A new study has suggested that gym goers are injuring themselves by pushing too hard over peer pressure to be fitter. A poll of 2,000 Brits has found that adults hit the gym to keep up with friends but in doing so, they treat a simple fitness session as a competition; some push harder to be better than fellow health buffs and others test their boundaries in a bid to impress. The study also found just under two thirds will forget to conduct a proper warm up, cool down and stretch routine during...

Spotify has revealed the top workout music trends for 2018. With the arrival of a new year, listeners will often turn to music to help them achieve their best selves. With more than 25 million workout playlists created by Spotify users, here are the top tracks and trends providing inspiration to kickstart fitness regimes. For the second year in a row, Eminem’s Till I Collapse is the most streamed workout song globally, while another of his hits, Lose Yourself, also reaches the top five. In the...

If you like to keep your workout routine a bit different, then a unique new class in London is for you. Tower Bridge Exhibition, one of London’s most iconic attractions, has launched a brand new season of its sell out ‘Yoga in the Walkways’ classes. Back by popular demand, the sunrise vinyasa-flow yoga classes take place on the world famous attraction’s glass floor walkway, a heart-thumping 138ft above the River Thames. Designed to revitalise, reboot and rebalance, the classes are open to all...

Exercising during the winter can seem far harder than in the warmer months. For a start, getting active outside can be off-putting when it’s cold, and leaving the comfort of your home after a day at work, even if it is to go to the warmth of the gym, can feel a struggle. But there are some simple steps you can take to keep motivated during the winter – and double world champion British rower and personal fitness trainer, Toby Garbett, is here to offer his advice. “As a personal trainer and...

As we head towards the New Year, many people will be thinking of shedding the pounds – but it is important you do it safely. Nutritionist at Lifeplan, Julie Lamble, offers her advice on choosing the right supplement to support your New Year fitness campaign. “Firstly, start with a natural supplement. There are so many effective natural ingredients on the market, you don’t need to rely on pharmaceutical slimming aids or anything that includes unnatural stimulants that will speed up your...

The importance of vitamin D for children during the winter months has been emphasised by a leading nutritionist. With children spending more time indoors than ever before, this is having a negative impact on their health, not least their declining vitamin D levels due to lack of sun exposure. In fact, one study found that 31 per cent of children had below the lowest desirable limit of vitamin D during winter, which could have very real health consequences. Nutritionist Kim Pearson, who...

A new study has revealed the huge effect that infertility has on men. The survey, conducted by national charity Fertility Network UK and researchers at Leeds Beckett University, was relased to tie in with the recent National Fertility Awareness Week and saw men call for a shift from infertility being seen as a ‘women’s issue’ within society and vastly improved support for men, in particular online. The majority of respondents had direct experience of male factor infertility; 51 per cent male...

The festive season is approaching, and what better gift than a natural beauty box. Modern Botanicals are the new Christmas gifts from Green People, a unique collection drawing inspiration from nature, and boasting certified organic ingredients to stimulate, nourish and balance both body and mind. Sets include Forest & Fruit, comprising Cypress & Tangerine Shower Gel and Body Lotion, and Tree & Seed, made up of Men’s Energising Shower Gel and Cooling Moisturiser. As an added benefit, a donation...

Fluctuating hormones can play havoc with our skin, but there are some wonderfully balancing natural products to help. One we love is Saaf Pure Face Cleanser and Exfoliating Cloth, which is a luxuriously purifying, balancing and soothing face cleanser suitable for all types. Gently removing impurities and make-up, whilst exfoliating, rejuvenating and moisturising the skin, this cleanser contains jojoba oil, which melts away make-up, while softening, protecting and leaving skin feeling...

Running is wonderful for our health, fitness and wellbeing but as we hit the colder weather, you need to consider if your kit is up to scratch. Running can cause injuries if you don't look after your body properly, especially in the colder weather. So, what do you need to know? “During the winter months, our extremities, such as our feet, tend to suffer the most from the cold. It’s really important to keep your feet well insulated during this time. Unfortunately, woolly socks may keep our feet...

We so often are told of the benefits of being outdoors, and now a new study has confirmed the power of nature on mental health. The Wildlife Trusts has published a new report, carried out by the University of Essex, which examines the effects of volunteering in nature on people’s mental health. It found that 95 per cent of participants who were identified as having poor levels of mental health at the start reported an improvement in six weeks, which increased further over 12 weeks. The mental...

Next year, we are set to discover the wonderful health benefits of the spice, saffron. That’s according to Viridian Nutrition, which has unveiled it as its Spice of the Year 2018. Experts at Viridian Nutrition have forecast the vibrant-red spice, known for being more expensive than gold, to be significant in the world of health in the year ahead. Saffron, which comes from the stigmas of the delicate Crocus sativus flower, has a long history in traditional healing and as a culinary spice. In...

Anxiety is considered one of the most common mental health problems in the UK, and good nutrition and lifestyle can play a big part in alleviating symptoms. A range of experts offer their advice when it comes to living with anxiety, including Dr Marilyn Glenville, who explained that, believe it or not, there is truth to the phrase ‘laughter is the best medicine’. Dr Glenville explained: “Having a laugh is one of the best remedies for stress – it triggers healthy changes in our body. Many...

Circle Retreats is a new wellbeing sanctuary designed to support healthy mind and body. The retreats, held in the UK, Spain and Ibiza, harness the power of human creativity to help people reach their full potential and have been developed by co-founders, Gabriel Marshall and Krysia Howard, whose background in therapeutic arts led them to create a platform that merges creative process with body-led practices, such as yoga and massage, with meditation bridging between the two. Circle Retreats...

A course is offering training in three yoga disciplines in one. Birthlight On Tour was created by well-known UK based yoga providers, Birthlight, with a dedicated five-day course, which moves through the various stages of pregnancy, birth and the postnatal year, with specialised moves for news mums and their babies.   The gentle yet powerful techniques have helped women all over the world optimise their bonding with their babies and can easily be integrated into existing practices and daily...

October is Vitamin D Awareness Week – a time for you to think about if you’re getting enough. This year, the organisers are challenging the public to face their vitamin D-emons by becoming vitamin D aware. Vitamin D Awareness Week (October 23-29) highlights the symptoms of deficiency which is estimated to affect 10 million people in the UK and how to effectively supplement to be a better you. For more information visit, www.vitamindawarenessweek.co.uk/

Chocolate and peanuts are among a range of foods which could trigger eczema, according to a nutritionist. Dora Walsh, a London-based Nutritionist Resource member, has shared her top tips on which foods can help you avoid the condition as part of National Eczema Week, which was held recently. Dora believes the right diet is crucial to alleviating eczema, and says it is time to ditch the mittens and that creams may not necessarily be the answer to the ordeal of eczema. Foods to reduce eczema...

The Christmas season may be drawing closer, but don’t forget that there are some health woes to be aware of. According to allergy expert, Max Wiseberg, house fever could be as big as hay fever as the wintry weather settles in, and increasing numbers of colds make an appearance. Max explains that cold germs aren’t always the culprit for colds; it could be that you’re actually allergic to your own house! This is because as many as 12 million of us could suffer with a condition he terms ‘house...