Kettlebell & Suspension Class

On a cold, rainy Tuesday night what better way to motivate yourself to leave the sofa than trying out a new exercise class. I had mentioned to an instructor at my gym how I struggle with strength movements and she suggested that I try a Kettlebell and Suspension class. At just 45 minutes it seemed like a quick and easy way to try out suspension training for the first time and to learn a few new moves with a kettlebell.  

I have heard a number of people had rave about the benefits of kettlebell training so I have been starting to try to get to grips with it. When working out with a Kettlebell the centre of gravity isn't in the palm of your hand (like it is with traditional dumbbells) therefore you are working with an unstable surface which challenges the body causing you to exert more energy and develop lean muscle. Most kettlebell moves also force your body engage multiple muscle groups at once causing the body to adapt and change much faster. Suspension training was something that I had absolutely no experience with previously; a quick google tells you it is essentially strength training in which you use ropes and bands to suspend certain parts of your body so that you are working against your own body weight.  

The class was a small group of five which meant there was lot of space and opportunity to work with the instructor to ensure we were all safe and comfortable.  As I was a beginner the instructor suggested I used two 2kg kettlebells for the split arm movements, one 4kg for most other (twists, get ups) movements and a 6kg for the more isolated movements so that I could focus on form instead of struggling with weight. 

During the 45 minute class we ran through the following fairly simple but very challenging routine- 

• 5 rounds 45 seconds  Get ups and Suspended pull ups  (1 round = 45 secs of both exercises)

• 5 rounds 45 seconds  Russian twists and push ups 

• 5 rounds 45 seconds  T Shape arm extends with lighter kettle bells and suspended plank

• 4 rounds 30 seconds  Side lowers and suspended cross body side touches 

• 4 rounds 30 seconds  Wall sits holding kettle bell out in front and suspended wall squats

We finished the class with a long stretch and a much needed drink of water to refuel. 

The suspended movements were a lot more challenging but I actually think they help improve your form. For example during the suspended squats you hold the bands at arms length, lean right back into the move and drop as low as possible, the safety net of the bands allows you to sit lower and the slightly adapted position naturally encourages your back to remain straight.  And while the suspended moves were tough they were actually quite fun. Except the suspended planks, they were definitely the longest 30 seconds of my life. Seriously, it felt like an age. 

What I loved the most is how simple but effective this routine was, nothing was too over complicated but within seconds of starting each movement I could feel the burn.  This routine could easily be adapted without the suspension bands (and could be done with dumbbells if thats all you have) and you would still have a great workout.  The sore muscles the next day said it all! 

Accessory details

Temporary Tattoo-ebay Ring-ASOS  Scarf-New Look

Boots- New Look Bag-Biba

Hot Pilates

Source - YogaDork.com

Pilates always seems like such a relaxing idea, in my mind its a little more intense than Yoga, a lot less high impact that HIIT but still an amazing all round workout. But I always without fail forget how challenging it can be. It had been quite a while since my last pilates class when I decided to try Hot Pilates this weekend. Along the same lines as Bikram Yoga, Hot Pilates is practiced in a room of high temperature to challenge and detox the body. 

Having tried Bikram Yoga a few years ago and really enjoyed it I thought I would try this after seeing it advertised at a local womens only gym. During Bikram I remember it literally feeling as though I was sitting in a sauna but Hot Pilates felt completely different. I'm not sure if they temperature was lower or if it was the different type of activity but it felt a lot more comfortable. 
Toasty warm but not unbearable. 

The focus of the class I took was definielty core strength and after just 15 minutes I could feel the burn. We started with some light breathing and finding our pilates posture. Personally my posture is appalling so I really find this important when taking a class and the instructor was super helpful giving tips and advice all the time. The class consisted of lots of plank positions, core holds, leg extensions and balance exercises.  Throughout the class we used a bender ball, a soft ball used for stabilisation and to increase the intensity of some of the exercises. We propped it behind our heads during leg raises to ensure the neck wasn't strained, behind the back during core exercises to support the back, between the legs during squats to increase the challenge. It sounds silly but I was amazed at how such a small piece of equipment really transformed the whole class. 

I love the feeling of exhaustion I get after an intense spinning or HIIT class but its not quite the same as the calm and peaceful tired feeling after a yoga or pilates class. I think its the feeling as though I've really taken the time to do something positive for myself. Practicing Hot Pilates also has a huge list of  health benefits from being an alternative treatment for back pain or injury, increasing calorie burn right through to being beneficial for pre or post natal new mums.  

The key benefits are - 

• Detoxing the body and skin - Sweating on a regular basis allows the body to cleanse itself and release harmful toxins and waste from the skin. 

• Immunity boost- Apparently viruses cannot survive in high temperatures so doing exercise such as this that increases the body's core temperature helps fight off infections. Great for this time of year

• Weight Loss- Like Bikram Yoga, regular practice of Hot Pilates can result in weight loss because stretching deeper helps to build more muscle, which in turn burns more fatty acids and breaks down glucose.

• Flexibility- As the body temperature increases the muscles are able to relax a little more and therefore flexibility can be increased, it is important to have a good teacher though to ensure you do not hurt or over stretch yourself.  

Overall, it was a great experience, two days on and I'm still sore, so I'll definitely be going back for another class. 

Have you tried hot Pilates or Bikram Yoga? What did you think? 

Sensationail Gel Deluxe Starter Kit Review - At Home Gel Nails

One of my favourite quick fix beauty pick me ups is doing my nails.  It doesn't matter if your skin is bad, or if you're having a bad day doing your nails is a quick easy way to pamper yourself.  

Sensationail are a well known home manicure brand that promises to help you get a salon finish, the gel kits have a good reputation for helping you create a quality mani thats long lasting and super glossy. So far, so good. What's even better is that the Sensationail Gel Deluxe Starter kit which usually costs around £110.00 has been as reduced right before Christmas as part of the Boots Star Gifts range to just £50.  I was lucky enough to get mine last year when they were running the same offer so I thought I'd share my thoughts.

The kit is really compact & comes with a handy instructions with the LED light small & easy to pack away

As someone who paints their nails’ regularly I was a little bit sceptical at first as to whether these kits could really create a salon finish and if I would get bored easily with keeping the same colour for a while. Since I have had the kit I have been completely converted and absolutely love it. 

 

The Kit comes with a Gel Primer, Gel Cleanser, lint pads to use with the cleanser, cuticle sticks, a file & three polishes. 

The kit comes with the LED light, a gel cleanser, a gel primer, a file, lint pads to use with the cleanser, a base/top coat and two colours, I got the kit with Sugar Plum, an amazing warm winter red and Taupe Tulips, a great all round neutral. The kit is quick and easy to use and the whole process only takes around 15 minutes. But the best bit is that there is no annoying drying time after you are finished. Because if you are anything like me then no matter how long you leave your nails to dry normally they always smudge as soon as you try to do anything practical like check Instagram or make a cup of tea.

The first step to fabulous nails is preparation, remove any exsisting polish, file to you preferred shape and push back your cuticles. Then its time to cleanse and prime, simply swipe each nail with a lint pad soaked in the Gel Cleanser before coating each nail in the Gel Primer allowing them to air dry. 

 Next apply a thin coat of the Base/Top Coat; it's important to cap the nails by running a slick of polish along the tip of the nail and slightly underneath. I didn't do this the first time I used the kit and the polish really did shrink back noticeably. Not a good look. With the Top/Base coat you only need to cure it under the LED light for 30 seconds so just press the button on the top and wait for the first beep. (The beep indicates 30 seconds has passed, if you are curing for 1 minute you just leave it until the light goes off by itself). 

After your top coat is cured you can follow with a coat of your chosen colour, again making sure to cap the nails and cure under the light for 1 minute. The instructions suggest doing two coats of your main colour but I have found with some of the darker colours like Midnight Rendezvous that one coat is enough to get an opaque coverage. Once you are happy with your colour you then just apply another coat of the clear Top/Base, cure it & then wipe away any access polish with the cleanser on a lint pad. Again I didn't do this the first time as it felt wrong to wipe at freshly painted nails but trust me, it's an important step that hardens the nails.

Overall, I would highly recommend this kit especially if you are a big fan of doing your nails. It is a quick and easy way to get high shine, salon finish nails that won't chip and personally I know that having perfectly painted nails always makes me feel on point. It’s definitely worth the money in my opinion but if you are looking to spend a little less I know there are a few other at home Gel Nail kits such as the RED CARPET MANICURE  &  Sally Hansen Salon Gel Polish Starter Kit  that are slightly cheaper.

Have you used a at home Gel nail kit? What did you think?

x

A night at the Barre - Ballet for Beginners

I've always dreamed of being a ballerina, wearing a dreamy tulle outfit and spinning through the air.  But it's fair to say that I'm no Darcey Bussell, in fact my friends call me bambi as I'm usually more likely to be tripping over the floor that gliding gracefully across it.  But recently I've been working on my fitness and trying out different exercise classes, so when a friend suggested we try ballet for beginners class I jumped (gracefully...obviously) at the chance. 

We choose the Central School of Ballet in London near Farringdon. They offer a range of classes for all levels of experience and run an Absolute Begginers class, on Tuesdays and Thursday nights. Classes are £9, its cash only and it's first come first serve so be sure to arrive early if your thinking of trying it out. As desperate as I was to dig out my tutu they told us to dress comfortably in normal workout wear so I arrived in leggings and loose top. 

Taught by David Keirce the class was so much fun; it was easy to follow, entertaining and the hour and a half flew by.  It was clear there was a mixture of abilities despite it being an absolute beginner class as some girls poise and performance was on pointe!

We started with a breathing exercises and correcting our posture, hips tucked under, legs straight and lifting through the whole body. I have to admit, I'm still not too sure how you lift from your knees but I'm hoping that comes with practice. We moved on to arm positions before leg positions and extends. I never imagined that just holding my arms or legs up could be a workout but trust me you can definitely feel the burn. Plie's at the barre and pile jumps got the heart pumping a little bit faster making me feel as though I had really worked out. The class finished with ballet bows which I thought was a really cute touch. 

Ballet is of course amazing for increasing flexibility, coordination and perfecting your posture, and obviously as you advance it will help tone and strengthen the body as well. The Central website describes the class as "Perfect for people who have never done a ballet class before. Or people who did ballet as a child and would love to get back into it! You learn from the start, with an easy guide to how to use your body correctly. With a focus on posture which helps with every day life and self confidence. The class is fun and uplifting perfect for all ages!"

Afterwards we wandered back to the station already planning our next class. Overall a beautiful way to spend a Tuesday evening. 

The Breakfast Smoothie Edit

A few weeks ago I decided enough was enough. I was tired; tired of waking up running late, rushing to work starving and then snacking on the first pastry I could find. I was tired of feeling tired all day because I hadn't started my day right. I've never really been a big breakfast person when it's early in the morning, I prefer an epic weekend brunch but skipping the most important meal of the day was leaving me grouchy and more importantly hungry. And nobody likes being hungry. So I made a small investment in a blender, some frozen and fresh fruit and veg and I started blending.  

I have to admit that even I thought this was just going to be another fad of mine but I have actually really been enjoying making smoothies and juices. They're delicious, filling, full of nutrients and something I can easily take with me on my morning commute without too much hassle. 

Here's is my current favourites recipe that's I've been using over the past few weeks. 

 Handful of Spinach

3-4 Slices of Pineapple

1 Banana

200ml Almond Milk

Since changing up my morning routine I feel much better. I am full and ready to start my day. I feel like I have more energy and just generally I feel good that I've taken a bit more time to do something good for myself in the mornings. Any recipe recommendations in the comments would be much appreciated! 

No. 3 - Spitalfields

Blog post No. 3 - A lunchtime walk around Spitalfields market.