Liberty Living Wellbeing Event
“Yoga is not that bad after all” I proclaimed last week.
A bold statement I know but stay with me. Kneeling, sitting back on my heels, hands crossed against my chest, connecting with my breath *inserts deep sigh*. The downward facing dog poses were beginning to rub onto me. Not yet a convert but I can get used to this even if it’s just once a month.
Perhaps it was the few glasses of bubbly that I consumed before the session or the fact that I was at a health and wellbeing. Having the confidence to take part, enjoy and even giggle while releasing the tension of the week. Kudos to Lisa the instructor who was attentive and made sure our posture was right.
Finding that work-life balance in a busy city such as London can be pretty darn hard. The rat race can easily consume you; talk less of the soul destroying rush hour commute before even getting to work.
The event
Held at Flora Spitalfields, the Health & Wellbeing event by Liberty Living UK was a well deserved mid-week treat. Liberty Living UK is not only a student accommodation provider but also have a hub for mental health and wellbeing. The pressure of being a young professional can take it’s toll. With 3 different workshops from stress-melting yoga, healthy diet cooking and a mindful wellbeing lesson it was set to be a rejuvenating positive experience. Of course the healthy snacks, dips and drinks were flowing complimenting the evening.
“Be good to yourself” goes beyond outward appearance it includes your eating habits and being non-judgemental in moments of stress. In addition, reciting positive affirmations to de-clutter your mind and refocus your energy.
I got this! I am loved! I am strong! Today is going to be a great day!
Switching off from our daily routine without scrolling on the Twitter timeline or double tapping that Instagram post is tricky. Seated in the mindful workshop, no phone or group interaction. Just the soothing voice of the coach and mild background music – I couldn’t help but drift to sleep. We practiced basic techniques that I was aware of but sometimes fail to adopt. It dawned on me how I need to get a better grip on having a positive mindset and not get anxious over little things leading to stress. This can be said for many of us.
Rejuvenated we moved onto the final session led by a nutrition expert. “You are what you eat” with easier access to fast food and apps like Deliveroo and JustEat maintaining a healthy diet with a busy schedule becomes a tedious task. A survey by the BBC Good Food Nation concluded one in six young people eat fast food twice a week.
Top tips learnt based on research into the connection between the gut & the brain:
Maintaining Healthy Blood Sugar Levels:
– Eat protein with every meal and snack
– Avoid refined sugars and grains
Brain Nutrients:
– B12: in animal foods, if vegan supplement
– Omega 3 fatty acids: in oily fish and walnuts, flaxseeds and chia seeds
– Antioxidants: eat a wide range of vegetables a day to increase antioxidant levels. Aim to eat a rainbow at lunch and dinner
Optimise the Gut Microbiome:
– Eat fermented foods: sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir and natural yoghurt
– Avoid processed foods and sugars
– Rotate vegetables on a daily basis to increase bacteria diversity
As the evening concluded I managed to get a deep tissue back massage which was the icing on the cake. This treat along with a goodie bag which included a mini water bottle, a roll on massage oil and a book on mindfulness techniques. I left the event feeling calm, refreshed and eager to apply the new skills learnt to the rest of my week.
Images by Elouisa
Disclaimer: I was invited to attend this event. However, all thoughts and opinions remain mine.