamanic session lasts a minimum of 90 minuntes, and is priced at £65. To find out more about shamanic healing or other treatments at Orchard Barn Health visit orchardbarnhealth.com

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Health

5 Reasons to Practice Breath Technique

Do you ever feel like you just want to press pause, slow everything down and take a breather from life? Let’s be honest, the past few months haven’t been the easiest and while we are all doing the best we can, there are days when we are just not feeling it and our mental wellbeing is in need of a boost. One of the quickest most effective ways to boost your wellbeing is breath technique and the best bit – you can access it for free anytime, anywhere. There are so many wellbeing benefits to practicing breath technique, so grab a cup of tea, take a deep breath and read my top five reasons we should all have this tool in our emotional first aid kit.

It calms you in moments of stress and overwhelm

Breathing activates your vagus nerve which shifts the brain from fight or flight mode to a calmer state. It activates our parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) which is primarily responsible for relaxation, its job is to restore, rejuvenate, heal and conserve energy and it is a bit like activating your contentment reserves.

It improves your concentration

It is easy to feel distracted when we are overwhelmed or worried. Breath technique stimulates the cerebral cortex, which is the part of the brain that plays a key role in memory, attention, perception, cognition and awareness.

It increases energy

Breathing balances our autonomic nervous system, which regulates involuntary body functions like temperature. It can lower blood pressure and improve your mood as well as boost your energy levels. As we take oxygen into our body it enters the bloodstream and is carried to your muscles, where it is either used immediately or stored.

It boosts happiness

Deep breathing triggers the release of endorphins which are chemicals produced naturally by the nervous system to cope with pain or stress. They are often called “feel-good” chemicals because they can act as a happiness booster.

Gets rid of a headache

A headache is an indicator that the brain is deprived of oxygen. By practicing breath technique, you fuel your brain with oxygen, calm your mind and should feel instant relief.

Try this simple breath technique, perfect for beginners.

  1. Sit or lie in a comfortable position.
  2. Close your eyes.
  3. Relax your muscles, let your body connect with the chair or the floor.
  4. Breathe easily and naturally.
  5. Tune into your breath, begin to breathe in through your nose for five counts, hold for five counts and release for five. Focus on your breath. Continue for three to five minutes. When you finish sit quietly for a few minutes.
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Health

Woodies: The CBD Hand Sanitiser

Looking for a hand sanitiser glow up? Look no further. CBD has been the ‘it’ topic in the world of health, wellbeing and cosmetics since it’s legalisation in 2016, and Woodies is a new brand on the block set to push the boundaries of CBD with a moisturising hand sanitiser, perfect for the times we live in.

Founded by Jamie Wood, son of model Jo Wood and step-son of Rolling Stone guitarist Ronnie Wood, Woodies offers a constantly growing array of products which hope to aid health and happiness. The brand strives to showcase the groundbreaking positive effects it can have on the body and mind. Experts believe that CBD can assist in the maintenance of the Endo-Cannabonoid system, the primary function of which is to maintain stability across all of the body’s systems and processes, including: pain, digestion, metabolism, motor control, liver function, mood, stress, sleep, muscle formation, brown growth, cardiovascular system function, skin and nerve function.

Woodies CBD Hand Sanitiser Spray £14.99

Whilst excessive hand washing or use of alcohol-based hand sanitiser tends to reveal the cracks in people’s dry skin, CBD works to counteract this with moisturising properties. Endocannabinoids regulate the functionality of skin cells, including keratinocytes which form the protective outer layer of the skin. When CBD is applied onto the skin, the cannabinoids activate and can inhibit inflammation, itching and proliferation. At Woodies, every dose of CBD in each bottle is broken down into nanoparticles using advanced ultrasound technology to ensure that the CBD can be easily absorbed and that the skin can experience maximum moisturisation.

woodiesuk.com

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Health

How to manage anxiety post lockdown

With restaurants and pubs opening around the UK this weekend and lockdown measures lifting across the world, there is a sense that life pre-corona is slowly returning.

For most of us the past few months will have been an emotional rollercoaster, adapting to new rules and ways of living, then just as we get used to the ‘new norm’ things change again, leaving us in a constant state of stress and anxiety. As shops re-open, children return to school and businesses welcome staff back to the office, a new kind of anxiety comes with it.

‘Re-entry anxiety’, is a type of stress and anxiety related to the fear or worry of returning to normal life and leaving lockdown. This type of anxiety can come from worry about catching the virus, fear of leaving the house or being in busy public spaces where you might feel vulnerable.

We are all dealing with this crisis differently, your experience will be different on any given day and will be influenced by where you are physically in the world, government guidelines around what you can and cannot do but also your mental energy and mindset will play a huge role in how you respond to the challenges you are facing daily. Here are my top five strategies to help you adjust to life after lockdown and manage re-entry anxiety.

Take things one day at a time

Don’t rush back to normal if there are some things you feel apprehensive about. If the office re-opens and you are anxious about returning, then speak to your boss about going back gradually and build it up slowly. It is important to do things at your own pace.

Stay in your own lane

Don’t compare other people’s actions with your own, if your friend is happy to go to the pub and meet groups in the park but you still don’t feel comfortable, then don’t do it. It is important to recognise that we all cope with things differently and are at different stages of this pandemic, mentally and emotionally.

Recognise what you can and cannot control

Accepting that you cannot control some situations but can control how you react to them is a key coping strategy. Always direct the lion’s share of your attention, energy, and effort to what you can control, not what you cannot.

Start by asking yourself what parts of this process are within my control? Write down all the things that are in your control, then proactively put in place those actions to regain that control. Also try listing out where you have no control of, recognise its out of your hands and draw a line under it. Then try to reframe it to put yourself in control and back in the driver’s seat.

Check your internal dialogue

Recognise when you are having negative thoughts or chats with yourself. Because of all the change and uncertainty, it is easy to get caught in a negative thought loop. It’s not our fault, the human brain is wired to pay more attention to the negative. It is called negative bias and is a natural evolutionary response designed to keep us alive. While this is super useful, if we don’t close down the negative thoughts they will take over and this can have a huge impact on our mental health and mindset. Learn to recognise when your thoughts are helpful and when they are not.

Create your own emotional first aid kit

Just like you would reach for a plaster if you cut your finger, you need to have an emotional equivalent for when you feel anxious. Exercise, breathing techniques, gardening, journaling, and baking are all great ways of quietening an anxious mind. You might also want to use supplements like CBD or kava kava, as both have been found to be effective as a way of managing and reducing the symptoms of anxiety. You just have to find the coping strategy that works for you and practise it regularly.

If you are struggling with re-entry anxiety, try not to put too much pressure on yourself to adjust, talk to a friend and work out strategies that feel comfortable and achievable. You can also contact Samaritans who offer a confidential listening service, 24/7 on 116 123.

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Health

10 Wellbeing Ideas for Lockdown

Are you taking care of your general wellbeing at the moment? We can see from the news that more and more people are exercising at home, and daytime cookery programmes are promoting healthy eating and drinking, but what are you doing to look after yourself?

You may be meditating daily, or taking an evening bath more regularly, reading a life affirming self-help book, or simply taking time to listen to the morning birdsong, whatever you are doing to look after your wellbeing we are championing you on.

The #TeamCoco gals have put together a list of wellbeing ideas to see you through lockdown, check them out over a cup of herbal tea or a gin and tonic and simply relax and unwind.

General Wellbeing

PUKKA Herbs, Organic Tea, Elderberry & Echinacea, £3 (20 sachets), from Waitrose, Tesco, Holland & Barrett

Euan MacLennan, Herbal Director at Pukka Herbs and Medical Herbalist at a London-based NHS practice provided us with some advice on the range of natural remedies to those wanting to seek out herbal and plant based solutions surrounding viruses.

“Whilst our immune system is designed to fight off viruses, sometimes it can be helpful to support it against new challenges and ensure we are as robust as possible at times when infections are active in the community.”

“Sipping on herbal tea is a fantastic way of incorporating key ingredients into your day-to-day lives. PUKKA Herbs Organic Elderberry and Echinacea is packed with antioxidants to reduce stress and fight infections.”

Elderberries: act as natural antioxidants and a natural source of vitamin C. It is a powerful fruit shown to ‘de-activate’ viruses and helps to stop spread in the body.

Echinacea: is an immune tonic, which can help to fighting infections of the respiratory tract. It can also help relieve symptoms and speed recovery.
Holistic London, Scented Candle, in Grapefruit & Rosemary, from £11.25, from thisisholisticlondon.com

A multi-faceted fragrance combining two of the best ingredients to lift spirits, using grapefruit and rosemary essential oils. As they burn, they melt into a woody base, which smoothly blends for a nice raw scent.

This vegan scented soy wax candle is made with renewable eco-friendly soy wax only (no shady blends), is also made with pure essential oils (no synthetic fragrance), is made with cotton wicks for a natural even burn, and without colorants and dyes.

Holistic London, Scented Candle, in Grapefruit & Rosemary, from £11.25, from thisisholisticlondon.com

A multi-faceted fragrance combining two of the best ingredients to lift spirits, using grapefruit and rosemary essential oils. As they burn, they melt into a woody base, which smoothly blends for a nice raw scent.

This vegan scented soy wax candle is made with renewable eco-friendly soy wax only (no shady blends), is also made with pure essential oils (no synthetic fragrance), is made with cotton wicks for a natural even burn, and without colorants and dyes.

CBD Wellbeing

Pollen Gummies, Soothe You, £35 (for 30 gummies), from www.withpollen.com or The Drug. Store

If you fancy a quick and easy on-the-go pick me up, CBD Gummies are just what you’re looking for (and it’s always worth checking online to see if there is a CBDistillery coupon going, for example, to help you save some money on your purchase). Pollen’s Gummies have been infused with 10mg CBD from broad-spectrum hemp oil, and this pioneering infusion technique helps to ensure consistency of dosage every time.

Each gummy is complemented by a wide range of ingredients, including grapefruit and turmeric to cherry and cacao. These deliver a complex but delicious flavour profile, without a trace of the distinctive aftertaste so often associated with CBD edibles. They can aid calmness and a feeling of serenity.

CannabiGold Terpenes+, £29.99 (10mg x 30 capsules), from cannabigold.co.uk

CannabiGold Terpenes+ food supplement has launched in the UK, aimed at supporting the body’s endocannabinoid system and maintaining a person’s overall wellbeing. Following the success of CannabiGold, the product has been updated to remain in line with UKs highest standards and further ensure the formula is THC free.

CannabiGold Terpenes+ contains a unique combination of beneficial ingredients including CBD and terpenes that can be found naturally in hemp, delivering the most effective way to support the optimum function of the human body.

CBII Oil, 10ml (200mg CBD), £39, from cbii-cbd.com

CBII is a range of CBD products named after the cannabinoid receptors in your endocannabinoid system. When these receptors are activated, they may contribute positively to your overall wellbeing due to their involvement in pain, anxiety and mood regulation.

CBII oil is full spectrum, meaning it contains all the components found naturally in the Cannabis sativa L. plant, including terpenes, flavonoids and cannabinoids. The ethanol extraction process used by CBII allows them to keep all of these components intact so this product is closer to nature.

Monthly Cycle Wellbeing

DAME, Organic Tampons, £8.50 (34 per subscription), from Waitrose, Boots and wearedame.co

This organic tampon subscription from DAME means that you are looking after your body and the environment. Each organic tampon is made with GOTS certified hypoallergenic cotton, synthetic free, and is biodegradable. Plus, each cotton tampon is free from polyester, dyes, glycerol, rayon, bleach and chlorine

These natural, safe tampons stay fully in tact, leaving nothing behind in your body.

BEYOU Menstrual Cup, £14.99, from beyouonline.co.uk

BEYOU are championing women’s hormone health, creating natural products that work, while educating society to appreciate all that is natural about women. With their science backed, all-natural, cruelty free range,

BEYOU are determined to create effective products for women using only the highest quality ingredients, nourishing the body while being kind to the planet.

By using a menstrual cup you are being much kinder to the environment as the cup can last up to 10 years! Plus they are reusable – simply after every period all you have to do is clean and put away.

Made from 100% soft medical grade silicone with no BPA, no latex, and no dye, the menstrual cups contain no toxic chemicals like many other sanitary products. Great for women of all ages and sizes, holding up to 3 tampons worth and can be worn up to 12 hours, which means no worrying about leaks.

Bedtime Wellbeing

No Secrets Bath Sugar, £30, from nosecretsbeauty.com

No Secrets Bath Sugar is made from magnesium sulphate, and is a modern twist on traditional bath salts which have been ground to the consistency of icing sugar, making them quicker to dissolve and less prickly on the skin.

From the moment you untwist the lid on the glass jar, the room fills with the beautiful signature scent ‘Four’, which evokes a home spa experience.

Lorna Veale, the founder of No Secrets, shares her top tips for transforming bath time into a beneficial experience:

1. Make sure it is ‘clean’ from any toxic cleaning products that you may have used, rinse your bath with hot water to make sure there is no residue of these products.

2. Give yourself 20 minutes in the bath and a little time to relax and gather yourself afterwards. To help you float away, try breathing in through the nose for five seconds and out through the mouth for five seconds, increasing to ten seconds for each, and continuing for two minutes.

3. Soak by candlelight! Choose a soy wax candle infused with essential oils. Dimming the lights and lighting a candle will also help with the relaxation process.

4. The temptation to catch-up on Netflix should be avoided! Taking a book or magazine into the bathroom with you is a great way to relax.

Nanu, yu-nu Moisturising Pillowcase, £35 (pack of 2), from nanusleep.co.uk

Wake up to healthier looking skin with the new yu-nu pillowcase, the latest innovation from the sleep experts at nanu is clinically proven to decrease wrinkle depth, making your dreams of beauty sleep a reality.

This crisp white cotton pillowcase is our new, clinically proven product that will repair, replenish and protect your skin cells as you sleep, allowing you to keep your microbiome balanced. Using the same organic probiotics found in fresh fruits and vegetables, the yu-nu pillowcase works its magic whilst you enjoy the perfect night’s sleep, allowing you to wake up with rejuvenated skin.

BEYOU Sleep Pillow Mist, £17.99, from beyouonline.co.uk

This sleep pillow mist from BEYOU is expertly blended with the finest essential oils including lavender, vertiver, ylang ylang, Roman chamomile and jasmine. The formula has been designed to help relax and de-stress before sleep, using no harmful chemicals.

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Adventures

LUST-WORTHY SPAS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

AS WINTER FATIGUE SETS IN, IN A MAJOR WAY, YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF DREAMING OF BETTER AND MORE RELAXING DAYS. HOW NICE WOULD IT BE TO HAVE THAT UBER RELAXING MASSAGE, OR PERHAPS TO GIVE YOUR TRESSES THE NEW LIFE THAT IT NEEDS.

IF LIKE US, YOU’RE IN SERIOUS NEED OF SOME PAMPERING – HELP IS AT HAND! ONCE THE GLOOMY, DARK WINTER IS OVER AND YOU’RE OFF TO YOUR HOLIDAY WITH THE FAMILY, YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO INCLUDE A GOOD MASSAGE AS A PART OF YOUR ITINERARY. WHEN YOU CAN’T ALWAYS ENJOY THAT TYPE OF LUXURY TREATMENT, DON’T MISS OUT ON THAT CHANCE NOW THAT IT’S RIGHT AT THE TIP OF YOUR FINGERS.

TO HELP YOU PLAN YOUR JOURNEY, BELOW IS A COUNTDOWN OF #TEAMCOCO’S TOP PICKS FOR THE MOST LUST-WORTHY SPA EXPERIENCES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. THIS LIST IS CURATED FROM ONE OF THE BEST TRAVEL RESOURCES THAT YOU CAN TRUST, SO YOU’RE GUARANTEED THAT THESE ARE AS TRUE AS IT COULD BE.

EVEN IF THEY SEEM A LITTLE OUT OF REACH, OUR STUNNING SELECTION WILL NO DOUBT INSPIRE YOU TO INDULGE YOUR SENSES THIS NEW YEAR. 

CHECK-OUT OUR TOP-PICKS BELOW!

When you hear of the Intercontinental chain of hotels and resorts in the world, one of the very first things that come to mind is luxury. This, you’re promised too, in their Bora Bora resort.

Intercontinental Bora Bora Resort and Thalasso Spa are known for being one of the best resorts in Bora Bora. Their spa is the only spa in the entire country that drives fresh seawater from 3,000 feet below the surface to use as healing waters for treatments such as, hydro-massage baths, pearl rain massages, and a ‘water journey’ treatment. With this natural source, you’re guaranteed a fresh and purely healing experience, without all unnecessary chemicals.

This includes deep-relaxing jacuzzies and cold seawater pools with massaging jets. Enjoy massages and beauty treatments with Tahitian oils in treatment rooms located in the overwater villas with glass floors whilst watching fish swimming below. How amazing would it be to have a massage with a view! This isn’t something that you can wake up to, every day of your life. It’s a perfect treat too, post-pandemic as of writing, to ease yourself of all those anxiety and stress that you may have accumulated.

Ofutei selected onsen ryokan, Hiroshima Prefecture

Hotel Ofutei in Tomonoura Onsen, Hiroshima, offers sea views from both private-use and open-air hot spring baths. Enjoy clear sunlight and sea breeze mornings whilst bathing in the luxury roof-top open-air baths overlooking the calm sea of Tomonoura. Alternatively, the private open-air baths enable guests to soak in hot waters overlooking the Seto Inland Sea in piece whilst soothing and relaxing the mind and body. visithiroshima.net/

Energizing Tokyo at the Palace Hotel, Tokyo

Palace Hotel Tokyo is getting into the spirit of wellness in line with the Olympic and Paralympic games 2020. The hotel has set up a wellness getaway that comes replete with an a la carte menu of fitness pursuits to refresh the body and mind and allow visitors to experience the city in a very active healthy way. Guests can choose from a range of treatments from zen meditation, Japanese tea ceremony experience, Japanese seitai acupressure, massages and more.

Detox at Osmosis Day Spa, Sonoma County, California

With five secluded acres of creekside property, Osmosis Day Spa is extensively landscaped with five distinct Japanese garden areas. Owner Michael Stusser was inspired by spas he discovered in Japan for soothing pain, calming nerves, cleansing and brightening skin. Experience a restorative treatment overlooking the meditative gardens and bathe in a mix of fine cedar shavings, rice bran and plant enzymes where temperatures reach up to 48 degrees. To help cool you during the experience an attendant applies cold cloths and offers sips of ice water.

Lazy You Spa at C Lazy U Ranch, Granby, Colorado

C Lazy U Ranch is a luxurious dude ranch offering an upmarket yet authentic wild western experience. The spa is set within beautiful log cabins next to Willow Creek, surrounded by acres of untouched land. Its signature treatment is the Cowboy Copper Tub Soak where guests can relax in a bathtub and enjoy incredible views of the Continental Divide mountain range, in complete peace and tranquillity.

The Lodge at Edgewood, South Lake Tahoe, California
Located on the shores of South Lake Tahoe, The Lodge at Edgewood is home to 154 luxury rooms and suites each boasting their own fireplace and private deck or terrace. Nestled in a private area on the second floor of the Lodge is the Spa at Edgewood Tahoe—an 8,500 sq. ft. space that offers guests uninterrupted serenity amongst a peaceful and inviting atmosphere. With a stunning streamlined design aesthetic influenced by the innate beauty of the area’s natural surroundings, the Spa at Edgewood inspires relaxation, rejuvenation and inner balance. tahoesouth.com

Majorelle Spa and Salon at Hotel Californian, Santa Barbara, California

Majorelle is an intimate spa comprising four treatment rooms, a courtyard and a circular-columned waiting area inside the stunning Martin Lawrence Bullard-designed Hotel Californian. This dazzling spa offers a comprehensive menu of treatments, from aromatherapy and skincare rituals to couples’ packages and massages. The interiors are inspired by the Moorish cities of Spain and Morocco, while one-of-a-kind spa treatments can be tailored to your personal needs.

The Scandinave Spa, Whistler

For long-haul travellers, skiers and snowboarders the Scandinave Spa hydrotherapy offer an effective way of releasing tensions in both the mind and body. The cycle of hot-cold-relax is proven to both energize and rest the body, improving blood circulation and activating the lymphatic system to help detoxification. Hot cycles take place in eucalyptus steam rooms, outdoor hot baths, Finnish wood-burning saunas or dry saunas. The spa also hosts a Nordic waterfall, rain showers and cold plunges, after taking a plunge to relax beside an outdoor firepit, in one of the solariums.

Vibrant Salon and Spa Fredericton

In Canada, New Brunswick is a must-visit. Fredericton, in particular, has all the sights for you to delight in.Especially if you’re one who enjoys outdoor activities, there’s always something for you to indulge in, with the best views that nature can offer. This is Canada, after all. From hiking to mountain climbing, kayaking, and whale watching, there’s something for you to get busy with, in every day of your journey.

Taking a break from all the nature activities, you deserve to give yourself that pampering, too. Vibrant Hair Salon Fredericton, your full-service beauty bar and spa, is a must-visit.

In Vibrant Hair Salon, they have a commitment to love their guests and community. When you walk into Vibrant, the goal is to make you feel at home, feel comfortable, and leave everything else behind. We guarantee you leave with amazing hair and a smile. If it’s hair care, makeup, laser hair removal, waxing, gel polish manicure, gel polish pedicure, nail art, eyelash extensions, facials, hydra-facials, lash lifts and more, an enjoyable and relaxing atmosphere for you in this beauty bar is guaranteed.

Takeaway

You deserve that treat from time-to-time. After working long hours day and night, when you travel, don’t just immerse yourself in the culture or in the lifestyle of the locals. As you get busy with touring your destination, you may also want to cap the day off with a good spa. From massages to a salon service, give yourself that tender loving care that you so deserve. Plus, how often is it that you can say that you’ve actually visited some of the best spas in the world? When you’re there, don’t miss out on that once in a lifetime opportunity.

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Home

Biophilia: Bring the outdoors to you

Outside the signs of spring are everywhere. Blossoms are gently filling their wiry branches, daffodils are popping up in parks across the country and we’ve had a splendid run of sunny days with plenty of clear skies. Ironically, as the season to awaken has arrived, we’re required to hunker down and embrace the life of homebodies that is best suited to the long winter nights we’re leaving behind.

While it might feel like you’re missing out on nature’s splendour as she reanimates, with warmer weather and days that stretch lingering just over the horizon, you can bring a bit of the outdoors into your home with some biophilic design.

A concept that has recently seen an increase in popularity among corporate offices and indoor leisure spaces, the rise of the millennial plant enthusiast knows all too well the benefits of welcoming some greenery into your home. Attributing benefits such as reduced stress, improved air quality in your home and improved health, along with increased well being and productivity, it’s hard to argue why you wouldn’t want to be surrounded by lush foliage.

How to choose your plants

Whether you’re looking to add a few green friends to your home or create your very own indoor jungle, the opportunities for creativity are endless. If you’re new to plant parenting, creating a biophilic space might seem overwhelming. Which plants should you get? How many? What size? When do I water them? Will they die? Fear not, we’re here to help.

There are only a few considerations you need to take into account when choosing plants for your home. The most important is light source, some plants need healthy doses of direct light while others prefer shaded corners. This is the biggest factor in choosing your plants, because cacti won’t feel at home hiding in the humid depths of a dark bathroom.

Other things to consider are the watering schedule and the space you have. Are you looking for a few windowsill buddies or do you want a plant that makes a statement in the room? Once you’ve determined your lighting and locations, you’re ready to begin choosing your newest family members.

Snake Plant

The snake plant, otherwise known as mother-in-law’s tongue, is one of the most fuss-free plants out there. While it enjoys bright indirect light it will tolerate shady corners of your house where most other plants will struggle. Part of the succulent family, it doesn’t require too much water and prefers to linger on the drier side. Even if you have a brown thumb, snake plants are hardy and don’t require a lot of maintenance.

Parlour Palm

Popularised in the Victorian era, Parlour Palms have remained a firm favourite among plant enthusiasts. A moderate sized plant that tolerates some shade and doesn’t require too much watering, these plants are easy to care for. They appreciate a healthy misting to keep humidity levels higher and are air purifying to help clear your space of common household toxins.

Golden Pothos

These fast growing, leggy plants look great from hanging pots or draped down shelves to add greenery to higher elevations in your rooms. Fast growing and only requiring moderate light conditions, Golden Pothos are easy to care for and look great when creating a green space in your home. Yet another fairly fuss-free plant, these are great for new plant parents.

Monstera Deliciosa

The Monstera Deliciosa, often known as the Swiss Cheese Plants, has become a symbol of the millennial home. The beautiful and iconic deep green glossy leaves are characterized by their splits and holes and can grow into monsters (hence the name) given the opportunity. As tropical plants, they prefer higher humidity levels and bright indirect light will yield more new foliage with splits and holes, although they will tolerate some shade. Considered a must-have for most plant lovers, their small climbing cousin, the Monstera Adansonii, also make for great additions to your plant collection.

Peace Lily

Delicate and adding a little femininity to your plant family, the peace lily is a wonderful plant that thrives in humid spaces like bathrooms and kitchens. All plants need light, so ensure your bathroom has a window, but these beauties will tolerate more shade than most. Their striking white flowers are a welcome contrast to all the green foliage and they even let you know when they need a drink as their leaves will droop. Top them up with some water and watch them perk up quickly!

Dressing your plants

The fun doesn’t end when you choose your favourite foliage, you get to dress those fronds too. Picking a pot or planter for your indoor house plants is serious business, with a variety of ceramic, stoneware and terracotta pots to choose from. You can even opt for baskets or rattan woven-style options depending on the aesthetic you’re going for. Just make sure your decorative pot is 1-3cm larger than your growing pot you purchase your plant in.

While it might seem that we’re missing out on some of the best parts of the year as the season of blooms begins, we can easily transform our homes into places of tranquility with plants. While we’re spending more time inside, they’ll improve our mental well being as well as help us to be more productive while we’re working from home.

If you’re looking for some inspiration to get you started, check out some of our favourite plant parents; House Plant Journal, Succulent City, Plant Kween, Hilton Carter and House Plant Club.

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Health & Fitness

SPEND SUNDAY 29 MARCH WITH DEEPAK CHOPRA: LIVE GLOBAL MEDITATION LED BY THE GURU AND THE WELL

This Sunday 29 March, THE WELL – a wellness members club in New York and Deepak Chopra, the world-renowned self-help guru, will join forces to unite the world through a free live streamed global meditation event, bringing millions of people together. During these times of uncertainty, this is just what the world needs!

THE WELL and Chopra share the belief that when enough people come together with the same intention — in this case, to help and heal the world — positive results follow.

Together, they expect to bring together millions of people from their individual homes in countries all around the world, uniting us in a powerful and meaningful experience during these times of uncertainty and heightened anxiety. When many of us can’t go outside, they want us to “come together to look inside.”

Deepak is a renowned doctor, author and self-help guru. His books and mediation teachings have made him one of the best-known figures in his field. He is also the founder of The Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity for research on well-being and humanitarianism.

“During this trying time, when so many of us are isolated from one another, we’re proud to partner with THE WELL to create a connection across the globe,” says Tonia O’Connor, CEO of Chopra. “At Chopra, we’ve always been deeply committed to empowering the world with healthy habits designed to foster greater joy and well-being. With this live event and our free meditation challenges, we are supporting the need for everyone to stay home and connect through meditation.”

“I’m honoured to partner with Chopra to connect people from all around the world during this uniquely difficult moment in time,” says Rebecca Parekh, CoFounder and CEO of THE WELL. “THE WELL seeks to empower people to take greater agency for their health, helping them understand their well-being from a whole body perspective. It is my hope that H(OM)E will remind people of the ways in which we are so deeply interconnected and that to care for our whole selves means to care for our whole society.”

Tune in for a moment of connectivity.

For more information and to sign up, please visit: https://the-well.com/stayhome.

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Brunch

Wellbeing Recipes with International Flavours

We are living in a strange world at the moment, one where we are now housebound for the foreseeable future to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Here in the UK #TeamCoco are bringing you new ways to enjoy travel without having to leave the safety of your own home, and what better way to feel worldly than to experience new recipes with international flavours.

We have added a few of our favourite wellbeing recipes for you to try at home while in lockdown, for the days when you need some much needed self care.

Yakult and Yuki Gomi – Udon Noodle Salad with Ginger and Carrot Dressing

Taking inspiration from ikigai, the Japanese concept which encourages us to find richness in our lives – our “reason for being”, Yakult have teamed up with Japanese chef and teacher Yuki Gomi to create some simple and nourishing recipes so we can all enjoy the joy of Japanese food at home.

Ingredients (serves 2)
150g Dried soba noodles, 6 Plum tomatoes, 6 Stems of broccoli (boiled or steamed), 6 Sugar snap peas (boiled or steamed), 50g Red cabbage, ¼ cup Edamame (boiled), 1 cup Mixed salad leaves, ½ tbs Peanut oil, 1 Medium carrot, 1 Small red onion, 1cm Peeled ginger, 80ml Olive oil, 50ml Soy sauce, 50ml Rice vinegar, 1tbs Mirin, 1tbs Honey
Optional
Sesame seeds, Spring onion, Chives, Shiso leaves, Coriander, Cress
Method
Bring a pot of water to the boil and cook the noodles for 6-8 minutes. While the noodles are cooking, add a cup of cold water to the pot 2 or 3 times. This will improve the texture of the noodles. Drain the noodles and rinse with cold water to stop them cooking further. Mix with oil and place them in a bowl for serving. For the dressing, add the carrot, onion, peeled ginger, olive oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, mirin and honey into a food processer. Liquidise until smooth. Slice the tomatoes into bite size pieces, and add these and the salad leaves onto the noodles. Pour the dressing over, just before serving.
Yuki’s Tip
For garnish, use sesame seeds, thinly slices spring onions, herbs (chives, shiso leaves, coriander) and cress. Cooking time depends on the noodle brand. Please refer to package’s instructions for specific timing. You can use sunflower, peanut or olive oil.
Visit www.yakult.co.uk

Essilor.co.uk – Sweet Potato and Spinach Quesadilla

Looking for ways to help maintain healthy eyesight? This South American themed recipe from eye health experts Essilor.co.uk is eye wateringly tasty and has all of the essential nutrients to promote good eye health.
Sweet potatoes and spinach are both essential sources of vitamins and minerals that promote eye health. Packed with beta carotene, the body converts beta carotene in sweet potatoes into vitamin A, a nutrient that helps prevent dry eyes and night blindness. Beta carotene and vitamin A also may help reduce the risk eye infections.

Ingredients (serves 2)
1 sweet potato, 2 tortillas, 100g spinach, 1⁄2 jalepeno chilli – chopped, 1 teaspoon of ground cumin, 1 garlic clove (crushed), 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, salt and pepper for seasoning.
Method
Pierce the sweet potatoes and cook in an oven at 200 degrees for 50 minutes, or until soft. Let the potatoes cool and scoop out the inners. Heat some of the oil in a large skillet and add the garlic, heat for 1-2 minutes until brown, add the sweet potato flesh, spinach, jalapeno and cumin. Cook for 10 minutes stirring occasionally, season accordingly. Spread the filling on one half of each of the tortillas and fold shut, brush with oil on each side and cook on a hot griddle pan for 3 minutes or until brown.
Recipe from Essilor.co.uk (www.essilor.co.uk)

The Good Plates – Monkfish, Chickpeas, and Walnut Gremolata

Chef and mental health ambassador Andrew Clarke has created The Good Plates recipes in conjunction with nutritional therapist Ian Marber, designed to help maintain positive mental wellbeing.
The below Mediterranean recipe was created for David Lloyd Clubs’ The Good Plates, an interactive dining experience pop up where the interiors, food, music, and seating layout were all designed to complement positive mental health.

Ingredients and Method
The Monkfish
600g Monkfish on bone, skinless. Warm unsalted butter or olive oil. Salt and pepper. Steam at 51c for 25-30 mins, pat dry and rub with oil or butter, season with salt & pepper, finish on hot charcoal grill basting with oil or butter, rest and keep warm.
Chickpeas
300g dried chickpeas (soaked overnight), drained. 1 onion. 1 carrot. 1 celery stick. 1 leek. 6 cloves garlic. 1 red chilli. Bouquet garnis (rosemary, thyme, bay). 100ml extra virgin olive oil. Put all contents in saucepan, fill with fresh water, bring to boil for 10 mins, reduce to simmer, cook for 1.5/2 hours until soft (make sure always covered with water), cool down and store in the liquid, season when cool.
Whole Roast Chickpeas
200g of drained chickpeas. 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil. 1 sprig rosemary. 2 cloves garlic. Salt, pepper and lemon juice to taste. Warm olive oil in pan with rosemary and garlic over a medium heat, add chickpeas and increase heat, cook for a minute or two until they have firmer texture, season with salt, pepper and lemon juice, keep warm.
Chickpea Puree
300g of chickpeas and just enough of the cooking liquid to cover. 50ml extra virgin olive oil. 1⁄2 1 lemon juice. Salt & pepper to taste. Put all ingredients except the salt & pepper in blender, blitz at high speed until smooth puree, add more cooking liquid if not blending well, season and keep warm.
Pickled Baby Onions
200g pomegranate molasses. 50ml merlot vinegar. 200g baby onions. Roast onions over fire or coals until skins blacken, once cooled remove charred skin, warm molasses and vinegar, pour over onions and keep warm.
Walnut Gremolata
50g roasted walnuts. 25g parsley. 1 lemon zest. 1 garlic clove. 50ml walnut or extra virgin olive oil. Salt to taste. Roughly chop walnuts and parsley, put in small mixing bowl, grate lemon zest, finely grate in garlic, add oil and season.
Assembly
On large plate put chickpea puree in the centre, monkfish can sit on top, put roasted chickpeas over monkfish (allowing any to naturally fall off), dot pickled onions over and around, finally top with gremolata and serve immediately.
Visit https://bit.ly/39fBxhR for more recipes from The Good Plates

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Beauty

How To Boost Your Mood Through Fragrance During Quarantine/Self Isolation

Amidst the chaos in the world right now, many things are being forgotten about (its Mothers Day this Sunday, you’re welcome for the reminder) but beauty lovers may be aware that today (March 21st) is National Fragrance Day.
Which in the grand scheme of things may not seem important, as most of our worlds have been turned upside down, yet fragrance can actually help you feel better whether you’re WFH, self isolating or quarantined.
We are seeing an increasing amount of #SelfCare posts on social media to support both mental and physical health during this strange and challenging time. From home-workouts, skincare routines, healthy recipes and ‘how to’s on how to keep motivated; all of these things help give us a little dose of normality and positivity.
It’s all about ‘Making the most’ of a global pandemic which is a good idea but in retrospect it also has us applying unnecessary pressure to ourselves in already tenuous times.
Going back to the basics is good for both our mental and physical health, as we won’t feel the need to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders.
All of our senses play a huge part in our lives and its important we don’t go into a sensory overload, meaning we need to treat each sense with care. With that said our sense of smell is often overlooked and its during times of anxiety and stress that this primitive sense is actually heightened. We all know that fragrance doesn’t only make us smell good but it has the ability to make us feel good too. So without wasting time, invest in your favourite perfume at Rosa Salas Perfumes. You will get a huge range of perfumes made with the best raw materials and fragrance oils available.
Fragrance whether in perfume, candles, diffusers essential oils or cooking products can affect the memories in our brain and have the ability to elicit a range of emotions. Fragrance is how brands entice us into stores, is why aromatherapy is a holistic treatment, is why we are drawn to certain people and can generally affect our judgement and decisions; this is why we should consider how the scent of our homes and ourselves can affect us during this global crisis.
Orange, jasmine, geranium, sandalwood, lavander, lemon, mandarin, grapefruit, mint, vanilla, cinnamon and yang yang are all ingredients that can help boost your mood.
Below we have complied a list of ten mood-boosting fragrance products to help have a positive impact on your emotions and mindset during a time when life may seem overwhelming.

First up is Tiziana Terenzi the brands scented candles are handmade in Italy using innovative design and high quality materials. The candles are toxin-free, have a 120 hour burn time and have a wooden wick which replicates the sound of a log fire. The ‘Ischia Orchid’ candle has notes of rose, violet, sandalwood and of course the rare ischia orchid.

Next is Mizensir, a brand created by Master Perfumer Alberto Morillas, who is the nose behind some of the worlds most iconic fragrances; CK One, Acqua di Gio and Gucci Bloom, to name a few. The brands White Neroli fragrance has notes of calabrian bergamot, Tunisian neorli and orange blossom which are perfectly balanced with incense and musk.

Carolina Herrera’s new venture into make-up is beyond exciting and if the brands cosmetics are is delightful as their fragrances, we’re all in for a treat. ‘Virgin Mint’ is aromatic and fresh, so much so that it smells like freedom; compiled of mint from Morocco, Italian bergamot, mandarin, vetiver, Egyptian geranium oil, spearmint and musk.

Up next is Maison Francis Kurkdjian and no we’re not going to recommend Baccarat Rouge (as beautiful as it is) this time. A la Rose is a captivating yet soft scent that boasts two types of rose; rose Damascus and Turkish rose absolute, this powdery blend of roses is mixed with the citrus notes of bergamot, orange and lemon along with woody notes of cedar.

Tom Ford’s Neroli Portofino Acqua fragrance is part of the brands Private Blends collection and has you dreaming of the azure waters. Bergamot, neroli, lemon, orange blossoms, amber wood and white musk compose a fresh and bright citrus fragrance that isn’t overwhelming so is perfect for enclosed spaces.

YSL Caban is one of the 5 fragrances in the Le Vesitiaire des Perfumes collection, the fragrances are all interpretations of a statement piece of the couturiers wardrobe. Caban is sensual, sweat, and creamy fragrance with a coconut note to it that will have you reminiscent of sunshine holidays. With pink pepper, rose, tonka bean, caramel, vanilla and incense it evokes comfort and fond memories. You can also opt for the Caban candle which will have your home smelling like summer.

Roja Dove Parfums has scents for every occasion that play on emotions and memories so its no wonder the fragrance houses ‘Beguiled’ has fallen into our list. A blend of bergamot, lemon, tangerine, jasmine, raspberry, pink pepper and ylang ylang create a sweet, elegant and feminine yet contemporary fragrance that turns heads and has great silliage.

Shalini Parfum Paradis Provence, is an aromatic creation of lavendar, thyme, sunflower, orange blossom and jasmine. Described by Shalini herself as ‘the fragrance of the eternal summer, of our youth, our imagination and our passion’.

Atelier Cologne’s 2010 launch, Orange Sanguine has an orienal base of amber, tonka bean and sandalwood yet thanks to notes of orange, jasmine and geranium this fragrance is refreshing and energetic.

Dipytque’s best seller Baies is also available as an hourglass diffuser. Simply turn it over to begin an hours diffusion cycle and enjoy the sensory experience. Baies is a fresh bouquet of roses and blackcurrent; a sweet yet aromatic creation.

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