Beautiful baths

It’s ok to say no

Too often, we see practitioners choosing money over their patients’ welfare, filling lips, wrinkles and more beyond their needs, just to put their patients’ money in their own pockets

What this ultimately leads to is an influx of patients who are left with a face that no longer looks natural - and will never go back to the way it was. At Novellus, we have a strict policy on saying ‘no’ if and when we believe that a patient does not need any further treatment, or if a treatment is not right for them. We aim for natural results here at Novellus - and we only ever want to make you a better version of yourself. The pressure that society and social media put on today’s youth is at an all-time high. Instagram, which has around 67% of 18-29-year-olds hooked, is filled to the brim with edited images of beautiful places, people and things, which can have detrimental effects on those who are consumed by the app. It heightens our awareness of our physical selves, forcing us to focus on our flaws. And the hard truth is, those with mental health issues, such as body dysmorphia, could be the unintentional target of inexperienced or unscrupulous practitioners, which, ultimately, causes more damage as they get procedure after procedure. As an aesthetics clinic, we’re very much aware of this, so we try to do our bit to help. We’re not here to make you look like Kim Kardashian, or give you the same lips as Becky on Instagram. We’re here to give you results that make you feel more confident in your own skin. We want you to leave looking naturallyenhanced, but still like you, no matter what your age. So, next time you’re considering a treatment from an aesthetics practitioner, do your research. Take a look at their previous clients and their reviews, ask questions and make sure they’re going to put you before their money. After all, you only get one face.

Going to great lengths

Newcastle’s historic City Baths have reopened, offering the city’s fitness fans and spa-lovers a place to kick-back, pump some iron and make a splash. Jessica Laing takes a tour…

Newcastle is home to many legendary landmarks; St Nicholas Cathedral, Newcastle Castle and Town Wall, Grey’s Monument and, of course, the mighty Tyne Bridge, to name a few. All of which stand tall and proud - and hold a special place in the hearts of locals. And now, another iconic city centre site is firmly back on the map and reopening its famous doors, following a mighty £7.5 million makeover. Newcastle City Baths has been enjoyed by generations of Geordies since it opened back in 1928. Back then, hundreds of half-naked Tynesiders flocked to its soothing, steamy waters to relax, socialise and wash away the day. In its later years, it became a place of pilgrimage for the city’s swimmers, before closing to the public in 2014. Fast-forward to the present day, though, and as we dive head-first into a brand new decade, the Grade II listed venue has been brought back to life - only this time as a marvellous, modern-day spa and leisure destination, fit for 21st century use. Venture inside and you’ll discover a thoughtful blend of old and new; modern facilities and slick, state-of-the-art equipment, complemented by charming original features. It’s what Fusion Lifestyle, the charity behind the revamp, intended. Together with a collection of specialists, including local architectural firm, Napper Architects, and leisure design and construction firm, Createability, they’ve worked hard to sensitively restore the building and give it a brand new look - while salvaging as many of the building’s original features as possible. Things like ornate 1920s pool tiles, beautiful terrazzo flooring and wood-panelled changing rooms. The result? A cutting-edge revival that celebrates the Baths’ unique heritage and character. “We have worked on listed buildings before, but nothing of this magnificent scale,” says Ian Cotgrave, managing director at Createability. “More than £1 million was spent on work in the background alone. Everything we did had to be architecturally sympathetic, so, wherever possible,

During the renovation

original materials were re-used. “We have more than 20 years’ experience working alongside leisure trusts, including Fusion, redeveloping and refurbishing old leisure venues, but this has to be one of the most exciting projects we have worked on to date. “When we spotted the campaign to save the building, we were keen to take on the project and help ensure that its precious history was retained,” adds Anthony Cawley, Director of Operations at Fusion Lifestyle. “We worked closely with the local authority’s conservation officer to ensure that we kept works true to the original building design, while also incorporating modern touches to ensure that it meets the demands of today’s customers.” Take a tour and you’ll discover a raft of top-notch facilities to explore and enjoy - all of which are suited to everyone from yogis and gym bunnies, to keen swimmers and those partial to a Swedish massage or two. Membership is super reasonable, too, and there’s a variety of options to check out, including standard and premium day rates, ‘gym and swim’ offers and special rates for joint members and corporates.

BREAK A SWEAT >> The Baths’ swanky new fitness studio is a thing of beauty. Home to the latest cardiovascular equipment, including running and rowing machines, indoor cycling bikes, top-of-the-range toning and weight-lifting machinery and more, it’s the ultimate workout space. Explore and sweat it out at your own pace, or enlist the help of one of the Baths’ fitness experts and personal trainers. If you prefer classes, take a peek at the Baths’ jam-packed timetable. There are up to 130 classes on offer every week, most of which are hosted in the Baths’ state-of-theart intencity fitness studio. Think strength and conditioning (BodyPump, HIIT, legs, bums and tums and circuit classes are popular), cardio and fitness (our favourites are BodyCombat, Boxfit and Tabata) and yoga and Pilates, which take place in a private, glass-fronted studio overlooking the gym, to help soothe the mind, body and soul. And when you’re done stretching, lifting, running, jumping, punching and more, you can head to the spacious sauna and unwind.

MAKE A SPLASH >> Practice your backstroke in the Baths’ brand new 25-metre swimming pool, which has been fully - and lovingly - restored back to its former glory. It’s open to both members and drop-in visitors who fancy a weekend, morning or afternoon dip while they’re in the city. Families are also welcome, as are those who want to get stuck into an aqua aerobics session. Elsewhere, specialist works are on-going to bring the building’s much-loved Turkish baths back to life. When they reopen, the venue will take its place as one of only 11 victorian Turkish baths in England.

FIND SOME ZEN >> Keep your eyes peeled over the coming months for the opening of the Baths’ state-of-the-art spa. Complete with luxury treatment rooms and a tempting menu of facials, body treatments and more, it’s set to become a sensational sanctuary in the heart of the city, where you can treat yourself to plenty of well-deserved pampering.

SEASONAL SPA OFFER - SPRING INTO SUMMER Recharge & Refresh Spa Package

From only £69 per person: Up to 4 hours use of the spa facilities Detoxifying Mud Rasul Treatment Delicious antipasti sharing platter One 25 minute treatment from: Jessica File and Polish, Dry Flotation Treatment, Baobab Scalp Therapy, A Taste of Germaine Facial

Bookable up to 30th June 2020, subject to availability. Mon - Thurs £69 per person, Fri - Sun £79 per person. Call 01833 863100 to book and quote ‘Spring Luxe’ to enjoy a glass of Prosecco at the end of your spa experience.

Finding space

It seems that right now, more than ever, there are so many things going on that impact the sanctity of our lives as we know them - in politics, economics, health, the environment and more

Everywhere we look, both globally and domestically, there is change, flux and uncertainty. At worst, this can trigger us into states of anxiety, fear and disconnection. When the macro environment feels like this, it can be easy for us to feel overwhelmed and out of control. As much as it’s true that there is a huge amount we can’t impact directly, it’s also true that we can develop ways of being - and things of doing - that support us in building capacity to hold the complexity around and within us. Here are some ideas on how you might stay centred and sanguine in the eye of the storm… Come back to your body Our body is way more than the vehicle that simply carries our head to places – it is the source of so much more. Embodiment practices bring us out of our thinking minds and connect us more deeply to the truth of the here and now, to our own sense of reality and to each other. So, move, walk, run, jump, dance, do yoga, do sports and play. Anything that allows you to experience freedom in your body. To be at one with your breath will strengthen your nervous system and enable you to experience more calm, too. Get to nature Yes, nature is always changing. And Mother Earth is shouting loudly at us to wake up and pay attention. But on some level, nature is also a constant. As long as we walk the earth, there will be trees and wind and hills and rivers. Spending time in nature is remarkably comforting and enlivening - it connects us simultaneously with the big picture and the tiny things in life too, inviting us to calm down, wake up and gain perspective. So, get to it as often as you possibly can – especially when things feel tough. Find stillness We can only be in our centre if we know it and have a relationship with it, so developing practices that bring us in to stillness and quiet, in our own company, are critical, particularly in tumultuous times. Yes, I know neither are easy and life can take over, but even a few minutes a day of quiet time - with a cup of tea, watching the birds, or even simply feeling your feet on the floor as you breathe – will, after a few weeks, make the biggest difference to how you experience the quality of your day-to-day life. Seek support Find places and spaces in which there are people with whom you can speak your truth. Not to have it fixed or solved, but to have it witnessed and acknowledged. Be selective about what you consume Stay plugged in, stay educated and stay informed - but choose wisely. Most importantly, stay connected to yourself, to others and to the world around you. Connection is the subject of my latest podcast in the ‘Big Little Things’ series, which I host with Natalie Goni. If you’re curious, you can listen on Apple, Spotify and in all of the other usual places. Take care for now, Laura

Little moments The ‘E’ word: an ABC guide to exam preparation

Exam. How does the word make you feel? Do you have a sinking feeling in your stomach or are you one of the few who thrived on the pressure? Exam season is in full swing and you are probably wondering how best to support your child. Firstly, we have to be incredibly understanding and develop a thick skin! When children are under pressure, their behaviour can become erratic because they don’t understand their reactions to stress. When they have knowledge, they feel in control. That is why I explain that a small amount of stress is actually good. It’s our brain’s way of motivating us to take on challenges and be in a peak mental state. However, when stress levels increase for long periods of time, it can become a problem. Students often tell me they feel sick and light-headed prior to testing, or their breathing becomes shallow and their heart beats faster. This is all completely normal because the fear centre in their brain (amygdala) perceives the exam as a threat and it triggers their ‘fight/flight/freeze’ response. Their brain is telling them to either run out of the exam hall (flight), scream (fight) or have a mind blank (freeze). The amygdala can actually ‘hijack’ the thinking part of the brain and disable it. This is not what our children need just before taking an exam. So, what can they do? They can learn to self-regulate - and you can teach them. This is my ‘ABC’ guide to exam preparation... A – Help your child acknowledge and accept the emotions and the physical sensations they are experiencing. Support them in naming the specific emotion (e.g. frustration, anxiety, anger) and identifying their tense muscles or butterflies in the tummy. These uncomfortable feelings will pass when the stressful event is over. B – Model how to take slow breaths from the abdomen. Ask them to interlock their hands over their tummy and feel it expand as they inhale and soften as they exhale. Conscious, deep breathing is one of the quickest ways to calm down as it stimulates our parasympathetic Corrina Atkinson Photography

nervous system (relaxation response). C – Offer your children some mindfulness activities. This could be mindful colouring, gentle yoga, massage or listening to soft instrumental music. The track ‘Weightless’ by Marconi Union has been scientifically proven to reduce anxiety. Getting a burst of vitamin D by connecting with nature has been shown to have positive effects on a restless brain. Try not to over-schedule your kids; they need a break. Finally, limiting screen-time is an absolute must as the blue light emitted from devices suppresses melatonin. Make sure your children are getting good quality sleep, lots of water and a nutritious diet - especially in the lead up to exams. But please remember, exams only test your child on a very narrow criteria; they don’t assess creativity, kindness and courage. Let’s put it into perspective - the long-term mental health of our children is so much more important! Nadia x Nadia McSheffrey is founder of The Tranquil Treehouse. Nadia works with parents to help them be the parent they want to be and find tranquillity in their family lives. She also works with children and teachers to support their own emotional wellbeing. Find her at thetranquiltreehouse.com and on Facebook and Instagram.

When stress levels increase for long periods of time, it can become a problem. Students often tell me they feel sick and light-headed prior to testing, or their breathing becomes shallow and their heart beats faster