Make this August bank holiday something different and try something new.
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Exercising outside not only provides an uneven terrain for which your body has to work harder to compensate for, but it also gets us out of artificial lighting and under the sun soaking up some much needed mood and health boosting vitamin D (don’t forget to wear an SPF). Walking is a miracle exercise offering a myriad of health benefits: it helps to lower blood pressure and cholesterol as well as helping to control body fat. Plan a fun route that will take you past some nature spots. Websites such as Walking Routes, are great for planning your adventure.
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If it’s the thought of some downtime at home which excites you the most about this coming weekend then how about recreating your very own spa at home? Create the right atmosphere with Diptyque 34 Boulevard Saint Germain Candle [£50] which smells of mosses and blackcurrant leaves. Run a bath and relax in Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Bath Oil [£38 for 250ml], which in our opinion is THE most indulgent bath oil and treat work weary eyes to 10 minutes with Carita Supreme Wrinkle Solution Eye Contour Patch [£45]. They are instantly cooling and reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness. You will look reborn.
A morning spent in the pool probably couldn’t be further away from your normal Monday morning routine in the office. Swimming is one of the few sports that works all muscle groups whilst at the same time improving cardiovascular fitness. But it’s not just about the serious stuff, swimming is a great way to relax, the feeling of weightlessness is calming as well as de-stressing. Find yourself a Lido so you can make the most of the mild August weather. A therapeutic swim under a blue sky is the perfect way to round off your bank holiday weekend.
If you are planning a picnic over the extended break be sure to pack some bits that will feed your skin as well as your tummy. A punnet of cherries contains high levels of antioxidants which are great anti-agers, helping to reverse the damage to skin caused by the sun as well as helping to protect it from further abuse. Likewise, a few cubes of raw chocolate will boost your antioxidant levels as well has provide you with vitamin C and improve alertness and your mood. Wash everything down with Naked Green Machine (available nationwide) which not only tastes like bottled summer but it contains super food ingredients like wheat grass, spinach, broccoli, apples, mango and blue green algae. Yum.
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Inject some life into your gym routine this weekend, don’t just head for the same equipment for the same monotonous routine, instead try out a new class. Take the boredom out of your gym visits with Zumba - It’s the perfect class to go to with a group of friends and despite first impressions you don’t need to be remotely coordinated. It borrows moves from salsa, flamenco and samba dancing with interval and resistance training. Expect a workout for every muscle group and some serious calorie burning. Click here to visit the Virgin Active website. If you want to reap the benefits at home try Zumba Fitness DVD Exercise Kit [£34.99 from Amazon] or Zumba Fitness for Wii [£19.90 from Amazon] or for Xbox 360 [£26.99].
If your idea of August bank holiday is a rare opportunity to indulge in some pampering then the new Aromatherapy Associates English Rose Treatment [£210 for 1hr 50mins] at the Mandarin Oriental is the one for you. It’s the most all-encompassing treatment we’ve tried in a long time. Every part of your body is targeted – from the relaxing foot soak, the rose infused warm poulstice massage (a hot compress with steaming herbs and flowers) to the final facial. Not to mention you can round off your treatment with a dip in the pool. If only all weekends were like this.