FITVINE MAG - ISSUE 1 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

FITVINE 

YOUR GUIDE TO FITNESS, HEALTHY FOOD & 

ESSENTIAL WELLBEING 

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4-5 FITFEST OXFORD 2019 

FEEL THE FITNESS 

6 TOP 5 

Health & Fitness Podcasts 

7 PILATES PT 

Strengthen Your Mind and 

Body 

8 JUMP YOUR WAY 

to Fitness 

9 LEAVE TOWN LIFE 

Behind and Get Fit with Fitness 

at the Farm 

10 FEEL FANTASTIC 

at FeelFit Gym 

11 GETTING FIT 

with Oxford Martial Arts 

Academy 

12 FEEL THE FITNESS BUZZ 

at Buzz Gym 

13 TRY NIA 

at Soulshine Wellbeing Space 

14 BEING YOUR BEST YOU! 

15 GAME ON OR GO HOME! 

16 TACKLING LOWER BACK 

PAIN with The Park Club 

17 LESS WORK 

More Play(Tone) 

18 BOUNCE 

Towards Your Fitness Goals 

19 AJ ACTIVE'S 

Mega Motivation 

20 TWERK YOUR WAY 

to Fitness with BamBam 

FOODIE HEAVEN 

21 A PHO PHENOMENON 

22-23 FOOD FITNESS FLORA 

24 ANNABELLE BAKER 

The Balanced Approach to 

Nutrition 

Lydiah Igweh 

Editor in Chief 

Jasmin Peppiatt 

Contributing Editor 

FitVine 

Jan/Feb 2019 

Susanne Kaesbauer 

Contributing Writer 

20 

22-23 

Credit: Tasmin Louise Photography 

MEET THE TEAM 

The organisers of Oxfordshire's Largest Fitness & Wellness Festival, FitFest Oxford, bring 

you FitVine Magazine. Count on us for insight and information about fitness, food, 

wellbeing, beauty and mindfulness, inspiring you to become healthier and happier. 

33 

34 

Clelia Bevillard 


25 GET CULINARY 

CONFIDENT! 

26 MASTERING MEAL 

Prep with Strength Chef 

27 NO NEED TO SKIP 

Breakfast with Fuel 10K 

28 HEALTHY CREATIONS 

by Vegemental 

29 SUPERCHARGE 

Your Health 

30 BREAKFAST TIME 

Set Yourself Up for Success 

31 CAFFEINE KICKS 

with Coopers Coffee 

32 INDIE START-UP ALERT! 

33 STARTING UP 

a Business, Kombucha-style 

ESSENTIAL WELLBEING 

34 THE NAKED PROFESSOR 

Bares All 

35 FLOAT, RELAX, REPEAT 

36 IS CLUTTER DRAINING 

Your Energy? 

37 FINE-TUNE 

Your Health and Wellness 

38 EXPLORING WELLNESS 

in the Workplace 

39 COMBINING YOGA 

and Life-coaching 

40 WOMEN-ONLY RACE 

For Life Now Invites Men and 

Children to Attend 

41 VIISANA 

A Unique Approach to Health 

Insurance 

RETAIL THERAPY 

42 A NEW APPROACH 

to Prenatal and Postnatal 

Health and Wellbeing 

43 LET’S GET PERSONAL 

44 GET THE MONSHEA 

GLOW 

45 YOU’RE THE BOLLOX! 

46 BETTER SLEEP NOW 

Shamaila Muzammil 


If you would like to advertise in the next edition of FitVine Mag, please email hello@fitfestoxford.com

FIND INSPIRATION 

AND FEEL GOOD AT FITFEST OXFORD, 15th June 2019 

Oxfordshire’s largest fitness and wellness festival 

Two years ago when we 

started conceptualising 

FitFest Oxford, we wanted to 

design an accessible, 

inclusive event. A festival that would 

be incredibly inspirational, progressive 

and innovative – an event that 

we would want to attend ourselves! 

Fast forward into 2019 and FitFest 

Oxford promises a unique interactive, 

experiential fitness, wellness 

and beauty event built on three key 

pillars: Think Fit, Feel Fit, Eat Fit. The 

festival embraces wellbeing through 

a diverse, comprehensive 

programme of activities. From 

HEALTHY FOOD + DRINK to 

FITNESS, WELLNESS and BEAUTY, 

FitFest Oxford will help you try 

something new, meet like-minded 

people, and ultimately feel inspired 

to live a healthier, fitter, happier 

lifestyle! 

Food + Drink 

Enjoy healthy cooking demos and workshops with expert nutritionists, plus 

some of the country’s most progressive food brands cooking up a storm, 

including JARR Kombucha, Jericho Kitchen, Fuel 10K and Primrose’s Kitchen, to 

name a few. Vietnamese restaurant Pho, Strength Chef and Vegemental will 

also be on-hand to refuel you with healthy, wholesome, vegan and 

gluten-friendly dishes after your workouts. The Foodie Dentist will be returning 

too, bringing with her some innovative food inspiration. 

Let’s set your 

expectations… 

Fitness 

There will be more than 40 fitness 

classes and workouts from some of 

UK’s leading fitness brands and 

professionals. The fantastic 

programme contains every type of 

fitness session, from dance-inspired 

workouts, body-toning hula-hooping, 

spin classes and boxercise sessions 

to high-rope exercise routines, 

martial arts, Zumba and boot camps 

(and even twerking!). Inspire your 

inner adventurer with Aerial Hoop or 

polefit, or embrace some mindfulness 

during yoga and Pilates. 

FitVine - 04

Caffeine? We’ve sorted that out, too. The 

awesome Coopers Coffee team will be 

back, offering speciality coffees, teas and 

hot chocolates. 

Talks + Discussions 

Hoping to be inspired? Insightful talks 

and in-depth debate from our renowned 

experts will be taking place across the 

festival. The line-up includes The Pilates 

PT, The Naked Professor, Healthier Leila, 

Food Fitness Flora, The Foodie Dentist, 

Hussain Manawer, Annabelle Baker 

Nutrition, life coach Sarah Griffiths and 

many more! 

The talk topics, from body confidence 

and goal-setting to stress management 

and mental health, are all relevant, 

insightful and inspirational, and 

may be the motivation you need to 

make a lifestyle change, be it big 

or small. 

Visitors will have access to onsite 

1:1 performance and wellbeing 

clinic appointments including 

pelvic and posture assessments, 

personalised diet plans, sports 

nutrition and IBS advice, personal 

training plans, exercise referral 

advice, and personal BMI sessions 

on the Bioelectrical impedance 

scales. 

And that’s not all. Top companies 

will be in attendance, ready to 

listen to what you have to say 

about your wellbeing and lifestyle, 

and offer advice, insight and 

inspiration. These include John 

Lewis & Partners Personal Styling, 

Buzz Gym, FeelFit Gym, Monshea 

Skincare and men’s underwear 

brand Bollox, to name just a few. 

VIP Lounge 

Unwind in our carnival-inspired 

VIP Garden away from all the 

hustle and bustle. Enjoy your own 

coffee and cocktail service, healthy 

food dishes, and summer tunes! 

When you’re not bypassing the 

queues with your fast-track tickets, 

you can delve into your own FitFest 

Oxford VIP branded Tote Goodie 

Bag. 

Wellness + Beauty 

You’ll feel pampered, thanks to the 

array of wellness and beauty 

treatments on offer. From cupping 

therapy, express facials, hand and 

neck massages and meditation to 

beauty hack stations, dry hairstyling, 

skin and stress relief therapies, plus 

much more. 

Kids Active Zone 

Worried about childcare? Don't be! 

We’ve partnered with Ignite Sports 

UK to provide a secure Kids Active 

Zone with lots of sports and crafts 

activities to keep the kids occupied 

and entertained while you refuel, 

rejuvenate, and re-energise. 

Getting There 

A dedicated FitFest Oxford bus 

(courtesy of The Oxford Bus 

Company) will be picking up 

attendees from Oxford train station 

and Redbridge Park & Ride. It will 

bring you directly to The Oxford 

Academy! Simple. 

Excited? We are! 

On behalf of the FitFest Oxford 

team, we look forward to seeing you 

at our major festival on 15th June 

2019 at The Oxford Academy. We 

hope it inspires you. If you would like 

to get involved with FitFest Oxford or 

share your thoughts, please email 

hello@fitfestoxford.com. For tickets, 

please visit www.fitfestoxford.com. 

Think Fit, 

Feel Fit, 

Eat Fit 

FitVine - 05

Top 5 Health & 

Fitness Podcasts 

Podcasts have become increasingly 

Popular over the past couple of 

years. Our lives are becoming 

increasingly busy which means that 

anything that makes multi-tasking a 

little easier is welcomed with open 

arms. From listening to them on your 

way to work, at the gym or even on a 

bike ride while keeping active, 

they’re versatile and you can learn 

something new or insightful at the 

same time. These days you can 

Podcasts on practically any subject. 

Podcasts based on health and 

fitness have also become more 

common, yet there is so much variety 

in the style amongst them. New to 

podcasts? Here are our top 5 for 

health and fitness! 

1. The Model Health Show 

Rated the top health podcast in the 

US on Apple Podcasts, The Model 

Health Show is hosted by best-selling 

author Shawn Stevenson. If you 

enjoy discussions with more of a 

scientific background but broken 

down in a clear, digestible way, this 

podcast is for you. Shawn’s smooth 

voice, welcome humour and 

knowledge of a range of topics 

related to health and wellness 

means the podcast is interesting, 

light-hearted and is likely to teach 

you something new. He has had 

some great expert guests come on 

the show which have sparked very 

educational, motivating and 

sometimes emotional conversations, 

such as his interview with Shaun T, 

creator of Insanity. 

Average episode duration: 50-70 

minutes. 

Perfect for: long commutes 

FitVine - 06 

2. Optimal Health Daily 4. Human Optimization 

Hour 

The Optimal Health Daily podcast 

will provide your daily dose of 

health-related information. It’s 

created by Dr. Neal Malik and would 

be described by many as more of a 

‘blogcast’ (a blog-style podcast). 

Featuring various expert guests, this 

podcast covers a variety of 

problem-specific topics, such as 

intermittent fasting and food 

supplements. The episodes are short 

and to-the-point so the information is 

super digestible. 

Average episode duration: 10 

minutes 

Perfect for: short walks or drives 

3. The Logical Weight Loss 

Podcast 

The Logical Weight Loss Podcast is 

lead by Dave Jackson who takes you 

along with him on his fitness journey. 

If you like to hear more personal 

journey stories from a relatable 

space, this podcast is great. Dave 

even talks through fitness technology 

he’s tried out so if you’re looking 

for reviews, you’ll find them here! 


minutes 

Perfect for: commutes to work and 

listening to while cooking 

Hosted by Kyle Kinsbury, The Human 

Optimization Hour is a great podcast 

if you’re into really motivational 

conversations. Kyle sits down with 

various industry experts and talks 

about mindset and wellness as well 

as fitness. Kyle and his expert guests 

aim to help you “achieve peak 

performance in everyday life” within 

all these aspects. Got your new 

year’s resolutions ready? This is the 

podcast to pair them with. 


minutes 

Perfect for: getting ready in the 

morning 

5. The Chalene show 

The Chalene Show is hosted by 

Chalene Johnson who talks through 

tips and discussions relating to diet, 

fitness and life balance. If you enjoy 

daytime chat show styled podcasts, 

look no further. You’ll feel a part of 

the conversation with this in your 

ears. 

Average episode duration: 30-40 

minutes 

Perfect for: commutes to work or 

listening before bed

Pilates PT: 

Strengthen 

Your Mind and 

Body 

Many of us think of 

exercise as a way of losing 

weight and toning up, 

but it’s so much more than that. 

Aside from the physical benefits that 

exercise offers the body, such as 

stronger muscles and a leaner, toned 

physique, exercise has many 

advantages in aiding our mental 

health, too. 

When we feel down, stressed or 

anxious, we can start to become 

nervous about completing even the 

simplest tasks in life, and the bigger 

tasks can become overwhelming. 

Regular exercise can help to prevent 

these feelings, promoting a more 

positive outlook and energy flow 

thanks to its abilities to stimulate 

serotonin, a natural, feel-good 

chemical in our bodies. In the same 

way, while Pilates helps us develop a 

stronger core, flexibility and an 

evenly-conditioned body, it also 

strengthens our mind by allowing us 

to separate ourselves from the hustle 

and bustle of everyday life, focusing 

solely on our movements, helping us 

get that feel-good endorphin buzz. 

Relieving tension in our minds and 

bodies is so important in today’s 

busy, fast-paced world. 

Pilates PT, set up by fitness expert 

Hollie Grant, is a fitness provider in 

the UK. They boast three London 

studios, at-home training sessions 

and a handy online fitness and 

nutrition plan. Hollie is passionate 

about empowering people to love 

and respect themselves, using 

exercise to strengthen their minds 

and bodies. The Pilates PT Method is 

all about focusing on how your body 

performs, not how it looks, and they 

believe this is the key to lifelong 

wellness and happiness. 

The Pilates PT Method Online® is a 

three-level holistic online plan 

broken up into eight-week 

segments. It includes online workout 

videos personalised to your body 

type, fitness levels and goals, a 

starter pack, expert content, a 

two-month Headspace app subscription, 

and online support. Alternatively, 

if online fitness plans aren’t your 

thing, you can train in one of the 

three Pilates PT’s 

London-based studios, found on 

New Kings Road, Fulham; Mandarin 

Oriental Hyde Park; or Sweaty Betty 

on Carnaby Street. Better still, you 

can request at-home training, ideal 

for new mothers, those with limited 

time or those who want to take 

advantage of their home gym. There 

are lots of options to cater for 

everyone who wants to try the 

Pilates PT Method. 

If you want to know more about 

Pilates PT before signing up, they 

will be at FitFest Oxford this June. 

Fitness expert Hollie will be on the 

Mental Health Panel, and her master 

trainer will be hosting a Pilates PT 

Method class. This is the ideal 

opportunity to find out more about 

the company and their classes, ask 

questions about Pilates and become 

inspired to try out this fantastic form 

of exercise. 

FitVine - 07

Jump Your 

Way to Fitness 

The last time you practiced 

jump-roping may have been 

in the school playground as 

a child, but you may want to 

pick up your skipping rope again, 

because jump roping has evolved as 

a sport supported by national and 

international organisations such as 

the World Jump Rope Federation. 

They organise training camps and 

competitions worldwide to develop 

new talent. 

In the UK, it has been the mission of 

Rachael Rollisson, Director of Jump 

Rope UK, to promote this sport 

enjoyed by children and adults alike. 

The company offers workshops and 

demos in schools across Worcestershire 

but also does commercial 

work, such as when they featured in 

the London 2012 Olympics. 

Rachael had a love for jump-roping 

from a young age when she started 

FitVine - 08 

it at her school club where her mum 

was the coach. She started competing 

at the age of nine and is now a 

full-time coach. Rachael and her 

mum have developed the family 

business Jump Rope UK and have 

expanded the team to include other 

experienced coaches. They now 

train fifty children with a view to 

enter the British championship and 

world championship. They run daily 

classes in a dozen schools in 

Worcestershire. 

It’s not hard to see that this sport is a 

fantastic way to get active, get your 

heart pumping and if you meet up 

with some friends to do it, you’re 

guaranteed a fun workout. 

The number of children and adults 

practicing jump-roping just keeps 

increasing year on year, and it seems 

this trend isn’t going to stop anytime 

soon. Similar to exercising with a 

trampoline, jump-roping is an 

alternative way to improve your 

cardio fitness, whether you choose 

to practice it individually or in a 

team. Jump Rope UK is developing a 

fitness course for adults to enjoy the 

benefit of cardio exercise, whether 

it’s to lose weight or simply increase 

fitness levels and have fun at the 

same time. In fact, HIIS (High 

Intensity Interval Skipping) is an 

emerging trend in fitness and is used 

by the Victoria Secrets Angels for its 

high level of calorie burning per 

session. 

In the future, Jump Rope UK will be 

looking to continue to expand their 

team in line with the increasing 

demand and aims to win even more 

medals at championships. 

Jump Rope UK will be at FitFest 

Oxford in June.

Leave Town Life 

Behind and Get 

Fit with Fitness 

at the Farm 

Meet Leah Maclean, the lady behind 

Fitness at the Farm. She’s 31 and 

lives on a tree farm with her husband 

who runs a Tree Surgery business. 

Upon moving to Oxfordshire, Leah 

worked in marketing for about eight 

years but, in 2015, she decided to 

change career course and get a MSc 

in Nutrition, Physical Activity & Public 

Health at Bristol, then qualified as a 

personal trainer. 

Outdoor workouts 

Leah began hosting Saturday 

morning fitness classes on the farm 

in 2017. “I had used the farm to train 

on for years, running around the 

fields and playing with tyres for my 

strength training. So I thought I’d see 

if others would like to give it a go. 

That Saturday class became the best 

part of my week. I soon realised this 

is what I wanted to do full time, so 

started taking on personal training 

clients at the farm and grew my class 

schedule. Things have continued to 

grow from there!” 

Being outside makes it easy to get 

your daily dose of Vitamin D, boosts 

your mood and can help reduce 

stress. What’s more, the differing 

terrain and environmental elements 

mean that your body works harder 

when exercising outdoors. 

Schedule your first 

outdoor workout session 

with Leah at the Farm. 

Anyone who wants to give it a go 

can join the classes. You’ll work out 

alongside super-fit marathon runners 

and complete beginners. The thing 

everyone has in common is that they 

aren’t keen on a gym environment; 

they enjoy being out in the fresh air 

with no mirrors and no judgement. 

Leah will be speaking about 

Intuitive Eating at FitFest 

Oxford in June. 

Intuitive Eating is a way of learning 

to listen to your body; you eat as and 

when you want according to your 

body’s hunger and satiety cues. This 

isn’t an easy thing to achieve 

because it is difficult to dismiss 

external influences over what you 

can and can’t eat, as well as your 

ingrained internal voice which is 

often full of false notions about body 

image and weight in relation to 

health. 

What’s coming up in 2019 

for Fitness at the Farm? 

Keep an eye out for more events. 

Leah will be hosting a number of 

Fitness and Nutrition Retreats 

throughout the year. From April 

onwards, Leah will start doing 

monthly Nutrition Evenings in the 

farm’s new Tipi Kitchen. Don’t miss 

your chance to meet Leah at FitFest. 

Once you achieve this, you 

are able to live life without 

determining your value 

based on what you’ve eaten, 

how much you’ve moved, or 

a number on the scale. You 

can start to ignore the 

constant messages you’ve 

received about your body 

not being good enough that 

lead to body dissatisfaction 

and help you slowly and 

gently develop gratitude and 

body satisfaction. 

FitVine - 09

Feel Fantastic at 

FeelFit Gym 

FeelFit Gym in 

Cowley, 

Oxford, is the city’s largest gym and 

is very well-equipped, boasting the 

latest Matrix machines spanning two 

huge floors. They host more than 50 

classes a week, and the gym is home 

to a sauna, steam room, and their 

team of experts are always on-hand 

if you need any advice. 

We asked the FeelFit team to explain 

what sets them apart from other local 

gyms. “We have it all under one roof! 

We’re not just Oxford’s largest gym 

but we have expert trainers, a mixed 

sauna and steam room, ladies-only 

gym, ladies-only infra-red sauna, a 

nutritional bar where you can get the 

goodness you need after a hard 

session. And Oxford’s only supplement 

shop where you can buy the 

supplements needed towards 

reaching your goals. We have an 

amazing range of classes to choose 

from too!” 

Putting customers first is 

important, so how does 

FeelFit Gym personalise 

the customer experience? 

“Every customer’s fitness journey is 

important to us. We have a dedicated 

team here at FeelFit and we create a 

family-like atmosphere to make you 

feel comfortable. Every new member 

gets the option to have a free 

30-minute consultation with one of 

our expert trainers to understand 

your fitness goals so we can identify 

a plan that best suits you.” 

When we’re feeling tired 

or cold in the winter 

months, many of us can 

feel less motivated to 

train. 

How does FeelFit Gym motivate its 

members? “We have created a 

family-like atmosphere here at 

FeelFit and we have tools within our 

facilities that can help keep you 

motivated. Our Boditrax machine can 

scan your body and let us know what 

is going on inside. Sometimes it can 

be frustrating and demotivating 

when you have been working hard 

and cannot see any visual differences 

yet! This machine will let you 

know the difference you cannot see 

yet. You set your own personal goals 

within the machine, too.” 

FeelFit Gym advise that you 

should “have a fitness goal 

in mind and put a plan in 

place to help you reach your 

goal. Don’t be unrealistic, 

break your plan down into 

small chunks and with 

determination and focus you 

can achieve anything.” 

FeelFit Gym will be at FitFest 

Oxford in June. They will be 

hosting a range of amazing 

classes, and their expert 

team will be available to 

chat with you about your 

fitness goals. 

FitVine - 10

Getting Fit 

with 

Oxford Martial Arts 

Academy 

We recently spoke to the inspirational 

team at Oxford Martial Arts 

Academy (OMAA), the largest Martial 

Arts Academy in Oxfordshire. They 

specialise in Brazillian Jiu Jitsu, 

Boxing, Muay Thai. The fantastic 

academy has been well-established 

for over a decade producing 

National and International Champions 

in various disciplines. 

Anyone is welcome to train with the 

academy. They explained, “We cater 

for all levels and abilities. Here at 

OMAA, we believe Martial Arts is 

beneficial for every individual, so 

whether you are looking to train for 

recreational purposes, to keep fit or 

you are looking to reach the top in 

combat sports, then OMAA is the 

place to be!” 

The academy is home to 

some of the world’s best 

trainers, too. 

“OMAA has a world class coaching 

team with a proven track record of 

achieving great success and results.” 

This coaching team includes Muay 

Thai Head Coach, Dean James (four 

times World Champion, two times 

European Champion, two times 

Commonwealth Champion, British 

Title Holder, and Technical Fighter of 

the Year award-winner); Boxing Head 

Coach, Denis Hysenbelli (European 

Bronze Medallist, Balkan’s Olympics 

Gold Medallist, three times Albanian 

National Champion); 

Brazillian Jiu Jitsu Head Coach, Max 

Campos (two times World Cup 

Medallist, European No Gi Champion, 

Brazillian National Champion, five 

times London Open Champion, five 

times London Open No Gi Champion, 

six times British Champion). It’s 

an impressive list! 

So what are the benefits of Martial 

Arts? “Martials is a great way of 

exercising to keep fit. It also teaches 

discipline, respect for others and is a 

great way to build self-confidence. 

The benefits of Martials are not 

limited to just becoming a better 

physical or mental version of 

yourself. You will meet people from 

different walks of life which will give 

you a better understanding of life. 

Martial Arts is not limited to just 

competition in combat sports. It’s a 

way of life which will improve you as 

a human being.” 

The dedicated team at 

OMAA are passionate about 

being community-focused. 

Our focus to the community 

is what makes us stand out. 

At OMAA, we are very 

diverse. Regardless of where 

you come from or what your 

background is, everyone is 

accepted here and we want 

everyone from all different 

walks of life to feel 

To find out more about the 

academy, visit their website: 

www.omaa.org.uk. 

The Academy team will be at 

FitFest Oxford in June. 

FitVine - 11

Feel the Fitness 

Buzz at Buzz Gym 

Buzz Gym Oxford is not 

another boring gym. Their 

team strives to make 

working out inspiring and 

fun for everyone. From the moment 

you walk through the front door, you 

will notice a completely different 

atmosphere. An open space offering 

new and top of the line equipment, 

and the fantastic team of personal 

trainers will to give you tips to take 

your workout to the next level. 

Choose from over 30 free fitness 

classes per week (the most popular 

classes include yoga, bodypump and 

zumba). You can also attend 

educational events designed to help 

people understand the effects of 

sugar on their body, encouraging 

discussions about body dysmorphia 

and eating disorders and opening up 

chats about eating habits, such as 

the vegan and paleo diet. 

Buzz Gym is a 24/7 gym breaking 

the mould of normal commercial 

gyms. They pride themselves on 

offering the best range of equipment 

in Oxfordshire. This includes a Plate 

Loaded Hammer Strength, Coach by 

Colour Spin Bikes, top of the range 

Life Fitness Cardio equipment with 

built-in TV screens that allow you to 

access the internet, play computer 

games and even watch your 

favourite Netflix series. 

Buzz Gym Oxford members come 

from all walks of life and range from 

GB athletes to people with disabilities. 

Their oldest members are 76 

years young! The gym is fully 

accessible for anyone in a wheelchair 

and there are plenty of pieces 

of equipment to use. The track and 

field zone attracts those competing 

in sport and the hammer strength 

equipment has led to a loyal 

following of bodybuilders. There’s 

something for everyone. 

If you’re ready to start your exciting 

fitness journey, joining Buzz Gym 

takes just a few minutes online, and 

payments can be made from UK 

bank accounts or through PayPal. 

The process is very simple; just visit 

www.buzzgym.co.uk to complete 

the sign-up process. Alternatively, 

book a tour in the gym and one of 

the dedicated team members will 

show you around and help you join. 

All Buzz Gym members receive a 

free induction and monthly 

programme design session to 

provide guidance towards their 

goals and keep them on track. State 

of the art Heart Rate Monitor 

technology in the gym allows 

members to track their effort levels 

and calories burned through 

MyZone. All of this helps to contribute 

towards motivating members to 

keep exceeding their personal 

fitness and wellbeing goals. 

Other benefits of a Buzz Gym 

membership include a range of 

discounts around Oxford, from 15% 

off at Leon to 10% off at BB Supplements 

company. Buzz Gym also 

regularly arranges events in the club 

to add to the member experience 

and set them apart from other gyms. 

Check out Buzz Gym at FitFest 

Oxford. The Buzz team will be 

showing off the Personal Trainers 

and bringing down the famous Buzz. 

FitVine - 12

Try Nia at 

Soulshine Wellbeing 

Check out this new space 

in Abingdon offering 

fitness-inspired dance 

classes and much more. 

Soulshine Wellbeing is owned by 

Vicky Rainbow, who’s been teaching 

dance and movement for over 10 

years. Vicky has created this 

beautiful space to offer Nia dance 

classes, as well as monthly Dance, 

Art & Wellbeing Day Retreats and 

various art/craft workshops. She will 

soon be sharing her my music in 

various events! Keep in mind that the 

space also has a therapy room, 

which various therapists work from, 

and other practitioners offer 

workshops/retreats as well. 

What is Nia dance? 

Nia is a Barefoot Fusion-Fitness 

approach. More than just a 

workout, Nia is a non-impact, 

holistic, cardio-dance fitness class 

that conditions the body and 

transforms the mind, while increasing 

energy and emotional balance. 

Based on the intelligent design of 

the body, a Nia class is taken to 

beautiful, soul-stirring music, and its 

simple moves are rooted in a 

balanced combination of movement 

and body-mind practices, 

such as yoga. It is adaptable to all 

fitness levels. 

Specifically, Nia is a 

dynamic blend of nine 

movement forms: 

Martial Arts: T’ai Chi, Tae Kwon Do, 

Aikido 

Dance Arts: Jazz, Modern, Duncan 

Healing Arts: Yoga, Alexander 

Technique, Feldenkrais 

Don’t be intimidated by this long list! 

You don't need prior knowledge of 

any of these disciplines. It’s an 

inclusive class where all ages and 

abilities are welcome and supported 

in class. Wellness and fitness are a 

journey so you might as well have 

some fun along the way. Dancing to 

the beat of your own drum and 

expressing yourself creatively 

sounds like a fun way to get fit in 

2019. We wanted to know more so 

we asked Vicky how long she has 

been on her own wellness journey 

and what inspired her to teach Nia 

dance.“I have been on the path of 

wellness for over 20 years, I have 

always loved dancing and I wanted 

something of my own I could practise 

and teach. 

Around 10 years ago, I saw a friend 

practice Nia and I just loved the 

music and the moves. I like the 

holistic aspect of Nia, and the 

movement variety it offers. I like that 

it encourages sound and self-expression. 

I like the music and the ethos.” 

Similar to martial arts, Nia dance 

offers different levels of training. 

Teachers and students wear belts to 

showcase their levels of achievement. 

The first level of training to become a 

Nia practitioner is the white belt, 

which focuses on physical sensation, 

body awareness and self-knowledge. 

Each successive belt-level 

training adds a new focus in developing 

your holistic knowledge of the 

body, enhancing your fitness 

practice and expanding your 

movement creativity. 

Check out Soulshine Wellbeing at 

FitFest Oxford. Explore moving at 

your own pace or level, listening to 

your body and doing what feels right. 

Watch how things get easier over 

time as we approach them with our 

own wellbeing in mind. 

FitVine - 13

Being 

Your 

Best You! 

Healthier Leila is co-founder of Fierce and Fearless, an 

initiative that empowers and inspires women through 

events and meetups. Leila is a qualified fitness instructor 

and Fiit Ambassador, and she runs Best You retreats and 

boot camps designed to help people reach their full 

potential. We’re delighted that Leila has joined the FitFest 

Oxford Family! Want to know more about Leila? Check out 

our exclusive interview. 

I followed women who were more 

my size and shape along with those 

who empowered me, inspired me 

and educated me with their content. 

What’s your favourite type 

of workout and why? 

This changes all the time! I love 

using my FIIT app at home; it’s 

flexible and I love all the trainers that 

the app has. It’s also so convenient. 

I’ve recently got back into my 

running too, which I have found has 

really helped me with getting the 

head space that I need with a busy 

work schedule. 

Body Coach 90 Day SSS Plan, which 

I completed in six months. When I 

finished the plan, I’d lost weight but 

still felt miserable. I’d fallen back in 

love with exercise, joined the gym 

but still couldn’t find the love for my 

body. 

What was your motivation 

for setting up a fitspiration 

movement? 

In June 2016, I felt miserable with my 

body. I had gained a lot of weight; I 

was living an unhealthy lifestyle, 

working long hours in London and 

not finding any balance. I started my 

blog and my Instagram account to 

help me find motivation and meal 

ideas. I then stumbled across The 

FitVine - 14 

At the start of 2017, I found Tally 

Rye’s Instagram and YouTube 

account. She spoke about self love 

and body confidence. At first, I didn’t 

understand it. How could I still love 

myself if I considered myself fat? The 

fact that I didn’t have a flat stomach 

or a thigh gap really got to me. I 

soon discovered that this feeling 

was a feeling from outside pressure, 

social media, press and magazines. 

After months of watching YouTube 

videos and finding women who 

really inspired me, I started to ‘like’ 

what I saw in the mirror. That’s when 

my journey really started. 

How did you build your body 

confidence? 

It took a very long time. I tell 

everyone that it’s a journey; it isn’t 

over night. I removed all the ‘celebrities’ 

from my social media that just 

posted themselves in lovely bikinis 

or even airbrushed their photos. 

What are your fitness and 

wellness goals and ambitions 

for 2019? 

I have a huge year coming up and 

some really exciting things happening. 

I want to show people that you 

can do anything you put your mind 

to, so I have decided to do 12 

challenges in 12 months. It’s about 

pushing myself and making people 

realise that your body is more than 

aesthetics. 

What can people expect from 

you at FitFest Oxford? 

You can expect a motivating and 

empowering talk where I’ll be giving 

you tips on how to change your 

mindset. I’ll also be hosting one of 

my signature #BestYou workouts!

Game On 

or 

Go Home! 

Meet The Athlete Centre, Didcot With gyms 

across the UK, The Athlete Centre, in Didcot, 

provides CrossFit, personal training, strength, 

mobility and nutrition support all under one roof. 

Crossfit is a general strength and conditioning 

programme with the goal of improving fitness across 

multiple dimensions. It delivers a well-rounded 

approach, which includes strength, cardiovascular 

fitness and mobility. Both strengths and weaknesses are 

assessed and training is tailored to focus on the gaps to provide 

a comprehensive athletic and fitness base. The Athlete Centre 

team focuses on mobility as much as strength and endurance. 

Mobility refers to our joints' ability to move freely and with ease in 

all available directions. By focusing on mobility and form while 

performing exercises, injuries are actively prevented. Even old 

injuries can begin to heal as the surrounding muscles 

and tissues take on their supporting functions. If you are 

interested in a well-rounded, safe training 

programme, check out The Athlete Centre, Didcot. 

They have about as many women as men training 

together in their facilities, all supporting each 

other to work towards individual goals. Need more 

CrossFit inspiration? Come see some of The 

Athlete Centre’s clients perform in the 

Throwdown at FitFest Oxford on 15th June at 

the Oxford Academy. You'll be impressed to see 

how bodies can perform with consistent 

and focused training! 

Take part in the Throwdown! 

Fitfest Oxford 

Throwdown, now 

in its 2nd year, is a 

highly-regarded 

competition 

involving a mix of 

functional-based 

movements, 

weightlifting and 

gymnastics. 

Same-sex teams 

of three take on 

atleast four WODS 

throughout the 

day. The WODS 

are designed to 

challenge 

newcomers and 

experienced 

athletes alike. 

Teamwork is key 

to this competition! 

Check out 

our a full list of 

movement 

requirements for 

this event via 

@fitfestoxfordthrowdown 

Instagram page. Keep in mind that 

there are no qualifiers. Athlete 

Tickets are £50 per person. This 

will include full access to FitFest 

Oxford Fitness and Wellness 

Festival, lunch from one of our 

food vendors and your entry to the 

Throwdown. Make use of the early 

bird offer: sign your team up 

before 5th February to get £5 off 

per person! The FitFest Oxford 

Throwdown team can’t wait to see 

your team compete. 

FitVine - 15

Tackling Lower 

Back Pain 

with The Park Club 

Additionally, try foam rolling. Place 

the foam roller under your hamstring 

and bend the other knee. Move your 

body forward and back over the 

foam roller so that the rollers roll 

across the hamstring (see Picture 2). 

Lower back pain is very common; it 

restricts a lot of movements and can 

cause significant stress. Matt Bishop, 

a personal trainer at The Park Club, 

Oxford, is a specialist in working with 

clients with lower back pain so we 

were intrigued with what he was 

able to tell us about tackling lower 

back pain. 

How did you come to 

specialise in lower back 

pain? 

Many of my clients would begin 

training with me and inform me that 

they suffer from lower back pain – I 

realised it’s something that is very 

common. So, I thought that it would 

good to get some more specialised 

training to ensure I am able to help 

my clients with these specific issues 

the best I can – that’s when I 

decided to take up a Diploma in 

managing back pain. 

What are some of the 

causes of lower back pain? 

The main ones include a lack of 

exercise. When the muscles that 

your body should be using for 

movements aren’t activated enough, 

they won’t automatically kick in with 

certain movements where they 

should be carrying the load. This 

then adds strain to the nerves which 

end up taking on the load. More 

FitVine - 16 

causes include a decrease in 

flexibility, sitting for long periods of 

time, repetitive strain, excess weight 

and even stress. 

What advice do you give 

to clients suffering from 

lower back pain? What 

type of things do you 

incorporate into their 

training programme? 

Stretch! People tend only to stretch 

before an intense exercise, but we 

should be aiming to stretch every 

day as well as before and after 

exercise. This improves flexibility 

and pre-conditions your muscles to 

be activated in the correct way. 

Stretching the hamstrings is especially 

important as it reduces stress on 

the lower back. You can do this by 

laying flat on your back, lifting your 

leg and placing your hands behind 

your knee while gently pulling your 

leg towards you (see Picture 1 

below). 

What can be done to 

prevent lower back pain 

or ensure there isn’t a 

relapse of injury? 

Do exercises that strengthen the 

core, such as planks (see Picture 3) 

or bridges 

For bridges, lay down with your back 

flat on the ground and knees bent. 

Use your core and glutes to pull your 

lower body up, hold for a few 

seconds and then lower again. 

Repeat this 10-12 times in sets of 

three (see Picture 4). 

However, avoid high-impact training 

such as running and jumping. 

Matt is based at The Park Club, 

Oxford, which has a large gym floor 

with a variety of free weight, 

resistance and cardio equipment. 

Facilities also include a steam room, 

sauna and swimming pool, and 

group classes. Booking an induction 

is super easy, and includes a free PT 

session from one of their three 

personal trainers. 

You can meet The Park Club in June 

at FitFest Oxford.

Less 

Work, 

More 

Play(Tone) 

T 

ired of that same old workout routine that 

always feels like hard work? Time to think 

outside the box and add more fun to your 

workouts. The ladies from PlayTone have 

developed inspiring workouts with fun in mind. 

PlayTone is your is pop-up playground; an alternative 

fitness brand specialising in combining fitness and fun. 

They offer hoop, skate, jump and flexibility classes. Even 

roller disco events are on the schedule! 

Remember when you were a child and had creative ideas 

and solutions for every little challenge that came your 

way? It may have been due to all the time you spent on 

the playground with friends having fun. Studies show that 

play for adults is also beneficial. It increases creativity, 

productivity and self-esteem, relaxation and helps foster 

empathy. 

The PlayTone team has a ‘less is more’ philosophy. You’ll 

find fun and playful, low-impact exercises rather than 

gruelling high-impact workouts. You’ll have fun rather 

than dreading that HIIT class. You may even forget you’re 

working out at all! 

We are, generally, a nation who must 

relearn the art of playfulness. Actually, 

most people are quite willing. They just 

need permission, and that’s where 

PlayTone comes in. 

If you join the PlayTone team for a workout, you won’t be 

reminded of diets or that you’re there to burn calories or 

lose weight. We love their commitment to no diets! All 

activities are designed to help you feel strong and happy 

instead. 

Go ahead... release your inner child and be wild! Try 

PlayTone’s hoop disco at FitFest Oxford. Or, if you can't 

wait for FitFest, check them out in London. Prices are 

reasonable and start at £7 for a drop in. Block bookings 

are available. You must be aged 18 or older to play. 

Check them out on Instagram (@playtone_uk) or visit 

their website, wwww.playtone.co.uk. 

FitVine - 17

BOUNCE TOWARDS 

YOUR FITNESS GOALS 

M 

Meet JumpFit, a new 

exercise class involving 

bouncing on rebound 

boots to mood-boosting 

music. Defy gravity as you jump, 

bounce and experience a variety of 

other benefits, such as a reduction in 

body fat, greater muscle tone, 

increased agility and greater 

strength. It’s also an effective way to 

get your cardio in. An aerobic effect 

for the heart is guaranteed in each 

class. 

To bounce with the JumpFit team, 

you don’t need to have any experience 

or special dancing skills. The 

boots are a lot easier to use than 

they look! It’s fun for anyone aged 12 

or older, and it’s an inclusive class 

where all shapes and sizes are 

welcome. Both men and women 

attend the classes. 

Don’t hesitate to try a new exercise 

that seems initially seems beyond 

your comfort zone! JumpFit participants 

leave raving reviews about the 

benefits of the classes and instructors. 

Just a few include: 

“The most enjoyable fitness class I 

have ever been to, great all over 

workout and a great pace to the 

class, amazing instructors too!” - 

Lucy 

“It's exercise that doesn't feel like 

exercise.” - Anita 

“Its addictive! 

I've always envied people who say 

they enjoy exercise, quite frankly I've 

always hated it but I'm so glad I can 

finally say I've found something I not 

only enjoy, I love it! it's not only 

helped my fitness but it's helped my 

confidence and my anxiety. 

Everyone you meet is lovely and 

welcoming and I recommend it to 

anyone.” - Nikki 

JumpFit classes are available 

in Croydon and Bristol. Keep an eye 

out as the JumpFit team expands 

across the UK. JumpFit classes are 

available every day and affordable, 

with prices starting at £6.50 per 

class, which includes the use of the 

special rebound jumping boots. 

You can now get to know 

If you're interested in JumpFit or 

would like to chat with the JumpFit 

team, they will be at FitFest Oxford 

on 15th June. Come along, say hello 

and get to know what they're all 

about! 

FitVine - 18

AJ ACTIVE’s 

MegaMotivation 

S 

ay hello to, AJ ACTIVE who has just turned 50, looks incredible, and is the most 

flexible woman we know! We caught up with AJ to give you an intimate insight 

into what it takes to be fabulous at 50, including her daily routine and her advice 

on feeling youthful and healthy. Here’s what she had to say. 

At 50, what inspires you to keep going? 

Being 50 has its advantages! I don’t feel such a need to compete with fellow 

teachers, more so I am interested in their teaching and comparing tales of what 

they come across in their worlds. I see also an ageing population that still has 

vibrancy, strength and a desire to release tension through working 

out. 

Walk us through a day with AJ. 

My day starts with my own self-Yoga practice. I then have a mixture of 

one-to-one clients, sometimes small private groups, sometimes classes for 

corporate companies. I teach Pilates and Yoga at Magdalen School, plus I 

teach a range of fitness classes from Rose Hill Primary School. I also teach 

in village halls and local studios. 

Do you have any youthful tips to impart? 

To be youthful in your mind, stay positive and try not to listen to negative 

chat or views. Swerve the moaners! 

What’s the main difference between Yoga and Pilates? 

Pilates is a core-based technique using its own unique breath control in 

conjunction with a series of postures designed to help realign poor 

posture and strengthen the core. It is often a mat-based class, although 

there are many variations using equipment. Yoga means unification of 

mind, body and breath. Asanas (postures or positions) are practised 

often from standing, sometimes from seated or floor-based. 

Do you have long-standing clients? 

I have clients who have been with me for 25 years, and one who 

was 80 last year and still attends an aerobics class once a week 

and regularly gives blood! 

Out of all the classes you offer, which is your 

favourite and why? 

I love my self-choreographed step class, which I change every 

five weeks. It challenges me to be creative. But all interaction 

with my participants and clients is unique and special. 

We know you love AJ ACTIVE just as much as we do. 

Meet her at FitFest Oxford on 15th June and chat 

about motivation, inspiration, fitness and 

wellbeing. 

FitVine - 19

Twerk Your Way 

to Fitness with 

BamBam Boogie 

Meet Bami, the founder of 

BamBam Boogie, who 

turned her frustration with 

the lack of diversity in her 

local gym into a global dance fitness 

powerhouse. Her mission is to form 

fearless females around the world by 

sharing her story of hard work, 

resilience and huge amounts of 

good vibes. 

In September 2015, aged 22, Bami 

moved from Toronto to Dublin to 

work at The Google EMEA Headquarters. 

Although thrilled at the chance 

to work for Google, something just 

didn’t feel right. She felt out of place 

in the corporate world. This is where 

she first noticed the lack of diversity 

and inclusion in the fitness industry. 

That’s when it clicked: 

Be the change 

you want to see 

in the world 

In May 2016, BamBam Boogie Dance 

Fitness was born. Starting off with 

the humble aim of getting diverse 

faces, shapes and sizes into her 

workplace gym, the word spread like 

wildfire when she rapidly became a 

social media sensation with her 

vibrant energy and fun class videos. 

Before she knew it, Bami had 

demand in countries all over the 

world, from Brazil and Canada to the 

Netherlands and the US. 

In February 2018, Bami made the 

plunge to leave her full-time job at 

Google. She moved to her city of 

birth, London, England, to dedicate 

her time to BamBam Boogie. 

Over 2,000 people (and counting) 

around the world have been inspired 

by Bami’s contagious love for life 

and her story of persistence. Now a 

certified personal trainer, Bami 

hopes to continue spreading her 

story to inspire others to be fearless 

in pursuit of their dreams. 

We bring you an exclusive interview 

with Bami herself ahead of her 

taking part in FitFest Oxford on 15th 

June. 

Why did you choose 

twerking? 

I chose twerking because it’s 

something that has been in my 

culture for years. I’m Nigerian so I 

remember being very young 

watching my grandma “twerk” (it, of 

course, was not called twerking back 

then!). 

How long have you been 

twerking? 

I’ve been dancing since I was very 

young but I started twerking when I 

was a teenager (pre-Miley Cyrus). 

This is because, when I moved to 

Toronto at the age of 14, my friends 

taught me about Caribbean culture 

and the art of whining, daggering 

and twerking. I loved it so much! 

What would you say to 

people who want to twerk 

but are not confident 

enough? 

I would say watch some videos 

online. I have a super simple twerk 

tutorial on my YouTube channel and I 

always recommend first-timers to 

check it out. Try it at home and, once 

you feel like you’ve gained the 

confidence to try it in a group 

setting, book in a group class. 

What muscles do you 

work out when you twerk? 

Twerking is a full body workout out 

but the main muscles are the glutes 

(booty) and legs. You can burn up to 

600 calories in a session. 

Don’t miss the chance to twerk your 

way to a toned, sculpted and bigger 

badonkadonk with the one and only 

@bambam_boogie! You can catch 

BamBam Boogie at FitFest in June. 

FitVine - 20

A PHO PHENOMENON 

PHO IS A GROUP OF VIETNAMESE 

STREET FOOD RESTAURANTS DOTTED 

AROUND THE UK. 

You’ll find them in Oxford on the roof of Westgate, 

serving up tasty dishes from nutritious noodle soups and 

aromatic curries to spicy salads, herbal teas and fresh 

juices. If you fancy something a little stronger, they have 

an extensive wine list and craft beers. 

Pronounced ‘fuh’, pho is 

not only the name of this 

street food company but 

also the name of this type 

of food originating from 

Vietnam. In short, it’s soup. 

But it’s also so much more 

than that! The soup is a 

type of clear, flavoursome 

broth made with rice 

noodles and either chicken 

or beef. Other delicious 

ingredients include bean 

sprouts, herbs, spring 

onion, chilli and just about 

anything else you fancy 

trying in your pho. 

Thanks to the wide 

range of restaurants 

we have in the UK, 

many of us are now used to 

eating pho and ramen 

soups. And they’re talked 

about for all the right 

reasons. 

Pho is the ultimate comfort 

food; both satisfying and 

warming (and good for 

you). 

The pho phenomenon will 

be continuing at FitFest 

Oxford in June, as the 

popular street food 

company will be serving up 

their best broths and 

delicious dishes for you to 

try. They have a carefully 

thought-out menu catering 

for a wide variety of dietary 

requirements. Most of their 

broths are gluten-free (yay, 

rice noodles!) and there are 

naturally very few dairy 

products used in Vietnamese 

cooking, too. Their 

menu clearly labels every 

dish and they even 

helpfully share their 

nutritional guidelines as 

well. Seeing as this type of 

food is naturally low in fat, 

low in sugar and generally 

quite healthy, they’re happy 

to tell you exactly what is 

going into your broth, and 

you’ll be pleased to know 

that you’re putting some 

goodness into your body. 

At Pho, their most 

popular dish is, well, 

you guessed it: pho. 

It’s what they specialise in, 

so it’s always a winner. 

Their customers’ second 

favourite is the Asian 

chicken salad, packed full 

of flavour and under 300 

calories. 

Many coeliacs love their 

fried baby squid because 

most fried foods typically 

contain gluten, but, instead, 

the chefs lightly fry the 

squid in potato 

starch. If you’re a vegan, 

you should definitely try 

the tofu and mushroom 

curry, lovingly made with 

coconut milk. 

Pop by Pho’s stand at 

FitFest Oxford and you’ll 

find warming noodle 

soups, freshly-rolled 

summer rolls, naturally 

healthy options and 

guilt-free Vietnamese 

salads, plus plenty of 

gluten-free, vegetarian and 

vegan options. But it 

doesn’t stop there! They’ve 

launched a new fitness-inspired 

specials menu with 

high-protein, low-calorie 

dishes. From cauliflower 

rice bowls and spicy salad 

rolls, you’ll definitely find 

something to enjoy from 

Pho at FitFest Oxford. 

FitVine - 21

Food Fitness Flora 

Make 2019 your healthiest & most successful year. 

MMeet Flora Beverley, aka 

Food Fitness Flora, who 

has shaped how wellness 

and mental health are 

discussed online. We spoke to Flora 

in an exclusive interview about how 

to grow a positive community that 

openly discusses mental health and 

how to turn a passion for wellbeing 

and fitness into a thriving career. 

We love Flora’s down-to-earth 

approach to wellbeing and mental 

health. On her blog and social media 

(her Instagram profile is rapidly 

approaching 80K followers), Flora 

showcases how being fit and healthy 

isn't about doing anything extreme. 

She openly shares her journey of six 

years, which included recovery from 

an eating disorder and taking small 

but effective steps to improve her 

own mental health and wellbeing. 

Her philosophy is, 

Small changes that you can 

stick to are of far more value 

than any diet, 8 week plan or 

a weight-loss pill. 

Flora describes how her Instagram 

success started and how she’s 

managed to build a supportive 

community that focuses on wellness 

and mental health. 

“I first started my Instagram as a food 

Instagram, taking pictures of my 

meals daily and posting them. It was 

a way to ensure I was eating 3 square 

meals a day (plus snacks!) as I was 

recovering from an eating disorder. I 

then found that the Instagram community 

was hugely supportive of my 

recovery, and as I got better, I started 

sharing my training sessions, too. My 

blog started a few years later as a 

way to write a little bit more than can 

fit in the Instagram caption space 

and it was here I first started sharing 

recipes, long form blog posts and 

'how to' pieces.” 

Flora didn’t always love fitness but 

managed to find a sport she loved, 

which changed everything and even 

brought about a successful career in 

health and fitness. 

“Turns out I loved squash. I competed 

in the National Schools Championships 

in squash when I was 17. It was 

during the training for that that I 

realised how amazing working out 

felt. I continued going to the gym 

after school and fell into a routine 

where I used fitness as a way to 

keep on top of my mental health.” 

Her recommendation to everyone is 

to find something you love. “If you 

keep going to the gym and hate it 

every day, you are doing something 

wrong.” Flora managed to turn what 

she loved into a career. She has 

turned her blog into something that 

represents her. As a result, she can 

blog about anything that excites and 

inspires her. 

Does that mean Flora is working all 

the time as the lines are blurred 

between her hobbies and career? 

We asked how she balances it all 

and received an honest response. 

We asked how she balances it all 

and received an honest response. 

“When you do what you love as a 

full-time career, you can never switch 

off. 

It's not the same as a desk job; it's a 

24/7 commitment. Sometimes that's 

great and sometimes it's really not.” 

Be the best version of 

yourself in 2019 

Are you inspired to make small 

changes to get healthier and happier 

in 2019? Take Flora’s advice and get 

outside every day for a walk. Aim for 

10,000 steps. Walk outside surrounded 

by nature. Find a sport or workout 

style that you love. Befriend people 

who support your journey and 

lifestyle. 

Looking to turn your love 

for wellness and fitness 

into a career with a great 

following? 

Consider Flora’s words of 

wisdom to get you started. 

“Gain inspiration from people who 

you respect. Like and comment on 

their stuff. It's great to have support 

from people and it has to be a 

two-way thing! Write and post about 

things you're interested in and 

passionate about. The followers will 

come, but it's usually a slow process. 

If you're not passionate about it, 

you'll give up long before you get to 

the point you probably want to get 

to! I would just have been more out 

there if I started again. I was there at 

the very beginning of blogging, and I 

wish I'd known how much potential it 

had, but hindsight is a wonderful 

thing.” 

Get out there and don’t delay 

starting something great. Don’t wait 

for things to be perfect. Start small 

and grow over time. This way, you 

can spread the message further, 

especially if you are passionate 

about mental health and living a 

balanced lifestyle. 

Ready for more inspiration? Join 

Flora in June at FitFest Oxford. 

FitVine - 22

Credit: Tasmin Louise Photography

Annabelle Baker 

The Balanced 

Approach to Nutrition 

Whether it’s the start of a new year, 

a new month or even a new day, 

we should always take the 

opportunity to take a step back 

and evaluate our wellbeing. Do I 

sleep enough? Am I getting 

enough exercise? And a common 

question: Am I eating healthily? 

Oxford-based nutritionist 

Annabelle Baker tells us about her 

own diet and explains why a 

professional nutritionist can help 

us reach our wellbeing goals. 

After completing a degree in 

Nutrition at Oxford Brookes 

University, Annabelle went on to 

become a fully-accredited Associate 

Nutritionist (ANutr). So what 

made Annabelle want to focus on 

a career in nutrition? “I love good 

food! I'm seeing the world around 

me drift to convenience and a lazy 

approach to eating. I want to 

reconnect people and their 

families with fresh, healthy 

ingredients and the joy of preparing 

food. My approach is back to 

basics, and a non-judgemental 

philosophy to long-term, sustainable 

change in people's diets.” 

Annabelle is all for the simple, 

balanced approach. “If you're 

eating an apple or yoghurt, go for 

organic or natural. If you're 

preparing a meal, combine the 

raw ingredients together. A great 

example of this is Thai green curry. 

That way, you know exactly what's 

gone into making a delicious meal. 

FitVine - 24 

What does a nutritionist’s average 

daily intake of food look like? Here’s 

Annabelle’s food diary. 

7:30am 

Scrambled eggs (three whites, one 

yolk) with chilli and turmeric on 

seeded wholemeal bread with 

spinach and cherry tomatoes. Plus 

my usual americano coffee with 

semi-skimmed milk. I drink water 

regularly throughout the day. 

10:30am 

Time for ‘easily transportable' 

seasonal fruit. Today’s snack was a 

pear. 

12:30pm 

Lunch: a homemade chicken salad 

with my favourite grains, Freekeh! 

Then two handfuls of mixed berries 

in my trusty Tupperware and plain 

yogurt. (I'll let you in on my secret to 

a healthier life on the go...Tupperware. 

It's that simple! Be organised 

and think ahead.) 

3:15pm 

My pre-workout snack: a handful of 

mixed nuts. 

4:15pm 

Training finished, it’s time for 330ml 

of milk (pre-packed in my travel 

thermos!) 

7pm 

Dinner is chicken vegetable medley; 

a rainbow of vegetables with turkey 

(or Quorn chicken pieces), herbs and 

garlic. Delicious! 

9pm 

A camomile tea. 

Annabelle’s passionate about her 

clients achieving a balanced diet, but 

what exactly is ‘balanced’? “Plain 

and simple, eating a variety of raw 

ingredients. This can often be 

described as eating the rainbow or 

avoiding a diet that looks 'beige'. I 

encourage my clients to read 

nutrition labels on packaged foods.” 

Seeing a nutritionist is like taking 

control of your lifestyle; it’s you 

putting your health and wellbeing 

first. Annabelle explains, “A nutritionist 

understands food in greater 

scientific detail. I work with clients on 

personalised diet plans, weight-loss 

or weight-gain (muscle mass) plans, 

offer advice on sports nutrition, 

nutritional or hormonal imbalances, 

digestion (IBS) and help manage and 

prevent chronic diseases.” 

In June, Annabelle will be hosting an 

exhibition stand at FitFest Oxford, 

offering example diet plans, sports 

nutrition and IBS advice, and 

personal training plans and exercise 

referral advice from Nick Baker, a 

Level 3 Personal Trainer. They will 

also be offering personal BMI 

sessions on the Bioelectrical 

impedance scales (10-minute slots to 

be booked in advance by visiting 

www.annabellebakernutrition.co.uk). 

Annabelle will be giving goodie bags 

to the first 30 clients!

Get 

Culinary 

Confident! 

Learn new skills this year with 

The Jericho Kitchen Cookery School 

Made a commitment to 

more home cooked 

meals this year but 

feeling less than inspired 

by your creations? We found a tasty 

and local fix to help us stay on track 

with our goals. 

Consider honing your cooking skills 

with a new cookery class hosted by 

The Jericho Kitchen Cookery School. 

Their talented and experienced team 

will teach you new techniques and 

how to use exciting fresh ingredients 

to their full potential. 

We love cooking classes as putting 

something new into practice right 

away gives us the confidence to 

actually replicate it at home. The 

expert instructors are there to guide 

you towards success and are 

available for all questions. Think of 

the classes as an instant confidence 

boost. 

The amazing Jericho Kitchen 

Cookery School is based just outside 

Oxford at 102 Thame Road, Warborough 

OX10 7DG. They are a young, 

vibrant and enthusiastic cookery 

school , which hosts cooking classes 

and other events both at their 

location in Warborough and at the 

newly refurbished Branca Deli on 

Walton Street in Jericho. 

Choose from diverse class offerings 

inspired by travels and cooking 

lessons from top italian chefs. 

Classes include making the perfect 

pizza, creating fermented drinks, 

hand-made pasta and sour dough 

bread baking. Gluten-free and vegan 

cooking classes are also available. 

The Jericho Kitchen’s website 

inspires us with mouthwatering and 

instagram-worthy pictures. Don’t wait 

too long to book into a class, 

everything the Jericho Kitchen hosts 

fills up very quickly. Prices range 

from £50 to £100 per class. You’ll 

walk away with the full recipes for 

everything. You also meet lovely 

new people along the way, with 

whom you get to enjoy your 

creations. 

Get ready to taste high 

quality fresh ingredients, 

inspired by seasonal farmers 

markets and regional italian 

chefs. 

FitVine - 25 

You can find The Jericho Kitchen 

team in June at FitFest Oxford.

Mastering 

Meal Prep 

with Strength 

Chef 

There are many diet trends that 

come and go and each year. Yet, 

even with the best intentions, it 

is not easy to keep a healthy diet 

and stay on top of what we eat. 

One of the things you can do to 

help yourself eat healthy consistently 

is get organised with meal 

preparation. By carefully 

planning and eating pre-made 

meals instead of relying on 

ordering expensive takeaways or 

having to cook something up 

last-minute, you’re guaranteed 

to eat good quality food and 

save yourself some money at the 

same time. 

You can use meal prep as 

a tool to lose weight, 

gain muscle mass, or simply to keep 

in line with a healthy lifestyle. It’s 

effective because you’re in control 

of what you eat and you can make it 

fun by trying out new recipes and 

new flavours. 

Someone who understands this 

from personal experience is Megan 

Gee, founder of Strength Chef. 

Megan specialises in planning and 

prepping meals for her clients and 

delivers across Oxfordshire. 

Six years ago, while studying sports 

education, Megan started putting on 

weight. She felt unhappy with her 

diet and decided to prep meals for 

herself to better control what she 

was eating. At that time in her life, 

she also travelled to the Far East 

and explored new foods, flavours 

and cuisine, which she incorporated 

in her meal prep when she returned. 

When discussing with Megan about 

the importance our diet has in our 

lives, she pointed out that today 

there are two major issues leading 

to an unhealthy diet: a lack of 

education for how to put together a 

well-balanced meal and the very 

limited time people have to cook at 

home. 

For that, Megan offers to meet her 

clients to understand their personal 

goals and will plan a fully-customised 

meal plan for them. This can 

cover breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

She takes into account any dietary 

requirements and allergies. Megan 

then prepares the meals and does 

a delivery run twice a week so her 

clients eat fresh, homemade meals, 

instead of freezing them. 

Megan takes pride in preparing 

colourful and vibrant meals, having 

learnt a love for cooking from her 

parents. She’s also greatly inspired 

by other chefs. Megan strongly 

believes that wellbeing is all about 

feeling good on the inside as much 

as our external appearance. By 

providing a personalised service 

catered exclusively to each client, 

she gives her clients the best 

chance at achieving their goals. 

Pricing starts at £5 per meal. 

Strength Chef will be at the 

FitFest Oxford Weekender at 

Westgate Oxford on 26th 

January, fuelling you with 

healthy tasty treats as well as 

serving up delicious healthy 

meals at the major FitFest 

festival on 15th June. Be sure to 

say hello to Megan and the 

team. 

FitVine - 26

Short on time? 

No need to skip 

breakfast with Fuel 10K 

Do you regularly 

find yourself 

going to the gym 

or to work on an 

empty stomach? 

Time to re-imagine 

breakfast. It is indeed 

possible to get in a quick 

and high protein breakfast 

with Fuel 10K. 

Fuel 10K offers many protein 

boosted breakfast options 

that are a quick and easy 

addition to a morning 

routine. Think of it as tasty fuel for 

busy and active people without the 

time consuming prep time. After all, 

a quick and easy breakfast gives you 

more time to devote to other active 

endeavours. As the “10K” in the 

name reminds us, it takes around 

10,000 hours to become an expert at 

something. That’s a lot of time so 

prepare your body well for the 

adventures ahead. 

We love this super easy No-Bake 

Cheesecake recipe from Fuel 10K’s 

website. It’s a high-protein and 

guilt-free cheesecake to stop those 

sugar cravings. You’ll also find it 

gives you lasting energy to tackle 

that to-do list. 

FitVine - 27 

Ingredients: 

150g-200g FUEL10K Fruit Loaded 

Granola 

250g FUEL10K Yoghurt with Quark 

2 tbsp Clear Honey or Agave Syrup 

200g Mixed Berries 

Serves: 4 

Method 

Crush the Granola in the zip-lock 

bag with the rolling pin until it is in 

small crumbly sized pieces. Divide 

the Granola equally into the 4 glass 

mugs/small bowls. 

Stir together the Quark, Yoghurt and 

Honey/Agave Syrup (this is optional 

and purely for sweetness). 

Spoon the mixture equally into the 

mugs/bowls on top of the Granola. 

Cover with cling-film and place in the 

fridge until you are ready to serve. 

When you’re ready to serve, top the 

cheesecake with the mixed berries 

and then dig in! 

Meet the Fuel 10K team at FitFest 

Oxford in June.

Healthy Creations 

by Vegemental 

Vegemental has been running for 

just over a year and founder, Jamie, 

has truly tickled our taste buds. One 

word springs to mind when we look 

at his mouth-watering creations: 

WOW! If you’re not into your greens, 

believe us that, after seeing these 

extraordinary colourful salads, you 

will become a convert! 

Jamie set out to invent salads that 

deviated from your average mixed 

leaf salad to nutritionally packed 

salads, thoughtfully made from 

seasonal vegetables, seeds and 

grains using only cold-pressed oils 

and unrefined sugars which are 

guaranteed to fill you up and curb 

those mid-afternoon sugar cravings! 

Some examples of these salads 

include: 

Roast cauliflower with lentils, 

tahini and hazelnuts 

Tomatoes, cucumber, rocket salad, 

pickled lemon and basil 

Cauliflower rice with British lava 

bean, umami, seeds and asparagus 

We caught with Jamie to find out 

more about what inspires his tasteful 

creations, get an insider scoop on 

recipes, and talk about his future 

plans for the business. 

How do you come up with 

your creations? Do you test 

them on an audience first 

before making it a final 

product? 

We start by looking at what’s in 

season in Britain – that way, we’re 

using the freshest vegetables, which 

are better for the environment and 

better for our bodies. Once we have 

a list of vegetables in mind, it’s a 

case of researching flavour combinations 

and getting inspiration from all 

sorts of websites. We test the salads 

on ourselves – the week before an 

event, we basically eat the same 

thing every day for lunch and make 

tweaks each day! 

How long does it take you 

to make your salads? 

Each salad can easily contain 15 

ingredients and we don’t use 

shop-bought dressings (we avoid 

using refined oil and refined sugars), 

so these salads aren’t thrown 

together in five minutes. For an 

event like FitFest, an entire day will 

be spent cooking, chopping and 

mixing. 

What’s your best seller? 

Our salads vary throughout the year 

depending on what’s in season, but 

our summer aubergine, chickpea 

and spinach salad with a Caribbean 

dressing went down well. Last 

autumn, a celeriac noodle and lentil 

salad went down well, even amongst 

people who don’t like celeriac! 

How many calories are in 

each salad? 

It varies, but around 300. Our salads 

are filling – after all, it’s better to fill 

up on something healthy rather than 

eating a low-calorie healthy lunch 

only to need some biscuits 

afterwards! For FitFest, we’ll be 

offering some lighter options too, so 

people can top up their energy 

between classes without getting 

indigestion. 

We don’t know about you but we’re 

sold! Vegemental is officially on 

speed dial. Jamie will be exhibiting 

at FitFest Oxford in June but you can 

get in touch with him for any private 

or corporate parties you have in the 

meantime. 

FitVine - 28

Supercharge Your Health 

January is here and fitness classes and wellbeing workshops are in high demand. Chances are your personal goals 

include an element of healthy eating and improving nutrition alongside being more active. We love goals but it takes 

time to fit exercise, shopping, cooking and mindful eating in alongside a busy work schedule and family demands. 

Not sure if you’re 

getting all of your 

required nutrients 

from your daily intake of food? 

Consider a high-quality 

supplement to ensure you get 

the essential vitamins and 

minerals every day. 

Of course, you can never be 

sure if you actually need a 

supplement but you may soon 

see changes in the health of 

your skin, hair and nails. You 

know you’re on the right track 

when your hair gets that healthy 

shine and your nails become 

stronger and less brittle. 

It’s fun for anyone aged 12 or 

older, and it’s an inclusive class 

Keep in mind that not all vitamin 

and mineral supplements are 

created equally. Vitamins and 

minerals may come from 

different sources and are 

processed differently. Some 

forms are more easily absorbed 

and utilised by the body than 

others. If you’re supplementing, 

you may want to make it as 

easy as possible for your body 

to absorb these micronutrients. 

After all, you paid good money 

for them. 

Looking for a high-quality supplement? Check out Revital, an online retailer of specially selected high-quality supplement. 

Shopping and comparing items is easy as all of the brands that will nurture your health and keep you on track 

can be found under one roof. Revital, as the name suggests, is a one-stop shop for all of your health goodies. 

With the widest ranges of 

high-quality, ethically-sourced 

vitamins, supplements, health 

foods, beauty and sports 

nutrition products, Revital is the 

UK’s No.1 independent vitamins 

and health food retailer. 

Revital stock the major brand 

names and also have their own 

line, which brings down the cost 

of high-quality supplements 

considerably. They make it easy 

for you to find what you need 

by organising their selection of 

goods by ingredients and also 

by the health conditions that 

the supplements are intended 

to benefit. For example, you can 

shop for supplements for eye 

health, diabetes and stress, and 

compare costs and ingredients 

with ease. 

Need more support? 

You can get advice 

and answers to your 

health questions from the team 

at Revital, too. Their mission is 

to help you understand your 

diet, health and lifestyle 

choices, therefore helping you 

be the best you can possibly 

be. If you are looking for advice 

on any condition, visit the 

Revital website and get 

connected to health professionals 

who can point you in the 

right direction. You can also 

chat in person with Revital 

representatives at FitFest 

Oxford. Don’t delay in getting 

your FitFest Oxford tickets. 

FitVine - 29

Breakfast Time: Set 

Yourself Up for Success 

Getting a quick, great-tasting, nutritious breakfast just got much easier. Primrose’s Kitchen inspires us 

with high-quality superfoods and unusual fruit and vegetable pairings. 

As a company, 

they are not 

only about the 

quality of 

the food but they also want 

to improve the well-being 

of the community and the 

planet. We love that 

everything comes sealed in 

plastic-free packaging and 

is sourced directly from 

British farmers. 

No need to spend hours reading 

supermarket labels. All of Primrose’s 

Kitchen granolas and cereals are 

vegan-friendly, gluten-free and do not 

contain added refined sugars. Their 

breakfast foods are energising and 

provide lasting energy without causing 

any significant blood sugar spikes. Give 

them a try and start your day feeling 

more balanced and composed. Set 

yourself up for a successful day ahead! 

Vegan Energy Balls 

Preparation time: 10-15 

minutes 

Makes: 12 energy balls 

Ingredients: 

200g Primrose’s Kitchen 

Raw Beetroot and Ginger 

Muesli 

200g pitted medjool dates 

2 tbsp almond butter 

2 tbsp Primrose’s Kitchen 

Beetroot Seed Sprinkle 

(optional) 

Instructions: 

Place the muesli, pitted 

medjool dates and almond 

butter in a food processor. 

Blend until fully combined. . 

Create 12 energy balls by 

taking 1 tablespoon of 

mixture and rolling it into a 

We couldn’t get enough of their 

granolas and tried one of Primrose’s 

Kitchens recipes. Their website is a 

great source of inspiration. We made 

the super easy vegan energy balls! 

Here is the recipe. Instead 

of the optional topping, we 

rolled our energy balls in 

more granola and ground 

linseeds. 

ball in the palms of your hands. 

If you wish to garnish your energy balls (optional), use 

powders like Primrose’s Kitchen Beetroot Seed Sprinkle, 

turmeric powder, cacao powder or freeze-dried fruit 

powders and roll your energy balls in the powder for light 

coverage.For this and other recipes, check out: www.primroseskitchen.com/recipes. 

We can't wait to see Primrose’s 

Kitchen at FitFest Oxford. You must stop by and sample 

their foods! We hear they may be serving up breakfast so 

keep an eye out for the event programme. 

FitVine - 30

Caffeine Kicks with 

Coopers Coffee 

Established nearly seven 

years ago, Coopers Coffee is a 

mobile business offering a 

great product that many of us 

rely on for daily functioning! If 

you can’t find any matchsticks 

to hold your eyelids open, it 

might be time for a caffeine 

boost: some Coopers Coffee! 

A 

As a small, start-up 

business, Coopers 

Coffee has grown from 

strength to strength. 

Based in Uxbridge, London, Coopers 

Coffee have vast experience in the 

events industry, from corporate 

events and product launches to TV 

work, exhibitions and festivals. Their 

mobile coffee van caters for outdoor 

events, while their coffee bar can be 

set up at any type of indoor event, 

however large or small. 

Coopers Coffee are experts at the 

espresso, avid fans of the Americano 

and freakishly talented at making a 

flat white, to name a few. They also 

serve fair trade tea (from English 

FitVine - 31 

Breakfast, green and red bush to 

chamomile and Earl Grey), and 

delicious hot chocolate for those 

who aren’t into coffee. But wait! 

There’s more. They offer cake, too! 

So what inspired Coopers Coffee? 

The founders explain, “We were 

keen to start up a mobile business 

and knew that we wanted to offer a 

great product, being as sustainable 

as possible. We love the variety of 

places, people and scenarios that 

we find ourselves in. And we love 

the challenges involved in preparing, 

setting up and personalising as best 

we can to suit the event’s set-up.” 

There are many coffee chains on the 

high street, so what makes Coopers 

Coffee stand out from the crowd? 

“Chain restaurants have their place 

in the coffee world, but being 

independent brings a much more 

personal touch. We can offer 

consistency in our products, whether 

that be our coffees or our cakes. We 

take great pride in choosing coffee 

that is directly traded by our coffee 

supplier, Union Hand Roasted, and 

all of our paper goods (cups, lids, 

stirrers, sleeves and straws) are all 

100% fully compostable.” 

Coopers Coffee also have an 

allergy-aware range. They offer 

alternative types of milk (including 

soya, almond and oat), gluten-free 

cakes, and a newly-created raspberry 

and coconut vegan cake. Some of 

the cakes are nut-free, too. So, you 

guessed it: everyone is catered for! 

This year at FitFest Oxford, the 

Coopers Coffee team will be 

serving their best coffees, cakes 

and more from their quirky 

coffee van. Pop by and say 

hello.

Indie Start-up 

Alert! 

Meet Arthur's Juice Company, a new start-up 

drinks business based in Shepherds Bush, West 

London. They make and sell natural juices without 

added sugars and artificial flavours. 

Not all juices are created equally; those with long 

shelf-lives are often highly processed. This 

removes the vitamins and beneficial enzymes 

and phytochemicals, such as antioxidants that 

protect our cells. To get away with this, large companies 

add colours and vitamin C back into their juices after 

processing. Unfortunately, it’s not the same and our 

bodies can tell. 

We are not getting all the benefits of fruit and vegetables 

from processed juices. They also contain a lot of sugar 

so choose your beverages wisely. 

The Arthur's Juice Company team runs a busy coffee 

shop and noticed their customers were looking for fresh 

juice drinks that weren’t process or full of added sugar. 

After months of development and taste-testing research, 

they developed a variety of fruit and vegetable juice 

blends to create a universally appealing range of 

delicious, fresh drinks. 

Here is the secret: Arthur’s Juice Company keeps 

ingredients to a minimum of three ingredients per drink 

and listens to consumer feedback. Over time, this 

allowed them to create a range of delicious juices that 

even appeal to self-professed ‘veg-haters’. 

Our favourite juice is Beetroot, Apple and 

Pear, although this time of the year our 

Carrot, Apple and Ginger is very popular. 

Max from the team at Arthur's Juice Company 

Arthur's Juice Company supplies juices to local business 

and sells directly to consumers at Artisan markets in 

London. Arthur's Juice drinks are the perfect answer to 

starting the year off on a health kick! 

Keep your eyes on this juice; the Arthur's Juice 

Company Team has big plans for bringing their 

delicious drinks to locations across the UK. In 2019, 

the team plans to take part in more music, fitness 

and food festivals. This means more customers get 

to try and benefit from Arthur's juices. Eventually, 

Arthur’s Juices will be sold in high street shops to 

crowd out processed juices and drinks. 

Arthur’s Juices will be at FitFest Oxford in June. 

FitVine - 32

Starting Up 

A Business, Kombucha-Style 

JARR Kombucha. Heard of it? 

Everyone’s talking about it. 

It’s a delicious dose of liquid 

goodness for your gut. It can be 

sipped from the bottle, or even used 

as a mixer or alcohol-alternative in 

your favourite drink or cocktail. 

Versatile, eh? Available in three 

flavours (original, ginger and passion 

fruit), crazily good JARR Kombucha is 

low in sugar and contains beneficial 

acids, enzymes and antioxidants that 

help to aid digestion and support the 

immune system. After all, a happy 

and healthy gut supports a happy 

and healthy life. JARR Kombucha 

was established a few years ago, all 

thanks to a shared love for kombucha 

and a desire to start up a new, 

innovative business. 

We caught up with Adam, who 

founded JARR Kombucha, and 

opened the first kombucha taproom 

in Europe in 2015. It’s clear that the 

shared passion between him and his 

friends was the driving force in 

starting up the company. “In January 

2015, my friends Tom and Jess 

FitVine - 33 

Seaton and Neil Hinchley, visited me 

at my home in Los Angeles. It was 

here, sat around the kitchen table 

drinking kombucha, that we discovered 

we all shared a passion for this 

amazing drink, and the idea was 

sparked to create a brand that 

challenged the norm and provided 

an alternative to artificially produced, 

sugary soft drinks. In fall of 2015, we 

opened the first kombucha taproom 

in Europe, offering our three flavours 

of kombucha on tap and in cocktails. 

In April 2016, we launched our first 

line of bottled kombucha into 

Harrods and have been honing our 

technique and spreading the word 

about kombucha ever since.” 

If you’re curious to know more about 

the JARR Kombucha products, Adam 

explained more about their ingredients 

and flavours. “We currently offer 

three flavours (original, ginger and 

passion fruit) in two sizes (240ml and 

480ml bottles). Our kombucha is 

made with four simple ingredients: 

tea, water, sugar and a SCOBY 

(symbiotic culture of bacteria and 

yeast). We use two types of organic, 

single origin loose-leaf tea as the 

base. For flavour, we simply add 

organic, cold-pressed ginger juice or 

100% passion fruit purée. Kombucha 

is only as good as the ingredients 

with which it’s brewed, and here at 

JARR we use the best ingredients 

we can find.” 

Once a small start-up business and 

now a fully-fledged company 

stocked in hundreds of eateries and 

food shops, from Oxford to Brighton 

to Harrods and Selfridges, the JARR 

Kombucha story is one to be 

admired, but also one which we 

hope has inspired you, too! At 

FitFest Oxford in June, the JARR 

Kombucha team will be hosting 

kombucha-making demos. Make 

sure you join them and get involved!

THE NAKED 

PROFESSOR 

BARES ALL 

Ben Bidwell is a mindset and 

purpose life coach, writer 

and speaker, but he also 

poses naked on his 

Instagram account (@thenakedprofessor). 

And for a very good reason. 

We recently caught up with Ben, 

who also co-hosts The Naked 

Professors podcast, and he gave the 

reason behind his decision to 

expose all. “I wanted to create an 

Instagram account that represented 

two things: one, the learnings that I 

had experienced through my own 

personal development work and 

understandings as a coach, and, two, 

a reflection of the imagery I share 

that represents my vulnerability in 

baring my heart and soul.” 

And Ben’s inspiration? Professional 

boxer Anthony Joshua. “I am 

inspired by anyone who is willing to 

be vulnerable enough to admit they 

aren't perfect. If someone shows 

me their heart and opens up to me 

in an authentic fashion, then quite 

simply, I'm inspired by them. If I 

had to say one person in the world 

right now, you'd think it might be 

Tony Robbins, Gary V or someone 

of that ilk, but actually the most 

inspiring of all for me is Anthony 

Joshua. I love his 

story of making some bad 

decisions in his teenage years but 

then becoming dedicated to 

himself in chasing his dream and 

leaving behind the bad that 

surrounded him. He is now 

someone who oozes deep-rooted 

self-confidence and an unflappable 

belief in his own talent. He seeks 

no outside validation but, instead, 

his confidence comes from a deep 

dedication to his passion.” 

By now, you’ve probably picked up 

your phone and flicked through 

Ben’s Instagram account. He’s fit and 

healthy, and clearly works out. What 

does his workout routine look like? “I 

aim to go every day but it probably 

works out at about five times a 

week. Exercise is important to me in 

several ways. First and foremost it 

gets me out of my comfort zone by 

pushing the boundaries of where my 

body feels comfortable. Secondly, 

exercise is therapy for me. I 

sometimes walk into the gym with a 

head full of noise and walk out with it 

crystal clear. Lastly, looking after my 

body makes me proud of the person 

that I am.” Ben has a weekly 

schedule of three weights sessions, 

two HIIT sessions and a couple of 

days focusing on stretching and 

body weight movements. 

The Naked Professors podcast, 

which Ben co-hosts alongside TV 

presenter and mental health 

ambassador Matt Johnson, hones in 

on high-profile guests’ actual lives. 

No glitz and glamour, no Instagram 

filters, but their real life challenges 

and difficulties. “It's been an 

incredible experience so far just 

being part of some of the wonderful 

conversations that have taken place. 

We've had the likes of Davina McCall 

and Matt Willis talk about their 

addictions and macho international 

rugby player Jim Hamilton about 

how he didn't receive love from his 

dad growing up and what that meant 

to him. All very different chats but 

powerful in their authentic ways.” 

Ben will be at FitFest Oxford talking 

about vulnerability and truth. “I aim 

to touch peoples’ hearts with my 

story and share openly about how 

I've learned to live a happier life on 

the inside. I can’t wait to be a part of 

it.” 

Ben will be at FitFest Oxford talking 

about vulnerability and truth. 

FitVine - 34

Float, Relax, Repeat 

very painful pregnancy. When I 

bobbed around in the tank, I felt 

pain-free. My ribs were relieved 

and, when I stepped out the room 

and sat with my husband to talk 

about the experience, I knew at 

that moment this is what I needed 

to do. I needed to bring this to 

Oxford. I want other people to feel 

the benefits of being pain-free.” 

Floatation therapy? What’s 

that?” I hear you say. 

Floatation therapy is ‘effortlessly’ 

lying back in a tank filled with 

water, and it’s becoming an increasingly 

popular treatment, said to help 

with stress, pain and relaxation. We 

tried it out at The Floatation Centre 

in Oxford where Hannah Ireson 

guided us through our first experience. 

It was absolutely amazing! 

We sat down with Hannah to get a 

better idea of what floatation is all 

about. “To be weightless for an hour 

without going into space for the 

ordinary person is now possible in 

the float tank. Floatation Therapy to 

me is the chance to be alone with 

yourself, to let go of the everyday 

stresses and strains. Whether you 

carry work stress or emotional 

stress, the sensory deprivation tank 

is your place to let it float away. My 

pods are like time machines; you 

enter and 60 minutes later appear 

rejuvenated and relaxed thinking 

you were only gone for 15 minutes.” 

Our 60-minute experience was 

definitely rejuvenating and refreshing. 

Hannah’s mission is to provide a 

safe sanctuary for people to relax; a 

haven where they know that their 

comfort is paramount. There’s no 

pressure for anyone to have a 

particular type of experience; the 

tank is for each person to individually 

experience and, as Hannah said to 

us, “make them better in any way 

they need it to”. There will be further 

therapies available too, including 

Thai massage, reiki, mindfulness 

workshops, yoga and a drop-in 

naturopath. 

The Floatation Centre is fast 

becoming a regular part of people’s 

lives, and Hannah is extremely 

passionate about the centre. “I 

floated at 31 weeks pregnant after a 

There are many benefits to 

floatation. Hannah told us that 

studies have proven regular 

floating over eight weeks reduces 

cortisol (stress hormone) quite 

significantly in comparison to 

medication for anxiety. Visit 

www.clinicalfloatation.com for a 

number of studies. “The weightless 

environment allows your spine to 

realign, and floating has been 

likened to having a deep tissue 

massage and regulars have 

improved sleep,” Hannah explains. 

“For pregnant women, floating is a 

no brainer. The relief on your hips, 

back and ribs is incredible. It’s 

suitable for everyone, but seek 

your doctor’s advice if you have a 

heart condition, low blood 

pressure, epilepsy, an infectious 

skin disease or ear infection. 

To book a session at Oxford 

Floatation Centre, email oxfordfloatationcentre@outlook.com, 

call 

Hannah on 01865 361022, or text 

her on 07813432257. 

Meet The Floatation Centre team 

at FitFest Oxford in June. 

FitVine - 35

IS CLUTTER DRAINING 

YOUR ENERGY? 

Clutter can have a huge impact on anxiety. Clutter can send your brain 

into sensory overload, which prevents you from being able to fully relax. 

In the worst cases, clutter can totally overwhelm someone and they will 

struggle to know where to start sorting it out. 

Get in touch with Krista via 

her beautiful website at 

www.zendenoxford.com/about. 

You can find out more about ZenDen 

at FitFest Oxford in June. 

The best way to tackle a cluttered 

space is to go in with a plan! Do it 

like the professional organisers at 

ZenDen and break the work into 

smaller chunks that do not feel 

overwhelming and are achievable! 

Do a little bit every day and watch 

the clutter disappear. Head over 

to ZenDen's website (www.zendenoxford.com) 

for some decluttering 

inspiration, tips and support. 

The before and after pictures 

alone are very therapeutic to 

scroll through. You'll feel better 

already and get inspired to tackle 

your own space. 

Need more support? ZenDen 

tackles everything from smaller to 

larger jobs. You'll even get advice 

and training on how to maintain 

your clutter-free and calm space. 

Visualise yourself with an easy to 

maintain system in place for 

storing your favourite things. 

Items that no longer serve you 

can be donated or sold on online 

platforms, such as eBay or 

Gumtree. 

Krista at ZenDen explains, “I do 

believe that my service can be an 

investment, as I show all of my 

clients how to keep the space 

maintained once I've done the initial 

organise and declutter. After a 

consultation with each client, I 

always start by completely clearing 

the space. We then go through 

every single item together and we 

make three piles. A "keep" pile, a 

"maybe" pile and a "donate" pile. I 

clean the space and then I put all of 

the "keep" items back into the room. 

Once that is done my client and I go 

through the "maybe" pile and decide 

whether or not items should be kept. 

Once all of the items have been 

organised in the room I show the 

client organisational techniques I 

used to help them maintain the 

space." 

Think it's time to invest some time 

and effort into your space and 

positively affect your wellbeing? 

Think creatively; you may be able 

to cover the costs for a professional 

organising and decluttering 

service with the money you make 

from selling your unwanted stuff. 

FitVine - 36

Fine-tune your 

Health & Wellness 

Meet Tamara from 

Breathe360, who offers 

personalised health and 

wellness coaching with a 

focus on stress, chronic 

pain, fatigue anxiety, 

depression, IBS, headaches, 

trauma and PTSD. 

In addition to one-to-one 

coaching sessions, she 

facilitates access to live 

webinars and an exclusive 

Facebook community. 

Bodywork, such as 

massages and other 

products to support your 

healing journey, are also 

available. 

Tamara’s work with her 

clients is guided by her 

own experiences and 

unique healing journey. 

“Everything that has been 

created and offered under 

the Breathe360 brand is 

what brought me to where 

I am today. I live, research 

and learn health and 

wellbeing with love, 

passion and dedication. I 

look forward to contributing 

to your journey of 

healing, wellness and 

wellbeing.” 

If you book a treatment 

with Breathe360, you can 

expect to receive a scan to 

decode the human 

body-field and understand 

the root cause of your 

stress or pain. Next, you’ll 

receive a carefully 

designed programme that 

addresses the principles of 

health to support 

wellbeing. A well-rounded 

approach is used to help 

restore your energy. 

Tamara considers chemical-free, 

safe products the 

key to a healthy lifestyle. 

As these products can be 

hard to find, she has 

created her own own 

exclusive range, made with 

with only natural ingredients. 

All of her products 

are vegan, eco-friendly and 

sustainably sourced. 

We can’t wait to see 

Tamara at FitFest Oxford, 

where she will share 

a demonstration of a 

WellNES scan. 

This scan reviews particular 

areas in the body, 

including energy blocks in 

the system, nutrition and 

energy, and noticing where 

the body requires energy. 

Tamara will also show a 

treatment with Mihealth 

based on the scan. This is 

a hand-held device, using a 

non-invasive and safe 

approach. It delivers 

essential information to the 

body, which is needed to 

return to optimal health. 

Watch how the energy 

delivered kickstarts the 

body’s own innate healing 

response. Tamara’s clients 

have reported an immediate 

increase in energy 

levels and sense of 

wellbeing. 

Attend Tamara’s talk and 

walk away with free tips on 

how to fine-tune your 

health and wellness right 

away! 

FitVine - 37

Exploring Wellness 

in the Workplace 

Aston and James is Oxfordshire’s leading supplier of 

workplace products and services. Their award-winning 

service now includes much more than stocking the 

stationery cupboards of businesses. Workplace 

solutions include furniture and space planning, secure 

shredding, toner recycling and promotional products. 

With their focus on fully addressing the needs of 

businesses, Aston and James also offer solutions to 

increase wellness in the workplace. 

Office workers: 

you need to know 

An incorrect workstation 

can have a detrimental 

effect on health. Many 

office workers are now 

sitting for 10 hours per 

day. One in three of us are 

suffering from daily 

ailments caused by 

working at a computer 

including back problems, 

fatigue and headaches. 

To find out if your workstation 

could be improved to 

improve your wellbeing at 

work, a Display Screen 

Equipment (DSE) assessment 

is carried out. This 

includes observations and 

measurements to 

determine if your desk 

and equipment allow your 

body to find its ideal 

position where the 

muscles don’t have to 

FitVine - 38 

work hard to support the 

weight of the head. 

If you work at a computer 

regularly, you’re legally 

entitled to a DSE assessment 

organised by your 

employer. Your employer 

is required to protect you 

from any risks that can 

arise from regular 

computer use. 

Visit the Aston and James 

website: 

www.aston-james.co.uk. 

They can help with your 

desk set up to ensure you 

are in the best position 

possible. They will run 

through a number of 

questions to identify 

exactly what you may 

need and also give you 

some useful tips on how 

you can stay healthy in 

your workplace. 

how you can stay 

healthy in your 

workplace. 

If a DSE assessment finds 

that steps should be takento 

make you more comfortable 

and minimise the health risks 

of digital screen use, the 

next steps may include: 

Re-arranging items on 

your desk 

Using wrist supports 

below the keyboard and 

mouse 

Using a document holder 

to minimise twisting in your 

chair 

Adjusting your office chair 

Changing the height of 

your desk 

Aston and James’ Top Tip for all office 

workers 

“Request a DSE assessment from your employer to make 

sure your workstation is set up for your personal needs, 

take regular breaks and try and stand up more, you can 

burn 30% more calories when you are standing rather than 

sitting. 

Why not visit the Aston and James showroom in Witney or 

take a look at our website to request your FREE DSE 

Assessment https://www.aston-james.co.uk/dse-assessments.” 

Aston and James will be at FitFest Oxford in June.

Combining Yoga 

& Life-coaching 

Life coaching. Helping people 

embrace the day with more 

joy. Proving to people that 

they already possess what 

they need to move forward. Whatever 

you want to call it, that’s what 

Sarah Griffiths, or SJ, does. Specifically, 

she helps men and women 

over 40 find purpose, joy and energy 

in their lives. When she’s not 

life-coaching, SJ teaches Strala 

yoga, which she feels is another 

important way to reflect, motivate 

yourself and encourage mindfulness 

and energy flow, just as life-coaching 

encourages productivity, joy and 

energy flow. Combine SJ’s life-coaching 

experience with a Strala yoga 

session, and you’ll be full of self-admiration, 

hope, reflection and 

powerful energy flow, giving you the 

tools you need to find purpose and 

positivity. 

SJ will be at FitFest Oxford doing 

exactly that: combining a 

worthwhile life-coaching session 

with Strala yoga in a unique, 

innovative workshop. It will involve 

quietening the inner voice and 

committing to action, inspiring 

attendees to decide on the next 

steps they need to take in their own 

lives to achieve an increased sense 

of purpose and joy. 

If you haven’t heard of Strala yoga 

before, it was originally devised by 

Tara Stiles, dubbed ‘The Yoga Rebel’ 

by the New York Times. The word 

‘Strala’ means ‘to radiate light’. It’s all 

about helping others find their 

freedom, ease and joy. It’s an 

interwoven practice of yoga, tai chi, 

qigong and shiatsu, with training 

focused on healing. 

SJ has been teaching Strala yoga 

for four years, and loves how 

seamlessly it fits into her life-coaching 

sessions, and really works 

hand-in-hand with the values and 

goals she works with her clients to 

achieve. She spoke of Strala yoga: 

“It gives people permission to 

move where they want to move 

and linger where it feels good to 

linger. Strala teachers are known 

as guides. We hold space and 

guide the class into the moves but 

then will use our whole body, the 

tone of voice and gentle hands-on 

assistance to help the class move 

with ease. It's about getting further 

and progressing your practice. My 

belief is that how you practice 

yoga is how you practice anything. 

If the yoga practice is always rigid 

and stiff, life will feel like that, too. 

My aim? For my class to leave their 

mats feeling happy and ready to 

conquer the world.” 

Strala yoga and life-coaching 

sessions help you slow down, tune 

into who you are, live in a more 

restful state, and wave goodbye to 

the constant rushes of adrenaline 

and cortisol that have become so 

chronic in society today. 

Find out more about SJ and Strala 

yoga by visiting her Facebook 

page: facebook.com/stralaglos, 

but SJ is most active on instagram 

@thesarahjanegriffiths. Her 

website is coming soon, too. You 

can find her at FitFest Oxford in 

June, hosting the combined Strala 

yoga and life-coaching session. 

FitVine - 39

Women-only Race For Life Now 

Invites Men and Children to Attend 

Cancer Research UK is 

the world’s largest 

independent cancer 

research charity. They 

conduct research into the 

prevention, diagnosis and 

treatment of cancer, and 

their vision is to bring 

forward the day when all 

cancers are cured. The 

charity’s work is almost 

entirely funded by the 

public, and the Race For 

Life events are a brilliant 

way for people to come 

together in their communities 

to raise awareness and 

money for Cancer Research 

UK. 

There are more than 400 

Race For Life events taking 

place all over the UK but, 

this year, they’re changing 

the rules. For the first time 

since the women-only event 

began more than 25 years 

ago, they are opening up 

the event to everyone: 

women, men and children! 

They explained, “We now 

feel the time is right to open 

them up so that everyone – 

women, men and children – 

have the chance to 

participate together. To 

make a significant 

difference in the fight 

against cancer we need to 

harness as much energy 

and commitment as 

possible – so what better 

way than involving 

everyone in the community 

in our events. 

We’re urging mums, dads, 

nans, grandpas, brothers, 

sisters, friends and 

workmates to show their 

support by joining the Race 

for Life. It’s a perfect 

example of everyday 

people doing an extraordinary 

thing – uniting in a 

common cause to beat 

cancer.” 

Cancer Research UK are 

the only cancer charity to 

fund the research into all 

types of cancer. Their 

research makes a huge 

difference to cancer 

patients and their families. 

“Real people and real 

stories are at the heart of 

our campaign. We have a 

range of services available 

from Cancer Chat forums 

through to counselling. 

Our research is pioneering 

the research into cancer to 

bring forward the day when 

all cancers are cured.” 

There are a range of events 

for people of all ages and 

abilities taking place at 

University Parks on Sunday 

14th July 2019. The Race 

For Life events are fun, 

inspiring, emotional and 

uplifting. If you’re not overly 

sporty or competitive, 

there’s still an event that will 

suit you. Simply visit the 

Race For Life website, 

choose an event, sign up 

and have fun raising money! 

If you want to take part in 

your local Race For Life 

event, sign up for 30% off 

adult entry until the end of 

January with code RFL30 at 

raceforlife.org. 

If you’re not able to attend 

Race For Life or any of the 

other events, or you want to 

raise money for Cancer 

Research UK by doing 

something different, you 

can volunteer at their 

events, volunteer in their 

shops, or set up a committee 

in your local area to 

raise an annual donation 

amount. 

FitVine - 40

ViiSana: A Unique 

Approach to Health Insurance 

Meet ViiSana, an insurance broker based in Worthing 

passionate about helping you be happy and healthy. 

How? Well, ViiSana offers life and health insurance with 

a difference and is an Exclusive Associate to Vitality Life 

and Health Insurance. 

They don’t just protect you 

with award-winning cover 

from Vitality; they encourage 

you to lead a healthier 

lifestyle and reward you 

with a range of Vitality 

Rewards and ViiSana 

Additions for doing so. 

Why? Because they want 

you to enjoy your life and 

believe that encouraging 

you to take small, positive 

steps (and rewarding you 

for them) is more successful 

than dramatic life 

changes that are hard to 

maintain once the initial 

enthusiasm has waned. 

Not only does their 

approach help to dramatically 

reduce your chance 

of illness, but it can also 

save you money, with a 

range of health benefits 

and discounts. We have a 

UK wide team of Protection 

Consultants who work 

with clients to advise them 

of the best Vitality 

products to meet their 

protection needs. 

How easy is it to 

sign up to ViiSana? 

Vitality Life and Health 

Insurance provide a 

unique approach to 

insurance. They help the 

policyholder take a more 

active role in managing 

their own wellness, which 

can encourage them to 

develop healthy long-term habits. By providing 

incentives through healthy and active rewards, they aim 

to reduce the number of claimants in the long-term. 

Once a client’s policy is live, they are encouraged to 

complete 

the Vitality Health Check at a participating pharmacist to 

start them on their wellbeing journey. 

What goals do 

people have to 

achieve to get 

these rewards? 

and discounts. For example, customers who regularly 

record more than 12,500 steps per day will achieve 

Vitality Platinum status – this unlocks the maximum 

rewards available. 

Your workplace wellbeing 

package gives the idea of 

healthier employees being 

more productive – how do 

you make sure employers 

bring out the best in their 

employees through this 

package? 

The level of support and 

engagement is key to 

create a wellbeing 

programme that is 

sustainable – evidence 

now proves that three 

times as many healthy 

employees participate in 

workplace wellness 

programmes than sick 

employees. ViiSana has a 

Vitality provides guidance on 

what goals people should set and 

incentivise reaching them with a 

comprehensive list of rewards 

range of tools available 

that will help the employer 

to do this. This includes 

helping to implement a 

Healthy Workplace 

Champion, Vitality Coach, 

or running Wellness Days. 

However, the best results 

come from those employers 

who embrace the 

concept and lead by 

example, so visible 

management endorsement 

and encouragement 

is vital. 

ViiSana will be a FitFest 

Oxford 2019 Exhibitor. Pop 

by their stand to get 

information about what 

they offer and to receive a 

free no obligation quote! 

FitVine - 41

A New Approach to 

Prenatal and Pos tnatal 

Health and Wellbeing 

Keri and the team from Fit and 

Healthy Mums have created a 

range of services that inspire and 

celebrate women at the pre- and 

postnatal stages, focusing on health, 

fitness and wellbeing. It was inspired 

by a lack of trained instructors and 

professionals that offered exercise 

and wellbeing support for mums. 

While pregnant, Keri, founder of Fit 

and Healthy Mums, couldn’t find any 

instructors or professionals to offer 

advice on exercise and wellbeing 

during pregnancy and postnatal. She 

explains, “I had enjoyed exercise 

prior to having my children but found 

lots of conflicting advice, so decided 

to retrain and start Fit and Healthy 

Mums.” 

She continues, “We are always 

attending specialist training courses, 

ready to share our knowledge and 

expertise with clients. Pre- and 

postnatal specialist training and 

professional development are at the 

centre of the Fit and Healthy Mums 

offering. You can be sure that the 

exercises and movements are taught 

FitVine - 42 

to take your unique body and its 

current stage into account. Any 

pains and weaknesses are assessed 

before you take part in an exercise 

or fitness programme. 

So can you really restore your core 

after having kids? Keri’s response 

highlighted her extensive knowledge 

about the human body post-pregnancy. 

“Yes, you can regain strength in 

the abdominals. It’s just not a case of 

one size fits all. Every client is 

unique, her journey through conception, 

pregnancy and labour will differ 

to another client so what works for 

one may not necessarily work for 

another.” The tummy gap is called 

Diastasis Recti and Keri is one of a 

handful of specialists that can aid the 

repair – this is really important as it 

often leads to pain and weakness 

elsewhere. “Start off with those 

pelvic floor exercises and then 

progress to low impact floor based 

work. No sit-ups, planks, crunch 

movements or impact exercise as 

this will worsen the gap.” 

Not sure where and when 

to begin with your 

exercises after your little 

one is born? 

“Once your baby has arrived and 

you feel ready, you can start with 

some pelvic floor exercises and 

walking. As soon as you’ve had your 

six-week postnatal check up, join a 

postnatal specific class. Check that 

it’s run by qualified, experienced 

instructors who can adapt the 

exercises to suit you. Make sure they 

check your abdominal muscles, ask 

you about pelvic floor weakness and 

any pain sites you may be 

experiencing. The Fit and Healthy 

Mums Pilates classes are a really 

good place to start.” 

Ready to get to a class? 

If you can find the time to go to a 

class, there’s no need to worry about 

childcare. You take your babies and 

tots to class with you, so it's much 

easier to find the time. To reap the 

most benefits in a short amount of 

time, the team teaches multi-joint 

exercises. Think about combining a 

squat with a bicep curl using a 

resistance band or a side lunge with 

a big shoulder movement. For mums 

who struggle to get to a class, try the 

online programme – snippets of 10 

minutes that can be combined into a 

longer workout. Visit www.fitandhealthymums.com 

for more 

information. 

Fit and Healthy Mums team at FitFest 

in June.

‘I 

ndulging in some retail 

therapy’ isn’t just a sneaky 

way of telling your other half 

you’re going shopping. 

There’s more to it, and many people 

use it as a way of self-reflection, 

preparation and socialisation. 

Purchasing a new dress or finding 

the perfect pair of shoes can cheer 

us up and make us feel prepared for 

an upcoming event. And we all know 

that feeling a little more prepared 

and organised can help reduce 

stress and anxiety, too. 

Others use retail therapy as an 

opportunity for socialisation with 

loved ones, combining browsing the 

clothing rails at your local shops with 

some lunch in a nearby restaurant. 

This chance to catch up with a friend 

or family member makes shopping 

all the more enjoyable, and gives us 

a reason to escape the routine of 

daily life, even just for a few hours, 

and focus solely on shopping, 

socialising and enjoying ourselves. 

FitVine - 43 

Let’s Get Personal 

If you’ve got an upcoming wedding, 

for example, and you’re feeling 

overwhelmed with options, spending 

time to consider colour schemes, 

types of shoe and lengths of dresses 

– simply browsing around your local 

department store for inspiration and 

ideas, for instance – can really start 

to bring a decision together in your 

mind. 

However, if you find it all too much or 

you’re not sure where to start, 

personal styling might be the 

solution for you. A dedicated 

personal stylist can help you find 

looks, styles and clothing that works 

for you, your body type and your 

personality. Personal stylists help 

you think about your shaping and 

style to make outfits unique to you 

and, most importantly, create looks 

that you feel confident wearing. 

The personal stylists at John Lewis & 

Partners offer five free services, 

during which they will help you 

choose outfit options and advise on 

colour and style to suit you. Whether 

you’re looking for a capsule 

wardrobe to take on holiday, a 

wardrobe refresh to update your 

current style, a smart but modern 

look for work, the perfect pair of 

jeans or an outfit for a special 

occasion, the personal stylists are 

there to listen, help and advise. You 

can book a personal styling appointment 

by visiting www.johnlewis.com/our-services/personal-styling. 

After you’ve booked, your personal 

stylist will contact you to find out 

more about you so that they can 

tailor their styling to you as an 

individual, making the service unique 

and personalised. 

John Lewis & Partners will be at 

FitFest Oxford in June.

Get the 

Monshea 

Glow 

Monshea features a range 

of naturally rich and 

moisturising hair and skin 

care products containing 

shea oil. Shea oil is a much lighter oil 

than shea butter, and boasts lasting 

moisturising properties. The 

Monshea products are all specifically 

formulated for dry skin and curly hair. 

The company aims to 

Build a world class product 

range with innovative formulas 

that will moisturise your 

extremely dry skin, hair and 

scalp 

Products include pure shea oil, hair 

oil and scalp oil. Shea has been used 

in skin care for many years due to its 

lasting and deeply moisturising 

properties. 

Chances are that you have heard of 

shea butter, but how does shea oil 

compare? Shea oil has all the 

advantages of the Shea butter 

without the disadvantages. Below 

are just a few benefits of this 

wonderful oil. 

1 

2 

3 

4 

Shea oil is more moisturising 

for our skin, thanks to the 

higher oleic acid content. 

It is easy to apply as it has a 

much softer texture like a 

lotion but is as effective as a 

body butter. 

Shea oil will absorb instantly 

leaving your skin softer and 

giving you a radiant long-lasting 

glow. 

It is has a more suitable 

composition to apply directly 

onto your hair if it feels or 

looks a bit dry. 

5 

6 

The strong scent of Shea 

butter is reduced. Some 

people love the slightly 

roasted nutty aroma but others 

hate it. Shea oil has a lighter 

and less noticeable scent than 

the butter. 

When cold, Shea butter 

hardens, which makes it 

challenging and time-consuming 

to use. Shea oil does not 

present these challenges. 

We love that all of the product’s raw 

ingredients are imported directly 

from social enterprises who work 

with women’s cooperatives. This 

means you get glowing skin and hair 

and the women producing the shea 

oil also reap the benefits of fair 

wages and growing a sustainable 

business. 

Find out more about Monshea at 

FitFest Oxford in June. 

FitVine - 44

FFounded in 2013, 

Men’s underwear 

company, Bollox, is a 

remind you to check yourself 

for any changes, lumps or 

bumps. They sell stylish, 

comfortable, high-quality 

men’s underwear with a vision 

of not only giving you a 

fashionable look but also 

providing men with know 

ledge and a reminder about 

their health. Their underwear gives you the 

comfort you deserve while supporting 

men’s cancer charities, helping to raise 

awareness of cancer. What more could you 

want? 

You’re the 

Bollox! 

We spoke to Bollox founder, Daren Elsley, 

about his brand, and he explained the 

thinking behind it. “The crucial impact and 

most important element of this brand is to 

raise awareness and get guys checking 

themselves, hence the name. The concept 

of the brand is to make a bold statement to 

remind men to check themselves every 

time they pull on their boxers, but also for 

women to remind the man in their life when 

she sees him wearing them. Plus they’re 

really comfy!” 

Daren invented the popular Mr Bollox characters, which are used as characters 

on the underwear and names for each item. They’re not only humorous 

but make the perfect gift for the Mr Ginger Bollox, Mr Greedy Bollox or Mr 

Clever Bollox in your life! Daren says, “I heard a lady call her son 'you clever 

bollox' when he did well at his exams, and...lightbulb moment! Plenty of bollox 

characters came from that.” Apparently, Mr Perfect Bollox seems popular at 

the moment! 

Thanks to the Bollox brand going 

from strength to strength, they’ve 

currently donated £1,000 and will 

soon be donating another £1,000 to 

men’s cancer charities. They don’t 

have a target amount as the sky’s 

the limit. The goal is to continue 

selling underwear, continue growing 

the brand and, most importantly, 

continue raising awareness (and 

money) for male cancer charities. 

The Bollox website currently only 

stocks trunk-style boxers, but they’re 

looking to extend the range. “It's 

down to funds,” Daren explains. “As 

we grow and make some profit, we 

reinvest with new stock and new 

colours. If there are any wealthy 

individuals or entrepreneurs that 

would like to invest in the brand, we 

would love a chat!” 

With a target audience of men aged 

15-100 years old, Bollox sell 

comfortable, high-quality underwear. 

From twenty-something gym-goers 

to pensioners, the underwear is 

perfect for everyone of every shape 

and size. But they’re not stopping 

there! At Oxford FitFest, the Bollox 

team will be launching the ‘bx’ brand. 

This brand offers further 

empowerment for guys and 

focuses on men’s overall 

health. 

Daren explains, “BX is an activewear 

brand, which offers a holistic 

approach to men's health. Along with 

our quality activewear range, we will 

be offering 12-week programmes for 

fitness, nutrition and mental wellbeing. 

We believe by applying these 

three elements to our daily lives, 

men’s health will improve. You will 

feel healthier, happier and more 

positive about yourself. This then 

also has a positive impact of 

reducing the chances of getting 

forms of cancer and ill health in 

general.” 

FitVine - 45

Better Sleep Now featuring 

Laboratoire Saint Côme 

In our busy lives, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to get good quality, undisturbed sleep. During the night, many 

things call for our attention whether it’s work-related stress, children, financial worries, or technology distractions, such 

as our phones. Lack of sleep is linked to many negative effects on our health including our mood, yet as many as one 

in three of us suffer from poor sleep on a daily basis. 

So how can we improve our health with better 

sleep? First, you should assess what gets in 

the way of good sleep. Update and improve 

your routine progressively instead of making 

drastic changes all in one go. Now that you’ve 

adapted a couple of things in your evening 

routine, you’re on track to getting some 

decent sleep. And there’s one more thing that 

can help you get there. 

E 

ver-popular aromatherapy 

might be just the thing you 

need to complete your new 

routine. According to British 

Aromatherapist Dinesh Kotecha, 

aromatherapy is a complementary 

therapy that uses essential oils to 

improve both physical and emotional 

wellbeing. These natural oils have 

been used for thousands of years and 

originate from a range of sources, 

such as flowers, leaves, roots, seeds 

and the bark of plants. 

Essential oils are an important part of 

our skincare routine and we often find 

them in creams and serums that we 

apply directly to our skin. What is 

perhaps less known is that they can 

also have an effect on us through the 

sense of smell. Some studies suggest 

that through the stimulation of our 

olfactory system, smelling essential 

oils can have a relaxing or even 

stimulating effect. The use of essential 

oils is particularly appreciated by 

people with long-lasting pain, anxiety, 

depression and insomnia. 

Find out more about Laboratoire Saint Côme Aromasprays at their FitFest Oxford stand. 

The French company Laboratoire 

Saint Côme has long known the 

positive effects of aromatherapy, 

having been set-up by two pharmacists, 

Christian and Claude Richard. 

The brothers developed the natural 

healthcare side of their pharmacy in 

the 1980s following the increasing 

demand for alternative methods to 

feel healthier. After years of research, 

they developed a range of Airborne 

Aromatherapy products called 

Aromasprays. These room sprays 

deodorise and purify the atmosphere 

with aromatic notes, which can 

positively affect your mood. 

Whether you choose to 

use Aromasprays at 

home, at work or in the 

car, you stand a greater 

chance of feeling 

the effects with Laboratoire Saint 

Côme products, thanks to the use of 

100% pure and natural premium-grade 

Essential Oils. Each Aroma spray 

combines a minimum of two essential 

oils and has specific properties, which 

can be soothing, invigorating or 

refreshing. To help achieve better 

sleep, the Pillow Mist has been 

specifically formulated with nine 

essential oils: Roman Chamomile, 

Neroli, Geranium, Lavender, Lemongrass, 

Mandarin, Marjoram, Sweet 

Orange and Ylang Ylang. It’s 

designed to promote restorative 

sleep, allowing for a harmonious good 

night’s rest. The perfect companion to 

introduce in your environment for a 

better rest in 2019. 

You can meet the Saint Come 

UK team at FitFest Oxford in June. 

FitVine - 46

15.06.19 

THE OXFORD ACADEMY 

OXFORDSHIRE’S LARGEST FITNESS 

AND WELLNESS FESTIVAL 

GET TICKETS 

WWW.FITFESTOXFORD.COM

FITVINE MAG - ISSUE 1 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

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