yoga dubai Archives | The Hundred

 adaptogens

You may have heard, there are some new kids on the block and their names are ‘adaptogens’— Only they aren’t new to us at The Hundred Wellness Centre! If you are a regular client you know that our best-selling supplement ‘Immune 360‘ has somewhat of a cult following, and we can’t keep it on our shelves! But did you know that part of the magic of this supplement lies in the ingredient list which includes.. Can you guess it? Adaptogens! 

Now, we can’t tell you how excited we are about this post! We get countless questions about adaptogens and now we will finally shed some light on this topic for you. So let’s dive right in! 

What exactly are Adaptogens? 

Adaptogens are a special group of natural herbs that help your body ‘adapt’ to the specific needs that your body has, such as coping with stress or fatigue. They are natural remedies for your adrenal system. They enable the body’s cells to access more energy by helping them eliminate toxic by-products and utilize oxygen more efficiently. And these Adaptogens have been ‘Tried and Tested’ in Traditional Chinese and Indian cultures as medicinal herbs for thousands of years! 

One of the most potent adaptogens in Immune 360 formula is Ashwagandha, which is probably the most known adaptogen today- Ashwagandha is great for soothing your nervous system and boosting immunity and is a rich source of iron. 

Another powerful ingredient in Immune 360 is Astragalus —a Chinese herb used for thousands of years to strengthen the body. Astragalus supports immune cells, which play a major role in protecting us from viruses.  

And finally adding the finishing touches on this blend we find the Maitake mushroom, also known as the Magnificent Dancing Mushroom. This highly regarded Japanese mushroom has been shown to activate the immune system and contains beta-glucans (Beta-glucans work by activating the immune cells known as Macrophages. These Macrophages trap and consume foreign substances that do not belong in the body.!)  

Of course these adaptogens are in the formula in addition to lots of other good stuff! So, what do you think? Do you already use any adaptogens, and have you noticed a difference in how you feel? Are you thinking of adding some to your diet but still have questions? Drop us an email or call us to book a session with Dr. Sean Penny to explore further. 

Oh, and if you’d like to try Immune 360 for yourself drop by to pick up a bottle! 

Yoga for athletes | meet Nicky

Today, Yoga has become one of the most popular choices in fitness regimes. It not only improves physical and mental health, but it also comes with numerous other health benefits that far surpass the advantages of your regular aerobic workout. And most fitness enthusiasts that practice yoga regularly also prefer to include some form of cardio exercise in their fitness regime – be it running, circuit training, swimming or cycling.

And with that in mind, we are excited to introduce you to the newest addition to The Hundred Wellness team- Nicky Rinks. Nicky is a vinyasa flow Yoga Alliance certified & RYT 200 registered yoga teacher who has been practicing for 12 years, and teaching for over 5 years, in London and Dubai.

In Nicky’s classes you can expect intense verbal cues, in a dynamic high-energy vinyasa, or a slower pace for her restorative Hatha style sessions. All of her classes are built around creative and coherent sequences, in a supportive environment. With a style that integrates all the lineages that she’s learned from in the exploration of physical movement; the multitude of yoga traditions including flow, dharma, Hatha, Bikram and rocket, combined with her love of active sports including running (training, racing and marathons), wake-boarding, surfing, snowboarding, cycling and dancing.

Nicky’s yoga is a practice that is very physical yet equally breath balanced, that in turn teaches the importance of yoga to counterbalance any other sports you are practicing – from running, to cycling, climbing, swimming, wake-boarding, surfing and everything in-between including daily living!!

We sat down with Nicky to get to know more about her and her Yoga classes:

 

Hi Nicky! Can you tell us a bit about yourself, and how you first got interested in yoga?

I first tried yoga 12 years ago, whilst on a traveling stint through Thailand. From then on, I increasingly included yoga in my daily routine back in London. At the start I attended yoga classes for the physical ‘activity’, but as my practice evolved I increasingly found myself at a session desperately seeking the only hour of ‘calm’ in my hectic London lifestyle.

I’ve always combined yoga with my other sport passions – including running, cycling and snowboarding. But after my first marathon 5 years ago which left me with runner’s knee and unable to run for a few months, I started to focus on yoga more seriously than ever. At this time, I was due to head off for a snowboarding season on sabbatical in California. Whilst there, for 3 months my daily routine consisted of snowboarding all day, and yoga every morning/evening. I felt great.

On my return to London, I decided to take the next step and embark upon my yoga teacher training. I did my yoga teacher training with a brilliant London based yoga school called Stretch yoga, in partnership with Frog Lotus Yoga International, based out in Seville, Andalusia. I completed my 200 RYT Yoga Alliance Certified training 3 months later, training every weekend Friday evening through to Sunday whilst working a full-time job. I then embarked upon setting up my own business, Rinky Dink Yoga, in London. I taught weekly classes around the city in various unique locations, including at a Skate Shop, and at the UK’s first co-working space Headspace.

I moved to Dubai in February of this year, and re-launched my yoga business as SoulFlex – working with clients including Adidas and a range of private students. I’m excited to be joining The Hundred Wellness Centre, to bring more yoga to the centre and to continue pass on my passion, and the benefits I’ve experienced from the practice to others.

What was the first asana (yoga pose) you tried?

Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Pose). This is still one of my favourite poses, even today! It’s the pose you come back to again and again during a practice. It’s brilliant for me as a runner, as it stretches out the hamstrings, always much needed after a long marathon training run. It also stretches out the chest and lengthens the spine, and energizes you –providing additional blood flow to the head.

What do you love most about teaching yoga? And what advice do you have for people who have never tried yoga?

I love the realization that my students experience after heading along to their first few yoga classes – that moment when they understand that yoga is an utterly brilliant way for anyone, with any level of physical ability, to feel better in their body and feel better in their mind. There’s a saying that I love, ‘I bend so that I don’t break’, and it’s so very very true. The body and mind need to flex, strengthen stretch and bend to enable you to achieve.

If you spend one hour flipping yourself upside down, bending in half, stretching out parts of your body you’ve probably barely considered in your life, whilst focusing on your breath, it’s impossible not come away with a different physical and mental set of feelings and realizations. This is my ‘why’ for teaching yoga.

 

You lead a very busy life – what are your 5 musts, and 5 non-negotiables?

These crossover, my musts are my non-negotiables, so I’ve included more than 5— all of the below I have to weave into my daily life:

  • Daily yoga
  • Daily running
  • Daily laughter
  • Daily time spent outdoors
  • Daily 7-8 hours sleep where possible (the older I get, the more I value my sleep)
  • Daily fresh, healthy, often raw, vegetarian foods
  • Daily reading, even as little as 30 mins, at the start of the day after my run/yoga where possible – of whichever book I’m currently fixated on (currently ‘Malcom Gladwell, Outliers’)
  • A daily drive to achieve new dreams, I love making lists of all the things – short term, and long term – that I want to achieve (and ticking them off!). Dream and drive towards those dreams, daily.

What other mindfulness practices are important to you?

Meditation. I always include meditation at the start of my yoga practice. This usually consists of 5-10mins of stillness, breathing, and focus on the breath and being present. I use it to clear the busy chattering mind of my to-dos in the day and week to come and to focus – the mind, body and soul as one. I find this helps in both my practice, and my daily life. I am calmer and able to deal with the inevitable trials and tribulations and stressful times of everyday living much, much better.

I often try to apply this meditative practice whilst running, running at a comfortable pace in my training where I’m at home with myself I’m able to meditate. Or running through the agonizing highs and lows of the marathon race, where I focus on transcending the pain – becoming mind, body and soul as one.

What words do you live by? (or favourite quotes)

Here are some of my current favourites:

“Life is the greatest experiment. Each of us is an experiment of one-observer and subject- making choices, living with them, recording the effects.” {Dr George Sheehan}

“I will not last forever. But I am absolutely going to know I have been here.” {Dr George Sheehan}

“Energy is eternal delight” {William Blake}

 

Thank you so much, Nicky! If you have been wanting to try Yoga, or wanted to try something different from what you have been doing, don’t miss out on Nicky’s classes! For more info on her schedule, you can check here, or call us on +971 4344 7333

See you on the mat!

busy to slow

Do you use your busy schedule as an excuse to skip a workout? Do you feel you are just too busy and don’t have the time to move/exercise? Well, when it comes to yoga, the busier you are, the more important it is that you make time to fit it into your schedule!  And as they say: where there’s a will, there is most definitely a way. No matter what your days look like, you can always carve out a little slice of time for yourself to exercise.

Yoga is a practice that everyone should try, and if you have busy, stressful day-to-day life, yoga can really help you manage your stress while working on your flexibility and getting you in shape. And although skipping out on a yoga practice can free up much needed time, it is often during these times of busy-ness that we need our practice the most. Sometimes, the secret to fulfilling the many responsibilities of life, is in stopping long enough to breathe.

Yoga class is an opportunity to put yourself first and make time for you. With yoga incorporated into your daily life you’ll find that you feel more grounded and in tune with yourself.  And while there are many physical benefits to practicing yoga, the mental benefits make it all worth your time.

Now, despite what you might see on Instagram, Yoga is not just a practice of poses, stretches and hyper-flexibility. Yoga is a philosophy, with the word itself essentially meaning ‘union’ and ‘that which brings you to reality’, and practicing yoga is all about finding the balance within the self and bringing everything to reality.

Yoga is a powerful tool for finding peace and gratitude within. It enables us to move beyond the daily grind of our fast-paced lives, to achieve patience, love, and mindfulness. Although it may start on the yoga mat through breathing and postures, but the ripples of yoga go far beyond. And as you leave the mat in class, you are able to bring that calm energy and mindfulness to all of your daily tasks and interactions, perhaps even inspiring those around you to do the same… Sort of a domino effect if you will 🙂

Many people get into yoga out of mere curiosity, but as you can see from the above, there are many other reasons why yoga is good for you, and we would love to have you explore Yoga with us!

You can see our class schedule here, and if you would like more information please email us or call on +9714 344 7333

See you on the mat!

 

The Hundred Wellness Center

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!