Tag: wellness

We are happy to welcome Charity Adams and her Hatha Yoga classes to our class schedule as of March 6th. Charity was introduced to yoga in 1996 shortly after her arrival in New York City.  It quickly became the one constant in her life in the hectic world of fashion.  She credits her love of the practice to two early teachers, Amy Ippoliti and Paul Dallaghan.  By a chance reconnection with Paul more than ten years later she was inspired to delve deeper into her practice and completed her teacher training with him at Centered Yoga Thailand, where she continues her education in Pranayama, Asana, and Philosophy.

Asana is the movement aspect of a Yoga practice and Charity’s classes emphasize the use of breath to release and strengthen in addition to appropriate physical alignment, all of which will lead to a cultivated freedom of body and mind. Students quickly realize the greatest tool to ease the stress of daily life and one that is readily available is the breath.

If you are looking for a little more breathing space and time to practice your mindfulness we encourage you to join one of Charity’s classes, you can see the schedule here

“Patience and persistence are vital qualities in the ultimate successful accomplishment of any worthwhile endeavor,” Joseph Pilates

If you joined us in our last talk by Ryan Penny, you heard how consistency is critical if you want to make a new habit stick. Habits are powerful, and they can be challenging to make or break, but if you can gain control over your habits — both positive and negative — you can raise your health and wellness to a whole new level.

It has been said that it takes anywhere from 21 to 40 times to turn a new behavior into a persistent habit. In other words, when you are trying to create a change in your overall health you are not going to be able to do that overnight, consistency is the key and that will take some time and work.

First, hold yourself accountable to your new chosen activity. Don’t fall into the trap of instant gratification. Trying something three times and saying it didn’t work is never the answer. In the wise words of Joseph Pilates the founder of the Pilates method: “In 10 sessions, you will feel the difference. In 20, you will see the difference. And in 30, you’ll have a whole new you!” 
 
This concept can be applied to anything really. So any time you start something new, challenge yourself to make it happen 30 times. Don’t pressure yourself into thinking that you need to do all 30 sessions immediately because doing that will only lead to a burn out. Slowly build on the activity one week at a time, and as the days go by you will see the positive changes and you will be rewarded with the results.

At The Hundred Wellness Centre we strongly believe that your wellness and the quality of your life are worthwhile journeys to work on, and our team are here to support you! Take one small step at a time, be consistent and we are sure you will be successful in finding a healthier, happier you.

 

 

We live in a world where everything is just a click or touch away – we communicate, share photographs, pay bills, and even shop with a touch of a button! This digital era has surely made our lives easier, but at the same time, the growing dependency on our gadgets and apps has taken its toll on our health and relationships.

Tell us, when was the last time you disconnected from your mobile devices and enjoyed some good old-fashioned, face-to-face social interactions, or went for a few hours of uninterrupted silence without reaching for your phone? If it has been so long that it’s hard to even remember, then this post is for you!

Technology in many ways brings us together and helps us stay close to people, but it also doesn’t hurt to sometimes step away from it and take a break to remind ourselves that life is moving by so quickly–things are happening offline in the here and now and we need to pay attention.

So here is what we are proposing: Go social-media free for a day. Start by turning off all the phone notifications and emails for your social media apps, and move your social media apps to a folder on your phone called “Unplugged”. Choose one time (or two) during the day to check in with the digital world. Once you’ve started to wean yourself from scrolling aimlessly through Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter, go completely social media-free for one whole day (probably a day in the weekend would work best).

Now fill your time offline with meaningful things that maybe you haven’t been able to do lately. Take a walk on the beach, arrange a coffee with an old friend, or read that book you have been saving for when you had the time to focus. The possibilities are endless, and you’ll be less tempted to spend time scrolling through social-media when you have other activities to look forward to!

The idea is to reduce stress, slow down from all the “busy-ness” and focus on real life by engaging in social interactions in the real world, rather than on virtual platforms. Over the next month use your times of connectivity on purpose, and step away from social-media to reconnect with your family and friends to create new memories without all those fancy filters.

Have you gone social-media free for a day or longer? If so drop us a note below to let us know how it went and what you learned from the experience!

 

Well this came along quickly didn’t it? It feels like it was just yesterday that you signed up for the Dubai Marathon, and you promised yourself that you would run miles and miles whilst training in the gym every day turning yourself into a well oiled running machine. So… how did it go? If your answer is “not quite as planned” don’t worry, lots of first time runners feel exactly the same way.

Last October I ran my first half marathon in London, and before you hit the start line on Friday I wanted to share some of the lessons I took away from my experience of running in a race:

01 Stop comparing yourself to anyone else
Do not compare yourself, your endurance, your time, or your training to ANYONE else… and… Don’t Panic!! Trust me when I say that before any race everyone is a little bit nervous. I know I was!  It is normal because you are about to do something that is pretty amazing, probably harder than anything you have done before and these feelings of worry and fear will later translate into feelings of pride and achievement. 

02 Fuel and hydrate properly
Nutrition is really the foundation for performance and recovery, you can’t complete a marathon without fuelling your body correctly, and hydration is a careful balance of drinking the right amount and replacing what you need. Remember, your body is your home base for life. So fuel it properly by eating healthy, hydrating and supplementing wisely. One supplement that I take daily without fail is immune 360, it supports my immunity all year long and is a key to staying healthy.  I am always conscious of my diet and was even more so leading up to the day of the run. During my training I would regularly seek out advice from my team at The Hundred Wellness Centre and one of the best tips I was given was from Dr Sean Penny. Sean told me to prepare my favourite lean95 shake with one ripe avocado 1.5-2 hours before the race, preparing the shake this way meant I had a tremendous power boost of energy due to the shake being packed with lots of easily absorbed good stuff including healthy fats and amino acids ( I highly recommend doing this!)

03 Listen to your body
During my training I diversified how I prepared and moved my body, and my team at the centre emphasised the importance of stretching, warming up my muscles, as well as using a foam roller. I added Pilates into my training rotation to help balance things out in my legs and help with my alignment. Joint mobility, improved flexibility, body awareness, and of course a strong core, are just a few of the ways that Pilates can help with running.  

04 Mental strength is just as important as physical strength
During my rigorous training schedule I recognised the importance of mind over matter. I repeated to myself how strong I was, and how I’ve endured harder things in life than running.  I love the feeling of putting my mind to something and accomplishing it. We all do this on small and large scales every day, but it had been a while since I set out on such a major goal that was so outside my comfort zone, and I learned a lot from the experience and will carry forward the importance of consistently challenging myself. 

05 A good pair of shoes and watch your pace
Do not EVER run a race in new shoes! For the best fit and the most comfortable running, match your foot type (yes there are many types of arches) to the shape and components of your running shoes, and the best way to do this would be to go into a running store and have a proper fitting. When we come to the issue of “pace”.. Here are my thoughts: Don’t go out too fast. You will be tempted. Resist. Don’t do it! Setting the pace for your run is a process that starts in training. It depends on your race type, goal times, current fitness level… the list goes on. My best advice here? Aim for a steady rhythm the entire race. Wearing a watch really helps with keeping track of your pace, and for long distance races like the half marathon I find it is best to break down the race into manageable chunks. 

06 An AMAZING playlist is a must
I know that some people like to run without music to get “in the zone,” but not me. I feed off lyrics that are uplifting and empowering. Truth be told sometimes I run listening to one song on repeat! TrailMix Pro is an amazing app that actually syncs the music to match your steps seamlessly. It has other great features as well so I highly recommend giving it a try. 

07 Recovery time
You did it! The race was successful, but once you reach the finish line, it isn’t quite over yet…Recovering from a marathon is a critical step that runners often neglect. First off, grab some water and hydrate! Your body also needs fuel to repair your muscles right after your race, so that is when I take peac which provides easily absorbable amino acids without overloading or excess calories and Microhydrin to help boost the muscle repair! One other thing to try (I love this one!) is Epsom salt baths for their restorative benefits—soaking in the magnesium rich salts can reduce inflammation and helps restore electrolytes to your muscles.

In the end, I wouldn’t trade the experience I had training for and then running my first half marathon with anything! It truly feels like such an accomplishment to cross off my personal achievement list. Overall, I became more in-tune with myself on a new level, so if you’re getting ready to get out on Friday and run in the marathon I hope these tips help you! Good luck, and once you are done we would love to hear about your experience!

 

 

 

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You are invited to join us for a complimentary talk and Q&A session focused on the benefits of sustainable weight loss, and how to achieve them. Discover the two essential components of any successful weight loss plan and take advantage of this opportunity to learn how to lose weight and finally keep it off.

On Monday 30th of January at 10:30am, Ryan Penny will host an insightful free talk centered on sustainable weight loss and it’s benefits at The Hundred Wellness Cafe.  Enjoy a complimentary cup of our new detox and weight loss tea whilst Ryan reveals the two essential components to losing weight and keeping it off once and for all! In this session we will also learn what the plan involves, and how when it is done right, losing weight can postively affect your health, and overall wellbeing. Don’t miss it!

RSVP is essential and spaces are limited. To book your complimentary spot, please contact us via email on [email protected] or give us a call on +971 (0)4 344 7333

We look forward to welcoming you on the 30th.

Find out more about The Wellness Brothers’ services at The Hundred Wellness Centre here and here.

It’s a brand new year, and after days, (or weeks) of indulging in sugar and rich foods, combined with a lack of exercise or time to take care of yourself, it’s no surprise that you are possibly feeling a bit out of sorts. To help you get back on track we asked our team members to give us some pointers to help jump start the process of getting you to your best health and vitality in the new year.

To start off, the best first step, would be to give your body an opportunity to heal it’s digestive tract by taking a break from all forms of sugar, dairy, and gluten for 30 days. This may sound hard, but it is so worth it and we can help! Eliminating these foods actually is the cornerstone of the very successful ‘Down-Size-Me Diet Plan’ which was developed by Lifestyle Consultant/Weight Loss expert Ryan Penny, and his brother our in house Homotoxicologist and Homeopathic Practitioner Dr Sean –  The Wellness Brothers. This plan is offered at The Hundred Wellness Centre, and the brothers are on hand to personally support you in achieving your weight loss and wellness goals, while creating programs that fit comfortably into your lifestyle. And with the plan being built on a foundation of solid science and common-sense it ensures that cutting calories and improving health, does not involve a total restriction of the foods you enjoy!

Next we would encourage you to move your body in mindful ways – as much as we are told by mainstream media that the new year is the best time to start a hardcore exercise program, it’s really not! While getting back on track, your body will be much happier doing more mindful exercises like Pilates, Yoga, Gyrotonic Expansion, or even our Super Circuit Classes – all of which we offer in many ability levels at the centre! If you are not sure where to start, give us a call or visit us and we can help guide you to the program that best suits your needs.

While the idea of a new year brings on the excitement of being able to start fresh, it also comes the pressure of keeping up with everything that comes your way. Our advice? Slow down – Prioritize. Have less on your schedule. Move your body. Go to bed early. Read a book. And allow yourself the space and time to reconnect to what nourishes your mind, body and soul. 2017 is waiting, and every step you take to move forward is essential, so get in touch to find out how we can help you make this your best year yet!

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?

 

Truth be told, December is pretty much our favourite month of the year. The weather of course is a BIG plus,  but what makes it special for us, is that it kicks off with a whirlwind of activities and excitement for – you guessed it – our beloved UAE’s National Day! This year, leading up to the 45th National Day, we have been reflecting on the powerful open letter penned in November by HH Sheikh Mohammed to mark the “International Day of Tolerance”. With a deep understanding of the importance of equality and acceptance, HH addressed all the residents of the UAE saying:

” Our pride stems from the fact that we are a country where everyone thrives equally regardless of their differences, with true love and acceptance: a country where people live and work harmoniously”

We are proud to say that this diversity and acceptance is deeply rooted in our culture at The Hundred Wellness Centre. We have worked diligently, and consciously, to cultivate the perfect balance of support and inclusiveness within our community. Coming to us from all corners of the globe, our team boasts 10 different nationalities. Working side by side, and bringing together all our different backgrounds and perspectives, we continue innovating and helping people on their journeys to health and wellness. With the advantage of being located in UAE, and because of the nature of our business, we are able to attract and empower passionate people from all walks of life, who want to make a difference in the world through their work. WE at The Hundred are proof that together, communities are happier, healthier, and stronger.

We asked some of our team members to share what they love about the UAE, and as you will see their answers below are just as diverse as they are! Join us in celebrating our amazing country by leaving us a note letting us know what you love most about the UAE!

 

Here at The Hundred Wellness Centre we offer a variety of services to help you on your path to optimum wellbeing. Including classical Pilates, Super Circuit classes, physiotherapy, yoga – but did you know that we also offer some of the very best, bespoke wellness diagnostic tests that are at the forefront of technology right now? DNA testing is without a doubt one of the most powerful tools we use…

So what’s it all about? Well if you are thinking “I’ve done allergy tests” or “My GP did my blood work” – think again… DNA testing is in another league. And here’s why: Your DNA results will never ever change. DNA testing maps out your genetic code. Which never, ever changes. So you only have to do the DNA test once.

And why is it so crucial? Well, when your parents “made” you, they each gave you some of their DNA. Your DNA is completely unique to theirs. You have some from your father and some from your mother. Sure, if your parents have a certain health problem it could be possible that you are more at risk for those concerns. But that’s not a definite. You could be completely clear of their issues and actually have a medium/high risk for something completely different…

But let’s be frank here: DNA testing is not scary. It’s not something you need to dread or fob off with “well if it’s going to happen, I’d rather not know…” The tests simply highlight your genetic code and explain whether those unique combinations are benefitting your health or if they run the risk of harming it. We offer four different, unique DNA tests: health, sport, estrogen, and diet. Over the next few weeks we will be highlighting these through our resident, in-house expert, homeopathic Doctor, Dr. Sean and Holly Hollywould – the Dubai-based creative and lifestyle blogger who will be sharing her journey through DNA testing at The Hundred Wellness Centre in Dubai via a series of diaries…

…Stay tuned!

And if you’re already intrigued and want to talk to us about having your own DNA tests done, give us a call on 04 344 7333 or drop us an email here.