Kamalaya – awards for a great spa in Thailand.

 
Industry awards are rarely interesting to anyone outside whatever industry it is (entertainment awards being the exception) and so would be forgiven for not noticing. But back in January I went to Thailand to Kamalaya, a wonderful spa in Koh Samui and I was seriously impressed and as the owner, Karina Stewart, was in London recently I met her for a cup of green tea. Karina is passionate about well-being and far too modest to brag but I did ask her about the awards that Kamalya has gained in 2010 alone. She told me that “These awards are an honour and a confirmation that we’re moving in the right direction”. Having been there I can confirm that they are doing more than moving  there and as Karina won’t list the awards, I will;

- Destination Spa of the Year: nominee in the Spa’s Therapist Team of the Year, Spa Cuisine of the Year
and Spa Retreat of the Year categories – Asia Spa Awards 2010

- Outstanding Performance for Health Tourism Destination Spa Nationwide – Thailand Tourism Awards

- Award for “Enduring Excellence” – TATLER UK Spa Awards 2010

- Best Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM) Wellness Centre; Best Destination Spa Finalist; BestWellness Retreat Nominee – Crystal Awards Asia Pacific 2010

- Favorite Spa in Thailand/Asia; Winner in each of the categories for Best Cuisine; Best for Mind-Body-Spirit; Best Interior Design; Best for Weight Loss – SpaFinder Readers’ Choice Awards 2010

- One of five winners in Favorite Destination Spas International – Spa Magazine 2010 Silver Sage

Readers’ Choice Awards

- Best Complementary & Alternative Medicine Wellness Centre – Crystal Awards Asia Pacific 2009

- Spa Personality of the Year (Karina Stewart) – Asia Spa Awards 2009

- Favorite Spa in Thailand/Asia; Winner in each of the categories for Best Mind-Body-Spirit; Best for Weight Loss; Best for Yoga; and Best Medical Program – SpaFinder Readers’ Choice Awards 2009

2008

- Best Wellness Retreat – Spa Asia Awards 2008

- Best Destination Spa – Asia Spa Awards 2008

Kamalaya is a special place and has achieved what most spas aspire to – see more at kamalaya.com.

Mind unwind.

Back in London now and I am trying to work in some meditation tips into daily life. The aim of my trip was to learn a little more about meditation, not just in the spa-environment of course, but how to find time to work it into a reasonably busy life.  The meditation expert/guru at SHA, Antoinette, showed me that meditating didn’t require me to empty my mind as that’s obviously not possible but I have learned to focus on the whole picture rather than run with every thought.  It’s like seeing the blue sky behind rather than focusing on the passing clouds.   Antoinette was keen to help me find a way to get back to that place, attain some calm if you like, during the day in what she called ‘micropauses’, and now that I am back in the swing of things I can understand what she meant.

To a meditation-pro this undoubtedly sounds like basic stuff, and it is as I am a true beginner.  But that’s why I chose the programme, as I know that there is much to be gained but didn’t know where to start.  Actually it was Victoria at Wellbeing Escapes who directed me to SHA which is part of their Mind Unwind Meditation holidays (the course at SHA is exclusive to Wellbeing, its not on the SHA website but you can see details here – http://www.wellbeingescapes.co.uk/content/210.html ).  You might notice that I contribute to their website as one of the experts, I don’t work for them but am happy to help them out with the odd recipe as they are good people and they have helped me find some pretty great places to go and things to do.

For more great tips on meditation take a look at www.wildmind.org too.

SHA and meditation.

The aim of my trip to SHA was to learn about meditation and that was my focus. I hadn’t really expected the spa to be quite so luxurious and beautiful. In most brochures the photographs are artfully arranged to make the place look its best, but somehow all the pictures I had seen of SHA have not managed to capture anything of the spirit of the spa. The rooftop pool, with its clean lines, gorgeous views and all white furniture aren’t really captured properly in the photographs. And whilst I had heard that the food was all macrobiotic, I hadn’t imagined that it would be quite so tasty, let alone that there would be so much of it. I am eating from the ‘detox’ menu, which wouldn’t usually be my first choice as I don’t need to ‘detox’ and generally think the notion is overstated anyway…..but I am not here to argue the toss about the merits of a ‘detox’, all I know is that  I am enjoying the food and looking forward to meals.

It’s the meditation programme that I am here for. And I have made progress, albeit only a little. In order to meditate, one needs to allow thoughts to pass and focus on the space in between them. I could never imagine that I might do this as my thoughts seemed to come thick and fast, more so when I try to let them pass. I was pleased to learn that this is quite normal and that all was not lost. The lovely Antoinette Vanbelle took me through a guided meditation for my first session and although I struggled at points, I did manage to find some space between the thoughts by focusing on my breathing, something that I hadn’t thought much of before. This mornings walking meditation gave me a chance to walk though the mountain towards the lighthouse concentrating on my steps and breathing and Antoinette discussed ways that I might find tiny gaps in my day, micropauses she calls them, in which I might centre and focus again. Even walking to my car might offer a moment or two of calm, allowing me to stop thinking for a short while. As I write this I am still skeptical but I am trying to put that aside.

Clearly I am a novice at this, but as the course continues I hope to learn more. Tomorrow’s meditation session is followed by a couple of treatments in the spa and then dinner, a la carte this time – enough with the ‘detox’ menu.

Stress and meditation.

Like most people I live with a fair degree of stress and at times I feel that I can handle it well, at other times it gets the better of me. I follow my own nutritional advice and so my glucose levels are balanced, I avoid caffeine and I try to get a decent amount of sleep and whilst this has been relatively successful, I am sure there is more I can do. I have tried yoga, that didnt work for me as it was one more thing to do and one more place to go and so it is time, once again, to find other ways to destress and disengage with the world, albeit briefly.

I have been fascinated with meditation for as long as I can remember. Friends and colleagues who I admire swear by it but despite the endorsement, I have managed to avoid even starting. A journalist whom I admire, Tanya Gold wrote an excellent piece in The Guardian which was published back in April of this year which inspired me further (read it at http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/apr/08/tanya-gold-meditation). I have tried meditation before; back in January at Kamalaya spa in Thailand I spent some time with Winnie, a colourful German man with a grey pony tail who guided me through some basic ways to meditate, and I promised myself (and him) that I would put aside time every day to practice. But I haven’t. Sorry Winnie. I am going to put that right, starting this week as I am going to SHA Wellness Clinic in Al Albir, Spain, on a 4 night Meditation Programme.

In the past when I have tried to sit quietly and clear my mind of thoughts all that happens is that a thousand thoughts happen all at once. I am sure this is quite normal and I am hoping that the program will help me get past this and be able to enjoy all the benefits of meditation and bypass my busy brain.

Fancy a healthy weekend break in Wiltshire? Ganesh Retreats may have what are looking for.

Ganesh Retreats are offering a short weekend break (from October 15th to 17th 2010 )at an affordable cost in a beautiful English countryside setting comprising constant support, knowledge and life skills to take home too.

They work with enthusiastic, holistic practitioners at the top of their fields and so their weekends is designed to inspire, as well as looking refreshe, all by Sunday night. Over the weekend Ganesh are offering a selection of healthy vegetarian food made by their nutritionist/chef.  Their team will be on hand all weekend to provide wisdom and support you need to take back home and continue in a fun and energetic manner that you can integrate into your life.

Retreat Date: 15th – 17th October 2010

Venue: Chaffeymoor Grange Wiltshire

The Team
Yoga: Miranda Gates-Fleming
Massage: Bobby Swanson
Nutritional Food: Natasha Corrett

Schedule
Friday 1pm – Guests arrival & Lunch 3pm – Welcome talk and introduction to NLP 3.45pm – Healing or massage treatment 5pm – Healing or massage treatment 6.15pm – Yoga and meditation practice. 7.30pm – Dinner

Saturday: 8.00am – 1.5 Hours of Yoga and Meditation
 9:30am – Breakfast
 10:30am- 1:00pm – Healing session or free time
 1:30pnm – Lunch
 3:00pm – 5.30pm – Healing session or free time 6.00pm – 7.30pm – Yoga and meditation practice 
 8.00pm – Dinner
 After dinner activities
Sunday: 
 8.00am – 1.5 Hours of Yoga and Meditation
 9:30am – Breakfast
 10:30am- 1:00pm – Healing session or free time
 1:30pnm – Lunch & cooking lesson
 3:00pm – 5.30pm – Healing session or free time
 6.00pm – 7.00pm – Yoga and meditation practice 
 7.15pm – Guests leave with packed dinner and breakfast The Cost… Cost includes: 1 massage, 1 Healing session, 3 hours of yoga each day, Guided meditation, afternoon lessons, Food and Accommodation (tennis court and pool table also in the house!) Not included: Travel transfers to and from the venue

The simple retreat: £350.00 (no healing or massage) per person based on two people sharing Double room occupancy: £530 per person based on two people sharing Single Room: £630 for one person

Contact 07795214040 natasha@ganeshretreats .com

www.ganeshretreats .com

Cook Yourself Thin – lovely presenter, but an outdated approach.

I watched an episode of Cook Yourself Thin the other day, its on Channel 4 and features a chef cooking low fat recipes for someone who had battled with their weight for many years. Needless to say the participant lost weight and said that they felt wonderful, but I couldn’t help wondering what happens next?  I am prepared to bet that in her history of dieting she has tried many low fat diets ( impossible not to ) so why will this one be different? My heart sank when the presenter, who was gorgeous and stylish, showed us  how to make a lemon drizzle cake with fewer calories than a store-bought one and presented her cake as a way to lose weight. I don’t claim to know all there is to know about nutrition and successful weight loss, but this much I do know – you wont lose weight be eating cake.

My problem with Cook Yourself Thin is that it has one premise – low calorie food. When cooked from scratch this is no bad thing, but my concern is that low fat isnt everything.  The background to low fat diets is simple in as much as one gram of fat contains 9 calories whereas one gram of protein contains 7 and carbohydrates only 5. Therefore taking fat out of the diet reduces the calorie intake accordingly.  Surely that’s obvious and the right thing to do?

No.  Like protein, the body breaks down fat slowly and its conversion to energy is equally slow.  Carbohydrates break down easily and quickly which leads to elevated glucose levels. As the cells cant actually absorb much glucose at any one time the excess is stored away, which adds to fat stores.  So eating cake leads to weight gain, not because of the calorie content, but simple because of the carbohydrate content.  Furthermore, eating low fat food isn’t satisfying and so shortly after eating it, we are hungry and have to battle with cravings and ‘I shouldn’t eat, I am trying to lose weight and I just had a piece of cake’ type thinking. In other words, having low blood glucose levels makes us hungry, that’s quite normal, but asking someone who wants to lose weight to be hungry for a lot of the day relies upon their willpower, and we all know that willpower is limited. Sooner or later we crack, and then its harder still to get back on track again.

Check out How Not To Get Fat (Quadrille, £9.99) to find out the truth behind successful and easy weight management.

British Military Fitness – an interview with Paul Kenny

Although I train a few times a week I haven’t yet tried the outdoor training that I often see in London parks. However, I have read that exercising outdoors brings more benefits than the indoor alternative, and with this in mind, I met with Paul Kenny from British Military Fitness to find out a little more.

BMF is the original boot camp type training, what differentiates you from the rest?

BMF is now the largest outdoor fitness provider in the UK & has been established for 11 years.  As a result, BMF has the most experienced, dedicated & professional instructors.  We constantly update and improve our training methods and invest a great deal of time, effort & money in the training and development of our new and existing instructors.  We also run more venues at more times than any other similar company. 

What makes a BMF trainer, what do you look for?

 Firstly, they must have a military background.  Most instructors are either from the Army or the Marines, but we also use people from the RAF.  They must also have a fitness qualification.  A lot of instructors are full time personal trainers or still serving as a Physical Training Instructor in the military.  Obviously it’s also important for them to be passionate about fitness and to look the part!  Hence they themselves must be physically fit, but also have a very confident, friendly and outgoing manner.  It is vital for them to think quickly on their feet and to have a sense of empathy and awareness so they can pay attention to each and every person in their class.  Humour is also very important as we place a great emphasis on fun and enjoyable classes.

 How much is a typical course?

The first class is free and then we have several different options.  In London, you can choose to do one class a week for £36 a month, unlimited classes for £48 a month but we also have a corporate rate for £40 a month.  This applies to anyone who works in the public sector or anyone that has at least 10 people from the same firm who are all BMF members.

Do members tend to be gym-goers as well?

A lot of members are gym-goers when they first start with us, but then realise how little they’re getting from their gym workout and eventually cancel their gym membership.

 Who is BMF for?

 Anyone between the ages of 16 - 75 who is looking to improve or maintain they fitness.  This could be anybody from someone who has not done any exercise for several years and want to start living a healthier lifestyle to someone who competes in their own sport at a high level and is looking to add another dimension to their training.

 What would you say to potential new recruits who don’t like the idea of exercising outdoors?

 What could be better than escaping the office and getting outdoors for some fresh air and sunshine (if you’re lucky!).  Training outdoors is actually proven to be up to 30% more effective than indoors (real world fitness). 

 What advantages does BMF training have over the familiar gym program?

 In a regular gym program, the average person does  7 – 8 minutes of effective exercise.  At BMF we will be working for 55 minutes of effective exercise.  BMF members are given fun team and paired exercises to complete.  Apart from the obvious instructor, other members will encourage and push you to get even more out of every class.  At the actual class, the instructors will provide plenty of motivation to help you improve your fitness levels.  However, the motivation to turn up to a class is provided by the friends you make both during class and afterwards in the many socials we organise throughout the year. 

 What percentage of members are women?

55% are women

To find out more visit http://www.britmilfit.com/

Sunshine.

I am constantly amazed that the message about skin cancer isn’t getting through, and one look at the typical park over the coming weekend will confirm this.

The less time you spend in the sun, then the less the risk of skin cancer, and the higher the protection factor you use makes a dramatic difference too. So if I told you that one supplement can help you go brown quicker, would you a) spend less time in the sun, or b) spend the same amount but expect to go darker?

If you answered b) then you need to learn more about skin cancer before its too late.  If it’s a), then read on…… L-tyrosine, an amino acid, when taken in doses of 500 mg twice a day, on an empty stomach, can help encourage melanin production, which is responsible for pigmentation of the skin.  Enhancing melanin makes the skin react to UV light more rapidly, so you can get the effects in less time, with less risk. This is not a licence to tan for longer, as we must remember that there are 65,000 new cases of skin cancer in Britain every year, and dermatologists recommend that we use a sun protection factor of at least 15. You should not take L-tyrosine long term, as it can have some side effects, so limit intake to two weeks before your tripi and one week into it. Limit sun exposure, as you should get the same tan without hours and hours in the sun – think of other things you could do instead?

Mouth ulcers and nutrition

I often get asked if there is any connection to mouth ulcers or bleeding gums and the food you eat? The simple answer is yes. No doubt most of us have had a mouth ulcer at some point and know that they can cause discomfort and some pain as well. They have a few possible causes, the most common being reactions to the food although there is some link to mild nutrient deficiencies or anaemia. There is some evidence to suggest that frequent or severe mouth ulcers are a potential sign of coeliac disease, a gluten intolerance and so if you find that you are getting mouth ulcers all the time, a visit to your health practitioner would be advisable.  Other symptoms of celiac disease include diarrhoea and weight loss although some people with the condition show few symptoms at all.

In the meantime, I suggest eating plenty of food rich in B vitamins, especially wholegrains, unsweetened cereals and wholemeal breads. The B vitamins include folic acid, which is involved in the repair of cells, in addition to the formation of red blood cells, and thus can help alleviate some forms of anaemia too.  Green vegetables, endive and peas are all rich in folic acid, but you may consider supplementing a good quality B complex as well.  Do be warned that your urine is likely to becoming a lurid yellow colour for an hour or so after taking a B complex – this is entirely normal and is merely the excretion of excess B2, or riboflavin.

Mouth ulcers may denote food intolerances, but as anyone who has read this blog before will know, I am suspicious of food intolerance testing. The most common offenders for causing ulcers are alcohol, citrus fruits and refined sugar, so cutting them out may be an easier option.

Gums that bleed after brushing is actually the first sign of scurvy, which does sound archaic but is related to a deficiency in vitamin C. The skin that compromises the gums is very fine, and brushing can break the surface of the skin, causing bleeding. As vitamin C is required to strengthen skin cells, I suggest you eat sweet potato, peppers and kiwi fruit daily but avoid orange juice ( which is often the first vitamin C rich food people think of ) as it is likely to aggravate any ulcers.

The Food Doctor and Elite Model Look

This morning saw the press launch of Elite Model Look and The Food Doctor is delighted to be working with Elite to ensure that the girls that are chosen are healthy and nutritionally informed.

There are 10 castings taking place over the next few weeks starting off this weekend, March at Lakeside in Essex from 2pm onwards.  There are castings all over the country right to the 10th of June and you can see details here – http://www.elitemodellook.co.uk/.

Elite are taking their responibilities to heart and understand that the teenagers who are successful in the castings and go on to the semi-finals need to be healthy, full of energy, fit as well as have the right look. From the semi-finals onwards we will be working with the girls as a group and also one to one so that we can advise them on how to eat well so that they get the best from their nutrition. Many will be away from home for the first time and perhaps be unfamiliar with looking after their own food needs and so we will ensure that they know what and when to eat.

We look forward to seeing everyone at the semi-finals.