Stress is one of the leading health issues that increases your risk of chronic illness, plus decreases your enjoyment of the wonderful things around you. So! To help you learn about stress management, here's a handy infographic by the lovely people at Casper, creators of the mattress that lets you sleep cooler, on how naps can help decrease your stress levels.
To learn more about how stress can make you age faster and impact your health, click here.
Because who doesn't love stylish activewear, right? Having beautiful, well-fitting and comfortable activewear is a key motivator for many women to get outside, to the gym or the studio for a workout. At Aprivé Wellness, we're no different, and we love some great stretchy pants and comfy singlets. With so many brands out there though, it's hard to find the best pieces for your collection. So here are our top picks for 2016.
Tried and tested against so many other brands, we absolutely LOVE my Lorna Jane leggings. The main reason is the fabric which is far more breathable than another brand that starts with L....and it feels more natural on your skin. We bought one of the styles with the ventilation panels which keep out legs cool.
Pic from Lorna Jane Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lornajaneactive
It's not secret one of our favourite taglines to get more done is "You have as many hours in a day as Beyoncé." But it's not just being a fan that gave Ivy Park the top pick for crop tops. The hip-hop-inspired activewear range is perfect for everyone dancers to gym bunnies to yoga fans. We love that attitude it has, and, yes, we love that it's made by Queen B.
We find ourselves in our activewear for a whole day after teaching Pilates, so we're fans of clean lines and a modern style (not just a baggy old tee, not that there's anything wrong with soft tees for workouts!) Michi NY has super modern, almost futuristic activewear, and their tank tops are ultra flattering. Love.
Plus - The Michi Instagram feed is a dream! https://www.instagram.com/michi_ny
Summer's nearly here! That means time to SUP. If you're fair like us, you need something with good coverage, but that's not too hot. We love the tanks and leggings from The Upside, but this onesie is the ultimate for summer. Not to justify the purchase according to how many days one goes supping....hmmm....
Also loving their new pineapple-themed range for summer https://www.instagram.com/the_upside/
Activewear doesn't have to break the bank, and with new sporty collections by J Crew, and Aussie and Kiwi local options like Target and Cotton On Body, there are plenty of affordable brands to choose from. For a chilly stroll, hike or a dash to the gym on a windy summer day, we love a simple grey hoodie. Plus! You can keep it for winter and wear it under your leather jacket, paired with leggings for a super stylish activewear look (or great comfy plane attire!)
What's your favourite piece of activewear?
The other night I went to an incredible workshops with Dr Libby Weaver, biochemist extraordinaire and wellness advocate. Much like Aprivé Wellness, Dr Libby blends scientific evidence with fun stories and meaningful wellbeing tips to help women live their best lives.
Last night's workshop focused around women in particular, and featured everything from the importance of liver health to the danger of oestrogen dominance. Most interestingly, Dr Libby answered her own question:
"Why do we do what we do when we know what we know?"
I learned the answer during the workshop, and here are other things I learned.
Dr Libby points out food (whole, real food that is) is just food, it's your choices that determine health. She's also keen to remind everyone that junk food isn't food. It's just junk.
To convert one chemical into another, which the body can use, we need nutrients. Nutrients are what we get from real food. Take broccoli for example: Broccoli is broken down into a special kind of medium, which also helps your liver process oestrogen. Without broccoli, this reaction is stalled. Why don't you want to much oestrogen? Read on....
Liver cleansing and beetroot juices have been around for ages, but apart from helping recover from a champagne binge, no one is really sure why livers need cleansing.
In the old days, alcohol was the main reason livers developed fatty liver disease. Now though, it's occurring in many women, even children. What does this mean?
It means there is less viable liver able to process the incoming fats, cholesterol, oestrogen and alcohol, so it's working at lower capacity and is overloaded. Uh oh...
First up, think of the liver as a 2-phase funnel. Dr Libby uses her arm to depict a liver. Imagine your forearm is the input, where trans-fats, alcohol, cholesterol and oestrogen come in. At the wrist is phase one, where every substance undergoes a change, call it A1. After A1, imagine your palm is phase 2, where the changed substance A1 chooses a pathway down one of your fingertips, one of 5 different pathways.
Nodding our heads at the workshop, Dr Libby went on, explaining what happens when the liver is backed up. After a substance comes into the liver and undergoes a change (becomes A1) sometimes there's too much traffic for it to filter down one of the five pathways. So! It sneaks out a trap door and gets back into the blood stream.
Our body isn't skilled at processing these altered substances (A1) and a good example is oestrogen. After it become altered, if it is forced to sneak out the trapdoor, the altered oestrogen enters the blood stream. Unfortunately it can't be processed, and has been linked to oestrogen-dominant cancers like some breast cancers. Not good.
You need to free up the traffic that's blocking those five pathways.
1. Decrease cholesterol, alcohol and trans fats to slow down the flow of substances coming into the liver.
2. Decrease your oestrogen levels. How? Decrease your stress levels; this helps increase your progesterone levels which is your body's anti-anxiety hormone. When progesterone levels increase, oestrogen decreases and they level out. This means there's less oestrogen flooding into the liver, and none has to sneak out the trap door!
Thinking of the info I learned from Dr Libby!
Dr Libby has a green juice every morning, and finds it the easiest way to increase her veggie intake.
Seeing hundreds of women every year at her Beautiful You Weekends, Dr Libby encounters so many women who feel overwhelmed, flustered and stressed, but who wear a mask of serenity to hide it all. Her antidote is to get you to say 'no' more often. Not a guilty no, where you beat yourself up for not being able to help a friend, attend a seminar or walk someone's dog, but a content, strong 'NO!' Give it a try.
For the first time, Dr Libby shared her own personal story in this seminar about a battle with gluten intolerance where she lost excessive weight, and was very ill. She says she didn't go to the doctor for four whole months, but if she'd listened to her body, she would have gone earlier. Libby wants you to listen to your body, and trust your intuition as it is almost always right about what you need to look after yourself.
This was the most profound part of the workshop for me. As a wellness consultant, I chat with women about habit change and many do incredibly well. But this fact is absolutely true, and I had never thought of it so clearly.
Everyone knows what they should to do look after themselves, so why don't they do it? Because they don't think they deserve to be their best selves. If you truly believe you are precious, and valuable, and special, you're more likely to treat yourself to the best gift - health. If you're not sure how to start valuing yourself, come to one of our retreats. It's the perfect place to start!
Dr Libby is a truly brilliant speaker, and the other night's workshops was no exception. She truly listens to women, and looks at what she can do to help you have more energy and be your best self. I feel so privileged to have attended this event for Aprivé Wellness and our Health & Wellness blog for Queenstown.com. Thank you Dr Libby! Amazing as always.
With 14 lovely guests from Queenstown, Wanaka and throughout Southland, our last public retreat was a huge success. So much so, we had to get out extra yoga mats for the extra numbers who booked last minute! Brilliant sunshine, breathtaking snow-capped mountains and a stunning venue in Gibbston made this retreat a real escape for our guests.
Our one-day retreat is all about YOU! You take as much out of it as you wish, blending laughs, great food and new friends with some handy tips to help you live a happier, healthier life.
First up, we started the day with a yoga/Pilates fusion class. Some guests were worried it would be cold outside, but thanks to the sun, everyone ended up in singlets and t-shirts!
Next guests enjoyed an exceptional chia pudding hand crafted by chef Fabien Simon of My Private Chef NZ. Cinnamon infused apple pieces, pineapple purée, gluten free granola and coconut chia pudding was mixed together to not only look incredibly beautiful, but it was really tasty.
A first for our retreats, this new workshops was a huge hit. Talented French chef Fabien taught our guests cooking tips and simple ways to prepare nourishing food. He demonstrated how to make Pearl Barley Risotto with Greens & Parmesan, plus how to make kid-friendly Kumera Fritters. If you want the recipes, you'll have to come to our next retreat! All our guests are getting the recipes next week.
Lunch was truly divine, and very popular among our guests. Beautiful pieces of salmon, miso mayo, kumera and carrot fritters, broccoli and spinach coulis and salmon skin crackling was the most luxurious lunch we've had at an event yet.
Our breathtaking venue was a ten minute stroll to the rushing Kawarau river, so we headed off on a mindfulness walk to the beach. With just one day to retreat, ten minutes of silence was welcomed by the guests, helping them think about themselves without the distractions of conversation.
Once down on the beautiful beach by the rushing river, we spent ten minutes doing simple meditation followed by a stress workshop. We chatted about the pressures of daily life, and the difficulties many people face when stress and poor self-esteem manifests itself in their lives as obsession with food or exercise.
After strolling and chatting on the way back to our venue, the guests enjoyed a relaxing stretch class under the willow tree. Four ladies had pre-booked massages and made their way to quiet ends of the house to slip into bliss. The others enjoyed wine tasting: Organic wine by Carrick, and biodynamic wine by Quartz Reef. Don't worry, those who booked massages got wine afterwards!
We've had wonderful feedback from the day such as:
"I love your bubbliness and knowledge about what you do."
Such a huge thank you to all the women who came to this beautiful day, and of course thank you to Fabien Simon for his expertise. Thank you also to Neat organic perfumes, Hunter Gatherer Gourmet and The Herb Farm organic skincare for their beautiful gifts in the gift bags.
Want to come to our next retreat? Sign up below to be the first to hear about i!
The days are getting longer and the mornings are brighter - Spring is nearly here! You’re probably super excited for the warmer months, but the thought of wearing summer dresses and shorts might be a bit daunting. Never fear! Here’s a 5-step guide to start your summer-wellness mission.
Twenty minutes is nothing right? Wrong! It can make all the difference, and help you kickstart your health and fitness for spring. Whether you go for a walk to get a coffee, head to the park and go on the swings, go for a run or even sit outside with a cup of hot water, starting the day outdoors can have a hugely positive affect on your mindset and mental health.
Tip: Go for a walk, even just a short one, and you’ll find not only does it kickstart your summer cardio regime, it also does wonders for your mindset.
Finally! Spring produce is popping up meaning luscious tomatoes are on the shelves, asparagus is nearly here and stone fruits are on their way! Change up your lunch and instead of bringing last night’s leftover pasta to work, try making a super quick salad.
Tip: Throw some cherry tomatoes in a tupperware with raw asparagus, cut capsicum, baby spinach, balsamic and some aoli. Add tuna in olive oil at lunchtime (or keep it completely veggie) and give it a shake when you’re ready to eat. You'll be adding extra nutrients to your diet and avoiding the 3pm slump thanks to the organic energy.
If you suffered from the blues this winter, you’re not alone. A lack of vitamin D can have a huge effect on your mood. Finally there’s more sunlight hours though, so try to sit outside for at least ten minutes per day to get your Vitamin D fix.
Tip: Your skin will probably be super sensitive to the sun after being under a million warm layers, so don’t forget to use some sunscreen, or a BB cream with sunscreen in it already.
Catching some rays at Bob's Cove, Queenstown
If you’ve lost a bit of motivation to workout this winter, don’t worry. Now’s the time to get back on track and get moving again! A great motivator is beautiful activewear, so why not pick up just one new piece to motivate you. You’ll be dying to wear your new leggings/jacket/tank top so you won’t miss your next yoga class.
Tip: My fave brands at the moment are The Upside, Lorna Jane, P.E Nation and Kinki
I was thrilled to meet this amazing woman Kinki, founder of beautiful Chinese brand Kinki Activewear and creator of yoga empire K Yoga.
Have you had knee pain, back pain or a niggly injury that’s bothered you throughout winter? Now’s the time to get it fixed! Head to a good Physiotherapist to get your injury sorted so you can achieve your fitness goals this summer. Whether you want to run a half marathon, play with your kids more or simply walk up the stairs to work, long-term injuries can negatively affect your mindset and put you off activity.
Tip: Don’t be the girl who says “I can’t, I have a bad knee,” be the girl who gets it sorted, and start with what you can do, with a plan to get moving and improve. You can do it!
I find healthy skin with a dewy glow almost impossible to achieve in winter, so I spoke to Sara of NZ natural skincare brand Tailor, to get some tips for you.
I have sensitive, dry skin living in Queenstown, and struggle to find great products that work. But! Tailor skincare face oil and masks have really helped me this winter, so Sara knows her stuff! Check out her tips to keep your skin healthy this winter.
Definitely dryness. In winter, your sebum production slows down and you sweat less. Sebum is the skin’s natural oil and it mixes together with sweat to form a protective layer called the acid mantle. The acid mantle acts as a protective barrier to prevent water loss from the skin and it also helps to defend your skin against environmental irritants.
Over exfoliation, over cleansing and avoiding oils. Daily exfoliation can be too much for your skin, even gentle exfoliation. Everyone's skin is different but as a general rule I recommend exfoliation every other day with a gentle (non microbead) exfoliant like Tailor Dry Cleanse (but no more than this). Over exfoliation can lead to dryness and irritation because it compromises your skin’s acid mantle.
Over cleansing can also lead to dryness and irritation.
Using oil on your skin doesn't actually make it oily! Using a gentle oil cleanser or facial oil can be a great way to rebalance oily breakout prone skin or bring dry skin back into balance by supporting the skin.
Clean the skin and remove make up with an oil cleanser to keep the skin nourished and balanced without destroying the protective layer.
Get a good quality facial oil. Be sure to check the ingredients list because not all facial oils are created equal.
Sweat it out! Go to a hot yoga class, have a blast on the treadmill or relax in the sauna, whatever you do make sure you sweat it out, not only to cleanse your skin but to help your skin rebuild it’s protective layer - the acid mantle.
Natural skincare which contains good quality (i.e cold pressed) plant based oils is beneficial for the skin because the fatty acids in these oils will help to boost your skin’s metabolism, helping to give your skin energy to regenerate itself.
Mineral makeup and products are bad for your skin. Mineral oil is a by-product of the petrochemical industry and a common ingredient in many skincare formulas. Rather than it creating moisture though, it simply forms a barrier, preventing water loss, but clogging the skin barrier.
Some chemicals mimic hormones - oestrogen in particular. These chemicals are referred to as xenoestrogens when they are synthetic (man made) and phytoestrogens when coming from a plant source. These oestrogen mimicking chemicals can build up in your system putting pressure on your liver to detoxify them. In abundance they have been associated with “man boobs” in men and PMS, bloating, painful periods, weight gain, headaches and anxiety in women. You’ll find phytoestrogens in soy, tempeh, wheat, barley and flax.
Chemicals with xenoestrogenic effects include some parabens (a common preservative in personal care), 4-MBC (4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor; a synthetic SPF), Phthalates (a plasticising material found in mascara and nail polish) and tri-sodium phosphate (TSP; used as a cleaning agent, food additive and stain remover). Please note this list is by no means exhaustive and I urge you to do your own research.
And for the Aprive Wellness community we have a limited time 10% discount offer. Simply use the code: Aprive at checkout between now and Aug 31st 2016.
We have a brand new product launch in the works. Check out the facebook page to stay in the loop: https://www.facebook.com/events/729962783773206/
Thank you so much to Sara for all the great info! Tailor is one of those special brands that are hard to find - definitely check them out online.
