Tag: happy

 

I think there is something, more important than believing: Action! The world is full of dreamers, there aren’t enough who will move ahead and begin to take concrete steps to actualize their vision.  – W. Clement Stone     

 

What if we told you that there is a really easy way to reach all your goals and dreams, but it’s something not many people do, or even realize is an option.. Would you be willing to try it out? Ready? Here you go:  

Take one small action/step toward your goal right now… Repeat.  

As simple as that may sound, taking small steps is truly the key to achieving your goals, because you have to take steps to make any kind of progress. And while taking action towards your dreams and goals is obviously important, it’s not always easy to stay consistent and focused. But remember: those whom take action, are the ones that see results. 

To help you take action, to move you in the direction of your goals, we have compiled a few tips that should help get you where you want to be –and maybe even a little bit faster… 

1- Take action now —Break your goal down to something you can do right in this moment. Then go do it. Don’t plan how you’ll do it or think about what would happen if you did it one way vs. another… just do it. Take that first tiny step forward. 

2- Stay present and focused —Don’t think of all the steps between where you are now and where you want to be in the end – it doesn’t help, it actually is a strong de-motivator! 

3- Take action every single day, no matter how small —There is absolutely something you can do every single day towards your goals. No matter how small, it does make a difference. Chunk it up and break the big steps down until you have something you can do right now to move forward. 

4- Keep your eyes on the prize! —Stop looking at what everyone else is doing and focus on your own progress and goals. It’s easy to look at someone else’s success and feel like it is un-achievable. Here is our advice: Don’t compare the beginning of your story to the middle of someone else’s! All that does is prompt you to give up. You have to remember, that person you’re looking at and comparing yourself to, was once exactly where you are now.  

Let’s all commit to stepping into action every single day, helping the magic unfold to make our dreams and goals a reality! 

We would love to hear your thoughts on this and what steps you take to reach your goals!

 

“Change your thoughts and you change your world.” ~ Norman Vincent Peale 

 

It has been found that our thoughts ultimately determine the emotional quality of our lives. Positive thoughts and happy feelings help create a happier outlook with a spring in our steps that then launches us into action.. just as the age-old saying goes— through your thoughts you can move mountains. 

So if this is the case we must pursue a change in the way we think in order to better facilitate happiness and the sense of fulfilment in our lives. The good news here is that the human brain is amazing, and willingly adopts any changes that we bring about in our thinking patterns. And while genes do play a role in your natural happiness levels, there are lots of things you can do to make yourself happier!

Here is a list of some ways you can change your thoughts and give a more positive direction to your life:

1- Showing gratitude for the good things you have is the truly most powerful happiness boosting activity there is. So constantly look for excuses to say “thank you.” It is such an effortless way to remind yourself of all the things you have to be grateful for in your life. 

2- Tell people why you think they are great. Their reactions are contagious and will make you feel good too!

3- Remember to not spend your days fixating on little, insignificant things that other people may have said or done – they are not spending their time thinking about you and all of your words and actions either. Because.. No one has time for that. 

4- Be present. Tell yourself, and remind yourself, over and over again to stay present. Initially, this may feel weird, but eventually, it may help you to get into a mindset of paying attention, listening and watching for all of life’s beautiful little things and moments. Like the way sunlight shines through leaves , the smell of the your morning coffee, and even the way your friend’s eyes light up when you meet up for lunch.. These are just some of the little, easy-to-miss signs that can help you fully enjoy your present moment. 

5- The human body is amazing! Your body is built up of so many moving parts that function in a certain way every day to get you up out of bed and help you achieve so many different activities all day long. So pretty much you are a walking miracle, so honor that gift by taking care of yourself! 

6-Trust yourself. Do not forget, especially in difficult times, that you’ve made it through a lot of things already that you never thought you would.

7- When you make a mistake, give yourself a few moments to get your head around it, accept it, feel frustrated over it, and then think about why it was a mistake, how you can learn from it, and how to avoid it next time. Then when you’re done, move on, let it go, and remember that in the end, you are human. 

8- Hold yourself to a standard of being a source of goodness and kindness for others. 

9- Remember, always, that happiness is a state of being, which is available at all times you just need to access it.

 

Now you tell us — Do you believe that thoughts have the power to transform your life? What do you believe stands between you and happiness? Please share your thoughts (or tips) and let us know!

‘What’s stopping me?’ – this is a question we have all asked ourselves at least once.. If you have been following us on Instagram you know that our founder Asma is running again this year for her second time at the Royal Parks Half Marathon in London. Her focus, determination and perseverance in training for this race has led us to think more about you can set goals and see them through. 

Why is it that sometimes you can’t stick to your goals, whether it is eating well, working out, eating better or running in a marathon? The truth is that you are probably making excuses to let yourself off the hook.  Do any of these statements sound familiar? ‘I just don’t have the time’, ‘I have a bad back’, ‘I’m too old’, ‘I’m too tired’, ‘I’m not in good shape’… All these excuses are used to safeguard our pride and egos – they are defence mechanisms created to help free us from responsibility and ownership of the goals we have tried to set. Because when you tell yourself that you are ‘too tired, injured, too old (or whatever else you tell yourself)’ then you don’t have to go to the gym, work too hard, eat well or get up early.   

Well we wanted to help you out with your goals and targets, so to get you on the right track we drafted some guidelines that will help get you started and keep the ball rolling:

Be accountable— If you are the only person who knows your goal, it is easier to give up. Sharing your goal with other people creates a supportive dynamic, and then it becomes a matter of pride. You will find yourself working harder on your goal when you know someone will be checking up on your progress.   

Practice Discipline— Discipline is what drives our actions when we lack the motivation. When we don’t have the internal push to keep us going forward we must rely on discipline to drive us. Take a look at the successful people you admire and look up to. Self-discipline is the common quality that makes them leaders. Discipline can be challenging and takes mental strength but it is very doable! 

Write your goals down and visualise them— Research has shown that people who set goals, and write them down, are more likely to reach their goals, and experience greater feelings of accomplishment. Mental visualisation is a commonly used tool for athletes, but everybody should incorporate it into their daily routine.  If you SEE yourself succeeding, your chances of achieving your goals are so much better.

Positive self talk— Switch “I can’t do this” for “I will do this”. Create awareness for the negative words you may be using regularly, and each time you use one, take a moment to think of a more positive word to replace it. You can change your own patterns to help stay motivated and on track through positive self-talk, you just have to be willing to try. 

Our final piece of advice: please don’t spend your life wishing you accomplished more. Instead of drifting through a life filled with ‘wouldn’t it be nice if..’ or ‘one day I will..’, try the tips above to set some goals for yourself and then work to reach them.

Letting go. We all know that it is human nature to become attached to things, memories and people, all of which puts us in our very cozy ‘comfort zones’. And it can be very difficult to let go of these attachments, even when we know that some are not good for us. But there is something important to be learned from the art of ‘letting go’, it is an opportunity to release unhealthy attachments to memories, events, ideas, and possessions. So, what if we asked you: What is weighing you down right now? How would your life be different if you let it go?

Is it the need to be perfect? – You are perfectly beautiful, and beautifully imperfect, and this is what allows you to be you. Perfection is an illusion—it doesn’t exist. Please stop stressing yourselves by trying to be perfect. Embrace your mistakes along the way, as much needed opportunities for growth, like blessings in disguise that make you wiser. If you fail at anything, it doesn’t mean you are failure, because you are not what you do. Sometimes we win, sometimes we learn. We never lose.

Is it the need to be busy all the time?  – We have mentioned this before.. Being in a rush isn’t a sign of virtue. Learn to listen to your body, and release any guilt for sometimes simply doing nothing. Sometimes you just need to recharge the batteries of your body and soul, and you don’t owe anyone any explanation for doing that. Hold space for yourself.

Is it making assumptions about what other people feel, want, or think? – There is no way to know what others are feeling or thinking. Many of us make up imaginary scenarios, and let our minds create elaborate stories. Each time you find yourself thrown off by what a person has said or done, take a moment for a reality check. Examine your thoughts and ask yourself: ‘Is that really true?’  For example, you might assume someone doesn’t like you, when really she’s just having a bad day. Or maybe she’s just shy. Not everyone is the same. The moment you realize that you can’t know what a person thinks, your mind gets clear and you will then be able to meet them with an open heart.

When we let something go that’s been weighing us down, we feel the relief deep in our soul.  No time is better than the present to make a conscious decision to release these negative thoughts so that you can enjoy your life in the moment as it unfolds. And if you can let go of some of the things that hold you back and weigh you down, you might just find that you can float out in this big world stronger, braver and so much happier!

“Some people believe holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go and then do it.”
―Ann Landers

“Interior design far surpasses just creating a visually appealing space, it’s purpose is to create a harmonic atmosphere that permeates emotional, and physical wellness.”

At The Hundred we believe that an aesthetically pleasing environment is as much a part of wellness as active living and healthy nutrition are. And something that is usually overlooked in the grand scheme of things, is that the spaces that we live and work in are key to our well-being and productivity. Which means that when our external environment is out of alignment with who we truly are, it has a negative effect on our ability to function at our fullest potential. But when our living (or working) space is clear and reflective of our authentic self, our energy is then freed up to flourish with more comfort and creativity. At the Hundred we are constantly re-aligning the space with our mission to accommodate growth of the business – most recently we have redesigned a few of our spaces with help from our talented friends at The Native Bohemians. We do believe that ANY time is a good time to put your life in order to be more productive, happy, and healthy, but the timing is even more perfect now with the quieter Summer days to do some organizing and decorating!

Now whether you are looking to create a home that is more conducive to relaxation and ease, or you are interested in re-vamping your home office so that it sparks your imagination and keeps you motivated, these three tips can help you organize your spaces to make them just right for you.

Declutter – When a space is cluttered and overflowing with unwanted and un-needed items, we sacrifice our ability to bring in the things that could actually serve us today. Choose to release what no longer serves you by either donating it if it is in good condition, or trashing it if it is no longer usable. Everything else must get organized, filed and placed in the most convenient location for easy access when needed.

Make your space a reflection of you – Designing a space that appeals to all of your senses and preferences is key. Its time to start decorating with intention. So bring in the elements that speak to you, and get you genuinely excited about being in that space. We like to play around with elements like color,  plants (we love our Greens!), and artwork (at The Hundred we love beautiful design, and to further give a personal touch we have also used some of Asma Lootah’s street photography) to bring together the full picture of our vision. After the first step above, you are now free of unnecessary items, so you can give your attention to the things that truly speak to you. Note* The goal here is not to necessarily spend money on lots of new items, but instead its about using what you already have in your home or office that represents you as an individual, but rearranging it in a way that feels more aligned with your personality.

Enjoy the process. – This is designing and decorating, it’s supposed to be fun! There is no need to rush or seek perfection. In fact, as far as we are concerned, a space is never ‘done’. Experiment, make mistakes, go back into your inspiration files when you need new ideas, but also commit to enjoying and using your home/office as it is right now.

Continue to give your living space the attention it deserves, and remind yourself of the important role that your environment plays in inspiring and moving you forward. And as we mentioned over on our Instagram…Wherever the space is that you find yourself in, we hope that it is of such a nature that it grounds your heart and energizes your soul. And if you are still searching for a place like that, our doors are always open!

 

“Energy is the real substance behind the appearance of matter and forms.”

— Andrew Weil, MD

In today’s world we are seeing an advancement of human consciousness, with more and more people are accepting the use of complementary alternative medicine and holistic medicine as a path to healing. Incorporating energy healing into classical western practices has been found to advance your state of health, and empower your sense of self-healing. Crystal healing, aroma therapy, as well as sound healing are some amazing examples of the healing methods Dr Mariam Ketait incorporates into her bespoke one-on-one sessions, and starting in July, Dr Mariam will start seeing clients in The Hundred Wellness Centre.

Dr. Mariam Ketait has been a friend, and a Hundred Wellness tribe member for quite a while now. She is a general practitioner that specializes in family medicine, but is also armed with a Masters degree in quality in healthcare, in addition to multiple alternative healing certifications that include: Theta Healing, Spiritual Response Therapy, Pranic Healing and Access Consciousness. Falling in line with our Hundred Wellness ethos, Mariam looks at health from a holistic perspective and believes that our physical bodies respond to our thought patterns and emotional behaviours.  Mind & body healing therapies open a doorway to the unlimited nature of your spiritual energy, and helps encourage you to explore a path that leads you to the highest version of your authentic potential.

Session Fees:

Private 30min session – 400aed

Private one hour session – 800aed

Package of 5 (one hour long) sessions – 3500aed

 

We think it’s time for the next level, don’t you? Book your session with Dr Mariam today by emailing or calling +9714 344 7333

 

Ramadan is almost here and we want to help you approach your fast this year with mindfulness, discipline, and awareness. Perhaps it can even be an opportunity to focus on living a healthy and balanced lifestyle through a more mindful approach to eating, and to better prepare you for fasting, we have put together a few ways that can prepare your body for fasting. By planning and adjusting your routine before the fasting starts, it will be easier to kick any cravings, making the transition a whole lot easier.

Here are our tips:

Portion control — In these days before Ramadan, it’s important to reduce your portion sizes. Some may think splurging on food before fasting begins to sort of ‘stock up’, but this is exactly what not to do. The aim here is to reduce your appetite and hunger for larger quantities of food, ultimately helping your body transition to fasting in a healthy way.

Start eating your breakfast earlier — By getting your body use to eating breakfast earlier than usual, the transition won’t feel so strange for your metabolism. So start putting your alarm on a little earlier each morning, and even if you’re not hungry, eat. You want to trigger your stomach into understanding your new routine and when to expect food.

Don’t snack — If you are a hard-core lover of snacks (even those healthy ones!), then Ramadan can prove challenging. So just like with breakfast, you want to reset your stomach and mind now in the lead up to Ramadan, so try to stick to only three nutritious meals a day. This will help you lose the desire for these little goodies throughout the day, and your body will begin to not to expect them in your routine.

Step away from the coffee — Caffeine withdrawal, it’s a thing. And if you are a: ‘multiple cups of coffee’ kind of person, that headache will feel much worse while you’re fasting if you haven’t prepared your body in advance. If cutting down on your favourite cuppa seems impossible, then start small and work your way up. First, reduce your coffee intake to only one cup a day (somewhere mid-day not first thing in the morning), and maybe even switch to decaffeinated coffee. And ultimately, finish with cutting it out of your day all together.

Stock up on your groceries now  — Prepare now while you are still hyped up and full of energy. Shop and stock up on nutritious foods that can be served at Suhoor or Iftar times so that you’re not so tempted by those hunger driven guilty pleasures later. Plan what foods are best to have for breakfast, find the recipes and stock up on the ingredients, this way you will leave less to temptation and you can make sure that cravings won’t hinder what your body actually needs while fasting.

If you feel that you need help or accountability throughout this Ramadan, and really want to make it your healthiest Ramadan EVER, get in touch with us via email us or call on +9714 344 7333 to see how we can help!

“Those who are wise won’t be busy, and those who are too busy can’t be wise.” ― Lin Yutang

We know that life can be busy. There is so much to do, with so little time. We totally get it! Many of us juggle a lot of balls at the same time – work, our health, caring for our families and the list goes on. All of this leaves us feeling that we are always ‘busy’.

How much do you love to have nice little to-do lists organized neatly on post-it notes, with tiny little tasks that can be efficiently checked off? By the end of the day, you feel so happy and in control. Let’s be honest, it seems that most of us like racing against time and being this busy, but at The Hundred Wellness Centre we are HUGE self-care advocates. We believe that caring for your mind, body, and soul is a priority in order to live healthy, happy and purposeful life.  So how does one go about doing this when they are so busy and constantly feeling like they are fighting the clock?

Consider these tips to get you started:

01. Appreciate and schedule time for rest: One of the reasons many of us keep busy schedules is that we fail to recognize the value of rest. But rest is so beneficial to our bodies, minds, and souls. Set aside one day per week for some rest and familytime. Intentionally schedule it on your calendar, and then, guard it at all costs.

02. Cultivate ‘space’ in your daily routine. Take time for lunch. Find space in your morning to sit quietly before starting your day. Invest in solitude, meditation, or yoga. Find opportunity for breaks at work in between projects. Begin right away cultivating little moments of space in your otherwise busy day. Give yourself permission to start freeing up your schedule to give yourself space for your personal needs, and to just BE.

03. Realize that being busy is a choice. It is a decision we make. We are never forced into a lifestyle of busy-ness. The first, and most important step to becoming less busy is to simply realize that our schedules are determined by us. We do have a choice in the matter.

‘Busy’ does not need to define you― ‘UNbusy’ is possible. And it’s really okay to be happy with a slower paced life– so tell us, what is your current mindset around being ‘busy’? And what is one thing that you can do to try and make a positive shift this coming week?

 

 

We are dedicating Saturday, March 11th to all of you.. our community! We have carefully curated a fun-packed Wellness Day, and we are inviting everyone to join us at The Hundred Wellness Centre as we celebrate the start of Spring and devote an entire day to living our healthiest happiest life.

Given how important awareness is to our health and wellbeing, our mission on this day is to look at some of the different aspects of wellness in a fun and interactive way. From what we put in our bodies to how we feed our minds and spirits, each session and activity is designed to give you accessible and actionable steps to take back to your everyday life. We all want to live our healthiest, best life and our Wellness day will help you set that foundation. If you take a peek at what is on our calendar of health-focused workshops you will find:

– A children’s art class with Medaf that will be led by Alia Lootah (2 hours) – This exciting workshop will bring together the creative energy of nature into the little ones own canvases. Learn the basics of colour mixing, perspective and live drawing. We will look into the grass, trees and the sky for inspiration! Children from 5 to 13 can join in.

– An informative talk about creating a healthier environment at home with Lamis Harib – Lamis will introduce visitors to Ecabiotec products, and will discuss why Ecabiotec is set up in the Middle East, and the importance of the ‘Made In UAE’ value as a local company. She will also explore the difference and change it’s values will bring, as well as awareness on toxins in disinfectants from a health & environmental perspective, which is core to The Hundred Wellness as a mission as well. A selection of products will be available for purchase.

– A therapeutic ‘Forgiveness’ clinic with Maya Badran – This session will emphasize the importance of forgiveness as a preventative therapy and as an empowering tool to improve one’s mental and physical wellbeing, and how subconscious negative beliefs and negative repetitive emotions can cause illness in the body and how practicing forgiveness can eliminate the negative feelings so that a person can feel happier and healthier.

– An Asana Yoga session with Charity Adams – Charity’s Asana classes emphasize the connection with the breath and body in addition to proper alignment and acknowledgement of one’s own limitation. She believes in the beginning yoga can be a physical practice but with sincere commitment you can cultivate freedom within the body leading you to deeper meditative practices.

And tucked in among our complimentary Wellness Day workshops and talks there are plenty of other activities to participate in during the day depending on your interests – here are a few that might catch your eye:

– An indoor local, organic market with freshly harvested produce from our partners IGR (Integrated Green Resources UAE).

– A complimentary (sugar free – gluten free) healthy brunch, featuring local Emirati specialities, courtesy of The Hundred.

– Free outdoor and indoor fitness, Pilates and ladies only classes run by our highly skilled trainers will be running throughout the day, and everyone is welcome to join in.

– For those about to embark on a new plan to get fit or improve their health, there is an opportunity to have a free body-fat ratio analysis consultation with Lulu Alarmali, one of our in-house nutritional specialists. Lulu is offering body fat analysis consultations that would take 15-20 minutes, and afterwards she will give a brief explanation of what the individual’s body fat distribution indicates. If a meal plan or supplementation is required to target specific areas or for overall fat loss, an appointment to follow up can be booked. (Early bookings required and spots are limited so please email or call us on +9714 344 7333 to book.

– In collaboration with Loco’motion there will be an evening screening of the multi award-winning movie, “Happy” –– from Roko Belic, director of the Academy Award-nominated “Ghengis Blues” –– in The Hundred’s beautiful gardens. The uplifting movie explores the nature of happiness.

Additionally, there will be a range of pop-up shopping opportunities, ranging from homemade Kombucha and Sauerkraut made by our founder Asma Lootah, fitness apparel for yoga and active lifestyles from Yapparel and Lorne Jane, handcrafted locally-made candles with a touch of luxury by Wallance and Co, to natural nutrition and performance supplements from the FitnessFuel Company, and experts will be on hand to answer questions.  

This is not just a party, it’s community, education, creativity and a way to bring together like-minded people to give back, and take action on important wellness issues! We look forward to welcoming you all, and making this a day to be remembered. You can find the schedule of activities and their timings here.  If there is a certain activity that you don’t want to miss, drop us an email or call us on  +9714 344 7333 and we will make sure to secure your spot!

p.s. To keep up with all the updates on our Wellness Day, follow the hashtag #thehundredwellnessYAY on Instagram!

 

Being kind is a wonderful experience. When you are kind to others, you feel good as a person — more positive, optimistic, and happy! Did you know that when you are kind it actually triggers physical and psychological responses with the most obvious response being the ‘feel good’ sensation, better known as the “helper’s high”!

So when you do something good, your body rewards you by releasing endorphins. These ‘happy hormones’ create the feel good experience, and the person who receives a kind act experiences the ‘feel good’ response too! Who can deny that it’s really nice when someone randomly smiles at you, thanks you, compliments you, or even helps you in some small thoughtful way.

And while we may not get any snow in Dubai, there is definitely something magical about this time of year. With the spirits of community, gratitude and generosity that are deeply rooted in our UAE culture, it could be the warm fuzzy feelings that we get when we are gathered with those we love the most, or when we are feeling the power of giving without expecting anything in exchange. If we open our minds to the opportunities, we will find that there are so many small ways to consciously practice kindness, spread happiness and create joy all around us.

With Giving and Charity playing such important roles in the holiday season, we have decided to step up our efforts to encourage more conscious acts of kindness and generosity within our community. Starting December 19th stop by and join our team at The Hundred Wellness Centre as we help to pay it forward! Let’s all work together to simply be kinder, happier human beings while we brighten someone’s day.. And who wouldn’t want a little bit of a “helper’s high” too?