On a crisp and sunny Friday morning in early December my good friend Mara and I set off to Manacor to visit Naturacavall, the home of 15 horses and the base camp for Naturacavall horse riding experiences. I had heard great things as apparently this was not your average horsey excursion company, and Mara and I fancied a bit of outdoor adventure away from our usual Palma city surroundings.
The holiday season can see the best of us putting our usual healthy habits on the back burner in favour of silly season festivities and overindulgence. We can very quickly start to feel run down, lethargic, and generally depleted. Of course, we don’t want to feel guilty about enjoying ourselves, or turn down the party invites because socialising doesn’t fit with our usual ‘regime’, but there are definitely a few things we can put in place to avoid feeling decidedly average over this period without being super strict.
Viviana Falck first began to use Cannabidiol (CBD) in an effort to end her battle with the anxiety and depression she had suffered from her whole life, which had left her feeling physically and mentally drained. Born in northern Argentina where the traditions and practice of using medicinal plants are alive & well, she favoured utilising a natural product like CBD to alleviate her symptoms.
Gifts for wellbeing can take many forms, and lucky for us here in Mallorca we have a plethora of local businesses offering fantastic gift ideas for the wellbeing obsessed people in your life. At Nourish we love to support local, especially at this time of year when it’s so easy to get caught up in all of the unnecessary consumerism. Here are 15 gift ideas for the body, mind, and spirit that will have your loved ones feeling healthy and restored going into 2020.
As I arrive at Johanna Janik’s personal training studio in Marratxi (just out of Palma) she’s at the door welcoming me with double high fives. This woman is radiating vitality and I immediately feel my own energy levels rise in her presence. I have come to see Johanna for a personal training session as a kick-start after several months of zero deliberate exercise and general laziness (otherwise known as summer). First impressions tell me I have picked the right person to sort me out!
The lights have been switched on and the Christmas festivities are officially underway! Here are some of our favourite things on the island this holiday season.
MARKETS GALORE
What better way to get into the festive spirit than with a Christmas market? There are plenty on the island to scour for tasty treats, gifts and family entertainment.
Mercado de Navidad, Pueblo Espanol, Palma, 5th-15th December
A veritable winter wonderland, this Christmas village caters to all of your festive desires. Sip on mulled wine while perusing the stalls abundant with gifts and trinkets.
Alaro Christmas Market, Alaro, 14th-15th December
The Alaro market is an authentic Christmas market with plenty of hand made local products and food to enjoy while enjoying performances and live music.
Spoon Full O’ Moon Christmas Fair, Costitx, 15th December
An afternoon of environmentally conscious Christmas delight. Wander the Fairytale Trail lined with numerous local vendors and enjoy the plant-based treats, clothing, jewellery, organic wine, artwork, essential oils, cards and much more that will be on offer.
Portals Christmas Market, Puerto Portals, 18th December-6th January
A family favourite, the Portals market has a plethora of stalls showcasing gorgeous gift ideas and delicious gastronomic fare to munch on while you soak up the Christmasy atmosphere.
Mercat de Nadal, d’Es Pilari, Palma, 21st-22nd December
Another great one for the kids, this market has workshops, children’s animations and musical performances, as well as artisan market products and food.
RESTORE AND BALANCE IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS
Balance Your Chakras, Earth Yoga, 8th December, 10-12pm
This time of year can be a little stressful which makes taking some time for yourself all the more important. We’ll be heading along to Earth Yoga for 2 hours of chakra balancing with ISHTA Yoga Master Sarah Elfvin, and Health and Wellness Coach Zoe Stenger. Blending doTERRA essential oils, gentle flow and restorative yoga, this workshop is going to be a real treat for the body and soul. Book via email at info@earthyoga.es.
START 2020 RIGHT!
Wild Woman New Years Eve Retreat, Casa del Karma, Ibiza, 30th December-2nd January
2019 has been a whopper, and as we leave it behind with gratitude we want to enter into 2020 feeling inspired and renewed. The Wild Woman New Years Eve retreat is just the ticket to start the year on the right foot. Join sustainable chef extraordinaire Devii Alderman, and master of transformation Saskia Griffiths for a conscious New Years Eve celebration. 10 ‘Wild Women’ will get to experience reflection and gratitude closing 2019, cold training and breathwork, a broth and fermented foods workshop, dancing, self-love rituals, daily bowspring, and much more. Book via email at saskiagriffiths@gmail.com or WhatsApp +34 634 352 98.
NOURISHING GIFTS
At Nourish we value gifts from the heart – gifts that have been made with joy and care, and with a focus on sustainability. We are so lucky to have so many local companies that embody these principals so finding the perfect Christmas gift for the special ones in your life is no chore at all.
Ambergris
We could literally spend hours in Augusto Buzzegoli’s lovely Santa Catalina parlour. Ambergris is Palma’s sanctuary for planet-conscious beauty and perfume, stocking only the best and cleanest beauty products from around the world. You won’t find any high street brands here, instead ambergris parlour chooses to work with smaller companies with a vision. All of the brands that ambergris carries are made without GM ingredients, SLS, silicones, parabens, mineral oils, and without artificial colours and fragrances. They are not tested on animals, mostly vegan, contain ethically sourced ingredients, and are produced with a low carbon footprint. Give a beautiful gift that is good for the environment and the human body alike.
Ambergris, Servet 7, Santa Catalina
Natalia Jana Design
For a personalised gift that will be treasured for years to come, Nourish absolutely loves the ‘Wish Capsule’ by Natalia Jana Design. This necklace bears a sterling silver or gold plated capsule, which holds a chosen mantra, quote or special message hidden inside. With a deep respect and appreciation for traditional silversmithing, all of Natalia Jana Design’s jewellery is handmade in Bali, and assembled by Natalia here in Mallorca. Her collections offer delicate designs with fine materials made from sterling silver, gold plating, genuine gemstones as well as pearls, and include earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings. She even produces more masculine options utilising leather instead of metals for the chains.
Natalia Jana Design, www.nataliajana.com, contact@nataliajana.com
SUNVIBES
Sunvibes is a firm Nourish fave for their beautiful, handmade clothing designs and vintage inspired prints. Produced sustainably and ethically here in their local studio a piece from Sunvibes makes the perfect gift for the lovely ladies in your life. We absolutely love the ‘Memory’ dress concept – a unique, custom designed print pattern, inspired by your unique mood board and hand designed by Creative Director and Designer Elisa Bozzolini. The pattern is then digitally printed onto a gorgeous Italian viscose, and from there your beautiful Memory dress is hand made in your chosen style.
SUNVIBES, www.sunvibescollective.com, info@sunvibes.it
Alamar Editions
With a distinctly Mallorcan feel, Alamar Editions is a brand created around the mediterranean culture and its lifestyle. Working with local suppliers who share their values, they produce sustainable and environmentally friendly products and donate part of their profits to social projects in the Mediterranean. Choose the perfect gift from their range of bags and totes, prints, notebooks, kitchen and tableware, and more.
Alamar Editions, www.alamareditions.com/en/, info@alamareditions.com
Wishing you a warm and wonderful December,
Love The Nourish Team.x