Author

Claire

Be kind, work hard, be humble, stay true, smile often, never stop learning, love always.

I remember a few years ago bemoaning to a neighbour about having to pull my trainers on because I hated running with every inch of my being. He asked me why do it then, what is it that I am running from? It made me think… am I running from something? Why did I run if I hated it so much? But no, I knew that I wasn’t running away from anything. I was running towards being free, being healthy, being pain-free, and being ALIVE.

And still I run. In fact, at the end of May I am due to run my 4th half marathon. People who knew the old me knows that is an insane statement for me to make; I’M TRAINING FOR MY FOURTH HALF MARATHON. The old me would laugh through a cider-fogged hangover and wonder how (and why) the new me runs when she hates it so much.

But I run with everything I’ve got. Even when I’ve not slept and I’ve been running around after my little boy all week and burning the midnight oil hunched over my laptop writing, I put my trainers on and I train. In the rain, the hail and the cold – because I can. Because I am healthy, and because I’m alive. And because now – Laura is not…

On May 27th 2017 my darling Laura died.

Even typing that sentence brings tears to my eyes and a massive goose egg in my throat. I don’t even think I’ve had the courage yet to refer to her in the past tense. It feels like it isn’t true, it can’t be true. I feel like next week she’ll phone me with a stupid voice pretending to be someone else like she always used to do, and it’ll all be a big prank. How can it be real when she’s so alive, so vivacious, so bloody brilliantly wonderfully ‘Laura’?

But no, last year my angelwanny Dipsister partner-in-crime left this earth to join the stars after living with breast cancer for 8 years. And boy, did she live. She really bloody lived, and she filled every last second in the best way she could. She not only ran half marathons, full marathons and carried out enormous treks through Peru and Iceland, but she did it all whilst battling this f*cking evil disease. Not only all this, but she did it all smiling. Hell, she once even ran the Plymouth half marathon just 3 days after having a full blood transfusion,keeping the rest of us going (of course) with her motivational words and enormous smile. Through the pain and the tears, always that gorgeous smile… what i wouldn’t give to see it just one more time, willing me over the finish line…

Becoming “Dipsisters”

I first met Laura through her husband Jon, who had been best friends with my husband Toby from the age of four. It was 2005 and I had recently moved back to the Westcountry after a five year stint in London, and I couldn’t get used to it. I missed my whirlwind life in London and the close friends I had made there – having to start again by making new friends and find a new career in my mid-twenties was hard, and I didn’t like it one bit. But Laura and I instantly clicked – she had a cheeky sense of humour, a love of food which (nearly) matched mine, and we just seemed to gel right away. She made me feel welcome and part of ‘the gang’ (as our little gaggle of friends became known), and my friendship with Laura quickly blossomed and flourished into something I held precious.

Lycra, Hairspray and Sparkles

Our favourite and most treasured way of spending time was laying on the beach in the sunshine, reading ‘jazz mags’ as we called them (the cheap gossip kind, not the porny kind), eating crisps in the sunshine as we dissected the outfits, gossip and weight gain of every minor celebrity to grace the pages of Grazia, Heat and Love It.

God, looking back those days seem so frivolous and carefree… there was no cancer, no pain, no heartache. We had no conscience about the poor people we were dissecting (!) and we were young, free and happy. We had our whole lives ahead of us. Or so it seemed at the time.

Laura loved to dance and loved to party – fancy dress was a particular favourite of hers. Hair metal lycra, 50s rockabilly, Dirty Dancing, 80s prom and Christmas sparkle were favourite themes for Laura and the gang and when we went for it, boy did we go for it. Those were the few years where every weekend seemed to be a whirlwind of hen dos, weddings or birthday parties – life enhancing milestones which made everyone bond and celebrate and look forward to the years ahead.

CANCER the C*NT

On June 6th 2009 it was the turn of Toby and I to get married. As usual Laura was the life and soul of the party, dancing and getting everyone up on the dance floor, and we had the most magical day surrounded by our amazing friends and family.

It was just like Laura not to tell anyone that she’d found a lump a few weeks before… a lump which, a few days after our wedding she found out was not only cancerous, but it was advanced and already stage 4. For anyone who doesn’t know what that means… there is no stage 5. She hadn’t told anyone because she didn’t want to worry anyone or impact on anyone else’s happiness… a generous trait which over the next few years was to become so very typically Laura.

You see the lump she had found was big, and it was a fast grower. Laura and Jon had spotted it just a few weeks prior but, despite eventually seeing a doctor (and then another one, because the first said it was ‘just hormones and she was WAY too young to have breast cancer’), the lump in Laura’s breast had grown quickly. The (first) evil twist in this tale is that it her particular type of breast cancer fed on hormones, which meant that her young age and good health actually worked against her – propelling her cancer and feeding it with the hormones of youth which were happily dancing around her beautiful body.

Chemo, radiotherapy, medication, hospital visits, scans… it all started so quickly and the speed and the ferocity of the treatment almost took my breath away. Just seeing how much my dear Laura had to endure made me think that in years to come the ‘treatment’ of chemotherapy will be thought of as archaic as the brain shock therapies of ye olden days. It was brutal and barbaric.

Loss of Hair, Loss of Boobs…

First the hair loss; her beautiful long golden tresses were her pride and joy and it hit her hard to have to lose it. She kept it until the very bitter end- the little tufts on the side poking out from under her wig. The bald head on top making her look like (she said) Terry Nutkins. She politely smiled through it all and ‘protected’ us all from the harsh truth by wearing wigs, but she absolutely hated losing her hair.

Then the boobs – chopped up and chopped off, only to be replaced by faulty replacements which required multiple corrections. Because Laura’s particular type of cancer was hormone-fed, they had to stop her hormones, which resulted in having an early menopause induced and taking hormone suppressants for five years. This all inevitably led to the heartbreaking reality that they would never be parents, something which they had both always hoped for and seen as part of their future together. This evil disease was relentless, it kept attacking and stripping everything Laura held dear. It would have had lesser mortals on their knees.

Only Jon and Laura will ever know the inner battles she (and both of them) endured in these early days, and the sorrow and heartbreak they both felt at losing so much of their world.

But we rallied around, we kept busy and smiling, we had regular days out/nights out/meals/sleepovers to try and be as normal as possible and ignore the huge menacing dark shadow looming in the corner. Which of course we couldn’t ignore…but we tried. And because Laura was so positive and upbeat, we did our crying at home.

CoppaFeel!

Laura of course went above and beyond. She began campaigning for the breast cancer charity CoppaFeel!, – a charity which encourages young people to get to know their boobs so that they can spot any differences in the breast early which gives a greater chance of having your breast cancer treated. Yes TREATED.

If breast cancer is found early enough, it can be CURED.

How to check your boobs… Check them now. No really, please check and get to know what’s normal for you.

CoppaFeel’s message which Laura tirelessly worked hard to educate the young people of the UK about is so vitally important because if she had been aware of the importance of checking your boobs early, she might still be with us today.

Perhaps that is part of what makes it all so painful – that if Laura had been aware of CoppaFeel’s message earlier then her story might have played out so differently (and not ended at all)….

However, a quick shake up and I force myself to realign my thoughts again. I have learned that dwelling on the past and thinking about the ‘what ifs’ is toxic, so I try not think about that.

Instead I plough all of my energies into helping to spread CoppaFeel message – Laura would’ve wanted me to do this if nothing else. To continue her legacy in some small part makes me feel like Laura’s death wasn’t in vain, and hopefully she would be proud that her efforts and message is continuing even when she isn’t here to do it herself.

The Glastonbury Miracle

Laura and Jon adored music. It weaved throughout their love story like a golden unifying thread. Following Laura’s passing, her husband Jon started a Twitter campaign to get the Foo Fighters to dedicate ‘Everlong’ to Laura when the band headlined the Glastonbury festival. Laura and Jon’s first dance at their wedding was Everlong and so it held very special meaning for them and Jon wanted to do something incredible in his wife’s honour.

AND IT ONLY BLOODY WORKED.

None of us watching could quite believe it when Dave Grohl stood on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury and said those now immortal words,

“I’d like to dedicate this song to someone named Laura, who couldn’t be here tonight. But we should all dance this one for her”.

I know right? Un-believe-able.

But this is simply testament to the power of Laura, the tenacity of Jon, and the unwavering support from all those who love them.

And so following on from the (still unbelievable) Glastonbury success, it seemed only fitting that Jon should hold a festival-style party where music and celebration played centre stage. A few of us rallied around, and we managed to pull off a proper little festival in less than 6 weeks. There was dancing, there were flamingos, there was cake (so much cake) and amazing live music, all there to celebrate the amazing life Laura lived. Yes it was reflective and poignant (and there were more than a few tears), but it somehow managed to be the most heart-filled uplifting and life-affirming day filled with smiling faces and glittery dancing merry-makers. It was incredible, and we raised £6k for CoppaFeel! to boot.

LauFest is Born

It was so incredible in fact that we decided to make it an annual event, and so the next LauFest (as it has now been named) will be held on the weekend of 28th July (which would have been Jon & Laura’s 11th wedding anniversary) in the same field in Wembury on the outskirts of Plymouth.

I think Laura would love what we’re achieving with LauFest. She’d be embarrassed at the attention, and definitely have FOMO, but I really think she’ll be smiling down and be proud of the festival and what it stands for. She’d be proud that we’re continuing to spread the CoppaFeel! message, and she’d be enormously proud of Jon, with how he is coping with everything, and how he is turning a tragedy into something positive. Which is exactly what she did.

Join Us

So join us. Join us in wearing the lightning bolt sweatshirts, join us in wearing the Coppa-Flamingo tshirts and tropical flamingo leggings. But most of all please join us on the weekend of July 28th as we celebrate Laura, celebrate life, and celebrate being here to carry on her message and her legacy. She would’ve really loved it… and although it shatters my heart daily that she isn’t here to see what we’re doing, I know that she’s watching us, smiling wryly, and proudly dancing to Proud Mary… and that’s what pushes me forwards. I love you Dipper xxx

See you in the field of dreams!

Tickets, info and merchandise:

www.laufest.com

May 16, 2018

Lifestyle Pleasure Seeking Soul

What is Grounding and What Can it Do For You?

written by Claire

Last week my little boy and I were exploring our local beach as we regularly do, and we finally saw that first glimmer of lemony sunshine and felt the gentle warmth of Spring. He asked me if he could take his boots off and I agreed, as it was finally warm enough that he wouldn’t get frostbite (we visit the beach all year round, regardless of weather).

As he removed his boots and his tiny pink tootsies hit the sand, he said “ooh mummy, it tickles and feels SO yummy”. You could see by his body language and huge grin that feeling the earth under his bare feet for the first time in ages was filling him with pleasure and energy – the way he ran around that beach once he removed his boots was a sight to see!

Witnessing the complete joy when my son’s bare feet felt the ground beneath his feet was a delight, and so I was intrigued to find out more about the phenomenon known as ‘grounding’, to explore its benefits, discover what grounding is, and how it can help us in day-to-day life. Here’s what I found out…

The benefits of grounding and walking barefoot

What is Grounding?

Grounding (or “earthing” as it’s sometimes known) is a term referring to centring your body as it reconnects with the earth when your bare feet touch the ground. When you feel dewy grass underfoot or kick off your shoes at the end of a long day, have you ever felt a slight tingling in your feet, or a sense of warmth or well-being rising up into your body? Most of us expel a blissful sigh and close our eyes to experience the pleasure which goes hand-in-hand with being barefoot. That sensation is the result of direct barefoot contact with the surface of the Earth, which brims with natural energy and negatively charged free electrons. Without a connection to this reservoir of electrons, the cells in our body are unable to balance the positive charge which results from things like electron-deficient free radicals. By grounding ourselves, we can find inner balance, peace, and even proven health benefits.

Grounding Throughout History

Since time began, humans have walked barefoot or with footwear made of animal skins. They hunted with bare feet, lived barefoot, and even slept on the ground at night. Through this constant direct contact with the earth, they left their bodies open to receive the abundant free electrons from the earth. As a result, every part of the body could equilibrate with the electrical potential of the earth which, in turn, would stabilise the electrical environment of all organs, tissues, and cells.

Since the 1960s, we have increasingly worn insulating rubber or plastic-soled shoes, instead of the traditional leather made from hides. Synthetic shoes insulate our feet from the ground, and we live in houses made of stone with carpets made of synthetic insulating materials. People no longer sleep on the ground either, and modern life has progressively separated humans from the primordial flow of earth’s electrons. This means we have less opportunities for grounding than ever before. We drive cars and seldom walk (let alone walk barefoot!) so the western world is becoming increasingly disconnected with the earth which grounds us.

What is the Science Behind Grounding?

Dr Stephen Sinatra of the Heart MD Institute , an expert on the subject of grounding, describes how grounding works by explaining how we are all bio-electrical beings living on an electrical planet. Our bodies functions electrically (our hearts and nervous system are prime example) and so need ‘charging’ to retain their energy.

Explaining the science behind the phenomenon of grounding he says, “Emerging science reveals that direct contact with the ground allows us to receive an energy infusion, complements of Mother Earth. Grounding can restore and stabilise the bio-electrical circuitry that governs your physiology and organs, harmonise your basic biological rhythms, boost self-healing mechanisms, reduce inflammation and pain, and improve your sleep and feeling of calmness. When these things happen, you feel better in a big way”.

If you are feeling anxious or disconnected, grounding yourself can also help you to re-discover an inner peace. Direct physical contact with the vast supply of electrons on the surface of the Earth can truly help us, but modern life separates humans from such contact. Emerging research suggests that this disconnect may be a major contributor to physiological dysfunction and unwellness.

Health Benefits of Grounding

Clinton Ober and Dr Stephen Sinatra M.D wrote a best-selling book entitled ‘Earthing, The Most Important Health Discovery Ever!”. They say that the health benefits of grounding are vast because of the well-established link between chronic inflammation and all chronic diseases. The book explores how living in contact with the Earth’s natural surface charge – being grounded – naturally discharges and prevents chronic inflammation in the body.

Improved immune function
Improved digestion
Improved sleep
Rapid healing of injuries
Improved blood circulation
Harmonisation and stabilisation of the body’s basic biological rhythms
Accelerated recovery from intense athletic activity
Reduction of inflammation
Reduced stress / anxiety / irritability
Reduced electro sensitivity

Much like taking a cold shower, reconnection with the Earth’s electrons has been found to promote intriguing physiological changes and well-being. Walking barefoot outside or sitting, working, or sleeping indoors connected to conductive systems that transfer the Earth’s electrons from the ground into the body can really give you a lifeboost and improve health.

The Cure Right Under Our Feet

De Flora et al. wrote in the FASEB Jou rnal: “Since the late 20th century, chronic degenerative diseases have overcome infectious disease as the major causes of death in the 21st century, so an increase in human longevity will depend on finding an intervention that inhibits the development of these diseases and slows their progress”

Could such an intervention be located right beneath our feet?

Emerging evidence shows that contact with the earth—whether being outside barefoot or indoors connected to grounding products which increase conductivity — may be a simple, natural, and yet profoundly effective environmental strategy against chronic stress, ANS dysfunction, inflammation, pain, poor sleep, disturbed HRV, hypercoagulable blood, and many common health disorders, including cardiovascular disease.

Sunflower Power!

Watch this grounding experiment which demonstrates how sunflowers thrive and bloom when grounding rods are inserted into their water…

Incredible!

How Can I Experience Healthful Grounding in Day-to-Day Life?

Quite simply – take your shoes off! Walking, working and sitting barefoot is the best way to connect with the earth and benefit from the vibrations and healing electrons which Mother Earth gifts us. The simplest way to be grounded is to go outside and place your bare feet or hands on some grass or earth, or to immerse yourself in a body of conductive water such as the sea or a mineral-rich lake.

Grounding is about reconnecting with nature and the healing power of the earth. Your vivacity and aliveness will return and flow inside of you when you ground to the earth. For those who find it difficult to ground to the earth in day-to-day life, you can simulate an earth connection indoors by driving a metal rod into the ground outside, running a wire from the rod, and then connecting it to ourselves.

Products to Assist Grounding

Bare skin contact with grounding products such as conductive mats, bed sheets, body bands, and patches simulates being barefoot outdoors and can increase the conductivity of the body, encouraging the health benefits associated with grounding. People who notice negative effects from using computers or other electrical equipment report a reduction or elimination of these effects when grounded.

My little boy’s reaction to feeling the sand under his feet was evidently rather astute and intuitive. I think that he and I will most definitely be walking barefoot more often, our health and well-being depends on it!

What is grounding for you, and how do you like to ground yourself? What do you think about the benefits of grounding? Let us know and join our vibrant community over on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. We can’t wait to welcome you!

Thanks to The Mojo Lab for the feature image!

April 26, 2018

Inspiration

What is Earth Day 2018?

written by Claire

What is Earth Day?

Earth day is the world’s largest environmental movement. Earth day 2018 is dedicated to reducing plastic litter and pollution. We are here to explore that question and to find out why it is more relevant than ever…

Earth day is the world’s largest environmental movement.

In response, Earth Day 2018 is dedicated to providing the information and inspiration needed to fundamentally change human attitude and behavior about plastics.

When is Earth Day 2018?

On Sunday, April 22 2018, more than a billion people around the world will celebrate Earth Day by participating in neighbourhood clean-up efforts.

More than a billion people around the world will celebrate Earth Day by participating in neighbourhood clean-up efforts.

In 1970 the birth of the modern environmental movement took place, and each year on April 22^nd, Earth Day marks the anniversary of this world-changing event. Earth Day gave voice to the emerging consciousness which began in the 60s and 70s of helping to look after our planet. By channelling the energy of the anti-war protest movement and putting environmental concerns to the forefront of people’s minds, Earth Day slowly brought about a new consciousness and began raising awareness and concern for living organisms and the links between pollution and public health. “Environment” was finally a word which made the news, and which also made people stop and think…

Why Does Earth Day Mean?

Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson was an American politician and environmentalist from Wisconsin who served as a United States Senator and governor. Nelson initially had the idea for a national day to focus on the environment after witnessing the damage caused by the hugely devastating oil spill in Santa Barbara in 1969. His views on raising awareness for the environment gained such public interest that on April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to protest for a healthier environment with huge (peaceful) environment rallies. Along with this, thousands of colleges and universities organised awareness protests against the deterioration of the environment and the first Earth Day was born.

The Earth Day movement united organisations from all sides of politics who suddenly realised that their aims for a healthier cleaner planet had the same motives.

The Earth Day movement united organisations from all sides of politics who suddenly realised that their aims for a healthier cleaner planet had the same motives. A new wave of environmental activism was created, and Earth Day became the momentous occasion it still is today, almost 50 years later. What started as a teach-in about environmental issues became the world’s largest environmental movement. Earth Day events now happen in more than 193 countries are coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network.

What is the Theme of Earth Day 2018?

Plastic pollution is one of the most frightening and important environmental problems that we face today. The ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch’ is a floating mass made of plastic which is drifting through our oceans is currently THREE TIMES the size of France. Just process that for a moment…

A floating mass made of plastic which is drifting through our oceans is currently THREE TIMES the size of France

From poisoning and injuring marine life to disrupting human hormones, from littering our beaches and landscapes to clogging our waste streams and landfills, the exponential growth of plastics is now threatening the survival of our planet. In response, the theme of Earth Day 2018 is providing the information and inspiration needed to fundamentally change human attitude and behaviour about plastics. We have all contributed to this problem (most of us unknowingly) and we must work to reduce and try to put an end plastic pollution. We all love to visit the beach (and have learned about the benefits of visiting the beach!) so take a look at this online tool kit to assess your current consumption of plastics and determine how you as an individual can lower your own plastic pollution impact. It really has never been so important as it is right now. We need to act fast!

Plastic Pollution Facts (from the BBC)

3 billion metric tonnes of virgin (non-recycled) plastic has been produced to date, generating 6.3 billion metric tonnes of plastic waste
9% of that waste has been recycled
12% has been incinerated
The remaining 79% of plastic waste has accumulated in landfills and the natural environment
12 billion metric tonnes will enter landfills or the environment by 2050 if current production and waste management trends continue

We’ve all been told that we should recycle plastic bottles and containers. But what actually happens? Be blissfully blinkered no more… take a look at this video

Scientists Accidentally Create an Enzyme That Eats Plastic Bottles

But it’s not all doom and gloom… just this week scientists accidentally created an enzyme that eats plastic and breaks down plastic drinks bottles! As monster-like as it sounds, the mutant enzyme (which was discovered at a waste dump in Japan in 2016) has now been tweaked to see how it could be evolved to work in our favour. “What actually turned out was we improved the enzyme, which was a bit of a shock,” said Prof John McGeehan, at the University of Portsmouth, UK, who led the research. “It’s great and a real finding.”

The breakthrough could help solve the global plastic pollution crisis by enabling for the first time the full recycling of bottles.

Organisations Working Against Plastic Pollution

We manufacture over 300 million tonnes of plastic a year – that is equivalent to the weight of the entire adult population of the planet. There are a handful of important charities who work hard to raise awareness about plastic pollution and try to eradicate this most toxic substance from our seas. We have rounded them up so that you can find your tribe and get involved either via volunteering or donations this Earth Day…

Plastic Oceans Foundation is one such organisation who don’t rebel against using plastic; they understand that plastic is an amazingly versatile and cheap invention which has changed the way we live, particularly in the world of medicine. They are an organisation who campaign to change what people do with the plastic, since it is near indestructible and doesn’t degrade or decompose. The charity want to change the world’s attitude towards plastic and seek to educate and engage everyone to rethink plastic through an awareness campaign using film and media.
Two Minute Beach Clean this growing movement encourages individuals and communities to take part in two-minute beach cleans with the aim “every little helps”. They champion the fact that every piece of litter removed from the beach matters. So it doesn’t matter if you do 2 minutes or 30. Each and every piece of marine plastic removed from the beach is a piece that will no longer go on to kill.
Surfers Against Sewage This organisation says that ‘plastic is the new sewage’ and are working to raise awareness that every day approximately 8 million pieces of plastic pollution find their way into our oceans, killing 100,000 marine mammals and 1 million sea birds annually.
The Marine Conservation Society are determined on moving society away from the ‘throwaway’ mindset to a circular economy where we refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle – the 4Rs. The charity’s website is incredibly informative on how you can make small changes in your life in order to make big changes for the wellbeing of the ocean.
Greenpeace are an international environmental organisation with a goal to “ensure the ability of the Earth to nurture life in all its diversity”. Their campaigns are mainly focused on global warming, deforestation and over fishing. Greenpeace are also fighting strong in the war on plastic and are calling on governments to act. At the moment Greenpeace are calling on Coca Cola to reduce their plastic footprint – this takes effort, time and funding so join the fight and get involved!

“We have to act. We have to act now to try and clear up some of the appalling damage we have made to the ocean … and that is going to require positive action” Sir David Attenborough

Let us know what you are doing to help the fight against plastic this Earth Day over on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and email. We look forward to hearing from you, and hopefully can join together as a movement which helps to save the planet a little at a time… Be the change you want to see in the world.

What are you doing for Earth Day 2018?

We would love to hear your comments of what you are doing. I just did a #2minutebeachclean, but am conscious of more I can do for our amazing planet! 🙂

#2minutebeachclean

* Photo credit for the main rainbow feature image is the talented Sean Scott Photography. Visit his website to buy a print.

April 18, 2018

Lifestyle

5 Amazing Benefits of Visiting the Beach (According to Neuroscientists)

written by Claire

Outdoor-types know that one of the main benefits of visiting the beach is that it feels amazing. Just letting the sand play between your toes and the salty air kiss your skin gives you a life boost like nothing else. Since ancient times, humans have assigned healing and transformational properties to water. Maybe it’s the humbling experience of walking beneath an endless sky or the gently rhythmic lapping of the waves which provide such a calmness and grounding for beach-lovers – whatever it is, we know it feels incredible.

People who prefer the whir and glitz of city life might argue that going to the beach is good for the soul. However neuroscientists have now provided conclusive proof that aside from aesthetic beauty, going to the beach actually serves to boost our physical and mental health. The way your brain is affected by the intoxicating scent of the ocean and the sound of the powerful ocean waters makes you feel as relaxed as though were put under hypnosis, and scientists have named the effect as “Blue Space”. Just like the science of soulventure, the benefits of visiting the beach are very real and tangible, as you’ll soon discover…

Health Benefits of Visiting the Beach According to Neuroscience

Studies have shown that natural environments like beaches and waterfront parks offer more restorative benefits to people than gyms, entertainment venues and the built urban environment,
Dr Hipp

In a study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, author J. Aaron Hipp, Ph.D., (environmental health expert and assistant professor at the Brown School) looked at the restorative nature and health benefits of visiting the beach* – “Studies have shown that natural environments like beaches and waterfront parks offer more restorative benefits to people than gyms, entertainment venues and the built urban environment,” said Dr. Hipp. He goes on to explain how it’s not just being at the beach which has its benefits, but also the conditions; ““Mild temperature days and low tides offer the most restorative environments when visiting the beach,” said Dr Hipp, “Beachgoers visiting on a day nearly 3 degrees (F) warmer than average were 30% less likely to perceive the beach or coastal park as restorative, compared with those visiting on average or cooler than average days,”

Mild temperature days and low tides offer the most restorative environments when visiting the beach
Dr Hipp

But why? Why does visiting the beach offer such a mental and physical boost? Let’s explore…

‘Dance with the waves, move with the sea. Let the rhythm of the water set your soul free’

Five Reasons Why Visiting the Beach is Good For Us…

#1 Grounding

Throughout history humans walked, sat and slept on the ground, cultivated their land with bare hands and spent a lot of their time naturally grounded. However, today, we have become increasingly disconnected from nature by our modern lifestyle.

ground beneath us is referred to as grounding (or earthing) and offers several vital life-giving health benefits

Research has shown that connecting to the Earth by walking can diminish chronic pain, fatigue and other ailments that affect so many people today. This connection to the ground beneath us is referred to as grounding (or earthing) and offers several vital life-giving health benefits, especially when we walk barefoot.

the soles of your feet have more sweat glands and nerve-endings per square centimetre than any other part of your body

Did you know that the soles of your feet have more sweat glands and nerve-endings per square centimetre than any other part of your body? Walking barefoot on sand when visiting the beach helps stimulate these nerve endings, whilst also strengthening the muscles in your feet, whilst also grounding us and restoring our natural energy flow.

#2 A Dose of Vitamin D

Although there are other sources of vitamin D, according to Harvard Medical School you absorb vitamin D most effectively when it comes from the sun in UVB form. This is because sunlight reacts with a cholesterol-related compound in the body which then metabolises into vitamin D. In one study, exposure to sunshine by enjoying an outdoors lifestyle was shown to offer benefits such as an increase in endorphins and possible prevention of autoimmune diseases. Vitamin D is crucial for our overall health – those deficient in this wonder-vitamin can be at risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, asthma and more. When we visit the beach, no matter if its blazing summer sun or the gentle lemony rays of springtime, vitamin D soaks into us and our overall health and mood reaps the benefits.

health benefits of getting vitamin d at the beach

#3 A Dose of Vitamin Sea

Life-affirming swims in the sea can help to fight off infection and gives the body endless benefits for the body and mind. Why? Well seawater has high levels minerals like magnesium, iodine, and potassium which have therapeutic effects and help the body heal and detoxify. Thalassotherapy, (from the Greek thalasso meaning ‘sea’ and therapia meaning ‘treatment’), uses the healing and beneficial properties of the sea and the marine environment for your health and is defined today as a seawater cure in a medically supervised environment.

Visiting the beach and immersing yourself in the ocean air is also highly beneficial for health, as it fills you with negatively charged ions – molecules that attach to your lung tissue and boost your immune system. Swimming in the ocean helps open up the pores in the skin, allowing absorption of the mineral and the ridding of toxins from the body. Do you need any more convincing for a long cool dip in the ocean?

Health benefits of the sea

#4 It Boosts Creativity and Productivity

a mildly meditative state characterised by calm, peacefulness, unity, and a sense of general happiness and satisfaction with life in the moment
Wallace J. Nichols

Marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols believes that we all have a “blue mind” ( as he puts it) which is triggered when we’re in or near water. He says that a blue mind is “a mildly meditative state characterised by calm, peacefulness, unity, and a sense of general happiness and satisfaction with life in the moment”. Do you ever feel like you’re in a creative rut and want to bang your head against the wall? Well, scientists now believe that those who are in a creative checkmate can hugely benefit by visiting the beach. Being in blue space allows you to clear your head and tackle your problems and creative hurdles in a much more succinct fashion. Much like meditation, being at the beach encourages a calmness and a calm head which allows you to tune everything else out and reflect on what it is you’ve been needing to focus on.

#5 Improves Our Relationships

Whilst enjoying the restful, contemplative state associated with visiting the beach and being close to water, it’s common to experience feelings of awe. Feeling awe as a result of the stunning views, the vastness of the ocean or the enormity of the sky invokes feelings of a connection to something beyond oneself. We feel this sense of vastness as an attempt to make sense of the experience.

“When you experience that feeling of awe, you get that ‘one with the universe’ feeling,” says Wallace J. Nichols. “You feel connected to yourself, the world around you, and whoever you happen to be with. That puts you in a ‘we’ state of mind.” It’s perhaps no coincidence then that proposals, marriages and honeymoons happen overwhelmingly at stunning coastal locations.

love at the beach Nature in general has always been a factor in healthy happy lives, but the beach in particular is so good for the soul. It’s almost too obvious, and often gets overlooked, but the health and neurological benefits of visiting the beach are very real and shouldn’t be ignored.

Go and find your next soulventure at the beach and share your experience with us over on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. We can’t wait to see how the health benefits of visiting the beach have helped you in your life!

*Hipp’s study is published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology.

March 29, 2018

Lifestyle Pleasure Seeking Soul

A White Fluffy Heart-Shaped Cloud Inspired My Soulventure

written by Claire

To venture the soul; to really feel, to nurture (yourself and others), to believe, to laugh to be awe-filled.
This is what will nourish us. This is what will ultimately provide us with the satisfaction we crave.

When a friend shared this image on his Instagram a few weeks ago I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The poetic composition deeply moved me. Melodramatic perhaps, but this little tree really got into my bones.

That wash of milky light fractured by a kaleidoscopic lens flare is reminiscent of a common effect in vintage Polaroid photography, and one which holds an intoxicating allure for me. Modern day digital imagery may have all the bells, whistles and filters to capture that ‘perfect’ vapid selfie, but the way Polaroid film can effortlessly extract the delicate beauty found in everyday scenes results in a treasure trove of happy accidents for Polaroid enthusiasts.

The Power of Imagery

So unassuming – so seemingly raw and innocent, but powerful in both its magnificence and fragility

This image is so unassuming – so seemingly raw and innocent, but powerful in both its magnificence and fragility. Just out of reach of the tree’s bony pinch sits a little fluffy heart-shaped cloud. All innocence and purity, softness and light. The powerful juxtaposition of the tree’s hard, spiny digits trying to grab this ethereal fluffball is striking. Ever since I first saw this image I have been toying with the cerebral putty it gifted me. This beautifully beguiling image has been rhythmically bellowing the confetti in my brain – scattering and resettling, scattering and resettling.

The interpretation is subjective of course, but I can’t help but think of how perfectly this scene shines a spotlight upon modern life. That bare fruitless tree, rooted so deeply to the pursuit of progress (irony personified), reaching ever upwards and outwards looking for something which is so transient. Our ambitious tree doesn’t quite yet understand that it is forever earthbound, eternally anchored to the ground; it’s sole source of nourishment, protection and support. The cloud is a constant tease, edging ever further as it rides the winds of change. Moving higher, moving further, dissipating. The more the tree stretches, vainly reaching out to try and grasp that little cloud, the more the stretching depletes its lifeforce and the less energy it will have to bear fruit or blossom. And so it goes on…

The tree will never catch the elusive fluffy cloud, and it will never provide that source of fulfilment and nourishment it so craves.

What is Soulventure?

All too often we strive upwards and onwards in the pursuit of progress, forgetting to pay heed to that which nourishes our souls

All too often we strive upwards and onwards in the pursuit of progress, forgetting to pay heed to that which nourishes us. We neglect our emotional health and nurturing our soul comes a shoddy second (or third or fourth) behind work, success, fiscal achievement and all the other clouds disguised as hearts which will never truly fulfil us.

We must stop chasing that elusive cloud and instead give careful attention to our roots.

Soulventuring can be found in that moment you step out into a crystal winter morning with air so crisp you could snap a bit off and slurp on it’s fresh sweetness. Your cheeks flush pink as you take a deep breath, smiling wryly to yourself at the twinkling white lawn in front of you, utterly captivated by the flawless blanket of snow rendering everything clean and pure. Beauty reflected back at you. Wonderment.

And for that fleeting moment before your phone beeps again, and your brow re-furrows, and your car refuses tostartandyourTwitterhasbeenhackedandyourcoffeeismadewrong for the TENTH. Time. This. Week… in that flash of a moment you are a child again and everything is easy. That flash of pleasure and innocence, awe and clarity. When everything appears simple and all is once again right with the world.

Why don’t we grasp at the innocence and wonderment, try to reach for it with our bony fingers? Clasp that moment to our hearts and never let go of the feelings which fill our souls?

The Whir of Modern Life

When i’m spinning 300 plates with only enough sticks to keep 10 in the air, I know only too well that real life is a force you cannot ignore. I’m definitely a dreamer, but I’m not that much of a fantasist to think that real life counts for nothing. But why don’t we chase those feelings which nourish us? Why don’t we indulge and seek out the pleasures which satiate our spirits? Why don’t we mute the discordant whirs of daily life, just for a moment, and listen for blissful harmonious silence, sit and absorb those heart-stirring views, and seek out moments which truly fill up our soul?

So what is soulventure? This is what will ultimately provide us with the satisfaction we crave, and is what we should grasp at with our ever-hungry spindly branches which are not yet heavy with fruit.

Nourish Your Soul

Reach for the cloud of course, but instead of being all-consumed by the elusive, shape-shifting cloud, look for the precious peepholes within the tightly-bound fabric of our busy lives, for this is where we will see clarity, become nourished, and feel that surge of well-being and contentment which completes us.

March 29, 2018

Adventure Exploration Inspiration

The Rise of Women’s Adventure Travel

written by Claire

In the travel world we hear words like staycation, glamping, and soulventuring a lot. But recently there’s one far more interesting trend that’s been flying under the radar: women’s adventure travel. We’re not talking about the tropes of soul-searching vacations which have become the fodder of Instagrammers with their heavily-filtered pool-side shots. No, the adventure getaways coming to the forefront of recent travel trends are the blood-sweat-and-tears types, and, most significantly, women are doing them alone.

Historically UK men spend more time on leisure activities and hobbies than women*. Spending too much time inside isn’t good for us and nature is beneficial (some say essential) for human health. The good news is, women are setting off on intrepid adventures both near and far and changing the adventure travel industry for the better. Spartan Races, the intensely challenging obstacle course where contestants run through mud and jump over fire, has seen a 30% spike in female competitors in the last 18 months**. Along with this, small-group adventure travel companies such as Intrepid Travel has seen a 35 percent increase in women booking trips. Perhaps women’s adventure travel is seeing an upswing in popularity because women are becoming more financially independent and thus more apt to travel; you could argue that this also gives women more confidence to pursue more adventurous travel.

Encouraging Women and Girls to Spend More Time Outdoors

Talking specifically about women’s adventure travel, Chris Skilling (vice president of worldwide product for VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations) says, “An active vacation is less isolating than a vacation by coach or at an all-inclusive resort. Participating in outdoor activities immediately bonds solo travellers, in a way that sitting on a bus and staring out the window cannot.” VBT says that 60 percent of its customers are women who enjoy its famous six-hour-long bike rides through the French countryside.

With adventure travel, there is a focus on learning and self-discovery and improvement which appeals to women. Women are not only taking up the challenge, but changing the way adventure travel is viewed. When women enter the once-male-dominated domain of adventure travel, it’s often the case that they form more cohesive and closer-knit groups than mixed groups. They support each other and encourage each other to try something that they may have never done before. Women tend to have an impact on women from within the communities of the destinations visited and a subtle message of women’s empowerment takes place.

Real Life Adventurers Promoting Women’s Adventure Travel in the UK

Named by The Guardian as one of the top female adventurers of our time, Anna McNuff was recently included in Condé Nast Traveller’s recent list of the 50 most influential travellers in the world. Anna is passionate about showing females both the enjoyment that spending time outside offers and the mental health benefits, and is working alongside the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show to encourage women and girls nationwide to invest in more time outdoors during 2018.

anna mcnuff - female adventurer British-born female adventurer, speaker and self-proclaimed mischief-maker has also recently launched Adventure Queens; an enterprise encouraging females to take their first step into the world of adventure. Since its launch, Adventure Queens has rapidly become the fastest growing women’s camping community in the UK. It aims to delicately smash down the barriers that prevent women from heading off on adventures, providing practical information, tips and advice on all things wild camping and the great outdoors.

Commenting on the women’s adventure travel campaign, Anna said: “It doesn’t matter if you choose to spend just one night outdoors or a whole week, any amount of time spent closer to nature will do wonders for your mind. Being outdoors means taking a break from the push and pull of everyday life. It means leaving behind all the stresses that come with computers, phones and work, and making the time just to be still for a while. If there’s one thing I’d encourage you to do in the New Year, it’s to get outdoors, to open your eyes and embrace everything you find out there.”

Nothing beats finding time to have your own adventures, push your comfort zones and go out and live your life boldly. Embrace the amazing life you’re already living and augmenting it with adventure travel will spark your spirit and blaze your senses. Women’s adventure travel has never looked so tempting… Tell us about your latest adventures over on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

^*Source – https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/nationalaccounts/satelliteaccounts/articles/leisuretimeintheuk/2015
^**Source – https://www.cntraveler.com/story/solo-female-adventure-travel-is-on-the-rise

February 14, 2018

Lifestyle

The Importance of Community and Finding Your Tribe

written by Claire

For Millennia the human race has had an intrinsic desire for tribalism. That loyalty, protection and camaraderie we find in the people we choose to surround ourselves with is important on a very primal level and not only determines who we are as individuals, but how we view and treat the world around us.

The importance of finding your tribe shouldn’t be underestimated. A tribe harbours an environment for generating new ideas for work and life whilst also fostering a sense of community which is vital for a healthy productive life. These groups can provide a sense of purpose, a reason to interact with others and even provide health and wellbeing benefits.

Increasingly, we have become disconnected from our tribe in the modern world. We know our people are out there – somewhere, anywhere – but we feel lost and disconnected from them. We seek them, we scroll past them, but they keep eluding us. Without our tribe, we may wind up feeling distanced, depressed, spiritually disconnected, even sick.

In modern Western democracies, individualism has begun to reign supreme. The goal of many is to be an individual who marches to the beat of their own drum unrestrained by others. Individuals who prefer tribalism are often looked at with suspicion or disdain. But what if our quest for individualism and independence is actually making us miserable? What if belonging to a tight-knit group that requires loyalty and self-sacrifice is actually the key to feeling fulfilled?

Finding Your Tribe

Sports fans, beatniks, study groups, musicians, cultures, parenting circles, scientists, religious sects, sexual preferences, lobbyists, art, travel, animal lovers, interior design aficionados, fashionistas… the list goes on! However we choose to identify ourselves can be as varied and limitless as the world around us.

What makes one tribe more effective than others is its culture. Culture is a product of the language we use (words create our reality), and the behaviours that accompany those words. The words we use to describe ourselves, our work, and others, creates the world we live in.

As we each weave our intricate life story, the average human traverses numerous tribes as societal, emotional and cultural needs develop. From family to workplace and everything in between, the multi-faceted influences upon a person’s life are what makes them individual. Finding your tribe gives you a sense of belonging and you will know it innately, the same way you know when you taste something delicious. Finding your tribe is rich food for your soul.

Often a tribe can help provide you with intimate insights which will support your ideas and shine clarity upon your hopes and dreams. Being part of a such a collective of people you click with can make you feel empowered and strong, augmenting your life and enriching it with positivity.

According to management consultant David Logan there are probably millions of different tribes in the world but they all take one of just five world views, depending on their stage of development.

….

The Five Stages of Tribal Development

Undermining In other words, “This ship is sinking and you’re coming down with me, life sucks”. This level of tribal development is often seen in prisons and gangs, and it’s one that the rest of society can’t afford to ignore, however tempting that sometimes seems. Research suggests that around 2% of tribes operate at this level of despairing hostility.
Apathetic Victim A slight advance on level 1, level 2 of tribal development says ‘my life is hopeless’. Spinning that on its head of course is the reflection that “your life is better” which breeds resentment among the tribe and a kind of ‘lose/win’ mentality. About 25% of tribes are at this level. Individuals are quietly judging, yet never interested enough to spark any passion.
Lone Warrior Research shows that around 48% of employment tribes (colleagues) operate at level 3. This level says “I’m great”, with the upshot that “you’re not” which creates a ‘win/lose’ mentality. Individuals are continually disappointed that others don’t have their ambition and skill despite wanting their help and support.
Tribal Pride Level 4 is where the group is united around a set of values, and forms the view that ‘we’re great’. Again, it’s a ‘win/lose’ approach, but one where the ‘win’ is based around the group rather than individual. Only about 22% of tribes have reached this level. A ‘we’re great’ tribe always has an adversary – the bigger the foe, the more powerful the tribe.
Innocent Wonderment The 5th and final level is the most enlightened stage of tribalism, where ‘Life’s great’, and where a healthy ‘win/win’ mentality forms. The group is in competition with what’s possible, not with another tribe. Only 2% of tribes ever get to level 5, and it’s incredibly rare for a tribe to be able to sustain stage 5 for any length of time. Those that do however, achieve earth-shattering accomplishments.

Changing the World One Tribe at a Time

The power of the clan cannot be underestimated and the health benefits of finding your tribe is well-documented. We all form and find tribes but the killer question is: will yours change the world?

In a nutshell, we can only change the world if we are united, supportive and if we nurture positivity within our individual tribes. As people collaborate and work toward a noble cause propelled by shared values, they can strive forwards together when radiating confidence and positivity.

Our tribes can offer limitless potential bounded only by imagination if we take heed and strive for positivity, encouragement and wholehearted camaraderie amongst those who we consider our brothers and sisters. Get connected, go find your tribe…

@ Tag your tribe below…

February 1, 2018