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Interview: Meet the Tampon Wielding Creators of OHNE – the new Organic Tampon Brand

Nikki and Leah are the fearless entrepreneurs and founders of bespoke, organic tampon subscription service, OHNE. Both under 30. Both organic converts, the two young women are going up against mainstream brands to drive much-needed change in the period industry helping to re-shape the way women shop for their period products.

The pioneering service not only allows you to choose your tampon size and amend delivery dates to suit your cycle, but they’re also working with The School Club Zambia to help underprivileged women to overcome period poverty. To date, they have helped more than 600 girls in their menstrual education and improved access to continued schooling.

#TeamCoco chatted with the female founders helping to champion healthy periods and giving young women around the world the knowledge they need to have complete autonomy over their menstrual health.

Nikki and Leah – what is your background and what inspired you to launch OHNE?

We honestly never imagined we’d go into business together but now we can’t imagine doing anything else. Leah previously founded and ran her own small business and Nikki has worked with NGO’s in Asia and Africa – both experiences have contributed hugely to the way we run OHNE and the vision we had for it before we started, but honestly, it’s been a totally new experience for us.

We’re both really inspired by the change that’s happening across many industries towards being more sustainable. We knew that organic tampons were a ‘thing’ but we just found them so hard to access and we didn’t really feel represented by any of the brands that we could find. When we first started to come up with the idea for OHNE – mostly in between rants about the mainstream period product industry and their apparent obsession with pink and purple swirly designs – we realized that despite the huge amounts of progress when it comes to tech and consumer-focused businesses, there was still a huge gap in the market when it came to businesses catering to women’s health, especially their reproductive and menstrual health. We thought it was about time that someone offered a completely bespoke solution to periods; one which catered to real women’s needs.

Was it difficult to do – how did you get the business off the ground?

We started working on OHNE about a year before we launched and spent the majority of that year conceptualising the brand, sourcing our products, and building the website. A huge part of launching OHNE was creating an ethical and socially responsible business so we spent a lot of time working through our supply chain to ensure that women could trust our products. Once this was all ready we had to raise money to launch the company… which took a lot longer than we thought it would! Pitching our tampon company to a room full of male investors definitely had its challenges. However, we found some really amazing, passionate investors at the beginning of this year.

OHNE’s big selling point is that it’s 100% ethically and socially responsible – tell us more about how/the brand’s mission and your incredible efforts to tackle period poverty both here in the UK and beyond?

A huge part of starting OHNE for us was creating an ethical and socially responsible business. For us, the community comes first. We want to create space both online and in real life for women and people with vaginas to talk freely about periods, menstrual cycles, and their bodies without the shame and stigma that is all too often attached to these topics. Periods are not taboo and treating them as though they are leaves a lot of people who have periods in the dark about how their bodies function and perpetuate period poverty because a lack of menstrual health education contributes to people not knowing how to safely manage their periods or missing school due to the stigma and embarrassment. This is a hugely prevalent problem in rural Zambia, which is where our NGO partner, School Club Zambia, works. They identified that one of the biggest reasons behind girls missing – or dropping out entirely – school, as they got older, was that there was no way for them to safely manage their periods. The stigma around bleeding was so big that they couldn’t ask for help and certainly didn’t feel they could risk bleeding through at school. So SCZ established their Girl’s Programme, which is the program OHNE customers support every month. In each school they work with they build new toilet blocks, hold menstrual education workshops (for the boys too, because ending the taboo is everyone’s responsibility) and teach girls how to make their own reusable sanitary pads out of local resources. Not only are these long-term, sustainable solutions to period poverty in these communities, they’re also equipping girls with skills they can use in their later working lives.

Working with SCZ is definitely one of the most rewarding things about what we’re doing – Nikki has first-hand experience working with SCZ and we really trust them to do the absolute best for the communities they’re working in at every stage of the programme.

Have you seen any major changes since you began your involvement with School Club Zambia?

Since the start of the program, more than 600 girls have been supported in their menstrual education and access to continued schooling – which is incredible. When you think about the fact that roughly half of the Zambian population is underage, schooling becomes even more crucial an investment – the risk of hundreds of girls not getting the education they deserve because of their totally natural biology is heartbreaking, not only for them but for the future of their communities.

One of their most jaw-dropping stats comes from one of the schools where they’ve implemented their Girl’s Programme. In 2018, every single girl at the Kariba South school passed her Grade 7 exams; where six years earlier, not a single girl had passed.

We’re really seeing the shift in equality and access to opportunities in rural areas, and we honestly couldn’t be happier to be supporting SCZ however we can. To learn more about what they do with the Girl’s Programme and beyond, check out their website.

What are the risks of using the sanitary products on the market today – what should women be mindful of?

Oof. There are a lot of risks associated with using mainstream tampons that contain chemical additives, are bleached, and made from cotton sprayed with pesticides, from BV to TSS. When you’re putting something in your body that contains harmful chemicals or toxins, you have to be mindful that, while it’s quite possible you never contract anything serious, there is a very real danger associated with the use of these products. Especially if you’re putting them in your vagina, which has the most absorbent, thin, and sensitive skin of anywhere in the body. We’ve got to be really careful about the products we’re getting all up close n’ personal with. We joke that if you wouldn’t put something in your mouth, you shouldn’t put it in your vagina, but we’re actually deadly serious about that. A 100% organic cotton tampon has never once been linked to a case of TSS.

Fortunately, there are a LOT of safe, organic, sustainable alternatives, from tampons to reusable pads and menstrual cups. These are better for your body and better for the environment too – just do your research before you buy and make sure you’re looking out for brands that aren’t just greenwashing (saying their product is organic when it contains only one organic ingredient in a list of ten, for example). OHNE is currently the only period product brand in the UK to be certified by both Soil Association and GOTs, a fact we’re really proud of. It was incredibly important to us to get these certifications as we wanted to be able to be hyper-transparency from the get-go.

You recently expanded to include CBD oils to help alleviate menstrual cramps – what are the benefits of using it instead of traditional paracetamol/ibuprofen?

We love CBD. It’s an all-natural alternative to traditional medications like paracetamol, which is great for those of us who are starting to turn away from synthetic products or who (like us) are just totally obsessed with all things organic!

NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen, have huge lists of side-effects which we’re not always willing to risk. Paracetamol is usually not classified as an NSAID because it only has minor anti-inflammatory effects – but this is where CBD can (yet again) shine. CBD can help to reduce inflammation, without any of the associated risks and side effects of NSAIDs or paracetamol and with the added bonus of being totally natural and plant-based.

We’d never shame anyone for the medication they chose to take. You can never really know what another person is experiencing or how their cramps affect them – and I’m sure you’ll catch the OHNE team popping the odd headache pill every now and then too! We just want to educate ourselves and our community a little more about the risks associated with these drugs and the fact that there are natural product alternatives available.

Part of what makes OHNE great is the branding itself – everything from its playful photography and beautiful packaging. Where did you start with this – did you work with an agency or did you always have a vision for it and kept the process in-house?

Thank you! No, we never used an agency for our initial branding concept – for the longest time, we were a two-woman team so we really had to do everything ourselves! We’re mood board pros so we just collected images from all over the internet, brands we liked in other industries, colour palettes we thought evoked the vibe we were going for… We were never trying to hide the fact that we’re a period product brand founded by two young women who don’t have a whole marketing team at our disposal. We didn’t want to look like a mainstream period product brand, so we gave ourselves the freedom to let our passions and the aesthetics we really liked ourselves develop organically. Even our iconic papaya shot is only the result of one of the models messing around at the lunch table and holding it between her legs suggestively – we were like this is genius, and sent her back in front of the camera, papaya in tow!

You recently received investment from Matches Fashion and LoveHoney – congrats! – any future plans to expand into a physical retail space in the near future?

Thanks! We’re so excited to have such amazing investors backing us – it really means a lot to us as a young brand to get these votes of confidence from people whose work we admire so much. We’re more interested in innovating in the online world at the moment; our initial mission was to rethink the way women experience their periods, so we’re very much interested in the many ways you can use technology to shake up an established industry. We’d never rule out anything though, and physical retail spaces can be incredibly creative outlets for community engagement too… so watch this space, I guess!

To those women who are looking to start their own business and perhaps don’t have the courage, what is your advice to them? Any tips to get started?

That if you want to make a name for yourself or shake up change in a specific industry, the most important thing is that you believe in your product/business/idea more than anything, because you’re going to have to fight for it! You face a lot of ups and downs, it takes a thick skin, and a commitment to carry on even when things get a bit tough. That’s not to sound fear-mongering, though, we really believe that any idea that’s got you excited enough to want to make a reality is 100% worth seeing through. And if you’re anything like us, once that idea has wriggled into your brain, nothing we could say would be able to put you off making it happen anyway!

What’s next for OHNE?

So. Much. We’re just hitting that place where we’re able to start really expanding our team, our product range, our community – everything! We’ve got big things planned – obviously we can’t spill all our secrets, but we’re really excited to see the tech side of OHNE really take off… we know we’re being cryptic, just keep your eyes peeled.

OHNE boxes cost £5.80 (naked tampons) or £6.80 (applicator tampons) for the number of tampons and the absorbency type you need. And, because they’ve always got your back, both the shipping costs and that pesky tampon tax is on them!

For more information, please visit their website www.ohne.co

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Denmark

Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa: A foodie heaven in Malmesbury, Wiltshire

Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa, a beautiful and sprawling hotel set in the heart of the Cotswolds is the perfect grown-up getaway that makes you feel right at home. As soon as #TeamCoco arrived, everything was taken care of. We toured the beautiful, fountain-filled gardens with views of the surrounding area and felt instantly relaxed. Everything from the manicured gardens to the warm blankets hanging up and wellies waiting for us were cosy, welcoming and quintessentially British.

We then moseyed to the Aquarias Spa and spent our morning relaxing in the hydrotherapy pool, jumping in and out to the Thermal Cabins and Salt Scrub Showers. I indulged in a Oxygen+ Facial and then reclined on one of the Heated Stone Recliners, a must do on a day visit to the spa.

Pre-dinner drinks

Our gastronomic experience began in the wood panelled bar at the heart of Whatley Manor. We were greeted by the manager of the hotel who couldn’t have been more warm, animated and truly passionate about the hotel and the plans for the future. The sun was streaming in through the windows and the plants and flowers outside were making silhouettes on the table as we waited for our botanical gin and tonics. The drinks arrived and the evening began.

The Green Room

The social style of the Green Room is the perfect way to while away a summer’s evening or in the autumn as the nights draw in and ochre hues scorch the wide windows looking into the chefs at work. The space is open from 6pm – 10:30pm each evening and is the perfect prelude to an evening meal in Grey’s Brasserie or The Dining Room. The Green Room can also be enjoyed as a stand-alone dining experience, after all, it truly is exceptional. We were seated on leather stools around the gastronomy bar, ready and raring for the gastronomy “theatre” to begin. The world-class chefs prepared mouth-watering dishes from around the globe right in front of our eyes. Chopping and expertly skewering, cooking, bright flames and grilling were all taking place but the chefs were able to answer every one of our questions while preparing one of the best meals we had ever tasted.

The Senior Chef de Partie, Julian Elkjaer oversees Whatley Manor’s Green Room and recommended wine pairings for the beautifully crafted tapas style small plates he made for us. He has created a menu of dishes such as beetroot, candied walnuts and dates; poached cuttlefish, enoki mushrooms, sauce nage and lardo; and hibiscus on brioche toast. One of our favourites was the Cinco Jotas Iberico ham that was cut off the bone in front of us – we were practically drooling.

Julian worked with the Executive Chef at Whatley Manor, Niall Keating, at the Michelinstarred Kong Hans Kælder in Denmark. Niall joined Whatley Manor in 2017, having previously worked around the world at some of the finest Michelin starred restaurants – Benu, Sat Bains, Kong Hans Kaelder. In October 2017 Niall was awarded a coveted Michelin star in less than a year of him joining Whatley Manor. This award is truly testament to the exquisite dining experiences at Whatley Manor.

Grey’s Brasserie

Having finished what were really our starters in the Green Room, we then walked over to Grey’s Brasserie to continue our meal. Grey’s Brasserie has a warm and buzzy atmosphere, which compliments new menus that include sharing boards and grazing dishes and a full a la carte menu that is adapted to reflect seasonality. We tucked into the chateaubriand of ruby red beef and a selection of seasonal vegetables with wine to match. The restaurant was the perfect place to catch up with loved ones, sample the fresh produce and chow down on some delicious deserts. A great spot for cocktails, dinner and, of course, a Sunday Roast.

Full and very satisfied, we strolled to the exquisite Tudor lounge area of the hotel and enjoyed chocolates and teas by a roaring log fire. This wasn’t just a meal; this was an experience that was truly second to none. As we waved goodbye to the gracious and welcoming staff and ventured out into the starry and peaceful night we wished we were staying in one of the 23 rooms, so the magic didn’t have to stop.

For more information visit: www.whatleymanor.com.

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Fitness

Ways Millennials are Redefining the Meaning of Exercise

Millennials are a group of young adults who are always seeking something new with a desire to share it with the rest of the world. Thanks to the internet and this new digital era, it’s easy for everybody to stay connected and expand their social life. This generation has a unique moto, to live healthy and urban life and to put behind everything old. Every day they are challenging themselves to concord the world with their positive and strong attitude and belief in a better tomorrow. Thanks to them, technology every year develops faster and leading a healthier life becomes every person’s goal.

Healthy Body and Mind

Having unhealthy habits and being in constant risk to catch some diseases is what every millennial reject to have in his life. They are living a fast life and it’s essential to them to become and stay healthy as long as they can. Millennials love healthy diets and to be physically active. With their yearning for improvement in every aspect, meditation is a must-do in their daily plans. Eating healthy and feeding mind with positive vibes is like an energy source for them that boost their body to keep up with their goals and overcome any obstacles that come across to their challenges.

Fitness Fashion

Wearing old sneakers, t-shirts, and shorts to the gym becomes past and it’s unacceptable today. Our young adults put their mark even on sport equipment. Today’s fitness fashion goes to another level and becomes a very profitable industry. Millennials love to be active in nature. Having yoga leggings with printed motivating quotes, sports tops or cool water shoes is a must-have as a piece of equipment for any activity. Don’t forget to bring your phone with headsets so you can enjoy your favorite songs at the gym. To stay hydrated, regular water bottles are replaced with unique colorful sports bottles that have an extra container for supplements. Having a gym card is the thing that every millennial has in his wallet these days.

Gym and Group Workouts

While you are exercising at the gym, you could notice how different groups of young people come together in an exact time. Millennials love their social life more than anything. Affection to make new friends anywhere and to be with them whenever they can is like an addiction. Because of their constant desire to meet new people, you could often see them in fitness group classes like zumba, yoga or cycling. With their specific daily schedule, meeting with friends is crucial and they will catch up with others even after workouts.

Digital Challenge

In this urban digital era applications for our phones and tablets can replace every live assistant. We all love to stay organized and to keep up with our daily plans. Sometimes we forget about things that need to be done at a specific time and thanks to those apps we could be reminded. Our young adults love to track their progress on their phones. They are using them to challenge their physical strength like with fitness apps or to expand their knowledge by reading books online or learning a new language. Millennials are taking applications very seriously and with them, they can follow existing trends or make new ones.

Millennials as a group promote a healthier and exited life with the outcome that they will become role models for new generations. As they are blindly following trends, many industries and companies become successful and valuable. The future is certainly unpredictable and keeping that in mind who knows what to expect from now on.

Bio: Nemanja is editor-in-chief @ WalkJogRun. You can find him on Twitter.

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Business

#BossBabe: Cheerleading and Motivation with Vicky Lincoln

Coaching is a way of life for many, but only very few have had to go through their own life changing experiences to be able to step forward into this journey of reconnection, and rediscovery.

Vicky Lincoln of Vicky Lincoln Coaching is one of those few, she went through a whole rediscovery process herself, she used coaching to help her, and as a result she is now a certified coach who is destined to be your very own cheerleader.

Q. Can you tell us more about your life journey that lead you to becoming a coach?

Absolutely. It’s been an amazing journey. For far too long, I let my fear of judgement and what others thought of me dictate what I did in my life. I woke up one day and realized I had a life in front of me that I didn’t recognize. I hadn’t listened to or trusted myself, and I had this gut feeling inside that kept growing and I knew I wasn’t living the life I was meant to. I started working with coaches and mentors to find myself again, and to create the life that I really wanted. I found such power and connection in working with other coaches, it’s like they turned my own light back on and guided me to find pure joy and happiness. I had always felt like an outsider, like I didn’t belong, and for the first time I felt a part of something much bigger. It was absolutely life changing for me, and I realized so many others were stuck like I was, especially women. I realized the power I had inside me and that I wanted to give that happiness and freedom and peace to as many women as possible. Everyone deserves to live the life they really want, and that often starts with discovering, or re-discovering what we want.

Q. When you started Vicky Lincoln Coaching did things happen organically, or did you know the exact route that you were taking?

I found coaches who were where I wanted to be to learn from them and get the help to grow. I joined groups and masterminds to learn from those who had a life I wanted, and to connect with like minded entrepreneurs who were also creating the life I wanted to create. Learning from someone else is so much easier and simply feels less lonely. We are built for connection, and we often forget that. I love helping other women, not just clients, but other entrepreneurs. We’re all in this together and there is enough abundance for all of us to live the life we want and to know massive success. My journey still had struggles, fear and doubt stood in my way more than I’d like to admit, but I know that every turn and every setback led me here and for that I am so grateful. I was made for this and every cell in my body knows that I am on the right path and always in the right place, and my success is inevitable. Plus, I love my struggles because in it I found my strength, and I want to use my pain to show other women what’s possible. That you can overcome anything. That you can dream. That you can create a life you’re obsessed with. But you must know your worth and stop settling for anything less. You have to leave safe & choose magic.

Q. We love that on your website you have said ‘You’ve been waiting your whole life for this, and I know we are meeting for a reason’ – this is a great motto to work by, do your clients feel at ease when they hear this?

I believe that the world is constantly giving us clues, guiding us to what’s meant for us. All we need to do is listen and trust our self. Honestly when I wrote most of that I felt like the message that needed to be heard was coming through me. I want to be that clue for someone. I want them to read it and say YES, that’s me and I’m ready. I want to show women what’s possible when they start loving themselves more, stop listening to a world that’s telling us all to fit in, and go after their deepest desires. I believe that everything happens for a reason and I honestly know that every single woman I work with was meant to cross my path. And they are giving just as much back to me as I am to them. And I love that.

Q. Do you have a specific type or way of coaching with all your clients, and can you tell us a little more about what this is?

Everyone is in a different place, needing something specific based on where they’re at today, or where they’re trying to go. However, there are common threads in all of us. For women especially, there are two major limiting beliefs that come up that get in the way of pretty much anything and everything. The first is fear of judgement – caring about what other people think of us. Really this comes back to us judging ourselves too much – other people are just a mirror. And, it’s really the fear that what we’re afraid of being judged about is true. For example, I was afraid of what others would say about me becoming a coach. And part of that was just my own fear that I wasn’t good enough to be a coach. I was afraid others would think I wasn’t good enough, but really it was my own judgement on myself that it was true. This fear also leads to settling because we don’t think we are good enough, so we stay safe with what we have. I engineered safety in my life because the fear of what others would think of me was too heavy and leaving my comfort zone was not an option for me, until I finally realized it was holding me back and I started this journey. The other fear is abandonment. We are searching for love our entire lives – parents, siblings, family, friends, a partner – and we’re afraid that we won’t get it back. This is the fear for me that often led to settling in my own life because I was afraid I would end up alone. We need to know that we are worthy just for being alive, and that we deserve massive success in all areas of life, and that we really can have it all. And honestly that’s why I use the word cheerleader, too. In a world that often feels lonely we aren’t taught confidence, self-love, worth in school and sometimes all we need is someone to remind us, to guide us, to hold our hand, lift us up, and help us see our best self.

Q. Being a coach isn’t something that everyone can do – you need to have certain qualifications, plus an understanding of psychology and behaviours, and a great deal of patience, did you have these before embarking on becoming a coach?

Honestly, no. I didn’t have everything before I started. You can start where you are, with what you have now. I have added qualifications along the way, and I would argue that my coaching experiences have taught me the most and are most valuable. I believe that everything I have gone through in life was for a purpose, and that purpose was to help women going through the same thing. I believe that I am working with women who need me, specifically. A mentor once told me to list out 5 of my own thoughts across several topics he gave us. The point of the exercise was to show us that anyone can be an expert. You’re always a step or two ahead of someone else that needs your guidance and experience. And when you stop to realize that it’s pretty empowering. The thought that someone out there is waiting for me, and needs me, is what keeps me moving forward when I have doubt or fears coming up. I know that I was put on this earth to coach women, and I am reminded of that every time I work with a new client who needs exactly what I have. Since I started believing this, it’s also true for even the women I meet at events, or retreats, or just out on the weekends. I want to change the world through helping women, and I know that every woman I help will help another. And that’s pretty amazing to think about.

Q. Tell us what being a coach means to you?

Helping others and letting the giving guide you. When I work with a woman and I can see her light up again or find the best version of herself that she lost for a little while it gives me a fulfilment I can’t even explain in words. I believe that our fears or limitations prevent us from being who we were meant to be and living the life we want. When I can work with someone to help her find those and work through them, I get to see a woman so powerful and unstoppable create the life she really wants. That can mean anything – more money, a better job, a better partner, a better body, stronger relationships – anything. Every woman has a different goal but being the coach that gets to help other women find happiness is what makes me jump out of bed, and what helps me get through the struggles, because I know what it’s all for.

Q. Did anyone offer you a core piece of advice before launching Vicky Lincoln Coaching, something that you remember to this day, and that you still advocate?

I actually think the best piece of advice I’d give is one that I learned along the way (and wish someone would have told me sooner). That is to do what’s right for me and trust my own decisions. There is a lot of noise out there, especially with the increase in the industry recently, and a lot of people are trying to be the same or follow the same cookie cutter strategy. You can’t copy and paste someone else’s coaching business into your own. I had to learn to turn down the noise and know that my heart has never made a wrong decision. I am unique for my own experiences, and for the coaching I can give other women in my own unique way that no one else can. Someone once asked me if I was worried about all the competition. First of all, I believe there’s enough abundance for all of us, but my response was, “No, there is only one me”. And when I’m stuck or can’t figure something out, I just remind myself of that and it works every time. It led me to running retreats, which I love and am so excited about. I would have only done 1:1 coaching and group programs if I followed what other coaches told me I needed to do. So, I’m glad I listened to and trusted myself!

Q. Have you made any business mistakes that turned into a great learning curve since starting your business?

I don’t believe in mistakes. I believe that failures are just information. But I do wish I had started sooner. Start before you’re ready is something that I heard early on, but my recovering people please and perfectionist traits still held me back. I wish that I had started sooner. So now when I get an idea, or my intuition is guiding me toward something, I act quickly. I use all the clues I spoke about before that I believe are around us all the time and I act on them more quickly. It’s now a core principle for me, I’d say. You’re never really ready so you just need to go for it now!

Q. If you were to offer one piece of advice to someone thinking of setting up a small business to help people through coaching, what would it be?

Find someone else who’s been there, who is where you want to be, and learn from them. It’s so much easier than figuring it out on your own. I have two different coaches currently, because they are both giving me different value. One is for business, and one is for mindset/energy. I am grateful for the 6 coaches I have worked with since I started my journey, and for the hundreds of women I’ve met that have helped our guided me in some way. Who you surround yourself with matters, and if you’re the smartest person in the room you are in the wrong room. Surround yourself with like minded people and be willing to learn from them. Give first and get back in return. We’re all here to help each other in some way, I truly believe that. The women that have guided and helped me have made me a better person, and without that I wouldn’t have a business. Period.

Q. Do you have any words of wisdom that you feel could empower us into feeling that we can achieve anything we put our minds to?

Growth happens when your desire to grow becomes much stronger than your pain. You are far more powerful than you even know. You are here for a reason. The world is waiting for you to step fully into who you were meant to be. You are worthy of your wildest dreams. You are safe, you are supported, you are loved. And you got this.

Start spending time with the right people.
Start making your peace & happiness a daily priority.
Start letting go of the fear, doubt, guilt & any other limiting beliefs.
Start choosing you.
Start leaning into your intuition & trusting yourself.
Start now and see your life change.

PS, I love you.

Thank you for taking the time to answer all our #BossBabe questions for House of Coco Magazine. Visit www.vickylincolncoaching.com for more info.

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France

Mauritius: Heritage Le Telfair hotel review

You don’t have to shut yourself off from the world to enjoy the benefits of a gourmet healthy food plan while on holiday, nor must you struggle with a barely-there diet and gruelling workout routine to come back feeling your best. Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resortis attracting travellers with a moderate approach to health-focused holidays.

Perhaps the best thing about the southern Mauritius destination for those keen to take advantage of nourishing food and a range of physical activities during their getaway is that partners accompanying travellers don’t have to get involved at all because there are plenty non-wellness options to indulge in.

Experts at the colonial architecture- style resort will curate a personalized programme for your needs, advising what to eat, wonderful workouts and terrific treatments to benefit your body.

House of Coco stayed in a Garden Villa which had access to its own hammock via the back-door deck. As if peering out to the garden while soaking in the complimentary salt crystals wasn’t enough, even the botanical artwork in the room was a reminder of the lush surroundings.

House of Coco eased into our stay with a Jet Lag treatment at the Seven Colours spa. For 30 minutes, a therapist rubbed away the stresses and strains from the flight using a choice of aromatherapy oil. Each one correlated to a colour, and my attraction to yellow during my pre-massage consultation led me on a ginger-based journey. I emerged feeling invigorated thanks to the fiery root ingredient being slathered all over my skin and absorbing into my tired muscles. Post-treatment guests are invited to lounge on a shaded outdoor bed by the 2,000 sqm spa’s heated pool. Don’t forget to spritz yourself with insect repellent before you sip herbal tea in a cosy robe.

While anyone is bound to melt into an after-flight massage easily, my next treatment wasn’t for everyone but one unique to the resort and a great antidote for deeper issues.

The Ohashiatsu master instructed me to sprawl out on a large flatbed situated in the Wellness Sanctuary complete with soothing sounds from the water features and surrounded by drapes for privacy and to keep out mosquitos. You may have heard of shiatsu, but Ohashiatsu takes things one step further by making the receiver feel more relaxed and therefore gaining more benefits from the limb rolling and stretching techniques.

I particularly enjoyed the gentle pressure applied to my stomach as the area is often avoided in traditional massages and the tummy is linked to many health concerns. It turned out that was the case for me as the master said he tuned into anxieties and fatigue from performing his healing moves over my abdomen.

The Wellness Sanctuary is also where yoga and meditation took place. Returning guest instructor Karine Kleb invited those staying at Heritage Le Telfair to rise early and work on tuning out internal chatter to just focus on being in the moment.

Her narration in both English and French (the language spoken by locals) ensured a good mix of beginners and intermediate participates joined the sessions each day. When the weather called for it sunset Hatha yoga classes took place at C Beach Club, where guests paddle board, kayak and snorkel away the day right up until mats are set out on the sand of the resort’s 1km beach.

Another unique offering from Heritage Resorts is access to the waterfalls, streams and wildlife within Domaine de Bel Ombre. During our excursion we drove past the rows of giant sugar canes and to the nearby Frederica Nature Reserve for the perfect Forest Bathing setting.

The trendy wellness activity does what it says on the tin – using the sights and sounds of nature to cleanse participants of everyday stresses. Think of it as a more active version of meditation. A reiki master took us out on a hike where monkeys hurried across our path and deer were spotted darting off into the distance as they heard our footsteps. It’s something that would’ve gone unnoticed without allowing ourselves to enjoy the quiet, simply noticing what naturally surrounded us.

As well as showing us how to connect with the universe out there in the fresh forest air, the reiki master also gave a beginner’s course in aura reading. Moving our wind-facing palms like a body scanner, the idea was to detect any areas on our partners body connected to emotional or physical problems. This would be identified when our own hands heated up as we hovered our palms from the head towards the toes.

If the activities on offer don’t help you work up enough of an appetite, the gym is open 24 hours.

And you’ll want to make room to sample what’s on the various menus across the resort. Beachfront Le Palmier restaurant has fish of the day, palm heart salad and carpaccio as highlights and guests taking advantage of the wellness program should look out for the handy correlating symbol next to the name of dishes for what’s recommended.

Breakfast is served buffet-style at Annabella’s with chefs whipping up omelettes on demand and freshly squeezing juices as part of the international offering best enjoyed on the veranda. The restaurant also serves dinner and helps out when it comes to selecting dishes from the extensive menu by displaying the dishes on offer each night.

For a dinnertime treat, the Asian cuisine offering at Ginja restaurants takes things up a notch at the Teppanyaki table where the chef makes a show out of serving up meat, rice and vegetables from the griddle.

But the ultimate lavish experience comes with a short journey to Le Château – a castle with a Presidential Suite that guests can also stay in. Its garden grows herbs used in the resort’s dishes and picked by guests in preparation for cooking classes. You won’t want to miss out on tasting tipples in the private wine cellar next to the dining room, if only to try the lychee wine which is unique to Mauritius. Afterwards, butlers present a dazzling display of plates from French Chef David Toutain that are best rounded off with some famous Mauritian rum in the piano lounge.

After all, wellness isn’t about deprivation, and House of Coco believes finding the right balance is the true meaning of self-care.

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