Driving up the hillside towards the Body Mind & Soul Bootcamp’s Costa den Blanes venue, it was clear the day was going to involve some impressive views at the very least. Sure enough, the entranceway to the secret villa location revealed a breath-taking vista over Puerto Portals and beyond. Heading outside I found myself on a terrace dappled in early morning sunshine, complete with an infinity pool and steaming jacuzzi. All my senses signalled that I was on a luxury holiday retreat, but alas, my eyes catch a glimpse of the carefully laid out yoga mats and accompanying sweat towels, and I’m snapped back into reality. Bootcamp!
Holistic Retreat Festival with Our Yoga Mind and Finca Only Summer
It’s time to celebrate life in nature! We are beyond grateful to share with you our beloved project: the first Holistic Retreat Festival in Mallorca. Our vision is to bring together like minded-people and share this time and space in order to grow, raise our vibration, nurture ourselves and feel better.
Is anyone else worried about 5G?
Ever since Covid, I have started to question everything. I have spent more time researching the things that make me go ‘urmmm’ and 5G is right at the top of my ‘urmmm’ list. I have seen a wide variety of 5G towers going up all over the place especially in areas with a high concentration of people, at schools, universities, on apartment blocks etc and it makes me wonder about the effects the radiation from these towers will have on humanity. My curiosity means that I now know quite a lot about 5G and I would like to share with you some of my findings. It’s worth looking into yourself and, if you are noticing any health issues and think it could be related to 5G, please contact me and just maybe I can help. So…
Tell us a little bit about your business
We are a sister-run, pop-up and online shop selling health and wellness products. We also offer holistic massage and wellness treatments from Es Verger, near Esporles, in Mallorca. We give talks on Shungite, Bioresonance, Essential Oils and related wellness topics.
Tell us a little bit about your business?
Bolsita Verde is a meal kit delivery service delivering plant-based recipes including portioned ingredients to your doorstep on Mallorca. Every week you can choose from a weekly selection of 9 recipes, select the meal plan that suits you best and start cooking.
What you can expect:
- Healthy and inspiring recipes
- Stress-free cooking
- No commitment
- A reusable and plastic-free packaging system
- Local and organic ingredients
Tell us a little bit about your work?
I am an online health & fitness coach based in Mallorca. I coach women all over the world, helping them become the healthiest, fittest & happiest version of themselves, both physically & mentally. I offer fitness & nutrition coaching that is enjoyable & sustainable for all lifestyles, connecting with clients via my fitness app that is downloadable from app stores. I also specialise in pre/postnatal fitness & nutrition for expecting mums & new mums.
- Certified health & fitness coach
- Nutrition coach
- Life coach
- Pre/postnatal coach
I like to combine these skills to bring a completely unique service to my clients.
Tell us a little bit about your work?
I am working as a Women’s Health Coach with a focus on hormone health – especially around our sex hormones. It’s my passion to spread understanding about our cyclical female nature. There is magic within our wombs and I am here to support women to find their way back to hormonal balance through nutrition, Yoga & lifestyle changes, and to nurture the female energy.
Another passion project of mine is the sweet Om yoga garden in S’Arraco, where other teachers and I offer Yoga and fitness classes. We offer beautiful new moon rituals with Cacao Ceremonies, Yin Yoga and Gong Baths as well as full moon ceremonies and other special events – all aiming to support a healthy and happy life.
I am a certified Integrative Nutrition Coach with Hormone Health Specialisation, a Vinyasa Power Yoga & Yin Yoga teacher, as well as a somatic stress release practitioner.
Last summer I started playing around with a weekly 1-day juice cleanse to reduce the load on my digestion and feel a little lighter on my feet. I quite enjoyed it and found it was no hardship at all, probably because consistently knocking back ice-cold juices in the height of a Mallorcan summer is a great antidote to the searing heat. But as autumn crept in the juicing went out the window, swiftly replaced with hearty, warming food (and plenty of it!).
As an alternative answer to the hectic and often chaotic pace of modern-day life, we’re beginning to look for ways to tune back in with nature and reconnect with our inner wisdom. The practice of Ayurveda was not so commonplace in the West even 10 years ago, but today people are turning to this ancient Eastern holistic medical system to guide them back to a balanced and healthy state.
When working on our mindset doesn’t work, we can find ourselves stuck in undesirable patterns in life that seem to be set on repeat. We can’t quite find the path to a better outcome, no matter how much mindset work we do. If you’re attracting the same health, relationship, or financial situation you are most likely experiencing a challenge that goes far deeper than the level of your mind.
Take TIME FOR YOURSELF with this FREE 5-day online programme to spring clean your body and mind and move forward into the summer feeling refreshed and ready for anything.
Saturday 26th March
Finca es Cabas, Santa Maria, Mallorca
9AM – 5PM
Tell us a little bit about your work?
Yoga del Mar is a new yoga studio right by the sea in Portixol. Together we have fulfilled our dream and opened this home for body, mind & soul.
At Yoga del Mar you can practice yoga and meditation with a sea view, a fresh island breeze and the sounds of the waves. You can receive a nurturing massage, or the Yoga del Mar experience combining a personal yoga session with a massage treatment.
The vision of Yoga del Mar is to be more than a yoga studio, it is to be a lifestyle that stands for creativity, like-minded people and love for this island and the ocean.
We also offer monthly day retreats, music circles and private yoga sessions at the studio, at the beach, your home, finca or hotel!
Tell us a little bit about your work?
I am the founder of Skaparkraft Palma (Skapar=creativity kraft=power/kraft). In a charming studio on Placa Progres 7, I have painting classes for a maximum of 12 people. With joy and laughter, I inspire you to find your creativity and own expression with acrylic paints on a big canvas. We use freedom, curiosity and power as keywords to let go of demands and control. The tools are scrapers, rollers, fingers, bubblewrap etc. You will find a completely new side of yourself. Everything is interspersed with joy, music, cava and wonderful conversation.
Tell us a little bit about your work?
As a Holistic Embodiment Coach and Breathworker, my intention with FlowwFrequency is to support individuals on their journey of coming to truth by helping them establish a deeper mind-body connection.
In a coaching program, clients are guided to release stagnation through embodiment practices, to overcome resistance through mindset training and find balance in day to day living so they can achieve their self-determined goals. I work by taking a very integrative and intuitive approach, looking at all aspects of the person’s current life as well as past traumas so they can develop a better understanding of themselves and create lasting change.
I also provide mentorship for individuals who wish to promote their personal brand in the online space. For this, you are invited to join me in an online platform that holds weekly mastermind calls and trainings.
Tell us a little bit about your work?
Rob and I always had a strong vision of the gym we wanted, with a more progressive and holistic approach than what most Functional Fitness places usually offer. Being Aussie, serving great coffee was non-negotiable. That’s how our project came together: a conceptual place, where people can not only exercise in a smart and supportive way but also share casual moments around coffee in our cosy Pink Rhino Cafe.
Training can be intimidating. We work hard to demystify it and welcome everyone by offering a training method applicable to every fitness level. Our sessions are designed in a progressive and non-competitive way, our goal is to build a strong community of supportive and like-minded people. And because fitness is more fun with some healthy treats, not only have we gathered snacks and drinks from our favourite brands, but we have recently opened our very own Smoothie Bar.
While the temperatures are still up there, there’s no doubt there’s a shift in the air signalling the arrival of autumn. As the seasons change we can often find ourselves blindsided by a dose of the sniffles, which is never fun. We’re going to give you a few handy tips to build up that immunity and give you a fighting chance of avoiding the dreaded lurgy!
Tell us a little bit about your work?
I’m the founder and creative director of A’DISTRACTION. A´DISTRACTION. offers a curated lifestyle collection of timeless luxury everyday essentials & exclusive yoga couture – made by hand, with love in Mallorca.
Tell us a little bit about your work?
I work with people who want to reconnect to their bodies and move towards the unknown, letting go of old structures, beliefs and patterns, whether they are physical or emotional. In a sort of somatic coaching, I use conversation and bodywork (touch, instructions, breathwork…) in the learning process with my clients, who make each time a step towards an increased level of self-awareness, deep trust and relaxation, self-respect and freedom from what does not serve them anymore.
Deya is a Pilates instructor who loves to teach the traditional principles of Pilates with a pinch of fun, a little bit of bad counting, and lots of good vibes! Her signature class is ‘Pilates and Wine’ and if you have not been to any of her classes you should definitely start with this one!
Maria is an experienced yoga teacher and continuing education provider (E-RYT 500/ YACEP). She offers group yoga (and meditation) classes in Mallorca’s beautiful nature, private yoga classes all over the Island, yoga retreats and continuing yoga teacher training. She loves teaching with a focus on the chakras and the elements and her aim is to connect you with yourself again and help you to experience more consciousness and inner peace.
Holistic Pollensa provides bespoke massage, yoga and chiropractic treatments, mobile or at their home in North Mallorca. Founder Kate has been practising yoga for 18 years and teaching for 8 years, and is a qualified yoga therapist. She trained as a massage therapist in 2005 and since then has studied and worked in Thailand, India, Spain, Switzerland and UK. She combines her knowledge of Ayurvedic, Thai, Swedish and acupressure massage to create beautiful and deeply relaxing treatments.
Sunvibes makes intention infused bohemian clothing and Memory Dresses, to help you rewild your heart. Eli Bozzolini is the founder of the slow fashion label based in Palma. All of her designs are handmade then printed onto fabric in Italy. The whole process, from designing to pattern making, sampling and production, is local, sustainable and ethical, and the beautiful designs are feminine, flattering, and adjustable to fit many body shapes and sizes.
Dr Marco Seita is an orthopaedic specialist, holistic doctor, and medical health coach under a biological-optional treatment concept. As a former athlete (national basketball team) and involved in triathlon, cycling, golf, etc. he chose to specialise in problems of health relating to the musculoskeletal system. Additionally, he offers counselling and treatment in the fields of holistic (Anti) Aging Medicine covering the themes of weight control, food supplementation, work-life balance, motion & training plans, and more.
Maya Flynn is a Functional Nutritional Therapist, specialising in holistic diets, lifestyle and natural remedies to address specific health concerns. Her special area of interest is ‘the gut’ and its effects on overall physiology. Maya’s motto is “Treat the person, not the condition”.
Anne-Christin Weigelt is an Embodiment Coach, Embodied Feminine Flow Teacher, and Intuitive Reiki Practitioner, and her vision is for women to live a turned-on life. Through the range of services she provides, she helps women connect back with their body and their innate feminine wisdom. Anne-Christin wishes for every woman to love herself, feel abundant, expansive, radiant, and magical, and to live a life with ease and in flow with fulfilling relationships.
Anne-Christin’s vision is for women to live a turned-on life. To connect back with their body and their innate feminine wisdom. To see the power and strength in it and from this place create the life they desire. She wishes for every woman to love herself, feel abundant, expansive, radiant and magical. To live a life with ease and in flow with fulfilling relationships. For this, she calls upon various modalities to make women move, feel, sense and breathe and reflect.
Her most well-known service right now is the weekly Embodied Feminine Flow classes, however, she additionally offers various 1:1 mentoring programs, the newest being “The Red Moon – Your Friend”. This program guides women towards a pain-free menstrual cycle. Anne-Christin also practices energy healing through Intuitive Reiki sessions.
Evelyn Sztojanov is a Transformational Life Coach and Personal Fitness Trainer. She helps people transform their health, working with both their body and mind to create a heart-centred, connected life.
Lilla and Peter are a yoga teacher couple and the founders of Our Yoga Mind. Their unique concept is to create mindful yoga experiences to connect with different elements of nature (earth, water and air). They offer Hatha Yoga classes on the beach or at Origin Palmanova, SUP Yoga classes during the summer, Partner and Acro Yoga classes, Full Moon Yoga with live music at night, and occasionally special workshops and retreats. They love to go beyond the asana practice and think about yoga as a form of spiritual and mental guidance. Because of this they always teach in a holistic way and are passionate about increasing the well-being of every individual who attends their classes.
Chloe Morgan own’s Coco’s Deli in Portals – a healthy, fun cafe that has been created for everyone to be able to grab good food, and enjoy a relaxing environment. Chloe also has a wellbeing business, Coco Holistics, which is a platform for her to share her holistic practices with others, especially what has helped her through anxiety, self doubt and transformed her life for the better.
There are times in life when I feel a gentle shift is needed. A conscious effort to get back on track and realign so that I feel like I am putting my best self forward each day. I was recently experiencing the usual symptoms of a lack of self-care – I was feeling sluggish, heavy and everything in the world seemed a little lacklustre. It’s funny how when you decide to take action the universe steps up to the plate. I had resolved to give myself a reset, and this was precisely when I came across Mirjam Wagner’s book, Yin for Life – Nourishing Guidance for Women in All Stages, fresh off the press.
If you missed the first instalments of Ché Miller’s SIMPLIFYT journey, catch up here:
With my induction and first week of my new programme complete, things were now in full swing. I had taken to my SIMPLIFYT routine like a duck to water. The varied fitness classes were keeping things fresh and interesting, and the life coaching sessions with Evelyn Sztojanov were grounding me mentally and giving me a clearer vision of what I wanted for my future. The SIMPLIFYT boutique studio was definitely serving as my safe haven during the winter months. Here’s what weeks 2 to 10 entailed on my SIMPLIFYT journey.
Last week I had my induction to the SIMPLIFYT programme and my starting point in this journey had been established. I had completed a short functional workout to gauge my fitness level and had an InBody Analysis to determine my body composition. Now it was time for the actual work to begin!
The day I started a 10-week programme at SIMPLIFYT boutique gym was the day after my boyfriend of 5 years and I broke up. In hindsight the timing was impeccable, but completely unplanned. I turned up to that first session with a lot on my mind – none of which was fitness related, and I toughed my way through the initial assessment with a laser focus on not spontaneously bursting into tears.
Chances are you haven’t heard of Brainspotting. A relatively new type of therapy discovered in 2003 by David Grand Ph.D., Brainspotting locates points in a person’s visual field that help to access unprocessed trauma in the brain. Dr. Grand discovered that “Where you look affects how you feel” and as such the therapy is designed to help one access, process, and overcome trauma, negative emotions, and pain, including psychologically induced physical pain. It has also been found to be an effective form of treatment for many mental health concerns.
Meditation is something we’d all probably like to do more of, but often the practice gets side-lined as endless to-do lists and distractions take over. This is why we’re loving Sara Fenwick’s sunset meditation classes and marking the weekly event as a non-negotiable in the diary. Held on her spacious Santa Catalina rooftop overlooking Palma Bay, the Cathedral, and across to the Tramuntana mountains, it certainly is an inspiring backdrop for some introspection and reflection.
These days we seem to be inundated with skincare and cosmetic brands touting the ‘natural’, ‘eco-friendly’ and ‘organic’ labels in a bid to make us as buyers feel we are spending our money responsibly. Unfortunately, most of these brands do the bare minimum to get these accreditations. They want to satisfy growing customer demand, but don’t actually fully embrace the ethos behind these labels, usually because it is expensive to do so.
Jabón de Mallorca most definitely does not fall into this group. In fact, this small Mallorcan cosmetics company goes to great pains to ensure their handmade products are 100% natural, organic, plastic free, and made entirely local, from the ingredients and production, to label printing and packaging design.
In the last week the mercury seems to have risen dramatically and if you’re like us you’ve been completely unprepared for the wrath of the soaring temperatures. As we head to the beach for some reprieve in the sea, we’re super vigilant about protecting our skin and staying hydrated, but how much care do we give our hair? Sun and salt can wreak havoc on our tresses at this time of year, leaving them frizzy, dry and damaged. Here are some easy hacks that you can implement to tame your mane and keep it looking healthy all summer long.
Of the many lessons’ lockdown has taught us, one of the more unexpected was realising the sheer love we have for our beauty therapists. The last two months has seen us turning to DIY beauty treatments in an often-futile attempt to replicate what the pros do so well. Luckily most of us did not have to turn up to the workplace in person which also meant we could get a little ‘lax’ on the personal grooming, only haphazardly pulling ourselves together for the odd Zoom engagement.
Now that the world is getting back into the swing of things a definite priority is getting our skin looking glowy and fresh again, our nails manicured, our brows tidied up and allllllll the waxing. Here on the island we only want these delicate tasks performed by the best, which is why we recommend promptly booking into Denise Beauty Salon in Portals Nous.
When we think of Mallorca it’s often the images of white sand beaches and crystal-clear coastline that first spring to mind. However, venture inland and there’s so much more beauty to uncover as Brenda Ooteman and her husband Roland Verbeek found out entirely by accident back in 2006. As sailors, they loved to explore the bays and playas of the Balearics, but it wasn’t until they were docked in Palma for a particularly long stint that they travelled inland and found themselves on an amazing plot of land near the small medieval town of Montuiri. Positioned atop a hill with the most spectacular expansive views across the countryside, they instantly recognised it was a real gem.
Jill Davey is the founder of Menopause Woman, a website dedicated to raising awareness of women’s health during the transitions of menopause; perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. She is a passionate women’s health advocate and author of the book, The Menopause Cure: Hormonal Health. Here Jill explains the role of bioidentical hormones in assisting with hormone decline and the related symptoms as we age.
Koreans take their skincare seriously and with the recent popularity of ‘K-Beauty’ across the world it seems plenty of us are subscribing to their methods. The ban-shin-yok, or Korean half bath, is a technique in the Korean skincare toolbox that we can easily try out at home. As a great way to induce deep relaxation before bed and reduce those feelings of anxiety we’ve all been experiencing lately, we suggest giving this a go one evening by setting up a mini at home spa.
So, the house is gleaming, and you’ve got enough baked goods stockpiled to sink a ship, now what? With another couple of weeks of lockdown ahead of us, you might be starting to struggle to find new things to do at home to stave away the boredom. We’ve compiled a list of some options to keep you productive, and although some of them may seem a little less than enthralling, you can at least feel a daily sense of accomplishment! And let’s face it, if not now, when?
Being unable to work, unable to connect and socialise with others, and living according to the imposed quarantine regulations (unsurprisingly) has a real effect on our mental health and emotions. The American Psychological Association reports that prolonged social isolation carries health risks such as contributing to poor sleep, poor cardiovascular health, lowered immunity, depressive symptoms, and impaired executive function (difficulty focusing, managing your emotions, remembering information, and following directions).
Coffee gets a lot of bad press. From giving us the jitters to contributing to our insomnia and anxiety, one who takes their health seriously daren’t admit they love a regular cup of joe. As someone who strongly believes coffee makes me a better (and certainly nicer) human being, I’m extremely pleased to see that new research is tipped in the coffee lovers’ favour, showing that coffee in moderate amounts can actually contribute to greater health and wellbeing, and even prevent disease.
After close to a month of confinement in our homes many of us are trying to learn to let go, relax and stay positive despite all of the unease. For some isolation might even feel like a much-needed breath of fresh air! However, even the most calm and resilient of us can have feelings of stress, anxiety and tension creep up on us unannounced, especially with so much free time on our hands for our thoughts to spiral.
We all know how important movement and exercise is for mental and physical health, but sadly hitting the pavement, park or gym is not currently an option, and we’re limited to our own four walls (and perhaps a bit of a balcony or terrace if we’re lucky!). Yoga is the perfect practice to incorporate at this time. As long as you have enough space to roll out a yoga mat, you have enough space to practice, and yoga not only allows you to get your physical exercise in, it can decrease stress, ease tension, and improve immunity.
With three weeks of lockdown under our belts the crew of S/Y Kokomo decided to put all of the extra hours of downtime into something positive that could really make a difference amidst so much worry and uncertainty.
We absolutely love carrot cake…especially one this delicious and nutritious! Perfect for afternoon tea or any time. The addition of carrot juice gives it a wonderful colour and incredible moistness.
Fermented foods, including kombucha and cultured veggies have been trending on the wellbeing scene for a while now, and for good reason. They do wonders for your gut bacteria and are a powerful addition to your diet for overall health. The concept of fermenting foods is not a new one, however. This process has been around for thousands of years across a variety of cultures as a preserving mechanism and a health booster. Think Korean kimchi, Japanese miso, and European sauerkraut.
Rosie Whiteway, UK trained Nutritional Therapist at Ahara Nutrition
With over 10 years in practice as a Nutritionist, Rosie decided to make Mallorca her home in early 2018 and is slowly adjusting to the slower pace of life after many years living in London. She loves that Mallorca seems to have everything, from the hustle bustle of Palma with its fantastic wellbeing scene, to quiet beaches and beautiful nature.
I recently attended a health retreat in Australia which left me feeling absolutely fantastic. It could have been the daily spa treatments, the crystal steam room, and the plentiful organic food served up, but there were also few unique activities that seemed to really contribute to alleviating stress and tension. One of them was the sunrise qi gong class. This daily practice standing on a hill with a panoramic view of the Gold Coast and Pacific Ocean started the morning off with an extreme sense of calm and peacefulness. Now back in the real world I wanted to look a bit deeper into why the ancient eastern practices of qi gong and tai chi are so beneficial to our health.
Are you feeling lost with Western medicine? Perhaps it’s time to incorporate some of the East into your health prescription. As people are beginning to tune in more to intuitive ways of healing and maintaining health, the ancient practice of Ayurveda is gaining in popularity worldwide. Here in Mallorca we are extremely lucky to have Ayurvedic Doctor, Dr. Shailesh S. Muli, visiting from India for two days, when he will be offering a limited number of Ayurvedic consultations. Ayurvedic Guide Mise White is a passionate follower of Dr. Shailesh and will be coordinating the visit. She is very eager to share his expertise and wisdom with us here on the island.
Would you like to slow down and tune in to what’s most important to you from the comfort of your own home? Marianne de Kuyper offers the perfect opportunity to experience restorative yin yoga classes in your own intimate space with her ‘living room yoga’. An idea conceived while travelling in Mozambique, Marianne found that by going to people’s residences in order to teach, she was able to explore unknown corners of foreign locations, experience the culture, and get to know local communities where they were most at ease – their own homes. The yoga class host can have a private session or invite a small group of 5-6 friends to join in, and practice together. It’s a win-win for all involved.
Gaining Spiritual Insight with an Ancient Practice
Perhaps you’ve seen those brass L shaped rods that are used to locate water, minerals, and other hidden objects beneath the ground, and indeed, this is a form of dowsing, however we’re talking about much wider scope of dowsing. We’re talking about dowsing as a way of gaining spiritual insight into a question or situation, and by utilising a pendulum opposed to rods. The dowsing pendulum works by connecting us to the unconscious mind. When we ask a question, our unconscious mind responds by influencing the nerve endings in our fingers causing the pendulum to swing in response. In other words, our body outwardly expresses our inner knowing.
We all know Bikini Beach Boutique & Spa for its amazing beauty treatments and therapies. From luscious facials to indulgent massages, manicures, Lycon waxing, lash tints and more, it is the ultimate place to pamper yourself. Now Bikini Beach has expanded its offering to include a dedicated wellness and fitness studio. The aim is to offer classes, workshops and events with a safe community vibe.
Spring is the perfect time of year to reset and prepare for the busy summer months ahead, and what better way to do that than by taking some ‘me time’ and treating yourself to a wonderfully restorative retreat?
An Interview with Jill Davey – Author of ‘The Menopause Cure – Hormonal Health’
I recently spoke with Jill Davey to discuss her book and the reasons why she feels so passionate about helping women navigate their way through ageing and menopause. The menopause is a delicate word which proclaims old age – this, however, depends on which angle you’re scanning life from. Truth be known, it’s a new era, a new beginning! Jill’s advice is to embrace it, not shy away from it.
With the silly season over I am at that beginning of the year stage of utter determination to turn my body into a temple. The fridge and pantry are stocked with plant-based wholefoods, and the new exercise schedule is in full force. But I have found myself still searching for the missing piece, the ultimate nutritional supplement. A supplement that is effective, potent, and rules out the need to pop umpteen various vitamins and minerals on the daily to ensure my body is getting everything it needs. Does it exist?
Just like that we’re a week into the new year. What does this look like for you? How are those famed new year’s resolutions coming along? This can be make or break time for many, the slips ups are already happening- missing workouts, avoiding self-set tasks, and general procrastination when we assured ourselves this year would be different. Don’t worry. You’re human. But don’t give up! Reset and follow a few of these proven tips to get back on track and stay the course.
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.
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 a little girl, Ana always had an innate affinity for plants and nature. Her grandmother nurtured this part of her, teaching her how to make natural herbal remedies, and this grounding in plant-based medicine from a young age played a large part in determining Ana’s path into naturopathy as an adult. As a child, it was also clear that Ana possessed unique abilities as a channel and spirit guide, and this combination of gifts parlayed her into a career as a healer. Ana’s greatest joy is helping others experience growth and happiness through the aid of natural therapies.
When the significant other recently set off for another three months at sea I was feeling a little down in the dumps. In this situation I usually wallow in self-pity for a few days before I get on with it and re-establish a semblance of routine. Luckily this time round I had the foresight to plan ahead for my melancholy, and booked in to treat myself to the E-Oil Alchemy Essential Glow one-day retreat. It was to be a day of ultimate self care, and my spirits were lifted just thinking about it.
Borne from a Personal Journey to Wellness
Psoriasis, heart palpitations and fluctuating weight issues. These were just some of the outward symptoms that manifested from the stress and pressure of Deborah Delaney’s career as a successful broker in fast paced London. Deciding a drastic change was needed to get her health back on track, she packed up her life in England and embarked on an overseas adventure with her two children in tow. Finally settling in Phuket, Deborah immersed herself in studying Thai herbs and ancient healing remedies under the tutelage of Master Lew, a 91-year-old Thai Chinese herbalist. Slowly her health returned through the use of herbs, raw foods and juicing, and her body regenerated to a healthier, leaner and fitter state.
Did you know you have 60-80,000 thoughts every single day? Whether these are positive or pessimistic, that’s a lot of action going on between your ears’ that isn’t visible to the naked eye. If you’re like me it’s very easy to dwell on the negative sometimes. I’ve been noticing a tendency to worry lately, even though I’m well aware that worry doesn’t help any situation.
Over the years I’ve done many different detoxes, including the ‘Master Cleanse’ (I lasted 3 days on essentially lemon juice and maple syrup), a 5-day juice and nut milk only detox (I lasted 3 days before I couldn’t face another liquid meal), colon cleanse powders, and various detox supplements. Nothing had any profound results other than making me utterly unbearable to be around.
I’ve always been one of those ‘sleep anywhere at anytime’ type of people, however lately I’ve been struggling to nod off and it’s no fun at all. Instead of counting sheep I took to my laptop (which I discovered is not a good thing to do when trying to catch some zz’s – hello blue light!) and started researching natural ways to get a better nights shuteye.
When I was a child my grandmother had a giant aloe vera plant outside her front doorstep. At any sign of a burn or skin problem she would cut off a piece of the plant, split it with a knife and smear the gel all over the affected area leaving me sticky until my next bath. The cooling sensation was immediately soothing, and most of us have used some form of aloe vera topically in the same way before.
You may see these little golden crunchy granules garnishing your instagram worthy smoothies and salads at healthy cafes, but were you aware that they are a real nutritional powerhouse? In fact bee pollen contains almost all of the nutrients required by the human body to thrive!
Awakening Your Body’s Intelligence
‘Bodywork’ has become a bit of a buzzword on the health and wellbeing scene, but what exactly is it? Falling under the alternative medicine umbrella, and incorporating both touch and non-touch modalities, we were eager to learn more about this growing trend. We went straight to the source by contacting Tahona Santana. Tahona practices bodywork here on the island utilising the Grinberg Method, and has glowing testimonials from her clients who have experienced major transformations at her skilled hands.
There’s something about having flowers and plants in your home that adds to that ‘spring has sprung’ feeling. If you’re anything like me however, keeping houseplants alive is not a forté. Well I have the solution! As well as being super stylish succulents are notoriously difficult to kill making them a great, easy care accent to your home. Succulents survive dry indoor environments thanks to special adaptations – fleshy leaves, thick stems or enlarged roots that allow the plants to hoard water. But apart from being very hardy and nice to look at, placing a few succulents around your abode can actually have some surprising health benefits.
Last year, almost every one of my single friends attracted what appears to be the partner of their dreams. These people are very unique people, most of them are very academically accomplished, some have Master’s qualifications, from places like Yale and there are even some PhD’s in the mix too.
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Would you believe when I was younger I had an issue with savasana? It seems reprehensible I know, but I would honestly dread this ‘relaxation time’ at the end of yoga because it meant I had to try and pack up my things and duck out to the car without drawing attention to myself. I tried to lie through the ‘corpse pose’ time and time again but it made me feel physically ill. I’m serious. Nausea and headaches. My mother was convinced it was my “toxins getting a good stir up” from the yoga practice. I decided yoga just wasn’t ‘physical’ enough for me and threw myself into the much sweatier pursuits of boxing, netball, and gym sessions.
No doubt you’ve heard of the frothy, green concoction that is matcha tea. So much so that you might have jumped on the matcha bandwagon quite some time ago, only to have jumped off in favour of this months latest green drink craze (celery juice anyone?). But I’m here to encourage you to pick your matcha habit back up again and make it a lasting one!
We all know how it starts. A familiar tickle in the throat, a slight sniffle, reaching for an extra sweater because you’re feeling the winter chill more than usual. This is about the time I bunker down in bed with a Netflix series and a box of tissues at the ready. I accept that my fate for the next week is to be miserable and unproductive while I fondly remember the good ol’ days when my nostrils were clear and a hammer hadn’t taken up residence at the back of my head.
I love Oprah. I mean who doesn’t? It’s because of Oprah that I’d had actually had a very brief introduction to Rolfing by way of a Dr. Oz special where he partook in a Rolfing treatment live on stage. However that was circa 2010 and my memory on the practice was very fuzzy at best. But of course if it’s on Oprah it must be a winner, so I had no qualms about trying this unique therapy as part of my endeavour to release my neck and back muscles that have been tight for nearly two years.
Getting a good pampering is something that I rarely schedule, so when I headed out the door to Bikini Beach Boutique and Spa on a particularly blustery winters morning you could say I was inordinately excited. I was booked in for not one, but three indulgent treatments – a facial, massage, and manicure. BRING. IT. ON.
We hear more and more about people utilising a life coach these days, but what exactly is a life coach, and could having one be just what you need? We chat to Anne Nielsen of Green Apple Coaching here in Mallorca to get the lowdown.
For going on five years I’ve had this weird thing happening with my left knee. Every time I bend it to climb stairs or squat down in any way, it makes this horrendous crunching sound. There’s no pain accompanying the sound, but it’s very unnerving to hear I can assure you! What have I done about it? Well to tell you the truth my solution thus far has been to turn up the headphones, talk a little louder, or simply just ignore it. Not the most proactive approach.
Now that I’m a bit older and wiser I thought I should probably get it looked at, and hope like hell that I haven’t caused years of irreversible damage by leaving it so long. So off I went to visit Lauren Rigg at Mallorca Physiotherapy to see what the prognosis was.
Do you find your mood and energy levels slump as autumn sets in, and continues on through the winter months? Perhaps you just put it down to the winter blues and suffer through it. You’re not alone. This type of depression is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and is not at all uncommon. Let’s take a look at why we feel this way, and a few things we can do to reduce the SAD symptoms.
Since the age of about 14 I can remember having problems with my back. I’ve never been entirely sure why, perhaps being over exuberant in my sporting pursuits, perhaps poor posture (maybe both) but I have memories of lying in bed as a teenager unable to turn my head with tears streaming down my face. At that age my mother was always sending me off to various specialists in the hope of getting it sorted. For that reason I would say I’m fairly well versed in most of the treatment modalities used for back and neck pain.
This is why I was somewhat surprised when I was recommended a naprapathy treatment, having never heard the word in my life. Naprapathy? What could it be? I was willing to give anything a whirl, considering I had been doing a bit too much laptop work (from my actual lap on the couch which is never a good idea) and my neck was definitely complaining about it.
In western cultures we don’t usually give too much conscious thought to changing our lifestyle and thoughts to align with the seasons, although we may naturally shift our behaviours and patterns to accommodate the change in weather. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) however believes that the best way to stay healthy is to learn about the nature of each season, and live in harmony with its spirit.
So what does that mean for autumn? In TCM autumn signifies the change to the ‘yin’ season, as we shift to less than 12 hours daylight. Nature is slowing down and contracting, and for us we tend to move inwards also. We tend to reflect more, enjoying quiet time, and traditionally we would harvest what was planted in spring, preserving for the cooler months ahead.
The clink of glasses…the cacophony of laughter…warm smiles…the tentative ones too…first encounters…whiffs of smoke…conversation…titillation…flirtation…silences dotted throughout…
As an expatriate on Mallorca, there is nothing that brings you face to face with your self-confidence and social ease more quickly than the *stories of the characters* in a new environment, as they begin to unfold.
One of the clear messages in all of my beauty workshops is – the intention to practice a skin care regime is hugely beneficial to our personal well-being. All self-care regimes are beneficial and one that pays attention to the skin on your face can offer insight and well-being on lots of levels, here’s why…
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What is sound healing?
Us humans use sound and music in a huge variety of ways, from entertaining and celebrating, to expressing and communicating. Even heading out for a leisurely stroll can be made that much more enjoyable when listening to upbeat music, and everyone knows how much a kick-ass soundtrack can boost your performance during a work out.
So if sound and music can stir so many emotions and even physical reactions (who else gets a dopamine surge and goose bumps when a favourite song comes on?), then it’s not a far leap to believe that sound can actually trigger healing in the body.
What is reflexology?
For thousands of years many cultures have considered the feet to be an important link to various organs and glands of the body, performing reflexology to treat many different afflictions and diseases. More than just a foot massage, reflexology involves applying pressure to certain points on the feet (or hands and ears) to activate the body’s own healing processes in different body zones.
So in what ways can reflexology benefit you? Here are a few reasons to book in a session (besides the allure of simply getting a good foot rub!)
Living on our beautiful island in the Mediterranean you’d think we have very little to stress about, but even here in Mallorca the daily grind can get the best of us!
What better way to find balance again then by taking part in a gorgeous retreat? The island has many on offer, and we’re excited to share some of Nourish’s favourites with you.
Natural Care Products
Have you ever thought about what is in the products that you use everyday and how they can be affecting not only you but the environment?
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An Interview with Cherylyn Freiwald from Golden, Colorado about her experience of working with Caroline Diana Bobart, Mallorca’s Goto Professional Clairvoyant and Spiritual Mentor to deeply spiritual women who are, or aspire to be financially free.
This month I had the pleasure of meeting up with Alexandra Nicolau, the co-director of Ecologic Cosmetics, a brand of natural, effective, and environmentally conscious skin care made in Mallorca.
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This may seem strange coming from someone that makes people exercise for a living BUT, exercising as a weight loss strategy is a losing battle, and this has never been more apparent to me than now that I have started running.
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After instantly falling in love with our pair of Mila.J leggings, we were intrigued to meet and find out more about creator Samantha Broughton’s ultra-cool, comfortable and inspiring new clothing brand.
There is a old and wise and saying “when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” When I was a dedicated and energetic yoga practitioner in my early 30s, I thought I ‘got’ yoga – after all I had been practicing hatha and ashtanga yoga for some years, had read Autobiography of a Yogi, knew the asanas in sanskrit and felt like I was on the verge of invincible.
In Part 1, we looked at how deeply embedded trauma and fear in your family’s lineage shapes your current experiences and view of the world.
Have you ever noticed that just hearing about the ‘trauma’ that someone has endured has the ability to give you the chills?
Have you ever heard of Colloidal Waters? Forget liquid gold…… it should be colloidal gold or silver you should be looking out for!!
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No matter where we live in the world, we all navigate the demands of work, family and our environment on a daily basis. One of the simplest and greatest gifts that the 5000 year old science of Ayurveda offers an invitation to look closely at our daily routine. In Ayurveda, daily routines are called dinacharya which translates as ‘Dina’ meaning day or flow and ‘charya’, practices.
Ever since I discovered the power of breath work through the Wim Hof Method, I have been learning as much as I can about breathing, the effects of breathing on the body and how to Optimize Breathing for health and performance.
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In addition to Mallorca’s breathtaking beauty and charm, it is a happening, international hub and there are many sincere, creative folks desiring to add their unique visions and skills to the mix.
After using the gorgeous Wild Azur products for the last few months, we wanted to find out who and what was behind the 100% natural creams and serums. We sat down with Clare, the creator of the Wild Azur natural beauty brand to find out all about her nourishing products and what makes them so unique, totally ethical and totally effective.
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This month, I decided to take a dive into the world of Permaculture and pick the brains of a friend of mine, Aline Van Moerbeke who has recently launched an online course all about the topic. Continue Reading…
It is really exciting to see the growing awareness of the transformational tool we all have FREE access to – anytime and anyplace.
I hear this question time and time again. Tummy issues, food intolerances, constipation and feeling bloated are the new social norm because the symptoms are so common! How many times have you thought about what to wear to hide your “food belly”? Or that feeling like your pants have suddenly become 2 sizes smaller after dinner?
What if there was a device that could improve your health and well-being in just 15 minutes?
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We’ve all been there. Those times when you have so much on your plate that you just can’t seem to see how you are going to fit it all in. Then you jump from one task to the next just to find that you haven’t completed much of anything. This is life.
The Meatless Monday movement is an easy, weekly reminder to take saturated fat off our plates and replace it with nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains.
Following on from last month, I will focus on how making a slight change to our eating habits can not only impact our health, but also impact our planet – in a really BIG way.
Until recently, it was thought that our autonomic nervous system was beyond our conscious control. Thanks to studies performed on the Wim Hof Method, it is now known that we can influence certain autonomic functions in our body.
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Did you know that each one of your teeth is related to a meridian which is connected to various organs, tissues and glands in your body? (A meridian is a bio-energetic flow to the internal organs associated with that tooth [1]
There are few times in life when we feel inspired. I mean really inspired. Inspired enough to make a life change, habit change, relationship change or take the path less often traveled. Often, we become so wrapped up in life we forget about the small details. Can something as simple as a hug make all the difference to your health, happiness and wellbeing?
As humans, we are the only animals that change our environment instead of adapting to it. As soon as it gets a little cold we put on extra layers of clothing and turn up the heating in our cars and homes. Essentially this is disconnecting ourselves from nature and its cycles. We live in an eternal summer “protected” from the winter elements. But can we condition ourselves to the environment and learn to love the cold?
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Self-care is our most basic need but we spend so much time worrying about anything and everything that we often forget to give ourselves a second thought. Let’s face it. Unless you take care of yourself, you won’t be able to take care of the people you love.
High above the Avenidas in central Palma, just along from Plaza España, in a tall building looking down over the rushing traffic, the cars and buses, and the people scurrying here and there, sits the Cell Medicum clinic.
The Cycle of Detox and Retox – and how you can break it!
During December, we enjoy ourselves and then in January we punish ourselves! We vow to start this super trendy new diet. Yes, you know the one where you only eat celery sticks for 7 days and lose 15 kg?
December is an odd time of year for Mallorca residents, expats and in particular yacht crew. Many of us have family far away and some of stay here in Palma and some of us go. Continue Reading…
Daylight savings is just one of the changes that can bring you down slightly. Like me, if you suffer from that sluggish, unenthused feeling when the days get shorter and colder, enjoying and incorporating certain foods in your diet during these times can be a way to help change your mental state of mind and wellbeing.
NOURISH YOUR MIND, NOT JUST YOUR BODY
This is my story for Nourish The Guide. I wanted to share it with people here to highlight how we need to be nourishing our minds, as well our bodies. Also I wanted to share how Nourish has helped me overcome a very stressful and worrying time.
Your home is no longer a hostel, the Palma to Alcudia road isn’t jammed with tourists and the air now smells of wood burners not sweat – Fall in Mallorca is here! And, so is cold and flu season. Before you start inhaling your own body weight in decongestants and pumping your body with wretched antibiotics, we grab a chat with Mallorca based health expert Melanie Mack and talk cold cures and immune boosters!
Amazingly it’s said that without the lymphatic system we would bloat up and die within 24 to 48 hours! A well-functioning and healthy lymphatic system is vital for good health and immunity. It’s easy to improve your lymphatic system naturally with some straightforward lifestyle changes.
Mallorca is the ideal place to get active, improve your fitness and enjoy yourself in an awe-inspiring natural environment.
This year will be the forth year that I’ve been running my Pilates and nutrition retreats on the island and each time I come back I fall in love a little bit more. As a teenager I’d had family holidays to the Balearics but it wasn’t until I returned for my first retreat to Deia with Bloom Retreats that I truly appreciated how special this island is.
As a nurse, naturopath and nutritionist, my greatest discovery this decade has been water. It sounds ridiculous that the answer I have been searching for all these years was right in front of my nose.
Swimming, bathing and showering with a plaster cast
If you’ve ever broken your arm or leg, you’ll know that wearing a plaster cast is inconvenient. Conventional plaster casts are extremely heavy and cannot come into contact with water, making it difficult to have a bath or shower because you have to avoid getting the cast wet.
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When you think of yoga, what comes to mind? For many in the West, yoga is now synonymous with the physical practice, but it can be so much more than that. When we look beyond the asanas and take our yoga off the mat and into our daily lives, we can open ourselves up to a more fulfilling life.
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You know that feeling all too well. After an indulgent dinner, or a takeaway pizza, you begin to experience heartburn or indigestion. Most people reach for Gaviscon tablets or antacids to relieve the symptoms of heartburn, which are commonly believed to be caused by over acidity in the stomach.
You are all invited to Mallorca’s biggest vegan festival!
Don’t miss Vegan Day Out II next Saturday the 26th of August.
Scott Adams held the first festival in July this summer and it was a huge success. So much so that he decided to organise another!
Expected to be bigger and better than the first, we asked Scott to fill us in with all of the exciting details!
Boost your energy
We are like a jigsaw puzzle, composed of lots of different pieces that all interlock to work synergistically. When each piece fits perfectly, we function optimally. We have tons of energy; we are able to participate and excel in sports, we think clearly, we spring out of bed early in the morning, raring to start the day.
Stress is a major problem in the challenging, fast-paced and fast-changing times in which we live. Reducing stress will improve your mood, increase your energy, uplift your spirit and enable you to just feel good – this overview will show you how yoga and meditation can help you to reduce your stress levels and achieve a greater sense of well being.
The benefits of salt water – how can a swim in the sea boost your health? Here in Mallorca, we are fortunate to have a gorgeous expanse of ocean right on our doorstep and, thanks to a wonderful climate, we have the freedom to dip in for a swim or simply soak our feet at almost any time during the year
“When there is silence one finds the anchor of the universe within oneself” – Laozi
As I sit down to write, it is less than two weeks until my wedding day. To say things are hectic is an understatement.