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contents 12
8
4 6
Editor’s letter What’s happening?
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FREE A C K L CHOORC CAKE F EVERY READER! See page 7
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24
Recent news and upcoming events
AWAKENED MIND
8 12 16
Save your relationship with tapping
How and why you can let go of negative emotions by tapping on the body’s meridians points.
Baby on the way? Dial a doula
Kind of like a turbo-charged midwife – a doula might be just what you need to get through pregnancy and birth.
Mystery of the vanishing bees
No one could figure out what was killing off the world’s honeybees in alarming numbers… till now (another reason to go organic)
AWAKENED HEART
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The power of mantras
Krishna Das on how chanting mantras changed his life and how it could do the same for you.
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WIN a crystal m o pendant frir fa Sparkle 4y2! See page
AWAKENED BODY
20 24
30-day Pilates challenge
A fat girl and a fit guy find out what 30 days of Pilates will do for your body.
DIY Holistic home detoxing
How and why to do a three-day holistic detox at home.
AWAKENED BEAUTY
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34 40
Organic fake tan
For golden skin without putting nasty, toxic chemicals into your body or the earth.
42
AWAKENED LIFE
30
“I lost 50kgs with juicing”
From bulimia to beetroot juice: Severely overweight and bulimic, a Dubai expat got her life back when she found juicing.
restronika Festival of WIN tickets to FoLe n! See page 6 music and arts in bano www.awakeningsme.com
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44 50
Spa Review: Altearah Wellbeing Facial
Colour therapy and Vietnamese facial reflexology combine to make this facial cutting-edge.
Books
Inspiring reads – real life stories of courage and faith when faced with some of the worst life can throw at us.
Retail Therapy
From organic make-up to eco gladiator sandals and apps on positive thinking. Plus! Your chance to win a clear quartz crystal pendant from Sparklefairy.
UAE Holistic Listings
The A to Z of local holistic services, products, healers, centres…
Neanderthal man goes new age
Diary of how life is changing for a 40-something caveman since he met the Tree Hugger. This issue, he takes on Bikram. JUNE - AUGUST 2013
5/22/13 7:02 AM
editor’s letter
Your guide to holistic and healthy living in the UAE Published by
Managing Director TAMARA PITELEN tamara@awakeningsme.com Mob: +971 50 843 3262 Art Director JUN RODRIGUEZ jun@awakeningsme.com Tel: +971 56 754 0837 Subscriptions Manager ADRIAN MAUL adrian@awakeningsme.com Mob: +971 56 676 9483 Lifestyle Editor SHARON TAYLOR JACKSON sharon@awakeningsme.com Mob: +971 50 450 7149 Online Content ASMA MERCHANT asma@awakeningsme.com Mob: +971 55 779 5825 Sales enquiries advertise@awakeningsme.com Mob: +971 50 8433 262 Contributors CHERYL PARSONS, KATRINA VALENTE, KAYA PETERS, ASPEN AMAN Registered at Fujairah Media Freezone Head Office, P.O. Box 4422 Fujairah, U.A.E. Tel: +971 9 224 4100 and Fax: +971 9 224 4101
Welcome!
B
y the time you read this, I’ll be married. [Cue crowds going wild!] But as I type this, I’m still a single, fancy-free woman, unfettered by the bonds and obligations of conjugal union. I’m going to be ‘fettered’ in about four days. The fettering takes place about the same time as this issue of Awakenings Middle East goes to the printers. The two events are unconnected but the pending nuptials are preoccupying me a bit right now so I’m telling you all this. You’re kind of like my counselor. Myself and the man who will be my husband by the time you read this are having a secret wedding. We’ve told none of the usual people you’re supposed to tell – parents, children, close friends, etc. Instead, we are eloping. We’ll tell them all afterwards. I hope my mum understands. We are jetting off to Gretna Green in Scotland, a town just across the English border famous for runaway weddings. Gretna has a long history of marrying off star-crossed lovers unable to wed under the laws of their home country. In Victorian England, a person under age 21 had to have their parents’ permission to marry. The Scottish did not burden themselves with such detail. Legal barriers are not the case with me and husband-to-be; there’s nothing stopping us getting married here in Dubai, well, apart from an ocean of red tape and the bizarre directive that it be done in a church. Flying to Scotland to be wed over an anvil in an old blacksmith’s shop is far easier. Anyway, I’m running out of space so I’ll try to shoehorn all this marriage talk into an introduction of the stories in this issue… it’s a stretch but perhaps the tapping story. Once the honeymoon period is over, you might find me tapping my meridian points to clear arguments… ‘even though, he leaves the sink full of dishes, I still completely love and accept myself…’ I’m being facetious but don’t dismiss tapping lightly. As a healing technique it’s now sanctioned by the US government for helping Iraqi veterans for dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Plus it’s DIY, easy and free – unlike many healing therapies out there – so you’ve got nothing to lose by giving it a try. We’ve got loads of other great stories in this issue – juicing, Pilates, detoxing, doulas, mantra chanting, vanishing bees… enjoy!
Printed by UNITED PRINTING & PUBLISHING Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. © 2013 Awakenings Media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form of advertising without the prior permission in writing from the Editor. Images from www.shutterstock.com
Tamara Pitelen (The Trouble and Strife)
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SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE TO AWAKENINGS MAGAZINE! Since Awakenings Middle East is such a new arrival to the UAE’s magazine scene, we decided that to get as many people aware of it as quickly as possible, we would do a free subscription offer. So far about 5,000 UAE residents have said, ‘send me that mag of yours for free’ but we want more people to read Awakenings! Make sure you get the next issue in August (it’s quarterly), go to www.awakeningsme.com and send us your postal details via the ‘Subscribe For Free’ page.
JUNE - AUGUST 2013
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news&events
What’s happening in your town 21-22 June, Basic Pranic Healing
A two-day entry-level course in pranic healing. Learn the seven basic techniques to scan, cleanse, energise and stabilise the energy field. Cost: AED 900. Venue: GMCKS Pranic Energy Healing Centre, Business Bay. Tel: 04 368 8067. Email: phfdubai@emirates.net.ae www.pranichealingmea.com
10-17 July, Women’s Expedition to Mongolia
Includes horseback riding, visits to monasteries and temples, archery, lessons in the leadership of Genghis Khan, camping in traditional Mongolian tents and more. Horseback riding experience is a must. Cost: AED 8,800/$2,400 per person (double occupancy). Tel: Jules on 050 659 5536. Email: jules@mountainhighme.com www.mountainhighme.com
14-22 July, Transformational VIP Retreat in Portugal
Join Kaya Peters for an exhilarating week of yoga, healthy and delicious organic food, sustainable weight-loss, being in nature, spa treatments and sight-seeing. Package includes two individual sessions with Kaya. Can’t make July? A second retreat is running from 1-3 September. Cost: AED 12,000 or 2500 Euros (single occupancy). Tel: 056 212 5878. Email: info@kayapeters.com www.kayapeters. com
www.awakeningsme.com
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restronika
Win tickets to Fo in Lebanon
Awakenings have two tickets to give away to the full four-day Forestronika festival happening 4-7 July. To win, send an email to win@ awakeningsme.com and tell us the name of one musical act and one workshop that will be held during Forestronika you can see the line up at www.facebook.com/ Forestronika/events (and it’s awesome!). A winner of the two tickets will be chosen on 22 June.
4-7 July, Forestronika festival, Lebanon
Music, art, culture, discussion, dance and more… all in the natural beauty of Al Wadi Resort, Yahchouch, Lebanon. Two international stages featuring everything from world beats to electronica and live reggae. Daily meditation and yoga, healing food corner, workshops on sustainable living… bring your own tent or rent one. Cost: One day pass $25; Short weekend $45; Long weekend $65, and Full festival pass $80. To buy tickets, go to www.timeoutbeirut.com/ offers/forestronika For more information,www.facebook.com/ Forestronika/events
HEADS UP! Dubai Yoga and Music Festival The second annual Dubai Yoga and Music Festival returns to Dubai from 21-23 November. www.dubaiyogafest.com
JUNE - AUGUST 2013
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What’s happening in your town 11-18 August, The Eight Limbs of Yoga Immersion Monsoon Retreat in Northern Goa, India
A week of yoga, rejuvenation, meditation in Northern Goa. Discover that yoga is about creating union between mind, body and spirit. Package includes accommodation, all meals, yoga classes, one massage. Cost: AED 2,600/ INR 37,000 discount if (double occupancy) you mention Tel: +918 97 527 5266. Email: Awakenings magazine! sales@sushumna.in www.sushumna.in
10%
ke! Free Kcal Let them eat ca for you! chocolate cake
OMG how exciting is this?! Nothing gets us going like chocolate cake and at just 112 calories, this piece of chocolatey heaven is an all-round winner. Just cut out this voucher and take it along to one of the new Kcal stores in Dubai Mall Food Court or Business Bay to claim your cake. Go to www. kcalhealthyfastfood.com for location maps.
Coming soon...
Our first Awakenings meet up! We want to meet you, y’know, to chat and stuff – now if that isn’t a cheesy come-on line, we don’t know what is. We’re plotting the inaugural get-together of Awakenings readers. Join up at www.meetup.com/AwakeningsME so you’ll know what’s happening... just as soon as we figure it out ourselves.
8-19 August, Vipassana Meditation, RAK
Are you ready for 10 days of intensive meditation? Then email vipassana.dubai@ gmail.com or call Ramesh on 050 645 6227 or Chandran on 050 768 3301 for more information. Spaces are limited so get in quick. Application form and code of discipline will be emailed upon request. Cost: No fee but donations welcome Venue: Tadrib, Ras Al Khaimah (www.tadrib.ae)
FREE KCAL E! CHOC CAK This This voucher voucher entitles entitles the the bearer bearer (You! (You!You You lucky lucky thing) thing) to to aa free free Kcal Kcal Choc Choc Cake. Cake. ItIt can can be be redeemed redeemed at at two two Kcal Kcal outlets outlets -- Dubai Dubai Mall Mall and and Business Busness Bay, where all the food food isis under under 300 300 calories. calories. Valid Valid until until 31 31 December December 2013. 2013.
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“I cannot accept a world where women or girls are wounded, shot or killed for either going to school or teaching in girls’ schools. We don’t have time to be complacent. I want to trade something valuable for something invaluable – educating girls!” Madonna, on the sale of her painting Three Women at the Red Table by Fernand Leger. The painting raised $7.2 million for the Ray of Light Foundation to support girls’ education projects in Afghanistan, Pakistan and other countries.
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awakenedminds
How to save your
relationship with tapping Tapping (aka Emotional Freedom Technique) is a technique for letting go of negative emotions. A non-needle version of acupuncture, by tapping on the body’s nerve channels or meridians, you’re basically rebooting yourself. Nick Ortner describes how to use tapping to resolve relationship issues.
W
e all bring baggage to our love life, whether that’s from parents who had relationship troubles of their own, or past relationships we couldn’t fix. The tentacles of those issues can work their way into our current relationships and trip us up, especially when our partner is dealing with similar issues of their own. One of the primary places these problems manifest is in our arguments; you know, the ones that never seem to end and pop up when you least expect? They can feel horrible. They may even feel like they suck the life out of you. You may feel like all hope is lost, but if there’s one thing I know that can help you save a relationship, it’s tapping. Here’s how…
END THE ARGUMENTS
The feeling that seems to pop up most when people are trying to save a relationship is frustration. It’s an angry, resentful feeling that comes to life when you feel you’re all out of options and your relationship troubles are too much to bear. You may think that life would be so much easier if those specific problems you and your partner have those prickly and unique relationship troubles - were to walk out and
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disappear. Then you wouldn’t be angry; then you wouldn’t be frustrated. If you’re not familiar with tapping, read the box out overleaf. Once you’ve done that, tune into your frustration about your relationship troubles. How do they make you feel? Confused? Physically ill? Rate how bad it all feels on a scale from one to 10 and then begin tapping on your karate chop point (fleshy part on outside of hand between the top of the wrist and the base of the little finger) and say out
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awakenedminds
loud: “Even though I feel as if all hope is lost for our relationship, I deeply love and accept myself. “Even though I feel as if there’s no solution to our relationship problems, I deeply love and accept myself. “Even though I am so angry and frustrated with [name your partner] I deeply love and accept myself.� Then, move through the tapping points. t Eyebrow: iThis relationship is so stressful.� t 4JEF PG &ZF “I don’t know what to do.� t 6OEFS &ZF “I feel like I have nothing left in me.� t 6OEFS /PTF “It never ends!� t $IJO 1PJOU “I love [name your partner] so much.� t $PMMBS #POF “But I can’t seem to find an answer to our problems.� t 6OEFS "SN “I’m so frustrated.� t 5PQ PG )FBE “I’m so angry!� Take a deep breath, and return to your eyebrow point. t Eyebrow: “My heart is breaking.� t 4JEF PG &ZF “I don’t know how to make this work.� t 6OEFS &ZF “I resent [name your partner] so much.� t 6OEFS /PTF “They just don’t understand!� t $IJO 1PJOU “I don’t know how to fix this.� t $PMMBS #POF “It feels like it’s finally the end.� t 6OEFS "SN “I feel like I am losing [name your partner].� t 5PQ PG )FBE “I just don’t know what to do.� Check in and see if you’ve calmed down any. If you haven’t, continue with the tapping routine above, speaking about any other difficult feelings that come up and tapping through them. Once those feelings
9
BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO MERIDIAN TAPPING Not convinced that patting yourself on your head and under your eye can change your life? Here’s the science bit about how it works‌ When many people first hear about tapping (aka EFT), they think ‘what a load of new age rubbish’ but in fact the basis of tapping is grounded in science where it’s known as ‘acupoint stimulation’. It involves tapping with your fingertips on specific points on your body while talking yourself through traumatic memories or emotions or situations – whatever’s bothering you. These points are at the ends of energy meridians located just beneath the surface of the skin and are responding to touch rather than needles. Each energy meridian relates to a specific organ or part of the body, eg, the side of the eye is the gall bladder; under the eye is the stomach, etc. Dr. Dawson Church PhD has been researching and using EFT since 2002. He says: “Acupoint tapping sends signals directly to the stress centers of the midbrain, not mediated by the frontal lobes (the thinking part, active in talk therapy). According to Church, EFT accesses the amygdala, an almond-shaped part of your brain that triggers your body’s negative reaction to fear - ie, the ‘fight or flight’ response, that makes it so powerful. (For more on Church’s research, go to www. eftuniverse.com) In his ebook The EFT Mini Manual (download it for free at www.eftuniverse.com), Church says that tapping utilises two psychological techniques called ‘exposure’ (remembering a trauma) and ‘cognitive restructuring’ (self-acceptance). “You tap with your fingertips on a series of acupressure points on your face and body. The tapping sends a calming signal to your brain, telling it that you’re safe. So while before, the memory might send your body into a conditioned stress response,
you’re now re-conditioning your brain with a positive association. The signal of safety sent by your fingertips tells your brain’s stress machinery to disengage. So the conditioned association of the memory with the stress response is broken.� The diagram below shows the location of the most used points during an EFT treatment. eyebrow
top of the head
side of eye under nose chin
under eye
collarbone
under arm
MERIDIAN POINTS
Which parts of your body correspond to which meridians? Here are the most commonly used‌ s "EGINNING OF THE EYEBROW "LADDER MERIDIAN s 3IDE OF THE EYE 'ALL BLADDER MERIDIAN s 5NDER THE EYE 3TOMACH MERIDIAN s 5NDER THE NOSE 'OVERNING VESSEL s #HIN #ENTRAL VESSEL s "EGINNING OF THE COLLAR BONE +IDNEY MERIDIAN s 5NDER THE ARM 3PLEEN MERIDIAN s 4OP OF THE HEAD 'OVERNING VESSEL s +ARATE CHOP ON HAND 3MALL INTESTINE
cont. overleaf
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awakenedminds cont. from pg9
Tapping on the body’s meridian points can be used to reset the brain and break conditioned responses to stress.
have subsided, begin again at the eyebrow point. t Eyebrow: “I know that we can find an answer.� t 4JEF PG &ZF “I know we can finally figure this out.� t 6OEFS &ZF “Who am I kidding? This is hopeless!� t 6OEFS /PTF “No it’s not, but I need to be patient.� t $IJO 1PJOU “I allow myself the space to find the way.� t $PMMBS #POF “I allow [name your partner] the space to find the way� t 6OEFS "SN “Our love is bigger than our anger.� t 5PQ PG )FBE “Our love is stronger than our sadness.� t &ZFCSPX “Our love is deeper than our fear.� t 4JEF PG &ZF “Our love is more important than whatever happened in the past.� t 6OEFS &ZF “I choose to let love lead us to the answers.� t 6OEFS /PTF “I don’t need to let anger or sadness lead the way when difficult things arise.� t $IJO 1PJOU “If there’s one thing that I’m sure of.� t $PMMBS #POF “It’s that we both want to find a solution.�
t 6OEFS "SN “And we both care for each other deeply.� t 5PQ PG )FBE “Our love can lead us to the answer.�
HOW DO YOU FEEL?
One of the biggest and most common problems we face when we reach a stalemate with our partner is that we tend to react to our disagreement with anger, sadness or fear. When this happens, our immediate response is to try to fix what’s making us sad or angry so that we can find our way back to the love we share. That’s where the winding, endless arguments begin. The thing is, when we do this we’re dealing with our problem the worst way possible! The key is to let your love lead the way, to let your love address what’s making you angry or causing you to be afraid. It’s only with your love that you can find the answers
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that will bring your heart peace. You have to let your love come first. And that’s why EFT is such a powerful way to save a relationship. Tapping allows you to quell your difficult emotions so that your love can take the primary position front and center when the so-called “battle lines� are drawn. By using tapping to clear out the bad stuff, love can lead the way and your relationship doesn’t have to be a war anymore. When we do this, a magical thing happens: not only are our disagreements far less confrontational and aggravating than they used to be, they actually pull us even closer. Tapping is an extraordinary tool when it comes to mending relationship troubles. It truly works miracles. You and your partner are so deserving of one, so don’t hesitate to use its magic on your love life today!
Nick Ortner is the author of ‘The Tapping Solution: A Revolutionary System for Stress-Free Living’, to get the first two chapters for free, go to www.thetappingsolution.com. He is also the creator of the documentary film, ‘The Tapping Solution’.
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ISSUE 02 | MARCH - MAY 2013
living in the UAE
ISSUE 03 | JUNE - AUG
2013
in the UAE
ISSUE 03 | JUNE - AUG
in the UAE
Raw placenta smoothie anyone?
Alternative approaches to losing weight
We get a fat girl
The places to buy your organic vege in the UAE
see what 30 days
Align your spine
10 days
of Pilates can achieve
phones… nothing but meditation for
and a fit guy to
Organic UAE
Back pain healed with the Dorn Method
Islam & aromatherapy
Arabia
doula
Power of mantr
Krishna Das on
a
why mantra chan
ting is transform
Save your relati
ing
onship with tap
Can tapping on
your meridian point
Honeybee horro
s heal a rocky relat
r
Solved! The myst
's vanishing bees
DIY Holistic Detox
Organic fake tan
“Dying to be me”
One woman’s amazing story of how Near Death healed her cancer
No talking, no phones… nothing but meditation for 10 days
ping
ionship?
ery of the world
Get a bronze glow
10 Silent Meditation day
beetroot juice
FREE KCAL CHOC CAKE FOR EVERY READER! See page 7
Baby on the way?
Then you might need a Dubai
Your guide to doing a 3 day holistic detox at home
Confessions of a reformed shampoo addict Could you do ‘no poo’?
"I lost 50kg an d save my life with juicing" d eyfrom bulimia to
One woman's journ 30 day Pilates Challenge
10 day Silent Meditation No talking, no
Heal your weight
FREE MEDITATION CLASS FOR EVERY Listings for alternative READER! UAE services and products UAE wellbeing events calendar See page 41
2013
ISSUE 01 | DECEMBER 2012
“I ate my own placenta”
What modern aromatherapy owes to ancient
House ad2.indd 1
Your guide to holis tic and healthy
and healthy living
Your guide to holistic and healthy living
in the UAE
Your guide to holistic
Your guide to holistic and healthy living
for summer witho
Listings for altern UAE services and ative products UAE wellbeing even ts calendar
30Pilates Challenge ut the nasty chem
icals
day
We get a fat l and a fit gu to what 30 daysgir see of Pilates can yach ieve
5/21/13 1:05 PM
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awakenedminds
Baby on the way? Dial a doula to help you through
Midwives, doctors, loved ones? Who else would you have sharing one of the biggest events of your life: the birth of your baby? Yoga instructor and new mother Cheryl Parsons hired a doula to be with her on delivery day. She reveals more about this growing trend in alternative birthing support‌ www.awakeningsme.com
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I
can hear your first question already. What on earth is a doula and what were they doing at one of the most intimate days of my life? Somewhat unfortunately named, the word ‘doula’ derives from the Greek word for a female servant. Now while that might conjure up images of someone feeding me grapes and fanning me down during contractions, I can assure you this wasn’t the case. A doula is a non-medical birthing support partner who is there to assist a woman before, during and after childbirth. Above all, they aim to create a positive birthing experience. In my case, my doula was a huge support throughout 22 hours of labour for the birth of my first baby, Molly.
As well as guiding me through the unchartered territory of my first birth, I knew a doula would also give my slightly nervous husband some additional support as to what role he could play. Plus, despite feeling well prepared by my continuous yoga practice, fear was still a major factor. “To me, the natural birthing process is a miraculous spiritual experience and it is the reason why I decided to become a doula,” explains Carol, who is certified through the Nurturing Birth, an organisation that provides extensive training in the UK and the UAE. “Being a doula means I can share and support women to help them achieve a positive birth. Fear is such a big thing in childbirth and it is often manifested
13
a yoga instructor and a hypnotherapist. Ten days after my due date, I found myself in the hospital, hooked up to an IV and being pumped full of medication that was supposed to start my labour. “That first night in the hospital a nurse came and asked me if I’d like a massage and a warm bath,” Jennifer says. “Those two things, in that moment, were the most pleasurable things I had ever experienced. They kept me going through my 33 hours of labour and three hours of pushing. I’ll never forget sitting in a rocking chair after 30 hours and thinking to myself, ‘I know what I’m going to do for the rest of my life. I’m going to help people get through this very moment.’ I’ve spent the last 13 years doing just that.”
COUNTDOWN TO SHOW TIME
My husband and I where just getting into bed last July when, five days past my due date, I felt those all important twinges signaling it was show time. If you are a first-timer like I was, you will ask yourself questions such as: ‘how will I know this is actually happening’ and ‘what on earth I am supposed to do next?’ All that and more buzzed through my mind as I picked up the phone to call my doula, Carol Unterhorst, who we had both met with several times in the lead up to ‘D’ day. I had first heard about doulas during my pre-natal yoga teacher training and was intrigued about the thought of bringing someone with me, in addition to the medical team. While healthcare in Dubai is for the most part excellent, I wanted someone extra to help advocate my plan for a natural birth wherever possible, especially given my distance as an expatriate from my core family support. I went along to a monthly meeting of some of Dubai’s doulas and instantly felt this was something that would help me feel empowered during my birth.
Being a doula has to be one of the most gratifying jobs in the world. As a doula we witness not only the birth of a new life into the world, which is magical and beautiful but we also get to walk with women through the journey of becoming a mother through a lack of knowledge, so a key part of being a doula is to ensure the best educational materials are shared with parents to be. As an expat I also truly understand the need for a solid support structure around you especially at one of the most important events of your life.”
PLEASURE, PAIN AND PUSHING Prenatal vinyasa yoga instructor Jennifer (Wolfe) More also became a doula after the birth of her daughter 14 years ago. She now trains doulas worldwide through her organisation, the Dolphin Yoga and Doula Center. “I remember expecting that labour was going to be much easier for me than all of the stories I’d heard,” Jennifer says. “After all I was
A doula’s role in childbirth is certainly not to replace or take away from that of a midwife or doctor. Indeed, while doulas are meticulously trained in childbirth, they do not have the authority to take medical action or make medical decisions. Their key services are to give educational, psychological and emotional support both before and during the birthing process. “Being a doula has to be one of the most gratifying jobs in the world. As a doula we witness not only the birth of a new life into the world, which is magical and beautiful but we also get to walk with women through the journey of becoming a mother,” says Jennifer. cont. overleaf
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awakenedminds
EMPOWER AND UPLIFT
Having this extra core support and help to make informed decisions at such a highly emotional and physical time is one of the main reasons why women turn to doulas. Mother of two Jane Caen also chose Carol as her doula for her second birth: “I felt that I was pushed into a totally unnecessary Cesarean Section (CS) with my previous pregnancy by being ‘advised’ that this was ‘the next step’ and that it was ‘best for the baby,” she said. “I also fell pregnant only three months after my son was born and was determined to have a natural and drug free birth. I saw several OBs but only one was prepared to let me have a natural birth so close to my c-sec operation. I wanted to have someone with me with experience of labour to ensure I would not be railroaded back down the CS route by baffling
and frightening warnings of how dangerous it was for the baby,” Jane said. “It took the stress and pressure off. Just knowing Carol was there helped my labour flow from one stage to the next more naturally. Her presence took away my worry that this could all end in a CS again.” While doulas help to advocate a natural, medication-free birth, they are respectful and supporting of every woman’s right to have the birth she wants, be that with or without medication. With my own birthing experience clocking in at 22 hours, I credit my strength to the support of my husband and Carol, as well as my wonderful OBGYN, Dr. Rajalakshmi at the American Hospital. (You can read full details of Molly’s birth on my blog http://thepeacelily.com/yoga/thetale-of-molly-jean/)
Photo credit: Fanik Photography www.fanikphotography.com
cont. from pg13
Cheryl Parsons with newborn Molly who arrived on 23 July 2012 after 22 [gasp!] hours of labour.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM A DOULA: s #HILDBIRTH EDUCATION STAGES OF LABOUR ETC s !NATOMY OF PREGNANCY AND LABOUR s (ELP WITH PREPARING A BIRTH PLAN s /PTIMAL FOETAL POSITIONING s %MOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL SUPPORT TO YOU AND YOUR PARTNER s !CCESS TO INFORMATION TO HELP YOU MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS DURING LABOUR s 3OME ARE SKILLED IN ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF SUPPORT SUCH AS HYPNOSIS MASSAGE YOGA OR ACUPRESSURE
Doulas have been known to: s 2EDUCE #AESAREAN 3ECTION RATES BY AS MUCH AS PER CENT s $ECREASE THE LENGTH OF LABOUR s 2EDUCE THE NEED FOR EPIDURALS AND OTHER INTERVENTIONS
CHERYL PARSONS is a 500 hour + Yoga Alliance certified instructor and has been teaching Vinyasa and Hatha Flow at Zen Yoga for nearly five years. Contact her at cheryl@thepeacelily.com or check out www.thepeacelily.com, where she writes a regular blog on yoga and her experiences. CAROL UNTERHORST is a Dubai-based doula, with a degree in Psychological Counselling and skills in acupressure. Contact her through her website, Dune Doula: http://ca-doula.blogspot.ae JENNIFER (WOLFE) MORE is a Prenatal and Vinyasa Yoga instructor and trainer (RYT-500), Doula Trainer, clinical and medical Master Hypnotherapist, childbirth educator, and Reiki master. For more details, go to www.prenatalvinyasayoga.com For information on monthly doula meet-ups, check out http://be-empowered.jimdo.com
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awakenedminds
The
mystery of the
vanishing bees H
Where have all the honeybees gone? About eight years ago, beekeepers around the world started reporting huge numbers of bees simply disappearing. The ramifications are disastrous because much of the world’s fruit and vegetable crops need bees for pollination - without bees, humans don’t eat. So what’s going on? The problem is a powerful new class of pesticides known as neonicotinoids, but the pesticide industry isn’t backing down without a fight. If you needed another reason to go organic, read on…
www.awakeningsme.com
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umans need honey bees. Without bees, there would be little food, as around onethird of the world’s crop production - everything from corn and tomatoes to apples, onions and almonds - grow from flowers that need pollinating. Fewer bees mean smaller harvests and higher food prices so when bees start disappearing, it’s a big and global problem. Unfortunately, the world’s bee population did start to disappear in 2005 and 2006 – which corresponds with the time a new super-strain of pesticides called neonicotinoids started being used across the US and Europe – although nobody made the connection at the time. Beekeepers around the world started reporting major losses from their hives, with 30 per cent to 90 per cent of their bees were disappearing. In some colonies all the bees simply vanished.
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5/22/13 7:09 AM
BEE LOVELY ve the To help fund the Sa Yard eal’s Bees campaign, N nge of products ra a Remedies launched A percentage of called Bee Lovely. nd. e Save the Bees fu proceeds goes to th an £40,000 So far more th s been raised. (AED 230,000) ha ies.com/ www.nealsyardremed bee-lovely or ies.com www.nealsyardremed
Initially, agricultural experts scratched their heads as to a reason and the mysterious phenomenon was termed Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) or the sudden loss of a colony’s worker bee population. In other words, it was the bees that left the hive that simply never came back.
awakenedminds
Fast forward to 2013, millions of beehives have emptied out and the finger of blame is now being firmly waggled at neonicotinoids – but the use of them continues. In the US, about 50 per cent of commercial beehives have been lost to CCD and worldwide, battles are raging in the corridors of power between the pesticide lobby and government and environmental agencies, agriculturists and scientists. One of the companies to have launched a campaign to end the use of neonicotinoids in order to save the world’s bee colonies is Neal’s Yard Remedies, the organic skincare and natural remedies chain. Owned by environmentalist businessman Peter Kindersley, NYR is pushing hard to ban the use of these ‘super’ pesticides. “You know DDT? Well, neonicotinoids are seven times more deadly than DDT, which was banned in 1984. We’ve been doing a lot of campaigning around this group of really dangerous pesticides. It’s a massive issue,” said Kindersley on a recent visit to Dubai. “We’ve just delivered 117, 000 signatures to Downing Street to protest against neonicotinoids. The problem
17
is they destroy the bees’ navigation system. So when they ingest the pesticides, they can’t find their way back to the hives, so they just disappear and die. Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) it’s called and it’s an absolute no brainer that we should stop using these pesticides but the chemical companies are making huge fortunes out of them.” Happily for the bees, progress has been made but the fight is not yet won. “In the UK, there was a huge public backlash against supermarkets that said they would continue to sell products that had been exposed to neonicotoinoid pesticides and not ban the use of these pesticides in their supply chain. The exception was Waitrose, which said it would not stock products that had been exposed to neonicotinoids. As a result, thousands of people said they would only shop in Waitrose. Customers are voting with their fork, as we say. It comes back to that trend that we’re seeing internationally; customers want to buy the right products.”
THE HONEY BEE CRISIS TIMELINE s 2005 - Beekeepers started reporting mysterious losses in their hives. s December 2010 - a leaked memo from the EPA’s Environmental Fate and Effects Division asserted “Clothianidin’s (Bayer’s neonicotinoid pesticide) major risk concern is to non-target insects (that is, honey bees). s January 2011 - Avaaz.org launched an online petition to ban neonicotinoid pesticides s March 2012 - Research published in the journal Science shows that neonicotinoids are a nerve poison that disorient insects and appear to damage the homing ability of bees, which may help to account for their mysterious failure to make it back to the hive. s January 2013 - the European Food Safety Authority stated that neonicotinoids pose an unacceptably high risk to bees, and that the industrysponsored science upon which regulatory agencies’ claims of safety have relied may be flawed. s March 2013 - In the US, a group of environmentalists and beekeepers filed suit against the Environmental Protection Agency for approving neonicotinoids. s April 2013 - 15 of the 27 European Union member states voted to enact a two-year ban on the use of three neonicotinoids. Eight nations voted against the ban including the UK, while four abstained.
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Krishna Das
on the power T of chanting The king of kirtan, Krishna Das is the biggest selling chant artist of all time and pals with people like Madonna and Sting. While in Dubai recently, he sat down with Awakenings to reveal how chanting transformed him from a “brutally unhappy” young man into the ‘Elvis of meditational mantra music’… and what chanting can do for you. www.awakeningsme.com
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o put it simply, chanting mantras is the ongoing repetition of divine names wrapped in a package of rhythm and melody, said Krishna Das to the large Dubai audience who turned out one Saturday night in April to hear him chant and play. “Just like a sugar-coated pill, the medicine we need to heal is the names of these gods while the music and chanting is the sweet syrup that makes it palatable,” says Das, who is commonly known as KD. “Through the repetition of divine names we gradually uncover what’s already in us, which is divine love – who we really are. These names are the names of the place within us that are who we really are when we’re not obsessed with external things. “The repetition of these names is very powerful. Gradually something happens that we’re not prepared for – we get happy. This happens through the release of obsessive
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thinking. It’s a simple kind of happiness, it’s not the kind that depends on anything other people give to you; whether people are good to you or bad to you or if you’re getting the kind of thing you want in life.”
THE POWER OF CHANTING
According to KD, the fact that these words and sounds have been used as the names of deities is not why they are powerful – the power lies in the vibration and real meaning of the sounds. The names came before the deities themselves. “Where do the chants come from? We don’t know. On one hand people might say ‘these are the names of the Hindu deities’ but what does that mean? It’s the same if you say, ‘they’re God’s names’. What does that mean? “These words, these mantras and sounds, have a frequency, a vibration. They carry the transforming power of the real meaning of what they are. This real meaning is not intellectual or emotional; it’s experiential.” For example, a mantra usually begins with Om or Aum - the primordial sound; the sound said to have its origins at the time of the creation of the cosmos - also referred to as the ‘Big Bang’. But don’t take anything on blind faith, says KD. “Try the practice and see how you feel. It’s never going to be what you think it is because your thinking is limited by what you know with your senses and your mind.”
swamis who came to America but nobody ever really turned me on. Then I met a guy who changed everything. His name was Ram Dass. I walked into the room where he was sitting and without a word being spoken, I immediately knew that whatever it was I was looking for, it was real; it existed.” After meeting Ram Dass in 1968, KD flew to India to study – turning down an invite to join a band called Blue Oyster Cult, which went on to be one of the most successful rock bands of the 70s. In India KD discovered chanting and that changed everything. “I didn’t know what the words meant but I felt something. It doesn’t matter what the words mean. It doesn’t matter that the words are from India, or from Islam or that this is a Christian chant. What matters is what you’re feeling. Get in touch with the feelings within you because the more time you spend listening to that music inside of you, so to speak, the less time you’re moping around thinking, ‘I’m not having a good hair day…’ You learn to sit more deeply in yourself and you spend less time in negative states of mind.”
THE ART OF HAPPINESS
“The thing is, everybody wants the same thing. The biggest arsehole in the world wants the same thing - to be happy. Some people think they get happy by hurting other people but those actions come out of unhappiness, desperation, frustration and
19
not knowing that there’s anything else to do. “Money, careers, relationships… that’s all the stuff that we think is going to make us happy. But nothing is going to make us happy. Happiness is our true nature… real happiness is what we are underneath all that, all the time. To find that place is what we want to do. “The problem is that in western culture, the whole idea of inner transformation is lost. You grow up, you work, you drink beer and you die. And nobody says there’s anything more to life. “When people chant with me or hear the CDs, they feel something that they didn’t feel before. They think ‘wow’ and want it again. So they start looking and that’s called the spiritual path. It just means you recognise that nothing material in this world is ever going to be enough. Not even the affection of another human being is enough because we’ve all had affection at times but where are we now? It’s not enough. It’s good and we want it but there’s a limit. We want to find something that doesn’t have limits and it’s perfectly reasonable to want that because it exists and that’s what the chanting points us too. The feelings come from this limitless space of love that lives within each one of us. That’s who we really are. It’s so simple really. Simple but not so easy. You have to make some effort. We spend a lot of time chasing stuff. How many times have I been out to clubs looking for a girlfriend? If I’d spent all that time at home meditating, I’d be divine by now!” Go to www.krishnadasmusic.com
GROOVES AND GURUS
That mantra chanting has the power to transform your life is something KD has learnt first hand. As a young man he was, he says, “brutally unhappy.” “I was very, very unhappy when I was young. I felt incomplete; I felt like I couldn’t get what I wanted, I didn’t have good relationships with women and I wasn’t enjoying life at all. A lot of it had to do with my parents and the way I grew up. They were good people but they were emotional disasters so I didn’t have tools to be with people or get what I wanted. I had a tremendous longing to be happy and I was looking for something. So I went to all these
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HOW TO INTRODUCE CHANTING INTO YOUR LIFE That which uplifts by constant repetition is a mantra. The sound vibration of a mantra permeates every cell of your being and is beyond the cognition of the mind. For example, what exactly happens when you chant Om? It shifts your energetic vibration. So you can chant to shift your energy and your state. Ok, so how do you start? 1. The internet. YouTube is full of mantra chanting. Do a search on Krishna Das, perhaps start with his version of OM Namah Shivaya. Find a few musicians you like and buy or download the CDs. For some free or affordable mantra chants, try: www.krishnadasmusic.com, www.ommantra.com, www.mantramp3download.com http://meditationmp3.net 2. Download an app: Like this Japa Android app for Chanting Mantras, go to http://tiny.cc/japaapp
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30 Pilates Challenge Day
What happens to your body if you do Pilates for 30 days? We got a male and female guinea pig to find out. She’s fat, hes fit... what can Pilates do for them?
J
oseph H. Pilates, the founder of the eponymous exercise method, said of Pilates, “After 30 sessions you will have a completely new body.” But is that true? With the kind help of the team at Real Pilates, Awakenings put Mr Pilates’ claim to the test using two guinea pigs who couldn’t be more different. Mika is an unfit and slightly overweight female and Erin is a super fit male without an ounce of extra body fat. What will 30 days of Pilates do for them? Read on to find out…
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First, meet the guinea pigs. The male: Erin Ewing
An Advertising Director for a media company, Erin is in his early 30s and has been a long-term regular gym goer who’s been doing Pilates for a few months. Fitness-wise he is in great shape but he would like to abolish the continual back pain from his years of dancing and gymnastics as a teenager. He’d also like to sleep better and improve his posture – like many people, hunching over a computer all day is taking its toll. Finally, he wants to be better at the more advanced Pilates exercises that he currently struggles with.
The female: Mika Brison
In her mid 40s, Mika is a financial magazine editor who has worked in print media for 20 years – which means she has spent 8 to 10 hours a day sat at a computer for two decades. She is carrying too much body fat and her lower abdominals are weak – despite ongoing efforts to strengthen them. She would like to have toned, strong arms. The last time she did a Pilates class was about 10 years ago and she wasn’t a fan, “They made me hold painful positions for far too long and lift medicine balls.”
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MIKA Day one: So far so good. My first class was great. To kick off the challenge, I did a Total Body Toning class. It involves using various bits of kit like weight balls, toning balls, flex bands, rubber bands and this circular contraption that goes between, say, your knees or thighs and you have to squeeze it. The time flew. Day two: We got some good news and bad news after class tonight. Erin and I bumped into Paul, a Real Pilates instructor who’s been teaching Pilates for 10 years. He told us that Pilates is not about sweating (that’s the good news) and that it is not a fat burner (bad news). The ‘no sweat’ news was a surprise because I’d just watched Erin sweat so much in the Core Physique class that there was a little puddle on his mat at the end. Pure Pilates, said Paul, is about finesse – doing the moves with precision and care in order to fire up the many smaller muscles we don’t normally use because our big muscles take over. It’s by recruiting these smaller muscles that we transform our posture, sculpt our physiques and fix a variety of injuries, such as spine and back pain. He’s seen people miraculously change their bodies with time and hard work. Day four: Pilates can make you taller. That’s why Hollywood celebs do it. Pilates is all about the spine. Keeping it flexible and stretching out the vertebrae. Real Pilates instructor Manny told us this during a Group Discovery class, that’s the learner class you have to do before you’re allowed to do the Reformer classes that involve the machines with lots of bits that move about.
Day six: I have push-up envy. And plank envy. In the last two days, I’ve done classes involving lots of push-up and planks – Weight-loss Pilates and Core Physique. The instructors, Elisha and Dora, make them look effortless. This is because they have core strength of steel and abdominals of iron. They effortlessly do full push-ups – not the ones on your knees – the full body push-ups. Then they make them harder by raising one leg or rolling a ball between their hands. Me, my whole body shakes with the effort, my arms give way beneath me and I end up face first on the mat.
Pilates is not about sweating... it’s about finesse - doing the moves with care and precision Day 10: Happy days. My trousers feel looser. No change on the scales but the waistband is baggier. Day 11: In a Total Body Toning class with Paul, he tells me that I’ve been doing crunches and sit ups incorrectly my whole life, which means I haven’t been recruiting the deep abdominal muscles. Instead, I’ve been using my neck to lift my torso up, which is why I quickly get severe neck pain and have to support my head with my hands. That’s why, despite having done bazillions of crunches and sit-ups over the years, my core never gets stronger. Darn.
21
Day 16: More depressing revelations from Paul. He tells me that 20 years of sitting at a computer and having a “sedentary lifestyle” (Sedentary? How very dare he!) has caused me to have a flexed posture – this means I’m collapsing in the front, hunching in other words. “This is causing your head to come forwards,” Paul said, “which has a negative impact on your spine because of its weight placement.” If I spend another 20 years sitting like this, he says, “You’re looking at degenerative discs; herniation of the discs, which means the disc comes out of its casing and ruptures. “You’re looking at pain and nerve damage; and constant stress in your upper trapezius and neck muscles. People develop nagging back pain because of a lack of stability throughout the body.” He had some reassuring words if I changed my ways though: “We’ll rebalance the muscles around the structure. Muscles have memory, if you train them a certain way, they will restore the natural balance of the body.” Day 20: Met a friend for coffee and when we hugged ‘hello’ she grabbed my arms and gasped, ‘When did you get such toned arms?’ Yessss! Day 28 – My boyfriend said to me today: “You’re looking good Honey. All that Pilates is doing something isn’t it?’ Day 30: I absolutely love Pilates. I may be addicted to it. I don’t want this challenge to end, I feel amazing for it. I can see the difference; my clothes are looser and my arms have shape. It’s not over though. My lower abs are still too weak to do roll-ups properly and I want to be able to do more full push-ups.
BIRTH OF PILATES Pilates is a low-impact exercise regime started by Joseph Pilates. During WWI he worked as a nurse in the UK and developed exercises to rehabilitate injured soldiers. Having no gym equipment, he used whatever was available; bed springs and beer keg rings became resistance exercise equipment and were the prototypes of the equipment used today, like the reformer and the magic circle. General health, Joseph said, centres around body posture, mechanics, correct breathing, spinal flexibility and appropriate physical exercise. He studied eastern and western forms of exercise including yoga, Zen, Greek and Roman wrestling. cont. overleaf
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awakenedbody cont. from pg21
ERIN Day one: Excited to be starting this challenge. I feel confident because I’ve been doing Pilates for a while. I want to get the most out of this so my focus is on being precise and accurate with the moves and being conscious of how my body works. Day three: Class was awesome last night and I felt amazing leaving. It was tough but good fun and I can feel that my balance is getting better. My abs are pulled in and tight though I am not getting the upper back stability that I need and my lower obliques feel mushy. Though, all in all, a lot better. Day six: I’m struggling with the rollups because my lower abs are weak but I’m sleeping better, which is a relief. I’ve been off and on insomniac for years. Day 10: Really sore today after doing two Core Physique classes in a row. Elisha, the teacher, is great but it’s a killer work out. I’ve noticed I’m getting less lower back pain as well… but it’s not gone. I’m making the effort to think about my posture all day and I took a private lesson with Paul to get some help with specific issues. Day 15: My abs are much more pronounced so happy about that but the back pain is still bothering me so I went to back to my osteopath. Turns out that I have a tilted pelvis but even the osteopath noticed that my body looks more toned.
Day 20: My balance in the mat classes is improving and I can really see my stomach muscles now. My obliques are more defined than they’ve ever been – despite years and years spent doing crunches and sit-ups in the gym. Day 25: I’m focusing on refining the really small movements this week so I can work on stabilizing. I’ve already noticed that my posture is better; I’m stacking my spine more easily. My shoulder blades still aren’t doing what I want them to though. Day 30: Done! The challenge is complete. I’m not stopping Pilates though. I’ll keep going because I really want to master the advanced moves – anyone who thinks Pilates is easy should try a Power Pilates or a Cardio Reformer class then shut the heck up. In just a month of classes, I saw significant improvements in some areas. For example, my ability to do some of more advanced moves that I just couldn’t do on day one. Some of my more stubborn issues remain though, like the back pain. It’s going to take more than a month to unravel some of the deeper structural issues but the difference is that I am now conscious of what I’m doing incorrectly. I’m 100 per cent committed to continuing. I even went out and bought toning balls, a medicine ball, Stott Pilates video and elastic bands so I can do the exercises at home.
What I learnt through this is that effective exercise isn’t always about pumping weights or getting out of breath on a treadmill. Some of the most difficult and transforming exercises involved tiny moves of a centimetre. The important thing is to do that tiny, precise move in the correct way. The various classes are very different though and you should pick your type of class based on what you want to achieve. For example, if you want to drop body fat, get a few Core Physique and Power Pilates classes into your week.
WHAT CAN PILATES DO FOR YOU? Real Pilates trainer Paul Thornley reveals what Pilates is all about and what it can do for you… “Pilates is about improved lifestyle and overall health through a clearer awareness of how your body should structurally work. Longer term, that prevents pain. We’re not focused on intensity or repetition; we’re focused on quality of movement. There’s no point in exercising if you’re doing it incorrectly just to get through a set of repetitions because the body will always find the easiest way to do the work, it will always try and cheat, usually by recruiting the big muscles. We promote a more balanced muscular activity so give these smaller muscles the opportunity to work by not allowing the dominant muscles to take over. “Pilates promotes better spinal movement so gravity doesn’t have such a negative impact on us as life generally does. These days everything we do is seated – we sit at a desk, we eat at a table, we flop on the couch to watch television so we don’t recruit the muscles to help us sit upright anymore. If we use our muscular structure incorrectly and allow it to negatively effect our skeletal system, our bones, then you’re going to have pain so whether it’s for rehabilitation after an injury or an Olympic athlete wanting to complement their strength and conditioning programme, Pilates is absolutely for everybody.”
A combination of Pilates and dance, Xtend Barre Stick is the newest class on offer at Real Pilates.
www.awakeningsme.com
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THE RESULTS What did 30 days of Pilates do for our guinea pigs? Drum roll please… Mika lost two kilograms in weight and lost 11 centimetres in measurements – including four centimetres off her waist along with an increase on her biceps of half a centimetre each. Her muscle mass went up very slightly and body fat went down 1.5 per cent. Mika
Day One
Day 30
Result
Weight
66.4kg
64.4
- 2kgs
Body fat %
31.5%
30
- 1.5%
Muscle mass
36.2
36.5
+ 0.3
Chest cms
100.5cm
96.5cm
- 4cm
Waist cms
81cm
77
- 4cm
Want to do your own Pilates challenge?
Hips cms
98
96
- 2cm
Go and see the wonderful people down at Real Pilates. The instructors are all fully trained professionals with years of experience. They can advise on everything from weight-loss to injury rehabilitation. There’s a studio in Jumeirah and another one in Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT) in the cluster opposite the Damas Building.
Thighs cms (L&R)
57/58
56.5/57.5
- 1cm
Biceps cms (L&R)
26.5/27.5
27/28
+ 1cm
JLT: Cluster V, JBC2 Building, ground floor. Tel. 458 5399. Email. jlt@real-pilates.com. Jumeirah: Palm Strip Mall. Tel. 04 345 3228. Email: jumeirah@real-pilates.com www.real-pilates.com
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Erin lost three kilograms in weight and his body fat fell by almost one per cent. His muscle mass also fell slightly, probably due to ceasing his heavy weights regime in the gym with the less-mass-focused Pilates. His back pain reduced but did not leave completely. He made big improvements in his ability to do the advanced postures that require considerable core strength. Erin
Day One
Day 30
Result
Weight
76.2kg
73.3kg
-2.9kgs
Body fat %
14.8%
14.0%
-0.8%
Muscle mass
37.0kg
36.4kg
- 0.6kg
Chest cms
120cm
119cm
-1cm
Waist cms
82cm
82cm
no change
Hips cms
90cm
92 cm
+ 2cm
Thighs L/R
54.3/54 cm
55/55cm
+0.7/1cm
Biceps L/R
34.7/35.1 cm
35/35cm
+0.3/-0.1cm
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awakenedbody
market work with fasting methods or drinking juices for several days in a row, Holistic Detoxing is a little different: A programme generally includes eating ‘clean’ or unprocesed natural, whole foods, which are easy on the digestive system and have additional cleansing value. Examples are steamed vegetables, salads and certain types of fruit. In addition, as much of a special cleansing broth and water can be consumed as needed along with herbal supplements to assist the body in its detox process.
CRAVINGS AND BINGES BEGONE
DIY
Holistic detoxing
How and why to do a holistic detox. Nutrition coach Kaya Peters reveals the latest health trend in Hollywood circles - do try this at home!
T
he word ‘detox’ is often associated with deprivation, diet and generally forcing yourself to do something that makes you a bit miserable in the hope it’ll do you some good. This is far from a durable solution to a healthier body and a better lifestyle. As an alternative, Holistic Detoxing focuses on cleansing the physical body and inner organs, releasing mental stress and quieting the mind; a combination that will help regain a state of physical and mental equilibrium. While in other parts of the world,
Holistic Detox is the Next Big Thing, no small thanks to celebrities like Heidi Klum and Elle Macpherson singing the praises of Holistic Detox programmes, the UAE is only now awakening to this trend in wellness. So what does ‘holistic’ actually mean? It’s about focusing on all aspects of our being. Using mostly Eastern teachings as its basis, Holistic Medicine views a person as a whole, rather than just a body with a collection of symptoms. Examples of Holistic Medicine include Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yogarelated teachings and Ayurveda. Where most detox programmes on the
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This ‘diet’ is combined with mild forms of exercise, stretching and breathing techniques, which work on the emotions, as well as getting plenty of rest. So what are the benefits of doing a Holistic Detox? For a start, there’s the obvious health benefits of a clean digestive system, rejuvenated liver, new life energy and feeling light and healthy. Another major advantage is that because this type of detox does not make you feel hungry or deprived, you’re less likely to suffer cravings and over-indulge in processed or junk food before or after starting. The well-known ‘before diet binge’, where you can still eat whatever you want because ‘my diet will start tomorrow’ is taken away by using several days to prepare yourself for the detox. In these first few days you cut out specific foods, like red meat, caffeinebased drinks, sugar and more. After the programme, you take the time to slowly go back to a long-term, healthy way of eating. Another benefit is the fact that a programme like this can kick-start a weight-loss effort and greatly accelerate weight-loss results. This is because people with a lot of toxicity in their bodies often have a harder time dropping a few kilos than someone who is clean on the inside – the body protects your organs from these toxins by storing them in fat cells. Toxic fat is stubborn and more difficult to lose. In addition, this type of programme will help you kick your addictions to sugar and carbs; appreciate the taste of simple foods, and help you create new and healthy habits for life. Ok, are you ready to do it? Here’s how:
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DIY HOME HOLISTIC DETOX Exclusively for the readers of Awakenings Middle East magazine, Kaya reveals her three-day Home Detox secrets: To do your own mini detox at home, do the following over the course of three days. s !VOID ALL CAFFEINATED DRINKS LIKE COFFEE AND GREEN TEA s !VOID ALL ALCOHOL s !VOID ALL RED MEAT s !VOID RElNED GRAINS LIKE WHITE RICE WHITE PASTA ETC s !VOID WHEAT PRODUCTS s !VOID DAIRY EXCEPT FOR LIVE ORGANIC YOGHURT s !VOID NUTS EXCEPT FOR SOAKED ALMONDS SOAK THEM FOR SIX HOURS OR OVERNIGHT s &OCUS ON EATING SIMPLE ONE INGREDIENT FOODS s 5SE HERBAL TEAS TO ASSIST IN THE CLEANSING PROCESS DANDELION MINT CHAMOMILE REDBUSH rooibos etc) s $RINK THREE LITRES OF WATER DAILY AND ADD ONE TABLESPOON OF APPLE CIDER VINEGAR TO EACH LITRE OF WATER THIS WILL HELP WITH LIVER DETOXIlCATION
EXERCISE AND MINDFULNESS Because this is a Holistic Detox, it’s not just about the food. Over the three days, take time every day for light exercise and a form of meditation. For example, a Hatha yoga class, a Bikram yoga class, a Pilates Core class, or just go for a walk.
THREE-DAY HOLISTIC DETOX MENU: Wake-up: Two glasses of lukewarm water with the juice of half a squeezed lemon and a pinch of cayenne pepper Breakfast: Two green apples, 1 handful of blueberries or other fresh, non-sugary fruits in the morning ANY TYPE OF BERRIES AND OCCASIONALLY PAPAYA DUE TO ITS BENElCIAL EFFECTS ON THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM Snack: 15 almonds pre-soaked in water (six hours or overnight) Lunch: Green salad, raw beetroot, beansprouts, and any other raw vegetable of choice (carrot, capsicum, lettuce, spinach, celery, etc), one cup of cooked quinoa, dressed in olive oil, apple cider vinegar and lemon juice. Snack: Raw carrot and celery sticks Dinner: Steamed broccoli (as much as you like), one cup of steamed pumpkin, one cup of steamed sweet potato. Do this for three days and then slowly start adding other foods to your diet again, but stay AWAY FROM ANYTHING PROCESSED SUGARY AND RElNED For a simple daily detox, just make sure to drink plenty of water, eat green vegetables every day, and have some lemon water in the morning before breakfast.
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In addition to moving your body, spend at least 10 minutes a day stilling your mind in meditation. This could be mantra chanting (search ‘mantra meditation’ on YouTube – there are thousands). It could be staring silently at a candle flame; it could be simply watching your breath; it could be putting your iPod earphones in and listening to deep relaxation music like a Tibetan bowl session (again, loads on YouTube). Or you could do a guided meditation such as chakra cleansing either by yourself or at a local healing centre such as Illuminations in JLT. Experiment, search the internet and try something you’ve not done before.
Need some help or want to know more? Kaya offers one-on-one Holistic Detox in the UAE or online. Her programmes are based on the teachings of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yoga and whole food nutrition. Her seven-day detox works on cleansing the inner organs through the five elements using foods and flavours. Kaya is a certified Yoga teacher and holistic practitioner. Read more on www.kayapeters.com and click the ‘get started’ tab.
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awakenedbeauty
Organic fake
tans
Want that golden bronze look for summer but don’t want the UV rays or the toxic chemicals found in regular tan products? Holistic beautician Katrina Valente trials organic fake tanning.
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ummer is coming and it’s great to have a bit of colour to look fresh and healthy. Crazy at it seems, here in the UAE we live in the sun all year round but most of us are never tanned. Hence always being able to spot the ‘holiday maker’… the tanned tourists we see walking around the shopping malls. If you want that bronzed look without spending hours soaking up the harmful UV rays of the sun or sunbeds, fake tans are a great option. Fast and easy, as long as you go organic, it’s all good! Happily, more organic options are now available if you want your fake tan without nasties like parabens and other potentially harmful chemicals. Remember, anything you put on your skin gets into your blood stream within minutes and sent swirling through your organs and brain. First up, Xen-Tan. Completely organic, Xen-Tan smells delicious and goes on so easily. You can apply it yourself at home or pay a professional to come and do it for you. I recently had a home visit from this fake tan favourite of the Hollywood set that includes celebs like Lady Gaga, Kate and Pippa Middleton, and Cameron Diaz in its fanbase. The technician sprayed me twice over in just a few minutes. The spray dried almost instantly and left me looking
brown. I went to bed, got up the next day, showered and voila! Instant gorgeous colour! It stayed on for around 10 days and faded naturally. No streaks, no patchy areas. I was very impressed. The other organic DIY ‘tan and go’
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worth trying is Irish brand Vita Liberata. Celeb fans include Olly Murs, The Saturday’s, One Direction, and Sinitta. Suitable for skin from the fairest to the darkest, Vita Liberata is organic and free of parabens, perfume, alcohol and toxins. cont. overleaf
Organic beauty: The new breed of tanning products like Vita Liberata (left) and Xen-Tan means you can look great without causing harm.
DIY FAKE TAN PREP TIPS Avoid the classic mistakes that get fake tan beginners spotted a mile away. Fake tan rule number one? Prepare your skin! A good exfoliation is what’s needed. Do it the day before or just before application with either a body brush or a paste of sea salt and olive oil or almond oil - that’s the cheap way. Alternatively, use your favourite organic body scrub. For more friction - although this will hurt more - do it on dry skin. Rub until your skin is slightly red with special focus on elbows and heels where the fake tan tends to streak. This is great for getting the blood flow going and sloughing off dead skin, leaving you silky smooth and ready for tanning. Take note! It’s not a good idea to use any kind of oil directly before application of the fake tan as this can easily cause streaking and running of product. Moisturise the skin, yes, but make sure you give it 10 minutes to penetrate your skin before applying your home product. To keep your faux tan lasting longer, keep your skin moisturised and remember that things like body scrubbing, swimming in the salt or chlorinated water, sweating and friction from clothes such as jeans will fade your tan faster.
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Both Xen-Tan and Vita Liberata have an extensive range of retail products for home use that come in sprays, gels, mousses and creams for face and body. Prices range from AED 100 to AED 300, depending on the product.
VITA LIBERATA
You can get a professionally applied Vita Liberata spray tan here in the UAE from the following outlets: Pastels, Nadia Beauty Centre, Sugar and Spice (Abu Dhabi), The Cure Beauty & Wellness Lounge, Roots, The Beauty Spot (Abu Dhabi), Kalm Spa, Hair Lounge and Dial a Nail. For more information, go to www.vitaliberata.ae
XENTAN
The home spray service will be resumed after Ramadan. Meanwhile, you can get a professional Xen-Tan spray at Bodysmart and Pastels salon. To DIY at home, the retail product can be bought from Sephora, Dubai Duty Free, Emirates Aircrew and Atrium shop. For more information go to www.emergingbeautybrands.com or www. facebook.com/XenTanMiddleEast.
TOXIC-FREE SUN SCREEN Yes, it’s summer in the UAE but chances are you’ll be off on your holidays overseas and that’s where you’re going to need sun protection. Here are our top picks… Moisturising Sunscreen SPF30, Neal’s Yard Remedies, AED 180 How much do we love this brand? If we were any more in love with NYR we’d be buying it flowers and chocolates. NYR walks the talk on organic products and offers a number of skin products with high UVA/UVB protection including this Moisturising Sunscreen SPF30 that nourishes and protects with a 100 per cent mineral sunscreen. Plus it’s 59 per cent organic. Buy it: At one of the UAE Neal’s Yard Remedies outlets, choose from Wafi Mall, Meadows Town Centre, Marina Mall or Dubai Mall in Dubai. Sahara Mall in Sharjah. Fotouh Al Khair Centre in Abu Dhabi. Tel. +971 (0)4 324 5141 www.nealsyardremedies.ae SPF 40 Antioxidant Infused Sunscreen Day Cream, Supergoop! AED 76.50 Supergoop is a great word and a great product. The 13 Supergoop! sun care products are free of parabens, fragrances and petrochemicals. They’ve got a great gradual fake tan mousse as well. Buy it: In Dubai at the Marriott Saray spa, Make Up Etc boutique, Park Hyatt, Kempinski Palm Jumeirah. In Oman at the Ayana spa and Six Senses Spa at Zighy Bay. www.sarumtrading.com
KATRINA VALENTE is a holistic beautician specialising in anti-aging. Call her on 050 565 7679 or email her at Katrina@katrinavalente.com and mention Awakenings magazine for a 20 per cent discount on any treatment. www.katrinavalente.com
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Sun Screen SPF 40, Herbline Essentials, AED 99 Paraben and paraffin free plus not tested on animals, Herbline Essentials products are based on Ayurveda principles and formulated with holistic and organic ingredients. Additional benefits include healing minor rashes and burns with Aloe Vera ingredients. Buy it: Online at www.herbline-essentials.com or in 120 pharmacies in the UAE, including Boots, Bin Sina, Health First and United Pharmacies and Dubai Duty Free pharmacies at Dubai International Airport. www.herbline-essentials.com
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AN UNMATCHED HAVEN AN IDYLLIC ESCAPE
The Address
MONTGOMERIE DUBAI
Welcome to one of Dubai’s most celebrated golf havens.
Our magnificent boutique hotel and golf course offers an idyllic setting for the perfect getaway retreat. Whether you are playing on our championship golf course, staying in one of our elegant guest rooms, dining at the award-winning restaurant, Nineteen, or relaxing in our Angsana spa - you will want for nothing from the moment you arrive at The Address Montgomerie Dubai.
T +971 4 390 5600 F +971 4 438 7888 E MONTGOMERIE@THEADDRESS.COM WWW.THEADDRESS.COM
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‘I lost 50kg and saved my life with juicing’ A severely overweight, bulimic with dangerously high blood pressure, 38-yearold Paula’s doctor said she was a ‘walking time bomb’ for a heart attack or stroke. So the feisty Scotswoman turned to juicing and got her life back.
“E
ven when I was three years old, I thought I was fat,” says Dubai expat Paula Hughes. “There’s a photo of me and my sister when I was three years old. I was in a blue bikini; she was in a red one. I clearly remember what I was thinking as that picture was being taken. I was thinking that I didn’t want the photo taken because I looked fat in my bikini. “My sister was a year older but I grew faster so we looked like twins. Then I overtook her so I was always called ‘the big one’. I think you become that self-fulfilling prophecy, you become what people imprint on you.” Growing up in a big Scottish family, Paula says she was always overfed. “You go back for seconds and then you have Gran’s homemade pudding at the end so you stuff
your face, clear your plate so you can have pudding. It’s all about food; my family is still all about food. It was all homemade cooking, cakes, biscuits and indulgences that people give you as a child. “I would eat until I was literally sick. No one ever stepped in to stop me and I was the kind of child that ‘if you give it to me, fine, I’ll eat it till I’m ill’.” Another trigger for a life as a comfort eater came in the lead up to her parents getting divorced. Paula says if her parents were fighting her mum would say, ‘come on girls, get something from the sweetie tin and go to your rooms.’ “As a result I now associate things that upset me with sweet foods.” A realisation Paula made recently with the help of a psychologist.
FAT GIRL
Even so, Paula says she always had a predisposition to gravitate towards food and excess. “I was into food from very young; I always ate more than I should have done. Even with things like a cup of tea, other people would have one sugar; I’d have four or five teaspoons. I think it was a rebellious thing.” Using food as a weapon soon turned into full-blown eating disorders. “I’ve suffered from bulimia since I was 13 and even thought you have peaks and troughs with it, it’s with you for the rest of your life. “At 15, I starved myself in protest with my parents and did obsessive aerobics exercise. I lived on water for a week, it took a friend to say to me, ‘your parents haven’t
From bulimia to beetroot juice: The transformation of Paula as revealed through passport photos...
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She told me, ‘you’re a walking time bomb, you could suffer stroke or heart attack at any time’ even noticed, just eat for goodness.’ That was quite a momentous time in my childhood but it was connected to change; my parents had divorced. “Bulimia is a control thing. The only thing you can control is what you eat but to eat a massive amount of food then to purge it is really disgusting when you think about it. It’s easy to use food as a weapon but you only hurt yourself.” One side effect of the bulimia was her teeth rotting away from the stomach acid. Now, her whole upper row of teeth is veneers. By age 23 Paula weighed 135kgs (21 stone) and her dress size was a UK 24-26. Over the next 15 years her weight yoyoed, it peaked at 135 kgs again in her late 20s and for a third time in her early 30s, a year after she first came to Dubai in 2003. Paula says the pattern was that her weight would increase with life changes, for example, a change in relationship status or moving to a different country. Over the years she tried myriad ways to lose weight. “The worst was diet pills that had amphetamine. They were horrific. You got them on prescription in the UK. They said, ‘don’t worry about dieting; these pills will increase your metabolism.’ After three days I couldn’t sleep, function or relax, and I didn’t lose any weight.” Paula also tried the cabbage soup diet, Slimfast, Weight Watchers, to name but a few. “Another one was Obesity Helpline, which was powdered drinks of milkshakes and soups and a weigh in every week where you had to urinate on a piece of paper to prove you had ketones in your body and hadn’t cheated. I went mental on that. I did lose weight but as soon as you stop, you gain it all back because you haven’t dealt with the root problem; you’re only addressing the outcome.” It wasn’t until Paula changed focus from purely what was going into her mouth
to what was going on in her head that she started making progress.
IT’S ALL IN YOUR HEAD
“When I started seeing a psychologist I realised my weight isn’t just about what I put in my mouth. I spent about two years in that psychologist’s clinic sobbing my heart out. Every little detail comes out, warts and all and if you don’t let it, there’s no point going. “I also tried hypnotherapy and regression therapy, which has so many benefits, that’s when I remembered the scene on the beach when I was three and getting my photo taken. I found that photo later and everything clicked into place. So, yes, there have been a few ‘Aha’ moments of self-awareness, especially in the last two years.” When Paula hit her highest weight in Dubai in 2004, she was having a Redbull for breakfast then drinking diet Coke all day at work. “Over the years I’ve had at least a litre and a half of diet Coke always on my desk. Then I’d go out in the evening and drink vodka with diet Coke and eat enough high fat, high carb fast food for four people. It was layer upon layer of body abuse. I was a diet Coke addict. Since then I’ve read about aspartame poisoning and toxicity and I look back and think, ‘how am I still alive?’
DO OR DIE
In 2011, came the body blow from her doctor. “She told me, ‘you’re a walking time bomb, you could suffer stroke or heart attack at any time.’ “My blood pressure was 159 over 99. I wasn’t exercising and my diet was high sodium and high fat. My doctor said, ‘you need to go on medication.’ I was 38 and I knew that if I went on medication, I was charting a course for the rest of my life of more medication. I was sobbing in the doctor’s office saying, ‘no, I’m not taking medication,’ she said, ‘you have to, to save your life.’ cont. overleaf
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“Medication is a slippery slope, you take one type and it has a side effect so you need another pill to tackle the side effects of the first pill and before you know it, you’re taking handfuls a day. I don’t want to be like that. Plus, the side effects are things like weight gain, headaches, nausea. “I’d also just signed up to do a bootcamp course. The doctor said, ‘you can’t do bootcamp with blood pressure like this.’ So she agreed to take the lowest dose of medication and with the incredible support of her friends, Paula started exercising and changing her eating patterns. “A friend had given me a book on juicing so I made a half-hearted effort. I’d drink a couple of juices a day but still eat take-away at night. I was also doing bootcamp though so I lost about 10 kilos in five months.” But then another challenge hit. During what should have been a routine vitamin D injection, the needle accidentally hit a nerve leaving Paula paralysed in her left leg and in severe pain. “I was at home, completely depressed, couldn’t move… I knew I had to heal this nerve and fix myself from the inside out. That was the start of really getting into juicing and natural foods. I read a book on juicing by Jason Vale that changed everything for me; he talks about what the stuff you’re eating and drinking does to your body and why you’re addicted to it. He also talks about how the food industry does go out of its way to addict you and keep you weak. Then I booked one of his juicing bootcamp retreats in Turkey and that was where I was reborn. “We’d get up at 6am, do a meditation or yoga session, then do 45 minutes of exercise like bums and tums or stretching, then have a shot of green super juice, then go on a two hour walk, then come back for the first juice, then there would be a lecture, more juicing, more exercise, some relaxation. I was doing five hours of exercise a day. I lost about five kilograms in a week. It was my first time proper detox and day three was horrendous, I spent the day crying and emotional but on day four I bounced out of bed before the alarm and I honestly felt reborn that day.”
If you just have one juice a day, it’s an intense nutrient hit. My skin is better and my eyes are clearer.
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FIVE DAY JUICE FAST Is juicing really so great? The Awakenings team - Asma, Tam and Adrian gave it the ‘suck it and see test’. Here’s what happened... Three of us - a male and two females - did Jason’s Vale’s annual Spring Clean five day juice fast, what happened? All three of us lost about 3.5kgs each; all of us were regularly hungry and all of us needed to eat the “if you need it” banana every day. (Yes Jason Vale, we needed it!) On the upside... obvious benefits besides weight-loss were much improved skin and we’ve all maintained an element of juicing into our lives since then. The two of us who used to drink coffee and black tea have stayed off it since doing the fast - eight weeks at time of writing - and we feel great for that. As of four weeks later, we’d all kept the weight off and Adrian (the male guinea pig) had even lost another two kilos. Six weeks later though, a couple of kilos had crept back. On the downside... Asma suffered headaches through the fast, felt oddly cold and said her teeth felt coated. For Tam, a predisposition to candida (thrush) was triggered from all the high-sugar fruit like pineapple, apples and banana. We suspect they were also the cause of severe tooth problems for Adrian, which saw him spend five days off work and pay a AED 15,000 dental bill when one of his back teeth cracked right down the middle. Did the juice sugars exacerbate an already weakened tooth? We’ll never know but we’re highly suspicious and now focus on vegetable juicing as opposed to fruit juices. In summary... we all have a new love of juicing. It’s easy and quick and an effective way to get a big dose of nutrients into your system quick. We all now include juicing in our daily lives but have tweaked the recipes to suite our individual body types and conditions.
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ANSWERING THE JUICE CRITICS Dubai’s juice lady Paula Hughes addresses some of the most common criticisms of juicing... 1. But you’re losing all the fibre - you should eat the whole apple not only the juice The fibre from fruit and vegetables that your body needs are the water soluble microfibres that can be absorbed by our bodies. Juice retains these microfibres and those are the ones that you want. Basically the juicer is doing a lot of the work of your digestive system. When you put fruit and vege in the chute, the machine extracts the nutrients and discards the rest. That’s exactly what your digestive system does; extracts the nutrients, the fats, the proteins, etc that it needs to heal and run your body and expels what it doesn’t need through the sphincter. Everything that goes into your stomach is broken down into a liquid. That’s what takes your body so much time and energy. Juicing gives the body more time and energy and nutrients to go off and fix your skin, your nails, your eyes, your hair, or any health issues you may have. 2. What about protein? Do you worry about not getting enough? No, some of the biggest, most muscular animals on the planet are vegetarians. Plus, it’s not about never eat non-juiced food again. Eat steak or salmon if you want just incorporate juicing as well. 3. Fast weight loss? Isn’t this just a crash diet and the weight will come back? If you go back to the same diet that got you fat in the first place, then yes, you will gain weight back. If you change your diet and lifestyle permanently, weight-loss is sustainable but the final word is that, like anything, there is no cookie cutter answer for everyone. What works wonderfully for one person won’t work for another, just give it a try and see for yourself.
DUBAI JUICE LADY
Fast forward a few months and Paula is a juicing convert and 50 kgs lighter than her highest weight. She’s alson off the medication and her blood pressure is normal. “Juices make me feel wonderful, it’s like they switch off the feelings associated with bulimia. When I go off juicing for a while, the danger sign is when I make a coffee with sugar at work, that’s a sign I’m entering a downward spiral. The combination of caffeine and sugar seem to trigger something. “Juicing is so easy, it fits into my lifestyle and it’s led to an interest in raw food so juicing has facilitated this wider knowledge of nutrition. Even if you just have one juice a day, it’s an intense nutrient hit. My skin is better and my eyes are clearer. And I can fix all sorts of daily ailments, like water retention. Say you just get off a plane and you’re a bit bloated, a juice with fennel, celery, ginger, and pineapple will sort that out; they’re a magnet for the nasty stuff and they detox your body.
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Juicing, says Paula, has given her back her life as well as given her a life purpose. She’s now studying to be a natural juice therapist and wants to make a career out of teaching others about the benefits of juicing. “I went to Jason Vale’s juicing academy last year and I’m doing his natural juice therapist course, that’s a self-study certification. It’s the only course in the world certified by the Complementary Medical Association. It’s heavy going, lots of biology and anatomy but it’s the key to my dream of going full time with juicing as a career. Now, Paula wants to lose another seven kilos but she thinks part of that process will involve getting back into a psychologist’s
or hypnotherapist’s chair in order to finish dealing with the emotional root causes of her long-term weight issues but she believes that her first-hand experience of the complex causality of severe eating disorders and obesity issues means that she can understand better than anyone the battles of the chronically overweight. “My plans are to help people empower themselves. I want to teach people they don’t need pharmaceutical medications to live their life. Traditional doctors have a vital role in medical situations but there are so many conditions where a natural approach can be more successful and of course preventing those conditions in the first place is the best outcome.”
Want to learn more about juicing? Paula’s next juicing event will be on Saturday 6 July from 3pm to 6pm at Cafe Baroque, Murjan 5, JBR. Stay in the loop by joining her Facebook group, I-Love-Zanjabeel-Juicing-Dubai.
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awakenedlife - spa review
Tried and tested:
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Altearah Wellbeing Facial W
hen I was asked to review the Altearah Wellbeing Facial, I was intrigued. A facial that uses colour therapy - wonderful! I am fascinated by how the vibrations of different colours impact mood, health and wellbeing. As with all of SpaDunya’s treatments, this facial started out with the colour therapy consultation. Colour therapist Karima Nanji asked me to select four colours from the set of 14 therapeutic hues in the Altearah set. She explained that the first colour reflects the colour vibration that one needs today; the second represents a significant block or deficit that must be addressed; the third colour augments the second colour; and the fourth colour signifies the vibration or energy that one is moving toward. The colours I chose – gold, emerald, indigo and orange – turned out to be major components in the Wellbeing facial – so I was very happy to be getting the colour therapy in addition to the facial! Yupin, the facial therapist, settled me on a lovely treatment bed complete with a back warmer. I especially appreciated this extra touch, as I tend to get very cold in massage or other beauty treatment rooms. Yupin started by spraying each of the four colours individually on to my palms and asking me to inhale each colour three times. This introduces both the fragrance and energy of the unique essential oil blend as well as the colour’s specific vibration directly into the body.
Ambient music and soft lighting, combined with Yupin’s skillful facial massage, quickly sent me into a blissful, semi-sleeping state. Yupin cleansed, massaged and moisturised my face and neck. The fragrant lotions used in the Wellbeing Facial are infused with serums of the four colours: silver, emerald, indigo and orange. Silver is for repair/reconstruction; emerald for oxygen/breath; indigo for relaxation, clarity and sleep, and orange for creativity and sensuality. The serums used in the facial are five times stronger than the sprays used at the beginning of the session, so the vibration of each colour is a key part of the facial. Another unique aspect of my facial was the therapist’s use of Vietnamese facial reflexology, which associates various parts of the face to organ systems within the body. Yupin applied gentle and then slightly stronger pressure to specific reflexology points on my face with special instruments
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known as Dien Chan tools. I felt soft but powerful surges of energy within various parts of my body as Yupin did the reflexology with the Dien Chan tools. I felt that the reflexology was stimulating various energy channels as Yupin accessed different pressure points on my face. After Yupin finished the initial massage and cleansing parts of the treatment, she applied a light but very moisturising mask to my face and neck. While the moisturising mask absorbed into my skin, Yupin treated me to a Thai-style massage of my head, neck, arms and legs that relaxed me even further. The combination of the aroma and colour therapies of the essential oils, the Dien Chan facial reflexology and the natural cleansers and moisturisers left my skin glowing and soft. I left SpaDunya feeling – and looking – radiant and refreshed. I’ll definitely be back for more!
The Altearah Wellbeing Facial is a 60 or 90 minute treatment, AED 395 or AED 584. SpaDunya recommends a series of five Altearah Wellbeing Facials at two-week intervals for best results. If you enjoy your facial and recommend it to your friend, SpaDunya’s referral offer gets you and your friend a 20 per cent discount. SpaDunya Club Shams 1, Plaza Level, The Walk Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR). Tel: 04 439 3669. Email: info@spadunyaclub.com www.spadunyaclub.com
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wellbeingtravel
Time to
Retreat
If you’re in need of an escape from the heat and the hustle and bustle of your daily life then a wellness retreat could be just the ticket. More than just a simple spa break, a wellness programme is a total body overhaul in the most pleasant of ways, designed to nurture your body and mind. From tranquil hideaways to sprawling coastlines, these scenic safe havens are luxuriously geared towards creating a new you!
CHIVASOM THAILAND
This luxury health resort is located in the city of Hua Hin, situated in seven acres of lush tropical gardens. Focusing on greater well-being and vitality, Chiva-Som offers extensive fitness, spa and holistic health facilities to help you relax, restore, rejuvenate and redirect. Personalised programmes and treatments are designed for everyone, blending Eastern philosophies with Western diagnostic skills. This beachfront resort has 70 treatment rooms, spa cuisine from organically grown fruits and vegetables, and luxury accommodations with mind-blowing views of the Gulf of Thailand. www.chivasom.com
NEW HOLISTIC TREATMENTS -
The new “Vacuum Cupping” and “Oriental Facial Acupressure Point” are dedicated to working toward total life enrichment through the introduction of new therapies to enhance the guests wellness experience. reserve@chivasom.com
www.awakeningsme.com
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CELEB WATCH -
Who’s been? David and Victoria Beckham, Elle MacPherson, Hugh Grant, Kate Moss, and Elizabeth Hurley swear by the brutal detox programme.
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beautifully calm and peaceful surroundings to maximise their impact and long-lasting benefits. The food offered is supremely healthy so expect a stringent dietary regime as part of your experience. www. shawellnessclinic.com
LONGEVITY WELLNESS RESORT PORTUGAL
YOGA AND MEDITATION –
Ananda Practices and teaches the techniques of the BIhar School of Yoga also known as Satyananda Yoga. This technique is a union of many personal development approaches based on traditional yogic teachings in conjunction with modern physical and mental health sciences. reservations@anandaspa.com
ANANDA INDIA
Set at the foot of the Himalayas, Ananda is a wellness retreat that uses the healing philosophy of physical, mental and spiritual health to create unique programmes that boost your health and unite body and soul. Ananda is a deeply peaceful place. Once the residence of Maharaja of Tehri-Garhwal, the 21,000 square foot destination spa offers 79 treatments and the wellness programmes include holistic activities such as yoga, meditation, nature walks and workshops. Be assured that you will leave feeling restored and rejuvenated, and ready to face daily life once again. www.anandaspa.com
for its clients, and focuses on creating and maintaining healthy habits. It’s a beautiful macrobiotic spa – at present, the world’s only one which is favoured by celebrities like Naomi Campbell and Kylie Minogue. But there’s more than star spotting to do here; the minimalist clinic offers a range of physical activities, informal lectures, cooking classes and therapies that are conducted in
This luxurious wellness resort overlooking the Algarve coastline is situated in the tranquil village of Monchique, a beautiful unspoiled mountain location in Portugal’s Algarve. Experience revitalizing spa treatments and therapies. Dine on healthy and savory gourmet cuisine. Explore exquisite nature on exhilarating hikes with breathtaking vistas. Discover the rejuvenating world of advanced aesthetical medicine. Embark on a state-of-the-art anti-ageing programme. The idyllic scenery of the naturally protected reserve surroundings creates a sense of calm. Through extensive personalised evaluations and consultations, you can expect improved mental clarity, inner balance, a lessening of tension and an overhaul of body and mind. www.longevitywellnessresort.com cont. overleaf
SHA WELLNESS CLINIC SPAIN
The pioneering SHA Wellness Clinic in Spain prides itself on offering distinctively tailored wellness programmes
LONGEVITY BOOTCAMP –
One intensive week of
your muscle mass and will free you from the unwanted pounds. This, combined with Mediterranean Diet allows you to achieve results in a healthy and sustainable way. Start date 29 September 2013 For more info contact - reservations@longevitywellnessresort.com
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THE CHATEAU SPA & ORGANIC WELLNESS MALAYSIA
The Chateau is the world’s first organic destination spa and wellness resort, nestled serenely in Malaysia’s Berjaya Hills amidst a 150 year-old tropical rainforest. The resort is modelled after an 18th century medieval castle in Alsace and certainly retains some of that period’s grandeur and elegance. It boasts 210 elegant rooms and suites and offers an idyllic haven to explore the path towards total wellness. It also prides itself on providing its guests with unprecedented organic gourmet dining experiences that will delight even the sharpest of palates. The spa’s European-inspired treatments are perfect for rejuvenation and improved health, while a range of fitness activities such as yoga, horse riding, and biking mean guests can spend as much time outdoors as they feel like. Emailreservation@thechateau.com.my
With over 3000 ares of land all the food used in the hotel restaurant is grown organically on site. EVERYTHING is organic, the food, toiletries, even the sheets.
10%
discount
The 8 limbs of Yoga An immersion monsoon retreat in the heart of the Goan forest
for Awakenings
readers!
Email: sales@sushumna.in with 'Awakenings discount' in the subject head
Yoga, Rejuvenation, Meditation
Join us this August and really experience what rain and life are about. Sonja will guide you through the 8 limbs of Yoga and you will discover that yoga is much more than just physical activity. Yoga is about creating union between mind, body and spirit, and Asanas (postures) are only one of the 8 limbs. Dates: 11th to 18th August 2013 Price: INR 37,000 / AED 2,600 (based on 2 sharing) Including:
yama niayama asana pranayama pratyahara
Accommodation, all meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner), yoga classes, one massage. Plus you will have time to walk on the beach, dharana explore the villages, take walks in the huge garden and surrounding area, or find a secluded area in nature dhyana to meditate, contemplate, create, transform and re-centre yourself.
samadhi For more information and bookings, contact: sales@sushumna.in, +91 89 75 275 266, visit: www.sushumna.in
www.awakeningsme.com
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THUR-SAT, NOVEMBER 21,22,23 - 2013 + OPTIONAL DESERT CHILL OUT 24TH Yoga means Union. Our intent? To have every yogi in Dubai and the region come together no matter where you practice or your style of practice. YOU are being called to experience bliss during 3 days of CLASSES, MUSIC, AND SPIRITUAL JOY. Come and enjoy a variety of styles taught by local and international teachers.
register online now: www.dubaiyogafest.com held at the Westin, food included shop the hanuman marketplace kids are welcome not a yogi, but interested? low cost info sessions just for you!
WHY WOULD YOU MISS THIS?
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Inspiring reads Think you’ve had a few knocks from the school of life? Be inspired and uplifted by the heart and courage of these people in the face of their real life struggles. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, AED 59 A lot of professors give talks titled The Last Lecture. Professors are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them. While they speak, audiences mull the same question: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy? But when Randy Pausch, a computer science professor and father of three sons was asked to give such a lecture, he really knew it was his last as he had just been diagnosed with terminal cancer. He passed over 10 months later. Yet his lecture, Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams, wasn’t about dying. It was about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment (because “time is all you have... and you may find one day that you have less than you think”). It was a summation of everything Randy had come to believe. It was about living. “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” Inspiring and poignant, read the book or watch the lecture at www.thelastlecture.com. Dwarf: A Memoir by Tiffanie DiDonato, AED 69 “It’s okay with me if you picked up this book because you’re curious about what it’s like to live with dwarfism. But I hope that you’ll take away much more - about adapting to the world when it won’t adapt to you.” Tiffanie DiDonato was born with dwarfism. Her limbs were so short that she was not able to reach her own ears. She was also born with a serious case of optimism. She decided to undergo a series of painful bone-lengthening surgeries that gave her an unprecedented 14 inches of height - and the independence she never thought she’d have. After her surgeries, Tiffanie was able to learn to drive, to live in the dorms during college, and to lead a normal life. She even made time to volunteer, writing to troops stationed abroad, and one of those Marine pen pals ultimately became her husband. Dwarf is a moving and at times funny testament to the power of sheer determination.
Life Without Limits by Vujicic,
AED 64 Born without arms or legs, Nick Vujicic overcame his disabilities to live an independent, rich and fulfilling life while serving as a role model for anyone seeking true happiness. Now an internationally successful motivational speaker, Nick’s central message is that the most important goal is to find your life’s purpose and to never give up, despite whatever difficulties or seemingly impossible odds stand in your way. Nick tells the story of his physical disabilities and the emotional battle he endured while learning to deal with them as a child, teen, and young adult. “For the longest, loneliest time, I wondered if there was anyone on earth like me, and whether there was any purpose to my life other than pain and humiliation.” Nick shares how his faith in God has been his major source of strength, and he explains that once he found a sense of purpose inspiring others to better their lives and the world around them - he found the confidence to build a rewarding and productive life without limits. Life Without Limits includes a personal action plan to help anyone determine their path to a successful life. Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala,
AED 65 On the morning of December 26, 2004, on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, Sonali Deraniyagala lost her parents, her husband, and her two young sons in the tsunami she miraculously survived. She describes those first horrifying moments and her long journey since. Her memoir describes her struggles through the first months following the tragedy, furiously clenched against a reality that she cannot face and cannot deny; and then, over the ensuing years, as she emerges reluctantly, slowly allowing her memory to take her back through the rich and joyous life she’s mourning, from her family’s home in London, to the birth of her children, to the year she met her English husband at Cambridge, to her childhood in Colombo; all the while learning the difficult balance between the almost unbearable reminders of her loss and the need to keep her family alive within her.
All these books are in store at Kinokuniya Bookworld in Dubai Mall or online at www.kinokuniya.com. While you’re at it, ‘like’ the Kinokuniya page on Facebook www.facebook.com/KinokuniyaDubai. For more information, email dubai@kinokuniya.com or call 04 434 0111.
www.awakeningsme.com
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With its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan and world class stores spread over countries like America, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, Taiwan and now in Dubai - UAE, Kinokuniya is a globally known book seller of repute. The store in Dubai Mall is a massive 68,000 square feet wide paragon book gallery which stocks more than half a million books and a thousand magazines in English, Arabic, Japanese, French, German and Chinese at any given time. The store is also a distinct cross cultural hub for a wide range of time to time cultural events such as comic art demonstrations, language learning workshops, book launches, etc. The pleasant ambiance, scenographic design and add to it the impressive view of modern skyline - world's tallest building, Burj Dubai, Kinokuniya at Dubai Mall is just the place to evoke emotions and add pleasure to your book shopping.
"We offer our customers the widest range, cost leadership and value-added services"
Kinokuniya ad.indd 1
Dubai Mall Level 2, SF-025 Financial Centre Road, Down Town Burj Khalifa PO Box 283578 Dubai, UAE 04 - 4340 111
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Retail
therapy Organic and ethical makeup, Neal’s Yard Remedies
At last! NYR have launched a range of organic, cruelty-free cosmetics. Inspired by nature, the range includes eyeliner, lipgloss, eye shadow, blusher, lipstick, brushes, and bronzer. Our favourite? Editor Tam says life will never be the same now that she’s discovered the lychee lipstick. All that’s missing from the range is mascara but that’s coming later in the year – it just took NYR a while to find wands made from recyclable and recycled materials. Buy it: Prices range from AED 85 for a lipgloss to AED 150 for a mineral bronzer. NYR has outlets at Wafi Mall, Dubai Mall, Sahara Mall in Sharjah, Fotouh al Khair Centre in Sharjah, Muscat City Centre in Oman, lower ground floor, Dubai Marina Mall. www.nealsyardremedies.ae
Lush Toothy Tabs
What on earth are toothy tabs? An alternative to toothpaste invented to save hundreds of aluminum toothpaste tubes heading to landfill. These solid toothpaste tabs contain no artificial ingredients or preservatives and come in a 100 per cent recycled box. Flavours include the minty Dirty, and Sparkle, a lemon, grapefruit and black pepper blend to help whiten your teeth. Buy it: AED 35 Lush has six shops in the UAE: The Dubai Mall (two shops), Deira City Centre, Mirdiff City Centre, Mercato Mall, and Al Wahda Mall Abu Dhabi. www.lush.ae
Natural Apple Crisps
A new, 100 per cent natural and healthy snack made from apples grown, picked on UK farms. Just 76 calories per 20g pack, Perry Court Farm Apple Crisps are made using natural drying; warm air is blown over apples slices for hours until crisp and scrumptious. Slow drying keeps all the goodness and extends its life - drying is a natural way of preserving fruit, used since the ancient Egyptians! Buy it: AED 6 or AED 115 for a box of 24 bags. Sold in speciality supermarkets and cafes across Dubai. Visit the guys at the Ripe Market in the Courtyard Al Quoz every Saturday from 9am to 1pm. For bulk sales, call Paul on 050 297 8384 or email sales@performanceinnov.com.
! CONGRATULATIONS The winners of The Entertainer Body book in the previous issue of Awakenings were Rowan Bell, Johanna de Girolamo and Hannah Stanton. The winners of the guidance cards by Amira were Ania Shnyukova, Hameeda Nizar and Rumi Meeran. Thank you to everyone who entered the competitions and we’re sorry that we didn’t answer all the emails… there were just too many emails and not enough of us.
www.awakeningsme.com
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WIN A CRYSTAL PENDANT FROM SPARKLEFAIRY!
We’ve got one clear quartz pendant to give away. One of the most powerful healing gemstones, clear quartz has many uses; it’s an aid to meditation, emotional healing and chakra balancing. It helps with morning sickness and digestive issues. To be in to win, just send us an email to win@awakeningsme.com with ‘Sparklefairy pendant’ in the subject head and tell us why you want to win the pendant.
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Cocooning - Organic Pregnancy Products
Created especially for pregnant women, the Cocooning range by Neom contains levels of pure essential oils that are safe in pregnancy. The organic Bath Oil and Body Oil are both safe for use on babies while for mums-to-be they contain ingredients that combat tiredness, nausea, and mood-swings. Cocooning Bath Oil: Organic safflower, essential oils of Ylang Ylang, Chamomile and Mandarin make for bath-time indulgence. Cocooning Body Oil: For bumps and post-natal tummies. Organic safflower and jojoba deeply hydrates the skin, working as stretchmark prevention when messaged daily during pregnancy. Handmade in the UK, the products act as holistic treatments due to the high essential oil content. Popular with celebrities such as Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, Kylie Minogue and Kate Middleton. Buy it: Neom Luxury Organics is available at Boutique 1, Bloomingdales, Talise spa – Madinat Jumeirah, Raffles Amrita Spa, Burj Al Arab Spa, Shangri La Abu Dhabi, Emirates Golf Club, Sharjah Ladies Club, Rotana Beach Hotel, Fujairah Rotana, The Address Hotel Down Town. www.facebook.com/luxury.organic.beauty
Eco-Friendly Gladiator Sandals
Botanics Face Serum, AED 110
We are loving this new 100 per cent organic facial oil from the new Botanics range! Created by Boots, Botanics is the result of three years of research and development into the power of plants in collaboration with the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. The products are free of parabens, sulphate surfactants, animal-derived ingredients, mineral oils. They have not been tested on animals. Buy it! Facial Oil is AED 110 at Boots stores through the UAE www.me.boots.com
Miracle sports bra
A sport bra that does just what it says! Marika Miracles Uplift High Impact Sports Bras on sale from 15 June in Adventure HQ in Times Square Mall, Sheikh Zayed Road. The price was AED 215, now AED 161 – a 25 per cent discount. Offer valid while stocks last. For more information or to buy online, go to www.shemovesonline.com
Hand-made in Bodrum on the Turkish Riviera, gladiator sandals by Husna Sandals are made from organic calf leather is processed using tannic acid extracted from the bark of the vallonea oak tree. The result is leather that does not retain any smell, never causes the feet to sweat and protects them from fungal infections. All this in addition to lasting a lifetime! Celebrities such as Mick Jagger, Bette Midler and Sting have all ordered customised pairs. For the UAE’s summer, the Seres sandal is a daily wear shoe for women (AED 918) while the Nazneen (AED 1364) can be worn into the evening bejewelled with 22K gold plated and 1000K pure silver hand-made decoration. For men, choose from the Atalente (AED 2203) and the Ares sandal (AED 1652). Buy it: From The cARTel, Al Serkal Avenue on Street 8 in Al Quoz 1. www.facebook.com/Husna.Sandals
Thoughtful app for iPhone
A new app makes it a little easier to think positively. Swedish designer Anna Sköld has launched Thoughtful app, a tool for combining fragments of thoughts into affirmations. Choose background patterns, typefaces, shapes and colours, to design your own affirmation card to print or to use as a lock screen on your phone. The app also schedules reminders so thoughts can be repeated on a regular basis. “We want to encourage people to consciously pick uplifting and powerful thoughts,” Sköld says. Buy it: $1.99, Thoughtful app is available in English for iPhone. www.thoughtful-app.com JUNE - AUGUST 2013
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44 listings
UAE listings
Alternative, complementary and holistic products and services available in the UAE.
Melany Oliver, Access Bars Practitioner and Facilitator Release unhelpful judgement, beliefs and perceptions easily and effortlessly. Private one on one healing sessions as well as classes to become a certified Access Bars practitioner. Tel: 050 794 7695 Email: olivermelany@gmail.com www.melanyoliver.com
ALTERNATIVE MEDICAL CENTRES & CLINICS
Dubai Physiotherapy & Family Medicine Clinic Comprehensive family medicine and physiotherapy. 1st Floor, Town Centre Jumeirah, Jumeirah Beach Road. Tel: 04 349 6333 www.dxbphysio.com
Dubai Mall Medical Centre Complementary and alternative medicine with Naturopathic Medicine Practioner Dr Heather Eade. 7th Floor, Dubai Mall, Downtown. Tel: 04 449 5111 www.tdmmc.ae Holistic Healing Medical Centre Eastern and western medicines. Ayurveda, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy and Homeopathy. Al Wasl Road, Umm Suqeim 3. Email: doctor@healthholistic.com Tel: 04 348 7172 www.healthholistic.com
Holistic Healing Medical Centre Eastern and western medicines. Ayurveda, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy and Homeopathy. Al Wasl Road, Umm Suqeim 3. Email: doctor@healthholistic.com Tel: 04 348 7172 www.healthholistic.com
DUBAI
Synergy Integrated Medical Centre A clinical acupuncturist, Martine (Dip. AC clin. Ac (China) Certificate in Paediatric Acupuncture) specialises in fertility, pregnancy and post-natal treatments. She uses a combination of traditional Chinese therapies including acupuncture, massage, cupping and moxibustion. Email: synergy8@eim.ae Tel: 04 348 5452 www.synergyctrdubai.com
Dr Parviz Rashvand, Synergy Integrated Medical Centre Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, Dr Parviz combines natural modalities and specialises in cancer, MS, autism and other severe auto-immune and degenerative conditions. Email: synergy8@eim.ae Tel: 04 348 5452 www.synergyctrdubai.com Wellbeing Medical Centre Complementary conventional and alternative health care, cosmetic surgery and laser treatments. Jumeirah 3. Tel: +971 4 348 4406 Email: info@wellbeingmedicalcentre.com www.wellbeingmedicalcentre.com
ANGEL THERAPY
Angel Messages by Stella Angel therapy, intuitive guidance and more. T: +971 50 8703639
www.awakeningsme.com
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Angels of Light Founders Terri and Buddy are certified Angel Therapy Practitioners from the Diana Cooper School of Angels, and Angel Crystal Healers. E: angels@angelsoflightonline.com T: 050 655 4814 www.angelsoflightonline.com
Balance Wellness Centre, Ayurvedic Dr Chandy George Ayurvedic assessments and wide range of wellness services, organic and ayurvedic therapies, energy healing. Third floor, Oasis Centre Email: chandy.george@cplmg.com Tel: 04 5151 4051 www.balance-wellness-centre
Angel Therapy with Coomi Vevaina and Sharlaine India-based therapists who regularly visit Dubai to conduct workshops and private sessions. Contact Illuminations Wellbeing Centre Tel: 04 448 7043 www.illuminationsworld.com AROMATHERAPY MASSAGE Spadunya Club Award-winning holistic and wellness spa for women using the 100 per cent organic, French colour therapy spa range called Altearah Bio in holistic vibrational and energetic treatments. Hammam, hydrotherapy, beauty room and steam, sauna and showers. [See also Colour Therapy, Beauty, and Yoga & Fitness] Shams 1, The Walk at JBR, Plaza Level. Email: info@spadunyaclub.com Tel: +971 4 439 3669 www.spadunyaclub.com
Dubai Herbal & Treatment Centre Conventional (allopathic), complementary and alternative medicine plus wellness treatments. Ayurveda, Beauty, Gynaecology, Homeopathy, Nutrition, Psychology, Traditional Chinese Medicine. Za’abeel, Oud Metha Rd. Email: admin@dubaihtc.com Tel: 04 335 1200 www.dubaihtc.com
BEAUTY & ORGANIC COSMETICS
Organic Glow Beauty Eco-friendly, organic salon. Organic hair treatments, ammonia-free colour, aromatherapy massage, formaldehydefree mani-pedis, fresh fruit facials, homemade scrubs and more. Stocks Simply Organic products for purchase. E: eco_lounge@yahoo.com T: 04 380 4666 www.organicglowuae.com
ASTROLOGY
Third Eye Centre Miyan is a Jyotish Maharishi (PhD equivalent research degree in Vedic Astrology) and holds a DMA (Diploma in Medieval Astrology). Private readings and group workshops. Email: info@thirdeyeonline.com Tel: 04 326 6539 www.thirdeyeonline.com Vedic Astrologer & Numerologist, Lalit Soonderji Private readings and group workshops Email: info@illuminationsworld.com Tel: 04 448 7043 www.illuminationsworld.com
AYURVEDA
Katrina Valente Holistics A facial therapist and holistic aesthetician/healer with more than 20 years experience in the beauty industry Email: Katrina@katrinavalente.com Tel: 050 565 7679 ww.katrinavalente.com
DUBAI
Dubai Herbal & Treatment Centre Conventional (allopathic), complementary and alternative medicine plus wellness treatments. Ayurveda, Beauty, Gynaecology, Homeopathy, Nutrition, Psychology, Traditional Chinese Medicine. Za’abeel, Oud Metha Rd. Email: admin@dubaihtc.com Tel: 04 335 1200 www.dubaihtc.com
DUBAI
Dubai Herbal & Treatment Centre Conventional (allopathic), complementary and alternative medicine plus wellness treatments. Ayurveda, Beauty, Gynaecology, Homeopathy, Nutrition, Psychology, Traditional Chinese Medicine. Za’abeel, Oud Metha Rd. Tel: 04 335 1200 Email: admin@dubaihtc.com www.dubaihtc.com
Wellbeing Medical Centre Complementary conventional and alternative health care, cosmetic surgery.
Tel: 06 575 7001 www.aurahealth.ae
DUBAI
Beijing Tong Ren Tang Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic that offers acupuncture, cupping, therapeutic massage. Tel: O4 349 8188 www.trtgulf.com
Breath and Health Alternative Medical Centre Villa 1080, Al Wasl Road, Umm Suqeim 2. Email: hello@breathandhealth.net Tel: 04 348 9940 www.breathandhealth.net
SHARJAH
Dubai Mall Medical Centre Complementary and alternative medicine with Naturopathic Medicine Practioner Dr Heather Eade. 7th Floor, Dubai Mall, Downtown. Tel: 04 449 5111 www.tdmmc.ae
DUBAI
DUBAI
ACUPUNCTURE
Aura Alternative Medicine Centre Three kinds of treatment Ayurvedic medicines, diet and lifestyle management and Panchakarma for detox, rejuvenating and relaxing. Office 201, Al Faisal 1, CBI Bank Building, King Faisal Road, Sharjah. E: info@aurahealth.ae T: 06 575 7001 www.aurahealth.ae
E: stella@angelmessagesbystella.com www.angelmessagesbystella.com
DUBAI
Tel: +971 4 348 4406 Email: info@wellbeingmedicalcentre.com www.wellbeingmedicalcentre.com
SHARJAH
DUBAI
ACCESS CONSCIOUSNESS (BARS)
Aura Alternative Medicine Centre Three kinds of treatment Ayurvedic medicines, diet and lifestyle management and Panchakarma for detox, rejuvenating and relaxing. Office 201, Al Faisal 1, CBI Bank Building, King Faisal Road, Sharjah Email: info@aurahealth.ae
The Organic Glow Lounge Eco-friendly salon offering organic treatments. Email: eco_lounge@yahoo.com Tel: 04 380 4666 www.organicglowuae.com Snowberry Organic Cosmetics Available at Spadunya Club, Shams 1, The Walk at JBR, Plaza Level. Email: info@spadunyaclub.com Tel: +971 4 439 3669 www.spadunyaclub.com Neal’s Yard Remedies Organic Natural Health and Beauty. Dubai locations: Wafi Mall, Sun, Level 1 (04 324 5141); The Dubai Mall, Level 1 near Nayomi (04 325 3154); Dubai Marina Mall (050 189 3191); coming soon to Town Centre Springs. Sharjah locations: Sahara Centre, Sharjah (06 554 6702) Abu Dhabi locations: Fatouh al Khair Mall (02 628 9044) and Al Wahda Mall extension, unit E239 Second Floor www.nealsyardremedies.ae Organic Supermarket and Café Stocks organic skincare and cosmetics. www.organicfoodsandcafe.com Herbline Essentials Ayurvedic face, body, hair, acne and slimming treatments made from natural ingredients sourced in the Himalayas. Available through Namshi.com and Mumzworld.com, UAE pharmacies including Boots, Bin Sina, Health First and United Pharmacies. www.natural.ae
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DUBAI
Pamella Pierrepont, Starlight Pathways - Thinking into the Future Therapies and Learning Solutions for Kids, PIDDS, The Listening Programme, The Learning Breakthrough.Tel. 0558097445 or email starlightpathways@ gmail.com
Integrated Clinical Hypnotherapy, Illuminations Well-Being Centre Certified by the Universal School of Integrated Clinical Hypnotherapy Middle East. Five stages. For more information, go to www.usich-me.com or call Illuminations on 04 448 7043 www.illuminationsworld.com
Andrea Tosatto, Clinical Psychologist, Synergy Medical Centre Specialising in teens and children, Dr Tosatto uses Cognitive Psychotherapy with Jungian analysis as well as yoga and music therapy as needed. Email: synergy8@eim.ae Tel: 04 348 5452 www.synergyctrdubai.com
Kay Vosloo, Talise Wellness Polyclinic, Al Qasr Hotel Flush out impacted fecal matter, toxic wastes, yeasts and other undesirable matter that build up over time and contribute to a variety of illnesses. To book, Email: Mona at MJWellness@ jumeirah.com or call +971 4 366 6810
Tarnia Chapman, Spiritual Counsellor A graduate of the UK School of Metaphysics for the Expansion of Consciousness, Tarnia offers private sessions available to know yourself, be yourself and express yourself. Email: Tarn.chapman@hotmail.com or call 050 2754 571
CRYSTAL THERAPY
Pamella Pierrepont, Colour Therapist Colour mirrors Dubai and Bio-Altearah Ascension through Colour. Tel. 0558097445 or email starlightpathways@ gmail.com
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Pranic Healing Centre Encorporates pranic with crystal healing. www.pranichealingmea.com
DUBAI
Spadunya Club Award-winning holistic and wellness spa for women using the 100 per cent organic, French colour therapy spa range called Altearah in holistic vibrational and energetic treatments. Hammam, hydrotherapy, beauty room and steam, sauna and showers. Shams 1, The Walk at JBR, Plaza Level. Tel: +971 4 439 3669 Email: info@spadunyaclub.com www.spadunyaclub.com
DUBAI
DUBAI
COLOUR THERAPY
Cosmic Healing Centre (see Holistic Centres)
FENG SHUI
Third Eye Energy clearing and space management for corporates and individuals. Email: info@thirdeyeonline.com Tel: 04 326 6539 www.thirdeyeonline.com/energy/spacemanagement
Aspen Aman, The Gong House Private and group sessions for healing mind and body through sound meditation as well as gonging classes. Special classes also held for children. www.meetup.com/The-Gong-House Lawrence Enderle Lawrence hosts Gong Bath Meditations and Sound and Vibration sessions and workshops at The Third Eye Center (see Holistic Centres). www.thirdeyeonline.com
Karima Nanji a SpaDunya Club See ‘Holistic Centres’
DIET AND NUTRITION
Generation Nourished Holistic Health Coaching Programs for women and teenagers looking to lose weight, gain energy, have blood sugar imbalance, or want to overhaul their diet & lifestyle. Tel: 055 106 7511 www.generationnourished.com
DUBAI
Third Eye Centre Clinical Hypnotherapist Monisha specialises in EFT and Hypnotherapy. Offers workshops such as Taking Charge, Self Hypnosis, Karma and Forgiveness. Contact Monisha at The Third Eye Centre. Email: info@thirdeyeonline.com Tel: 04 326 6539 www.thirdeyeonline.com
GONGING AND GONG BATH MEDITATIONS
DORN METHOD (Spinal therapy)
Detox Delight Dubai Detox juices delivered to your door and bespoke detox programmes. Email: info@detox-delight.ae Tel: 055 5568 318 www.detox-delight.ae
Melany Oliver, Emotional Empowerment Release unwanted emotions and get to the core of the issue. Private one on one healing sessions as well as group workshops. Tel: 050 794 7695 Email: olivermelany@gmail.com www.melanyoliver.com
Cosmic Healing Centre (see Holistic Centres)
DUBAI
DUBAI
COLON HYDROTHERAPY
JUNE - AUGUST 2013
Helen Williams, Life Works Counselling and development. Helen is a Gestalt Therapist. 996 Al Wasl Rd, Umm Suqeim 1 Email: Helen@lifeworksdubai.com Tel: 04 3942464 www.lifeworksdubai.com
EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE (EFT) DUBAI
COUNSELLING (see also Life Coaching)
Clinical Reflexology, The Holistic Institute IFPA and ITEC accredited for diplomas in Clinical Aromatherapy and Reflexology. Email: info@theholisticinsitute.org Tel: 04 450 3535 www.theholisticinstitute.org
Katrina Valente Holistics A facial therapist and holistic aesthetician/healer with more than 20 years experience in the beauty industry. Email: Katrina@katrinavalente.com Tel: 050 565 7679 www.katrinavalente.com
Breath and Health Alternative Medical Centre Villa 1080, Al Wasl Road, Umm Suquim 2 Email: hello@breathandhealth.net Tel: 04 348 9940 www.breathandhealth.net
CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE (see Acupuncture)
CAREER TRAINING
Clinical Aromatherapy, The Holistic Institute IFPA and ITEC accredited for diplomas in Clinical Aromatherapy and Reflexology. Email: info@theholisticinsitute.org Tel: 04 450 3535 www.theholisticinstitute.org
EAR CONING AND CANDLING DUBAI
Abeer Ayash, Art Healer Abeer creates Soul Paintings for clients using colour for its therapeutic value. For more information, http://thirdeyeonline. com/art/rainbow-vortex Email: info@thirdeyeonline.com Tel: 04 326 6539 www.thirdeyeonline.com
Green Car Rental A range of hybrid to 100 per cent electric vehicles to hire. From the Nissan Leaf to the BMW X6 Hybrid and Tesla Roadster. Tel. 04 321 7478. Email: info@ greencardubai.com www.greencardubai.com
Zarine Dadachanji Various weekly times and locations around Dubai. Go to www.meetup.com/ Gong-Bath-Meditations
HOLISTIC CENTRES ABU DHABI
DUBAI
CAR HIRE
The Alignment Institute Aura alignment, Feng Shui, guided
meditation, Tarot, NLP. P.O. Box 114350, Abu Dhabi Tel: 050 6811728 Email: align@shivaniadalja.com www.shivaniadalja.com SpaDunya Club Holistic Wellness Consultants offer therapies that include Reflexology, Iridology, Holistic Nutrition, Theta Healing, Quantum Reading, the Dorn Method, PIDDDS (Personal Integrated Dynamics, Diet and Determination), Breuss Massage, and Reiki. Shams 1, The Walk at JBR, Plaza Level. Tel: +971 4 439 3669 Email: info@spadunya.com www.spadunyaclub.com Discover Nirvana Self-discovery workshops, yoga for kids, space clearing and feng shui for the home, Ayurvedic cooking, wellness for pets, crystal healing, Reiki, Theta healing and online shopping. Email: info@discovernirvana.org www.discovernirvana.org Cosmic Healing Centre Services, treatments, events and training in various healing modalities, self-empowerment workshops and meditations, plus alternative and complementary therapies. Pranic, Theta, Reiki, Vastu and Feng Shui, Crystal, KriyaShakti, EFT, Hypnotherapy.Office No: 402; Montana Building, Home Options Building, GPO, Karama, Dubai. Email: info@cosmichealingcentre.org Tel: 04 357 6676 www.cosmichealingcentre.org Illuminations Well-Being Centre 409, Fortune Executive Towers, Cluster T, Plot T1, JLT (next to Dubai Marina Metro Station). Email: info@illuminationsworld.com Tel: 04 448 7043 www.illuminationsworld.com The Third Eye Centre 1101 Saeed Tower II, On top of Nandos/ KFC, next to Four Points Sheraton, Sheikh Zayed Road. Financial Centre Metro Station. Email: info@thirdeyeonline.com Tel: 04 326 6539 www.thirdeyeonline.com The Holistic Institute A variety of holistic therapies, studies and career training. Tel: 04 450 3535 Email: info@theholisticinsitute.org www.theholisticinstitute.org Balance Wellness Centre Ayurvedic treatments, diet, counselling, meditation, therapeutic massage, herbal
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46 listings
HOUSEHOLD MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR
Green Facilities Management (Green FM) Environmentally-friendly general home maintenance and repair, from water tank cleaning to pest control, renovations, air con service and repair, 24/7 emergency call outs and more. Committed to a greener, healthier living environment. Tel. 04 440 8929 or 050 5520 150 Email: info@green-fms.com www.green-fms.com
HYPNOTHERAPY
Awakened Soul, Rachel Beavan Healer and psychotherapist Email: beavanrachel@mac.com www.rachelbeavan.com Graca Ward Hypnotherapy for addictions such as smoking, phobias and sea-sickness. Email: gracaward@yahoo.com
IRIDOLOGY
Stephanie Niazi, Spadunya Club Stephanie uses iridology to evaluates wellness imbalances through tissue markings in the eyes which are addressed with holistic nutrition and food solutions. www.spadunyaclub.com
KINESIOLOGY
Osteopathic Health Centre Malcolm Gregory and Nargis Raza give self-help and support to people suffering from pain. Umm Suqueim and Mirdiff Email: clinicsinfo@osteopathydubai.com Tel: 04 348 73 66 www.osteopathydubai.com
LIFE COACHING
Soul mapping, Stephanie Hamilton Get help with understanding your life’s purpose. Tel: 050 870 1927 Email: connect@nektar.ae www.nektar.ae Livia Anzaldo, Liv 2 Lead Individual lifestyle coaching plus corporate coaching, wellness and adventure travel retreats, yoga classes. Email: livia@liv2lead.com Tel: 050 1819 527 www.liv2lead.com Sushma, Third Eye Certified Life Coach, Sushma conducts coaching workshops and sessions Email: sushma@thirdeyeonline.com Tel: 04 326 6539 www.thirdeyeonline.com Lucy Mackintosh , Law of Attraction Dubai Tel: 050 358 2004, www.changing-lives.
net and www.lawofattractiondubai.com
MASSAGE
Dreamworks Spa Dubai Balinese foot reflexology and massage centres in various locations Email: mail@dreamworks.ae Tel: 800 6277 243 www.dreamworks.ae Feet First Reflexology and massage centre. Services include deep tissue massage, de-stress massage, shiatsu massage, acupressure facial, slimming massage Email: info@feet1st.com Tel: 04 366 9956 www.feet1st.com Naturopathy Touch Building Lake City Tower, opp JLT metro station, JLT. Email: info@naturopathytouch.com Tel: 04 452 6969 www.naturopathytouch.com
MAID & CLEANING SERVICES
Eco Maid ME The region’s first and only toxin and carcinogen-free, eco-friendly cleaning service using primarily citrus and mineralbased cleaners imported from Europe and New Zealand. Tel: 050 158 2192 or 04 388 1292 www.ecomaidme.com
MEAL DELIVERY SERVICES
Kcal Extra Healthy calorie-controlled monthly meal plans delivered daily to your door. Tel: 04 3395 316 or sign up at the website www.kcalextra.com Right Bite Healthy calorie-controlled monthly meal plans delivered daily to your door. Tel: 04 338 8763 Email: info@right-bite.com www.right-bite.com HealthTrendz Healthy food to go. Email: healthtrendz@dwtc.com
MEDITATION
Cosmic Healing Centre - See ‘Holistic Centres’ for contacts. Illuminations Well-Being Centre Various regular weekly meditations. See ‘Holistic Centres’ for contacts. The Third Eye Centre - See ‘Holistic Centres’ for contacts. Discover Nirvana - See ‘Holistic Centres’ for contacts. Sahaja Yoga Meditation A method of meditation based on achieving ‘thoughtless awareness’. Free weekly sessions, Tel: 050 295 3571
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RAS AL KHAIMAH
therapies, yoga and Pilates. Third floor, Oasis Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road Email: info.balance@cplmg.com Tel: 04 384 7010 www.balance-wellness-centre.com
Email: uaesahajayoga@gmail.com www.sahajayogauae.com
Email: info@illuminationsworld.com Tel: 04 448 7043 www.illuminationsworld.com
Vipassana Meditation Offering courses in Vipassana Meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka. Ten day silent meditation retreats held in RAK. Email: vipassana.dubai@gmail.com www.dhamma.org
ORGANIC PRODUCE
MUMS & BABIES
Andrea Balazs, Holistic Health Coach & Yoga Teacher Pre and postnatal nutrition, women’s health, and weight management. Hatha and pre/postnatal private and group yoga classes across Dubai. T: 050 584 2934. E: andrea@ yoganutrition.com www.andreabalazs.com Dubai Doula Carol Unterhorst is a Dubai-based doula with a degree in Psychological Counselling and skills in acupressure. Contact her through http://ca-doula. blogspot.ae Placenta Passion For placenta encapsulation, Elizabeth Bain is a midwife, public health nurse, certified birth doula, hypnobirthing practitioner and an independent Placenta Encapsulation Specialist. E. bettybain23@hotmail.com. T. 050 4215180/ 050 456 1333 www.dubaidoulas.com
NEURO LINGUISTIC PROGRAMMING
Carol Talbot, Matrix Training Solutions Leadership, Neuro-linguistic programming and accelerated learning techniques. Mazaya Centre, Entrance A, 3rd Floor, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3432-55 www.matrix-training.com Comar Fowler & Associates, Beryl Comar Using a combination of techniques ranging from traditional classroom teaching, group and pair work and NeuroLinguistic Programming. Email: info@changeassociates.ae Tel: 050-655 4523 www.changedubai.com
NATUROPATHY
Stephanie Niazi, Spadunya Club Holistic nutrition and iridology to evaluates potential wellness imbalances. Uses Reflexology, Pranic healing, Colour Therapy, Quantum Reading and Dynamic Phyto-Therapy. Shams 1, The Walk at JBR, Plaza Level. Tel: +971 4 439 3669 Email: info@spadunya.com www.spadunyaclub.com
NUMEROLOGY
Lalit Soonderji, Vedic Astrologer & Numerologist Private readings and group workshops
Balqees Honey Raw Yemeni Sidr Honey is the best and most expensive in the world due to taste, nutritional and medicinal value. Shop in Dubai Mall. Free delivery around Dubai. Tel: 050 655 2023 www.balqees.com Be Super Natural A UAE online shop for raw, vegan, organic, fairtrade, ethical foodstuffs and groceries. www.besupernatural.com Blue Planet Green People Organic and eco-home, body-care and health foods, along with fruit and veggie produce from local producers at this JLT store plus a farmer’s market on Fridays between 11am until 3pm. Where: BS4, Al Seef 2, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai When: Sat to Thur 9am to 8.30pm and Fri 9 am to 12 noon and 4pm to 9pm. Tel: +971 4369 5209 Email: info@bpgpuae.com www.blueplanetgreenpeople.com Down to Earth Organics Supplies organic food and groceries in Dubai. Store at G11, Sheikh Hamdan Awards Complex, Opposite Union Flag, Jumeirah 1, Dubai. Email: info@downtoearthorganic.ae Tel: 04 386 3391 www.downtoearthorganic.ae Greenheart Organic Farms Freshly harvested organic produce from UAE farms sold to Dubai residents, via designated collection points or through home delivery (minimum order Dh100). All the produce on offer is chemical and pesticide-free. The farms practise bio diversity, crop rotation and companion planting. A website and online ordering system is in place and you can pop in to the shop in Arjan, Al Barsha 2, close to the Arabian Ranches roundabout. www.greenheartuae.com Organic Supermarket and Café Fresh organic and biodynamic food, supplements, skincare, cosmetics, baby items and household cleaning products. Stores in Greens and Shk Zayed Road just past Oasis Centre. Tel: 04 4340577 www.organicfoodsandcafe.com Milk & Honey Gourmet and premium organic brands and produce. 24/7 delivery. Tel: 04 432 8686 for Palm Jumeirah and 04 435 6363 for Meadows Town Centre. Twitter #milkandhoneydxb www.milkandhoney.ae
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The Green League, Dubai Garden Centre Fresh organic fruit and vegetables. Every day at Fresh Corner in the Dubai Garden Centre, Sheikh Zayed Rd and every day at Lafayette Gourmet, Second floor Dubai Mall. On weekends at Down to Earth, Jumeirah 1. Tel: 056 176 2992 or email: info@thegreenleague.ae.
PILATES
Real Pilates Award winning studio that offers worldclass contemporary Pilates and STOTT PILATES(r) teacher training courses. Over 130 group classes per week. Private and Semi-Private Sessions also available, including Rehab Pilates. Two locations: Palm Strip Mall, 1st Floor, Jumeirah. Tel: +971 04 345 3228 JLT JBC2, Tower, Cluster V, Tel: +971 4 458 5399 www.real-pilates.com
PHOTOGRAPHY
Soul Photography with Nektar Lifestyle Stephanie Hamilton specialises in photography projects that heal and celebrate your life. Tel: 050 870 1927 Email: connect@nektar.ae www.nektar.ae
PRANIC HEALING
The GMCKS Pranic Energy Healing Center Pranic healing courses of all levels and group meditations. Encorporates pranic with Arhatic Yoga, KriyaShakti, crystal healing and Feng Shui. Tel: 04 3688067/ 3688104 or mobile 050-6566547 www.pranichealingmea.com
Email: info@thirdeyeonline.com Tel: 04 326 6539 www.thirdeyeonline.com
Tel: 050 814 4529 Email animal.reiki.dubai@gmail.com www.animalreikidubai.com
SPIRITUAL RESPONSE THERAPY
Diane Taylor, Tibetan Usui Reiki Diane uses Reiki on horses to help heal their issues. Tel: 050 749 2566 or book through the website at www. whitelighttherapydubai.com
Lukas Putz An SRT practitioner and teacher, Lukas works out of Illuminations Well- Being Centre (see Holistic Centres). For SRT information, www. spiritualresponse.com www.illuminationsworld.com
REFLEXOLOGY
Dreamworks Spa Dubai Balinese foot reflexology and massage centres in various locations. Email: mail@dreamworks.ae Tel: 800 6277 243 www.dreamworks.ae Feet First Reflexology and massage centre. Services include deep tissue massage, de-stress massage, shiatsu massage, acupressure facial, slimming massage. Email: info@feet1st.com Tel: (0) 4 366 9956 www.feet1st.com
REGRESSION THERAPY
Awakened Soul, Rachel Beavan Healing, guidance and psychotherapy. Email: beavanrachel@mac.com www.rachelbeavan.com
REIKI
Seda Goksel Healing Reiki Master and Theta healer. Private healing sessions and Reiki classes. Email: info@reikitouchdubai.com Tel: 050 600 6968 Email: sedagoksel@hotmail.com www.facebook.com/SedaGokselhealing Awakened Soul, Rachel Beavan Healer and psychotherapist Rachel offers healings as well as classes in Reiki. Email: beavanrachel@mac.com www.rachelbeavan.com
Yogi George, The Third Eye Yogi George teaches Pranic Healing and conducts private sessions at Third Eye. Email: info@thirdeyeonline.com Tel: 04 326 6539 www.thirdeyeonline.com
Tibetan Usui Reiki Diane is a spiritual trance healer and Tibetan Usui Reiki healer. Tel: 050 749 2566 or book through the website. Women only. www. whitelighttherapydubai.com
QIGONG
Melany Oliver, Reiki Master & Teacher Private one on one healing sessions as well as Reiki workshops from beginners to advanced for people wanting to become Reiki Masters. Tel 050 794 7695 Email: olivermelany@gmail.com www.melanyoliver.com
Meihua Li Tai Chi Group or private lessons available weekly. See website for times. Tel: Anmarie 050 4698589 Email: anmarie@mltaichi.com www.mltaichi.com The Third Eye Qigong Instructor Ania gives personal classes and group workshops in Qigong as well as healing sessions to remove blocks from meridians and energy channels.
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REIKI FOR ANIMALS
Animal Reiki in Dubai Sabine Poncelet helps heal your animal and yourself with energetic care.
RESTAURANTS & CAFES
Organic Supermarket and Café Organic eatery with outlets in the Greens and Dubai Mall. www.organicfoodsandcafe.com
Natural, fresh and nutritious food and drink using the highest quality ingredients, organic when possible. We do not use sugar, additives, preservatives or colouring. Location: Tunisia Food Court, Ibn Battuta Mall. Tel: Call 800 ZEST (800 9378) for delivery. www.zest.ae ABU DHABI
Ripe Middle East Supplies local organic produce in Dubai. Farm fresh fruit and vegetables delivered to your door or for purchase at the farmers markets. Warehouse 11, 6A Street, Al Quoz behind Times Square Ctr. Email: info@ripeme.com Tel: 04 380 7602 www.ripeme.com
Baker & Spice Salads, handmade wild bread, cakes, breakfasts and mains, all made from locally sourced ingredients where possible. Location: Souk al Bahar and Dukkan al Manzil, Downtown Dubai. Marina Promenade. Maps on website. Tel: 04 425 2240, 04 427 9856 and 04 362 4686 www.bakerandspiceme.com Balance cafe Vegan and vegetarian dishes as well as non-vege. The menu shows the calories, fat, carb, fibre, cholesterol and sodium content of each dish. Cooking classes also on offer, plus take-away. Third floor of the Oasis Centre on Sheikh Zayed Rd Tel: 04 384 7010 www.balance-wellness-centre.com The Farm Located out on Emirates Road, this newbie to the Dubai food scene promises local and organic ingredients, where possible. Location: Al Barari, off Emirates Road - driving directions on website www.thefarmdubai.com Tel: 04 392 5660 Sophie’s The motto is Eat well. Live well. Be well. A ‘gastro-café’ offers homemade healthy food, local and organic when possible. Location: Lower Ground Floor, Building 8, The Shoreline, Palm Jumeirah Tel: 04 451 5982 www.sophiesme.com Lime Tree Fresh, healthy and organic offerings with a special knack on fabulous cake. Four locations throughout Dubai, Jumeirah 1, Media City, Al Quoz and Ibn Battuta Mall. www.thelimetreecafe.com Saladicious Fresh and healthy salads a speciality. Location: On Jumeirah Beach Road going towards Jumeirah Mosque, take a right turn at The One. There’s also a deli on JBR Walk. Tel. Jumeirah 04 345 5822 or JBR Walk 04 423 0855 www.saladicious.com Zest restaurant
Nathalie’s Cafe Right Bite founder Nathalie Haddad is serving fresh, low-fat meals in Abu Dhabi media zone, Twofour54 in Khalifa Park. T: 02 441 1330 www.facebook.com/NathaliesCafe
SHOPPING
Elements Fengshui Candles, crystal rocks and jewellery, aura cleansers, pendulums, singing bowls and bells, new age music and more. Outlets in Al Khaleej Centre, Bur Dubai; Deira City Centre; Level 1 Mall of the Emirates; Dubai Mall. Email: elementsfengshui@gmail.com Tel: 04 295 0988 www.elementsfengshui.com Laughing Buddha Stalls within various Dubai malls selling new age products such as crystals, jewellery, incense, CDs and oils. Ibn Battuta, Dubai Festival City. Noviplus Dubai’s online one-stop-shop for all things health and fitness. Noviplus offers members discounts on health and fitness services, tips and advice, news, fitness tools and more. Tel: 050 585 6948 Email: info@noviplus.ae www.noviplus.ae
Ornament Gifts Angels, crystals, art and handmade jewellery. Shop owner Birgit Schurenberg is a certified Refelxologist, Reiki Master, Crystal Healer. Contact Birgit on 050 795 9916 prior to your visit and for consultations and directions Email: bes@emirates.net.ae Tel: 04 388 4483 or 050 795 9916 www.facebook.com/Ornament-GiftsAngels-Jewelry-Crystals-Art Sparklefairy Dubai’s first new age and wellness online boutique, buy anything from crystals to dream-catchers, oracle cards, incense, and jewelry. www.sparklefairy.com Third Eye Centre Sells books, crystals, herbal products, oracle cards, incense, essential oils, meditation CDS and more. Email: info@thirdeyeonline.com Tel: 04 326 6539 www.thirdeyeonline.com to shop online
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Talise Wellness Spa, Madinat Jumeirah Blends integrative medicine and diagnostics with holistic therapies. Features 26 treatment rooms, including couples suites and a variety of facials, massages and body treatments using top range spa products. www.jumeirah.com
Zayna Spa, Abu Dhabi Well-being treatments and traditional massages in this spa hotel based in the Grand Millennium Al Wahda Hotel, Abu Dhabi. From a Tropical Salt Mousse Glow to re-energise and repair the skin to a caviar facial for advanced facial treatment against aging. Email: zaynaspa@grandmill-alwahda.com Tel. +971 2 495 3822 www.grandmillenniumalwahda.com
Kalm Holistic Beauty, Palm Jumeirah A One Stop holistic shop offering women facials, manicures, pedicures, eyelash extensions, massages, waxing, threading, hair treatments, haircut and blow drying. Palm Island Jumeira, Riva Beach Club, between Shoreline Apartments 7 and 8. Tel: +9714 451 9988. www.kalmbeauty.com.
Anahata Spa Beauty, health and holistic wellbeing. Manicures with organic nail varnish and facials and body massages with healing crystals. Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi. Tel: 02 557 7722. Email: info@anahataspa.ae www.anahataspa.ae.
Sparklefairy is Dubai’s
OMAN
UAE
Supreme Chi Energy Spa, JLT Energised water therapy spa for problems like asthma, angina, hypertension, migraines, headaches, back pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, high cholesterol, morning sickness, etc. Swiss Towers, Y3, opposite Carrefour & Damas, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai Tel: 04 3605806 / 055 8742129 Email: acarroll@supremechi-energyspa.com Sisters Beauty Lounge, Dubai & Abu Dhabi A high-end chain of salons for women that offer organic facials and brands including Cowshed, Eminence and Shiffa. Various locations around Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Go to the website for details. www.sistersbeautylounge.com Six Senses Spa, Zighy Bay, Oman Holistic and pampering combining east and west therapies. Tel: +968 2 6735 555 www.sixsenses.com/sixsenseszighybay
STRESS MANAGEMENT
Well Woman Clinic, Melanie Schlatter Psychologist Melanie Schlatter specialises in anxiety, panic attacks, depression, grief, sleep difficulties, pain, changes in body image, the initial shock of a disease or illness diagnosis, and medical treatments and tests. She also offers stress management programmes. Al Dhiyafah Street.
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OMAN
Six Senses, Zighy Bay, Oman Holistic and pampering combining east and west therapies. Tel: +968 2 6735 555 www.sixsenses.com/sixsenseszighybay
YOGA & FITNESS
TAI CHI
Meihua Li Tai Chi Group or private lessons available weekly. See website for times. Tel: Anmarie 050 4698589 Email: anmarie@mltaichi.com www.mltaichi.com
ABU DHABI
Mizan at Rocco Forte Hotel Abu Dhabi Traditional massages, Hammam rituals and tailor-made treatments using the worldrenowned brands Maroc and Natura Bisse www.roccofortehotelabudhabi.com
Dubai Physiotherapy & Family Medicine Comprehensive family medicine and physiotherapy. 1st Floor, Town Centre Jumeirah, Jumeirah Beach Road. Tel: 04 349 6333 www.dxbphysio.com
TRAVEL (see ‘Wellness Retreats) THETA HEALING
Illuminations Well-Being Centre Several Theta Healers including Master Healer Vanya Silverten work out of New Illuminations (see Holistic Centres) www.illuminationsworld.com or www.thetahealingmastery.com Theta Healing Universe Part of Third Eye Centre, offers Theta Healing courses and sessions. Tel: 04 326 6539 www.thetahealinguniverse.com Melany Oliver, Theta Healer Private one on one or group healing sessions. Tel: 050 794 7695 Email: olivermelany@gmail.com. www.melanyoliver.com
VASTU see ‘Feng Shui’ WELLNESS EQUIPMENT
Om Life High-end wellness, fitness and physiotherapy equipment for spas, clinics, gyms and private clients. Eg, float rooms, mild hyperbaric oxygen chambers, acupressure mats, instant reusable heat packs, speed fitness EMS, and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy. Tel: +971 4 368 0994 Email: infoweb@omlifeme.com www.omlifeme.com
WELLNESS RETREATS
B-Wellness Retreats Three-day retreats designed to help women jumpstart into healthy living through distressing, relaxing, and focusing on themselves and their health. Email Bernadette@bernaciseme.com www.bernaciseme.com Yoga Retreats Groups taken on yoga and personal
(see also ‘Pilates’, ‘Tai chi’, ‘Qigong’) Bodytree Studio, Abu Dhabi Yoga, Pilates and dance classes to help find your individual potential for greater wellbeing, from the inside out. Coming from the Corniche on 26th /Al Nahyan St, turn left at 11th Street/Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed St and take the immediate first right. Bodytree is the front cream villa directly across the road from the ADNOC station. Tel: +971 2 443 4448 Email: info@bodytreestudio.com www.bodytreestudio.com Anaadi Yoga Abu Dhabi Indoor and outdoor group yoga, private one-to-one sessions, corporate, SUP Yoga, prenatal and kids yoga at various locations in Abu Dhabi. T: Neli 056 602 0690. E: anaadiyoga@ gmail.com www.anaadiyoga.com
SHARJAH
ABU DHABI
SPAS & RETREATS
growth retreats in the UAE and abroad. T: 050 1819527. E: livia@yogaretreats.ae www.yogaretreats.ae
DUBAI
Lotus Wellness Spa, Dubai Marina Holistic treatments for men and women. Lotus Hotel Apartments & Spa, Marina Tel: 044402805 Email: spa@lotus-hospitality.com www.lotus-hospitality.com
Email: wwc@emirates.net.ae Tel: 04 332 7117 www.wellwomanclinic.ae
UAE
The Change Initiative, Barsha Sustainable products, from household to fashion and appliances. Email: info@tci-mail.com Tel: 800 824 www.thechangeinitiative.com
Spadunya Club, JBR Various holistic techniques from an international team of therapists and healers. Treatment suites, hammam, hydrotherapy, beauty room and steam, sauna and showers. Adjacent is Fitness@ Spadunya offering personal training, Aerobics, Pilates, yoga, dance. Shams 1, The Walk at JBR, Plaza Level. Tel: 04 439 3669 www.spadunyaclub.com DUBAI
The Little Fair Trade Shop Products and foodstuffs made by artisans and farmers in developing or disadvantaged countries. Email: thelittlefairtradeshop@hotmail. com. Tel: Sabeena on 050 105 2813 www.thelittlefairtradeshop.com
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Aura Alternative Medicine Centre Ayurvedic medicines, diet and lifestyle management and Panchakarma for detox, rejuvenating and relaxing. Office 201, Al Faisal 1, CBI Bank Building, King Faisal Road, Sharjah. Email: info@aurahealth.ae Tel: 06 575 7001 www.aurahealth.ae Balance Wellness Centre Yoga and Pilates classes including Hatha, Yoga Therapy, Vinyasa Flow, Dynamic, Pre and Post Natal, Pranayama and Meditation. Third floor, Oasis Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road. Email: info.balance@cplmg.com. Tel: 04 384 7010. www.balance-wellness-centre.com Bikram Yoga Middle East Single class AED 70 and one month unlimited classes, AED 700. Icon Tower, 4th Floor, TECOM. Tel: 04 368 6287 www.bikramyoga-me.com Bharat Thakur Artistic Yoga Yoga for flat abs and improved stamina. Group classes in various locations through Dubai, Ajman, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. Book your free trial class on 800 9642 www.artisticyoga.com
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Club Stretch Bikram Yoga and Pilates studio Al Mina Road, Satwa as well as Dubai Marina. Email: info@clubstretch.ae Tel: 04 345 2131 www.clubstretch.ae
Irina Yoga Personal Hatha Yoga as well as group classes and workshops at venues across Dubai. Email: info@irinayoga.org www.irinayoga.org
Various weekly locations including JBR, Jumeirah and Open Air yoga in Safa Park. See the website for details or call Sandy on 050 735 9683 or email info@phoenix-rising.me www.phoenix-rising.me
Fitness@Spadunya Spadunya Club’s fitness centre offers Personal Training, Aerobics, Pilates, Yoga, Dance, kids classes and more. Shams 1, The Walk at JBR, Plaza Level. Tel. +971 4 439 3669 www.spadunyaclub.com
Chakra Yoga, Third Eye Centre Specialised Chakra Yoga programmes and courses as well as regular yoga classes. Email: info@thirdeyeonline.com. Tel: 04 326 6539 for a schedule www.thirdeyeonline.com
Talise Spa Yoga, Madinat Jumeirah Hatha, Astanga, Advanced Yoga, Fitness Yoga, Vinyasa Fit Yoga, Meditative Yoga. Also monthly full moon yoga sessions. Email: MJtalise@jumeirah.com Tel: +971 4 366 6818 www.jumeirah.com
MMA Fitness Centre, Hot Yoga Hot yoga is held at this multi-discipline fitness centre. Location, Pacific Bldg. 2nd Level, TECOM, Dubai, UAE Tel: 04 367 5077 Email: info@mmafitcenter.com www.mmafitcenter.com Yogalates Bliss Yogalates (fusion of Yoga & Pilates) at Fraser Suites, Noura El-Imam hosts Yoga Workshops and Teacher Trainings as well as Adventure & Wellness Retreats. Tel: 050 3289 642 www.yogalatesblissindubai.com
Naturopathy Touch Hatha, Power, Ashtanga, Yoga Nidra, Therapeutic Yoga, Pre and Post-natal. Lake City Tower, opp JLT metro station, JLT. Email: info@naturopathytouch.com Tel: 04 452 6969 www.naturopathytouch.com Livia Anzaldo, Yoga Alliance Instructor Email: livia@liv2lead.com Tel: 050 1819 527 www.liv2lead.com Phoenix Rising Pilates, Yoga, AcroYoga, Thai Yoga Massage and Dorn Body Alignment.
Zen Yoga Various forms of yoga at several locations in Dubai including Dubai Media City, Springs Town Centre and Jumeirah. www.yoga.ae Rocket Yoga with Dharna Ashar Rocket yoga held at Yoga Om Studio at Dubai Investments Park, The Market Level, near Courtyard Marriot. Classes are every Tuesday 10.30am and Fridays at 10am. T: Dharna on 050 556 6740. E: ashardharna@yahoo.com
Rawr Bikram Yoga Dubai Al Sufouh Rd, 713 Concord Tower, Dubai Media City (same building as Lime Tree cafe and Mini Cooper showroom) Email: info@rawryoga.com Tel: 04 4232 808 www.rawryoga.com Yoga Room, JLT Ashtanga yoga studio. Swiss Tower, Cluster Y, JLT. Tel. 050 518 9966 Email: info@yogaroom.ae www.yogaroom.ae
Think your business should be listed here? Email the details to listings@awakeningsme.com
ENTHUSIASTIC, DRIVEN
SALES DIRECTOR WANTED!
Are you the super salesperson we’re searching for?
Awakenings Middle East magazine needs someone dynamic and driven to take charge of selling advertising and sponsorship on commission. Are you the one who’s able to help us nurture and grow this new born magazine into a big, strapping grown up? If you are then: You can see the potential of this product and the holistic market. You have experience in magazine sales and are familiar with the UAE market. You are self-motivated, have bags of initiative and able to manage your own work schedule. You have a million and one ideas for how to make Awakenings a commercial success.
Does this sound like you?
Then get in touch to tell us how you’re the one we’ve been waiting for all this time! Email tamara@awakeningsme.com with a sparkling cover letter and CV and don’t forget to put Super Salesperson in the subject head.
JUNE - AUGUST 2013
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neanderthalman
Bikram yoga
for hardcore
blokes
Y
oga. That’s all a bit pink and fluffy isn’t it? When the Tree Hugger first suggested we do a yoga class, I internally snorted, figuring it would be about as tough as eating candy floss. After all, I spent 20 plus years running up hills in army boots at 5am with a backpack full of bricks and assault rifle over my shoulders. Yoga schmoga. A great chance to impress Tree Hugger with my stamina and virile manliness without even breaking a sweat. “It’s Bikram,” she said, “you’ll love it – it’s brutal.” Yoga? Brutal? Ha! Don’t make me laugh. I Googled it. Sure enough, Bikram involves 26 postures, half of which you do lying down! Maybe I’d take that new Jeffrey Archer novel into class.
As it was my first time, the lady at the studio talked me through the rules. Happy days, I love rules and regimen. “No talking, no drinking water unless the instructor tells you to, and no leaving the room during class,” she barked. ‘Good’ I thought, ‘stop any wimps from skiving.’ Then off we went to put our mats and towels down in the hot room. ‘A bit toasty,’ I thought, ‘it’ll be like sunbathing’. Class began with a weird breathing exercise while moving our elbows up and down followed by some arm twisting while sitting in a chair positions but there was no chair. Bah, child’s play. A balancing bit came next. Hmm. When did standing on one leg get so
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Neanderthal Man is a fortysomething, ex-British soldier who collects exotic knives and can strip down and reassemble a semi-automatic rifle blind-folded. Until recently, he thought ‘chakras’ was a Latina pop star who sung about her hips not lying. But things are changing for the cardcarrying caveman, ever since he met the Tree Hugger… hard? Funny how what was easy at age seven isn’t so easy 40 years later. What was wrong with me? I was shaking, straining, breathing hard and sweat was running off me in rivers; forming a pool around my feet. I glanced in the mirror; someone had replaced my head with a big, wet beetroot. How much longer? Aghk! An hour? Another hour in this blistering torture chamber? Heaven have mercy. Oh thank goodness, we’re lying down. Lucky, or I’d be falling down. What? The lying down stuff is just as hard. During one pose, I almost cry out with pain. Oh no, I think I’m going to be sick, some pose named after a camel of all things is making me nauseous. Normally, I think I’ve wasted my time unless I’ve exercised till I throw up but during yoga?! Finally, it was over. I could have filled a bath with the sweat wrung out of my clothes. At least the sweat hid my tears of pain and relief. I hadn’t felt this bad since the 1988 Marines vs Special Forces in the ‘last one dead wins’ 36 hour extreme challenge. What madman came up with this accursed scorching torment? I want to shake his hand! At last I’d found something that completely wrecked me. I was over the moon. This was my kind of workout - nausea-inducing. I love Bikram. I won’t be telling Tree Hugger she was right though, not this side of hell freezing over admitting that would be true torture.
JUNE - AUGUST 2013
5/20/13 9:13 PM
DO YOU WANT TO SHAPE YOUR BODY? Did you know? 1lb of muscle burns about 20-30 calories/day 1lb of fat burns about 5 calories/day The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn all day
Why choose Pilates to work on building muscles? Helps muscles look longer and leaner, adding shape to the body Range of Motion (ROM) is increased Core muscles and deep stabilizers are enganged and strengthened providing stability and balance You will perform better in daily physical activities and reduce risk of injury Your bones get stronger You feel better about yourself
REAL PILATES offers a wide range of workout programs in group, private and semi-private sessions. BOOK YOUR SESSION TODAY AND START SHAPING UP! Tel: 04 - 345 3228 / 04 - 458 5399 www.real-pilates.com Real.Pilates.Dubai Real People Real Pilates Real Results
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