Bikram Yoga: the benefits

Bikram Yoga consists of 26 postures and two breathing exercises, practiced in a room heated to 40 °C (104 °F). It brings endless health benefits and works every part of your body down to a cellular level flushing toxins out of your system. The top 7 benefits are explained below.

1. Weight loss

Bikram Yoga is excellent for weight loss, burning 500 to 1000 calories a session. Your digestive system and metabolism will improve, normalizing your appetite and diminishing unhealthy cravings. Your fat will turn into muscle as you develop muscle tone and strength. Warm muscles burn fat more easily as the heat flushes and detoxifies the body. Your cardiovascular system is also worked and strengthened.

2. Blood Pressure & Cholesterol

Unstable high blood pressure can respond very quickly to a regular Bikram Yoga practice. Many students who maintain a regular practice are able to stop taking blood pressure medication and it can often help keep diabetic symptoms in check. Your circulation increases allowing blood to flow throughout your body cleansing and clearing your arteries and lowering cholesterol levels.

3. Joints and Back Pain

A combination of the heat and the moving, twisting, extending and compressing of every joint can alleviate arthritis. Bikram Yoga has helped countless numbers of people with back pain, stiff necks, headaches, scoliosis, herniated disks and many other back problems.  It works the spine in every direction with many beneficial backbends, creating a healthy spine and thus a healthy nervous system and leading to enhanced flexibility and successful recovery from injury (due to deep stretching).

4. Skin and Beauty

As you sweat, your pores are opened and cleaned allowing natural lanolin to release through the pores, softening and preserving your skin’s elasticity and leaving you with "the Bikram glow".

5. Stress, Anxiety & Emotions

When performing the 26 postures and two breathing exercises, the fight-or-flight response is turned off and a feeling of balanced well-being is replaced. A regular practice can lower cortisol levels, calm the mind, increase mental clarity and release and reduce stress and tension. Bikram Yoga harmonizes the nervous and endocrine systems and cultivates the mental faculties of faith, self-control, concentration, determination, and patience. As we become more aware of our inner life, we notice how events, interactions, and even the atmospheric pressure can affect us. 

6. Breathing problems

The heat promotes relaxation of the muscles and nerves, and you can work with as much intensity as appropriate for your needs. Bikram Yoga will relax your mind and help let go of tensions, toxins and negativity. It strengthens your heart and lungs, improving your lung function and helping with Asthma, Allergies, Respiratory Problems.

7. Thyroid regulation

Many of the postures in Bikram Yoga compress and work the thyroid thus helping to regulate the gland balancing thyroid levels, bringing increased energy, weight loss and better metabolism.

L. K. Bennett

My elegant new high heels are the Sledge Patent Leather Platform Court from the  L. K. Bennett signature collection. A favourite of some of the most glamorous women including Kate Middleton, these shoes are one of the most chic and classic pairs I own. The vast array of colours on offer range from a simple grey to a lemon yellow, but I settled for the taupe as it is by far the most sophisticated colour.

Click here to read an article about Kate wearing these gorgeous and versatile shoes.

Lancôme Juicy Tubes

When it comes to lip-gloss, Lancôme Juicy Tubes has got to be my all-time favourite. It gives shimmering finish to on top of any lipstick, or can be used alone to provide transparent shine in a wide range of deliciously fruity flavours.

My favourite fashion labels

Some of my favourite fashion designers of all time include Ralph Lauren, Stella McCartney, Oscar de La Renta, Isabel Marant, Marc Jacobs, Manolo Blahnik, Balenciaga, Mulberry and of course Coco Chanel, who is probably the most significant designer of timeless womenswear in the twentieth century. All of these labels are associated with luxury, femininity, grace, elegance and sophistication.

However, I am aware that the clothing lines produced by these talented designers are often pricey, so my basic wardrobe consists of mostly Topshop, Zara, Zadig & Voltaire, The Kooples, Sandro and Maje.

New Shoes

If you don't already own a pair of black heels - or even if you would like to invest in your 10th pair - they are an absolute must-have for any girl's wardrobe to be complete as they are so versatile and can be worn with an outfit of pretty much any colour. I bought this suede pair from Carvela by Kurt Geiger and I'm crazy about the snakeskin print on the stilettos. 

Scoop International Fashion Show

I spent last Sunday at Scoop, an international fashion trade-show taking place at the Saatchi Gallery on King's Road, which showcases emerging and established fashion designers. As you can see from the pictures, I had a lot of fun playing dress-up in Cashmere by Tania's new collection for Autumn-Winter 2014, including the luxurious fur-trimmed cardigans, and the stylish backless pink top.

Nike Night Run

I recently participated in Tel Aviv's 10km Nike Night Run. All of the main roads were closed off and loud bass music was blaring throughout the city, as a mass of 22,000 other runners wearing the same fluorescent pink T-shirt as me swept across the streets. This was an unforgettable experience and I intend to take part again next year!

Vintage Chanel Bags

Having been passed down three generations of my family, these navy and brown vintage Chanel bags are without doubt a true collector's item, so needless to say that I was incredibly grateful when my grandmother recently gave them both to my sister and I. Given that they are already more than half a century old, it is clear that they are an investment accessory that will only look better as they age.

Costa Rica

If you have not yet been to Costa Rica, it is an absolute MUST to add to your list of places to travel to! Over the course of my holiday, I stayed in several different locations throughout the country, including San José, Tortuguero, Pacuare and Xandari Alajuela, where we stayed in Jalapas (palm-thatched bungalows) with hammocks. The flora and fauna ranges from vibrant hibiscus flowers to exotic toucans and blue morpho butterflies with huge wingspans.

We had an exhilarating experience white-water rafting, went hiking in the jungle, zip-lining like Tarzan, rappelling, swam under tumbling picturesque waterfalls and went on a boat trip through the narrow river channels of the flooded forest to view the wildlife, including troops of spider-monkeys, green iguanas, three-toed sloths and black river turtles, as well as some rarer species such as the great green macaw, boat-billed herons and emerald toucans. 

We had the chance to explore the lush, dense forest which had an abundant collection of bromeliads and orchids, among other vegetation, whilst listening to the sounds of the rainforest such as the the chirp of a forest frog and the occasional roar of a howler monkey.

Of course, we also had plenty of time to relax with a book whilst sunbathing or swimming in the infinity-pool. 

It is worth mentioning that the food there is delicious. A typical breakfast includes scrambled eggs, fried sweet plantains, muesli, fresh guava, watermelon, papaya and "Casado" - the most common Costa Rican dish consisting of rice, black pinto beans, salad and meat.

On top of everything, I made use of this opportunity to practice my conversational Spanish with the warm and friendly locals. Below are some extracts from my travel-diary, which I write in religiously every day that I am on holiday, no matter where I go!

As the Costa Ricans say: "Pura Vida!"

Zara shirt

I have so many memories wearing this stunning shirt from Zara, particularly last summer when I wore it very often. It is so feminine with its navy floral design, and versatile enough to be worn both during the day and at night. 

Grey Nail Polish

This contemporary colour is effortlessly chic with a sophisticated edge and suits a variety of skin-tones. From dramatic dark charcoal to molten-hot metallic graphite, there really are 50 shades of grey to choose from for the ultimate chromatic manicure.

I recommend Chanel "Black Pearl" (shade 513) for a sleek shimmering colour that lasts for up to a week. Make sure that you wear a base coat in order to protect your nails from weakening and yellowing, as well as applying a top coat to prevent your nails from chipping.




Alternatively, if you are seeking flawless wear for 2 - 3 weeks with mirror shine and zero dry-time, there is nothing better than CND Shellac! There are over 61 shades available but my favourite is called "Asphalt" - below is a photo of me wearing it.

Sushi Samba

Located on the 38th and 39th floor of the Heron Tower in the City of London, Sushi Samba offers a unique blend of Japanese, Peruvian and Brazilian cuisine. The panoramic glass elevators and the 360 degree views from the outdoor dining terraces contribute to the whole experience. 

As for the for the food, we ordered plenty of dishes to share, all of which were truly mouth-watering, but my favourites included the Black Cod and the Plantain Chips. If you are really want to go all out, why not try the Wagyu Beef (Warning: it costs £50!)

Top Of The Day

My "top of the day" is this gorgeous pink and green animal print vest form TopShop, which has a zip up the front to add that extra touch of glamour! I usually wear it with a pair of black sequin shorts from Urban Outfitters or high-waisted leather shorts from H&M - both of which are so stylish but affordable enough to fall within my budget. In the photo I am also wearing my favourite pair of wedges from Nine West.

J'adore Paris

When I boarded the Eurostar and headed to the fashion capital of the world, I did not even realise what a treat I was in for. I had plenty of free time to explore the city by Métro - the quirky shops, the cobbled streets, the stunning architecture with wide boulevards, the famous monuments and of course the patisseries where I indulged in macaroons, baguettes and chocolate croissants. As well as some shopping, I attended a fashion exhibition at the Musée D'Orsay, visited the Arc de Triomphe at the top of the Champs Élysées, saw the Mona Lisa in the art gallery at the Louvre and of course went to the Eiffel Tower, which inspires anyone in sight to dance, jump and photograph themselves in front of it. On Saturday night, I ate dinner at the trendy and atmospheric Hotel Costes and on Sunday I strolled around the Marais, where I found a delicious lamb shawarma for lunch followed by crêpes to satisfy my sweet tooth!

I stayed at Les Jardins de la Villa, a contemporary boutique hotel with couture chic design and luxurious comfort. Finally, this trip provided me with the perfect opportunity to practice my spoken French, one of the 3 languages which I am studying at university!