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Why book an Ayurvedic 3-day detox in the Maldives this year

Posted on January 16, 2025

Looking to improve your sleep, relationships and mood this year? Who wouldn’t want to start 2025 with an Ayurvedic 3-day detox. Especially when it’s somewhere as relaxing as the Maldives.

Designed to align with current demands for a more holistic retreat, this exclusive program is curated with natural botanicals brand TheraNaka. A personalizable real blend of traditional healing practices and modern-day wellness insights, that focuses on Ayurvedic dosha identification, balanced nutrition, mindful movement.

What can you expect?

Day 1: Personalised wellness

A 45-minute private consultation to identify your unique dosha—the body’s elemental energies—and a nutrition consultation tailored to your individual needs.

Day 2: A day of movement and nourishment

A rejuvenating yoga session followed by indulge in a dosha-balancing breakfast and refreshing detox juice created specifically for your dosha. The day culminates in a 90-minute treatment crafted to harmonise your body and senses.

Day 3: Empowerment and transformation

Dive deeper into your detox journey by taking part in a hands-on DIY class led by chef, where you will learn to create your own nutrient-rich, dosha-aligned meals. Then onto a two-hour chakra balancing treatment to realign your energy centres and leave you feeling grounded and restored.

Milaidhoo Maldives, nestled in the heart of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Baa Atoll, is a sanctuary committed to preserving the natural wonders that make the Maldives a coveted destination. Perfect for nature lovers as their own coral reef, which encircles the island, is a protected area and noted as an outstanding snorkelling and diving site.

Employing sustainable practices that include; Coral planting and cleaning, where guests, along with the resident marine biologist collaborate, to nurture loose coral fragments and restore damaged areas. Responsible water management by repurposing and using treated water for irrigation, the resort champions sustainable landscaping practices, reducing freshwater consumption and caring for its surroundings. Local product sourcing to keep a lid on carbon footprints, and farm t0 table cooking using organic farming techniques, Milaidhoo produces fresh greens on their own island for guest and staff consumption.

3 reformer pilates studios to try in 2025!

Posted on December 30, 2024

Here’s 3 reformer pilates classes for you to try in 2025!

Matcha Club

A boutique wellness hotspot nestled in the heart of Al Quoz, is offering yet another reason to come and check out this hidden gem, unveiling their brand-new reformer pilates studio.

Already loved for its chic cafe and padel courts, it boasts seven state-of-the-art reformer machines amidst a beautifully designed interior – think large mirrors and windows letting in lots of natural light with views of lush greenery.

To mark the launch, Matcha Club is offering an exclusive introductory package: three reformer Pilates classes for just AED 250. (Regular class pricing is set at AED140.) With up to eight classes offered daily, including a dedicated ladies’ class every day, guests can easily find a session that suits their schedule any day of the week.

Transformer Pilates at Karve

From London to Alserkal Avenue, Dubai’s newest fun and fast-paced workout sessions are redefining the pilates you all know and love.

A studio “inspired by the Big Apple, on the pulse of the Big Smoke.”

The classes are performed on a large custom-made resistance-based, reformer-esque machine. Each class is 50-minutes long and starts with a warm-up, followed by a full body high-intensity workout and completed by a stretch and a mindfulness session allowing for a full reset.

Blended Wellness

This multi-wellness destination caters to health, fitness, and beauty experiences on the shores of the Palm Jumeirah.

A room with a view… the small pilates studios face the ocean, giving way to bright and energetic classes. It’s the perfect way to start the day, and would recommend it’s followed by a trip to their salt room, sauna and indulge in a post-workout massage too!

Adventure Recommended travel

Phuket Cleanse

Posted on January 30, 2019

Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Affectionately describing my upcoming trip to Thailand’s infamous detox resort as ‘fat camp’ I received more than a few giggles from friends and family who asked if a trip to Phuket Cleanse was really necessary. I myself know just how much I’ve eaten over the festive period and I’m not afraid to admit it. Every moment with a raclette or tartiflette up in the Alps was thoroughly enjoyed and to be honest, I didn’t stop enjoying myself when I got back either. I knew ‘fat camp’ would kick me back into shape.

Arrival is fuss-free. Straight in to Phuket airport from Dubai, the transfer to Phuket Cleanse is only an hour away. We landed pretty late, so it was great to be given a very quick run through of the open plan reception/dining/games room and an update on the next day’s activities. Kick starting the trip was a 5.45am wake up call for a 4km hike up to the Big Buddha, but we weren’t quite ready for that just yet…

I’m a fussy eater at best, but armed with a list of intolerances and dislikes, the next morning I ventured into the kitchen… “I’m easy” I said, wary that this almost vegan cuisine would last the 5 whole days of my stay, “I eat egg”. So, there it was, my base protein for the copious amounts of upcoming workouts was to be based around a fair few omelette’s. This may be tougher than I thought.

The days were as easy or as hard as you wanted them to be, ranging from high intensity workouts at the nearby RAW Fitness center to aerial yoga and Pilates back at the villa. I chose to concentrate on cheese-loss and gaining muscle mass as a goal. A whole list of about 10 -12 activities were scheduled out across the venues and you could opt in for extras such as a sunset SUP or snorkel too.

We conquered the Big Buddha hike twice in our 5 days and it was grueling, but entirely worth it too as the sunrise made for an amazing visit, sans tourists. My favourite sessions were the HIIT and Strength classes, separated by about 6 hours each day, I made a point to do both. Throw in some foam rolling sessions, light meditation and a daily foot massage too, there was plenty to keep you busy if you wanted it. If, however you wanted to enjoy some of that 30*C sunshine, the pool in between classes was also a hotspot.

Not only is Phuket Cleanse the most community minded retreat I have ever set foot in, it’s also the eco-friendliest. With a real effort to cull all plastics and notes everywhere around the room reminding you to use bottled water instead of tap to brush your teeth or fill up your water bottles (all provided) rather than buy plastic bottles, it’s ticking all the right boxes.

What I was most surprised at I have to say, was my willingness to try all the food. Save for a few highly spiced options, I was loving the regular breakfast chia and coconut bowls, pak choi and vegetable medleys and even loved the various vegan cheeses.

I’m already planning my post-summer retreat, with or without friends this time as it’s such a great place to really focus on YOU. And I didn’t even miss the wine…

fashion Fitness

Dima Ayad X Hautletic Reinventing Athleisure

Posted on March 11, 2018

It’s a fairly new debate but one without a real answer – can you wear workout gear to work? Some of the athleisure pieces i own are without a doubt much more expensive than the skirts and tops hanging in the wardrobe, as well as remaining ‘un-used’ gym wise. Hautletic is the hub for most of these luxe pieces and there’s a new homegrown collab that’s stealing the show. Lebanese ready-to-wear designer Dima Ayad and Hautletic’s Priya Bhatia have launched a completely limited-edition range that’s definitely too good for the workout drawer.

A nine-piece collection in the Dima Ayad x Hautletic range celebrates female ingenuity; ‘blending Hautletic’s signature athleisure style with Dima Ayad’s precise understanding of the modern woman’s lifestyle’. It’s the kind of sports gear you could wear into a bar and not feel at all underdressed.

Enter a world of minimals, with abundant greys and blacks mixed with Ayad’s signature seasonal metallics. The floaty shapes are far from unflattering as they cinch in the waist and elongate the legs, whilst giving you a bit of wiggle room too. Picture the perfect ‘tracksuit,’ whilst being being as far from cliche as possible.

“I thought about the journey of the modern woman – from the day to the night. I want her to feel great from the morning to the evening without trying,” Dima Ayad, Designer

“It’s also about the value and versatility of the pieces you invest in. Quality and fit are paramount, even for seemingly ‘easy-wear’ athleisure.” Priya Bhatia, Hautletic

Get your hands on this urban wardrobe only at Hautletic in Galleria Mall, Dubai.

Fitness

Lashes for the Active

Posted on December 29, 2017

I get that going make-up free can be intimidating in a mixed workout, and I’m not against wearing make-up in the gym, but one of my pet peeves is walking into a class in the morning and seeing someone with their full face and lashes on… after work it’s much more common obviously – but before? Aside from sweating through the foundation (think about all those blocked pores), I’d struggle to keep my mascara smudge free as I blink through a sweaty bikram session or spin class.

There seems to be one solution I can totally jump on board with – one which allows us to look slightly more put-together, without having to wake up earlier than sun to do so.

Nouveau Lash LVL treatment is a new form of lash elongation, without the need for falsies. Think of it as a perm for your eyelashes, coupled with a tint that adds a bit of extra visibility. Not painful to apply, the whole process takes roughly 45mins and will last for up to a month (if you’re not in and out of the water as often as I am). Not harmful to the lashes either, the process merely curls them upwards slightly for a little natural boost.

I went for the medium curl with a dark brown tint so that it really wouldn’t be too noticeable. The Dollhouse is a great place to check out this service…

Fitness

The Fittest Hotel in Town

Posted on December 20, 2017

Let’s talk hotel gyms… now when you travel it’s common to find a fairly well equipped but standardised fitness studio that mayyyyybe offers a yoga class or PT session. Well Fairmont the Palm is making sure it’s the fittest hotel in town, as it opens another new studio, located adjacent to the North residences.

Already familiar with their full moon beach side yoga where a hundred yogi’s salute the supermoon? This time the Fairmont’s taking things up a notch mixing classes of high intensity training, endurance and mind training. I have tried and tested all their new classes and I recommend you give these a go…

Cardio Muay Thai
A high intensity, cardio blasting combat style work out that includes a mixture of boxing and kickboxing techniques, intense military style drills and a little touch of Zumba.

PRAMA, by Pavigym
a functional training system based on spatial references on the floor and walls brings fitness to life with lights, sound and sensors. PRAMA is a high-intensity, circuit-based workout that quickly improves muscle memory, endurance, strength, balance, speed, agility, reaction time and overall fitness. It is a high-energy workout that provides complete strength and cardio conditioning, burning up to 1,000 calories in just one 45-minute session

Aquaspin™
the latest revolutionary aqua exercise that’s kind to the joints and muscles, yet burns the calories and improves cardio vascular fitness. The 45 minute class involves cycling on state-of-the-art spin bikes submerged inside the water.

All classes are 75 AED, with packages of 10 available at 500 AED where you can mix and match your workouts.

Fitness

Crossfit with the Fittest Women Alive

Posted on November 30, 2017

Total inspiration… Having won the Reebok Crossfit Games 2017, Tia Toomey is officially classed as the Fittest Women Alive, so when Reebok and the new Goldbox gym in Business Bay brought her across to help us all get a bit more physical during the Dubai Fitness Challenge, I was initially in two minds.

Not usually a Crossfit fan, (I’ve maybe only tried it once or twice in the past) I can’t say a morning of burpees and squats amongst a room full of Crossfit instructors was quite my #morningmotivation, but I wanted to hear from the once Olympic weightlifter about her shift in training.

Toomey is fairly young too, but having recently married to her coach, she has a few insights to share. The key with her training has been communication and actually acknowledging that her partner is doing what’s best for her, so listening to him 100% out on the floor is non-negotiable. Off the Crossfit floor however… 😉

Having been asked which she preferred between this and the Olympics, Toomey said “the games have an unbeatable atmosphere, something which helps push you through the toughest parts. It’s all about the fans, family and community out there who are literally willing you to win.”

Well, I was certainly beyond sore the next morning, and as much as Toomey gave persuading me a good go, Crossfit isn’t my forte. But I love the feeling of inner competition it gives you, especially as a team, so it won’t be my last.

Fitness

Staying Fit on Holiday

Posted on August 10, 2017

I love to travel, but when I do, my body automatically goes into holiday mode. Throwing caution to the wind i’ll have that extra glass of wine, the bread and olive oil, or go all out and have a dessert too! Things i’d normally be uber cautious about back home. But what I do miss is the day-to-day routine of my Classport workouts and wake-surfing that balances out the foodie in me.

I’ve just spent 6 weeks in Europe and the first thing I did when I arrived to our holiday home in France was google translate the nearest gym and try to get myself into a more work to workout mode. I feel it’s a bit like jet lag, if you don’t assimilate quite quickly, it’s harder to get out of it. I certainly feel that with my body type, if i’ve gone more than a couple of days without some sort of fitness, it’s as if i’ve never done any at all! So I jumped at the chance to keep even a little bit of it going. I signed up with France’s version of Fitness First L’Orange Bleu, which for all intents and purposes is a great little outlet about 20 mins from our home in the countryside. They also have week by week plans which are great for the shorter trips across to Europe.

From spinning to pump and ‘abdos / cuisses’, every class was in French but didn’t take me long to pick up the routine having done similar style classes back home.

As it’s France though, the gym itself has now closed as they’ve decided to go on holiday for the last two weeks!?!…

…so back to square one. Heading to the local sport shop i’ve picked up a couple of weights to get myself motivated at home. Just a pair of 3kg’s to give myself a little resistance, i’m working on my own daily routine but so far so good… so after a 5-10 mins run around the surrounding fields, I stick on the radio, grab my weights and get to work in the garden, with last night’s pasta dish as my only motivation.

Fitness

Testing Out: 1SIX8 NuPowerYoga

Posted on June 17, 2017

Yoga is all about bending, stretching and breathing right? So power yoga… something a little stronger perhaps? Described as where strength meets flexibility, NuPowerYoga was introduced to us last week at one of my favourite hotspots, Hautletic, through Dubai based fitness studio 1six8. It cites more than just using weights in its vinyasa flow, with innovative Nubell-technology designed, circular hand weights, which are created to be ergonomically optimal, providing an even, all-round weight distribution for your hand, wrist and (occasionally) ankle too.

The benefit of all this is that it helps to alleviate any stress or tension on your joints, often seen with other weights and bells. I know from personal training that I much prefer kettle bells to barbells as I feel I can keep my wrist more controlled when using them. The creator of these circular designs did so due to an accident where he needed to regain strength in his hands and wrists.

Created in the States (of course) there’s been a real trend towards combining different fitness techniques and classes, to ultimately try and create a more thorough body workout. What Nu Power Yoga does is aid those long muscle movements in yoga by adding a little more resistance, helping to get everything firing and ultimately engage with more core.

NuPowerYoga classes start in June, at their hotspot in 168, Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai.

Fitness

Testing Out: Rips, Ropes & Straps at Fitness First

Posted on June 6, 2017

Fitness First is the giant of all gyms. Open everywhere and providing pretty much everything you could need for a one on one gym session with a trainer. They’ve progressed to classes as well, but let’s face it, it’s that shiny new equipment we’re most tempted by.

So when a new one popped open up in Mudon, I was first in line to check out their various HIIT regimes. One which stood out for me the most was their Rips, Ropes & Straps set up. We tried a mixture of 5 different exercises, in a group of only 6 people, so ultimately we had more one-to-one time with the instructor… in this case that meant we couldn’t cheat. Hailed as a 45 minute loaded movement training class, using TRX, Rip Trainer, Battle Ropes & Ankorr. It is designed to use 3D movement, aiming to improve your muscular endurance and core strength.

From being strapped in to a harness for elasticated resistance running to core crunches and assisted side winders, the floor became as tough as the wall. Not somewhere to be underestimated either… I always thought Fitness First would be more of a factory, churning out the gym bodies one by one, but I was pleasantly surprised at the homely feel and support systems.

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