...my plans for 2016!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!! 

First of all I would like to apologise for not posting anything on this blog for MONTHS! Lots of things happened towards the end of last year which made my work soar through the roof and unfortunately not leaving me with much spare time =[ 

But that was last year so let's forget about that!

The start of a new year always forces us to think about the things we would like to do differently the following year, what we are going to do to make the next year better than the previous one and a stream of New Years Resolutions that we all know that we aren't going to keep. 

Now, I am no different to everyone else. I have a few plans & goals for what I WILL attempt to achieve in 2016 and I thought I'd share them with you because that's what we do, right? 

Goal 1 - Become a certified Beginners + Intermediate Aerial Hoop Instructor 

I've been doing Aerial Hoop for about a year now and I LOVE it! Since I am already an Aerial Yoga Instructor and I love teaching others, it only makes sense for me to train in this! Also I enjoy flying around and doing cool stuff ;P

Goal 2 - Set up my own business and get it off the ground

This goal actually began in the Summer of 2015 but 2016 will see the launch of my own business aaaaaand my relocation to a completely new location. Extremely exciting but rather scary stuff. However, I do believe that stepping out of your comfort zone every once in a while, is very good for you. 

Goal 3 - Work Out Daily 

Now I know a lot of people will read this and say 'Steph, you already work out daily' because my job as a dancer, yoga instructor etc... is already physical. You are not wrong my friends but I would like to do some work outs for me. Even though I love teaching my classes and they do class as a workout, it's not quite the same as doing a workout for yourself. Any of you who also teach, will know what I'm getting at. 

I'm happy to say that I started this on Boxing day and it's going really well. I downloaded the Sweat with Kayla app after reading about Kayla in the Women's Health magazine. (I won't talk about who Kayla is and what she does but if you want to find out more, click here.) The app contains different workouts for each week and you have a choice of 4 options: Resistance, Liss, Rehabilitation & Rest. During each week you will complete 3 resistance workouts (legs, abs and arms), 3 Liss workouts (walking, cycling etc..), 2 rehabilitation days (stretching and using a foam roller) and 1 rest day.   

The are also some really useful features in the app such as educational information about workouts, nutrition & meal tips, detailed ideas for what to eat each day and a way for you to track you progress. 

I AM LOVING IT!! 

Goal 4 - Gain more skills and learn more

This goal links into goal 1 & 2 but I really want to keep learning new things throughout 2016. I strongly believe that striving to better myself as a teacher/performer/person is really important. I am looking to learn about anything and everything. If you have any ideas for what I could learn about, leave me a comment and I'll definitely check it out. 

I think that's enough to keep me busy in 2016, don't you? 

I'd be really interested in hearing about your plans for 2016 so please do share them with me. 

Big loves x

...Be:Fit London 2015 (03/05/2015)

I got invited by Yasmin from Wild Lotus to attend Be:Fit London with her on Sunday 3rd May. The event was located between Angel and Islington at the Business Design Centre. 

Be:Fit London is the UK's only health and fitness festival that is specifically aimed at women. 

The festival featured a huge range of stalls run by brands such as Nestle Cereals, Cosmopolitan, Dangerous Days Out, Nakd Wholefoods and Teapigs. There was a live cooking station run by Total (greek yoghurt) where various chefs gave out tips for how to make yummy protein filled meals. You could even book into the Reebok Fitness Studio and take part in funky workshops run by House of Voga, Insanity, Boom Cycle and Contemporary Yoga. 

If that wasn't enough already, the second you entered the festival you were greeted by a cheerful staff member and a FREE goodie bag! As Yasmin and I went on the last day, when we were leaving we got asked if we would like another FREE goodie bag! Our arms were already aching but we obviously took another one! 

Here's what we got...

I am buzzing to try everything but don't want to use it all at once. In addition to all of these amazing treats, we were constantly given samples of different products whilst we were at the event. My favourite products that we consumed were the Oats + Chia Banana & Mango, Vanilla Almond Butter and Mint Chocolate Bounce Bars. It's safe to say that I will be buying these in the future, especially as they are all Wheat and Dairy free (for those of you who don't know, I'm intolerant to both).

Also two of the stores gave us some really helpful leaflets/cards. The first was from Push: Mind and Body. This company offers the UK's first ever Re-Bootcamp - sounds amazing, right?! They believe that combining high-intensity exercise, nutrition, coaching and mindfulness will help you to access the tools you need for a better life. Makes sense. 

On the back of their business cards, they printed their Top 10 Tips For Living A Better Life and here they are...

The other company who gave us some handy nutrition tips was Wyldsson. This company focuses on providing clean and healthy food that tastes great. I bought some of their Madagascar Vanilla & Barberry Nut Butter and one of their Organic Persian Mulberry ProMix and they are INCREDIBLE!! If you like that kind of food then you have to give them a try because I promise that you will love their products just as much as me!

Wyldsson's handy tip that they gave us was about the hidden sugars found in food nowadays. I've read a lot about this recently, so I'm guessing people are becoming more aware of this now. Hidden sugars can be found under a list of different names.

Here's that list....

Finally, we both got to have a go on a Powerplate. They are amazingly odd. They work your body super hard but you don't really have to do much except actively engage your muscles. Don't get me wrong, I still felt like I'd had an awesome workout! After working both of our legs, we got to lay down and get a leg massage from the Powerplate. It was fab! 

Why do I not have on of these at home? 

(they are super pricey, that's why)

Anyways, we both had a lovely day and found some new products/companies that we really love. Hopefully, Wild Lotus will be able to have their own stall there next year. *fingers crossed* 

See you there again next year!

Big Loves, 

Steph x