Archive for March, 2009

Vitality bites

Friday, March 27th, 2009

VitalityWahanda always likes to keep a step ahead of what’s happening in the world of beauty and wellness, so we skipped on down to Earls Court 2 yesterday for a look at what’s fresh and new at The Vitality Show, a fantastic ten years on from when it started.

Being the UK’s largest health, beauty and wellbeing show, we knew we were in for a treat or two. With a hair salon on site to give you instant trims for your tresses, blow drys to sort out your flyaways after the windy weather and extensions to give you a whole new look, hair and beauty buffs were flocking to book themselves in for a discounted ‘do. Elsewhere, Dove Spa were getting ready for summer sun with their St Tropez spray tans and Boots were giving all-important health checks in their Health Assessment centre to make sure guests were in tip-top condition.

Promising to keep you feeling well on the inside as well as looking dapper on the outside, there were plenty of nutritionists, organic food specialists and healthy eating promotions around to give you a taste of a healthy diet. Queues were forming at the Weight Watchers stand while Philadelphia presented top recipe ideas by celebrity chef Lesley Waters, which were enough to make anyone’s tastebuds tingle.

TrainingNot one to miss out on an opportunity to train the nation, Matt Roberts‘ team were on hand to give personal training sessions, ready to get you ship-shape for the summer, while Lucy Wyndham-Read’s company, LWR Fitness, were offering a free seven day trial of the online fitness programme that’s sure to become every woman’s new must-have.

Full of money-saving deals, goodies and demonstrations, this year’s event looks set to wow beauty and health enthusiasts alike. The Vitality Show runs until 29th March, so get your tickets on the website to make sure you don’t miss out!

Frame Academy

Thursday, March 26th, 2009

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The Wahanda team rose early this morning and donned leg warmers, to check out Frame, the new dance, fitness and holistic studio in Shoreditch. Housed under the railway arches between Curtain Rd and Shoreditch High St, Frame is the coolest, cosiest dance studio we’ve ever had the pleasure of setting eyes on. Combining exposed brickwork and plenty of wood and glass, the building is a light, modern, happy place to be. One large dance studio dominates the space, with several further smaller studios designed for mat work and spin classes, and another for reformer pilates.

There are well designed changing rooms for both men and women, with showers, plenty of mirror space, hair straighteners and products. Tucked away up some stairs is a little nook with squashy sofas and a viewing gallery, designed as a communal area for members to kick back, relax, check their emails and/or have their hair and make up seen to.

The team behind Frame are two bright, sparky twenty something girls, Joan Murphy and Pip Black. Having both come from business and marketing backgrounds, they had a dream to create a hallowed place combining fitness, fun and convenience. It was as if they had climbed into Wahanda’s head and stolen all our ideas for a fabulous workout venue. In addition to a body popping, totally rocking array of classes, Frame serves up a ‘help yourself’ style breakfast bar every morning to set you up for the day ahead and then on Thursday and Friday evening’s there’s a team of hair stylists and make up artists on hand to beautify you before you hit the tiles… we couldn’t have organised it better ourselves!
Those annoying, stoic membership schemes are thrown out the window too as Frame have introduced a pay as you go swipe card that you can top up as and when you wish – so it’s goodbye to lengthy contracts and hello to fitness freedom.

girl2Exercise has never been so fun and Wahanda can verify this having learnt a few Lindy hop moves this morning. Tone up with aerobic classes like the Jane Fonda Tribute and the Buff Workout, embrace your inner showgirl by learning burlesque, the lindy hop or the charleston and find your inner balance with acrobatic yoga and pilates. These are just a handful of classes for you to try and from £8 a class, prices are light enough to enjoy all that Frame has to offer.

For a list of classes and the Frame website click here

A History of Massage

Wednesday, March 25th, 2009

Each week we’ll bring you excerpts from a spa paper entitled ‘A cultural abbreviation of spa methods around the world’ researched and written by Kristi Busch a student at Conrad N. Hilton College at the University of Houston. With thanks to Carl A. Boger Jr, Ph.D, Associate Dean of Academic Programs who directed the project.

Asian Theraputic Methods

shiatsu

Anma

History & Definition
Believed to be over 5,000 years old, the oldest known form of traditional Asian massage is Anma. Anma is a deep tissue massage with no oil, consisting of pressing and rubbing techniques. Anma was originally created by the Chinese around 3-5,000 years ago and brought to Japan by warrior monks through Korea around 1,000 years ago. In China, this method is known as Anmo. Since being brought to Japan, it has been further refined and developed into its own art form. Being that Anma is one of the oldest massage forms, other methods grew and developed from it. Swedish and Shiatsu are among the forms that grew out of this rich tradition. Not until 1964, was Shiatsu considered an independent form and method from Anma.

Anma’s Focus
Anma focuses on the whole and improving muscle condition and circulation of Qi, or Universal Life Energy. This tends to be a difference between Eastern and Western techniques; Western techniques focus more on the body and how they function, where Eastern’s focus is on the continual health and center between body and mind.

Anma Usages/Benefits
Some usages for Anma are sports injuries; core balance; beauty treatment; ailments such as headache, asthma, cold, and insomnia. Anma massage can have effects such as reduced tension, relaxation, increased rejuvenation and increased circulation. These are achieved through the nine different sections of Anma; used all together they create a full body therapy. In Japan, usually a therapist will specialize in only three to four areas on top of their other practices/techniques.

Koho Anma. (n.d.). Retrieved Sep. 3, 2008

Nihon Kaifuku Anma – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2008, April 24). Retrieved Sep. 19, 2008

Shiatsu

History & Definition
Shiatsu is considered a traditional Japanese technique/massage which uses fingers and palms to apply pressure to a particular area. In 1912, Tokujiro Namikoshi, founded Shiatsu by treating his mother at home. Shiatsu was associated with Anma massage until 1957, when Japan recognized it as a separate treatment; many various styles of Shiatsu have been created and are referred to as Derivative Shiatsu, for example Meridian Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu, Tao Shiatsu, Quantum Shiatsu, and so on.

Shiatsu’s Focus
In modern medicine, treatment is only decided on and provided after a diagnosis has been made. The significant difference between Shiatsu and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is “Diagnosis and Therapy combined.” Shiatsu does not always require a previous diagnosis like TCM. The purpose of Shiatsu, like many Eastern Techniques, is to prevent illness and promote the natural healing power of the body, along with finding and maintaining the body’s center.

Shiatsu Today
In 2000, the title “Shiatsupractor” was trademarked for a recently proposed international standardized Shiatsu license. Standards vary from different world locations for practicing Shiatsu. For example, in Japan the practioner must possess their license with the Ministry of Health and Welfare. This consists of three years study and 2,200 hours of education. Currently, the American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA) is seeking a statewide standardization of Asian Bodywork license requirements. Shiatsu therapy is now practiced worldwide, and since 1980, the evolution of Shiatsu techniques has mainly occurred in Europe and North America.

Shiatsu – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2008, Sep. 5). Retrieved Sep. 16, 2008

An eventful evening at Beautcamp Pilates

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

Beautcamp PilatesThe second of Wahanda’s successful Wellness Club events kicked off on Wednesday with an hour long complimentary session at Beautcamp Pilates in West London. A little more active than our previous event, guests were treated to a session with instructor Aaron who showed them why Beautcamp Pilates has become such a phenomenon after it’s popularity in LA.

Pilates

Everyone worked up a good sweat and were impressed by how energetic the exercises were. The reviews have already started to come in to thank Beautcamp and Wahanda for such a rewarding class. In her review, Judy-J gave the session five out of five, saying:

“Aaron was really helpful and came round for each position to make sure we were doing it correctly. I wasn’t expecting it to be such a good workout as I thought it would be more about stretching than cardio, but it was a good measure of both and I felt thoroughly worked out afterwards!”

WinnerBefore everyone scooted off to get freshly showered, Aaron was asked to select someone at random to win a prize of five free sessions at Beautcamp Pilates and the lucky winner of the night was Sophie, who can use her prize at either the West London or City branch- so there’s no excuses! All guests were also given the chance to win a £50 Wahanda voucher, simply by writing a review of Beautcamp Pilates on Wahanda.

Check back soon for news of our next Wahanda Wellness Club event – it’s sure to be popular!

French kisses all round

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

Lip enhancementThey say no pain no gain, but ‘they’ clearly need a new saying as a new French lip procedure which lets you ditch the lip gloss for good has come to the UK. If you want lips as plump as Angelina Jolie without the hassle, this quick, subtle and painless lip enhancement procedure is for you. Brought to the UK by its creator, French cosmetic surgeon Philippe Bellity, the technique was initially developed as a more natural approach to lip-plumping, after the trend of overtly obvious filler treatments grew in the mainstream media.

Being all about gloss and plumping rather than voluptuous volume, the procedure is not for you if needles make you weak at the knees. Using pin-prick injections around the lip line and on the top layer of the lip rather than the muscle, hyaluronic acid solution is used to subtly plump up lips and add a natural shine. Quick enough to do in your lunch hour, you’ll still have enough time for a snack as the procedure only takes half an hour. The results however last from six months to a year, leaving you with a gloriously pumped up pout that even celebrities will envy.

Dr Bellity has made the treatment widely popular in France, creating the technique after qualifying in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. Proving that Leslie Ash’s look is not the desired result, Dr Bellity says:

“Lip enhancement has had bad press in the cosmetic surgery industry and French women want to look naturally enhanced. You never see a French woman with a trout pout, thanks to the technique I have perfected.”

The hyaluronic acid solution is a substance which naturally occurs in the body, making it a great way of adding some shape and shine without being too invasive. There is even an antidote to the treatment so that if you feel you’ve got more than you bargained for, your lips can be reduced back to size.

If you fancy a fuller, glossier pout you can get the treatment at the London Day Surgery Centre with prices starting at £500. It may seem pricey, but think how much money you’ll save on lip glosses once you’ve acquired that enviable bee-stung lip look.

Women-only wonders

Tuesday, March 17th, 2009
Women-only spas

Women-only spas

Whether it’s a mother and daughter treat, a pampering hen weekend, or you simply want a testosterone-free zone, women-only spas are the ideal hideaways for some time out with the girls. What’s more, you can happily swan around in your robes and slippers without having to worry about whether the groomed man tottering alongside you has got a better set of legs! So put your worries aside because at women-only spas, even the most self-conscious spa goer will soon find themselves hopping in and out of pools without so much as a blush (if only beaches were the same).

To make it even easier to find these havens packed with ladies that leisure, we’ve picked the cream of the crop, so you can make a beeline for these women-only wonders that will get you feeling fantastic without a man in sight.

One of the most famous female-friendly hotspots is The Sanctuary. Set in the heart of London, amongst the bustling Covent Garden, this city day spa takes you a world away from the streets of the capital to a tranquil haven. Bursting with facilities, its menu of treatments won’t fail to impress either. From massage therapies to much-needed facials and manicures, The Sanctuary has all you need to look and feel your best. And after its recent temporary closure and refit, it’s even shinier than ever.

But women-only retreats aren’t just confined to the south and if London is a little far out of the way, turn to the number one ladies-only luxury in Leeds – Waterfall Spa. Equally as dreamy a destination as The Sanctuary, Waterfall Spa’s top-notch facilities and signature spa products ensure that you’re looked after in a suitably ladylike manner.

On the other hand, if you don’t mind a little mixing, you can still enjoy a female-friendly indulgence without leaving your partner outside. The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, London has separate areas for men and women so you can go along together and then separate for some quality me-time, before heading off into the sunset, as does The Spa at Pennyhill Park, Surrey. Now all you need to do is work out who you want to take with you…

Don’t forget to check out our exclusive Mother’s Day mother and daughter packages and indulge in some first-class family bonding.

Wahanda celebrates the success of it’s first Wellness Club event

Monday, March 16th, 2009

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Our very first Wahanda Wellness Club event took place last Thursday at the new Six Senses Spa in London’s Canary Wharf. Guests were taken on a guided tour of the luxurious spa and responded with gushing admiration for the wonderful facilities. In her reveiw Ladywal wrote “The piece de resistance is without doubt the fabulous thermal suite. An amazing hydrotherapy pool dominates the room…” and Julian was equally as enamoured “…it’s clear to see that no expense has been spared. A wonderful sense of calm infuses the initial waiting area with large windows and natural materials giving a wonderful sense of calming space”. When the tour finished the lucky guests were offered a mini-massage treatment of their choice in the Spa’s cosy express treatment room. Wahanda reviewer Lucy-Lou commented “The treatment I had was excellent…really relaxing and soothing and the therapist Waffa was very informative, helpful and friendly”.
On their departure attendees were handed a package containing a complimentary day pass to use the spa facilities another time, a chance to win a £100 Wahanda voucher and several beautiful smelling incense sticks to enjoy at home.

pilates2The next Wahanda Wellness Club event will be hosted by Beautcamp Pilates in West London at 7.15pm on Wednesday 18th March and to be in with a chance of trying out LA’s latest pilates craze for FREE and winning 5 complimentary wobble-busting sessions simply email us with your name and postcode to community@wahanda.com, putting ‘Pilates’ in the subject line and then sit tight for an exclusive invite!

Meet your hosts

Monday, March 16th, 2009

You may well know what pilates is and perhaps even how to do it, but even the most avid pilates enthusiast may not have heard of Beautcamp Pilates, for shame. That’s where Wahanda can help. With the launch of our Wahanda Wellness Club events in March we thought, who better to work with than an LA-inspired business in the heart of the capital? In stepped Beautcamp Pilates, with its Bayswater location being booked especially for Wahanda-ites to come and try a free session and see what all the fuss (and fun) is about.

Beautcamp Pilates
In case you’re still not sure whether to sign up for your fitness freebie, we thought it was high time we introduced you to Beautcamp to give you a better idea of what they do. Named by the Evening Standard as one of the top five pilates studios in London, Beautcamp is revolutionary because it combines the best of all three pilates styles: traditional, therapeutic, and circuit training. More importantly, it will help you get a toned and taut body – and fast.

Follow in the footsteps of Denise Richards, Ben Stiller and Nicole Kidman, and get your fitness fix with the latest pilates trend. The Beautcamp method is the most innovative and aggressive approach to full body conditioning, because it generates weight loss, full body muscle toning, defined abs, and increased flexibility. Summer is round the corner and you won’t get a sun-kissed glow by covering up on the sand, so tone and hone your body with this tried and tested trend courtesy of Wahanda.

As before, simply email community@wahanda.com with your name and postcode, put Pilates in the subject line, and we’ll let you know by the end of Tuesday whether you’re good to go. If chosen, not only will you enjoy the free session and refreshments, you’ll also be entered into a competition for the chance to win another five free classes with Beautcamp Pilates, so you’ll be ship-shape in no time.