The chic facilities at Nordic Balance

Running refusenik or someone who falls asleep during yoga class? The words ‘personal’ and ‘trainer’ are two that are likely to strike fear into the heart of anyone who wouldn’t really consider themself a gym bunny, or someone who prefers to run in heels. Namely, moi!

So it was with some trepidation that I approached Nordic Balance at the rather chic In & Out private members club based in elegant St. James’ Square in London. And at the unearthly hour of 7.30 (a.m., not p.m., I hasten to add). No excuses were to be brooked, I had made an early date with Kristelle, one of the health club’s expert staff, and an experienced personal trainer, seemingly in love with her job. Independent personal training company Nordic Balance offers a range of packages designed to boost fitness, increase motivation and have you back in slender shape in double-quick time. An apt choice for this season, the Beach Body Refurb package includes individual 23 sessions over a six week period which will see you dropping the pounds to ensure you’re strolling proudly poolside rather than cowering under a parasol and covering up with a sarong. And it really will.

The unfeasibly toned Kristelle professes to have “fallen in love” with the gym as a teenager; something which may sound like total folly if you’re not one for spending hours on the treadmill when you could be doing other more interesting things – like drinking wine, for example. However, the treadmill doesn’t get much of a look-in when it comes to the Beach Body Refurb. Hurrah! An initial consultation and assessment means that both client and trainer are on the same page when it comes to your personal goals. Are you in pretty good shape but just need to tone things up a little? Perhaps you’re looking to shed excess weight on particular areas, or simply increase your fitness levels. Whatever you’re after, a tailored package will be created for you – and only you. It’s this bespoke service that sets Nordic Balance apart from others.

Obviously cardio is important, but flexibility, toning and work on the core are also essential – and elements that are often overlooked when it comes to fitness. My workouts generally began with a spurt of cycling or running, with Kristelle really pushing me to ensure that we made the most of the hour spent together – expect to leave your comfort zone sharpish! After warming up, we moved onto a selection of exercises designed to strengthen, firm and work on those areas that were less than supermodel-toned.  Think sets of squats, lunges, press-ups, free weights and lots of curls and sit-ups. The sessions changed each time, this way it was impossible to become bored or relax into an easy routine. And having a motivational – and very positive – trainer there means that you really do want to succeed! Just when you thought that ten reps would be enough, you move onto another exercise – and then back to ten further reps. Even if it’s only thirty seconds doing something else, it somehow makes those extra ten crunches that little bit more bearable.

After session one of the package, I was feeling aches and pains in muscles that I’m not sure I ever had – never mind had forgotten about! Things did get a little easier after that, but having fitness goals does mean pushing yourself and I left each session feeling energised, reinvigorated and inspired to keep up the good work (plus the package includes a deep tissue sports massage every two weeks, hurrah!). And now? I’m really motivated to exercise and might just leave that sarong to keep the sun lounger company when I head towards the beach bar for a glass of rosé.

Although I chose the Beach Body Refurb package, the club also offers excellent workouts designed to fit around a hectic schedule. The one-on-one In&Out sessions last just half an hour – albeit 30 minutes of high-intensity exercise which deliver effective results fast. If “I haven’t got time to go to the gym” sounds like you, then there really is absolutely no excuse with the In&Out workout! The club also boasts a swimming pool, sauna and treatment rooms as well as a well-equipped gym with all of the equipment you would expect. As it’s located within a private members club, you can expect top notch facilities – and there’s no waiting around for a treadmill or feeling like the gym might have capped their membership list a while ago… If you’d like to try things out, there’s no joining fee and no rolling contract involved so you can work out at Nordic Balance for just four weeks.

If you’re overwhelmed when it comes to the gym, fitness or the thought of wearing a bikini, the Beach Body Refurb package is ideal. What’s more, the trainers’ enthusiasm, knowledge, professionalism and truly personal approach means that you’ll feel like a million dollars – even if you don’t look like them, quite yet. Another set of ten reps? Yes, please!

The Beach Body Refurb is available at Nordic Balance at The In & Out club in London. For more information see the Nordic Balance website, or email info@nordicbalance.co.uk.

After a derrière to rival Kylie’s? Follow Kristelle’s tips – and she really does know what she’s talking about!

Refreshments at The Chelsea Day Spa

You’ve increased the intensity and frequency of your workouts, avoided ice creams in the park, and now indulgent mornings lazing on the beach are finally on the horizon. Well, you may have skipped steps one and two, but for most of us it’s that time of year – time to relax and enjoy a summer holiday.

And the best way to prepare for a week or two of relaxation? With a blissed-out couple of hours at the spa. The Chelsea Day Spa’s Beach Body Beautiful package is a multi-tasking selection of treats that will prepare you for lounging next to the pool, whilst taking some time out in tranquil surroundings. The cute boutique spa is located in a quiet spot just off the chic shopping territory of the King’s Road in upmarket Chelsea, making it an ideal location to spend an afternoon with the girls. On arrival there’s a selection of refreshments on offer to make you feel at home, along with a warm welcome from the spa’s therapists, who really bring a personal touch to all of the services. The spa is prettily decorated, with fresh flowers, chintzy wallpaper and white furnishings; it’s a light, airy and feminine space – there’s no  New Age music or heavy incense here!

The package itself is a perfect mix of essential and luxurious pre-beach treatments and is guaranteed to put in you in the holiday mood.  There are three treatment options available of which you can choose any two as part of the Beach Body Beautiful plan. Depilation is a must at this time of year and so waxing (full leg, bikini, half arm, underarm and eyebrows are all included) is a certainly sage choice. Now for the indulgent bit; the spa’s New York manicure and pedicure – hands and feet are taken care of with a soak, massage and moisturising treatment, as well as the usual cuticle work and filing. There’s a dazzling range of Jessica nail colours to choose from, so you can select a shade to match your  swimwear.

A spray tan is a great way to get a blast of summer colour before you head to the sun and Vita Liberata’s odourless, organic tan is one of the best. There are three colour options available so that if you’re more of an English Rose than a Brazilian glamazon, you can be sure that you won’t look a fluorescent orange shade. Of course, it’s essential to exfoliate at home and skip the moisturiser so that your colour looks even and streak-free. Salon owner Faye Fasan is a pro when it comes to tanning and my tan lasted a full seven days and gave me a healthy glow that looked incredibly natural.

Even if you’re not jetting off beach-wards, the Beach Body Beautiful package is a delicious moment of summer indulgence, guaranteed to make you feel a million dollars – and in the mood for sipping a chilled cocktail whilst watching the sunset.

For more information on the Beach Body Beautiful package, see the Chelsea Day Spa’s website.

The cute boutique spa is located in a quiet spot just off the chic shopping territory of the King's Road in upmarket Chelsea...

Slimsticks: a helping hand for serial snackers...

Like most females out there, when the clock chimed at midnight on New Year’s Eve I decided that 2011 was the year – the year I would get fitter, eat healthier and hopefully loose a bit of weight. I started running, took up yoga and cut down on portion sizes at mealtimes but there was one problem in my way; the biscuit jar.

As a serial snacker I often struggle to resist that 3pm craving for something sweet, not to mention grazing on the contents of my fridge during evenings and weekends. Sometimes I am genuinely hungry; sometimes the desire to pick at food is emotional, or even through sheer boredom.

So it was with great trepidation, and great expectations, that I gave Slimsticks a try. Full of ingredients that promise to keep you feeling fuller for longer, these little sachets of powder can be added to water, milk, yogurt or even porridge.

Slimsticks are a natural weight loss aide that claims to help users ditch up 600 calories a day by suppressing the body’s appetite control mechanisms. In plain English this means that if you take the recommended 2-3 sachets a day, your body will feel fuller for longer, enabling you to stick to three meals a day without resorting to snacking.

The key ingredient, Fabuless, contains oat and palm oils that increase the time it takes for the body to become hungry after eating and by doing so, calorie consumption is reduced, aiding the diet or exercise regime you already have in place. But do they work?

When I first poured the sachet of powder into a glass of water I was initially unimpressed with the milky colour and ‘nutty’ taste. I got round this the following morning by mixing a sachet into the milk I poured onto my cereal and I barely noticed it – this quickly became part of my breakfast routine and after taking another sachet after eating my lunch I did begin to notice how much fuller I felt.

After a week on two sachets a day I can now wait comfortably between meals without snacking, and if I do, I choose a low calorie, healthy snack such as a piece of fruit. The instructions on the box advise you to have one-two sachets after breakfast and a further sachet at lunchtime and this has worked well for me during the day, but by the time I have eaten dinner I am no longer as full.

For someone who has a habit of snacking in the evenings or late at night Slimsticks may not be right for you, but if office treats and morning pastries are your downfall then they could make a great difference to your weight loss.

Find out more on the Slimsticks website.

Who wouldn't be delighted to find this gift under the tree?

And what would we like to find inside that carefully wrapped parcel come Christmas Day? Well we would be rather pleased to find Davina Peace’s indulgent Body Care Trio Gift Set – the perfect selection of products to ensure a flawless physique to show off the New Year’s party frock you’ve picked out.

When it comes to organic products, it doesn’t get much more luxurious and crave-worthy than Davina Peace. From top grade ingredients to sumptuous packaging, Peace’s ethical, sustainable brand has really set the bar high. The Gift Set is a delight to unwrap – untie the ribbons and inside an eye-catching monochrome box (hand-crafted from recycled cardboard printed with sustainable soy inks, no less!) you’ll find a nest of festive red tissue paper strewn with scarlet rose petals. Who could possibly resist such an unutterably feminine offering?

Once you’ve got past an outpouring of oohs and aahs, you’ll find that the ethical treats themselves definitely live up to the hype of the delicate beauty of the wrappings. Peace’s much-coveted repairing Body Oil has been much lauded by beauty editors and has become the byword in luxe body care. Made with a rich blend of organic oils designed to hydrate, protect and restore suppleness, the Body Oil is best used after a bath or shower to lock in moisture. It absorbs quickly and has a warm, sensual fragrance, plus it can also be used as a massage oil – multi-tasking skin care, we like!

For extra soft skin, follow with the ultra-nourishing Body Cream which is made with Omega 3-rich Indonesian Kendi Oil as well as Cork Oak; an active ingredient which works to smooth and tone. There’s also a very handy tube of Davina Peace Hand Cream; packed with toning and hydrating natural substances, it’s an essential product for chilly winter climes. For the jet-setting girl-on-the-go there’s also a gorgeous (and practical) Body Care Travel set available, which comes in the same sophisticated wrapping, of course. You could always simply ask Santa for both; surely this is just being efficient, no?

For more information telephone +44 (0) 207 819 0262, email askdavina@davinapeace.com or see the Davina Peace website. The gift set is available to buy online, as well as at Harrods.

A beach goddess body sans gym membership!

Whether it’s sipping cocktails at an art gallery, or browsing the boutiques whilst emailing and toting an extra large latte; it’s fair to say we’re big fans of multi-tasking. Which is one of the reasons we’ll be smirking wth satisfaction whilst applying Rodial’s rather clever Skinny Beach suncream.

If you haven’t managed to factor in a last minute holiday slim-down plan, the revolutionary cream with SPF 15 is one item you should definitely remember to pack. Not only does Skinny Beach ensure you’re protected from the sun’s harmful rays, it promises to firm, tone and lift tummy, thighs, derriere and any other bits of you that aren’t emanating beach goddess perfection. This is thanks to a combination of caffeine, carnitine complex and saccharide salt which blast cellulite and combat water retention.

With a light, floral scent, the cream adds a sexy sheen to skin, which will perk up even the palest of complexions. If you’re extra pale and lovely, fear not – Rodial offers a tinted version of the product, which will make hitting the beach a little less painful. And as if that weren’t impressive enough, Skinny Beach also contains tan-boosting peptides which mean that you’ll get that sun-kissed glow in double-quick time, and stay gorgeously golden for longer. Hooray!

For maximum bikini bod perfection without hours of treadmill pounding, we advise combining the cream with Rodial’s Skinny Beach Sticks. The powder is dissolved in water and taken once or twice a day a couple of weeks before you hit the beach for best effect – how easy is that?! These teeny wundersachets contain a powerful mix of vitamins, minerals and plant extracts which simultaneously slim, help build your body’s UV protection levels and boost tanning pigments in the skin. We won’t list all of the Hollywood residents who are apparently fans of the Skinny Beach range, but suffice to say anyone who is getting papped in a two piece probably has Rodial on speed dial…

The Rodial Skinny Beach range is available to buy online here.

Dynamic Duo: Silhouette and Tonus B12

“Hi, my name’s Alice and I’m a beauty product addict.”

Looking at the mass of bottles and tubes jostling for space on my bathroom shelves, you could be forgiven for thinking that you had stepped into a branch of an upscale cosmetics boutique. Obviously I remonstrate with myself and issue instructions that I MUST finish the lotions and potions I already possess before purchasing any other goodies. Unfortunately I am not very good at listening to my own recommendations. The latest advice I have issued myself with is that when I find a product that works and that I really like, I will stick to using that and get rid of my home beauty counter display.

It’s just possible that I may have found that. Karin Herzog’s catchily-titled ‘Dynamic Duo’ are two cellulite-busting creams that work in tandem to combat the dreaded orange peel effect. Looking at the before and after photographs on the dedicated Anti-Cellulite site, they’re pretty impressive. And if you’re not sold on the treatment by those, the creams have a fan in the owner of perhaps the most revered posterior in world: Kylie. Wow.

So just how does this wonder cream work, and can we all really get a derriere to rival Ms. Minogue’s? The Dynamic Duo is made up of two products: Silhouette and Tonus B12. On beginning using the kit, you are advised to choose whether you’re opting to treat cellulite only or if your aim is to slim and tone too. All this actually makes a difference to is which product you apply first. As my figure is not entirely similar to Kylie’s, I decided to slim/tone/treat cellulite – I’m a big fan of two-in-one treatments.

The first step, Tonus B12, is made with Vitamin B12 and other body-toning ingredients including slimming favourite green tea, as well as conditioning sesame, avocado, jojoba and jasmine. You may be more used to taking B12 in supplement form; it’s a vitamin which aids digestion  and helps the body convert carbs and fat into energy.

Silhouette uses a patented formula which increases O2 levels within the skin: Karin Herzog’s unique method of harnessing oxygen in order for skin to function at its best. The cream is designed to act on those wobbly bits that are most liable to fat deposits and it forces oxygen deep into the tissues to shift the toxins which cause cellulite.

The  potent ingredients in the Dynamic Duo work together – the oxygen and energy rush reaction from Silhouette means that skin uses the toning power of Tonus B12 to best effect. The products ensure that skin remains hydrated all day long, as well as improving regeneration and repair. Is there anything that the Dynamic Duo don’t do?

Application is advised twice daily for optimum results – a little diligence is required if you want smooth, firm skin you’d be happy showing off in Spinning Around-style hotpants! I am not the most patient or assiduous individual, but I did stick to the morning and night application plan.

Products work to slim, tone and firm

The instructions state that a little goes a long way with these creams and they’re not wrong – it’s absorbed easily (Silhouette cleverly self-absorbs in fact) and you won’t have to stand around in the buff for ten minutes. In terms of ease of application, my only real criticism would be the screw top format to the tubes, which makes things a little more fiddly.

There isn’t a strong aroma to either of the products, but the scent is reassuringly non-floral – these are serious creams for serious cellulite-busting after all. Having diligently slathered myself with Silhouette and Tonus B12 for two months, my skin is noticeably smoother, firmer and more bump-free. I can’t say that I’ll be popping on gold lamé micro shorts in the very near future, but I will be definitely be happier in a bikini this summer – which is what most of us are looking for after all.

And I will not be adding anything to my product collection for the moment. Although I have just realised that Karin Herzog also offers a version of the Tonus B12 with self-tan. Well, maybe just one more then.

The Dynamic Duo is available to buy online on the Karin Herzog website, plus readers of Running in Heels can get a 15% discount with code KIDNI1114. Hooray!

Karin Herzog products are not tested on animals. For more information or advice, take a look at the brand’s Facebook page. Their discussion board is open to anybody who may have any questions or comments about their products. You can also follow Karin Herzog on Twitter @KarinHerzogUK.

The way to silky, fuzz-free pins

Each year women spend impressive amounts of cash on hair removal. Whether you’re paying professionals to keep you fuzz-free or tackling your pins at home, removing hair is a costly and time-consuming business. In recent years, laser hair removal has sky-rocketed in popularity as women look for long-term solutions to keeping hair at bay. However, as desirable as this option may be, it certainly isn’t cheap – costs vary, but if you’re planning on treating large areas, such as your legs, you should expect a four figure price tag.

In addition, multiple sessions are required, meaning hours of appointments when you could be doing other more interesting and life-enriching activities. Cocktails with the girls or laser hair removal? Erm…

Thus when we heard about the TRIA Laser Hair Removal System we were pretty intrigued. Hair free? Forever? Erm, yes please! Goodbye ungainly positions in front of beauticians we’re not on a first name basis with. Goodbye shaving cuts. Goodbye trying to find a successful way to apply depilatory cream without getting it all over the bathroom. And most importantly, goodbye unwanted fuzz and hello smooth, sexy legs!

So what is this wonder gadget?

TRIA is a proven laser hair removal system that you can use at home. With the same advanced technology that is used in professional devices, TRIA promises to disable hair growth in 6-8 sessions. Yes, that does mean no more hair. Ever.

How does it work?

The system functions by targeting the dark pigments in hair; in not-so-scientific terms, the laser works with the black or brown hair to generate heat which disables the hair follicle. This means that the hair will gradually fall out and stop growing back. Finito. Kaput. Au Revoir.

TRIA suggest one treatment every two weeks for the first three months and then one every four weeks for the next 3-5 months. The device has five power settings so that users can select the best treatment level. The highest level is the most intense and painful, so if you’re squeamish you should start at the lowest setting.

How to use

Harnessing all that powerful technology we can perhaps be forgiven for thinking that the TRIA was going to resemble something out of a Bond film. In fact, it looks distinctly unscary and rather slick ; in a smart box, it’s more like a travel hairdryer. The TRIA comes with a charger and full instruction book which answers any questions you might have about the device, and explains exactly how to tackle the process, step by step.

The system needs charging for three hours before use and then you’re ready to begin defuzzing. Instructions advise using the TRIA on clean, shaved and dry skin for best results, as this minimises discomfort.

The neatly packaged TRIA

The process is surprisingly easy – the device is placed over the area to be treated, ensuring that the screen is in full contact with the skin. A beep is emitted which signals that the TRIA has done its magic and then you can move onto the next area.

Trying out the TRIA

Although some people experience a tingly, painful sensation, a little like a rubber band snapping, I found the TRIA wasn’t really painful at all.  I am usually a bit of a wimp, especially when it comes to waxing, but the only place I experienced any discomfort with the TRIA was on my underarms.

The process is very simple although I would suggest using coloured tape or white eyeliner to section off the areas you’re treating so that you don’t zap the same spot twice -perhaps not entirely scientific, but it does work. One session down and a few more to go, so we’ll update this when there are (hopefully) some fuzz-free results for you! Although the initial outlay may seem considerable, when you add up the cost of all of those Brazilians, razors and creams, perhaps not. If this baby works, it has to be worth it…

The TRIA Laser Hair Removal System costs £575 and is available to buy online here.

Within the hotel is the recently opened Spa de la Reine by Carita, comprising 250m² of treatment space as well as a gym, jacuzzi and steam room. With cool, contemporary deco and top class services, the spa is a haven of tranquility and relaxation in the bustling and busy heart of central Paris.

Get into regal shape with Carita's Corps Parfait at the Spa de la Reine

Carita first opened their first salon in Paris over 60 years ago, basing their tailor-made treatments on a philosophy of ‘Haute Beauté’, so if any spa can claim to be fit for a Queen, this is it! There’s a full range of spa services on offer, but we recommend getting your body into regal shape with Corps Parfait; over one and a half hours of relaxing body treatments designed to tone and firm from top to toe. Carita recommend a series of five sessions for best results but at €160 a go, you may want to start with just one!

Corps Parfait promises to reveal glowing skin with a full body exfoliation using Rénovateur; a legendary product blended from sunflower seeds and essential oils. Initially a liquid, Rénovateur tranforms into a powder through a slow, draining massage which allows vitamins to penetrate deeply; refining texture, regenerating tissues and leaving you with radiant skin.

The next step uses Idéal PRO-LIFT; high performance technology which works with vibratory waves to flush out toxins and decongest and deep cleanse skin. This step also boosts cells and muscle fibre. The technology is used in combination with Carita’s Perfect Concentrate; an intensive firming serum containing active anti-ageing ingredients.

Thoroughly firmed and toned, we suggest taking some time to relax a little more in the spa’s steam room and jacuzzi and if you’re feeling too blissed out to step back into the real world straight away, the Spa de la Reine offers hair and make-up services too. Once you have a blowdry and powdered complexion worthy of Marie Antoinette, we recommend a dignified afternoon tea and macarons in the hotel’s stylish lounge. Or you’re in the heart of the Marais and all of the quartier’s chic boutiques, so some extra extravagant shopping is definitely necessary. And who knows: perhaps post-Corps Parfait, you may be smugly pleased in the changing rooms. Let them eat cake!

www.pavillon-de-la-reine.com

The equivalent of a 3-day detox in your bath...

Detoxing? In the bath? Forget about vegetables and linseed teas, it is entirely possible to take the lazy approach to detoxing and do it in the bath. You can try tackling a detox the indulgent way with INA Crystals White Gold Detox Bath Crystals.

And how, pray tell, does this wondrous substance work? As part of the INA Crystals skincare range, this magical elixir contains what alchemists apparently reverently refer to as ‘The Fifth Element’: white gold crystal salts from the Himalayas. The salts are totally pure and unpolluted, having formed over millions of years.

Minerals and trace elements in the bath salts penetrate cells deeply, allowing the body to expel any toxins that it may have accumulated over time, such as pollutants in the air and alcohol. So if you’ve been downing the cocktails recently or just live in a large city, this revolutionary stuff is for you!

The intensive detoxifying effect is alleged to be equivalent to a 3-day detox and lazing in the bath has got to be easier than devoting time to chomping on crudités. The crystals also contain essential oils of basil, fennel and juniper which aid the detox process.

The people at INA say that your body will feel ‘lighter, brighter and radiant with a heavenly moisturised softness.’  And if the celebrity fans of the salts (Jude Law, Sophie Dahl and Kylie) are sources to be trusted, they may be right! The bath crystals also help sufferers of eczema, bath pain and insomnia. Unfortunately they won’t do the washing up for you, or bring world peace. But we wouldn’t be surprised if they did!

INA Crystals White Gold Detox Bath Crystals, £45/€50 are available online here.

Luxurious apres-ski relaxation

Glorious Gstaad: playground of Europe’s jeunesse doré. And where, pray tell, do the élite ski-bunnies congregate apres-ski to discusss who is doing who, and which Euro-royal has the best sunglasses and most sumptuous furs? Why, at the Gstaad Palace of course!

All of that gossiping can be tiring stuff (never mind the skiing), so if you’re heading to the resort, make sure you book some me-time at the Palace’s rather luxurious 1,800sqm spa. Designed with the Palace’s discerning clients in mind, the spa boasts incredible views, indoor and outdoor pools, a state-of-the-art gym, a pilates studio and a unique hammam experience with seven rooms. Wowee.

And if you’re heading to the best hotel in the best destination, it would seem rude not to choose the spa’s best treatment! The Royal Moments package is almost three hours of treatments that will leave you looking and feeling like a princess and ready to hit the Palace’s oh-so-exclusive nightclub, GreenGo.

The package kicks off with a soothing foot bath – perfect for easing those aching tootsies after hours en piste. We then move onto some divine treats for the body; feel the tension oozing away and your muscles relaxing with a full body scrub and aroma massage. Only the best products are used at the spa, and the ranges currently on offer include Cinq Mondes, Sisley and Niance. Will you go for Cinq Mondes’ exotic Savon Noir exfoliation or perhaps a scrub with Edelweiss-enriched alpine salts? The menu of massages takes in oriental techniques, tropical Balinese methods, hot stones and shiatsu, so relaxation is guaranteed. With your body in glowing, de-stressed perfection, we move onto the face; the Royal Moments package offers a classic facial as well as eyelash tinting and a quick eyebrow tidy.

Et voila! All that remains now is to work out who was really sporting the most stylish sunnies and whether a private jet really is a reasonable investment in these troubled times.

Find out more about the crave-worthy treatments on the Gstaad Palace’s website.