April for me very much heralds the arrival of Spring, as shoots begin to grow, and the blossom appears on the trees. Did you know that April is also thought to be named after the Greek goodness, Aphrodite?
I’m always trying new products as I love to road-test things before I recommend them to clients. So, in this month’s first Wellness Spotlight, here are my top three April products that specifically help support health and wellbeing, and in particular for Stress Awareness Month.
1. PLANET PALEO BONE BROTH
First up is bone broth. You can read more about its benefits and ‘Why I have added bone broth to my diet’ here. This super convenient powder from Planet Paleo packs 8g of protein per serving, making it a brilliant mid-afternoon hot drink or you can add it to soups or stews. I am all for convenience when life is busy, and as much as I love the idea of making my own bone broth, I just don’t have enough hours in the week! There are lots of bone broths on the market, including reindeer (!), vegan and vegetarian version, so lots of different flavours to suit all dietary preferences.
2. RUN 180 APP
Next up, is the Run 180 app. Now the weather is warmer and I have a bit more natural energy with the change in seasons, I have picked up my running a few times a week. Rather than peg it out the door with grand ideas of easily being able to run 5km after a 6 month hiatus, this app I have found a brilliant way to keep me motivated, reduce the risk of injury and also get me fitter faster. The app has been created by Physiotherapist and Run Coach, Rachel Stanley, and Level 1 is completely free, and ‘180’ refers to the 180 steps/minute, so it’s a slightly faster pace but makes your running more natural. Whether you are a seasoned runner or, like me, starting from scratch again I’d recommend trying it out.
My last ‘product’ for this month is a good, old-fashioned fiction novel. ‘Where the crawdads sing’ was recommended to me by a client, when we were discussing how she switches off and relaxes. I normally have about three or four self-help or functional medicine books on the go, but for once I have lost myself in the story of Kya, the ‘marsh girl’ and it has provided a welcome stress-relief. I think it’s easy to forget how reading can be an active part of your self-care when stressed, even if you only read a few pages over a cup of tea of before bed. It allows your brain to get lost in the story, rather than worrying about the stresses of the day or workload. While others celebrate the gyms opening, I’ll be celebrating the bookshops opening … you can’t beat a good bookshop browse in my opinion!
And in case you were curious, crawdads are crayfish. Who knew they could ‘sing’?!
IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH STRESS, OR PERHAPS NOTICING THAT YOUR SYMPTOMS ARE WORSE WHEN YOU ARE STRESSED (SUCH AS DIGESTION AND HORMONES) THEN DO GET IN TOUCH AND BOOK A FREE DISCOVERY CALL TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HOW I WORK, AND HOW I CAN HELP YOU.
