All-Natural Skin Soothers

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Bees of Britain, Conscious Skincare, Nathalie Bond, natural skincare, self-care, winter beauty, Yoga With Paul

If the cold weather is wrecking havoc on your skin (as it is mine!) it is time to step up your self-care and smother your skin with love.

These all-natural skin soothers do more than nourish, protect and replenish your skin. They are British brands who work to protect and replenish the environment and communities as well, ensuring that your comfort works towards a good cause.

Photo by Dmitry Grigoriev on Unsplash

Bees of Britain

Founded by an A-level student, this small company uses its profits to support bees and promote environmental diversity. It offers a range of clean beauty skin and hair care products that are cruelty-free and feature hard-working, wholesome ingredients in their purest forms.

It doesn’t use artificial scents, and even offers unscented products, which great if you are sensitive to strong perfumes.

Website: https://www.beesofbritain.com

Nathalie Bond

If you need rich moisture, her line of organic face, body and beard oils is brilliant. Formulated to hydrate and leave luminous and radiant, they apply and absorb easily to avoid any greasy feeling. They are 100% natural ingredients, 99% organic, vegan and cruelty-free.

Website: https://www.nathaliebond.com

Conscious Skincare

This Welsh company specialises in luxurious organic cosmetics that are safe for people with highly sensitive skin. Its goal is to help users reduce their exposure to chemicals while enjoying products that deeply heal and nourish. Its range includes body butters and oils, creams, serums and cold-pressed oils among others. The hard part is know what to try first!

Website: https://www.conscious-skincare.com

Photo by Sam Burriss on Unsplash

5 Tips for Perfect Posture

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back injury, ergonomics, mind body healing, mind-body yoga, posture, spine healing, stand tall, yoga posture, Yoga With Paul

How we carry ourselves in the world, physically, is at the root of how we carry ourselves mentally and emotionally. Posture is a key component of wellness for this reason.

Photo by Jakob Braun on Unsplash

When we stand tall, in our body, we create it as a space where your mind and spirit can be expansive and flexible.

Unfortunately, it isn’t easy to maintain a healthy posture. Hours spent at a computer, on our phones or slouched on the sofa with Netflix undermine our posture. How can we reclaim good bearing for both mind and body?

Here are five ways to stand tall.

Get enough rest

Fatigue weakens the body. When you’re tired, it is much easier to fall into a slump — physically and emotionally. If you consistently struggle to stand up straight, it might be that you’re tired. Your body can be fatigued without you being consciously tired; difficulty maintaining good posture can be a subtle clue that you need to rest.

Use a standing desk or balance ball

Sitting at a desk or, worse, working with laptop on your lap, are quick ways to sabotage your posture. To prevent a slump, try alternating between a standing desk and your usual workspace. If that isn’t possible, swapping your office chair for a balance ball is another option to reactivate your body and improve your posture.

Get your eyes checked

If you are struggling to see clearly, you naturally lean closer to the object you are looking at. So if your eyes are not quite tuned to the screen or book in front of you it is likely you will hunch forward to make reading easier. If you catch yourself craning closer to screens, it is probably time for an eye test.

Take phone breaks

There are endless discussions and studies about the psychological and social ramifications of smartphone over-use but it is also an issue for the physical body. When you’re on your phone, your whole posture and attention is focused around a small object which only allows one kind of tactile interaction. This forces you into repetitive postures and movements repetitive, which can gradually eat away at your flexibility. Taking regular breaks and doing non-screen based activities will keep your body in balance and allow you to reset your posture.

To begin, you can try these 10 things to do without your phone.

Practice yoga

Yoga is the ultimate antidote to bad posture. The breathe opens your body, expanding your lungs, helping you regain the balance in your body. The physical postures work all your muscle groups, strengthening the spine, addressing imbalances that lead to poor posture, and enhancing flexibility. The mental practice clears your head, reduces stress and helps you feel confident in fully inhabiting your body.

All together, it adds up to a powerful tool to help you stand tall, every day.

Read more: 3 spine-healing yoga poses, 4 yoga poses to stand tall

Celebrate Pride Inside 2020

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LGBTQ, online pride events, Pride 2020, Pride events, Pride Inside, Pride London, Yoga With Paul

If you missed the glorious outdoor explosion of music, dancing, love and joy that is Pride Day then you need to check out Pride Inside where Pride events run until 10 July

Image: PrideInside.uk 

In ordinary years Pride is a global celebration and affirmation, with millions of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies fillings streets and squares around the world for a huge, joyous party.

Covid-19 has curtailed or halted many of the traditional gatherings. This creates an emotional, social and spiritual gap as, for many, this is a cherished opportunity to gather and find strength in solidarity.

Pride Inside was created as a way to gather, celebrate and empower the community through, “parties, performances and workshops from a kaleidoscope cast of LGBTI+ activists, performers and artists“.

Events include a master class on writing queer stories; a Bollywood hip-hop party; and
a discussion of love and anger with a queer black Buddhist.

For a full list of events — all free! — visit Pride Inside Events.

Photo by Toni Reed on Unsplash

Four Ways to Treat Your Feet

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foot care, foot health, medical pedicure, yoga feet, yoga foundation, yoga postures, yoga summer, Yoga With Paul

The heat of summer can play havoc on your feet, which in turn upsets the stability of your whole body. Sweat and swelling can lead to blisters, unwise sun exposure can cause painful burns. And when your feet hurt, it is hard to concentrate, much less practice yoga, dance, walk through the park, or do any of the things that make summer so great.

During the dog-days, it is worth taking the time to give feet some TLC. Here are 4 ways to treat your feet.

Photo by Nirzar Pangarkar on Unsplash

Take a cool (foot) bath

Sometimes the old ways are best. A simple foot soak of cool water with epsom salt is incredibly refreshing and helps ease strain. Alternatively, add a generous splash of white vinegar for an invigorating cooling rinse that also helps fight fungus.

Roll your troubles away

Foam rollers are a terrific tool to relieve stress, soothe aching feet and reset your lower body muscles. Relax with a few minutes of foot-rolling after a long day on your feet, or recharge during the day by doing a quick few minutes under your desk at work.

Get a medical pedicure

What’s that exactly? A medical pedicure goes beyond prettying your nails. It involves soaking, scraping away dead skin, massage, moisturising and an exceptional pedicure. It helps combat uncomfortable problems like calluses and ingrown nails, and it gets your feet fabulously beach-ready!

Turn your world upside down

Inversions are a fantastic way to give your feet a break while aligning and energising the rest of your body. Shoulder-stands, head stands, or simply putting your feet up against the wall are all good ways to decompress your lower limbs, invigorate circulation, and give your tootsies much-needed relief from the demands of gravity.

Read more: Yoga for Barefoot Running, 3 Grounding Yoga Poses,

 

 

 

5 Great Last Minute Yoga Gifts

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BKS Iyengar, Dopper, eco yoga mat, Gossipyum, recycled fashion, Sloppy Tunas, TKV Desikachar, yoga books, yoga Christmas, yoga gift ideas, Yoga With Paul

The clock’s ticking! With just a few days left till Christmas you might still want to pick up a few gifts for the yogis in your life. Here are five prime pressies that your loved one can enjoy long into the new year!

Eco Yoga Mat 

Where do yogis spend most of their time? On the mat. Help them get grounded in an ethical, eco-friendly way with an all-natural jute, U.K.-made yoga mat. There are stockists across Britain and Europe, and a limited range available online.

Dopper Reusable Water Bottle

Cutting out disposable plastic bottles is good for you, and essential for the planet. There are lots of options but Dopper is great because the bottle itself is made from recycled plastic, and part of the proceeds of each sale go towards supporting safe water projects.

Sloppy Tunas Swimwear

I’m proud to be an ambassador for these shorts made from 100% recycled ocean plastic. They are great for the beach — and great for the hot yoga studio in the meantime!

Moving in my Tunas!

Gossipyum organic yoga clothing

This British brand offers a wide range of super comfortable tailored yoga gear for men and women. It uses fabrics like organic cotton or beechwood fibre to create stylish, durable, sustainable clothes you can wear in and out of the studio.

Yoga books

Give the gift of wisdom and inspiration with a great yoga book like Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar or The Heart of Yoga by T.K.V. Desikachar.

Click here for more recommendations.

Share your holiday gift tips in the comments!

Massage – the Power of Touch

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emotional healing, flexibility, healing touch, massage, wellness, yoga massage, Yoga With Paul

When we think about taking care of our health diet and exercise are usually the first things that spring to mind. Then, we might think about sleep, or stress, or how much time we spend on social media.

But I bet we don’t think about touch as often as we should.

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

Touch is something that fundamentally affects our well-being. According to the UC Berkeley website Greater Good, “a wave of studies has documented some incredible emotional and physical health benefits that come from touch. This research is suggesting that touch is truly fundamental to human communication, bonding, and health.”

According to the article touch has actual physical benefits, as well as emotional. It calms, soothes, relieves fear, promotes understanding, improves communication and can help us bond with the people around us.

British people are famously not very “touchy” but breaking out of that stereotype is good for you — and for those around you. Imagine how much more pleasant life would be if we were all compassionate, calm, and communicative with each other!

For many of us the primary way we get touch is through contact with loved ones, but the importance means we should consider it part of our self-care practice.

Massage is the ideal way to get more touch into our lives. As you know I’m a big believer in massage — I get it, I do it, and it improves my well-being.

It might seem like a luxury of time and money, but I prefer to think of it as an investment. Our minds and bodies experience a lot of stress. They work hard for us! Taking the time to get a massage relaxes and realigns our systems, allowing us to be our best selves both physically and mentally.

Find out three ways massage can boost your yoga practice. 

3 Reasons to Do a Salt Scrub

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men's grooming, natural grooming, natural health, salt scrubs, skin healing, winter skincare, yoga skincare, Yoga With Paul

Winter means cold weather and indoor heating, a combination which is really hard on our skin. As yogis, we know that “good skin” isn’t merely about vanity. Our skin is a vital organ that protects, detoxifies and helps our body heal.

One thing I rediscovered recently was salt scrubs. This is a totally natural skin care process that has probably been used since time immemorial.

Our bodies are largely comprised of water and it contains about as salty as seawater (hence why our sweat is salty! This means that salt scrubs harmonise with our body’s, making them a gentle way to cleanse and refresh.

Salt — not just for cooking! EPhoto by Jason Tuinstra on Unsplash

Here are three more reasons why salt scrubs are a great winter skin care treatment.

Exfoliation

During the winter your skin is muffled under layers of clothing. Salt scrubs are a way to quickly, easily exfoliate and reinvigorate your skin. It isn’t quite as much fun as going to the beach, scrubbing your limbs with warm sand then plunging in the ocean, but it’s the next best thing.

Circulation

Even if you make it to yoga class (almost) every day chances are you spend more time than usual indoors, sitting or snoozing. The sedentary pace of winter slows down circulation — as does the cold. A firm but gentle self-massage with a salt scrub boosts blood flow and will help warm you up.

Mood elevation

Self-care is one of the best ways to resist the winter blues. Taking an extra few minutes to lavish your skin with a natural salt scrub will lift your spirits and help you feel better. This has a positive physical effect as well, as reducing stress and increasing happiness will support your immune system.

Bonus tip

Make your own salt scrub using a base oil like almond or jojoba, plus a handful of natural sea salt. Add a few drops of essential oil if you like.

Share your top winter skin care tip in the comments!

 

Do You Get Enough Vitamin D?

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natural healing, sunshine yoga, vitamin D, Vitamin D supplements, yoga health, yoga holiday abroad, Yoga With Paul

The short answer is, No. Your body needs sun exposure, specifically UVB rays, to create Vitamin D. London’s climate, needless to say, is not ideal for producing the vitamin.

I’ve been reading up on Vitamin D, because being dark skinned, and living so far north makes it is extremely challenging for me to get the necessary sun exposure.

One way to get Vitamin D!

How big of a problem is this?

A report published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapuetics in 2012 said that 50% of the world’s population is Vitamin D deficient and that this is “a particularly important public health issue because hypovitaminosis D is an independent risk factor for total mortality.”

It went on to say that “emerging research supports the possible role of vitamin D against cancer, heart disease, fractures and falls, autoimmune diseases, influenza, type-2 diabetes, and depression.”

That is not good news. Especially since, climate change notwithstanding, there is no immediate prospect of London enjoying hot, sunny winters.

What can we do?

The Vitamin D council recommends taking a supplement, and using tanning beds to get a UVB boost. It offers clear, sensible guidelines for the latter, suggesting just a few minutes of exposure (slightly more if you are dark skinned, less if very fair).

They have the following chart to help you decide on the best level of supplementation:

Upper limits set by various organizations:

	Vitamin D Council	Endocrine Society	Food and Nutrition Board
Infants	2,000 IU/day	2,000 IU/day	1,000-1,500 IU/day
Children	2,000 IU/day per 25lbs of body weight	4,000 IU/day	2,500-3,000 IU/day
Adults	10,000 IU/day	10,000 IU/day	4,000 IU/day

Vitamin D is fat-soluble, which means your body has a hard time getting rid of it if you take too much. The Vitamin D Council recommends taking no more than the upper limit, meaning do not take anymore than 10,000 IU/day for adults.

While these amounts seem like a lot, keep in mind that your body can produce 10,000 to 25,000 IUs of vitamin D after a little bit of full body sun exposure. Vitamin D toxicity, where vitamin D can be harmful, usually happens if you take 40,000 IU a day for a couple of months or longer.

Considering the important role Vitamin D plays in your overall health, it seems worthwhile to supplement it — at least during the winter. Of course, the other, delightful option is to go on holiday. Think of it as an investment in your health!

If you can recommend a good Vitamin D supplement, please share!

 

 

 

 

Yoga Holiday Wear Sloppy Tunas

Tags

ethical fashion, men's fashion, men's swimwear, men's yoga wear, recycled fashion, Sloppy Tunas, Yoga Holiday With Paul, Yoga With Paul

You know my love of fashion, and sustainability, so you can imagine how thrilled I am to be a brand ambassador for an amazing new men’s swimwear brand: Sloppy Tunas.

In addition to keeping me well-dressed on holiday this week, this young company is doing something incredible: It turns plastic rubbish into super-stylish men’s shorts. Not just any plastic rubbish, though, but trash collected from the Mediterranean Sea. How cool is that?

If, like me, you love the turquoise waters of the Med, it is a fantastic feeling to know your chic beachwear has directly helped make it a cleaner, safer place.

It takes about seven plastic bottles to make each pair of shorts, so the more you own… the more you help clean up the environment!

Here’s how it works:

Our swimsuits are produced with 100% recycled polyester yarn made from plastic picked up from the sea, that’s why it contributes to preserving the environment and reducing pollution in the planet’s water. With a controlled and traceable production process, we recycle the plastic collected, turning it into plastic pellets, and then into high quality thread. The end result is a recycled polyester fabric meeting all quality standards.

To me, this is just brilliant. Our modern lifestyles create so many problems due to waste and over-consumption. It is great to see people turn this around and use technology in a creative way to help the environment and, not incidentally, make some great shorts.

The summer sale is on with a 20% discount on the website — grab your pair!

 

 

How To Sleep Through the Heat

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how to sleep, relaxation, sleep cycles, sleep heat, summer sleep tips, yoga sleep, Yoga With Paul

Hot weather can throw off your sleep cycle. Especially if you’re not used to it, or are dealing with other stresses at the same time. On a hot night, it can be harder to relax, and the familiar comfort of cuddling under your duvet is downright unpleasant. Even if you turn on the A/C the change can affect your rest, cause your sinuses to dry out, etc.

Sleep is absolutely essential, though. Your mind and body need rest to maintain wellness. So it is important to prepare yourself and find ways to sleep through the heat! Here are six ways to get the rest you need.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Take a cool shower

A quick rinse under cool, but not cold water, will help you feel clean, cool and ready for bed. Don’t overdo it though, you don’t want to refresh yourself until  you’re not sleepy!

Use a chilled moisturiser

After your shower, slather on moisturiser that you’ve kept in the fridge. This will bring your skin temperature down even more. Try to use a natural substance like aloe that will add its own healing properties to your body.

Change your sheets

Be sure to sleep on light, 100% cotton sheets. They will help you stay cool and fresh.

Break out the cold water bottle

Fill a hot water bottle 2/3 full and pop it in the freezer for a few hours during the day. Then bring it to bed at night, making sure to keep it covered to protect your skin.

DIY air conditioning

If you don’t have an air conditioner, you can make your own by putting a roasting tin full of ice cubes in front of your fan. The evaporating ice will cool the air, and the fan will distribute it, making your room more comfortable.

Go gadget-free

Electrical devices generate heat. Minimise the amount of electronics you use in your room during the day, if possible, and be sure to switch everything off at night.

Share your best summer sleep tip in the comments!