Balance March 2019

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Bros The brother of all comebacks

MARCH 2019

ISSUE 34 BALANCE.MEDIA

CONTENTS

Welcome

RE G U LA R S

Reinvention, rejuvenation and revitalisation. We have all three covered this month, so who better to grace our cover than Bros, who, whether together or apart, have weathered the stormy highs and lows of stardom? Now back, and fighting to live another day thanks to that iconic documentary, Matt and Luke know a thing or two about making an impactful return.

Regardless of whether or not you lead your life in the public eye, each of us is on our own hero’s journey. And, like every protagonist, the road is routinely paved with conflict, challenges and temptation.

Resilience, often cited as the most important of personal qualities, is sometimes just on the other side of a good night’s sleep. So, I urge you this: when you’re on the brink of giving up and you feel tired, learn to rest, not to quit. Time out and rejuvenation allows you to come back better than you were before. And what better way of kicking back than by listening to our new podcast!

With the great Ricky Gervais as our first guest, we hope you enjoy.

Sophie Scott Editor editor@balance.media

WO RK / L IFE 18 THE RISE AND FALL AND RISE OF BROS

SLEEP SPECIAL 23 EIGHT PAGES PACKED WITH TOP Z-LIST CONTENT

BO DY/SOU L

34 WOULD YOU HACK YOUR OWN BODY?

FO OD

40 ISAAC CAREW SHOWS YOU HIS DIRTY DISHES 47 LEARN TO LIVE CHEMICAL-FREE

TRAV EL balance.media

@balanceLDN

@balanceldn

48 MELISSA HEMSLEY’S TALES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM (SPA)

A RTS/ C U LTU RE

THE BALANCE EQUATION COVER LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR’S PHOTOGRAPHY IAKOVOS KALAITZAKIS

7 GOOD NEWS 9 SIX STEPS TO RENEWAL 10 HOW SHOULD YOU SPEND YOU WEEKEND? 62 MASTERCLASS: BE A MORNING PERSON

53 TARAJI P HENSON WANTS YOU TO LOVE TO HATE HER

BEAU TY BE PRESENT

GAIN INSIGHT

LAUGH

FEAR

LIVE WELL

EDITORIAL

TRADING

Editorial Director Rashmi Madan

Editor Sophie Scott

Commercial Director Minal Bhima

Head of Finance Kate Lyon

Deputy Editor James Gill

Advertising Paul Brett, Nick Canane, Stefanie Daniels, Lindi De Souza, Jeremy Saunders, Anda Vlasaku

Licensing Jonathan Marks

Creative Partnerships Rashad Braimah

Publisher/Managing Director Daniel Cuby

CIRCULATION AND DISTRIBUTION Magazine Heroes circulation@balance.media

Balance Publishing Ltd Unit 2.08 60 Grays Inn Road London WC1X 8AQ

Production Editor Jonathan Sever Creative Director Kate Monument Art Director Victoria Ireland Deputy Art Editor Jade Cooper-Collins Production Director Dahlia Cuby Editorial Assistant Libby Williams Website & Social Media Manager Georgia Shepheard

BALANCE PUBLISHING LTD

Digital Creative Producer Henry Mame

Executive Editor Morgan Rees

PA to Publisher/Managing Director Filippa Woolf

www.balance.media

March 2019 BA LA N CE. M ED IA

59 IT’S A SOAP BAR BRAWL 61 BODY OILS ARE THE SAVIOURS OF SKIN

BA LA NC E Balance Copyright of editorial contents are held by Balance Publishing Ltd. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. Reproduction in whole or part is forbidden except with the express permission of the publisher. It is not the intention to print any matter that discriminates on the grounds of race, sex,sexuality or disability. All details, and prices, are correct at the time of going to press. The Balance equation is a device and not mathematically correct.

5

March

GOOD NEWS

Twitter “Loving the content of @BalanceLDN” @andyluvv

Instagram “One of the best things about commuting is @balanceldn.

Grateful to past me for stockpiling these in my desk drawer” @wellnessmp

Prepare for a spring clean of the soul with the positive developments making us all smile

Society

Politics

EQUALITY STREET

A NEW HOPE

WORDS JAMES GILL IMAGES SHUTTERSTOCK

At a time when British politics has seldom seemed so divisive, the new Independent Group feels like a breath of fresh air.

“This is a reaction against the extreme elements of British politics,” explains Matt Forde, political expert, comedian and ex- government adviser.

“Plus it gives hope to anyone being bullied in the workplace. You don’t have to take it; you can leave.”

Education LOVE LESSONS Sex education is getting a much-needed upgrade, with pupils set to be taught about relationships at primary and relationships and sex at secondary school. “Positive relationships are connected with good mental health, so it’s appropriate to make health education universal,” says Secretary of State for Education Damian Hinds.

Environment FABRIC OF SOCIETY British fashion has been told to up its game in order to help both the environment and underpaid workers.

‘Fast fashion’ remains a problem, with the consumption of new clothing in the UK at 26.7kg per person, the highest in Europe. Now the Environmental Audit Committee, made up of cross-party MPs, has joined forces to take positive action. “Our insatiable appetite for clothes comes with a huge social and environmental price: carbon emissions, water use, chemical and plastic pollution are all destroying our environment,” says Labour’s Mary Creagh, committee chairwoman.

“Consumers must play their part by buying less, mending, renting and sharing more.”

Divorce rates in the UK are declining. Yes, Balance’s reaction was also a knee-jerk, “Really?”, before composing ourselves with a much more socially acceptable, “Yes, great news.” They are now the lowest they’ve been since the 1970s and equal rights is playing a key part. Home lives are more harmonious as men carry out domestic duties and spend time with the children, while more mothers pursue a career.

Podcast BALANCED CHAT Is shameless self-promotion ‘good news’? We think so, because Balance has launched a podcast.

Available from the usual places, we kick off with Ricky Gervais, who talks life, love, loss, anger and hope, themes covered in new Netflix dramedy, After Life. Email podcast@balance.media with your feedback.

March 2019 BA LA N CE. M ED I A

Nature IN THE LOOP What would be good to teach your child? How to play a sport? Master a musical instrument?

Good manners? Forget that idealistic guff; let them learn Mandarin, such is China’s increasing grip on the world.

However, the global superpower is also a force for good because alongside similarly densely-populated India, China is turning the world greener by planting trees. Research from NASA shows the green leaf area of the world has increased by five per cent since the turn of the millennium, with China and India jointly responsible for a third of that. “In the ’70s and ’80s, the situation around vegetation loss wasn’t good,” says Rama Nemani of the Ames Research Center. “In the ’90s people realised it, and things have improved.”

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YO U R E S S E N T I A L H A N D B O O K

the manua l

The user guide

rebalance

“To be truly happy, you need to feel pleasure and purpose. You may require each to different degrees at different times, but you need to feel both” Paul Dolan, Happiness

by Design

SIX STEPS TO A RENEWED YOU

WAKE UP, BOO PHILIPS SOMNEO WAKE-UP LIGHT

FOCUS, PEOPLE MUSE 2 This multi-sensor meditation device feels like science fiction, but we can assure you it’s very real.

You wear the headband, sync with the free app and pop in a pair of earphones and, finally, master the art of meditation. £239, choosemuse.com/muse-2

A bedside gem designed to make you feel renewed, helping you relax at night, before waking up refreshed.

Light-guided breathing settings aid slumber, while morning light cycles from soft red to soothing orange before ending on bright yellow. £189, philips.co.uk

COMPILED BY JAMES GILL ILLUSTRATION ALICE BOWSHER

WALKING CURE GO JAUNTLY Boasting more than 700 walks, this app will have you strolling on a weekly basis.

Indeed, make it a Sunday ritual in order to feel renewed for the week ahead.

With mindful walking one of the wellness trends for 2019, this app is a godsend. Free, gojauntly.com

Be Kind

AND SHARE GREAT STORIES SPRING FORWARD HAPPINESS

BY DESIGN OK, this isn’t a new book, but it’s a read Balance has revisited with the sole intention of feeling renewed. Paul Dolan’s tome will put a spring back into any flagging step, finding the sweet spot of pop science too; it never feels too stodgy, nor overtly “self help”, either. £24.99, audible.co.uk

FACE THE FACTS DR BOTANICALS HEMP RANGE

HOME COMFORT URBAN Picture the scene: mind, body and soul are pleading for a massage to feel renewed, but you’re too busy to take time out of your hectic life to go for one. Urban sends a masseur to your house to knead those knots out of your back and, indeed, life. A spa break can cost loads: this is from £59 for an hour. urban.co

Breathe fresh life into a, quite frankly, knackeredlooking visage with Dr Botanicals’ hemp-based products. The facial oil hydrates, nourishes and balances dehydrated skin to make for a look that screams renewal. drbotanicals.com

March 2019 BA LA N CE. M ED I A

9 Rebalance March.indd 9

by BERNADETTE RUSSELL

M

arch plays host to International Women’s Day, a great time to consider the amazing achievements of females all around the world. My favourite thing to do to mark the occasion is to remind myself of all the women who inspire me.

Think about where you want to head in your life and career and learn about those who have walked that path before you. Find out how they got there, what they used to do it, how they gained strength and courage and listen to their words of wisdom. I’ve made a collage of all the women who inspire me, using images and words; it’s a great thing to have in your “self care tool kit”.

However, we shouldn’t limit ourselves to celebrating women on a single day each year. Whether it’s a celebrity, your best friend or a relative, when you hear an inspirational story from a fellow female, tell others and share it.

Everyone knows an incredible woman, and these stories need to be heard. Let’s be kind and do this!

The Little Book of Wonder

by Bernadette Russell (£7.99, Orion Spring) is out now

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20/03/2019 15:00

N AV I G AT I O N S L U G

th e ma nua l

The

st

ta k e

the te

QUIZ

how should you spend your weekend?

We’re here to help you decide how to spend your precious “me time”

photography by WIL L IR EL AND

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A b c D E

4. On Monday mornings, you feel…

Energised Positive So, so Tired, but functional Exhausted

2. How much time do you spend a day on self-care in the week?

3 hours 2 hours 1 hour 30 mins Less than 30 mins

A b c D E

5. But on Friday evenings, you feel...

Excited Invigorated Relaxed Relieved Frazzled

3. Which of the following would you rather do?

Cook a new dish Take a HIIT class Meet up with friends Binge watch your favourite box set Take a nap

6. How much time do you spend with your family and friends?

I see someone nearly every day I spend most weekends with them I would like to see more of them Every now and again Almost none

A b c D E

A b c D E A b c D E

A b c D E

BA LA N CE. M ED I A March March 2019 2019

7. How often do you exercise?

Every day 4-6 times a week 2-3 times a week Once a week Never

A b c D E

8. When was the last time you practised your hobby?

Most days A couple of times a week Every now and again Very rarely What’s a hobby?

A b c D E

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compiled by L IBBY WIL LIAM S

1. How many hours per week do you work?

30 or less 30+ 40+ 50+ 60+

9. When was the last time you had a day off work?

Just last week About a month ago I have some time Now tally up your totals off coming up and check the page opposite to see how your It’s been months weekend will pan out…

I can’t remember

A b c D E

IO SLU ENXAV T RIAGCAT UR RN ICU AG R

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A B C D

LEARN A NEW SKILL

SWEAT IT OUT

You’re pretty content with life at the moment and are maintaining a good balance, so this is the perfect time to try learning a new skill. There are new and interesting classes available all over London, like terrarium making, sewing, upcycling, life drawing… the list goes on.

Get those endorphins flowing and boost your energy with a highintensity weekend workout, and a hot yoga, HIIT or spin session will do just the trick. If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, give something like kayaking or rock climbing a go, or even a new team sport?

Try...

RESULTS

Sign up to grasp the basics of fermentation, learn how to make kimchi and use dairy in fermentation, and brew water kefir with Something London’s two-hour course.

You’ll depart with knowledge and some kimchi and kefir grains to test your new-found skills at home.

Beginners’ Fermentation Workshop, Saturday 30 March, 2.30pm-4.30pm, £33.10, somethinglondon.co.uk

The

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STAY IN AND SELF-CARE Exhausted, overworked and run down? You’re in need of some serious self-care and TLC. Sometimes, the best thing to do is get home, close

Try...

Rabble transforms various HIIT workouts into one immersive game containing elements of British Bulldog, Capture the Flag, Dodgeball, Frisbee and many more. Not only do the sessions work to improve your fitness, they are also a great place to socialise and (potentially) meet new people.

From £12 per session, joinrabble.com

the curtains, put on your favourite box set and binge watch your way through the weekend. However, a little bit of self-care goes a long way. In between episodes, run a hot bath with your favourite salts or oil, take in a chapter of an easy-read or call a friend for a catch up. Going back to basics and simply just taking some time for yourself can be surprisingly refreshing.

s

THE ONE WITH FRIENDS

Take the time to make plans with friends or family. Whether you just meet for a coffee or plan a full day together, socialising with those close to you can improve low mood and even strengthen your immune system.

Try...

Located on the Grand Union Canal, at Daisy Green’s Bottomless Brunch Party, you’ll enjoy Aussie avocado, egg and granola dishes galore with your nearest and dearest all from the comfort of an eccentric canal boat designed by British pop artist, Sir Peter Blake. You don’t even need to book, with 50 per cent of the venue reserved for ad hoc walk ins… £39.50 per person, daisygreenfood.com

Try...

Just like a cup of tea, a hot bath can fix a lot of problems. A generous glug of your pet potion will provide relief for aching muscles, calm the mind and detox the skin. Breathe deeply allowing worries to slip away.

Magic Organic Apothecary Fortifying Green Bath Potion, £30 for 100ml, moa.co.uk

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ESCAPE THE CITY You’re pretty tired, need a change of scenery, and something to take your mind off your “todo” list. Whether you head down to Brighton for a weekend of beach combing and vintage shopping, or hop over to Paris for coffee, a new environment can help relieve the stresses and anxieties of city life, allowing you to find some much needed headspace.

Try...

The Artist Residence in Penzance, on Cornwall’s Wild West coast, is full of seaside charm and the perfect place to escape the noise of the city.

Wander through the lanes, stroll along the beach and enjoy the seafood on offer at the plentiful local pubs, restaurants and bars to record a soul replenishing weekend of pure bliss.

Artist Residence Cornwall, from £110 per night artistresidence.co.uk

15%

*SOURCE TAKELESSONS.COM

s

Increase in the efficiency levels of employees who are also regular exercisers*

DISCOVER MUCH MORE WEEKEND INSPIRATION AT balance.media

March March 2019 2019 BA BALA LAN NCE. CE.M MED EDIIA A

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S M A RT M OV E S

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N AV I G AT I O N S L U G

Tomorrow's world

hotwire

Uncovering the latest gains in the world of fitness to make your workout that little bit more effective NEWSFLASH

ORANGE JUICE OrangeTheory puts the onus on togetherness over selfies.

According to creator Ellen Latham, the group workouts encourage participants to stay in the “orange zone” for just 12 out of the 60-minute sessions to “metabolically charge the body”. 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Matt Dawson (left), who has utilised OrangeTheory to aid his return from Lyme disease, tells us: “Hopefully, people will be able to get past the stigma of going to the gym, as they’re surrounded by likeminded enthusiasts.” orangetheoryfitness.com

Solo spinning can be, frankly, dreary.

So thank goodness for these durable, military-standard shock compliant HDJ-X5BT headphones from Pioneer DJ. They’re wireless, which means you can add a podcast to any pedalling without fear of getting tangled in wires. They’re also perfect for a guided meditation on the commute home. £139, pioneerdj.com

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Can any more things become “smart”?

We’ve got phones, TVs and even fridges, and the latest?

Kettlebells. JaxJox has launched Kettlebell Connect, which syncs to your phone for bespoke workouts.

Motion sensors track movement, with reps, sets and times all recorded and, most ingeniously, you can change the weight thanks to an internal stacking system which saves time and space. £329.99, jaxjox.co.uk

Timely boost German sports giant adidas has worked with thousands of runners to create the Ultra Boost 19, a super-lightweight and flexible performance shoe which offers optimal bounce. Could be a contender if you’re doing a marathon. £159.95, adidas.co.uk

An appy month Apps can do anything. Take red-hot Moody Month, which syncs with your mood and cycle and suggests whether you should power up or take it easy. You’ll get a personalised daily feed packed with tips, activities and food suggestions to help you maximise a work out. And fellas? If you’ve read this far, you’ll know this ain’t for you… moodymonth.com

BABA LALA N CE. N CE M ED November I A March 2018 2019

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SU PER STA R DJ

Get the kettle on

WAV E LILG, AT WE L LN, S WLEULGL N IO

th thee ma manua nua l

The

WELLNESS wellbeing's popularity is positively booming index

Goat milk soap

Sleep optimisation

PARKING FINE

Pinterest’s mostsearched wellness trends for 2019

London is set to become the world’s first National Park City in July 2019, a movement to improve life in London by encouraging residents to enjoy the great outdoors more and make the city greener, healthier and wilder

The global wellness economy is now worth

it is estimated The health supplements market will be worth $283.75bn by 2023 Beeswax wraps

Ginger oil

Sober living

In 2017, demand for vegetarian options in the UK rose by 987 per cent

In June 2018, online healthcare site Headspace passed 1m subscribers

IN 2018, UK LONDONERS SPENT AN AVERAGE OF £ 348 PER MONTH ON WELLBEING PRODUCTS

About 20 per cent of domestic rubbish is food waste. Where home composting is not possible, InSinkErator food waste disposers can divert this from landfill and help prevent harmful greenhouse gases

The Hemp Business Journal reports the market for hemp-derived CBD was worth approximately $190m in 2017, and will grow to $646m by 2022

$4.2

TRILLION

Plant higher

Profits in the plant-based milk industry are expected to rise to $400m by 2021

Cup of cheer KeepCup estimates their global users avoid filling over five million disposable cups every day

8 average number of hours Brits spend on' me time' per week

82 %

RISE IN TREADMILL CL ASSES WITNESSED BY MONTHLY SUBSCRIP TION SERVICE CL ASSPASS IN 2018, COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR

The concept of ‘wellness’ can be traced as far back as 3,000-1,500 BC. At this time, Ayurveda was practised by many with the goal of maintaining balance to prevent illness

A year after the 5p plastic bag charge, the Marine Conservation Society recorded a drop of 37 per cent in bags on british beaches

BA LA N CE. M ED I A March 2019

COMPILED BY LIBBY WILLIAMS. SOURCES GLOBALWELLNESSINSTITUTE.ORG, COVERMAGAZINE.CO.UK, HEALTHMATTERS.ORG.UK, HEADSPACE.COM, ELLE.COM, PINTREST, MARKETWATCH.COM, PLANTBASEDNEWS.ORG, INC.COM, UK.KEEPCUP.COM, VERDICT.CO.UK, /INSINKERATOR.EMERSON.COM, NATIONALPARKCITY.LONDON

FUTURE CLASSICS

“ I’M ALWAYS TALKING

ANALOGIE Matt and Luke Goss found fame and fortune as Bros in the 80s, before everything fell apart. Now they’re back to talk grief, sibling rivalry and the brother of all comebacks…

words JAM E S G ILL

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L

et us immediately put our cards on the table. This time last year, Bros on the cover of Balance would never have been considered. Yes, When Will I Be Famous? is a sugary slice of pop perfection, as is Drop The Boy. And you can’t beat I Owe You Nothing… Enough. That was 30 years ago. Come on, guys.

Then, something happened. A BBC documentary was released towards the end of 2018 and chronicled the return of Lewishamborn, US-based twins Matt and Luke Goss as they prepared for comeback shows at London’s O2 Arena. We couldn’t get enough.

Bros were, once again, a phenomenon, and people were talking.

After The Screaming Stops has been hailed as the greatest music documentary of all time; the tale of the toxic, yet, ultimately utterly endearing, pop twins became a smash hit and reminded the world these guys were huge. No1 hits, sell-out shows, screaming female fans, tabloid press monitoring their every move... If Take That are enduring the marathon, the blondhaired, blue-eyed south Londoners enjoyed one heck of a sprint.

And now, aged 50, with the sort of return that would cause even Lazarus to stand and applaud, Bros are back, baby! They play Brixton in July, with the gig paving the way for bigger shows around the world, plus there’s new material looming. Not bad off the back of a single 90-minute documentary, right?

Luke, the drummer, likens its impact to taking a ‘magic pill’.

“Matt and I have always been artistic individuals and often said, ‘Is there such a thing that will make this easier?’ The

BA LA N CE. M ED I A March 2019

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documentary made people say, ‘F*ck this, I’m making up my own mind. I’m done hating these boys.’ This is the first trip [back to the UK] in 30-plus years that has been entirely positive, friendly, supportive and enthusiastic. Frankly, I didn’t think it was possible. But, f*ck me, here we are. I’m very grateful.”

Singer Matt is equally positive. “The movie shows we are compassionate people, but also passionate people; we care about what we do and how we treat others.”

And that’s part of the appeal: passion. The Goss boys positively fizz with the stuff. Indeed, having spent a good while chatting with both chaps across a couple of days, Balance would say Matt is the heart, and Luke is the head. Each word that passes Matt’s lips is drenched with emotion. He’s sensitive, putting it all out there, laying it on the line. Luke, on the other hand, is more grounded, measured and considered; the thoughtful Spock to Matt’s impassioned Kirk. And still, both crackle with energy, positivity and enthusiasm.

Matt and Luke Goss have pushed sibling rivalry to one side

TOGETHER FOREVER? Take the passing of their beloved mother, Carol, in 2014. This is the woman who maintained a steady hand on the tiller as the boys negotiated impossible levels of fame in the late 1980s, who made cups of tea for fans who’d camped outside their house and who, adds Luke, was the embodiment of “civility, manners, politeness, kindness, compassion. If there was somebody who wasn’t polite, they would be reprimanded very clearly in a kind of guidance.”

Luke sought to process the grief by pursuing meditation and headed for the Mojave Desert with little more than a tent. Across four days and nights in 2018, the solo trip proved an expedition of body, mind and soul, and resulted in a book, Desert Conversation.

“It was a cathartic exorcism of pain.”

On the other hand, Matt’s pain still feels raw. “What I learned from the loss of my mum is that I feel more like a son now, more than ever. I wrote a song recently called Grace Under Pressure and I think the way you behave under pressure is very telling. A ‘good morning’, ‘please’, ‘thank you’ and ‘goodnight’ goes a long way with me. I feel that sometimes Luke and I have looked each other square in the eyes and are at our best together. We are unbreakable, but we can hurt.”

That hurt was plain for all to see in ATSS as years of simmering resentment boiled over. After all, their 1992 split was acrimonious: Luke walked out and would successfully pursue an acting career in Hollywood. Matt became a singing sensation in Las Vegas. One key moment sees Matt enter a rehearsal space, only for Luke to struggle to make eye contact from behind his drum kit, such is the seething toxicity. It was akin to watching two north magnetic poles being pushed together.

“To do 170 shows last year and to come to the UK to do two (shows), enter a room with no opinion, and feel guilty about having any opinion, was challenging,” admits Matt. “I felt like I had to continuously apologise and I really did want to make it

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PHOTOGRAPHY LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT

LUKE IS THE THOUGHTFUL SPOCK TO MATT’S IMPASSIONED KIRK

BA LA N CE. M ED I A March 2019

BROTHERS IN ARMS

THE BROS GUIDE TO SURVIVING LIFE

work, but I didn’t want to suddenly go ‘Oh, I want to do this.’ You have to be allowed to be able to say that I may know more about the industry or performing at the moment. It was challenging because I could see a clearer path for the end game.

“But to finally get to a point where we could make it to the venue and actually, really have genuine love for each other was more than rewarding, it was a relief. I felt like we’d walked through a minefield and I had to check on all my parts to make sure I was still intact... I’m talking in analogies again!”

DOCUMENTING THE FUTURE STAYING YOUNG Matt “I’ve never done drugs.

I’ve never even had a cigarette. I drink copious amounts of water and live in a state of wonderment. If you do the spiritual maths and live in a place of wonderment, it’s likely life will treat you better”

MEDITATION Luke “A friend of mine had a dream about my mother where she said, ‘You must meditate, you must meditate.

Tell him to meditate’. It hit me very hard, so I applied myself very passionately towards meditation”

“THE GREATEST MUSIC DOC EVER” Matt “There’s no better quote than that. When those words hit your eyeballs, it actually takes a second for the brain to process it. To know it’s had such a cultural impact makes me so grateful”

HEALING SIBLINGS Luke “We all have our ups and downs, but who would have thought that a simple music documentary would be the thing to heal rifts?

It’s another reason to be thankful, I guess”

This is where you want to throw your arms around Matt. He knows all about “Matt-aphors”, the now-famous quotes from the documentary that launched a million memes. Yet he also knows how to hit the bullseye. During one chat about the thought of a higher power, he says, “If we were less focused on religion, and more on faith, we’d have fewer problems.” Amen to that.

As a fellow lover of a good, rambling metaphor, I empathise.

“Language is meant to be colourful and talking via analogies is a more beautiful and enjoyable way of speaking,” he says. “I love descriptive language.” He’s currently applying such colour to an upcoming musical adaptation of Upstairs, Downstairs. Take that.

And that’s not all Matt’s working on. Bros fans can rejoice, as the boys have started laying down new tracks, and will also rerecord seminal 1988 debut Push as a thank you to the fans. “We are obviously going to do a new album, and we want to close a chapter by re-recording the way we would now, plug in and play, live-live-live, crunchier versions of the originals,” Luke admits.

“Not re-vamped, but played hard. That support we had is the reason things are going so bloody well – sonically and phonically.

Let’s give the fans something they can still enjoy, and another album of entirely original material. I’m so excited.”

Before we go, there’s one crucial thing you must know: Bros made this comeback happen themselves. Or, specifically, Luke’s wife did.

Shirley proactively reached out to Fulwell73 (the red-hot production company part-owned by James Corden) to flag the boys’ comeback.

It’s the sort of shrewd decision that puts the business into show business. They know exactly what they’re doing.

“Shirley made a call and said, ‘Why don’t we document this?’,” explains Luke. “They made it clear very quickly they wanted to document our lifestyles and bring everything back together.

I could smell the integrity. This was the right company, who ended up making the right film, so credit to her. Shirley got the deal done and we’ve all become family now, we’re great friends.”

Balance is now spoiling you with an extra nugget of good news: it looks like Matt could be swapping Vegas for London for good.

“There’s something about being in London, walking in St James’s Park, being in the sun, hopping in a black cab. There’s something really glorious my mind, body and heart craves. It feels really good to me. I love having my boots on the ground in London.”

And London will love having the Goss boys back. When will you be famous? Forever and ever. B Bros perform at the O2 Academy Brixton on Friday 5 July. Tickets are available at LiveNation.co.uk

WANT MORE CELEBRITY INSIGHT? HEAD OVER TO balance.media

March 2019 BA LA N CE. M ED I A

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The

OUR G OOD SNOO ZE GUID E

sleep special

Your complete guide to navigating the perils of dreamland 24

30 Retreats to rest and reset

Your sleep style analysed

24 Wake up to what’s keeping you up

30 Digitised dozing: 2019’s top trends

25 Unlock the secrets in your head

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29

Hope Bastion’s positional sense

Foods to put you on the Zzz list

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Construct your perfect wind-down

Nightime wind-down workouts

27 28

Create your den of Zen

Rooms with a view (to dozing)

26 Overnight beauty: products to help you kip

March 2019 BA LA N CE. M ED I A

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1AM

BR AIN The brain takes time to switch off, so staring directly into a bright light in the guise of a smartphone isn’t a great idea last thing at night. That said, we are huge advocates of autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR), so just keep the screen face down as you listen to soothing whispers

Why are you waking up at night?

Sleeping straight through without interruption feels like such a rare occurrence, it can feel like it merits telling someone as soon as you get into the office.

After all, the reasons to wake up are many.

We try to help you navigate a smooth passage through night until morning…

DANGER

2AM

ANXIE T Y The adage of “you must have something on your mind” is actually true, and anxiety can manifest itself in all sorts of ways, including night sweats. Try cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or meditation

MONEY

SEX 6AM

NOISE If you’re a light sleeper, all it takes is morning birdsong and you’re up with the, well, birds.

Earbuds might feel archaic, but they are great to bud-dy up with

PERIL

3AM

BLOOD SUG AR This reason for waking up is invariably eight hours after your last meal, so your body thinks it’s hungry and craves new fuel. It’s why slow-burning food is recommended as part of an evening meal

5AM

C AFFEINE It was once felt you shouldn’t drink coffee six hours before bed, but we’d actually suggest not having one 12 hours before. Yes, really. Twelve long, caffeine-free hours.

You’ll thank us. One day…

4AM

NOC T URIA It’s a scientific way of saying you need to wee in the night. The most common cause is excessive drinking late into the small hours, so try not to drink two hours before bedtime. Granted, it might not make you a hit in the pub

THE MAGIC POSITION: SLEEPING STYLES EXPLAINED Stand to attention

Legs extended, arms by your sides. Despite the “guarded” pose, log sleepers are often open and sociable

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Starfish

A sleeping style that seems to scream selfish, given the amount of pure bedhogging. However, it really means you’re an excellent listener

Hugger

No, you’re not cuddling a special someone; rather, your pillow. That hug invariably means you’re the affectionate type

BA LA N CE. M ED I A March 2019

Foetal

People who sleep like a baby tend to wet the bed and wake up crying.

Of course we jest, although they can be surprisingly shy

Free-fall

A bit like an ace skydiver, you’re face down, arms hugging your pillow, head to the side. You’re likely outgoing, yet sensitive

The

sleep special

DELVING INTO YOUR DREAMS FAL L ING

WHAT I T ME ANS

WHAT YOU C AN DO

It’s a common one, right? And we’d bet our bottom dollar when you had such a dream, you were going through a period of genuine stress and upheaval. This isn’t the dream you have when you’re feeling on top of the world

If there’s a genuine problem, odds are it isn’t going to magically disappear. If life teaches you anything, it’s you have to be proactive when it comes to trying to fix things that appear to be broken

T EE T H FALL ING OU T

WHAT I T ME ANS

WHAT YOU C AN DO

You dream that you’re falling from a great height and, such is the impact, you wake up not unlike James Stewart in Vertigo

You experience a feeling that your teeth are falling out. You can physically sense them dropping out of your jaw. It’s an experience real enough to wake you up

Loss of some kind. Perhaps you have money worries, or a fear something is slipping away from you

INAPPROPRIAT E ENC OUNT ER

WHAT I T ME ANS

You’ve woken up in a state of arousal, only there’s one snag: you’ve just had a sexual dream about someone you shouldn’t have…

In some instances, it can prove rubber-stamped confirmation you have feelings for someone (even if it’s not necessarily the person in the dream). This is the brain’s way of letting you know

CHA SED

WHAT I T ME ANS

In this dream, you’re being pursued. It can actually cause your adrenalin to rush, so much so that nodding back off can be tricky

Be honest with yourself. A little self-appraisal is no bad thing. Dreams aren’t necessarily the mind running riot, more a means of processing your life

If you’ve had such an epiphany, perhaps ask that person out.

Unless said person is your mum, and you can’t ask her out!

Because she’s married to dad. Oh, and it’s frowned upon, apparently

If you’re avoiding someone, you may need to grasp that particular nettle and resolve any issues. Or, if you are watching action movies late at night, maybe dial them back a bit, eh?

27%

SOURCE * SLEEPCOUNCIL.ORG.UK

of Britons say they sleep poorly on a regular basis

70%

get seven hours or less*

FAQ

WHAT YOU C AN DO

WHAT YOU C AN DO

You may have been watching an action film too close to bedtime, otherwise you may be avoiding a person or situation

ask the expert

HOPE BASTINE Consultant sleep psychologist for Simba Sleep

Q. A.

Is there a sleep position that’s deemed best?

That depends on your needs and if you have any conditions.

Pregnant women are better off on their side, which is also advisable if you snore. Ultimately, we should sleep in a position that reduces the frequency of movement, so I advise people to adopt the position that’s most comfortable and they think they can stay in for the longest amount of time.

Q. A. On average, it should take you around 22 minutes to drift off.

If it’s taking much longer than that, you should take positive action March 2019 BA LA N CE. M ED I A

What does dreaming mean?

Dreams are unique to each person but there are general symbolisms, what Carl Jung called the ‘collective unconscious’. If you have a recurring or vivid dream, you’re trying to figure something out.

Write down the key points and ponder what’s been on your mind. It’s important to process the information by practising the art of doing nothing!

Find out more about the 1-2-1 Mindfulness for Good Sleep training programme and the corporate sleep workshop at freshperception.com

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Construct your day for a better night’s sleep

ask the expert

FAQ

We’ve put together an ideal working day to help get the best night’s rest possible

START HERE

12PM Drink water. Around three pints a day is good. We like sparkling and try to pretend it’s champagne

7AM Drink lemon and hot water to jump-start the body. For the love of all that is dear, don’t kick-off with a coffee

1PM You might think you’re being good not eating much at lunch, but you’ll over-eat at dinner, harming sleep

7.15AM Open the fridge and reach for the overnight oats. Make them the night before for slow-release energy

6PM Don’t work out too close to bed, as you’ll be, essentially, trying to sleep while your heart is going like the clappers

7.30AM Now you can have that coffee. Have it first thing, and the spike and crash can imbalance the day

7PM Dieticians recommend eating your last meal at least two hours before bed. Eat until you’re full, rather than stuffed

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Anandi champions Ayurveda to promote deep, profound sleep

Q. A.

How should we set up our bedroom to maximise sleep?

Remove all gadgets and have nothing under the bed, which is best positioned east/west. Make the bedroom free of clutter, dust and anything unnecessary, place flowers or beautiful scented candles around and have low lights. Optimum temperature is 17-22 degrees, and 29 degrees under the covers.

Q. A.

What’s your top sleep tip?

Rhythm is an important word in Sleepology. The body does certain things at certain times over a 24-hour cycle, so eat and exercise at the same times, make sure you have your main meal when the sun is over your head (lunchtime) and eat light in the evening. Having a rhythmic wind down in the evening is essential.

Discover more tips from Anandi at thesleepguru.co.uk

9PM Action or horror films can cause your adrenalin and heart rate to race, so choose evening viewing wisely

11AM With the ‘12-hour rule’ in mind, this is to be your last coffee of the day. Well, in theory at least

THE SLEEP GURU

OVER NIGHT BEAUTY

10AM You’ll be peckish around now so if you must graze, do it with nuts. Sadly, Monster Munch aren’t nuts

Bensons for Beds will help design your perfect night’s sleep, using its cutting edge sleepPRO™ and BodiTrak technology.

After all, when you sleep like a PRO, you live like a PRO. To find out more, head in store or visit bensonsforbeds.co.uk

10PM Your body loves consistency. Now it’s time to begin to power down, with a view to being asleep by 10.30

Dermalogica Sound Sleep Cocoon Sound Sleep Cocoon does the nocturnal heavy lifting, hydrating, brightening and revitalising, while essential oils promote restful sleep dermalogica.co.uk

BA LA N CE. M ED I A March 2019

Cloud Twelve Tranquility Pro Sleep Ritual Across 60 magical minutes, enjoy aromatherapy, music and massage techniques of Kerala Ayurveda and Indonesian Sea Malay cloudtwelve.co.uk

111Skin Sub Zero De-Puffing Eye Mask If you haven’t had the best of sleeps, this is a canny disguise. The hydrogel mask alleviates puffiness while tetrapeptide and marine complex fortify the eye area 111skin.com

The

sleep special

SCENARIOS FOR SUCCESSFUL SLUMBER

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Choose a bedside lamp wisely. You want something that’ll help you nod off, rather than one that could light up Blackpool. We suggest something giving off warm hues to nudge you towards sleep

Not pictured, but the Simba Hybrid® Duvet with OUTLAST® has been formulated with changing UK temperatures in mind. What’s more, it cools you down should you get too hot simbasleep.com

Soothing colours are strongly recommended for your bedroom.

Yes, vibrant colours are uplifting, but it’s not conducive to proper rest, especially when the days are longer and the light seeps

Curtains are nice, but don’t provide the pure darkness you need for a top night’s sleep, and can be a reason for failure to sleep beyond 6am.

Blackout blinds are an inexpensive necessity

The Dodow Sleep Aid is a small plate-like gadget that helps slow your breathing at night, shining a blue light onto the ceiling to guide your inwards and outward breaths mydodow.com

MAKE LIGHT WORK

DUVET DAY

AND RELAX…

FINAL CURTAIN

March 2019 BA LA N CE. M ED I A

BEDSIDE COMPANION

Think hitting “snooze” is a good idea?

It’s not: you’re not getting the replenishing REM sleep you need 27

The

sleep special

TIRED EXCUSE

One-in-five women feel ugly after a bad night’s sleep, while 1.3 million British men split up with their partner due to feeling exhausted*

HELP YOURSELF TO BETTER SLEEP

Do you sleep separately?

Away from idle gossip, is going solo key to a rekindled relationship?

ALO N E TOGE T H E R Here’s the twist, the sort M Night Shyamalan would appreciate: it’s great.

Oh goodness, there’s a degree of unease in admitting such a thing. But the fact is, my wife and I sleep better than ever. The knockon effects are huge: we don’t wake each other up with irritating snoring, rolling and kicking (and that’s just me).

There’s no tip-toeing in terror should you need a witching-hour wee (again, just me).

And, best of all, you can keep the bedside light on for a read, rather than standing accused of trying to attempt a midnight

interrogation. The health benefits may also surprise you.

Because you sleep through the night, energy and concentration levels improve, as does your skin, especially the dark circles around your eyes (if you just thought, “What dark circles?”, you either don’t have children or are an actual child). And, get this: it’s genuinely lovely to see one another each morning. Mind you, I’m yet to hear this compliment returned.

LOVE LI F E AGA I N At the risk of making myself blush like a schoolboy, our sex life has also improved.

Sex takes place when the children aren’t around (obviously), during the day. So instead of the perfunctory late-night approach of “Well, we probably should, shouldn’t we? It’s late and we’re married, after all…” sex is something you actually look forward to, rather than something that is seen as an archaic matrimonial contractual obligation.

In fact, the knock-on effects of sleeping separately continue to be so profound that, once our daughter grows out of sleeping with mum and dad (well, mum), we’d be tempted to lace her evening milk with Nytol before carrying her into our room.

If you’re a late-night worrier and over-thinker, writing to-do lists can help settle a busy mind. Thoughts are organised, and you should sleep easier 28

BA LA N CE. M ED I A March 2019

2. Bach Rescue Night This combines five flower essences to help calm the mind before you turn in for the night, utilising the same formula since 1930 boots.com

* SOURCE BENSONS FOR BEDS

My name is James Gill, and I sleep separately from my wife… Phew! That just felt good to say out loud. Thanks, guys.

Please know that this isn’t by choice.

Heck, we’re both somewhat mortified about the whole thing. But one of our children simply won’t stay in their own bed. We’ve tried everything bar super glue and a harness, and we’re not ruling those out.

Friends shake their heads in slack-jawed disbelief that we’ve let it get to this stage (and you’re possibly doing the same right now), but we’ve made our bed and now we have to sleep in it. Albeit in completely different rooms, of course.

1. Motion Nutrition Unplug A winning mixture of nature and science, with traditional nootropic herbs combined with micronutrients for restful sleep motionnutrition.com

3. BetterYou MagnesiumOil Goodnight Spray Applied to the skin, this supports and relaxes muscles to make for a rejuvenating sleep betteryou.com

The

sleep special

MOVING TOWARDS DREAMLAND The ball of enthusiasm and light that is Erika Lieschen Treanor of ELT Dynamics shares her favourite late-night stretches to have you snoring in no time 2. Standing Roll Down Spinal articulation is great for reorganising and nourishing spinal health, releasing tightness in the back and strengthening the core for activation of 360° expansion for primary respiration patterns. These are essential components for ensuring a good night’s sleep

Emphasise height moving with space. You should feel like your shoulders are effortlessly floating, as if held by balloons Breathe using a 360° expansion Feel your legs moving from inside the hip joint and into your feet

3. Side-Lying Rotation Another articulation exercise to help release the spine, this eases upper and mid-back musculoskeletal discomfort. Great for releasing diaphragmatic ‘caught-ness’

IT’S A REAL STRETCH

NB: keep the spacing

4. Supine Breathing Meditation A wonderful mindfulness exercise to perform anywhere, through breathing connect with your body and better understand it.

Combine with a ‘Body Scan’ to create a mindfulness boundary to help become aware of your health functioning Exhale bottom to top 360° breathing

= Points of contact

ILLUSTRATION ERIKA LIESCHEN TREANOR, ELT DYNAMICS

1. Mindful Walking Helping you get out of ingrained mental patterns gently. Looking at neurological pathways, there are many shared routes between movement and attention, so simple exercises will help shift focus from mental stress to relaxation

FOODS FOR A BETTER SLEEP ALMONDS

It’s not exactly Maltesers and red wine, is it? However, all three make for a soporific Holy Trinity. Almonds boast sleepfriendly hormone melatonin, while chamomile features the antioxidant apigenin, which can promote rest

SALMON

WHITE RICE

CARRIED TO BED

Fatty fish is recommended to help you calm down at the end of a hectic day. The one-two of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D is proven to help you doze off, while white rice has a high glycemic index, which further closes the eyelids

HONEY

HOT WATER

DREAMY DRINK

If you have to have something sweet at night, we’d recommend incorporating honey, which an help the body release melatonin into the brain, which helps with some sweet shut-eye

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BA LA N CE. M ED I A March 2019

*ACTUALLY, THINK OF IT AS A FRIENDLY PILLOW FIGHT

It may surprise you to learn that what you eat and when can have a huge impact on your slumber cycle. With these simple suggestions, we can help you win the war on sleep…*

A DREAMY EVENING

CHAMOMILE TEA

WALNUTS

The

sleep special

RE-TREAT YOURSELF THE APPLIANCE OF SLEEP SCIENCE

The SHA Wellness Clinic mixes natural therapies with highly therapeutic nutrition

1. Casper Glow The warm light dims gradually to help lull those eyelids gently shut… casper.com

SHA Wellness Clinic, Spain Think you’re heading to Spain to devour the new John Grisham by the pool? Think again, because the team behind this meticulous seven-day stay take your sleeping problems very seriously. With beautiful Alicante as your bakdrop, you’ll receive a bespoke nutrition consultation and plan to ensure your diet is where it needs to be, and a session with an emotional and stress management expert. There’s even a polygraph for a diagnosis of how you sleep. And that’s just getting you started… shawellnessclinic.com

GUEST WHO

This clinic often hosts guest experts, so keep tabs on unexpected drop-ins. Sha Wellness’ Andrew Rosenstock brings his healing hands throughout March

3. HoMedics SoundSpa Fills the room with soothing sounds to block out noise HoMedics.co.uk

© Grand Resort Bad Ragaz AG

2. Rise app Create a personalised sleep programme backed by science Launches 15 March

Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, Switzerland “Video-polysomnography” doesn’t sound relaxing, but this cutting-edge diagnostic procedure records every imaginable factor that could impact sleep. The subsequent recommendations from the facility’s medical specialists could be the breakthrough you need, all located in a five-star hotel that boasts two golf courses. healthragaz.ch

4. Sleep Stories Famous folk read soporific stories to lull you to sleep calm.com

5. iGel from Bensons Phase change crystals draw away heat to keep you cool bensonsforbeds.co.uk

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Need an unlikely YouTube hero?

Barry Eisen’s sleep hypnosis video is a big Balance tip.

You’re welcome

FAQ

Kemalaya Sleep Enhancement, Thailand If the last time you went to Thailand, you lost your mind on a cocktail of booze and regret, then this is ultimate redemption.

Treatments include Shirodhara (which involves oils being poured on to the forehead for relaxation of the mind), as well as acupuncture, massage and the always-underrated foot massage. kamalaya.com

ask the expert Q. A.

LISA SANFILIPPO Sleep recovery expert, yoga therapist and author lisayogalondon.com

BA LA N CE. M ED IA March 2019

What’s your top sleep tip?

Learn to relax by doing some yoga or meditation. Even a few minutes a day or a simple, settling out-breath like a soft sigh practiced several times a day helps you to repair your ability to settle into good sleep.

Then you can bring this relaxed state into a winding-down, pre sleep routine that feels luxurious and sacred.

BALANCE PROMOTION

DOZE WERE THE DAYS It’s time to finally drift off, thanks to Motion Nutrition’s Unplug nootropics

T

he world is a more beautiful place with a solid night’s sleep under your belt, isn’t it? The birds are singing in the trees, your friends and family are pleased to see you and you seem to get so much work done.

Sadly, the opposite is also true. If you’ve barely got four hours of shut eye? Will those blasted birds cut out that infernal racket? Why is your dad phoning you now of all times? And how much savings would it take to just walk out of the office, never to come back?

Halt! Before you work yourself into a sleep-deprived lather, help is at hand, and it comes in the most cutting-edge form possible: nootropics.

To the uninitiated, nootropics are supplements that can help with cognitive functions. Motion Nutrition is a pioneering name in the field and, in just three years, has become regarded as a market leader.

Because, while they’re scientific, they’re also herbal.

Motion Nutrition’s Unplug: Night Time Nootropic has become wildly popular, and that’s because it helps you to

+ Your brain

switch off last thing at night, nourishes the nervous system and quiets the mind, promoting deep, restorative sleep. You probably feel more serene just thinking about it, right?

HERE IS THE SNOOZE...

“Dysfunctional sleep patterns are possibly the most common problem I come across,” reveals Motion Nutrition co-founder Joe Welstead, a former Commenwealth Games swimmer. “To the extent some don’t even consider four hours of disjointed rest per night out of the norm.

Struggling through the day in a coffeefuelled haze? Nothing new here.”

To create Unplug, Joe and his team

Available at Planet Organic, Holland & Barrett, As Nature Intended and Whole Foods Market. For more information, visit motionnutrition.com

@MotionNutrition

= Motion Nootropics

have taken ashwagandha, to combat feelings of anxiety and stress, and combined it with Montmorency cherry, a source of natural melatonin (the ‘sleep’ hormone), to help you drift off. Added to that, there’s bacopa Monnieri for a winning combination of a deep sleep and a happy morning, and finally L-theanine, which supports feelings of calm and balance.

And, what’s more, there’s an entire range of products from Motion Nutrition to help promote a healthier and happier you throughout the day.

@motionnutrition @motionnutrition

A well-rested mind

March 2019 BA LA N CE. M ED I A

back to the f u t u r e

decode of conduct Access to uncharted realms of body and mind is just a biohack away... words PAUL WILSON

F

rom morning coffee lovers, to intermittent fasters, to implanters of microchips, anyone who wants to boost performance of body or mind through self-administered means can be classed as a biohacker.

Taking place outside conventional medical and scientific thinking, it’s an increasingly popular idea. By 2025, the human augmentation market will enjoy a more than 10-fold increase, boosting its value to £1.8bn, according to research firm OG Analysis.

In the world of computer hacking, a “white hat” operator looks for a system’s flaws and instead of exploiting them, discusses them openly with the owner so they can improve them (in return for a sizeable fee, of course). Biohackers do the same with the human body, targeting weakness in physical, biological and mental performance and treating them with smart drugs, music, mechanical parts, electronic devices, light therapy and, yes, coffee.

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On one level, biohackers are saying nothing new. Treating the body as a system of inputs and outputs is something most of us do naturally, or at least know we should do. But biohackers are at the forefront of a cutting-edge movement, looking to go beyond existing parameters.

They often employ the tools of citizen science, where volunteers and amateur scientists gather, share and openly analyse data to study problems they feel mainstream science is unwilling, unable or too slow to investigate. Some even go way beyond mind and body hacks into the realms of robotics, extreme life extension and immortality.

RISE OF THE MACHINES For his book To Be A Machine, Mark O’Connell spent 18 months meeting biohackers of all stripes but in particular transhumanists, who think our best option for longer, better lives is to be more like machines.

“The people I met shared a mechanistic and instrumentalist view of human life,” says O’Connell.

“I realised early on transhumanists were not simply people who want to become machines, but already thought of themselves as machines.”

For lesser mortals, the idea of being more like a machine seems like something straight out of science fiction. But in Sweden, 4,000 people

BA LA N CE. M ED I A March 2019

have had a microchip the size of a grain of rice implanted in their hands to use instead of keycards, travelcards and to make payments.

Last year, US vending machine company Three Square Market encouraged its employees to chip themselves so they could log on to their computers, open doors and, of course, use the company’s vending machines. On the first day of chipping, 50 of its 80 employees grabbed a piece of the future.

Hardware upgrades like this are for biohackers with more faith in machine than man. The opposite, wetware (or the augmenting of body chemistry), tends to have greater appeal. After all who wouldn’t want to take the sort of smart drug that makes Bradley Cooper’s character in Limitless finish his novel, beat the stock market and learn Chinese?

IN WITH THE NOO The amazing effect of the drug used in that film is counter-balanced by severe side effects. In real life, nootropics, drugs which may enhance cognitive function, have positive and lesser effects at much lower levels. Caffeine and nicotine fall into this category, as do amphetamines and several drugs prescribed to treat ADHD. Analysis of clinical trials has shown these enhance cognitive function on some small level.

Non-clinical trials of psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, and LSD are showing, on an anecdotal level only, a greater boost to cognitive function and very few side effects. These hackers might be breaking the law (buying and

Biohacking’s outer limits host ‘Grinders’, who experiment with modifications like chest implants which buzz when you face north

C A N YO U H AC K I T ?

Aside from Bulletproof Coffee’s Dave Asprey, other biohackers include The 4-Hour Work Week author Tim Ferriss and extreme athlete Wim Hof

Nootropics, like Motion Nutrition’s Unplug, use herbs and minerals to supplement the body’s natural systems and, in this instance, help promote deep, restorative sleep and calm the mind

taking illegal drugs), but many share details of their behaviour in detail in controversial citizen science projects.

Beyond legality, biohacking raises ethical points, too. Should you take something to make you better if you’re already healthy? Is the “better” reported by biohackers actually “better” for you? Anyone can read data and make a judgement call as to what’s best for them, but the data may not have been checked in rigorous trials carried out in ways acceptable to the scientific community.

COMMUNITY CHANCE One figurehead of the biohacking movement is Dave Asprey, who developed and markets Bulletproof Coffee, which is made with butter and coconut oil and complements a high-fat, low-carb diet. Asprey claims it boosts IQ, and has thousands of testimonials to back him up, but his critics say it’s a caffeine diet. His dietary suggestions also include intermittent fasting, another increasingly popular biohack that many claim results in long-term steady weight loss. However, few trials prove long-term benefits.

Low-level light therapy, known as photobiomodulation and laser

therapy, is another movement on the rise. Most people know controlled exposure to sunlight provides vitamin D, and the detrimental effects of smartphone ‘blue light’ are common knowledge. But are other kinds of light good or bad for us? Non-clinical experiments involving red light have led to claims it relieves pain and aids healing in skin and soft tissue, and more people are making choices based on raw data from these sources.

In October 2018, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) held its second Global Summit on Community Biotechnology, a forum to, “provide a space for DIY biologists, biohackers, biomakers and members of independent and community laboratories to plan, build fellowship, and continue the evolution of our movement.” Attendees included doctors and PhDs, owners of start-ups and academics who want their work verified and proven in clinical trials.

Their work is modelled on accepted scientific practice.

Biohackers document everything in open data stores – good, bad, side effects and benefits. For many, this makes them more trustworthy than big pharma companies or traditional models of practicing medicine, but increasingly, it points to more options for people who want to improve themselves. Are we all biohackers?

That’s entirely up to you. B

March 2019 BA LA N CE. M ED I A

SO YOU WANT TO BE A BIOHACKER? Want to tap into your grey areas? Then it’s smart to put safety first

BE SMARTER You need to know everything about any potential biohack you want to experiment with.

Openness and innovation do not necessarily go hand in hand with safe and ethical thinking, so seek out scientific papers and/or certifiable information from credible media sources that can back up claims.

Sci-Hub (sci-hub.tw) is a free database of over 70 million scientific papers

BE OPEN AND SHARE Document everything about the biohack you undertake, especially if others are doing so; you can remain anonymous and still provide the data.

Excellent journalling and notetaking apps include Bear, Day One and Evernote. Fans of pen and paper might like to look at the Bullet Journal method of notetaking, which has a huge number of passionate fans

BE HONEST As with any large change to diet or lifestyle, it’s important to speak with a medical professional before embarking on any form of biohacking. They have all the necessary training to provide you with the base knowledge you may not possess

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h

e at m e n

e mont

t of th tr

Numerology M

any people place cosmic significance on the power of numbers. Take football fans and the almost religious connotations they attach to the famed No7 shirt, for example: Manchester United fans would definitely say George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo were all capable of moments of pure magic, while neutrals may suggest there’s absolutely nothing magical about Alexis Sanchez’s current form.

Numerologist Jo Soley isn’t suggesting her clients develop a wand of a right (or left) foot, but she has enjoyed success working with female entrepreneurs to utilise the power of numbers to help run their business. That’s because numbers, apparently, hold a special value and can prove key to greater selfknowledge and understanding.

Across our session together, I wondered if I could use them to help my day-to-day life, with Jo talking me through a 40-page

well informed TO ENSURE THE LONGEVITY OF YOUR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE

36

dossier she’d put together, based on my full name and date of birth.

For example, your name determines your “expression number”, which is a way of revealing how you express yourself.

With each letter of your name assigned a numeric value, Jo worked out my full name has a value of seven, which means “introspection and perfection”. Sadly, it doesn’t mean I’ll be running out at Old Trafford any time soon, which is just as well given my second touch is a tackle.

As regular readers of this page will attest, I go into these treatments and sessions with an open heart and an open mind: Balance and I don’t do cynicism. Yet, try as I might, I continue to struggle with numerology. Because my tiny name is missing so many letters of the alphabet, it means I’m forgoing all manner of energies, such as a problem with self-expression. As my long-suffering wife and therapist (and indeed anyone I happen to

You might think you’re pretty clued up when it comes to the minefield known as “friends with benefits”, but new data gleaned from the University of North Carolina is highlighting the real gains that come with friendships, and luckily they’re far less complicated.

According to its research, the larger a person’s social circle when they’re young,

stand next to at the bus stop) will confirm, that’s never been an issue.

If numbers are your thing, I’d strongly recommend reading up on numerology, as well as reaching out to the incredibly affable Jo. But sadly for me, the most magical thing I’ve ever derived from FIND YOUR THERAPY AT numbers remains typing BALANCE.MEDIA “5318008” into a calculator and turning it upside down.

Abracadabra. B

NUMERO UNO Give it a go If you have a feeling there’s more to numbers than… well, numbers

BOOKING INFO Cost £97 per hour

the healthier they’ll be throughout their life. Drawing on two decades of data, the study suggests that a higher degree of social integration leads to a decrease in the deterioration of both physical and mental health.

Decision time But if you’re more lone wolf than social butterfly, don’t

BA LA N CE September 2017

High point The work carried out

by Jo

Booking info josoley.com; jo@josoley.com

Low point My failure to get on board the number train

panic. For those aged 20-plus, what counts is the quality of your friendships, rather than the quantity.

It’s often said you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with, so form your tribe carefully and you’ll bask in the benefits.

Laura Hill, Senior Editor welltodoglobal.com

WORDS JAMES GILL, LAURA HILL ILLUSTRATION ACUTEGRAPHICS.CO.UK

Aside from communicating profit and loss, James Gill discovers there is much more to the numbers game than a mere balance sheet

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A TWO -N I G H T BR EA K FO R TWO W I TH DI N NER , BR EA KFAST A N D A WIN E TASTI N G TO U R A two-night stay for two (worth £400) at The White Horse in Dorking, dinner at The Dozen with a bottle of house wine, breakfast every day as well as a tour of Denbies Wine Estate with a classic wine tasting B

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The new king of food

SAUCE OF ALL POWER Leave leftover mayo covered in the fridge.

It will last about a week and is always handy to have around the house

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alance love the term ‘portfolio career’. It’s a swanky way of saying someone has more than one job, but Isaac Carew has just trumped us. As in ‘Isaac Carew is a model-slash-chef’.

“I like to call us slashers,” he says with his terrific Tottenham twang. “It stemmed as a joke from the film Zoolander. When I started modelling, that was enough and that was your career. But ever since social media grew, being ‘just a model’ isn’t enough; you need to be a slasher, like a model-slash-musician, or model-slash-carpenter. You have to have something to back it up.”

He does more than back it up. Cooking is in his DNA (both his dad and granddad were chefs) and he spent his formative years working at a greengrocer’s and as a Saturday boy in restaurants. Now he successfully juggles it all with modelling.

Carew is a naturally likeable chap. Prior to our chat, we knew him best as Dua Lipa’s other half, but the London lad clearly has enough in his own locker that it’s fair to call the duo a power couple. “With the Instagram generation, you get people who might put ‘photographer’ on their profile, even though they’ve never done a course or had any proper training. I often find you get a lot of ‘nutritionists’ who haven’t actually been trained in nutrition.”

Likeable, right? On paper, he could easily make you burst into tears: he’s having great success with his Dirty Dishes YouTube channel and book, he’s got TV execs beating a path to his door, he’s dating a pop icon… oh, and it just so happens he looks more than a little like Elvis Presley.

Food might be his main passion, but he acknowledges he could be tempted by acting if the offer was right. Balance think

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he’s born to play The King. “If the House Of Elvis, or Sony, asked me to do something classy enough and if I was good enough, then I’d potentially give acting a go,” he says.

“I’ve never wanted to be an actor; it’s not something I’ve wanted to pursue, but you never know.”

Before the big screen beckons, there are rumours Dirty Dishes might be heading for the small screen, and the title of his new book sums up his approach: he simply wants people to roll up their sleeves, unafraid to get their hands dirty, and get stuck in. “I want to stop people thinking of the kitchen as a scary place and to use my recipes as a tool.

If they want to play around with them and have fun, so be it. It’s just a place where I can collate the recipes and hopefully, people can enjoy them.

“There’s a lot of ‘you need to be lean and green’, telling people the way they need to be.

Mine’s a more light-hearted take: if you want a salad, have a salad. If you want a burger, have a burger. Just do whatever makes you feel happy. ” His relationship with Dua certainly makes him happy. “It’s amazing. Sometimes it’s tough because there’s a lot of travelling, so you have to make time for each other. You could be Michael Jackson or Elvis Presley but, at the end of the day, when you’re at home and with whoever you’re with, you’re not that person, you’re your ‘at home’ person.

We should all take people for what they are, not what you see. It’s just normal life. I’m in a lucky position and in a good place.”

Read on to discover more speedy sensations from Isaac’s book...

BA LA N CE. M ED I A March 2019

HERBY PRAWN BURGER WITH LIME MAYO ‘Did I mention I love burgers? You rarely see a prawn version on menus, but they make a great alternative to the classics. Simply mince the raw prawns by hand, then add the herbs. You’ve got loads of flavours, the richness of the prawns and then the lime comes through and smacks you in the face. Think Mexico-meetsJapan-meets a good old Americanstyle burger’ Serves 2 Ingredients • 2 spring onions, finely sliced • ½ bunch of coriander, leaves chopped • 240g raw king prawns • Sea salt

PHOTOGRAPHY BARTEK SZMIGULSKI RECIPE PHOTOGRAPHY SUSAN BELL

Fall in love with Isaac Carew’s fast and delicious meals and you’ll never worry about Dirty Dishes again

M E S S Y P L AY

Prawnogrpahy

Prawns should smell fresh and clean, not fishy, and should look moist. Avoid any that look dry or have broken or cracked shells. If you are buying shell-on prawns, buy double the weight of shell-off

Salad days SPICY AND SWEET COURGETTE AND SULTANA SALAD ‘I love the different textures in this salad: it’s all about the chew and crunch. Raw courgettes are so tasty and the spice in the chilli gives them a kick. You’ve also got pea shoots for colour and vibrancy, sultanas for sweetness and hazelnuts for a nice crunch. I’m a big fan of hazelnuts – they have a much stronger flavour than other nuts and are a great addition to any salad’ Serves 2-4 Ingredients • 100g sultanas • Around 50ml warmed apple juice, for soaking (optional) • 2 courgettes • Juice and zest of ½ lemon • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil • Sea salt and black pepper • Pinch of chilli flakes • 50g blanched hazelnuts • 95g pea shoots • Handful of parsley, chopped

• Olive oil • 100g mayonnaise • Zest of 1 lime, juice of ½ lime • 2 brioche buns • 100g rocket • 1 red chilli, de-seeded and sliced

4 Heat a glug of oil in a large non-stick pan over a mediumto-high heat. Cook the burger patties for two-three minutes per side, until golden but slightly pink.

1 Mix the spring onions and the coriander. Add the raw king prawns to the herb mix and transfer to a chopping board.

5 In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise with the lime zest and juice, then add a pinch of salt and mix.

2 Roughly chop the prawns with the herb mix until you get a fine mince-like paste. Season with salt, cover and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

6 Remove the patties from the heat. Slice the brioche buns in half and toast until golden.

3 Divide the chilled mixture into two equal parts. Cover your hands in olive oil and shape into two burger patties.

7 Cover both sides of the buns with a healthy dollop of the mayo, then sandwich the burgers in the buns and top with a handful of rocket and the sliced chilli.

1 Place the sultanas in a bowl and pour over the warmed apple juice or 50ml of warm water. The sultanas should be just covered by the liquid.

MUCKY READ

2 Using a vegetable peeler or mandoline, slice the courgettes as thin as possible. Alternatively, use a grater.

Toss them with lemon juice, olive oil, a pinch of salt and chilli flakes, and allow the acidity from the lemon to ‘cook’ the courgette.

3 Meanwhile, toast the hazelnuts lightly in a frying pan, then transfer them to a clean kitchen towel and lightly crush.

Dirty Dishes

by Isaac Carew is out now (£20, Bluebird)

March 2019 BA LA N CE. M ED I A

4 Drain the sultanas and add them to the courgettes along with the pea shoots and hazelnuts. Season with salt and pepper and serve garnished with the parsley and lemon zest.

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MY CHILLI ‘Everyone needs a good chilli recipe, and this is my go-to version. Like all good chillies it’s got a real kick, so I serve it with homemade guacamole to add a bit of coolness. I added the crushed tortilla at the end as it gives a nice change in texture’

Chill to the bone

CON TRICK Chilli is perfect for feeding large groups of people. You can also make it in advance and freeze it

Serves 3-4 Ingredients • 2 red onions, finely sliced • 2 garlic cloves, crushed • Olive oil • 2 tsp smoked paprika • 1 tsp dried coriander • 2 tsp ground cumin • 1 tsp chilli flakes • 2 tbsp brown sugar • 500g beef mince • 1 x 400g tin of whole tomatoes • 400ml hot chicken stock (optional) • Handful of tortilla chips (to serve) • 100g Cheddar cheese grated (to serve) For the guacamole • 1 avocado • 1 tomato • 2 spring onions, finely sliced

• 1 red chilli, finely sliced • Handful of coriander leaves, chopped • Juice of 1 lime 1 Add the onions, garlic and a glug of olive oil to an ovenproof frying pan over a medium heat. Fry for a few minutes, then add the herbs, spices and sugar and cook for one minute. Add the beef mince and cook until it browns.

2 Tip in the tomatoes, mushing them down with a fork, then add chicken stock or 400ml of boiling water, put the lid on and cook for 20 minutes. Remove the lid and cook for another 10 minutes.

3 For the guacamole, peel and de-stone the avocado and chop roughly along with the tomato.

Mix with the sliced spring onions and chilli, then stir through the coriander and lime juice.

4 When the chilli is cooked, preheat your grill to medium hot.

Crush the tortilla chips over the pan and sprinkle with the cheese.

Slide the pan underneath the grill for five minutes until the cheese has melted. B

cook

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it b o o

Food's back in fashion As a model, Stacey Smith thinks Isaac Carew would approve of these so-hotright-now restaurants found a stone’s throw from London’s shopping Meccas

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BRASSERIE OF LIGHT West End Part of Selfridges’ £300m revamp, this is of the ‘more is more’ school of thought, featuring a 24ft crystalencrusted Pegasus, courtesy of Damien Hirst, soaring overhead in what will surely be 2019’s most Instagrammed dining room. Highlights include avocado and sesame fried chicken with green tea and chia seed coating and ‘Orbit’, a dark chocolate mousse with hazelnut praline ice cream, milk foam and popping candy designed to look like a planetary object brasserie-of-light.co.uk

HICCE

PEG

King’s Cross

Hackney

Hicce (meaning ‘current, of the moment’) offers much needed sustenance when you’ve shopped and need to drop. The first restaurant from Great British Menu winner Pip Lacey, Angela Hartnett’s ex-head chef at Michelin-starred Murano, the menu centres around wood-fired cooking and draws on British, Italian and Japanese cuisine. Expect trendy pickled vegetables and ‘hot sticks’, skewers featuring the like of sea bream, cucumber, sansho pepper and crème fraîche hicce.co.uk

The third restaurant from the P Franco team will follow a similar format to their Clapton-based Wine Shop X Bar, with a more casual vibe than Bright. At the time of writing they are yet to open the doors, but we’re told to expect a showcase of exciting wine ‘with a focus on keeping prices down’, baronly seating, small plates and a record player. From here, you’ll be able to swing by the best of Hackney Walk, East London’s luxury fashion outlet and home to Burberry, Matches and more instagram.com/peg.london

BA LA N CE. M ED I A March 2019

BALANCE PROMOTION

TAKE IT

Join Dorset Cereals for breakfast on the slow and take the first step towards a more mindful day

W

ith a busy schedule and a never-ending to-do list, it might seem impossible to slow down. But by taking the time to be more mindful in the morning, you could have a lasting effect on the rest of your day.

With a slower pace, a positive outlook on life and miles of untouched coast and countryside, the county of Dorset has always been the inspiration for Dorset Cereals when creating its delicious muesli and granola recipes. The brand lives by the philosophy of slowing down and enjoying life’s simple pleasures, creating breakfast cereals that not only taste great, but are really worth sitting down for.

That’s why Dorset Cereals is inviting you to experience breakfast on the slow and bring mindfulness to your waking routine.

By taking the time each morning to pause and appreciate the little things, or focus

slow

solely on the day ahead you’re more likely to stay in the moment and avoid the autopilot mode we often slip into.

Why not immerse yourself in a podcast, try some mindful breathing or start the day writing down three things that you’re grateful for while eating your bowl of Dorset Cereals deliciousness? It’s all about relishing the right now.

Give it a go; savour and celebrate the simple pleasures with breakfast on the slow, and you’ll soon become just that little bit more Dorset.

For more breakfast on the slow inspiration, follow Dorset Cereals on social media

WAYS TO SPEND BREAKFAST ON THE SLOW

Put your phone away and enjoy your cereal free of distractions

Take five minutes and write out a ‘to do’ list to maximise your day

@dorsetcereals @dorsetcereals @dorsetcereals #BreakfastOnTheSlow March 2019 BA LA N CE. M ED I A

Play music you love and start the day with a smile

N AV I G AT I O N S L U G What does wellness mean to you?

presents

FUTURE OF WELLNESS Balance teamed up with Kinetic and Garden of Life to host a lively panel debate on what it means to be healthy in 2019…

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MEET THE EXPERTS Egzona Makolli BSc Hons MScANutr Industry nutritionist, founder of MakNutrition “To me, wellness is an active process of being in a state of good health which is unique to each individual, and feeling the best that you can feel” Brad Sanderson Ex-principal scientist for Headspace “Wellness is a process of building awareness of, and making informed choices toward, a healthy, fulfilling life. The pursuit of wellness requires good management of both physical and mental health” Melinda Nicci Founder of baby2Body “Wellness feels like I am operating well, thinking clearly and feeling energised

BA LA BAN LA CE. N CE M ED January I A March 2019 2019

physically and mentally. Mental clarity, along with physical energy, is the most powerful combination” Dalton Wong Performance coach, celebrity PT and founder of Twenty Two “Wellness is about balance, with exercise, nutrition, recovery and lifestyle playing important factors.

Life is all about living, so enjoy the odd drink, sweet or treat: just be mindful and moderate” Dr Barbara Mariposa Thought leader in the field of workplace wellbeing, emotional intelligence and mindfulness “Wellness for me feels like having my feet on the ground, with a strong steady back. Being soft and powerful at the same time, and in touch with a sense of who I am”

MAIN PHOTOGRAPHY GETTY IMAGES

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hat does healthy mean to you? Being free of illness? Eating clean?

Walking every day?

Doing things that you like? Not feeling stressed? As you can see, the list is unique to everyone. But what wellness is not is a number on the scale, or a specific body type. It’s much more about finding out what works best for you and your lifestyle, allowing you to make choices that help you feel energised, strong and confident. Shifting your mindset from worrying about how you look to focusing on how you feel is the secret to being healthy and happy.

On a mission to support people with their health goals this year and beyond, Garden of Life, the supplement brand which extols the virtues of the science of whole food, joined forces with Balance to host a panel discussion on wellness, imparting tips, tools and insights on how to create daily habits to underpin your wellbeing all year round.

It’s important to recognise that just like physical health, mental health can effect motivation, energy levels and other daily functioning tasks, as our expert panellists know all too well…

FREE TIME

Chemical-free living words AURELIA ZIOMEK illustration VICKI T URNER

We are surrounded by toxins, but a few simple swaps will help take them out one by one

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ondon has many benefits. There’s always a new vegan restaurant opening round the corner, places to go and people to see if you’re feeling social. But living in the capital has its downsides, too. Even the simple act of breathing city air exposes us to a huge load of toxins and, according to The World Health Organisation, every part of London exceeds the limit for average levels of airborne particulate matter. Sound depressing? Well thankfully, there are many simple things we can all do to live a more chemical-free existence.

PEST CONTROL Organic food has been shown to be higher in nutrients, while conventionally-grown fruit and veg are often sprayed with fertilisers and pesticides. A quick look at the “dirty dozen “ published by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) reveals more than 98 per cent of strawberry, spinach, peach, nectarine, cherry and apple samples tested positive for residue of at least one pesticide. Pin this list on the fridge and don’t go food shopping without it.

artificial fragrance and other chemicals to protect, rather than block, the sensitive underarm areas.

SMALL DETAILS Vitamins must be good for us, right? That’s not always the case if nasty excipients fill the capsule or hold the tablet together. Avoid artificial additives like titanium dioxide, talc and methacrylic acid. All of these and more can be found in everyday vitamin products which are widely available. A good rule to live by is if you wouldn’t want it on your plate, then there’s no place for it in your supplements. B

STEEL YOURSELF Bisphenol A (BPA) and other chemicals in plastic bottles may cause hormonal imbalance and disrupt your endocrine system. Toxins which leak from plastic to water play havoc with our mood, energy and even fertility, and if that’s not enough to put you off plastic, every bit ever created still exists somewhere on this planet. Steel bottles don’t have the same problems...

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

❶

ROUTINE PROCEDURE Skin is our largest organ, and as much as 60 per cent of what’s applied to it gets absorbed, the good and the bad. It may be overwhelming to change the content of your entire bathroom in one go, so start with the products you use most often. Look for a fluoride-free organic toothpaste and opt for a deodorant without aluminium, parabens,

❸ ❷

March 2019 BA LA N CE. M ED I A

KEEP IT BOTTLED UP

❹

1. Chilly’s Bottles Chrome Rose Gold £25 (500ml) 2. Ben & Anna Natural Soda Deodorant £7.96 for 60g

3. Glow Bar Amethyst £49.50 4. Viridian High Five Multivitamin & Mineral Formulas £7.95 for 30 tabs

Available at planetorganic.com

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DE ST I N AT ION SA N BE N I TO, PHI LI PPI N E S

Life on

The Farm Surrounded by luscious jungle, Melissa Hemsley goes back to her roots and finds herself in the Philippines

M

y mum is from the Philippines and until this trip, I’d only been back once to see her side of the family, almost 30 years ago. When I revealed I was heading to The Farm At San Benito to visit my motherland and kick off 2019 in style, the face of every travel writer and health & beauty expert I know lit up. The Farm is truly a beautiful place, offering experiences with lasting positive impact.

I’m a big fan of not stressing and rushing around to do “relaxing” things, only to get to them and feel frazzled; like when you kill yourself working frantically all day so you can get out of work on time, rush onto a packed tube then run to a yoga class just to try and feel chilled for those 60 minutes. So because I only had about 40 hours to spend at The Farm, I was nervous I wouldn’t have long enough to fully relax into it. But I did, big time.

BREAK THE RULES On arrival from the capital Manila (90 minutes on a good day and up to three hours with the legendary traffic), you’re in 50-acres of tropical jungle, surrounded by the most majestic trees.

Instantly, it reveals itself as a place to let go and get some really good tree hugging in. And if hugging’s not your bag, just sit with your back and bum on the trunk of their much loved mango trees.

The Farm is a holistic and medical resort, and a few weeks before arrival, you submit a medical form. My boyfriend was a touch terrified the stay would be full of rules and be too hardcore for

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BA LA N CE. M ED I A March 2019

HOME ON THE RANGE

The Farm boasts world class facilities, classes and food in a breathtaking setting

him, but he loved it when he discovered it feels like the ultimate spa weekend in nature. You can still be on your phone, enjoy some wine and do all the other things you love.

ACTIVE LIFESTYLE

AT A G LAN C E

Booking info The Farm at San Benito offers retreats, services and holistic medical wellness experiences that are evidencebased and resultsdriven to heal and rejuvenate. An all-inclusive Health Optimisation Program starts at $436 per person, per night.

For more information, visit thefarmatsan benito.com

There is so much to get involved in, lots of it free, and I had to stop myself from booking back-to-back activities as they all looked like good fun. We missed out on the opportunity to join one of the early morning hikes which explored the local village, but we enjoyed group meditation, flower arranging (which was addictive) and practised yoga before breakfast. We’ve been back a month and my boyfriend enjoyed the yoga classes so much as soon as he got home, he ordered a yoga mat so he didn’t have to share mine any longer.

We’ve been doing it in our living room ever since, sadly now with a view of paperwork and smelly trainers rather than beautiful peacocks strutting around a picturesque lake.

The world-class facilities are a thing of legend, and my massage was the best I can remember. There’s only one restaurant and it’s fully vegan, serving up mostly Asian fusion using tons of fresh herbs, lemongrass and ginger from their gardens. I’m not a huge fan of too much raw food, and I loved all their soups which felt very nourishing.

In the afternoons before they start on

March 2019 BA LA N CE. M ED I A

supper, the chefs give cooking lessons for free, and you can tell they are very proud of their food. When you want snacks, the smoothie bar offers up exceptionally good fayre.

The fresh coconut and mint creation with banana and cacao is a must try.

BREAKTHROUGH Everyone working at The Farm was lovely and cheerful. Filipinos have such a friendly and fun attitude and make you feel very at home and thoroughly looked after.

Aside from the peaceful setting, beauty of the jungle, colourful healthy food, magnificent massages and waterfalls, what was most impactful was an hour spent with one of the doctors. Having really struggled with moving through my grief after my father’s death four years ago, this quickly came up in our session, but I felt in safe, kind hands. I had an incredibly moving breakthrough which was in itself priceless and much needed.

The one piece of vital advice I’d offer is don’t lose the map they give you on arrival, as it’s worth its weight in gold in order to track down the many special areas, like a tucked away waterfall we skinny dipped in. You’re probably not allowed to do that, but it was so much fun and anyway, we didn’t have our swimming bits with us.

But then, as we found out, that’s exactly what life down on The Farm is all about. B

SCRATCH YOUR TRAVEL ITCH AT balance.media 49

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Travel as

therapy We’re not knocking sandcastles and sun cream; it’s just sometimes, you need a break that goes a little bit deeper e all know holidays are a great way to recharge.

Heck, it’s why we practically count down the days until our next sojourn. But, rather than have the same-old getaway (not that there’s anything wrong with that), why not seek out retreats and breaks with a view to targeting a specific need?

Feeling blinkered via the repetition of the daily grind? Try something that opens the mind. Not quite feeling yourself?

Go for a break designed to raise flagging spirits. Whatever your spiritual or psychological ailment, some holidays don’t just heal our lives; they can change them.

Waves of positivity

If you want excitement

Adventurous Illinois, USA

A stay at Resurface surfing retreats will splash some much-needed water across your face in both a metaphorical and very real sense. Resurface uses surfing as a core element in helping you transform your life across three different retreats: Positive Psychology, Trauma Resolution and Creativity. There’s something positively meditational across the experience, and Resurface’s track record is striking, with several testimonies stating how a retreat proved utterly empowering resurfaceuk.com

If your life is crying out for more excitement, the heartland of America could provide salvation.

Go biking on Route 66, enjoy fresh-water scuba diving in Mermet Springs, kayak on the Chicago River, canoe the mighty Mississippi; just generally do all the things you can’t when you’re sat in front of a spreadsheet enjoyillinois.co.uk

Resurface, Morocco and North Devon

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If work has got too much

Frankly coaching retreat, Eastwell Manor, Kent

WORDS STACEY SMITH

If you're drowning in life

WORDS: XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXX

mind-altering outlooks

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This is aimed at those who want to change career path, improve wellbeing or simply feel overwhelmed. Across three days, enjoy daily group coaching, meditation, mindfulness, Vinyasa Flow yoga and more, all hosted by NLP life and business coach, Puja K McClymont franklycoaching.com

BA LA N CE. M ED I A March 2019

If you just want pampering Castello di Vicarello

This Tuscan gem’s new spa suite boasts a private steam room, sauna and outdoor shower, all set against a rosemary garden. Think it can’t get better? It can! There’s also a hot tub for your own private wellness sanctuary. And, if you’re a creative type in need of fresh inspiration, check out that stunning Tuscan countryside B castellodivicarello.com

BALANCE PROMOTION

EASING THE PAIN How Boots and its new Cystitis Test & Treat Service is making life a little bit easier

C

ystitis is a pain in every sense.

There’s the burning or stinging feeling when passing urine, the need to pass urine suddenly or more often than usual, and said urine can also be cloudy. But good news is on the horizon, with an easy access route to help you back to recovery.

It’s important to know urinary tract infections (UTIs) are incredibly common and, while often painful, can be relatively easy to treat. UTIs can affect different parts of the urinary tract, including the bladder (cystitis) and urethra (urethritis). Many cases can clear up on their own in a few days, but some may need treatment with prescription medication.

Thankfully, you can now treat cystitis in a way that doesn’t necessarily mean a trip to the GP. How? It’s all thanks to Boots’ Cystitis Test & Treat Service for women aged 16 to 64 who have symptoms of a UTI*. Just pop into a participating Boots store in London or Sheffield and purchase a test kit to use in the privacy of your own home, download the free companion app (compatible smartphone required) and, once completed, bring your results back in store for a pharmacist to review.

Depending on your results, they will advise you on treatment options – which may include prescription medication* – to help you get back to normal quickly.

AS SIMPLE AS ONE, TWO, THREE

QUESTIONS

USE

ADVICE

Answer a few questions in store and, if suitable, a member of the team will recommend a Dip UTI test kit (£9.99)

Download the free Dip UTI app and follow the instructions to complete the urine dipstick test. Results will be displayed on your phone within minutes

Return to the store with your test results so a pharmacist can interpret them, and advise you on next steps

For more information and a list of participating stores, visit boots.com/cystitis-test-and-treat-service

* FOR WOMEN AGED 16-64. PRIVATE SERVICE IN SELECTED BOOTS STORES, SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA & CHARGES APPLY

February LA N March 2019 2019 BA LABA N CE. MCE ED I A

W H AT ’ S O N

CULTURE ounter

March’s slate comes in like a lion and goes out the same way

empire building Taraji P Henson, the star and producer of What Men Want, discusses success in later life IT’S GREAT TO SEE YOUR FUNNY BONES IN WHAT MEN WANT. It’s why I moved to Hollywood! I thought I’d do a sitcom and funny movies, but that’s not what happened. I’m a trained actor and can do it all. My favourite is comedy, I just keep getting locked into dramatic roles. Comedians make good dramatic actors because they add a layer a dramatic actor might miss.

THE FILM DOES A GREAT JOB OF MAKING SERIOUS POINTS. As a producer, I was adamant I didn’t want to go male-bashing. I wanted to make sure this wasn’t girls vs boys and to deal with a difficult subject matter in a light, humorous way, so we can all shed light on the issues we’re dealing with.

Taraji’s next role sees her play civil rights activist Ann Atwater in Robin Bissell’s Best Of Enemies, opposite Sam Rockwell’s Ku Klux Klan leader

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE THE LEAD IN A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE AT 48?

I was told when I moved to Hollywood at 26 I was too old. I thought, “I’m going to prove you wrong!”

Remember when Meryl Streep thought it was over at 40, and then she had a revamp like never before?

Black women can do it, too. I made it my mission.

WHAT’S NEXT? I really want to do a fantasy role, and play a villain, a dark villain. The challenge is making the audience love to hate me.

WORDS JAMES GILL PHOTOGRAPHY GETTY IMAGES

HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN BALANCE? Being a mother kept me focused. I couldn’t go to clubs to network, so I could only network in auditions and meetings. No one is making a business deal in a club.

DOES POSITIVITY COME NATURALLY? I have it in me, but life can get to you. You have to choose positivity. It’s easy to hate and be mean.

I want to be on the side of love, hope and faith.

That’s the side I like to be on. Does the dark side get me sometimes? Yes, and that’s when I make a conscious choice to be happy.

What Men Want is in cinemas from 15 March

HEAR MUCH MORE FROM TARAJI AT balance.media March 2019 BA LA N CE. M ED I A

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OUT AND ABOUT

Novel approach

THEATRE

COME FROM AWAY

nine perfect strangers by Liane Moriarty The writer struck gold with Big Little Lies and roars back with Nine Perfect Strangers, which is set at a wellness resort…

DID YOU RESEARCH THE WORLD OF WELLNESS FOR THIS ONE? I did. I read a lot of TripAdvisor reviews for health resorts which provided a wealth of information, and I also went to a particularly lovely health resort for a five-day program where I did not suffer all that much for my art. I gave up coffee, which enabled me to accurately describe that drilling sensation at the centre of your forehead when your body craves caffeine, and also got up very early for many days in a row which made me feel morally superior, just like an insufferable morning person.

screen time

DID ANY STUFF MAKE YOU LAUGH? I remember getting the giggles quite badly doing an ‘immersion something-or-other’ treatment.

I was in a very crowded room with my eyes closed, my feet in a bucket of lukewarm water, while two beautiful young people pranced about playing flutes, banging cymbals together and occasionally blowing puffs of scented air in my face. It was lucky I was alone because if I’d had a friend sitting next to me I know I wouldn’t have been able to control myself.

WHAT STAYED WITH YOU? I’m completely sold on the benefits of meditation and want to make it a regular part of my life. By the end of 2019 I expect I’ll be floating through my life like a butterfly.

WE TRUST TV HAS ONCE AGAIN BEEN KNOCKING DOWN YOUR DOOR FOR THIS ONE, TOO? Nicole Kidman purchased the film and television rights before it was even published. She will play the role of Masha. I know she’ll be magnificent.

ART

TRACEY EMIN: A FORTNIGHT OF TEARS

Nine Perfect Strangers

by Liane Moriarty out now in paperback (£18.99, Michael Joseph)

READ MORE FROM LIANE AT BALANCE.MEDIA

NETFLIX

CINEMA

Ricky Gervais has delivered a masterpiece with his latest offering.

Covering many of Balance’s themes (love, loss, grief, decency and, ultimately, doing the right thing), it’s a surprisingly emotional six-part series. This is the sort of show that will encourage you to tell someone you love them. Available now on Netflix

On the surface, this is a fun, female spin on Mel Gibson’s 2000 hit What Women Want. Yet beneath the gags, it makes a serious point: if you’re not a straight, white man, the workplace can be tough. Taraji P Henson proves her leading lady chops and carries the whole shebang with winning panache. In cinemas from 15 March

AFTER LIFE

CINEMA

CAPTAIN MARVEL This not only serves as a blistering time-skipping origin story for Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers but, given much of the action takes place in the mid-1990s, also provides diehard Marvel fans with the nourishing goodness of Samuel L Jackson’s Nick Fury and Clark Gregg’s Agent Coulson.

In cinemas nationwide now

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Life-affirming musical based on events after a flight was diverted to a sleepy Canadian town following the 9/11 attacks.

More uplifting than it sounds. Phoenix Theatre, comefromaway.com

WHAT MEN WANT

AMAZON PRIME

AMERICAN GODS Thanks to the likes of Halt and Catch Fire, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel and Goliath, Amazon has built a reputation as the home of quality original shows. Series two of Neil Gaiman’s fantasy drama is even more weird and wonderful than before. And at 76, Ian McShane only gets better. Amazon Prime

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The iconic artist puts the ‘art’ into ‘cathartic’ with this seething exhibition on loss, pathos, anger and love. Until 7 April, whitecube.com

MUSIC BROS

You fell in love with them via one of the truly great documentaries. Now catch the boys live, where they’ll (hopefully) belt out new tracks. 5 July, o2 Brixton Academy, livenation.co.uk

FESTIVAL

RUNFESTRUN Chris Evans putting together a running festival? Ummm, yes please! This three-day extravaganza is as much fun as it is run. 31 May 2 June, runfestrun.co.uk

COMEDY

SUZI RUFFELL You’ve seen Suzi shine on Live at the Apollo and Mock the Week. Now catch one of our most dynamic and feel-good comics where she’s at her best: on tour. suziruffell.com

EXHIBITION

NELSON MANDELA This official exhibition includes personal artefacts to help you get a firm grasp of the former South African President and beloved statesman.

Until 3 June, mandelaexhibition.com

BALANCE PROMOTION

Giving new meaning to fun run Thanks to RunFestRun, the brainchild of the great Chris Evans, festivals will never be the same again

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estivals are evolving. The days of standing in a field, cider in one hand, cigarette in the other, might not be over for everyone but these days, there’s so much more choice when it comes to memorable weekends away.

This is why RunFestRun is creating such a buzz. With the three-day camping festival on sale from 21 March, be sure to put a reminder on your calendar, because tickets are going to fly faster than Usain Bolt. And you’ll see why.

As the title suggests, RunFestRun is a running festival. But there’s so much more to it than that. Taking place at beautiful Bowood House & Gardens in Wiltshire between 31 May 2 June, it will be one big party of togetherness, with world famous bands and DJs, sumptuous surroundings and stunning running routes, as well as all manner of fitness classes, inspiring talks and a run-related shopping village.

So, how can we be so sure you’ll have fun?

Well, the person behind RunFestRun knows a thing or two about entertaining: it’s none other than multifaceted star Chris Evans. The beloved, award-winning DJ and presenter has embraced the world of running, which is why he’s throwing his considerable energy and enthusiasm behind RunFestRun. And he’s not the only inspiring figure who’ll be involved. There will be talks from a range of sporting stars, such as former world champion long-distance runner Paula Radcliffe, ex-110m

hurdles world record holder Colin Jackson, and one of the most iconic middle-distance runners of all-time, the legend that is Steve Cram. They’ll also be joined by TV presenter and author Fearne Cotton, and wellness guru Melissa Hemsley.

Each of the three days also boasts a unique theme: Feelgood Friday, Super Saturday and Sunday Funday. As you can imagine, this promises to be the sort of long weekend you wish could run and run and run (pun absolutely intended).

And, even if you’re not in the same league as Cram, Radcliffe or Jackson, fret not: RunFestRun is aimed at everyone. So if you fancy yourself as a promising middle-distance prodigy, are simply an excitable amateur, or sit happily somewhere in between, it doesn’t matter. RunFestRun is fun, full stop.

March 2019 BA LA N CE. M ED I A

Tickets for RunFestRun go on sale from Thursday 21 March. For more information, visit runfestrun.co.uk runfestrun.co.uk @RunFestRun @RunFestRun @runfestrun

Sustainable

beauty EMP OWERING YOU TO LOOK & FEEL YOUR BEST

Want to help save the planet and still look good? These guys can help ease your conscience T HE WHI T E T EE T H B OX CHARC OAL WHI T ENING TO OT H POWDER This innovative brand create zero waste products using plastic-free packaging and biodegradable materials to improve overall oral health while reducing single-use plastic ending up in landfill or our oceans £9.95 for 60ml, wearthlondon.com

DEL IGH T F UL DE TOX ROSEMARY & VE T IVER SHOWER GEL Free from artificial nasties and full of ethically and sustainably-sourced extracts and organic ingredients, this refreshing body wash allows you to get clean, guilt-free £5.99 for 500ml, boots.com

HYDR AT ING FLOR AL MA SK Tata Harper boast recyclable and reusable jewel-like glass jars and bottles, corn derived plastic resin tubes and 100 per cent postconsumer materials. It also uses recycled paperboard for cartons £71.97 for 30ml, global. tataharperskincare.com

K AL E + AP P L E REP L ENISHING SUP ERFO OD C ONDI T IONER All Briogeo products are up to 100 per cent naturally-derived and packaged in bottles that are both recycled and recyclable. The product itself contains no harsh sulphates, silicones, phthalates, parabens or artificial dyes £24 for 369ml, spacenk.com

words LIBBY WILLIAMS photography WILL IRELAND

MINI B AR VINE & PAISL E Y S OAP Using biodegradable and recyclable packaging for all products and offering refills, Ashley & Co consider sustainability in every aspect £9 for 90g, selfridges.com

NOURISHING HAIR EL IXIR DRY HAIR SERUM Choosing only recycled packaging for all products, Evolve also avoid printing using foils and use nontoxic soy and vegetablebased inks £16 for 30ml, evolvebeauty.co.uk

LOVE OIL FOR L IP S Giving a new meaning to lip care, Kiehl’s Recycle and Be Rewarded scheme encourages customers to return empty products in return for a stamp.

Ten stamps earn you one travel-sized product in return £18 for 9ml, kiehls.co.uk

FRESH FARMACY FACIAL S OAP Completely packaging-free, this solid facial soap from Lush is a great way to cut down on skincare-related waste while keeping your skin calm and clear £8.50 for 120g, uk.lush.com

March 2019 BA LA N CE. M ED I A

FOR MORE BEAUTY SECRETS, GO TO BALANCE.MEDIA

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BALANCE PROMOTION

The key to

When maintaining that perfect balance of body and mind, Whole Mouth Health – and Colgate Total – are vital components

W

e all work hard to keep both our body and mind in perfect balance. Modern thinking is all about prevention rather than cure, with more of us working out, eating healthily and maintaining sound mental health with a view to a happier and longer life. But there’s one aspect of our overall wellbeing that can easily be overlooked: mouth health.

This is why Colgate is championing Whole Mouth Health**, and with good reason. There is a wealth of evidence linking oral health to your overall health, and taking care of your teeth shouldn’t just be considered an afterthought.

WATCH YOUR MOUTH Indeed oral diseases, such as gum problems, have been linked with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease. It’s enough to make you think twice the next time you consider skipping that evening brush because you’re too tired.

The good news is that most oral diseases are preventable if we consider the whole mouth, rather than just the teeth. These make up just 20 per cent of your mouth; the remaining 80 is comprised of your tongue, cheeks and gums, where bacteria can colonise and transfer on to your teeth.

New Colgate Total has been scientifically designed to target the entire mouth, making it the perfect toothpaste to promote Whole Mouth Health**. After all, you wouldn’t use a shampoo that only targeted 20 per cent of your hair, so the same ethos must be applied to mouth health.

Colgate Total’s breakthrough formula provides superior protection for your teeth, tongue, cheeks and gums for up to 12 hours*, allowing you to grin in the knowledge your Whole Mouth Health** is one less issue to wipe the smile from your face.

For more information, visit colgate.com @ColgateUK @ColgateUK

BA LA N CE. M ED I A March 2019

BRUSH STROKES Bacteria in biofilm – the sticky substance known as ‘plaque’ – can collect and colonise, transferring on to teeth even after brushing.

New Colgate Total proactively fights bacteria not only present on your teeth, but also your tongue, cheeks and gums, for up to 12 hours*

*SUPERIOR BACTERIA REDUCTION ON TEETH, TONGUE, CHEEKS & GUMS VS NON ANTIBACTERIAL FLUORIDE TOOTHPASTE AFTER 12 HOURS, AFTER 4 WEEKS OF CONTINUOUS USE ** WHOLE MOUTH HEALTH DEFINED AS TEETH, TONGUE, CHEEKS & GUMS

OVERALL WELLBEING

S O A P S TA R

The new bar culture Forget your face wash: the humble bar of soap is back

LEE KYNASTON

Although a firm believer that real beauty comes from the inside, Lee sees no harm in giving the outside some TLC

L

ike pop legends Abba, the humble bar of soap has something of a chequered history when it comes to public approbation; but, just like the poptastic Swedes, it has been somewhat re-evaluated and rehabilitated, particularly as it offers a plastic-free way of cleansing. In fact, bars of soap are becoming so popular (Waitrose alone reported a seven per cent rise in sales last year) that in 2019, it has become a bona fide beauty trend.

In the past, beauty bods like myself cautioned people against soap and steered them towards face and body washes instead.

This was down to the fact traditional soaps tend to be alkaline in nature, which means they easily disrupt the skin’s natural protective barrier (or ‘acid mantle’), which, as the name suggests, is on the slightly acidic side. That can leave skin feeling dry, tight and unable to protect itself from external aggressors like pollution, and internal ones like moisture-robbing central heating.

Thankfully these days, most solid soaps are a far cry from the ones my nan used, which could probably strip paint from a skirting board. Formulations have improved; now, few soaps contain ingredients like lanolin, an animal-sourced emollient that can irritate sensitive skin. There are plenty of animalfriendly options (if they’re labelled vegan, the glycerine used will be plant-based or synthetic rather than animal-sourced), while a new

IMB A L A N C IN G AC T

Skin’s average pH is around 5.5, while many soaps used to nudge the scale at 9.10

breed of multi-functional soaps help save space in the bathroom, not to mention waste heading for landfill; Christophe Robin’s Hydrating Shampoo Bar is the perfect alternative to plastic bottles of shampoo.

PASS THE BAR Lush has more vegan-friendly soaps than you can shake a washcloth at, while Dr. Bronner’s soaps are mild enough to be used on hair, face and body, are made from organic, fair trade ingredients and come in 100 per cent biodegradable, recycled paper.

One of your best options, though, comes from BECo – an eco-friendly, notfor-profit company whose products are hand-wrapped by a workforce consisting of people who are partially-sighted, disabled or disadvantaged, enabling you to do your skin, the planet and a whole bunch of people a favour all at the same time. B

SOAP D I GE ST

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1. All-One Hemp Citrus Pure-Castile Bar Soap, £4.99 for 140g drbronner.co.uk 2.Maypole Soap, £4.25 for 100g lush.com 3 .Margo Selby Soap Dish, £12 johnlewis.com 4. Triple Milled Organic Soap Bar Spring Meadow, £2.59 for 100g waitrose.com

5. Blue Cedar Hand Made Soap, £1.99 for 100g hollandandbarrett.com 6. 100% Vegan Hydrating Shampoo Bar with Aloe Vera, £17.50 for 100g spacenk.com VISIT BALANCE.MEDIA TO GROOM WELL

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Liquid gold

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With a transparent list of ingredients, isn’t it about time you prepared yourself for an oil change?

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hen I fell pregnant with my first child, I became very conscious of what I was putting on my skin. After all, there is growing concern certain chemicals (parabens, phthalates) found in common personal care products can affect developing babies and bring on early puberty in girls.

A quick check of my long-standing, cult American body lotion revealed methylparaben, butylparaben and propylparaben, plus BHT and PEGs. It had to go. As a moisturising junkie, I had to find a substitute. In Spain, I discovered a chemist selling sweet almond oil, and it was surprisingly cheap. An excellent moisturiser and a good source of essential fatty acids, it was also unscented, so when baby arrived I knew it wouldn’t interfere with my personal scent and I could use it on her skin, too.

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Buly

for you!

Midnight oils

JESSICA PUNTER

Beauty journalist and stylist Jessica is also a brand consultant with more than 15 years’ experience.

In addition to styling many celebrities, she’s also interviewed some of the world’s most famous faces

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SEE-THROUGH BEAUTY Five years later, I’m addicted to oils. Yes, there are plenty of “free from” moisturisers available now, but with oil the ingredients tend to be 100 per cent natural and transparent, so you can be confident you know what you’re getting.

Emma Webber, co-founder of the Natural Spa Factory agrees. “Oils have a certain clarity, both in appearance and how their ingredients are detailed. They are naturally occurring and have intrinsic beneficial properties without the addition of chemicals or nasties.”

French apothecary brand l’Officine Universelle Buly (available at Selfridges) has a veritable sweet shop of pure plant oils sourced from around the world. “Plant oils have always been used to nurture the skin,” explains Victoire de Taillac, Buly co-creative director. “They are the oldest of beauty products, have amazing properties for skin and hair and are well tolerated by any skin. They also consist of one ingredient. If you’re concerned by the composition of

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❺ 1. Huile Antique Damask Rose, £27 for 190ml buly1803.com 2. Illuminate Dry Body Oil, £36 for 100ml naturalspafactory.com 3. Almond Oil, £12 for 100ml nealsyardremedies.com 4. Neroli Body Oil, £32 for 100ml islaapothecary.com 5. Tonic Body Treatment Oil, £40 for 100ml clarins.co.uk 6. Soothing Bath, Body & Shower Oil, £20 for 100ml bramleyproducts.co.uk

beauty products, plant oils should be your first solution.”

Buly’s full range features 89 oils, from typical sources like almond, avocado and coconut, to obscure ones like Buriti fruit, Kalahari melon seed and even broccoli. It also makes blended body oils stored in beautiful antique style bottles you’ll want to hang on to.

Isla Apothecary’s organic Neroli Body Oil captures the mood of a Mediterranean summer and if you’re pregnant, Clarins’ original Tonic Body Treatment Oil primes the skin against stretch marks and has a revitalising scent for tired, achy bodies. B

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How to be a morning person by

Tim Samuels

A BIT ABOUT ME I am a BBC and National Geographic documentary maker and broadcaster and started the All Hail Kale podcast because I wanted to professionalise my love of whole foods. The podcast is really about having as many experts as you possibly can and one thing I’ve researched is how to be a morning person – so enjoy.

WAYS TO A BETTER GUT

OWLS OF DERISION

GUT INSTINCT

You have a genetic disposition to be a lark or an owl; the technical term is polymorphism period 3 gene, which basically means some people are wired for the morning and some for the night. On an evolutionary level, if you’re a hunter-gatherer and didn’t want to get mauled by an animal at any time of the day, it’s good to have people awake at different times. You are literally fighting your brain and body’s wiring.

MORNING GLORY I’ve tried to schedule appointments for the morning (knowing I absolutely have to make them) and tried going to bed earlier, but they’ve made zero difference.

I quietly resigned myself to the fact I’m not a morning person. Back in the days when I worked in news, the breakfast shift was absolute torture.

People were bouncing and chatting and I could barely grunt. The idea of talking at 5am broke my spirit, but when I did Newsnight, I was much happier and more awake.

BRAIN GAIN Our genes and brain are linked and more flexible than we thought.

Because of epigenetics, genes can be switched on and off and can potentially rewire the brain.

Allied to the fact the brain is a lot more plastic than we thought, it opens up the idea we don’t have to resign ourselves to being the

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Ninety per cent of the body’s serotonin is in your gut, and along with the microbiome, it’s an exciting new frontier when looking at mental health. Keep the gut happy, and it’ll keep you happy

Tim Samuel’s podcast All Hail Kale is available on BBC Sounds

way we are because of our genes; there’s room for change.

PHONE DRONE When you look at your phone, it’s probably rewiring you in a negative way, making us more superficial and less capable of thought. When you watch TV, try to stop scrolling through your phone. Even if it’s in the room, the brain is more active. Mindfulness has an impact on the brain.

Coming into contact with bacteria is important. It’s good to go and pet an animal or get muddy in the garden. All these are crucial to our gut bacteria

FERM FAVOURITE Naturally fermented foods such as kimchi, sauerkraut and kombucha help keep gut bacteria happy

BRAIN POWER I’ve visited Brainworks, a company that offers neuro-feedback and can help rewire your brain to be in a better state. A scan of mine tells me I overworry and it does this throughout the night. With Brainworks, I retrained it using a cap with sensors attached.

I then watched a video which I controlled via the power of thought.

It’s essentially an extreme form of meditation; if you meditate regularly you can change your brain patterns and rewire it. B

BAC FOR GOOD

The outcome

I find it easier to get up and mornings feel less torturous. An expert told me you have to incrementally work back from the time you wake up; as you contract that sleep, the quality improves. I go to bed maybe half an hour earlier and I’m more awake

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BALANCE PROMOTION

GAME-CHANGING TECHNOLOGY

Science meets sleep How sleepPRO™ and BodiTrak technology combine to give you those soughtafter sweet dreams

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ay hello to the future of sleep. “How?” you may yell while stifling a yawn.

Well, because Bensons for Beds has successfully harnessed the latest pioneering sleep technology to deliver a night’s rest you simply won’t believe.

Just think how you’d benefit from a better night’s sleep: sleep and rest helps you live longer, enhances memory, enables you to be more creative, wards off colds and flu (which are particularly prevalent this time of year) and can lower the risk of heart attack, stroke and diabetes.

What’s more, when you sleep well, you feel happier, less depressed and far less anxious.

Is there a busy Londoner out there who wouldn’t want all of that?

HOW SLEEPPRO™ WORKS

Lie down and... relax Assisted by a staff member, you’ll lie down and let BodiTrack devise a sleep profile

Firm touch You’ll then discover which type of mattress is best for you

It all starts with how you buy your bed. There was a time when you’d visit a bed shop, tentatively sit on one you liked, agree it was comfy and then take the plunge. Not exactly scientific, right?

Bensons for Beds has changed the game. Go in-store to try first-hand sleepPRO™, which uses exclusive BodiTrak technology that helps analyse your slumbering needs and delivers your own personalised sleep profile.

The cutting-edge programme monitors your body in order to determine how you sleep. Once this is deduced, its knowledgeable staff then guide you to ensure you get the perfect product to promote your best night’s sleep.

You’ll be able to see for yourself how the technology works thanks to in-store screens, which show what type of mattress will suit you best. And, with five different firmness ratings to choose from – soft; medium/soft; medium; firm; and extra firm – what you think you may want could differ greatly from what the body tracking technology recommends.

What’s more, the team will also show you how different pillows impact sleeping positions. After all, when you sleep like a PRO, you live like a PRO. For more information, visit us in store or at bensonsforbeds.co.uk

Pillow talk Bensons for Beds will also show how different pillows alter how you sleep

March 2019 BA LA N CE. M ED I A

@bensonsforbeds @BensonsForBeds

Try our exclusive technology in store to find the right mattress for you