CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT: Vita Coco!

Coconut water is the latest thing for health apparently. Itʼs meant to be the best hangover cure around, make you feel tip-top, and be better for you than plain, old, normal water. One carton has more potassium than two bananas, alongside other electrolytes. The point of all of those is to help keep your bodyʼs fluid levels balanced, make you feel less sluggish post-exercise, and stop cramps during exercise. They also do lots of other, very scientific things, apparently!

Rhianna, Courtney Cox, Madonna and Jessica Simpson have both been snapped drinking the stuff, and Demi Moore loves it so much that sheʼs invested in Vita Coco! So, bearing all of this in mind, I set myself a challenge...if it makes you feel hydrated and gives you an energy boost...could I replace caffeine with coconut water for a week?
A case of the stuff arrived from the lovely people at Vita Coco, and I popped it all in the fridge to keep it nice & cool - and I felt full of optimism, and ready to take on a decaffeinated world.

I started there and then, and I must admit, the taste is a little unusual. Itʼs a little thicker in consistency than water, but not quite like juice. If youʼve ever been on holiday somewhere with coconuts growing nearby, cracked one and drunk straight from the nut, then youʼll know just what it tastes like. Basically, donʼt expect it to taste like the inside of a Bounty bar! Luckily, they also do flavoured ones (pineapple, passion fruit etc) that are a bit more interesting - the regular plain one is a bit bland.
I normally start the day with a cuppa before I leave the house, and I decided to swap that for a vita coco on my tube journey to work. I must admit that I arrived at the office feeling much less thirsty than usual, and I didnʼt feel like Iʼd missed my cuppa, but I was still ready for my morning coffee by 9.30. And rather than power on through, I crumbled and had an Americano anyway!

On the mornings that I went to the gym before work, it did make me feel more hydrated afterwards than just a glass of water. Iʼm not sure if itʼs a psychological thing, or if it really does hydrate you better, but I felt like Iʼd just had a sports drink rather than water. And coconut water has to be healthier than a sugary, brightly coloured sports drink, doesnʼt it?


In conclusion, I must admit that I failed to give up coffee properly, as Vita Coco canʼt feed the beast if you have a caffeine habit! But I did feel less thirsty and a bit healthier. I easily replaced my morning tea with the coconut water every day, and felt better for it, but still felt like I needed to indulge in a few coffees and green teas as well. As for the hangover cure bit....yep, thatʼs true too. It definitely settled my stomach and got rid of that weird furry- mouth feeling. Not that Booty Blogger would ever normally drink too much, I just thought it was only fair to test the theory for you all!


If you want me or any of the Fitness Freak team to take on a challenge from your brand - email me at BootyBlogger@fitness-freak.com Iʼm happy to be your guinea pig! 

UNDERCOVER: A visit to Marylebone did not disappoint!

Indaba yoga, 18 Hayes Place, Marylebone, London, UK, NW1 6U

Your first class is free & walk in classes range from £12 to £15 depending on how long they are. I did a free class, and I booked over the phone, just to be sure. 

The name if this place, 'Indaba', means ‘gathering’ apparently. What it actually should translate to is 'yoga centre with a million and one different types of classes, and lovely studios'. They boast on their website about having 'devoted and attentive teachers', and if my instructor Nikos was anything to go by, that's true. He had a gentle sense of humour and I felt like he was constantly adapting the class to the needs of the group. 

I've been to loads of yoga classes and this was one of the best. It wasn't horrendously, exhaustingly challenging...but I felt like I'd done a good workout afterwards. I also felt like the instructor allowed people to try new moves and push themselves, but with his support.  For example, he was very helpful to a girl who wanted to do a headstand, but had never tried properly before. With his assistance, she did a lovely pose! This was an Ashtanga class, so lots of focusing on your breath and working up a good sweat. The room was also heated but only to a warmth that was cosy, rather than Bikram sweaty! 

You can do all sorts of different classes here though, and they do hot yoga if that's your thing. And thankfully, unlike many London yoga studios, they have lovely changing rooms so you can be as sweaty as you like and still emerge from the building looking lovely. Proper lockers, free herbal tea, a comfy waiting area and nice showers go a long way, especially if you've made the 'trek' to Marylebone! 

The studios were warm, light and welcoming. It was a 90 minute class, but after I'd shaken off the initial stress I'd walked in with, the time went past pretty fast. The instructions given in the class were clear, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, despite a clear difference in ability among the group. 

I'd happily make the journey there again if I needed to unwind.

Best bit - the teacher

Worst bit - they charge for towels. You know how I hate that. 

Good for - Relaxation and testing your capabilities 

The score - 9/10

UNDERCOVER: A workout thatʼs like cycling in a nightclub?! Boom! Cycle

Saturday 19th May 2012 at 2pm - FREE for members of Boutique Sport website at BOOM! Cycle Studio, Shoreditch. 

Check out Boutique Sport and Boom Cycle for more details. I found out about the event by subscribing the Boutique Sport mailing list & responded as quickly as possible to secure a spot! (But as an undercover agent, I gave a fake name and wore a disguise!). Apparently, they were inundated with responses so had to put on two events in the same day!

If you havenʼt been to a spin class, you havenʼt lived. Itʼs one of my favorite ways of working out, and as someone who has struggled with creaky knees over the years, I know that cycling is a sure-fire way to build up the muscles that support your knee joint. Boutique Sport, the sports events company run lots of free events in London and they teamed up with Boom!Cycle in Shoreditch to run special Saturday classes recently, and you got a goodie bag with lots of lovely makeup, magazine, shower stuff & some Vita Coco as a reward too! 

As with all good spin classes, the music was pumping, the room was dark like a nightclub, and you hop on, pedal away furiously and burn a gazillion calories. The difference with BOOM! Cycle is that you donʼt waste your time working only your lower body; you also use weights to exercise your upper body whilst pedaling on the static bike. You kill two birds with one stone, hurrah! The class could have been tougher, but thereʼs also no reason why I couldn't have cranked the resistance up on my bike, or used heavier weights, if I wanted to make it more challenging. 

 

The instructor was really enthusiastic and encouraging, and looked the part. I actually overheard a girl say afterwards, that the instructorʼs perfect biceps kept her going when the class was tough! Iʼd say thatʼs a good point. I know some people find the constant pedaling tedious, but I love it. And, the addition of the arm and core exercises mean that itʼs not monotonous as all. The studio was perfect for spin - dark! The event was really well organised too.

You want a nice warm shower after a sweaty workout like that, but the changing rooms were packed (and the showers were almost communal) so I decided to get freshened up at home instead. 

Best bit - getting more out of a spin class than usual (and the freebies).
Worst bit - not being able to get into the changing rooms/shower so leaving very sweaty
Good for - exercising with a nightclub vibe. 
Score - 8/10

UNDERCOVER: Spread your legs in the City(!) - Blue Cow Yoga

Wednesday night approaches, mid week drinks are tempting to relieve the stress of the week so far....but this time I opt for a Blue Cow. Not a new cocktail though, Iʼm afraid...its better. Blue Cow Yoga is a yoga studio set in the heart of the city, yet when you walk in, you couldnʼt feel further away.

The reception is open-plan with a minimalist feel. Remove your shoes on arrival and place them in their shoe- rack wall before registering. The registration was quick and the staff were extremely friendly. Each class is £14 which sounds a bit steep but you do get provided with towels (you know how I love a free towel), good changing room facilities, and an endless supply of fruit/herbal teas. The studios themselves are spacious and all equipment from yoga mats to blocks are provided.

Sitting in my best guru position, we wait for the teacher to arrive - and she was brilliant fun from the start. She was so calm and yogi like that her vibe just rubbed off on you. The group was a mix of men and women but I didnʼt feel at all intimated or self-conscious, especially as the teacher was brilliant at putting everyone at ease. I think the class would suit all levels; she was very good at showing the basics and also adapting them for the more advanced in the group.

I would have to say my highlight was lying on my back, legs spread as wide as they would go, staring up at Gresham Street while busy professionals rushed around oblivious to my legs akimbo pose just below them. This teacher called that particular move...the dead fly! Ha ha.

I really did enjoy the class, the atmosphere and studio was great and the people who work there are very warm and friendly. Would definitely recommend this to the city folk among you if you want to find some much needed calm and relaxation, but want to do it in style!

Best bit - the calm oasis in the city 
Worst bit - getting on the tube after enjoying the calm!!
Good for - relaxation
Score - 8/10 

CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT: Vivo bare foot running shoes

Running for free...with a bit of toe-ga thrown in!
 6.30pm on Tuesday nights in Hyde Park - meet just north of the Serpentine Bridge Free!
 For more details head to the VIVOBAREFOOT website http://www.vivobarefoot.com.

The VIVOBAREFOOT running theory states that “70% of your brainʼs information for movement comes from the nerves on the soles of your feet”. Basically, if you can feel the ground better, you will run better. Having spent a small fortune on all sorts of chunky, fancy, gel-cushioning runners in the past, to protect my poor knees and ankles as I pound the pavements, I thought it would be good to test their theory, and try out these training shoes.

I guess the best thing to do is go and buy the shoes first! They can tell you all the details in the Covent Garden store; they stick you on a treadmill, and watch how you run on a camera. All very high tech when you consider that many of us have run around since we learned to walk, with no lessons whatsoever! But the team will suggest that doesnʼt mean weʼre doing it right, does it? The shoes will set you back a minimum of fifty quid.

Thatʼs just the beginning though. The VIVOBAREFOOT team run a group exercise session every Monday night in Hyde Park. Itʼs still pretty new (I think itʼs only been going a month or so), and Iʼm sure you can still attend if you donʼt have the shoes, but that would be rather pointless, as itʼs all about making the most of your barefoot running style.

Just one word about the facilities before I start...errr, there are none. If you want to get changed for the session, be sure to do that before you leave the office...otherwise youʼll be putting your sports bra on in a bush. There is always someone from the team to keep an eye on your valuables in a dry spot, but there are no changing rooms nearby.

The instructor was really fun (and funny, in a dad-joke sort of way) and very clear about what he wanted from us. We started with a round of toe-ga....yes, toe-ga...thatʼs yoga for your toes. Despite the fact that it was a soggy April evening, and only around 15 degrees, we took our shoes and socks off and stood in the middle of Hyde Park with bare tootsies, doing toe-strengthening exercises! Once the silliness was over and done with and the shoes were back on, we did some warm ups and then started our drills. Proper barefoot running means keeping a really steady pace, so we worked on our style and pace as a group and played a few games, before doing a few laps of our area of the park. I felt like the instructor and the team from VIVOBAREFOOT were watching our every move (in a nice way) and were always on hand to offer tips about how to improve our running styles on both grass and concrete. The whole session was just over an hour, and allowed everyone to push themselves hard if they wanted to, or take it a bit easier if youʼre not a crazy running junkie.

If you donʼt like jogging, and need pumping music to get through a session, this is not the class for you. But if you want to feel motivated about running, meet some lovely people and enjoy the great (wet, windy) outdoors in London, this is worth making the effort.

And although I canʼt promise heʼll be at one of the sessions, Eddie Izzard was seen in the VIVOBAREFOOT store last week, and is a big fan of barefoot running. Heʼs soon set to do 27 marathons in 27 days. I think Iʼll just stick to Tuesday nights in Hyde Park.

Best bit - itʼs a great workout and really good fun, all for free.

Worst bit - running in the rain, with nowhere to get changed afterwards

Good for - improving your fitness and running style
Score - 8/10