Amazing Autumn Fashion

If you have scanned the website or popped in store, no doubt you will have been wowed by the new Sweaty Betty collection. As summer finishes and autumn rears it's head, it is always good to have some new clothes to get you excited about the shorter days and colder temperatures. Some of my favourite pieces are the Soft Vest (£42) which is reversable and long enough to wear over leggings. It looks great layered over a yoga bra and can be worn during yoga cool down or dressed up for som funky street style. Another winning piece is the Unwind Pant (£65) in black, chocolate or taupe. A classic Sweaty Betty item that feel as luxourious as they look. Finally, I will stocking up on the gorgoeus cardio cami (£27) to add a touch of neon colour to my workout wardrobe.

As any fashionista knows, mixing a range of pieces, from a range of stores is the key to true style. Whether it be mixing high end with high street or vintage with homemade, a combination of looks brought together gives you individuality and makes you stand out from the crowd. As a big Sweaty Betty fan, my staple daily wardrobe mixes key Sweaty Betty pieces with high street. If this sounds like you then you could be in with a chance of winning £250 of Sweaty Betty Clothes in the new 'Street Style' competition.Just email your pic to streetstyle@sweatybetty.com to be in with a chance of winning and of course, showcasing your fabulous style!

My street style....combining a Sweaty Betty Mantra Vest in Black (£19) with a Reiss skirt, H and M jackets and Morgan clutch bag.

Time to mix things up a bit......! I know many of you have enjoyed my 'Yoga Pose of the Week' and 'Fave Sweaty Betty Item of the Week' and I have lots of lovely messages saying how much it has inspired you to do exercise and improve your health and wellbeing. So, I have decided to replace these blogs with an 'Inspiration of the Week' entry. These weekly entries will be a combination of the previous blog content as well as all things yoga, wellbeing, health and fashion related. The blogs will be designed to inspire you to look and feel the very best you can.

Your first 'Inspiration' instalment is a few Face Yoga exercises. These techniques are designed to tone the jaw lines, get rid of jowls and are very good if you suffer from jaw tension and clenching. Just click the link to go to the homepage of my website, scroll down and click on 'Sample of Face Yoga Training'. www.faceyogatraining.com Listen to this, follow the exercises and use every day. You will notice a huge difference in your face and taking just a minute or two a day to focus on time for you will work wonders for your overall wellbeing. To inspire you further, take a look at my testimonials page and see how other people are enjoying Face Yoga. http://www.faceyogatraining.com/content/view/40/70/

Enjoy your first inspiration...more next week.....

If you are keen to tone up your tummy ready for your summer holidays or looking to strengthen or release a tight or sore back, then take a look at my core workout. Click the link below and you will be led through a programme that takes under 10 minutes and can be done daily. If you take a look below the video on YouTube you can also see videos of me at Kings Rd 125 store and my appearance on The David Dickinson Show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YtLoEyEicE&feature=related

If you haven't heard of Caroline Sandry yet, you soon will. She is a world leading fitness expert who I met at this year's Vitality Show. Caroline counts pop stars and models amongst her wide portfolio of client and brings decade of Pilates experience to make this DVD a top tummy trimming workout.

The exercises bring together classic Pilates moves, with aspects of Yoga and body conditioning. The two main workouts only take half an hour each (with an added bonus stretchband workout out as well) which is perfect to fit in to any busy schedule. The series focuses on toning and strengthening the whole body, particularly the core.

The opening section 'What is Pilates' is an essential must-see. As Caroline explains, many people have had unsuccesful experiences of Pilates and usually this is because the basics have not been explained properly. Just like Caroline says about her clients, through my own practice and teaching of Pilates I have learnt that as soon as you understand the basic points of posture, abdominal control and breathing you will find not only your pilates technique will improve but you will also find everyday actions like sitting, standing and lifting more comfortable and much safer.

If you worry about self motivation when it comes to at home DVD's, all you need to do is take one look at the Sha Wellness Clinic in Spain, which provides the beautiful backdrop to this DVD. This, combined with Carolines' enthusiasm, knowledge and Pilates-perfect body, will inspire you to become a regular Pilates fan in days!

To purchase the DVD go to www.carolinesandry.com

www.daniellecollinstraining.com

After a week on holiday, there is always much to do when you return. Whether it be bills to pay, overtime to catch up on or getting stuck into the housework again, it is easy to lose that relaxed feeling you steppped on the plane with. Remember that the reason you felt so relaxed on holiday was partly because you didn't have the responsibilites of everyday life, but primarily because of changes in your mind. It is important to remember there are ways in which you can transfer that relaxed holiday feeling in to your home and work life. Here are three of my top tips:

1. Take your fave holiday photo and set it as your screen saver, homepage or desktop. That way, every time you put on your computer your mind can be instantly transfered back to how you felt when you were there. In the neuro linguistic programming (NLP) field this technique is called 'anchoring' and it is simply about linking your thoughts to something to bring about certain positive feelings.

2. Wear something brightly coloured. On holiday we tend to go for very different colours to what we would choose at home. This is party to do with the weather but mostly to do with our mood. Every day this week why not try wearing one item which would be a colour you would wear on holiday. Colour therapists use this tip all the time and it is guaranteed to brighten your day.

3. Do something every day which makes you feel as though you are on holiday. Whether this be going to your local pool for a swim, having a large bowl of tropical fruit or going for a stroll by the river or sea. The more you can 'treat' yourself in this way, the more you will feel positive and happy and recreate that holiday feeling.

Shirred Bandeau and Shirred Hipster

I have just come back from an amazing week in Ibiza. It is such a beautiful andl tranquil place and it's renowned as the Yoga capital of Europe. The team at Sweaty Betty know this and go there each year for their fashion shoots. Take a look at the latest Sweaty Betty catologue and you will see how the azure waters and golden sand of Ibiza are the perfect back drop for the SS10 range. One of my favourite holiday bikinis this season is the Shirred Bandeau and Shirred Hipster as the nautical strips are bang on trend and the colours are guaranteed to remind you of waves lapping against the shore, even if you are just wearing it in your garden!

Sitting Boat Pose

The sitting boat pose is a fantastic pose to tone and strengthen the core, build strong muscles in the bottom and legs and improve back alignment and spine strength. It also teaches us stamina and focus. For an easier alternative try with legs bent or make it a moving pose (slowly moving legs up and down with your breathing).

photo by lululemon athletica

What you eat, when you eat and how you eat can all have a huge impact on your stress and energy levels. If you are going through a period of low energy or high stress try following these nutrition guidelines. 

Food that help de-stress
•    Avocados
•    Turkey
•    Bananas
•    Potatoes
•    Cottage Cheese
•    Ginger
•    Vegetables
•    Pumpkin Seeds
•    Lettuce
•    Low fat milk
 
…..these all increase tryptophan levels which produce feel good hormones so can help lift your mood.
•    Whole wheat pasta
•    Quinoa
•    Cous-cous
•    Oats
•    Lentils
•    Brown Rice
 
……are all calming foods and contain many important nutrients including B vitamins for energy.

• Eat more oily fish and seeds which are rich in essential fats which help balance stress hormones

• Stress breaks down protein in the body very quickly so make sure you get good quality protein every day, at least 100grams with each meal.

• Drink calming teas such as chamomile, valerian and peppermint.

• Eat breakfast every day to stop mid-morning energy slumps…good choices are poached eggs, fish, grilled vegetables, porridge, sugar free muesli, puffed rice cereal, fresh fruit, rice cakes with turkey, cottage cheese or sugar free jam, handful of unsalted nuts and seeds.

• Aim to eat a small snack or meal, every 3 hours to prevent blood sugar levels dropping and energy levels lowering.

• Don’t eat when you are stressed as it can affect digestion. Sit down and relax before and during a meal.

• Drink 1.5 litres of water a day to flush out toxins

• Eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables to detox your system and provide vitamins and minerals for the body.

Foods to avoid particularly in times of stress

• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Sugar
• Refined foods
• Artificial sweeteners.

Any further questions feel free to call or email Danielle Collins (qualified nutritionist) on 07890 298915 www.daniellecollinstraining.com