Gym Germ Free!

Yes, this is a post about doing your gym time without germs.

I'm not talking about the big ape who thunks into you on his way past - ugh. That sort of germ can't be fixed with mere hand sanitiser, but let us start with the icky things we CAN avoid! From the mats that hundreds of sweaty backs and thighs have laid on before you, to the weights that hundreds of sweaty, snotty, greasy hands have gripped and bars, kettlebells, handles, magazines, cables and ropes that are layered with other peoples' bodily fluids...well, if you're into your hygiene, you'll want to arm yourself. This is a battlefield.
I know the gym is not for everyone but even in your fancy yoga, barre, pilates studio, you're still sharing equipment and door handles with your fellow sweaty yoginis. I'm not saying you need to wear white gloves and a face mask, but there is a very simple way to keep it clean to avoid sharing too many germs with your fellow exercisers!
If gyms and studios are alien to you, you'll still want these germ-blasters in the office, creche, kitchen or car.
Many sanitising lotions, gels and sprays are loaded with nasty skin-drying chemicals that break your nails and leave your fingers looking red raw and sensitised. Don't do it! There are fab natural-ingredient rich products that will blast germs and bacteria while smelling lovely and nurturing your skin. Here's your guide.

Good Things Total Wipe Out Raspberry & Cranberry cleansing wipes are free from parabens, sodium laureth sulphane, mineral oils and no animal testing. They are also biodegradable. Tick, tick and tick! Available at Target.

Natralus Instant Surface Sanitiser and Instant Hand Sanitiser are both mini spray bottles that tuck into your pocket or sit in your car  glovebox ready for action. They are skin friendly and no nasties! They kill odours AND 99.99% of germs in 10 seconds. Get it here!

Chakras: could you tune in to 100% better performance?

Don't roll your eyes! I know you are! I am going to try to convince you that you can think about chakras without coming across as an incense-scented, tie-dye wearing new ager.
In fact, considering your chakras might even get you tighter abs, faster running times and a more peaceful sleep. Here's how.

Ascribing a colour to specific areas of your body means you need to actually identify that part of your body and focus on it. Eastern medicine and philosophy has long held that different areas of the body hold a relationship with particular feelings and energy.

The "Brow Chakra" located at the top of your head, for example, is associated with your sinuses and also your ability to be creative and intuitive.

Could your chakras make you a better athlete? A better yogi? I believe it might and isn't that worth trying?

I'm not going to ask you to imagine shining coloured lights emanating from your insides...but I do want you to try something.

Pick one of the "Chakras" from the image here and note the colour and where it is located. 

Close your eyes and try to focus on that area - whether it's your heart, your brow or your tummy.

Think about the colour that is associated with that area and just sit and focus on it for 2 minutes. 

This is an exercise in mindfulness meditation. All you need to do is hone in on an area with the sole target of thinking about the colour and how specific areas of your body feel and act.

By noticing whether you're really uncomfortable or tense, or really restless when you focus on one area in relation to another, you can tune in to whether you're unwell, injured, stressed or even peaceful, calm and happy!

Being able to sit in quiet and actually "tune in" to your body allows you to understand it better, to love it more, and to appreciate how incredible it is in keeping your heart beating, your brain functioning and your muscles moving.

Even if you're doing the colour visualisation on the tram, walking the dog or during an ad break - don't underestimate how much mindfulness can enhance your sense of peace, calm and control of your environment and your body. Try it when you're running - maybe associating different colours with areas of your body that are under pressure like your lower legs, your back or your neck allow you better control over how you're moving, holding your posture, directing the strike of your foot...

Flying High & Taking Off

This last couple of weeks I've been seriously thinking about the option of teaching and training for a living overseas. I've always been excited by the idea of living and working in a foreign country. When I stayed in Ubud a few years' ago, I met many Americans, Australians and Brits teaching yoga and pilates in Bali. It isn't necessarily a lucrative lifestyle for many, but living in a beautiful location where food, leisure and accommodation are cheap and exotic? The lure is strong.

I have no experience with moving my life to another country so I'm currently reading Sell Up, Pack Up and Take Off (Allen & Unwin) for all the nitty-gritty details of how to navigate starting a new life in Bali, Thailand and Spain. I don't expect to be leaving for any longer than a year when it finally happens, but I do want to spend an extended period overseas during my 30s - writing, teaching and sucking up the culture and atmosphere!

While I'm here, just dreaming of exotic and distant lands, I will be "flying high" and treating myself as IF I'm living in a resort. Here's how:

Dressing for yoga classes in tropical, lush, outdoor studios! You know I'm obsessed with Onzie. Their new range is "Flying High" and it is my favourite so far. Beautiful tie-dye prints in saturated shades and the fit is 100% flattering. The best part is every piece is designed BY yogis for people who DO yoga. You can bend and flex into any position and you will be fully supported by your outfit. I've got the kickass leggings pictured above and they fit like a glove. Want to know what really makes my day? I have found a matching nail polish shade! OPI Cement The Deal is from the 50 Shades of Grey Collection.
Onzie on Instagram

Use gorgeous, divinely scented spa products - turn your bathroom into an international resort and retreat there post-work for a pick-me-up. No queuing, no appointments, just treat yourself. My favourite new finds are Elemis and Bliss. The cleansers, masques and treatments for face are BEYOND compare. Elemis is salon-quality and can be found at 5-star spas with highly trained practitioners OR you can buy it and deliver perfect skin all by yourself at home.
Bliss is a cult range from the UK with body scrubs and butters that get raved about from here to Timbuktu. The packaging will make you smile too. Super bright, colour-blocked geometric shapes with big, blocky typeface that confidently beams at you from the bathroom cabinet saying "USE ME."

So, join in in smothering your limbs in Orange & White Pepper body butter, lathering up in a resurfacing face mask, getting into lotus pose in your Onzie leggings and crop, and cracking open the first page of "Sell Up, Pack Up and Take Off" and let your imagination set flight.

First Run After Hip Surgery

Yes, I'm going to do it. I'm going to step onto the treadmill and run.

I used to run 20km several times a week and I'm one of those people who feel like once you've set a standard, well, it's hard to accept less! HOWEVER, I also don't enjoy running like those natural "it's just so fun" runners - for me, it's all about the music and the mental challenge rather than the actual running.

I did my prep work. As much as I love Nike for fashion, it's the Mizuno Wave Inspire 11 that actually fits me best and gives me the most support without being bulky. I don't need to wear my orthotics with the Mizuno models either - for some reason, they just fit me perfectly.

Totally recommended for runners and gym time. I wear the less support-giving models for weights and doing classes, keeping the Wave Inspire 11 for running duties so that they last longer!
Check out the Mizuno Australia website and Facebook!

#ClearSkin – Exit hyperpigmentation, dullness, scars and spots

When I was in my early teens, I had terrible acne and went through two rounds of Roaccutane to clear it up. It meant dry eyes, peeling skin, sensitivity and regular blood tests.

Thankfully, my skin has been clear bar the occasional spot since then. I am very, very fussy about looking after it though. That doesn’t mean using the most expensive products or going through any long, complex rituals. It just means I pay attention to whether products actually work and if I end up with spots or redness, or if they leave my skin greasy or peeling, it’s over!

I am a big fan of several skincare brands that really work for my skin. They have targeted products that are used in salons and recommended by dermatologists.

I don’t do facials – as much as I’d love to, I don’t have the money for it and I’m so fussy about the products I use that I can’t imagine anyone doing a better job than me at cleaning and massaging my skin!

I do splash out on laser/IPL/microdermabrasion a couple of times a year. This is how I’d much prefer to spend my money. These are intensive treatments that have a lasting effect on clearing spots, evening skin tone and in my case, blasting tiny broken capillaries around the nose and chin. I’ve got  very pale skin so I find it really noticeable if I have any redness. Microdermabrasion also eradicates blackheads – it is the only treatment where I can go concealer and makeup free for days afterwards feeling my skin is flawless!

If clear, even skin is your 2015 resolution then here’s my recommendations.

Dermalogica PowerBright is designed to reduce and resolve hyperpigmentation. This is uneven skin colour that is very common in women. It’s the result of hormones, scars, spots, prolonged sun exposure and is very common during/after pregnancy.

While my uneven skin tone is very minor, I actually love the PowerBright range because of it’s high dose of vitamin C. It’s healing and restorative after I’ve had laser and microdermabrasion. I also find that the ingredients designed to treat hyperpigmentation also fix up a few pimples within days. It does take about 3 weeks’ to see the full effect so stick with the products daily for that time.

Elemis Resurfacing Mask + Rosepetal Cleanser: Elemis is a luxury skincare brand from the UK that

is used in beauty salons and resorts internationally. I love the Rosepetal Cleanser because it smells heavenly and it’s really gentle on the skin. Using harsh, drying cleansers might make you feel squeaky clean but they actually strip your skin of natural oils and can make it really sensitive and inflamed.

The Resurfacing Mask is my once-a-week treat. I leave it on while I have my breakfast and review my daily duties. I’ve definitely noticed my skin is brighter and softer straight after using it.

As for not doing facials? Well...I AM looking at an Elemis facial because they are the ultimate. I'll let you know if I do it!

My Beauty Day

I am thrilled with how clear and glowing my skin is looking at the moment! So I had to share my current regime with you. Nothing super complex or fancy about it - just what works for me.

1. Wake up, wash face with Elemis Rosepetal Cleanser then 2. Apply Dermalogica PowerBright Pure Light SPF 50 mixed with 3. Dior Star Foundation. I love a little colour care of 4. Illamasqua blush in Naked Rose 5. NYX Cosmetics retractable lip liner...then in the evening again I wash with 6. Elemis Rosepetal Cleanser, apply 7. Elemis Resurfacing Mask for the super tingly and revitalising 8 minutes before 8. Dermalogica PowerBright C-12 serum and finally, my insurance against puffy eyes, 9. Lancome Hydra Zen Neurocalm Eye Cream

Scents of Summer

My morning routine prepares me for a workout and the rest of the day. I set my mobile phone alarm but usually wake up a few minutes before. Get up, wash my face, apply my deodorant before I potentially forget, eat breakfast then go through the fun part of picking the colours and scent I'll wear that day.
I have a rainbow and a full wardrobe of different sprays and lotions! I consider what I'll be doing that day and how I want to feel.

About 10 years' ago I discovered a Chocolate Chip Cookie scent and it smelled like it had bottled a bakery. It blew my mind! Ever since, I have been a true Demeter devotee. They bottle fragrances that are totally unique. Scents like Baby Powder take me back to being a kid and entering the bathroom after mum had showered to smell a room full of soap and baby powder. Fragrances are so strongly tied to memory!

This Valentine's Day, I am gifting myself some fragrances. I highly recommend you do the same! The sun is promising to come out and I'm feeling inspired to make my scent sweet and summery.
My picks are Clean Skin, Pistachio Icecream and Vanilla Icecream. All $29.50 from MU Australia.

I also adore Bliss - a brand I only discovered recently. The Blood Orange and White Pepper scent is to die for and I attack my fading self-tan with their Sugar Scrub! I follow it up with their Body Butter for the full Sicilian orange grove effect. Equally yummy and citrus-fresh is their Lemon and Sage Body Butter. If, like me, you are hugely indecisive, I recommend getting the Bliss You Butter Watch Out set of three scents. You might even share it...