AsiaSpa — November-December 2017

48 AsiaSpa November/December 2017

IntheKnow

Expert

Travel and

Wellness

Tips

Writer Catharine Nicols

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Help! I don’t have the time to go on

a retreat. What apps and other tools

can I use to help me de-stress at home?

I love Calm, an app with gentle,

guided meditations ideal for the

morning, as well as soothing music and

audio stories to help you slip into sleep.

Happify to keep you positive and Self Help

for Anxiety Management are also good.

All are free.

Swap your usual drama for Mindfulness:

Be Happy Now, which features Deepak

Chopra and Thich Nhat Hanh among

others. Try Innsaei, which explores the art

of connecting or escape into the new Blue

Planet II and the dulcet sounds of Sir David

Attenborough’s narration.

If podcasts are your thing, Motivation

Monday with Dennis Ngango gives a quick

boost to start the week, Gregg Swanson’s

Warrior Mind Coach will help you look

forward with purpose and The Hilarious

World of Depression by John Moe finds out

how comedians keep (relatively) balanced.

Q

A

Blade Runner is well worth a re-listen.

The rest of the album isn’t as chilled, but

will distract you from the surrounding

stress.

The Nature Sounds app is a great

natural white noise distraction when you

can close your eyes mid-flight or in your

hotel bath once you’ve arrived, although

you might wake up some time later in

tepid water...

I’m on the road a lot and need some

recommendations for soundtracks

to keep delay and jet lag stress at bay.

This To w n by Norwegian Kygo

featuring Sasha Sloan is mellow. Actually

anything by Kygo is perfect, especially

when you’re negotiating traffic and airports.

With the new version out, Vangelis’

dreamy Rachel’s Song from the original

Q

A

Skincare always makes a great gift

• which brands should I be buying
  this Christmas?

Artisan brands should be top of your

shopping list this year. Think Purearth,

created by ex-lawyer Kavita Khosa, who

sources pure ingredients from the Himalayan

belt and supports Tibetan women at the same

time. Their Illume Face Elixir Oil is divine.

Q

A

You could eat Australia’s Vanessa Megan

brand collection it’s so pure, says Vanessa

Megan Gray, founder. Her Intensive Organic

Night Repair Oil is one of the most delicious

face oils I’ve ever tried (on my face!).

And finally, Suzanne Norwitz’s Maya

Chia brand based on chia oil delivers

antioxidants, and donations to Mayan

communities. Try their Super Blend – Pressed

Serum Brightening Moisture Concentrate.

HALF LENGTH PROFILE PORTRAIT OF YOUNG HANDSOME CAUCASIAN BLONDE/THINKSTOCK