Balance July 2018

L I V E

W E L L

JULY 2018

ISSUE 26 BALANCE.MEDIA

Q UIZ: WHAT SH OU LD YOU DO WITH YOUR MONEY? COMBAT YOUR DAILY FATIGUE NO, IT ’S FINE HOW TO DEAL WITH PASSIVE AG G RE SSION

Evangeline Lilly’s creating a buzz

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Welcome

EDITORIAL Editor Sophie Scott

It isn’t very British to shout about winning, is it? Sadly, sporting-wise, we’re not that used to having to (nonetheless, Harry Kane, you are a legend).

There’s something oddly comfortable about losing, or coming second. After all, no one wants to be branded a show-off, only to later fall from grace. But does anything material come from playing small in the world?

We can learn so much from other people’s setbacks and successes. Everyone’s heard countless stories of world-class entrepreneurs and leaders who were close to throwing in the towel before they struck gold.

Last month, BALANCE and I were lucky enough to be awarded the PPA for Innovation in Publishing (there, I said it). It was a tremendous privilege to be recognised by the Oscars of the publishing world - particularly as someone who hasn’t come from a traditional journalistic background. Despite my periodic feelings of being an imposter, I firmly believe that hard work and resilience can pay off. And that unconventional, less trodden paths are nothing to be ashamed of.

The media industry and wider world is crying out for innovation, diversity and personal growth, and Balance is proud to be a driving force in this movement.

Sophie Scott Editor editor@balance.media

Deputy Editor James Gill Production Editor Jonathan Sever Creative Director Kate Monument Art Director Victoria Ireland Deputy Art Editor Jade Cooper-Collins Production Director Dahlia Cuby Thanks to Isaine Blatry, Neelam Keshwala, Lynne Maxwell Digital Director Callum McGeoch Acting Digital Editor Rebecca Gillam Digital Creative Producer Henry Mame TRADING Commercial Director Minal Bhima Advertising Paul Brett, Nick Canane, Nigel Clarke, Stefanie Daniels, Lindi De Souza, Jeremy Saunders Creative Partnerships Rashad Braimah CIRCULATION AND DISTRIBUTION Magazine Heroes circulation@balance.media BALANCE PUBLISHING LTD Executive Editor Morgan Rees Editorial Director Rashmi Madan

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Head of Finance Kate Lyon Licensing Jonathan Marks

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: ZOEY GROSSMAN, EDITOR’S PHOTOGRAPHY: IAKOVOS KALAITZAKIS

PA to Publisher/Managing Director Filippa Woolf Publisher/Managing Director Daniel Cuby

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Contributors

Tel 020 8444 3401 Fax 020 8883 9504 www.balance.media

PPA AWARD SUCCESS

Editor Sophie Scott was named Publishing Innovator Of The Year at the prestigious PPA Awards. It’s another big win, and we’re grateful to you for your support and loyalty.

Balance Publishing Ltd, Laser House, 132-140 Goswell Road, Clerkenwell, London EC1V 7DY

Nadiya Hussain Family cook

Amelia Richards Healing words

James Gill The best medicine

Life changed dramatically when she won the GBBO in 2015, and in between writing books and TV work, Nadiya talks family favourites with us.

Adaptogens are a good thing, right? But what exactly are they? Nutrition expert Amelia explains how we can use them to improve our wellbeing.

Our deputy editor is a comedy anorak and got to chat with Hotel Transylvania 3 star and comedy hero Andy Samberg for our Culture section…

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 202,717 July-Dec mathematically correct.

2017

July 2018 BA LA N CE

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July

CONTENTS R E GULA RS

WORK/ LIF E

9 GOOD NEWS 16 QUIZ: WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY MONEY? 78 MASTERCLASS: BREAK THE RULES, GET RESULTS

30 WHY HAS FATIGUE BECOME ACCEPTABLE?

PSYCH OLO GY 33 HOW TO DEAL WITH PASSIVE AGGRESSION 36 THE IMPORTANCE OF RITUALS

BO DY/SO U L 40 TAKE A TRIP INTO MICRODOSING 43 THE NEW TAKE ON NEURO -LINGUISTIC PROGRAMMING

he

E Fr VA om

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r fe G ta self eli EL ck , h ng IN li o L he ng w os E r o Ho Eva t to LI wn llyw ng fi LL n Y te oo elin din rm d e g s on is

ER

O V

pg.

TRAVE L 58 MEXICAN FIESTA 63 GET VOCAL IN GOA

C

A RTS/CULT URE 71 IT’S TOO HOT TO THINK, SO WE’VE SORTED YOUR ‘TO DO’ LIST FOR JULY

2 6

ST

O

RY

FO OD 47 NADIYA HUSSAIN’S COOKING FOR THE FAMILY 53 ADAPTOGENS: YOUR SKIN’S NEW BEST FRIEND

BEAU TY / GRO OMING 75 SMELL GOOD ON THE GO 77 SOLVE PROBLEM HOLIDAY HAIR

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July

GOOD NEWS

TWEET ‘Just seen @BalanceLDN, and it’s the first time I’ve ever read a mag page-to-page’ @smiley_sare

TWEET ‘If we could replace traditional media with @BalanceLDN, the world would be a better place’ @ashluchmun

WORDS: JAMES GILL IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES, SHUTTERSTOCK. SOURCES: NEWS.OSU.EDU, ASPPH.ORG

Life-extending drinks (and beliefs), Ireland rights its wrongs and female pundits win the World Cup

Food

Technology

LIVER LONGER LIFE

PATH TO SAFETY Think a connected fridge is peak “smart” tech?

You’re wrong. Coming to a half-mile stretch of Colorado concrete is an Integrated Roadways smart pavement, which detects when and where a car has driven off the road. It then alerts the emergency services and helps shorten response times. Hope it’s not rolled out at a pedestrian pace.

Gay rights IRELAND SAYS SORRY Ireland has officially apologised to homosexuals punished before the ban on same-sex activity was lifted in 1993. During the darkest days of the ban between 1962-1972, there were an astonishing 455 convictions. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who is gay himself, said: ”We cannot erase the wrong that was done, but we have learned as a society from their suffering.”

Equality GREAT SCOTT OK, VAR (video assistant referee) might have had a worse World Cup than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo combined but, in happier news, feminism and equality have played a metaphorical blinder.

How so? Well, it’s largely thanks to studio pundits Alex Scott and Eni Aluko, who have shone for the BBC and ITV respectively.

Clichés and stock lines?

Not on their teamsheet.

The duo have proved nothing quite beats doing research, having good knowledge, preparing properly and oozing charisma, rather than leaning on tired ‘banter’.

It wasn’t all that long ago football punditry was still very much seen as a job for the boys. Thanks to Scott and Aluko’s on-point insight, such a notion now seems as laughable as a VAR-awarded penalty.

Long considered tea’s unhinged cousin, new research has found coffee might be good for your liver. Emily Hu, a doctoral student at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, poured over the results of more than 14,000 subjects tested over 26 years, and those who drank three or more cups a day enjoyed a 21% lower chance of suffering from liver-related illness. Let’s all celebrate with a pint. Of coffee.

Health GOD 1-0 ATHIESTS If you’re religious, get ready to gloat: belief in a higher power can help extend your life. An Ohio State team, led by doctoral researcher Laura Wallace, chalked one up for deities, as Wallace explains: “Religious affiliation had nearly as strong an effect on longevity as gender.” No word on coming back from the dead, though...

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Environment THE EARTH MOVED News of the earth rising would usually send folk into frenzied terror normally reserved for B-movies. However, this is a positive. Land beneath the west Antarctic ice sheet is rising at a rate of a whopping 41mm per year, which should prevent further ice loss and prove vital in the war on climate change, especially as this sheet is responsible for a quarter of earth’s melting ice each year. “It’s a game-changer,” says Terry Wilson, Professor Emeritus at Ohio State’s School of Earth Sciences.

“We previously thought uplift would occur slowly over thousands of years.

Our results suggest this may only take decades.”

Maybe Hell is on course for that cold snap after all?

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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 Researchers have discovered a nerve pathway through the sensory vagus nerve that will lead a woman to experience orgasm through sensations transmitted directly to the brain

user guide

rebalance SIX STEPS TO YOUR BEST-EVER ORGASM

BEDSIDE MANNER THE WANTING COURSES

MEAT EATER HANX VEGAN CONDOMS

Dr Juliana Morris wants you to have better sex. Now you can, thanks to The Wanting courses, where you’ll get in touch with your sexual self, and feel that inner vibration.

So that you, like her, will become a full-on sexpert drjulianamorris.com

You’re getting “down to business”, when you’re asked, “Are these condoms vegan?” Sound the moodkiller klaxon. Avoid potential embarrassment with Hanx; they’re vegan and made with Fair Trade natural latex. hanxofficial.com

COMPILED BY: JAMES GILL, ILLUSTRATION: RAMI NIEMI

COUPLE’S RETREAT REMOTE CONTROL VIBRATING THONG This is not Love Honey’s first rodeo. This remote control vibrator is placed in a lace thong, while your partner ‘pushes buttons’. Great fun if you’re in a restaurant together and fancy re-enacting that scene from When Harry Met Sally… lovehoney.co.uk

Be Kind

AND GET LUCKY

by BERNADETTE RUSSELL HAVE A FLICK THE ORGASM PRESCRIPTION Dr Andrea Pennington’s book is perfect bedtime reading,.

This 21-day program opens the door to sexual fulfilment, expression, increased intimacy and, crucially, more fulfilling orgasms. You don’t get that with a Grisham. waterstones.com

ERECTION SECTION VIAGRA CONNECT

OFF

Remember when Viagra first came out? Every hack comic in the land couldn’t believe their luck. Now Viagra is as standard as the morning commute. So much so, it’s now prescription-free.

Remember: Viagra isn’t just about getting an erection, it’s about keeping it. boots.com/viagraconnect

ON

NEW MEANING OF ‘OM’ TURNON BRITAIN This is Orgasmic Meditation (OM), which combines the power of meditation with the experience of an orgasm, all with a view to amplifying feelings of empathy, connection and generosity. Sessions last 15 minutes. turnonbritain.co.uk

July 2018 BA LA N CE

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ince starting my daily acts of kindness in 2011, I’ve investigated all the benefits.

Research demonstrates you get a dopamine hit (which makes you feel happier), and a release of feelgood hormone oxytocin, protecting your heart and giving you that warm, glowy feeling. Being kind to yourself can help you feel more optimistic and confident, but just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, I discovered something else.

Researchers in Canada spoke with 1,000 people about acts of kindness, then asked them about their relationships. Those who scored higher on the kindness rating said they received more interest from potential sexual partners. The researchers concluded that kind people are likely to be seen as more attentive, caring, charming, humble and less self-absorbed, so they also become more attractive.

So, as well as changing the world for the better and making you happier, kindness is also… sexy!

The Little Book of Kindness

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

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RUN ’N’ BASS

the manua l

s ' r e m i T t Firsuide to...

G

Midlife Cry-sis

by GEMMA CORRELL

jungle running

Jamie Glassman takes up cardio with a unique kind of rhythm Highgate Wood is home to over 400 different species of moth

S

et to the rhythm of ’90s drum ’n’ bass in ancient woodland surrounding Highgate, Jungle Running is the brainchild of North London folk singer, nature lover and personal trainer, Stacey Cohen. It’s a bizarre combination, but it works.

Like a Silent Disco mixed with an outdoor HiiT class, Stacey plugs you in to her sound system and you’re immediately transported back to some dodgy nightclub in Farringdon. Only this time there’s no need to break out ‘big fish, little fish, cardboard box’; Stacey has cardiovascular alternatives.

It doesn’t take long before you forget Highgate Woods is mostly populated by bewildered dog walkers and families, and though you may break out your Running Man, the

name Jungle Running is a bit of a misnomer. It’s more a mix of sit-ups, squats, sun salutations, local history and nature lessons.

The idea came to Stacey at the tail end of a music festival when she realised she wanted to stay healthy and keep dancing outdoors with likeminded people. It’s not just a chance to get fit and move like an idiot to old school rave, you also get to look at the woods from new angles.

Groups meet several times a week and classes are £12 a pop. Wear appropriate gear for a fitness class, but don’t slip on your newest threads, things can get muddy in a hurry.

I can’t say I rushed home to dig out my Roni Size CDs, but I was happy enjoying flashbacks to the days when music this fast was a staple soundtrack to everyday living.

ACE OF BASSLINE

What?

Jungle Running

Where?

Highgate Woods. Visit londonjunglerunners.com for more info

Level Open to all

Cost From £12 per session

Time 75 minutes

March LA2018 N CE BA LA2018 N CE BA July

life coach corner SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE

by KATIE BROCKHURST Have you ever considered choosing to use social media differently?

Did you know that we can choose to use the platforms to connect with real people, to reach out with content that is creative, positive, informative, helpful and healing, in service to the world at large?

We can use social media to connect with people in a way that has never been possible before, and it’s up to us to choose how we use it. Just like Facebook’s algorithm, which is ‘Personal, Subjective and Unique’, we do not all have to use it in the same way as everyone else. How good does it feel to say that?

Social Media for A New Age

by Katie Brockhurst (£8.62, Green Tree)

15

the manual

The

QUIZ

We all have different attitudes to finances, some are more successful than others. Take our test to learn how to keep your funds in order

WHAT should I do with my money? words by DALE TAILOR photography by JO NATH AN KNOWLE S

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SMALL CHANGE

ta k e

st

the te

FOLLOW THE MONEY 1. You get an unexpected bonus at work. What do you do with the money?

Splurge it on something I normally wouldn’t buy Leave it in my current account to come back to later Transfer it to my savings account Add it to my investment portfolio Use it to place a high yielding investment I normally wouldn’t

A B C D E

2. When you go to the grocery store, how do you normally pay for your purchases?

Half-and-half mix of left-over cash and credit Dedicated grocery debit card Cash I’ve drawn out to last me the week Credit/debit card Store-specific card

A B C D E

3. When the stock market report pops up on the news, you normally…

Tune out. I’ll never have cash to throw away on it Turn it off Pay attention to housing market trends Listen to the long term-trends and cycles Already know what they’re going to say…

A B C D E

4. How do you approach your taxes?

The people I work for take care of that nonsense I read how much I’ve paid, shrug it off and move on My tax accountant handles all of that for me I don’t pay very much tax, thanks to my off-shore investment portfolio I always look for loopholes to reduce how much I need to pay

A B C D E

5. When it comes to the festive season, what is your approach to Christmas shopping?

It happens on the 24th of December, depending on how skint I am I’ll buy the odd thing some time in December for the people I live with Shopping starts in November, when sales are at their hottest I’ll do the shopping the first week work shuts down for the holidays The perfect gifts will present themselves within three days of Christmas

A B C D E

Tally up each letter you’ve chosen and see what it means over the page.

Flip for your results!

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SMALL CHANGE

the manual

RESULTS y tl s o M

y tl s o M

s

y tl s o M

s

s

THE BIG SPENDER

THE MINIMALIST

THE SQUIRREL

As fast as you get it, you spend it. You probably have nothing saved, and that’s something you can’t see changing. You’re in company: one in four Britons have no savings, but there’s plenty you can do to alter your situation.

You don’t place much importance on money, because it makes you another cog in a financial system that keeps everyone indentured for life. You’re not far off: a paper at the University of Buffalo found staking your self worth on the pursuit of money has negative psychological consequences.

You’re a ruthless saver and have set up all sorts of investment strategies that are risk averse, yet constant in their yield.

The future is something that worries you, so you’re playing the long game by having just about every eventuality covered with multiple insurance policies.

Try...

“The key issue is access,” explains Adam Pratt, lead financial consultant at Easily Started (easilystarted.com). “If you have open access to your savings, you’ll wipe them out in small chunks.

Look for an account that aids your discipline of saving an affordable amount of your pay. Don’t ignore the new Lifetime ISA either, which has a tax-free wrapper and gets topped up by up to 25% per year to contribute towards buying your first house or your pension.”

y Mostl

s

Try

Try

“Money is engineered to seem complex, and some of the language around it is impenetrable,” explains Adam. “At its heart, it’s a universal quantifier allowing you to convert efforts into anything you choose. If you are not fussed about cash now, just make sure you have the basics covered for your future self. If there is any to spare, look at investing in things you are interested in, from ethical businesses to crowd funding. That way, your money works for you.”

THE RISKY BUSINESS

You’re in love with the sheer exhilaration a high-risk, high-reward investment can yield and there’s a certain thrill THE AMASSER of the chase that keeps you motivated to be Youentertained are officiallyand ‘post economic.’ creative with your funds.

This the ensures That’s termyou’re wherealways you noseeking longer new and inventive viewpoints earning thewealthy easy way, have tofor work as youcash are so which can include dipping your toes into thehave stockno market. everyday economics baring Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose,and which sees on your finances lifeoften satisfaction. the balance coming slightly inabout your favour.

It’s all

18

A paper at Hiroshima University found having a good understanding of money reduces worries about old age. “Your investment strategy may seem risk averse, but you still need to be smart,” explains Adam.

“If you are dealing in cash investments, the Financial Services Compensation Scheme only guarantees £50,000 per institution (£85,000 for ISAs), so place your savings wisely. There are also treasury and other bonds as alternatives.”

y tl s o M

s THE AMASSER You are officially ‘posteconomic.’ That’s the term where you no longer have to work as you are so wealthy, everyday economics have no bearing on your finances or life satisfaction. It’s all about maintaining your wonderfully high standard of living at this stage, so there’s no need to get risky.

Try

Even if you feel insulated from the world’s problems, you do not own your own planet and are affected by how everyone else acts. “You can clearly afford excellent advice, but may not feel like you’re getting it,” says Adam. “I will add my penny’s worth: beware the self-professed expert, because they have nothing to learn. Instead, look to specialists in tax and managing portfolio risk; be receptive to advice, but heed only your own mind. Any tax advice you are given now may be retrospectively invalidated by HMRC, and you should always take full responsibility for your investment choices.”

Try

Quick fixes and ‘sure things’ don’t always pay off the way you imagine they will, especially if you listen to people making guarantees. A paper at Bocconi University in Milan found if you want to make money with stocks, you shouldn’t listen to fortune-tellers. During the last 35 years, investing in the 10% of US stocks analysts were most optimistic about yielded on average 3% a year. Investing in the 10% of stocks analysts were most pessimistic about would have yielded a staggering annual increase of 15%…

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PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

The

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HELPING HOUND

the manua l

So you want to be a...

Dog walker Your pathway to becoming a highly-desired hound handler

A

career toolkit TRAINING

An Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) accreditation will give you an edge over your rivals. Courses start from £1,375

COST

Depends entirely on scale. For local walks you’ll need leads, poo bags and wipe down towels as well as insurance. For a bigger set-up, a van and cage facility is vital

career change is often linked to job satisfaction or (in all honesty), money. So isn’t it wonderful to find a possible career path that offers both, with added doses of mindfulness and wellbeing? Dog walking isn’t for everyone (those who don’t like dogs, for example), but something once only associated with unskilled labour provides a good opportunity to make decent dough, especially in the capital with doggie day care’s prestige price tag.

If money is the key motivation, some good news: a Direct Line survey revealed dog walkers earned on average 17% more than the national average wage. Possibly even better news is up-weighting for London is stronger still, allowing a capital canine carer as much as 100% more (depending on area). Start up costs can be negligible; for example, buy your own leads to avoid loss or damage to an owner’s favourite. You’ll need a lot of treats, all-weather gear, business cards, secure key holders and insurance (which covers dogs and keys for properties you access). Some parks also require permits for four dogs or more.

Day care and sleepovers carry high returns and some people prefer their dogs to be looked after in their own homes, which offers a premium. For larger ventures, renting or leasing a field allows for extra clients, but requires larger outlay with vans, fencing and additional staffing, as well as somewhere to shelter should the Beast from the East choose to return.

The downsides? Sub-zero and pouring ? You need to be there.

You’ll also be constantly picking up poo and be comfortable with potential bites, fights and scratches being commonplace.

After all, your hellhound is someone else’s puppy love.

TIMELINE

POINT OF VIEW

Three months can see a good set-up from initial marketing to making money. Do your research on areas too, as what you can charge will vary

RESOURCES

ILLUSTRATION: RAMI NIEMI

A website is essential, but it’s a business that still relies heavily on word of mouth and (in an ’80s throwback), business cards. Remember them?

CONSIDER THIS

In many ways, it’s an old fashioned job. Word of mouth and actually being in the parks is proven to lure in clients

Ellie Paton Puppy Training Assistant, Bespoke Hounds ‘If you fancy a career in dog care, it’s worth looking into a course on dog behaviour. There are misconceptions about reading dogs and if you’re going to be in charge of a pack it’s useful to be able to decode not just their interaction with you, but with each other too.’

Petrina Cutchey APDT instructor ‘You can’t just say one day “I want to be a dog trainer”. Like many jobs, you have to pay your dues. Volunteering to assist qualified and respected dog trainers is an excellent way to gain industry experience, as they have a wealth of knowledge they’ll be happy to pass on to you.’

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Nigel Reed Author, The Dog Guardian ‘Training is one of the most rewarding careers I can think of. We have a four-stage programme that enables you to communicate efficiently with your dog. It’s good to think although you can’t talk to each other, you can communicate in hundreds of other ways.’

SUCCESS COACH

FAQ

PAUL WYCHERLEY Paul runs 360° dog care business Frank & Friends, catering for walks, day care and holiday stays. Here is the key info you need to know

Q. A.

Can I do this as a sideline before committing?

It’s most likely you’ll have to jump in with both feet early on. You will need to offer flexibility to clients, as pick up and drop off timings and dates can be variable.

Q. A.

How rapidly will I be able to expand?

Once you have your first (happy) client, capitalise on it. Ask for a reference and market your services.

Remember you’re accessing people’s homes to care for a member of their family.

Trust is key to growth.

Q. A.

My working capital is low. Does that matter?

Not to begin with, but be aware if you have dogs in your home they can damage things as quickly as you can earn. We have a 10-acre plot, which allows for a variety of dogs, so you need to cater for the breed as well as the owner’s needs. It’s worth looking at this as part of your USP. Visit londondogs.co.uk for dog day care in London

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the manual

FRUGAL FITNESS

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

Anti-gym workout

hotwire

There are creative ways to get fit without a gym membership – or heaps of fancy equipment – in sight EAR WE GO

A MO R E BA L AN C ED RU NN IN G EXPE RIEN C E The only thing Balance thinks about while out running is, “When will this end?” But there is another way: mindful running. If you can be mindful while running, it can combat anxiety, depression and stress.

We’re hosting a mindful running event on 4 August – come and say hi. See page 46 for more information.

Some in-ear headphones are great for jogging, but try anything a little more cavalier and they’ll fall out. So, the Endurance Jump have been crafted for those who like to bounce, skip and leap. Ideal for outdoor sessions, they offer eight hours of wireless playback (and charge for an hour’s use in just 10 minutes), while the secure ear hook turns them on and off when they’re put on or removed. uk.jbl.com

The great outdoors

AL FR E SCO FAVOU R IT E Yoga in the back garden is a must for the summer season, and this luxurious eco M-Life yoga mat (free from ozone-depleting materials) is a darn sight comfier than your under-watered lawn. mlifelondon.com

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Home comforts

A whopping 2.4 million users across 14 countries in just over three years is proof FizzUp is on the rise. The home workout app is a personal trainer in your pocket and offers custom routines, meal plans and recipes. And there’s no gym vending machine in your house. Added win. fizzup.com

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St Paul’s, Southbank and Wimbledon are just three picturesque locations where the London Fitness Tour takes place. A winning combination of exercise, culture and sightseeing, if you’re single, it’s also a canny way of meeting new people… londonfitnesstour.com

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D RI IONNK SI TL UI G N N AV I G AT

m an ua l the manual

The

CAFFEINE earth's most popular drug decoded index Coffee was introduced to the UK as medicine*.

It became fashionable to drink in the 1670s TWO GOOD

Mines' a latte

It takes 42 coffee beans to make an espresso

People who say they need coffee to start their day

£10

BOOSTED FIGURES

Insurance value placed on the tongue of Gennaro Pelliccia, chief taster at Costa Coffe, in 2009

A cup of tea contains around 40mg of caffeine (green tea 35mg), more if it’s left to brew for longer

MILLION

35%

OF COFFEE DRINKERS PREFER THEIR JOE BL ACK

Bean around the world

24

On average, we drink nearly

165 million

cups of tea per day in the UK Instant coffee contains around 60mg of caffeine per cup

A Starbucks Grande coffee has 320mg of caffeine, over four times the amount found in a can of regular Red Bull

COFFEE GROWS IN MORE THAN 50 COUNTRIES. IT IS THE SECOND-L ARGEST EXPORT COMMODIT Y IN THE WORLD AF TER OIL (IN DOLL AR VALUE)

80% of people who visit coffee shops do so at least once a week, whilst 16% visit on a daily basis

95 MILLION

CUPS OF COFFEE DRUNK IN THE UK EVERY DAY

bulletproof coffee combines coffee beans with healthy saturated fats such as butter. it's said to increase energy and stabilise blood sugar.

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COMPILED BY: ISAINE BLATRY. SOURCES: DRUGWISE.ORG.UK, BRITISHCOFFEEASSOCIATION.ORG, CAFFEINEINFORMER.COM, FACTRETRIEVER.COM, 0TEA.CO.UK, MARKETINGWEEK.COM, ESPRESSOCOFFEEGUIDE.COM *MEDICINE FOR GOUT, SCURVY, COUGHS, HEADACHES AND STOMACH ACHES

Two cups of coffee a day may improve a man’s sex life.

However, benefits decline with any more

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Lost AN D

found Propelled into the limelight by one of TV’s first-ever event shows, Evangeline Lilly tells Balance how she railed against the Hollywood machine until she decided to tackle it on her own terms words by JOH N NAU G H T O N photography by ZO EY G RO S S M A N

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C R E AT I N G A B U Z Z

A rticulate and outspoken, Evangeline Lilly, 38, is momentarily – and uncharacteristically – lost for words. The actress, soon to be seen in Marvel superhero sequel Ant-Man and The Wasp (as the eponymous black-and-yellow irritant), is temporarily tongue-tied by that most difficult of questions: what is the point of a wasp?

“The truth is, I have no idea,” she laughs, after a pause. “And now that I think about it, what do they do? Maybe its purpose is just to be elegant and badass!”

If that is the case, and it’s as good a description as any, then it’s tempting to say she’s been extremely well cast. Elegant? Tick.

Since her breakthrough role as Kate Austen in equal parts brilliant and bamboozling drama Lost in 2004, she has been regularly included in ‘Most Beautiful’ lists. Her subsequent turn as ethereal elf Tauriel in The Hobbit trilogy did little (despite the ears) to deter her admirers.

And badass? Well, she certainly doesn’t follow the conventional notions of what an A-list Hollywood actress should say or do.

“I still look around this industry and see so much conformity, and I see myself conforming,” she says with a mixture of laughter and resignation. “It pisses me off when I realise I gave up fighting. They wear you down and you say, OK, I’ll be who you want me to be.”

MODEL ACTRESS Born Nicole Evangeline Lilly in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, the middle of three sisters in a Christian, working-class Canadian family, she was raised in Abbotsford, British Columbia, by a grocery store manager dad and childminder mum. At college, she was spotted

by Ford modelling agency on the street, but she

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C R E AT I N G A B U Z Z

turned them down, keeping the number. A while later, she thought again and ended up landing small parts in TV shows, the kind which come with credits like “Girl in cinema”, “Benton’s girlfriend” or, even better, “Party guest – uncredited”.

Then in 2004, with next to no relevant experience (and no acting training), her foot fitted a glass slipper, landing the role of Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 survivor Kate Austen. She arrived in Hawaii where she still lives today with her partner, Norman Kali. She met him on the show when he was working as a production assistant, and their two sons, to shoot the pilot. Initially, she loved it.

“I told my parents, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe they paid me to do that. I would do that for free!’ It was so much fun.”

After becoming an overnight hit, with US audiences of 12 million and millions more worldwide, suddenly, it wasn’t fun anymore.

“Living in paradise and becoming a famous TV star seems like a dream come true,” she reflects.

“Unfortunately for me, it wasn’t. None of those things were my dreams. It was a struggle, and I had a very hard time adjusting to life as a public figure. I was isolated and alone, far from home, not knowing anybody and being one of the few single people on the cast.”

She couldn’t even bear to watch herself.

“I wanted to curl up in a ball and die because I thought I was terrible.” She found herself at odds with the production, a discord which manifested itself in her doing her own hair and make-up.

“I just thought this is ridiculous,” she recalls.

“Why would I have somebody else do something for me that I’m perfectly capable of doing myself?

Not to mention that I found it very overwhelming to have people touching me all day. I wasn’t used to it. It’s a tolerance you build up over the years as you learn to be an actor and you get used to people pulling, poking, rubbing, grabbing, adjusting and constantly touching you. For me, at the beginning, that was intolerable. I couldn’t handle it, so I said, ‘No, no, no, I’ll do it myself’.

“I did my own hair and make-up in 15 minutes, because I was supposed to be on a deserted island. I should have bedhead and no make-up!

I figured I could get a couple of extra hours sleep in the morning. If I was in the hair and make-up trailer, it was two hours!”

She did many interviews at the time and most US journalists commented on her “potty” mouth. But was she really so sweary?

“I did have, and probably continue to have, a bit of a foul mouth,” she admits with a laugh.

“Back then I would unabashedly not hide it from journalists as a rebellion, as a way of saying I’m not going to be the prim, proper, prissy actress you want me to be. I’m going to be me. I’m going to be the blue-collar girl I am.

“Over the years, I came to a place of realising that there’s nothing to be gained by throwing my roots in people’s faces.”

LOST IN THE MOMENT

WRITING WAS NEVER A BACK-UP PLAN FOR ME. IT WAS ALWAYS PLAN A; ACTING WAS PLAN B...

“Before Lost aired, I was sat down on numerous occasions,” she continues. “I was specifically instructed on how to behave with the press and in the public eye. That not only pissed me off, but it really hurt my feelings because I felt I was being told who I was and how I am naturally is a liability; you need to suppress it, hide it, put it away because otherwise, you will damage this thing we’re building together. At the time I would have told you it pissed me off. In hindsight, I can see that what it really did was break my heart. I would sob into my pillow at night because I felt I was a social leper and that the way I was wasn’t acceptable.

“Remember I had a sense of I’m not going to do that; I’m not going to be fake. I refuse to be fake, I refuse to conform to expectations of what a Hollywood actress is supposed to be. I don’t believe in ‘supposed to be’. I think we should all be individuals, all the different colours of who we are.”

Things reached a crisis at the end of season one.

There were tearful conversations with her parents, who told her to ‘tell them all to eff off, come home and eat chicken noodle soup’. Touching though she found their support, she ignored them, knuckled down and committed to the project. By season three, she let them do her hair and make-up. By the end, she had a Golden Globe nomination and a SAG Award. And when it was done?

“When Lost finished, I said I was done and I’d never act again,” she answers. “For two years I retreated into obscurity. I had a baby. Then, when my baby was one month old, my partner got a call.

They said Peter Jackson has been trying to contact your wife for two months and nobody in Hollywood can reach her. Do you think you could get the message to her he would like her to play an elf in an upcoming Hobbit movie? And although I really didn’t want to be acting, I wanted to play an elf for Peter Jackson more.”

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WRITE OF PASSAGE So she did. And this in turn led to her casting as Hope van Dyne in Ant-Man, at which point this most reluctant of actresses “had a little conversation with myself” which led to her accepting that, try as she might, she couldn’t shake off the attentions of Hollywood. She began what she describes as “a journey of acceptance” which saw her, among other things, stop denying to fans who she was and allowing people to open car doors for her.

But fulfilment came in a different form when she announced she was going to write a children’s book called The Squickerwonkers. It’s been well received (and is now a book series), and she admits she values praise for her writing far more than any she receives for acting.

“It’s not something I am proud to admit, because I recognise there are deep-seated issues. But it’s night and day,” she admits. “I feel if somebody acknowledges me as a writer, I can trust that much more than somebody acknowledging me as a performer. There is definitely a part of me that is distrustful of anything based on my looks, and that comes from the fact I was a smart girl and felt my intelligence was undermined because I was pretty.

“I know it sounds like a pathetic sob story because pretty is so helpful and useful in the world, and my caveat is I acknowledge it’s a blessing, but I always feel people would consider my mind if they’d not been distracted by my face. Writing does not have that option: you only get to see what’s in my mind. Hopefully it will continue to develop as I grow older, because as we know, Hollywood is extremely prejudiced against age. I think that’s getting a little better, but that’s partly because women have decided to stop ageing. I have every intention of ageing, so I recognise it won’t be long before work isn’t as readily available.”

She does not, I observe, sound too heartbroken at this prospect. “Well let’s just say,” she laughs, “writing was never a back-up plan. Writing was Plan A. Acting was Plan B…” B Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp is released in 2D and 3D on 3 August.

EVANGELINE’S LIFE LESSONS

OLDEN, BUT GOLDEN “I have a relaxed approach to health and fitness. I’ve never had a trainer or a personal chef; I don’t do pilates or yoga and I don’t have a gym in my house.

I’m kind of old-fashioned and subscribe to 1980’s concepts of health and fitness: if you put in more than you take out, you’re going to gain weight.”

MOVING STATEMENT “There’s a perception that movement is unwanted, and people think it’s bad.

I think there’s a repulsion to the idea that anything should be done manually and people want things done for them. I’m always going out of my way to move. If I’m on the sixth floor of a hotel, I’ll take the stairs. If I’m on the 45th floor… I’ll take the elevator: I’m not insane! I’m always looking for ways to stay active and use my body.

I love to run and stretch, and I do tiny dumbbell workouts to keep my muscles from deteriorating.

I eat a lot of vegetables, but I also eat meat, fat, sugar, burgers, french fries and ice cream. I have dessert every day, but always in moderation. Seventy percent is what you eat, 30% is exercise. People often see that the other way round.”

CONTROL FREAK “I enjoy taking responsibility for every circumstance in my life and not trying to blame, pin it or push it off on someone else. If anything makes me uncomfortable, I say I’ve created this, so have control over whether it stays uncomfortable or shifts to a better place.”

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words by JA M E S GILL photography by A L EX BRAMWELL

Knackered: the new normal Being constantly tired has inexplicably become universally accepted. Thankfully, help is at hand in the fight against fatigue

H

ow many times have you had the following sort of exchange with a friend: “How are you?”

“Absolutely knackered. You?” “Same. Shattered.” Then you just carry on with your lives, crawling about on your metaphorical haunches.

How did it come to this? How has being knackered become acceptable? When did London become a city of coffee-guzzling zombies, existing only to make it home and struggle to sleep, before endeavouring to scrape through another day. Fret not dear reader, we can help. But first, some stark truths.

“Tiredness has become the norm because unreasonable expectations of the human body have become the norm,” explains Alex Howard, founder and CEO of The Optimum Health Clinic (OHC), one of the world’s leading integrative medicine clinics which specialises in chronic fatigue.

It’s true. Cutbacks across virtually every sector mean many of us are working harder and longer than ever before; the next time a baby boomer calls you a snowflake or trots out the hoary “You don’t know you’re born!” speech, you have our permission to laugh in their face. Even Dolly Parton would have to tweak the lyrics of Nine To Five to Eight To Seven (although it’s not quite as catchy, granted).

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Shattered.

All this lying down is exhausting

I’m tired.

How are you?

S L E E P I N G B E AU T Y

Tired g of feelin tired?

BIOCARE METHYL B COMPLEX B vitamins 2, 3, 5, 6 and 12 all contribute to a reduction in tiredness biocare.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES. SOURCES: THINK.DIRECT.GOV.UK/FATIGUE. *NATURE’S WAY, ONE POLL **NHS ***DREAMS

As a result, 87% of us lack energy, are fatigued and suffer general tiredness*; one in five feel unusually tired (according to the NHS) and one in 10 suffers prolonged fatigue**. And it gets worse. As a result of being frazzled, we don’t sleep properly: the average UK worker clocks an extra 24 days overtime a year to stay on top of their workload, while three in five (63%) say working outside of hours affects their ability to sleep***.

FLAT OUT

The response for many of us (including this writer) is to guzzle another flat white; small wonder the coffee industry keeps booming (sales in the sector increased by 7.3 per cent to £9.6 billion in 2017 and we are now a nation powered by coffee). However, you’re only papering over the cracks. Alex adds: “Masking the underlying exhaustion will only make it worse. By discovering and acknowledging what is really going on, we can meet it head on.

“When it comes to intervention, a skilled TECH WARS nutritional therapist is crucial, as is However, it’s important to not play ROAD R AGE the victim card. To wildly misquote Almost 20% of major someone such as a psychotherapist or life coach who can help us Robin Williams’ Sean Maguire road accidents understand how to calm our system, 1997 weepie Good Will Hunting: are sleep-related, with males under better manage emotions, and address “It might be your fault.” Especially 30 having the our wider lifestyle if being out of when it comes to smartphones, highest risk of balance is a part of the problem.” consoles, tablets and computers. falling asleep at You can also drastically change “With modern technology keeping the wheel your diet, as clinical pharmacist Mike us connected 24/7, we believe we Wakeman explains. “Even a marginal iron should be ‘on’ from the minute we wake deficiency can make you feel tired and ‘lacklustre’ up to the minute we go to sleep, which itself is often and this is particularly common in women. Make later than it should be,” adds Howard. “The body sure you’re eating red meat, or fortified foods if you’re needs time to rest, time to recharge and it needs us vegetarian, plus eggs, pulses, beans, nuts and seeds. to take care of it. If we are living our life in balance, Iron is better absorbed if eaten with vitamin C, so a we should have good energy most of the time. If small glass of orange juice with your morning eggs not, something needs to change. That change can will be extra effective.” only start with us.”

If you’ve tried all of this and more and there’s still And that is the brutal truth: only we can make an issue, Alex believes you should consult your GP. it better, which is easier said than done. If your You could have CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) or boss has demanded you stay until 9pm again, ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis), of which the UK has you asking for beddy-byes could see you ushered towards the door (or so you think, in your paranoid around 250,000 sufferers. “It’s normal to go through periods of life where we feel more depleted than over-tired state). However, it’s in an employers’ others, particularly when life has been especially interests to protect its work force, as the UK demanding, but these should pass,” says Alex. “To economy loses a whopping £40 billion a year as a meet the diagnostic criteria of CFS you need to have result of sleep deprivation. “Fatigue is the body’s shown signs of consistent fatigue for a period of way of telling us it needs rest,” explains Alex. “Yes, more than six months. However, you should not you may feel work responsibilities are more wait this long to talk to your doctor or a suitable important, that our children need us and we need medical professional.” to be there for everyone; but ultimately, just like And, as Alex says: “I’ve never heard of anyone having to put on our own oxygen mask first when an aeroplane is going down, if we don’t take care of regretting going to the doctor and getting a medical issue resolved. I’ve certainly heard the opposite.” B our own health, we can’t be there for others.”

A FAB FIVE FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST FATIGUE

SEEDLIP NONALCOHOLIC SPIRIT Alcohol impairs sleep quality.

This non-alcoholic spirit works brilliantly in cocktails seedlipdrinks.com

ORGANICO WILD ALASKAN SALMON Our versatile fishy friend is packed with omega-3 fatty acid, great at fighting fatigue fish4ever.co.uk

July 2018 BA LA N CE

FORM SUPERBLEND PROTEIN Plant-based protein helps you be at your best mentally and physically each day formnutrition.com

NATURE’S WAY BLADDERWRACK The 0.04% of iodine in these caps is excellent for thyroid function natures-way.com

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WORDS: XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX6.5PT/8PT APERCU

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

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N AV B AI D G AT B EI H O AV N SI O LU UG R

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Passive-aggressive individuals often select their targets based on who will be least likely to unmask the anger they want to keep hidden

Fine.

Whatever you say...

Passive-aggressive behaviour can be seen in long-term relationships or even from a stranger in the Post Office queue. Use this advice to take back control without recriminations July 2018 BA LA N CE

words by S I S KI GREEN photography by I ZU S EK

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A

n eye roll, a ‘hands off !’ note on the milk, or the classic, “I’m not angry,” followed by a silence so filled with rage, it positively screams its message. Unlike active aggression, passive-aggression doesn’t leave visible bruises, but it can still do serious damage.

“A person displaying passive-aggression is often adept at getting the person on the receiving end to doubt themselves,” says Dr Scott Wetzler, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Einstein College of Medicine and author of Living with the Passive-Aggressive Man. Whether this individual is a colleague, family member or your partner, chances are he or she will make you wonder whether you’re the one at fault.

They do this by showing their hostility in covert ways which make it difficult for you to easily define and address their behaviour.

If you’ve been subject to passive aggressive behaviour, you’re probably all too familiar with the feelings of powerlessness and frustration of it all. It can happen in your family, at work, socially or with your partner, even with a random stranger. But if you’re dealing with passive aggression on a daily or regular basis, it can lead to more than just frustration: confusion, self doubt and insecurity can creep up on you and take over. This is because unlike other forms of aggression or hostility, passiveaggression is secretive, manipulative and often turned against you.

If you suggest a passive-aggressive person is angry, they may turn it back to you, asking why you’re trying to start an argument. If you point out their silent treatment is making you upset, they’ll claim they’re not doing that. “The technique is to get you focused on your own behaviour,” says Wetzler, “and take the focus off theirs.” In this way, they are aggressively arguing against you, but in a way that gives them more control and reduces yours.

the only one who’s not invited to a family get-together, but you have no idea why. When you ask, the passive-aggressor will deflect the question, leaving you confused.

Further complicating matters is we now communicate more than ever via the written word. Tone and intended meaning is harder to pin down without vocal inflexion, body language and facial expressions to guide you, leaving you ever more doubtful of your sanity.

And because passive-aggression can involve such things as withdrawal of conversation or physical affection, being cold or silent, modern day communication makes it even more difficult to say for certain whether a behaviour is passive-aggressive or simply a case of ‘my phone died’.

THAT EL T L-TALE TALK

34

But not a ctually moving fr om the spot

“I thought you knew.”

Causing problems for someone else via omission of information

Look out for these phrases and comments that passiveaggressive personalities love to throw at us…

“I don’t want to argue.”

Without eye contact or affection

WORDS ARE LIKE WEAPONS A feeling of lack of control in the workplace or within a romantic relationship can be especially damaging. “You may begin to doubt yourself to the point of feeling you’re the one with the problem,” says Wetzler. A hallmark of passiveaggressive behaviour is the cause of the anger isn’t revealed. A partner refuses to talk; an employee consistently turns up late; you’re

“Alright, I’m comin g!”

” gry.

n ot a ooking n “I’m while l Said

y awa

BA LA N CE July 2018

“Fine, whatever.”

Withdrawing from an argument while sulking

B A D B E H AV I O U R

HARD HABIT TO BREAK IF THE ADJECTIVE FITS...

If you’re wondering whether your own, or someone else’s, behaviour is passiveaggressive, simply ask yourself which of these fits the behaviour best Open vs closed Frank vs manipulative Honest vs secretive or deceiving Sympathetic vs antagonistic Cold vs warm Stubborn vs flexible Defensive vs open to criticism Contradictory vs agreeing Vindictive vs forgiving First behaviour = passive-aggression Second behaviour = more healthy interactions

IF ASSERTIVENESS AND CONFRONTATION ARE DISCOURAGED, PASSIVE-AGGRESSION MAY BECOME A HABIT

Some seemingly normal behaviours can be a sign of passive-aggression: being consistently late, procrastinating on a task or doing it badly.

It was these types of petty acts that led to the term being coined in the 1940s, when it was used to describe the behaviour of soldiers who couldn’t refuse orders, but did their best to state in a matter-of-fact manner what she said comply defiantly. Psychologists leapt on the makes you feel bad. If your husband refuses term and defined it as a personality disorder. to make eye contact, tell him his behaviour is The term is so broad and covers such a making you feel upset. It might feel like you’re wide range of behaviours that psychologists letting them ‘win’, but it’s the opposite: you’re no longer use it as a diagnosis, nor do they not letting them get away with it and if they consider it to be maladaptive, instead referring to ‘passive-aggressive behaviour’ as something do it again and again, they can’t say they any of us can display. Some, though, rely on it didn’t mean it in a bad way. By being open to avoid expressing themselves. By displaying yourself, you may help them open up to hostility in a covert way, a person can avoid and explain where their resentment or direct confrontation or revealing their anger stems from. true feelings.

At work, the same applies.

E X P RE S S DEL I VERY Covering up feelings is just By being open about how a Assertiveness one reason people display this colleague’s statement or actions training can assist kind of behaviour, and it’s often make you feel and doing it in someone diagnosed with passive-aggression, front of others, you gain valuable down to how a person was teaching them to brought up. If a child learned to witnesses should the case end up express their thoughts being addressed with HR. suppress their emotions because and ideas more it’s frowned upon or discouraged, Sometimes the behaviour is effectively passive-aggression becomes a survival from someone you don’t know well tactic. Similarly, children in controlling at all: the man who parks his car badly, households may find the only way to exercise or the woman in the post office who loudly some sense of control is by acting this way. If complains about ‘people pushing in’ when assertiveness and confrontation are discouraged, you’ve joined a disorderly queue. passive-aggression may become a habit.

The ideal thing is to respond calmly and openly. Ask the driver of the other car to move, OPEN UP AND SAY “AAAARGH”! or at the post office, a genuine-sounding, “I’m sorry, did I push in?” should be enough to take If you find yourself dealing with passivethe wind out of their rage-filled sails, while aggressive behaviour the first step is to call it also sending the message that being open and what it is, at least in your own mind. “Once you honest is best. But maybe you can’t do that. see the behaviour for what it is – hostility – you Perhaps the urge to park your car so close to immediately have more power because you theirs that they can’t open the door is just too are no longer living in the dark, wondering if great, or maybe you can’t bear the thought of you’re right or wrong,” says Wetzler. letting the lady in the queue ‘win’ by allowing “Then you can find ways to deal with it her to go first. And perhaps right now you’re and get around it, whether that’s by setting planning to shove this magazine in the bin limits, talking things through, getting the in a pointless-yet-satisfying display of your person to recognise they are destroying your irritation at the words in this article. relationship, or in some cases, removing If that’s you, then congratulations because yourself from that person’s life.” that’s some classic passive-aggression right Next, be more open yourself. If your sister there. But who cares, right? makes a comment about how your new outfit Yeah, whatever you say… B helps disguise saddlebag hips, immediately

July 2018 BA LA N CE

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The JOY of REPETITION REPETITION REPETITION REPETITION REPETITION REPETITION REPETITION Ritualistic behaviours might be centuries old, but they’re more important than ever in the digital age words by JO BET TERID G E

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R E P E AT B U S I N E S S

W

henever you hear someone mention ‘rituals’, you might be right in thinking religion, superstition, possibly even secret society ceremonies, resplendent with chanting and the burning of a well-placed effigy. In reality, we all love rituals. They play a vital role in developing healthy cognition and can bring us together and make us feel safe to take on what’s to come.

It’s easy to underestimate their wisdom, yet the symbolism generated by the interaction between a ritual’s separate elements deepens intentions. Psychologist Lorna Denton asserts that it’s not the actions that work, per se, but the state of mind they create. A measured and mindful morning routine can instil a positive mindset and create a successful day.

Specific rituals help us deal with potentially stressful situations and by taking a few deep breaths, repeating positive affirmations and adopting the Superhero stance (an ‘X’ shape, legs out wide, fists punching the air) can bring reassurance and improve your confidence and performance.

This is why ancient societies developed rituals in the first place, Lorna explains. “Although specific origins are impossible to pin down, we know many rituals were adopted by societies that did not have science to explain the world like we do today.

When there were no answers, rituals were played out to bring control, safety and comfort. That exists even to this day; rituals continue to play a key role in enforcing our positive feelings and behaviours.”

›

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R E P E AT B U S I N E S S

Sport is the A-typical environment where rituals are used to generate a positive mental attitude. Athletes harness visualisation and guided imagery techniques to prepare for events, and then there are the less scientific rituals; lucky pants, tying and untying shoelaces and eating Coco Pops are listed among far stranger habits. These rites are, of course, superstitious. But they’re not as nonsensical as we might assume. Studies by Schippers and Van Lange (2006) and Damisch, Stoberock and Mussweiler (2010) lead us to conclude, whether it’s superstition or more psychologically-

Although rituals are important, they must be handled carefully as they can normalise destructive behaviour. Obsessive disorders, such as OCD, involve ritualistic type behaviour in order for a person to feel a sense of control, when in fact it does the opposite and leads them to feel increasingly powerless.”

BRINGING ROUTINES BANG UP TO DATE

In the main, rituals are a healthy, vital part of every day contemporary living. Centuries old, they enrich the process of being human. Intuitive Life Coach Roberta Smart explains: “Shared behaviour, centralised within a community creates a shared value of trust.” It’s this need for connection and enhancement of the collective experience that ensures life events are marked in both religious and non-religious ceremonies. The blowing out of birthday candles and raising a toast are so ingrained in our culture, to refuse to join in would seem churlish or insolent.

Then there are the more spiritual connotations of ritual.

Roberta notes that in recent years, we have seen a rise in selfimprovement rituals: we are encouraged to embrace meditation, based, your pre-event ritual deepens confidence and yoga, journalling and affirmations to calm ourselves, increase promotes a strong a sense of control. This convinces productivity and improve our mindset. the sportsperson to believe their performance will So, does modern-day society underestimate the be enhanced, which cultivates a perceived inherent wisdom of the ritual? Absolutely not, ‘actual’ improvement.

OFF T HE SCALES according to Roberta. “Rather than seeing a loss Other professionals also commonly use rituals of ritual in modern Britain, I would say we are to create positive mindsets. In her psychology The world’s oldest ritual returning to more natural rhythms, a deep practice, Lorna uses a variety of repetitive (worshipping of psychological need for ritualised behaviours and techniques that have helped countless clients a python) started shared rituals as we seek to counteract our sense overcome severe depression and anxiety. in Africa 70,000 of isolation in an increasingly digital world.”

“I encourage people with low self-esteem to years ago If you’re in any doubt as to the role of rituals in record positive events and how they make them a good person. They set an alarm five times a day, the digital age, just look in your app store. Want to pray read through their list of positives, and add a new one. The five times a day? Need to chart your monthly cycles? Want to repetition reinforces positive self-talk and eventually embeds track your daily meditation practice? Worry not, there’s an app a lasting sense of self-worth. It’s really powerful and has been for that… B life-changing for many of my clients.

“Rituals don’t always harbour positivity though,” warns Lorna Denton is a practising psychologist. For more information, Lorna. “Like anything in life, there is a negative flipside. visit yourmindsetcoach.co.uk

SHARED RITUALS CAN HELP COUNTERACT OUR SENSE OF ISOLATION IN A DIGITAL WORLD

A quick hat-trick of hacks to de-stress your every day

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1.

2.

3.

A mindful morning routine will create positive vibes that spill into the rest of your day.

1 Get up as soon as the alarm goes off.

Hitting the snooze button makes you more sluggish, and you’ll end up queueing for the bathroom or struggling to find a quiet space, equalling a more stressful start.

2 Sit quietly, drink a glass of water and take a few deep, calming breaths.

3 Write down three reasons to be grateful.

The benefits of practising gratitude include improved physical and mental health, better sleep, increased mental strength, selfesteem, empathy and reduced stress.

4 Look over your diary/schedule to help bring focus to what you need to achieve.

5 Adopt the Superhero stance and tell yourself this is going to be a fantastic day.

The instant effects of the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) have been well documented in medical and scientific studies since 1995. EFT combines Eastern acupressure with Western psychotherapy, tapping energy meridians around the body while repeating affirmations. It’s easy to learn (there are videos online), and it can be done anywhere. Try it, and it could help to reduce stress, depression, anxiety, tension headaches, muscular tension and joint pain as well as improving your sleep.

An evening routine to calm your mind and prepare for the land of nod regulates your natural sleep/wake rhythm and sets your body clock to ‘sleep well, wake refreshed’.

1 Put all your devices away an hour before bed. The light stimulates the brain, emails cause stress, and games and social media are addictive.

2 Make sure your bedroom is comfortable, clutter-free and at a nice temperature.

3 Have a warm bath with an essential oil to relax your body and soothe away tension.

4 Quiet your mind with breathing exercises or meditation. Find a video on YouTube, but ensure it’s one you listen to, not watch.

5 If you can’t sleep, don’t clock-watch. Get up and do something relaxing (reading, meditation) until you’re ready to drop off.

MAKE USE OF YOUR MORNING

FREE YOURSELF

BA LA N CE July 2018

LET’S GO TO BED...

SOURCE: SCIENCEDAILY.COM PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

THE POWER OF THREE

BALANCE PROMOTION

More than

skin deep

Become a member of skin and appearance clinic Skinsmiths and see the results for yourself

Y

ou wouldn’t go to the gym just once and expect washboard abs, yet many of us go for a facial and are staggered the years haven’t instantly tumbled off.

That’s because skincare, like most things, requires time, commitment and attention to yield tangible results. And while the skincare landscape is complicated, Skinsmiths keeps it blissfully simple.

With more than 20 years’ experience in New Zealand and new clinics popping up across London, the idea is so obvious you’ll wonder why it’s not already in your life. Much like a health club, you become a Skinsmiths member by paying easy, rolling monthly or yearly subscriptions that can be started, frozen or cancelled any time. This gets you access to a number of sessions and treatments to reach your optimum skincare goal.

You’ll start your journey with a personalised skin consultation, where you can voice concerns to an expert who will create a tailored schedule of treatments. Of the three memberships available, Reformaskin: Your Skin Health Membership is the most popular, helping you achieve your best skin with conditioning and high-intensity treatments.

Some of these include treatments that target specific concerns (sun damage, scarring or redness) and include IPL (intense pulsed light), microneedling and a fractional CO2 laser – Skinsmiths’ most advanced treatment to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. And, to make sure you carry on the good work at home, each Skinsmiths membership comes with a Skincare Starter Kit to complement your treatment results.

No doubt you’re keen to chat with the team to find out how you can begin your skincare journey.

Why not book a complimentary consultation today?

Email uk@skinsmiths.com, call 02034733829 or just drop in to say hello! Skinsmiths clinics are at Belgravia, Putney Bridge, Hanwell, Clapham, Wimbledon and Liverpool Street.

WIN A YE AR ’S MEMBERSHIP!

We’re giving away one Skinsmiths membership, worth £2,754. To enter, visit balance.media/ skinsmiths

(Above) Inside a Skinsmiths clinic and (below) top products from the range

July 2018 BA LA N CE

For more information, visit skinsmiths.com and @skinsmithsuk

A VISION OF THE FUTURE

LSD research has revealed potentially positive benefits to the illegal drug. Are people ready to have their minds altered? words by PAUL WILS ON

aking illegal drugs is a straightforward choice for most people: they either do it to get high, or they don’t. But what if a fractional dose of Class A didn’t get you high but instead improved health, wellbeing, mood and even creativity, problem solving and productivity?

Should such a seemingly beneficial substance, seen in new, positive light, even be illegal?

Microdosing of LSD (and other psychedelic drugs, including psilocybin, the active compound found in magic mushrooms taken in synthetic form) is on the rise, despite possession in the UK carrying a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. After the United Nations declared in 1971 it was “convinced that the abuse of LSD… presents an increasingly serious problem that could have very dangerous consequences”, LSD was criminalised. It remains so and, as a consequence, research into long- and short-term effects was severely curtailed.

T

A SMALL PUSH

On the other hand Professor David Nutt, the former head of the UK Government’s leading drug advisory board wrote in 2012 that LSD and other psychedelics “are among the safest drugs we know

BA LA N CE July 2018

A L I T T L E O F W H AT Y O U FA N C Y

of. It’s virtually impossible to die of an overdose of them; they cause no physical harm and, if anything, they’re anti-addictive.”

In 2018, the scientific community is shining a spotlight back on LSD, suggesting microdosing, according to anecdotal evidence, increases creativity, positive thinking, energy and wellbeing.

A microdose constitutes about a 10th of the typical recreational amount found in the average acid tab, not enough to experience a partial trip.

Some exponents have reported positive outcomes, like relief of constant and intermittent pain.

SMALL STUDY, BIG FINDINGS

According to Dr James Fadiman and Dr Sophia Korb, over 1,500 volunteers have followed their protocols for microdosing, before submitting daily mood reports and a longer, post-project review for analysis. According to their findings, “If you’re experiencing visual effects, you have taken too much.” They recommend a schedule of microdosing one day, followed by two days without, for a total of 10 cycles over 30 days.

At Psychedelic Science 2017, a conference in Oakland, California, Fadiman presented his findings based on the experiences of the first 418 respondents to his citizen science project.

Three-quarters had chosen to microdose to deal with depression, and all felt an improvement. Those who hoped it would help with anxiety found this increased. However, individuals suffering from anxiety and depression enjoyed an increase in overall wellbeing.

There were no reports of lasting harm and microdosing did not affect existing medications. In fact, users even felt they

ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE SUGGESTS MICRODOSING INCREASES CREATIVITY, POSITIVITY & WELLBEING

July 2018 BA LA N CE

could reduce their prescriptions and reported increases in focus, tolerance, creativity, efficiency and problem solving

A TRIP INTO THE UNKNOWN

Detractors point to a lack of accepted scientific fact derived from approved clinical trials, and suggest microdoses could be combined to make up a full trip-inducing dose – and one bad trip could mean long-term psychosis. The first two points are correct and the third is a long-standing belief which has persisted since the peak of LSD usage in the 1960s.

The moral panic surrounding ‘turn on, tune in and drop out’, which led to LSD’s UN ban in 1971, was driven by tales of nightmares, some of which told of people accidentally killing themselves because of wild hallucinations. None of these stories are backed by solid scientific evidence but it is this negative association which trumps positive anecdotal evidence. Solid research is precisely the sort of study Fadiman and Korb hope to stimulate. And still, no one knows why microdosing seems to be good for you.

Neuropsychopharmacology research into LSD’s effect on brain chemistry is increasing. In 2014, at University College London, Dr Robin Carhart-Harris led the UK’s first scientific study of LSD for more than 40 years. MRI scans of subjects who had taken a 75mg dose, or 5-6 microdoses, revealed previously undetected brain activity, including the visual processing system working without direct input from the eyes (in other words, hallucinations).

These are exciting preliminary findings, but Fadiman believes there are more microdosers outside his study group who remain silent because of the illegal nature of LSD. He’s probably right, and it will be many years before LSD or other psychedelics are available as mainstream treatments. But getting to that point will certainly be one hell of a trip. B

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BALANCE PROMOTION

Taking care of talent How Werlabs’ in-office blood tests help employees reach new heights

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here was a time when taking your staff to the pub was seen as the ultimate gesture of corporate goodwill. Now, thanks to Werlabs, there is a new, cuttingedge way to show them you care: in-office blood tests.

Before you think, “Actually, the pub sounds better,” allow us to elaborate. Werlabs offers private blood tests across the UK, with quick-yet-in-depth results to ascertain the wellness of any workforce. As a result, they’ve seen staff-employer relations reach new levels across a variety of companies, large and small. After all, health checks with Werlabs uncover current and future risks and actionable strategies to overcome them. Surely that shows staff members you care more than a glass of red and a bag of pork scratchings?

Thanks to Werlabs, you get to know what sort of shape your staff

are in (and whether you need to act accordingly), while employees can work secure in the knowledge their employer cares about their wellness and wellbeing. You won’t be surprised to know one-in-three employees feel constantly tired and worn out, while around 35% run the risk of developing serious chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

Werlabs paid the Balance team a visit and, taking less than 10 minutes per employee, the procedure could not have been more straightforward. Initial results came within 24 hours, with a more detailed analysis arriving within two days.

What’s more, staff discovered a rich mix of results, with several tweaking their lifestyle to improve cholesterol, fitness levels, vitamin D intake and much more.

Werlabs can even curate ‘health competitions’, using results to motivate teams to improve health over time. So if you’re a company owner, director or team leader, get in touch with Werlabs.

Or, if you’re feeling really brave, print off this page and leave it on your boss’ desk…

To find out more, visit werlabs.co.uk/for-business

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UNDER THE MICROSCOPE How did the Balance team fare – and what will they change about themselves?

NEELAM KESHWALA, SOCIAL MEDIA EXECUTIVE “My iron is significantly lower than it should be, which may be why I often feel fatigued. I’m vegetarian, so I’ll munch on spinach in the future.

I’m also deficient in vitamin D, so this is a great time to be going on holiday (any excuse). But this time, I’ll be picking up some supplements.”

JADE COOPERCOLLINS, ART EDITOR “The tests revealed my white blood cell count was elevated, which could be a sign of an allergy. I have been trying to cut out certain foods, such as dairy, from my diet, so it’s good to know there could be a link. I was also shocked to find I’m slightly lacking in vitamin D. Overall I’m pleased to know most results were within reference ranges, and I feel more informed about my health.”

GARY HEADLEY, CREDIT CONTROL MANAGER “I wanted a full MOT and to understand more about blood values.

Werlabs clearly explained the simple procedure from start to finish. My results were excellent and the doctor’s analysis was thorough. I even got the opportunity to discuss my numbers over the phone. This service is a great way to maintain a healthy body.”

GET WITH THE PROGRAMME

BALANCE PROMOTION

e month

e at m e n

t of th

NLP

tr

Rictus grins and corporate handshakes? Nope. James Gill discovers a therapy that digs surprisingly deep

Y

ou probably know someone who’s an over-thinker. Have a think. Actually, don’t; it can lead to anxiety and depression. It’s a lifelong problem for Balance and we didn’t think NLP had the answer. After all, neurolinguistic programming, a combination of communication, personal development and psychotherapy invariably used to become more successful, is synonymous with Paul McKenna, positivity and seminars packed with corporate climbers hunting zeroes for their bonus cheque.

Nevertheless, Balance made its way to the NLP School in Kentish Town, and were pleasantly surprised by the way the corporate feel has been eschewed in favour of a reassuringly warm vibe. After all, founder and teacher Robbie Steinhouse, who became aware of NLP via a Tai Chi class 20 years ago, is more interested in its psychological and healing qualities.

The healing first comes from within.

If you’re hurting on the inside, you’d need Daniel Day-Lewis levels of acting to convince others everything was going as thunderously well outwardly as you claim.

(DON’T) THINK ABOUT IT

ILLUSTRATION: ACUTEGRAPHICS.CO.UK

Give it a go The NLP School may pleasantly surprise you High point Being given takeaway advice Cost Coach Training with NLP, TA & Mindfulness (3 days) Oct 10-12 £395

Booking info Regent’s University, Inner Circle, Regent’s Park, London, NW1 nlpschool.com

Low point Being a bag of nerves at the start

Wake yourself up!

WORST-CASE SCENARIO When pressed for an example of over-thinking, we say the ‘What if?’ chain of thought (‘What if something has happened to a beloved relative?’).

The body can end up rigid with panic over an entirely fictitious event you’re convinced has happened.

The avuncular Robbie has a Rolodexlike knowledge of the schools of NLP and for this conundrum, he selects Six Step Reframing. “It’s the classic NLP process,” he explains. You start by closing your eyes and taking a few moments to feel where there might be feelings of emotional discomfort.

“Rather than push it away, welcome it.”

There’s an inexplicable and nagging feeling in my gut. Soon, Robbie encourages a two-way conversation with it. At one point, I hold it in my hands like a pet gerbil to find out what’s really behind it. After 22 minutes (yes, really) of gentle probing, Robbie has unpicked this lock. The feeling of creeping dread is my body telling me to spend more time at home. It’s not my family that’s in peril, but my relationship with them.

Robbie wants more: the next time I’m out and get such a feeling, what do I intend to do? I vow to reach out and get in touch with the person I’m fretting over. There is a feeling of resolution.

He sums up: “It’s a fundamental belief that something may feel negative, yet it has a positive purpose. Philosophically, that’s better than thinking there’s some internal part that wants to destroy you.”

My body is telling me I actually want to be at peace? That’s cool. B

July 2018 BA LA N CE

Dietitian Lucy Jones’ simple tricks to keep tiredness at bay Summer heat can leave us all fatigued. Use these essential nuggets to remain energised as long the sunshine lasts.

1. Snack well The high magnesium content in almonds contributes to a reduction in fatigue, making them a great snack when you need a pick-me-up.

2. Get moving Build exercise into your daily routine: opt for the stairs over the lift, or cycle to work. Aim for 2-3 sessions of exercise per week.

3. Drink water Dehydration is a key contributor to fatigue, so carry a bottle of water to keep hydrated on the go.

4. Sleep well Ensure you’re well rested. Set a routine, factor in time to unwind and avoid napping.

5. Manage stress Stress uses energy, so build relaxing activities into your day, like socialising or reading.

AY LD AL RGY E EN

Lucy says: ‘Diet plays an important role in energy levels. Almonds contain natural plant protein and healthy fats to provide energy throughout your day.’

43

BALANCE PROMOTION

The bliss of Swiss The Balance team underwent a #BeMoreSwiss masterclass with their friends at Ricola, and now know everything from A(lps) to Z(urich)

THE EXPERTS

Alexandra Dudley Artist, author and entrepreneur

Anton Mosimann Chef, restaurateur and raconteur

Marie-Hélène Ferguson Principal at the London School of Etiquette

T

he next evolution for the Balance office will be installing cuckoo clocks on the walls. Why? Because the team recently enjoyed a stupendous #BeMoreSwiss masterclass in central London, thanks to our friends at Ricola, purveyors of beloved, delicious, refreshing (and, indeed, quintessentially Swiss) herbal sweets. After all, we Britons have much to learn from our Alp-based allies, given Switzerland has been voted the happiest place in the world, with its inhabitants enjoying an average life expectancy of 83 (12 years above the global average).

The whole event was enough to make you reach for your finest tracht. Taking place at iconic London dining club Mosimann’s, the day included a delicious four-course meal, talks with luminaries Alexandra Dudley (artist and author) and Marie-Hélène Ferguson (principal at the London School of Etiquette) and, with a view to becoming more Swiss (naturally), Anton Mosimann himself. The chef, restaurateur and raconteur was on hand to dispense his usual wit and wisdom.

Having enjoyed the day first-hand, the Balance team wants to share its top five favourite findings so that you too can #BeMoreSwiss. While you might not be able to enjoy Alpine air, punctual BA LA N CE July 2018

trains (can you imagine?) and awe-inspiring mountain views, hopefully these nuggets will make your day that little bit brighter…

1. STRIKE THE RIGHT WORK/LIFE BALANCE This was a common theme, and something that seems to apply to most Swiss: take your work seriously, but always find the right level of enjoyment. Indeed, Anton Mosimann gave the sort of sprightly talk at the age of 71 years young that provided enough inspiration to have you pack up your troubles and move to Lugano. There is much to admire about the chef, who has cooked for four generations of the Royal family, and serving Prime Ministers including Tony Blair, John Major and David Cameron. He also regaled attendees with his tale of the Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher, who was entertaining French President François Mitterrand. Maggie was a huge fan of Anton’s cooking, but there was just one problem, she said. “Too expensive.”

2. THE SPICE OF LIFE Ricola sweets are famed for their delicious secret blend of 13 herbs, which are all grown in the Swiss mountains. Just one of the things that

The

QUIZ

separates Ricola from other sweets is the fact they embrace variety. Such a mindset applies to cooking, and indeed life, so don’t be afraid to add herbs to meals or to embrace variety in life. However, we also learned one crucial tip when it comes to seasoning: it’s good etiquette to provide salt and pepper for guests, but poor etiquette to use it. After all, you’d be hurting the feelings of the chef.

how swiss are you?

Ricola’s fun test will reveal if you need to inject a bit more ‘Swiss style’ into your life

3. MIND YOUR MANNERS We Britons and our Swiss chums have slightly different rules when it comes to manners and etiquette. However, if the #BeMoreSwiss event taught us anything, it was that we should all be more mindful when it comes to manners. Body language is of paramount importance to the Swiss, who prefer to keep conversation at a full arm’s length, while a handshake should be firm and eye contact maintained throughout. And how’s this for being respectful? We learned in Switzerland it’s illegal to buy just one guinea pig; you have to buy two, otherwise they get lonely.

4. TAKE TIME TO UNWIND Remember when a Great British Sunday meant doing nothing? It was the perfect opportunity to kick back. These days, we find ourselves reaching for the work laptop, hitting the shops and treating the supposed “day of rest” as just another opportunity to run ourselves into the ground. However, the Swiss have the right idea. As Marie-Hélène Ferguson explained, both mowing the lawn and even hanging out the washing are deemed a no-no on Sundays.

5. THE GREAT OUTDOORS This is something friend of Balance Alexandra Dudley is particularly passionate about. OK, we can’t walk to the Matterhorn on our lunch break, but London is packed with Ricola’s beautiful and sometimes hidden greenery, secret blend so it’s important we make the most of our of herbs was created surroundings. Alight the Tube one stop early and make the most of a beautiful walk, or just take in 1940 in the here and now. However you decide to connect, make time for a delicious moment of calm with Ricola sugar-free herbal sweets.

It’s a snowy Sunday in January. What are your plans for the day? a) I have work to do; I’ll be on my laptop all day b) Stay indoors and enjoy quality time with family or friends c) I love snow! I’m heading to the nearest hills for some outdoor action You’re eating out with friends and get a cheese fondue to share. What drink do you order to accompany your meal? a) Beer b) Water c) Herbal tea How many languages do you speak, in addition to your mother tongue? a) None, apart from what I remember from my GCSEs… b) One, fluently c) Two or more: I’m multilingual

What is ‘talerschwingen’? a) Switzerland’s highest mountain range, and home to the country’s most popular ski resort b) A popular Swiss drink made from the milk of a mountain goat, mixed with alpine herbs c) A tradition where a Swiss franc is placed in an earthenware bowl and slowly rotated to create a sound similar to that of a cow bell A station announcement says your train is going to arrive five minutes late. How do you react? a) I don’t bat an eyelid; trains are always late b) I’m slightly annoyed, but it’s only five minutes, so it won’t really affect my day c) I’m not happy at all. I have a meeting to get to and I wanted to arrive early

You're this Swiss!

Mostly A: UnsoSwiss-ticated There are plenty of things you can learn from one of the world’s happiest countries…

Mostly B: Swiss-ish You’re clearly not in the one third of Brits who can’t identify Switzerland on a map of Europe…

Mostly C: Super so-Swiss-ticated Sehr gut! You clearly know your alp horn from your Matterhorn!

#BeMoreSwiss For more details, visit ricola.com and @RicolaUK. Ricola are available from Holland & Barrett, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, WHSmith, Morrisons, independent health food stores, Ocado and Ricola.com

July 2018 BA LA N CE

presents

MINDFUL RUNNING Join us in a morning of wellness for both body and mind this August

LOCATION AND ROUTE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

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ost runners will tell you it’s pretty normal for the mind to wander when you’re pounding the streets or running on a treadmill. As a consequence, you can get caught up in to-do lists or feel overwhelmed by the physical exertion – making the actual run less enjoyable.

One way to ensure you’re performing to the best of your ability, is to leave the thinking behind and allow your body and mind to work together. Which is why running is often the perfect outlet for mindfulness.

KEEPING FOCUSED

MIND GAMES

DATE: Saturday 4 August (from 10am) WHERE: Meet at Battersea Power Station LEVEL: Beginners to future race runners and everyone in-between

We’ve teamed up with Lucozade Sport Fitwater and mindful running crew, ChasingLights Collective, to bring you a 5K mindful running workshop on 4 August 2018.

Discover how to run lighter, easier, and with less chance of injury, while focusing on quietening the mind at the same time.

The idea is to get in the zone and harness the incredible benefits of being more connected to your physiology and psychology.

Being more connected to movement can help reduce anxiety, depression, stress and pain.

And if you’re able to be more mindful during your run, you can think about your form, soak up your surroundings, and allow your thoughts to float away without being disruptive.

Don’t worry if you’re not a seasoned runner, or haven’t run in a long time. The focus is not on speed or distance, the focus is on connecting the dots between mind and body, to improve your overall experience of running.

Come and join us

BREATHE, STEP, AND NOTICE In this session we’ll cover the basics:

✛ How to begin mindful running ✛ Benefits of mindful running ✛ Breathing techniques while moving

Book your space early to avoid disappointment. Everyone who attends will receive a goody bag packed with healthy treats, too. To buy tickets and find out more details, please visit balancemindfulrunning.eventbrite.com

pe s

fa m

Q U E E N O F TA R T S

li y r e c i

Rise and shine

Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain makes cooking for the masses a real family affair

WORDS: STACEY SMITH

S

he’s written numerous recipe books, dipped her toe into children’s writing (Bake Me a Story was nominated for Children’s Book of the Year 2017), presents her own cookery shows for the BBC, copresented The Big Family Cooking Showdown with pal Zoe Ball and even had the honour of making the Queen’s 90th birthday cake.

We think it’s fair to say that since winning The Great British Bake Off back in 2015, Nadiya Hussain’s life has been turned upside down.

So, it will come as no surprise that her latest cookbook, Nadiya’s Family Favourites, is a return to a simpler time. “It’s a collection of recipes that we cook at home. The kids love being in the kitchen with me, it’s where we hang out most.”

Hailing from a big family (Nadiya is one of six, and her husband one of seven), she was bought up to believe ‘if you’re eating alone, you’re doing it wrong’. While acknowledging circumstances can mean this is unavoidable for some, Nadiya firmly believes in the power of sharing food, whether that’s inviting people over or giving it to someone who needs it more.

“Anyone who came to my parents’ house ended up staying forever and becoming extended family, and that’s something I hope to instil in my own children.”

‘This is a collection of recipes that we cook at home. The kids love being in the kitchen with me, it’s where we hang out most! I get to really challenge myself when I’m cooking, and that’s been a big help for me.’

Bengali roots meant she had never met a single vegetarian, but she explains she now follows a flexitarian approach after watching Netflix documentary Cowspiracy. “Monday to Friday we try to remain vegetarian. My kids were really shocked when they saw how much milk was being produced just to feed us here in the UK.” Nadiya has been very open about her own struggles with mental health, often referencing the ‘panic monster’ she struggles to keep under control. “I’ve come to a point where I realise it’s not going to go away, so I learn to live with it. Just having that realisation has helped me feel a lot better.

“I was desperately looking for a cure, or something that would

BA LA N CE July 2018

make it disappear, but instead I found coping mechanisms which help me through.”

This might have been around the time, having previously dismissed the notion of being a role model, she acknowledged her platform should not be taken lightly. “I can see why my role is important. Not just for Muslim kids or young women, but people of all backgrounds, to promote diversity and an awareness of different cultures. How great is it for our kids to grow up seeing that? This is why I love doing what I do: it’s a little bit more than ‘just’ cooking.”

Nadia's food favourites are fun for the entire family to cook…

47

Q U E E N O F TA R T S

Roll with it Stewpendous

GRAPEFRUIT AND CHICKEN STEW WITH COUSCOUS Serves 6

SPINACH AND PANEER KATI ROLLS

SPINACH AND PANEER KATI ROLLS Serves 4 Ingredients • 3tbsp olive oil • 226g paneer cheese, cut into 1cm cubes • 150g spinach leaves • 150ml water • 4 cloves of garlic, chopped • 1tsp cumin seeds • ½tsp chilli flakes • ½tsp salt For the Kati Rolls • Olive oil, for frying • 2 eggs • A pinch of salt • 4 small tortilla wraps 1. Put a non-stick saucepan on a medium heat with 2 tablespoons of oil. Fry the paneer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, to colour the paneer as much as possible.

2. Put the spinach leaves and water into a blender and whiz to form a smooth paste.

Add a splash of water to blend it smoothly.

3. Take the paneer out of the pan. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil and the garlic and cook for 1 minute, until the garlic is light brown.

4. Add the green mixture, along with the cumin seeds, chilli flakes and salt, and cook on a medium heat for 5 minutes, until some of the water has reduced and the mixture has thickened.

5. Add the paneer to the pan and mix well, making sure all the cheese is covered in green. Pop a lid on the pan and leave on a low heat while you make the rolls.

6. Put a small frying pan on a high heat and add a good glug of oil, enough to cover the base.

7. Break the eggs into a bowl, season with salt and lightly whisk. Dip a tortilla into the egg mixture, making sure to cover it all over. Get it straight into the frying pan (the oil should be hot enough to really create a sizzle) and cook for 30 seconds.

Turn over and cook on the other side.

8. To serve, add the paneer mixture to the centre of a hot crispy tortilla, and roll up. Not like a professional burrito, but the way a kid would make a roll for the first time. If you don’t have cheese falling out of one end, you’re doing it wrong!

BA LA N CE July 2018

Ingredients • 1kg skinless boneless chicken thighs, diced • 1tsp ground turmeric • 4tbsp olive oil, plus a little extra • 3 cloves of garlic, chopped • 1 small onion, finely diced • 1tsp salt • 2tsp ground cumin • 1tsp chilli flakes • 1 large grapefruit, juice and zest • 500ml hot water • 2tbsp cornflour mixed with 2 tbsp water • A large handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped For the couscous • 400g couscous • 1tsp salt • 30g unsalted butter • 550ml boiling water 1. Put the chicken into a bowl. Add ½ tsp of turmeric and mix until covered.

Place a large saucepan on a medium to high heat and add the oil and fry the chicken until brown around the edges.

Put back into the bowl and set aside.

2. Add a little oil to the pan, season and cook the garlic and onion until the onion is soft. Tip in the cumin, chilli flakes and remaining ½ tsp of turmeric and cook for a few minutes.

3. Pour in the grapefruit juice, zest and browned chicken. Mix through, then add the hot water. Stir in the cornflour/water mixture, cover and cook for 30 minutes.

4. Place the couscous in a bowl and stir in the salt. Put the butter on top, pour in the boiling water until it reaches 1cm above the couscous. Cover, then set aside.

5. When the chicken stew is cooked, take it off the heat, add the parsley and serve with the couscous.

49

Baked goods

NIÇOISE BAKE Serves 4 Ingredients • 8 new potatoes (about 375g) • 4 eggs • 2 x 170g tins of tuna, drained • 5 cherry tomatoes, quartered • 115g green beans, cut into 2.5cm pieces • 1 small red onion,thinly sliced • 100g pitted black olives, halved • 3 anchovies, chopped finely • 150g Parmesan shavings For the dressing • 5tbsp olive oil • 2 cloves of garlic, crushed and chopped • 2tbsp balsamic vinegar • 1tsp dried parsley • 2tsp dried chives • ½tsp salt 1. Boil the new potatoes for 15–20 minutes. Drain, cool, then cut into quarters.

2. Simmer the eggs for 8 minutes. Rinse under cold water, peel from their shells and cut into quarters.

ALL FOR ONE

3. Put the potatoes, eggs, tuna, tomatoes, beans, red onion, olives and anchovies into an ovenproof dish. Preheat the oven to 200°C/ 180°C fan/gas mark 6.

4. To make the dressing, put the oil, garlic, vinegar, parsley, chives and salt into a bowl and

mix well. Add the dressing to the baking dish and stir.

5. Put the Parmesan shavings on top and bake in the oven for about 15 minutes. This is just enough time for all the loveliness in the dish to warm through, but also for the cheese to melt and crisp up on top. B

Nadiya's Family Favourites by Nadiya Hussain (£20, Michael Joseph)

Q U E E N O F TA R T S

cook

k it

it b o o

family friendly Kids on their summer holidays?

That shouldn’t mean forgoing your favourite restaurant.

Stacey Smith suggests three that will welcome your little ones with open arms...

STICKS’N’SUSHI

YORK & ALBANY

WAHACA

Various locations

Camden

Various locations

Rather than dumbing-down their menu, they’ve created kid-friendly bento boxes containing both sticks and sushi alongside rice, vegetables and edamame, served with a glass of milk, organic elderflower or apple juice and a complimentary chocolate fish. Some restaurants also offer sushi making classes if you really want to get their hands dirty.

They also make it easy for families to visit, offering high chairs, baby change facilities and fullyaccessible restaurants. sticksnsushi.co.uk

Located a short distance from London Zoo and Regent’s Park, the children’s menu at Gordon Ramsay’s all-day restaurant is inspired by his daughter Tilly’s Kitchen Takeover. Choose from slam dunk meatballs, or margherita pizzettas cooked in the outdoor wood burning oven or, if you take afternoon tea, they’ll make a mini version.

The best bit? Kids under 12 eat free all day, every day when an adult orders from the a la carte menu. Bargain!

Just hope Ramsay keeps his potty mouth in check… gordonramsayrestaurants. com/york-and-albany

Kids will love building their own tacos from an array of healthy ingredients or, if you can’t bear the thought of getting guac out of their hair for the rest of the day, play it safe with a toasted quesadilla sandwich. Priced at £5.50, it includes either apple or orange fizz (not the kind you’ll order!), home-made hibiscus cordial or a glass of milk. Six branches house a ‘Flying Eye Books Little Library’, where youngsters of all ages are encouraged to borrow and read beautifully designed award-winning books. wahaca.co.uk

SAY NO TO UNETHICAL SOURCING AND UNFAIR TRADE

SAY YE S TO GOOD FISH

C HE C K O U T O U R U NI Q U E Q UA L I T Y C HART E R AT FI SH4 EV E R .CO.U K Chosen by t he very best food retailers inclu ding :

BALANCE PROMOTION

Don’t sweat the

small stuff

Lucozade Sport Fitwater is the perfect hydration partner for anything that makes you sweat – from a 30-minute workout to a triathlon

R

ight now, Lucozade Sport Fitwater ambassador Victoria Spence is training for a triathlon, halfmarathon and 200km bike ride.

“Because I’m losing a lot of sweat, I know I’m losing electrolytes too. Lucozade Sport Fitwater replenishes the four key electrolytes lost through sweat and helps me meet my hydration needs. These electrolytes also combat fatigue and muscle cramps, so I get the most out of my workouts.

“I’m working with Fitwater to get a million people moving more by 2020, and it’s such a great campaign; if I can use sport as a means to live a more balanced life, then I know you can, too. After all, my own journey to helping people get in shape and be more balanced has not been without its struggles.

“I got into dance and ballet from the age of three, was scouted and started training for five nights a week. Then the pressure took its toll. I went to dance college where we were told ‘our body was our CV’, and how we had to look amazing. I felt I needed to be perfect and developed a relationship with the scales coupled with over-exercising. I was obsessed with my weight and was diagnosed with anorexia and depression. I had to leave dance college, and it broke me into pieces.

“I’d isolated myself from everyone and then hit rock bottom. People were pointing and talking about me because I was so thin; it was the first time I realised there was an issue. I saw

LUCOZADE SPORT FITWATER’S THREE STEPS TO HEAVEN

MAGNESIUM Balances electrolytes and keeps you from feeling tired and fatigued

CALCIUM Contributes to normal muscle function

SODIUM & CHLORIDE Help replenish the vital minerals you lose through sweat

July 2018 BA LA N CE

my parents in pain. I’d been told I had only months to live and my dad, who is my rock, bluntly told me: ‘You recover or you die.’ This provided the kick up the bum I needed.

“During recovery, my dad hired a personal trainer who understood the importance of hydration & electrolytes, and I started an Instagram account about my fightback. It was like a diary (what I was eating, what I was up to), and other girls who related to me reached out.

People were depending on me.

“A few months later, I launched Girl Gains with two friends. This is all about building communities of women who bond over the common goal of living a healthier lifestyle.

I sometimes struggle to acknowledge the positive impact my social media and Girl Gains has had on people, and when I was writing this, I actually had a little teary moment of gratitude.

“I now have a balanced lifestyle, which Fitwater helps me maintain, and really enjoy exercising – even if I had to learn the hard way.”

For more information, visit lucozadesport.com/products/fit-water and follow Victoria on Instagram @victorianiamh

Adapt nation

HEALING HERBS

THE R NDE WO FF STU

What are adaptogens and how can they help heal problem skin? Amelia Richards explains

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daptogens are having a moment.

It’s the buzzword that’s getting thrown around the wellness scene a lot of late. But what are they? And how can they bring about clearer, brighter and healthier skin?

They’re a frankly amazing group …AND REL A X of foods and herbs that have been Taking an used in Ayurvedic and Chinese adaptogen such medicine for centuries, but it as ashwagandha seems us westerners are only just regularly has been discovering their awesomeness. shown to reduce To be classed as an adaptogen, a anxiety by up to 44%*. substance must be non-toxic to the body’s physiological functions, offer widespread support to its systems and help bring the body back to equilibrium, by supporting the hormonal system.

They have a chameleon-like quality in that they have their own functions, but they adapt them to your body’s specific needs.

You can enjoy adaptogens in your coffee, smoothie or combine them with food, given they come as pills, tinctures or powders.

TAKING ROOT Both American and Asian ginseng are believed to boost energy, lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels and reduce stress.

FEEL THE BURN Summer might be a fun season, but your skin wouldn’t agree. More times outdoors means your skin takes a hit, and barbecues and booze don’t help either. You can probably guess what can help summerbattered skin: adaptogens.

So which adaptogens are best for adding a little oomph to your skin and how can you incorporate them into your daily routine?

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

A WELCOME BOOST 1. Wunder Workshop Golden Glow Adaptogen Blend, £17.50 This herbal boost is ideal for adding to a morning smoothie.

As well as being designed to release your inner radiance, the blend also boasts brahmi; this Ayurvedic nootropic herb has been shown to boost both memory and cognition; especially ideal for a busy working life. Because it’s full of antioxidants and vitamins, it can also help the body’s capacity for adapting to hormone changes and help

in the fight against stress and depression. I’d recommend starting with 1tsp and gradually increasing the dose each day.

2. Glow Bar Elixirs Pearl, £26.50 Pearl has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries. This nano-particle pearl powder boosts collagen production, evens skin tone, fights signs of ageing, and contains calcium, 30 trace minerals and essential amino acids. It comes in powdered form and dissolves

in any drink. You can also apply it directly onto skin by mixing with a little warm water.

3. Fushi Ashwagandha Root Capsules, £10 This powerful root’s alkaloids help to ease pressures on the hormonal and nervous systems and work to relive anxiety, promoting a sense of wellbeing and calm. As ashwagandha encourages the body to produce melatonin, it can prove a useful sleep aid, too. Take these capsules daily.

July 2018 BA LA N CE

GREAT FOR SLEEP

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H E AT I N G U P

Ask the Chef

Serving up a rapport HelloFresh head chef and co-founder Patrick Drake finds the answers to all your problems with food

Q

WORDS: PATRICK DRAKE. PHOTOGRAPHY: DEBBIE BRAGG RECIPE PHOTOGRAPHY: JASON INGRAM

‘I have a hard time making connections with the people I date.

Can you help? Jean, Clapham A few years ago, I had a very random adventure that might finally be useful. I was working as a (really bored) lawyer and dreamed up a TV show concept which taught guys how to create the perfect date.

Fate intervened one day when I got talking to a producer who lived in LA and mentioned my idea. A week later she excitedly called me back, said her network loved it and suggested we filmed a pilot with me as the chef.

Ten weeks of practicing talking out loud while doing the cooking/washing up /shaving (my housemate thought I’d lost the plot) later, there I was in front of an entire studio: “Action!”

The concept was this: go out for a first date with your prospective other half (or at least initiate some investigative Tinder banter) and find out all about them: where they grew up, what foods they love, what they hate (including food allergies, since anaphylactic shock isn’t sexy), their favourite movie and so on.

PAT R I C K

S ET S YOUR MOOD

Aphrodish-iacs

Keep the interrogation vibe to a minimum, but make quiet mental notes of their answers (because, as we know, listening to somebody intently is an attractive quality in itself).

For date number two, invite them round for dinner and, based on the information gleaned, create the perfect culinary experience.

Or, to put it another way, rather than trotting out your ‘signature dish’, create every detail from the food and drinks to the music and atmosphere. You can also get them to help you in the kitchen so you have something else to bond over.

Remember, the devil’s always in the detail!

Win two HelloFresh boxes

Email or tweet your queries for Patrick to hello@balance.media or @BalanceLDN. If your conundrum is chosen, you could win two free boxes from HelloFresh.

Follow Patrick on Instagram @patrickdrakechef

MUSIC

DRINKS

SEATING

If your date doesn’t drink, fill a Champagne bucket with ice and serve different flavours of kombucha

Don’t have a dining table? Throw cushions on the floor around a coffee table

If you’re not sure what mood to set, hand them your Spotify and let them choose

July 2018 BA LA N CE

S O U L ( M AT E ) F O O D

PE STO & AS PARAG US TA RT It’s the height of summer, so I’ve got a light recipe complete with two (alleged) aphrodisiacs and plenty of opportunities for cooking collaboration…

Serves 2 Ingredients • 150g asparagus spears, trimmed and halved widthways • 50ml crème fraîche • 1½ tbsps basil pesto • 3 tbsps hard Italian cheese, grated • 1 sheet (320g) all-butter puff pastry • 2 tbsp pine nuts • 1 tbsp milk • 40g rocket

1 Preheat your oven to 200°C and boil a pan of water. Ask your guest to hold each asparagus spear at both ends and bend gently until it snaps (the woody end can be thrown away). Chop the remaining pieces in half widthways and boil for 1 minute. Drain, then run under cold water for 15 seconds and pat dry

2 Mix the crème fraîche, pesto and half the grated cheese. Unroll the pastry onto a greased baking tray and use a knife to lightly mark a border around the tart, 1cm from the edge

3 Ask your guest to spread the crème fraîche mixture inside the border, before you place the drained asparagus over the mixture

4 Scatter the pine nuts on top, brush the border with milk and bake for 1520 minutes until the pastry has risen and is nice and golden 5 Mix your rocket with 2 tsps of olive oil, ¼ tsp of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Scatter the rocket and remaining cheese over the cooked tart (with a matador’s flourish for good measure) and serve straight away

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BALANCE PROMOTION

Making waves How Speedo’s Mind Body Swim campaign can impact your life

W

hen it comes to wellbeing, swimming is the great all-rounder.

Sure, running is great

for cardio, yoga for flexibility and calm and weights for strength. But, for a pastime that ticks pretty much every box, swimming reigns supreme. It’s why Speedo has curated Mind Body Swim.

It’s more than a campaign; it’s a mission to potentially change your life.

Developed with a team of experts, Mind Body Swim will give you the knowledge and power to take swimming to the next level. Any visit to the pool is beneficial but, armed with the right information, you’ll become a better swimmer, feel more prepared to maximise each session and end up both physically and mentally stronger.

These are the building blocks to change how you look and feel, with the three P’s coming to the fore: planning, prioritisation and progress.

Mind Body Swim is blissfully simple.

Visit speedo.com/mind-body-swim, answer two easy questions (what’s your goal and how often do you swim), and a plan based on swimming, nutrition and sleep (with experts offering crucial advice) will set you on your path to allround wellness.

As nutritionist Anita Bean says: “A successful swim is not just about how many laps you can do, but the steps you take in your everyday life to ensure each and every swim is your best.

“I have teamed up with Speedo to create easy to make, nutritious and tasty recipes to boost your energy and help you get the most out of your swimming.”

WAT ER WAY T O GET FIT Just 30 minutes of steady swimming can burn between 200-350 calories

SPLASH!

Swimming burns approximately 3 calories a mile per pound of body weight

Swimmers who use it to improve strength and toning 30 minutes of exercise in the water is equivalent to approximately 60 minutes of nonwater exercise

KG

water provides 12-14% more resistance, like having weights around your body

BALANCE July 2018

Swimming can reduce tension, depression, anger, confusion – and it also increases vigour

3

P O OL ESSEN T IALS TO P OWER PB S

To cap it off...

The Silver Swim Cap’s ergonomic 3D design improves the comfort and fit of this essential aid to boost your training £5.50, johnlewis.com

C U R R E N T S TAT E

Blood flow to the brain increases by 14% when someone is submerged in water

Looking good Male and femalespecific Futura Biofuse Flexiseal googles help keep your eyes on the prize £20, next.co.uk

2-INGREDIENT PANCAKES

Serves

2

Ingredients

Sports Nutritionist Anita Bean’s perfect pancakes to fuel your next waterbased workout All you need for these pancakes are two ingredients: bananas and eggs!

Quick to make, they’re the perfect pre or post-swim fuel, high in protein and packed with vitamins and fibre.

• 2 bananas • 3 eggs • A little light olive oil, rapeseed oil or butter Optional batter ingredients (to make fluffier pancakes) • ¼ tsp baking powder • 1 tsp cinnamon or vanilla extract • 1 tbsp raisins

1. Mash the banana in a bowl. Add the eggs and mix together until well combined.

Alternatively, mix in a blender and process until fairly smooth.

2. Heat a non-stick pan over a medium heat, then add a

little oil. Drop 2 tsps of the batter mix into the pan, spacing well apart, and cook for 30-45 seconds.

Flip the pancakes over with a spatula and cook for a further 15-30 seconds. Repeat with the remaining batter.

3. Serve with fresh blueberries and plain low-fat Greek yogurt.

July 2018 BALANCE

Suits you Designed to fit like new for longer, the Gala Logo Medalist swimsuit is soft and quick-drying, allowing you to swim in comfort £29, very.co.uk To find out more, visit speedo.com/mindbody-swim

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D E ST I NAT I ON YU CATA N, M EX I CO

Where

wellness meets wilderness Avoid the Spring Breakers and Las Vegas-lite Cancún, and there’s a new world of wellness on offer in Mexico, as Callum McGeoch discovered

ISLA HOLBOX MERIDA

VALLADOLLID

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PUNTA NUZIC

M

ention Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula and most people think of Tulum’s eco-retreats, spring break in Playa del Carmen, or the high-rise heaven / hell that is Cancún. However, away from the Riviera Maya (the recently re-named stretch of coast linking those towns) another Yucatan is waiting to be discovered. One where direct descendants of ancient Mayans guide you through hypnotic herbal rituals; where you’ll find flocks of flamingos, gorge on the freshest guacamole and snorkel in sacred cenote caves.

To truly understand this unique region, we need to go back about 66 million years, when the same 10 mile-wide asteroid which wiped out the dinosaurs smashed into earth and created the peninsula. Today, it remains almost completely wild, covered in low-lying, largely unexplored jungle (what the Mayans called the Kingdom of the Jaguar). Over millennia, the cracks created by the impact filled with water, forming thousands of crystal clear freshwater sinkholes and caves, which allowed the Mayans to settle and build a mighty, thriving empire.

These cenotes now attract scuba divers from across the globe, who explore epic networks in hope of finding precious jewels tossed into the underworld as offerings of thanks.

The second cataclysmic impact was the arrival of the first Europeans, who took gold and jade in exchange for alcohol and diseases that finished off the Mayans. Later settlers from Spain left a legacy of influences which give the area a vibrant Latin flavour we love.

BA LA N CE July 2018

FOLLOW IN OUR FOOTSTEPS

One of around 6,000 cenotes on the Yucatán Peninsula

The Yucatan Wellness Trail is a two-three week circular route we designed and tested ourselves.

For full details and links to all the places we stayed at, plus food, spa, culture and flight recommendations, head over to balance.media/ yucatan

TEQUILA SUNRISES

Punta Nizuc

PRIVACY & PAMPERING

Perfume brand Coqui Coqui welcomes guests to Meson De Malleville in Valladolid

Valladolid

CRYSTALLINE CENOTES & COLONIAL CHIC

Far from beaches and free from chain hotels, this tiny jewel-like city of 17th Century Spanish colonial villas, chapels and squares doesn’t make it onto many tourists to-do lists. But its modern-day Mayan inhabitants, and the world’s top location scouts and fashion photographers know better, with every corner revealing another #nofilter worthy backdrop.

WHERE TO STAY With four guest suites set around a courtyard, each dec’d out in polished concrete, roll-top baths, vintage copper and monochrome, Meson de Malleville feels designed specifically for fashion editors and influencers.

Owned by the super-chic Coqui Coqui luxe lifestyle brand, it sits happily on Valladolid’s most-Instagrammed street.

WHAT TO DO In the fierce heat of day, there’s only one thing to do; dive into one of the many picturesque

cenotes dotted throughout the forests.

Alternatively, take a trip back in time to nearby Mayan temples, then join the evening crowds which gather to watch a free, high tech audio-visual history of the city projection-mapped onto its oldest building, a 16th Century convent.

WHAT TO EAT Traditional Mayan cuisine. Dip tortilla chips into sikil p’ak, a humus-like salsa made from pounded pumpkin seeds, and wash it down with a super-healthy chaya (spinach tree) and lemon verbena smoothie.

TREAT YOURSELF Valladolid has seen more than its fair share of religious strife, but has now settled on an open-minded, tolerant fusion of Catholicism, pagan, Mayan and new age spirituality. Casa Axis Mundi is a raw and vegan retreat set in a secret garden that hosts daily meditations blending Buddhism, Mayan and secular practices.

July 2018 BA LA N CE

It doesn’t matter whether Cancún’s “Vegason-Sea” reputation (and skyline) fills you with excitement or dread: all Yucatan itineraries start and end here, so you may as well do it right. Right? That’s what the owners and architects of Nizuc believe, too. A stunning, but unshowy five-star spa hotel, it covers the entire southern-most point of Cancún’s infamous 15-mile Zona Hotelera sandbar, a short cab ride from the airport. It’s blissfully undisturbed by either, with pristine views of the mangrove-fringed Caribbean from every single one of their 274 suites and villas, all six world-class restaurants and from every pool and private beach.

WHERE TO STAY Cancún has little to lure you away from the sun-lounger, and has recently seen a steep rise in drug cartel violence, so splash out on a night or three of all-inclusive luxury. Power-off your phone and revel in doing ‘absolutamente nada’.

WHAT TO DO Salute the sunrise with a paddleboard yoga class; snorkel out to MUSA (a sub-aquatic sculpture park created by Mexican artists, inhabited by contemporary Mexican parrot fish, rays and turtles); get hitched on the sun-bleached wooden jetty; or sip a margarita in the infinity pool at sunset.

WHAT TO EAT The one and only time to deviate from local fare, Nizuc’s posh Peruvian, ‘NI’, specialises in small dishes with big flavours drawn from healthy, fresh ingredients.

TREAT YOURSELF Shuffle between hot tubs, bubbles, jets, sauna, steam and ice baths in the Thermal Experience, then head to the ESPAbranded spa for a 90 minute ‘Mindful Massage’ with guided breathing and visualisation, reflexology and warm rose quartz crystals.

Nizuc Resort’s private jetty in the Caribbean sea

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TEQUILA SUNRISES Wade into the pink lakes of Las Colorados in Río Lagartos

Spanish colonial architecture in Yucatan state capital Mérida

Mérida HISPANIC HISTORY

Isla del Colibri, one of many colourful places to eat and drink in Holbox

Isla Holbox WHITE SAND & WHALE SHARKS Like Cancún, Holbox (pronounced ‘hole-bosh’) sits on a spit with mile after mile of white sand beach and a wide, brackish lagoon separating it from the mainland. That’s where the similarities end. A largely unspoilt wilderness, tourism is confined to the small town’s car-free sandy roads and care-free sandy visitors pootling around by golf cart. The gently shelving shore, warm calm waters and steady on-shore breeze make it the ideal place to learn to kite-surf, or drift about in a novelty inflatable, drink in hand.

Surprisingly for a nature reserve, Holbox is a graffiti mecca. Almost every building boasts a bright and brilliant mural because in 2014, street artists from around the world gathered here for Mexico’s first ever International Public Art Festival and couldn’t resist leaving their mark.

Holbox clearly left a mark on them, as they keep coming back.

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WHERE TO STAY The Dream Beachfront Hotel is typically laid-back Holboxian with simple, comfortable rooms set around two tempting pools. Guests snooze in hammocks slung between coconut palms, big floppy butterflies flutter by and nothing else happens. Which is exactly how we like it.

WHAT TO DO Holbox is one of the few places you can tick ‘swim with a whale shark’ off your bucket list. The annual arrival of these gentle giants coincides with hurricane season, so don’t risk incurring mother nature’s wrath by being bothersome to the biggest fish in the sea.

WHAT TO EAT La Isla del Colibri is an exlobster fisherman’s boatshed painted pink and mint and filled with folk art, frescos and portraits of Mexican heroine, Frida Kahlo.

They serve homestyle classics, good coffee and divine melon liquados (juicy milkshakes).

BA LA N CE July 2018

The administrative and cultural capital of Yucatan, Mérida’s grand city centre of imposing university buildings, museums and cathedrals was built by successive colonial powers, but is now home to a predominantly Mayan population. Tree-lined squares play host to chess tournaments, student protests, amorous couples and al fresco dining options.

WHERE TO STAY Mérida has myriad hotels, hostels and homestays to suit all tastes and budgets, but if it’s understated luxury you’re after, head 40 minutes south west. Chablé, a former haçienda considerately converted into one of the most beautiful wellness resorts in Mexico, is also home to the world’s largest collection of rare tequilas and mezcals.

WHAT TO DO Avoid the midday heat and Mérida is the perfect city for mindful meandering, boasting sights, sounds and smells that will stay with you forever. It’s also the perfect jump-off point for pilgrimages to pinkness. An hour west is Celestún, a protected lagoon festooned with huge flocks of flamingos, and one hour north east, you can bathe in the rose-coloured salt lakes of Rio Lagartos.

WHAT TO EAT Cochinita Pibil, an aromatic amber stew of slow-cooked pork that drips from freshly baked corn tortillas topped with pickled vegetables. A vegan version made with jackfruit is harder to find but worth searching out.

TREAT YOURSELF The spa at Chablé is a unique and unforgettable experience. Every treatment starts with a visit to a Mayan apothecary to select botanicals to be burnt during your blindfolded shamanistic ceremony inside a conch-shaped chamber, echoing with chants and cymbals. Treatments take place in glass-walled private rooms overlooking the resort’s own jungle-draped cenote. B

PHOTOGRAPHY: ROB DALY FOR THEPERFECTHIDEAWAY.COM, SHUTTERSTOCK

MEETS MODERN MAYA

WORDS: XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX6.5PT/8PT APERCU

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

October 2017 BA LA N CE

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BALANCE PROMOTION

Love the skin they’re in

Tasty

brunch

More than a bit on the side, potatoes are delicious, nutritious and surprisingly healthy

T

he following things are under-rated: finding a fiver in your jeans on laundry day; the feeling of climbing into bed last thing at night; and, especially when you know you shouldn’t, getting the giggles. We’ll add one more to the mix: potatoes. Yes, really.

Hear us out.

Potatoes possess the sort of versatility only an awardwinning character actor could dream of, providing the perfect accompaniment to many a dish.

What’s more, potatoes are a source of fibre (two glorious skin-on spuds can deliver a third of your recommended daily intake) and potassium (to help blood pressure) and are both fat and gluten free. The mighty potato is also good for gut health (thanks to its good bacteria).

They’re also delicious - as showcased in this easy-to-make recipe…

Make in

16 mins

CHORIZO AND POTATO TAPAS

P OTATO PANCA KE WITH SMA SHED AVO CAD O AND SMOKED SA LMON

SPUD STORY There are more than 1,000 varieties of potato, and they have become the world’s fourth-largest food crop behind rice, wheat and maize. Nearly one third of the world’s potatoes now originate in China and India, which were previously uncharted territories.

You will need • 200g fluffy potatoes mashed, or leftover mashed potato • 2 spring onions • 1tsp baking powder • 75g plain flour • 100-150ml whole milk • 1 lemon, juice and zest • ½tbsp olive oil • 1 avocado, loosely mashed • 150g smoked salmon • Handful of watercress • 1 egg, poached Method 1 Mash the potatoes while hot, then allow to cool before adding the spring onion and seasoning. Lightly whisk the flour and baking powder with the milk (100ml at first) and lemon zest and add to the mash, whisking in.

Under

Party

400 cals

LOADED MEXICAN POTATO SKINS

food

DUCHESSE MINI FISH PIES

July 2018 BA LA N CE

2 Check the seasoning and consistency (add a little extra milk if the mix is too stiff ), then heat the olive oil in a large pan. When hot, pour in the batter, using a spatula to spread the mix out as its quite thick. When the pancake is puffed up and browned, flip to cook on the other side.

3 To serve, place a pancake on each plate, top with the smashed avocado (seasoned with salt & pepper and lemon juice), a handful of watercress and the smoked salmon. If you are adding a poached egg, place this on top of the salmon. Squeeze extra lemon and drizzle a little olive oil over the top.

For more delicious and easy recipes, visit lovepotatoes.co.uk

SOUND IT OUT

Backing vocals Jane Dunford discovers how using your voice can let health and wellbeing speak on a whole new level

July 2018 BA LA N CE

A

ccording to Lucy Hill, founder of Chaya Retreats, “Outside the comfort zone is where the magic happens”. I’ve come to try out her ‘Finding Your Voice’ yoga holiday in Goa, and a group singing lesson with a former opera star is definitely beyond that line for someone who’s naturally soft spoken and completely tone-deaf.

The multiple benefits of singing together are well documented. It’s said it strengthens the immune system, acts as a natural anti-depressant and improves mental alertness. Membership to choirs in the UK has soared over recent years – there are at least 40,000 of them, featuring a staggering 2.14 million people who are singing regularly.

So, I swallow my pride (and fear) and give it a go. After warm-up exercises to free tension around the throat, Andrea Finke gently guides us through chords

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

EN-CHANTING GOA New techniques and surprising self discoveries

JIVAMUKTI YOGA “Practised to support the retreat’s theme, each session begins with a call-and-response Sanskrit mantra. Durga Devi – who opened the Jivamukti Centre in London two decades ago and now teaches at Triyoga – inspires with her inclusive vibe and powerful voice. It soon becomes a favourite part of the day – grounding and uplifting at the same time. There’s kirtan, too (longer group chants), a practice rowing in popularity.

Given the sense of connection, it’s easy to see why.”

The surroundings implore you to relax and find your voice

BREATHWORK

UNLEASH YOUR INNER VOICE We’re staying at Kaju Varo, a beautiful modern eco-resort, hidden in an oasis of vegetation 10 minutes’ walk from Ashvem beach. Lucy runs several retreats per year, each with a different theme. “Finding Your Voice is about using your vocals to sing or communicate,” she explains. “But it’s about much more than that.

“In a wider sense, it’s reconnecting with that authentic inner voice, taking time to reconnect with you.” Over the next eight days the programme of twice-daily yoga, plus a wide range of treatments and therapies, from massage and breathwork sessions to gong baths, is designed with this goal in mind.

MY KIRTAN CALL So did I find my voice? More than anything a retreat of this type gives you the chance to step away from the busyness of everyday life and to

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check in with yourself. Having sung, chanted, tried yoga, breathwork and many new treatments, I develop a new understanding of the power of the voice.

Before I leave I brave a private singing lesson with Andrea, and while my tone may not have improved, I find myself skipping around the room belting out Hallelujah without a care in the world.

Since being back in London I’ve been to kirtan and sometimes chant at home (not sure what my flatmates think).

I love the upbeat mood it induces.

So here’s to raising our voices – and boosting our health and wellbeing. B Check out forthcoming Chaya Yoga Retreats, from magnificent stately homes in the English countryside to magical settings across the world, at chayayogaretreats.com

BA LA N CE July 2018

AYURVEDA “India is the birthplace of Ayurveda, a holistic healing system which originated over 3,000 years ago. Based on a belief that mind and body are inextricably connected, there are three mind-body types (or ‘dosha’); kapha, pitta, vata. Each is made up of a combination of the five basic elements (space, air, fire, water and earth), and everyone has a dominant dosha Ayurveda aims to balance.”

IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK

and we’re soon harmonising (sort of). Immediately, I find the benefits of singing are real; it’s uplifting, fun, empowering and strangely emotional.

“Singing and yoga are intricately connected to breath. Being taught to breathe may seem like an odd concept, but Nicola Price, founder of Inspirational Breathing, provides breath pattern analysis and a staggering percentage of people are not accessing their full potential. We learn to belly breathe, letting the diaphragm move down naturally – a simple but effective technique for tapping into the parasympathetic nervous system and aiding relaxation.”

BALANCE PROMOTION

The science of sleep Sleep scientists on why better sleep equals better everything THE EXPERT

Casper’s design director, Jesse Menayan “We’re on a neverending quest to create an even more comfortable sleep experience for people. And that means all manner of experiments, trials and meticulous research and development”

R

ecently, we were reading Matthew Walker’s thoughts on the importance of good sleep.

He’s a Professor of Neuroscience at UC Berkeley, a sleep scientist for Google and author of Why We Sleep: it’s fair to say he knows a bit about kip. He says sleep deprivation costs the UK economy over £30 billion per year in lost revenue (yes, thirty billion), so we should really take notice. “No aspect of our biology is left unscathed by sleep deprivation,” says Matthew. “It sinks down into every possible nook and cranny.”

Harsh truth time: if you’re a consistently poor sleeper, it probably won’t magically change. So you need to take action and live your best life by sleeping your best sleep.

And that’s where Casper comes in.

Thought leaders and experts in sleep at the Casper Labs in San Francisco create highly-engineered products to ensure the most comfortable sleep going. Need more proof of their brilliance? They’ve featured in Time Magazine’s Top 25 inventions list

*OFFER VALID IN THE UK ONLY

CENTURY SNOOZE 100-night risk-free trial. If you don’t like it, return it

and have chalked up 30,000 reviews averaging a staggering 4.8 out of 5.

RISK-FREE REST Sleep is all about comfort; the perfect temperature, ideal support and that feeling when you melt into bed thinking, “It’s so good to be back!”. Design director Jesse Menayan’s team interviewed hundreds of people about what they looked for in a good mattress, and the same thing cropped up: soft and supportive. While this sounds simple and obvious, it’s actually complex.

Much of the 18 months we put into the Casper mattress was dedicated to solving this tension between soft and supportive, which we felt hadn’t been perfected.

“We built over 50 versions and optimised each based on user and machine tests,” says Jesse.

After all this effort, it’s SUDDEN safe to suggest sleep has START never been so comfortable.

The sensation of falling while half-asleep and jolting yourself awake is called a ‘hypnic jerk’.

They can be increased by anxiety, caffeine or physical activity close to bedtime and these normal episodes decrease as you age

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Get 11% off all Casper products.

Use the code scienceofsleep at the checkout*

To find out more, visit casper.com

July 2018 BA LA N CE

BALANCE PROMOTION

The mighty

booch U

s Britons love Australia.

Whether it’s our obsession with its dramas, soap stars-turned-singers, or

just the loveably laid-back attitude of Australians, we’ve always been huge admirers of everything Down Under. And now it looks like there’s another Aussie export we’re all set to fall head over heels in love with: Remedy Kombucha.

The mighty booch boasts myriad health benefits, especially with regards to your gut, and it could change the way we enjoy a drink for serious downtime: after all, when most Brits look to a tipple for nourishment, goodness and wellness, we tend to put the kettle on.

However, thanks to Remedy Kombucha, we can now enjoy a delicious drink that is tasty and healthy!

Remedy co-founders Sarah and Emmet Condon have seen their drink become the most-loved Kombucha brand in Australia and you can see it becoming a Kylie-sized smash here.

The Condons made the first batches in their kitchen and they still follow the same traditional processes today – longage brewed in small batches, maximum passion and zero compromise. “Our goal has always been to make it easier to make healthy choices,” explains Emmett. “People are more aware of the dangers of consuming too much sugar now and realise drinks are one of the main culprits.”

As you know, not all fizzy drinks are especially good for you. Remedy, on the other hand, bucks this trend with gusto. This

Kombacha could be genuine amber nectar

BALANCE July 2018

For a delicious fizzy livecultured drink that loves ya guts, crack open a Remedy Kombucha

WHY KOMBUC HA IS GO OD FOR YOU Nutritional nuggets behind the beloved booch…

Prevents overgrowth of bad pathogenic bacteria

Energy source for probiotic bacteria in gut

Helps your body to break down fat

Helps to regulate appetite and cholesterol

Promotes stable blood sugar levels

energising, fermented beverage is naturally free from sugar, and chock full of live cultures and organic acids that benefit gut health and overall wellbeing.

There’s a catch, right? Well, no. It tastes delicious and proves to be a heck of a thirst-quencher. It’s also good for you and will make you feel markedly better. Feel you’re missing that spring in your step? Crack open a Remedy (hey, it got its name for a reason…).

And there are four damn tasty flavours to choose from: Raspberry Lemonade, Apple Crisp, Ginger Lemon and Original. It’s a great drink to keep in stock for when friends visit, given it’s alcohol and fructose-free, vegan-friendly and certified organic.

It’s why Remedy has teamed up with nutritionist Jacqueline Alwill to help spread the word. “I love giving people an experience in food and wellness that makes them excited, empowered and happy to start a journey to optimal health,” she says.

If you’re a kombucha die-hard, you might have found your new favourite booch. And if you’re a newbie - well, what are you waiting for?

SWEE T RELEASE

Remedy Kombucha is the only kombucha to have an official seal of approval from the team at I Quit Sugar (IQS)

Remedy Kombucha is available from Planet Organic, Whole Foods, Selfridges and a heap of independent coffee shops, delis, health stores and wellness studios around London. For more information, visit remedydrinks.com and @remedydrinks

July 2018 BALANCE

W H AT ’ S O N

CULTURE ounter

Too hot to think? Then just relax as we organise July’s social schedule

saturday night fever After seeing his sitcom saved, Andy Samberg turns his attentions to the big screen One of the all-time great Saturday Night Live cast members, Andy Samberg has boosted YouTube viewership via his comedy band The Lonely Island, and seen his sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine rescued by NBC after a fan outcry following its axing. Next up is franchise smash Hotel Transylvania 3, alongside Adam Sandler and the iconic Mel Brooks. No wonder he’s one of the happiest dudes we’ve talked to…

Andy Samberg is part of comedy rap trio The Lonely Island, whose most-watched YouTube video (I Just had Sex, featuring Akon) has been viewed 287 million times

YOU ALWAYS LOOK LIKE YOU’RE ENJOYING YOURSELF. WHAT IS THE SECRET? I wanted to be on SNL since I was eight and I can’t believe I get to do it for a living. If you grew up wanting to play shortstop for the New York Yankees, and then play shortstop for the Yankees, everything else is icing.

I keep expecting a piano to fall on me from the sky. I’ve had so many lucky moments that it doesn’t seem plausible. I try to be really grateful and am really happy doing it.

HOW MOVING WAS BROOKLYN NINE-NINE BEING SAVED BY PEOPLE POWER? You said it perfectly - moving. The people who make the show love making it, but we didn’t realise how far-reaching it was. When we faced cancellation there was an outpouring of heartbreak and we realised we’d made something that affects people in a personal way. We’re so grateful!

WORDS: JAMES GILL, IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES

IT MUST BE LOVELY TO MAKE SOMETHING LIKE HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA THAT ALL AGES CAN ENJOY? We get such good reactions from parents and kids, and that’s not something I ever thought I’d be courting. But when it happens, it’s incredible and sweet. It’s cool doing the voice to someone’s kid and they go: “Woah!”

WHICH SNL SKETCHES SHOULD OUR READERS DROP THE MAG FOR AND WATCH RIGHT NOW? We did one called Great Days I’m very proud of. It’s a psychotic musical number… (for more Samberg sketch picks, visit balance.media).

Hotel Transylvania 3 is in cinemas 27 July

July 2018 BA LA N CE

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screen time

OUT AND ABOUT

SPORT

WOMEN’S HOCKEY WORLD CUP

FILM

ANT MAN & THE WASP

FILM

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE FALLOUT The reason the M:I franchise prints money is because audiences know they’ll be entertained. Fallout might be the best yet. Tom Cruise in repeated peril? Check. Stunts that take your breath away? Check (Cruise even broke his ankle filming a particular leap). At least one twist that might have you out of your seat? We couldn’t possibly comment… In cinemas 25 July

July cover star Evangeline Lilly and Paul Rudd make for the perfect double act in this excellent Marvel action flick.

Superhero fatigue? Not as long as Disney and Marvel keep making hugely entertaining films, like this one set before Avengers: Infinity War. In cinemas 3 August

Do you think there should be more parity in sport? Do your bit by attending.

What’s more, England have a strong team… Lee Valley, 21 July-5 August, englandhockey.co.uk

FESTIVAL

CAMP WILDFIRE If the thought of an adventure holiday fused with a festival gets you giddy, this is for you.

31 Aug-3 Sept, campwildfire.co.uk

ART

PICASSO 1932: LOVE, FAME, TRAGEDY

FILM

FILM

FILM

Not only does comedy help lower blood pressure, a family trip to the cinema is an excellent bonding exercise. The fact this animated gem is laugh-outloud funny is just an added bonus. In cinemas 27 July

The always-reliable John Cho (Star Trek) hunts for his daughter, while we watch via his laptop and smartphone.

Ingeniously crafted, consistently exciting, subtly acted and – unusually for a thriller – genuinely moving.

In cinemas 31 August

Oscar-winning director Kevin Macdonald is a special talent and turns his forensic eye to the late, great Whitney Houston. Working with the singer’s family, he unearths some heartbreaking truths about what made Her so vulnerable. In cinemas now

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3

SEARCHING

WHITNEY

Richly rewarding exhibition that showcases one of the most remarkable years in the great Spanish artist’s illustrious career.

Tate Modern, until 9 Sept, tate.org.uk

THEATRE

THE KING & I The Broadway cast transfer to the West End for an exhilarating experience.

London Palladium, until 29 September, kingandimusical.co.uk

EXPERIENCE

SUMMER STREETS

G RISIN R A T S

Sophie is playing a younger Judi Dench in war drama Red Joan, about a girl who ends up helping to develop an atomic bomb in WWII

Sophie Cookson

A ROSE WHO’S BLOOM-ING Sophie Cookson is living the dream. Asked to audition for the West End run of Killer Joe opposite Orlando Bloom, the 28-year-old landed the plum role of Lottie just days before rehearsals. “I had all my fingers and toes crossed,” she says. “The script is so punchy and electrifying. I hadn’t read anything like that in a long time.” And how about working with Orlando? “He’s so sweet!”

Sophie enthuses. “Always bouncing around with so much energy and positivity. It has a domino effect.” Killer Joe is at Trafalgar Studios until 18 August (killerjoeplay.com)

July 2018 BA LA N CE

Taking place every Sunday, a traffic-free Regent Street plays host to restaurants, retailers, experts and more. Until 22 July, regentsreetonline.com

COUNTRY

LAMBETH COUNTRY SHOW If you need a break from London’s urban majesty, get your fill of sheep shearing, veg carving and reggae at this popular two-dayer (42 years old and stronger than ever!). 21-22 July, lambethcountryshow.co.uk

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n th e s

t

pot l i g h

The panel

The Balance quizmasters choosing to accept a mission of interrogation

SIMON PEGG

i

S

Lights, camera… pizza?!

he is f**king funny.

I had physical difficulty holding the pen…’”

Rebecca Ferguson is trying – and succeeding, it seems – to get Balance to show the wider world just how funny she is, dictating lines she would jokingly like to see appear in this very piece. She’s not kidding: she is funny. Genuinely funny.

Some (just some, we hasten to add) film stars break big and lose all touch with reality. Rebecca, who has become a global star thanks to Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation, The Greatest Showman, The Girl On The Train and now Mission: Impossible Fallout, you sense will be different. Genuinely different.

Swearing like a docker with little in the way of filter, nothing is off limits with the immensely likeable Swede as she gives Balance insight into injecting ordinary into the extraordinary; how, after all, can you maintain sanity on a big-budget film set? Just to make it that little more insane, three of her co-stars want to kick things off with questions of their own. “As long as it’s not Simon Pegg,” Rebecca jokes. Ah…

Uproarious Mission: Impossible Fallout star Rebecca Ferguson on why staying sane on a film set is Mission Possible

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JAMES GILL

HENRY CAVILL

Simon Pegg While shooting Rogue Nation and Fallout, when were you highest and lowest?

Rebecca Ferguson Both were on Rogue Nation; I was highest while jumping off a rooftop in Vienna. I’ve been higher, when we did a 120ft freefall jump into the water, but they cut it out of the movie. The lowest was when we were doing underwater diving. Simon wants introspective emotional things here, but he’s only getting geographical!

© 2015 PARAMOUNT PICTURES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES, SHUTTERSTOCK

And back to Balance. Is it true you were pregnant while shooting?

RF That is true. I was doing stunts, as hardcore stuff as Health & Safety and my own sanity would allow me. Someone had to carry me around! The poor bugger. Can you imagine my stomach and two milk boobs all over the place?

How much fitter do you need to get for a Mission: Impossible movie?

RF Oh my gosh, it’s massive. There’s a lot of time and effort and it’s not just “fit” and a case of looking good. Obviously we do get fit because we eat well and because we’re trying for abs and barely-any-fat attractive. My point is, you have to be strong and capable, and your brain has to be alert. Eating carbs and pasta and pizza and not training does not work with a film like Mission: Impossible.

There’s a lot of necessity within the training. Also for me, because Ilsa Faust [her character] does so many dance moves and jumping up and down, all the moves are without wires and you do it all in one move, so you have to be lean, light and flexible.

Now, I can barely stand straight and put my hands on the ground, so that means a lot of yoga, pilates… and a little bit of pizza.

And, to be honest, it makes you feel bloody good and energised. I couldn’t keep it up for 12 months of the year, though. Hang on, apparently I can! We shot Fallout for 12 months, as Tom [Cruise] broke his foot!

VANESSA KIRBY

Henry Cavill Out of all the locations, which was your favourite and why?

RF When we shot in Paris. I bloody love Paris – rummaging and walking around.

Also, when we shot in New Zealand, we took helicopters to and from set, flying over those incredible mountains. I’ve never seen anything like it. I made that happen, by the way. Michelle Monaghan and Tom had to get a helicopter to get somewhere, and I said, “F*ck that! I’m not in this scene.” I gathered myself together with Simon Pegg and said, “We’re getting on the chopper.” I walked over to Tom: “I’m so happy to be here but Tom, it would be incredible to see it from the helicopter.”

Tom said OK and we got one. How lovely is that? I’m bloody lucky. A little bit of manipulation and you get what you want.

Does your claustrophobia and vertigo come into play on a movie like this?

RF I have stunt girls, but I guess that pushes me to do it. In Rogue Nation, Lucy (stuntwoman) was doing a swan leap off a roof just to check the harness. I thought, “She looks bloody good doing that.” I went all the way up and thought, “I’m not doing it. F*cking hell!” While up there, someone says, “You don’t have to do it. Don’t worry about it.” And that makes me think, “I’m going to do it!” You just have to do it once; it’s bloody scary. Once you do it once, you do it again and again and it becomes fun.

Vanessa Kirby How do you keep mentally-focused on set when you’re surrounded by explosions?

RF I keep my sanity with a massive amount of gossip and chit-chat in the make-up trailer. We’d drink green juices and agave shakes – things supposed to taste delicious, but we just pretend sometimes… Good, naughty chat. Who’s shagging who on set? The worst thing is, there are never any answers; you don’t have time. Speculation? Yes. No answers!

July 2018 BA LA N CE

How do you cope with long days on set?

RF It’s consumingly tiring, and depends on the role. I never sleep. There are beds in the trailer if you want a nap, but I find that quite difficult. You never know when they’re going to come and knock, so you’re constantly alert and ready. The thing I do is read books, and my partner travels with me. He has his own company, so can do what he wants. I also have an assistant who’s a close friend, so we play backgammon and poker. I travel all over the place with my backgammon. I also use the time to work on other things.

If my assistant was here now she’d say, ‘You f*cking liar. We just sit and watch TV.’ We really don’t!

That’s a good use of time...

RF And I run in between friends’ trailers.

I’ll text Simon: “Have you f*cking worked yet? I’ve been here five hours.” He goes, “Honey, I haven’t gone home since yesterday.” We have fun.

Surely comedy is crying out for you?

RF I’ve never thought of myself as funny.

Maybe I am? You’ve laughed a lot. Maybe mention that, and then comedy will come my way. Will you say, ‘She is f**king funny.

I had physical difficulty holding the pen’?

That’s a really boring quote, by the way. I’ll kind of judge you if you write that.

Challenge accepted. What parental advice did you get to keep you grounded?

RF Every time something bad happened and I’d be upset, my mother would say, “This too shall pass.” It’s a common phrase.

I’d come home and say, “Oh my god! I’ve got a role!” And she’d say, “That too will pass, babes.” She is right: everything will pass.

We use it from a negative to a positive, but my mother would use it for a positive to a negative. It’s so true! I’m very rarely scared of the consequences, or standing my ground in situations. If I work with people and don’t feel happy, I have no issues standing on the barricade for what I believe. I’m not scared or worried. If I get kicked off a movie set?

That’s fine. If they don’t want to hire me again? That’s fine. Living true to yourself makes things in life a bit easier. B Mission: Impossible Fallout is out 26 July

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AROMA THERAPY

Scent to me from heaven Want to smell good wherever you are?

Try these for size

A

mongst the till receipts and Twix wrappers (I’d like to say chia bar wrappers but I’d be lying) in my bag right now, you’ll probably find at least one or two sachets of 4711’s cologne-infused tissues.

Superbly refreshing, they’ve been a lifesaver more than once, especially in the summer months when their ability to counteract an uncomfortably hot commute makes them pretty much indispensable.

THE SMELL OF SUCCESS

LEE KYNASTON

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

The fragrance itself – a crisp, classic, blend of rosemary, lavender and citrus – has been around since 1792; it’s just the delivery method that has shifted with the times. And 4711 aren’t the only company who’ve realised the way people wear fragrance is changing. Over the past few years, a raft of pocket-sized pongs have popped up in recognition of the fact that gym bags, office drawers and jacket pockets are just as likely to house some smelly stuff as bathroom cabinets.

The popularity of miniature wonders like Diptyque’s superb solid perfume is partly due to changing lifestyles (increased travel, festivals and gym memberships have all fuelled the need for fragrances that are compact, portable and less likely to break), while aircraft carry-on restrictions have ensured size does matter when it comes to scent.

Personally, I just want to smell good if I’m heading out straight after work. And with the

HAIRY E XP ERIENCE

Unlike spray perfumes, which can dry out skin, solid ones can be used on the hair.

Just warm a tiny amount between your palms and run through your do

average eau de toilette lasting on the skin for between two-five hours, you can bet your life the stuff I applied in the morning will have vanished come cocktail happy hour, making a portable top-up option essential.

This is where miniaturised fragrances (like the ones featured below) really come into their own.

MINUSCULE MUSKS With delivery systems more interesting and varied than ever (as well as tissues, balms and rollerballs, there are clever innovations like Jo Loves’ Fragrance Paintbrush, featuring gel you simply brush onto the skin) and more unisex options available (all the examples here are ‘scents for sharing’), there’s no excuse for any of us to smell anything other than amazing.

These pocket perfumes are also living proof small isn’t just beautiful: it can be supremely practical and smell good, too. B

BR IL LI ANT BAG-WO RTHY BOUQUETS

❶

❹

MAIN IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES

Pocket picks

❸

❺ ❻

❷ July 2018 BA LA N CE

1. Pomelo Fragrance Paintbrush (18ml), £40 joloves.com 2. Dark rum, petitgrain and cannabis Perfume Oil Set (9ml), £105 malinandgoetz.co.uk 3. 4711 fragranced tissues, £2.19 for 10 boots.com 4. Another 13, Bergamote 22,

The Noir 29, Rose 31, Santal 33 Discovery Set (1.5ml), £20 lelabofragrances.com 5. 34 Boulevard Saint Germain Solid Perfume (3.6g), £36 diptyqueparis.co.uk 6. Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Roll On Perfume, £12 hollandandbarrett.com

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BALANCE PROMOTION

The newest Tried, trusted and true, Malin + Goetz’s brightening enzyme mask is your new self-care must-have

bright idea

T

POMEGRANATE AND PUMPKIN ENZYMES

+

here are times in life when it’s good to be elaborate. A wedding with all the bells and whistles, a roast dinner with all the trimmings or a dream car with all the mod cons. However, when it comes to skincare, Malin+Goetz know simplicity is best.

Each product is formulated with trusted natural ingredients which, combined with proven advanced technologies, deliver results that don’t compromise on luxury.

Take its new brightening enzyme mask, specially formulated to breathe new life into tired skin burdened by air-conditioned offices and arid London air. This gentle two-in-one gel mask and exfoliator both deep cleanses and revitalises skin, dissolving dullness and bringing back that glow.

What’s more, you can use it whenever you need a quick pick-me-up after a hectic week, ensuring you look your best self with all the bells and whistles.

For more information, visit malinandgoetz.co.uk or spacenk.com

Pomegranate and pumpkin enzymes brighten and smooth skin

+ +

SCRUBS UP WELL

BOTANICAL AHAS

GINGER

GLYCERIN

=

NATURAL RADIANCE

ROOT BENEFIT Ginger is excellent for your skin, and is used to add tone

July 2018 BA LA N CE

D Y E I N G T O G E T AWAY

nc e

eau ty

in b a l a

Holiday hair care

b

A sunshine break might be just what you need, but your do may beg to differ. Keep it salon fresh with these tips

Good hair day companions

S

un, sea, chlorine; add a splash of Aperol and it’s the perfect cocktail. Unfortunately, heat and humidity is a recipe for split ends and washed-out colour, meaning a frazzled do is the price paid for a dose of vitamin sea.

Expert colourist Josh Wood has a few tips to help save you from the salty onslaught: “An easy way to incorporate protection is a shampoo and conditioner that leave a residue of UV filters. A protection regime will also help prevent colour from shifting or fading in the sun.”

Adding extra moisture can help too, Josh says: “The gold standard is combining protection with a deeply moisturising treatment. Get into the habit of using a mask every time you shampoo, then dial it down to once a week when you’re back home.”

If a pre-holiday colour is a must, “keep it gentle and bear in mind shade choice and technique, as the sun will alter it. I always like to see my clients directly after their holiday and work with how the hair has naturally lightened,” Josh says. “Sunkissed hair isn’t always bad as you can create a beachy soft, baby light colour, then gloss and maintain that at home.”

SUN, SEA AND SHAMPOO There are plenty of products that aim to limit sun damage and a few that are kind to the planet, too. Biolage R.A.W Colour Care shampoo comes in a smoothie style bottle made of 97% recycled plastic and, with 86% natural ingredients that include coconut milk, could easily pass as one.

Similarly, Noughty Colour Bomb shampoo contains anti-oxidant rich green rooibos and baobab to shield hair from damage.

Both are vegan and free from parabens, silicone and sulphates.

Even if hair isn’t coloured, heat styling plus sun will have a drying effect. Aveda’s Damage Remedy Daily Repair is a leave-in conditioner that has organic, sustainably

❷

JESSICA PUNTER

❶

Marvellous

mask

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

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

❷

❹

❺

❸ 1. John Frieda Sheer Blonde Highlight Activating Shampoo, £6.99 (johnfrieda.com) 2. Josh Wood Everything Mask, £15 (joshwoodcolour.com) 3. Biolage R.A.W Colour Care Shampoo, £15.35 (salonsupplies.co.uk) 4. Aveda Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair, £24.50 (aveda.co.uk) 5. Jo Malone’s Lime Basil & Mandarin Body & Hair Oil, £42 (jomalone.co.uk) 6. Noughty Colour Bomb Protecting Shampoo, £6.99 (superdrug.com)

❻ sourced plant-based ingredients like quinoa protein, bergamot and sea buckthorn to smooth the cuticle.

And remember, if you’re swimming, whatever you put on your hair or skin will end up in the environment. At the beach, a natural conditioner such as pure coconut oil is the best way of protecting hair from drying out, and sensitive marine ecosystems from harmful chemicals at the same time. B

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Mas

clas s

ter

How to Paint Outside The Lines with Ben Elton

ABOUT ME I’m a comedy writer, first and foremost, and I’ve just directed a film set in Australia about a folk festival called Three Summers, that has been going down a storm with audiences.

Because I’ve worked across a lot of genres down the years, I’ll be talking about painting outside the lines – being unconventional and breaking the rules.

TIPS FOR WRITING

TAKE A BREAK Don’t read back over your stuff until you’ve written too much so you can throw stuff away

EXPRESS YOURSELF It’s not arrogance to say, “Oh, only my stuff is good enough!”, but I’m only any good with my own stuff, because that’s what interests me. No matter what I do – directing a film, writing a musical – it all starts with the written word. People don’t have to listen, but I’ll always carry on expressing myself. It’s an ongoing compulsion. It all goes back to being a comic writer and stems from there.

LET IT FLOW The curse of writing is to write the best first line. Forget the first line! Write anything initially and keep going until you get on a roll

IMPROVISE

ALWAYS RE-INVENT There’s an obsession in Hollywood about sequels and remaking last year’s hit again. It’s a law of diminishing returns with rare and honourable exceptions, such as The Godfather.

Sometimes my publisher says, “Why can’t you write a novel that’s a bit like the previous one, rather than a complete reinvention? If you write another thriller, you could build an

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TURN ON audience that likes a thriller.” It’s true, but I couldn’t write a novel that I was trying to write, before I discovered what it is. As EM Forster said: “How can I tell you what I think until I see what I say?” My work emerges by instinct, not planning.

GO WITH THE FLOW I don’t know what’s coming next.

Sometimes I’ll get a hint and might get nudged towards something. For instance, Queen approached me about doing something with their songbook for the stage. At the time I said I didn’t have an idea, but it gestated and a year later, the idea dropped in my head. Fortunately, rock stars move at a more stately pace and they didn’t have anyone else. I had an idea with Queen as a sort of Arthurian legend, which became a very big hit. Had I initially said yes, it wouldn’t have worked. B

BA LA N CE July 2018

Read for pleasure and stimulation, not inspiration

Ben Elton’s Three Summers received its International Premiere at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival

The outcome

You’ve got to want to do something; you can’t make yourself do it. The next thing I do will be the next thing I feel like doing. There’s nothing wrong with “working to order”, but follow your instincts more. Ask yourself what it is you want to do - not how successful do I want to be.

IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES

Everything about my profession and creative life has been an improvisation. The only way I can work is to follow my heart and follow what I feel like doing. I certainly didn’t think, “Well, I’ll sit down and write a novel – that’s what’s needed next!” Or, “The best move for me would be…” I do what I feel like doing, and that always comes down to writing. It might take place as a play, a novel or stand-up routine, but it’s all part of the same process. Doing what you feel like doing is the only way to create anything halfway decent.

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