The winter is a time when ailments tend to visit us, with colds and the flu often a frequent issue, as the weather changes and our body is more susceptible to bugs and viruses. We are still a long way off the winter here in Australia, but here are some great oral hygiene tips to help prevent the onset of colds and the flu when the temperatures drop.
- Stay Hydrated - We don’t always drink enough water in the cold season and this could have a negative impact on our health. If you do go down with a cold, or worse, the flu, then it is critical that you stay hydrated, so get into a routine that includes drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning, after lunch, in the afternoon, and during the evening.
- Reduce Your Sugar Intake - This is something you should try to do all year round, and especially in the colder months, as sugar is the major cause of tooth decay, and if you do ingest anything with high sugar content, always brush and floss directly after. You can also rinse your mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash, which will help to remove sugar from your teeth enamel.
- Professional Teeth Cleaning - This is always a good idea, and something the dentist would recommend prior to teeth whitening in Sydney, which is a popular cosmetic dental treatment. Having your teeth professionally cleaned is recommended prior to laser teeth whitening treatment, but the treatment can be carried out at any time. Some people have their teeth professionally cleaned every year, which reduces the risk of tooth decay, and with proper brushing and flossing every day, you are minimising the risk of cavities.
- Take Vitamin Supplements - This can really help your body deal with the climate change, and that could be enough to protect you against common winter bugs. Start at the end of the summer and if you feel the benefits, why not continue taking the supplements all year?
- Cold Sores - These can suddenly erupt at any time, but are more likely to occur in the colder months of the year. In the event you have a cold sore, resist the temptation to pick it, and apply some cold sore ointment, which will promote the natural healing process.
- Use Lip Balm - The cold wind can easily cause chapped lips and the best form of protection is to apply lip balm as the cold weather arrives. Chapped lips can be extremely painful and rather than wait for it to happen, start protecting your lips with balm before the cold weather arrives. There are articles available online that share tips on how best to treat chapped lips.
The cold winter months are a time when we can suffer from colds and flu, and by taking the above advice, you are reducing the risk of catching a common cold. It is important to have a good oral hygiene routine, not just in the winter, but all year round, and you should schedule an oral examination by your dentist at least once a year.
This article is published in partnership with Mediabuzzer
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Today I started an 8 week Shape Up challenge with my gym Creazione. The challenge basically pushes you to shape up your body in 8 weeks through guided training sessions set by a team leader, group training sessions and a nutrition plan. You are measured on your weight, body fat and inch loss.
You are placed into a team which is led by one of the fantastic trainers at the gym who is your guide and support for the 8 weeks.
At the end of the 8 weeks there is a big party where all the winners are announced. There are prizes for individuals who 'shape up' the most and also the teams that perform the best.
I have taken part in the challenge in previous years and I love it. I can't recommend it enough. Creazione is without a doubt the friendliest gym I've ever been a member of. The support that you get from the gym, your team and other members is incredible. It enables you to stay focused and determined.
This time around I am going into this challenge with a new mindset. I am placed in a team led by my amazing personal trainer, Elliot Williams and I couldn't be happier. I've had 15 personal training sessions with Elliot (one a week) since the summer and I have already achieved and progressed massively. My fitness levels and techniques have improved greatly since we started. Honestly, I was a shambles beforehand. How I hadn't injured myself on a weight machine I'll never know. He has taught me technique, tips, tricks and has given me his complete support. One of my first goals was to be able to do a press-up on my toes (I couldn't even do them on my knees). I thought this was going to take me ages to master but he managed to get me to do them within in 2 sessions.
Above all he has managed to change my attitude towards the gym. I no longer see it as a chore but it is something I enjoy and look forward to. Also the benefits it has had on my mental health have been incredible. I haven't had a relapse in my postnatal depression in a very long time which I know is down to my new lifestyle. Elliot is a great team leader and I know I will do well in this challenge under his watchful eye. He's also setting an example to our team by doing the whole challenge with us.
My goals for this challenge are to drop a bit of weight, increase my strength and build some muscle definition and hopefully a dress size which I know I can achieve. I am also hoping to be able to do pull-ups by the end of it (they are my ultimate weakness at the moment).
I'll be sharing the whole challenge with you over on my instagram (kerrylouisenorris) and through blog posts and youtube videos. This is to keep me focused and to also show you what a positive effect it will have on my lifestyle and my mind. I'll share my ups, my downs, my swearing (probably) and my wins. At the end of the challenge I'll reveal my before and after pictures and all of my stats.
You are placed into a team which is led by one of the fantastic trainers at the gym who is your guide and support for the 8 weeks.
At the end of the 8 weeks there is a big party where all the winners are announced. There are prizes for individuals who 'shape up' the most and also the teams that perform the best.
I have taken part in the challenge in previous years and I love it. I can't recommend it enough. Creazione is without a doubt the friendliest gym I've ever been a member of. The support that you get from the gym, your team and other members is incredible. It enables you to stay focused and determined.
This time around I am going into this challenge with a new mindset. I am placed in a team led by my amazing personal trainer, Elliot Williams and I couldn't be happier. I've had 15 personal training sessions with Elliot (one a week) since the summer and I have already achieved and progressed massively. My fitness levels and techniques have improved greatly since we started. Honestly, I was a shambles beforehand. How I hadn't injured myself on a weight machine I'll never know. He has taught me technique, tips, tricks and has given me his complete support. One of my first goals was to be able to do a press-up on my toes (I couldn't even do them on my knees). I thought this was going to take me ages to master but he managed to get me to do them within in 2 sessions.
Above all he has managed to change my attitude towards the gym. I no longer see it as a chore but it is something I enjoy and look forward to. Also the benefits it has had on my mental health have been incredible. I haven't had a relapse in my postnatal depression in a very long time which I know is down to my new lifestyle. Elliot is a great team leader and I know I will do well in this challenge under his watchful eye. He's also setting an example to our team by doing the whole challenge with us.
My goals for this challenge are to drop a bit of weight, increase my strength and build some muscle definition and hopefully a dress size which I know I can achieve. I am also hoping to be able to do pull-ups by the end of it (they are my ultimate weakness at the moment).
I'll be sharing the whole challenge with you over on my instagram (kerrylouisenorris) and through blog posts and youtube videos. This is to keep me focused and to also show you what a positive effect it will have on my lifestyle and my mind. I'll share my ups, my downs, my swearing (probably) and my wins. At the end of the challenge I'll reveal my before and after pictures and all of my stats.
Being a working mum can be pretty tiring and rather stressful. I constantly seem to be busy. If i'm not washing clothes or taking the kids somewhere then I am working a long 10 hour shift. Not only that I suffer with Post Natal Depression (PND). You can read one of my posts here, This is PND for me. I've openly discussed my PND journey across my social media so if you're a regular reader you will know that I am not very good at putting myself first and indulging in self care. I am getting better at it and I now able to recognise when I am becoming burnt out and overwhelmed before it is too late.
I was delighted when John Lewis Cardiff invited me to join them for a well-being Yoga morning. Knowing how busy i've been, this sounded exactly like the mummy me time I needed.
John Lewis is aiming to promote and improve the well-being of its customers by providing a one stop shop for everything you need to relax, destress and indulge in some TLC. Whether that's with a makeover, a hand and arm massage, a shopping trip with a personal stylist, some new gym equipment or simply a coffee and a cake, they aim to maximise your mood.
I was gifted with a fantastic new gym kit from John Lewis and Shock Absorber of a top and cropped trousers to wear to the Yoga Class. I've never tried their gym range before and I must admit I haven't taken them off since. The trousers are very comfortable and supportive.
The Yoga class was a small, intimate class led by local instructor Lorraine. The room was beautifully set and I immediately felt calm and relaxed. The session lasted around 45 minutes and I really enjoyed it. I'm not the most flexible person but it certainly cleared my mind. It was a great way to start the day.
I was then treated to a healthy breakfast in the John Lewis restaurant along with some refreshing fruit tea's whilst watching a demonstration of the Nutri Bullet.
My pampering didn't end there. I was then given a lovely hand and arm massage by the ladies from Liz Earle. I'm a big fan of their products, especially their cleansing hot cloth. The products they used smelt amazing.
I really enjoyed my morning of well being. It helped to remind me to look after myself and practice mindfulness too. I came away from the event feeling positive and ready to take on the day.
You can check your local store for a list of their events here, What's on.
*Thank you to John Lewis Cardiff for inviting me to the well-being event and gifting me a goody bag. All views and opinions are my own and as always are truthful*
I was delighted when John Lewis Cardiff invited me to join them for a well-being Yoga morning. Knowing how busy i've been, this sounded exactly like the mummy me time I needed.
John Lewis is aiming to promote and improve the well-being of its customers by providing a one stop shop for everything you need to relax, destress and indulge in some TLC. Whether that's with a makeover, a hand and arm massage, a shopping trip with a personal stylist, some new gym equipment or simply a coffee and a cake, they aim to maximise your mood.
I was gifted with a fantastic new gym kit from John Lewis and Shock Absorber of a top and cropped trousers to wear to the Yoga Class. I've never tried their gym range before and I must admit I haven't taken them off since. The trousers are very comfortable and supportive.
The Yoga class was a small, intimate class led by local instructor Lorraine. The room was beautifully set and I immediately felt calm and relaxed. The session lasted around 45 minutes and I really enjoyed it. I'm not the most flexible person but it certainly cleared my mind. It was a great way to start the day.
I was then treated to a healthy breakfast in the John Lewis restaurant along with some refreshing fruit tea's whilst watching a demonstration of the Nutri Bullet.
My pampering didn't end there. I was then given a lovely hand and arm massage by the ladies from Liz Earle. I'm a big fan of their products, especially their cleansing hot cloth. The products they used smelt amazing.
I really enjoyed my morning of well being. It helped to remind me to look after myself and practice mindfulness too. I came away from the event feeling positive and ready to take on the day.
You can check your local store for a list of their events here, What's on.
*Thank you to John Lewis Cardiff for inviting me to the well-being event and gifting me a goody bag. All views and opinions are my own and as always are truthful*
I've always remained honest when I write and I like to give you a real insight into my life including all the ups and downs. Before Christmas I did so well in dropping 2 dress sizes and I was loving exercising and eating healthily. You can read all about that journey here, Drop 2 dress sizes in 6 weeks .
However, Christmas and New Year came and went and i'm ashamed to say I have been to the gym once since Christmas!!!! I am literally hanging my head in shame. I'm gutted. I have broken the habit and once again I now have cabin fever about going back. I literally cannot get my butt off the sofa and cannot be bothered.
I am determined to get back into exercising as I loved it when I was doing it. It gave me more energy and the pheromones I got from it were exhilarating. I just need to get back in the habit. If you're the same here's 10 ways to get you back into it:
1) Start with something easy
I think this is key to getting back into exercise. Don't climb mountains straight off and have realistic expectations. A walk every day could be a great start to getting you more motivated.
2) Get a training buddy
I did some group training sessions last year and I loved the support you get from someone else. Getting a training buddy has a number of benefits. You have company, it's a great thing to do if you're shy or not very confident, you get support from them and above all you won't want to let them down.
3) Try something new
Exercise doesn't have to be the same thing all the time. I actually get bored incredibly easily. You're more likely to continue to exercise if you try new things out. You could try a new class or a new sport. There are so many things to choose from such as swimming, running, walking, climbing, weights and there are lots of different types of classes with brings me on to my next point.
4) Do a class
Booking a class is a great motivator. If you're booked in, you are less likely to cancel. You have the group element to it and therefore more likely to keep going during the class. With someone else training you for the class, you are going to get a more effective workout. I always try harder in a class than I would on my own.
There are so many classes to try such as body pump, yoga, kettlebells, spin and don't forget other ones such as aerial circus classes, pole dancing, belly dancing. You name it, there's something for everyone.
5) Plan ahead
Planning exercise into your diary is key. Decide what days you are going to exercise and stick to it. Write it on a calendar, in your diary and on your phone so you don't forget. I also think training on a Monday will set you up for the week ahead.
6) Get a personal trainer
If you can afford a personal trainer then they are 100% worth it. They can tailor workouts for you and teach you what to do. They are there to give you physical and emotional support. Every time i've had one, i've never regretted it.
7) Do something at home
If the idea of a class or the gym is daunting then try exercising at home. You can get yourself some weights to do at home or even some cardio equipment if you have the space and the money.
You could do a workout video. I've got the Joe Wicks DVD but there are plenty of others you can try.
There are also lots of websites where you can find workouts to do at home. I'm about to start using Flex TV which has live workouts on there. They have a huge variety of classes such as ballet barre, cardio, yoga etc.
8) Take a one month challenge
If you really want to get motivated then take a one month challenge. There are various running ones, abs, squats etc. Type it into google, print one off and challenge yourself.
9) Pack your bag the night before
If you've planned exercise for the following day then get your kit ready the night before. No excuses then.
10) Keep a journal
Keep and exercise journal. This will monitor your progress and results and you will be able to see what you've achieved and how well you've done. I recently bought a cheap one in Tiger and it's fab. Well it will be when I start using it this week.
Do you have any tips?
However, Christmas and New Year came and went and i'm ashamed to say I have been to the gym once since Christmas!!!! I am literally hanging my head in shame. I'm gutted. I have broken the habit and once again I now have cabin fever about going back. I literally cannot get my butt off the sofa and cannot be bothered.
I am determined to get back into exercising as I loved it when I was doing it. It gave me more energy and the pheromones I got from it were exhilarating. I just need to get back in the habit. If you're the same here's 10 ways to get you back into it:
1) Start with something easy
I think this is key to getting back into exercise. Don't climb mountains straight off and have realistic expectations. A walk every day could be a great start to getting you more motivated.
2) Get a training buddy
I did some group training sessions last year and I loved the support you get from someone else. Getting a training buddy has a number of benefits. You have company, it's a great thing to do if you're shy or not very confident, you get support from them and above all you won't want to let them down.
3) Try something new
Exercise doesn't have to be the same thing all the time. I actually get bored incredibly easily. You're more likely to continue to exercise if you try new things out. You could try a new class or a new sport. There are so many things to choose from such as swimming, running, walking, climbing, weights and there are lots of different types of classes with brings me on to my next point.
4) Do a class
Booking a class is a great motivator. If you're booked in, you are less likely to cancel. You have the group element to it and therefore more likely to keep going during the class. With someone else training you for the class, you are going to get a more effective workout. I always try harder in a class than I would on my own.
There are so many classes to try such as body pump, yoga, kettlebells, spin and don't forget other ones such as aerial circus classes, pole dancing, belly dancing. You name it, there's something for everyone.
5) Plan ahead
Planning exercise into your diary is key. Decide what days you are going to exercise and stick to it. Write it on a calendar, in your diary and on your phone so you don't forget. I also think training on a Monday will set you up for the week ahead.
6) Get a personal trainer
If you can afford a personal trainer then they are 100% worth it. They can tailor workouts for you and teach you what to do. They are there to give you physical and emotional support. Every time i've had one, i've never regretted it.
7) Do something at home
If the idea of a class or the gym is daunting then try exercising at home. You can get yourself some weights to do at home or even some cardio equipment if you have the space and the money.
You could do a workout video. I've got the Joe Wicks DVD but there are plenty of others you can try.
There are also lots of websites where you can find workouts to do at home. I'm about to start using Flex TV which has live workouts on there. They have a huge variety of classes such as ballet barre, cardio, yoga etc.
8) Take a one month challenge
If you really want to get motivated then take a one month challenge. There are various running ones, abs, squats etc. Type it into google, print one off and challenge yourself.
9) Pack your bag the night before
If you've planned exercise for the following day then get your kit ready the night before. No excuses then.
10) Keep a journal
Keep and exercise journal. This will monitor your progress and results and you will be able to see what you've achieved and how well you've done. I recently bought a cheap one in Tiger and it's fab. Well it will be when I start using it this week.
Do you have any tips?
With hubby starting work again this week in a job that see's him away from the house early in the morning until late in the evening, I need to be more organised so I've now starting meal planning. I wish I had done this a lot sooner as it really makes things easier.
We are both back on a healthy eating mission after consuming way too much naughty food over the Christmas/new year period plus a few weeks after whilst my family were visiting from Australia. We're actually having different meals to the kids which is silly as it makes more work for me but i'm batch cooking lots of their meals and using the slow cooker. Their meal plan will be in a separate post.
I was browsing all of my cookbooks for healthy meal inspiration and I found it a bit too much so I decided to just use one cookbook per week and some recipes of my own. This week I've decided to use Kayla Itsines - 28 day healthy eating and lifestyle book. I've followed her on Facebook for a long time. I've completely fallen in love with this book. It's packed full of recipes with food we love to eat.
It's Chinese New Year this weekend so we're also planning to have something to mark the occasion but something that's as healthy as possible. You can't beat a fakeaway.
Our meal plan for the week beginning 23rd January 2017:
Monday - Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki (using a wholemeal wrap)
Tuesday - Fish Tacos (using a wholemeal wrap)
Wednesday - Chicken, Sweet Potato, Caramelised Onion and Rocket Pizza (using a wholemeal pitta bread as the base)
Thursday - Jerk Chicken with Rice and Beans, Mango Salsa and Lime Yoghurt
Friday - Halloumi Burgers (my own recipe)
Saturday - Sweet and Sour Chicken with Rice (homemade healthy fakeaway)
Sunday - Roast Dinner (at a family dinner)
There you have it. I'll update you at the end of the week with what we had for breakfast and lunch too.
What are your favourite healthy meals?
We are both back on a healthy eating mission after consuming way too much naughty food over the Christmas/new year period plus a few weeks after whilst my family were visiting from Australia. We're actually having different meals to the kids which is silly as it makes more work for me but i'm batch cooking lots of their meals and using the slow cooker. Their meal plan will be in a separate post.
I was browsing all of my cookbooks for healthy meal inspiration and I found it a bit too much so I decided to just use one cookbook per week and some recipes of my own. This week I've decided to use Kayla Itsines - 28 day healthy eating and lifestyle book. I've followed her on Facebook for a long time. I've completely fallen in love with this book. It's packed full of recipes with food we love to eat.
It's Chinese New Year this weekend so we're also planning to have something to mark the occasion but something that's as healthy as possible. You can't beat a fakeaway.
Our meal plan for the week beginning 23rd January 2017:
Monday - Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki (using a wholemeal wrap)
Tuesday - Fish Tacos (using a wholemeal wrap)
Wednesday - Chicken, Sweet Potato, Caramelised Onion and Rocket Pizza (using a wholemeal pitta bread as the base)
Thursday - Jerk Chicken with Rice and Beans, Mango Salsa and Lime Yoghurt
Friday - Halloumi Burgers (my own recipe)
Saturday - Sweet and Sour Chicken with Rice (homemade healthy fakeaway)
Sunday - Roast Dinner (at a family dinner)
There you have it. I'll update you at the end of the week with what we had for breakfast and lunch too.
What are your favourite healthy meals?
Towards the end of 2016 I went on a huge health kick and dropped 2 dress sizes in 6 weeks. I started at a size 12/14 and I am now a 8/10. I can assure you it can be achieved and i'm not talking about fad diets or juicing. All it took was exercise and healthy eating.
I've struggled with my weight since having children. I've always been up and down. I guess it's a combination of eating more and a lack of energy and enthusiasm to exercise. Whilst weaning my second baby I would sit and finish any leftovers. I'm sure if you're a parent you've probably done that to. I also found it a bit of a drag to try and prepare lots of different meals. With a baby, a toddler and working, the last thing I wanted to do was prepare myself and hubby one meal and the kids something else. Time is precious and I certainly felt too busy to be doing things like that.
I've also suffered with PND. This combined with the tiredness of being a parent, really hadn't helped in providing any motivation to exercise or eat healthily. There were days when I couldn't even leave the house due to my PND so the the thought of leaving to do some exercise was completely alien. However, my attitude to life was completely wrong (more on that in a later blog post).
It was whilst I was looking back on photos from our holiday to Turkey during the summer that I realised I didn't even recognise myself. I had gained a lot of weight and I was very unhealthy. I was ashamed and gutted. This is not the example I wanted to set my girls. I wanted them to look at their mum and see a strong, confident, happy, healthy woman. It was time for a change.
A - Get myself to the gym
B - Be able to do the right exercise for me
C - Provide me with nutritional advice
and D - Get me results.
I met with my trainer once to twice a week in a 6 week period. This combined with exercising 3 times a week and a healthy balanced diet enabled me to drop 2 dress sizes in 6 weeks. I lost a massive 5 inches from my waist, 0.5 from my hip, 1 from my thigh, 1 from my arm and gained 0.5 on my chest. I also lost 12 pounds in weight.
So what were we doing?
Exercise consisted mainly of weights, resistance and hiit (high intensity interval training). This worked perfectly for me as I am not a fan of cardio especially running. Think everything from burpees, jumps, squats, sandbags, kettle-bells, planking and much more. We would focus on one muscle group per training session but when we did hiit it would be an all over killer session.
What was I eating?
I reduced my portion sizes for a start. This didn't bother me as I was eating a more balanced diet which kept me fuller for longer. I was eating breakfast, a mid morning snack, lunch, mid afternoon snack, dinner and then a final snack before bed. This was more than what I would normally eat but as I said the portions were smaller and more targeted for weight loss and toning. The diet consisted of lots of protein, superfoods and no alcohol.
I'll be going into more detail about my diet in a separate blog post but here's what a typical day looked like:
Breakfast - Banana, Porridge Oats, Skimmed Milk
Snack - Fat Free Yogurt
Lunch - Chicken Salad
Snack - Carrot Sticks and Humous
Dinner - Prawn Stir Fry
Snack - Rice Cake
I also drank a lot more water during the day.
I'll be sharing my journey with you in a lot more detail from now on but I feel like it is only the beginning. I want to tone a lot more and I now know it is achievable after how quickly I have managed to change my body and mind set already. I've certainly eaten and drunk way too much over Christmas so as soon as my family head back to Australia in a few days it's back to my normal routine.
I have fallen in love with clean eating and exercising again as I have seen all the benefits it has given me such as more energy and motivation in every aspect of my life, not just with exercise. Keep your eyes peeled for my meal planning posts, exercise posts and recipes.
I've struggled with my weight since having children. I've always been up and down. I guess it's a combination of eating more and a lack of energy and enthusiasm to exercise. Whilst weaning my second baby I would sit and finish any leftovers. I'm sure if you're a parent you've probably done that to. I also found it a bit of a drag to try and prepare lots of different meals. With a baby, a toddler and working, the last thing I wanted to do was prepare myself and hubby one meal and the kids something else. Time is precious and I certainly felt too busy to be doing things like that.
I've also suffered with PND. This combined with the tiredness of being a parent, really hadn't helped in providing any motivation to exercise or eat healthily. There were days when I couldn't even leave the house due to my PND so the the thought of leaving to do some exercise was completely alien. However, my attitude to life was completely wrong (more on that in a later blog post).
It was whilst I was looking back on photos from our holiday to Turkey during the summer that I realised I didn't even recognise myself. I had gained a lot of weight and I was very unhealthy. I was ashamed and gutted. This is not the example I wanted to set my girls. I wanted them to look at their mum and see a strong, confident, happy, healthy woman. It was time for a change.
I can't believe I've put this picture up for you all to see! I hate it.
I decided to get myself a personal trainer. This was the boost I needed to:A - Get myself to the gym
B - Be able to do the right exercise for me
C - Provide me with nutritional advice
and D - Get me results.
I met with my trainer once to twice a week in a 6 week period. This combined with exercising 3 times a week and a healthy balanced diet enabled me to drop 2 dress sizes in 6 weeks. I lost a massive 5 inches from my waist, 0.5 from my hip, 1 from my thigh, 1 from my arm and gained 0.5 on my chest. I also lost 12 pounds in weight.
So what were we doing?
Exercise consisted mainly of weights, resistance and hiit (high intensity interval training). This worked perfectly for me as I am not a fan of cardio especially running. Think everything from burpees, jumps, squats, sandbags, kettle-bells, planking and much more. We would focus on one muscle group per training session but when we did hiit it would be an all over killer session.
What was I eating?
I reduced my portion sizes for a start. This didn't bother me as I was eating a more balanced diet which kept me fuller for longer. I was eating breakfast, a mid morning snack, lunch, mid afternoon snack, dinner and then a final snack before bed. This was more than what I would normally eat but as I said the portions were smaller and more targeted for weight loss and toning. The diet consisted of lots of protein, superfoods and no alcohol.
I'll be going into more detail about my diet in a separate blog post but here's what a typical day looked like:
Breakfast - Banana, Porridge Oats, Skimmed Milk
Snack - Fat Free Yogurt
Lunch - Chicken Salad
Snack - Carrot Sticks and Humous
Dinner - Prawn Stir Fry
Snack - Rice Cake
I also drank a lot more water during the day.
I'll be sharing my journey with you in a lot more detail from now on but I feel like it is only the beginning. I want to tone a lot more and I now know it is achievable after how quickly I have managed to change my body and mind set already. I've certainly eaten and drunk way too much over Christmas so as soon as my family head back to Australia in a few days it's back to my normal routine.
I have fallen in love with clean eating and exercising again as I have seen all the benefits it has given me such as more energy and motivation in every aspect of my life, not just with exercise. Keep your eyes peeled for my meal planning posts, exercise posts and recipes.
If you follow me on social media you will know that I recently started a
health and fitness kick. I used to love exercise and staying healthy but ever
since I had Ophelia I seem to have had cabin fever about getting back into it.
In the past I have found that undertaking a variety of different
exercise keeps me passionate, driven and focused. I found that if I did the
same things I got very bored. I also found that going to classes worked better
for me as I was pushed for the whole class and stayed motivated.
I was delighted to be asked if I would like to review a class at the new
Yoga studio ‘Yoga with Soul’ in Caerphilly. The studio was set up by Diana Brook.
I’ve only ever tried a yoga class once before which was a very long time
ago. I decided to give the hot yoga class a go which is known as ‘Fire and
Flow’. It was on a Wednesday evening at 7pm and was taken by the wonderful Adell
Bridges.
The studio is located on Western Industrial Estate which is literally a
5 minute walk from my house. There is plenty of parking spaces available if you
are driving.
The studio is a good size. Upon entering the room, I felt immediately
calm and relaxed. As it’s a hot yoga class, the room is heated to a high
temperature using portable heaters. Mats were provided which was very handy as
I don’t actually own a yoga mat.
At the start of the class we were asked to think about what our goals
were for the class. I just wanted to feel more relaxed.
The class was taken at a low pace and every move was demonstrated and
explained very well. One thing that really made an impact on my experience was
that Adell was constantly making sure you were performing the stretches/poses
correctly to ensure safety for yourself as well as making sure you could push
yourself to the best of your ability.
The words spoken during the class were positive and taught you how to
free your mind and relax yourself from busy/unwanted thoughts. It taught me how
to adjust my posture and facial expresions to be happier in life.
I was very shocked at how stiff and inflexible I was but this didn’t
tarnish my experience at all. Quite the opposite in fact.
The heat didn’t bother me. I embraced it. I actually love to be hot. I’m
one of these people that will always have a very hot bath so the heat was
welcome. I don’t think it’s too hot for you to feel too uncomfortable during
the class.
Through Adell’s words, the heat and the stretches, I can honestly say I
achieved my goal at the end of the hour. I was extremely relaxed. When we were
lying on the mat at the end of the class, I honestly felt like I had no
troubles in the world. I felt light and weightless. I could have fallen asleep.
It was clear that the hot yoga class had been a form of escape from my busy,
sometimes stressful lifestyle.
When I got home from the class I eagerly told my husband that I wanted
to sign up for a block booking of classes as I was keen to keep this
happy/relaxed feeling in my life. You may be aware that I am suffering from
postnatal depression. You can read about it here, PND posts. I have suffered with it for
a long time now and I’m only just starting to get the help and support I need.
I’m told exercise is a great way of combatting depression as it releases good
endorphins and encourages you to stay active. It has so many benefits. I
honestly believe continuing with Yoga will have such a positive impact on my
life as it is wonderful for the body, mind and soul. It’s just what I need for complete wellbeing.
Overall, I was very impressed with the studio. I am definitely going to
be doing more classes (even though my flexibility is currently not great) and
I’ll be blogging about how it impacts my fitness and postnatal depression so
keep your eyes peeled for those posts.
To find out more about the classes and packages on offer at Yoga with
Soul click here,
Have you tried Yoga before? If so what is your favourite style? What
exercise do you like doing, if any?
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