KEY POINTS:
JOIN A TEAM TO WORK OUT
Exercising by yourself is all well and good, but it's just too easy to give in when the going gets tough. Not so when you are committed to training with others. Les Mills' Look Better Naked is proving to be one of the most popular programmes on offer. The six-week course is designed to kick your fitness routine into overdrive - no matter your level of fitness. (Our guinea pig couldn't do one push-up at the start of her course.) For three hours every week, you work out with a team of five other women and a dedicated trainer, who not only drives you to do that extra set of sit-ups with a gentle force but also gives nutritional and health guidance. Expect to see a marked improvement in your fitness, loss of fat and a greater sense of vitality.
"It's the gym equivalent of team sports," explains Les Mills programme designer Anthony Wall, "because it's all about camaraderie, support and inspiration. By being part of a team, people find they're more motivated than ever before." The gym plans to offer a similar course for men in 2009 and also offers the more intense Bootcamp courses. You don't have to be a gym member to sign up for a team training course. Look Better Naked: Members $425/Non-members $575. Ph 09 379 9550.
START A GARDEN
There's nothing more satisfying than growing your own vegetables or flowers, and now is the perfect time to invest some time in it. Getting into your old clothes and getting your hands into the dirt can be a grounding and rewarding experience and a great time to switch off from the stresses of work and think about other things.
Then there's the pleasure of heading to the garden to pick spinach for your dinner or sharing a bag of your freshly grown broccoli with friends. If you're feeling a bit unsure of where to start, contact the experts at www.patchfromscratch.co.nz and they'll come and set up a garden for you.
HAVE A COLON CLEANSE
OK, it's not the most glamorous of treatments, but our guinea pig said a colon irrigation at the Colon Care Centre left her feeling more vital, energised and her skin looking and feeling more hydrated. Follow that with friends telling her how great she looked, and she's a convert.
The recommended intial course of action is three sessions, ideally within one week. This can then be followed up with monthly visits. While the first time can "challenge your comfort zone" the procedure is very clinical and matter-of-fact. A tube is inserted and a gentle infusion of water works to remove stagnant faecal material from the colon walls to help prevent the build up of bacterial toxins in the portal and lymphatic system. It removes excess mucous, gas and parasites to help facilitate peristaltic action and better absorption of nutrients. A toxic bowel can be the source of health problems and, after heart disease, colon cancer is the most frequent cause of death in NZ. First visit $95, follow up $85, Basic Clean 3 visit package $240. The Colon Care Centre, ph 09 815 6499.
GO FOR A QUICK FIX WORK OUT
A quick fix for your wobbly bits. If it's instant tonal success you're after then VibraTrain certainly delivers - if you can get used to its unconventional method. If a springtime sweaty gym doesn't sound too appealing at the moment then be prepared for 10-15 minutes of exercise like you've never exercised before. Feet and hands grip a vibrating plate as you adopt a range of poses which target specific muscle groups. A minute in each pose will leave your heart racing and thighs burning provided you maintain the poses in the correct stance. The rapid movement of the vibrations takes a little getting used to but knowing that they cause your body to burn large amounts of energy in such a short period of time makes the experience all the more sweet.
And presto! In 2-3 weeks (depending which course you choose) a toner, sexier you will emerge. If you struggle with cellulite you can treat yourself to a "massage" which involves sitting on the vibrating plate for 3 minutes, quite a confusing but very effective experience ladies! Vibra Training can also assist in weight loss, lymphatic drainage, bone density, and hormone levels. First workout free. Basic workout $10. Basic workout plus anti-cellulite massage $15. VibraTrain, ph: 09 309 6874.
VISIT A KINESIOLOGIST
Feeling a little out of balance or stressed? A visit to kinesiologist Terese Mudgway could make a huge difference. Kinesiology is an internationally recognised and non-invasive healing process which uses muscle feedback and body awareness to help reduce stress and pain, improve performance, generate balance in life and relationships, and promote health and wellbeing. You simply lie back on the bed while Mudgway "asks" the body questions. Any blockages, mentally or physically, are then rebalanced. "Kinesiology is individual to each client's problems, issues and life experiences," explains Mudgway who has clinics in Bondi, Sydney and Herne Bay, Auckland.
"The focus is on finding and alleviating the causes behind the symptoms." $135 for first visit, then $100 per session. Ph 021 075 1817.
HAVE A BROW SHAPE
Something as simple as a good eyebrow shape can transform your look or, as Nicky Shore of Off Wax and Brow Bar in Newmarket says, "It can be better than Botox." Like nail bars, brow bars are big in America and Europe. Shore liked the concept of specialising in something that women all have to do in order to feel well-groomed and making it into a luxurious enjoyable experience.
Our volunteer had her eyelashes tinted and the Brow Wow treatment which involved her consultant studying the individual characteristics and shape of her face and discussing the trends in eyebrows. A natural-looking, gentle arch is most popular at the moment. The brows are gently tidied and shaped to open up the eye area and, if you aren't game to have them tinted, there is a range of products and brushes to ensure you can colour them in a soft and natural way. (No hard eye pencil lines here, thank you.) If you plucked your eyebrows to nothing in your earlier years, the consultants here can help you retrain and reshape them for a more modern fuller look.
Brow Wow treatment, $45. Ph 09 522 3212.
TRY AN ULTRA SHAPE SESSION
Can't move that last love handle despite the diet and workouts? The $300K Ultra Shape machine at Genesis Skin Clinic, is state-of-the-art technology that aims to break down fat through non-invasive ultrasonic beams. During treatment the fat cell membranes are 'disrupted' and the content dispersed into the fluid between the cells and transported through the vascular and lymphatic systems to the liver, explains therapist Karina Hassall. "Once in the liver, there is no distinction between the fat coming from the treatment or fat from the food you've been eating. It's then cleared from the body in the natural way." The treatment is expensive, so it pays to just focus on the problem areas like the thighs, buttocks or stomach - which is what our guinea pig did. She found the treatment mildly discomforting, but as she said "if the next option is liposuction, this is definitely a better alternative."
And the results? After one treatment there was no visible difference, but our guinea pig said she felt like her stomach was smaller and her jeans not quite so tight.
From $500 a session, which take from 45 minutes. Ph: 09 309 6060.
TAKE A GOOD LONG STRETCH
Get rid of toxins, get the blood pumping and work to elongate the muscles at Bikram Yoga. Developed by Bikram Choudhury, who runs a yoga college and centre in Los Angeles, Bikram yoga is held in a studio where the temperature is around 40 degrees.
It's hot! Especially after 90 minutes of trying to hold a range of poses that require flexibility and strength.
The great thing, reports our volunteer, is that because her body was warm she found she was more flexible; sweating loads meant she was getting rid of toxins.
Be sure to drink plenty of water, and if you combine a few good sessions with a healthy diet, you'll really notice the difference.
East West Bikram Yoga, first class $10, second class free, casual class $20, discounts and concessions for regulars. Newmarket, ph: 09 522 1466. Ponsonby, ph: 09 360 1885.
COMMUNE WITH NATURE
Nothing beats the feeling of getting out in the fresh air and hitting the beach or park for a long brisk walk. It'll put a peachy glow in your cheeks and get your skin bright and radiant again. If you want something a tad more exciting, why not try a bush walk?
We're not talking a long hike into the depths of the forest (although that would work wonders too), but a nice leisurely walk through native bush with birds twittering overhead. We tried the roughly one-hour Auckland City walk at the Cascade Kauri park, located in the Waitakere Ranges about 50 minutes from central Auckland. The walk features hundred-year-old kauri, the Waitakere stream running alongside, and has a well gravelled, easy-to-manage track. There's also a short side track that leads to the stunning Cascade Falls - we could have sat there for hours. There are several other walks in the Ranges as well - tree hugging optional.
SHAKE UP YOUR MAKEUP
We know, we know: beauty comes from the inside. But after trying everything else on this list, why not do a little work on your outsides as well? A makeup makeover is a great way to inject something new into your look, and get you out of any makeup ruts you may have. Newmarket's Lucy and the Powder Room runs regular makeup workshops, where an expert shares inside tips and helps you learn the tricks of the trade. Up to six people can attend, so it's a great way to bond with friends as well. To book, ph 09 524 6702.
GET A FOOT UP
Socrates was right: when our feet hurt, we hurt all over. Sore feet can wreck havoc on your posture as well as your wellbeing, and if you wear high heels, have shoes that are too small, or play a lot of sport, chances are you'll have some sort of foot complaint. With summer coming up, what better time to fix your feet? Corns, bunions and callouses are gross - a visit to a podiatrist will get rid of any unsightly growths, and will help you in your quest to walk elegantly like a model. Add a pedicure to the mix, and gorgeous princess feet will be yours. A consulation appointment starts at $52. Foot Mechanics, ph: 09 523 7051.
INVITE A FASHION STYLIST OVER
If it feels like Groundhog Day every time you stare into your wardrobe, then it could be time for a wardrobe rehaul. A personal stylist is a good way to get an objective point of view - they're experts in dressing people. Stylist Ingrid Vink works with each client on an individual basis, figuring out a "delicate balance of fashion and what actually suits". She edits the good and the bad from each client's wardrobe, comes up with a list of items to help pull the wardrobe together, and takes the client shopping to try on new looks and visit new stores. Then she will work with them to put together "looks', which are photographed or written down. "I never want my clients to look like a stylist has given them a `makeover'," says Vink, who has also worked as the expert stylist on makeover show 10 Years Younger. "It's so important they retain the essence of who they are." From $120 an hour, visit www.vink.co.nz.
HAVE A RELAXING FACIAL
Possibly one of the easiest - and most indulgent - ways to get the feelgood vibes flowing is with a facial. There are hundreds of different variations but we suggest trying an ayurvedic facial, which uses traditional Indian medicine to purify and rejuvenate.
Tamara Spa combines contemporary therapies with traditional Indian techniques, and their 100 per cent natural facial will leave your skin feeling soft and nourished.
Each facial is unique, with different natural ingredients - like honey or oatmeal - used for different skin types.
For one hour your skin will be cleansed, exfoliated, moisturised and massaged, and you will leave feeling relaxed and glowing. $120. Ph 09 358 2284.
