Happiness Within Well-Being by Pilates Instructor, Samantha

We asked Pilates instructor Samantha for a little bit of information on Well-being, and which of our products are best suited to encourage well-being, here is what she had to say:

Well-being is the buzzword of the moment. For the consumer this means an increase in choice and in quality of product, as businesses compete for custom. With so many wellbeing-focused products on the market how do we know which have real health benefits and which are a less beneficial current trend?

As a pilates instructor with training in Workplace Health and Wellbeing, I have an awareness of the importance of the ‘mind body connect’ for increased prevention of physical and mental illness. I am also aware how exercise (particularly those with a mind body focus) can increase quality of life (QOL). Yoga is one such form of exercise that I find compliments my Pilates practice and increases my QOL. These beautifully floral eye patches from La Juniper mean that much earned Shavasana (laying totally relaxed on mat with eyes closed), at the end of practice, can be stylishly enjoyed to the full.

I personally recommend yoga for its deep relaxation capabilities- by focusing solely on your body (which you will find easier and easier with each session you go to) you are allowing your brain to retrain itself in its ability to focus on one thing at a time. Yoga also incorporates meditation whether in movement or stillness. Meditation is now academically praised for its health benefits. As happiness psychologist Shawn Achor (2011) tells in his popular TedxBloomington talk: “We find that meditation allows your brain to get over the cultural ADHD that we’ve been creating by trying to do multiple tasks at once and allows our brains to focus on the task at hand”.

The ‘Focus’ range from La Juniper features candles, body wash and home scent that celebrate your inner calm. Focus is a beautifully fresh scent, with depth, that is perfectly apt for enriching everyday living and for gifting some quality calm to those special to you.

Another important necessity for pilates and yoga practice is to have nice smelling feet, for yourself and others! La Juniper’s award winning mint feet tabs from Bathing Beauty are minty perfection.

Wellbeing through scent and the importance of social connection

Cameron Diaz (the beautifully funny Hollywood actress) recognises the role of scent in stress reduction in her book on the aging process called ‘The Longevity Book’ (2016). “ Breathe. Aromatherapy, specifically using the scent of lavender, has been shown to lower stress levels and reduce anxiety” (Diaz, 2016: 172).

Jones the Bones Bath Salts, by Bathing Beauty, selected by the team at Home of La Juniper is fabulously fragranced with quality lavender essential oil; and is reflective of La Juniper’s agreement with Diaz’s linking of beautiful scents with enriching wellbeing.

Lavender is also recognised for health benefits, in particular sleep. As we all know, not having enough sleep can directly impact on our quality of life – so lavender in my pre bed routine is a must; combined with the toxin ridding and muscle healing Epsom salts, Bathing Beauty’s Bath Salts are a definitive regular buy for me. (Film star Qwyneth Paltrow recommends Epsom salts and she is a beauty.)

La Juniper’s ‘Breathe’ range, featuring scented candles, body wash and home scent, reflect the knowledge that scientific research has evidenced that breathing essential oils can increase levels of happiness.

La Juniper celebrates community through the ethos of the Danish tradition ‘Hygge’. A form of social connection celebrated through the enjoyment of the simpler things in life. The gorgeously spicy La Juniper Hygge candle in its large deep brown glass container makes a cosy table centre piece. Hygge refers to being connected to others through simple acts such as drinking tea together whilst wrapped in blankets and warming near a fire. La Juniper’s teas, especially the ‘Around the fire- Hoogly Tea’, celebrate the importance of social connection to our happiness and longevity, and the scrumptious choice of La Juniper blankets are cosiness and comfort magnified. Brene Brown, another popular Ted Talk psychologist remarks: “A deep sense of love and belonging is an irresistible need of all people. We are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love, to be loved, and to belong. When those needs are not met, we don’t function as we were meant to. We break. We fall apart. We numb. We ache. We hurt others. We get sick”, (Seppala, 2012).

Take time to have tea with friends and family

In short, making time to ‘connect’ with a friend over a cup of tea is a necessity to your health. (I personally do it whilst burdening them with watching me do a Beyonce inspired dance routine or wrapping their furry pet in a hug – my tribe appreciates this (or puts up with it)).

It is important to have a tribe; to have people that support you through the bad and good, believe and understand you. This can be difficult, sometimes we can find ourselves working alongside, being friends with, or being in relationships with people who actually don’t quite get us and this can have quite a corrosive impact on our mental and therefore physical health. It is hard trying to convince someone that your ideas, your way of thinking and your way of life are good, effective and ok if their thinking is contradicting. It is especially grating when this is on a day to day basis. Finding your ‘tribe’ is really about doing the things you enjoy doing and connecting and developing friendships and relationships (professional and/or personal) with people who also enjoy, appreciate and are inspired by what you do.

Bertie…always makes us happy.

‘Tribes: we need you to lead us’ is a good book by Seth Godin (2008), that details the importance of having a ‘tribe’. Don’t forget, that your ‘tribe’ can include pets – pets can really enrich our lives, and stroking a pet can release oxytocin – a rather nice feeling hormone. Journalist Linda Blair has written an informative summary on the importance of pets in her article; “Llama therapy? Why pets make you happier”, (Blair, 2016). If you don’t have a pet, why not buy these rather cute cat earrings from La Juniper; no vet bills but still appreciating the furry friends happy inducing capabilities.

I haven’t yet spoken about what is good nutrition, or even the positives of exercising outside, both of which increase wellbeing. However, ‘Ballerina Body’ by Misty Copeland (2017) gives a balanced view of wellbeing (including nutrition) and she seems sensible in her approach to food. Including that naughty sugar, which gives a dopamine fix (happy high), but has no nutritional value and is addictive. Aiming to get your dopamine fix from creating stronger connections with others will be healthier and eating cake with your friends could be the answer to short term bliss (a healthy and non healthy dopamine fix combined). (Until you start blaming each other for getting fat). (Diaz, 2016: 188)

Lastly, Remember happiness is contagious and when you are happy you will find people around you are happier too.

Written for us by the lovely Samantha Barker- Pilates Instructor.